Distribution of 131I-labeled recombinant human erythropoietin in maternal and fetal organs following intravenous administration in pregnant rats

The aim of the present study was to demonstrate the possible transplacental transmission of ¹³¹I labeled recombinant human erythropoietin (¹³¹I-rh-EPO) in pregnant rats and its distribution through maternal and fetal organs. Six Wistar Albino Rats in their pregnancy of 18 days were used ¹³¹I labeled recombinant human erythropoietin (specific activity = 2.4 μCi/IU) was injected into the tail vein of rats. After 30 minutes labeled erythropoietin infusion maternal stomach, kidney, lung, liver, brain and heart as well as fetus were removed. Then, the same organs were removed from each fetus. Measuring weight of maternal and fetal organs as well as placenta were followed by radioactivity count via Cd(Te) detector. ¹³¹I labeled recombinant human erythropoietin was found to be able to pass rat placenta and its distribution order in fetal organs was similar to those of maternal organs. Besides, as measurements were performed closer to cornu uteri, uptakes were decreasing in every fetus and its corresponding placenta.     

Phase relationships and some magnetic properties of spinels in the systems M1−xNixCr2S4 where M = Mn,Fe, Co

Phase relationships between spinel and defect NiAs structures in the systems M_1?xNi_xCr₂S₄ (where M = Mn, Fe, Co) were investigated. It was found that the spinel structure is stable between x = 0 and x = 0.3 when M = Mn or Fe. When M = Co the spinel is formed in the region x = 0 to x ～ 0.4. The apparent stabilization of the defect NiAs phase by Ni²⁺ may be related to the strong sixfold site preference of Ni²⁺. Curie temperatures of all three ferrimagnetic systems increases with increasing Ni²⁺ substitution. This is probably due to higher NiS covalency.     

A liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry method for the quantification of both etoricoxib and valdecoxib in human plasma

A practicable and selective liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry assay for the determination of two cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors, etoricoxib and valdecoxib, in human plasma is presented. The analytical technique is based on reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled to atmospheric pressure chemical ionisation (APCI) mass spectrometry (Finnigan Mat LCQ ion trap). Mass analysis was performed in the positive ion mode. The ion trap was operated in the tandem MS mode (MS2) and the transitions of etoricoxib (m/z 359.2 --> 280.3) and valdecoxib (m/z 315.1 --> 235.1) were followed by selected reaction monitoring. Retention times of etoricoxib and valdecoxib were 1.05 and 1.08 min, respectively. The method was validated over a linear range 10-2500 and 5-1000 microg/L using the other substrate as internal standard. After validation, the method was used to study the pharmacokinetic pro fi le of etoricoxib or valdecoxib in a healthy volunteer after administration of a single oral dose (valdecoxib, 20 mg; etoricoxib, 90 mg). The presented method was suf fi cient to cover more than 90% of the area under the plasma concentration time curve.