High performance liquid chromatography as a tool in the definition of abnormalities in monoamine and tryptophan metabolites in cerebrospinal fluid from patients with neurological disorders

In this study we report the levels of 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, homovallinic acid, tryptophan, 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid and serotonin in lumbar cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from patients with multiple sclerosis, cerebrovascular disease and muscular tension headache the later, as healthy controls. The separation of these substances was performed on a reversed phase column by ion pair high performance liquid chromatography and detection was made by a glassy carbon electrode set at +900 mV vs Ag+/AgCl. The whole separation was achieved within 25 min. Concentrations of all substances (10-1000 pmole/L) were linearly proportional to areas obtained. The system is sensitive, stable and reproducible. The significance of CSF levels of these metabolites from patients groups compared with healthy controls are discussed.     

Trace element concentration in head hair of the inhabitans of the Rawalpindi-Islamabad area

Instrumental neutron activation analysis technique has been used to determine the concentration levels of 12 trace elements in human head hair samples collected from 105 individuals living in various areas of Rawalpindi-Islamabad. The data show that the average concentrations of Mn, Co, Ag and Au are higher in the female group as compared to the male group. Four individuals were found to have elevated levels of Se due to the use of anti-dandruff shampoos, whereas two individials had elevated levels of Hg.     

INAA of toxic elements in coal and their transfer into environments

An instrumental neutron activation analytical (INAA) technique is described for the determination of 26 toxic and other trace elements in Eastern Coal (NBS SRM-1632a), local coal and its ash. The coal ash was produced by heating coal at 750°C in a muffled furnace. The transfer of these elements to the environment on the complete compustion of coal is estimated from the difference between the elemental concentration of coal and its ash.     

Co-activation of Gi and Gq proteins exerts synergistic effect on human platelet aggregation through activation of phospholipase C and Ca2+ signalling pathways

Our previous studies have shown that subthreshold concentrations of two platelet agonists exert synergistic effects on platelet aggregation. Here we studied the mechanism of synergistic interaction of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and epinephrine mediated platelet aggregation. We show that 5-HT had no or little effect on aggregation but it did potentiate the aggregation response of epinephrine. The synergistic interaction of 5-HT (1-5 microM) and epinephrine (0.5-2 microM) was inhibited by alpha2-adrenoceptor blocker (yohimbine; IC50= 0.4 microM), calcium channel blockers (verapamil and diltiazem with IC50 of 10 and 48 mM, respectively), PLC inhibitor (U73122; IC50=6 microM) and nitric oxide (NO) donor, SNAP (IC50=1.6 microM)). The data suggest that synergistic effects of platelet agonists are receptor-mediated and occur through multiple signalling pathways including the activation PLC/Ca2+ signalling cascades.     

Separation of potential flavoring compounds by high-performance liquid chromatography

High-performance liquid chromatography separated successively and quantitatively the food flavoring agents pyrimidines, purines and nucleosides, followed by nucleotides, then by polyphenols and finally by pyrazines with a reversed-phase octadecylsilica (μBondapak C₁₈) column and various proportions of methanol, water, acetic acid and tetrabutylammonium phosphate (PIC A). The polar solvent (solvent A) was water—acetic acid—PIC A (97.5:1.5:1.0) and the relatively non-polar solvent (solvent B) was methanol—acetic acid—PIC A (97.5:1.5:1.0). Purines, pyrimidines, and nucleosides were eluted with solvent A. Nucleotides were eluted with a mixture of solvents A and B (9:1). Polyphenols were separated with a gradient starting at 10% solvent B and finishing at 25% solvent B, and finally the pyrazines were removed successively from the column with a gradient starting at 25% solvent B and finishing at 45% solvent B. The resolution and reproducibility were excellent for more than 50 compounds. By this method beverages could be analyzed directly, without solvent extraction, for flavoring compounds.     

HPLC determination of piperine in pepper and in pepper extracts

Summary HPCL quantitation of piperine in pepper and in pepper extracts is described. This is optimised on nitratedsulphonated phenyl silica gel with phloracetophenone as internal standard.     

Radiochemical analysis of toxic elements in biological materials

A radiochemical method for simultaneous determination of toxic elements (Hg, Cd and Sb) in biological materials has been developed. The procedure involves the irradiation of samples with thermal neutrons and quantitative one-step separation in 0.1M 4-(5-nonyl)pyridine/benzene from 2.0M hydrochloric acid followed by gamma-ray spectrometry. The procedure is applied for the analysis and to the studies of distribution of these elements in IAEA-RMs, human serum and hair samples. Results obtained are found to be in good agreement with those reported in the literature.     

Sensitive and selective ion exchange test for microgram detection and spectrophotometric determination of picric acid

The microgram detection and determination of picric acid with sodium hypochlorite solution is based on its oxidation in alkaline solution and chlorination with excess of chlorine present in hypochlorite solution. A characteristic orange color is obtained, which can be used as a specific test. The sensitivity of the picric acid was enhanced by performing the resin spot test. This color reaction was applied for the determination of picric acid spectrophotometrically.     

Spectrophotometric determination ofo- andp-phenylenediamines

Summary Cupric chloride-triphenylphosphine complex gives red color witho-phenylenediamine having maximum absorption at 505–520 nm and 0.5g/ml as visual limit of identification. The reaction is specific foro-phenylenediamine and obeys Beer's law (1 to 10g/ml). This reaction provides the basis of a new method for the Spectrophotometric determination ofo-phenylenediamine ing quantities.Ruthenium trichloride-triphenylphosphine complex gives blue color withp-phenylenediamine having maximum absorption at 580 nm and 2g/ml as visual limit of identification. On the basis of this color reaction a Spectrophotometric method for the determination ofp-phenylenediamine in hair dyes is described. The recovery of the dye from commercial preparations is better than 97%. Other organic compounds do not interfere.

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Zusammenfassung Kupfer(II)chlorid-triphenylphosphin reagiert mito-Phenylendiamin unter Rotfärbung mit maximaler Absorption bei 505 bis 520 nm und 0,5g/ml als Erfassungsgrenze. Die Reaktion ist für o-Phenylendiamin spezifisch und folgt dem Beerschen Gesetz zwischen 1 und 10g/ml. Sie dient als Grundlage für eine neue Methode der spektrophotometrischen Bestimmung von Mikrogrammengen o-Phenylendiamin.Rutheniumtrichlorid-triphenylphosphin reagiert mit p-Phenylendiamin unter Blaufärbung mit maximaler Absorption bei 580 nm und 2g/ml als Erfassungsgrenze. Auf dieser Grundlage läßt sich p-Phenylendiamin in Haarfärbemitteln bestimmen. In handelsüblichen Präparaten werden mehr als 97% des enthaltenen Farbstoffes gefunden. Andere Verbindungen stören nicht.