LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF A SINGLE DOSE OF ULTRAVIOLET-B ON ALBINO RABBIT CORNEA-I. in vivo ANALYSES

Both eyes of female albino rabbits (1.9 kg) were exposed to a single dose of UV-B (300 +/- 9 nm; 0.125 J/cm2 total dose) between 13.30 and 15.00 h. The average irradiance was 209 +/- 4 microW/cm2 delivered over 612 +/- 13 s. At various time periods thereafter (every 12 h for 3 days, 6, 7, 14, 28, 42, 56, 112, 224 and 336 days post-irradiation), the animals were subjected to a full slit lamp examination to evaluate the status of the cornea and the anterior segment along with optical or ultrasonic pachometry of central corneal thickness. The results were compared with studies on age-matched rabbits over the same time period. In response to the UV-B irradiation, the corneas showed a modest edema (20% increase in central corneal thickness) that peaked at 48 h. Nearly normal central corneal thickness returned in 6 days and followed by a secondary very slight swelling (less than 5%) that resolved by 14 days. The edema was accompanied by keratitis over the same period. Thereafter, both control and UV-B irradiated corneas progressively increased in thickness with age. Biomicroscopy also revealed the appearance of granular opacities in the corneal epithelium that peaked at 72-96 h and resolved over 28 days. In addition, very small microdot opacities of the corneal epithelium were present in the UV-B irradiated corneas that reached maximum at 72 h but persisted to some degree throughout the evaluation period. Biomicroscopy also revealed a progressive disruption of the homogeneous nature of the corneal stroma by the appearance of large 'bread crumb'-like opacities that started at 72 h and was still present at the end of the evaluation period. These results suggest that long-term evaluation of the cornea is important after acute UV-B exposure and indicate that acute exposure to UV-R can produce corneal changes resembling those reported following chronic exposure to UV-R-rich environments.     

Electron correlation effects on the femtosecond dephasing dynamics of E22 excitons in (6,5) carbon nanotubes

Highly nonlinear pump fluence dependence was observed in the ultrafast one-color pump-probe responses excited by 38 fs pulses resonant with the E(22) transition in a room-temperature solution of (6,5) carbon nanotubes. The differential probe transmission (ΔT/T) at the peak of the pump-probe response (τ = 20 fs) was measured for pump fluences from ～10(13) to 10(17) photons/pulse cm(2). The onset of saturation is observed at ～2 × 10(15) photons/pulse cm(2) (～8 × 10(5) excitons/cm). At pump fluences >4 × 10(16) photons/pulse cm(2) (～1.6 × 10(6) excitons/cm), ΔT/T decreases as the pump fluence increases. Analogous signal saturation behavior was observed for all measured probe delays. Despite the high exciton density at saturation, no change in the E(22) population decay rate was observed at short times (<300 fs). The pump probe signal was modeled by a third-order perturbation theory treatment that includes the effects of inhomogeneous broadening. The observed ΔT/T signal is well-fit by a pump-fluence-dependent dephasing rate linearly dependent on the number of excitons created by the pump pulse. Therefore, the observed nonlinear pump intensity dependence is attributed to the effects of quasi-elastic exciton-exciton interactions on the dephasing rates of single carbon nanotubes. The low fluence total dephasing time is 36 fs, corresponding to a homogeneous width of 36 meV (290 cm(-1)), and the derived E(22) inhomogeneous width is 68 meV (545 cm(-1)). These results are contrasted with photon-echo-derived parameters for the E(11) transition.     

Development of an HPLC method for determining the alpha 2-adrenergic receptor agonist brimonidine in blood serum and aqueous humor of the eye

A procedure for determining brimonidine [5-bromo-6-(2-imidazolidinylideneamino) quinoxaline] in biological samples using a reversed-phase isocratic HPLC method is described. The application in blood serum and eye aqueous humor of patients treated with the Alphagan ophthalmic solution was carried out by enrichment of samples in brimonidine with solid-phase liquid extraction. Brimonidine reached maximum levels in aqueous humor and serum within 2-2.5 h, whereafter a declining pattern was obtained. An approximate 50% level of brimonidine was identified in serum at 12 h after ocular administration, whereas in aqueous humor this percentage was determined after a period of 4-5 h.     

NONLINEAR LASERSPECTROSCOPIC INVESTIGATIONS OF THE PIGMENT-PIGMENT INTERACTION WITHIN THE LIGHT-HARVESTING COMPLEX OF PHOTOSYSTEM II

Using a pump and test beam technique in the frequency domain with pump pulses in the nanosecond time range, the nonlinear transmission properties were investigated at room temperature in photosystem (PS) II membrane fragments and isolated light-harvesting chlorophyll a/b-protein preparations (LHC II preparations). In LHC II preparations and PS II membrane fragments, respectively, pump pulses of 620 nm and 647 nm cause a transmission decrease limited to a wavelength region in the nearest vicinity of the pump pulse wavelength (full width at half maximum ' 0.24 nm). In contrast, at 670 nm neither a transmission decrease nor a narrow band feature were observed. The data obtained for PS II membrane fragments and LHC II preparations at shorter wavelengths (620 nm, 647 nm) were interpreted in terms of excited state absorption of whole pigment-protein clusters within the light-harvesting antenna of photosystem II. The interpretation of the small transmission changes as homogeneously broadened lines led to a transversal relaxation time for chlorophyll in the clusters of about 4 ps.     

Characterization of long-term dose stability of N-isopropylacrylamide polymer gel dosimetry

In this study, the detailed characteristics, including spatial uniformity, dose distributions, inter-batch variability, reproducibility, and long-term temporal stability, of N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) polymer gel dosimeter were investigated. A commercial 10x fast optical computed tomography scanner (OCTOPUS^TM-10×, MGS Research, Inc., Madison, CT, USA) was used to measure NIPAM polymer gel dosimeter. A cylindrical NIPAM gel phantom that measured 10 cm × 10 cm was irradiated via a single-field treatment plan with a field size of 4 cm × 4 cm. The maximum standard deviation of spatial uniformity for NIPAM gel was less than 0.29 %. The average standard deviation among the three batches of gel dosimeters was less than 1 %. The gamma pass rate could reach as high as 96.76 % when a 3 % dose difference and a 3 mm dose-to-agreement criteria were used. The long-term measurement of irradiated NIPAM gel dosimeter indicated that the dose maps attained a gradually stable value 15 h post-irradiation and remained stable until 72 h post-irradiation. The gamma pass rate could achieve a maximum value between 24 and 72 h post-irradiation. The edge enhancement effect that occurred around the irradiated region was observed 72 h post-irradiation. Thus, the results from this study suggest that NIPAM gel dosimeter should be measured approximately 24 h post-irradiation to reduce the occurrence of the edge enhancement effect.     

Capillary electrophoretic analysis of brimonidine in aqueous humor of the eye and blood sera and relation of its levels with intraocular pressure

The aim of this study was the development of a capillary electrophoretic method for the determination of the levels of the selective alpha(2)-adrenergic receptor agonist brimonidine in aqueous humor of the eye and blood sera and their relation to its efficacy in reducing the intraocular pressure (IOP). Analysis of brimonidine was performed by capillary zone electrophoresis using 20 mM borate, pH 9.3, as operating buffer and detection at 255 nm. Brimonidine levels were determined in aqueous humor and blood sera from seven patients admitted for cataract extraction following ocular administration of the ophthalmic Alphagantrade mark solution. Levels of brimonidine and IOP values were recorded for a 24 h period. Alphagantrade mark administration resulted in a significant reduction of IOP, from within 30 min up to 4-5 h, whereafter a stepwise increase was recorded until 24 h, where mean IOP value returned to that before administration. The IOP reduction was related to the levels of brimonidine in aqueous humor, where maximal levels (80-100%) were obtained within 1-3 h. A 50% amount of the solution was determined after 4-5 h, whereas it reached the minimum level after 12 h. Serum levels reached maximum within 3-4 h, a 50% reduction was recorded in 12 h and minimum level in 24 h. It is concluded that brimonidine administration may significantly reduce IOP in patients when its level is maintained >/=50% of the maximum present in aqueous humor, i.e within a 4-6 h period. Since at this time the level of brimonidine in blood serum has reached maximum value, administration of brimonidine every 6 h may be used to obtain adequate brimonidine levels to maintain a constantly lowered IOP.     

Surface activity of lysozyme and dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine vesicles at compressed and supercritical fluid interfaces

The surface activities of lysozyme and dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine (DPPC) vesicles at aqueous/compressed fluid interfaces are examined via high-pressure interfacial tension measurements using the pendant drop technique. The density and interfacial tension in compressible fluid systems vary significantly with pressure, providing a versatile medium for elucidating interactions between biomolecules and fluid interfaces and a method to elicit pressure-dependent interfacial morphological responses. The effects of lysozyme concentration (0.0008, 0.01, and 1 mg/mL) and pressure (> or = 7 MPa) on the dynamic surface response in the presence of ethane, propane, N2, and CO2 at 298 K were examined. Interfacial lysozyme adsorption reduced the induction phase and quickly led to interfacial tensions consistent with protein conformational changes and monolayer saturation at the compressed fluid interfaces. Protein adsorption, as indicated by surface pressure, correlated with calculated Hamaker constants for the compressed gases, denoting the importance of dispersion interactions. For DPPC at aqueous/compressed or aqueous/supercritical CO2 interfaces (1.8-20.7 MPa, 308 K), 2-3-fold reductions in interfacial tension were observed relative to the pure binary fluid system. The resulting surface pressures infer pressure-dependent morphological changes within the DPPC monolayer.     

EFFECTS OF 8-METHOXYPSORALEN-INDUCED PHOTOTOXIC EFFECTS ON MAMMALIAN EPIDERMAL MACROMOLECULE SYNTHESIS IN VIVO

Abstract— The influence of 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP) and ultraviolet (UVA; 315–400 nm) radiation-induced phototoxic responses on DNA, RNA and protein synthesis and the DNA repair phenomenon were investigated utilizing the hairless mouse epidermis in vivo . The radioactive tracers TdR-³H, cytidine-³H and histidine-³H were used to examine changes in these macromolecules. Using these techniques, we found that the 8-MOP-UVA phototoxic injury inhibited premitotic semiconservative DNA synthesis in the germanitive layer of the epidermis within the first few hours post-irradiation. Recovery occurred by 24 h, followed by a progressive acceleration of this function over the next 7 days. No depression in RNA or protein formation was noted through 36 h. By 48 h the cells in the upper 1/2 to 1/3 of the epidermis lost their normal appearance and discontinued synthesizing these macromolecules. At 72 h RNA and protein synthesis was again active throughout the epidermis and the apparently dead cells had desquamated. At this time the epidermis was notably acanthotic and the epidermal cells were markedly enlarged. Examination for the dark repair response revealed no evidence of unscheduled DNA synthesis following irradiation indicating that the excision repair process was not demonstrable within the first 15min after the phototoxic injury. These responses differ in a number of parameters from the phototoxic reactions induced by UV rays shorter than 320 nm.     

EXCISION REPAIR OF PYRIMIDINE DIMERS IN MARSUPIAL CELLS

Monodelphis domestica was further characterized as a model for photobiological studies by measuring the excision repair capabilities of this mammal's cells both in vivo and in vitro. Excision repair capability of the established marsupial cell line, Pt K2 ( Potorous tridactylus ), was also determined. In animals held in the dark, we observed that ˜50% of the dimers were removed by 12 and 15 h after irradiation with 400 J m⁻² and 600 J m⁻², respectively, from an FS-40 sunlamp (280–400 nm). Cells from primary cultures of M. domestica excised ˜50% of the dimers by 24 h after irradiating with 50 J m⁻² and 36 h after exposure to 100 J m⁻² with no loss of dimers observed 24 h following a fluence of 300 J m⁻². Pt K2 cells were observed to have removed -50% of the dimers at -12 h after 50 J m⁻² with only -10% of the dimers removed at 24 h following 300 J m⁻². The observed loss of pyrimidine dimers from epidermal DNA of UV-irradiated animals and from fibroblasts in culture, held in the dark, suggests that these marsupial cells are capable of DNA excision repair.     

Simultaneous determination of methotrexate and metoclopramide in physiological fluids using RP-HPLC with ultra-violet detection; application in evaluation of polymeric nanoparticles

Methotrexate (MTX) is an anticancer drug while metoclopramide (MCP) is an antiemetic agent. Both the drugs are commonly coprescribed to avoid the emesis caused by anticancer drug. In this study, a novel, rapid, sensitive, and cost-effective reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography method was developed and validated for simultaneous determination of the methotrexate and metoclopramide in biological and pharmaceutical samples using sparfloxacin as internal standard. The analytes were separated on a Kromasil 100-5C18 RP (250?×?4.6?mm, 5?µm) column, methanol, and 0.05% trifloroacetic acid (36:64?v/v) as mobile phase with a flow rate of 1?mL/min, detection wavelength of 290?nm, and column oven temperature at 40°C. Both the analytes were extracted from physiological fluids (bovine aqueous humor, vitreous humor, and human plasma) using mixture of methanol and 10% perchloric acid (50:50 v/v). The method was linear over the concentration range of 0.025–1.0?µg/mL for methotrexate and 0.030–1.0?µg/mL for metoclopramide. The % recovery from human plasma was 98.57 and 96.74% for MTX and MCP, respectively, while from aqueous humor and vitreous humor was 95.84 and 98.51% for MTX.

The developed method was applied for in vitro release of MTX from polymeric nanoparticles and can be applied for analysis of pharmaceutical and biological samples containing both the drugs.     

High-performance liquid chromatographic assay for pilocarpine in aqueous humor

A high-performance liquid chromatographic assay for pilocarpine has been developed for the determination of pilocarpine in aqueous humor. A structurally similar internal standard is used, and pilocarpine is separated from isopilocarpine under the chromatographic conditions used. A 100-microliter sample is mixed with an aliquot of internal standard at pH 8.3 and extracted with methylene chloride. The extract is evaporated to dryness and the alkaloids are quaternized with p-nitrobenzyl bromide. Following the quaternization, the sample is evaporated to dryness, washed and diluted with a mobile phase--triethylamine mixture and analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography using a reversed-phase octadecylsilane column with detection at a wavelength of 254 nm. This is a highly sensitive, reproducible and selective assay for measuring pilocarpine at physiological levels in individual aqueous humor samples.     

Simultaneous investigation of sedimentation and diffusion of a single colloidal particle near an interface

We describe here a new procedure for the simultaneous investigation of sedimentation and diffusion of a colloidal particle in close proximity to a solid, planar wall. The measurements were made using the optical technique of total internal reflection microscopy, coupled with optical radiation pressure, for dimensionless separation distances (gap width/radius of particle) ranging from 0.01 to 0.05. In this region, the hydrodynamic mobility and diffusion coefficient are substantially reduced below bulk values. The procedure involved measuring the mean and the variance of vertical displacements of a Brownian particle settling under gravity toward the plate. The spatially varying diffusion coefficient was calculated from the displacements at small times (where diffusive motion was dominant). The mobility relationship for motion normal to a flat plate was tested by measuring the average distance of travel versus time as the particle settled under the constant force of gravity. For the simple Newtonian fluid used here (aqueous salt solution), the magnitude of the diffusion coefficient and mobility, plus their dependence on separation distance, showed excellent agreement with predictions. This new technique could be of great value in measuring the mobility and diffusion coefficient for near-contact motion in more complex fluids for which the hydrodynamic correction factors are not known a priori, such as shear-thinning fluids.     

Aqueous dispersion behavior of drug particles by addition of surfactant and polymer

The effect of surfactant and polymer on dispersion stability of aqueous suspensions of 5-(3-ethoxy-4-pentyloxyphenyl)-2,4-thiazolidinedione (CT112) was investigated by measuring the adsorbed amount of surfactant and polymer, zeta potential, particle size, and sedimentation rate of CT112. The addition of celluloses rather than sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) provided a high stable suspension of CT112. In addition, mixed systems of celluloses and SDS enhanced CT112 dispersion more effectively. The mechanism of dispersion stability of CT112 by addition of SDS and celluloses is discussed.     

Simple Rapid Validated RP-LC Method for the Estimation of Flurbiprofen in Rabbit Serum and Aqueous Humor

Abstract

New reversed-phase liquid chromatographic methods, with UV detection, were developed for the quantitative estimation of flurbiprofen in rabbit blood serum and aqueous humor. The mobile phase and other chromatographic conditions were optimized to minimize interference from biological matrix and at the same time provide sufficient sensitivity for the method to be adopted for in vivo studies of ophthalmic formulations of flurbiprofen. Acetonitrile was used to precipitate proteins from serum or aqueous humor during sample preparation. A mobile phase of methanol: acetonitrile: phosphate buffer pH 5.6 (40:20:40) was employed with UV detection at 248 nm for estimation of drug in both the biological matrix. The retention time and asymmetry factor for the proposed method of estimation in serum and aqueous humor was found to be 3.1312±0.0101 min and 1.1310±0.0091 respectively. The linear regression equations obtained by least square regression method, were Area (µV sec) = 52.27 × Conc. (in ng/ml)–1618.70 in serum and Area (µV sec) = 61.79 × Conc. (in ng/ml) ? 783.24 in aqueous humor. The results of analysis were treated statistically, as per ICH guidelines for validation of analytical procedures, USP-2003, and by recovery studies. The results were found to be accurate, reproducible and free from interference. The developed methods were further used for estimation of flurbiprofen in rabbit serum and aqueous humor following single topical administration of in-house aqueous drop and market formulation to rabbit eye.     

The vibrational Stokes shift of water (HOD in D2O)

The vibrational Stokes shift of the OH stretching transition nu(OH) of water is the shift between the ground-state absorption and the excited-state (v=1) emission. A recent measurement on HOD in D(2)O solvent [S. Woutersen and H. J. Bakker, Phys. Rev. Lett. 83, 2077 (1999)] of a 70 cm(-1) redshift, and a subsequent calculation of a 57 cm(-1) redshift using equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations [C. P. Lawrence and J. L. Skinner, J. Chem. Phys. 117, 8847 (2002)] were in good agreement. We now report extensive measurements of the vibrational Stokes shift in HOD/D(2)O using an ultrafast IR pump, Raman probe method. The vibrational Stokes shift is seen to depend on the pump pulse frequency and on time delay; by varying these parameters it can be made to range from 112 to -32 cm(-1) (negative values indicate a blueshift in the excited state). The equilibrium vibrational Stokes shift is actually a negative rather than a positive quantity. Possible reasons for the disagreement between experiment and theory are briefly discussed.     

Rapid high-performance liquid chromatographic assay of dorzolamide in rabbit aqueous humor

A rapid high-performance liquid chromatographic method using a C(18) reversed-phase column (Hypersil ODS) with UV detection at 254 nm and a simple pre-treatment of samples is presented for the analysis of dorzolamide, a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor, in rabbit aqueous humor. A water solution containing 2% ZnSO(4) small middle dot7H(2)O was used to deproteinize aqueous humor samples. The mobile phase consisted of 7% CH(3)CN and 93% of a solution containing 1% TEA adjusted to pH = 3.5 with H(3)PO(4). Paracetamol was found to be a suitable internal standard. The standard curves were linear in the detection range. The precision and the accuracy were <5% for both intra- and inter-day assays.     

High-performance size-exclusion chromatography of porcine colonic mucins. Comparison of Bio-Gel TSK 40XL and Sepharose 4B columns

A high-performance size-exclusion chromatography (HPSEC) method was developed for the separation of porcine colonic mucins using a Bio-Gel TSK 40XL HPSEC column (300 mm x 75 mm). In addition, porcine gastric and bovine submaxillary mucin preparations were used to describe more fully the separation characteristics of the HPSEC column. For comparison, the same preparations were also separated using a Sepharose 4B column (100 cm x 2.6 cm). The colonic and gastric mucins eluted in the void volume (V0) of both columns. Bovine submaxillary mucin was in the elution volume (Ve) of both columns. Analytical HPSEC of fractions (V0 and Ve) of the various preparations obtained by Sepharose 4B chromatography exhibited retention times identical to those for fractions obtained by HPSEC. After separation by both methods, purified mucins were obtained by CsCl2 density gradient ultracentrifugation; analytical HPSEC profiles, protein contents, and monosaccharide compositions of both gastric and colonic mucins from either column were similar. The HPSEC method, however, is ideally suited to separate microgram to milligram quantities of colonic mucin preparations quickly: 2 to 4 h, compared with 24 to 30 h for the Sepharose 4B method.     

Synthesis and Structural Characterization of a Polyoxomolybdate HNa7[Mo36O112(H2O)16]·47H2O

A new polyoxomolybdate complex HNa7[Mo36O112(H2O)16]·47H2O 1 has been prepared in the beaker solution and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and elemental analyses. Crystal data: H127Mo36Na7O175, Mr = 6542.79, monoclinic, C2/c, a = 40.891(6), b =17.900(3), c = 25.580(4) (A), β = 125.673(2)°, V = 15210(4)(A)3, Z = 4, Dc = 2.857 g/cm3, F(000) =12464, μ = 3.013 mm-1, R = 0.0633 and wR = 0.1654 (I＞ 2σ(Ⅰ)). With the bridging sodium cations,the [Mo36O112(H2O)16]8- units in compound 1 are linked to form a one-dimensional structure, on the basis of which a three-dimensional architecture is further constructed via other sodium cations and complicated hydrogen bonds.     

Synthesis and Structural Characterization of a Polyoxomolybdate HNa_7[Mo_(36)O_(112)(H_2O)_(16)]·47H_2O

A new polyoxomolybdate complex HNa7[Mo36O112(H2O)16]·47H2O 1 has been prepared in the beaker solution and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and elemental analyses. Crystal data: H127Mo36Na7O175, Mr = 6542.79, monoclinic, C2/c, a = 40.891(6), b = 17.900(3), c = 25.580(4) , β = 125.673(2)°, V = 15210(4) 3, Z = 4, Dc = 2.857 g/cm3, F(000) = 12464, μ = 3.013 mm-1, R = 0.0633 and wR = 0.1654 (I > 2σ(I)). With the bridging sodium cations, the [Mo36O112(H2O)16]8- units in compound 1 are linked to form a one-dimensional structure, on the basis of which a three-dimensional architecture is further constructed via other sodium cations and complicated hydrogen bonds.     

Dose identification of triamcinolone acetonide for noninvasive pre-corneal administration in the treatment of posterior uveitis using a rapid,sensitive HPLC method with photodiode-array detector

Triamcinolone acetonide (TAA) is the drug of choice in the management of ocular inflammations due to its anti-inflammatory and immuno-suppressant activity. Available marketed formulations (Triesence, Trivaris, Kenalog) are in the suspension form recommended to be administered via intravitreal injection, which has many major complications. In the present study, we have designed and evaluated Hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD),) based conventional formulations of TAA (aqueous suspensions) with different dose strengths to identify the dose strength required for achieving the effective concentrations in vitreous humor following pre-corneal administration of the formulations. Ocular pharmacokinetic studies of conventional formulations of triamcinolone acetonide (TAA) with different dose strengths (1 mg/30µL, 2 mg/30µL, 4 mg/30µL) were performed to identify the dose strength required to produce effective concentrations of TAA in the aqueous and vitreous humor. A rapid, sensitive, selective, accurate and precise bioanalytical method utilizing a small sampling volume (<45 µL) was developed and validated for quantification of TAA in the samples obtained from the ocular pharmacokinetic studies. Aqueous suspensions of TAA with 20% HP-β-CD produced time course profiles in the aqueous humor at all the dose strengths. However, measurable concentrations and time course of TAA in vitreous humor were achieved only with 4 mg/30µL dose strength.