HPLC Method for Determination of Rosiglitazone in Plasma

A fast and sensitive high performance liquid chromatography method for quantitative determination of rosiglitazone in human plasma has been developed. The extraction from plasma was performed using solid-phase extraction (SPE) on C4 silica (100 mg) disposable extraction cartridges (DEC). The separation of rosiglitazone and two metabolites was achieved on a Phenomenex® Synergi 4 µm MAX-RP (150 × 4.6 mm) column, protected by a guard column. The mobile phase was 0.01 M ammonium acetate, pH 7.0 - acetonitrile (65:35, v/v). (3S)-3-OH-quinidine was used as internal standard. The analytes were detected using fluorescence detection. The method was validated. The limit of quantitation was 1 ng mL⁻¹ and the detection limit was 0.25 ng mL⁻¹ for rosiglitazone in human plasma. The recovery was 90% for rosiglitazone. Linearity was observed over a range of 1-1000 ng mL⁻¹ (r²=0.9959). The intra- and inter-day precision (C.V.) did not exceed 8.7 %. Applicability of the method was demonstrated by a clinical pharmacokinetic study. A healthy volunteer received in two separate phases 4 mg and 8 mg rosiglitazone maleate as a single oral dose. Plasma concentrations were measured for 24 h in both phases.     

Synthesis of lead magnesium niobate and La-modified lead magnesium niobate using different Mg precursors

Summary In the present study, the effect of the partial replacement of Pb²⁺ by La³⁺ in the lead magnesium niobate Pb(Mg_1/3Nb_2/3)O₃ (PMN) perovskite structure was examined, taking into account the Mg-source. Pure lead magnesium niobate (PMN) and lanthanum-modified lead magnesium niobate (PLMN) having composition (Pb_1-xLa_x) (Mg_1+x/3Nb_2-x/3)O₃ with x=0.2 were elaborated. The phase formation was investigated by DTA/TG methods correlated with X-ray diffraction, performed on materials obtained in non-isothermal conditions. The diffraction data for the ceramics obtained by isothermal treatments emphasized the influence of the lanthanum on the crystal structure, inducing the doubling of the unit cell parameter. SEM investigations pointed out the lanthanum inhibitor effect on the grain growth process, leading to an uniform grain distribution.     

Investigation of the NMR enhancement factor in CuMn spin glasses

The NMR enhancement factor of a frozenCuMn spin glass has been measured at a temperatureT?T _g /5. The measurements were performed as function of static magnetic fields of different directions. A two component model of a spin glass has been outlined. One component being a “system of single spins” and the other one being a “subsystem of clusters”. Both components were attributed to different kinds of interaction being RKKY and dipole interaction respectively. The effective anisotropy field of the single spin system consists of two unidirectional contributionsH _a ^s andH _a ^c , which have been measured for different conditions. A second anisotropy fieldH _d binds the cluster system to the system of single spins. All anisotropy fields depend on the annealing temperature of the alloys.     

Raman and cathodoluminescence spectroscopic investigations on Permian fossil wood from Chemnitz--a contribution to the study of the permineralisation process

Samples of different three-dimensionally preserved fossil plants (Medullosa sp., Dadoxylon sp., Calamodendron striatum, Psaronius sp.) from the Lower Permian petrified forest of Chemnitz were examined with regard to their chemical composition and structural order. Raman spectroscopy and cathodoluminescence microscopy are shown to be powerful tools for such investigations. Silicified wood from Chemnitz-Hilbersdorf generally shows yellow cathodoluminescence (CL) of the cell walls and only weak yellow-brownish CL of the cell lumina. By time-resolved cathodoluminescence spectroscopy, a secondary mineralisation of hydrothermal origin was recognized. The latter is shown by short-lived blue CL at the cell walls extinguishing the yellow signal. Therefore, after the primary silicification step a secondary mineralisation step initiated by hydrothermal processes, seems to have taken place at probably slightly higher temperatures. The resulting silica matrix consists of phanerocrystalline and microcrystalline alpha-quartz as well as microcrystalline moganite, both partially associated with iron oxides. Dadoxylon sp. is a prominent example for parallel permineralisation by alpha-quartz and fluorspar, which is outstanding for the Chemnitz Petrified Forest. CL on this samples shows parallel silicification and fluoritisation, followed by infiltration of iron oxides. Permineralised samples show very low percentage of original organic remains. The seed fern Medullosa, for example, shows dispersed carbon, which is mainly restricted to the centres of the typical star-shaped vascular bundles. Raman spectroscopy revealed that these carbonaceous particles are of an anthracite structure. For experimental confirmation coal samples of different rank, especially anthracite from different geological times and localities, were studied by means of Raman spectroscopy. The remaining pith of the vascular bundles is white-coloured and consists of alpha-quartz and moganite, whereas surrounding tracheides exhibit white and reddish coloured parts. The reddish parts, mainly found in the rays, additionally contain alpha-Fe2O3 and Fe3O4 among the SiO2 polymorphs of alpha-quartz and moganite. Sometimes iron oxides could have dominated permineralisation processes as the peak intensities of distinct parts of the samples suggest.     

Untersuchungen über den Phytolgehalt von Pflanzen

Zusammenfassung Es wurde festgestellt, daß der Phytolgehalt von Blättern der Roßkastanie (Aesculus hippocastanum) im Laufe der Vegetationsperiode von praktisch Null in den Knospen mit der Ausbildung der Blätter rasch zum Maximalwert ansteigt. Es sind keine Anhaltspunkte dafür gegeben, daß wesentliche Phytolmengen außer den im Chlorophyll gebundenen in den Knospen oder grünen Blättern vorhanden sind. Dagegen bleibt bei der herbstlichen Laubverfärbung der Phytolgehalt noch erhalten und nimmt erst mit der Verrottung der abgefallenen Blätter ab.Blätter und Stengel von Feuerbohnen (Phaseolus multiflorus), die in Dunkelheit gezogen wurden und praktisch chlorophyllfrei waren, enthielten auch kein Phytol.     

Dynamic NMR properties of DOTA ligand: variable pH and temperature 1H NMR study on [K(HxDOTA)](3-x)- species

The (1)H NMR spectra of [H(x)DOTA]((4-x)-) species are reported as a function of pH and temperature in aqueous solution. The spectra show line broadening both in ligand proton signals and also in the water proton signal by titration with KOH solution. The formation of different [K(H(x)DOTA)]((3-x)-) complexes is found to be responsible for this behaviour. At high pH the usual fluxional motions, i.e. the ring inversion and the change in the acetate arms' helicity, which are also characteristic for other but inert metal-DOTA complexes, have been detected. However, because of the kinetic lability of K(+)-O and K(+)-N coordinative bonds a new type of rearrangement appears. This new motion requires breaking of coordinative bonds in the complex and can be described as a certain type of "ring slewing" around the ring C-C bonds. At low temperature (about 270 K) the ring slewing slows down and becomes negligible compared with the ring inversion and the change in the arms' helicity. These two latter processes have the same rate. When the temperature is higher (about 320 K) the ring slewing accelerates and its rate exceeds the rate of ring inversion. At this temperature the change in the acetate arms' helicity has the same rate as the ring slewing. Additionally, in the pH range 4-5 a slow intermolecular proton exchange process has been observed between the water and the dissociable protons of [K(H(x)DOTA)]((3-x)-). A water-assisted proton exchange mechanism is proposed on the basis of the activation parameters. This finding supports the previously suggested slow proton motion hypothesis for the formation of DOTA complexes.     

High-spin to low-spin relaxation kinetics in the [Fe(TRIM)2]Cl2 complex

A quasi-quantitative photo-induced low-spin (LS)-->high-spin (HS) conversion of FeII ions has been observed in the [Fe(TRIM)2]Cl2 complex by irradiating the sample with blue light (488 nm) at 10 K. The time dependence of the HS-->LS relaxation has been studied between 10 K and 44 K by means of magnetic susceptibility measurements. These relaxation curves could be satisfactorily fitted by mono-exponential decays including tunnelling effect except for temperatures below 30 K. The introduction of a distribution of vibrational frequencies into this model improved significantly the fits in the low-temperature range and gave a good agreement with the experimental data in the whole temperature range suggesting a multi-rate relaxation process in this complex.     

Chromatographic determination of amino acid enantiomers in beers and raw materials used for their manufacture

Using gas chromatography (GC) on a chiral stationary phase, accompanied by high-performance liquid chromatography, beers and raw materials used for manufacturing (hops, barley grains, malts) were investigated for the pattern and quantities of amino acid enantiomers. Although L-amino acids were most abundant, certain D-amino acids were detected in all beers and most of the raw materials. Highest amounts of D-amino acids were detected in special beers such as Berliner Weisse that underwent bottle-conditioning with lactic cultures, and Belgian fruit beers produced by spontaneous fermentation. It is demonstrated that GC on chiral stationary phases is highly suitable for the quantitative determination of amino acid enantiomers in beers and raw materials used for their manufacture. Quantities, relative amounts and pattern of amino acid enantiomers can serve in particular as chiral markers for the authenticity of special beers.     

Extraction of gallium(III) and aluminium(III) with O,O-dialkyldithiophosphoric acids

The extraction of Ga³⁺ and Al³⁺ with the liquid cation-exchangers di-n-butyldithiophosphoric acid (DBTPA) and di-(2-ethylhexyl)dithiophosphoric acid (DETPA) in kerosene, in the presence and absence of alcohols and tri-n-butyl phosphate (TBP) has been studied. Both Ga³⁺ and Al³⁺ can be extracted in the form of a neutral complex, MA₃, but the distribution coefficient of Ga³⁺ is the higher by about two orders of magnitude, which can be the basis of the solvent extraction separation of gallium and aluminium. The differences can be explained by the interaction between the sulphur donor atoms of the extractants and the d¹⁰ electronic shell of Ga³⁺ as well as by the lower steric hindrance of ligands co-ordinated to Ga³⁺.     

Speciation of Se,Fe and Zn in Human Milk Whey: The use of Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) to corroborate element profiles measured with Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP-AES)

In human milk trace elements normally exist in a form which can easily be absorbed by the newborn infant. For investigations of the bioavailability of trace elements it is necessary to carry out a speciation analysis of the elements of interest. An independent analytical method has been used for the quality control of the shape of the element profiles obtained from the speciation analysis of Se, Fe and Zn in individual samples of human milk whey after chromatographic separation. For the element detection in the untreated milk fractions Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) was chosen as the reference method. Element distribution patterns have been obtained with Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP-AES) using on-line digestion of the fraction, reduction and hydride formation of Se ("T"-mode). Prior results are compared with those obtained by means of element detection in the untreated fractions ("U"-mode) with ICP-AES. The elution profiles of Se, Fe and Zn in human milk whey obtained by means of ICP-AES detection using the "T"-mode show good agreement with the distribution patterns obtained with INAA. Recoveries of 103% for Fe, 86% for Zn and 87% for Se were obtained. The element distribution patterns of Fe and Zn obtained with ICP-AES speciation using the "T"-mode also show good agreement with those obtained by means of ICP-AES using the "U"-mode.