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.     

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.     

Determination of toxic elements in tea,leaves by instrumental neutron activation analysis

The concentration of certain toxic and essential elements in various brands of tea consumed locally were determined using instrumental neutron activation analysis. Transference of these elements into the drinkable portion was studied by brewing and boiling tea leaves for two minutes and the approximate intake was calculated from this data. The toxic effects of Hg, Se, As, Br and Sb are briefly discussed.     

Determination of trace elements in coffee beans and instant coffee of various origins by INAA

Summary Extensive use of coffee, by one-third of world's population, entails the evaluation of trace element contents in it. Instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) was successfully employed to determine the concentration of 20 trace elements (essential, toxic and nonessential) in four samples of coffee beans of various origins and two instant coffee brands most commonly consumed in Pakistan. This study provides the base-line values of certain toxic and essential elements in coffee. The daily intake of essential and toxic elements through coffee was estimated and compared with the recommended values. The cumulative intake of Mn is four times higher than the recommended value and that of toxic elements is well below the tolerance limits.     

Time and temperature-based study for the production of high T C phase by sol-gel technique in Pb-bscco system

The high T_C superconducting phase Bi₂Sr₂Ca₂Cu₃Ox (2223) in the Pb-BSCCO system has been produced by EDTA-gel processing using nitrate solutions. The precursor has heated in two stages, at 300 and 800°C each for 2 h, to avoid the burning of the important species involved in the final product. The effects of time (6 to 48 h) and temperature (845 and 855°C) on the formation of the 2223 phase have been studied by sintering the samples in air. Thermal analysis (TG/DTA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) have been employed to investigate the powder produced at different stages of decomposition, oxidation and formation of sintered materials from the powders. The volume-fraction of the 2223 phase at 845°C increases with time, the maximum value of the 2223 phase was obtained at 120 h. It has been observed that the formation of the high T_C phase is remarkably enhanced at the temperature of the endothermic peak of the DTA curve. The best result has been obtained in the sample sintered for 24 h at the temperature 855°C (endothermic peak). This also indicated that at 855°C, the large volume-fraction of 2223 phase with T_C 113 K grew in short time and as the sintering time increased, it decomposed into the Bi₂Sr₂CaCu₂Ox (2212) phase and other phases.     

Extraction studies of the group IB,IIB, and IIIA–VA elements using 1-(2-pyridylazo)-2-naphthol as chelating reagent

The extraction of PAN chelates of the group IB, IIB and IIIA–VA elements from aqueous solutions of pH 1–10 into chloroform has been studied radiochemically. Re-extraction studies have been made to strip the metal ions from the organic phase into aqueous solutions of KCN, HClO₄ and buffer solutions. The effects of certain masking agents on the extraction of these elements have also been studied. The extraction curves indicate the possibilities of devising group chemical separation procedures for use in activation analysis.     

The solvent extraction of iron from steel solutions with 2-hexylpyridine prior to the determination of trace elements

The distribution of iron(III) between aqueous hydrochloric acid and 0.1M 2-hexylpyridine in benzene was examined as a function of acid concentration in the aqueous solution, the metal concentration being kept constant, and as a function of increasing ferric chloride concentration at a constant acidity of hydrochloric acid. The distribution coefficient of Fe(III) (tracer) is dependent on the square of the 2-hexylpyridine concentration in the benzene phase. Negatively charged complexes of the type FeCl(2-)(5) may be the species extracted. The formation of a mixture of 1:1 and 1:2 complexes with 2-hexylpyridine is indicated. Salting-out effects of a number of salts have been investigated. Separation factors of several metal ions relative to iron(III) in 7M hydrochloric acid are also reported. The results indicate that iron(III) can be selectively separated from a large number of elements, and the method has been utilized for the preconcentration of non-ferrous metal ions in mild steels by selective separation of iron, before their subsequent determination by emission spectrometry.