Determination of phenytoin in plasma by molecularly imprinted solid-phase extraction.

A molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) using phenytoin as template and methacrylamide as the functional monomer was prepared. The selectivity was measured by comparing capacity factors of phenytoin and other structurally related compounds. The polymer was evaluated as a selective sorbent in molecularly imprinted solid-phase extraction (MISPE). Several washing solvents were tested to study their ability to disrupt the non-specific interactions occurring between the sample and the polymer matrix and the role of water in the recognition process was also investigated. It was shown that the key step of successful sample extraction is the right choice of the washing solvent. Plasma samples spiked with phenytoin were analyzed by the MISPE methodology developed in this work. Method validation (intra- and inter-day precision, recovery, specificity) was carried out. The calibration curve showed good linearity in the 2.5-40 microg/ml range corresponding to therapeutically relevant plasma levels. The intra- and inter-day precision values were below the 15% limit established for bioanalytical methods. The results showed that the method could be successfully applied for the determination of phenytoin in plasma samples.

Analgesic and anti-inflammatory effectiveness of nepafenac 0.1% for cataract surgery.

BACKGROUND: To compare nepafenac 0.1% with placebo and ketorolac 0.5% for prevention and treatment of ocular pain and inflammation after cataract surgery. METHODS: In a multi-center, randomized, placebo- and active-controlled, double-masked clinical trial, 227 patients with cataract were randomized to receive nepafenac 0.1%, ketorolac 0.5%, or placebo TID beginning 1 day pre-operatively and continuing for 21 days postoperatively. At each postoperative visit, cure rates and clinical success rates (

Immunoassay-based determination of phenobarbital using size-exclusion chromatography.

The measurement of the anti-epileptic drug phenobarbital from serum samples combining immunoassay and size-exclusion chromatography is presented. The immunoreaction is based on the competitive binding of the analyte (unlabelled phenobarbital) and the fluorescent-labelled phenobarbital to anti-phenobarbital antibodies. Mixing of the reagents and the immunoreaction takes place in a flow system. The products are separated on-line on a short gel chromatographic column and the fluorescence intensity of the marker is measured. The calibration curve shows good linearity in the range 5-80 microg/ml, corresponding to therapeutically relevant serum levels. Intra-day precision values are between 7.32 and 9.48%; the accuracy is between 0.97 and 9.43%. Inter-day precision and accuracy measured on 6 different days fall between 5.38 and 10.05% and -8.27 and -4.97%, respectively. The results obtained with the proposed method show a good correlation with those of other methods (radioimmunoassay and fluorescence polarisation immunoassay) already established in clinical laboratories.

Scanning laser polarimetry via intravitreal silicone oil.

PURPOSE: To investigate whether scanning laser polarimetry, a promising new technique for early detection of glaucomatous nerve fiber loss, is a suitable method to measure retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in eyes with intravitreal silicone oil. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eleven eyes of 11 consecutive patients two days to 16 months after successful vitrectomy and intravitreal silicone oil injection and 12 eyes of 12 consecutive subjects, who never had any vitreoretinal surgery were examined using the GDx Nerve Fiber Analyzer. Three individual images were computed to a mean image using the software in each case. RESULTS: "Variance", a software-provided parameter, which represents the differences between the individual images used to calculate the mean image was higher in the "silicone oil" group (unpaired t test for different variances, p = 0.02). Good-quality mean images with a "Variance" value similar to that of the control eyes were obtained in seven of the 11 cases. Characteristic artifacts caused by intravitreal silicone oil were observed in five of the 11 cases. CONCLUSION: Successful scanning laser polarimetry is possible after vitrectomy and intravitreal silicone oil injection, and may help to monitor the retinal nerve fiber layer of these eyes in case of silicone oil induced glaucoma.

Excimer laser treatment of hyperopia.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to analyse the clinical results of hyperopic photorefractive keratectomy treatments and to compare the results achieved with the usage of different masks. METHOD: 20 eyes of 16 hyperopic patients were treated, using the Aesculap-Meditec MEL60 193nm ArF excimer laser. The mean duration of follow-up was 9.9+/-3.4 months. Statistical comparison of the results with the two masks was made using the unpaired Student t-test. RESULTS: Preoperative mean spherical equivalent was +4.23+/-1.18D, which changed to +0.20+/-0.78D at one month and regressed to +1.23+/-1.27D at the last control examination. After 6 months 60% (12 eyes) had spherical equivalent within +/-1.0D of the attempted correction. The statistical analysis showed no significant difference between the results with the two masks. CONCLUSION: Good preparation for the treatment is of equal importance for the results of the photorefractive keratectomy as compared to the technical circumstances.