[Optimization of formulation matrix proportion and preparation technology of realgar floating tablets for gastric retention by uniform design and correlation analysis].

OBJECTIVE: To optimize the different components proportions of the Realgar floating tablets for gastric retention by uniform design and correlation analysis. METHOD: With the different dosage of hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC) as the tablets frame matrix, uniform design and correlation analysis were used to optimize the best component proportions of formula, and to measure the dissolution of the tablets in vitro. RESULT: Dissolution of the tablets in vitro was conformed to the expectation of experiment. The drug-release mechanism was by diffusion and corrosion at the same time. CONCLUSION: The Realgar floating tablets for gastric retention achieved the goal of design, which demand sustained release and safety.

Efficacy of a potentized homoeopathic drug (Arsenicum Album-30) in reducing toxic effects produced by arsenic trioxide in mice: II. On alterations in body weight, tissue weight and total protein.

OBJECTIVE: To study the alterations in body weight, tissue weight and total protein in mice, caused by a single sublethal injection of arsenic trioxide and to investigate whether treatment by microdoses of arsenic has any antidotal effect. METHODS: For each fixation interval, altogether 36 individuals of Swiss albino mice, Mus musculus, were used, 27 were injected with As2O3 in a single sub-lethal dose (@1.0 mg/kg body weight) and were divided into three batches. One batch was fed with diluted potentized alcohol (Alcohol control), one batch was fed with potentized homoeopathic drug Ars.Alb-30 (Active treatment), while the remaining one neither fed with potenized alcohol nor with the potentized homoeopathic drug (As-intoxicated control). The remaining batch of nine mice were injected with normal saline which served as negative control (Saline control). The mean body weights before and after injections and weights of different tissues like liver, kidney, spleen and testis were recorded at seven fixation intervals, 12 hours, 24 hours, 48 hours, 7 days, 21 days, 30 days, and 90 days. RESULTS: In arsenic treated mice orally administered with the homoeopathic drug statistically significant increases were noted in the weights of individual tissue weight, protein content as well as the mean body weight as compared to their respective controls. CONCLUSIONS: Arsenicum album can be considered as an antidote to arsenic poisoning.

[Absorption and distribution of mercury and arsenic from realgar and cinnabar of angong niuhuang pill in normal rats and rats with cerebral ischemia].

OBJECTIVE: To study comparatively the characteristics of absorption and distribution of mercury and arsenic from realgar and cinnabar of Angong Niuhuang Pill in normal rats and the rats with cerebral ischemia after oral administration. METHOD: The blood samples and homogenates of liver, kidney and brain were prepared at various intervals after the animals were treated with Angong Niuhuang pill ig. The levels of total mercury and total arsenic in the blood and the organ homogenates were measured with Microwava Accelerated Reaction System and AAs, respectively. RESULT: The blood concentrations of mercury and arseic reached the highest point in normal rats at one hour following single oral dosing of Angong Niuhuang pill. In normal rats, the mercury distribution was characterized by its higher level in blood and kidneys than in other organs, while a higher distribution of arsenic was found in blood than in organs. No difference in the distribution of mercury or arsenic was found between normal rats and rats with cerebral ischemia after the treatment with the pill. CONCLUSION: The highest level of mercury or arsenic in blood occurs at one hour after oral administration of the pill in normal rats. There is a higher distribution of mercury in blood and kidneys, while a higher distribution of the arsenic only in blood. There is no significant difference in the distribution of mercury or arsenic between the normal rats and the ischemic rats.