Basic information for identifying psychological disorders caused by malignant disease.

BACKGROUND: Improvements in cancer dia-gnosis and treatment explain a substantial increase in the number of patients chronically affected by or recovering from cancer. This is a fragile population, physically, psychologically and socially affected by the consequences of the disease and the associated treatment. The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) reacted to this fact, creating the NCCN guidelines for survivorship. They provide screening, evaluation and treatment recommendations for the consequences of cancer and cancer treatment. PURPOSE: Inspired by this NCCN recommendation, we drew up this article pointing out the psychological issues like anxiety, depression and fatigue in order to help the physicians refer their patients timely to psychologic or psychiatric care.

An innovative approach to the analysis of 3-[4-(2-methylpropyl)phenyl]propanoic acid as an impurity of ibuprofen on a carbon-coated zirconia stationary phase.

3-[4-(2-Methylpropyl)phenyl]propanoic acid has been introduced as impurity F to the European Pharmacopoeia in its Supplement 4.2. In contrast to other impurities, which are evaluated by HPLC, the content of impurity F is determined by gas chromatography after previous derivatization. Thus a novel reversed-phase HPLC method was developed to simplify the evaluation of pharmacopoeial impurity F of ibuprofen. Favourable properties of zirconia stationary phases were employed for this purpose. The HPLC separation was achieved on a Zr-CARB column (150 mm x 4.6mm i.d., 5 microm) using the mobile phase acetonitrile-phosphate buffer (pH 3.5, 25 mM) (38:62, v/v), temperature 80 degrees C and the flow rate 1.2 ml min(-1). The fluorescence detection was employed to enhance the sensitivity of the method. Optimal detection parameters were chosen on the basis of fluorescence spectra of the analytes. The excitation and emission wavelengths were 220 nm and 285 nm, respectively. The analysis was completed within 25 min. The subsequent validation of the method confirmed the applicability of method for the analytical assay of impurity F.

Use of chiral liquid chromatography for the evaluation of stereospecificity in the carbonyl reduction of potential benzo[c]fluorene antineoplastics benfluron and dimefluron in various species.

Benfluron (B) [5-(2-dimethylaminoethoxy)-7H-benzo[c]fluorene-7-one hydrochloride] is a potential antineoplastic agent. In the organism, B undergoes a rapid phase I biotransformation through oxidative and reductive metabolic pathways. The carbonyl reduction of B leads to reduced benfluron, red-B, this is one of the principal pathways for the deactivation of this compound. The structure of B was modified to suppress its rapid deactivation via the carbonyl reduction on C7. Dimefluron, D (3,9-dimethoxy-benfluron) is one of the derivatives of B, in which an alternative metabolic pathway (O-desmethylation) prevails over the carbonyl reduction. The goal of this study was to develop HPLC methods enabling chiral separations of the red-B and -D enantiomers. The separation of red-B enantiomers was successful done on a Chiralcel OD-R column (250 mm x 4.6 mm ID, 5 microm) using a mobile phase acetonitrile-1 M NaClO4 (40:60, v/v). Another mobile phase, methanol-1 M NaClO4 (75:25, v/v), had to be employed for the sufficient resolution of red-D enantiomers. Flow rate was 0.5 ml min(-1) in both cases. Red-B was detected at 340 nm, red-D at 370 nm. The above chiral HPLC methods were used for the study of the biotransformation of B and D in the microsomal fractions of liver homogenates prepared from various species (rat, rabbit, pig, guinea pig, goat and human). The enantiospecificity of the respective carbonyl reductases was evaluated and discussed for both prochiral compounds, B and D.

HPLC evaluation of diclofenac in transdermal therapeutic preparations.

High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was selected for analytical evaluation of sodium diclofenac in original transdermal therapeutic preparations containing adjuvant substances (capsaicin, hyoscyamine). After isolation from laminated adhesive patches, diclofenac was analysed on columns with reversed phase, using the mobile phase ethanol and phosphate buffer (pH 6.5) with an addition of tetrabutylammonium iodide and detection at 284 nm. Not only the total amount of diclofenac in the patch was evaluated, but HPLC methodology was also employed to select a suitable acceptor medium for permeation experiments. In patches manufactured in the tested series, HPLC was also employed to examine the release of diclofenac and its in vitro permeation through the human skin.

[The effect of subclinical ketosis in dry cows on the composition of the colostrum and on health indicators in newborn calves]. / Vliv subklinické ketózy zaprahlých krav na slození kolostra a na ukazatele zdraví novorozených telat.

Subclinical ketosis of dry cows was studied as to its effect on the composition of colostrum and on the health condition and selected clinico-biochemical parameters in the new-born calves of these cows. The experimental group consisted of eight cows with ketonuria and their calves. The control group consisted of six cows without ketonuria and their new-born calves. Calves of both groups were reared in similar conditions. Colostrum samples were taken from the first milking and then from the milking 24 hours after parturition. The blood of the calves was sampled before the intake of colostrum and 24 hours after birth. The concentration of ketone bodies, particularly beta-hydroxybutyrate, was much higher in the colostrum of both groups of cows than in the blood (62.6 mg total ketone bodies per 1 litre of the first colostrum of the cows of the experimental group). The concentration of ketone bodies slightly increased after parturition. The cows with ketonuria secreted into colostrum a larger amount of oxidated ketone bodies. Colostrum quality was good in both groups. Decreased viability was not recorded during the clinical examination of the calves after birth. The level of total ketone bodies in the blood of pre-colostral calves in the experimental group was 10.4 mg per litre (a much lower concentration than in blood of their dams), and exhibited no appreciable change after taking in the colostrum. The blood of calves born to cows with ketonuria contained significantly higher amounts of oxidated ketone bodies. No correlation was demonstrated between the contents of ketone bodies in the blood of cows, in the blood of calves, and in the colostrum. The calves of the experimental group were found to have a significantly higher AST activity in plasma, as compared with the control group. Twenty-four hours after birth, the quantity of immunoglobulins in the blood serum was significantly lower in the calves of the experimental group. Thanks to good attendance and hygiene, the morbidity did not increase and no losses occurred.

[Trypsin inhibitor activity in the colostrum of cows]. / Aktivity inhibitoru trypsinu v kolostru krav.

The activity of the colostral trypsin inhibitor (CTI) was studied in seven milkings of colostrum in the course of the first five days after calving in 15 cows. The activity of the total trypsin inhibitor in the colostrum was ascertained in the course of the first two days after calving in ten cows in their second to fourth lactations and also in the colostrum of the first milking after calving in the case of 11 cows. The greatest CTI activity was found in the colostrum of the first milking after calving (301 micrograms X ml-1). Between the CTI activity and the concentration of total protein (CB) in the whey of the colostrum from the first and second day after calving there was found to be a statistically significant correlation (r = +0.929). The activity of total trypsin inhibitor was also highest in the colostrum from the first milking (499 micrograms X ml-1). After calving the CTI and the total trypsin inhibitor activities in the colostrum gradually dropped. Between the activity of the total trypsin inhibitor and the CB concentration in whey from the first, third, fifth and seventh milkings after birth a statistically significant correlation was found (r = +0.972). Statistically significant correlations were also found between the activity of the total trypsin inhibitor, the specific gravity of colostrum, the concentration of total protein and gamma-globulins in the whey of the colostrum from the first milking after calving. In metabolic alkalosis the concentration of total protein in the whey and the activity of trypsin inhibitor were found to be considerably lower than the average values.

[Selected indicators of colostrum quality in cows over the period of a year]. / Vybrané ukazatele kvality mleziva u krav v prubehu roku.

Under the conditions of large-scale breeding, seasonal changes in the total protein of colostrum whey, gammaglobulins, vitamins A, E, C, and carotene in cow's colostrum from the first milking, were studied in the course of the first 12 months. As indicated by the results of an analysis of 302 colostrum samples, the concentrations of total protein in whey were significantly higher in winter (P less than 0.01) than in the summer season. On the other hand, vitamin C levels were higher in summer than in winter. A lower level of total protein of colostral serum than the required minimum of 120 g per litre was recorded in 64.4% of the cows. A highly positive correlation (r = +0.981) was demonstrated between the concentration of total protein and gammaglobulins in colostrum whey. This fact makes it possible to consider and use for diagnostic purposes the total protein of whey as a sufficiently exact parameter of colostrum quality without having to determine the gammaglobulin level. On the basis of these analyses it is possible to some extent not only to evaluate the health condition of high-pregnant cows and the quality of attendance, but also to prognosticate the health of their calves.

[The effect of colostral immunoglobulins on hematological and biochemical indicators in calves]. / Vliv kolostrálních imunoglobulinu na hematologické a biochemické ukazatele u telat.

Haematological values (haemoglobin concentration, haematocrit, erythrocyte and leucocyte number) and the levels of biochemical parameters (plasma concentrations of magnesium, zinc and copper) were studied in dependence on the level of immunoglobulins in calves in the early postnatal period. As a parameter of colostrum intake and quality the immunoglobulin level in blood serum was chosen, according to which the calves (n = 300), aged from two to six days, were divided into four groups. A relationship between the colostrum intake, or the immunoglobulin level in blood serum, and the magnesium concentration in blood plasma was observed. The magnesium level in plasma was in correlation with the Ig level in the blood serum of calves. As far as the other studied blood parameters are concerned, no statistically significant differences were proved in the calves aged two to six days.