Impact of gamma-irradiation on the degradation and mineralization of hydroxychloroquine aqueous solutions.

In this work, the effect of gamma irradiation emitted by Cobalt 60 source has been investigated for the degradation of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ). The monitoring of the gamma irradiation treatment of HCQ aqueous solutions was followed by UV-visible, chemical oxygen demand, total organic carbon (TOC) and LC/MS analyses. Effects of several important parameters such as concentration, dose rate and pH on the degradation efficiency were studied then evaluated. Achieved results showed that % TOC removal efficiency of 98.5 was obtained after 8 kGy absorbed dose which warrants HCQ mineralization. The process was found to be more efficient when the initial pollutant concentration was low, with higher dose rate and at neutral pH. Furthermore, HCQ degradation kinetic study revealed a pseudo-first-order kinetic. Additionally, based on by-products identified by LC/MS, a degradation mechanistic schema mediated through hydroxyl radicals generated by water radiolysis has been proposed. Finally, in order to check the potential industrial application viability the energy consuming was evaluated.

[Association of Sjögren's syndrome and Plummer Vinson syndrome]. / Association d'un syndrome de Gougerot Sjögren et d'un syndrome de Plummer Vinson.

Dysphagia is a common complaint of patients with Sjogren's syndrome, but its mechanism remains a subject of controversy. The association of Sjogren's syndrome with Plummer-Vinson syndrome remains uncommon. We report a 56-year-old women who presented both disorders. The diagnosis of the Plummer-Vinson syndrome was based on the classic triad of dysphagia, iron-deficiency anaemia and oesophageal webs. The diagnosis of Sjogren's syndrome was based on the presence of three Fox criteria. This association should incite us to search for common immuno-genetic pathogenic factors between these two syndromes.

Simultaneous determination of pseudoephdrine, pheniramine, guaifenisin, pyrilamine, chlorpheniramine and dextromethorphan in cough and cold medicines by high performance liquid chromatography.

A new simple, rapid and sensitive liquid chromatographic method has been developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of pseudoephdrine, pheniramine, guaifenisin, pyrilamine, chlorpheniramine and dextromethorphan in cough and cold pharmaceuticals. The separation of these compounds was achieved within 13 min on a Kromasil C18 column using an isocratic mobile phase consisting of methanol-dihydrogenphosphate buffer at pH 3 (45:55, v/v). The analysis was performed at a flow rate of 1 mL min(-1) and at a detection wavelength of 220 nm. The selectivity, linearity of calibration, accuracy, within and between-days precision and recovery were examined as parts of the method validation. The concentration-response relationship was linear over a concentration range of 5-50 microg mL(-1) for pseudoephdrine, pheniramine, chlorpheniramine and 50-600 microg mL(-1) for guaifenisin, pyrilamine, dextromethorphan, methylparaben and sodium benzoate with correlation coefficients better than 0.998. The standard deviations of the intraday and interday were all less than 2%. The proposed liquid chromatographic method was successfully applied for the routine analysis of these compounds in different cough and cold pharmaceutical preparations such as syrups, capsules, tablets and sachets. The presence of preservatives (sodium benzoate and methylparaben) and other excipients did not show any significant interference on the determination of these compounds.