Comparison of intraocular pressure lowering effect of once daily morning vs evening dosing of latanoprost/timolol maleate combination.

PURPOSE: To compare intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction profiles of latanoprost-timolol maleate fixed combination (LTFC) administered in the morning or evening in primary open angle glaucoma (POAG). METHODS: A prospective, randomized study including 60 eyes of 30 patients with POAG was carried out. Patients were randomized to treatment with LTFC at 8 PM (Group 1) or at 8 AM (Group 2). After therapy of 4 weeks, IOP was measured at 2 AM, 6 AM,10 AM, 2 PM, 6 PM, and 10 PM and compared with baseline values and latanoprost therapy alone. RESULTS: Mean diurnal baseline IOPs and IOPs after treatment with latanoprost and LTFC were 23.6+/-2.6, 16.7+/-2.3, and 15.5+/-2.2 mmHg in Group 1 and 23.1+/-2.6, 16.9+/-2.4, and 15.7+/-2.4 mmHg in Group 2. LTFC lowered IOP more than latanoprost at all time points in both groups (p<0.001) (except 6 AM in Group 2). The mean IOP range after LTFC therapy was lower than the baseline in Group 1 whereas it was not different in Group 2. IOP at 10 AM was significantly higher than the other time points at baseline measurements in both groups (p<0.01) but after treatment there was no difference (p>0.05). According to IOP reduction from baseline, there was a statistically significant difference between groups in favor of Group 1 at 6 AM, 10 AM, and mean diurnal measurement (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Both morning and evening dosing of LTFC were effective in lowering diurnal IOP in patients with POAG. However, evening dosing of LTFC seemed to be more effective in controlling IOP especially in the morning and avoiding the fluctuations with lower range of IOP.

Determination of phenolphthalein and methylene blue by first derivative spectrophotometry and potassium nitrate by direct spectrophotometry in a pharmaceutical formulation.

A rapid first derivative visible spectrophotometric determination is described for the simultaneous determination of phenolphthalein (PHP) and methylene blue (MB) in the presence of potassium nitrate (KNO3). Potassium nitrate is also determined by direct visible spectrophotometric method in the presence of phenolphthalein and methylene blue without any interference. The methods have been applied to the determination of the three compounds in a commercial dosage form. The calibration graphs were linear in the range of 0.30-3.20 mg mL-1 for MB and 0.80-3.18 micrograms mL-1 for PHP and 0.80-8.10 micrograms mL1 for KNO3. The specificity, accuracy and precision of the methods have been assessed.

Superiority of oral agar and phototherapy combination in the treatment of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the value of oral agar in the treatment of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia and to compare it with two other treatment modalities: phototherapy alone and phototherapy plus oral agar. METHODS: Two hundred eight jaundiced full-term newborns were divided into four groups. They were given either phototherapy alone, phototherapy plus oral agar, oral agar alone, or no treatment (control group). The changes in the serum bilirubin values were determined and the results were compared statistically, mainly using analysis of variance. RESULTS: In all three therapy groups, the time required to reduce the bilirubin level to either 15 mg/dL or to 10 mg/dL was significantly shorter than that required by the control group. Although oral agar was found to be as effective as phototherapy, the most significant decrease in bilirubin level was in the combination group. CONCLUSIONS: The efficacy of phototherapy in decreasing the serum bilirubin level in neonatal hyperbilirubinemia can be augmented with the use of oral agar. Oral agar can also be used as a single agent for the treatment of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia, since it is as effective as phototherapy.

Zinc levels of serum, plasma, erythrocytes and hair in Turkish women with anencephalic babies.

The present study revealed a significantly low zinc concentration, measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry, in serum, plasma and erythrocytes of mothers with anencephalic babies as compared to two control groups of women. We feel that Turkey should be added to the list of geographic regions where zinc deficiency has been found together with a high rate of CNS malformations.