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Melatonin is an indolic compound that has been reported in the literature to exist in human-based samples, vertebrates, vegetables, fruits, and pharmaceutical products. Melatonin is considered a dietary supplement and can regulate circadian rhythms, although it has not been classified as a drug by the US Food and Drug Administration. Several analytical methods have been used for its detection. This study aimed to summarize the recent outcomes of the chromatographic methods such as electrophoretic methods, gas chromatography, and liquid chromatography, which have been used for the determination of melatonin in the last three decades, with the focus on gas chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography methods.

Three neurotransmitter sensors for dopamine, serotonin, and epinephrine have been developed. Potentiometric sensors for serotonin and epinephrine are novel and first to be introduced. The neurotransmitter potentiometric sensors are based on using dibenzo-30-crown-10 (DB30C10), dibenzo-24-crown-8 (DB24C8), and dibenzo-18-crown-6 (DB18C6) as ionophores and neutral carriers incorporating in poly(vinyl chloride) matrix membrane plasticized with o-nitrophenyl octyl ether. Sensors based on dibenzo-30-crown-10 show good responses for the dopamine, serotonin, and epinephrine (Type I–III, respectively) with a cationic slope of 57.9 mV decade−1 and detection limit of 4.0×10−5 mol L−1 dopamine, cationic slope of 55.9 mV decade−1 and detection limit of 4.0×10−5 mol L−1 serotonin, and cationic slope of 54.4 mV decade−1 and detection limit of 2.0×10−5 mol L−1 epinephrine. The sensors based on DB24C8 and DB18C6 (Types IV–IX) show poor responses in terms of calibration range and slope. The effect of the interferents on the response of the sensors reveals a high selectivity for the neurotransmitters over many inorganic cations, ascorbic and uric acids. The useful pH range for the three sensors is 3–7, the response time is fast (11 s), and the life span is long (2.5 months). Sensors (Types I and III) are successfully used for the quantification of dopamine and adrenaline in pharmaceutical preparations.

The present article reports for the first time the use of Aliquat 336S-atorvastatin as an electroactive material in a poly(vinyl chloride) matrix membrane sensor plasticized with ortho-nitrophenyl-octylether (o-NPOE) or dioctylphthalate (DOP) for determination of atorvastatin in biological samples (human plasma) and in pharmaceutical preparations. The sensor shows fast, stable and reproducible response over the concentration range of 1.0×10−7–1.0×10−2 mol L−1 atorvastatin with anionic slopes of 60.94±0.2 and 58.22±0.2 and pH range of 5.0–9.0 for o-NPOE and DOP plasticized based membrane sensors, respectively. The response time of the sensor is stable and fast (10 s). Results were achieved with average recoveries of 99.5 % and 99.3 % and mean standard deviations of ±1.1 % and ±1.4 % for o-NPOE and DOP plasticized based membrane sensors, respectively. The sensor exhibits high selectivity towards atorvastatin in the presence of many anions, drug excipients and diluents. Validation of the method according to the quality assurance standards shows suitability of the proposed sensors for use in the quality control assessment of the drug.

A new and rapid potentiometric method for determination of flucloxacillin is developed. The method involves development of a flucloxacillin sensor with a membrane consisting of Aliquat 336S-flucloxacillin as an electroactive material in poly vinyl chloride matrix membrane plasticized with orthonitrophenyl-octylether or dioctylphthalate. The sensor shows fast, stable and reproducible response over the concentration range of 1.0 × 10 −5 –1.0 × 10 −2 M flucloxacillin with anionic slopes of 60.7 ± 0.3 and 61.2 ± 0.2 and pH ranges of 6–11 and 7–11 for o -nitrophenyloctylether ( o -NPOE) and dioctylphthalate (DOP) plasticized based membrane sensors, respectively. The response time of the sensor is stable and fast (7 s). The sensor exhibits high selectivity towards flucloxacillin in presence of amoxicillin, ampicillin, dicluxacillin, pencillin, many anions and drug excipients and diluents. Validation of the method according to the quality assurance standards shows suitability of the proposed sensors for use in the quality control assessment of the drug. Results with average recoveries of 99.6% and 99.7% and mean standard deviations of ±1.2% and ±1.5% for o -NPOE and DOP plasticized based membrane sensors, respectively, of the nominal are obtained which compare fairly well with data obtained using the British Pharmacopoeia method.

Simple, selective and accurate sensors were developed for the determination of melatonin and oxomemazine in biological samples (urine) and in pharmaceutical preparations. Potentiometric measurements were based on bismus tetraiodate-drug ion-pair as novel electroactive materials incorporating a plasticized PVC membrane with o-nitrophenyl octyl ether or dioctyl phthalate. Each sensor was conditioned for at least two days in 0.1 M drug solution before use. It exhibited fast and stable Nernstian response for melatonin and oxomemazine over the concentration range of 1.0×10−6–1.0×10−2 M and 1.0×10−5–1.0×10−2 M, pH range of 3.0–6.5 and 3.5–6.0 for melatonin and oxomemazine sensors, respectively. Results with an average recovery not more than 101 % and a mean standard deviation less than 1.0 % of the nominal were obtained for the four sensors. The sensors showed reasonable selectivity towards investigated drugs in presence of many cations.

Intralesional corticosteroid injections were performed in 31 hemangiomas in 30 infants aged 1 to 10 months at first injection. One to five injections were given, spaced 6 weeks apart. Lesions were located throughout the head and neck region, except one that was on the buttock. A mixture of betamethasone acetate and triamcinolone acetonide was used. Four lesions (13 percent) virtually disappeared, ten (32 percent) showed greater than 50 percent reduction in volume, ten (32 percent) showed definite but less than 50 percent reduction in volume, and seven (23 percent) showed little or no decrease in size. None showed further growth. All injections were performed without anesthesia, and there were not significant complications. We conclude that intralesional corticosteroid injections are safe and effective in properly selected infants with hemangiomas.

Indomethacin-treated bovine iris-ciliary body microsomes (IBIM) have been studied for their ability to convert PG endoperoxides into either thromboxane-A2 (TxA2)-like or prostacyclin (PGI2)-like activity. The biological activity of the ocular tissue microsomes were compared with either indomethacin-treated human platelet microsomes (for TxA2-like activity) or rabbit aorta microsomes (for PGI2-like activity) under appropriate incubation conditions. No evidence could be found for the formation of TxA2-like activity from PG endoperoxides by the IBIM. In contrast, when the IBIM were incubated with PGH2 for 1 min at 22 degrees C without cofactors, PGI2-like activity was produced, causing profound relaxation of the isolated dog coronary artery preparation without contracting the rabbit aorta and inhibiting arachidonic acid-induced platelet aggregation. Equivalent quantities of boiled IBIM failed to alter the biological activity of PGH2 under identical conditions. Tranylcypromine (500 microgram/ml) completely abolished the appearance of PGI2-like activity. Furthermore, the PGI2-like activity found was stable for 10 min at 22 degrees C at pH 8.5 but completely lost under similar conditions at pH 5.5. It is concluded that microsomal preparations of normal bovine iris-ciliary body can synthesize PGI2-like activity in substantial amounts but not TxA2-like activity.