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Five batches of sulfamethoxazole tablets were prepared using different binders [starch, acacia, ethyl cellulose sodium carboxymethylcellulose, and povidone (1-vinyl-2-pyrolidinone polymer, PVP)] with water in 3% (dry basis) concentration. Comparative data show that granules prepared with PVP have the best flow properties and minimum angle of repose, percentage fines, and compressibility, while granules of sodium carboxymethylcellulose could not be compressed into well-defined tablets. Tablets containing starch as a binder possess all the quality features. Tablets from acacia, however, give a poor dissolution profile. Ethyl cellulose has less effective granule formation, leading to poor quality tablets. Rank correlation with respect to solubility and absorption characteristics according to granulating agent in the formation is: starch greater than ethyl cellulose greater than PVP greater than acacia.

An attempt has been made to formulate a stable, aqueous injection of nifedipine (1) using the technique of hydrotropic solubilization. Sodium benzoate (2; 30% w/v) and sodium salicylate (3; 30% w/v) have been employed as the vehicle to prepare the injection of 1 in 1 mg/5 ml and 1 mg/2 ml concentration in either case. An accelerated stability study for 4 weeks at 8 degrees C, room temperature, 40 and 50 degrees C indicates maximum stability at 8 degrees C, suggesting the need of storage with refrigeration. Light stability study in the specially designed chamber indicates that covering the ampoules with black chart paper affords adequate stability to the 1 injection. The injections are also stable to autoclaving. Preliminary in vivo study in rats shows that the injection is effective.

Consumption of fifteen percent alcohol, during gestation did not cause any decrease in the total calorie or fluid intake of the rats maintained on normal dietary regimen. However, the alcohol consumption by gestating mothers resulted in a decreased contents of both DNA and protein in the CNS of the in utero alcohol exposed pups at birth. DNA content was also found to be less in the undernourished pups compared to the normal pups. On the other hand an increase in the total gangliosides and a decrease in the ganglioside catabolizing enzymes was observed in the brain and spinal cord of alcoholic pups at birth. However undernutrition resulted in a decrease in the content of total gangliosides both in brain and spinal cord. Maternal alcohol consumption and undernutrition had also resulted in an altered proportions of the individual ganglioside fractions.

We have recently demonstrated that continuous light stimulates tail regeneration in the gekkonid lizard, Hemidactylus flaviviridis, whereas continuous darkness and pinealectomy depress regeneration. As a sequel to this observation, the effect of exogenous ovine prolactin (oPRL) on tail regeneration in normal (NL) and pinealectomized (PX) Hemidactylus exposed to continuous darkness (L:D 0:24) during the monsoon season was investigated. Once-daily intraperitoneal (ip) injections of 500 micrograms/kg oPRL were administered to a group of NL lizards, a group of PX lizards, and a group of sham-PX (sPX) lizards, 5 days prior to tail autotomy and 50 days afterward. Three groups--PX, sPX, and NL animals--served as the controls and received once-daily ip injections of 0.6% saline. Our observations show that initiation of regeneration, daily growth rate, total length of new growth (regenerate) at the end of regeneration, and total percentage replacement of lost (autotomized) tail were all significantly enhanced in oPRL-treated NL lizards as compared with their saline-treated (NL, PX, and sPX) and oPRL-treated (PX and sPX) counterparts. It is suggested that PRL may be the active factor that speeds up the rate of tail regeneration in lacertilians. The role of the pineal organ in vertebrate photoreception and the possibility that in Hemidactylus the presence of an intact pineal is somehow linked with the favorable influence of PRL on tail regeneration are discussed.