Novel spectrofluorimetric method for boldine alkaloid determination in herbal drugs and phytopharmaceuticals.

A new green on-line method for Boldine determination (BOL) in herbal drugs and phytopharmaceuticals, using its native fluorescence in acid media (λ=282nm; λ=373nm) has been developed. The presented methodology involves for the first time, a flow injection (FI) strategy using a mini-column of multiwalled carbon nanotubes as retention agent coupled with molecular fluorescence. Different parameters influence as sample pH and flow rate, eluent flow rate and composition; on BOL sensitivity and elution time was investigated by multifactorial techniques.

O-(β-hydroxyethyl)rutosides determination by micellar flow injection (FI)-spectrofluorimetry.

A simple, eco-friendly, sensitive and economic flow injection spectrofluorimetric method was developed for the determination of O-(β-hydroxyethyl)rutosides. The procedure was based on the use of an anionic surfactant such as sodium dodecyl sulfate to provide an appreciable O-(β-hydroxyethyl)rutosides fluorescence enhancement, increasing considerably the sensitivity of detection. All the variables affecting the fluorescence intensity were studied and optimized.

Online naphazoline quality control by micellar-enhanced spectrofluorimetry.

The aim of this study was to develop a method for online spectrofluorimetric quality control of naphazoline (NPZ) in pharmaceuticals and raw drugs. A combination of a flow-injection analysis (FIA) system with micellar-enhanced fluorescence detection is presented as a powerful alternative for the rapid and sensitive analysis of naphazoline. Since NPZ shows low native fluorescence, the use of an anionic surfactant, such as sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS), provides a considerable enhancement of fluorescence intensity and the nature of the technique allows a possible and easy adaptation to a FIA system.

Precision improvement for omeprazole determination through stability evaluation.

A new spectrofluorimetric method for the determination of omeprazole (OMP) based on its degradation reaction catalyzed by ultraviolet (UV) light is proposed. OMP in aqueous solution is very unstable, which renders a serious difficulty for controlling its quality. It does not show native fluorescence, but when exposed to UV radiation, it generates a highly fluorescent degradation product with adequate stability for indirect OMP quantification.

A novel application of immobilization on membranes for the separation and spectrofluorimetric quantification of amiloride and furosemide in pharmaceutical samples.

A new, simple and highly sensitive method for spectrofluorimetric determination of amiloride (AMI) and furosemide (FUR) in pharmaceuticals is presented. The proposed method is based on the separation of AMI from FUR by solid-phase extraction using a nylon membrane, followed by spectrofluorimetric determination of both drugs, on the solid surface and the filtered aqueous solution, respectively. AMI shows low native fluorescence, but its separation-preconcentration by immobilization (solid-phase extraction) on nylon membrane surface provides a considerable enhancement in fluorescence intensity.

Restless legs syndrome in Parkinson's disease.

We aimed to investigate the prevalence of restless legs syndrome (RLS) according to essential diagnostic criteria, and to explore potential associations with clinical features, especially motor fluctuations, in a cohort of 113 patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD). Twenty-eight (24%) fulfilled essential diagnostic criteria for RLS. They were younger (63.

Video analysis of motor events in REM sleep behavior disorder.

In REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD), several studies focused on electromyographic characterization of motor activity, whereas video analysis has remained more general. The aim of this study was to undertake a detailed and systematic video analysis. Nine polysomnographic records from 5 Parkinson patients with RBD were analyzed and compared with sex- and age-matched controls.

Transcranial ultrasound shows nigral hypoechogenicity in restless legs syndrome.

In patients with Parkinson's disease, hyperechogenicity of the substantia nigra using transcranial ultrasound has been related to increased tissue concentrations of iron. Recently, deficient iron transport mechanisms in substantia nigra neurons have been described in postmortem tissue of patients with restless legs syndrome (RLS). This study was performed to study substantia nigra echogenicity in RLS patients compared with normal control subjects and Parkinson's disease patients.