Anthranoid-containing medicines and food supplements on the Belgian market: a comparative study.

Medicines and food supplements containing anthranoid herbal drug preparations were verified on identity of the herbal substance, content of total hydroxyanthracene glycosides and microbiological quality. All examined medicines complied with the fixed requirements whereas all food supplements deviated from 1 or more of the criteria. The food supplements showed a large variability in quality and content.

[Improving the quality of compounded medicines through self-assessment: proof of concept].

A systematic quality control of compounded medicines, and an associated guidance of community pharmacists, was identified as a complementary opportunity to improve and guarantee the quality of compounded medicines. Before implementing this on a national scale, a pilot project was organized. Fifty pharmacies prepared the same formula and had it checked regarding labelling, preparation reports and analytical parameters.

[Glucosamine preparations on the Belgian market: a comparative study].

Fourteen food supplements and one medicine containing glucosamine and formulated as film-coated tablets and capsules, were evaluated with different tests, including uniformity of mass and dosage units, disintegration, identification and assay of glucosamine with a validated HPLC-ELSD method. The medicinal product fulfilled all the fixed requirements whereas three food supplements didn't comply with regard to disintegration (product 7) and content of glucosamine (product 11 and 13).

Nifedipine preparations on the Belgian market: a comparative study.

Nifedipine preparations formulated as immediate-release capsules and prolonged-release tablets were evaluated with different tests, including in vitro dissolution, assay and content uniformity, and determination of related compounds. The analytical methods were previously validated according to international guidelines. All examined products complied with the postulated requirements but the dissolution test for prolonged-release tablets showed that these products cannot be interchanged.

Dextromethorphan hydrobromide preparations on the Belgian market--a comparative study.

Liquid preparations for oral use containing dextromethorphan hydrobromide were verified on identity, content and microbiological quality. The assay method was previously validated according to international guidelines. All examined products complied with the postulated requirements.

[Omega-3 fatty acid preparations--a comparative study].

Fifteen food supplements and 1 medicine, formulated as soft capsules and containing omega-3 fatty acids, were evaluated with different tests, including desegregation, determination of the anisidine and peroxide values and assay of the omega-3 acids according to the European Pharmacopoeia. All the products contained purified fish oil rich in omega-3 fatty acids, mainly eicosapentaenoic acid (C20:5; EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (C22:6; DHA), and available as triglycerides, ethyl esters or free fatty acids. The medicinal product complied with the fixed requirements whereas 7 of the 15 food supplements deviated from 1 or more of the criteria with regard to the peroxide value and the content of 1 or more of the fattty acids.

Propranolol preparations on the Belgian market: a comparative study.

Propranolol preparations formulated as immediate-release tablets and prolonged-release capsules were evaluated with different tests, including in vitro dissolution and assay with previously validated methods according to the guideline of the European network of Official Medicines Control Laboratories (OMCLs). All examined products complied with our requirements and those described in the European, British and the US Pharmacopoeia and consequently they can be considered as pharmaceutically equivalent.

Fluconazole preparations on the Belgian market: a comparative study.

Fluconazole preparations formulated as capsules were evaluated with different tests, including in vitro dissolution and assay with previously validated methods according to the guideline of the European network of Official Medicines Control Laboratories (OMCLs). All examined products complied with our requirements and those described in the European and the US Pharmacopoeia and consequently they can be considered as pharmaceutically equivalent.

Application of a C-peptide electrospray ionization-isotope dilution-liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry measurement procedure for the evaluation of five C-peptide immunoassays for urine.

This study applied electrospray ionization-isotope dilution-liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry for the evaluation of five urinary C-peptide immunoassays via split-sample measurements. The immunoassays measured in duplicate in the same run, the comparison method in triplicate over different runs. From the data, the within-run imprecision and the method comparison total RSDs were calculated.

Strategies for determination of insulin with tandem electrospray mass spectrometry: implications for other analyte proteins?

Using human insulin (MW 5808 Da) as a model compound, the possible strategies towards optimization of sensitivity and selectivity of measurement by electrospray ionization with a standard triple quadrupole mass spectrometer were investigated. For measurement in selected ion-monitoring (SIM) mode, these strategies involved systematic variation of instrumental parameters and spray pH. In this investigation four different operating modes were used corresponding to positive/negative ionization modes with acidic/basic sprays and pH reversed (hereafter termed 'wrong-way-round' operation); the cone voltage was optimized for each mode of operation.

Quantitative analysis of urinary C-peptide by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry with a stable isotopically labelled internal standard.

We describe the first results of a quantitative LC-tandem mass spectrometry method for urinary C-peptide with the use of [2H14]C-peptide as internal standard. LC was based on gradient elution of a Hypersil PEP C18 column. Mass spectrometry was performed in the negative electrospray ionization mode and by monitoring of the transitions at m/z 1514/1334 ([2H14]C-peptide) and 1507/1320 (C-peptide).

The qualitative and quantitative determination of quinolones of first and second generation by capillary electrophoresis.

Capillary electrophoresis (CE) was applied to the study of 10 quinolones of first and second generation--nalidixic acid, oxolinic acid, pipemidic acid, cinoxacin, norfloxacin, ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, pefloxacin, fleroxacin, and flumequine. Separation was performed on a fused silica capillary (75 microm-60 cm) using a phosphate buffer (pH 7.0, 125 mM).

A 72 year old woman with ALCAPA.

ALCAPA syndrome (anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery), which causes the left coronary artery to grow with an anomalous origin from the pulmonary artery, is a rare disease which may result in myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, and sometimes death during the early infantile period. A 72 year old woman with ALCAPA syndrome is presented. The asymptomatic patient presented with a cardiac murmur which was discovered during a routine check up for a gynaecological intervention.

Isotope dilution-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry for the determination of triiodo-L-thyronine in serum.

Isotope dilution-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (ID-GC/MS) and isotope dilution-liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (ID-LC/MS/MS) methods have been developed for an determination of triiodothyronine (T3) in serum and their potential as candidate reference methods investigated. In both methods, (13)C(9)-T3 was used as internal standard. Sample pretreatment consisted of deproteinization, extraction and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) purification.