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Research Advances
Research Advances . Equipment Reuse May Result In Drug Contamination The mortar and pestle, long-standing symbols of pharmacy, are implii cated in one of pharmacy's ongoing problems, that of drug cross-contamination. A study reported in the December 1978 issue of the Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences presents evidence that potent water-insoluble antipentyleneteytrazol agents (e.g., clonazepam) triturated in porcelain mortars and pestles are not removed from these mixing devices by the usual laboratory washing procedure. Amounts sufficient to contaminate the next substance triturated in this vessel are carried over after washing. The contamination of mortars and pestles may only represent the " tip of the iceberg." Many laboratories are working with highly potent water-insoluble substances. Various methods such as a mortar and pestle, a sonicator, a homogenizer, a tissue grinder, and a micromixer are used to achieve a suitable solution or suspension. Subsequent use of this equipment to solubilize or suspend other chemicals could result in significant contamination unless appropriate precautions are taken. These precautions include the use of disposable laboratory utensils and internal controls to determine when reused utensils are clean.
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Vitamins Fail to Improve Minimal Brain Dysfunction Over the past decade megavitamin therapy has been advocated by various professional and public groups for treating numerous behavioral and mental problems. However, in a placebo-controlled study reported in the December 8, 1978, issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, none of the IS children receiving a megavitamin combination for minimal brain dysfunction showed any improvement. Only two of the 31 children in the study improved; both were receiving placebo. The study used a double-blind, parallel, pretest/post-test design. Changes in pretest to post-test . scores on four blind ratings by
--.A!:!Jm:ican Pharmacy Voi.NS19, No.3, Mar.1979/163
teachers and parents showed no significant difference between the placebo and vitamin groups. The vitamin combination administered twice daily for two weeks contained 1 g of niacin, 1 g of ascorbic acid, 100 mg of pyridoxine hydrochloride, 200 mg of pan tothenate calcium, and 500 mg of glutamic acid. The subjects included 23 boys and eight girls, 5-12 years old, previously diagnosed as having minimal brain dysfunction.
Expiration Dates on Toothpaste Might Make Good Sense The instability of fluoride in toothpaste is more of a problem than was originally recognized. Fluoride, added to toothpastes to strengthen tooth enamel and decrease the accumulation of plaque, is known to break down easily and to combine with other substances in the product. A University of Illinois College of Dentistry study involving several leading brands of toothpaste found that the most stable brand lost only about 3.5 percent of its fluoride in six months and about 15 percent after 28 months. On the other end of the scale was a leading brand with about 28 percent lost after six months and more than 60 percent lost after 28 months. Consumers, as the last link in the marketing chain, have no way of knowing how old a product is before purchasing it, nor can pharmacists who stock toothpaste determine the age of the products they purchase. And age has now been shown to be a factor in toothpaste efficacy. The implications of the documented fluoride loss are uncertain, since the· fluoride dose required for maximum effectiveness is not known. In addition to age, heat and humidity conditions of storage areas affect the amount of fluoride remaining in the product. o
': .. I recommend Sudafed." It opens the nose without closing the eyes. Give your patients . the advantages of Su.dafed when they need nasal decongestion for colds or allergies-without the drowsiness disadvantage of antihistamines.
One qrug,one action: decongestion without cfrowsiness.
SUDAFED (pseudoephedrine HCI) 30 mg tablets/syrup
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Vitamins Fail to Improve Minimal Brain Dysfunction Over the past decade megavitamin therapy has been advocated by various professional and public groups for treating numerous behavioral and mental problems. However, in a placebo-controlled study reported in the December 8, 1978, issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, none of the IS children receiving a megavitamin combination for minimal brain dysfunction showed any improvement. Only two of the 31 children in the study improved; both were receiving placebo. The study used a double-blind, parallel, pretest/post-test design. Changes in pretest to post-test . scores on four blind ratings by
--.A!:!Jm:ican Pharmacy Voi.NS19, No.3, Mar.1979/163
teachers and parents showed no significant difference between the placebo and vitamin groups. The vitamin combination administered twice daily for two weeks contained 1 g of niacin, 1 g of ascorbic acid, 100 mg of pyridoxine hydrochloride, 200 mg of pan tothenate calcium, and 500 mg of glutamic acid. The subjects included 23 boys and eight girls, 5-12 years old, previously diagnosed as having minimal brain dysfunction.
Expiration Dates on Toothpaste Might Make Good Sense The instability of fluoride in toothpaste is more of a problem than was originally recognized. Fluoride, added to toothpastes to strengthen tooth enamel and decrease the accumulation of plaque, is known to break down easily and to combine with other substances in the product. A University of Illinois College of Dentistry study involving several leading brands of toothpaste found that the most stable brand lost only about 3.5 percent of its fluoride in six months and about 15 percent after 28 months. On the other end of the scale was a leading brand with about 28 percent lost after six months and more than 60 percent lost after 28 months. Consumers, as the last link in the marketing chain, have no way of knowing how old a product is before purchasing it, nor can pharmacists who stock toothpaste determine the age of the products they purchase. And age has now been shown to be a factor in toothpaste efficacy. The implications of the documented fluoride loss are uncertain, since the· fluoride dose required for maximum effectiveness is not known. In addition to age, heat and humidity conditions of storage areas affect the amount of fluoride remaining in the product. o
': .. I recommend Sudafed." It opens the nose without closing the eyes. Give your patients . the advantages of Su.dafed when they need nasal decongestion for colds or allergies-without the drowsiness disadvantage of antihistamines.
One qrug,one action: decongestion without cfrowsiness.
SUDAFED (pseudoephedrine HCI) 30 mg tablets/syrup
51