Analysis of weight uniformity, content uniformity and 30-day stability in halves and quarters of routinely prescribed cardiovascular medications

Objectives

Congenital and acquired cardiac disorders are frequently diagnosed in small breed dogs and cats. In order to appropriately dose cardiovascular drugs for small patients, fractions of commercially available tablets must be prescribed. The aims of this study were to evaluate weight and content uniformity and 30-day chemical stability in halves and quarters of 11 drug formulations commonly prescribed to treat cardiovascular disorders in small breed dogs and cats.

Animals, materials and methods

Fifteen tablets from 11 drug formulations were obtained within the same lot. Tablets were split by a single operator using a commercially available pill splitter. Whole tablets, halves and quarters were weighed and stored in plastic containers. High-pressure liquid chromatography or liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry were utilized to determine drug content and repeated 30 days later to estimate chemical stability.

Results

Statistically significant weight variability, content non-uniformity and chemical degradation were found for some formulations. Digoxin showed a significant degradation that should be considered in clinical practice.

Conclusions

It appears that pill splitting is overall a relatively reliable practice; however tablets should not be split ahead of time but only immediately prior to intended usage.     

Assessment of oak forest condition based on leaf biochemical variables and chlorophyll fluorescence

Pedunculate oak forests (Quercus robur L.) in the Ticino Regional Park, Italy, are declining as a result of insect attacks, summer droughts and air pollution. The assessment and monitoring of forest condition can provide a basis for managing and conserving forest ecosystems and thereby avoid loss of valuable natural resources. Currently, most forest assessments are limited to ground-based visual evaluations that are local and subjective. It is therefore difficult to compare data collected by different crews or to define reliable trends over years. We examined vegetation variables that can be quantitatively estimated by remote observations and, thus, are suitable for objective monitoring over extended forested areas. We found that total chlorophyll (Chl) concentration is the most suitable variable for assessing pedunculate oak decline. It is highly correlated with visual assessments of discoloration. Furthermore, Chl concentration can be accurately estimated from leaf optical properties, making it feasible to map Chl concentration at the canopy level from satellite and airborne remote observations.     

Annual survival probabilities of juvenile loggerhead sea turtles indicate high anthropogenic impact on Mediterranean populations

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