The current study evaluates the anticonvulsant effect low dose whole body gamma irradiation (LDR) alone or combined with topiramate against pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced convulsions. Male Wister rats received either saline or PTZ (75 mg/kg i.p.). The other three groups were pretreated with single low dose radiation (0.5 Gy), topiramate (50 mg/kg, p.o., seven days) and TPM with LDR respectively before PTZ injection. Racine' score, latency, and duration of the convulsions were assessed. Glutamate and GABA were measured. AKT/m-TOR signaling pathway including AKT (protein kinase B), mammalian target of rapamycin (m-TOR), protein S6, and caspase 3 were also assessed. Measurements of markers of oxidative stress including malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), and nitric oxide (NO) were carried out. Histological examinations of hippocampi were done. PTZ produced behavioral changes (high Racine score, short latency, and long duration). It elevated MDA and NO contents, while reduced GSH content. TPM treatment alone or combined with LDR ameliorated the PTZ-induced convulsions and caused significant improvement in behavioral changes, brain mediators, m-TOR pathway, oxidative stress, and histological pictures in hippocampal regions. Histopathological examinations of the normal group showed normal structure with intact cells, while PTZ-treated rats exhibited necrosis, pyknosis, and atrophy of pyramidal cells. The histological findings corroborated with the amendment of biochemical parameters. The positive effects of LDR could offer a possible contributor in management of convulsions due to modulation of AkT/m-TOR signaling pathway, reduction of oxidative stress and modulation of brain amino acids. LDR improved the oxidative stress side effects of topiramate.

A simple, specific, accurate, and stability-indicating high performance liquid chromatographic
method (HPLC) method has been established for analysis of fluconazole (FLZ) in the presence of its
degradation products generated in the stress degradation study. FLZ was subjected to stress conditions
of acid, alkali, and neutral hydrolysis, oxidation, photolysis, and thermal decomposition.
Extensive degradation was found to occur in oxidative medium under thermal stress. Successful separation
of drug from degradation products was achieved on a C-18 column using phosphoric acid
0.5% v=v: acetonitrile (80:20% v=v) as the mobile phase. The flow rate was 1.5mL min
1 and the
detector was set at 261 nm. The retention times of FLZ and its main oxidative degradation product
were found to be 5.389 min and 2.729 min, respectively. Linearity was established for fluconazole in
the range of 0.5–50 ug/ml. The percentage recovery of fluconazole was found to be 99.910.74.
Because the method effectively separates fluconazole from its oxidative degradation products, it can
be used as stability-indicating method. The proposed method was also used to study the kinetics of
fluconazole oxidative degradation that was found to follow a zero-order reaction. The t1/2 was
21.66 min while k (reaction rate constant) was 2.9110
8 mole=min.

Limbal stem-cell deficiency can be congenital or acquired; it can also be partial
or total. Treatment options include: conjunctival-limbal autografts, keratolimbal
lamellar allograft, and living-related conjunctival-limbal allografts. A novel
method of transplanting limbal stem cells is via ex-vivo expansion of limbal stem
cells; with the advantages of: a smaller limbal biopsy, reduced risk of precipitating
stem cell failure in the donor eye, and allowing the option of taking a further
biopsy if required.