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Plasma concentrations of total and unbound 11-hydroxysteroids in patients with rheumatoid arthritis have been determined using a fluorimetric method before and after administration of acetylsalicylic acid, phenylbutazone and indomethacin. Unbound 11-hydroxysteroids were measured in plasma ultrafiltrates obtained using the Toribara apparatus. Enhancement and quenching of fluorescence by acetylsalicylic acid, phenylbutazone, and indomethacin, and heparin used as an anticoagulant in the blood samples, have been shown to be absent. The results show that acetylsalicylic acid, phenylbutazone and indomethacin given in recommended therapeutic doses for periods of one week have no significant effect on plasma protein-binding of 11-hydroxysteroids.

Aristolochic acid (I) was present in single samples of A. longaand A. indica, in two samples of A. serpentaria, and four samples of A. reticulata.Aristo-red (II) was present only in the samples of A. reticulataand A. serpentaria.Contrary to numerous reports of alkaloids in Aristolochiaspecies, the current investigation has revealed the presence of only negligible amounts in the samples of A. indica, A. longa, A. reticulataand A. serpentariaexamined. A flavone isolated from A. reticulatahas been identified as isorhamnetin.

Selenium in some organo-selenium compounds has been determined colorimetrically by conversion to selenious acid and hence to a selenium sol stabilised with chlorpromazine hydrochloride. Nonionic, cationic and anionic stabilisers have been compared with chlorpromazine hydrochloride but only cetomacrogol appeared to be as efficient.

The determination of o-methoxycinnamaldehyde is described, based upon an absorption measurement at 1266 cm−1in the infra-red region of the spectrum together with the normal assay for total aldehydes. Comparison of the absorption at 1266 and 1312 cm−1may be used qualitatively to distinguish between oils derived from the bark of Cinnamomum cassiaBlume and those from the leaves and twigs.

A rapid spectrophotometric method is suggested for the determination of ethisterone and of methyltestosterone in tablets by reaction with Girard-T reagent.

The light petroleum-soluble fraction from a batch of Aristolochia reticulatahas been examined and found to contain the following:A ketonic oil, consisting of at least 2 unidentified components.A crystalline lactone, C15H20O2, m.pt. 110·5° to 111° C, designated aristolactone.A bicyclic monoterpene, which has been tentatively identified as (–)-Δ4-carene.A mixture of esters, which on saponification yields (–)-borneol formic acid and an unidentified cyclic unsaturated acid, C10H16O2.5A bicyclic sesquiterpene, C15H24, designated reticulene.

The effect of acetylsalicylic acid, ibufenac, indomethacin, oxyphenbutazone and phenylbutazone on the protein-binding of 11-hydroxysteroids in vitroat concentrations in excess of normal has been examined in human blood bank plasma, in plasma from women in the third trimester of pregnancy, and in plasma from patients after injections of tetracosactide. Phenylbutazone, ibufenac and indomethacin do not significantly affect the protein-binding of 11-hydroxysteroids. Oxyphenbutazone causes a decrease in the proportion of unbound 11-hydroxysteroids and acetylsalicylic acid produces an increase of unbound 11-hydroxysteroids.

The effect of finely divided silica on the antifoaming properties of polydimethylsiloxanes (dimethicone 1000) when formulated in a typical antiflatulent tablet has been examined. A dynamic froth test has been used to show that removal of extractable dimethicone by ether extraction of the tablet powder markedly reduces the antifoaming properties of the powder, despite retention of a small percentage of the polydimethylsiloxane dispersed on the surface of the silica and aluminium hydroxide gel content of the tablet. A series of static froth tests similarly demonstrate that tablet formulations from which silica is omitted also possess significant antifoaming properties.