CDRI compound no. 99/411 is a potent 1,2,4-trioxane antimalarial candidate drug under development at our Institute. An HPLC method for determination of CDRI 99/411 with its starting material and intermediates has been developed and validated for in process quality control and stability studies. The analytical performance parameters such as linearity, precision, accuracy, specificity, limit of detection (LOD) and lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) were determined according to International Conference on Harmonization ICH Q2(R1) guidelines. HPLC separation was achieved on a RP-select B Lichrospheres column (250 mm ? 4 mm, 5μm, Merck) using water containing 0.1%glacial acetic acid and acetonitrile as the mobile phase in a gradient elution. The eluents were monitored by a photo diode array detector at 245 and 275 nm. Based on signal to noise ratio of 3 and 10 the LOD of CDRI 99/411 was 0.55 mg/mL, while the LLOQ was 1.05 mg/mL. The calibration curves were linear in the range of 1.05-68 mg/mL. Precision of the method was determined by inter- and intra-assay variations within the acceptable range.

Background/Aims: Opioid-induced bowel dysfunction includes nausea, vomiting, constipation and abdominal distension. We describe patients presenting with gastrointestinal (GI) ulcers and ulcerated strictures secondary to opioid abuse, an entity not well described in literature. Methods: This retrospective observational study included patients with opioid abuse gastroenteropathy presenting to Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana, India between January 2013 and December 2018. Opioid abuse gastroenteropathy was defined as gastric or small bowel ulcers and ulcerated strictures in patients abusing opioids, where all other possible etiologies of GI ulcers/strictures were excluded. Clinical, biochemical, endoscopic, radiological and histological parameters as well as response to treatment were assessed. Results: During the study period, 20 patients (mean age, 38.5±14.2 years; 100% males) were diagnosed to have opioid induced GI ulcers and/or ulcerated strictures. The mean duration of opioid consumption was 6.2±3.4 years. The mean duration of symptoms at presentation was 222.1±392.3 days. Thirteen patients (65%) had gastroduodenal involvement, 6 (30%) had a jejunoileal disease and 1 (5%) had an ileocecal stricture. Two patients (10%) presented with upper GI bleeding, 11 (55%) had features of gastric outlet obstruction and 7 (35%) presented with small bowel obstruction. Abdominal pain and iron deficiency anemia were the most common presentations. Only 1 patient (5%) responded to proton pump inhibitors, 3 (15%) had a lasting response to endoscopic balloon dilatation, while all other (80%) required surgical intervention. Conclusions Opioid abuse gastroenteropathy presents as ulcers and ulcerated strictures which respond poorly to medical management and endoscopic balloon dilatation. A majority of these cases need surgical intervention.

OBJECTIVE: The inability to propel a bolus of food successfully from the posterior part of the oral cavity to the oropharynx is defined as transfer dysphagia. The present case series describes the varied presentation of transfer dysphagia due to focal dystonia and highlights the importance of early detection by following up on strong suspicions. METHODS: We describe seven cases of transfer dysphagia due to focal dystonia. Transfer dysphagia as a form of focal dystonia may appear as the sole presenting complaint or may present with other forms of focal dystonia. RESULTS: Four out of seven patients had pure transfer dysphagia and had previously been treated for functional dysphagia. A high index of suspicion, barium swallow including videofluoroscopy, associated dystonia in other parts of the body and response to drug therapy with trihexyphenidyl/tetrabenazine helped to confirm the diagnosis. CONCLUSION: Awareness of these clinical presentations among neurologists and non-neurologists can facilitate an early diagnosis and prevent unnecessary investigations.
Barium ; Deglutition Disorders ; Diagnosis ; Drug Therapy ; Dystonia ; Dystonic Disorders ; Early Diagnosis ; Humans ; Mouth ; Oropharynx