p.i., but none of the animals showed rise in body temperature (data not shown). At both 3 and 14 d.p.i. there was no virus replication in the brains, spleen and intestine (data not shown). This study confirmed the attenuated phenotype of a A/17/California/2009/38 pandemic LAIV candidate in a ferret model. The results of immunogenicity study showed that a single dose of pandemic LAIV was sufficient to induce adequate immune responses against the wild type strain. Moreover, vaccinated animals

proved to be protected against challenge with a virulent wild type pandemic H1N1 virus (Table 2). The monovalent LAIV contained 7.0 log EID50 Selleckchem CDK inhibitor per 0.5 ml dose for adults and 6.5 log EID50 for children. Following successful preclinical studies, a Phase I/II randomized, controlled, double-blind clinical study was carried out in 120 adults aged 18–60 years randomly divided into groups to receive

either the vaccine (100) or the placebo (20) administered intranasally in two doses given at 21 days apart. Standard haemagglutinin inhibition (HAI) assays were performed and influenza virus-specific serum IgG and IgA antibodies in nasal swabs were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) using whole purified virus at 16 HAU per 0.05 ml for absorption. No clinically significant solicited adverse events attributable to the LAIV Temozolomide molecular weight were detected seven days after vaccination (Table 3). The few reactions reported were of short duration and without sequelae. HAI and ELISA tests were also used to determine the serological

response in 66 adult subjects (Table 4). Although post-vaccination serum HA antibody titres were low, cumulative data from both assays resulted in 42.5% and 70.2% conversion after the first and second inoculation, respectively. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were obtained for analysis by cytokine tests at various times following the first and second vaccination from a limited number of volunteers (16 vaccinees and 9 placebo recipients, respectively). Fig. 1 represents post-vaccination not changes (n-fold) of cellular immune response mediated with virus-specific CD3+CD4+IFNγ+ and CD3+CD8+IFNγ+ memory T cells in volunteers who received LAIV and placebo. After revaccination, the mean increases of both CD4+ and CD8+ memory cells were significantly higher in vaccinated volunteers compared with the placebo group. Interestingly, the same effect of vaccination was also observed in vaccinees without reliable conversions of HAI antibody titres. Even after a single vaccination, the rate of volunteers with a significant increase of these cells in the blood (i.e. results exceeding 2 standard deviations of placebo mean value) was 37.5% (CD8+) and 75.0% (CD4+). After revaccination, the percentage of individuals with significant rises in CD8+ and in CD4+ cells was 68.8%. HAI test results in children were much higher, i.e. 41.4% and 83.

After removing the medium, http://www.selleckchem.com/products/GDC-0449.html splenocytes from individual mice at a density of 105 cells/well were stimulated with a pool of CSp peptides at a concentration of 5 μg/well for 48 h at 37 °C 5% CO2. Following incubation, plates were washed five times with PBS and were then incubated with 1 μg/ml of biotinylated anti-mouse antibodies (Mabtech) in PBS containing 0.5% FCS for 2 h at room temperature. After washing five times with PBS to remove free biotinylated anti-mouse antibodies, plates were incubated for 2 h with detection antibodies conjugated to streptavidin–alkaline phosphatase

at 1:1000 dilutions in the same buffer as above. The enzyme reaction was developed with nitroblue tetrazolium bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl-phosphate chromogen substrate (Mabtech). The spot-forming units (SFU) per 105 cells were counted using a dissection microscope (Carl Zeiss, Stemi 2000-C). Multiscreen HTS-IP Filter Plates (96-wells, Millipore) were pre-wetted with 70% ethanol for 2 min, washed five times with

PBS and coated with 5 μg/ml of CSp in PBS Screening Library overnight at 4 °C. Plates were blocked for 2 h at room temperature with complete medium. BM cells (105 cells per well) from the immunized mice were seeded in duplicates and stimulated individually with the C-CSp, N-CSp or IDE-CSp. Plates were incubated for 12 h at 37 °C, 5% CO2 and 85% humidity. After the incubation period plates were washed five times with PBS and incubated for 2 h at room temperature with HRP-conjugated goat anti-mouse IgG (1:1000; Southern Biotech) in PBS, 5% FCS. After washing with PBS five times, the reaction was developed using a Vectastain 3-amino-9-ethylcarbazole (AEC) substrate kit (Vector laboratories, Burlingame, CA) according to manufacturer’s instructions. The reactions were stopped by washing plates with deionized water. Plates were dried in the dark and spots were counted using a dissection microscope (Carl Zeiss, Stemi 2000-C). Data were analyzed using GraphPad Prism Version 5 (Graphpad Software, Inc.,

San Diego, CA). The nonparametric Kruskal–Wallis test was used for the comparison of means in different groups. For all 17-DMAG (Alvespimycin) HCl tests, p ≤ 0.05 was considered significant. The combination of Ad35-CS and BCG-CS in a heterologous prime-boost regimen resulted in high-levels of CSp-specific IgG responses (Fig. 1). Moreover, antibody responses exhibited higher IgG2a (Th1-type responses) when comparing heterologous prime-boost Ad35-CS/BCG-CS to homologous prime-boost BCG-CS/BCG-CS immunizations (Fig. 1). Among the three CSp peptides tested (C-CSp, N-CSp and CSp-IDE), the response to C-CSp was synergistic and induced stronger IgG2a response in the group primed with Ad35-CS and boosted with BCG-CS (Fig. 2).

The review Microbiology inhibitor shows that aerobic exercise and resistance training provides better outcomes than aerobic exercise alone. This would suggest that the ACSM guidelines (2009) should make a stronger recommendation than they do about resistance training for this population. The search strategy was rigorous but the PEDro database was not

searched, which may have meant that some studies went unidentified. For example the study by Moghadam and colleagues (2009) appears eligible. To attempt to balance training volume, some studies reduced the amount of aerobic training when resistance training was introduced although about half of the included studies added extra sessions of resistance training to the same aerobic training regimen used by the control group. In the latter trials, it is difficult to know whether the outcomes

differed between groups because the www.selleckchem.com/products/BI6727-Volasertib.html resistance training was additional exercise. The variation in the interventions in the included studies makes specific recommendations for exercise prescription difficult. The resistance training groups were prescribed 2 to 4 sets of 2 to 10 exercises at an intensity of 40–80% of one repetition maximum, 2 to 3 times per week. Nevertheless, armed with the conclusions of this unless study and the 2011 ACSM position stand on guidance for prescribing exercise, physiotherapists can bring more rigour and certainty to the incorporation of resistance

training into cardiac rehabilitation for groups and individuals. “
“Summary of: Smart N, Steele M (2011) Exercise training in haemodialysis patients: a systematic review and metaanalysis. Nephrology 16: 626–632. [Prepared by Mark Elkins, Journal Editor.] Objective: To review the effects of exercise training on cardiovascular fitness, cardiac function, strength, quality of life and safety in people on regular haemodialysis for chronic renal disease. Data Sources: CENTRAL, Embase, Medline and CINAHL, searched up to December 2010. Reference lists of included studies were hand searched for further eligible trials. Study selection: Randomised controlled trials involving people with chronic renal disease on regular haemodialysis, in which exercise training was compared to no training or in which different exercise modalities were compared. Trials assessing peak oxygen consumption as a measure of cardiopulmonary fitness were included. Other outcome measures were cardiac function, strength, quality of life, and safety. Exercise adherence was also considered.

Study of physico–chemical properties

was carried out in order to standardize the formulations. Generally the formulations may be in the form of solid, liquid or gel. Among these gels formulation is more preferred since it is easy to handle and safe and also have few advantages like they have localized effect with slight side effects.1, 2 and 3 Root canal lubricants in the form of gel were used during root canal lubrication for easier penetration of an instrument in root canal preparation. In order to judge a quality of root canal lubricant it is essential to determine its physico–chemical properties.4 INCB28060 order Several experimental studies have indicated that, number GSK2118436 of generally available lubricants solution or gel is not effective in complete removal of soft and hard organic or inorganic materials at a time.5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 The idea of study of physico–chemical properties came from surface tension of root canal irrigant in order to standardize the formulation.11 Materials required for the study

of physico–chemical properties are purchased from Earth Chemicals, Mumbai made up of Merck Chemicals Pvt. Ltd. The physico–chemical properties of various concentrations of self developed root canal lubricant gel includes appearance, Solid content, 5% aqueous solution pH, moisture content, viscosity and 5% aqueous solution stability in water etc. Appearance of the gel observed physically by eyes. Solid content was determined by heating the gels in an electrical oven. 5% aqueous solution pH was determined using pH metre.

Moisture content in the gel was found out using Karl Fischer’s apparatus. Viscosity was analysed using B. F. Viscometer. The 5% aqueous solution stability is tested in cylinder. The appearance of formulation was observed visually with the help of naked eyes. The formulation is in the form of stable thixotropic gel. It has been observed that, viscosity of gel increases as concentration of active content of gel increases. In order to determine solid content a known quantity of gel was heated in an oven at 110 °C for 3 h or still constant weight is obtained. Exactly 1 g of sample of gel was heated at 110 °C for 3 h or till much constant weight is obtained. The process of heating, cooling and weighing is continued till constant weight is obtained. Loss in weight was determined and from loss in weight, solid content was measured and listed in Table 1 and as shown in Fig. 1. 5% aqueous solution pH of the various concentration of gel was determined using digital pH metre having model no. CL – 280 made up of Labline Technologies Pvt. Ltd. Exactly 2 g self developed root canal lubricant gel was dissolved in 40 ml of distilled water and stored for 3 h.

Cependant, la rareté des études randomisées, see more tout comme l’absence de facteurs prédictifs de réponse tumorale, pèse lourdement sur les incertitudes thérapeutiques actuelles. Dans tous les cas, tout traitement systémique sera encadré d’une évaluation rigoureuse des cibles cliniques et morphologiques,

répétée au minimum tous les 3 mois. La réalité de cette présentation n’est pas démontrée pour l’insulinome malin. Néanmoins, quelques cas de la littérature rapportant des évolutions tumorales rapides posent la question d’une éventuelle forme peu différenciée d’insulinome [22], [23] and [24]. Il est donc important de rappeler que la chimiothérapie de référence des carcinomes neuroendocrines peu différenciés est l’association étoposide–cisplatine [81], [82] and [83]. L’ordre optimal des différentes interventions

thérapeutiques reste à déterminer. Cependant, la possibilité d’obtenir des réponses objectives tumorales plus fréquentes avec la chimiothérapie ou la radiothérapie métabolique amène à discuter ces options en première ligne à chaque fois qu’une réduction du volume tumoral est souhaitée. Le bénéfice anti-tumoral du traitement par analogues de la somatostatine a été mal évalué dans les insulinomes malins. Des recommandations précises d’utilisation ne peuvent être formulées. Néanmoins, le bénéfice symptomatique, la tolérance www.selleckchem.com/screening/chemical-library.html et la simplicité de ce traitement en font une approche thérapeutique séduisante et nous rappellerons que des stabilisations tumorales ont été décrites dans 18 à

57 % des cas pendant 18 mois en médiane dans plusieurs études incluant des TNE pancréatiques Metalloexopeptidase [84], [85], [86], [87], [88], [89], [90] and [91]. L’essai de phase III du réseau allemand portant sur les tumeurs iléales de grade 1 et de faible volume métastatique a confirmé cette donnée, en montrant un bénéfice en termes de réduction du temps à progression chez les patients traités par octréotide retard [92]. Dans l’attente de la publication des résultats de l’étude Clarinet, un bénéfice similaire est attendu avec la Somatuline. La chimiothérapie conserve une place importante dans la prise en charge thérapeutique des TNE bien différenciées du pancréas et, par extension, est utilisée dans les insulinomes malins [93]. Dans 5 à 10 % des cas, un geste chirurgical devient envisageable après obtention de la réponse. Cependant, dans les études disponibles, aucune mention n’est faite du délai d’efficacité de la chimiothérapie sur le contrôle glycémique, de la qualité et de la durée du bénéfice symptomatique [7] and [8]. À ce jour, trois lignes de chimiothérapie semblent actives mais des études de comparaison sont en attente. La première chimiothérapie de référence, établie par Moertel en 1992, montrait le bénéfice en termes de survie de l’association adriamycine-streptozotocine sur l’association 5 fluorouracile-streptozotocine ou chlorozotocine.

1, 91.3%) who received PRV exhibited an anti-rotavirus IgA seroresponse (≥3-fold rise from baseline (pD1 to PD3), with a PD3 GMT of 31.3 units/mL. By contrast only 20.0% of placebo recipients (95% CI: 10.0, 33.7%) developed a seroresponse and the PD3 GMT was 3.2 units/mL. SNA response to the human RV serotypes (G1, G2, G3, G4, and P1A [8]) contained in PRV were also measured, as summarized in Table 2. The seroresponses were relatively poor, ranging from 7.0% (for G2) to 33.3% (G4). GMTs were also modest. The SNA

seroresponses detected among the placebo was 0.0% for all serotypes, except P1A [8] (4.0%). Table 3 summarizes the number of person-years of observation by age group, cases of severe RVGE and the incidence density through the first year of life and during the second year of life, according to the ITT and PP analyses. Through the first year of life, there were only 55 RVGE cases detected. Of these 55 RVGE cases, 9 RVGE Dasatinib price cases (3 severe, 6 non-severe) Autophagy Compound Library high throughput occurred prior to 2 weeks after the dose of vaccine; therefore, only 46 RVGE cases (8 severe, 38 non-severe) were part of the PP efficacy analyses. In total, 11 RVGE cases were classified as severe, 4 among PRV vaccinees and 7 among controls, yielding an ITT vaccine efficacy of 42.9% (95% CI: −125.7, 87.7). As 3 RVGE of the cases in the control group

occurred prior to 2 weeks after the third dose of vaccine, the per-protocol efficacy was 1.0% (95% CI: −431.7, 81.6) through the first year of life. Through the first year of life, the efficacy of PRV against RVGE of any severity in the PP population was 9.3% (22 in the PRV group, 24 in the placebo group; 95% CI: −68.9, 51.5). During the second year of follow-up (Table 3), after the surveillance system was modified to adapt MTMR9 to local customs and heath care seeking practices, there were 96 cases of severe RVGE detected, including 43 among PRV recipients and 53 among placebo subjects; the point estimate of the PP vaccine efficacy was 19.2% (95% CI, −23.1,47.3%) during the second year of follow-up.

The efficacy of PRV against RVGE of any severity on the PP population during the second year of life was also 19.2% (129 cases in the PRV group, 158 cases in the placebo group; 95% CI: −2.7, 36.4). A total of 370 RV isolates from cases of gastroenteritis in vaccinees and controls were submitted to PCR to determine the RV G and P genotypes. Of these, 353 RV isolates (95.4%) contained a G or P type present in PRV. G1 viruses were the most commonly circulating during the course of the study (61%) with a predominance of G1P [8] strains (54.3%) and G1P [6] strains (6.2%). G2 viruses were next most common (27%) with varying P-types—notably G2P [6] (22.2%) and G2P [4] (4.3%) strains. G8 and G9 strains were seen in small numbers (4.6% and 2.4% respectively).

6 g of potassium dihydrogen orthophosphate in 1000 mL of HPLC grade water. Vildagliptin was eluted in Agilent XDB C18, 150 × 4.6 mm, 5 μ, Y-27632 mouse column using a mobile phase mixture of phosphate buffer and acetonitrile in the ratio of 85:15% v/v. The lambda max of the drug in mobile phase was 210 nm, so column outlet was monitored at 210 nm. The injection volume is 25 μL. The total runtime was 8 min. Hundred milligrams of pure vildagliptin was weighed accurately and transferred in to a 100 mL volumetric flask. The content was dissolved by using HPLC grade water, after complete dissolution the volume was made up to the mark by using the same which gives 1000 μg/mL of the drug. The standard vildagliptin solution was further

diluted in 10 mL volumetric flask to get various concentrations ranging from 10 to 150 μg/mL of drug using mobile phase. From this each calibration standard solutions 25 μL was injected in to the HPLC system. The chromatograms were recorded. The concentration of the vildagliptin in μg/mL is taken in X axis and peak area of the individual concentrations of calibration standards was taken in Y axis. The calibration graph was plotted. selleck chemical This is

used for the estimation of vildagliptin in tablets. Twenty tablets of vildagliptin were weighed accurately; average weight was calculated and powdered well. The powder equivalent to 100 mg of the drug was transferred in to a 100 mL calibrated standard flask. 70 mL of HPLC grade water was added. The content of the flask was sonicated for 15 min to dissolve vildagliptin and made up to the volume with the same and the resulting mixture was filtered through 0.45 μm filter. Subsequent dilution of this solution was made with mobile phase to get concentration of 50 μg/mL. This solution (25 μL) was injected six times into the HPLC system. The mean value of peak areas of six such determinations was calculated

and the drug content in the tablet was quantified. Vildagliptin pure drug is soluble in water and acetonitrile. Different mobile phase compositions were tried to elute the drug from the column and adequate resolution Ketanserin is achieved with phosphate buffer and acetonitrile in the ratio of 85:15% v/v with Agilent Eclipse XDB C18, 150 × 4.6 mm, 5 μ, column and this solvent system was found to be most suitable for method development and validation. Vildagliptin shows the maximum absorbance [λ-max] at 210 nm in mobile phase, so the column outlet was detected at 210 nm in the proposed method. A typical chromatogram of vildagliptin standard solution and tablets sample solution are shown in Fig. 1a and b respectively. Chromatogram of the excipients is shown in Fig. 2. The retention time was 3.04 min. The system suitability tests were carried out on freshly prepared standard stock solution and summery is given in Table 1. These parameters indicate good sensitivity and selectivity of the developed method.

The titration curve, representing the relation between the conductance and the volume of the titrant added can be constructed

as two lines intersecting at the end point. Loperamide hydrochloride Dasatinib price and trimebutine are able to form precipitates with heteropoly acids, phosphotungestic so the applicability of conductimetric titration of these drugs with the above mentioned reagent, was tested. The different parameters affecting the end point, such as temperature, and concentration of both titrant and titrand, were studied. The effect of temperature on the end point of the conductometric titration was studied by carrying out titrations at 25 °C and raising the temperature. It was found that raising the temperature has no effect on the shape of the titration curve or the position of the end point up to 50 °C. So room temperature was used for carrying out the other variables (Figs. 2 and 3). A weight of the investigated drugs 25.63 mg of LOP.HCl and 19.35 mg Buparlisib in vivo of TB were dissolved in 75 mL water was titrated against 1 × 10−3, 5 × 10−3, and 1 × 10−2 M PTA solutions. The results indicated that, titrant solutions lower than 10−2 M was not

suitable for conductimetric titrations as the conductance readings were unstable and the inflection at the end point was very poor. On the other hand, when the same above mentioned amounts of the investigated drug were dissolved and diluted up to 25, 50, 75 and 100 mL with distilled water and titrated against 10−2 mol L−1 PTA solution (optimum titrant concentration). The results showed that, dilution of the titrand up to 100 mL has no effect on the position of the end point and the shape of the titration PD184352 (CI-1040) curve (Figs. 4 and 5). From the above discussion it was found that the systems under investigation showed a regular rise in conductance up to the equivalence point where a sudden change in the slope occurs.

After the end-point, more titrant is added and the conductance increases more rapidly. Curve break is observed at drug-reagent molar ratio 3:1 for PTA in case of the two mentioned drugs. The conductimetric titration curves of the drug versus PTA deduce the molar ratios of the drug-reagent. Aliquots solutions containing 5.13–51.35 mg of LOP.HCl and 3.87–38.75 mg of TB were titrated conductimetrically against 10−2 M PTA standard solutions following the procedure described in the experimental section. Graphs of corrected conductivity versus the volume of titrant added were constructed and the end points were determined 1 mL 10−2 mol L−1 PTA is theoretically equivalent to 15.40 mg LOP.HCl and 11.61 mg TB (Table 1). The results were given in Table 1 show that, the recovery values for LOP.HCl and TB are 99.67% and 99.88%, respectively using PTA, ion-pairing agent. This indicates the high accuracy and precision of the proposed method.

Most candidate vaccines represent “minimalist” compositions [3], which typically exhibit lower immunogenicity. Adjuvants and novel delivery systems that boost immunogenicity check details are increasingly needed as we move toward the era of modern vaccines. Nanotechnology offers the opportunity to design nanoparticles varying in composition, size, shape, and surface properties, for application in the field of medicine [4] and [5]. Nanoparticles, because

of their size similarity to cellular components, can enter living cells using the cellular endocytosis mechanism, in particular pinocytosis [6]. These cutting-edge innovations underpinned a market worth US $6.8 billion in 2006 [7] and predicted to reach US $160 billion by 2015 [8]. Indeed, nanoparticles

are revolutionizing the diagnosis of diseases as well as the delivery of biologically-active compounds for disease prevention and treatment. The emergence of virus-like particles (VLPs) and the resurgence of nanoparticles, such as quantum dots and magnetic nanoparticles, marks a convergence of protein biotechnology with inorganic nanotechnology that promises an era of significant progress for nanomedicine [9] and [10]. A number of approved nano-sized vaccine PLX3397 datasheet and drug delivery systems highlight the revolution in disease prevention and treatment that is occurring [4], [11], [12] and [13]. The use of nanotechnology in vaccinology, in particular, has been increasing exponentially in the past decade (Fig. 1), leading to the birth of “nanovaccinology” [3]. In both prophylactic and therapeutic approaches, nanoparticles are used as either a delivery system to enhance antigen processing and/or as an immunostimulant adjuvant to activate or enhance immunity. Therapeutic nanovaccinology is mostly applied for cancer treatment

[14], [15] and [16], and is increasingly explored to treat other diseases or conditions, such as Alzheimer’s [17], hypertension [9], and nicotine addiction [11]. Prophylactic nanovaccinology, on the other hand, has been applied for the prevention of different diseases. A number of prophylactic nanovaccines have been approved for human use and more are in clinical or pre-clinical Electron transport chain trials [13], [18], [19] and [20]. In this review, we provide an overview of recent advances in the broad area of nanovaccinology, but limit our review only to prophylactic vaccines. We first survey advances in the types of nanoparticles, which are defined as any particulate material with size 1–1000 nm [21], used for prophylactic vaccine design (Fig. 2). We then discuss the interaction of nanoparticles with the antigen of interest, differentiating the role of the nanoparticle as either delivery system and/or immunostimulant adjuvant. The interaction of nanoparticles with immune cells and the biosystem are also discussed to provide understanding of antigen and nanoparticle processing in vivo, as well as clearance.

The Authors also thankful to Gulbarga University Gulbarga, Karnataka (India), for providing lab facility to carry out this study. “
“One of the best synthetic quinolone anti-infective agent is ciprofloxacin (1-cyclopropyl-6-fluoro-1,4-dihydro-4-oxo-7-(1-piperarinyl)-3-quinolone carboxylic acid) (Fig. 1).1 It is used for the treatment

of certain diseases caused by various Gram (−ve) and Gram (+ve) microorganisms.2 They are extremely useful for the treatment of a variety of infections, including urinary tract infections, soft tissue infections, selleck screening library respiratory infections, bone-joint infections, typhoid fever, sexually transmitted diseases, prostatitis, community acquired pneumonia, acute bronchitis and sinusitis. In general, quinolones can act as antibacterial drugs that effectively inhibit DNA replication and are commonly used as treatment for many infections.3 In addition to that, ciprofloxacin is one of the emerging organic contaminants, most frequently detected fluoroquinolone antibiotics, although it is metabolized within the body.4 It causes renal failure, affects melanin, causes mental depression and

even leads to suicide attempt.5, 6 and 7 The potential environmental risks of antibiotics attract increasing attention due to their widespread usage and improper disposal. In addition to human health care purposes, antibiotics are also used for other purposes, including aquaculture, poultry farming and food processing. They can be detected in surface water, groundwater and seawater in concentrations in the range of ng L−1 to Megestrol Acetate μg L−1 and in some cases Paclitaxel molecular weight even at mg L−1 levels.8, 9 and 10 The aim of this work was to develop an analytical method for the determination of ciprofloxacin by direct

measurement of its intrinsic ultraviolet absorption after complex formation with metal ions. Metal complexes are widely used in various fields such as biological processes, pharmaceuticals, analytical processes, separations techniques, etc. Most of the d-block elements form complexes. There are different kinds of ligands used for complexation. In literature, complexes of ciprofloxacin with diverse metal ions such as copper (II), vanadium (IV), magnesium (II), uranium (VI), manganese (II), iron (III), cobalt (II), nickel (II), molybdenum (II) and europium (III) have been reported and explored for their biological activities, because of its biological relevance.11, 12 and 13 This investigation carried out with divalent metal ion zinc, belonging to 3d-series and ciprofloxacin as ligand. Exactly 10 mg L−1 ciprofloxacin (AR, Merck) stock solution was prepared by dissolving 1 mg of this sample in 100 mL double distilled water. 0.1 N sodium hydroxide, 0.1 N hydrochloric acid and zinc sulphate (AR, Merck) were used in the experiments. All the reagents used were of analytical grade and they were used as such without further purification.