Methotrexate (MTX) is a folate antagonist drug used for several diseases, such as cancers, various malignancies, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and inflammatory bowel disease. Due to its structural features, including the presence of two carboxylic acid groups and its low native fluorescence, there are some challenges to develop analytical methods for its determination. MTX is metabolized to 7-hydroxymethotrexate (7-OH-MTX), 2,4-diamino-N10-methylpteroic acid (DAMPA), and the active MTX polyglutamates (MTXPGs) in the liver, intestine, and red blood cells (RBCs), respectively. Additionally, the drug has a narrow therapeutic range; hence, its therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) is necessary to regulate the pharmacokinetics of the drug and to decrease the risk of toxicity. Due to environmental toxicity of MTX; its sensitive, fast and low cost determination in workplace environments is of great interest. A large number of methodologies including high performance liquid chromatography equipped with UV–visible, fluorescence, or electrochemical detection, liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy, capillary electrophoresis, UV–visible spectrophotometry, and electrochemical methods have been developed for the quantitation of MTX and its metabolites in pharmaceutical, biological, and environmental samples. This paper will attempt to review several published methodologies and the instrumental conditions, which have been applied to measure MTX and its metabolites within the last decade.

BackgroundWalnut hydrosol (WH) is used extensively by Iranian people with diabetes in order to control blood sugar (BS). There are few data regarding the effect of walnut on controlling diabetes.ObjectivesA pilot study to determine the efficacy and safety of WH in patients with type 1 diabetes.Materials and MethodsEight patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) type 1 were enrolled in the study. They did not use any medicine except insulin. They were advised to drink 250 mL WH after meals twice a day for four weeks. Their BS level was measured and their insulin dose was changed according to their BS. After four weeks, they discontinued WH use and their BS level was checked for two weeks. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze the data. Also, the essential oil of the sample was extracted using a liquid extractor and then analysis of the constituents was performed.ResultsThe average daily BS level and insulin dose decreased in seven subjects. Two subjects developed generalized pruritic erythematous skin rash. One patient presented hypoglycemic coma. She had no other coma risk factor. Seven compounds were identified in the walnut essential oil and the rate of monoterpenoid and sesquiterpenes hydrocarbons were 53.45% and 5.95%, respectively. The main constituents of the oil were carvacrol (33.21%), thymol (16%) and homoveratrole (15.83%).ConclusionsWH may control the glycemic level in people with diabetes, but it may be associated with minor and major side effects. Further in vitro studies, using these seven compounds, are recommended to determine the efficacy and complications of WH in people with diabetes.

Background: Intracanal disinfection is a critical, yet challenging goal for the long-term success in regenerative-based treatments. This in-vitro study aimed to assess the release profile of triple antibiotic-eluting injectable platelet-rich fibrin (I-PRF) constructs in 28 days. Methods: I-PRF scaffolds containing triple antibiotic mixture [metronidazole (MET), ciprofloxacin (CIP), and minocycline (MINO)] by immersion (group one), I-PRF scaffolds containing triple antibiotic mixture by integration (group two), and antibiotic-free I-PRF scaffolds (group three) were fabricated. The antibiotic release from the scaffolds was measured using a high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) (the mobile phase of 0.1% formic acid and methanol (35:65 v/v), a C18 analytical column (150 × 4.6 mm, 5 μm) at a flow rate of 0.7 mL/min, at 25ºC) at days 1, 3, 7, 14, 21, and 28. Results: Retention times for MINO, CIP, and MET were achieved as 2.3, 2.6, and 3.1 min, respectively. The maximum UV absorbances for CIP, MET, and MINO were at 268 nm, 278 nm, and 350 nm, respectively. The results of the first group showed burst release within the first 24 hours followed by sustained maintenance of all three antibiotics up to 14 days. MINO and MET were still detectable in the third week. The second group could not sustainably release of the antibiotics. Conclusions: The developed method for the simultaneous identification, and quantification of each antibiotic in I-PRF was sensitive and quick. Overall, group one could take up the antibiotics in adequate quantities and then subsequently release them over the study period.

Resistance of many pathogens to available drugs is a global challenge and is leading to growing interest in natural alternative products. In this study, chemical composition and in vitro antibacterial and antifungal activities of the essential oil from Salvia mirzayanii were investigated. The chemical constituents of essential oil from S mirzayanii were analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The antimicrobial activity was determined by broth microdilution. The main identified compounds were 1,8-cineole (41.2 ± 1.3%), linalool acetate (11.0 ± 0.5%), and α-terpinyl acetate (6.0 ± 0.4%) (mL of essential oil/g of plant material). The MIC95 were 0.03 to 0.5 µL/mL and 16 to 128 µL/mL for gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, respectively. These results indicated that Salvia mirzayanii essential oil significantly inhibited the growth of standard and clinically isolated tested yeasts by MIC50 0.03 to 1 µL/mL. Potent antibacterial and antifungal activities of Salvia mirzayanii essential oil may be considered in future study, particularly against antibiotic-resistant cases.