Fluorescence Sensors Based on Hydroxycarbazole for the Determination of Neurodegeneration-Related Halide Anions.

The environmental presence of anions of natural origin or anthropogenic origin is gradually increasing. As a tool to tackle this problem, carbazole derivatives are an attractive gateway to the development of luminescent chemosensors. Considering the different mechanisms proposed for anion recognition, the fluorescence properties and anion-binding response of several newly synthesised carbazole derivatives were studied. Potential anion sensors were designed so that they combined the native fluorescence of carbazole with the presence of hydrogen bonding donor groups in critical positions for anion recognition. These compounds were synthesised by a feasible and non-expensive procedure using palladium-promoted cyclodehydrogenation of suitable diarylamine under microwave irradiation. In comparison to the other carbazole derivatives studied, 1-hydroxycarbazole proved to be useful as a fluorescent sensor for anions, as it was able to sensitively recognise fluoride and chloride anions by establishing hydrogen bond interactions through the hydrogen atoms on the pyrrolic nitrogen and the hydroxy group. Solvent effects and excited-state proton transfer (ESPT) of the carbazole derivatives are described to discard the role of the anions as Brönsted bases on the observed fluorescence behaviour of the sensors. The anion-sensor interaction was confirmed by 1H-NMR. Molecular modelling was employed to propose a mode of recognition of the sensor in terms of complex stability and interatomic distances. 1-hydroxycarbazole was employed for the quantitation of fluoride and chloride anions in commercially available medicinal spring water and mouthwash samples.

[Establishment of a quality indicator for pharmaceutical care]. / Establecimiento de un indicador de calidad de atención farmacéutica.

OBJECTIVE: To establish a quality indicator for pharmaceutical care in an integral system for personalized medication dispensing (ISPMD) with electronic prescription. METHODS: Descriptive transversal study. PERIOD: 2007. On a daily basis, we revised the pharmaceutical treatment of patients admitted to hospital units with ISPMD. STUDY VARIABLES: a) suitability of pharmaceutical interventions: important or very important; b) acceptance of those interventions. The LASER method was used to identify patients with improvement opportunities. RESULTS: In absolute terms (mean +/- SD): important pharmaceutical interventions, 26.6 +/- 14.8; very important, 31.5 +/- 24.6; acceptance, 57.5 +/- 25.9. Percentages (95 % CI): pharmaceutical interventions: important, 33.7 (9.3-58.0); very important, 39.80 (17.7-62.2); acceptance, 72.6 (64.7-80.5). CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of the quality indicator for pharmaceutical care allowed us to evaluate the clinical significance and the acceptance rate of the pharmaceutical care being provided.

Establecimiento de un indicador de calidad de atención farmacéutica* / Establishment of a quality indicator for pharmaceutical care

Objetivo: Establecer un indicador de calidad de atención farmacéutica en un centro con sistema integral de dispensación individualizada de medicación (SIDIM) y prescripción electrónica. Métodos: Estudio descriptivo transversal. Periodo: año 2007. Se realizó una revisión diaria del tratamiento farmacoterapéutico de los pacientes ingresados en unidades de hospitalización con SIDIM. Variables de estudio: a) idoneidad de las intervenciones farmacéuticas: importantes, muy importantes, y b) aceptación de éstas. Para la identificación de pacientes con oportunidades de mejora en su farmacoterapia se empleó la metodología LASER®. Resultados: En términos absolutos (media ± desviación estándar): intervenciones farmacéuticas importantes, 26,6 ± 14,8; muy importantes, 31,5 ± 24,6; aceptación, 57,5 ± 25,9. En porcentaje (intervalo de confianza del 95 %): intervenciones farmacéuticas importantes, 33,7 (9,3-58,0); muy importantes, 39,80 (17,7-62,2); aceptación, 72,6 (64,7-80,5). Conclusiones: La implantación del indicador de calidad de atención farmacéutica ha permitido evaluar la significación clínica y el grado de aceptación de las intervenciones farmacéuticas realizadas (AU)

Objective: To establish a quality indicator for pharmaceutical care in an integral system for personalised medication dispensing (ISPMD) with electronic prescription. Methods: Descriptive transversal study. Period: 2007. On a daily basis, we revised the pharmaceutical treatment of patients admitted to hospital units with ISPMD. Study variables: a) suitability of pharmaceutical interventions: important or very important; b) acceptance of those interventions. The LASER® method was used to identify patients with improvement opportunities. Results: In absolute terms (mean ± SD): important pharmaceutical interventions, 26.6 ± 14.8; very important, 31.5 ± 24.6; acceptance, 57.5 ± 25.9. Percentages (95 % CI): pharmaceutical interventions: important, 33.7 (9.3-58.0); very important, 39.80 (17.7-62.2); acceptance, 72.6 (64.7-80.5). Conclusions: Implementation of the quality indicator for pharmaceutical care allowed us to evaluate the clinical significance and the acceptance rate of the pharmaceutical care being provided (AU)

Significance of organic matter in Eocene turbidite sediments (SE Pyrenees, Spain).

Although turbidite deposits are classically considered to be good reservoir rocks for oil and gas, there are no reports concerning their source rock potential in the literature. The sediments from the Vallfogona Formation in the South-Eastern Pyrenees present numerous organic matter-rich levels interbedded in sandstones and coarse turbidite deposits. Two types of organic matter deposits were differentiated on the basis of organic geochemistry and petrography: type A and type B. Type A was deposited in a carbonate marine environment under hypersaline conditions as indicated mainly by even/odd n-alkane predominance, pristane and phytane ratio (Pr/Ph) < 1, presence of gammacerane, and trisnorneohopane over trisnorhopane ratio (Ts/Tm) > 1. Type B was deposited in a more mud-rich marine environment evidenced by the predominance of odd n-alkane, Pr/Ph > or = 1, Ts/Tm < 1, the absence of gammacerane, similar concentrations of the C(27) and C(29) regular steranes, and the greater abundance of C(27) diasteranes. Turbidite facies can be regarded as an environment where organic matter sedimentation is heterogeneous in type and amount. This study suggests that turbidite deposits with interbedded organic matter-rich levels may act as a combined source-reservoir system.

Solid phase microextraction as a methodology in the detection of irradiation markers in ground beef.

The usefulness of solid phase microextraction (SPME) to detect the occurrence of the irradiation markers 2-dodecylcyclobutanone (2-DCB) and 1,3-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)benzene in irradiated ground beef was evaluated. To that aim, beef samples were irradiated with different irradiation doses and subsequently examined together with non-irradiated beef samples used as control samples. The SPME conditions applied were selected as a result of performing an optimization process including different fibers (PDMS, DVB/CAR/PDMS, polyacrylate and PDMS/DVB), as well as extraction times (10, 25 and 40min) and temperatures (40 and 60°C). For comparison, 2-DCB and 1,3-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)benzene were additionally identified in some of the samples by steam distillation-solvent extraction (SDE). Although this study is a preliminary work, from the results obtained SPME seemed to be a rapid and valuable technique to determine 2-DCB and 1,3-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)benzene in ground beef subjected to irradiation, offering advantages over other methods reported in the literature. In addition, SPME allowed to confirm the validity of 2-DCB as an useful marker to distinguish non-irradiated from irradiated ground beef. On the contrary, the occurrence of 1,3-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)benzene was however established in both types of samples by SPME and SDE.

On-line reversed-phase liquid chromatography-gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry for enantiomeric analysis of chiral compounds in fruit beverages.

A method based on the on-line coupling of reversed phase liquid chromatography with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (RPLC-GC-MS) for the chiral evaluation of characteristic constituents of fruit beverage aroma was investigated. The consideration of a variety of parameters involved in the transfer step allowed to achieve relative standard deviations ranging from 0.4 to 10% in most cases and detection limits from 0.2 to 2.5 mg/l. By applying the developed method to fruit beverages, racemic mixtures of ethyl 2-methylbutanoate and gamma-nonalactone were found. This fact suggests the eventual addition of artificial aromas. The method proposed in the present work can be useful to assess reliably the authenticity of aqueous samples, such as fruit beverages.

Enantiomeric distribution of chiral compounds in orange juices according to their geographical origins.

Chiral terpenes in nonprocessed orange juices of different geographical origins were examined by two different approaches: steam distillation-solvent extraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (SDE-GC-MS) and solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography (SPME-GC). The two sample preparation techniques were compared with regard to their effectiveness in determining the enantiomeric distributions of chiral compounds. Most target compounds exhibited constant enantiomeric ratios in all juices when either of the two approaches was used. Exceptions were found for terpinen-4-ol and beta-citronellol, whose of enantiomeric purity ratios varied significantly according to the geographical origin of the sample. These results may aid in guaranteeing the authenticity and thus the quality and safety of orange juice. A comparison between the two extraction procedures revealed SPME to be more reliable for stereochemical studies, since harsh experimental conditions that can bring about racemization are not required in such studies.

Supercritical fluid extraction of all-trans-lycopene from tomato.

A procedure is proposed for the supercritical fluid extraction of all-trans-lycopene from tomato using carbon dioxide at 40 degrees C without modifier. The present method minimizes the risk of degradation via isomerization and oxidation of health-promoting ingredients, such as lycopene. The effect of different experimental variables on the solvating power of the supercritical fluid was evaluated in terms of both the selectivity achievable in the process and the yield of the extraction of all-trans-lycopene. Satisfactory separations of the all-trans-lycopene isomers from the cis counterparts were achieved using a C(30) column. The obtained extract contained 88% all-trans-lycopene and 12% cis-lycopene.