Innovative Method for the Analysis of Dexpanthenol in Hair Care Products.

Background: Dexpanthenol is a widely used humectant in hair care products, especially anti-hairfall products. The hair care industry is highly regulated in East Asia and treats products containing the combination of dexpanthenol, zinc pyrithione, and nicotinamide (vitamin B3) as quasi-drugs. Objective: Because dexpanthenol lacks a UV chromophore, existing methodologies for analysis in finished products include pretreatments and/or HPLC-UV analysis at low wavelengths at which poor signal-to-noise is observed. These time-consuming methods lack the robustness needed for routine use in quality laboratories. This has resulted in the need for a simple, fast, accurate, and robust UHPLC-MS method to quantify dexpanthenol in hair care products that could be easily adapted in quality laboratories. Methods: The MS detection was performed in positive ion mode with data acquired in single-ion recording for dexpanthenol (206.14 m/z), dexpanthenol-d6 (212.29 m/z), and Leucine Enkephalin acetate salt (556.28 m/z). Quantitation was performed using peak area ratio of dexpanthenol to the internal standard. Results: The resulting linear curve R² was 0.9998 with sample precision RSDs <2.5%. The accuracy recoveries were within 2% and the robustness results were within 3% of the nominal conditions. Conclusions: The resulting method for the quantitation of dexpanthenol is fast, accurate, and robust in the range of 170.24-1024.5 ng/mL in shampoo and conditioner, which is easily adaptable in quality laboratories. Highlights: This study determined optimal sample preparation and UHPLC-MS conditions to quantify dexpanthenol in finished hair care products.

Determination of seven sunscreen agents and two ultraviolet stabilizers in skin care products using ultra-performance liquid chromatography.

Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) is a well-known environmental carcinogen. Protection against UVR exposure has resulted in an increasing number of sunscreen agents being incorporated into a greater variety of cosmetic formulations including moisturizing lotions, color cosmetics, and skin care creams. Meanwhile, global regulation of sun care products is changing. New guidelines for sunscreen efficacy have resulted in a shift in product formulation that requires sunscreen products to provide broad spectrum UV protection. Since not all sunscreen ingredients protect against both UVA and UVB radiation, most sun care products require a combination of sunscreen agents. This article describes a new method for simultaneous separation and quantitation of seven organic sunscreens and two UV stabilizers using ultra-performance liquid chromatography. This method is capable of resolving all nine analytes, and has been validated for selectivity, precision, and accuracy. Because of the use of core-shell column technology, the separation is also achieved at back pressures compatible with conventional high-performance liquid chromatography instrumentation.

Customized order-entry sets can prevent antiretroviral prescribing errors: a novel opportunity for antimicrobial stewardship.

BACKGROUND: Patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection on antiretroviral (ARV) therapy are at increased risk for medication errors during transitions of care between the outpatient and inpatient settings. This can lead to treatment failure or toxicity. Previous studies have emphasized the prevalence of medication errors in such patients, but few have reported initiatives to prevent errors from occurring. METHODS: The study was conducted in a 1,400-bed health care center with a state-designated Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) Center in the Bronx, New York. The antimicrobial stewardship team and HIV specialists developed customized order-entry sets (COES) to guide ARV prescribing and retrospectively reviewed their effect on error rates of initial ARV orders for inpatients before reconciliation. Patient records were reviewed in six-month periods before and after intervention. The student's t-test or Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare continuous variables; chi-square or Fisher's exact test was used for categorical variables. RESULTS: A total of 723 and 661 admissions were included in the pre-intervention and post-intervention periods, respectively. Overall, error rates decreased by 35% (38.0% to 24.8%, P < 0.01) with COES. Wrong doses and drug interactions decreased by more than 40% (P < 0.005). Error reductions were observed in protease inhibitor (PI)-based (43.6% versus 28.7%, P < 0.01) and non-PI-based (38.0% versus 24.4%, P = 0.02) regimens with COES. A shift in predominant drug-class errors was observed as there was a trend toward increased usage of non-PI regimens post-intervention. Admission in the pre-intervention period (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 1.79; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.39-2.31) and use of PI-based regimens (AOR, 2.03; 95% CI, 1.53-2.70) remained significantly associated with ARV prescribing errors after controlling for confounding factors. CONCLUSION: Detailed COES improved ARV prescribing habits, reduced the potential for prescribing incorrect regimens, and can prove useful and cost-effective where HIV-specific medication reconciliation is unavailable.