A Novel Hyaluronic Acid Matrix Ingredient with Regenerative, Anti-Aging and Antioxidant Capacity.

Hyaluronic acid (HA) and proteoglycans (such as dermatan sulphate (DS) and chondroitin sulphate (CS)) are the main components of the extracellular matrix of the skin, along with collagen and elastin. These components decrease with age, which implies a loss of skin moisture causing wrinkles, sagging and aging. Currently, the external and internal administration of effective ingredients that can reach the epidermis and dermis is the main alternative for combating skin aging. The objective of this work was to extract, characterise and evaluate the potential of an HA matrix ingredient to support anti-aging. The HA matrix was isolated and purified from rooster comb and characterised physicochemically and molecularly. In addition, its regenerative, anti-aging and antioxidant potential and intestinal absorption were evaluated. The results show that the HA matrix is composed of 67% HA, with an average molecular weight of 1.3 MDa; 12% sulphated glycosaminoglycans, including DS and CS; 17% protein, including collagen (10.4%); and water. The in vitro evaluation of the HA matrix's biological activity showed regenerative properties in both fibroblasts and keratinocytes, as well as moisturising, anti-aging and antioxidant effects. Furthermore, the results suggest that the HA matrix could be absorbed in the intestine, implying a potential oral as well as topical use for skin care, either as an ingredient in a nutraceutical or a cosmetic product.

Characterization of the degradation performance of the sulfamethazine antibiotic by photo-Fenton process.

The present study provides results describing the degradation performance of the Sulfamethazine (SMT) antibiotic via photo-Fenton treatment. Experiments were carried out using 1 L solution samples of SMT (50 mg L(-1)) under different conditions. HPLC results reveal that both Fenton and photo-Fenton reactions were able to completely remove SMT antibiotic from the studied samples in less than 2 min treatment. Half-life times and kinetic parameters (assuming a pseudo-first-order kinetics at reaction initial stage, far from the equilibrium) for SMT degradation were determined and discussed. Hence, appropriate Fenton reagent loads are given to attain different targets proposed. TOC and HPLC data also revealed the presence of reaction intermediates; thus toxicity assays were performed regarding bacterial growth rate. The toxicity of an SMT solution was shown to increase during its degradation by means of photo-Fenton reactions.

Pharmacokinetics of albendazole sulfoxide enantiomers administered in racemic form and separately in rats.

The pharmacokinetic behaviour of albendazole sulfoxide (ABZSO) enantiomers was studied in rats after the oral administration of 10 mg/kg of rac-ABZSO, 5 mg/kg of (-)-ABZSO or 5 mg/kg of (+)-ABZSO. The disposition profiles of ABZSO enantiomers were similar in all treatments, but the calculated area under the curve for the (-)-ABZSO was higher in all cases compared with (+)-ABZSO. The results suggest that there is no chiral inversion of ABZSO enantiomers. After the administration of rac-ABZSO, 17.2% of the total dose was recovered in urine as albendazole ABZ (0.1%), albendazole sulfone ABZSO(2) (0.3%), albendazole 2-aminosulfone (ABZ-SO(2)NH(2)) (3.1%) and ABZSO (13.7%). The ratio (+) to (-) was similar in urine (1.6) and blood (1.7).

HPLC quantification of perphenazine in sheep plasma: application to a pharmacokinetic study.

A high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method for the determination of perphenazine (PPZ) in sheep plasma was developed and validated. The separation was achieved using a 5 microm C18 column (125 mm x 4 mm) with a mobile phase composed of acetonitrile and an aqueous solution of H(3)PO(4) and TBA (inverse gradient). The flow rate was 1.5 mL/min and the UV detection was performed at 258 nm. The method was validated with respect to linearity, intra and inter-day precision and accuracy, limit of quantification, limit of detection and storage stability. This method was used to perform a pilot pharmacokinetic study of PPZ after subcutaneous administration to one ewe.

Determination of porphyrins and biliverdin in bile and excreta of birds by a single liquid chromatography-ultraviolet detection analysis.

Methods developed for porphyrin analysis have low recoveries and/or poor precision for the less polar protoporphyrin IX. We describe a simple method of analysis of porphyrins and biliverdin in bile and excreta of birds based on extraction with HCl 3N: acetonitrile and HPLC/UV analyses. Recoveries were good for protoporphyrin IX and other porphyrins (>79%). Applications of this method showed that porphyrins and biliverdin in birds excreta are mainly of biliary-fecal origin rather than urinary origin. Biliverdin and protoporphyrin IX increased proportionately more than the rest of the porphyrins and coproporphyrin III increased more than coproporphyrin I in the bile of Pb-poisoned mallards.