Activity of different desoximetasone preparations compared to other topical corticosteroids in the vasoconstriction assay

Introduction: We report on a double-blind, vehicle-controlled, single-center confirmatory study with random assignment. The purpose of the study was to investigate the topical bioavailability of different topical corticosteroid formulations in healthy human beings focussing on desoximetasone (DM). Materials and Methods: Two DM 0.25% formulations {[}ointment (DM-o) and fatty ointment (DM-fo, water-free); class III corticosteroids], the corresponding active ingredient-free vehicles and three comparators of different strength {[}clobetasol propionate 0.05% (CP 0.05%), fatty ointment, class IV; hydrocortisone (HC) 1%, fatty ointment, class I, and betamethasone (BM) 0.05%, fatty ointment, class III] were tested using the vasoconstriction assay. The degree of vasoconstriction (blanching) in the treatment field was compared to the one found in untreated control fields using chromametric measurements and clinical assessment. Results/Conclusion: DM-o 0.25%, DM-fo 0.25% and BM 0.05% showed similar vasoconstrictive potential, i.e., clear blanching. In fact, both DM preparations were proven to be non-inferior to BM 0.05%, while CP 0.05% was found a little less active. HC 1.0% and the DM vehicles showed no clear-cut vasoconstrictive effect. No adverse events related to the study medications were observed. Good topical bioavailability of both DM formulations was detected by chromametric measurement and clinical assessment. Copyright (C) 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel

Wpływ ekstraktu z alg Ecklonia maxima (Kelpak SL) na plonowanie pszenicy zwyczajnej, pszenicy twardej i pszenicy orkisz

The 3-year experiment was concerned with the response of spring forms of common wheat (Triticum aestivum L. subsp. aestivum), durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) and spelt wheat (Triticum aestivum subsp. spelta L. em. Thell.) to the foliar application of a plant growth stimulant (extract from marine algae Ecklonia maxima), with the commercial name of Kelpak SL (GS), as compared to control treatment (C). The following parameters were analysed: yield of grain, yield components (number of ears, weight of 1000 kernels, number and weight of kernels per ear) and physical indicators of grain quality (test weight, uniformity and vitreosity of grain). The study showed that the level of yielding and the yield components were related primarily with the wheat genotype, but they depended also on the agro-climatic conditions and on the algae extract and control experimental treatments. The application of algae extract, compared to the control, caused a significant increase in the yields of the spring wheat species under study, on average by 7.0%. Canopy spraying with algae extract had a favourable effect on the number of ears, on he number and weight of kernels per ear, but it had no effect on the weight of 1000 kernels. The grain quality of durum wheat, spelt wheat and common wheat was affected more strongly by the weather conditions in the successive years of the study and by the genotype than by the foliar application of algae extract. The spelt genotypes were characterised by lower yields and lower grain quality than common wheat and the durum wheat genotypes

Pineapple studies in the u. s. Virgin Islands

8 p.Cantidades sustanciales de piñas frescas se consumen en la Virgen EE.UU. Islas. Especialmente de diciembre a junio, cuando más de 300.000 turistas visitar las islas. Para satisfacer esta demanda, las piñas son importadas de Puerto Rico