Investigating the influence of excipient batch variation on the structure, consistency and physical stability of polysorbate 60-based topical vehicles.

Fatty alcohol-polysorbate 60-water ternary systems were used as models to represent the continuous phases of the respective semisolid oil-in-water emulsions for topical delivery of cosmetic and medicinal agents. The influence of batch variation of polysorbate 60 and fatty alcohol on structure and consistency of these systems was investigated using microscopy, rheology, differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray scattering techniques. The polysorbate 60 : cetostearyl alcohol mixed emulsifying wax showed swelling in water, that is, the lamellar repeat distance continually augmented from 93 to 125 Å with water percentage 20-90%. Cetostearyl alcohol ternary systems were thicker than cetyl alcohol ones independently of polysorbate 60 batches used. All the ternary systems showed an initial increase in consistency over the first 2 weeks of storage, which was followed by slight changes in consistency (cetostearyl alcohol systems) due to the re-allocation of polysorbate 60 molecules in the gel network or significant breakdown of structure (cetyl alcohol systems) due to the transformation of swollen α-lamellar gel phase into ß, γ crystals on 25°C storage. With all fatty alcohols, the consistency of polysorbate 60 ternary system was directly dependent upon interlamellar water thickness as governed by the length and distribution of polyoxyethylene groups within polysorbate 60 molecules. In relation with the composition of polysorbate 60 batches used, the consistency of ternary systems was higher when prepared with the polysorbate 60 batch containing a greater amount of sorbitan polyoxyethylene monoesters. It was proposed that the swollen α-crystalline gel phase could be better formed by sorbitan polyoxyethylene monoesters rather than sorbitan polyoxyethylene diesters.

Des systemes ternaires alcool gras-polysorbate 60-eau ont été utilisés comme modèles pour représenter les phases continues des émulsions huile-dans-eau semi-solides respectives pour l'administration topique d'agents cosmétiques et médicinaux. L'influence de la variation des lots de polysorbate 60 et d'alcool gras sur la structure et la consistance de ces systèmes a été étudiée en utilisant la microscopie, la rhéologie et la calorimétrie différentielle à balayage et la diffusion des rayons X. La cire émulsifiante mixte polysorbate 60 : alcool cétostearylique a montré un gonflement dans l'eau, c'est-à-dire que la distance de répétition du motif lamellaire a continuellement augmentée de 93 à 125 A° avec un pourcentage d'eau de 20-90%. Les systèmes ternaires d'alcool cétostearylique étaient plus épais que ceux d'alcool cétylique indépendamment des lots de polysorbate 60 utilisés. Tous les systèmes ternaires ont montré une augmentation initiale de la consistance au cours des 2 premières semaines de stockage, qui a été suivie par de légers changements de consistance (systèmes d'alcool cétostearylique) en raison de la re-affectation des molécules de polysorbate 60 dans le réseau de gel ou d'une rupture significative de structure (systèmes d'alcool cétylique) en raison de la transformation des phases lamellaires gonfles de type α-gel en cristaux ß, γ conservés a 25°C. Avec tous les alcools gras, la consistance du système ternaire polysorbate 60 dépendait directement de l'épaisseur inter lamellaire de l'eau car gouverné par la longueur et la distribution des groupes de polyoxyethylène au sein des molécules de polysorbate 60. En relation avec la composition des lots de polysorbate 60 utilisés, la consistance des systèmes ternaires était plus élevée lorsque préparé avec le lot de polysorbate 60 contenant une plus grande quantité de monoesters de polyoxyethylene sorbitane. Il a été proposé que la phase de gel α-cristallin gonflé pourrait être mieux formée par des monoesters de polyoxyethylene sorbitane plutôt que des diesters de polyoxyethylene sorbitane.

Identification of differentially expressed genes and metabolism signaling pathway in the spleen of broilers supplemented with probiotic Bacillus spp.

Probiotics are essential in the body's nutrients, improving the ratio of meat to meat, immune response, and preventing diseases. In this study, RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) was used to identify the differentially expressed genes (DEGs), enriched related pathways, and Gene Ontology (GO) terms among blank negative control (NC), supplemented with Bacillus spp. (BS) and commercial probiotic (PC) groups after a 42-day fed supplementation. The results showed that 2005, 1356, and 2189 DEGs were significantly altered in BS vs. NC, PC vs NC, and BS vs PC groups, respectively. On the other hand, 9 DEGs were further validated by qRT-PCR, indicating that the qRT-PCR and RNA-Seq results were more consistent. Therefore, the GO and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses of DEGs showed that the DEGs were mainly enriched to metabolism signalling pathways (alpha-linolenic acid metabolism, linoleic acid metabolism, tryptophan metabolism, tyrosine metabolism, ether lipid metabolism, and metabolic pathway, etc) and immune response pathways (cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, MAPK signalling pathway, and intestinal immune network for IgA production, neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction etc). These results will provide a better understanding of the role of probiotics in chicken development and provide basic information on the genetic development of chickens.

Interactions between Paracetamol and Formaldehyde: Theoretical Investigation and Topological Analysis.

In this work, noncovalent interactions including hydrogen bonds, C···C, N···O, and van der Waals forces between paracetamol and formaldehyde were investigated using the second-order perturbation theory MP2 in conjunction with the correlation consistent basis sets (aug-cc-pVDZ and aug-cc-pVTZ). Two molecular conformations of paracetamol were considered. Seven equilibrium geometries of dimers were found from the result of the interactions with formaldehyde for each conformation of paracetamol. Interaction energies of complexes with both ZPE and BSSE corrections range from -7.0 to -21.7 kJ mol-1. Topological parameters (such as electron density, its Laplacian, and local electron energy density at the bond critical points) of the bonds from atoms in molecules theory were analyzed in detail. The natural bond orbital analysis showed that the stability of complexes was controlled by noncovalent interactions including O-H···O, N-H···O, C-H···O, C-H···N, C-H···H-C, C···C, and N···O. The red- and blue-shifted hydrogen bonds could both be observed in these complexes. The properties of these interactions were also further examined in water using a polarized continuum model. In water, the stability of the complex was slightly reduced as compared to that in the gas phase.

A new snake of the genus Dendrelaphis Boulenger, 1890 (Squamata: Colubridae) from the coastal area of southern Vietnam.

We describe a new species of Dendrelaphis from the coastal area in southern Vietnam based on morphological data and nucleotide sequences from one partial mitochondrial gene (Cytb). Dendrelaphis binhi sp. nov. is diagnosed by the following morphological characters: body scale rows 13 at neck and midbody, 9-11 before vent; vertebral scale row feebly enlarged; ventrals 154-158 in males and 161-170 in females; subcaudals 95-106 in males and 95-102 in females; one supralabial touching the eye; 18 or 19 maxillary teeth; hemipenis spinose, reaching 10th or 11th SC, with a slender papilla; cloacal plate divided; dorsum dark brown; and a white stripe along the lower flank. The new species differs from its congeners by an uncorrected p-distance in Cytb sequences of at least 8.1%.

Contributions to the biodiversity of Vietnam - Results of VIETBIO inventory work and field training in Cuc Phuong National Park.

VIETBIO [Innovative approaches to biodiversity discovery and characterisation in Vietnam] is a bilateral German-Vietnamese research and capacity building project focusing on the development and transfer of new methods and technology towards an integrated biodiversity discovery and monitoring system for Vietnam. Dedicated field training and testing of innovative methodologies were undertaken in Cuc Phuong National Park as part and with support of the project, which led to the new biodiversity data and records made available in this article collection. VIETBIO is a collaboration between the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin - Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science (MfN), the Botanic Garden and Botanical Museum, Freie Universität Berlin (BGBM) and the Vietnam National Museum of Nature (VNMN), the Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources (IEBR), the Southern Institute of Ecology (SIE), as well as the Institute of Tropical Biology (ITB); all Vietnamese institutions belong to the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST). The article collection "VIETBIO" (https://doi.org/10.3897/bdj.coll.63) reports original results of recent biodiversity recording and survey work undertaken in Cuc Phuong National Park, northern Vietnam, under the framework of the VIETBIO project. The collection consist of this "main" cover paper - characterising the study area, the general project approaches and activities, while also giving an extensive overview on previous studies from this area - followed by individual papers for higher taxa as studied during the project. The main purpose is to make primary biodiversity records openly available, including several new and interesting findings for this biodiversity-rich conservation area. All individual data papers with their respective primary records are expected to provide useful baselines for further taxonomic, phylogenetic, ecological and conservation-related studies on the respective taxa and, thus, will be maintained as separate datasets, including separate GUIDs also for further updating.

Gekko phuyenensis sp. nov. (Squamata: Gekkonidae), a new species from southern Vietnam.

A new species of the genus Gekko Laurenti, 1768 is described from Phu Yen Province, southern Vietnam based on morphological and molecular evidence. Gekko phuyenensis sp. nov. differs from other congeners by its moderate size, with a snout-vent length of 90.292.8 mm; nares in contact with rostral; internasal 1; interorbitals 35 or 36; ventrals 3032; dorsal tubercle rows 9 or 10; precloacal pores 12 or 13 in males and precloacal pits 13 in female; subdigital lamellae under first finger 1821, fourth finger 19 or 20, first toe 1820, and fourth toe 2123; subcaudals median enlarged; no webbing between toes; and the absence of tubercles on hind limbs. Molecular phylogenetic analyses of mitochondrial gene COI (681 bp) using the geckos from Phu Yen and its congeners in southern Vietnam resolve the new species as the sister lineage to G. cf. grossmanni from Khanh Hoa Province. Genetic distances between G. phuyenensis sp. nov. and its congeners in southern Vietnam range from 16.924.2%. The discovery of this new species raises the number of known species of Gekko in Vietnam to 14.

A new skink of the genus emSubdoluseps/em Freitas, Datta-Roy, Karanth, Grismer amp; Siler, 2019 (Squamata: Scincidae) from southern Vietnam.

We describe a new species of the genus Subdoluseps Freitas, Datta-Roy, Karanth, Grismer Siler from a coastal area in southern Vietnam. Subdoluseps vietnamensis sp. nov. is characterized by the following morphological characters: medium size in adults (snout-vent length up to 48.7 mm); tail length/snout-vent length ratio 1.04; toes not reaching finger when limbs adpressed; 27-30 midbody scale rows, smooth; 55-57 paravertebral scales; 55-62 ventral scale rows; 64-74 subcaudal scales; frontoparietal scale single; four supraoculars; prefrontals not in contact with one another; two loreal scales; seven supralabials; ear-opening with two lobules on the anterior border; smooth lamellae beneath finger III 9 or 10 and toe IV 12-15; six enlarged precloacal scales; and four distinct black stripes on dorsum. The new species differs genetically from its closest congeners, S. bowringii (Günther) and S. frontoparietale (Taylor), by uncorrected p-distances of 10.0% and 9.5%, respectively in ND1 sequences, and clusters into the same matriline with these two congeners on the phylogenetic trees.

A new skink of the genus Scincella Mittleman, 1950 (Squamata: Scincidae) from southern Vietnam.

A new skink of the genus Scincella Mittleman, 1950, from Binh Phuoc Province, southern Vietnam is described based on morphological data, including hemipenial characters, and nucleotide sequences from COI. The following morphological characters diagnose Scincella baraensis sp. nov.: relatively small size in adults (snout-vent length up to 49.2 mm); when limbs adpressed, toes do not or just reach fingers; 30 smooth midbody scale rows and dorsal scales not enlarged; 66-70 paravertebral scales; 64-66 ventral scale rows; 7 supralabials, the fifth and sixth below the center of the eye; enlarged temporal scales 1+2; nuchals present; ear with small auricular lobules; 18-20 smooth lamellae beneath toe IV; hemipenis smooth, short, and unforked; dorsum with faint black dots. The new species differs from its congeners by an uncorrected p-distance in COI sequences of at least 16.2%.

RP-HPLC and UV Spectrophotometric Analysis of Paracetamol, Ibuprofen, and Caffeine in Solid Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms by Derivative, Fourier, and Wavelet Transforms: A Comparison Study.

Different signal-transforming algorithms were applied for UV spectrophotometric analysis of paracetamol, ibuprofen, and caffeine in ternary mixtures. Phosphate buffer pH 7.2 was used as the spectrophotometric solvent. Severe overlapping spectra could be resolved into individual bands in the range of wavelengths 200-300 nm by using Savitzky-Golay smoothing and differentiation, trigonometric Fourier series, and mother wavelet functions (i.e., sym6, haar, coif3, and mexh). To optimize spectral recoveries, the concentration of various types of divisors (single, double, and successive) was tested. The developed spectrophotometric methods showed linearity over the ranges 20-40 mg/L for paracetamol, 12-32 mg/L for ibuprofen, and 1-3.5 mg/L for caffeine (R 2 > 0.990). They could be successfully applied to the assay and dissolution test of paracetamol, ibuprofen, and caffeine in their combined tablets and capsules, with accuracy (99.1-101.5% recovery) and precision (RSD < 2%). For comparison, an isocratic RP-HPLC analysis was also developed and validated on an Agilent ZORBAX Eclipse XDB-C18 (150 × 4.6 mm, 5 µm) at an ambient temperature. A mixture of methanol : phosphate buffer 0.01 M pH 3 (30 : 70 v/v) was used as the mobile phase delivered at 2 mL/min, and the effluent was monitored at 225 nm. It was shown that spectrophotometric data were statistically comparable to HPLC (p > 0.05), suggesting possible interchange between UV spectrophotometric and HPLC methods for routine analysis of paracetamol, ibuprofen, and caffeine in their solid pharmaceutical dosage forms.

A new skink of the genus Scincella Mittleman, 1950 (Squamata: Scincidae) from Ba Den Mountain, Tay Ninh Province, southern Vietnam.

Ba Den is an isolated mountain in southern Vietnam and home to two endemic species of lizards. Herein, we describe another endemic species, a new skink of the genus Scincella Mittleman, 1950, from the area based on morphological data, including hemipenial characters and nucleotide sequences of COI. The following morphological characters diagnose Scincella badenensis sp. nov.: medium size in adults (snout-vent length up to 64.4 mm); toes reach to fingers when limbs adpressed; midbody scale rows 32-36, smooth; paravertebral scales 67-71; dorsal scales not enlarged; ventral scale rows 68-74; supraoculars four; prefrontals in broad contact with one another; loreal scales two; tympanum deeply sunk, without auricular lobules; two enlarged anterior temporal scales; smooth lamellae beneath toe IV 18-20; pair of enlarged precloacal scales; hemipenes short, smooth and forked near the tip with two short lobes and two small terminal papillae; no dorsal pattern in males; and females with black interruptive vertebral line. The new species differs from its congeners by at least 10.4% uncorrected p-distance in COI sequences.

A new skink of the genus Sphenomorphus Fitzinger, 1843 (Squamata: Scincidae) from Hon Ba Nature Reserve, southern Vietnam.

A new forest skink of the genus Sphenomorphus Fitzinger, 1843 is described from Khanh Hoa Province, southern Vietnam based on morphological characters of four specimens and a fragment of 653 nucleotides of the gene COI. Sphenomorphus yersini sp. nov. is characterized by the following morphological characters: medium size in adults (snout-vent length up to 55 mm); tail length/snout-vent length ratio 1.81; toes reach to fingers when limbs adpressed; midbody scale rows 32-34, smooth; paravertebral scales 61-69; ventral scale rows 58-67; subcaudal scales 112; supraoculars four, rarely five; prefrontals in broad contact with one another; loreal scales two; tympanum deeply sunk; smooth lamellae beneath finger and toe IV 10-12 and 18-20 respectively; a pair of enlarged precloacal scales; hemipenis deeply forked and asymmetrical with two differently sized smooth lobes. The new species differs from its most similar congener, Sphenomorphus buenloicus Darevsky Nguyen, 1983, by 16.4-16.7% uncorrected p-distance in COI sequences.

Molecular, morphological and acoustic assessment of the genus Ophryophryne (Anura, Megophryidae) from Langbian Plateau, southern Vietnam, with description of a new species.

Asian Mountain Toads (Ophryophryne) are a poorly known genus of mostly small-sized anurans from southeastern China and Indochina. To shed light on the systematics within this group, the most comprehensive mitochondrial DNA phylogeny for the genus to date is presented, and the taxonomy and biogeography of this group is discussed. Complimented with extensive morphological data (including associated statistical analyses), molecular data indicates that the Langbian Plateau, in the southern Annamite Mountains, Vietnam, is one of the diversity centres of this genus where three often sympatric species of Ophryophryne are found, O. gerti, O. synoria and an undescribed species. To help resolve outstanding taxonomic confusion evident in literature (reviewed herein), an expanded redescription of O. gerti is provided based on the examination of type material, and the distributions of both O. gerti and O. synoria are considerably revised based on new locality records. We provide the first descriptions of male mating calls for all three species, permitting a detailed bioacoustics comparison of the species. We describe the new species from highlands of the northern and eastern Langbian Plateau, and distinguish it from its congeners by a combination of morphological, molecular and acoustic characters. The new species represents one of the smallest known members of the genus Ophryophryne. At present, the new species is known from montane evergreen forest between 700-2200 m a.s.l. We suggest the species should be considered Data Deficient following IUCN's Red List categories.

A new color pattern of the Bungarus candidus complex (Squamata: Elapidae) from Vietnam based on morphological and molecular data.

Kraits with black and white bands from Nui Chua National Park, central Vietnam are morphologically similar to the Burmese Krait, Bungarus magnimaculatus, however, analysis of molecular data finds them to be nested within the B. candidus complex.

Composition analysis of two batches of polysorbate 60 using MS and NMR techniques.

Batch variation in Tween 60 has shown to influence the rheological properties of semisolid emulsions. MS (LC-MS, GC-MS, MS(n)) and NMR ((13)C, (1)H, (1)H COSY and HMBC) techniques were used to analyze and compare the composition of two batches of Tween 60 with particular emphasis on the number of POE groups and their distribution within the molecule. Acid and saponification values were also determined. The batches contained different proportions of components (sorbitan polyethoxylates, sorbitan monoester-diester-polyethoxylates and isosorbide monoester-diester-polyethoxylates). The number of POE groups were averaged over the four sites in sorbitan and the two sites in isosorbide molecules. The batches differed from each other in terms of (i) the POE sorbitan stearate/POE sorbitan palmitate ratios (batch 1, 3:2 and batch 2, 4:5), (ii) the ratio of sorbitans to isosorbides (batch 1, 2:3; batch 2, 7:13); and (iii) the acid values (batch 1, 3.1; batch 2, 0). It is concluded that liquid chromatography combined with electrospray mass spectrometry and ion trap separation is a useful tool for establishing the compositional profile of different batches of Tweens. (1)H NMR could provide a simple and rapid pharmacopoeial test for the ratio of sorbitan to isosorbide in Tweens.

A new species of kukri snake (Squamata: Colubridae: Oligodon Fitzinger, 1826) from Con Dao Islands, southern Vietnam.

We describe a new kukri snake, Oligodon condaoensis sp. nov., from Con Dao Islands, southern Vietnam based on the morphological characters of four specimens. It differs from other congeners by a combination of the following characters: medium size in adults (total length up to 552 mm); 17-17-15 dorsal scale rows; deeply forked hemipenes without spines and papillae, extending to subcaudal 13 or 14; 11-13 maxillary teeth, the posterior three being enlarged; cloacal plate undivided; head scalation complete; nasal divided; presubocular absent; 168-176 ventrals; 33-37 subcaudals; overall dorsal coloration dark gray, faint body stripes present or absent; and ventral coloration cream to dark gray without rectangular blotches. We also provide a list of 43 species of amphibians and terrestrial reptiles recorded from Con Dao Islands.

Nasal absorption enhancement strategies for therapeutic peptides: an in vitro study using cultured human nasal epithelium.

This study examined the potential usefulness of cultured human nasal epithelium as a model to investigate nasal absorption enhancement strategies for therapeutic peptides. The transport of leucine enkephalin (Leu-Enk) in the presence of bestatin and puromycin, respectively and various combinations of these protease inhibitors with absorption enhancers capable of inhibiting proteases or protecting peptides against protease degradation (glycocholate, dimethyl-beta-cyclodextrin (DM beta CD)) was studied. Epithelial membrane perturbation, protein leakage, bestatin/puromycin absorption and rebound aminopeptidase activity were used as toxicological end-points. The combination of puromycin with glycocholate or DM beta CD resulted in a higher absorption enhancement of Leu-Enk (9-14%) than when the absorption enhancers were combined with bestatin (1-3%) or when the inhibitors were used alone (2-4%). The higher absorption enhancement resulting from the combination of protease inhibitors with absorption enhancers caused a significant reduction of epithelial resistance and increased sodium fluorescein transport. Although only puromycin permeated the human nasal epithelium, both protease inhibitors induced a significant rebound aminopeptidase activity (25-61%), which can be associated with protein leakage (21-46%). This study highlighted (i) the potential usefulness of cultured human nasal epithelium as a model to study nasal absorption enhancement of therapeutic peptides; (ii) further studies using in vivo nasal models are required to ascertain whether the membrane perturbation and cytotoxicity observed with various combinations of the protease inhibitors and absorption enhancers really raise safety concerns.