[Consensus about Health constance for children and adolescents in order to develop phisical activities and sports. Update 2021]. / Consenso sobre la constancia de salud del niño y del adolescente para la realización de actividades físicas y/o deportivas. Actualización 2021.

This document is the update of the Consensus published by SAP in 2014, so that no child nor adolescent is excluded from their right to health and physical activity. The periodic medical control and the school physical education are fundamental tools. As a result, of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, sports practice decreased dramatically. Recommendations are formulated that serve as a reference to pediatricians, members of health care teams, educational institutions, and sports at the local, regional, and national level in the preparation of the health certificate for a child or adolescent who will participate in physical or sports activities. The pediatrician will evaluate the child or adolescent knowing that to carry out a healthy life, must perform physical activities with moderate or vigorous intensity. The health certificate implies a shared responsibility between the child or adolescent and/or the responsible adult, the doctor, the physical education teachers and/or the coaches in charge.

Este documento es la actualización del consenso publicado por la Sociedad Argentina de Pediatría en 2014, para que ningún niño, niña y adolescente (NNA) del país quede excluido de su derecho a la salud y a la actividad física. El control médico periódico y la educación física en el ámbito escolar son herramientas fundamentales para ejercer estos derechos. A raíz de la pandemia del coronavirus de tipo 2 causante del síndrome respiratorio agudo grave (SARS-CoV-2, por su sigla en inglés) disminuyó de manera notable la práctica deportiva. Se formulan recomendaciones que sirvan de referencia a pediatras, integrantes de los equipos de salud, instituciones educativas y deportivas en los niveles local, regional y nacional para la elaboración de la constancia de salud de los NNA que participarán en actividades físicas y deportivas. El pediatra evaluará al NNA sabiendo que para llevar una vida saludable éste debe realizar actividades físicas de moderada a vigorosa intensidad. La Constancia de Salud implica una responsabilidad compartida entre el NNA y/o adulto responsable, el médico, los profesores de educación física y/o los entrenadores a cargo.

Consenso sobre la constancia de salud del niño y del adolescente para la realización de actividades físicas y/o deportivas. Actualización 2021 / Consensus about Health constance for children and adolescents in order to develop phisical activities and sports. Update 2021

Este documento es la actualización del consenso publicado por la Sociedad Argentina de Pediatría en 2014, para que ningún niño, niña y adolescente (NNA) del país quede excluido de su derecho a la salud y a la actividad física. El control médico periódico y la educación física en el ámbito escolar son herramientas fundamentales para ejercer estos derechos. A raíz de la pandemia del coronavirus de tipo 2 causante del síndrome respiratorio agudo grave (SARS-CoV-2, por su sigla en inglés) disminuyó de manera notable la práctica deportiva. Se formulan recomendaciones que sirvan de referencia a pediatras, integrantes de los equipos de salud, instituciones educativas y deportivas en los niveles local, regional y nacional para la elaboración de la constancia de salud de los NNA que participarán en actividades físicas y deportivas. El pediatra evaluará al NNA sabiendo que para llevar una vida saludable éste debe realizar actividades físicas de moderada a vigorosa intensidad. La Constancia de Salud implica una responsabilidad compartida entre el NNA y/o adulto responsable, el médico, los profesores de educación física y/o los entrenadores a cargo.

This document is the update of the Consensus published by SAP in 2014, so that no child nor adolescent is excluded from their right to health and physical activity. The periodic medical control and the school physical education are fundamental tools. As a result, of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, sports practice decreased dramatically. Recommendations are formulated that serve as a reference to pediatricians, members of health care teams, educational institutions, and sports at the local, regional, and national level in the preparation of the health certificate for a child or adolescent who will participate in physical or sports activities. The pediatrician will evaluate the child or adolescent knowing that to carry out a healthy life, must perform physical activities with moderate or vigorous intensity. The health certificate implies a shared responsibility between the child or adolescent and/or the responsible adult, the doctor, the physical education teachers and/or the coaches in charge.

Valoración de la exposición a plaguicidas en cultivos extensivos de Argentina y su potencial impacto sobre la salud / Pesticide Exposure Assessment in Argentinian Extensive Crops and its Potential Health Impact

INTRODUCCIÓN: Los plaguicidas configuran un aspecto central de las prácticas agrícolas. OBJETIVOS: Describir la distribución espacial de la exposición a plaguicidas en Argentina y su asociación con indicadores de carga de cáncer, construir índices de exposición global y validar índices de exposición individual con biomarcadores de efecto en sujetos laboralmente expuestos. MÉTODOS: Se construyeron dos índices globales (de exposición a plaguicidas [IEP] y de impacto ambiental total [IIAT]), se estudiaron sus distribuciones espaciales y mediante un estudio ecológico a nivel nacional se estimó la asociación con las tasas de mortalidad de cáncer total, mama y próstata, usando los departamentos como nivel de desagregación (n=564). Dos índices de exposición, construidos con información (individual) de agroaplicadores de Córdoba, se validaron mediante biomarcadores (actividad de butirilcolinesterasa y genotoxicidad). RESULTADOS: El área pampeana agrupa un IEP mayor al promedio nacional y los IIAT superiores, correspondientes al 2,4-D y clorpirifos. El aumento en ambos índices de exposición se asoció a incrementos en las tasas de mortalidad por cáncer a nivel departamental. El daño genotóxico en aplicadores no se asoció a los niveles de exposición; sí la disminución de la actividad de butirilcolinesterasa. CONCLUSIONES: Los instrumentos ­índices­ y resultados alcanzados brindan valiosos elementos para vigilar la exposición a plaguicidas en Argentina.

INTRODUCTION: Pesticides are a key factor of agricultural practices. OBJECTIVES: To describe the spatial distribution of pesticide exposure in Argentina and its association with cancer burden indicators, build global exposure indices, and validate individual exposure indices with biomarkers of effect in occupationally exposed subjects. METHODS: Two global indices were developed (pesticide exposure [PEI] and total environmental impact [TEII]), their spatial distribution was studied and, by means of a nationwide ecological study, the association with total, breast and prostate cancer mortality rates was estimated, using departments as level of spatial disaggregation (n=564). Two exposure indices, built with (individual) information of pesticide applicators in Córdoba, were validated using biomarkers (butyrylcholinesterase and genotoxicity). RESULTS: The Pampas have a PEI which is higher than national average as well as the highest TEII, corresponding to 2.4-D and chlorpyrifos. The increase in both exposure indices was associated to increases in the mortality rates due to cancer at the departmental level. Genotoxic damage in applicators was not associated to levels of exposure; what was associated was the reduction of butyrylcholinesterase activity. CONCLUSIONS: The instruments ­indices­ and results obtained provide valuable elements for the surveillance of pesticide exposure in Argentina.

Calibration sets selection strategy for the construction of robust PLS models for prediction of biodiesel/diesel blends physico-chemical properties using NIR spectroscopy.

Even when the feasibility of using near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy combined with partial least squares (PLS) regression for prediction of physico-chemical properties of biodiesel/diesel blends has been widely demonstrated, inclusion in the calibration sets of the whole variability of diesel samples from diverse production origins still remains as an important challenge when constructing the models. This work presents a useful strategy for the systematic selection of calibration sets of samples of biodiesel/diesel blends from diverse origins, based on a binary code, principal components analysis (PCA) and the Kennard-Stones algorithm. Results show that using this methodology the models can keep their robustness over time. PLS calculations have been done using a specialized chemometric software as well as the software of the NIR instrument installed in plant, and both produced RMSEP under reproducibility values of the reference methods. The models have been proved for on-line simultaneous determination of seven properties: density, cetane index, fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) content, cloud point, boiling point at 95% of recovery, flash point and sulphur.

Occupational risks associated with the use of pesticides in the green belt of Córdoba, Argentina / Riesgos ocupacionales asociados al uso de plaguicidas en el cinturón verde de Córdoba, Argentina

Horticulture is an activity with high occupational risk and few studies have addressed this problem in Argentina. We studied groups of horticultural workers in the Green Belt of Córdoba City (GBCC) (Argentina) and identified some determinants of occupational accidents caused by the use of pesticides. An observational study was conducted, examining demographic, productive and labor issues in 101 workers. A Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA) enabled distribution and covariance patterns to be visualized and typologies of individuals to be established. Logistic regression models were used to identify occupational accidents with pesticides. The MCA identified the more vulnerable groups: those using backpacks to apply pesticides, those who sprayed a great variety of pesticides, those working in small production units, and those living in their place of work. Accidents caused by the use of pesticides were associated with subjects who handle a large number of pesticides and work in small establishments. Determining factors for the occurrence of accidents were found to be higher levels of education (OR 4.23; p = 0.046), the greater number of pesticides used (OR 5.44; p=0.013) and lower PPE level (OR 4.92; p= 0.021). This characterization identifies features of vulnerability to pesticide exposure in certain groups of horticulturists as well as determinants of accidents with pesticides.

La horticultura constituye una actividad de elevado riesgo ocupacional y en Argentina son escasos los estudios que aborden esa problemática. Se identificaron grupos de trabajadores agrícolas en el cinturón hortícola de Córdoba (Argentina) y algunos condicionantes de accidentes laborales con estos productos. Se llevó a cabo un estudio observacional descriptivo mediante encuestas a 101 horticultores indagando aspectos sociodemográficos, productivos y laborales. Un Análisis Factorial de Correspondencias Múltiples (AFCM) permitió visualizar la distribución y covariación de modalidades y establecer tipologías de individuos. La identificación de los accidentes laborales con plaguicidas se llevó a cabo mediante modelos de regresión logística. El AFCM identificó grupos considerados como vulnerables y dados por sujetos que utilizan mochila para aplicar los plaguicidas, aplican una gran variedad de ellos, trabajan en pequeñas unidades de producción y viven en donde trabajan. Asimismo, los accidentes causados por el uso de plaguicidas se asociaron a sujetos que manipulan mayor número de plaguicidas y trabajan en pequeños establecimientos. Como factores condicionantes de la ocurrencia de accidentes se encontró al mayor nivel de escolaridad (OR 4,23 p=0,046), al mayor número de plaguicidas utilizados (OR 5,44; p=0,013) y al bajo nivel de protección personal (OR 4,92; p=0,021). Esta caracterización identifica atributos de vulnerabilidad frente a la exposición a plaguicidas en determinados grupos de horticultores así como también los condicionantes de accidentes laborales con plaguicidas.

Pesticide exposure and health conditions of terrestrial pesticide applicators in Córdoba Province, Argentina.

Agricultural workers represent a population that is highly vulnerable to the toxic effects of pesticide exposure. This cross sectional study aimed to describe the health conditions of terrestrial pesticide applicators in Córdoba Province, Argentina, their work practices and socio-demographic characteristics, by means of a standardized self-administered questionnaire (n = 880). A descriptive analysis reported a high prevalence of occasional or frequent symptoms: 47.4% had symptoms of irritation, 35.5% fatigue, 40.4% headache and 27.6% nervousness or depression. Using logistic regression models, risk and protective factors were found for symptoms of irritation, medical consultation and hospitalization. Among the occupational exposure variables, marital status, length of time in the job, low level of protection with regard to the use of personal protective equipment, combined use of different pesticides and the application of the insecticide endosulfan, were associated with a higher frequency of reported symptoms and higher consultation rates and hospitalization.

Pesticide exposure and health conditions of terrestrial pesticide applicators in Córdoba Province, Argentina / Exposición a plaguicidas y condiciones de salud de agroaplicadores terrestres de la Provincia de Córdoba, Argentina / Exposição aos agrotóxicos e condições de saúde dos aplicadores de pesticidas da Província de Córdoba, Argentina

Agricultural workers represent a population that is highly vulnerable to the toxic effects of pesticide exposure. This cross sectional study aimed to describe the health conditions of terrestrial pesticide applicators in Córdoba Province, Argentina, their work practices and socio-demographic characteristics, by means of a standardized self-administered questionnaire (n = 880). A descriptive analysis reported a high prevalence of occasional or frequent symptoms: 47.4% had symptoms of irritation, 35.5% fatigue, 40.4% headache and 27.6% nervousness or depression. Using logistic regression models, risk and protective factors were found for symptoms of irritation, medical consultation and hospitalization. Among the occupational exposure variables, marital status, length of time in the job, low level of protection with regard to the use of personal protective equipment, combined use of different pesticides and the application of the insecticide endosulfan, were associated with a higher frequency of reported symptoms and higher consultation rates and hospitalization.

Los trabajadores agrícolas son una población altamente vulnerable a los efectos tóxicos de la exposición a plaguicidas. Con el objetivo de describir las condiciones de salud de agroaplicadores terrestres de plaguicidas de la Provincia de Córdoba, Argentina, sus prácticas laborales y características sociodemográficas, se realizó un estudio transversal, mediante cuestionario (n = 880). Un análisis descriptivo reportó alta prevalencia de sintomatología ocasional o frecuente: 47,4% síntomas irritativos, 35,5% cansancio, 40,4% cefalea y 27,6% ansiedad o depresión. Mediante modelos logísticos se detectaron factores protectores y de riesgo que explican la presencia de síntomas irritativos, la consulta médica y la hospitalización. El estado civil, la antigüedad en la tarea, el nivel de protección considerando uso de equipo de protección personal, la exposición múltiple a plaguicidas y la aplicación del insecticida endosulfán, se asociaron a mayor frecuencia de reporte de síntomas, consultas médicas y hospitalizaciones por causas relacionadas con la exposición a plaguicidas.

Os trabalhadores agrícolas são uma população altamente vulnerável aos efeitos tóxicos da exposição a pesticidas. Este estudo transversal teve o objetivo de descrever as condições de saúde de aplicadores terrestres de pesticidas da Província de Córdoba, Argentina, suas práticas de trabalho e características sociodemográficas, por meio de um questionário padronizado autoadministrado (n = 880). A análise descritiva relatou alta prevalência de sintomas ocasionais ou frequentes: 47,4% sintomas irritativos, 35,5% fadiga, 40,4% dor de cabeça e 27,6% ansiedade ou depressão. Mediante modelos logísticos foram detectados os fatores protetores e do risco que explicam a presença de sintomas irritativos, consulta médica e hospitalização. O estado civil, anos de trabalho, o nível de proteção considerando o uso de equipamentos de proteção individual, a exposição a vários pesticidas e aplicação do inseticida endosulfan, foram associados com maior frequência de sintomas, consultas médicas e hospitalização por causas relacionadas à exposição ao agrotóxico.

Analysis of ecstasy in oral fluid by ion mobility spectrometry and infrared spectroscopy after liquid-liquid extraction.

We developed and evaluated two different strategies for determining abuse drugs based on (i) the analysis of saliva by ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) after thermal desorption and (ii) the joint use of IMS and infrared (IR) spectroscopy after liquid-liquid microextraction (LLME) to enable the sensitivity-enhanced detection and double confirmation of ecstasy (MDMA) abuse. Both strategies proved effective for the intended purpose. Analysing saliva by IMS after thermal desorption, which provides a limit of detection (LOD) of 160µgL(-1), requires adding 0.2M acetic acid to the sample and using the truncated negative second derivative of the ion mobility spectrum. The joint use of IMS and IR spectroscopy after LLME provides an LOD of 11µgL(-1) with the former technique and 800µgL(-1) with the latter, in addition to a limit of confirmation (LOC) of 1.5mgL(-1). Using IMS after thermal desorption simplifies the operational procedure, and using it jointly with IR spectroscopy after LLME allows double confirmation of MDMA abuse with two techniques based on different principles (viz., IMS drift times and IR spectra). Also, it affords on-site analyses, albeit at a lower throughput.

Detection and characterization of emerging psychoactive substances by ion mobility spectrometry.

Rapid detection and identification of novel psychoactive substances (NPS) continues to present significant analytical challenges to forensic and analytical chemists. Ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) has been traditionally considered as the analytical technique of choice to detect illicit drugs in security points in airports, borderlines and customs. Databases of the reduced mobility (K0 ) values of illicit drugs are available in the scientific literature and they should be completed with data of emerging designer drugs. In this paper, we have evaluated the effect of different measurement conditions and determined the K0 values of an important number of NPS including different families; such as phenethylamines, cathinones, synthetic cannabinoids and tryptamines among others to be incorporated to the existing data to provide a rapid detection and identification of this emerging threat.

Ion mobility spectrometry evaluation of cocaine occupational exposure in forensic laboratories.

An approach, based on ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) has been developed for the control of cocaine in air of the breathing zone of operators, in laboratory surfaces and in nasal mucus of employees to evaluate cocaine exposure in a forensic laboratory. The analytical methodology has been validated in terms of accuracy, precision and limits of detection and results obtained were statistically comparable with those obtained by liquid chromatography. Cocaine concentration in laboratory air increases from 100 ± 35 ng m(-3) of a normal day to 10,000 ng m(-3) during the manipulation of cocaine seizures. The occupational exposure limit (OEL) for cocaine has not been established which difficult the evaluation of the health effects of continuous exposition to very small doses of cocaine. Cocaine was also found in almost all the analyzed sample surfaces and also was found in nasal mucus of the police officers that were present during the manipulation of cocaine seizures without using a face mask. In summary, cocaine concentrations could present a health hazard to the employees and therefore warrants remediation and some modifications of the manipulation operations have been proposed.

Noninvasive double confirmation of cocaine abuse.

A double confirmation procedure, based on the combined application of Ion Mobility Spectrometry (IMS) and Infrared Spectroscopy (IR), has been developed for the noninvasive unambiguous identification of cocaine consume. The use of nasal mucus as a biological specimen for cocaine abuse confirmation has been proposed as an alternative to the use of blood and urine due to its noninvasive character and the presence of the parent compound instead of its metabolites. Sampling conditions, interferences caused by cutting agents and other substances, and limits of identification (LOI) and confirmation (LOC) have been deeply evaluated. The procedure combines the high sensitivity of the IMS to identify positive samples with the high selectivity of the IR procedure to confirm positive results. Thus, the proposed two tier method has been applied to the detection and identification of cocaine in the nasal mucus of different individuals, consumers, and nonconsumers, providing results comparable with those obtained by a reference procedure.

Ion mobility spectrometry for monitoring diamine oxidase activity.

The capability of IMS for the determination of kinetics in complex enzyme systems with reduced v(max) values has been demonstrated with the example of diamine oxidase (DAO). Michaelis-Menten and Lineweaver-Burk plots were obtained for the enzyme catalyzed putrescine oxidation and calculations of the kinetic parameters have been performed and compared with previously published values. The IMS procedure provided a limit of detection of 200 pg mL(-1) for putrescine, a limit of quantification of 667 pg mL(-1), a precision of 5.9%, and an analysis frequency of 40 s, which are analytical characteristics appropriate to perform label-free enzyme studies. Additionally, pseudo-competitive inhibition of the putrescine oxidation due to other diamines binding to the free enzyme has been evaluated. Moreover, the mass-mobility correlation curve of diamines based on the calculated mobilities of the studied analytes and data previously reported for cadaverine, serotonin and tryptamine was modelled. The analytical method could be used as an additional complementary tool for the existing drug discovery method, for the search of DAO activators; molecules that displace the substrate from the second site of DAO, but does not interfere with the catalytic function of the first site.

A criterion for assessing homogeneity distribution in hyperspectral images. Part 2: application of homogeneity indices to solid pharmaceutical dosage forms.

This article is the second of a series of two articles detailing the application of mixing index to assess homogeneity distribution in oral pharmaceutical solid dosage forms by image analysis. Chemical imaging (CI) is an emerging technique integrating conventional imaging and spectroscopic techniques with a view to obtaining spatial and spectral information from a sample. Near infrared chemical imaging (NIR-CI) has proved an excellent analytical tool for extracting high-quality information from sample surfaces. The primary objective of this second part was to demonstrate that the approach developed in the first part could be successfully applied to near infrared hyperspectral images of oral pharmaceutical solid dosage forms such as coated, uncoated and effervescent tablets, as well as to powder blends. To this end, we assessed a new criterion for establishing mixing homogeneity by using four different methods based on a three-dimensional (M×N×λ) data array of hyperspectral images (spectral standard deviations and correlation coefficients) or a two-dimensional (M×N) data array (concentration maps and binary images). The four methods were used applying macropixel analysis to the Poole (M(P)) and homogeneity (H%(Poole)) indices. Both indices proved useful for assessing the degree of homogeneity of pharmaceutical samples. The results testify that the proposed approach can be effectively used in the pharmaceutical industry, in the finished products (e.g., tablets) and in mixing unit operations for example, as a process analytical technology tool for the blending monitoring (see part 1).

A criterion for assessing homogeneity distribution in hyperspectral images. Part 1: homogeneity index bases and blending processes.

The Process Analytical Technologies (PAT) initiative of the US Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) has established a framework for the development of imaging techniques to determine the real-time distribution of mixture components during the production of solid dosage forms. This study, which is the first in a series of two parts, uses existing mixing indices and a new criterion called the "percentage of homogeneity" (H%) to assess image homogeneity. Image analysis techniques use feature extraction procedures to extract information from images subjected to treatments including colour segmentation and binarization. The surface distribution of components was determined by macropixel analysis, which splits an image into non-overlapping blocks of a preset size and calculates several statistical parameters for the resulting divisional structure. Such parameters were used to compute mixing indices. In this work, we explored the potential of image processing in combination with mixing indices and H% for assessing blending end-point and component distribution on images. As a simplified test, an arrangement of binary and ternary systems of coloured particles was mixed collecting at-line multispectral (MSI) and non-invasive RGB pictures at preset intervals.

Improving the efficiency of ion mobility spectrometry analyses by using multivariate calibration.

The simplicity, sensitivity and expeditiousness of ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) make it especially useful for the determination of active principal ingredients (APIs) present at low concentrations in pharmaceuticals. However, the poor resolution of this technique precludes the identification and/or determination of substances with similar molecular weights, which exhibit also similar drift times and give overlapped peaks as a result. Oral contraceptives are pharmaceutical formulations containing two APIs of similar molecular weights at very low concentrations which therefore give strongly overlapped peaks hindering their determination by IMS. In this work, we assessed the potential of IMS for detecting and quantifying the contraceptives ethinylestradiol (ETE) and desogestrel (DES) in commercial tablets. To this end, we used various chemometric techniques including a second-derivative (TN2D) algorithm and the more powerful choice Multivariate Curve Resolution (MCR) to improve the resolution of IMS and enable the determination of both APIs. Quantitation was based on PLS1 models for each API. The models constructed involve a single PLS factor with a Y-explained variance above 98.4%, obtaining a RMSEP of 0.34 and 0.63 for ETE and DES, respectively. The ensuing method, which was validated for use in routine analyses, is quite expeditious (analyses take less than 1 min) and uses very small amounts of sample (a few microliters). Based on the results, IMS has a great potential for the qualitative and quantitative determination of APIs in low doses.

An analytical method for lubricant quality control by NIR spectroscopy.

The excellent compatibility of polyol esters (POEs) with general fluids coolants such as CO(2) and non-chlorinated coolants (e.g. hydrofluorocarbons, HFCs) in terms of solubility, miscibility and chemical stability has fostered their use as lubricants by the refrigeration industry. The most widely used POEs bases consist of esters of polyalcohols - such as pentaerythritol, dipentaerythritol and neopentylglycol - with mixtures of carboxylic acids of 4-10 carbon atoms. Their thermophysical properties (viscosity mainly) are crucial with a view to producing efficient lubricants for specific applications. Usually, POE formulations, which usually contain several bases, are characterized in terms of global indices. In this work, we developed a methodology based on NIR spectroscopy for the characterization and analysis of lubricant formulations. The products, including lubricant bases and lubricant formulations, are characterized by reference to two spectral libraries that are used to identify as the starting lubricant bases as well as the lubricant formulations. It has been proposed to build libraries in cascade for the differentiation of lubricant formulations without and with low content in additives. Once the identification of the formulation is applied PLS multivariate models are used to determine the components of a lubricant formulation and its viscosity.

Determination of drug, excipients and coating distribution in pharmaceutical tablets using NIR-CI.

The growing interest of the pharmaceutical industry in Near Infrared-Chemical Imaging (NIR-CI) is a result of its high usefulness for quality control analyses of drugs throughout their production process (particularly of its non-destructive nature and expeditious data acquisition). In this work, the concentration and distribution of the major and minor components of pharmaceutical tablets are determined and the spatial distribution from the internal and external sides has been obtained. In addition, the same NIR-CI allowed the coating thickness and its surface distribution to be quantified. Images were processed to extract the target data and calibration models constructed using the Partial Least Squares (PLS) algorithms. The concentrations of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) and excipients obtained for uncoated cores were essentially identical to the nominal values of the pharmaceutical formulation. But the predictive ability of the calibration models applied to the coated tablets decreased as the coating thickness increased.

Determination of trace impurities in cosmetic intermediates by ion mobility spectrometry.

The cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries are continuously demanding fast, efficient, cost-effective analytical methods to monitor production processes and assure end-product quality. The presence of residual reagents or impurities formed during a synthetic process can have an adverse impact on product quality, assurance of which requires using increasingly sensitive analytical methods to facilitate the detection and/or determination of toxic compounds with potentially hazardous effects on consumer's health. In this work, we assessed the potential of ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) for the detection and quantitation of dimethylaminopropylamine (DMAPA) residues in stearamidopropyldimethylamine (SAPDA) production samples. The influence of instrumental variables including solvent, solution drying time, injected volume and volatilization temperature was examined. The ensuing analytical method takes less than 1 min per analysis and uses only a few microlitres of sample. The calibration curve was linear over the DMAPA concentration range 0.030-0.500 µg mL(-1). The proposed method was validated for use in control processes. The complex plasmagram for amidoamines allows the origin of cosmetic oils to be easily, expeditiously identified. Based on the results, IMS holds great promise for the qualitative and quantitative determination of the studied amide and various others in cosmetic products.

A review of recent, unconventional applications of ion mobility spectrometry (IMS).

The applications of ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) have grown exponentially beyond its uses for explosive, illicit drug and chemical warfare agent monitoring in recent years. Instrumental developments including new drift tube materials and ionization sources have enabled the manufacturing of more sophisticated and affordable IMS equipment for the advantageous analysis of samples with no pretreatment. The most recent applications of IMS include quality control and cleaning validation procedures in the pharmaceutical industry; determinations of contaminants in food samples; clinical analyses of biological fluids; environmental analyses of contaminants in gaseous, liquid and solid samples; and (bio)process quality control monitoring. Coupling IMS with MS(n) has enabled the analysis of very complex samples and the extraction of knowledge unavailable from isolated MS measurements, especially in the polymer and petroleomic industries.

Study of epsilon-caprolactone polymerization by NIR spectroscopy.

Near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy is proposed for the in-line quantitative and kinetic study of the polymerization of epsilon-caprolactone and eventually to facilitate real-time control of the manufacturing process. Spectra were acquired with a fibre-optic probe operating in transflectance mode immersed in the reactor. The NIR data acquired were processed using a multivariate curve resolution alternating least squares (MCR-ALS) algorithm. The proposed method allows calculation of the concentration and spectral profiles of the species involved in the reaction. The key point of this method is the lack of reference concentrations needed to perform the MCR-ALS method. The use of an extended spectral matrix using both process and pure analyte spectra solves the rank deficiency. The concentration profiles obtained were used to calculate a kinetic fitting of the reaction, but the method was improved by applying kinetic constraints (hard modelling). The rate constants of batches at different temperatures and the energy of activation for this reaction were calculated. Whenever possible, the hard modelling combined with the MCR-ALS method improves the fit of the experimental data: the results show good correlation between the NIR and reference data and allow the collection of high-quality kinetic information on the reaction (rate constants and energy of activation).