Moisturizing effect of cosmetic formulations containing Aloe vera extract in different concentrations assessed by skin bioengineering techniques

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: The polysaccharide-rich composition of Aloe vera extracts (Aloe barbadensis Miller), often used in cosmetic formulations, may impart moisturizing properties to the product. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of cosmetic formulations containing different concentrations of freeze-dried Aloe vera extract on skin hydration, after a single and a 1- and 2-week period of application, by using skin bioengineering techniques. METHODS: Stable formulations containing 5% (w/w) of a trilaureth-4 phosphate-based blend were supplemented with 0.10%, 0.25% or 0.50% (w/w) of freeze-dried Aloe vera extract and applied to the volar forearm of 20 female subjects. Skin conditions in terms of the water content of the stratum corneum and of transepidermal water loss (TEWL) (Corneometer CM 825 and Tewameter TM 210) were analysed before and after a single and 1- and 2-week period of daily application. RESULTS: After a single application, only formulations supplemented with 0.25% and 0.50% (w/w) of Aloe vera extract increased the water content of the stratum corneum, while after the 2-week period application, all formulations containing the extract (0.10%, 0.25% and 0.50%) had the same effect, in both cases as compared with the vehicle. TEWL was not modified after a single and after 1- and 2-week period of application, when compared with the vehicle. CONCLUSION: Our results show that freeze-dried Aloe vera extract is a natural effective ingredient for improving skin hydration, possibly through a humectant mechanism. Consequently, it may be used in moisturizing cosmetic formulations and also as a complement in the treatment of dry skin.     

颅内脑池显微解剖研究

目的通过对国人脑池显微解剖的研究,以指导显微神经外科手术和进一步理解影像学解剖的重要临床意义和应用价值。方法对15具经福尔马林固定的国人成年头颅标本的颅内各个脑池进行显微解剖研究,测量和描述各脑池的位置、大小、形态及结构。结果颅内重要的脑池有(1)嗅池:长度为(32.68±2.97)mm,宽度为(7.18±1.82)mm,深度为(7.20±1.27)mm;(2)视交叉池:侧壁长度为(14.88±3.07)mm,上表面前壁长(14.20±1.47)mm,后壁长(10.37±1.59)mm;(3)颈内动脉池:长度为(15.06±3.07)mm,宽度为(12.01±1.32)mm;(4)终板池:底边左侧长度为(8.99±1.15)mm,右侧长度为(21.00±1.09)mm,最大宽径为(16.42±2.58)mm;(5)脚间池:最大深度为(19.47±2.28)mm,池顶宽度为(11.35±2.85)mm;(6)脚池:为三角形,三边长度分别为(10.48±2.56)mm,(9.64±1.78)mm,(3.58±0.25)mm;(7)外侧裂池:上部长度为(18.63±2.02)mm,基底部长度为(38.08±3.22)mm,宽度为(5.65±0.92)mm,深度为(7.02±2.28)mm;(8)胼胝体池:平均最大宽径为(3.44±0.40)mm;(9)四叠体池:最大长径为(19.37±3.38)mm,最大宽径为(15.24±2.37)mm,最大前后径为(3.65±0.57)mm;(10)环池:为环形,最大宽度为(3.16±0.37)mm;(11)小脑延髓池:最大长度为(18.77±1.77)mm,最大宽度为(32.4     

Immunopotentiation of bovine herpes virus subunit vaccination by interleukin-2.

Cattle were immunized with glycoprotein IV (gIV) from bovine herpes virus-1 (BHV-1). Groups of five animals were then given either 2, 3, 4, or 5 doses of interleukin-2 (IL-2) (0.5 microgram/kg) at 12-hr intervals. Animals that received no IL-2 exhibited specific immune responses that are typical for BHV-1 infection, i.e. enhanced specific cytotoxicity, lymphocyte proliferative responses to gIV, and increased gIV-specific (ELISA) and virus-neutralizing antibodies. Treatment of animals with five doses of IL-2 significantly augmented all of these responses except serum neutralization (P less than 0.05). Furthermore, the dose of IL-2 that was selected did not induce any non-specific responses, i.e. hypergamma-globulinaemia, changes in blood chemistry, increased lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cell activity, changes in mitogen responsiveness or alterations in the phenotypic profile of circulating lymphocytes. Nor were there any clinical changes associated with IL-2 therapy (e.g. depression, pyrexia, diarrhea). Animals that were treated with less than five doses of IL-2 also exhibited elevated immune responses, but they were not significantly different from untreated immunized controls. Interestingly, animals given five doses of IL-2 responded to minor contaminants present in the gIV preparation. This allows speculation that this dose regimen of IL-2 is not only a potent adjuvant for conventional vaccine immunizing doses, but will also allow the use of minute quantities of antigen for immunization.     

Serum concentration of calcium and calcitonin in hyperthyroidism caused by Graves' disease]

Serum calcium and calcitonin were determined in 13 patients (12 women and 1 man), ages ranging from 30 to 40 years, with clinical diagnosis of hyperthyroidism due to Graves' Disease, confirmed by serum determinations of T3 and T4, with the purpose of establishing the relationship that these two substances may have in this pathology. The results obtained showed a decrease in seric calcium concentration in relation to a control group (10.02 +/-) 0.48 vs 11.49 +/- 0.28 mg/dl; p less than 0.005) and an increase in calcitonin concentration (193.6 +/- 8.62 vs 116.7 +/- 7.61 pg/ml; p less than 0.0001). We also found a significative negative association (r = -0.69; p less than 0.01) between these two compounds in the group of patients with hyperthyroidism, not being found in the control group.     

Family system test (FAST): Are parents' and children's family constructs either different or similar,or both?

Perceptions of family cohesion and hierarchy structures were assessed by theFamily System Test (FAST), a clinically-derived figure placement technique. Parents (N=140) and their preadolescent offspring (N=70) completed typical and conflict representations in individual as well as group settings. Typical representations were characterized by balanced family structures (i.e. cohesive and moderately hierarchical) and those displaying conflict situations showed predominantly unbalanced patterns. FAST portrayals were related to respondent (mother vs. father vs. child). Fathers represented typical family relations as balanced more often than mothers. Regarding conflict representations, children were more likely than fathers to portray the family as unbalanced. However, analyses of representations of the same family (i.e. intra-family comparisons) indicated that all respondents differed in their perceptions and, that fathers' typical portrayals showed most often the same structure as those done by the family members as a group.     

神经系统功能磁共振联合应用研究进展

随着磁共振功能成像技术的发展,尤其是弥散张量成像(d iffusion tensor,DTI)及血氧依赖水平磁共振成像(b lood ox-ygenation level dependent,BOLD)技术的日臻完善,在活体状态下显示活动的皮质区并无创跟踪脑内白质纤维,反映解剖连通性已成为可能。本文就功能磁共振BOLD、DTI联     

对青海省海西州绒山羊业发展的思考和建议

绒山羊是青海海西州经济社会发展的基础性产业,本文从海西州资源、社会、经济等方面出发,结合绒山羊生物学特点,对当地绒山羊业发展提出一些问题和建议。     

头孢噻肟钠聚合物测定实验条件的改进

目的:对中国药典收载的头孢噻肟钠聚合物测定条件进行改进。 方法 :采用高效液相色谱法 ,以Sephadex G- 10色谱柱 4 2 cm× 1.3cm对 6批样品进行分析 ,分别进样 5 0μl和 2 0 0μl,按外标法计算聚合物的量。结果:头孢噻肟钠在 10～ 6 0 μg/m l范围内线性关系良好 (r=0 .9995 ) ,高中低浓度的加样回收率分别为 10 0 .2 %、10 0 .4 %、99.7% ;RSD分别为 1.7%、1.5 %、1.9% (n =3)。该方法与药典方法比较 ,差异无统计学意义 (P >0 .0 5 )。 结论:本方法简便、快速、可行 ,具有实用价值     

Comparative susceptibilities of ampicillin and chloramphenicol resistant Haemophilus influenzae to fifteen antibiotics

Eighty-three isolates of ampicillin and chloramphenicol resistant Haemophilus influenzae were tested for susceptibility to fifteen antibiotics by the agar dilution method. Fifty-four were from paediatric patients with H. influenzae disease and 29 from nasopharyngeal carriers (pre-school children). Twenty-five strains belonged to serotype b, one to serotype a, one to serotype c and the rest were non-typable. All strains produced beta-lactamase and inactivated chloramphenicol in a rapid bioassay, suggesting the production of chloramphenicol-acetyltransferase. The most active drugs were ceftriaxone, cefotaxime, latamoxef, aztreonam and desacetyl-cefotaxime (MIC90: 0.03, 0.06, 0.12, 0.25 and 0.25 mg/l, respectively). Cefuroxime, rifampicin and imipenem (MIC90 1 mg/l), and the combination of amoxycillin and clavulanic acid (MIC90 2:1 mg/l), also showed good activity. Cefaclor, erythromycin, tetracycline, trimethoprim, sulfamethoxazole and cotrimoxazole were the least active of the drugs studied. The excellent in-vitro activity of the new beta-lactam agents against H. influenzae resistant to ampicillin and chloramphenicol offers a therapeutic alternative in the treatment of serious infections caused by these micro-organisms.