Change in maternal speech rate to preverbal infants over the first two years of life

Aims: Although IDS is typically described as slower than adult-directed speech (ADS), potential impacts of slower speech on language development have not been examined. We explored whether IDS speech rates in 42 mother-infant dyads at four time periods predicted children's language outcomes at two years. Method: We correlated IDS speech rate with child language outcomes at two years, and contrasted outcomes in dyads displaying high/low rate profiles. Outcomes: Slower IDS rate at 7 months significantly correlated with vocabulary knowledge at two years. Slowed IDS may benefit child language learning even before children first speak.

The rutin/β-cyclodextrin interactions in fully aqueous solution: spectroscopic studies and biological assays

In the present work the feasibility of beta-cyclodextrin complexation was explored, as a tool for improving the aqueous solubility and antioxidant efficacy of rutin. By means of 1H NMR, UV-vis and circular dichroism spectroscopy the single aromatic ring of rutin was found to be inserted into the beta-cyclodextrin cavity to form a 1:1 inclusion complex. The effect of beta-cyclodextrin on the spectral features of rutin was quantitatively investigated, in fully aqueous medium, by holding the concentration of the guest constant and varying the host concentration. The associated binding constants were estimated to be 142+/-20 and 153+/-20 M(-1), respectively, on the basis of the observed UV-vis absorption and circular dichroism intensities. The antioxidant activity of rutin was also investigated, as affected by molecular encapsulation within beta-cyclodextrin (batophenanthroline test; comet assay; lipid peroxidation); the inclusion complex revealed improved antioxidant efficacy that may be in part explained by an increased solubility in the biological moiety.

Effects of alpha- and beta-cyclodextrin complexation on the physico-chemical properties and antioxidant activity of some 3-hydroxyflavones

Inclusion complexes of some flavonols (3-hydroxyflavone, morin and quercetin) have been obtained with alpha- and beta-cyclodextrins, by the co-evaporation method. Different analytical techniques (DSC, XRPD, FT-IR, 1H-NMR, UV-Vis) have been employed for a throughout investigation of the structural characteristics of such supramolecular aggregates, which exhibited distinct spectroscopic features and properties from both "guest" and "host" molecules. The stoichiometric ratios and stability constants describing the extent of formation of the complexes have been determined by phase-solubility studies; in all cases type-AL diagrams have been obtained (soluble 1:1 complexes). The effect of molecular encapsulation on the flavonols antioxidant activity has been afterwards evaluated, by means of different biological assays (Bathophenanthroline test; Comet assay; Lipid peroxidation). Complexation with cyclodextrins further improved the antioxidant activity, increasing drugs solubility in the biological moiety.

Combined effect of pH and polysorbates with cyclodextrins on solubilization of naringenin

pH control and inclusion complex formation are commonly used as solubilization techniques in formulating ionizable drugs. Naringenin is a weakly acid compound with a low water solubility. The role of both ionized and unionized species of naringenin in solution by complexation with beta-cyclodextrin, 2-hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin and methyl-beta-cyclodextrin was investigated. This combined use of ionization and complexation increases not only the solubility of the unionized naringenin, but also that of the ionized one. This study puts on evidence the role of pH, pKa and complexation constants in increasing drug total aqueous solubility, determined by the single components in solution, as ionized and unionized naringenin both in free and complexed forms. Moreover, the presence of non-ionic surfactants in the media of complexation gives a positive contribution to the improvement of the solubility of naringenin, alone or in combination with beta-cyclodextrin.

Comparative photodegradation studies on 3-hydroxyflavone: influence of different media, pH and light sources

3-Hydroxyflavone (3-OH-F) photochemistry in solution has been rationalized in terms of an excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT), which involves the free 3-hydroxy group interacting with the ortho-carbonyl. This photo-rearrangement occurs rapidly and is strongly influenced by the physico-chemical properties of the solvent, which plays an essential role in determining whether a photo-oxidation or a photo-induced molecular rearrangement takes place. 3-OH-F photoreactivity has been deeply investigated and the related mechanisms elucidated, as affected by various solvents, pH values and irradiation wavelengths, leading to different photodegradation rates and pathways. Moreover, the influence of molecular encapsulation upon alpha- and beta-cyclodextrins (alpha- and beta-CyD) on the molecule photoreactivity has been examined, as a potential tool for increasing molecule photostability as well as minimizing photoinduced toxic effects on biosubstrates.

Selective reversed-phase liquid chromatography method for the kinetic investigation of 3-hydroxyflavone photostability

This paper reports a fast and accurate RP-HPLC chromatographic method for the simultaneous determination of 3-hydroxyflavone (3-OH F) and its photodegradation products. Solutions (5 x 10(-5) M) in acetonitrile (ACN) of the molecule were subjected to forced degradation by exposure to artificial UV-A light source (black-light, lambda(max) 354 nm) and the changes appearing in chromatograms were monitored at selected irradiation times. A multistep gradient was optimised to achieve complete elution of all photoproducts in the shortest analysis time. UV spectra recorded by the diode array detector system (285 and 340 nm) clearly showed the structural changes in the new species formed, with respect to the parent compound. The analytical method was subjected to a validation procedure in which linearity and range, as well as specificity, precision and accuracy were determined according to ICH guidelines. Quantitative evaluation of the photochemical process was performed on the basis of the calculated kinetic parameters: photodegradation rate constant k, half-life time t(0.5), time degradation of 10% of the drug t(0.1).

Study of flavonoids/beta-cyclodextrins inclusion complexes by NMR, FT-IR, DSC, X-ray investigation

Flavonoids are natural substances with a lot of biological activities, including the antioxidant one. Their use in pharmaceutical field is, however, limited by their aqueous insolubility. As the formation of the inclusion complexes can improve their solubility in water, the flavonoids hesperetin, hesperidin, naringenin and naringin have been complexed with beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) by the coprecipitation method and studied in solution and in solid state by NMR, FT-IR, differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray techniques. The effects of complexation on the chemical shifts of the internal and external protons of beta-CD in the presence of each flavonoid were observed.

Study of beta-blockers/beta-cyclodextrins inclusion complex by NMR, DSC, X-ray and SEM investigation

The formation of inclusion complexes between beta-cyclodextrin with the two beta-blockers, atenolol and celiprolol, have been studied in the aqueous environment and in the solid state by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, X-ray, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques. The magnitude of the chemical shifts of the interior and exterior beta-cyclodextrin protons in the presence of each beta-blocker indicated that these are included within the beta-cyclodextrin cavity. In aqueous solution they form 1:1 complexes. In the solid state the formation of the beta-cyclodextrin/atenolol (celiprolol) complexes is confirmed by X-ray, DSC and SEM, also employed to characterize pure substances and their physical mixtures.