A method of testing the composition or quality of water includes dissolving about two parts by weight of a 2-hydroxybenzyl alcohol and about one part by weight of a sodium nitroprusside in about seventy-five parts by weight of a polyethylene glycol; adding the sodium nitroprusside solution to a water sample to catalyze an indophenol monochloramine reaction; and detecting the concentration of monochloramine in the water sample. The polyethylene glycol may be a polyethylene glycol 300, a PEG-400 or a PEG-1000. The method may also be accomplished with a solution made by dissolving a 2-hydroxybenzyl alcohol and a sodium nitroprusside in a mixture of propane-1,2-diol and water.

The invention provides novel compositions comprising semifluorinated alkanes and at least one compound sensitive or prone to oxidation. The compositions can be used as medicines that are topically administered to an eye or ophthalmic tissue. The invention further provides kits comprising such compositions.

The invention provides novel compositions comprising semifluorinated alkanes and at least one compound sensitive or prone to oxidation. The compositions can be used as medicines that are topically administered to an eye or ophthalmic tissue. The invention further provides kits comprising such compositions.

This invention relates to dosage forms for the delivery of drugs across the oral mucosa having improved transmucosal permeability. More specifically, the invention relates to an oral transmucosal dosage form comprising a primary vehicle comprising a crystallization inhibition agent (CIA) system and a drug, and a secondary vehicle. It also relates to methods of designing and making this dosage form, methods of administering this dosage form and methods of packaging the dosage forms.

The present invention refers to compounds of the carotenoid class, such as lycopene or lacto-lycopene, for their use in the treatment and/or prevention of toxicity caused by antitumor drugs, as well as their use in the treatment or remission of tumors in combination with antitumor drugs. Finally, the present invention refers to the combination of the above set forth compounds and drugs with antitumor action.

The present invention refers to compounds of the carotenoid class, such as lycopene or lacto-lycopene, for their use in the treatment and/or prevention of toxicity caused by antitumor drugs, as well as their use in the treatment or remission of tumors in combination with antitumor drugs. Finally, the present invention refers to the combination of the above set forth compounds and drugs with antitumor action.

The present application provides hydrogel microcapsules, particularly, canonized hydrogel microcapsules having improved substantivity. This application further relates to the use of hydrogel microcapsules for delivering encapsulated actives in a wide range of industries and applications including: agrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics industry, personal care products, laundering detergents, homecare & cleaning products, dish washing detergents, oral care, dental care, textiles, paper, mining, oil industry, water treatment, adhesives, coatings, plastics, sealants, construction, paints, inks and dyes onto different substrate surfaces such as skin, hair, textiles.

The present application provides hydrogel microcapsules, particularly, canonized hydrogel microcapsules having improved substantivity. This application further relates to the use of hydrogel microcapsules for delivering encapsulated actives in a wide range of industries and applications including: agrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics industry, personal care products, laundering detergents, homecare & cleaning products, dish washing detergents, oral care, dental care, textiles, paper, mining, oil industry, water treatment, adhesives, coatings, plastics, sealants, construction, paints, inks and dyes onto different substrate surfaces such as skin, hair, textiles.

A method to extend a shelf life of a sodium nitroprusside solution includes: dissolving about two parts by weight of a 2-hydroxybenzyl alcohol and about one part by weight of a sodium nitroprusside in about seventy-five parts by weight of a polyethylene glycol. Compositions for preserving a sodium nitroprusside solution are also described.

The present invention refers to the use of a surface-treated calcium carbonate-comprising material and/or magnesium carbonate-comprising material as oxygen scavenger; wherein the surface treatment agent is selected from the group consisting of ascorbic acid and/or salts thereof, gallic acid and/or salts thereof, unsaturated fatty acids and/or salts thereof, elemental iron, iron (II)-salts and iron (ID-comprising oxides, iron (II, III)-comprising oxides and mixtures thereof; and wherein the total weight of the surface treatment agent on the total surface area of the at least one calcium carbonate-comprising material and/or magnesium carbonate-comprising material is from 0.01 to 40 mg/m.sup.2, based on the at least one calcium carbonate-comprising material and/or magnesium carbonate-comprising material.