Use of environmentally friendly alternative substances within dispersive liquidliquid microextraction An evaluation

Ethoxyquin (EQ) is commonly used as an antioxidant in animal feeds. Although EQ is not permitted for usage in food products for humans within the EU, residues of EQ and its transformation products could be determined in food of animal origin. Despite its widespread use and concerns on its toxicological profile, no information about the systemic exposure to EQ in the general population is available. Hence, we developed a human biomonitoring (HBM) method for EQ. Our approach included a metabolism study with five subjects, who were administered an oral dose of 0.005 mg EQ/kg body weight. Unchanged EQ and the major metabolite 2,2,4-trimethyl-6(2H)-quinolinone (EQI) were identified as urinary excretion products of EQ. While small amounts of EQ could be determined in high concentrated samples from the metabolism study only, 28.5% of the orally applied EQ dose could be recovered as EQI. this website Toxicokinetic parameters were determined for EQI, the potential biomarker of exposure. In addition, an analytical method for EQI (LOQ = 0.03 µg/L) in urine based on UHPLC-MS/MS comprising enzymatic glucuronide hydrolysis and salt-assisted liquid-liquid extraction was developed, validated and applied to 53 urine samples from the general population. EQI could be quantified in 11 (21%) of the samples in levels up to 1.7 µg/L urine, proving the suitability of the developed method for the intended purpose.Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common diagnosed cancer of which risk factors include unhealthy diet, smoking, and chronic inflammation. Weakening the inflammatory response emerges as an effective therapeutic strategy to prevent the progression of CRC. Inflammatory macrophages produce substantial amounts of immunoregulatory metabolite itaconate, which is synthesized by the immune response gene 1 (Irg1). In this study, we use a membrane-permeable itaconate derivative, dimethyl itaconate (DI), for the protection against CRC in mouse model. DI decreased the high inflammatory state of ulcerative colitis and reduced the colitis-associated cancer (CAC) risk. Mechanistically, DI inhibited the secretion of the cytokines IL-1β and CCL2 from intestinal epithelial cells, and therefore reduced the recruitment of macrophages into tumor microenvironment. Meanwhile, the decrease of macrophage infiltration was accompanied by a decrease of myeloid-derived suppressor cell (MDSC) infiltration and the differentiation of T cell subsets into cytotoxic T cells. We showed that itaconate derivative limits inflammatory response, indicating a negative feedback loop that involves an inflammatory agent and itaconate. Our findings demonstrate the potential application of DI for the prevention of colitis-associated CRC. KEY MESSAGES Dimethyl itaconate (DI) suppresses ulcerative colitis and colitis-associated colorectal cancer DI decreases infiltration of macrophages and myeloid-derived suppressor cells into tumor DI weakens the inflammatory response via inhibiting the secretion of IL-1β and CCL2.
Infections during pregnancy are one of the leading causes of increased morbidity and mortality in mothers and their newborns worldwide. In Germany, there has been standardized healthcare for pregnancy for more than 50years. The maternity guidelines of the Joint Federal Committee form the legal framework for this and include the screening of pregnant women for HIV, syphilis, and hepatitisB, among other things.
The aim of this work is to determine the extent to which screening is covered by the German population.
With the help of anonymized routine data of legally insured persons available to the Institut für angewandte Gesundheitsforschung Berlin GmbH (InGef) from 2011 to 2015, adefinition of pregnancy was developed with the use of various ICD-10 and EBM codes and the first evaluation of the use of tests for infectious agents in pregnancy was carried out.
The high proportion of women who are tested for syphilis (95.3%) and hepatitisB (91.6%) during pregnancy indicates very good accessibility and use ofcreasing the use must be identified.Human resource development is a key factor for a successful management of Intensive Care Units (ICU) and Emergency Departments (ED). It comprises the processes of recruiting and retaining employees. The present article offers strategies how the optimal manning level in ICUs and EDs can be determined and highlights the importance of active management of well being in acute care units. The manning level can be determined by using the work place method which is the common method for ICUs. For the EDs a method based on the specific times which are needed for patient care in relation to the intensity of care is more appropriate. This method needs to integrate the patient number per hour, the time needed per patient, and the defined service level particularly with respect to the time to be seen by a physician. For detailed staff calculation, complex mathematical models are needed (e.g. Erlang formula). The resulting manning level needs then to be distributed on the various shifts. Additional resources are needed for observation units and additional tasks like management tasks etc. Retainment of employees is only possible when the working field remains attractive over many years. While a structured and competence based education is of utmost importance in the beginning of a carrier, attractive rooster plans and the compatibility between work and private life, becomes more important when the specialisation has been achieved.
The growing trend of for-profit organization (FPO)-funded university research is concerning because resultant potential conflicts of interest might lead to biases in methods, results, and interpretation. For public health academic programmes, receiving funds from FPOs whose products have negative health implications may be particularly problematic.
A cross-sectional survey assessed attitudes and practices of public health academics towards accepting funding from FPOs. The sampling frame included universities in five world regions offering a graduate degree in public health; 166 academics responded. Descriptive, bivariate, and logistic regression analyses were conducted.
Over half of respondents were in favour of accepting funding from FPOs; attitudes differed by world region and gender but not by rank, contract status, % salary offset required, primary identity, or exposure to an ethics course. In the last 5years, almost 20% of respondents had received funding from a FPO. Sixty per cent of respondents agreed that there was potential for bias in seven aspects of the research process, when funds were from FPOs.