The Short Anxiety Screening Test in Greek: translation and validation

BACKGROUND: The aim of the current study was to assess the reliability and validity of the Greek translation of the Short Anxiety Screening Test (SAST), for use in primary care settings. The scale consists of 10 items and is a brief clinician rating scale for the detection of anxiety disorder in older people, particularly, in the presence of depression. METHODS: The study was performed in two rural primary care settings in Crete. The sample consisted of 99 older (76 ± 6.3 years old) people, who fulfilled the participating criteria. The translation and cultural adaptation of the questionnaire was performed according to international standards. Internal consistency using the Cronbach α coefficient and test-retest reliability using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to assess the reliability of the tool. An exploratory factor analysis using Varimax with Kaiser normalisation (rotation method) was used to examine the structure of the instrument, and for the correlation of the items interitem correlation matrix was applied and assessed with Cronbach α. RESULTS: Translation and backtranslation did not reveal any specific problems. The psychometric properties of the Greek version of the SAST scale in primary care were good. Internal consistency of the instrument was good, the Cronbach α was found to be 0.763 (P < 0.001) and ICC (95% CI) for reproducibility was found to be 0.763 (0.686 to 0.827). Factor analysis revealed three factors with eigenvalues >1.0 accounting for 60% of variance, while the Cronbach α was >0.7 for every item. CONCLUSIONS: The Greek translation of the SAST questionnaire is comparable with that of the original version in terms of reliability, and can be used in primary healthcare research. Its use in clinical practice should be primarily as a screening tool only at this stage, with a follow-up consisting of a detailed interview with the patient, in order to confirm the diagnosis

Cd, Pb and Hg Biomonitoring in Fish of the Mediterranean Region and Risk Estimations on Fish Consumption

Cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb) and mercury (Hg) are toxic metals with increasing interest due to their tendency to bioaccumulate in fish tissue which may pose a threat to human health via fish consumption. This review of the recent literature on Cd, Pb, Hg levels summarizes data of fish biomonitoring studies in the Mediterranean Sea in order to determine potential risks due to dietary intake of metals. The analytical methods applied are described, with Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy and Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectroscopy being the most popular. Most of the literature reviewed is focused on the Eastern Mediterranean. Results from the studies indicate that metals mostly accumulate in liver, followed by muscle. Although there are few studies reporting metal levels in fish exceeding the maximum residue levels (MRLs), the bulk of the studies cite levels below the MRLs. The hazard index (HI) of fish consumption, namely the ratio of estimated weekly intake to provisional tolerable weekly intake (EWI/PTWI) was estimated for adult consumers and no risk emerged. The EWI/PTWI ratios of lead and mercury for Italy (0.14 and 0.22 respectively) represent the highest HI levels estimated. In view of maximizing the benefits while minimizing the risks of fish consumption, a more detailed fish-specific database on intakes for consumers is required and extended bimonitoring in as many regions as possible

Circulating osteopontin: a dual marker of bone destruction and angiogenesis in patients with multiple myeloma

The matrix protein osteopontin has been shown to be a marker of osteoclastic activity in multiple myeloma patients, as well as a regulator of angiogenesis. We measured serum levels of osteopontin in 50 untreated multiple myeloma patients (in 25, also after treatment) and examined the relation to markers of osteolytic and angiogenic activity. The median (range) of serum osteopontin was 85 (5-232) in the patient group vs. 36 (2-190) ng/ml in the control group. Serum osteopontin levels were significantly higher in patients with advanced stage or grade of myeloma disease. All patients with serum osteopontin levels >100 ng/ml had advanced stage (II or III) or high grade bone disease, whereas stage I or low grade patients had serum osteopontin levels <100ng/ml. Serum osteopontin levels significantly decreased after treatment. There was a positive correlation of osteopontin with the bone turnover marker N-terminal propeptide of procollagen type I (NTx) and the angiogenic markers vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and bone marrow microvessel density (r: 0.35, 0.47 and 0.30 respectively, p < 0.05). These results support osteopontin as a dual marker of bone destruction and angiogenic activity in myeloma patients. Osteopontin represents a useful biomarker for monitoring myeloma disease activity

Developing BIOTEL: A Semi-Automated Spreadsheet for Estimating Telomere Length and Biological Age

Introduction: Telomere length (TL) is causally related to aging and several age-related diseases. Specifically, the abundance of short telomeres and the rate of telomere shortening are strong determinants of cell homeostasis. Thus, tools for analyzing and manipulating TL data can vastly improve research focused on aging. Aim: In this study, we developed a semi-automated worksheet, BIOTEL, to generate individual and group TL statistics and provide a crude estimation of biological age.Results: Data from the Telomere Length Database Project (TLDP) were implemented to the spreadsheet to produce TL statistics. 150 participants were included, and their age was from 21 to 82 years, and the sex distribution ratio was 52.3%: 47.7% (male: female). Initially, we analyzed the fluorescence intensities of telomeres that were measured on metaphase spread leukocytes using three-dimensional (3D) quantitative-fluorescent in situ hybridization (Q-FISH) procedures (3D DNA FISH) with a (C3TA2)3 peptide nucleic acid (PNA) probe. Raw data of fluorescence intensities, demographic data and medical records from the participants were imported into the worksheet. Basic statistical analyses of TL data were provided through BIOTEL, including TL percentiles, specialized charts for TL distribution including the percentage of critically short telomeres (&lt; 3,000 kilobases), individual telomere profiles, and graphs of biological age vs. chronological age.Conclusion: BIOTEL ver. 2.4 is a functional semi-automated worksheet that calculates a wide range of TL statistics, thus a useful tool with applications in research of telomeres and biological age estimation

Attitudes to kidney donation among primary care patients in rural Crete, Greece

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In Greece, there is limited research on issues related to organ donation, and the low rate of registration as donors requires explanation. This study reports the findings of a survey of knowledge and attitudes to kidney donation among primary care patients in rural Crete, Greece.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Two rural primary care settings in the island of Crete, Anogia Health Centre and Vrachasi Practice, were involved in a questionnaire survey. This was conducted among primary care patients (aged 18 years and over) with routine appointments, to assess their knowledge and attitudes to kidney donation. General practitioners (GPs) recruited patients and questionnaires were completed following the patients' medical consultation. Pearson's chi square tests were used and crude odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated in order to investigate into the possible associations between the respondents' knowledge, attitudes and specific concerns in relation to their socio-demographic features. Logistic regression analyses were used to examine differences by geographical location.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The 224 (92.5%) of the 242 primary care attenders who were approached agreed to participate. Only 2.2% (5/224) of the respondents carried a donor card. Most participants (84.4%, 189/224) did not feel well informed about registering as a kidney donor. More than half of the respondents (54.3%, 121/223) were unwilling to register as a kidney donor and donate kidneys for transplant after death. Over a third of respondents (35.4%, 79/223) were not confident that medical teams would try as hard as possible to save the life of a person who has agreed to donate organs. People with a higher level of education were more likely to be willing to register as kidney donors [(OR: 3.3; 95% CI: 1.8–6.0), p < 0.001)] and to be less worried about their kidneys being removed after death [(OR: 0.3; 95% CI: 0.1–0.5), p < 0.001)] than those having a lower level of education.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Lack of knowledge and information regarding organ donation and negative attitudes related to registration as donors were the main findings of this study. Efforts should be based on targeting the attitudes to organ donation of individuals and population groups.</p

Studying the association between musculoskeletal disorders, quality of life and mental health. A primary care pilot study in rural Crete, Greece

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The burden of musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) on the general health and well-being of the population has been documented in various studies. The objective of this study was to explore the association between MSD and the quality of life and mental health of patients and to discuss issues concerning care seeking patterns in rural Greece.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Patients registered at one rural Primary Care Centre (PCC) in Crete were invited to complete the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ) for the analysis of musculoskeletal symptoms, together with validated instruments for measuring health related quality of life (SF-36) and mental distress (GHQ-28).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The prevalence rate of MSD was found to be 71.2%, with low back and knee pain being the most common symptoms. Most conditions significantly impaired the quality of life, especially the physical dimensions of SF-36. Depression was strongly correlated to most MSD (<it>p </it>< 0.001). Multiple logistic analyses revealed that patients who consulted the PCC due to MSD were likely to have more mental distress or impaired physical functioning compared to those who did not.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Musculoskeletal disorders were common in patients attending the rural PCC of this study and were associated with a poor quality of life and mental distress that affected their consultation behaviour.</p

Risk factors for ischaemic heart disease in a Cretan rural population: a twelve year follow-up study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Crete has been of great epidemiological interest ever since the publication of the Seven Countries Study. In 1988 a well-defined area of rural Crete was studied, with only scarce signs of coronary heart disease (CHD) despite the unfavorable risk profile. The same population was re-examined twelve years later aiming to describe the trends of CHD risk factors over time and discuss some key points on the natural course of coronary heart disease in a rural population of Crete.</p> <p>Methods and Results</p> <p>We re-examined 200 subjects (80.7% of those still living in the area, 62.4 ± 17.0 years old). The prevalence of risk factors for CHD was high with 65.9% of men and 65.1% of women being hypertensive, 14.3% of men and 16.5% of women being diabetic, 44% of men being active smokers and more than 40% of both sexes having hyperlipidaemia. Accordingly, 77.5% of the population had a calculated Framingham Risk Score (FRS) ≥ 15%, significantly higher compared to baseline (p < 0.001). The overall occurrence rate for CHD events was calculated at 7.1 per 1000 person-years (95% confidence interval: 6.8–7.3).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The study confirms the unfavorable risk factor profile of a well defined rural population in Crete. Its actual effect on the observed incidence of coronary events in Cretans remains yet to be defined.</p

Συμπολυμερή της βινυλοπυρρολιδόνης ως αντίδοτα εξωγενών ουσιών: παρασκευή και φυσικοχημικές μελέτες

The main purpose of the presented study concerns the preparation of new polymeric material for the inactivation of mycotoxins. The binding of mycotoxins is achieved through adsorption phenomena. It was also studied the adsorption of the widely used antibiotics in veterinary, oxytetracycline and chlortetracycine on activated charcoal. The dissertation is divided into four sections. In the first section the adsorption of oxytetracycline and chlortetracycline on activated charcoal is studied. Tetracyclines are antibiotics with a wide antimicrobial spectrum which make them useful in veterinary. Their use is not only concerns diseases but they are used and as chemoprophylactic agents. They are also used as a growth factor and in some cases as an antifungal factor. Activated charcoal has been experimentally studied as an antifungal agents against mycotoxicoses. It is a material used -not very extensively- alone or in combination with vitamins, antibiotics in case of mycotoxicoses. The simultaneous use of these agents -tetracycline and activated charcoal can be justified as inappropriate according to the results of the in vitro experiments presented. The kinetics and the isothermal adsorption were studied. The adsorption was studied in vitro in conditions where the stomach pH (2.35) is simulated and experimental temperature was at room temperature. The kinetics showed that adsorption equilibrium was reached in one (1) hour. The use of a second order equation and its extremely good fitting shows that the rate of adsorption is high. In the same conclusions we reach using exponential equations with two terms.The quantity of the adsorbed antibiotics to the initial quantity of antibiotics is very high at the start of the adsorption (~60% is adsorbed in less that a minute) in comparison the rest time (35% in 50 minutes approximately). Experiments of isothermal adsorption showed that great quantities of the antibiotics adsorbed per gram of activated charcoal, (oxytetracycline and chlortetracycline 402 mg/g and 397 mg/g respectively. For the calculation of the absorption capacities Freundlich and Langmuir isotherms were used, while the second showed a better fiting. The resulted chemical constants showed a strong binding (Koxytetracycline = 150.5 Kg/L, Kchlortetracylcine= 125.3 Kg/L). Same results were resulted when Freundlich isotherm is used. The similar values that calculated for parameters qads/m and K were expected due to similarities in terms of chemical structrure and molecular geometry. The procedure of the polymeric deactivators' synthesis is presented in the second section. The synthesized copolymers belong to the cross linked cryogels of PVP with methylene-bisacrylamide as a crosslinker. They were synthesized at temperatures ranging from -12οC to -20 oC, using varous catalysts (TEMED, K2S2O8 and (NH4)2S2O8). The cryogels differed at the %content of methylene-bisacrylamide molecules, the quanity of the used catalysts and the polymerization time interval. The produced structures exhibit great hydration capacities. The hydration capacity of the produced polymers was studied and it gave high values (400%-1400% at time interval of 2 h). No relation between the synthesis parameters and the hydration or asdorption capacities of the polymers was obtained. That suggested that the adsorption capacities should be studied in relation to the structure of the produced cryogels. (active surface area, number and distribution of the pores etc). The porous structure of the cryogels may be attributed to the water crystals formed at these extremely low temperatures. The effect of the produced cryogels on the mycotoxins ochratoxin-A, zearalenone and T-2 toxin is studied in the third section. The conditions of the in vitro experiments resembled these of the intestinal environment (pH=7.3 and temperature T = 37οC). The experiments of this section aimed to access the adsorption capacity of polymers and compare this to the adsorption capacity of other adsorptive polymers, such as crosslinked PVP (Polyplasdone), bentonite and activated charcoal. The study was conducted using a set quantity of each toxin and of each adsorptive material. The stability of the mycotoxins in solution and at various temperatures was also studied. Zearalenone and ochratoxin A where stable under the used experimental conditions while T-2 toxin was not. Activated charcoal exhibited the greatest adsorption capacity. It reduced the quantity of the mycotoxins to below levels of detection of the liquid chromatography method used. Polyplasdone gave adsorption values around 483 μg/g for zearalenone and 200 μg/g for ochratoxin. The polymeric cryogels gave adroption values ranging from 345-490 μg/g for zearalenone and from 170 to 316 μg/g for ochratoxin Α. One cryogel gave adroption values of 1266 μg/g for zearalenone and 1184 μg/g for ochratoxin Α. Zearalenone was adsrbed to a greater extend than ochratoxin Α by most cryogels and this was indicated by the statistically significant differences observed. The estimation of the kinetics and the isothermal adsorption on selected forms of cryogels was conducted in the fourth section. Kinetics of adsorption was studied for the CPVP11 cryogels on various mycotoxins, using exponential growth equations and a second order equation, while the last showed the better results. Independently to the kinetic model it is resulted that the adsorption process has high rates. It is claimed that the best fitting of the second order model shows that adsorption process has two stages. It was supposed that the first stage -which was the quicker- the substances are adsorbed on the cryogels' surface, in the second stage substanes were diffused through the inner surface. Isothermal studies caried using various quantities of adsorptive materials, as well as various concentrations of mycotoxins. The equations Langmuir and Freundlich were utilised for the fitting of the results. The second one gave better results in the cases of ochratoxin adsorption while the first gave the best results in the systems of zearalenone-cryogels systems. The better fitting of the Freundlich equation indicates that the surface area of the polymers is heterogenious with more than one-attachment groups. The Langmuir isotherm gave better results at higher concentrations of polymers, maybe due to the incomplete coverage of the attachment groups. Cryogel CPVP11 exhibited better adsorption capacity for ochratoxin A k= 5038 μg/g and n= 0.877. The calculated constants k in the cryogel-ochratoxin A systems ranged from 98-141 μg/g. The Langmuir isotherm calculated the adsorption capacities of cryogels CPVP1 and CPVP2 as 1212 and 1089 μg/g respectively. The values given by the Freundlich isotherm for the same systems were 579 and 743 μg/g respectively. Chemical kinetic studies conducted for mycotoxin solutions with polymer CPVP11, using 1st order kinetic with one and two terms. In both cases we satisfactory fittings were obtained. (R2 > 0.990). Irrespective of the model used, we can say that adsorption takes place at a very fast pace. As indicated by the better fitting of the model with two parameters, the adsorption processes happen at two steps. We may assume that in the first step, which is the fastest one the substance gets attached to the surface of the cryogel, while in the second step the molecules of the substance diffuse in the porous material of the polymer. To summarise the results of the in vitro experiments indicate that the synthesised cryogels may be used satisfactorily in order to combat the problem of mycotoxins.Ο κύριος στόχος της εργασίας που παρουσιάζεται αφορά τη δημιουργία πολυμερικών υλικών για την δέσμευση μυκοτοξινών Η δέσμευση των ουσιών επιτυγχάνεται μέσω προσροφητικών φαινομένων. Επίσης μελετήθηκε η σύνδεση των ευρέως χρησιμοποιουμένων στην κτηνοτροφία, αντιβιοτικών οξυτετρακυκλίνη και χλωροτετρακυκλίνη σε ενεργό άνθρακα. Η διατριβή μπορεί να χωρισθεί σε τέσσερεις ενότητες. Στην πρώτη ενότητα μελετάται η δέσμευση των αντιβιοτικών οξυτετρακυκλίνη και χλωροτετρακυκλίνη από σκεύασμα ενεργού άνθρακα. Οι τετρακυκλίνες είναι αντιβιοτικά με ευρύ αντιμικροβιακό φάσμα που χρησιμοποιούνται στην Κτηνιατρική. Η αντιβιοτική του χρήση αφορά όχι μόνο την αντιμετώπιση ασθενειών αλλά και την χημειοπροφύλαξη. Χρησιμοποιείται ως αυξητικός παράγοντας στα ζώα και σε μερικές περιπτώσεις ως αντιμυκοτοξικός. Ο ενεργός άνθρακας έχει ελεχθεί πειραματικά ως προς τις προσροφητικές του ικανότητες σε μυκοτοξίνες. Αποτελεί υλικό που χρησιμοποιείται -όχι εκτεταμένα- μόνο του ή σε συνδυασμό με βιταμίνες, αντιβιοτικά, σε περιπτώσεις μυκοτοξικώσεων. Η ταυτόχρονη χρήση των δύο παραγόντων τετρακυκλινών και ενεργού άνθρακα μπορεί να κριθεί ως μη κατάλληλη με βάση τα αποτελέσματα από τα in vitro πειράματα. Τα πειράματα αφορούσαν την κινητική και την ισόθερμη προσρόφηση. Η δέσμευση μελετήθηκε in vitro σε συνθήκες που προσομοιώνουν περιβάλλον στόμαχου pΗ=2.35 και θερμοκρασία δωματίου. H κινητική της προσρόφησης έδειξε ότι ισορροπία μεταξύ της ελεύθερης και της προσροφόμενης συγκέντρωσης επιτυγχάνεται μέσα σε μία (1) ώρα. Η χρήση κινητικής εξίσωσης δεύτερης τάξης και η εξαιρετικά καλή προσαρμογή της δείχνει υψηλούς ρυθμούς προσρόφησης τετρακυκλινών σε ενεργό άνθρακα. Σε όμοια συμπεράσματα φθάνουμε με εκθετικές εξισώσεις δύο όρων. Η ποσότητα προσροφώμενης ουσία προς την συνολική προσροφάται πολύ γρήγορα στην αρχή του φαινομένου (~60% προσρόφηση της ουσίας στα σε λιγώτερο από ένα λετπό) σε σχέση με την συνέχεια (35% σε 50 περίπου λεπτά). Η ισόθερμη προσρόφηση έδειξε υψηλές σχετικά δεσμεύσεις ανά gr ενεργού άνθρακα, των αντιβιοτικών οξυτετρακυκλίνη και χλωροτετρακυκλίνη 402 mg/g και 397 mg/g αντίστοιχα. Για τον υπολογισμό των προσροφητικής ικανότητας (ΠΙ) χρησιμοποιήθηκαν οι ισόθερμες Freundlich και Langmuir, με την δεύτερη να δίνει καλύτερη προσέγγιση. Οι υπολογιζόμενες σταθερές σύνδεσης έδειξαν ισχυρή σύνδεση (Κ οξυτετρακυκλίνης =150.5 Kg/L, ενώ Kχλωροτετρακυκλίνης= 125.3 Kg/L). Παρόμοια αποτελέσματα λάβαμε με την προσαρμογή των δεδομένων με χρήση της ισόθερμου Freundlich. Οι σχετικά όμοιες τιμές που λάβαμε για τις παραμέτρους qads/m και K είναι αναμενόμενες λόγω της ομοιότητας που παρουσιάζουν οι δυό χημικές δομές καθώς και των γεωμετρικών παραμέτρων των μορίων. Στη δεύτερη ενότητα παρουσιάζεται η διαδικασία παρασκευής των πολυμερικών αδρανοποιητών. Τα συμπολυμερή που παρασκευάστηκαν ανήκουν στην κατηγορία των διασταυρουμένων κρυογελών της βινυλοπυρρολιδόνης με μεθυλέν-δισακρυλαμίδιο. Παρασκεάστηκαν σε θερμοκρασίες -12οC και -20 oC με διάφορους εκκινητές TEMED, K2S2O8 και (NH4)2S2O8. Οι κρυογέλες διαφοροποιήθηκαν στην %περιεκτικότητα των μορίων μεθυλεν-δισακρυλαμιδίου, στην ποσότητα των εκκινητών και στις ώρες πολυμερισμού. Οι δομές που παράχθηκαν παρουσιάζουν υψηλή διόγκωση σε υδατικά διαλύματα. Μελετήθηκε η ικανότητα ενυδάτωσης των πολυμερών όπου υψηλά ποσοστά μετρήθηκαν από 400%-1400% σε χρονικό διάστημα 2 ωρών. Δεν προέκυψε κάποια συσχέτιση μεταξύ των μεταβλητών που χρησιμοποιήθηκαν κατά την σύνθεση με τις ενυδατικές και προσροφητικές ικανότητες των πολυμερών κάτι που δείχνει ότι οι προσροφητικές ικανότητες θα πρέπει να μελετηθούν με βάση χαρακτηριστικά δομής των κρυογελών (ενεργό εμβαδόν επιφάνειας, αριθμός και κατανομή πόρων κλπ). Ο ρόλος των κρυστάλλων νερού που παράγονται από τις εξαιρετικά χαμηλές θερμοκρασίες φαίνεται να δημιουργεί την πορώδη δομή των κρυογελών. Στην τρίτη ενότητα μελετάται η επίδραση των παρασκευασμένων κρυογελών στις μυκοτοξίνες οχρατοξίνη Α, ζεαραλενόνη και Τ-2 τοξίνη. Οι συνθήκες των in vitro πειραμάτων που έγιναν προσομοιώθηκαν με συνθήκες εντερικού περιβάλλοντος (pH=7.3 και θερμοκρασία 37οC). Τα πειράματα της ενότητας αποτελούν πρωταρχικά στάδια εκτίμησης της προσροφητικής ικανότητας των πολυμερών μεταξύ τους αλλά και σε σχέση με άλλα προσροφητικά υλικά όπως η διασταυρούμενη πολυβινυλλοπυρολιδόνη (Polyplasdone), ο βεντονίτης και ο ενεργός άνθρακας. Η μελέτη έγινε με σταθερή ποσότητα από κάθε τοξίνη καθώς και με σταθερή ποσότητα από κάθε προσροφητικό υλικό. Μελετήθηκε επίσης η σταθερότητα των μυκοτοξινών στην θερμοκρασία και στα διαλύματα. Οι μυκοτοξίνες ζεαραλενόνη και η οχρατοξίνη Α έδειξαν σταθερότητα στις πειραματικές συνθήκες ενώ η T-2 τοξίνη όχι. Την υψηλότερη ικανότητα έδειξε ο ενεργός άνθρακας ο οποίος μείωσε την ποσότητα των μυκοτοξινών κάτω από τα επίπεδα ανίχνευσης της μεθόδου υγρής χρωματογραφίας που χρησιμοποιήθηκε. Το Polyplasdone παρουσίασε τιμές προσρόφησης στην περιοχή των 483 μg/g για την ζεαραλενόνη ενώ και 200 μg/g για την οχρατοξίνη. Οι πολυμερικές κρυογέλες έδειξαν προσροφητική ικανότητα στην περιοχή των 345-490 mg/g για την ζεαραλενόνη και από 170 έως 316 mg/g για την οχρατοξίνη Α. Εξαίρεση παρουσίασε μία μορφή κρυογέλης με προσροφητική ικανότητα 1266 mg/g για την ζεαραλενόνη και 1184 mg/g για την οχρατοξίνη Α. Η ζεαραλενόνη προσροφήθηκε σε υψηλότερα ποσοστά από ότι η οχρατοξίνη Α στις περισσότερες κρυογέλες κάτι που δείχνουν οι στατιστικά σημαντικές διαφορές που παρατηρήθηκαν. Στην τέταρτη ενότητα γίνεται εκτίμηση της κινητικής και της ισόθερμης προσρόφησης σε επιλεγμένες μορφές κρυογελών. Η μελέτη της χημικής κινητικής έγινε σε διαλύματα μυκοτοξινών για το πολυμερές ΚΠΒΠ11, με χρήση εκθετικά αυξανόμενων 1ης τάξης με ένα και δύο όρους και δεύτερης τάξης με την τελευταία να δίνει τα καλύτερα αποτελέσματα. Ανεξάρτητα από το μοντέλο παραδοχής προκύπτει ότι η προσρόφηση γίνεται με εξαιρετικά γρήγορο ρυθμό. Υποστηρίζεται από την καλύτερη προσαρμογή του μοντέλου δεύτερης τάξης ότι οι προσροφητικές διαδικασίες ακολουθούν δύο στάδια. Πιθανολογούμε ότι στο πρώτο στάδιο -και πιο ταχύ- η ουσία συνδέεται στην επιφάνεια της κρυογέλης ενώ στο δεύτερο τα μόρια διαπερνούν την επιφάνεια και διαχέονται στους πορώδες υλικό του πολυμερούς. Ως σύνοψη, οι ενδείξεις των in vitro πειραμάτων δείχνουν επάρκεια των παρασκευαζόμενων κρυογελών στην αντιμετώπιση του προβλήματος των μυκοτοξινών. Για τα πειράματα ισόθερμης προσρόφησης χρησιμοποιήθηκαν ποικίλες συγκεντρώσεις και προσροφητικά. Οι εξισώσεις Langmuir και Freundlich χρησιμοποιήθηκαν για την προσαρμογή των αποτελεσμάτων με την δεύτερη να δίνει τα καλύτερα αποτελέσματα στα συστήματα οχρατοξίνης-κρυογέλης ΚΠΒΠ11, ενώ η πρώτη έδωσε καλύτερα αποτελέσματα στα συστήματα ζεαραλενόνης-κρυογελών. Η καλύτερη προσέγγιση της Freundlich υποδεικνύει ότι η επιφάνεια των προσροφητικών είναι ετερογενής με περισσότερες από μία περιοχές πρόσδεσης. Η ισόθερμος Langmuir δίνει καλύτερα αποτελέσματα στις μεγαλύτερες ποσότητες πολυμερούς πιθανόν λόγω της μη πλήρους κάλυψης των περιοχών προσρόφησης. Η κρυογέλη ΚΠΒΠ11 έδειξε την καλύτερη προσροφητική ικανότητα στην οχρατοξίνη k= 5038 μg/g και n= 0.877. Οι υπολογιζόμενες σταθερές k στα συστήματα κρυογελών - οχρατοξίνης Α κυμάνθηκαν από 98-141 μg/g. Η ισόθερμος Langmuir εκτίμησε τις προσροφητικές ικανότητες των κρυογελών ΚΠΒΠ1 και ΚΠΒΠ2 1212 και 1089 μg/g ενώ οι τιμές της ισόθερμου Freundlich στα ίδια συστήματα έδειξαν τιμές 579 και 743 μg/g αντίστοιχα. Και στις δύο περιπτώσεις πήραμε ικανοποιητικές προσαρμογές (R2 > 0.990)