HPLC assessment and multivariate predictability of serum retinol and α-tocopherol concentrations in adult female subjects

Antioxidant vitamins have been reported to protect against a variety of human malignances and multiple chronic degenerative diseases therefore it is important to understand factors that influence their blood levels. The present study was conducted to verify association of serum retinol and α-tocopherol levels with obesity, and to assess predictors of their serum concentrations in representative sample population of overweight/obese (n = 51) and normal weight (n = 26) apparently healthy adult female subjects recruited from typical urban area in Poland. Anthropometric measurements were taken from all participants who also completed a questionnaire on selected lifestyle factors. The serum concentrations of retinol and α-tocopherol were measured by fully validated Chromsystems diagnostic kit employing isocratic RPHPLC with switched wavelength UV detection. Intake of energy, fat, vitamin A and E and alcohol consumption were estimated by seven daily dietary records. Multivariate linear regression models were fitted in order to estimate the predictors of serum retinol and α-tocopherol concentration. There were no statistically significant differences in the average serum levels of retinol and α-tocopherol between overweight/obese and normal weight adult female subjects. Serum α- tocopherol concentrations were positively correlated with serum total cholesterol level (TChol) and body mass index (BMI), but inversely with total energy intake and past dieting behaviour. The TChol and total energy intake were identified as predictors of serum retinol levels. Intakes of fat and vitamin E and A, age, serum triglyceride concentration, smoking, alcohol consumption and physical activity were unrelated to serum levels of retinol or α-tocopherol. The main finding of this study is that obesity is not associated with decreased serum retinol and α-tocopherol levels. In addition, these results indicated that dietary intake of vitamin A and E are poor predictors for serum retinol or α-tocopherol concentrations. Serum levels of both these vitamins are primarily influenced by TChol, obesity, total energy intake and past dieting behaviour

An outbreak of body weight dissatisfaction associated with self-perceived BMI and dieting among female pharmacy students

Some reports indicate that in various groups of society living in the highly developed countries a body weight perception and weight satisfaction tend to be inappropriate when compared with body mass index (BMI) calculated from estimated actual weight and height. Thus in present studies a relationship between body weight perceptions, measured actual BMI, gender, and dieting practices in a sample population of pharmacy students in Poland were examined to verify hypothesis that their incorrect self-perception would provoke occasional, seasonal and permanent eating disorders. Height and weight data of 178 pharmacy students (mean age 22.6 ± 2.4 years) in Bydgoszcz, Poland, were collected and validated by completed self-reported questionnaire assessing their self-perceived body weight, desired body weight and past/current dieting practices. Only 34.4% of female and 37.1% of male pharmacy students was satisfied with their current body weight. Statistical analyses revealed significant differences in estimated BMI status (χ2 = 28.5; p = 0.0001), desired body weight (χ2 = 15.6; p = 0.0004) and past dieting (χ2 = 7.6; p = 0.0050) by gender. In the male sub-group of students (n = 27) unclear association (χ2 = 6.1; p = 0.046) between measured actual BMI status and self-perceived body weight have been presented. Moreover, in male students a significant relationship (χ2 = 4.9; p = 0.0261) between actual BMI status and both past as well as current weight control behavior in the form of dieting practices was exhibited. In case of a sub-group of female students (n = 151) a diffuse association of actual BMI and self-perception of their body weight (χ2 = 69.5; p = 0.0001) was obtained. However, a close relation (χ2 = 16.9; p = 0.0007) between actual BMI and only past dieting practices was observed in females. Furthermore, in this last sub-group of students the significant relationship (χ2 = 53.9; p = 0.0001) between measured actual BMI and desired body weight was also demonstrated. The study showed an evidence of distorted self-perception of body weight in both sub-groups of considered pharmacy students. There was a tendency to overestimate of body weight in female students, and to underestimate in male students. These results suggest common dissatisfaction of body weight, especially among females, who were more often engaged in dieting, despite not being overweight or obese according to measured actual BMI status

Wykorzystanie kompleksów Ni (II) z zasadami Schiffa jako faz stacjonarnych w chromatografii gazowej

These studies were carried out within Project MR 1-14.The possibility of separating some alkanes or alcohols mixture by gas chromatography in a packed columns with tetradentate Schiff base nickel (II) complexes has been studied. The effects of modification in the chelate structure on the column selectivity are presented comparing the appropriate heats of adsorption.Badania nad zastosowaniem różnych kompleksów metali przejściowych z dwu- i czterokleszczowymi zasadami Schiffa wykazały, że związki te spełniają wymagania stawiane fazom stacjonarnym stosowanym w chromatografii gazowej.Zadanie pt. Digitalizacja i udostępnienie w Cyfrowym Repozytorium Uniwersytetu Łódzkiego kolekcji czasopism naukowych wydawanych przez Uniwersytet Łódzki nr 885/P-DUN/2014 zostało dofinansowane ze środków MNiSW w ramach działalności upowszechniającej naukę

Rozdzielanie aminoalkoholi alifatycznych metodą wysoko sprawnej chromatografii cieczowej z dwuskładnikową fazą ruchomą zawierającą kompleksy chelatowe Ni(II)

A system of coordinatively unsaturated metal complexes is introduced as a mobile phase modifier for high performance liquid chromatography HPLC. Unlike previous ionic metil additives Ni(aaec) is a neutral, square planar complex capable of producing highly selective and effective separations of polar conpounds. Interaction with the metal complex and the subsequent increase in a solute retention is shown to be dependent on steric, dipole and solvatation effects.W pracy przedstawiono wyniki wykorzystania koordynacyjnie nienasyconych kompleksów chelatowych Ni(II) jako modyfikatorów fazy ruchomej dichlorometan-woda (80 + 20), stosowanej w wysoko sprawnej chromatografii cieczowej (HPLC). Przebadano wpływ zmiany stężenia dodawanego chelatu do fazy ruchomej na uzyskiwaną zdolność rozdzielczą kilkunastu dietanoloamin alifatycznych. Stwierdzono, Ze powstawanie asocjatów typu chelat Ni(II)-aminoalkohol w fazie ruchomej prowadzi do zwiększenia selektywności rozdziału mieszaniny badanych związków. W zastosowanej fazie ruchomej występujący proces tworzenia asocjatów typu chelat Ni(II)-aminoalkohol jest prawdopodobnie zjawiskiem konkurencyjnym w stosunku do samoasocjacji cząsteczek aminoalkoholi oraz powstawania asocjatów typu rozpuszczalnik polarny - aminoalkohol.Zadanie pt. „Digitalizacja i udostępnienie w Cyfrowym Repozytorium Uniwersytetu Łódzkiego kolekcji czasopism naukowych wydawanych przez Uniwersytet Łódzki” nr 885/P-DUN/2014 zostało dofinansowane ze środków MNiSW w ramach działalności upowszechniającej naukę

A pilot study on the association between double positive Chlamydia pneumoniae serology and serum lipid indices alterations in obese adult females

Aims: To study the relationship between Chlamydia pneumoniae serologic status and serum lipid abnormalities in apparently healthy obese female subjects living in urban areas. Main methods: Serum samples from 117 apparently healthy females (mean age 50 years), classified as overweight/obese (OW/OB,n = 74) or normal weight (NW,n = 43) according to their body mass index (BMI), were tested for specific IgG and IgA antibodies against C. pneumoniae using ELISA assay. Serum triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TChol) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLChol) concentrations were measured using enzymatic methods. Serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLChol) was calculated using the Friedewald formula. Lifestyle data for all subjects were collected using a validated self-reported questionnaire. Key findings: The prevalence of C. pneumoniae infection, as indicated by single positive serology (IgG+ or IgA+), was significantly higher among the OW/OB females than the NW subjects (38.5%vs.27.0%,p = 0.021). Females with double-positive serology (IgG+/IgA+) in the OW/OB group indicated significantly higher (p 0.05) were observed in these serum lipid indices between subjects in the NW group with considered opposite C. pneumoniae serology. Multivariate regression analysis on the 42 double-seropositive subjects, including both OW/OB and NW females and adjusted for such potential confounders as age, BMI and lifestyle factors, showed a significant association of double-positive C. pneumoniae serology with serum TG (β = 0.244;p = 0.049),LDLChol (β = 0.332;p = 0.037) and TChol-to-HDLChol ratio (β = 0.313;p = 0.042). Significance: These results suggest that possible chronic C. pneumoniae infection is a potential non-dietary factor in modification of the serum lipid profile in the adult OW/OB females