Literature update of analytical methods for biogenic amines determination in food and beverages

Biogenic amines (BAs) have been reported in a variety of foods, such as fish, meat, cheese, and wines. The formation of BAs in food by the microbial decarboxylation of amino acids can result in human allergic reactions, characterized by difficulty in breathing, rash, vomiting, and hypertension. Control measures to prevent biogenic amine formation in foods and/or reduce their levels should be considered. Therefore, monitoring of BAs in food samples with the application of analytical techniques is of high importance. This review is based on literature data from 2010 until today and refers to food samples and alcoholic beverages. The rationale of this study is to provide data for the occurrence of BAs in food and beverages samples and a comparison of the analytical techniques and challenges in liquid and solid matrices. Importantly, BAs can be used as future markers for quality and freshness of the food products and alcoholic beverages

Clinical application of a rapid microbiological test based on capillary zone electrophoresis to assess local skin infection

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The basic clinical problem associated with infection treatment is the fact that classic, commonly and routinely used isolation and identification methods are based on long-term processes of a phenotypic analysis of microorganisms. Consequently sometimes, especially in small centres, rapid implementation of antibacterial treatment becomes delayed.</p> <p>The work presents the initial results of rapid microbiological identification based on an original method of capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE). The study involved the analysis of 78 biological samples from post-operative wounds and trophic ulcers.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The attempt was made to identify individual bacterial species based on characteristic features of electropherograms achieved. Finally, G(+) cocci type bacteria and different G(-) rods were identified with sensitivity of 88.1% and specificity of 100%.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Based on the clinical trials using an electrophoretic technique in the field of microbiological diagnostics of infected exudate from a post-operative wound it can be concluded that it is a rapid and relatively sensitive method for initial identification of infectious pathogens.</p

Involvement of NMDA receptor complex in the anxiolytic-like effects of chlordiazepoxide in mice

In the present study, we demonstrated that low, ineffective doses of N-methyl-d-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptor antagonists [competitive NMDA antagonist, CGP 37849, at 0.312 mg/kg intraperitoneally (i.p.), antagonist of the glycineB sites, L-701,324, at 2 mg/kg i.p., partial agonist of glycineB sites, d-cycloserine, at 2.5 mg/kg i.p.] administered jointly with an ineffective dose of the benzodiazepine, chlordiazepoxide (CDP, 2.5 mg/kg i.p.), significantly increased the percentage of time spent in the open arms of the elevated plus-maze (index of anxiolytic effect). Furthermore, CDP-induced anxiolytic-like activity (5 mg/kg i.p.) was antagonized by NMDA (75 mg/kg i.p.) and by an agonist of glycineB sites of the NMDA receptor complex, d-serine [100 nmol/mouse intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.)]. The present study showed a positive interaction between γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glutamate neurotransmission in the anxiolytic-like activity in the elevated plus-maze test in mice and this activity seems to particularly involve the NMDA receptors

The anti-absence effect of mGlu5 receptor amplification with VU0360172 is maintained during and after antiepileptogenesis

Ethosuximide (ETX) has become the drug of choice in the treatment of patients with absence seizures taking into account both its efficacy, tolerability and antiepileptogenic properties. However, 47% of subjects treated with ETX failed in therapy, and most antiepileptic drugs have cognitive side effects. VU0360172, a positive allosteric modulator (PAM) of mGluR5, acutely and chronically administered decreased seizures dose dependently in rats of the WAG/Rij strain, a genetic absence model. Here it is investigated whether anti-epileptogenesis induced by ETX alters the sensitivity of VU0360172 as an anti-absence drug, and cognition is affected during and after chronic ETX treatment. Method: Male WAG/Rij rats were chronically treated with ETX for 4 months. EEG’s were recorded during and after treatment as well as challenged with VU0360172. Rats were also periodically exposed to a cue discrimination learning task in a Y-maze. mGlu5 receptors were quantified with Western Blot. Results: Antiepileptogenesis was successfully induced by ETX and VU0360172 showed a time and dose dependent anti-absence action. However, chronic ETX treated rats showed a decrease in absences both during and after the end treatment, without clear time and dose related effects. The decrease of sensitivity for VU0360172 was not accompanied by a change in mGluR5 expression in cortex and thalamus. Chronic ETX enhanced motivation to collect sucrose pallets and this was followed by an increase in cued discrimination learning. It is concluded that VU0360172 keeps its antiabsence effects after chronic treatment. Moreover, its differential effects in the two groups cannot be explained by a simple receptor down regulation suggesting a more downstream interaction between ETX and mGluR5. The cognitive enhancing effects of ETX, as found at the end of the experiment might be mediated to the antidepressant action of ETX as expressed by an increase in the rewarding properties of sucrose pallets

Inhalable Antimicrobials for Treatment of Bacterial Biofilm-Associated Sinusitis in Cystic Fibrosis Patients: Challenges and Drug Delivery Approaches

Bacterial biofilm-associated chronic sinusitis in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections and the lack of available treatments for such infections constitute a critical aspect of CF disease management. Currently, inhalation therapies to combat P. aeruginosa infections in CF patients are focused mainly on the delivery of antimicrobials to the lower respiratory tract, disregarding the sinuses. However, the sinuses constitute a reservoir for P. aeruginosa growth, leading to re-infection of the lungs, even after clearing an initial lung infection. Eradication of P. aeruginosa from the respiratory tract after a first infection has been shown to delay chronic pulmonary infection with the bacteria for up to two years. The challenges with providing a suitable treatment for bacterial sinusitis include: (i) identifying a suitable antimicrobial compound; (ii) selecting a suitable device to deliver the drug to the sinuses and nasal cavities; and (iii) applying a formulation design, which will mediate delivery of a high dose of the antimicrobial directly to the site of infection. This review highlights currently available inhalable antimicrobial formulations for treatment and management of biofilm infections caused by P. aeruginosa and discusses critical issues related to novel antimicrobial drug formulation design approaches