Misused terms in analytical chemistry with emphasis on ultrasound application

A wide number of analytical terms have been applied erroneously for many years by analytical chemists, and they apply at present yet, by considering the time makes their use correct. The question is, may precedents validate the present use of incorrect scientific terms? Misused terms are found along the analytical process, starting with giving the name of the sample to the exiguous fraction of the original sample that reaches the detector or the high-resolution equipment after sample pretreatment and sample preparation. All the steps of the analytical process are considered in this article, with special emphasis on sample preparation and, within this, on the use of ultrasound, mainly for assisting extraction more unequivocally named as leaching or lixiviation. A call of attention in this respect is considered by the author to be of help to the analytical community

Flow injection determination of total catechins and procyanidins in white and red wines

An easily automatable flow-injection (FI) method for the determination of total catechins is reported. The method is based on the reaction of vanillin in acid medium to yield a coloured product with maximum absorption at 500 nm. After optimisation by the univariate and multivariate approaches as required, the linear range was established (between 10 and 90 mgL-1 and 10 and 250 mgL-1 for white and red wines, respectively). Then, the assessment of the proposed versus the reference method was studied in terms of repeatability (2.57 mgL-1), reproducibility (3.56 mgL-1) (no significant differences were found), detection and quantification limits (not far from those of the reference method and always sufficient for the determination of catechins in any type of wine), traceability (excellent correlation under all conditions) and sample throughput (23 samples h-1 for the proposed method versus 3 samples h-1 for the reference method)

Use of superheated liquids for the extraction of non-volatile compounds from wood: HPLC studies

A study of the extraction of oak wood compounds using superheated water-ethanol mixtures ranging from 10 to 60% ethanol is reported. Identification and characterization of the extracted compounds have been made by high performance liquid chromatography. The extraction has been performed using the static mode by single or repetitive cycles. The variables affecting the extraction process have been studied and their optimum values established (extraction time: 50 min; pressure: 40 atm; extraction temperature: 180º C). The study allows to compare the non-volatile polyphenol fractions obtained in this way with those present in commercial samples with fully agreement between them. In addition, the method allows manipulation of the extract composition by changing the working pressure, temperature and water-ethanol ratio

Method for monitoring urea and ammonia in wine and must by flow injection-pervaporation

An easy to automate flow-injection-pervaporation method for monitoring urea and ammonia in must and wine was developed. The method is based on separation of the ammonia from the sample matrix by pervaporation followed by its reaction with salicylate, hypochlorite and nitroprusside to form a diazonium salt with maximum absorption at 647 nm. Conversion of urea into ammonia catalysed by urease was mandatory before pervaporation. After optimisation by either the univariate or multivariate approaches as required, the linear range was established (between 0 and 25 mg l-1) for both analytes. Then, the assessment of the proposed method versus a reference one for urea and ammonia was studied in terms of repeatability (0.52 mg l-1 and 0.43 mg l-1, respectively), reproducibility (1.34 mg l-1 and 1.21 mg l-1, respectively), detection and quantification limits (LOD=0.9 and 0.6 mg l-1, LQ=1.02 and 0.67 mg l-1, respectively) and traceability. The sample throughput was 16 samples h-1. The method can be applied to the monitoring of the target analytes in must and young wine in order to control their contents, preventing formation of ethyl carbamate

Quantitative proteomic analysis of Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes CECT5344 in response to industrial cyanide-contain ing wastewaters using Liquid Chromatography- Mass Spectrometry/Mass Spectrometry (LC- MS/MS)

Biological treatments to degrade cyanide are a powerful technology for cyanide removal from industrial wastewaters. It has been previously demonstrated that the alkaliphilic bacterium Pseudomonas pseudoalcali genes CECT5344 is able to use free cyanide and several metal − cyanide complexes as the sole nitrogen source. In this work, the strain CECT5344 has been used for detoxification of the different chemical forms of cyanide that are present in alkaline wastewaters from the jewelry industry. This liquid residue also contains large concentration s of metals like iron, copper and zinc, making this wastewater even more toxic. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms involved in the bioremediation process, a quantitative proteomic anal- ysis by LC-MS/MS has been carried out in P . pseudoalcaligene s CECT5344 cells grown with the jewelry residue as sole nitrogen source. Different proteins related to cyanide and cyanate assimilation, as well as other proteins involved in transport and resistance to metals were induced by the cyanide-cont aining jewelry residue. GntR-like regulatory proteins were also induced by this industrial residue and mutational analysis revealed that GntR-like regulatory proteins may play a role in the regulation of cyanide assimilation in P . pseudoalcaligene s CECT5344. The strain CECT5344 has been used in a batch reactor to remove at pH 9 the dif- ferent forms of cyanide present in industrial wastewaters from the jewelry industry (0.3 g/L, ca . 12 mM total cyanide, including both free cyanide and metal − cyanide complexes). This is the first report describing the biological removal at alkaline pH of such as elevated concentra- tion of cyanide present in a heterogeneou s mixture from an industrial source

Biological and Health-promoting Activity of Vinification Byproducts Produced in Spanish Vineyards

Several by-products are produced in the Spanish agricultural system. Among them, fresh and vinifiedgrape skins represent an abundant source of phenols with a potential nutraceutical value. Fresh grape skinextracts (FGSE) and vinification of grape skin extracts (VGSE) obtained by a microwave-assisted methodhave been chemically and biologically characterised. Their role in the maintenance of genetic stabilitywas stated by in vivo genotoxic and antigenotoxic evaluations (Drosophilla melanogaster wing spot test), aswell as by their potential chemopreventive effect (in an HL60 in vitro model). Total phenolic, anthocyaninand resveratrol contents were chemically characterised in the two extracts, showing some qualitativedifferences. Both extracts and resveratrol were not mutagenic in the Drosophila somatic mutation andrecombination tests, and exerted antigenotoxic activities against hydrogen peroxide. They also showedcytotoxic activity to HL60 leukaemia cells, with an IC50 of 4.5μL/mL, 4.6μL/mL and 98μM respectively andinduced apoptotic internucleosomic fragmentation in the HL60 cell line

Evolution of the use of corticosteroids for the treatment of hospitalised COVID-19 patients in Spain between March and November 2020: SEMI-COVID national registry

Objectives: Since the results of the RECOVERY trial, WHO recommendations about the use of corticosteroids (CTs) in COVID-19 have changed. The aim of the study is to analyse the evolutive use of CTs in Spain during the pandemic to assess the potential influence of new recommendations. Material and methods: A retrospective, descriptive, and observational study was conducted on adults hospitalised due to COVID-19 in Spain who were included in the SEMI-COVID- 19 Registry from March to November 2020. Results: CTs were used in 6053 (36.21%) of the included patients. The patients were older (mean (SD)) (69.6 (14.6) vs. 66.0 (16.8) years; p < 0.001), with hypertension (57.0% vs. 47.7%; p < 0.001), obesity (26.4% vs. 19.3%; p < 0.0001), and multimorbidity prevalence (20.6% vs. 16.1%; p < 0.001). These patients had higher values (mean (95% CI)) of C-reactive protein (CRP) (86 (32.7-160) vs. 49.3 (16-109) mg/dL; p < 0.001), ferritin (791 (393-1534) vs. 470 (236- 996) µg/dL; p < 0.001), D dimer (750 (430-1400) vs. 617 (345-1180) µg/dL; p < 0.001), and lower Sp02/Fi02 (266 (91.1) vs. 301 (101); p < 0.001). Since June 2020, there was an increment in the use of CTs (March vs. September; p < 0.001). Overall, 20% did not receive steroids, and 40% received less than 200 mg accumulated prednisone equivalent dose (APED). Severe patients are treated with higher doses. The mortality benefit was observed in patients with oxygen saturation </=90%. Conclusions: Patients with greater comorbidity, severity, and inflammatory markers were those treated with CTs. In severe patients, there is a trend towards the use of higher doses. The mortality benefit was observed in patients with oxygen saturation </=90%

7th Drug hypersensitivity meeting: part two

No abstract availabl