In-house validation of chromatographic speciation methods for arsenic in fishery products

The relatively high concentrations of arsenic found in shellfish in recent years have contributed to raise the threshold of attention of European Union, in terms of food security. Among the various factors that influence the toxicity of arsenic, the chemical form is of particular significance, given the high toxicity of the inorganic form in respect of the organic that frequently contaminates fishery products. The Expert Committee of FAO / WHO defined a provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) of 15 mg/kg b.w. only for the inorganic form and, in view of definition of residual limits for arsenic in fish, it becomes necessary to have analytical methods able to differentiate inorganic form from the organic ones (e.g. monomethyland dimethylarsenic acid, arsenobetaine, arsenocholine). The purpose of this study was to optimize and validate an analytical method for the speciation of arsenic in fishery products, that could identify and quantify the organic forms of arsenic. Screening of organic forms of arsenic was carried out using HPLC (high performance liquid chromatography) coupled to a tandem mass spectrometry detector, while determination of total arsenic was carried out using the atomic absorption spectroscopy. The validation procedure was conducted according to the requirements of the European Community to allow the use of the present method by the Official Control laboratories. The matrices considered for method optimization and validation have been fish, molluscs and crustaceans from the coasts of southern Italy. Obtained results allowed the method to enter within the routinely activities of the laboratory and require method accreditation

Validation of the CAchexia SCOre (CASCO). Staging cancer patients: The use of miniCASCO as a simplified tool

The CAchexia SCOre (CASCO) was described as a tool for the staging of cachectic cancer patients. The aim of this study is to show the metric properties of CASCO in order to classify cachectic cancer patients into three different groups, which are associated with a numerical scoring. The final aim was to clinically validate CASCO for its use in the classification of cachectic cancer patients in clinical practice. We carried out a case -control study that enrolled prospectively 186 cancer patients and 95 age-matched controls. The score includes five components: (1) body weight loss and composition, (2) inflammation/metabolic disturbances/immunosuppression, (3) physical performance, (4) anorexia, and (5) quality of life. The present study provides clinical validation for the use of the score. In order to show the metric properties of CASCO, three different groups of cachectic cancer patients were established according to the results obtained with the statistical approach used: mild cachexia (15 â\u89¤ Ã\u97 â\u89¤ 28), moderate cachexia (29 â\u89¤ Ã\u97 â\u89¤ 46), and severe cachexia (47 â\u89¤ Ã\u97 â\u89¤ 100). In addition, a simplified version of CASCO, MiniCASCO (MCASCO), was also presented and it contributes as a valid and easy-to-use tool for cachexia staging. Significant statistically correlations were found between CASCO and other validated indexes such as Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) and the subjective diagnosis of cachexia by specialized oncologists. A very significant estimated correlation between CASCO and MCASCO was found that suggests that MCASCO might constitute an easy and valid tool for the staging of the cachectic cancer patients. CASCO and MCASCO provide a new tool for the quantitative staging of cachectic cancer patients with a clear advantage over previous classifications

Accreditation of a screening method for non-dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyl detection in fishery products according to European legislation.

European Commission Regulation 882/2004/EC requires that official control laboratories for foodstuffs in the member states are certified according to UNI EN ISO/IEC 17025:2005 (general requirement for the competence of calibration and testing laboratories). This mandatory requirement has resulted in a continuous adaptation and development of analytical procedures. The aim of this study was to develop a method for semiquantitative screening of polychlorinated biphenyls in fish for human consumption. According to the Commission Decision 657/2002/CE, the detection capability, the precision, the selectivity-specificity, and applicability-ruggedness-stability were determined to validate the method. Moreover, trueness was verified. This procedure resulted in rapid execution, which allowed immediate and effective intervention by the local health authorities to protect the health of consumers. Finally, the procedure has been recognized by the Italian accrediting body, ACCREDIA

Levels of heavy metals in liver and kidney of dogs from urban environment

Lead, cadmium and mercury were detected in liver and kidney tissue of dogs from an urban habitat. Samples were digested in a microwave system and analyzed by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Results of the current study showed that at least one of the three heavy metals was detected in tissues of all examined dogs. These findings make us suppose that humans are exposed to the same heavy metals similar to those of dogs that are exposed since they share the same environment. Mercury concentrations detected in kidney of household dogs were higher than stray dogs, therefore the involvement of pet food in exposure to mercury can be supposed

Heavy Metal Levels in Dog Liver and Kidney in Naples (Campania, Italy)

The aim of the current study was to carry out a retrospective analysis of heavy metal (Pb, Cd, and Hg) levels in liver and kidney of 38 dogs living in an urban habitat (city of Naples). Tissues were homogenized, digested in a microwave digestion system, and analyzed by atomic absorption spectrometry. The results of this study showed generally low levels of heavy metals in tissues of all examined dogs; only mercury concentrations in kidneys of pet dogs were higher than in stray dogs, and no significant age-dependent differences in metal levels were shown between the two groups. In conclusion, these results suggest the involvement of ad hoc-formulated pet food exposure to heavy metals in domestic animals

Preclinical models in oncological pharmacology: limits and advantages

A wide range of experimental tumor models, each with distinct advantages and disadvantages, is nowadays available. Due to the inherent differences in their complexity and functionality, the choice of the model is usually dependent on the application. Thus, to advance specific knowledge, one has to choose and use appropriate models, which complexity is largely dependent on the hypotheses to test, that is on the objectives. Whatever the model chosen, the complexity of cancer is such that none of them will be able to fully represent it. In vitro tumor models have provided important tools for cancer research and still serve as low-cost screening platforms for drugs. The improved understanding of cancer as "organ system" has pushed for increased accuracy and physiological relevance of in vitro tumor models that have in parallel increased in complexity, diversifying their output parameters as they progressed in view to recapitulate the most critical aspects such as the dimensionality of cell cultures (2D versus 3D), the mechanical stimuli, the multicellular interactions, the immune interactions and the soluble signaling. Animal models represent the in vivo counterpart to cell lines and are commonly used for studies during the preclinical investigation of cancer therapy to determine the efficacy and safety of novel drugs. They are super to in vitro models in terms of physiological relevance offering imitation of parental tumors and a heterogeneous microenvironment as part of an interacting complex biochemical system. In the present review we describe advantages and limits of major preclinical models used in Oncological Pharmacology