Human biomonitoring of mycotoxins in blood, plasma and serum in recent years: a review

This manuscript reviews the state-of-the-art regarding human biological monitoring (HBM) of mycotoxins in plasma, serum and blood samples. After a comprehensive and systematic literature review, with a focus on the last five years, several aspects were analyzed and summarized: (a) the biomarkers analyzed and their encountered levels, (b) the analytical methodologies developed and (c) the relationship between biomarker levels and some illnesses. In the literature reviewed, aflatoxin B1-lysine (AFB1-lys) and ochratoxin A (OTA) in plasma and serum were the most widely studied mycotoxin biomarkers for HBM. Regarding analytical methodologies, a clear increase in the development of methods for the simultaneous determination of multiple mycotoxins has been observed. For this purpose, the use of liquid chromatography (LC) methodologies, especially when coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) or high resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) has grown. A high percentage of the samples analyzed for OTA or aflatoxin B1 (mostly as AFB1-lys) in the reviewed papers were positive, demonstrating human exposure to mycotoxins. This review confirms the importance of mycotoxin human biomonitoring and highlights the important challenges that should be faced, such as the inclusion of other mycotoxins in HBM programs, the need to increase knowledge of mycotoxin metabolism and toxicokinetics, and the need for reference materials and new methodologies for treating samples. In addition, guidelines are required for analytical method validation, as well as equations to establish the relationship between human fluid levels and mycotoxin intake

Recomendaciones básicas para la correcta administración de fármacos orales en el área de pacientes externos de un servicio de farmacia

Objetivo: Determinar la correcta administración por vía oral de la medicación de pacientes externos, con el fin de obtener una guía de consulta rápida que facilite la resolución rápida de esta cuestión en los pacientes externos con medicamentos de administración oral. Introducción: Existe información proveniente de la industria farmacéutica que permite una correcta administración de medicamentos de una forma correcta, eficaz y segura. Esta información ha de ser utilizada de manera rutinaria por todo el personal sanitario para conseguir una correcta adherencia al tratamiento Método: Se incluyeron todos los medicamentos de administración oral que se dispensan a pacientes externos en el Servicio de Farmacia hasta la fecha 23/03/2015 del Hospital del Henares. Para conocer la correcta administración se revisaron las fichas técnicas de estos medicamentos. Resultados: Se revisaron 77 especialidades farmacéuticas correspondientes a 58 principios activos diferentes. Conclusiones: El disponer de una guía rápida donde consultar la correcta administración de estos medicamentos podría facilitar la resolución de consultas sobre esta cuestión efectuada por pacientes

White cabbage fermentation improves ascorbigen content, antioxidant and nitric oxide production inhibitory activity in LPS-induced macrophages

Consumption of foods rich in dietary antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds is becoming a key strategy to lower oxidative stress and inflammation. The objective of this work was to study the effect of fermentation and starter culture on ascorbigen (ABG) and vitamin C content, as well as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of white cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata cv. Megaton). Lactobacillus plantarum CECT 748 (LP), Leuconostoc mesenteroides CECT 219 (LM) or a mixed culture of both strains at 1:1 ratio (LPM) were used as starter cultures in sauerkraut manufacture. Microbiological and sensorial quality of sauerkraut was also examined. White cabbage fermentation increased (P < 0.05) ABG content (up to 12-fold), oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) values (up to 2-fold) and NO production inhibitory potency (up to 2.6-fold). Vitamin C content slightly decreased (P < 0.05) up to 1.4-fold during fermentation. LM sauerkraut showed the highest (P < 0.05) ABG concentration (204.8 μmol/100 g d.w.), ORAC values (164.0 μmol Trolox/g d.w.) and NO inhibitory potency (IC50 = 60.8 μg extract/mL). The microbiological quality of LM, LP and LPM sauerkrauts was satisfactory. Experimental sauerkrauts showed higher overall acceptability (P < 0.05) compared to commercial products. Consequently, selection of starter culture is of great importance in the manufacture of sauerkraut with improved content of bioactive compounds and health-promoting potential. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd.This work was supported by the Spanish Commission of Science and Technology (CICYT), Project number AGL2007-62044. E. P. is indebted to a JAE-doc grant funded by CSIC.Peer Reviewe

Development and validation of a methodology based on Captiva EMR-lipid clean-up and LC-MS/MS analysis for the simultaneous determination of mycotoxins in human plasma

We report the methodology for the quantification of 19 mycotoxins in human plasma using high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (triple quadrupole). The studied mycotoxins were: deepoxy-deoxynivalenol, aflatoxins (B1, B2, G1, G2 and M1), T-2 and HT-2, ochratoxins A and B, zearalenone, sterigmatocystin, nivalenol, deoxynivalenol, 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol, 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol, neosolaniol, diacetoxyscirpenol and fusarenon-X. Sample deproteinization and cleanup were performed in one step using Captiva EMR-lipid (3 mL) cartridges and acetonitrile (with 1% formic acid). The extraction step was simple and fast. Validation was based on the evaluation of limits of detection (LOD) and quantification, linearity, precision, recovery, matrix effect, and stability. LOD values ranged from 0.04 ng/mL for aflatoxin B1 to 2.7 ng/mL for HT-2, except for nivalenol, which was 9.1 ng/mL. Recovery was obtained in intermediate precision conditions and at three concentration levels. Mean values ranged from 68.8% for sterigmatocystin to 97.6% for diacetoxyscirpenol (RDS ≤ 15% for all the mycotoxins). Matrix effects (assessed at three concentration levels and in intermediate conditions) were not significant for most of the mycotoxins and were between 75.4% for sterigmatocystin and 109.3% for ochratoxin B (RDS ≤ 15% for all the mycotoxins). This methodology will be useful in human biomonitoring studies of mycotoxins for its reliability

Simultaneous determination of type-A and type-B trichothecenes in barley samples by GC-MS

A validated method for the simultaneous determination of eight type-A and type-B trichothecenes in barley has been applied to the analysis of 44 samples from the 2007 harvest in Navarra (Spain). The procedure included simultaneous extraction of trichothecenes with acetonitrile and water (84:16), clean up with Multisep columns, derivatization of the extract and GC-MS analysis. During method validation, selectivity, linearity, precision and accuracy, limits of detection and quantification and recovery were evaluated. Recovery ranged from 92.0 to 101.9% (RSD < 15%), except for nivalenol (NIV) (63.1%), and the limits of detection and quantification ranged from 0.31 to 3.87 mu g kg(-1) and from 10 to 20 mu g kg(-1), respectively. The higher occurrence was found for deoxynivalenol (DON) (89% of the samples), although at concentrations below the maximum permitted level. The calculated dietary intakes of DON, NIV and the sum of T-2 and HT-2 were below the TDI values proposed. Two or more trichothecenes were present in 41% of the samples and so, the mycotoxin co-occurrence, and therefore synergic or additive effects, should be taking into account when determining permitted levels or risk assessment

El impacto de la internacionalización sobre las empresas: Evidencia empírica para el caso español

The economic crisis in Spain has strengthened the key role of the external sector as a source of demand and as a compensating factor of the sluggish in the domestic demand. In which extent is this effect observable at a firm level? Do the most internationalized companies have better deal with the crisis? This paper aims to give an answer to those questions using an extensive database of Galician companies for the period 2007-2010. Results confirm that larger, more productive and export focused firms have had better performance in their sales figures and profitability - measured by ROA. On the contrary, the effect on the evolution of ROS is positive but only marginally significant. La crisis económica en España ha reforzado el papel clave del sector exterior como fuente de demanda y factor compensador de la atonía de la demanda interna. ¿En qué medida este efecto macro es observable a escala empresarial? ¿Las empresas más internacionalizadas han encajado mejor los embistes de la crisis? Este artículo pretende dar respuesta a estos interrogantes, tomando como referencia el período 2007-2010 y una amplia base de datos de empresas gallegas. Utilizando como variable de control el sector de actividad, los resultados confirman que las empresas más grandes, productivas y con un porcentaje de ventas en el exterior han tenido mejor comportamiento en sus cifras de facturación y de rentabilidad medida por el ratio ROA. Por el contrario, el efecto sobre la evolución del ratio ROS es positivo pero solo marginalmente significativo

Analysis of mycotoxins in Spanish milk

We surveyed the presence of 22 mycotoxins in 191 Spanish cow milk samples. Mycotoxins could be carried over from diet into animal milk and have toxic effects on human and animal health. The interaction of different mycotoxins may be additive or synergetic. Therefore, surveillance of mycotoxin co-occurrence in milk is recommended. Aflatoxins M1, B1, B2, G1, and G2, ochratoxins A and B, nivalenol, deoxynivalenol, deepoxy-deoxynivalenol, 3- and 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol, diacetoxyscirpenol, neosolaniol, fusarenon X, T-2 and HT-2 toxins, fumonisins B1, B2, and B3, sterigmatocystin, and zearalenone were analyzed. Samples were treated by liquid-liquid extraction with acidified acetonitrile, followed by an acetonitrile-water phase separation using sodium acetate. The analysis was carried out by HPLC coupled to a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer. None of the analyzed mycotoxins had a concentration level higher than their detection limit (0.05–10.1 µg/L). The aflatoxin M1 in the samples never exceeded the level established by the European Union

El impacto de la internacionalización sobre las empresas: Evidencia empírica para el caso español

The economic crisis in Spain has strengthened the key role of the external sector as a source of demand and as a compensating factor of the sluggish in the domestic demand. In which extent is this effect observable at a firm level? Do the most internationalized companies have better deal with the crisis? This paper aims to give an answer to those questions using an extensive database of Galician companies for the period 2007-2010. Results confirm that larger, more productive and export focused firms have had better performance in their sales figures and profitability - measured by ROA. On the contrary, the effect on the evolution of ROS is positive but only marginally significant. La crisis económica en España ha reforzado el papel clave del sector exterior como fuente de demanda y factor compensador de la atonía de la demanda interna. ¿En qué medida este efecto macro es observable a escala empresarial? ¿Las empresas más internacionalizadas han encajado mejor los embistes de la crisis? Este artículo pretende dar respuesta a estos interrogantes, tomando como referencia el período 2007-2010 y una amplia base de datos de empresas gallegas. Utilizando como variable de control el sector de actividad, los resultados confirman que las empresas más grandes, productivas y con un porcentaje de ventas en el exterior han tenido mejor comportamiento en sus cifras de facturación y de rentabilidad medida por el ratio ROA. Por el contrario, el efecto sobre la evolución del ratio ROS es positivo pero solo marginalmente significativo