Progression of carotid-artery disease in type 2 diabetic patients: A cohort prospective study

In order to assess the progression of carotid-artery disease in type 2 diabetic cohort (n=207 patients), the dynamic change in carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and the occurrence of plaques were followed for a period of 31.35±10.59 months. The mean CIMT at the beginning of the study was 0.9178±0.1447 mm, with a maximal value of 1.1210±0.2366 mm. The maximal value of CIMT changed by 0.07 mm/year. Progression of CIMT was noted in 86.8% and its regression in 7.8% of patients. The occurrence of carotid plaques was detected in 41.8% of patients. Multiple regression analysis revealed the maximal value of CIMT to be associated with diastolic blood pressure, despite mean CIMT being predicted by body mass index. The presence of peripheral arterial disease and hypo-high-density lipoproteinemia were found to be predictors for the occurrence of carotid plaques. Our data have clinical implications in predicting risk factors for the progression of carotid-artery disease in type 2 diabetic patients for their appropriate management

The Aluminum and Bromine Reaction Revisited: On the Hazard during Waste Disposal

A brief explanation for the absence of reaction between metallic sodium and liquid bromine is offered. A safer variant is proposed for performing the well-known demonstration of aluminum and bromine. An explanation for the increasing induction period for the reaction is given. A serious hazard exists during the disposal of the waste (AlBr3 dissolved in excess bromine), unless the instructor is familiar with the properties of the products. Attention is paid to this hazard and a possible way for minimizing the risk in waste disposal is pointed out

Influence of fibrinogen and C-RP on progression of peripheral arterial disease in type 2 diabetes: A preliminary report

BACKGROUND: Limited studies have suggested that inflammatory biomarkers play a role in the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis in diabetic patients. This study assesses the effect of inflammatory biomarkers: fibrinogen and C-reactive protein (C-RP) on the progression of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in type 2 diabetic (T2D) patients. METHODS: Sixty two patients with T2D and PAD (mean age 60.28 ± 27 years and diabetes duration of 8.58 ± 6.17 years) were enrolled in a cohort prospective study of 36 months. Ankle-brachial index (ABI) was measured in all patients at baseline and after 36 months. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to determine the predictivity of variables for fibrinogen, C-RP, plasma lipid fractions, fasting plasma glucose, Body Mass Index (BMI), duration of diabetes status and the age on changes in ABI value. RESULTS: Linear regression analysis defined F as a predictor for endpoint value of ABI (β = 0.469, p = 0.007). Value of C-RP determinates change of minimal value of ABI (β = 0.449, p = 0.037) and change of mean ABI per year (β = 0.442, p = 0.025). CONCLUSION: Our data indicate that plasma determination of fibrinogen and C-RP might have a clinical implication in defining the process of progression of PAD in T2D population

Development and validation of a presumptive colour spot test method for the detection of piperazine analogues in seized illicit materials

The increasingly large quantities of potentially illicit samples received for confirmatory analysis highlights the importance and demand for preliminary testing procedures that are simple, rapid, selective, inexpensive and able to be used in the field. Colour testing fulfils the aforementioned requirements and is a technique frequently employed to achieve presumptive identification. Piperazine analogues (often marketed as 'legal ecstasy') are a group of psychoactive substances that have recently become established on the illicit drug market and are not effectively discriminated or identified by current colour testing methods. Herein, we report on the development and validation of a chemical spot test for piperazine analogues present in unknown seized materials using the spectrophotometric reagent, sodium 1,2-naphthoquinone-4-sulphonate (NQS). Primary testing revealed that NQS reacts almost instantly to form an intense, bright orange-red coloured complex with the representative piperazine 1-benzylpiperazine (BZP) at room temperature. The results of the test, assessed by colour development, were evaluated visually and variables affecting the coloured reaction were optimised. The colour test method was validated to meet requirements for use in preliminary screening, providing qualitative and reliable presumptive test results. Validation studies show that the characteristic colour change is unique to the piperazine class at room temperature, and is unaffected by the presence of common cutting agents, i.e. glucose and caffeine, in test samples of 5% purity, and other drugs such as N-methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDMA). The NQS reagent stability was found to be limited to storage in a refrigerated environment for no more than one week before results were affected. The operational limit of detection was found to be 40 μg. © 2013 The Royal Society of Chemistry

Radiological impact of surface water and sediment near uranium mining sites

The aim of this study is to assess the radiological impact of surface water and sediment around uranium mining sites 20 years after their closing. The areas under observations are 31 former classical underground uranium mining and exploratory sites in Bulgaria, named as objects. The extraction and processing of uranium ores in the Republic of Bulgaria were ended in 1992. To assess the radiological impact of radionuclides field expeditions were performed to sample water and bottom sediment. The migration of uranium through surface water was examined as one of the major pathways for contamination spread. The range of uranium concentration in water flowing from the mining sites was from 0.012 to 6.8 mgU l −1 with a geometric mean of 0.192 mgU l . The uranium concentrations in water downstream the mining sites were approximately 3 times higher than the background value (upstream). The concentrations of U nat , 226 Ra, 210 Pb, and 232 Th in the sediment of downstream river were higher than those upstream by 3.4, 2.6, 2, and 1.7 times, respectively. The distribution coefficient of uranium reflects its high mobility in most of the sites. In order to evaluate the impact on people as well as site prioritization for more detailed assessment and water management, screening dose assessments were done

SPE-RRLC DETERMINATION OF SOME PESTICIDE RESIDUES IN APPLE JUICE

This paper presents the development of RRLC (Rapid Resolution Liquid Chromatography) method for simultaneous determination of pesticides methomyl, methidathion and propiconazole in different clear apple juice samples. The experiments are performed using rapid resolution liquid chromatography system coupled with UV-VIS diode array detector. The developed high speed reversed-phase (RP) liquid chromatography method is carried out on the Purospher® Star RP-18 endcapped (30 mm × 4 mm; 3 μm) column, mobile phase consists of acetonitrille and water (50/50, V/V), flow rate of 1 mL/min, column temperature at 25 ºC and UV detection at 220 nm and 235 nm. Prior to RRLC analysis, the samples are cleaned up and concentrated using a solid-phase extraction (SPE). To assess the validity of the developed method, the following parameters are examined: selectivity, linearity, repeatability (precision), limit of detection, limit of quantification and accuracy

DEVELOPMENT OF HIGH SPEED RRLC METHOD FOR QUANTITATIVE DETERMINATION OF SOME PESTICIDE RESIDUES IN APPLE JUICE

Possibilities of normal-phase (NP) and reversed-phase (RP) liquid chromatography methods for determination of methomyl, methidathion and propiconazole residues in apple juice were studied. The investigations were carried out on various analytical columns using RRLC (Rapid Resolution Liquid Chromatography) system coupled with UV-Vis diode array detector. The best conditions for separation and quantitative determination of tested pesticides were obtained using reversed-phase mode and Purospher® Star RP-18 endcapped (30 mm × 4 mm; 3 μm) column. Fast and simple method for direct determination of methidathion and propiconazole in different apple juice matrix was developed. In accordance to European Commission regulation the tested parameters for method validation (selectivity, linearity, precision, limit of detection, limit of quantification and accuracy) were satisfied