Oxidative stress biomarkers and acetylcholinesterase activity in human erythrocytes exposed to clomazone (in vitro)

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of clomazone herbicide on oxidative stress biomarkers and acetylcholinesterase activity in human erythrocytes in in vitro conditions. The activity of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE), as well as the levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and reduced glutathione (GSH) were measured in human erythrocytes exposed (in vitro) to clomazone at varying concentrations in the range of 0, 100, 250 and 500 µg/L for 1 h at 37 °C.TBARS levels were significantly higher in erythrocytes incubated with clomazone at 100, 250 and 500 µg/L. However, erythrocyte CAT and AChE activities were decreased at all concentrations tested. SOD activity was increased only at 100 µg/L of clomazone. GSH levels did not change with clomazone exposure. These results clearly showed clomazone to induce oxidative stress and AChE inhibition in human erythrocytes (in vitro). We, thus, suggest a possible role of ROS on toxicity mechanism induced by clomazone in humans

Estudos Artísticos

Cidadania e arte, uma questão de revolução. A perfeição do gosto académico reproduz a perfeição do Estado absoluto, a disciplina é descoberta e lança mão de toda a coreografia: os gestos significam, e por isso os gestos são determinados no novo ballet da política esclarecida. Então como é que a revolução chega às artes? Precisamente por as artes funcionarem a um ponto tão modelar e exigente, nas academias, que vão ser chamadas a fornecer novos espelhos da nova perfeição programática. Quando a revolução começa a anunciar-se, os artistas vão reivindicar a representação apolínea da revolução, perfeita como as artes decorativas, como as alamedas de Versailles. Neste número da revista Croma apresenta-se uma seleção de artigos que, além de tratarem a obra de artistas pelo olhar de outros artistas, fazem-no apontando perspetivas implicadas, comprometidas, relacionais.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Determination of adulterants of cocaine in Real banknotes in Brazil by HPLC-DAD

Cocaine is a tropane alkaloid extracted from coca leaves, a common bush found in Andean regions of South America. Many medicines are added to the final product to increase the profits, keeping similar or higher effects than cocaine alone. Stimulants, anesthetics, and sedatives are the most found adulterants. The goal of this work was to propose a novel analytical methodology to determine cocaine and the main medicines found in street cocaine in Real banknotes using high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection (HPLC-DAD). Under optimized conditions, the target substances were extracted with acetonitrile, and the cleanup of the obtained extracts was carried out by separating the fatty layer at low temperature (–20 °C). The volume of extract was reduced under nitrogen flow and adjusted to 2.5 mL with a solution containing 95% (v/v) of phosphate buffer (10 mmol L−1, pH = 2.5) and 5% (v/v) of acetonitrile. Under these conditions, it was possible to identify and quantify cocaine and its adulterants in the samples, with limits of quantification of 0.29, 0.012, 0.16, 0.22, 0.026, 0.078, and 0.14 µg per banknote for acetaminophen, levamisole, caffeine, lidocaine, cocaine, diltiazem, and phenacetin, respectively. We analyzed 158 samples, and only one did not present any of the tested substances. Higher amounts of the tested substances were verified in banknotes of lower value.UCR::Vicerrectoría de Docencia::Ciencias Básicas::Facultad de Ciencias::Escuela de Químic

Mind the gap: The challenges of sustainable forensic science service provision

Recent worldwide humanitarian and security efforts reflect the growth of forensic science as a global practice supporting peace, prosperity, and justice. While the dominance of the Global North in published research and public attention may suggest that this practice is universally well-developed, many Global South jurisdictions are at a stark disadvantage in resourcing and technological capabilities. Continued development of forensic science as an international endeavour requires a narrowing of inequalities between jurisdictions, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Here we propose a framework of principles for the sustainable provision of transparent, high-quality forensic services meeting jurisdictional needs and limitations. We illustrate how this concept of ‘frugal forensics’ can be applied in the context of latent fingermark detection in two Global South jurisdictions, and how quality assurance frameworks can be developed to support this service