One of the main effects of pro-inflammatory cytokines is the induction of chemokines and the expression of adhesive molecules that regulate the migration of immune cells to the center of the damage. Chemoattractant gradient also provides a physiological delivery of cells to tissues and lymphatic organs under normal circumstances. Chemokines are chemotactic cytokines that form a very large and diverse group of secreted proteins that have many functions both in processes that maintain homeostasis but also in inflammatory states. Production of some chemokines also has a major effect on graft rejection. Further understanding of the mechanisms involved in the acute rejection chemokine could contribute to improving treatment steps in transplantology. In this diploma thesis, serum chemokine levels were monitored in renal transplant patients, but these measurements did not show significant dynamics. Furthermore, the effect of pro-inflammatory cytokines on the release of chemokines from renal epithelial cells and monocytes was studied. Experiments were performed to monitor the levels of individual chemokines such as ENA-78, IL-8, MCP-1, MIP-1 β, RANTES, GRO alpha, THP-1 (monocyte/macrophage cell line), RPTEC (renal epithelial cells of proximal tubules) and RA (renal cell tumor lines). TNF-α (tumor necrosis...

One of the main effects of pro-inflammatory cytokines is the induction of chemokines and the expression of adhesive molecules that regulate the migration of immune cells to the center of the damage. Chemoattractant gradient also provides a physiological delivery of cells to tissues and lymphatic organs under normal circumstances. Chemokines are chemotactic cytokines that form a very large and diverse group of secreted proteins that have many functions both in processes that maintain homeostasis but also in inflammatory states. Production of some chemokines also has a major effect on graft rejection. Further understanding of the mechanisms involved in the acute rejection chemokine could contribute to improving treatment steps in transplantology. In this diploma thesis, serum chemokine levels were monitored in renal transplant patients, but these measurements did not show significant dynamics. Furthermore, the effect of pro- inflammatory cytokines on the release of chemokines from renal epithelial cells and monocytes was studied. Experiments were performed to monitor the levels of individual chemokines such as ENA-78, IL-8, MCP-1, MIP-1β, RANTES, GRO-α, THP-1 (monocyte/macrophage cell line), RPTEC (renal epithelial cells of proximal tubules) and RA (renal cell tumor lines). TNF-α had an effect on the...

O parasitoide Ageniaspis citricola Logvinovskaya é o principal agente de controle biológico do minador-dos-citros Phyllocnistis citrella Stainton. No entanto, com a detecção do huanglongbing houve um aumento no uso de inseticidas nos pomares cítricos e não se conhece seus efeitos à A. citricola. Desta maneira, estudou-se o efeito letal de cinco inseticidas e a persistência aos 3, 7, 10, 17 e 24 dias após a pulverização em mudas de citros mantidas em casa de vegetação ao parasitoide A. citricola, nas dosagens especificadas (g i.a. L-1): imidacloprido 0,04 (Provado&reg; 200 SC), clorpirifós 0,72 (Lorsban&reg; 480 BR), bifentrina 0,02 (Talstar&reg; 100 EC), beta-ciflutrina 0,0125 (Turbo&reg; 50 EC), abamectina 0,0054 (Vertimec&reg;), bem como o efeito subletal no parasitismo em fêmeas expostas por 24 horas aos resíduos de abamectina. Imidacloprido, clorpirifós, bifentrina e beta-ciflutina foram considerados nocivos para adultos de A. citricola (M > 75%), enquanto que, abamectina foi considerado inócuo (M < 25%). Com base na duração do efeito nocivo, clorpirifós e beta-ciflutrina foram considerados de vida curta (< 5 dias), enquanto que, imidacloprido foi levemente persistente (5-15 dias) e bifentrina moderadamente persistente (16-30 dias). Abamectina não alterou a taxa de parasitismo de A. citricola, mas alterou substancialmente a razão sexual (0,11) quando comparado ao tratamento controle (0,5). Os resultados indicam que deve-se ter cautela em recomendar os produtos avaliados, observando-se o efeito residual daqueles produtos considerados nocivos à A. citricola, de forma a explorar a seletividade ecológica. Abamectina, embora inócua a adultos do parasitoide, pode levar a uma redução populacional de A. citricola, devendo-se realizar estudos de campo para elucidar essa questão. / Ageniaspis citricola Logvinovskaya is the main biological control agent of Phyllocnistis citrella Stainton. However, with the huanglongbing report, there was an increase in the use of insecticides in citrus orchards and the effects on A. citricola are not known. Thus, we studied the lethal effects of five insecticides and the persistence on 1, 3, 7, 10, 17 and 24 days post application in seedlings of citrus kept in greenhouse, using the specified dosages (g a.i. L-1): imidacloprid 0.04 (Provado&reg; 200 SC), chlorpyriphos 0.72 (Lorsban&reg; 48 BR), bifenthrin 0.02 (Talstar&reg; 10 EC), beta-cyfluthrin 0.0125 (Turbo&reg; 5 EC), abamectin 0.0054 (Vertimec&reg; 18 EC), as well as the sublethal effect on the parasitism by females exposed to residues of 24 hours of abamectin. Imidacloprid, chlorpyriphos, bifenthrin and beta-cyfluthrin were considered harmful to A. citricola (M > 75%) and abamectin were considered harmless (M < 25%). Chlorpyriphos and beta-cyfluthrin were considered of short life (< 5 days), imidacloprid slightly persistent (5-15 days) and bifenthrin moderately persistent (16-30 days). Abamectin did not affect the parasitism by A. citricola, but the sex ratio, with a sex ratio of 0.11 against 0.5 of the control. The results indicate that we must be careful to recommend the evaluated insecticides, observing the persistence of those classified as harmful to A. citricola, as a manner to explore the ecological selectivity. Even though considered harmless to adult parasitoids, abamectin can lead to population reduction of A. citricola, being necessary field studies to confirm that situation.

O controle químico de pragas, para muitas culturas agrícolas é uma das principais táticas em programas de manejo integrado de pragas (MIP), trazendo benefícios reais e diminuindo as perdas por insetos-praga, além do aumento na produção de alimentos e fibras, proteção de produtos armazenados e proteção de pragas e doenças de seres humanos. O controle de pragas em soja e milho tem sido realizado, em sua maioria, utilizando-se plantas Bt e produtos químicos, este último, além das diversas vantagens citadas, pode ter desvantagens, principalmente quando utilizado de maneira inadequada, com potencial de causar diversos problemas no agroecossistema, além de desequilíbrios ambientais. Devido a importância da cultura da soja e do milho para o Brasil e para o mundo, como base da alimentação animal e humana, reconhecendo o grande uso e papel dos inseticidas como uma das principais táticas usadas para o controle de insetos-praga destas culturas, se faz necessário estudos que tratem da melhor forma de uso dos inseticidas e estudos que avaliem possíveis efeitos adversos destas moléculas em insetos benéficos, para que estejam de acordo com as premissas do MIP. Para viabilizar esta importante tática de controle, realizou-se estudos com os seguintes objetivos: 1) Estudar a toxicidade residual dos inseticidas indoxacarb (Avatar&reg;), chlorantraniliprole (Premio&reg;), spinosad (Tracer&reg;) e teflubenzuron (Nomolt 150&reg;) para C. includens em soja, em ensaio com e sem simulação de chuva; 2) Estudar a toxicidade residual dos inseticidas indoxacarb (Avatar&reg;), chlorantraniliprole (Premio&reg;), spinosad (Tracer&reg;) e teflubenzuron (Nomolt 150&reg;) para S. frugiperda em milho, em ensaio com e sem simulação de chuva; 3) Avaliar efeito letal e subletal de inseticidas recomendados para soja e milho sobre o predador Doru luteipes. Para o primeiro objetivo, teflubenzuron (15 g i. a. ha-1); spinosad (36 g i. a. ha-1); chlorantraniliprole (5, 10 e 20 g i. a. ha-1); indoxacarb (30, 60 e 90 g i. a. ha-1) não tiveram a eficácia afetada quando submetidos à simulação de chuva em todos os tempos avaliados. Quanto a toxicidade residual ao longo do tempo, teflubenzuron, chlorantraniliprole e indoxacarb, nas duas condições, com e sem simulação de chuva, tiveram redução da eficácia após o 5° dia. Diferentemente, os inseticidas spinosad (36 g i. a. ha-1) e indoxacarb (90 g i. a. ha-1), nas duas condições, não tiveram redução da eficácia até 15 dias após aplicação, e em todos os tempos avaliados foram mais eficazes do que os demais inseticidas. Para o segundo objetivo, spinosad (36 g i. a. ha-1) e chlorantraniliprole (10, 20 e 30 g i. a. ha-1) mantiveram a eficácia até o 15º dia após pulverização. Quanto aos efeito da simulação da chuva, spinosad (36 g i. a. ha-1), chlorantraniliprole (10, 20 e 30 g i. a. ha-1) e indoxacarb (90 g i. a. ha-1) mantiveram a eficácia. O inseticida chlorantraniliprole na maior dose utilizada e recomenda para o controle da praga na cultura foi o mais efetivo dentre todos, quanto a toxicidade residual e sob ação da simulação de chuva. Quanto ao terceiro objetivo, ensaio de efeito letal, Tracer, Premio e Avatar foram classificados como nocivos (classe 4), e somente Nomolt foi inócuo (classe 1). No ensaio de efeito subletal apenas o inseticida Nomolt teve parâmetros avaliados. Apesar disso, causou efeitos adversos ao predador, como: aumento do período de pré-oviposição; aumento do período embrionário e diminuição da fecundidade; não sendo, portanto, recomendado para utilização em programas de MIP, pois, altera a capacidade de desenvolvimento e reprodutiva da tesourinha predadora. Os resultados obtidos nesses estudos proveram importantes informações para o refinamento do uso de moléculas inseticidas e classificação desses quanto a seletividade ao predador generalista D. luteipes, agregando informações práticas para o manejo de pragas na cultura da soja e milho. / Chemical pest control for many agricultural crops is one of the main tactics in integrated pest management (IPM) programs, bringing real benefits and decreasing losses by pest insects, as well as increased food and fiber production, protection of stored products and protection of pests and diseases of humans. Pest control in soybean and corn has been mostly carried out using Bt plants and chemical products, for the latter, in addition to the several advantages cited, may have some disadvantages, especially when used improperly, with the potential to cause several problems in the agroecosystem, as well as environmental impacts. Owing to the importance of soybean and corn cultivation to Brazil and to the world, as a basis of animal and human feeding, recognizing the great use and role of insecticides as one of the main tactics used to control insect pests of these crops, it is necessary to study the best use of insecticides and studies that evaluate the possible adverse effects of these chemical molecules on beneficial insects, so that they are in accordance with the IPM premises. To enable this important control tactic, studies were carried out with the following objectives: 1) To study the residual toxicity of insecticides indoxacarb (Avatar&reg;), chlorantraniliprole (Premio&reg;), spinosad (Tracer&reg;) and teflubenzuron (Nomolt 150&reg;) for C. includens in soybeans, with and without rainfastness; 2) To study the residual toxicity of insecticides indoxacarb (Avatar&reg;), chlorantraniliprole (Premio&reg;), spinosad (Tracer&reg;) and teflubenzuron (Nomolt 150&reg;) for S. frugiperda in maize, with and without rainfastness; 3) To evaluate the lethal and sublethal effect of insecticides recommended for soybean and corn on the earwing predator Doru luteipes. For the first objective, teflubenzuron (15 g a. i. ha-1); spinosad (36 g a. i. ha-1); chlorantraniliprole (5, 10 and 20 g a. i. ha-1); indoxacarb (30, 60 and 90 g a. i. ha-1) were not affected when submitted to rainfastness at all evaluated times. Concerning for residual toxicity over time, teflubenzuron, chlorantraniliprole e indoxacarb, under both conditions, with and without rainfastness, had a reduction in efficacy after 5 day. In contrast, the insecticides spinosad (36 g a. i. ha-1) and indoxacarb (90 g a. i. ha-1), in both conditions had no efficacy reduction until 15 days after application and at all times evaluated were more effective than the other insecticides. For the second objective, spinosad (36 g a. i. ha-1) e chlorantraniliprole (10, 20 and 30 g a. i. ha-1) maintained efficacy until the 15th day after spraying. As for the effects of rainfastness, spinosad (36 g a. i. ha-1), chlorantraniliprole (10, 20 and 30 g a. i. ha-1) and indoxacarb (90 g a. i. ha-1) remained effective. The insecticide chlorantraniliprole at the highest dose used and recommended for the control of the pest in the crop was the most effective of all, regarding residual toxicity and under the action of the rainfastness. About the third objective, lethal effect bioassay, Tracer, Premio e Avatar were classified as harmful (class 4), and only Nomolt was innocuous (class 1). In the test of sublethal effect, just the insecticide Nomolt had parameters evaluated. Nevertheless, it caused adverse effects to the predator, such as: increased pre-oviposition period; increase in the embryonic period and decrease in fecundity; therefore, it is not recommended for use in IPM programs, because it modify the developmental and reproductive capacity of predatory earwings. The results obtained in these studies provided important information for the refinement of the use of insecticidal molecules and the classification of these as the selectivity to the generalist predator D. luteipes, adding practical information for pest management in soybean and corn crops.

O gênero Helicoverpa Hardwick, 1965 (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Heliothinae) compreende insetos pragas de distribuição cosmopolita. Historicamente no Brasil, H. zea (Boddie) é a principal praga do gênero, no entanto, em 2013 foi reportado pela primeira vez no território brasileiro H. armigera (Hübner). Estudos filogenéticos, morfológicos e ecológicos têm relacionado estas duas espécies como irmãs. A possibilidade de hibridação entre H. armigera e H. zea em condições naturais desperta interesse sobre os mecanismos genéticos, reprodutivos, de desenvolvimento e comportamentais de especiação dessas espécies. Além disso, H. armigera e H. zea são pragas severas para diversos cultivos, o que torna o entendimento destes processos crucial para o desenvolvimento de estratégias de controle. Dentro deste contexto, nosso objetivo foi confirmar a viabilidade e a adaptabilidade da prole híbrida entre as linhagens brasileiras de H. zea e H. armigera. Associado a isso, nós também testamos a tolerância da linhagem híbrida a deltametrina e plantas geneticamente modificadas (Bt). E por último, aplicamos marcadores moleculares em indivíduos oriundos do campo para identificar a ocorrência natural de possíveis indivíduos híbridos em diferentes cultivos e regiões do território brasileiro. Nossos resultados confirmam a possibilidade de surgimento de uma prole híbrida fértil entre as linhagens brasileiras de H. zea e H. armigera. Assim como os marcadores nucleares sugerem a presença de indivíduos híbridos em condições naturais no território brasileiro. Os mecanismos pré-copulatórios de especiação parecem ser menos efetivos na manutenção do isolamento reprodutivo, visto que os testes de escolha revelaram cruzamentos interespecíficos recíprocos entre as espécies. A linhagens híbridas tiveram um menor intervalo de tempo entre cada geração (T) ao serem comparadas com as linhagens parentais puras, porém a capacidade de fêmeas gerarem fêmeas e a capacidade de manter a população em crescimento (Ro, rm,) foram menores que as linhagens puras, indicando uma tendência à extinção das populações ao longo das gerações. As proles híbridas tiveram índice de sobrevivência a deltametrina equivalente ao da linhagem parental H. armigera, já os indivíduos híbridos da geração F2 (F1xF1) apresentaram menor sobrevivência em relação a H. armigera. Não houve sobrevivência das linhagens parentais e híbridas nos testes de sobrevivência ao algodão Bt. A baixa viabilidade de cruzamentos híbridos em laboratório e a baixa frequência no campo confirmaram isolamento reprodutivo entre H. zea e H. armigera, mesmo que parcial. / The genus Helicoverpa Hardwick, 1965 (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae: Heliothinae) includes insect pests of cosmopolitan distribution. Historically in Brazil, H. zea is the main pest of the genus (Boddie), however in 2013 H. armigera (Hübner was first reported in Brazil). Phylogenetic, morphological and ecological traits have suggested these two species are \"sibling species\". The possibility of hybridization between H. armigera and H. zea under natural conditions arouses interest in genetic, reproductive, developmental and behavioral mechanisms of speciation between these species. In addition, H. armigera and H. zea are severe pests in several crops, which makes the understanding of these processes critical to the development of control strategies. Within this context, our goal was to carry out interspecific bioassays of behavior and development to confirm the viability and fitness of hybrid offspring between Brazilian strains of H. zea and H. armigera. Furthermore, we tested the tolerance of the hybrid strains to deltamethrin and genetically modified cotton plant (Bt). Finally, we applied molecular markers in specimens from different regions and hosts to identify the possible occurrence of natural hybrid specimens in Brazil. Our results confirm the possibility of emergence of a fertile hybrid offspring between Brazilian strains of H. zea and H. armigera. In addition nuclear markers suggest the presence of individual hybrids in natural conditions in Brazil. Pre-copulatory speciation mechanisms are not effective in the maintenance of reproductive isolation, since the choice tests showed reciprocal interspecific crosses between species. The hybrid strains showed lower developmental time among generations (T) when compared with the parental strains. However, hybrid females have lower reproductive capacity and maintaining growing population (Ro, RM, &lambda;), indicating an extinction trend of populations over generations. The hybrid individuals F1 showed equivalent survival to deltamethrin than H. armigera parental strain, however hybrid individuals F2 (F1xF1) showed lower survival to H. armigera. There were no survival of the parental and hybrid strains to Bt cotton. The low viability of interspecific crosses in the laboratory and the low frequency in the field confirmed reproductive isolation between H. zea and H. armigera Brazilian strains, even partial.

Column generation has during the last years been popular in vehicle scheduling as it for larger problems can find an optimum faster than using an ordinary mixed-integer programming (MIP) model. We study the problem of finding optimal schedules for electric buses by means of column generation. The motive for this approach is that when the size of the problem becomes very large in terms of variables and different solutions, solving it with a mixed- integer programming model can take a lot time. The purpose of this work is to investigate how the best found integral solution and the solution time vary between different column generation methods and how these methods perform compared to a MIP. This has been done by implementing these methods on a test problem for scheduling of electric buses. The results indicate that column generation methods can be very efficient in terms of time and best found integral solution for larger problems. A modified column generation method has been created in order to accelerate the generation of columns, which is better than standard column generation in terms of solution time and best found integral solution.

Previous studies demonstrated that intravenous administration of human umbilical cord blood (HUCB) cells could improve behavioral and neurological recovery of stroked animals following middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). In addition, HUCB cell recipients had less of an inflammatory response with less leukocyte infiltration. In these studies we explored how HUCB cells change the inflammatory response of neurons, astrocytes, and microglia to hypoxia/ischemia. Initiation of the inflammatory response occurs with the expression of chemokines. We determined that monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and macrophage inflammatory protein 1alph (MIP-1a), which are upregulated in the brain early after a stroke, induce migration of HUCB cells to the site of injury. Neutralizing these chemokines with antibodies prevented migration in an in vitro migration assay. We next explored the interaction of the whole HUCB mononuclear cell fraction, as well as subpopulations from within the mononuclear fraction (T cell alone, B cell alone, and monocytes/macrophage alone) with cultures of enriched neurons, astrocytes or microglia exposed to hypoxia in an oxygen, glucose deprivation paradigm. We showed that HUCB cells increased the cell viability of neurons and astrocytes, while decreasing cell viability of microglia. There was also a change in the cytokine secretion profile from the cells exposed to HUCB cells under hypoxic conditions. These results suggested that chemokines, MCP-1 and MIP-1a increased in stroked brain, and they played an important role in recruitment of HUCB into the CNS after intravenous administration. Once inside the brain, HUCB could suppress the immune response by promoting microglial death and modulating the function of astrocytes. In addition, HUCB cells provide neuron protection against the injury caused by stroke. However, it is unlikely to contribute the effect of HUCB to a single population of HUCB.

<p>Technologies in image acquisition have developed and often provide image volumes in more than two dimensions. Computer tomography and magnet resonance imaging provide image volumes in three spatial dimensions. The image enhancement methods have developed as well and in this thesis work 3D image enhancement with filter networks is evaluated.</p><p>The aims of this work are; to find a method which makes the initial parameter settings in the 3D image enhancement processing easier, to compare 2D and 3D processed image volumes visualized with different visualization techniques and to give an illustration of the benefits with 3D image enhancement processing visualized using these techniques.</p><p>The results of this work are;</p><p>1. a parameter setting tool that makes the initial parameter setting much easier and</p><p>2. an evaluation of 3D image enhancement with filter networks that shows a significant enhanced image quality in 3D processed image volumes with a high noise level compared to the 2D processed volumes. These results are shown in slices, MIP and volume rendering. The differences are even more pronounced if the volume is presented in a different projection than the volume is 2D processed in.</p>

Nature has always served as a model for mimicking and inspiration to humans in their efforts to improve their life. Researchers have been inspired by nature to produce biomimetic materials with molecular recognition properties by design rather than evolution. Molecular imprinting is one way to prepare such materials. Such smart materials with new functionalities are at the forefront of the development of a relevant number of ongoing and perspective applications ranging from consumer to space industry. Molecularly imprinted polymers were developed by mimicking the natural enzymes or antibodies that serve as host for binding target molecules. These imprints were used as a recognition element to substitute natural biomolecules in biosensors. The concept behind molecular imprinting is to mold a material (with the desired chemical properties) around individual molecules. Upon removal of the molecular templates, one is left with regions in the molded material that fit the shape of the template molecules. Thus, molecular imprinting results in materials that can selectively bind to molecules of interest. Imprinted materials resulted in applications ranging from chemical separation to bioanalytics. In this work attempts were made particularly in the development of molecularly imprinted polymer based thermometric sensors. The main effort was focused towards the development of an covalently imprinted polymer that would be able to selectively bind fructosyl valine (Fru-Val), the N-terminal constituent of hemoglobin A1c ß-chains. Taking into account the known advantages of imprinted polymers, e.g. robustness, thermal and chemical stability, imprinted materials were successfully used as a recognition element in the sensor. One of the serious problems associated with the development of MIP sensors and which lies in the absence of a generic procedure for the transformation of the polymer-template binding event into a detectable signal has been addressed by developing the "thermometric" approach. In general the developed approach gives a new insight on MIP/Analyte interactions. / In dem Bestreben, ihr eigenes Leben zu verbessern, haben die Menschen stets die Natur nachgeahmt und sich von ihr inspirieren lassen. Die Natur hat Forscher zur Erzeugung smarter biomimetischer Stoffe mit molekularen Erkennungseigenschaften nach dem Vorbild der Evolution inspiriert. Eine der Methoden zur Herstellung solcher Substanzen ist das molekulare Prägen. Smarte Materialien mit neuen Eigenschaften stehen an der Spitze der Entwicklung potentieller Anwendungen vom Verbraucher bis hin zur Raumfahrtindustrie. Durch Nachahmung von natürlichen Enzymen oder Antikörpern wurden molekular geprägte Polymere (MIPs) entwickelt, die der Bindung von Zielmolekülen dienen. Diese geprägten Polymere (imprints) wurden anstelle von Biomolekülen als Erkennungselemente in Biosensoren eingesetzt. Das Konzept, das dem molekularen Prägen zugrunde liegt, besteht in der Formung eines Polymers (mit den entsprechenden chemischen Eigenschaften) um einzelne Zielmoleküle herum. Nach Entfernen dieser molekularen Template bleiben Abdrücke im Polymer übrig, die der Form der Templatmoleküle entsprechen. Mit Hilfe des molekularen Prägens kann man also Stoffe herstellen, die sich selektiv an bestimmte Moleküle binden können. Geprägte Polymere finden breite Anwendung, etwa in chemischen Aufreinigungsprozessen und der Bioanalytik. Hauptanliegen der vorliegenden Arbeit war es, thermometrische Sensoren auf der Basis molekular geprägter Polymere zu entwickeln. Die Anstrengungen richteten sich vor allem auf die Entwicklung eines kovalent geprägten Polymers, das in der Lage ist, selektiv Fruktosyl-Valin (Fru-Val), den N-terminalen Bereich von Hämoglobin A1c, zu binden. Aufgrund der bekannten Vorzüge geprägter Polymere – z. B. Robustheit und thermische und chemische Stabilität – wurden geprägte Polymere erfolgreich als Erkennungselement im Sensor angewendet. Eine der größten Herausforderungen bei der Entwicklung von MIP-Sensoren, das Fehlen eines generischen Verfahrens zur Umwandlung der Bindungsreaktion in ein nachweisbares Signal, wurde mit der Entwicklung der thermometrischen Methode in Angriff genommen. Diese Methode führt allgemein zu neuen Einsichten in die Interaktionen zwischen MIP und Analyt.

The aim of this study was to develop methods for sample preparation for 8-OHdG in blood plasma samples with different solid phase extraction techniques using HPLC with an elec- trochemical detector. The solid phase extraction cartridges used were Chromabond® C18, Oasis® MAX, and three types of SupelMIPTM cartridges for chloramphenicol, riboflavin, and nitroimidazoles. The SupelMIPTM cartridges are based on molecularly imprinted polymers- technique. The separation of 8-OHdG in samples extracted from blood plasma was carried out with a Thermo Quest Hypersil Division ODS column (250 mm × 4 mm, 3μm I.D.) and methanol:buffer (10:90, v/v) as mobile phase. Recovery and selectivity was studied for the different solid phase extraction methods. The highest recovery was obtained using the Chromabond C18 cartridge with a recovery of 92%, and CV coefficient 9.5% (n = 4). 8-OHdG could not be extracted on MIP-cartridges for chloramphenicol or riboflavin, but was retained on MIP columns for nitroimidazoles, and the highest recovery was 49%.