In recent years, mass spectrometry (MS) become the dominant technology in lipidomic analysis and widely influenced research and diagnosis of diseases of lipid metabolism, e.g. lysosomal storage disorders (LSD) characterized by impairment of the lysosomal functions. Defects in lysosomal processing of sphingolipids SFL belong to the category of sphingolipidoses. This condition has severe and even fatal clinical outcome. The primary aim of this work was to establish quantitative and qualitative methods of SFL analysis useful for research and diagnosis of LSD. At first, semisynthesis of mass labeled lipid standards utilizing immobilized sphingolipid ceramide N-deacylase was performed. Established methods of quantitative analysis were then used to prove the increased excretion of urinary SFL in LSD with characteristic storage in the kidney. Determination of excreted urinary SFL was found useful for differential diagnosis of prosaposin and saposin B deficiences for which routine enzymology is failing. MS also enabled monitoring of individual molecular species (isoforms) of SFL, which led to the finding that their urinary pattern is changing in some LSD. This resulted in the development of new screening method in dry urinary samples based on isoform profile evaluation. Another MS application referred to...

Pregnenolona (PREG) e 17-alfa-hidroxipregnenolona (17OHPREG) são dois esteroides produzidos pela glândula adrenal e precursores de vários hormônios esteroidais. A dosagem desses compostos tem aplicações clínicas, como o diagnóstico de doenças relacionadas aos corticoesteroides e mineralocorticóides e especialmente na avaliação da atividade da enzima 3-β-hidroxidesidrogenase que é decisiva no diagnóstico de um dos tipos de hiperplasia da glândula adrenal que causa defeitos severos na síntese de esteroides. Métodos cromatográficos associados à espectrometria de massas superaram a especificidade reduzida dos imunoensaios e tem sido crescentemente utilizados na quantificação de esteroides. Os últimos anos tem sido marcados pela hegemonia da cromatografia líquida acoplada à espectrometria de massas em tandem (LC-MS/MS) em grande parte devido à velocidade e possibilidade da análise direta de vários analitos. Porém, no caso específico dos esteroides de tipo 3-hidroxi-5-eno, que apresentam baixa afinidade protônica e, portanto, baixa eficiência de ionização, são necessárias muitas etapas para a conversão em derivados mais detectáveis. Embora desfavorecida em relação ao LC-MS/MS nos últimos anos, a cromatografia gasosa acoplada à espectrometria de massas (CG-MS) apresenta várias características favoráveis para a análise de esteroides como a eficiência cromatográfica ainda insuperável. Adicionalmente, a incorporação da espectrometria de massas em tandem ao CG (CG-MS/MS) torna a técnica tão seletiva quanto LC-MS/MS. No presente trabalho, foi desenvolvido um novo método que permite a extração e derivatização simultâneas da PREG e 17OHPREG de amostras de soro tornando o método de preparo da amostra tão simples quanto os descritos para LC-MS/MS. O método de detecção desenvolvido baseado em ionização química no modo negativo obteve a sensibilidade necessária para o diagnóstico da deficiência da enzima 3-beta-hidroxidesidrogenase utilizando apenas 250 &#181:L de amostra. / Pregnenolone (PREG) and 17α-hydroxypregnenolone (17OHPREG) are two steroid precursors produced by the adrenal gland. The quantification of these compounds is essential for the evaluation of 3-β-hidroxidesidrogenase enzyme activity, which promotes the conversion of PREG in 17OHPREG. The 3-&#946:-hidroxidesidrogenase deficiency is a rare but severe type of adrenal hyperplasia that causes serious defects in steroid synthesis. Chromatographic methods coupled to mass spectrometry overcame immunoassays limitations such as reduced specificity, and have been widely used for steroids quantification. Recent years have been marked by liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) hegemony due to the speed and possibility to analyze directly several analytes. However, in the case of type 3-hydroxy-5-ene steroids, which have low affinity for protons and, therefore, low ionization efficiency, many steps are required for conversion to detectable products. Notwithstanding, gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS) has some favorable features for steroid analysis such as unbeatable chromatographic efficiency. In addition, the incorporation of tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) makes it as selective as LC-MS/MS. In this study, a new method for simultaneous extraction and derivatization of PREG and 17OHPREG from serum was developed. This procedure makes sample preparation for GC-MS/MS as simples as those described for LC-MS/MS. The detection method based on negative mode chemical ionization achieved the sensitivity required for the diagnosis of 3-β-hidroxidesidrogenase defficiency using only 250 µL of sample.

The drug abuse has created several problems, moral, social and economical, and does not have borders of social class, educational and religious. The chemicaltoxicological analysis is an indispensable resource to confirm the exposure of humans to these drugs. Depending on the purpose of analysis, various biological matrices can be used. Nowadays, hair is being recognized as a third fundamental biological sample for drug testing besides urine and blood. The collection of hair samples is simple, noninvasive being difficult its adulteration. The techniques based on the miniaturization of extraction have gained an important role on the world stage in relation to conventional techniques. Among these techniques, stand out to solid phase microextraction (SPME) and liquid phase microextraction (LPME). In this work, a analytical method was developed for determination of 9- tetrahydrocannabinol (9-THC), cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabinol (CBN) in human hair by headspace solid-phase microextraction (SPME) and hollow fiber liquid-phase microextraction (HF-LPME) using gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry, operating in tandem mode (GC-MS/MS). Initially, in step sample preparation, a small mass of hair (10 mg) was decontaminated with petroleum ether (2 mL) for 10 minutes of ultrasound application (3 times) followed by alkaline digestion (NaOH 1 M). A univariate design was used for the determination the better condictions of the parameters of HS-SPME: pH (10), temperature (90 °C), mass of hair (10 mg), extraction time (40 min), desorption time (10 min), ionic strength (Na2CO3), saturation time (10 min) and fiber (PDMS). For HF-LPME a fractional factorial design was used in the screening of some variables of this technique followed by central composite design in the evaluation of optimal values of variables. The variables assessed and the optimum values of these were: extraction solvent (butyl acetate), donor phase pH (14), agitation speed (600 rpm), extraction time (20 min), ionic strength (6.8 % m/v) and acceptor phase volume (20 μL). The methods were submitted to the validation process showed good linearity with coefficient of determination (R2) above 0.994. Precision was determined using two different concentrations (upper and lower limits of the linear range) and RSD values were between 6.6 and 16.4 % for HS-SPME and 4.4-13.7% for HF-LPME. Absolute recoveries were in the range 1.1 to 8.7 % (HS-SPME) and 4.4 to 8.9 % (HF-LPME). The limits of detection and quantification ranged between 7-62 pg mg-1 and from 0.0005-0.020 ng mg-1 to HS-LPME and HF-LPME, respectively. The 9-THC showed values of limits of quantification for both methods below the cut-off (LQ ≤ 100 pg mg-1). Finally, the methods developed and validated were applied in determining CBD, 9-THC and CBN in hair samples of patients from a center of rehabilitation for drug addicts. The concentrations were in the range of LD-0.018 ng mg-1 for CBD, LD-232 pg mg-1 for 9-THC and 9-300 pg mg-1 for CBN show the applicability of the method in monitoring studies. The concentration of cannabinoids in the samples ranged from limit of detection to 18 pg mg-1 for CBD, limit of detection to 232 pg mg -1 for 9-THC and 9 to 300 pg mg-1 to CBN demonstrate the applicability of the method in monitoring studies. / O consumo de drogas de abuso tem criado diversos problemas de ordem moral, social e econômica, além de não possuir fronteiras de classes sociais, educacionais e religiosas. A análise químico-toxicológica é um recurso indispensável para confirmar a exposição de pessoas a essas drogas. Dependendo da finalidade da análise, diversas matrizes biológicas podem ser utilizadas. Atualmente, o cabelo é reconhecido como uma das principais amostras biológicas para determinação de drogas, ao lado da urina e do sangue. A coleta de amostras de cabelo é um processo simples, não invasivo, sendo difícil sua adulteração. As técnicas baseadas na minituarização de extração têm ganhado um papel importante no cenário mundial frente às técnicas convencionais. Entre essas técnicas destacam-se a microextração em fase sólida (SPME) e a microextração em fase líquida (LPME). No presente trabalho, um método analítico foi desenvolvido para determinação de 9-tetraidrocanabinol (9- THC), canabidiol (CBD) e canabinol (CBN) em cabelo humano por microextração em fase sólida no modo headspace (HS-SPME) e microextração em fase líquida por fibra oca (HF-LPME) por cromatografia em fase gasosa e espectrometria de massas operando no modo tandem (GC-MS/MS). Na etapa de preparação da amostra, uma pequena massa de cabelo (10 mg) foi descontaminada com éter de petróleo (2 mL) por 10 minutos em ultra-som (3X), seguida de digestão alcalina (NaOH 1 mol L-1). Um planejamento univariado foi utilizado para o estudo das condições ótimas dos parâmetros de HS-SPME, tendo sido deferidos: pH (10), temperatura (90 ºC); massa de cabelo (10 mg); tempo de extração (40 min); tempo de dessorção (10 min); força iônica (Na2CO3); tempo de saturação (10 min) e fibra (PDMS). Para HF-LPME um planejamento fatorial fracionário foi empregado na triagem de algumas variáveis desta técnica seguido pelo planejamento composto central na avaliação dos valores ótimos das variáveis escolhidas: solvente de extração (acetato de butila), pH da fase doadora (14), velocidade de agitação (600 rpm), tempo de extração (20 min), força iônica (6,8 % m/v) e volume da fase aceptora (20 μL). Os métodos foram submetidos ao processo de validação demonstrando boa linearidade, com coeficientes de determinação (R2) acima de 0,994. A precisão foi determinada a partir dos limites inferior e superior da faixa linear apresentando valores de RSD entre 6,6 e 16,4% para HS-SPME e 4,4-13,7 % para HF-LPME. Recuperações absolutas foram de 1,1 a 8,7 % (HS-SPME) e 4,4 a 8,9 % (HF-LPME). Os limites de detecção (LD) e quantificação (LQ) foram de 7 a 62 pg mg-1 e 0,5 a 20 pg mg-1 para HS-SPME e HFLPME, respectivamente. O 9-THC apresentou valores de limites de quantificação para os dois métodos abaixo do valor de cut-off (LQ ≤ 100 pg mg-1). Finalmente, os métodos desenvolvidos e validados foram aplicados na determinação de CBD, 9- THC e CBN em amostras de cabelo de pacientes de centro de reabilitação de dependentes químicos. As concentrações dos canabinóides nas amostras variaram do limite de detecção a 18 pg mg-1 para CBD, do limite de detecção a 232 pg mg-1 para 9-THC e 9-300 pg mg-1 para CBN, demonstram a aplicabilidade do método em estudos de monitorização.

A venlafaxina (VEN), em razão de sua eficácia e brandos efeitos adversos, tem sido um dos antidepressivos mais prescritos no tratamento da depressão e ansiedade. Neste trabalho, um método analítico empregando as técnicas MISPE miniaturizada e cromatografia líquida acoplada à espectrometria de massas em Tandem, foi utilizado para a determinação de VEN e seus principais metabólitos em amostras de plasma para fins de monitorização terapêutica. A fase MIP foi sintetizada via polimerização radicalar por precipitação, fazendo uso de VEN (molécula molde), ácido metacrílico (monômero funcional), etileno glicol dimetacrilato, (reagente reticulante) e 2,2 azobisisobutironitrila (iniciador radicalar) em tolueno (solvente). Para controle utilizou-se o polímero não impresso (NIP), sintetizado por procedimento análogo ao do MIP, porém sem o uso da molécula molde. A caracterização química e estrutural dos polímeros foi realizada por espectroscopia no infravermelho com transformada de fourier e microscopia eletrônica de varredura. A otimização das variáveis de MISPE miniaturizada favoreceu a detectabilidade analítica e diminuiu o efeito de memória. As extrações realizadas com MIP apresentaram taxa de recuperação de 84% para VEN e de 2-28% para os antidepressivos (clorpromazina, fluoxetina, clomipramina, imipramina e sertralina). O polímero não impresso apresentou baixa recuperação para a VEN (taxa de recuperação: 49%) e para os demais antidepressivos (taxas de recuperação menores que 40%). Estes experimentos comprovam a seletividade da fase MIP desenvolvida. O método padronizado apresentou linearidade na faixa de 3 a 700 ng mL-1 para VEN, 5 a 700 ng mL-1 para O-desmetilvenlafaxina (ODV) e de 3 a 500 ng mL-1 para N-desmetilvenlafaxina (NDV), precisão com coeficientes de variação menores que 15% e exatidão com valores de erro padrão relativo na faixa de -11,8 a 16,01 %. As concentrações correspondentes aos limites inferiores de quantificação para VEN (3 ng mL-1) e ODV ( 5 ng mL-1) foram inferiores aos intervalos terapêuticos preconizados. O método desenvolvido, quando comparado a aos métodos da literatura para determinação de VEN e metabolitos, apresentou maior seletividade, menor consumo de amostra e de solventes orgânicos e permitiu a reutilização da fase extratora. Segundo os parâmetros de validação analítica avaliados e amostras de pacientes em terapia com VEN analisadas, o método proposto é adequado para determinação de VEN, ODV e NDV em amostras de plasma para fins de monitorização terapêutica. / Venlafaxine elicits a small number of adverse effects, so it is one of the most frequently prescribed drugs to treat major depression, generalized anxiety, and social anxiety disorders in adults. In this study, venlafaxine (VEN), O-desmethylvenlafaxine (ODV), and N-desmethylvenlafaxine (NDV) were pre-concentrated with the aid of miniaturized SPE based on MIPs as extraction phase. MIPs are synthetic polymers with cavities specifically designed to hold a target molecule or structurally similar compounds. The molecularly imprinted polymers were prepared by addition of VEN, metacrylic acid (MAA, monomer), ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA, cross-linker), and 2,2-azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN, initiator) to toluene (solvent). The non-imprinted polymer (NIP), used for comparison, was also synthesized by following exactly the same procedure, but excluding the template VEN from the formulation. The polymer was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Optimization of the MIP phase extraction variables favored miniaturized analytical detectability and reduced the memory effect. The extractions performed with the synthesized MIP showed recovery rate of 84% for VEN and 2-28% for other antidepressants (chlorpromazine, fluoxetine, clomipramine, imipramine, and sertraline). The non-imprinted polymer provided low recovery of VEN (recovery rate: 49%) and other antidepressants (recovery rates lower than 40%). These experiments demonstrated the selectivity of the developed MIP phase. The standardized method was linear in the range of 300 - 700 ng mL-1 for VEN, 5-700 ng mL-1 for ODV, and 3 to 500 ng mL-1 for NDV. Precision had coefficients of variation smaller than 15%; the accuracy standard error values ranged from -11.8 to 16.01%. Compared with literature methods, the developed method was more selective for determination of VEN and metabolites, required lower consumption of sample and organic solvents, and enabled reuse of the extraction phase. According to the assessed analytical validation parameters and to the analysis of samples obtained from patients undergoing therapy with VEN, the proposed method is suitable to determine VEN, NDV, and ODV in plasma samples for therapeutic drug monitoring.

>Magister Scientiae - MSc / Subsistence farmers may contribute significantly to food production, food security, and employment in South Africa. However poor storage practices and contamination with mycotoxins, particularly fumonisins and aflatoxins impacts adversely on production, food safety and food security. Mycotoxins are toxic natural food-borne compounds which frequently contaminate agricultural produce worldwide. They are hazardous to humans and animals and result in significant production losses for farmers. This study focused on former Bantustans in Northern South Africa, namely Vhembe District Municipality (Limpopo) and Gert Sibande District Municipality (Mpumalanga). The aim was to assess mycological and mycotoxin contamination of crops grown by subsistence farmers. A semi-structured questionnaire was administered to randomly thirty-nine households. Data on demographics, storage practices and production during period of 2011 and 2012 cropping seasons were collected. One hundred and fifteen (115) crop samples (maize, beans and peanuts) were collected for analysis. Standard mycological methods and validated mycotoxin analysis methods (HPLC and LC- MS/MS) were used. It was found that maize was the staple food in both provinces, with a significant difference (p = 0.0184) in its production between the two districts; Vhembe produced 0.6 tonnes compared to 2.4 tonnes in Gert Sibande. The majority of the farmers for storage used traditional open wooden cribs (15/20) and steel tanks (5/20) while VDM farmers used sealed store houses 5/19 and 15/19 used polystyrene sacks. Aflatoxin occurrence was low with <1% of GSDM samples contaminated compared to 11% of VDM samples. No significant difference (p > 0.05) was observed in the aflatoxin contamination in VDM samples between the year 2011 and 2012. Samples from VDM households had higher Aspergillus fungal infection (maximum incidence 69%) compared to GSDM (27%) over both seasons. The most frequently isolated Fusarium species in VDM samples was F. verticillioides (92%; 93%), and F. subglutinans (97%; 80%) in GSDM samples over seasons 2011 and 2012, respectively. Highest levels of fumonisins (FB1+ FB2) ranged between 1010 μg/kg and 12168 μg/kg with less than 30% extremely contaminated above the regulated limit in 91% of samples from Limpopo over both seasons (2011 and 2012). Fumonisin levels between the two seasons in VDM showed no significant difference (p>0.05). Only three (less than 5%) from 68% GSDM contaminated maize samples were above the FB1 and FB2 limit. In 2011, there were two highly contaminated maize samples (1762 μg/kg and 4598 μg/kg) with the other samples less than 600 μg/kg, whereas in season two (2012) all samples were below 200 μg/kg, except one highly contaminated sample (26115 μg/kg). None of the beans and peanuts from Mpumalanga was contaminated with mycotoxins above the recommended limit, but from Limpopo 1/5 peanuts was found contaminated with aflatoxin G1 (41 μg/kg). Natural occurrence and contamination of both fumonisin and aflatoxin in stored home-grown maize from VDM was significantly (p < 0.0001) higher than GSDM over both seasons. In general, Limpopo farmers’ experience lower harvests and greater mycotoxin contamination of agricultural produce. This may be attributed in part to poor storage practices and environmental and climatic conditions in that agro-ecological zone.

Orientador: Isabel Cristina Sales Fontes Jardim / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Química / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-24T08:24:02Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Oshita_Daniele_D.pdf: 4645263 bytes, checksum: 6628dba7b8449d1cf1f86afa3dcae9e2 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013 / Resumo: Este trabalho envolve o desenvolvimento, a otimização e a validação de um método analítico para determinação de multirresíduos de agrotóxicos em amostras de morango, por cromatografia líquida acoplada à espectrometria de massas sequencial (LC-MS/MS). No preparo de amostra utilizou o método QuEChERS (quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged and safe), que foi testado nas três versões, Original, AOAC Official Method e European Committee for Standardization (CEN) Standard Method EN 15662, além da versão CEN 15662 modificada. Também foram otimizados os solventes de extração, massas do agente secante e, na etapa de clean-up por extração em fase sólida dispersiva (d-SPE), o sorvente comercial PSA (primary secondary amine), alguns preparados no laboratório à base de polímeros de siloxano, como octadecil, octil, amino, fenil, e a mistura PSA e octadecil. As avaliações dos métodos foram baseadas, principalmente, nos valores de recuperação e nos estudos sobre o uso de diferentes sorventes, outros parâmetros que estimam a eficiência do clean-up também foram utilizados, como aspecto físico do extrato final, quantidade de coextratos da matriz, obtida por medidas gravimétricas, e efeito matriz. O método desenvolvido foi validado por meio dos parâmetros analíticos de seletividade, limite de detecção (LOD), limite de quantificação (LOQ), linearidade, exatidão e precisão, conforme o guia Sanco para análises de resíduos de agrotóxicos em alimentos e, posteriormente, amostras comerciais de morango da região de Campinas foram analisadas. O método validado por LC-MS/MS apresentou-se seletivo, preciso, exato e atingiu concentrações abaixo dos respectivos limites máximos de resíduos (LMR) para determinação de agrotóxicos em morango. Este método foi transferido para cromatografia líquida de ultra eficiência (UHPLC), que mostrou redução no tempo de análise, na vazão da fase móvel (FM) e no volume de injeção de amostra e da FM, e similaridade na detectabilidade dos analitos / Abstract: This work involves the development, optimization and validation of an analytical method for multiresidue determination of pesticides in strawberry samples by liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Sample preparation used the QuEChERS (quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged and safe) method, which was tested in three versions, Original, AOAC Official Method and European Committee for Standardization (CEN) Standard Method EN 15662, and also CEN 15662 modified version. The factores optimized were extraction solvents, amount of drying agent and in the clean-up step by dispersive solid phase extraction (d-SPE), the commercial sorbent PSA (primary secondary amine), several prepared in the laboratory based on siloxane polymers, such as octadecyl, octyl, amine, phenyl, and the mixture PSA and octadecyl. The evaluation of the methods was based mainly on the recovery values and for the study of different sorbents, other parameters that estimate the efficiency of the clean-up were also used such as the physical aspect of the final extract, the amount of interference matrix obtained using gravimetric measurements, and the matrix effect. The developed method was validated by the analytical parameters of selectivity, limit of detection (LOD), limit of quantification (LOQ), linearity, accuracy and precision, as described in the Sanco guide for analysis of pesticide residues in foods. After, commercial strawberry samples from the Campinas region were analyzed. The validated method by LC-MS/MS was selective, precise, accurate and reached levels below the respective maximum residue limits (MRLs) for the determination of pesticides in strawberries. This method was transferred to ultra high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC), which showed a reduction in analysis time, the mobile phase (MP) flow rate and the injection volume of the sample and MP, and similarity in the detectability of the analytes / Doutorado / Quimica Analitica / Doutora em Ciências

Per- and polyfluorinated substances (PFAS) are compounds that consist of a carbon chainbackbone that is partially or entirely fluorinated, with an addition of a functional group. SomePFAS are known as persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and have therefore been drawing a lot ofattention as well as increased concerns. PFAS have been detected in humans, wildlife and theenvironment and some have exhibited toxic effects such as hepatotoxicity, immunotoxicity,reproductive toxicity and endocrine disruption as well as being persistent and bioaccumulative.Serum, plasma and whole blood have been used as biomonitoring matrices in many studies toevaluate human exposure to PFAS. Restrictions have been applied to some PFAS, but thesecompounds are still ubiquitous. This study will investigate the performance (recovery, matrixeffect (ME) in terms of intra-/inter-day repeatability) of ion-pair extraction (IPE) and solid phaseextraction with weak anion exchange (SPE-WAX). The extraction methods were adapted fromliterature and 13 PFAS were selected for this work based on prior biomonitoring studies. Thetarget PFAS content was analyzed with liquid chromatography coupled with tandem massspectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The extraction methods were also compared for extractableorganofluorine (EOF) extraction in terms of blank levels as well as the amount extracted withdifferent methods; the EOF content was measured with combustion ion chromatography (CIC).The EOF levels were used to estimate the amount of unidentified organofluorine (UOF), to avoidunderestimating potential health hazards. Samples extracted using IPE had an average ionizationenhancement of 9%, while SPE-WAX showed an average ionization suppression of -1%. SPEWAXshowed higher average recoveries for procedural blanks (78%), horse serum (96%) andhuman serum (95%) in comparison to IPE (69%, 36%, 88%, respectively). The CIC analysis forEOF content was observed to be below MDL (&lt;50 ng/mL F) with some contaminations observedin the procedural blanks.

Pharmaceuticals are biological active compounds with different functional groups, physico-chemical and biological properties. These chemical compounds are called as “new contaminants” which cumulate in various environmental components. These contaminants input to environment from industrial processes, hospitals and health care institutions or household sources and these pollutants can to negatively interact with environmental components. Pharmaceuticals are separated according to structure and their effects to live organisms. On the basis of drug consumption in Czech Republic the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are the most using pharmaceuticals, because these drugs can be obtain without prescriptions. The choosing analgesics for study were monitored in waste water from waste waters treatment plant (WWTP Brno – Modřice) and in surface water from two sampling sites of river Kretinka. Pharmaceuticals were monitored in surface waters in Czech Republic, in Scotland (river Thurso) and in Taiwan (river Erren, Agongdian, Yanshuei and canal of Tainan) Solid phase extraction (SPE) is used for extraction of study pharmaceutical from water system. The high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with diode array detection or mass spectrometry was used for determination of drugs in surface waters from Czech Republic. The water samples from Scotland and Taiwan were analysed and the high performance liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry (HPLC/MS) was used for determination of pharmaceuticals. The method of HPLC/MS enables the determination of study compounds in the very low range of concentrations (ng ? l-1). All monitored pharmaceuticals were identified and quantified in water samples from river Kretinka in Czech Republic, river Thurso (Scotland) and rivers Erren, Agongdian, Yanshuei and canal of Tainan in Taiwan and the obtained data were compared.

This work is focused on the study of penetration of pesticides and pharmaceuticals in the aquatic environment. The aim was to develop and verify the optimal method for long-term monitoring of the occurrence of selected pesticides and pharmaceuticals in surface waters. Two frequently used analgesics ibuprofen and diclofenac, and carbamazepine that is used to treat epilepsy, were chosen from the group of drugs. A group of 41 pesticides were selected for monitoring too. The attention was focused on a group of urea pesticides and phenoxyacetic acids, as well as on selected pesticides falling to the group of priority substances or identified as environmental quality standards. Some of pesticides were selected because their consumption in the Czech Republic exceeds 30 tons a year. Liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC / MS / MS) was used for the determination of selected analytes in surface waters. Two optimized analytical method were developed. Ten analytes were determined in negative ion mode and 34 analytes in positive ion mode. Solid phase extraction (SPE) was used for purification and concentration of the samples. Developed methodology was validated and used for monitoring of selected compounds in samples of surface waters from the Morava River basin. Samples were collected on the rivers Morava and Svratka monthly for two years. Samples from the river Blata and stream Nivnička were collected for one year. Surface water samples were also collected from the river Litava. Four samples were taken throughout the length of the flow during one day. Smaller streams were chosen for monitoring because of the probability of occurrence of pesticides. They flow abundantly agriculturally cultivated areas. Drugs ibuprofen and diclofenac were detected in all taken samples, carbamazepine mostly. Among the most commonly occurring pesticides were bentazon, diuron, isoproturon, carbendazim, MCPA, MCPP, propiconazole, tebuconazole and 2,4-D.

In the first part of this doctoral thesis, a new analytical HPLC-MS/MS method for monitoring of concentration changes of 17β-estradiol (βE2) during in vitro mouse sperm capacitation was developed. Capacitation was performed for three initial concentrations of βE2 (200, 20 and 2 μg/L). For all the concentrations a similar trend for the total unbound βE2 was observed. In general, the βE2 concentration decreased to reach its minimum and then increased again. The position of the minimum differed for the individual tested βE2 concentrations. Experimentally obtained results were subjected to the kinetic analysis. The curves fitted through the experimentally determined points displayed an autocatalytic character. For the agreement between the curves obtained by fitting through the experimental points and the theoretical calculated curves, it is necessary to assume that the first step is adsorption of βE2 onto the surface of the sperm controlled by Langmuir isotherm. The kinetic study was also used to study the effects of fluorides and aluminium fluoride complexes on the capacitation of mouse sperm. The experimental points were in very good agreement with the shape of the theoretical curves and this fact verifies the mechanism of the mouse sperm capacitation kinetics. In the second part of this work, two...