The PhD thesis deals with determination of sulfonamides and tetracyclines in waste waters. Sulphonamides and tetracyclines are widely used in human and veterinary medicine. They are biologically active compounds and block biological processes in waste water treatment plants. These substances can influence microorganisms in the environment. Sulphonamides and tetracyclines induce resistance in low concentrations. These substances penetrate into the environment from industrial production, use in households, hospitals, veterinary clinics and fish farms. Tetracyclines and sulphonamides were determined in waste water from waste water treatment plants in Brno. Optimalization of extraction of these compounds was performed by solid phase extraction. Sulphonamides and tetracyclines were determined by liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detector or coupled with mass spectrometry. Optimalized method was used for determination tetracyclines and sulphonamides in waste water from waste water treatment plants in Brno in years 2007 – 2010.

Speciační analýza arsenu v různých matricích s využitím HPLC/ICPMS byla předmětem této práce. Toxicita arsenu závisí na oxidačním stavu a formě, ve které je přítomen. Znalost zastoupení specií arsenu je nutná k hodnocení toxicity a biodostupnosti. Obecně, anorganické specie jsou více toxické než organické. V práci byla studována degradace arsenocukrů v mořských řasách za simulovaných přirodních podmínek. Původní arsenocukry byly transformovány na arseničnan a kyselinu dimethylarseničnou. Arsen vstupuje do rostlin z půdy a vody a následně může vstoupit do potravního řetězce. S ohledem na tuto skutečnost byla speciační analýza provedena u vybraných vzorcích rýže, zakoupených v české obchodní síti. Stanovený celkový obsah arsenu se pohyboval v rozmezí 36.06 µg/kg - 218.11 µg/kg a hlavními speciemi byla kyselina dimethylarseničná a anorganický arsen (54-78%). Mořské ryby a tuky obsahují významnou část arsenu ve formě zvané arsenolipidy. Část práce byla zaměřena na analýzu arsenolipidů u máslové ryby (Lepidocybium flavobrunnrum) s celkovým obsahem arsenu 1.8 mg/kg a 22% celkového arsenu bylo vyextrahováno pomocí hexanu, což potvrzuje lipofilni charakter těchto sloučenin. Hlavní specií stanovenou ve vodném extraktu byl arsenobetain, představující 89%.

The aim of this work was finding suitable conditions for separation of enantiomers of citalopram and citadiol, optimization of chromatographic system and validation of the analytical method for determination of selected enantiomers in drugs. Drugs are often chiral compounds. In many cases, only enantiomer has required pharmacological effects. Advanced chemical technologies associated with the synthesis, separation and analysis of the individual enantiomers caused an increase of the number of new chiral drugs in the form of single pure enantiomers, the chiral switch. Citalopram is one of the widely used antidepressants of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI). Citalopram is used for treatment of depression, panic anxienty or obsessive compulsive disorder of pathological laughing and crying. The pharmacological activity is associated with the S-citalopram, while R-enantiomer is essentially inactive and even counteracts the activity of escitalopram. Citadiol is a chiral syntetic precursor of citalopram. This thesis was focused on monitoring enantioseparation "behaviour" of selected enantiomers. HPLC method with chiral stationary phases based on macrocyclic antibiotics, cyclofructans and cellulose was applied for enantioseparation of the above-mentioned compounds. The optimized chromatographic...

Vitamin C är en populär ingrediens i hudvårdsprodukter, bland annat på grund av dess positiva effekter på kollagen-produktionen i huden och dess antioxidativa egenskaper. Dessvärre är vitamin C en känslig ingrediens som lätt bryts ned av ljus, syre, hög temperatur eller fel pH-värde. I dagsläget finns inga regleringar för kontroll av nedbrytning av aktiva ingredienser i kosmetiska produkter.  I den här studien har en metod utvecklats med omvänd-fas högupplösande vätskekromatografi (RP-HPLC) och detektor med ultraviolett (UV) ljus för att analysera halten C-vitamin i en kosmetisk testprodukt, hädanefter kallad OTP och en modifierad variant av denna, kallad MTP. En stabilitetstudie gjordes vid olika temperaturer och ljusförhållanden på dessa produkter. En jämförelse gjordes även mellan en högre och lägre syretillgång. I metoden som valdes för stabilitetsanalys använde UV-detektor (254 nm). Den kromatografiska kolonnen innehöll C-18-stationärfasoch hade en längd om - 250x4.6 mm, med 5 µm partikelstorlek, från Chrompack. Mobilfasen bestod av 20 mM lösning av ättiksyra i Milli Q-vatten och metanol i förhållandet 95:5 (v/v) och mobilfashastigheten 2 ml/min, vilket gav en retentionstid på ca 2.4 min för vitamin C. I MTP bröts vitamin C ned snabbare än i OTP. Den lägsta nedbrytningshastigheten kunde ses vid den lägsta temperaturen (4℃) och den lägre syretillgången av dem som studerades. Ett linjärt samband kunde ses mellan förvaringstiden och koncentrationen av vitamin C som fanns kvar i produkten vid detta förvaringsförhållande. / Vitamin C is a popular ingredient in skin care products, due to its positive effect on the collagen production and its antioxidative characteristics. Unfortunately, vitamin C is a sensitive ingredient that is easily degraded by light, oxygen, elevated temperatures, or the wrong pH-value. To today’s date, there are no regulations controlling the degradation of active ingredients in cosmetic products.  In this study, a method has been developed for Reversed Phase-Liquid Chromatography (RP-HPLC) and Ultra Violet (UV)-light detector to analyze the vitamin C content in a cosmetic test product, in this study called OTP and a modified variant of the same product, called MTP. A stability study was made at different temperatures and light conditions. A comparison was also made between higher or lower levels of oxygen present. The method chosen was performed at a wavelength of 254 nm. The column used contained a C-18 stationary phase (250x4.6 mm, 5 µm particle size) from Crompack. The mobile phase consisted of 20mM solution of acetic acid in Milli Q water and methanol 95:5 (v/v) and the flow rate was set to 2 ml/min, which gave a retention time of approximately 2.4 min for vitamin C. Vitamin C was degraded faster in MTP than in OTP. The lowest degradation rate was found at the lowest temperature (4℃) and the lower oxygen content among the ones studied. A linear relationship was found between storage time and the vitamin C concentration left in the product at this storage condition.

No description available.

Ethoxyquin is an antioxidant commonly used to preserve vitamins and lipids in various food products and animal feeds. The extraction and determination of ethoxyquin is becoming increasingly important as products, which are labeled as "natural" are becoming more common. The present method of determination only ensures that ethoxyquin values are below 10-20 parts per million. Therefore, advances are needed in methods of extraction and analysis in order to lower the detection limits in various products. The first part of this research investigates the use of supercritical fluids in the extraction of ethoxyquin from lean beef and beef fat. Supercritical fluids offer the advantages of safety, time, expense, and selectivity over liquid extractions. Three fluids were examined: carbon dioxide, trifluoromethane, and 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane. Carbon dioxide appeared to react with ethoxyquin during the extraction. Methanol modified hydrofluorocarbons provided more complete extractions over pure hydrofluorocarbon fluids. Methanol modified 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane was used in the extraction of ethoxyquin from lean beef and beef fat, and provided a quantitative extraction at the 0.5 ppm level. The second part of this research centered on the separation and quantitation of the oxidation products of ethoxyquin through the use of high pressure liquid chromatography with chemiluminescence nitrogen detection (HPLC/CLND). When ethoxyquin is oxidized, the resulting products also exhibit antioxidative properties. While these oxidation products are known, no effort has been made to separate and quantify them in real or clean samples. HPLC/CLND allows all nitrogen containing compounds to be quantified without a known standard. This method is of extreme interest in the case of ethoxyquin oxidation products, or other types of metabolites, where standards are difficult to obtain or are unstable. HPLC/CLND allowed a separation of ethoxyquin and four of its oxidation products to be detected, thus making future studies of the antioxidant behavior of ethoxyquin feasible. / Master of Science

[pt] Os metais e metaloides representam um problema global pela possibilidade de bioacumulação e biomagnificação ao longo de teias tróficas aquáticas. Os elasmobrânquios, grupo taxonômico que inclui as raias e tubarões, são vulneráveis à pesca e poluentes químicos. Poucos estudos avaliaram a presença e os efeitos de metais e metaloides nestes animais e estudos com amostragem não-letal são ainda escassos. Este estudo avaliou o potencial da bílis como biomarcador de contaminação recente em três espécies de elasmobrânquios ameaçados capturados artesanalmente na cidade do Rio de Janeiro, Gymnura altavela, Dasyatis hypostigma e Pseudobatos horkelii. As concentrações de metais e metaloides biliares foram determinadas por espectrometria de massa com plasma indutivamente acoplado (ICP-MS), as metalotioneínas por espectrometria UV-Vis e as associações entre metais intracelulares e metalotioneínas por cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência com separação por exclusão de tamanho acoplada a ICP-MS (SEC-HPLC-ICP-MS). No geral, Fe apresentou as maiores concentrações (máx. 194,8 mg L-1) e Sn as menores (máx. 0,004 mg L-1), quantificado em apenas cinco indivíduos do total estudado (107). Arsênio e cobre apresentaram maiores médias (10,9 e 5,2 mg L-1, respectivamente) nas amostras de bílis de raia viola, a única espécie capturada em Copacabana. Correlações estatísticas entre as concentrações de metalotioneínas, índices biomorfométricos e concentrações elementares nas frações das amostras de bílis indicam contaminação ambiental e potenciais efeitos sub letais no desenvolvimento e reprodução desses animais. Os resultados obtidos por SECHPLC-ICP-MS indicam diferenças metabólicas nas rotas de destoxificação das diferentes espécies. Conclui-se que o uso de bílis de elasmobrânquios é uma alternativa eficaz e que permite a amostragem não-letal para monitorar a contaminação ambiental recente por metais e metaloides. / [en] Metals and metalloids can represent a significant global issue, due to the potential for high bioaccumulation and biomagnification along aquatic food webs. Elasmobranchs, a taxonomic group that includes rays and sharks, are highly vulnerable to fishing activities and chemical pollutants. Few studies have investigated the presence and impacts of metals and metalloids in these animals, and studies with non-lethal sampling methods are still scarce. This study evaluated the potential of bile as a biomarker of recent contamination in three threatened species of elasmobranchs artisanally captured in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Gymnura altavela, Dasyatis hypostigma, and Pseudobatos horkelii. Biliary metal and metalloid concentrations were determined by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS), metallothioneins by UV-Vis spectrometry, and associations between intracellular metals and metallothioneins were investigated by Size Exclusion-High-Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled to ICP-MS (SEC-HPLC-ICP-MS). Overall, Fe presented the highest concentrations (0.7 more or less 0.1 mg L-1) and Sn the lowest (max. 0.004 mg L-1), quantified in only five individuals of the total studied (107). Arsenic and copper showed higher averages (10.9 and 5.2 mg L-1, respectively) in bile samples from Brazilian guitarfish, the only species caught in Copacabana. Statistical correlations among metallothionein concentrations, biometric indices, and elemental concentrations in bile fractions suggest environmental contamination and potential sublethal effects on the development and reproduction of these animals. Results obtained from SEC-HPLC-ICP-MS indicate metabolic differences in detoxification pathways among the various species. In conclusion, the utilization of elasmobranch bile is an effective alternative that allows non-lethal sampling for monitoring recent environmental contamination by metals and metalloids.

This thesi s is eoneerned with the deteetion of posttranslational modifieation of proteins. These proteins are identified using liquid ehromatography and eapillary eleetrophoresis, their eoupling and eoupling to mass speetrometry. The first part of the theoretieal ehapter is devoted to the strueture, classifieation and metabolits ehanges of proteins in the human body. Major attention is foeused on eollagen, its strueture and individual eollagen types. The seeond part eonsiders the problems of nonenzymatie glyeation and its influenee on the body and engage in produets of posttranslational modifieation. The third part summarizes the individual separation proeedures and analysis of posttranslationaly modified proteins. The seeond ehapter deseribes experimental parameters, including ehemieals, instrumentation, materials and methods. The preparation of individual samples is also deseribed. All results and findings are summarized and diseussed in the last ehapter. This ehapter is divided in two parts. The first part foeuses on problems of in vivo experiments. The seeond part foeuses on problems of in vitro experiments. Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)

Eine erhöhte Konzentration von Homocystein im Plasma (Hyperhomocysteinämie) gilt als unabhängiger Risikoindikator für neuronale und kardiovaskuläre Erkrankungen. Der Präcursor des Homocysteins, Methionin, ist eine essentielle Aminosäure, die bei Fehlernährung übermäßig verzehrt werden kann. Es wurde untersucht, ob tatsächlich durch langfristigen erhöhten Methioninverzehr via Erhöhung des Homocysteinspiegels im Plasma ein reales Gesundheitsrisiko besteht. Als Modell wurde eine Füttterungsstudie an Ratten gewählt, deren Bedingungen bezüglich Fütterungsdauer und Methioningehalt der Diät (0,4 % Methionin für 4 Wochen) an eine mögliche Fehlernährung des Menschen angepasst waren. Bei diesen Ratten war die Plasmahomocystein-Konzentration ca. 2-fach höher, als bei Ratten, die im gleichen Zeitraum eine "normale" Diät mit einem 3-4 fach niedrigeren Methioningehalt bekamen. Neben der Auswirkung der Diät auf den Homocystein-Stoffwechsel wurde geprüft, welche der in der Literatur dargestellten potentiellen Pathomechanismen für Hyperhomocysteinämie-induzierte Schäden Anwendung in diesem Modell finden. Obwohl die Konzentration von Homocystein im Plasma verändert war, wurde keine Beeinträchtigung der Gefäßfunktion gefunden. Auch die Plasmakonzentration von asymmetrischem Dimethylarginin, einem weiteren Risikoindikator für Herz-Kreislauf-Erkrankungen blieb unverändert, obwohl dieser Parameter bei Hyperhomocysteinämie oftmals erhöht ist. Eine Konzentrationsverdoppelung von Homocystein durch erhöhte alimentäre Methioninzufuhr ohne gleichzeitige Erhöhung von ADMA scheint also keine Verschlechterung der Gefäßfunktion bei Ratten zu bewirken. In diesem Punkt kann man von in anderen Modellen der Hyperhomocysteinämie gefundenen Resultaten keine Rückschlüsse auf die durch alimentäres Methionin verursachte Hyperhomocysteinämie ziehen. Andere Modelle zur Induktion einer Hyperhomocysteinämie ist Homocyst(e)in-Fütterung. In weiteren Rattenstudien wurden Effekte homocystin- und methioninreiche Diät verglichen. In diesen Studien zeigte sich, dass bei ähnlichen applizierten Dosen (tägliche Aufnahme ca. 1,0 bzw. 1,4 g/kg Körpergewicht) methionin- und homocystinreiche Diät bei Ratten zu vergleichbaren Plasma-Homocysteinspiegeln führen (methioninreich: 27,32 ± 2,80 µmol/l; homocystinreich: 40,61 ± 2,22 µmol/l). Als Vergleichsparameter zur Beurteilung pathophysiologischer Veränderungen diente zum einen der Gewebsgehalt an Homocystein, zum anderen wurden die intrazellulären Konzentrationen von S-Adenosyl-Methionin (SAM) und S-Adenosyl-Homocystein (SAH) betrachtet. Es zeigten sich besonders in Leber und Niere signifikante Unterschiede zwischen einer methioninreichen und einer homocystinreichen Diät bei Ratten. Dies ist eine mögliche Erklärung dafür, dass die bei vierwöchiger methioninreicher Diät gefundenen Ergebnisse nicht mit Literaturdaten übereinstimmen. Abschließend wurde der Frage nachgegangen, ob eine homocytinreiche Ernährung, wie in der vorherigen Studie angewandt, überhaupt möglich ist. Da zwar die Gehalte von Methionin in fast allen Lebensmitteln bekannt sind, nicht aber die von Homocystein, wurde untersucht, in welchen Konzentrationen Homocystein in Lebensmitteln enthalten ist. In Schwarzbier (0,03 mg/l), Weißbrot (0,95 mg/kg), Roquefort-Käse (0,50 mg/kg), Thunfisch (0,25 mg/kg) und Schweineleber (0,31 mg/kg) konnte Homocystein bestimmt werden. Da die Homocysteinkonzentrationen in diesen Beispiellebensmitteln mindestens um den Faktor 105 geringer waren als die Methioninkonzentrationen ist ein Einfluss von alimentärem Homocystein auf den Plasmaspiegel sehr unwahrscheinlich. Es wurde weiterhin geprüft, ob durch Darmbakterien ein Teil des alimentär aufgenommenen Methionins bereits im Dünndarm in Homocyt(e)in umgewandelt werden könnte. Dabei wurde eine vermehrte Homocysteinproduktion nach Methionin-Zugabe zu Dünndarmisolaten gefunden. Quantitativ kommt dieser Homocysteinquelle eine untergeordnete Bedeutung zu.

The concentration of triclosan in antiseptics, disinfectants and preservatives in products exceeds the minimal lethal levels. Extensive use of triclosan and antibiotics results in bacterial resistance to their active ingredients. The precise relationship between use and resistance, however, has been challenging to define. The aim of the study was to identify and determine antibiotic resistance profiles of triclosan tolerant heterotrophic plate count bacteria isolates from sewage influent and effluent. R2 agar supplemented with triclosan was utilised to isolate the triclosan resistant bacteria. To determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), organisms were incubated for 24 hours at selected concentrations of triclosan. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of the 16S rRNA region was done to identify isolates. An assay for cross resistance to various antibiotics was performed. Determination of enhanced resistance to antibiotics by adding antimicrobials to the medium will be performed by using three antibiotics. High performance liquid chromatography was conducted to quantified levels of triclosan persistent in sewage water. Forty-four isolates were resistant to levels of triclosan ranging from 0.25 mg/l to 0.5 mg/l. Minimum inhibitory concentration values of these isolates ranged from 0.125 mg/l to >1 mg/l of triclosan. 16S rDNA methods were used and five main genera namely, Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Enterococcus, Brevibacillus and Paenibacillus were identified. Cell wall targeting antibiotics showed more pronounced relation with the triclosan concentration. Relation to triclosan concentration is not as apparent with the antibiotic targeting protein synthesis. Combination of antimicrobials indicated that at certain triclosan concentrations synergism or antagonism is observed. The importance of applying the correct concentration and combination of antimicrobials is observed. Levels of triclosan were found throughout the sewage water. HPLC values indicated the presence of triclosan at post-grid removal and effluent of the WWTP. The triclosan concentrations decrease through the WWTP but small concentrations enter our water bodies. The presence of bacterial species that are resistant to high concentrations of triclosan and multiple antibiotics enter our natural water bodies and is cause for concern. / MSc (Environmental Sciences), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015