Thesis (MScMedSc (Pathology. Medical Microbiology))--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / The genus Mycobacterium is a group of acid–fast, aerobic, slow- growing organisms which include more than 90 different species. A member of this genus, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, belonging to the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTB), is the causative agent of tuberculosis (TB). This disease is currently considered a global emergency, with more than 2 million deaths and over 8 million new cases annually. TB is the world’s second most common cause of death after HIV/AIDS. About one-third of the world’s population is estimated to be infected with TB. This catastrophic situation is further compounded by the emergence of Multi Drug Resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) and in more recent times, Extensive Drug Resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB). Early diagnosis is critical to the successful management of patients as it allows informed use of chemotherapy. Also, early diagnosis is also of great importance if the menace of MDR-TB and XDR-TB is to be curbed and controlled. As MTB is highly infectious for humans, it is of paramount importance that TB be diagnosed as early as possible to stop the spread of the disease. Traditional conventional laboratory procedures involving microscopy, culture and sensitivity tests may require turnaround times of 3-4 weeks or longer. Tremendous technological advancement over the years such as the advent of automated liquid culture systems like the BACTEC® 960 and the MGITTM Tube system, and the development of a myriad of molecular techniques most of which involves nucleic acid amplification (NAA) for the rapid identification of mycobacterial isolates from cultures or even directly from clinical specimens have contributed immensely to the early diagnosis of tuberculosis. Most of these NAA tests are nevertheless fraught with various limitations, thus the search for a rapid, sensitive and specific way of diagnosing tuberculosis is still an active area of research. The search has expanded to areas that would otherwise not have been considered ‘conventional’ in diagnostic mycobacteriology. One of such areas is mass spectrometry. This study joins the relatively few studies of its kind encountered in available literature to establish the ground work for the application of mass spectrometry, specifically Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-ToF MS) in the field of diagnostic mycobacteriology. This is an area which is in need of the speed, sensitivity and specificity that MALDI-ToF technique promises to offer. Since this technology is still in its infancy, the use of utmost care in the preparation of reagents, and the handling and storage of the organisms used to generate reference mass spectra for the database cannot be overemphasized. Similarly, the optimization of certain crucial experimental factors such as inactivating method and choice of matrix is of paramount importance. The main aim of this thesis was to generate a database of reference mass spectra fingerprints of selected (repository) Mycobacterium species. This necessitated the standardization of an experimental protocol which ensured that experimental factors and the various instrument parameters were optimized for maximum spectra generation and reproducibility. A standard operating procedure (SOP) for generating the database of reference mass spectra finger print of selected Mycobacterium species was developed and used to investigate the ability of the database to differentiate between species belonging to the same clinical disease complex as well as the nontuberculosis complex. The findings of this study imply that if the defined protocol is followed, the database generated has the potential to routinely identify and differentiate (under experimental conditions) more species of Mycobacterium than is currently practical using PCR and its related techniques. It is therefore a realistic expectation that when the database is clinically validated and tested in the next phase of the study, it will contribute immensely to the diagnosis of tuberculosis and other mycobacterioses. It will also aid in the identification of emerging pathogens particularly amongst the non-tuberculous mycobacteria.

Grande parte do desenvolvimento científico nas análises em alimentos está relacionado à identificação e quantificação de resíduos de drogas veterinárias e contaminantes ambientais em matéria-prima. Dentre as substâncias mais amplamente estudadas como resíduos em alimentos estão os praguicidas. Cada vez mais as legislações e normas reguladoras buscam garantir que os alimentos levados aos consumidores estejam apropriados à ingestão, diminuindo o risco negligenciável à saúde, através da exigência de níveis cada vez menores dos limites máximos de resíduo, e muitas vezes, banindo diversas substâncias com altos e médios graus de toxicidade. Para tal, tem sendo intensificado o desenvolvimento de métodos precisos, exatos, robustos e baratos para a identificação e quantificação de praguicidas, de forma que tanto os órgãos públicos como as empresas privadas possam realizar o monitoramento dos alimentos oferecidos pelos produtores e fornecedores, e assim identificar possíveis fontes de exposição à substâncias que levem risco através da ingestão diária. Os indivíduos que apresentam maior suscetibilidade aos efeitos nocivos causados pela presença de praguicidas em níveis tóxicos nos alimentos são crianças e idosos, o que exige cuidados e limites ainda mais rígidos. Para garantir que os alimentos infantis fornecidos no mercado se mantenham dentro das condições adequadas para a ingestão, a sua produção deve ser controlada e monitorada. O presente trabalho visa avaliar a presença de praguicidas em Solanum tuberosum (batata), Daucus carota (cenoura) e Arracacia xanthorrhiza (mandioquinha) destinadas para a produção de baby-food e produtos similares, cultivados na área de São José do Rio Pardo, no estado de São Paulo, e disponíveis no varejo da cidade de São Paulo, através da técnica QuEChERS e identificação e quantificação por LC-MS/MS. Através da otimização dos parâmetros de espectrometria de massas e validação do método de extração QuEChERS para 216 compostos, foram identificados quais praguicidas possuíam a capacidade de serem detectados e quantificados com a performance adequada por cromatografia líquida acoplada a espectrometria de massas em tandem nas commodities estudadas. Amostras de batata, cenoura e mandioquinha de fornecedores da área de São José do Rio Pardo e fontes de varejo da cidade de São Paulo foram analisadas para identificar a presença dos analitos validados. Para as amostras investigadas, somente a commodity cenoura apresentou praguicidas quantificados acima do valor da Capacidade de Detecção (CCβ), sendo eles o Linurom, o Tebuconazol e o Triciclazol. Realizada a Avaliação de Risco, verificou-se que a exposição aos praguicidas nas commodities, mesmo nos casos de maior concentração, não era evidenciada como um risco, tendo em vista que os mesmos obtiveram resultados de 0,25% (Linurom), 0,1% (Tebuconazol) e 0,03% (Triciclazol) dos valores de suas Ingestões Diárias Aceitáveis (IDA). / Great part of the scientific development on food analysis is related to the identification and quantification of veterinary drugs and environmental contaminants residues in raw materials. Among the most studied residue substances in food are the pesticides compounds. Increasingly, legislations and regulatory standards seek to ensure that the food served to consumers are appropriate to the intake, reducing a negligible health risk, by requiring each time lower maximum residue levels, and often banning various substances with high and medium levels of toxicity. With this purpose, the development of accurate, robust and cheap methods has been intensified for the identification and quantification of pesticides, so that both public bodies and private companies are able to carry out the monitoring of food and feed offered by the producers and suppliers, and by doing so, identify possible sources of exposure to substances that lead to risk by daily intake. The individuals who are more susceptible to adverse effects caused by the presence of pesticides in toxic levels in food are children and the elderly, and because of this fact, the requirement for extensive care and limits even stricter is higher. In the attempt to ensure that children\'s food and feed market supplies fall within the right conditions for ingestion, its production should be controlled and monitored. The present study aims to evaluate the presence of pesticides in Solanum tuberosum (potato), Daucus carota (carrot) and Arracacia xanthorrhiza (mandioquinha) in samples grown in the area of São José do Rio Pardo, in the State of São Paulo, and directed to baby-food and similar products production, and in samples available at the market retail in the city of São Paulo, through the QuEChERS technique, and identification and quantification by LC-MS/MS. The pesticides molecules which had the ability to be detected and quantified with adequated performance by liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry in the studied commodities were identified by optimizing the mass spectrometer parameters and validating the QuEChERS extraction method of 216 compounds. Potato, carrot and mandioquinha samples, provided by suppliers in the area of Sao Jose do Rio Pardo and retail sources from São Paulo, were analyzed for the presence of the validated pesticides. Among the investigated samples, only the carrot commodity presented quantified pesticides above the value of Detection Capability (CCβ), namely Linuron, the Tebuconazole and Tricyclazole. Held the chemical risk assessment, it was found that the exposure to pesticides by the commodities, even in cases of higher concentrations, was not shown as a risk, given that they achieved results of 0.25% (Linuron), 0, 1% (Tebuconazole) and 0.03% (Tricyclazole) of the Acceptable Daily Intakes (ADI) values.

Grande parte do desenvolvimento científico nas análises em alimentos está relacionado à identificação e quantificação de resíduos de drogas veterinárias e contaminantes ambientais em matéria-prima. Dentre as substâncias mais amplamente estudadas como resíduos em alimentos estão os praguicidas. Cada vez mais as legislações e normas reguladoras buscam garantir que os alimentos levados aos consumidores estejam apropriados à ingestão, diminuindo o risco negligenciável à saúde, através da exigência de níveis cada vez menores dos limites máximos de resíduo, e muitas vezes, banindo diversas substâncias com altos e médios graus de toxicidade. Para tal, tem sendo intensificado o desenvolvimento de métodos precisos, exatos, robustos e baratos para a identificação e quantificação de praguicidas, de forma que tanto os órgãos públicos como as empresas privadas possam realizar o monitoramento dos alimentos oferecidos pelos produtores e fornecedores, e assim identificar possíveis fontes de exposição à substâncias que levem risco através da ingestão diária. Os indivíduos que apresentam maior suscetibilidade aos efeitos nocivos causados pela presença de praguicidas em níveis tóxicos nos alimentos são crianças e idosos, o que exige cuidados e limites ainda mais rígidos. Para garantir que os alimentos infantis fornecidos no mercado se mantenham dentro das condições adequadas para a ingestão, a sua produção deve ser controlada e monitorada. O presente trabalho visa avaliar a presença de praguicidas em Solanum tuberosum (batata), Daucus carota (cenoura) e Arracacia xanthorrhiza (mandioquinha) destinadas para a produção de baby-food e produtos similares, cultivados na área de São José do Rio Pardo, no estado de São Paulo, e disponíveis no varejo da cidade de São Paulo, através da técnica QuEChERS e identificação e quantificação por LC-MS/MS. Através da otimização dos parâmetros de espectrometria de massas e validação do método de extração QuEChERS para 216 compostos, foram identificados quais praguicidas possuíam a capacidade de serem detectados e quantificados com a performance adequada por cromatografia líquida acoplada a espectrometria de massas em tandem nas commodities estudadas. Amostras de batata, cenoura e mandioquinha de fornecedores da área de São José do Rio Pardo e fontes de varejo da cidade de São Paulo foram analisadas para identificar a presença dos analitos validados. Para as amostras investigadas, somente a commodity cenoura apresentou praguicidas quantificados acima do valor da Capacidade de Detecção (CCβ), sendo eles o Linurom, o Tebuconazol e o Triciclazol. Realizada a Avaliação de Risco, verificou-se que a exposição aos praguicidas nas commodities, mesmo nos casos de maior concentração, não era evidenciada como um risco, tendo em vista que os mesmos obtiveram resultados de 0,25% (Linurom), 0,1% (Tebuconazol) e 0,03% (Triciclazol) dos valores de suas Ingestões Diárias Aceitáveis (IDA). / Great part of the scientific development on food analysis is related to the identification and quantification of veterinary drugs and environmental contaminants residues in raw materials. Among the most studied residue substances in food are the pesticides compounds. Increasingly, legislations and regulatory standards seek to ensure that the food served to consumers are appropriate to the intake, reducing a negligible health risk, by requiring each time lower maximum residue levels, and often banning various substances with high and medium levels of toxicity. With this purpose, the development of accurate, robust and cheap methods has been intensified for the identification and quantification of pesticides, so that both public bodies and private companies are able to carry out the monitoring of food and feed offered by the producers and suppliers, and by doing so, identify possible sources of exposure to substances that lead to risk by daily intake. The individuals who are more susceptible to adverse effects caused by the presence of pesticides in toxic levels in food are children and the elderly, and because of this fact, the requirement for extensive care and limits even stricter is higher. In the attempt to ensure that children\'s food and feed market supplies fall within the right conditions for ingestion, its production should be controlled and monitored. The present study aims to evaluate the presence of pesticides in Solanum tuberosum (potato), Daucus carota (carrot) and Arracacia xanthorrhiza (mandioquinha) in samples grown in the area of São José do Rio Pardo, in the State of São Paulo, and directed to baby-food and similar products production, and in samples available at the market retail in the city of São Paulo, through the QuEChERS technique, and identification and quantification by LC-MS/MS. The pesticides molecules which had the ability to be detected and quantified with adequated performance by liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry in the studied commodities were identified by optimizing the mass spectrometer parameters and validating the QuEChERS extraction method of 216 compounds. Potato, carrot and mandioquinha samples, provided by suppliers in the area of Sao Jose do Rio Pardo and retail sources from São Paulo, were analyzed for the presence of the validated pesticides. Among the investigated samples, only the carrot commodity presented quantified pesticides above the value of Detection Capability (CCβ), namely Linuron, the Tebuconazole and Tricyclazole. Held the chemical risk assessment, it was found that the exposure to pesticides by the commodities, even in cases of higher concentrations, was not shown as a risk, given that they achieved results of 0.25% (Linuron), 0, 1% (Tebuconazole) and 0.03% (Tricyclazole) of the Acceptable Daily Intakes (ADI) values.

Thesis (MSc.) (Physics) --University of Limpopo, 2007 / Molecular dynamics simulations have been carried out in order to examine the mechanism of diffusion of molecules in amorphous polymer matrix. PDMS model was folded in to a periodic cell, generated by rotational isomeric state (RIS) method at a prescribed temperature and density. Molecular dynamics was used to study transport properties of cyclic PDMS oligomers (hexa-methylcyclotrisiloxane (D3), octa-methylcyclotetrasiloxane (D4) and deca-methylcyclopentasiloxane (D5) using Dreiding and COMPASS force fields. Diffusion coefficients were calculated from the Einstein relation. Only D3 penetrant reached the long time limit from which the Einstein relation is satisfied. Analysis of displacement versus time for all the penetrants in PDMS matrix indicates that the penetrant motion is characterized by relatively long periods interspersed with fairly long and small jumps. Transport of solvent molecules occurs by jumps between individual sections of free volume (cavity/hole) through temporarily open channels. / The National Research Foundation (NRF) and Eskom

Streptococcus gordonii is a primary coloniser of the tooth surface where it efficiently ferments carbohydrates at pH levels above 6.0. By not being able to maintain the pH of dental plaque to a level required for enamel dissolution, the dominance of S. gordonii in dental plaque is considered a sign of a healthy oral cavity. However, upon entering the bloodstream and encountering a rise in pH, S. gordonii may become pathogenic, being one of the major causative organisms associated with infective endocarditis. Proteome analyses of S. gordonii grown at steady state in a chemostat allowed the phenotypic changes associated with alterations in pH levels characteristic of these two environments to be determined. As an initial starting point to this study, a two-dimensional electrophoresis (2- DE) reference map of S. gordonii grown at pH 7.0 was produced. Although only 50% of the S gordonii genome was available in an annotated form during the course of this study, the closely related Streptococcus pneumoniae genome (with which S. gordonii shares 97.24% DNA sequence homology) had been completed in 2001. The use of both of these databases allowed many of the S. gordonii proteins to be identified by mass spectrometry. Four hundred and seventy six protein spots, corresponding to 250 different proteins, or 12.5% of the S. gordonii proteome, were identified, giving rise to the first comprehensive proteome reference map of this oral bacterium. Of the 250 different proteins, 196 were of cellular origin while 68 were identified from the extracellular milieu. Only 14 proteins were common to both compartments. Of particular interest among the 54 uniquely identified extracellular proteins was a homologue of a peptidoglycan hydrolase that has been associated with virulence in S. pneumoniae. Among the other proteins identified were ones involved in transport and binding, energy metabolism, translation, transformation, stress response and virulence. Twelve cell envelope proteins were identified as well as 25 others that were predicted to have a membrane association based on the presence of at least one transmembrane domain. The study also confirmed the existence of 38 proteins previously designated as �hypothetical� or with no known function. Mass spectral data for over 1000 protein spots were accumulated and archived for future analysis when sequencing of the S. gordonii genome is finally completed. Following the mapping of the proteome of S. gordonii, alterations in protein spots associated with growth of the bacterium at pH intervals of 0.5 units in the pH range 5.5 - 7.5 were determined. Only 16 protein spots were shown to be significantly altered in their level of expression despite the range of pH studied. Among the differentially expressed proteins was a manganese-dependent inorganic pyrophosphatase (PpaC), which regulates expression of adhesins required for coaggregation. The expression of PpaC was highest at pH 6.5 - 7.0, the pH of a healthy oral cavity, indicating that PpaC may play an important part in dental plaque formation. Another differentially expressed protein was the heat-inducible transcription repressor (HrcA). Alterations in HrcA were consistent with its role as a negative repressor in regulating heat-shock proteins at low pH, even though no changes in the level of heat-shock proteins were observed as the pH declined. This result gave rise to the hypothesis that the possible reason cariogenic bacteria, such as Streptococcus mutans, can out compete S. gordonii at low pH might simply be due to their ability to manipulate their proteome in a complex manner for survival and persistence at low pH, unlike S. gordonii. This may imply some prevailing level of genetic regulation that is missing in S. gordonii.

Streptococcus gordonii is a primary coloniser of the tooth surface where it efficiently ferments carbohydrates at pH levels above 6.0. By not being able to maintain the pH of dental plaque to a level required for enamel dissolution, the dominance of S. gordonii in dental plaque is considered a sign of a healthy oral cavity. However, upon entering the bloodstream and encountering a rise in pH, S. gordonii may become pathogenic, being one of the major causative organisms associated with infective endocarditis. Proteome analyses of S. gordonii grown at steady state in a chemostat allowed the phenotypic changes associated with alterations in pH levels characteristic of these two environments to be determined. As an initial starting point to this study, a two-dimensional electrophoresis (2- DE) reference map of S. gordonii grown at pH 7.0 was produced. Although only 50% of the S gordonii genome was available in an annotated form during the course of this study, the closely related Streptococcus pneumoniae genome (with which S. gordonii shares 97.24% DNA sequence homology) had been completed in 2001. The use of both of these databases allowed many of the S. gordonii proteins to be identified by mass spectrometry. Four hundred and seventy six protein spots, corresponding to 250 different proteins, or 12.5% of the S. gordonii proteome, were identified, giving rise to the first comprehensive proteome reference map of this oral bacterium. Of the 250 different proteins, 196 were of cellular origin while 68 were identified from the extracellular milieu. Only 14 proteins were common to both compartments. Of particular interest among the 54 uniquely identified extracellular proteins was a homologue of a peptidoglycan hydrolase that has been associated with virulence in S. pneumoniae. Among the other proteins identified were ones involved in transport and binding, energy metabolism, translation, transformation, stress response and virulence. Twelve cell envelope proteins were identified as well as 25 others that were predicted to have a membrane association based on the presence of at least one transmembrane domain. The study also confirmed the existence of 38 proteins previously designated as �hypothetical� or with no known function. Mass spectral data for over 1000 protein spots were accumulated and archived for future analysis when sequencing of the S. gordonii genome is finally completed. Following the mapping of the proteome of S. gordonii, alterations in protein spots associated with growth of the bacterium at pH intervals of 0.5 units in the pH range 5.5 - 7.5 were determined. Only 16 protein spots were shown to be significantly altered in their level of expression despite the range of pH studied. Among the differentially expressed proteins was a manganese-dependent inorganic pyrophosphatase (PpaC), which regulates expression of adhesins required for coaggregation. The expression of PpaC was highest at pH 6.5 - 7.0, the pH of a healthy oral cavity, indicating that PpaC may play an important part in dental plaque formation. Another differentially expressed protein was the heat-inducible transcription repressor (HrcA). Alterations in HrcA were consistent with its role as a negative repressor in regulating heat-shock proteins at low pH, even though no changes in the level of heat-shock proteins were observed as the pH declined. This result gave rise to the hypothesis that the possible reason cariogenic bacteria, such as Streptococcus mutans, can out compete S. gordonii at low pH might simply be due to their ability to manipulate their proteome in a complex manner for survival and persistence at low pH, unlike S. gordonii. This may imply some prevailing level of genetic regulation that is missing in S. gordonii.

Orientador: Fabiana Ferreira de Souza / Resumo: Os objetivos deste estudo foram validar a sonda fluorescente (MitoStatus Red) para análise de potencial mitocondrial em espermatozoide de cães por citometria de fluxo, associada a análise de integridade de membrana plasmática e do acrossomo (experimento I). Além disso, foi conduzida análise proteômica (abordagem shotgun) do plasma seminal de cães, sua correlação com a congelabilidade do sêmen e capacidade de ligação das células espermáticas em membrana perivitelina da gema de ovo (TL) (experimento II). No experimento I foram utilizado 10 ejaculados, com motilidade espermática >75% e as concentrações de 20 nM, 50 nM, 100 nM e 200 nM da sonda MitoStatus Red foram comparadas na citometria de fluxo. Concluiu-se que 20 nM foi a concentração ideal, sem danos as estruturas celulares. No experimento II foram utilizados 10 animais, 2 ejaculados/animal (n = 20). Os ejaculados foram avaliados por cinética espermática, citometria de fluxo (potencial mitocondrial, integridade de membrana plasmática e de acrossomo) e TL. A análise proteômica do plasma seminal foi avaliada por espectrometria de massas. Os ejaculados foram divididos em 3 clusters (cluster Low, cluster Medium, cluster Hight) de acordo com os parâmetros espermáticos pré e pós-descongelação. Os grupos foram correlacionados com as proteínas encontradas no plasma seminal. Concluiu-se que existe relação entre presença ou ausência de proteínas do plasma seminal de acordo com a qualidade espermática. / Mestre

Orientador: Lucia Maria Valente Soares / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia de Alimentos / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-03T17:17:15Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Milanez_ThaisValeria_D.pdf: 2218554 bytes, checksum: 46e6ca6030ebca6708085a2033758933 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2003 / Resumo: Um bom número de espécies de fungos pode, sob condições especiais, produzir metabólitos secundários tóxicos conhecidos como micotoxinas. Cerca de 20 grupos de toxinas são conhecidos hoje, porém, algumas têm recebido atenção especial devido à sua toxicidade e ampla ocorrência natural: aflatoxinas, zearalenona, ocratoxina A, fumonisinas e tricotecenos. Os tricotecenos constituem um grupo de cerca de mais de uma centena de compostos caracterizados pela presença do sistema 12,13-epoxi-tricotec-9-eno em suas estruturas. A maior parte dos tricotecenos conhecidos foi isolada apenas em laboratório, porém, alguns deles foram obtidos e caracterizados como contaminantes naturais. Dentre estes podem ser citados o desoxinivalenol (DON), o nivalenol (NIV), a toxina T-2 (T2), o diacetoxiscirpenol (DAS) e menos freqüentemente os derivados 3-acetil-desoxinivalenol (3-Ac-DON) e 15-acetildesoxinivalenol (15-Ac-DON), a fusarenona-X (FX) e a toxina HT-2 (HT2). Entre todos, o DON é o de maior ocorrência em alimentos e rações animais, porém é também o menos tóxico. Apesar do milho (Zea Mays) ser um dos substratos mais susceptíveis a este tipo de contaminação, há poucos dados sobre o milho brasileiro. Brasil é o terceiro colocado quanto à produção mundial de milho, colhendo ao redor de 30 milhões de toneladas por ano e, portanto, um cereal com grande impacto na economia brasileira. Estes fatos apontam a necessidade de avaliar a extensão e o tipo de contaminação de tricotecenos em milho nacional. Por outro lado, a similaridade das estruturas químicas dos tricotecenos exige o uso de cromatografia com alto poder de resolução para sua separação como é como é o caso da cromatografia à gás. As diferentes toxicidades para os diversos membros do grupo requer, por sua vez, que a identidade de cada toxina seja confirmada por um sistema de alta confiabilidade como a espectrometria de massas. o presente trabalho visou avaliar a incidência de tricotecenos em milho plantado no estado de São Paulo e em produtos de milho comercializados na cidade de São Paulo. Dentre os tricotecenos, DON e NIV foram escolhidos devido a maior freqüência com que são encontrados em todo o mundo. As toxinas DAS, HT2 e T2 foram incluídas devido às suas maiores toxicidades e ocorrência natural comprovada em alimentos e rações. Para alcançar os objetivos descritos foi inicialmente avaliado método para determinação simultânea destes 5 tricotecenos por cromatografia à gás associada à espectrometria de massas. O método analítico após otimização e avaliação apresentou limites de detecção variando de 20 a 60 ng/g para DON, de 10 a 40 ng/g para NIV, de 20 a 120 nglg para DAS, de 20 a 50 ng/g para HT2 e de 20 a 100 ng/g para T2, de acordo com a as matrizes testadas (milho em grão, milho verde em lata, farinha de milho, canjica, fubá e flocos de milho). Da mesma forma, as recuperações variaram de 83 a 113% para DON, de 84 a 115% para NIV, de 69 a 123% para DAS, de 82 a 155% para HT2 e de 71 a 96% para T2. Foram analisadas 80 amostras de milho produzido em duas cooperativas do estado de São Paulo, tendo sido encontradas 11 amostras contendo NIV e uma com DON em nível de traços. Além disso, cinco amostras apresentaram NIV em níveis variando de 51 a 106 ng/g e uma delas co-contaminada com 71 ng/g de DON. Foram também analisadas 78 amostras de produtos de milho comercializados na cidade de São Paulo, sendo que uma delas, farinha de milho, apresentou traços de DON e NIV e outra, quirera, apresentou 555 ng/g e 767 ng/g de toxinas T2 e HT2, respectivamente. Os resultados obtidos nos levantamentos realizados nos anos de 2000 a 2002, mostram baixa ocorrência de tricotecenos, não havendo risco para a população no consumo destes produtos. Devido à sazonal idade da contaminação por micotoxinas em alimentos, conclusões mais amplas só serão possíveis após vários anos de observação da presença dessas toxinas em milho plantado no estado de São Paulo e produtos de milho comercializados na cidade de São Paulo / Abstract: A great number of the fungal species, under specific conditions, can produce toxic secondary metabolites known as mycotoxins. About 20 groups of such toxins are known today but some have received special attention due to their toxicity and widespread natural occurrence: aflatoxins, zearalenone, ochratoxin A, fumonisins and trichothecenes. The trichothecenes constitute a group of more than a hundred compounds characterized by the presence of the system 12,13-epoxy-trichotec-9-en in their structures. However, most of the known trichothecenes have been isolated only in laboratory conditions. Just a few have been isolated and characterized as natural contaminants. Among them, deoxynivalenol (DON), nivalenol (NIV), toxin T-2 (T2) , diacetoxyscirpenol (DAS) and less frequently the derivatives 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol (3-Ac-DON), 15-acetyl-deoxynivalenol (15-Ac-DON), fusarenone X (FX) and the toxin HT-2 (HT2). DON is the trichothecene most frequently found in foods and feeds and it's also the less toxic of this family. Despite the fact that com is one of the substrates more susceptible to this type of contamination, there is little information on the occurrence of trichothecenes in Brazilian com. Brazil ranks third in world production of com, harvesting about 30 million tons annualy, and com is a grain with great impact in Brazilian economy. These facts point to the need to evaluate the extension and the type of trichothecene contamination in national corn. On the other hand, the similarity of the trichothecene chemical structures requires the use of a high resolution gas chromatographic method for their separation, The differing toxicities for the members of this group of toxins requires, by their turn, that the identity of each toxin be confirmed by a system capable of great degree of reliability such as mass spectrometry. The present work aimed at evaluating the occurrence of trichothecenes in com p/anted in the State of São Pau/o and in com products commercialized in the city of São Paulo. DON and NIV were chosen for this investigation due to their worldwide occurrence. DAS, HT2 and T2 were inc/uded due to their high toxicity and their natural occurrence in foods and feeds. In order to reach the objectives of the present work, a gas chromatography/ mass spectrometry method for simultaneous determination of these tive trichothecenes was optimized and evaluated. Afier optimization the method presented detection limits ranging from 20 to 60 ng/g for DON, from 10 to 40 ng/g for NIV, 20 to 120 ng/g for DAS, 20 to 50 for HT2 and from 20 to 100 ng/g for T2, varying according to the tested matrices (dried com, canned sweet com, com grits, com flour, hominy sweet meal, com meal and com flakes). Similarly, the recoveries ranged from 83 to 113% for DON, 84 to 115% for N/V, 69 to 123% for DAS, 82 to 155% for HT2 and 71 to 96% for T2. A survey was conducted in samp/es of com grown in São Paulo State and also in com-based products commercia/ized in the city of São Paulo. Eighty samples of com from two cooperatives located in the State of São Paulo were analysed. E/even samples presented traces of N/V and another sample had traces of DON. Besides that, tive samples showed levels of N/V ranging trom 51 to 106 ng/g and one of them was co-contaminated with 71 ng/g of DON. Seventy-eight samp/es of com-based products commercialized in Sao Paulo city were analyzed. Among these samples, on/y one sample of com flour, presented DON and N/V. Another sample of com grits , had the toxins T2 an HT2 at the leve/s of 555ng/g and 767 ng/g, respectively. The resu/ts of the two surveys during the years 2000 to 2002, indicated a low occurrence of trichothecenes, and as a consequence a low risk for the consumers. Due to the well known variability in mycotoxins contamination of foods from year to year, only after several years of surveyng corn planted in the State of São Paulo and com products commercialized in the city of São Paulo, it will be possible to have a complete picture of the contamination of trichothecenes in com and com products / Doutorado / Doutor em Ciência de Alimentos

Au cours de son cycle de vie, le principe actif se retrouve en solution dans différentes situations : dans desformes pharmaceutiques liquides, dans l’organisme et dans les eaux usées. Or, par rapport à l’état solide, lamise en solution du principe actif l’expose davantage à des facteurs susceptibles de conduire à sa dégradation.Les transformations modifient sa structure chimique et donc potentiellement ses activités pharmacologiques ettoxicologiques.L’objectif de ce travail de thèse est de présenter une méthodologie et des études visant à prédire le devenir ensolution de principes actifs et les impacts potentiels consécutifs à leur dégradation.Trois principes actifs ont été sélectionnés pour la réalisation de ce travail. Ils ont en commun de présenter,d’une part, une activité pharmacologique élevée corrélée à une toxicité potentielle de leurs produits dedégradation et, d’autre part, l'absence de données sur leurs comportements en solution. Dans tous les cas,bien que le contexte soit singulier pour chaque molécule, l’approche méthodologique suivie intègre aussi biendes travaux expérimentaux que des études ab initio et in silico.La première étude porte sur le devenir de l’apixaban, principe actif actuellement commercialisé sous formeorale solide, en solution aqueuse. Les données expérimentales ont mis en évidence des groupementschimiques du principe actif pouvant contribuer à son instabilité. L’approche ab initio a permis d’expliquer larégio-spécificité de la réaction d’hydrolyse dépendamment du pH. À partir de la structure des produits dedégradation caractérisés, l’étude de leur potentiel toxique a été réalisée par approche in silico. Ces donnéesconcourent à la démarche d'analyse et évaluation des risques déployée lors de développements de formespharmaceutiques liquides ou des situations particulières impliquant la mise en solution de l'apixaban aumoment de l'administration.De telles approches ont également été employées pour caractériser les mécanismes de photodégradation del’argatroban et évaluer le potentiel toxique des produits de dégradation. Les processus initiant laphotodégradation ont fait l’objet d’études complémentaires reposant sur des calculs d’énergies. Cesconnaissances pourront apporter le rationnel nécessaire au choix de procédés capables de réduire laphotodégradation de l’argatroban et son impact sur les patients. Elles pourront également servir à anticiper lessituations d’écarts pouvant mettre en jeu le rapport bénéfice risque du médicament telles que le mésusage oula modification de la forme pharmaceutique administrée.Enfin, dans un contexte autre que le contexte pharmaceutique, une étude de dégradation du pémétrexed parphotocatalyse via un procédé d'oxydation avancée a été réalisée. Il s'agit d'un procédé particulièrement étudiépour sa capacité à réduire l’empreinte environnementale de composés organiques en accélérant leurdégradation. Le choix de ce principe actif utilisé comme anticancéreux a été justifié par son caractère toxiqueet rémanent dans les eaux de surface, ce qui en fait un produit à haut risque environnemental. Ce travail amontré que des produits de plus faible masse résultant de la transformation photocatalytique du pémétrexedsont malheureusement plus toxiques et encore plus rémanents que la molécule mère elle-même. Ces résultatscontribuent donc à souligner que les procédés d'oxydation avancée, bien qu'efficaces pour l'élimination despolluants médicamenteux, sont à évaluer au regard de l'existence d'un risque accru pour l'environnementavant toute perspective d'utilisation à grande échelle.Les approches et les résultats présentés dans cette thèse pourront être employés pour d’autres études visant àprédire, prévenir et réduire l’impact de la dégradation du principe actif sur le patient et l’environnement. / During its life cycle, an active substance is in solution for various reasons: in a liquid pharmaceutical form, in the body and in wastewater. However, compared to the solid state, the active substance in solution exposes it more to factors likely to cause its degradation. The transformations modify its chemical structure and thus potentially its pharmacological and toxicological activities.The objective of this thesis is to present a methodology and studies aiming to predict the fate in solution of active substances and the potential impacts following their degradation.Three active ingredients have been selected for this work. They have in common, on the one hand, a high pharmacological activity correlated to a potential toxicity of their degradation products and, on the other hand, the fact that there is little information on their behaviour in solution. In all cases, although the context is specific to each molecule, the methodological approach followed integrates both experimental work and ab initio and in silico studies.The first study concerns the fate of apixaban, an active substance currently marketed in solid oral form, in aqueous solutions. The experimental data made it possible to highlight chemical groups of the active ingredient that could contribute to its own instability. The ab initio approach explained the regio-specificity of the hydrolysis reaction as a function of pH. Based on the structure of the characterized degradation products, their toxic potential was studied using an in silico approach. These data contribute to the risk analysis and evaluation process deployed at different stages of development of liquid pharmaceutical forms or in particular situations involving the solution of apixaban at the time of administration.Such approaches have also been used to characterize the photodegradation mechanisms of argatroban and assess the toxic potential of degradation products. The processes that initiate photodegradation were also addressed by calculating the energies potentially involved. This knowledge provides a rational basis for the choice of processes and formulations to limit photodegradation of argatroban and its impact on patients. They also make it possible to anticipate situations where the benefit/risk ratio of the medicinal product may be modified, such as incorrect handling or modification of the pharmaceutical form administered.Finally, in a context other than the pharmaceutical context, a study of degradation of pemetrexed by photocatalysis via an advanced oxidation process was carried out. This process is particularly studied for its ability to reduce the environmental footprint of organic compounds by accelerating their degradation. The choice of this active substance as an anti-cancer agent was justified by its toxic and persistent nature in surface waters, making it a product with a high environmental risk. This work has shown that products of lower mass produced by photocatalytic transformation of pemetrexed are unfortunately more toxic and even more persistent than the parent molecule itself. These results underline the fact that advanced oxidation processes, although effective in removing drug pollutants, must be evaluated because of an increased risk to the environment before any prospect of large-scale use.The approaches and results presented in this thesis can be used for other studies to predict, prevent and reduce the impact of active ingredient degradation on the patient and the environment.

<p>  This dissertation focuses on the examination of the influence of sample storage conditions on the accuracy and precision of hydrocarbon composition measurements of Jet A made with GC×GC/FID and the accuracy and precision of flash point measurements of Jet A made with a Tag closed cup flash point tester. Areas of focus also include the influence of the column load value used, the S/N threshold value used, and the number of measurements made for a single sample vial on the accuracy and precision of the GC×GC/FID results. This dissertation also describes the development of an analytical method for the identification and quantitation of alkylphenols in Jet A (which are the most abundant heteroatom containing compounds in jet fuel) by using preparative high-performance liquid chromatography (prep-HPLC) and two-dimensional gas chromatography with electron ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC×GC/(+)EI TOF MS).</p>