Oxidation resistance of LDL is correlated with vitamin E status in beta-thalassemia intermedia.
The alteration of the oxidant/antioxidant balance may affect the susceptibility of low density lipoproteins (LDL) to oxidation in haemolytic disorders such as thalassemia. Thirty patients affected by beta-thalassemia intermedia were examined, and compared with age-matched healthy controls. The mean amount of vitamin E in the thalassemic LDL was lower than control (p0.0001), either when it was calculated on the base of LDL protein (61% decrease) or cholesterol (25% decrease). The LDL resistance to Cu2+-induced oxidation, evaluated as the length of the lag phase before the onset of conjugated diene (CD) lipid hydroperoxide production, was 20% lower than control. Other parameters of LDL suscep…
Mercury in fish products: what’s the best for consumers between bluefin tuna and yellowfin tuna?
A total of 205 bluefin and yellowfin tuna samples were examined for mercury detection in order to verify possible differences and have a detailed risk assessment of the two tuna species. The results showed significant higher mercury concentration in muscle tissue of bluefin tuna respect yellowfin tuna (p < 0.001) with mean concentration of 0.84 mg/kg and maximum value of 1.94 mg/kg. These differences can be due the different biological and ecological aspects of the two tuna species and to different oceanographic aspects between Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean sea. The results obtained in this study suggest an advisable containment of the sources of pollution and further studies on the c…
Analysis of β2-agonists in cattle hair samples using a rapid UHPLC–ESI–MS/MS method
A simple and efficient method was developed for simultaneous analysis of five illegal residual β2-agonists in cattle hair. β2-Agonists were quantified by ultra high performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionisation tandem mass spectrometry operating in positive multiple-reaction monitoring mode. The method was validated as quantitative confirmatory method according to the EU Decision 2002/657/EC: instrumental linearity, specificity, precision, recovery, decision limit (CCα) and detection capability (CCβ) were evaluated. The recovery were greater than 90% and the method appeared suitable for the control of these β2-agonists in cattle hair samples with LOQ values between …
First report on the presence of Alloxan in bleached flour by LC-MS/MS method
Abstract In this work the presence of Alloxan in bread, pastry and cake bleached flour was investigate in order to verify possible risk for consumers related to the use of chemicals for flour bleaching. A selective UHPLC–MS/MS method has been developed and validated for the purpose. Alloxan is one of the possible minor side products of oxidation after chemical bleaching of wheat flours, when several chemical agents are used. One hundred and seventy-five flour samples were analyzed for Alloxan determination. The validation of the method was performed in accordance with the ISO/IEC/EN 17025 for linearity, detection limit, quantification limit, accuracy, precision and ruggedness determination.…