Determination of artemisinin and its analogs in Artemisia annua extracts by capillary electrophoresis - Mass spectrometry.

The applicability of micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MEKC) with mass spectrometric detection for the determination of artemisinin and its analogs (e.g. ascaridole, artemisia ketone, casticin, deoxyartemisinin, arteannuic acid, artemetin, dihydroartemisinic acid) was studied. 40 mM ammonium perfluorooctanoate (pH 9.5) with 2% isopropanol (IPA) was used as background electrolyte (BGE) and the sheath liquid was 50 % (v/v) IPA:water containing 0.1 % formic acid. Separation was performed in a bare fused silica capillary. Artemisinin was detected at 283.1545 m/z as [M+H]+ ion. For artemisinin the linear range was found to be 0.6 µg/mL - 60 µg/mL and the limit of detection was 0.18 µg/mL. The RSD% values were 2.6 % for migration times and 4.8 % for peak areas (N = 6). In the ethanolic extracts of Artemisia annua leaves, in addition to artemisinin, a large number of other organic components could be separated and determined. MEKC-MS revealed the existence of diastereomers of several compounds (artemisinin, deoxyartemisinin, dihydroartemisinic acid) in the plant extracts.

Determination of chlorine species by capillary electrophoresis - mass spectrometry.

The applicability of CZE with mass spectrometric detection for the determination of four chlorine species, namely chloride and three stable chlorine oxyanions, was studied. The main aspects of the proper selection of BGE and sheath liquid for the CE-MS determinations of anions with high mobility were demonstrated, pointing out the importance of pH and the mobility of the anion in the BGE. The possibility of using uncoated fused silica capillary and common electrolytes for the separation was shown and the advantage of using extra pressure at the inlet capillary end was also presented. The linear range was found to be 1-100 µg/mL for ClO3- and ClO4- , 5-500 µg/mL for ClO2- , and 25-500 µg/mL for Cl- , but the sensitivity can be greatly improved if larger sample volume is injected and electrostacking effect is utilized. The LOD for ClO3- in drinking water was 6 ng/mL, when very large sample volume was injected (10 000 mbar·s was applied).

[Quality of life of asthmatic patients after complex rehabilitation treatment]. / Asztmás betegek életminoségének változása komplex rehabilitációs kezelés után.

Asthma is a serious public health challenge for all age groups around the world. Heightened attention surrounds the use of the natural therapeutic factors that potentially make medication more cost-efficient in the treatment of diseases. Our research has tried to reveal how the medical conditions, quality of life of asthmatic patients change after medical treatments that are accompanied by climate therapy. Asthma patients (514 patients) participated in a 3-week complex therapy at Mátra Health Resort. Beyond medical examinations and treatments, patients were involved in breathing exercises on the curing terraces or outdoors twice a day, they were to attend the rehabilitative physical exercises led by a physiotherapist once a day, were given dietetic and lifestyle advice and provided with diets that were fitted to their individual medical conditions. Their respiratory function was examined before the commencement of the cure as well as after the therapy just before departing from the institution. The patients' exercise capacities were assessed with the 6-minute walk test before the treatment and then 3 weeks later. For the patients, a questionnaire was compiled to reveal information in relation to their conditions in the first 6 months after leaving the institution. Our results show that values of respiratory function in the sample and 6-minute walk test significantly improved with the treatment. After leaving the institute, the results of the Asthma Control Test in the 1st month after treatment revealed a significantly better quality of life and better control-level of patients than after the 3rd month. Orv Hetil. 2018; 159(27): 1103-1112.