N-docosahexaenoylethanolamine detected in human breast milk.

PURPOSE: Measure concentrations of the neurogenic, pro-neurogenic, pro-synaptogenic and anti-inflammatory mediator N-docosahexaenoylethanolamine (synaptamide) in relation to its precursor docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in breast milk. DESIGN AND METHODS: Postpartum women were recruited prior to discharge. We supplemented half the subjects with omega-3 fatty acids. Breast milk samples were collected at 1, 4 and 8 weeks. Synaptamide and DHA concentrations were determined by liquidchromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and gas chromatography, respectively. RESULTS: Synaptamide was detected in all breast milk samples. The concentration ranged from 44 to 257 fmol/mL. Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation did not affect DHA or synaptamide concentration in breast milk due to a high-DHA-containing diet self-selected by control mothers. Nevertheless, synaptamide levels significantly correlated with DHA concentration in breast milk (r = 0.624, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: This is the first demonstration of detectable concentrations of synaptamide in human breast milk. Although the attempt to raise the milk DHA content by omega-3 fatty acid supplementation was not successful in the current study, the positive correlation observed between synaptamide and DHA concentration suggests that synaptamide levels in human milk can be raised by proper omega-3 fatty acid supplementation that is known to increase DHA.

Sports doping: emerging designer and therapeutic ß2-agonists.

Beta2-adrenergic agonists, or ß2-agonists, are considered essential bronchodilator drugs in the treatment of bronchial asthma, both as symptom-relievers and, in combination with inhaled corticosteroids, as disease-controllers. The use of ß2-agonists is prohibited in sports by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) due to claimed anabolic effects, and also, is prohibited as growth promoters in cattle fattening in the European Union. This paper reviews the last seven-year (2006-2012) literature concerning the development of novel ß2-agonists molecules either by modifying the molecule of known ß2-agonists or by introducing moieties producing indole-, adamantyl- or phenyl urea derivatives. New emerging ß2-agonists molecules for future therapeutic use are also presented, intending to emphasize their potential use for doping purposes or as growth promoters in the near future.

High-performance liquid chromatography methods for the analysis of adrenergic amines and flavanones in Citrus aurantium L. var. amara.

Reverse-phase HPLC coupled with photodiode array detection was used for the simultaneous separation and determination of naturally occurring adrenergic amines (octopamine, synephrine and tyramine) in fruits and dry extracts of Citrus aurantium L. var. amara and in herbal medicines derived therefrom. Synephrine was the main component in fruits (0.10-0.35%) and in dry extracts (3.00-3.08%) and was present in the range 0.25-0.99% in herbal medicines. Flavanones were analysed in the same samples using a reverse-phase HPLC technique which allowed the identification and quantification of neoeriocitrin, narirutin, naringin, hesperidin, neohesperidin, naringenin and hesperetin. C. aurantium fruits and derivatives contained mainly glycosylated flavanones: in particular, naringin and neohesperidin were found to be the major flavonoids and their concentrations ranged from 1.80 to 26.30 and from 3.90 to 14.71 mg/g, respectively. The levels of aglycones were very low in all samples tested.

Separation of choline- and ethanolamine-labeled metabolites by ion-exchange high-pressure liquid chromatography.

Two methods utilizing ion-exchange high-performance liquid chromatography have been developed for the separation of choline- and ethanolamine-containing metabolic precursors for phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine. Both methods employ an analytical anion-exchange column supplemented with a cation-exchange column; the latter is required only to separate betaine from choline. Complete separation of choline- and ethanolamine-labeled metabolites from extracts of Chinese hamster ovary cells can be achieved in 20 min.

Low-molecular-weight solutes released during mild acid hydrolysis of the lipopolysaccharide of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

A careful examination of the low-molecular-weight solutes released during mild acid hydrolysis of the lipopolysaccharide of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (N.C.T.C. 1999) revealed the presence of ethanolamine triphosphate. During storage, the compound decomposed to give ethanolamine pyrophosphate, identified in a previous study (Drewry et al., 1971); PP(i) may be a further decomposition product. Evidence for the attachment of ethanolamine triphosphate to a polysaccharide fraction was obtained, but the possibility that some was attached to the lipid A moiety was not excluded. Basic compounds released during the hydrolysis of lipopolysaccharide included amino acids, polyamines and oligopeptides.