De novo formation of phthalimide from ubiquitous phthalic acid derivatives during the drying process of tea (Camellia sinensis) and selected herbal infusions.

It is well documented that under some circumstances phthalimide, a known degradation product of the fungicide folpet, can be formed as an artifact during gas chromatographic analysis. This fact explains one phthalimide source, but does not explain a great number of positive findings in the group of dried plant commodities obtained with an artifact-free analysis. Therefore, in the framework of this study, herbal and tea plants were grown in a glasshouse under the best possible protection against external environmental influences and ensuring the exclusion of the use of folpet. It was demonstrated that relevant amounts of phthalimide are formed during the drying process as part of the routine production of tea and herbals and in the absence of folpet. In this context, the presence of the widespread environmental chemical phthalic anhydride and its impact was investigated. We conclude that phthalimide is no reliable indicator for the active use of folpet.

A method for the quantification of 8-methoxypsoralen by mass spectrometry for offline extracorporeal photopheresis.

BACKGROUND: Extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) is an efficient method to treat various autoimmune diseases, cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, and graft-versus-host disease. It is based on the ex vivo inactivation of lymphocytes by 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP)/UV light treatment. Despite the adhesive, lipophilic nature of 8-MOP, no quality control is established for the ECP procedure. METHODS: We developed a sensitive high-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) assay to monitor residual 8-MOP concentration after UVA irradiation in the whole blood supernatant after acetonitrile precipitation. RESULTS: The preanalytical stability of 8-MOP exceeded 7 days, allowing batch mode analysis. Linearity was determined with R2 above 0.99. The 8-MOP concentrations decreased exponentially after UV exposure, with decay constants of 0.0259 in plasma and 0.0528 in saline. The recovery of 8-MOP in photopheresates was about 68%, indicating binding to DNA as well as to plastic structures. UVA induced no 8-MOP fragmentation, but caused self-adducts under extreme conditions (10-fold UV dosage). CONCLUSIONS: Detection of 8-MOP proved to be feasible and demonstrated that the doses were in the pharmaceutically active range.

Air pollution and children: neural and tight junction antibodies and combustion metals, the role of barrier breakdown and brain immunity in neurodegeneration.

Millions of children are exposed to concentrations of air pollutants, including fine particulate matter (PM2.5), above safety standards. In the Mexico City Metropolitan Area (MCMA) megacity, children show an early brain imbalance in oxidative stress, inflammation, innate and adaptive immune response-associated genes, and blood-brain barrier breakdown. We investigated serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) antibodies to neural and tight junction proteins and environmental pollutants in 139 children ages 11.91 ± 4.2 y with high versus low air pollution exposures. We also measured metals in serum and CSF. MCMA children showed significantly higher serum actin IgG, occludin/zonulin 1 IgA, IgG, myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein IgG and IgM (p < 0.01), myelin basic protein IgA and IgG, S-100 IgG and IgM, and cerebellar IgG (p < 0.001). Serum IgG antibodies to formaldehyde, benzene, and bisphenol A, and concentrations of Ni and Cd were significantly higher in exposed children (p < 0.001). CSF MBP antibodies and nickel concentrations were higher in MCMA children (p = 0.03). Air pollution exposure damages epithelial and endothelial barriers and is a robust trigger of tight junction and neural antibodies. Cryptic 'self' tight junction antigens can trigger an autoimmune response potentially contributing to the neuroinflammatory and Alzheimer and Parkinson's pathology hallmarks present in megacity children. The major factor determining the impact of neural antibodies is the integrity of the blood-brain barrier. Defining the air pollution linkage of the brain/immune system interactions and damage to physical and immunological barriers with short and long term neural detrimental effects to children's brains ought to be of pressing importance for public health.

Comparing the metal concentration in the hair of cancer patients and healthy people living in the malwa region of punjab, India.

The cancer prevalence in the Malwa region of Punjab (1089/million/year) is much higher than the national average cancer prevalence in India (800/million/year). The participants in the present study were 50 healthy individuals and 49 cancer patients all living in the Malwa region of Punjab, with the healthy people being selected from the same household as the cancer patients. High concentrations of several potentially toxic elements were found in hair samples from people living in Punjab. Compared to standard reference ranges, the metals in excess in both the control and patient groups were aluminium (Al), barium (Ba), manganese (Mn), strontium (Sr) and uranium (U). The most significant findings were high lead (Pb), U and Ba concentrations. The maximum values for Ba, Mn, Pb and U were found in hair from breast cancer patients. The mean concentration of U in hair from the breast cancer patients was 0.63 µg U/g, which is more than double the value found in the control group and over six times higher than the reference range of 0.1 µg U/g. Water, soil, and phosphate fertilizers all seem to play a potential role, causing an increased metal burden in Punjabi people living in the Malwa region. The present study indicates that metals, and especially U, may be a factor in the development of breast cancer among Punjabi women.

Metal exposure in the physically and mentally challenged children of Punjab, India.

UNLABELLED: We collected 149 hair samples at the Baba Farid Centre at Faridkot in Punjab, India to evaluate the trace and toxic metal concentration via ICP-MS. A total of 53 elements were tested. The hair of the children tested showed high values for Ba, Cd, Mn, Pb and U, signifying long-term exposure. Urine baseline testing supported hair analysis findings for all the elements listed above; a DMSA (Dimercapto Succinic Acid) challenge test raised urinary values for lead. Testing of six randomly selected water samples showed concentrations above the European maximum contaminant level for uranium (U) in three samples and lead (Pb) in one.Research aim:To evaluate if hair analysis and/or urine provocation confirm or refute long term metal intoxication. To support or refute that hair mineral analysis confirms urine challenge test results. To support or refute that a DMSA urine challenge test provides a valuable treatment option for metal exposure in children. CONCLUSION: Our results documented that hair and urine mineral analysis results are supportive of each other, and are both useful diagnostic tools in chelation therapy. We also documented that a DMSA challenge test confirms long term exposure as detected through hair mineral analysis. This indicates that the chelating agent DMSA (Dimercapto succinic acid) provides a safe and valuable treatment option for lead overexposure.