Application of benchtop total-reflection X-ray fluorescence spectrometry and chemometrics in classification of origin and type of Croatian wines.

The contents of selected metals (K, Ca, Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn, Sr, Rb, Ba, Pb, Ni, Cr and V) in 70 wine samples from Continental and Adriatic part of Croatia and different types of wine (red and white) were determined by TXRF. The aim of this study was to compare the elemental composition of wines from two different regions and to determine the discriminant ability of each variable and to indicate which variables discriminate between the four categories considered. Principal component analysis and cluster analysis showed that K, Mn, Ba and Ni can be considered as the most important characteristics to distinguish between Continental red and white wines, Rb, Ni and Ba for Continental red and Adriatic red wines while Sr is the only metal that completely distinguishes the samples of each category. Finally, linear discriminant analysis showed good recognition (100%) and prediction abilities (96.43%) using these selected elements.

Analytical potential of total reflection X-ray fluorescence spectrometry for simultaneous determination of iron, copper and zinc in human blood serum and plasma.

Due to many roles of trace elements such as Fe, Cu and Zn in various physiological and pathophysiological processes, their determination in serum and plasma is of high clinical relevance. In the present study, for the first time, the effect of serum and plasma preparation parameters (dilution factor and sample deposition volume) on the quality of results obtained by TXRF analysis was evaluated by means of experimental design tools (response surface analysis). It was found that the best strategy was the direct analysis of both human fluids without a previous dilution step. The accuracy and precision of the proposed methods were evaluated by analysis of reference materials (ClinChek® Plasma Control Level II and Seronorm™ Trace Elements Serum L-1). TXRF results agreed with the reference values and no significant differences at 95% confidence level were found. Limits of detection for the elements of interest were also adequate, taking into account their typical concentration ranges in real serum and plasma samples. Finally, the developed TXRF methods were applied to a set of serum and plasma samples from patients with different genders, ages and diagnoses, previously analysed by ICP-OES and ICP-MS techniques. The results showed good agreement between both analytical approaches. These results suggest that the proposed TXRF method provides reliable results thus being suitable for plasma and serum analysis, but in a simpler and more sustainable way.

Influence of dialysis modality and membrane flux on quality of life in hemodialysis patients.

BACKGROUND: The quality of life in patients undergoing hemodialysis is significantly disturbed. There are data that hemodiafiltration (HDF) may be more effective than conventional hemodialysis in the removal of uremic toxins and may reduce frequency and severity of intradialytic and postdialysis adverse symptoms in patients. Also, some researchers suggest advantages of using high-flux membranes compared with low-flux. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine whether hemodialysis modality and membrane flux, independent of membrane biocompatibility, make differences in quality of life in patients. METHODS: In our cross-sectional study, we evaluated 124 patients who were divided, based on therapy, into three groups: online HDF, high-flux hemodialysis, and low-flux hemodialysis. Data were collected using the Short Form-36 questionnaire combined with special questionnaire, which included demographic and clinically related questions. RESULTS: Health-related quality of life was better in patients on HDF compared with patients on hemodialysis, especially compared with low-flux hemodialysis patients in most of the scales and in both dimensions: physical component scale and mental component scale. There were no statistically significant differences in Short Form-36 domains between high-flux hemodialysis and low-flux hemodialysis. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest the potential advantages of HDF with regard to influence on quality of life, which is sufficient to justify further research in prospective and longitudinal study design.