Monitoring of Pesticide Contamnation of Selected Legume Crops Imported in UAE

Food contamination with pesticide residues is a serious concern. In United Arab Emirates, ministry of climate change and environment (MOCCAE) carries out incidence/level monitoring in order to acquire data on the presence and amounts of pesticide residues in particular commodity/chemical combinations. This monitoring aimed to provide the necessary information on quantitative and qualitative pesticide multiresidues in imported legume crops. Sampling plan of 2375 selected legume imported into the UAE has been examined as part of an official surveillance program, these samples include beans, peas, peanuts, lupine and lentils, they were collected from across United Arab Emirates (UAE) ports of entry during 2020 and 2021 by certified staff. These samples were analyzed by modified QuEChERS method for pesticide residue screening based on multi-reaction monitoring (MRM) mode with gas and/or liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry for monitoring more than 400 pesticides residues in these legume crops. The method used in this study was validated following the European Commission guidelines achieving good recovery values in the range 70–120% with relative standard deviation values lower than 20% and providing limits of quantification of the method in the low mg/kg range, in accordance with the maximum residue limits set by European policies and CODEX. The results showed that the majority (98.8%) of legume crops samples analyzed had compliance with the legislation in force in UAE and 29 samples (1.2%) contained residues above MRLs established by the Codex Committee on pesticide residues as well as by the European Union. This monitoring is a part of a surveillance study for pesticide control in food samples. Based on the results current monitoring program provide a valuable source of information for estimating dietary exposure of UAE consumers to pesticide residues, and to check compliance with the national maximum residue levels in legume samples.

Applications of new methods in extraction of flavonoids from Chinese materia medica / 中草药

Flavonoids are widely found in medicinal plants, which have important medical properties. Flavonoids were proved to have many pharmacological activities, such as anti-oxidation, antitumor, antimutation, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and anti-aging. The extraction of flavonoids is the crucial link in their clinical applications. In recent years, many emerging Chinese medicine extraction methods have also been widely used in the extraction of flavonoids. This paper reviews the current application of new methods for flavonoid extraction, in order to provide references for the extraction, development and utilization of flavonoids. These new extraction methods include supercritical fluid extraction (SFE), ultrasonic assisted extraction (UAE), microwave assisted extraction (MAE), pressurized liquid extraction (PLE), pulsed electric field (PEF) assisted extraction, enzyme assisted extraction (EAE), green solvent extraction, steam explosion assisted extraction, dynamic high pressure microfluidization (DHPM) assisted extraction, etc.

A comparative study on the fertility of uterine artery embolization and myomectomy for leiomyoma / Монголын Анагаах Ухаан

Objective@#To compare the nature of pregnancy and deliveryin women with leiomyoma who were treated with uterine artery embolization to the outcomes in women who were treated with abdominal myomectomy. @*Material and Methods@#A prospective, clinical study was conducted in 2010-2013 at “Urguu” Maternity Hospital, Ulaanbaatar. 94 women meeting the criteria were selected for the study. Post-treatment, the patients were reviewed for a period of two years. Uterine artery embolization was performed using polyvinyl alcohol particles (300-500 µm in diameter).@*Results@#The percentage of conception in UAE group was 25.5% and 31.9% in myomectomy group (p=0.494); complication of pregnancy was 50.0% and 57.1% respectively (p=0.729); complication of delivery was 33.3% and 0.0% respectively (p=0.047). 88.9% and 90.0% (p=0.596) had Caesarean delivery. 16 (84.2%) women had uncomplicated and 3 (15.8%) women had complicated delivery due to placenta praevia, placenta acreta and uterine hypotonia. These cases all belonged to UAE group. @*Conclusion@#Pregnancy rates in women with leiomyoma who were treated by uterine artery embolization, compared with pregnancies after abdominal myomectomy, were similar.(p=0.494) In this study, there was the rate of Cesarean delivery above 80 percent in both group. There were no differences in newborn weights and Apgar scores.

Effect of the size,number or location of fibroids on therapeutic efficacy of uterine artery embolization / 中国基层医药

Objective To evaluate whether the size,number or location of fibroids affect therapeutic efficacy of uterine artery embolization (UAE).Methods 84 patients with symptomatic uterine fibroids who had received uterine fibroid embolization with the use of polyvinyl alcohol(PVA)or gelfoam sponge particles(GSP).According to the lesion's size,number or location,all patients were divided into different groups and following -up as outpatients. Patient's symptomatic improvement and imaging following -up was assessed after UAE.Results A technically suc-cessful embolization was done in all patients.Postoperative 12 -month following -up was performed in 77 cases.No major life -threatening complications were found and the clinical symptoms were improved after UAE.In the different groups,the uterine size and the leiomyoma size after UAE were markedly decreased(t =5.842,P <0.05).Further comparison showed that the mean reduction in fibroids volume after UAE was not significant between the two groups, so was the mean reduction in uterine volume.Solitary leiomyoma group showed no significant difference in volume reduction rate of fibroids and uterine after UAE as compared with multiple leiomyoma group.Changes were not signifi-cantly in Submucosal uterine fibroids,Subserosal uterine fibroids,Intramural uterine fibroids.Conclusion UAE is an effective treatment for uterine fibroids.In this study,the size,number,and location of fibroids did not affect therapeutic efficacy or the complication rate of UAE.

Analysis on Operation Selection to Myomectomy of Child-bearing Period (Report of 200 Cases) / 浙江中医药大学学报

[Objective] To compare the clinical cure effects of different operations on myomectomy, and screen out best clinical treatment for hysteromyoma in child-bearing period. [Method] Trace back and analyse 200 cases of such patients, divide them into laparotomy group, laparoscope group, vaginal group and UAE group under different therapies, compare cure effect analysis. [Result] On operation time, operation bleeding and evacuation time, the UAE group ,vaginal and laparoscope groups were successively better than the laparotomy group; but on post-operation medication rate and average in-hospital days, the UAE group was successively less than laparoscope, vaginal and laparotomy groups. On complication rate,the laparoscope was successively less than UAE, vaginal and laparotomy groups.[Conclusion] 4 therapies have respective advantages, UAE and laparoscope myomectomy have little trauma, quick re-covery and reliable cure effect, however, laparotomy can't be completely replaced owing to its wide indications.

Reporting of adverse drug reactions: A study among cinicians.

Spontaneous reporting of ADRs enhances detection of serious, unexpected and unusual ADRs. Healthcare professionals play an integral role in the success of safety surveillance of drugs. This study aimed to investigate knowledge, practice and factors affecting ADR reporting among clinicians. Cross sectional study was carried out among clinicians of a tertiary care centre irrespective of their gender, specialization and experience. A validated selfadministered questionnaire was distributed among clinicians to assess the knowledge, practice and factors influencing ADR reporting. The 42 clinicians participated in the study comprised more than 50% males, had a mean age 36+8 years and represented a multi-ethnic population of varying clinical experience. With regard to ADR reporting, majority of the clinicians correctly identified which of the ADRs had to be reported and the individuals who can report ADRs. Very few clinicians had reported ADRs to the Pharmacovigilance Centre. The common factor discouraging reporting of ADR was not knowing how to report ADRs (71%). A majority of the clinicians were willing to undergo training on this aspect. The study revealed under-reporting of ADRs, and the willingness of clinicians to be trained in ADR reporting thus contributing to Pharmacovigilance program.

Imported Malaria in United Arab Emirates: Evaluation of a New DNA Extraction Technique Using Nested PCR

Local malaria transmission in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) came to an end in 1997. Nevertheless, UAE has been subjected to substantial importation of malaria cases from abroad, concerning both UAE nationals and immigrants from malarious countries with a total number of 2,119 cases in 2007. To evaluate a new DNA extraction technique using nested PCR, blood samples were collected from 132 individuals who presented to Infectious Diseases Department in Rashid Hospital, Dubai, and Central Department of Malaria Control with fever and persistent headache. Giemsa-stained blood films and ELISA test for malaria antibodies were carried out for detection of Plasmodium infection. Plasmodium infections were identified with the genus-specific primer set and species differentiation using nested PCR. A rapid procedure for diagnosis of malaria infections directly from dried blood spots using for the first time DNA extract from FTA Elute cards was evaluated in contrast to extraction techniques using FTA classic cards and rapid boiling technique. Our new simple technique for DNA extraction using FTA Elute cards was very sensitive giving a sensitivity of 100% compared to 94% using FTA classic cards and 62% in the rapid boiling technique. No complex preparation of blood samples was required prior to the amplification. The production cost of DNA isolation in our PCR assay was much less in comparable to that of other DNA extraction protocols. The nested PCR detected plasmodial infection and could differentiate P. falciparum from P. vivax, and also detected the mixed infection.

Imported Malaria in United Arab Emirates: Evaluation of a New DNA Extraction Technique Using Nested PCR

Local malaria transmission in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) came to an end in 1997. Nevertheless, UAE has been subjected to substantial importation of malaria cases from abroad, concerning both UAE nationals and immigrants from malarious countries with a total number of 2,119 cases in 2007. To evaluate a new DNA extraction technique using nested PCR, blood samples were collected from 132 individuals who presented to Infectious Diseases Department in Rashid Hospital, Dubai, and Central Department of Malaria Control with fever and persistent headache. Giemsa-stained blood films and ELISA test for malaria antibodies were carried out for detection of Plasmodium infection. Plasmodium infections were identified with the genus-specific primer set and species differentiation using nested PCR. A rapid procedure for diagnosis of malaria infections directly from dried blood spots using for the first time DNA extract from FTA Elute cards was evaluated in contrast to extraction techniques using FTA classic cards and rapid boiling technique. Our new simple technique for DNA extraction using FTA Elute cards was very sensitive giving a sensitivity of 100% compared to 94% using FTA classic cards and 62% in the rapid boiling technique. No complex preparation of blood samples was required prior to the amplification. The production cost of DNA isolation in our PCR assay was much less in comparable to that of other DNA extraction protocols. The nested PCR detected plasmodial infection and could differentiate P. falciparum from P. vivax, and also detected the mixed infection.