Non-chromatographic speciation of toxic arsenic in vegetables by hydride generation-atomic fluorescence spectrometry after ultrasound-assisted extraction.

A non-chromatographic, sensitive and simple analytical method has been developed for the determination of toxic arsenic species in vegetable samples by hydride generation-atomic fluorescence spectrometry (HG-AFS). As(III), As(V), dimethylarsinic acid (DMA) and monomethylarsonic acid (MMA) were determined by hydride generation-atomic fluorescence spectrometry using a series of proportional equations. The method is based on a single extraction of the arsenic species considered from vegetables through sonication at room temperature with H(3)PO(4) 1 mol L(-1) in the presence of 0.1% (w/v) Triton XT-114 and washing of the solid phase with 0.1% (w/v) EDTA, followed by direct measurement of the corresponding hydrides in four different experimental conditions. The limit of detection of the method was 3.1 ng g(-1) for As(III), 3.0 ng g(-1) for As(V), 1.5 ng g(-1) for DMA and 1.9 ng g(-1) for MMA, in all cases expressed in terms of sample dry weight. Recovery studies provided percentages greater than 91% for all considered species in spiked samples of chards and aubergines. Total toxic As found in the aforementioned samples was at the level of 90 ng g(-1); As(III) is followed by As(V), DMA and MMA which are the main species of As in chards being As(V) the main As compound in aubergines.

Determination of tackiness of chitosan film-coated pellets exploiting minimum fluidization velocity.

The tackiness of aqueous chitosan film coatings and effects of anti-sticking agents on sticking tendency, were evaluated. A novel rapid method exploiting minimum fluidization velocity to determine tackiness was introduced and tested. The pressure difference over the miniaturized fluidized-bed was precisely recorded as a function of velocity of fluidization air. High molecular weight chitosan plasticized with glycerol was used as a film-forming agent. Magnesium stearate, titanium dioxide, colloidal silicon dioxide and glyceryl-1-monostearate (GMS) were studied as anti-sticking agents. Film coatings were performed in a miniaturized top-spray coater. The incorporation of anti-sticking agents led to a clear decrease in tackiness of the chitosan films, and magnesium stearate and GMS were shown the most effective. Film-coated pellets containing magnesium stearate and GMS as an anti-sticking agent were very easily fluidized (showing very low values of minimum fluidization velocity) and were thus classified as the best flowing and the least sticking samples. Both these additives were found anti-sticking agents of choice for aqueous chitosan film coatings. Determination of the experimental minimum fluidization velocity in a fluidized bed, is a useful and sensitive method of measuring the tackiness tendency of film-coated pellets.

Ataxia-pancytopenia syndrome.

We report on a Mexican girl who developed cerebellar ataxia at age 3 years and pancytopenia at age 13 years. Cerebral computed tomography scan and magnetic resonance imaging showed evidence of severe cerebellar atrophy. Telangiectasias were not present; immunoglobulins and alpha-fetoprotein levels were normal. Cytogenetic studies showed no evidence of spontaneous chromosome aberrations, a normal rate of diepoxybutane (DEB) and mitomycin C (MMC)-induced chromosome aberrations, but an increased response to bleomycin. The phenotype support the diagnosis of ataxia-pancytopenia syndrome, although monosomy of chromosome 7 was not found in bone marrow. The cytogenetic studies suggest that this may be a chromosomal instability disorder.