High performance thin layer chromatography-densitometry method based on picosecond laser-induced fluorescence for the analysis of thioridazine and its photoproducts.

A densitometry method based on steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence assessments for thioridazine and its photoproducts applied on HPTLC plates has been developed. The excitation source was a picosecond diode laser emitting at 375 nm. This method was used for the analysis of the photoproducts resulted from thioridazine irradiation with 266 nm nanosecond-pulsed laser. The validation of the developed method was performed for thioridazine in terms of linearity, precision, limits of detection and quantification. Furthermore, analysis of the photoproducts of irradiated thioridazine was performed by steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence. The fluorescence spectra and fluorescence lifetime of each photoproduct were obtained and the horizontal chromatograms of fluorescence maxima were generated.

[Food intake and colorectal cancers; an ecological study in Romania]. / Consumul de alimente in relatie cu cancerul colo-rectal. Studiu ecologic in România.

UNLABELLED: The aim of the present study performed in a Romanian population was to identify the food which can be either associated with or protect against colorectal carcinoma. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Correlation and regression analysis were used to examine the association between dietary intake and the rate of incidence for colon, rectum and anus cancers, in study groups from 7 regions of Romania. RESULTS: A strong and positive association was observed for colonic cancer and the intake of coffee, tea and cocoa (r = 0.77, p = 0.042) whereas statistical significance of borderline value was found for margarine (r = 0.73, p = 0.06) and sweets (r = 0.74, p = 0.066) intake. A potential protective effect can be attributed to wine consumption ( r = -0.75, p = 0.03). The malignancies of the rectum and anus showed both a strong positive correlation with the intake of red meat ( r = 0.76, p = 0.048), sausages ( r = 0.87, p = 0.012), margarine (r = 0.97, p = 0.0004), butter ( r = 0.76, p = 0.049), sweets ( r = 0.93, p = 0.003), beverages (r = 0.97, p = 0.0003), coffee, tea, cocoa ( r = 0.94, p = 0.002). Negative correlations were reported for the recto-anal cancer and the consumption of: fish (r = -0.8, p = 0.032), cheese (r = -0.9, p = 0.006), wine (r = -0.85, p = 0.015). CONCLUSION: The need for reducing the dietary intake of margarine, red meat, sausages and sweets while the beneficial effects of wine consumption have been also confirmed.

Longitudinal study of the FEV1, cumulative exposure to dusts and silicosis in gold miners.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this longitudinal study was to assess the rate of decline in FEV1 (deltaFEV1) in gold miners with silicosis and to relate these findings with the radiographic picture, age, smoking habits and cumulative exposure to dusts. METHODS: The study included 73 gold miners with silicosis and 73 miners exposed to dusts but without silicosis. The clinical, radiological and functional assessment was made at least twice in each miner at the beginning and at the end of an adequate interval of the investigation which was extended for a mean period of 38.9 months for the group with silicosis and 33.6 months for the group without silicosis. RESULTS: In the group of miners with silicosis deltaFEV1 was much higher (187 ml/year) as compared with the mean value found in the miners without silicosis (43.2 ml/year). No significant differences were found for deltaFEV1 according to the age criterion (in both groups) and to their smoking habits (in the group with silicosis). In silicosis, a very good correlation exists between the index of cumulative exposure to dusts and the magnitude of the decline rate of FEV1. In the miners, group without silicosis, deltaFEV1 had not any significant correlation with cumulative exposure to dusts. CONCLUSIONS: Our observations revealed that the cumulative exposure to dusts affected the decline rate of FEV1 only to the extent to which it determined silicosis and intervened less in the functional decline in miners without silicosis. Smoking habits increased AFEV1 only in miners without silicosis.