Spatiotemporal variability of pesticides concentration in honeybees (Apis mellifera) and their honey from western Mexico. Risk assessment for honey consumption.

The study conducted in the state of Colima, western Mexico, aimed to assess the 1) occurrence, 2) temporal variability, 3) spatial variability, and 4) potential risk for honeybees and human consumption of pesticide-contaminated honey. For that purpose, 48 pesticides were determined in bees and their honey during both dry and wet seasons. The research considered two variables: land use categorization (irrigated agriculture, rainfed agriculture, grassland, and forest area) and location (coastal, valley, and mountain). Bee and honey samples were collected, pre-treated using solid-phase extraction (SPE), and analyzed using LC-MS/MS and GC-MS techniques. Occurrence: of the total number of pesticides, 17 were detected in the bee samples and 12 in the honey samples. The pesticides with the highest concentrations in the bee samples were glufosinate ammonium, picloram, and permethrin, while in the honey samples, picloram, permethrin, and atrazine were the most prevalent. Temporal variability: analyses revealed significant differences between dry and wet seasons for glufosinate ammonium and DEET in bee samples and only for glufosinate ammonium in honey samples. Spatial variability: analyses showed a trend in the number of detected pesticides, with irrigated agriculture areas having the highest detection and grassland areas having the least. The human potential risk assessment of contaminated honey consumption indicated no risk. The bee's potential risk for consumption of pesticides contaminated honey revealed chronic effects due to permethrin in a general scenario, and carbofuran, diazinon and permethrin in the worst scenario, and potential risk of acute effects by permethrin. The findings of this study contribute to understanding the contamination levels of pesticides in bees and their honey, emphasizing the importance of monitoring and mitigating the adverse effects of pesticide exposure on bee populations and environmental health.

Assessing the environmental pesticides impact of river sediments from a basin in western Mexico: Spatiotemporal distribution, risk assessment of aquatic invertebrates and pesticides prioritization.

The intensive use of pesticides in Mexican agriculture has contributed significantly to the increase in food production, but at the same time represents potential risk to biota. This situation creates a dilemma between the need to increase food production and the preservation of the environment and human health. Aquatic invertebrates play a vital role in the balance of aquatic ecosystems but are sensitive to pesticides contamination. The sensitivity of aquatic invertebrates to pesticides contamination has led them to be used to assess the potential impact of this contamination on aquatic ecosystems. In the present study, conducted in the Ayuquila-Armería basin, the following aims were achieved: 1) quantifying the presence of 20 pesticides in river sediments, 2) assessing the spatiotemporal distribution of pesticides in river sediments, 3) determining the potential risk to aquatic invertebrates, and 4) prioritizing pesticides based on their potential risk. Twelve pesticides were consistently quantified in 192 river sediments samples. The pesticides with the highest concentrations were ametrine, malathion and picloram. The temporal analysis showed seasonality in pesticide concentrations, with higher detection frequencies during the wet season. The risk assessment showed that aquatic invertebrates may be affected by the concentrations of carbofuran, malathion, diazinon and ametrine. Pesticides prioritization identified ametrine, carbofuran, and diazinon as major concerns based on the methodology that considers the Frequency and Extent of Exceedance. This study provides valuable insights into the current pesticides scenario in the Ayuquila-Armería River sediments. The findings underscore the need for sustainable alternatives to mitigate the ecological risks associated with pesticides contamination in this aquatic ecosystem.

Occurrence and temporal distribution of oxandrolone and meclizine in surface water, sediments, fish muscle and otter feces of the Ayuquila-Armería basin, Mexico.

Aquatic ecosystems worldwide are strongly influenced by the productive activities of a region. These activities can generate pollution by compounds with little-known or unknown characteristics and without regulation. Emerging contaminants are a group of compounds that have worldwide begun to be frequently detected in the environment, raising concern about their possible adverse effects on human and environmental health. Thus, it is important to generate a broader panorama of the dissemination of contaminants of emerging concern in the environment, implement actions to regulate their usage. This study aims to evaluate the occurrence and temporal distribution of oxandrolone and meclizine in surface water, sediments, tilapia muscle, and otter feces of the Ayuquila-Armería river, Mexico. Oxandrolone was detected in 55 % of the total analyzed samples, while meclizine was present in 12 %. In surface water, oxandrolone was present in 56 % of the samples, while meclizine in 8 %. In sediments, oxandrolone was detected in 45 % and meclizine was not detected. In tilapia muscle, oxandrolone was present in 47 % of samples and meclizine was not detected. In otters feces samples, oxandrolone and meclizine were present in 100 %. Regardless of the season (wet or dry), oxandrolone was detected in all four sample types, while meclizine was only detected in surface water and otter feces samples. Oxandrolone in the aquatic ecosystem of the Ayuquila-Armería basin showed that season variation generates a significant effect on their concentrations, especially in surface water and sediments. Meclizine did not show temporal variations either in seasons or between years. Particularly, oxandrolone concentrations presented an influence with respect to the sites that present continuous residual discharges to the river. In this sense, this study could be considered as a starting point for further routine monitoring of emerging contaminants to support regulation policies regarding their use and disposal.

Occurrence, spatio-temporal distribution, and human health risk assessment of pesticides in fish along the Ayuquila-Armería River, Mexico.

Pesticide usage has contributed to increasing food production; it has also caused them to be found in ecosystems inducing adverse effects on biota. Fish are the most abundant and diverse vertebrates in the world and are of great importance both economically and ecologically. Some fishes are indicators of the environmental quality of aquatic ecosystems and provide insight as to how pollutants might influence public health. The tilapias species can be considered biomonitors because they present little displacement representing the contamination level of a site. This study aimed at three goals: (1) to determine the concentration of 20 pesticides in tilapia muscle in the Ayuquila-Armería basin, (2) to describe the spatiotemporal variation of analytes and (3) to evaluate the risk of consuming contaminated fish. The presence of 11 pesticides was determined. Ametrine, glyphosate and malathion concentrations showed significant differences by season. The risk assessment showed that the consumption of tilapia muscle from the Ayuquila-Armería basin does not represent a risk for the population. Diazinon concentrations were relatively low compared to the other pesticides concentrations, but its toxic characteristics were the ones that most negatively influenced the risk assessment. The results obtained are relevant from the social and economic points of view.

Study of feces of neotropical otters (Lontra longicaudis) in the Ayuquila-Armería basin, Mexico as biomonitors of the spatiotemporal distribution of pesticides.

The pesticides used have contributed to increasing food production; it has also caused them to be found in most ecosystems and have negative effects on biota. The neotropical otter (Lontra longicaudis) is vulnerable to pesticide accumulation and is characterized by being elusive, so it is necessary to address the use of indirect techniques that evaluate its populations' state in an efficient, logistically simple, and non-invasive way. This study aimed to determine the concentration of 20 pesticides in neotropical otter feces in the Ayuquila-Armería basin and to describe the spatiotemporal variation of these pesticides. The presence of 11 pesticides was determined. Imazalil, picloram, and malathion the pesticides with the highest concentrations; emamectin, λ-cyhalothrin, methomyl, and picloram were present in all samples. Emamectin was the only pesticide that presented significant differences concerning the temporality of the samplings, presenting higher concentrations in the wet season. Molinate concentrations showed significant differences concerning the location of the sampling sections in the basin; the lower part of the basin presented higher concentrations. The distribution of the populations of L. longicaudis in the Ayuquila-Armería basin does not respond to the degree of contamination by pesticides in surface waters or to the proximity to agricultural activities, and this in places with evident chemical and organic contamination and human presence. The use of otter feces for pesticide monitoring is an accepted non-invasive method to assess the degree of exposure and can be used to determine sites with pollution problems.

Hollow fiber liquid-phase microextraction combined with supercritical fluid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry for multiclass emerging contaminant quantification in water samples.

The hollow fiber liquid-phase microextraction allows highly selective concentration of organic compounds that are at trace levels. The determination of those analytes through the supercritical fluid chromatography usage is associated with many analytical benefits, which are significantly increased when it is coupled to a mass spectrometry detector, thus providing an extremely sensitive analytical technique with minimal consumption of organic solvents. On account of this, a hollow fiber liquid-phase microextraction technique in two-phase mode combined with supercritical fluid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry was developed for quantifying 19 multiclass emerging contaminants in water samples in a total chromatographic time of 5.5 min. The analytical method used 40 µL of 1-octanol placed in the porous-walled polypropylene fiber as the acceptor phase, and 1 L of water sample was the donor phase. After extraction and quantification techniques were optimized in detail, a good determination coefficient (r2 > 0.9905) in the range of 0.1 to 100 µg L-1, for most of the analytes, and an enrichment factor in the range of 7 to 28,985 were obtained. The recovery percentage (%R) and intraday precision (%RSD) were in the range of 80.80-123.40%, and from 0.48 to 16.89%, respectively. Limit of detection and quantification ranged from 1.90 to 35.66 ng L-1, and from 3.41 to 62.11 ng L-1, respectively. Finally, the developed method was successfully used for the determination of the 19 multiclass emerging contaminants in superficial and wastewater samples.

HPLC-DAD method for the detection of five annopurpuricins in root samples of Annona purpurea.

INTRODUCTION: Annona purpurea is a species known in Mexico as "cabeza de negro". In folk medicine A. purpurea root is used to treat patients with kidney diseases and cancer. Our recent studies demonstrated that this species contains five acetogenins named annopurpuricins A-E, which are active against tumoural cell lines in a subnanomolar range. OBJECTIVE: To develop an analytical method using a high-performance liquid chromatography diode array detector (HPLC-DAD) to quantify annopurpuricins A-E in different A. purpurea root samples. METHODOLOGY: To quantify the five annopurpuricins A-E a sample treatment was carried out, which consisted of fractionation by means of cold and hot maceration; using solvents of ascending polarity: hexane, dichloromethane, methanol and water. The resulting extracts were subject to HPLC-DAD analysis. The optimised chromatographic separation on a XBRIDGE C18 column achieved separation of all compounds in around 30 min. RESULTS: The developed method was validated according to ICH (International Conference on Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Registration of Pharmaceuticals for Human Use) validation guide. The developed analytical method was found fast, economic, robust, sensitive, linear and precise. The dichloromethane extract of A. purpurea contains annopurpuricin A in quantities 2- to 25-fold higher than annopurpuricins B-E. This optimised method identified and quantified five annopurpuricins, highly bioactive molecules, in A. purpurea root. CONCLUSIONS: The fingerprint of the dichloromethane extracts of A. purpurea was obtained at 210 nm. The results analysis allowed to quantify annopurpuricins A-E that are present in different collection batches of medium polarity extracts. After data analysis, annopurpuricin A could be establish as the metabolite marker of the root of the species.

Crystal structure of a new polymorph of 3-acetyl-8-meth-oxy-2H-chromen-2-one.

A new polymorphic form of the title compound, C12H10O4, is described in the ortho-rhom-bic space group Pbca and Z = 8, as compared to polymorph I, which crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2/c and Z = 8 [Li et al. (2012). Chin. J. Struct. Chem. 31, 1003-1007.]. In polymorph II, the coumarin ring system is almost planar (r.m.s. deviation = 0.00129 Å). In the crystal, mol-ecules are connected by Csp 3-H⋯O and Car-H⋯O hydrogen bonds, forming mol-ecular sheets linked into zigzag shaped layers along the b-axis direction. The three-dimensional lattice is assembled through stacking of the zigzag layers by π-π inter-actions with a centroid-to-centroid distance of 3.600 (9) Šand anti-parallel C=O⋯C=O inter-actions with a distance of 3.1986 (17) Å, which give rise to a helical supra-molecular architecture.

Validation of an HPLC-DAD method for the determination of plant phenolics

Abstract A selective, sensitive and precise reversed phase HPLC-DAD method was developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of six phenolic acids in the aqueous extract and their hydrolyzed forms prepared from Solanum elaeagnifolium Cav., Solanaceae, Ampelocissus acapulcensis (Kunth) Planch., Vitaceae, or Brosimum alicastrum Sw., Moraceae. The new method showed good linearity (r > 0.999) in a relatively wide concentration range (0.5-100 mg/l). The limits of detection and quantification for the compounds were in the range of 0.097-0.467 mg/l and 0.097-0.496 mg/l, respectively. The recoveries of compounds were calculated in three different concentrations in the range of 88.07-109.17% and matrix effect was less than 5% for all phenolic acids. Finally, our developed HPLC method is simple, reliable and successfully applied to identify and quantify the phenolic acids in complex aqueous extracts from medicinal species, that can be useful for the analysis of infusions that people consume in folk medicine.

Cytotoxic Acetogenins from the Roots of Annona purpurea.

Annona purpurea, known in Mexico as "cabeza de negro" or "ilama", belongs to the Annonaceae family. Its roots are employed in folk medicine in several regions of Mexico. Taking that information into account, a chemical and biological analysis of the components present in the roots of this species was proposed. Our results demonstrated that the dichloromethane (DCM) extract was exclusively constituted by a mixture of five new acetogenins named annopurpuricins A-E (1-5). These compounds have an aliphatic chain of 37 carbons with a terminal α,ß unsaturated γ-lactone. Compounds 1 and 2 belong to the adjacent bis-THF (tetrahydrofuran) α-monohydroxylated type, while compounds 3 and 4 belong to the adjacent bis-THF α,α'-dihydroxylated type; only compound 5 possesses a bis-epoxide system. Complete structure analysis was carried out by spectroscopy and chemical methods. All compounds were evaluated for their antiproliferative activity on three human tumor cell lines (MSTO-211H, HeLa and HepG2). Compounds 1-4 inhibited significantly the growth of HeLa and HepG2 cells, showing GI50 values in the low/subnanomolar range, while 5 was completely ineffective under the tested conditions. The investigation of the mechanism of action responsible for cytotoxicity revealed for the most interesting compound 1 the ability to block the complex I activity on isolated rat liver mitochondria (RLM).

Analytical Method for Pesticides in Avocado and Papaya by Means of Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography Coupled to a Triple Quadrupole Mass Detector: Validation and Uncertainty Assessment.

In this work, the uncertainty estimation for the determination of ametryn, carbofuran, atrazine, carbaryl, and methyl parathion in papaya and avocado is presented, along with other validation parameters. The analytical method was developed using Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe extraction and ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography coupled to a triple quadrupole mass detector. The method validation showed that the linear correlation coefficients were higher than 0.99 for both fruits. The limits of detection for avocado and papaya were in the range of 0.022 to 0.46 and 0.003 to 0.109 µg/g, respectively. Intermediate precision varied from 5.3% to 13.0% in papaya, and from 4.8% to 20.2% in avocado. Recoveries obtained for each pesticide in both matrices ranged between 61.3% and 119.0%. Matrix effect was calculated for all compounds in both fruits. Finally, the overall uncertainty was lower than 36% for both fruits. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: The present analytical method could be used for pesticides determination in different kind of fruits as papaya and avocado and as a practical guide for uncertainty and matrix effect determination.

The serum arachidonic acid/eicosapentaenoic acid ratio in children with healthy weight and obesity

The western diet is characterized by a high consumption of n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and reduced n-3PUFAs, this phenomenon has been parallel to the increase in the prevalence of obesity. The studies that have analyzed the association between serum PUFAs and the influence on the development of adiposity in children is limited and the findings are controversial. The present study compared the ARA/EPA (arachidonic/eicosapentaenoic) PUFA ratio in children with healthy weight vs. obesity in a cross-sectional study. Thirty children were diagnosed with obesity and 32 children with healthy weight determined through the age-specific body mass index (BMI) Z score, according to the WHO. The variables included were weight, BMI, waist circumference (WC), and the serum ARA/EPA ratio. The Student's t test and Pearson correlation were performed and statistical significance was set at a p <0.05. The project was approved by the local ethics committee of the hospital Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social. The serum ARA/EPA ratio was significantly higher in children with obesity compared with healthy weight (9.0 vs 5.4; p = 0.012). A statistically significant difference was observed between healthy weight boys and obese boys (p=0.003). Furthermore, the ARA/EPA ratio correlated positively with weight (r=0.336; p=0.008), BMI (r=0.373; p=0.003), WC (r=0.319; p=0.012) and cardio-metabolic risk (r=0.302; p=0.017). When performing a multivariate regression analysis, we identified that BMI was the only variable that remained significant and predicted the ARA/EPA ratio. In conclusion, the serum ARA/EPA ratio differed significantly in relation to weight and was higher in the obese children(AU)

La dieta occidental se caracteriza por un alto consumo de ácidos grasos poliinsaturados n-6(AGPI) y AGPIn-3 reducidos, fenómeno que ha sido paralelo al aumento en la prevalencia de la obesidad. Los estudios que han analizado la asociación entre AGPN en suero y adiposidad en niños son limitados y con hallazgos inconsistentes. El presente estudio comparó la relación ARA/EPA (ácido araquidónico/eicosapentaenoico) AGPI en niños con peso normal vs. obesidad. Es un estudio transversal donde treinta niños fueron diagnosticados con obesidad y 32 niños con peso normal determinado mediante el puntaje z del IMC para la edad, de acuerdo a la OMS. Las variables incluidas fueron peso, IMC, circunferencia de cintura (CC) y la relación ARA/EPA en suero. Se realizó prueba de t de Student y correlación de Pearson, la significación estadística se estableció en p <0,05. El proyecto fue aprobado por el comité de ética local del Hospital del Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social. La relación ARA/EPA en suero fue significativamente mayor en niños con obesidad en comparación con el peso normal (9,0 frente a 5,4; p = 0,012). Además, la relación ARA/EPA se correlacionó positivamente con el peso (r = 0.336; p = 0.008), IMC (r = 0.373; p = 0.003), CC (r = 0.319; p = 0.012). Al realizar un análisis de regresión multivariable, identificamos que el IMC fue la variable predictora que permaneció significativa. En conclusión, la relación de suero ARA/EPA fue significativamente mayor en los niños con obesidad(AU)

HPLC-DAD method development and validation for the quantification of hydroxymethylfurfural in corn chips by means of response surface optimisation.

In recent years, there has been an increased concern about the presence of toxic compounds derived from the Maillard reaction produced during food cooking at high temperatures. The main toxic compounds derived from this reaction are acrylamide and hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF). The majority of analytical methods require sample treatments using solvents which are highly polluting for the environment. The difficulty of quantifying HMF in complex fried food matrices encourages the development of new analytical methods. This paper provides a rapid, sensitive and environmentally-friendly analytical method for the quantification of HMF in corn chips using HPLC-DAD. Chromatographic separation resulted in a baseline separation for HMF in 3.7 min. Sample treatment for corn chip samples first involved a leaching process using water and afterwards a solid-phase extraction (SPE) using HLB-Oasis polymeric cartridges. Sample treatment optimisation was carried out by means of Box-Behnken fractional factorial design and Response Surface Methodolog y to examine the effects of four variables (sample weight, pH, sonication time and elution volume) on HMF extraction from corn chips. The SPE-HPLC-DAD method was validated. The limits of detection and quantification were 0.82 and 2.20 mg kg-1, respectively. Method precision was evaluated in terms of repeatability and reproducibility as relative standard deviations (RSDs) using three concentration levels. For repeatability, RSD values were 6.9, 3.6 and 2.0%; and for reproducibility 18.8, 7.9 and 2.9%. For a ruggedness study the Yuden test was applied and the result demonstrated the method as robust. The method was successfully applied to different corn chip samples.

Validation and assessment of matrix effect and uncertainty of a gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry method for pesticides in papaya and avocado samples.

In this paper a method of using the "quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe" (QuEChERS) extraction and gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry detection (GC-MS) was developed for the analysis of five frequently applied pesticides in papaya and avocado. The selected pesticides, ametryn, atrazine, carbaryl, carbofuran, and methyl parathion, represent the most commonly used classes (carbamates, organophosphorous, and triazines). Optimum separation achieved the analysis of all pesticides in < 6.5 minutes. Validation using papaya and avocado samples established the proposed method as linear, accurate, and precise. In this sense, the correlation coefficients were > 0.99. The limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) in papaya ranged from 0.03 mg/kg to 0.35 mg/kg and from 0.06 mg/kg to 0.75 mg/kg, respectively. Meanwhile for avocado, LOD values varied from 0.14 mg/kg to 0.28 mg/kg and LOQ values ranged from 0.22 mg/kg to 0.40 mg/kg. Recoveries obtained for each pesticide in both matrices ranged between 60.6% and 104.3%. The expanded uncertainty of the method was < 26% for all the pesticides in both fruits. Finally, the method was applied to other fruits.

Direct immersion single drop micro-extraction method for multi-class pesticides analysis in mango using GC-MS.

Due the negative effects of pesticides on environment and human health, more efficient and environmentally friendly methods are needed. In this sense, a simple, fast, free from memory effects and economical direct-immersion single drop micro-extraction (SDME) method and GC-MS for multi-class pesticides determination in mango samples was developed. Sample pre-treatment using ultrasound-assisted solvent extraction and factors affecting the SDME procedure (extractant solvent, drop volume, stirring rate, ionic strength, time, pH and temperature) were optimized using factorial experimental design. This method presented high sensitive (LOD: 0.14-169.20µgkg-1), acceptable precision (RSD: 0.7-19.1%), satisfactory recovery (69-119%) and high enrichment factors (20-722). Several obtained LOQs are below the MRLs established by the European Commission; therefore, the method could be applied for pesticides determination in routing analysis and custom laboratories. Moreover, this method has shown to be suitable for determination of some of the studied pesticides in lime, melon, papaya, banana, tomato, and lettuce.

Emerging contaminant determination in water samples by liquid chromatography using a monolithic column coupled with a photodiode array detector.

Concern about the presence of emerging contaminants in the environment has increased because biological activity at low concentrations has been observed. The difficulty of detecting and quantifying these compounds encourages the development of analytical methods with highly sensitive and selective analytical procedures. Pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and industrial chemicals are used and finally discarded to the environment. This paper provides a rapid and sensitive analytical method for the quantification of eight emerging contaminants (carbamazepine, carbofuran, bisphenol A, diuron, 17 α ethinylestradiol, ametryn, carbazole, and triclosan). A two-level full factorial design for optimization of chromatographic separation and sample preparation was performed. The separation using a monolithic column (Onyx C18) achieved baseline resolution for all compounds in 4.6 min. The optimized sample treatment involved a preconcentration step by means of solid-phase extraction using HF Bond Elut-C18 cartridges, achieving an enrichment factor of 2222. Under optimum conditions, good linearity was obtained with a correlation coefficient higher than 0.999. The limits of detection and quantification for carbamazepine, carbofuran, bisphenol A, diuron, 17 α ethinylestradiol, ametryn, and carbazole were in the range of 0.01-208.7 and 0.03-695.7 ng L(-1), respectively, and for triclosan, the limit of detection and quantification was 0.67 and 2.25 µg L(-1), respectively. Precision evaluated as relative standard deviations was lower than 15 %. The proposed method was found robust. Finally, the method was successfully applied to superficial water samples.

Analytical method development for the determination of emerging contaminants in water using supercritical-fluid chromatography coupled with diode-array detection.

An analytical method using supercritical-fluid chromatography coupled with diode-array detection for the determination of seven emerging contaminants-two pharmaceuticals (carbamazepine and glyburide), three endocrine disruptors (17α-ethinyl estradiol, bisphenol A, and 17ß-estradiol), one bactericide (triclosan), and one pesticide (diuron)-was developed and validated. These contaminants were chosen because of their frequency of use and their toxic effects on both humans and the environment. The optimized chromatographic separation on a Viridis BEH 2-EP column achieved baseline resolution for all compounds in less than 10 min. This separation was applied to environmental water samples after sample preparation. The optimized sample treatment involved a preconcentration step by means of solid-phase extraction using C18-OH cartridges. The proposed method was validated, finding recoveries higher than 94 % and limits of detection and limits of quantification in the range of 0.10-1.59 µg L(-1) and 0.31-4.83 µg L(-1), respectively. Method validation established the proposed method to be selective, linear, accurate, and precise. Finally, the method was successfully applied to environmental water samples.

Levels of eicosapentaenoic acid in obese schoolchildren with and without insulin resistance / Niveles de ácido eicosapentaenoico en escolares obesos con y sin resistencia a la insulina

Background: Obesity in children is now an increasing health risk worldwide in which the insulin-resistance can be present. Studies have linked a diet rich in n-3 fatty acids with a lower prevalence of insulin-resistance. Objective: To compare the levels of eicosapentaenoic acid among obese children with and without insulin-resistance. Materials and Methods: In 56 randomly school-age children with obesity, insulin-resistance was determined by the homeostasis model assessment for insulin-resistance index and the serum levels of eicosapentaenoic acid were determined by gas chromatography. Insulin-resistance was established when the index was >6.0, non- insulin-resistance when that index was <1.4 and as an intermediate group when the index was within the range of1.4-5.9. The serum levels of eicosapentaenoic acid were compared with the Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests, as needed. Results: No differences in age or sex were identified among the groups studied. The anthropometric parameters were significantly higher in the group of children with insulin-resistance than in the other two groups. The children with insulin- resistance had significantly lower levels of eicosapentaenoic acid than the non- insulin-resistance group [12.4% area under the curve vs. 37.4%, p= 0.031], respectively. Conclusion: Obese primary school-aged children with insulin-resistance had lower plasma levels of eicosapentaenoic acid (AU)

Introducción: La obesidad en los niños es un problema de salud pública en todo el mundo y la resistencia a la insulina puede estar presente. Existen estudios publicados que han relacionado una dieta rica en n-3 ácidos grasos con una menor prevalencia de resistencia a la insulina en sujetos obesos. Objetivo: Comparar los niveles de ácido eicosapentaenoico en niños escolares obesos con y sin resistencia a la insulina. Métodos: Se eligieron al azar 56 niños en edad escolar con obesidad, a los cuales se les determinó resistencia a la insulina mediante la evaluación del modelo de homeostasis para el índice de resistencia a la insulina y se determinaron los niveles séricos de ácido eicosapentaenoico por cromatografía de gases. La resistencia a la insulina se estableció cuando el índice fue> 6,0, no resistencia a la insulina cuando ese índice fue <1,4 y como un grupo intermedio cuando el índice estaba dentro del rango de 1.4 a 5.9. Los niveles séricos de ácido eicosapentaenoico se compararon entre los grupos estudiados con las pruebas de Kruskal-Wallis y Mann-Whitney U, según fue necesario. Resultados: No hubo diferencias en la edad o el sexo entre los grupos estudiados. Los parámetros antropométricos fueron significativamente mayores en el grupo de niños con resistencia a la insulina que en los otros dos grupos. Los niños con resistencia a la insulina tenían niveles significativamente más bajos de ácido eicosapentaenoico que el grupo que no tenía resistencia a la insulina [área 12,4% bajo la curva frente a 37,4%, p = 0,031], respectivamente. Conclusión: los niños en edad escolar obesos con resistencia a la insulina presentaron niveles plasmáticos más bajos de ácido eicosapentaenoico que los niños escolares obesos sin resistencia a la insulina (AU)

Supercritical fluid chromatography with photodiode array detection for pesticide analysis in papaya and avocado samples.

To improve the analysis of pesticides in complex food matrices with economic importance, alternative chromatographic techniques, such as supercritical fluid chromatography, can be used. Supercritical fluid chromatography has barely been applied for pesticide analysis in food matrices. In this paper, an analytical method using supercritical fluid chromatography coupled to a photodiode array detection has been established for the first time for the quantification of pesticides in papaya and avocado. The extraction of methyl parathion, atrazine, ametryn, carbofuran, and carbaryl was performed through the quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe methodology. The method was validated using papaya and avocado samples. For papaya, the correlation coefficient values were higher than 0.99; limits of detection and quantification ranged from 130-380 and 220-640 µg/kg, respectively; recovery values ranged from 72.8-94.6%; precision was lower than 3%. For avocado, limit of detection values were ˂450 µg/kg; precision was lower than 11%; recoveries ranged from 50.0-94.2%. Method feasibility was tested for lime, banana, mango, and melon samples. Our results demonstrate that the proposed method is applicable to methyl parathion, atrazine, ametryn, and carbaryl, toxics pesticides used worldwide. The methodology presented in this work could be applicable to other fruits.

Levels of eicosapentaenoic acid in obese schoolchildren with and without insulin resistance.

BACKGROUND: Obesity in children is now an increasing health risk worldwide in which the insulin-resistance can be present. Studies have linked a diet rich in n-3 fatty acids with a lower prevalence of insulin-resistance. OBJECTIVE: To compare the levels of eicosapentaenoic acid among obese children with and without insulin-resistance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 56 randomly school-age children with obesity, insulin-resistance was determined by the homeostasis model assessment for insulin-resistance index and the serum levels of eicosapentaenoic acid were determined by gas chromatography. Insulin-resistance was established when the index was >6.0, non- insulin- resistance when that index was within the range of 1.4-5.9. The serum levels of eicosapentaenoic acid were compared with the Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests, as needed. RESULTS: No differences in age or sex were identified among the groups studied. The anthropometric parameters were significantly higher in the group of children with insulin-resistance than in the other two groups. The children with insulin- resistance had significantly lower levels of eicosapentaenoic acid than the non- insulin-resistance group [12.4% area under the curve vs. 37.4%, p = 0.031], respectively. CONCLUSION: Obese primary school-aged children with insulin-resistance had lower plasma levels of eicosapentaenoic acid.

Introducción: La obesidad en los niños es un problema de salud pública en todo el mundo y la resistencia a la insulina puede estar presente. Existen estudios publicados que han relacionado una dieta rica en n-3 ácidos grasos con una menor prevalencia de resistencia a la insulina en sujetos obesos. Objetivo: Comparar los niveles de ácido eicosapentaenoico en niños escolares obesos con y sin resistencia a la insulina. Métodos: Se eligieron al azar 56 niños en edad escolar con obesidad, a los cuales se les determinó resistencia a la insulina mediante la evaluación del modelo de homeostasis para el índice de resistencia a la insulina y se determinaron los niveles séricos de ácido eicosapentaenoico por cromatografía de gases. La resistencia a la insulina se estableció cuando el índice fue> 6,0, no resistencia a la insulina cuando ese índice fue.