Fatty acid esters of monochloropropanediol (MCPD) and glycidol in refined edible oils.

Recently, fatty acid esters of monochloropropanediol (MCPD) and that of glycidol have been reported in refined edible oils. Since then a wealth of research has been published on the factors influencing the formation of these contaminants in foods. It can be noted that the predominant precursors in a given matrix will not necessarily be the same as in other matrices. Further, proven relationships in the past between precursors responsible for free MCPD or free glycidol formation will not necessarily be valid for their fatty acid-esterified counterparts. This review attempts to summarise the current status of the literature as it pertains to the reasons surrounding the manifestation of MCPD esters and glycidyl esters in oils and fats. Recent efforts to mitigate the levels of these contaminants were highlighted and put into the context of their respective reaction matrices. As more accurate occurrence data for MCPD esters and glycidyl esters in other foods are collected, more targeted mitigation experiments can be formulated with respect to the reaction matrices under investigation.

Analytical approaches for MCPD esters and glycidyl esters in food and biological samples: a review and future perspectives.

Esters of 2 - and 3-monochloropropane-1,2-diol (MCPD) and glycidol esters are important contaminants of processed edible oils used as foods or food ingredients. This review describes the occurrence and analysis of MCPD esters and glycidol esters in vegetable oils and some other foods. The focus is on the analytical methods based on both direct and indirect methods. Methods of analysis applied to oils and lipid extracts of foods have been based on transesterification to free MCPD and determination by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (indirect methods) and by high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (direct methods). The evolution and performance of the different methods is described and their advantages and disadvantages are discussed. The application of direct and indirect methods to the analysis of foods and to research studies is described. The metabolism and fate of MCPD esters and glycidol esters in biological systems and the methods used to study these in body tissues studies are described. A clear understanding of the chemistry of the methods is important when choosing those suitable for the desired application, and will contribute to the mitigation of these contaminants.

[Occupational and environmental exposure to anilide and dicarboximide pesticides]. / Esposizione ambientale e professionale a pesticidi propionanilidici e dicarbossimidici.

Dicarboximide fungicides (DF) such as vinclozolin, iprodione, procymidone are widely used on vines, fruit and vegetables, and anilide herbicides (AH) such as diuron, linuron, propanil are used to control weeds on hard surfaces, such as, roads, railway tracks, paths, and in crops, forestry. Italian reports on food safety found many samples contaminated by pesticides belonging to these categories, even though only few exceeding L.M.R. Since adverse effects on human health, such as endocrine disruption, have been reported, biological monitoring is essential for exposure assessment both of occupationally exposed subjects and of the general population. Common metabolites of DF and AH are dichloroanilinines such as 3,4-DCA and 3,5-DCA, urine samples from 153 subjects living in Novafeltria, central Italy, were collected for analysis of 3,4- and 3,5-DCAs, each participant was invited to complete a very detailed questionnaire. A total of 151 out of 153 samples were found to be positive for 3,5-DCA, and 81.7% were positive for 3,4-DCA. Also 33 workers, engaged in application of propanil on rice in northern Italy, were involved in the study and 3,4-DCA was determined as marker of exposure. 3,4 and 3,5 dichloroaniline are useful and promising biological indicators for monitoring occupational and environmental exposure to these classes of pesticides.

[Latex risk prevention in San Paolo Hospital in Milan]. / La prevenzione del rischio latice in una grande Azienda Ospedaliera Milanese.

Several epidemiologic studies have highlighted that latex sensitization prevalence rate has increased over twenty years both in the general and working population, mainly among health care workers. Such subjects can develop immediate local or systemic hypersensitivity reactions up to anaphylactic shock. First, at San Paolo Hospital in Milan, it has been determined latex sensitization and allergy prevalence rates in health care workers involved in health surveillance. Subsequently an interdisciplinary task group has been constituted in order to plan latex pathology preventive actions in health workers and to identify the preventive measures that must be applied in allergic patients. These facets are tightly one another linked. Since latex allergy primary prevention is the most effective, but difficult to put into effect. Operational protocols, by which recognize latex allergy risk factors and reduce exposure to this substance, have developed for both workers and users. Latex allergy and sensitization occurrence will not probably be erased by these procedures application, but they will be reduced within the limits as low as possible.

[The therapy of endometriosis. New prospects]. / La terapia dell'endometriosi. Nuove prospettive.

Surgery is still the first line of therapy for endometriosis. At present, medical therapy is mostly indicated for treatment and prevention of recurrences. Current pharmacological regimens induce a hypoestrogenic state; this effect tends, on one hand, to inhibit the growth of endometriotic implants while, on the other hand, it significantly interferes with the integrity of the hypothalamus-pituitary-ovarian axis. The aim of this study is to review current knowledge on the new experimental therapeutic approaches to the disease. English articles on this topic have been searched by Medline. A particular attention has been paid to experimental therapeutic interventions supported by in vivo results. Three different novel strategies have been identified: 1) To act on estrogenic dependence of endometriosis using new drugs such as aromatase inhibitors and raloxifene. These drugs may have the advantage to act more specifically on the disease. 2) To treat the disease with immuno-modulators and anti-inflammatory drugs. These compounds may be helpful in both limiting the growth of endometriotic implants and in controlling the symptoms of the disease. 3) To prevent adhesion reformation after surgical lysis. Adhesions are an important hallmark of endometriosis which cannot be adequately eliminated by surgery. The use of barrier and fluid agents after surgical lysis seems to be effective in this regard. Results from studies aimed to investigate the effectiveness of these approaches are appealing. However, controlled clinical trials are now required to appropriately determine their real benefits and their specific indications.

A 10% mannitol solution effective for colonic preparation for X-ray.

Hydroelectrolytic changes, the time of action and complications induced by oral administration of 10 per cent mannitol solution in the colonic preparation for X-ray examination were examined. Twenty-six patients were examined using two different solution volumes: one liter in 15 patients and two liters in 11 patients. No significant biochemical changes were noted. X-ray study of the colon revealed an insufficient evacuation in 3.8 per cent, sufficient in 7.6 per cent, and good in 88.6 per cent of cases. In 6 per cent nausea and vomiting occurred, in 11.7 per cent abdominal distention, and in 7.6 per cent hypotension. This approach was well tolerated, particularly when one liter of the solution was used.