A review of ethyl carbamate and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon contamination risk in cachaça and other Brazilian sugarcane spirits.

Sixteen polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have been identified in Brazilian sugarcane spirits. Contamination sources are: sugarcane burn before harvest and petroleum derivatives. PAHs concentration in spirits produced from burned cane was about 2-3 times higher than those from unburned cane. Benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) is present at less than 1%, and therefore is not a representative marker of cachaça contamination by PAHs. Ethyl carbamate (EC) is produced during both fermentation and distillation. During distillation, cupric ions may catalyse the conversion of cyanide to EC. In discontinuous distillation, the use of the heart fraction for bottling cachaça considerably decreases its concentration. In the continuous process, in which there is no separation of distillate, it is highly recommended to couple cooling devices and reflux systems to the distillation column. Consumers are at a greater risk of EC exposure from cachaça than from any other spirit.

Volatile composition of peppermint (Mentha piperita L.) commercial teas through solid phase extraction

Volatiles from aqueous extract of peppermint commercial sachets were investigated through gas chromatography/flame ionization detection (GC/FID) and GC/mass spectrometry (MS). Samples were prepared under similar conditions as in homemade tea. Volatiles were isolated using solid phase extraction method (SPE) with Porapak Q trap followed by desorption with acetone. Estimated mean values for short and medium chain carboxylic acids (C2- C12) and ketones lay in the range of 50-64 μg kg-1 whilst aliphatic alcohols and acyclic hydrocarbons had values lower than 6 μg kg-1. The major volatiles were terpenes (275-382 μg kg-1) that reached 89 % of the total composition. A total of 16 compounds, among them dodecane, acetoin, acetol, citral, geraniol and octanoic acid have been described by the first time in peppermint tea. These findings could be attributed to the different analytical approach employed, mainly to the use of different extraction/pre-concentration techniques. Given the apparently lower proportion of terpenes in the aqueous extract it may be that the chemical properties of the peppermint essential oil are not entirely reproduced with homemade tea.

Estudo da composição da fração volátil do extrato aquoso de sachês de hortelã pimenta (Mentha piperita L.) através da extração em fase sólida. O princípio desse trabalho foi investigar a fração volátil do extrato aquoso de sachês comerciais de hortelã pimenta usando cromatografia gasosa com detectores de ionização em chama e de massas. As amostras foram preparadas em condições similares às usadas para o preparo do chá caseiro. Os compostos voláteis foram isolados via método de extração em fase sólida com adsorvente Porapak Q e eluídos com acetona. Uma estimativa dos valores médios dos ácidos carboxílicos de cadeias média e curta ficou na faixa de 50-64 μg kg-1, enquanto alcoóis alifáticos e hidrocarbonetos acíclicos tiveram valores menores do que 6 μg kg-1. Os terpenos (275-382 μg kg-1) foram os compostos majoritários alcançando 89 % dos sólidos totais. Um total de 16 compostos voláteis, entre eles, dodecano, acetoína, acetol, citral, geraniol e ácido octanóico foram descritos pela primeira vez no chá de hortelã pimenta. Esses resultados poderiam ser atribuídos aos diferentes métodos analíticos empregados, principalmente devido ao uso de diferentes técnicas de extração e pré-concentração. Em função da proporção menor de terpenos no extrato aquoso é razoável especular que as propriedades químicas do óleo essencial da hortelã pimenta não sejam totalmente reproduzidas com o consumo do chá caseiro.

Volatile composition of peppermint (Mentha piperita L.) commercial teas through solid phase extraction.

Volatiles from aqueous extract of peppermint commercial sachets were investigated through gas chromatography/flame ionization detection (GC/FID) and GC/mass spectrometry (MS). Samples were prepared under similar conditions as in homemade tea. Volatiles were isolated using solid phase extraction method (SPE) with Porapak Q trap followed by desorption with acetone. Estimated mean values for short and medium chain carboxylic acids (C2-C12) and ketones lay in the range of 50-64 microg kg(-1) whilst aliphatic alcohols and acyclic hydrocarbons had values lower than 6 microg kg(-1). The major volatiles were terpenes (275-382 microg kg(-1)) that reached 89 % of the total composition. A total of 16 compounds, among them dodecane, acetoin, acetol, citral, geraniol and octanoic acid have been described by the first time in peppermint tea. These findings could be attributed to the different analytical approach employed, mainly to the use of different extraction/pre-concentration techniques. Given the apparently lower proportion of terpenes in the aqueous extract it may be that the chemical properties of the peppermint essential oil are not entirely reproduced with homemade tea.

Repeat tension-free transvaginal tape (TVT) sling for the treatment of recurrent stress urinary incontinence.

The pubovaginal sling is one of the preferred procedures for the treatment of female stress urinary incontinence because of its improved long-term cure rates. Recently a modified technique of the pubovaginal sling, known as the tension-free transvaginal tape (TVT), has gained popularity. We present the first reported cases of repeat TVT pubovaginal sling for the treatment of patients with recurrent stress urinary incontinence. Both patients had repeat TVT slings performed between 6 and 9 months following the initial procedure without revision or removal of the previous TVT sling. Both patients reported surgical cure without significant intraoperative or postoperative complications. It appears that reapplication of the TVT polypropolene sling may be a viable option in the event of initial TVT sling failure.

Placental vessel morphometry in growth retardation and increased resistance of the umbilical artery Doppler flow.

OBJECTIVES: To study the tertiary-stem villi vessel lumen and wall thickness of placenta in pregnancy complicated with placental insufficiency and intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR), its correlation with the umbilical artery Doppler flow study, and compare with normal and non-IUGR pregnancies. METHODS: Placentas from 45 deliveries (between 28 and 38 weeks) were collected for morphometric study of the tertiary-stem villi vessels. Each pregnancy had clinical suspicion of IUGR and was confirmed by serial ultrasound biometry, HC/AC ratio, and had abnormal umbilical artery Doppler velocimetry (RI). Each placenta was weighed after trimming of the membrane and the cord. Sections of the placenta (4 micron) were stained with hematoxylin and eosin and periodic acid-Schiff reagents. Tertiary-stem villi vessels were identified under a microscope (x40) and morphometric study was performed. Inner and outer circumferences (2.pi.r) were measured, radii (r) were calculated, and vessel wall thickness was determined (outer r - inner r). These findings were compared with the findings from 78 placentas from normal pregnancies (between 28-40 weeks) and 27 placentas from pregnancies with medical complications without IUGR (non-IUGR) and with normal Doppler velocimetry (between 33 and 38 weeks). RESULTS: Weight of placentas were significantly (P < 0.005) lower in IUGR than the normal and non-IUGR groups. The vessel wall thickness was significantly (P < 0.0001) increased in IUGR group (mean 21.17 +/- 3.16 micron [SD]) compared to normal and non-IUGR groups (mean 13.19 +/- 1.66 micron). With advancing gestational age, the thicknesses of vessel walls in all groups were significantly (P < 0.001) decreased. There was significant (P < 0.001) decrease in lumen circumference in the IUGR group (mean 173 +/- 31 micron) compared to normal and non-IUGR groups (mean 69 +/- 23 micron). Significant (P < 0.001) correlation was observed between the thickness of a vessel wall and the increase in Doppler RI. CONCLUSIONS: Pregnancies with growth retardation are associated with smaller placentas, increase in the thickness of tertiary-stem villi vessel wall, and decrease in lumen circumference. These changes are associated with an increase in the resistance index of the umbilical artery Doppler flow velocimetry.