Factors affecting the hydrolysis of the antibiotic amoxicillin in the aquatic environment.

The environmental fate of the frequently used broad-spectrum β-lactam antibiotic amoxicillin (AMX) is of high concern regarding the potential evolution of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Moreover, it is known that AMX is prone to hydrolysis, yielding a variety of hydrolysis products (HPs) with yet unknown effects. Studies to identify those HPs and investigate their formation mechanisms have been reported but a long-term study on their stability in real water samples was missing.

A rapid magnetic bead-based immunoassay for sensitive determination of diclofenac.

Increasing contamination of environmental waters with pharmaceuticals represents an emerging threat for the drinking water quality and safety. In this regard, fast and reliable analytical methods are required to allow quick countermeasures in case of contamination. Here, we report the development of a magnetic bead-based immunoassay (MBBA) for the fast and cost-effective determination of the analgesic diclofenac (DCF) in water samples, based on diclofenac-coupled magnetic beads and a robust monoclonal anti-DCF antibody.

Pitfalls in the Immunochemical Determination of β-Lactam Antibiotics in Water.

Contamination of waters with pharmaceuticals is an alarming problem as it may support the evolution of antimicrobial resistance. Therefore, fast and cost-effective analytical methods for potential on-site analysis are desired in order to control the water quality and assure the safety of its use as a source of drinking water. Antibody-based methods, such as the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), can be helpful in this regard but can also have certain pitfalls in store, depending on the analyte.

Plasma cells, plasmablasts, and AID/CD30 B lymphoblasts inside and outside germinal centres: details of the basal light zone and the outer zone in human palatine tonsils.

Plasma cells (PCs) in human palatine tonsils are predominantly located in the germinal centres (GCs), in the subepithelial space and near the deep connective tissue septa surrounding each crypt. We analysed the location, phenotype, and proliferation of GC PCs by immunohistology comparing them to PCs in the other two locations. Most PCs in GCs were strongly positive for CD38, CD138, CD27, IRF4, and intracellular (ic) IgG.

Tissue Specific Differentiation of Human Chondrocytes Depends on Cell Microenvironment and Serum Selection.

Therapeutic options to cure osteoarthritis (OA) are not yet available, although cell-based therapies for the treatment of traumatic defects of cartilage have already been developed using, e.g., articular chondrocytes.