Effects of oral exposure to arsenobetaine during pregnancy and lactation in Sprague-Dawley rats.

Arsenobetaine (ASB) is the major form of arsenic (As) in seafood sources such as molluscs and fish. Limited data demonstrated that ASB toxicity in mammals is minimal; however, data on possible reproductive effects are lacking. This study investigated the tissue distribution and developmental effects of ASB during pregnancy, early postnatal life, and development to adulthood.

Patient Follow-up in an Urban Resident Continuity Clinic: An Initiative to Improve Scheduling Practices.

Introduction: Failure to schedule timely follow-up appointments may impair continuity and quality of care, especially for patients with low health literacy and unstable living situations. Resident continuity clinics face particular challenges in scheduling patient follow-up because of residents' complex schedules and limited time in clinic.

Methods: As part of a structured quality-improvement curriculum, residents initiated discussions with clinical supervisors and clerical staff to evaluate and improve scheduling practices in an urban continuity clinic.

Monitoring of shrimp and farmed fish sold in Canada for cyanobacterial toxins.

Sixty-one samples of shrimp and 32 samples of farmed fish collected from retail markets across Canada were analyzed for cyanobacterial toxins, including microcystins, paralytic shellfish poisons (saxitoxins), cylindrospermopsin, and β-N-methylamino-L-alanine, using established methods of analysis. None of these toxins were detected in any of the samples. Some shrimp samples screened for paralytic shellfish poisons showed the presence of unknown peaks in the chromatogram after periodate oxidation.

Challenges and trends in the determination of selected chemical contaminants and allergens in food.

This article covers challenges and trends in the determination of some major food chemical contaminants and allergens, which-among others-are being monitored by Health Canada's Food Directorate and for which background levels in food and human exposure are being analyzed and calculated. Eleven different contaminants/contaminant groups and allergens have been selected for detailed discussion in this paper. They occur in foods as a result of: use as a food additive or ingredient; processing-induced reactions; food packaging migration; deliberate adulteration; and/or presence as a chemical contaminant or natural toxin in the environment.

Liquid chromatographic determination of the cyanobacterial toxin beta-n-methylamino-L-alanine in algae food supplements, freshwater fish, and bottled water.

Beta-N-Methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) is a neurotoxin originally found in cycad seeds and now known to be produced by many species of freshwater and marine cyanobacteria. We developed a method for its determination in blue-green algae (BGA) food supplements, freshwater fish, and bottled water by using a strong cation-exchange, solid-phase extraction column for cleanup after 0.3 M trichloroacetic acid extraction of BGA supplements and fish.

Survey of dry pasta for ochratoxin A in Canada.

Ochratoxin A (OTA) was determined in 274 samples of dry pasta sold across Canada in 2004 to 2006. Ground sample was extracted with acetonitrile-water (6:4 [vol/vol]), filtered, diluted with phosphate-buffered saline, and cleaned with an immunoaffinity column. Analysis was by reversed-phase liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection, and in the second year by liquid chromatography-electrospray tandem mass spectrometry as well.

Development of a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method using capillary liquid chromatography and nanoelectrospray ionization-quadrupole time-of-flight hybrid mass spectrometer for the detection of milk allergens.

Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis of the tryptic digest of a cleaned-up food matrix extract was used for the detection of milk allergens. The emphasis of this study was on casein, which is the most abundant milk protein and is also considered the most allergenic. A sample cleanup method was developed using an ion exchange column and centriprep device.

Extraction of fumonisins B1 and B2 from white rice flour and their stability in white rice flour, cornstarch, cornmeal, and glucose.

To extract fumonisin B1 (FB1) and fumonisin B2 (FB2) from Thai white rice flour, different solvent mixtures, temperatures, pH values, and addition of enzymes or ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid disodium salt (Na2EDTA) were examined. Three extractions with 0.1 M Na2EDTA achieved the highest recoveries.