Low baseline salivary 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG) in drug-naïve patients with short-illness-duration first episode major depressive disorder.

Background: Central noradrenergic dysfunction with autonomic nervous system dysregulation are reported in major depressive disorder (MDD). Salivary 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (sMHPG) is indicative of central noradrenergic activity. Studies on MHPG in bodily fluids are inconsistent and scarce data is available regarding baseline sMHPG concentration in MDD.

Magnesium in drug-naïve patients with a short-duration, first episode of major depressive disorder: impact on psychopathological features.

Plasma magnesium concentration changes are seen in major depressive disorder (MDD). Dysregulation of magnesium homeostasis is associated with the severity of depression and specific psychopathological features including apathy, anxiety, irritability, fatigue and weakness. Results from studies on magnesium concentrations in MDD patients are inconsistent, and the evidence for magnesium ions being associated with specific features of depression and anxiolytic effects is unclear.

Development of hollow fiber-supported liquid-phase microextraction and HPLC-DAD method for the determination of pyrethroid metabolites in human and rat urine.

A simple hollow fiber liquid-phase microextraction method for the determination of synthetic pyrethroid metabolites, 3-phenoxybenzoic acid and 4-hydroxy-3-phenoxybenzoic acid, in human and rat urine was developed and validated. A polypropylene hollow fiber tightly fitted onto a Nylon rod and impregnated with organic solvent served as a disposable extraction device. Desorption of analytes was carried out in NaOH solution, analyzed further by gradient HPLC and diode array detection method.

Urinary concentrations of pyrethroid metabolites in the convenience sample of an urban population of Northern Poland.

Urinary concentrations of pyrethroid metabolites were measured in the first void urine samples collected from 132 healthy people living in the Gdańsk region of Northern Poland in 2010 and 2011. Four metabolites of synthetic pyrethroids: cis- and trans-3-(2,2-dichlorovinyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropane-1-carboxylic acids (cis-, trans-Cl2CA), cis-3-(2,2-dibromovinyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (Br2CA) and 3-phenoxybenzoic acid (3-PBA) were simultaneously liquid-liquid extracted, derivatized with hexafluoroisopropanol and analyzed by a gas chromatography ion-trap mass spectrometry. All the analytes were detected and quantified in the samples with various frequency, 3-phenoxybenzoic being the most often (80%) and the others less frequently (7-11%).

Persistent organochlorine contaminants in hair samples of Northern Poland population, 1968-2009.

The concentrations of persistent chlorinated organic pollutants were determined in hair samples (n=40) collected from inhabitants of Northern Poland in 1968, 1989 and 2009 using gas chromatography ion-trap tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS). Among the analytes were β- and γ-isomers of hexachlorocyclohexane (β- and γ-HCH), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (p,p'-DDT) and its metabolites (p,p'-DDE, o,p'-DDD, o,p'-DDT and p,p'-DDD) and 6 polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners (IUPAC Nos. 28, 52, 101, 138, 153 and 180).

Vitamin B6 and the immunity in kidney transplant recipients.

Objective: The study aimed to determine vitamin B6 status in elderly (age ≥ 60 years) and younger (age <60 years) recipients of allogeneic kidney graft and to investigate associations between vitamin B6 status and immunity markers.

Design: A retrospective observational study.

Setting: The study was conducted at the Medical University of Gdańsk, Poland.

Application of the high-performance liquid chromatography method with coulometric detection for determination of vitamin B(6) in human plasma and serum.

A reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography method (HPLC) with coulometric electrochemical detection has been developed and validated for the simultaneous analysis of pyridoxamine-5'-phosphate (PMP), pyridoxamine (PM), pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP), pyridoxal (PL), pyridoxine (PN) and 4-pyridoxic acid (4-PA) in human plasma and serum. The isocratic separation was achieved on C(18) column (250mmx4.6mm, I.

[Hiperhomocysteinemia in active and passive smokers and the levels of folate and vitamin B6 in plasma].

The increased plasma level of homocysteine have been shown to be the sensitive marker for the folate, vitamin B6 and cobalamins deficiency and an independent risk factor for the cardiovascular disease, neutral tube defects and a potential causal risk factor for neuropsychiatric disorders. The blood and plasma homocysteine levels except for genetic defects are influenced by age, gender, efficiency of detoxication systems, one or more unhealthy lifestyle factors, such as high alcohol consumption, low nutritional intake of vitamins, high coffee consumption, acquired disorders and lack of physical exercise. Many studies confirm that active tobacco smoking and environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) have been significantly associated with hiperhomocysteinemia.

[Smoking influence on the level of homocysteine and 5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid in active and non smokers].

Cigarette smoking is associated with oxidative stress and increased risk of many chronic diseased. Smoking inducts depletion of cellular antioxidant and is also known to be associated with an increased homocysteine level. Exposure to tobacco smoke has negative impact on the folic acid level.

Headspace single-drop microextraction and GC-ECD determination of chlorpyrifos-ethyl in rat liver.

The present work describes a headspace single-drop microextraction (HS-SDME) method in conjunction with gas chromatography electron capture detection (GC-ECD) for the determination of an organophosphate insecticide, chlorpyrifos-ethyl (CPF), in rat liver. Sample preparation included tissue homogenization with methanol in the presence of anhydrous sodium sulfate in order to isolate CPF from the matrix, followed by dilution with 10 mL of 0.1 M H(2)SO(4) and headspace microextraction to a 2-microL drop of 1-octanol.

[Smoking influence on cadmium, lead, selenium and zinc level in placenta, cord blood and maternal blood of women at delivery from Gdansk region].

Cadmium, lead, selenium and zinc levels were determined in placenta, maternal blood and cord blood of 53 women at delivery from Gdansk region. Non-smokers [NS], passive smokers [PS] and smokers [S] were identified by the questionnaire. Our results suggest that there is no smoking impact on the levels of determined elements in placenta.

[The influence of tobacco smoking on homocysteine and glutathione levels in biological samples].

The aim of this paper was to examine the effect of tobacco smoking on the level of homocysteine and glutathione in biological samples. The study comprised 30 people, who qualified into two groups--subjects who never smoke the cigarettes (n = 10) and currently smoking (n = 20). Smoking habit were assessed by questionnaire.

High-performance liquid chromatography method for the simultaneous determination of thiamine hydrochloride, pyridoxine hydrochloride and cyanocobalamin in pharmaceutical formulations using coulometric electrochemical and ultraviolet detection.

The method for the simultaneous determination of thiamine hydrochloride, pyridoxine hydrochloride and cyanocobalamin by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with coulometric electrochemical and UV detections is presented. The retention time of vitamins was repeatedly determined by isocratic elution using 0.05 M phosphate buffer-10% methanol and 0.

Osmotic and ionic haemolymph concentrations in the Baltic Sea amphipod Gammarus oceanicus in relation to water salinity.

The aim of this work was to determine the osmotic and ionic (Na(+), K(+), Ca(2+), Mg(2+) and Cl(-)) haemolymph concentrations in Gammarus oceanicus at different salinity levels. Being a species of marine origin it inhabits brackish waters of the Baltic Sea. G.