Cadmium and zinc determination by neutron activation analysis and biochemical tests in tissues of workers professionally exposed to cadmium

Cadmium and zinc levels in urine, serum, hair obtained from workers professionally exposed to cadmium oxide dust and from a control, nonoccupationally exposed group were determined by neutron activation analysis. The study was completed by biochemical monitoring tests such as the ₂ (₂-MG) determination in urine and serum and the -aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) determination in blood. Significantly increased levels of cadmium in urine, serum, and hair, ₂-MG in urine and serum, ALAD in blood and decreased levels of zinc in serum were found in the exposed group compared to the control group. The most distinct differences of the parameters studied were observed for cadmium in hair. Correlations among the parameters were preliminary evaluated, too. For quality assurance purposes, the cadmium and zinc concentrations were determined in biological (standard) reference materials NBS SRM-1577 Bovine Liver, Bowen's Kale, IAEA A-11 Milk Powder, and IAEA H-8 Horse Kidney.     

Binary and ternary chromium(III) complexes with cellular reductants and DNA components isolated from redox type systems. Part 1. Chromium(VI)–cysteine–adenine (adenosine,ATP)

The reduction of CrO₃ with an excess of L-cysteine and its interaction with DNA fragments (adenine, adenosine) and ATP nucleotide was studied by analysis of the isolated solid products. The precipitates were characterised by elemental analyses, FAB mass spectral data, spectroscopic methods (u.v.–vis., f.i.r., i.r.) and magnetic measurements. The Cr^III complexes obtained appear to be various Cr^III cysteinate and adenine or ATP (but not adenosine) ternary species of the addition type bound through the hydrogen bonding network.     

Micellar enhanced ultrafiltration of cadmium

The preconcentration of cadmium from aqueous colloid solution containing 8-hydroxyquinoline as extractant, laurylsulphate natrium as surfactant,n-butanol as co-surfactant was performed using micellar ultrafiltration technique. Filters with different pore size and materials were used to achieve a separation from liquid solutions. The cadmium recoveries depending on different conditions (pH, concentration of surfactant) were determined and the results are explained in the terms of colloidal parameters in the compare with the classical solvent extraction.     

Isotachophoretic analysis of the dihydrofolate reductase reaction in the presence of methotrexate and ascorbic acid

The antifolate methotrexate (MTX) is widely used in cancer chemotherapy. In this study, we show that MTX (MTX-Glu1) and MTX-polyglutamates (MTX-Glu2-5) strongly inhibited the growth of the leukemic cell line MOLT-4. This effect, however, was mitigated by ascorbic acid. We investigated whether ascorbic acid is able to reduce dihydrofolic acid (DHF) to tetrahydrofolic acid (THF) directly or by circumventing the MTX inhibition of dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR). The inhibition of this NADPH-dependent reduction of DHF by MTX-Glun in the absence or presence of ascorbate, was determined by analytical isotachophoresis. Using 0.01 M HCl/histidine, pH 6.0, as a leading electrolyte (L) and 0.005 M 2-(N-morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid (MES)/histidine, pH 6.0, as a terminating electrolyte (T), MTX-Glun derivatives including MTX-Glu1 could be easily separated, whereas the quantitative estimation of THF was not possible. A quantitative characterization of the DHFR reaction by measuring NADPH, NADP+ and ascorbate was achieved with another system (L: 0.01 M HCI/beta-alanine, pH 3.73; T: 0.01 M caproic acid, pH 3.27). Nanomolar concentrations of MTX-Glu1-5 inhibited consumption of NADPH and production of NADP+. Ascorbic acid was not able to reduce DHF, neither directly nor after inhibition of DHFR by MTX. However, ascorbic acid seemed to diminish the oxidation of THF and this may account for its capacity to reduce the inhibitory effect of MTX on MOLT-4 cells.     

Identification of irradiated foods by monitoring radiolytically produced hydrocarbons

Many countries allow the treatment of foods with low doses of ionizing radiation to reduce microbial and insect infestations, inhibit maturation, and extend shelf life. Therefore, a reliable method is needed to identify irradiated foods and to determine their compliance with respect to allowable absorbed radiation dose. Several approaches for the identification of irradiated foods have been developed such as measurement of radiolytic products, chemiluminescence, and thermoluminescence, and the use of electron spin resonance spectroscopy to measure free radicals trapped in bone. A method for the determination of radiolytically produced hydrocarbons was developed in our laboratory to evaluate the utility of monitoring these compounds as indicators of food irradiation. The method involves the extraction of the radiolytic hydrocarbons from foods and their quantitation by gas chromatography. Concentrations of the radiolytically produced hydrocarbons increased linearly with radiation doses ranging from 0 to 6 kGy. The limit of detection appears to be approximately 1 kGy. The method was found to be useful for the identification of gamma-irradiated foods such as shrimp, frog legs, pork, beef, and poultry. Results of the method evaluation studies of these food matrices as well as factors affecting hydrocarbon production and determination will be presented.     

Synthesis and properties of 1-(6-methoxy)-2-benzothiazolyl)-2-pyridones

Substituted ]-(6-methoxy-2-benzothiazolyt)-2-pyridones were prepared from 2-amino-6-methoxybenzathiazate through N-(6-methoxy-2-benzothiazotyl) cyanvorearmileaznd-3-aryl-N-(6-methoxy-2-benzothiazolyt)-2-cyano-2-propenamides. The cyclization of the latter with malonodinitrile in the presence of piperidine gave the corresponding pyridones. The structures of the synthesized compounds were confirmed by¹H NMR and mass spectral data.Department of Organic Chemistry, Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, Slovak Technical University, 812 37 Bratislava, Slovakia. Published in Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 10, pp. 1402–1404, October, 1995. Original article submitted August 24, 1995.     

Photodegradation of a 1,3,4-thiadiazole-urea herbicide. Isolation,characterization, X-ray crystal structure and synthesis of photoproducts

The photodegradation of 1,3-dimethyl-1-(2-(3-fluorobenzylthio)-1,3,4-thiadiazol-5-yl)urea as a thin film and in solution is described. The two photoproducts from thin-film photolysis were characterized by spectral and synthetic methods. The X-ray crystal structure of one of the photoproducts is also reported. The rearrangements were shown to involve an S-to-N benzyl migration, followed by a sulfur-oxygen substitution.     

Carrier influence on the paramagnetic and catalytic properties of supported titanium complexes

Alumina-silica possessing various Al₂O₃/SiO₂ ratios was used as a carrier of surface titanium complexes. The systems obtained were examined as models for the investigation of the macroligand (inorganic gel) influence on the physicochemical properties of supported transition metal complexes. The titanium complexes were prepared first by the reaction of CpTiCl₃, with the hydroxyl groups of the gel and then reduced by an excess of BuLi. The influence was established of the basic gel properties on: (a) the amount of titanium(IV) and titanium(III) complexes on the alumina-silica gel surfaces; (b) the symmetry of the surface Ti^III surface complexes; (c) the electron density around the surface-Ti^III ions, ionic or covalent bonds character in a complex; and (d) the catalytic activity in olefin hydrogenation.     

Can colloidal particles flocculate at two energy minima simultaneously in a quiescent medium?

The effect of electrostatic repulsion forces on the gravity-induced flocculation of non-Brownian particles in a quiescent medium is analyzed, and the phenomenon that colloidal particles can simultaneously flocculate at both the primary minimum and the secondary minimum of the total interaction curve of DLVO theory is proved. A narrow strip region describing this "combined" flocculation behavior exists on the stability diagram, and the concept of a limiting trajectory can be applied to explain this interesting result.     

Vanadium determination in rat tissues and biological reference materials by neutron activation analysis

Vanadium was determined in adrenal gland, brain, ileum, kidney, liver, lung, muscle, myocard, skin, spleen, gonads, thyroid, and tibia of rats fed with normal diet and exposed to high vanadium doses in drinking water. Both radiochemical neutron activation analysis (RNAA) and instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) were employed. The RNAA procedure consisted in dry ashing samples prior to irradiation and vanadium separation from the irradiated samples by extraction with N-benzoyl-N-phenylhydroxylamine (BPHA) in toluene from 5 mol·l^–1 HCl. Vanadium accumulation as a function of a type of the tissue, exposure time, sex of rats, and administration of V(IV) or V(V) was studied. For quality assurance purposes, the biological (standard) reference materials NBS SRM 1571 Orchard Leaves, NBS SRM 1577a Bovine Liver, IAEA H-4 Animal muscle, and Bowen's Kale were analyzed.Presented at the 2nd Balkan Conference on Activation Analysis and Nuclear-Related Analytical Techniques, Bled, 4–6 October, 1989.