Magnetic ion imprinted polymers have been prepared and applied for the selective extraction and trace monitoring of cadmium ions in food samples. The characterization of synthesized sorbent was carried out by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, elemental analysis, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and thermal analysis. The separation of magnetic nanoparticles from the extraction solution could be easily carried out by applying an external magnetic field. Flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry was used for determination of the extracted target ion. The detection limit and linear dynamic range for the coupling of the proposed sample preparation method under the optimized conditions with FAAS were 0.02 μg L⁻¹ (based on 3S_b/m) and 0.1–500 μg L⁻¹, respectively. Finally, the applicability of the coupling of the solid phase extraction method with flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry was investigated by extraction and monitoring of cadmium ions in food samples. Therefore, the introduced technique can be applied by food scientists as a reliable pre-concentration stage before determination of cadmium by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry.

The authors describe a method for the trace determination of copper (II) and lead (II) in water and fish samples using solid-phase extraction via siliceous mesocellular foam functionalised by dithizone. Siliceous mesocellular was functionalised with dithizone, and the resulting sorbent was characterised by scanning electron microscopy, surface area analysis, thermogravimetric/differential thermal analysis and FTIR. Following solid-phase extraction of target ions by the sorbent, copper and lead ions were quantified by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Factors affecting the sorption and desorption of target ions by the sorbent were evaluated and optimised. The calibration plot is linear in the 1 – 500 μg L⁻¹ copper (II) and 3–700 μg L⁻¹ lead (II) concentration range. The relative recovery efficiency in real sample analysis is in the range from 96 to 102%, and precision varies between 1.7 and 2.8%. It is should be noted that the limits of detection for the copper and lead analysis were 0.8 and 1.6 μg L⁻¹, respectively. Also, the adsorption capacities for copper and lead ions were 120 and 160 mg g⁻¹, respectively. The obtained pre-concentration factor for the lead and copper ions by the proposed solid-phase extraction was 75. The method was successfully applied to the determination of low levels of copper (II) and lead (II) in tap, Caspian sea, Persian gulf and lake water and also their detection in fish samples.

Anti-inflammatory Activity of Stachys Pilifera Benth - Iranian Red Crescent Medical Journal - - Kowsar

Pramipexole is a dopamine (DA) agonist (D2 subfamily receptors) that widely use in the treatment of Parkinson’s diseases. Some epidemiological and genetic studies propose a role of inflammation in the pathophysiology of Parkinson’s disease. To our knowledge, there is no study regarding the anti-inflammatory activity of pramipexol. Therefore, the aim of the study was to investigate anti-inflammatory effect of pramipexol. Anti-inflammatory effects of pramipexole were studied in three well-characterized animal models of inflammation, including carrageenan- or formalin-induced paw inflammation in rats, and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced ear edema in mice. The animals received pramipexol (0.25, 0.5 and 1 mg/kg, I.P.) 30 min before subplantar injection of carrageenan or formalin. Pramipexol (0.5 and 1 mg/kg) was also injected 30 min before topical application of TPA on the ear mice. Serum malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were evaluated in the carrageenan test. Finally, pathological examination of the inflamed tissues was carried out. Pramipexole significantly inhibited paw inflammation 1, 2, 3 and 4 h after carrageenan challenge compared with the control group (p < .001). Pramipexol also showed considerable anti-inflammatory activity against formalin-evoked paw edema over a period of 24 h (p < .001). TPA-induced ear edema was markedly decreased by pramipexol (p < .001). The pathological evaluation of the paws and ears revealed that pramipexole reduced tissue injury, neutrophil infiltration, and subcutaneous edema. Pramipexole did not alter the increased serum levels of MDA due to carrageenan injection. These data clearly indicate that pramipexol possesses significant anti-inflammatory activity. It seems that its antioxidants do not play an important role in these effects.