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Summary: The objective of this study was to develop Tricholoma fracticum extract‐loaded chitosan nanoparticles (TFNPs) by ionic gelation method and to evaluate their in vitro antioxidant activity. Phenolic and flavonoid contents in the T. fracticum extract were measured spectrophotometrically and chromatographically. Characterisation of NPs was evaluated by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE‐SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), ZETA analysis, Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR), UV–visible spectroscopy (UV–Vis) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). In vitro antioxidant capacity was determined using 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′‐azino‐bis(3‐ethylbenzothiazoline‐6‐sulfonic acid) (ABTS) assays. The phenolic and flavonoid contents in the T. fracticum extract were measured as 7.1 ± 0.3 mg Gallic Acid Equivalent/g extract and 5.5 ± 0.6 mg Quercetin Equivalent/g extract, respectively. The particle size, polydispersity index (PDI) and zeta potential of Blank NP1 and TFNP were 265.5 ± 15.8 nm, 0.4, 38.7 ± 4.0 mV and 333.2 ± 16.3 nm, 0.4, 37.0 ± 4.1 mV, respectively. The highest antioxidant activity was observed in TFNP, followed by T. fracticum extract, chitosan and blank NP, respectively. The preserved or enhanced antioxidant activity observed in the encapsulated T. fracticum extract indicates the potential for loading similar mushroom extracts onto chitosan and thus preserving their bioactive properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the study, the levels of Cd, Pb, As, and Hg elemental impurities potentially present in coffee bean samples from Indonesia, Kenya, Colombia, Guatemala, and Türkiye were determined using chromatographic analysis, and the analysis results were utilized to assess the risks on human health. The risk assessment of coffee was calculated for one or three servings per day for 365 days a year. Exposure to coffee consumption was calculated according to age groups of young adults and middle-aged adults (20-65 years). When Cd, Pb, As and Hg levels in coffee samples were analyzed, Cd in coffee samples was found to be in the range of approximately 3.70 - 5.89 µg/kg, Pb in the range of 25.68-41.11 µg/kg, As in the range of 1.45-6.64 µg/kg and Hg in the range of 1.06-5.06 µg/kg. Hazard Index (HI) values for all elements in the assessment of non-carcinogenic risks were found to be <1.0. When the cancer risk (CR) value was calculated for Cd, Pb, and As, it was found that the CR value did not exceed the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) criteria in all coffee samples in both scenarios. Considering the assessment of the health risks of elemental impurities in five different coffee bean samples, it was concluded that all samples' CR and HI values did not exceed the USEPA criteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Valproic acid (VPA) is among the most commonly used antiepileptic drugs in childhood and adult epilepsy. Although VPA is well tolerated, it can cause life-threatening side effects. VPA has toxic and genotoxic effects. Antioxidants can reverse drugs' toxic and genotoxic effects. Therefore, our study aimed to evaluate the antigenotoxic protective effect of quercetin (QUE) against VPA genotoxicity by in vitro comet assay analysis method. Comet assay analysis was performed in five different groups. Group I; negative control (Sterile H2O), Group II; positive control (H2O2), Group III; VPA was applied in four different dose ranges, Group IV; QUE was applied in four different dose ranges, Group V; For the simultaneous combined administration of VPA and QUE, three different doses of VPA + four different doses of QUE were administered. Low-dose administration of QUE was more effective in ameliorating the damage caused by low-dose VPA (62.5 μg/ml) administration. It is seen that the genotoxic damage caused by the application of 125 μg/ml VPA can be eliminated by QUE at all doses. It was determined that different doses of QUE exhibited a significant antigenotoxic effect against damage caused by 125 µg/mL VPA (P<0.05). In our study, the curative effect of QUE on DNA damage was determined by in vitro comet analysis. Our analysis results showed that QUE ameliorates VPA-induced genetic damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective(s): Elemental impurity exposure that may occur in the use of supplements has the potential to pose a risk to human health. Vitamin C supplements are among the most commonly used supplements on a daily basis and in the long-term due to the pharmacological properties of vitamin C. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the non-carcinogenic health risk of elemental impurities that may cause contamination in orally administered vitamin C supplements. Materials and Methods: Ten elemental impurities (Cd, Pb, As, Hg, Co, V, Ni, Cr, Sb, and Sn) in 12 supplements were analyzed using ICP-MS. The estimated daily intake (EDI), hazard quotient (HQ), and hazard index (HI) values of elemental impurities were calculated for non-carcinogenic risk assessment. Cancer risk (CR) was additionally calculated for elemental impurities with carcinogenic properties detected in the samples. Results: Low levels of Cr and Hg were detected in some samples. While the HQ values of sample 1, sample 2, sample 8, and sample 9 for Hg were calculated as 0.054, 0.096, 0.064, and 0.086, respectively, the HQ values of sample 5, sample 10, and sample 11 for Cr were calculated as 0.011, 0.017, and 0.014, respectively. Since only Hg or only Cr was detected in samples with elemental impurity, the HI values in the samples are the same as the HQ values. Since the HQ and HI values calculated from the samples are not=1, there is no elemental impurity at a level that will hazard human health through supplement use. Other carcinogenic elements were not detected in the samples except Cr. In sample 5, sample 10, and sample 11, the CR values for Cr were 1.767.10-5, 2.571.10-5, and 2.089.10-5, respectively. In probability simulation, while HQ and CR values of Cr did not exceed the allowable value, the HQ level for Hg in the 95% slice was higher than the allowable value. Conclusion: There is no risk to human health and there is no critical difference between the supplements considering the elemental pollutant content among the vitamin C supplements of different trademarks. However, in order to keep the Hg level, which has a potential risk capacity, at low limits, it is recommended that the necessary risk-reducing measures be taken by the authorities and further studies be carried out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) is used to determine the concentration of drug in plasma/serum to adjust the dose of the therapeutic drug. Selective and sensitive analytical methods are used to determine drug and metabolite levels for the successful application of TDM. The aim of the study was to develop and validate using LC‐MS/MS to analyse quantitative assay of escitalopram (S‐CT) and metabolites in human plasma samples. In order to provide a convenient and safe treatment dose, it was aimed to determine the levels of S‐CT and its metabolites in the patients' plasma. A new method with short sample preparation and analysis time was developed and validated using LC‐MS/MS to analyse quantitative assay of S‐CT and its metabolites in plasma. Also, plasma samples of 30 patients using 20 mg S‐CT between the ages of 18 and 65 years were analysed by the validated method. The mean values of S‐CT, demethyl escitalopram and didemethyl escitalopram in plasma of patients were 27.59, 85.52 and 44.30 ng/mL, respectively. At the end of the analysis, the metabolic ratio of S‐CT and metabolites was calculated. It is considered that the method for the quantitative analysis of S‐CT and its metabolites in human plasma samples may contribute to the literature on account of its sensitive and easy application. Additionally, the use of our data by physicians will contribute to the effective drug treatment for their patients who take S‐CT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To determine the substance abuse profiles of patients treated a Drug Addiction Research, Treatment, and Education Center (AMATEM) in association with the percentage of substance use distribution and multiple substance use in their urine samples. For this, we retrospectively evaluated the urine sample analysis reports of 600 male and female patients aged 13 to 65 years who were treated at the AMATEM unit of İstanbul Neuropsychiatry Hospital between January 1st, 2015, and December 12th, 2015. Materials and Methods: The urine samples were sent to Üsküdar University Advanced Toxicology Analysis Laboratory and were analyzed using a UPLC tandem mass spectrometer (UPLC-MS/MS). To determine the substance use profiles of the patients applying to AMATEM, statistical assessment was performed on the analysis reports of the patients. Results: When the analysis reports of the 600 urine samples were examined, 293 patients were identified to have used addictive substances. The substances most frequently detected in the urine samples were respectively: cannabis, alcohol, morphine, cocaine, synthetic cannabinoids, 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine, and amphetamine. Conclusion: The findings in our study resemble the rates of cannabis use by the young population throughout the world. Our results show differences to the literature regarding the consumption of synthetic cannabinoids because the variety of synthetic cannabinoids change rapidly around the world each year. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]