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In this study, a new solid-phase extraction procedure has been developed for preconcentration and determination of Co ions in different water samples by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). Cobalt was preconcentrated as N,N 0 -bis(pyridine-2-ylmethyl)benzene-1,4-diamine (Co-BPMBDA) from sample solutions using a column containing Amberlite XAD-7 and was determined. In order to achieve the best performance for the method, effects of several parameters such as pH, concentrations of ligand, sample flow rate, eluent, and matrix ions on the method efficiency were investigated. Under optimum conditions, the preconcentration factor was found to be 200 for 1000 mL waters samples. Detection limit based on the 3S b criterion was calculated as 0.24 mg/L for 100 mL of sample solution and relative standard deviation was found to be 1.8%. The method was applied to determine the trace amounts of cobalt in water samples.Keywords: Amberlite XAD-7; Cobalt; Preconcentration; FAAS; Solid-phase extraction IntroductionCobalt is an important element for industry and for biological systems. Cobalt is present in vitamin B 12 and is an essential micronutrient for all living systems [1]. Drinking water, food, and inhalation are common ways of cobalt contamination for living organisms. The deficiency of cobalt in human and animal bodies results in anemia [2], while large amounts of cobalt causes to toxic effects (mechanism to fail in asthma, kidney and liver disorders, heart growth and expansion, sinus tachycardia), usually after occupational exposure to cobalt dust (cobalturia, cobaltemia) [3, 4]. There are two main alternative sources of cobalt for aquatic environment: Natural sources and anthropogenic sources. The natural sources include volcanic emissions, the weathering of rocks by the action of water and decomposition of plant waste. The main human-related sources of cobalt to aquatic environment are sewage and industrial waste [5].Since one of the routes of incorporation of cobalt into the human body is by ingestion, its determination in drinking water, food, and environmental samples such as soil and dust becomes very important [6].Several analytical techniques including electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS) [7], inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) [8], inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) [9], flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) [10], and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) [11,12] have been devised for the determination of cobalt in different matrixes.Due to the high complexity of the matrixes and the low level of cobalt ions in the aquatic samples, separation, and preconcentration step prior to cobalt analysis are needed [13,14]. There are many methods for preconcentration such as, coprecipitation, solvent extraction, electrochemical deposition, membrane extraction, and solid-phase extraction [15][16][17]. Solid-phase extraction (SPE) has become a preferred method at enrichment of many metal ions prior to their analysis by FAAS and other tec...

The levels of fat-soluble vitamin, trace element and fatty acid ofVitex agnus-castusL.,Juniperus oxycedrusL., andPapaver somniferumL. seeds in Turkey were determined by using HPLC, ICP-OES, and GC, respectively. In theVitex agnus-castusL.,Juniperus oxycedrusL., andPapaver somniferumL. seeds, linoleic acid (18 : 2) was determined with the highest level rates (%54.11, %28.03, and %72.14, resp.). In theVitex agnus-castusL. seeds, R-tocopherol,α-tocopherol, and K1levels were determined as 9.70 μg/g, 18.20 μg/g, and 24.79 μg/g, respectively; In theJuniperus oxycedrusL. seeds, R-tocopherol,α-tocopherol, and K1were determined as 18.50 μg/g, 0.84 μg/g, and 5.00 μg/g, respectively, and in thePapaver somniferumL. seeds, R-tocopherol,α-tocopherol, K1, and D2levels were determined as 43.25 μg/g, 122.05 μg/g, 12.01 μg/g, and 0.62 μg/g, respectively. In theVitex agnus-castusL.,Juniperus oxycedrusL., andPapaver somniferumL. seeds, nickel (Ni), zinc (Zn), and iron (Fe) were determined with the trace element level rates (4.42 mg/kg, 10.43 mg/kg, 3.71 mg/kg for Ni, 7.00 mg/kg, 7.70 mg/kg, and 24 mg/kg for Zn and 93.73 mg/kg, 187.95 mg/kg, and 149.64 mg/kg for Fe, resp.). These parameters in seeds are very important for human life.

ObjectiveAppendicitis is very commonly encountered in emergency clinics. There is an urgent need for early and accurate predictive biomarkers of appendicitis in order to save lives, because currently-available biomarkers are imprecise and their delayed response impairs the ability of emergency doctors and pediatric surgeons to provide timely and potentially effective therapies. This study was performed to determine whether changes in the blood levels of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) can help to diagnose acute appendicitis in children and distinguish acute appendicitis from abdominal pain.MethodsSixty children were enrolled and divided into three groups, with 20 patients per group: Group 1 (patients with appendicitis), Group 2 (patients with abdominal pain) and Group 3 (control). Blood NGAL levels were determined by ELISA.ResultsThe basal average serum NGAL levels were 8.2 ng/ml for Group 1, 3.9 ng/ml for Group 2, and 3.3 ng/ml for Group 3. Twenty-four and 72 h after surgery the levels were 5.1 and 2.8 ng/ml, respectively, in Group 1, 2.9 and 2.8 ng/ml in Group 2, and 2.6, 2.7 ng/ml in Group 3. Setting the cut-off point to 7 generated an area under the receiving operating curve (ROC) curve at 95 % confidence interval with 77.3 % sensitivity and 97.4 % specificity.ConclusionThese data indicate a significant difference in NGAL values between basal and postoperative measurements in appendicitis patients (p < 0.05). The ROC curve results showed that NGAL is a promising novel biomarker for the differential diagnosis of acute appendicitis from abdominal pain.

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