Despite the efforts of a number of research groups worldwide, we still have a poor understanding of the chemical nature of the fish kairomones which induce defensive morphology, life history and behavior in their planktonic prey. Bile excreted by foraging fish play a crucial role in their signaling systems. Using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), we revealed the presence of primary and secondary bile acids and bile salts in fish-conditioned water, similar as in carp bile. Upon exposure to either fish bile or commercially acquired bile salts, Daphnia demonstrated similar changes in life history and behavior as when exposed to fish kairomones. The synergic effect of the injured Daphnia alarm substance with fish bile on Daphnia life history is similar to the adaptive effect of the same alarm substance combined with fish kairomones. This strongly supports the view that fish bile or selected bile acids/salts may be responsible for the biological activity of kairomones.

Triamcinolone acetonide (TA) is a synthetic corticosteroid commonly used in medical practice to treat various skin conditions, including eczema, dermatitis, and allergies. It is a highly potent derivative of triamcinolone, with a strength that is about eight times greater than prednisone. Although it is sometimes used by athletes, it is important to note that the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) prohibits the use of glucocorticoids in competition when administered via injection, oral (including oromucosal, such as buccal, gingival, or sublingual), or rectal routes. However, they are allowed if administered otherwise, such as via inhalation or topical application to the skin. Anti-doping laboratories generally report Adverse Analytical Findings (AAF) for glucocorticoid group substances when their estimated concentration exceeds 30 ng/mL, with some exceptions such as triamcinolone acetonide, which has a reporting limit of 15 ng/mL. It is important to note that this only applies to the parent compound of specified metabolites. To address interpretation issues that can arise with other glucocorticoids, such as budesonide, the authors of this study investigated whether similar issues occur with triamcinolone acetonide. Specifically, they examined whether therapeutic doses of the commonly used medication Previsone could result in anti-doping rule violations due to the presence of triamcinolone acetonide and its metabolites in urine. The study involved ten healthy volunteers, and the analytical procedure was developed using liquid/liquid extraction, hydrolysis, and LC/MS/MS analysis. The results of the study showed that topical administration of therapeutic doses of Previsone does not pose a threat of anti-doping rules violation, as the excretion of the parent compound does not exceed the reporting limit in urine. Additionally, the concentration of 6β-hydroxy Triamcinolone acetonide was also well below the reporting limit.

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In the literature various chemical reagents have been developed during the past century that are suitable for the preliminary identification of different illicit drugs such as Marquis, Liebermann’s, Simon’s. Color tests are an important tool for the preliminary identification of illicit drugs in spite of developments in instrumental technology and the increased portability of this technology which enables its use in the field. Color tests or spot tests are chemical tests that involve the reaction of a sample with a reagent or a series of reagents to produce a color or a change in color. The popularity of color tests arises from the fact that they are generally simple, quick, inexpensive, and quite sensitive. They are readily available and require minimal materials. These factors enable color tests to be used in the field and can be employed by those without extensive chemical backgrounds. A negative result for a color test is helpful, for instant in excluding a drug or class of drugs, depending on the test performed. In this study, we are going to describe a concept of utilization of various Keggin-type heteropolyacids of molybdenum and tungsten as suitable reagents for the preliminary identification of suspected illicit drug samples. Heteropolyacids of molybdenum and tungsten will be used as solution (spot test) as well as strip test for the screen identification of illicit drug samples. Moreover, the electroanalytical diagnostic experiments and ATR-FTIR measurements have been also utilized for identification of various illicit drugs.

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