A different, reliable, and cost-effective strategy for the analysis of aflatoxins, ochratoxin A, and zearalenone in corn-based foods was proposed, including one multi-toxin immunoaffinity column (IAC) sample preparation and three different high-performance liquid chromatography fluorescence detection methods. The analytical procedures were tested and verified, keeping in mind their occurrence at trace levels in corn-based foods. With the validation of the proposed multi-toxin IAC methodology and comparison of the performance characteristics with methods using a single-toxin IAC, we confirmed the reliability of the multi-toxin IAC procedure versus the single-toxin IAC. The methods were validated by revealing satisfactory performance characteristics; for example, the obtained values of limit of detection were significantly lower than the maximum limits for all mycotoxins of concern. In addition, the recovery values were between 70.9 % and 106.1 % for all mycotoxins of interest, with precision values lower than 10.5 %.

Wheat is one of the world’s most commonly consumed cereal grains. It originates from a type of grass (Triticum) that is grown in countless varieties worldwide. Bread wheat or common wheat is a primary species. Several other closely related species include durum, spelt, emmer, einkorn, and Khorasan wheat. In addition to being a major source of starch and energy, wheat also provides substantial amounts of a number of components which are essential or beneficial for health, notably proteins, vitamins (notably B vitamins), dietary fibres, and phytochemicals. Wheat is a basic food product of Macedonian population. This study is mainly focused on measuring the concentration of radioactivity due to natural radioactive nuclides (226Ra, 232Th, 40K) in wheat grain samples, as well as on determining the quality of wheat used in daily diet. In addition, in this study we calculated radiation hazard indices (radium equivalent activity and internal hazard index) in the wheat sample. Average activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K in the wheat samples were 0.57±0.14; 0.39±0.11; 96.55±0.86 (Bq·kg-1), respectively. The radiation hazard indices were calculated for all samples in this study where mean values ​​did not exceed safety limits, pointing out to negligible radiation hazard arising from terrestrial radionuclides that are naturally present in wheat. In terms of quality, we confirmed that all tested samples meet the requirements regarding quality in accordance with the laws in our country.

Targeting sonic hedgehog pathway in combination with proton radiation or gamma irradiation decreases viability of glioma cell lines .

Milk is one of the most important food products in the human diet and contains all the macronutrients, that are, proteins, carbohydrates, fat, vitamins (A, D and B groups) and trace elements, especially calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, zinc and selenium. Milk contamination is largely due to the grazing of animals on contaminated grass and drinking water. Grass is a direct source or route of radionuclides to animals and humans through the consumption of meat and milk. One of the important tasks of the veterinary activity is veterinary-sanitary supervision of the production and sale of milk and dairy products, whose main goal is the provision of biologically good milk and dairy products from healthy animals. The purpose of this study was to determine the activity concentrations of 226 Ra, 232 Th 40 K and 137 Cs in milk samples most commonly used in daily consumption in the Republic of North Macedonia and based on the results, the risk of radiation to the population can be estimated. An instrument -gamma spectrometer (Canberra Packard) with a high purity germanium detector and GENIE 2000 programme was used for measurement of the samples. On the basis of the performed tests, the main activity concentrations of 226 Ra, 232 Th, and 40 K were 1.76 ± 0.23; 1.05 ± 1.00; 31.9 ± 5.07 (Bq•kg -1 ), respectively. 40 K has the highest value compared to other radionuclides due to the process of transfer from soil to grass and from grass and water to milk. The activity of 137 Cs is below the detection limit for all tested milk types. This shows that there is no risk of radiation to the population, i.e., the safety limits are not exceeded, which points out the insignificant threat of radiation arising from radionuclides that are naturally or artificially present in the tested milk, and that reach humans through the food chain.

The care of radioactivity level in animal feed is very important, as ingestion is one of the most common ways radionuclides enter living organisms. Thus, since humans consume products of animal origin (eggs and poultry, milk and beef), it is important to monitor radiation levels in animal feed, as part of the radioactivity that these animals are exposed to, could be transmitted to humans. Natural radionuclides such as 40K, 232Th and 226Ra find their way into the food chain from soil and air to plants and from plants to animals and humans as well. The goal of this study was to determine the activity concentrations of natural radionuclides in three commercial chicken feeds – starter, grower and finisher. The analyzes were performed by means of HPGe gamma spectrometry - gamma spectrometer (Canberra Packard) with a high-purity germanium detector. The obtained spectra from the measurement were analyzed by using the program GENIE 2000. Based on the performed tests, the mean values for the activity concentrations in the samples were the following 26.03±4.1 Bq kg-1 for 226Ra, 37.9±4.8 Bq kg-1 for 232Th, and 64.40±6.5 Bq kg-1 for 40K. The results obtained from the analyses of chicken feeds were compared to studies in other countries and it was found that 40K was present in the highest amount in all types of samples while the vales for the other natural radionuclides were within the nominal concentrations. Higher concentration of 40K can be associated with plants used in the production of animal feed, which were contaminated with fertilizer during their cultivation. The range of radionuclide concentrations in the samples was within the recommended values UNSCEAR.