Meglumine antimoniate (MA) and sodium stibogluconate are pentavalent antimony (SbV) drugs used since the mid-1940s. Notwithstanding the fact that they are first-choice drugs for the treatment of leishmaniases, there are gaps in our knowledge of their toxicological profile, mode of action and kinetics. Little is known about the distribution of antimony in tissues after SbV administration. In this study, we evaluated the Sb content of tissues from male rats 24 h and three weeks after a 21-day course of treatment with MA (300 mg SbV/kg body wt/d, subcutaneous). Sb concentrations in the blood and organs were determined by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. In rats, as with in humans, the Sb blood levels after MA dosing can be described by a two-compartment model with a fast (t1/2 = 0.6 h) and a slow (t1/2 >> 24 h) elimination phase. The spleen was the organ that accumulated the highest amount of Sb, while bone and thyroid ranked second in descending order of tissues according to Sb levels (spleen >> bone, thyroid, kidneys > liver, epididymis, lungs, adrenals > prostate > thymus, pancreas, heart, small intestines > skeletal muscle, testes, stomach > brain). The pathophysiological consequences of Sb accumulation in the thyroid and Sb speciation in the liver, thyroid, spleen and bone warrant further studies.

Um método para determinação de Na e K em biodiesel proveniente de diferentes óleos vegetais é proposto. São combinadas as vantagens da FAES com a simplicidade da preparação da amostra por microemulsão e calibração usando padrões aquosos. As microemulsões foram preparadas pela mistura de biodiesel, n-propanol e solução aquosa ácida, permitindo o uso de padrões inorgânicos para a calibração. Foram comparadas a introdução discreta (DA) e aspiração contínua (CA) da amostra apresentando LODs semelhantes, na ordem de 0,1 µg g-1 para ambos analitos, que são adequados para a determinação dos mesmos, conforme os limites estabelecidos na legislação brasileira. A exatidão do método foi avaliada por testes de recuperação, com resultados entre 83% e 120% e, por meio da comparação dos resultados obtidos por ICP OES.

A method for the determination of Na and K in biodiesel, from different vegetable oils, is proposed. The advantages of the FAES were combined with the simplicity of microemulsion preparation and calibration using aqueous standards. Microemulsions were prepared by mixing biodiesel samples with n-propanol and aqueous acid solution, which allowed the use of inorganic aqueous standards for the calibration. Sample introduction through discrete aspiration (DA) or by continuous aspiration (CA) were compared, presenting similar LODs, in the order of 0.1 µg g-1 for both analytes, adequate to the established limits in the Brazilian legislation. The accuracy of the method was checked through recovery tests, with results between 83% and 120%, and through the comparison of the results with those obtained by ICP OES.