Filters
total: 1044
-
Catalog
displaying 1000 best results Help
Search results for: ms
-
Dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction combined with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry for in situ determination of biogenic amines in meat: Estimation of meat's freshness
PublicationA dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME) gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) technique was developed for the determination of selected biogenic amines (BAs) in samples of poultry, pork and beef. Prior to the extraction process, an appropriate volume of sodium hydroxide solution was added to each of the portioned samples. Next, samples were homogenized, centrifuged and finally sonicated at an increased temperature....
-
Determination of fuel combustion product in airport runoff water samples using liquid–liquid extraction with gas chromatography–spectrometry
PublicationDetermination of xenobiotics in samples of airport runoff water is both a complex and indispensable task due to an increasing threat resulting from the activities of numerous airports. The aim of this study was to develop, optimize, and validate a procedure based on liquid–liquid extraction (LLE) coupled with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) for the determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). So far, no...
-
Studies on the formation of formaldehyde during 2-ethylhexyl 4-(dimethylamino)benzoate demethylation in the presence of reactive oxygen and chlorine species
PublicationIn order to protect the skin from UV radiation, personal care products (PCPS) often contain chemical UV-filters. These compounds can enter the environment causing serious consequences on the water ecosystems. The aim of this study was to examine, the effect of different factors, such as UV light, the presence of NaOCl and H2O2 on the formaldehyde formation during popular UV filter, 2-ethylhexyl 4-(dimethylamino)benzoate (ODPABA)...
-
The use of fast molecular descriptors and artificial neural networks approach in organochlorine compounds electron ionization mass spectra classification
PublicationDeveloping of theoretical tools can be very helpful for supporting new pollutant detection. Nowadays, a combination of mass spectrometry and chromatographic techniques are the most basic environmental monitoring methods. In this paper, two organochlorine compound mass spectra classification systems were proposed. The classification models were developed within the framework of artificial neural networks (ANNs) and fast 1D and...
-
Elicited Production of Essential Oil with Immunomodulatory Activity in Salvia apiana Microshoot Culture
PublicationSalvia apiana Jepson is an endemic North American species characterized by a rich phytochemical profile including abietane-type diterpenoids, phenolic acids, flavonoids, and thujone-free essential oil (EO). The current study was aimed at increasing EO production in bioreactor-grown S. apiana microshoot culture through biotic elicitation using chitosan, ergosterol, and yeast extract (YE). Additionally, the immunomodulatory effects...
-
Development of a new green analytical methodology for the determination of phthalates in single-use babies diapers using ultrasound-assisted extraction and polypropylene porous membrane
PublicationA green extraction strategy was developed and utilized for the extraction and determination of phthalates. The extraction is based on ultrasound-assisted extraction and a polypropylene porous membrane. The Box-Behnken model was performed to optimize the extraction condition. The optimal extraction conditions are 5.5 mL of ethyl acetate, 10 min of extraction time and 55 C for extraction temperature. The developed green extraction...
-
High-performance activation of ozone by sonocavitation for BTEX degradation in water
PublicationThis work presents a novel advanced oxidation process (AOP) for degradation of emerging organic pollutants – benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes (BTEXs) in water. A comparative study was performed for sonocavitation assisted ozonation under 40–120 kHz and 80–200 kHz dual frequency ultrasounds (DFUS). Based on the obtained results, the combination of 40–120 kHz i.e., low-frequency US (LFDUS) with O3 exhibited excellent oxidation...
-
The Influence of Different Hydrothermal Processes Used in the Preparation of Brussels Sprouts on the Availability of Glucosinolates to Humans
PublicationCruciferous vegetables represent a valuable source of bioactive compounds. However, there is currently a deficiency of information regarding the extent to which these compounds remain bioaccessible to the body following thermal treatment and digestion processes within the digestive tract. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of heat treatment and in vitro digestion on the level of selected bioactive compounds...
-
Intensification of catechin extraction from the bark of Syzygium cumini using ultrasonication: Optimization, characterization, degradation analysis and kinetic studies
PublicationCatechin is a prominent polyphenolic component that possesses various medicinal properties. Present work communicates the intensification and optimization of catechin extraction from the bark of Syzygium cumini tree using stirred reactor, soxhlet, ultrasonic bath, and ultrasonic horn technique. The optimization of several parameters such as type of solvent, solid to solvent ratio (1:100 w/v), speed of agitation (300 RPM), extraction...
-
Divulging the anti-acetylcholinesterase activity of Colletotrichum lentis strain KU1 extract as sustainable AChE active site inhibitors
PublicationAlzheimer’s disease (AD), also called senile dementia is a neurodegenerative disease seen commonly in the elderly and is characterised by the formation of β-amyloid plaques and neurofbrillary tangles (NFT). Though a complete understanding of the disease is lacking, recent studies showed the role of the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in pathogenesis. Finding new lead compounds from natural sources has always been a quest for...
-
Evaluation of the photoprotective effect of β-cyclodextrin on the emission of volatile degradation products of ranitidine
PublicationThe process of the photo-excitation of ranitidine hydrochloride (RAN) in a solid state makes visible changes to its colour and generates an unpleasant odour. The purpose of the present study was to observe the protective effects of ˇ-cyclodextrin (CD) complexation as well as the effect of the mixture of two stoichiometries 1:1 and 1:2 (RAN:CD, IC) on the photostability of samples in a solid state. Samples of inclusion complexes...
-
House dust as a source of analytical information on concentration of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) - first approach
PublicationPolybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), which are best recognized as flame retardants, were in 2001, by virtue of Stockholm Convention, listed in a group of Persistent Organic Compounds (POPs). Increasing concentration levels of PBDEs, reported in human tissues (e.g., blood, serum, breast milk, etc.) haverecently caught worldwide concern due to their potential tendency to disrupt thyroid hormones, neurobehavioral deficits and endocrine...
-
Antioxidant activities and bioactive components in some berries
PublicationThe objective of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant and binding effects of gooseberry, a less-stud-ied berry, and to compare with blueberry and cranberry in the model of interaction with human serum albumin (HSA). The relationship between the scavenging properties of dietary polyphenols of the selected berries and their affinities for HSA were investigated by fluorescence anal- ysis. In order to perform the extraction and...
-
Evaluation of the photoprotective effect of ˇ-cyclodextrin on the emission of volatile degradation products of ranitidine
PublicationThe process of the photo-excitation of ranitidine hydrochloride (RAN) in a solid state makes visible changes to its colour and generates an unpleasant odour. The purpose of the present study was to observe the protective effects of ˇ-cyclodextrin (CD) complexation as well as the effect of the mixture of two stoichiometries 1:1 and 1:2 (RAN:CD, IC) on the photostability of samples in a solid state. Sam- ples of inclusion complexes...
-
Cadmium complex possessing simultaneously silanethiolato- and dithiocarbamato-ligands. A novel single-source precursor of cadmium sulfide
PublicationThermal decomposition of suitable coordination compounds may be used as efficient route for fabrication of semiconducting layers. A new potential CdS precursor—a cadmium complex with all-sulfur Cd-coordination sphere [Cd{l-SSi(OBut)3}(S2CNC4H8)]2 (1) —has been prepared and its properties are investigated. The complex was obtained in the reaction between dimeric bis(tri-tert-butoxysilanethiolato) cadmium(II) [Cd{SSi(OBut)3}2]2 and...
-
Identification and characterization of the Indian Yellow dyestuff and its degradation products in historical oil paint tube by liquid chromatography mass spectrometry
PublicationAn analytical protocol for identification of dyes using reversed phase liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry with atmospheric pressure electrospray ionization (LC-ESI/MS) is presented. The developed method has been successfully applied in identification of euxanthic acid and euxanthone, the main components of the Indian Yellow dye in a historical oil paint tube produced by Richard Ain`es, a recognizable French company supplying...
-
Feasibility study of a Raman spectroscopic route to drug detection
PublicationWe present an surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) approach for detection of drugs of abuse in whole human blood. We utilize a near infrared laser with 830 nm excitation wavelength in order to reduce the influence of fluorescence on the spectra of blood. However, regular plasmon resonance peak of plasmonic nanoparticles, such as silver or gold fall in a much lower wavelength regime about 400 nm. Therefore, we have shifted...
-
Comparative Lipidomic Study of Human Milk from Different Lactation Stages and Milk Formulas
PublicationIn this report, we present a detailed comparison of the lipid composition of human milk (HM) and formula milk (FM) targeting different lactation stages and infant age range. We studied HM samples collected from 26 Polish mothers from colostrum to 19 months of lactation, along with FM from seven brands available on the Polish market (infant formula, follow-on formula and growing-up formula). Lipid extracts were analysed using liquid...
-
The mechanisms of degradation of titanium dental implants
PublicationTitanium dental implants show very good properties, unfortunately there are still issues regarding material wear due to corrosion, implant loosening, as well as biological factors—allergic reactions and inflammation leading to rejection of the implanted material. In order to avoid performing reimplantation operations, changes in the chemical composition and/or modifications of the surface layer of the materials are used. This research...
-
The Influence of the Depth of Cut in Single-Pass Grinding on the Microstructure and Properties of the C45 Steel Surface Layer
PublicationThe paper contains the results of a metallographic examination and nanoindentation test conducted for the medium carbon structural steel with low content of Mn, Si, Cu, Cr, and Ni after its grinding to a depth ranging from 2 μm to 20 μm, at constant cutting speed (peripheral speed) of vs = 25 ms−1 and constant feed rate of vft = 1 m/min. Applied grinding parameters did not cause the surface layer hardening, which could generate...
-
Investigation into MPI All-Reduce Performance in a Distributed Cluster with Consideration of Imbalanced Process Arrival Patterns
PublicationThe paper presents an evaluation of all-reduce collective MPI algorithms for an environment based on a geographically-distributed compute cluster. The testbed was split into two sites: CI TASK in Gdansk University of Technology and ICM in University of Warsaw, located about 300 km from each other, both connected by a fast optical fiber Ethernet-based 100 Gbps network (900 km part of the PIONIER backbone). Each site hosted a set...
-
Investigation of the Dynamism of Nanosized SOA Particle Formation in Indoor Air by a Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer and Proton-Transfer-Reaction Mass Spectrometry
PublicationTerpenes are VOCs of particular importance, since they are emitted from a wide range of indoor sources and are considered to be precursors of Secondary Organic Aerosol (SOA) formation. It has been proven that SOA particles, especially nanosized ones, pose a threat to human health. In this research, experiments with the application of an environmental chamber and real-time measurement techniques were carried out to investigate in...
-
Long Distance Geographically Distributed InfiniBand Based Computing
PublicationCollaboration between multiple computing centres, referred as federated computing is becom- ing important pillar of High Performance Computing (HPC) and will be one of its key components in the future. To test technical possibilities of future collaboration using 100 Gb optic fiber link (Connection was 900 km in length with 9 ms RTT time) we prepared two scenarios of operation. In the first one, Interdisciplinary Centre for Mathematical...
-
Demo Day 2022
EventsPodczas wydarzenia swoje projekty zaprezentują zespoły startupowe wywodzące się ze Szkoły Startup oraz studiów MBA Politechniki Gdańskiej. Wydarzenie obędzie się w formule hybrydowej, uczestników obowiązuje rejestracja.
-
Bioreactor shoot cultures of Rhododendron tomentosum (Ledum palustre) for a large-scale production of bioactive volatile compounds
PublicationRhododendron tomentosum Harmaja (Ledum palustre), a peat bog plant from Ericaceae family, has been used in traditional medicine as the anti-arthritis agent. Although modern researches confirm its anti-inflammatory properties, it remains threatened by habitat degradation and possibilities to collect this endangered species from its natural environment for further biological activity studies are limited. Therefore, R. tomentosum...
-
Photoactivity of decahedral TiO2 loaded with bimetallic nanoparticles: Degradation pathway of phenol-1- 13 C and hydroxyl radical formation
PublicationDecahedral TiO2decorated with bimetallic nanoparticles were synthesized via radiolysis and photode-position method. The effect of bimetallic surface composition (Ag Pt, Ag Au, Au Pd, Au Pt) as well asdeposition technique (simultaneous or sequential) on the photocatalytic activity in phenol degradationand efficiency of hydroxyl radicals generation under UV–vis light irradiation were investigated. Modifiedand pristine decahedral...
-
Detection of Bioactive Compounds in Organically and Conventionally Grown Asparagus Spears
PublicationIn the recent reports, there are contradictory conclusions about the nutritional and health properties of organic and conventionally growing vegetables. We hypothesized that organic cultivation system results in higher quality of asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.) because of organic manure and effective organisms. Therefore, new analytical methods were applied in order to find the differences in bioactive compounds between the...
-
Validated HPTLC method for determination of ledol and alloaromadendrene in the essential oil fractions of Rhododendron tomentosum plants and in vitro cultures and bioautography for their activity screening
PublicationRhododendron tomentosum (Ledum palustre) is a bog shrub used in traditional medicine for treatment of respiratory and rheumatic diseases. Due to the large variability of the chemical composition of its essential oil, depending on the habitat, the in vitro cultures were established as the alternative source of the volatile fraction. There is a need to monitor a quality of the field grown as well as in vitro plant material, especially...
-
Impact of selected parameters of the fermentation process of wine and wine itself on the biogenic amines content: Evaluation by application of chemometric tools
PublicationThe demand for safer foods has promoted more research into biogenic amines (BAs) over the past few years, however, there are still some questions that remain unanswered. Despite the fact that BAs are present in wine and can cause toxic effect to the body, a shared regulation limiting the amounts of BAs in wine is still lacking. A detailed understanding of their presence in wine is also important for the food trade sector. Therefore,...
-
Retention behaviour of some high-intensity sweeteners on different SPE sorbents
PublicationThe objective of this paper is to provide information about application of solid phase extraction (SPE) for isolation of nine high-intensity sweeteners (acesulfame-K, alitame, aspartame, cyclamate, dulcin, neotame, saccharin, sucralose and neohesperidin dihydrochalcone) from aqueous solutions. The influence of several types of LC-MS compatible buffers (different pH values and compositions) on their recovery has been studied and...
-
Urban dew formation efficiency and chemistry in Poland
PublicationThe measurements of dew formation efficiency and chemistry were performed in Poland in September 2009, as a part of a longer, two-year sampling campaign. Pairs of sites, representing centers of major Polish cities and rural conditions in three different regions, were compared. With the aim to get more detailed landuse-oriented characteristics of dew, two additional sites were set close to Wroclaw. Collection of dew at each site...
-
The compositional space of exhaled breath condensate and its link to the human breath volatilome
PublicationBreath analysis is commonly understood to target gaseous or volatile organic compounds (VOCs) for the characterization of different pathologies. Targeted analysis is most effective if a working hypothesis can be based on a plethora of data. The recently published volatilome builds an optimal basis for organizing powerful target sets. However, the origin and pathways of biosynthesis of many VOCs are not known, which complicates...
-
Influence of CeO2 and TiO2 Particles on Physicochemical Properties of Composite Nickel Coatings Electrodeposited at Ambient Temperature
PublicationThe Ni-TiO2 and Ni-CeO2 composite coatings with varying hydrophilic/hydrophobic characteristics were fabricated by the electrodeposition method from a tartrate electrolyte at ambient temperature. To meet the requirements of tight regulation by the European Chemicals Agency classifying H3BO3 as a substance of very high concern, Rochelle salt was utilized as a buffer solution instead. The novelty of this study was to implement a...
-
Hydroxyl and sulfate radical-based degradation of ciprofloxacin using UV-C and/or Fe2+-catalyzed peroxymonosulfate: Effects of process parameters and toxicity evaluation
PublicationCiprofloxacin (CIP) is a valuable antibiotic and discharged in huge quantities in aquatic environment. Different •OH and SO4•−-based advanced oxidation technologies (AOTs), e.g., Fe2+/PMS, UV-C/PMS, and UV-C/Fe2+/PMS are developed for treatment of CIP. The removal of CIP by Fe2+/PMS, UV-C/PMS and UV-C/Fe2+/PMS was 63, 77, and 87 %, respectively, under identical conditions which showed better performance of UV-C/Fe2+/PMS. The UV-C/Fe2+/PMS...
-
Sonocatalytic degradation of Bisphenol A from aquatic matrices over Pd/CeO2 nanoparticles: Kinetics study, transformation products, and toxicity
PublicationIn this work, different ratios of palladium – cerium oxide (Pd/CeO2) catalyst were synthesized and characterized, while their sonocatalytic activity was evaluated for the degradation of the xenobiotic Bisphenol A (BPA) from aqueous solutions. Sonocatalytic activity expressed as BPA decomposition exhibited a volcano-type behavior in relation to the Pd loading, and the 0.25Pd/CeO2 catalyst characterized by the maximum Pd dispersion...
-
Assessment of Sewage Molecular Markers: Linear Alkylbenzenes in Sediments of an Industrialized Region in Peninsular Malaysia
PublicationIn this study, the use of linear alkylbenzenes (LABs) was employed to pinpoint the sources of human activity that cause detrimental impacts on the coastal environment and river ecosystems. LABs were detected using GC–MS in sediment samples assembled from Kim Kim River (KKR) and the Port Dickson coast (PDC). To assess the significance of variations in the distribution and concentrations of LABs across the sampling sites, this study...
-
Multi-Analytical Techniques for the Study of Burial Clothes of Polish King Sigismund III Vasa (1566–1633) and His Wife Constance Habsburg (1588–1631)
PublicationThe subjects of this research are the burial clothes of Polish King Sigismund III Vasa and his wife Constance, which were woven and embroidered with silk and metal threads. Fragments of the textiles underwent spectroscopic, spectrometric, and thermogravimetric analyses. The hydrofluoric acid extraction method was improved to isolate various classes of dyes from the textile samples that had direct contact with human remains. High-performance...
-
Online Volatile Compound Emissions Analysis Using a Microchamber/Thermal Extractor Coupled to Proton Transfer Reaction-Mass Spectrometry
PublicationIndoor air is a complex and dynamic mixture comprising manifold volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that may cause physiological and/or psychological discomfort, depending on the nature of exposure. This technical note presents a novel approach to analyze VOC emissions by coupling a microchamber/thermal extractor (μ-CTE) system to a proton transfer reaction-mass spectrometer (PTR-MS). This configuration provides an alternative to...
-
Insight into Potassium Vanadates as Visible-Light-Driven Photocatalysts: Synthesis of V(IV)-Rich Nano/Microstructures for the Photodegradation of Methylene Blue
PublicationPhotocatalysis is regarded as a promising tool for wastewater remediation. In recent years, many studies have focused on investigating novel photocatalysts driven by visible light. In this study, K2V6O16·nH2O nanobelts and KV3O8 microplatelets were synthesized and investigated as photocatalysts. Samples were obtained via the facile method based on liquid-phase exfoliation with ion exchange. By changing the synthesis temperature...
-
Silicon’s Influence on Polyphenol and Flavonoid Profiles in Pea (Pisum sativum L.) under Cadmium Exposure in Hydroponics: A Study of Metabolomics, Extraction Efficacy, and Antimicrobial Properties of Extracts
PublicationThe current study aimed to investigate the impact of silicon (Si) supplementation in the form of Na2SiO3 on the metabolome of peas under normal conditions and following exposure to cadmium (Cd) stress. Si is known for its ability to enhance stress tolerance in various plant species, including the mitigation of heavy metal toxicity. Cd, a significant contaminant, poses risks to...
-
Role of Silicon in Counteracting Cadmium Stress in Pea Plants (Pisum sativum L.): Insights Into Cadmium Binding Mechanisms and Pectin Methylesterase Activity
PublicationPurpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the role of silicon (Si) in counteracting a cadmium (Cd) stress to pea plants (Pisum sativum L.) and to identify the mechanism by which Cd is bound within pea roots. Methods: These goals were achieved through (i) a histochemical study of Cd localization in pea roots, (ii) spectrophotometric determination of pectin content and the activity...
-
Integrated approach -the effective tool for pollution level control of sediments from lake turawskie = Kompleksowa ocena stopnia zanieczyszczenia osadów dennych jeziora turawskiego
PublicationTurawski zbiornik retencyjny wytypowany został do projektu pilotażowego spośród 14 obiektów zlewni Odry w ramach programu: "Stan ekologiczny jezior zaporowych w dorzeczu Odry i działania na rzecz jego poprawy". Celem projektu jest ocena stanu ekologicznego Jeziora Turawskiego dla uzyskania niezbędnych informacji mających służyć do zaprojektowania i wyboru metody jego remediacji. Jezioro Turawskie jest nizinnym zbiornikiem retencyjnym...
-
Determination of high-intensity sweeteners in beverages by high-performance liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry detection.
PublicationThe objective of the present study was to measure the concentration of nine high intensity sweeteners (acesulfame-K, aspartame, alitame, cyclamate, dulcin, neohesperidin dihydrochalcon, neotame, saccharin and sucralose) in different types of beverages available on the polish market. The proposed methodology reported here consists of a extraction with buffer composed of formic acid and N,N-diisopropylethylamine (pH 4.5) followed...
-
Identification of volatile compounds in raw spirits of different organoleptic quality
PublicationGłównym celem prezentowanych badań było określenie składu lotnej frakcji destylatów rolniczych, a następnie wyodrębnienie profili zapachowych destylatów rolniczych różniących się właściwościami sensorycznymi ocenionymi na podstawie klasycznej analizy sensorycznej. Profile zapachowe tworzono z wykorzystaniem kapilarnej chromatografii gazowej połączonej ze spektrometrią mas (GC-MS). Do ekstrakcji lotnych związków zastosowano technikę...
-
3-MCPD: A worldwide problem of food chemistry
Publication3-MCPD is a heat-induced food contaminant which has been widely investigated for decades. This paper presents an overview of current knowledge about 3-MCPD including its formation routes, occurrence in various foodstuffs, analytical approach, toxicological aspects and future research perspectives. So far 3-MCPD was determined in its free and bound form in thermally-treated foods, edible oils and fats, and infant foods including...
-
Phototransformation of Amlodipine: Degradation Kinetics and Identification of Its Photoproducts
PublicationNowadays, monitoring focuses on the primary compounds and does not include degradation products formed during various biological and chemical processes. Transformation products may have the same effects to human health and the environment or sometimes they can be more toxic than the parent compound. Unfortunately, knowledge about the formation of degradation products is still limited, however, can be very important for the environmental...
-
IN VITRO PROPAGATION OF RHODODENDRON TOMENTOSUM - AN ENDANGERED ESSENTIAL OIL BEARING PLANT FROM PEATLAND
PublicationRhododendron tomentosum Harmaja (formerly Ledum palustre L.) is a medicinal peat bog plant native to northern Europe, Asia and North America. This plant has a distinctive aroma thanks to the presence of essential oil, to which it also owes its anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antimicrobial and insecticidal properties. However, in Europe R. tomentosum is classified as an endangered species, mainly due to degradation of peatlands. In...
-
Enhanced solar light photocatalytic performance of Fe-ZnO in the presence of H2O2, S2O82−, and HSO5− for degradation of chlorpyrifos from agricultural wastes: Toxicities investigation
PublicationThis study reported Fe doped zinc oxide (Fe-ZnO) synthesis to degrade chlorpyrifos (CPY), a highly toxic organophosphate pesticide and important sources of agricultural wastes. Fourier transform infrared, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopic analyses showed successful formation of the Fe-ZnO with highly crystalline and amorphous nature. Water collected from agricultural wastes...
-
Mechanical Properties and Residual Stress Measurements of Grade IV Titanium and Ti-6Al-4V and Ti-13Nb-13Zr Titanium Alloys after Laser Treatment
PublicationNowadays, surface engineering focuses on research into materials for medical applications. Titanium and its alloys are prominent, especially Ti-6Al-4V and Ti-13Nb-13Zr. Samples made of pure grade IV titanium and the titanium alloys Ti-6Al-4V and Ti-13Nb-13Zr were modified via laser treatment with laser beam frequency f = 25 Hz and laser beam power P = 1000 W during a laser pulse with duration t = 1 ms. Subsequently, to analyze...
-
Importance of Bile Composition for Diagnosis of Biliary Obstructions
PublicationDetermination of the cause of a biliary obstruction is often inconclusive from serum analysis alone without further clinical tests. To this end, serum markers as well as the composition of bile of 74 patients with biliary obstructions were determined to improve the diagnoses. The samples were collected from the patients during an endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). The concentration of eight bile salts, specifically...