EU Regulation 396/2005: Pesticide Residue Testing and the Critical Role of QuEChERS Evaporation in Food Safety

<div><div>Researchers led by <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://kudova.group.uochb.cz/en">Eva Kudová</a> from IOCB Prague and Jitka Viktorová from UCT Prague have identified new androstane-based steroid derivatives that can significantly improve the effectiveness of existing antibiotics against multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.</div></div><div>The team screened dozens of natural steroidal hormones and synthetic derivatives to see whether they could block bacterial efflux pumps – mechanisms that bacteria use to eject antibiotics and survive treatment. Two compounds emerged as particularly promising: they inhibited efflux pumps and lowered the effective doses of antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin and erythromycin.Further analysis showed that one of the compounds also suppressed genes linked to bacterial virulence. Another key finding is that the most active molecules are non-toxic to human immune cells and showed no detectable endocrine activity, suggesting a favorable safety profile.These findings support the idea that rationally designed steroid-based molecules could act as antibiotic adjuvants, helping existing drugs overcome bacterial resistance.<img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/IOCB_Prague_Steroidal_hormones_and_neurosteroids_novel_therapeutic_strategies_in_bacterial_infections_8e5d2a7b48.jpg" alt="IOCB Prague: Steroidal hormones and neurosteroids – novel therapeutic strategies in bacterial infections" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_IOCB_Prague_Steroidal_hormones_and_neurosteroids_novel_therapeutic_strategies_in_bacterial_infections_8e5d2a7b48.jpg 222w," sizes="100vw" width="1258" height="886"><blockquote><h4>Original Article</h4><h4><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0223523426001613?via%3Dihub">Steroidal hormones and neurosteroids - novel therapeutic strategies in bacterial infections: Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation</a></h4>Daniela Brdová, Bára Křížkovská, Jan Špaček, Zdeněk Míchal, Eva Jablonská, Ondřej Strnad, Hana Chodounská, Eszter Szánti-Pintér, Marina Morozovová, Václav Hanžl, Jan Tkadlec, Martijn Riool, Jan Lipov, Jitka Viktorová, Eva Kudová&nbsp;Eur. J. Med. Chem., 2026, 308, 118716<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejmech.2026.118716">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejmech.2026.118716</a><h6>licensed under <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">CC-BY 4.0</a></h6></blockquote><h4>Abstract</h4>The global rise of antibiotic resistance necessitates novel therapeutic strategies for infectious diseases. Inhibition of bacterial efflux pumps, which contribute to multidrug resistance, represents a promising approach to restore or even increase the efficacy of existing antibiotics. Using fluorescence-based ethidium bromide accumulation, broth microdilution, and checkerboard assays, we evaluated 26 endogenous steroidal hormones and neurosteroids, along with 30 synthetic derivatives, for their ability to enhance antibiotic susceptibility in multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Structure-activity relationship analysis identified compounds 13 and 16 as lead candidates, exhibiting strong efflux pump inhibition and marked reductions in the minimum inhibitory concentrations of ciprofloxacin and erythromycin. Both compounds showed additive effects in checkerboard assays. Modifications at C-3 (polar substitution) and C-17 (3α,5β-stereochemistry and nonpolar substitution) were essential for potent efflux inhibition and sensitization, although these modifications were not additive when combined. Transcriptome analysis further revealed that compound 13 significantly downregulated S. aureus virulence-associated genes when administered alone or in combination with antibiotics. Cytotoxicity assessment in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells and receptor transactivation assays for estrogen, androgen, and progesterone receptors indicated that the most active derivatives were non-toxic and lacked detectable endocrine activity, suggesting a favorable safety profile. Overall, these findings support the concept that rationally designed andostane-based steroidal scaffolds can function as competitive bacterial efflux pump inhibitors and serve as potential antibiotic adjuvants to mitigate efflux-mediated resistance.<h4>Instrumentation</h4><h5>Structural characterization</h5><ul><li>AVANCE III 400 MHz NMR spectrometer (Bruker)</li><li><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://lcms.labrulez.com/library?mainauthorItems=3&amp;search=LTQ+Orbitrap+XL">LTQ Orbitrap XL HRMS</a> (Thermo Fisher Scientific, ESI)</li></ul></div>

Steroidal hormones and neurosteroids – novel therapeutic strategies in bacterial infections

Metformin is currently the first-line oral drug of choice for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. It reduces glucose production in the liver, improves tissue sensitivity to insulin, and does not cause weight gain or hypoglycemia, which sets it apart from some other antidiabetic drugs. Moreover, its long-term beneficial effects on the risk of cardiovascular complications and mortality in people with type 2 diabetes have been well established. Researchers from the Institute of Physiology CAS (IPHYS) have identified a new group of blood metabolites that could help physicians objectively monitor whether patients with type 2 diabetes are taking their metformin as prescribed.<h4>New biomarkers for metformin use</h4>A team led by Tomáš Čajka from the Laboratory of Translational Metabolism at IPHYS analyzed plasma samples from 637 patients with type 2 diabetes treated with metformin and 143 non-diabetic controls using advanced metabolomics and lipidomics. Among 614 detected metabolites, they identified five from the group of N-lactoyl-amino acids (e.g. N‑lactoyl-phenylalanine), which had previously been seen as unknown signals due to missing reference spectra in databases. The levels of these metabolites in the blood closely reflected the plasma concentrations of metformin. In patients with the highest metformin exposure, the concentrations of these metabolites were up to 7.2 times higher than in controls.<h4>A sensitive “fingerprint” of the drug’s effect</h4>N-Lactoyl-amino acids are formed in cells by combining lactate and amino acids, thus reflecting the metformin-induced changes in cellular energy metabolism. “Importantly, even though they occur in plasma only at nanomolar concentrations, they reliably distinguish patients who take metformin regularly from those who take it irregularly or not at all,” emphasizes T. Čajka.<h4>Metabolomics in practice and international collaboration</h4>The study also provides a detailed description of broader metabolic changes in type 2 diabetes, including increases in lactate, organic acids, and branched-chain amino acids, as well as extensive remodelling of the lipid profile. In addition to T. Čajka’s team, collaborators from the Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine in Prague and the West Coast Metabolomics Center (University of California, Davis) also participated in the study.The results demonstrate that advanced metabolomics approaches developed at IPHYS within the CarDia project can find highly practical applications both in clinical studies and in personalized monitoring of treatment in patients with diabetes.<blockquote><h4>The original article</h4><h4><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://ascpt.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/cpt.70205">Untargeted Metabolomics Identifies N-Lactoyl-Amino Acids as Dose-Responsive Plasma Biomarkers of Metformin Adherence in Type 2 Diabetes</a></h4>Tomas Cajka, Jiri Hricko, Lucie Rudl Kulhava, Michaela Paucova, Michaela Novakova, Veronika Hola, Stanislava Rakusanova, Oliver Fiehn, Vojtech Skop, Ivana Lankova, Iva Miskova, Terezie Pelikanova, Martin HaluzikClin Pharmacol Ther, 119: 1057-1069<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://doi.org/10.1002/cpt.70205">https://doi.org/10.1002/cpt.70205</a><h6>licensed under <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">CC-BY 4.0</a></h6></blockquote><h4>Abstract</h4>Metformin is the most widely prescribed antidiabetic drug, yet adherence remains difficult to objectively assess. Using untargeted metabolomics and lipidomics, we analyzed plasma from 637 patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) with confirmed metformin use and 143 nondiabetic controls, annotating 614 metabolites. Patients were stratified by plasma metformin into sub-therapeutic, therapeutic, and supra-therapeutic groups, and associations were evaluated by multiple linear regression and composite metabolite ranking. Five previously unannotated features were structurally identified as N-lactoyl-amino acids, whose levels correlated strongly with plasma metformin (ρ = 0.42–0.55, P &lt; 0.0001) and increased up to 7.2-fold in the supra-therapeutic group (&gt; 2000 ng/mL). While N-lactoyl-amino acids were consistently detected in the nanomolar range, they still displayed robust and dose-dependent associations with metformin. Broader metabolic changes in T2D included elevated lactate, organic acids, and branched-chain amino acids, together with reduced urea cycle metabolites. Lipidomics showed increases in saturated triacylglycerols and diacylglycerols and decreases in cholesteryl esters, sphingomyelins, and phospholipids. These findings establish N-lactoyl-amino acids as robust, dose-responsive plasma biomarkers of metformin exposure. Despite being up to four orders of magnitude less abundant than their amino acid precursors, they sensitively reflect mitochondrial lactate overflow and pharmacodynamic adaptation, offering objective assessment of adherence.

New blood biomarkers reveal how faithfully diabetes patients take metformin

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The Czech Academy of Sciences (CAS) was established by Act No. 283/1992 Coll. as the Czech successor of the former Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences. It is set up as a complex of 54 public research institutions.

Czech Academy of Sciences

The Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences (IOCB Prague) is a leading scientific institution in the Czech Republic, recognized internationally. Its primary mission is basic research in the fields of chemical biology and medicinal chemistry, organic and material oriented chemistry, chemistry of natural compounds, biochemistry and molecular biology, physical chemistry, theoretical chemistry, and analytical chemistry. 

Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences

Organomation, founded in 1959, designs and manufactures high-quality nitrogen evaporators and extraction systems. Known for innovation and durability, their lab instruments are used globally for efficient sample preparation with strong customer support.

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Watrex Streamline™ UV1 HPLC detector, Stainless Steel

The Streamline™ UV1 HPLC detector offers an excellent signal-to-noise ratio, making it ideal for demanding applications.

Watrex Streamline™ UV1 programmable UV/VIS detector exhibits excellent signal-to-noise ratio for even the most demanding applications. It is equipped with standard analytical cell. It has a 2-lamp source (deuterium + tungsten), variable wavelength detector configuration suitable for operation between 190 and 800 nm.<blockquote>Price 4 788 € ex VAT</blockquote><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Watrex_Watrex_Streamline_UV_1_UV_VIS_detector_686c6c9937.jpg" alt="Watrex: Streamline™ UV1 detector, Stainless Steel" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Watrex_Watrex_Streamline_UV_1_UV_VIS_detector_686c6c9937.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="945" height="436"><h3>TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION</h3><ul><li>Light Source: Deuterium Lamp, Tungsten Lamp</li><li>Wavelength Range: 190 – 800 nm</li><li>Baseline Noise: 1 x 10-5 AU (@240 nm, 2 sec. risetime)</li><li>Baseline Drift: better than 3 x 10-4 AU/h</li><li>Wavelenghth Reproducibility: ± 0.1 nm</li><li>Linearity: better than 2.5 AU</li><li>Analog Output: 1x 1 V</li></ul>You can also visit this product on the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://watrex.com/obchod/chromatography/detectors/uv-vis-detectors/streamline-uv1-detector/?utm_source=labrulez&amp;utm_medium=propagace&amp;utm_campaign=labrulez_produkty">Watrex website</a>.

Watrex Streamline™ PDA1 HPLC Detector, Stainless Steel

Photo-diode-array (PDA) HPLC detector with the optimum wavelength can be selected for each analyzed substance.

Watrex Streamline™ PDA1 is a photo-diode-array (PDA) detector for routine analysis and sophisticated research.<blockquote>Price 9 972 € ex VAT</blockquote>The dual lamp design offers a wavelength range of 190 – 720 nm (256 Diodes) with a low baseline noise.The front-accessible flow cell can easily bHPLCe exchanged, as can be the lamps which are accessible through a side panel in the instrument housing.Streamline™ PDA1 features 4-Wavelength channels to measure chromatograms at 4 different wavelengths at the same time. With this feature the optimum wavelength can be selected for each analyzed substance.<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:945/435;" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Watrex_Watrex_Streamline_PDA_1_Photodiode_array_detector_3784ec588b.jpg" alt="Watrex: Streamline™ PDA1 Detector, Stainless Steel" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Watrex_Watrex_Streamline_PDA_1_Photodiode_array_detector_3784ec588b.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="945" height="435"></figure><h3>TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION</h3><ul><li>Wetted Materials: Stainless Steel/ PEEK*, teflon, Glass (*depending on configuration)</li><li>Light Source: Deuterium Lamp, Tungsten Lamp</li><li>Wavelength Range: 190 – 720 nm</li><li>Number of Diodes: 256</li><li>Baseline Noise: ± 1 x 10-5 AU (@240 nm, 1 sec. risetime)</li><li>Baseline Drift: better than 3 x 10-4 AU/h</li><li>Wavelength Accuracy: 0.5 nm</li><li>Mean Pixel Pitch: 2.2 nm</li><li>Resolution: 7 nm</li><li>Linearity: higher than 2.0 AU</li><li>Data Rate: 1 Hz – 100 Hz</li></ul>You can also visit this product on the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://watrex.com/obchod/chromatography/detectors/uv-vis-detectors/streamline-pda1-detector-256-diodes/?utm_source=labrulez&amp;utm_medium=propagace&amp;utm_campaign=labrulez_produkty">Watrex website</a>.

Watrex Streamline RI1 Refractive index HPLC detector

The Watrex Streamline RI1 Refractive Index Detector is an essential component in high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) systems.

Streamline™ RI1 refractive index detector is suitable for detecting compounds with little or no UV activity such as alcohols, sugars, lipids or polymers. This instrument is designed for use in analytical HPLC (high performance liquid chromatography) as well as for GPC (gel permeation chromatography) applications.<h3>FEATURES</h3><ul><li>Advanced temperature control for high sensitivity and reproducibility</li><li>Prime purge valve</li><li>Long-life LED light source</li><li>Pressure resistant flow cell</li></ul><h3>TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION</h3><ul><li>Light Source: Long-life LED</li><li>Refractive index Range: 1.00 - 1.75 RIU</li><li>Baseline Noise: ± 2.5 nRIU</li><li>Baseline Drift: 200 nRIU/h</li><li>Linearity: &gt; 1000 μRIU</li><li>Flow cell pressure resistance: 5 bar</li><li>Flow cell volume: 15 μl</li><li>Time constant: 0.00/0.01/0.02/0.05/0.1/0.2/0.5/1.0/2.0/5.0/10.0 s</li><li>Analog Output: 1x 0-2.5V</li><li>Outputs: Event 1, Start (OUT), Error (OUT), + 5 V, 24 V Valve</li></ul><h3>Ordering information:</h3><h5>PN/Component:</h5><ul><li>SRI101-001 Watrex Streamline™ RI refractive index detector (Price 7 018 € ex VAT)</li></ul>You can also visit this product on the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://watrex.com/obchod/chromatography/detectors/other-hplc-detectors/streamline-ri1-detector/?utm_source=labrulez&amp;utm_medium=propagace&amp;utm_campaign=labrulez_produkty">Watrex website</a>.

Watrex Streamline VD1 Viscosimetric HPLC detector

 Watrex Streamline™ VD1 viscosimetric detector is designed for detailed characterization of polymer compounds in both aqueous and organic solvents.

Streamline™ VD1 viscosimetric detector measures absolute intrinsic viscosity and is ideal as a detector for online monitoring in any GPC system. VD1 enables measurement of absolute molecular size using Wheatstone bridge operating principle.<h3>FEATURES</h3><ul><li>High sensitivity and stability</li><li>Low-noise</li><li>Open protocol digital data format</li><li>Direct dual analog output</li></ul><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Watrex_Watrex_Streamline_VD_1_Viscosimetric_detector_Universal_calibration_from_VD_1_data_1_149c741933.jpg" alt="Watrex: Watrex Streamline VD1 Viscosimetric detector - Universal calibration from VD1 data 1"><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Watrex_Watrex_Streamline_VD_1_Viscosimetric_detector_Universal_calibration_from_VD_1_data_2_a616c498e8.jpg" alt="Watrex: Watrex Streamline VD1 Viscosimetric detector - Universal calibration from VD1 data 2"><h3>TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION</h3><ul><li>Wavelength Range: 190 – 720 nm</li><li>Baseline Noise: ± 1 x 10-5 AU (@240 nm, 2 sec. risetime)</li><li>Baseline Drift: &lt; 3 x 10-4 AU/h</li><li>Wavelength Accuracy: ± 0.5 nm</li><li>Wavelenghth Reproducibility: ± 0.1 nm</li><li>Mean Pixel Pitch: 2.2 nm</li><li>Resolution (λ FWHM): 7 nm</li><li>Linearity: &gt; 2.5 AU</li><li>Wavelength Program: Programmable, 10 steps</li><li>Analog Output (optional): 1x 1 V</li><li>Options: Dual channel configuration, thermostated flow cell</li></ul><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Watrex_Watrex_Streamline_VD_1_Viscosimetric_detector_Technical_specification_76756715f6.jpg" alt="Watrex: Watrex Streamline VD1 Viscosimetric detector - Technical specification"><h3>Ordering information:</h3><h5>PN/Component:</h5><ul><li>SVD101-001 Watrex Streamline™ VD1 viscosimetric detector (Price 19 741 € ex VAT)</li></ul>You can also visit this product on the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://watrex.com/obchod/chromatography/detectors/other-hplc-detectors/streamline-vd1-detector/?utm_source=labrulez&amp;utm_medium=propagace&amp;utm_campaign=labrulez_produkty">Watrex website</a>.

Watrex Streamline™ PDA1 HPLC Detector, PEEK

Watrex Streamline™ PDA1 is a photo-diode-array (PDA) detector for routine analysis and sophisticated research.<blockquote>Price 9 972 € ex VAT</blockquote>The dual lamp design offers a wavelength range of 190 – 720 nm (256 Diodes) with a low baseline noise.The front-accessible flow cell can easily be exchanged, as can be the lamps which are accessible through a side panel in the instrument housing.Streamline™ PDA1 features 4-Wavelength channels to measure chromatograms at 4 different wavelengths at the same time. With this feature the optimum wavelength can be selected for each analyzed substance.<figure class="image"><img style="aspect-ratio:945/435;" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Watrex_Watrex_Streamline_PDA_1_Photodiode_array_detector_3784ec588b.jpg" alt="Watrex: Streamline™ PDA1 Detector, Stainless Steel" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Watrex_Watrex_Streamline_PDA_1_Photodiode_array_detector_3784ec588b.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="945" height="435"></figure><h3>TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION</h3><ul><li>Wetted Materials: Stainless Steel/ PEEK*, teflon, Glass (*depending on configuration)</li><li>Light Source: Deuterium Lamp, Tungsten Lamp</li><li>Wavelength Range: 190 – 720 nm</li><li>Number of Diodes: 256</li><li>Baseline Noise: ± 1 x 10-5 AU (@240 nm, 1 sec. risetime)</li><li>Baseline Drift: better than 3 x 10-4 AU/h</li><li>Wavelength Accuracy: 0.5 nm</li><li>Mean Pixel Pitch: 2.2 nm</li><li>Resolution: 7 nm</li><li>Linearity: higher than 2.0 AU</li><li>Data Rate: 1 Hz – 100 Hz</li></ul>You can also visit this product on the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://watrex.com/obchod/chromatography/detectors/uv-vis-detectors/streamline-pda1-detector-256-diodes-2/?utm_source=labrulez&amp;utm_medium=propagace&amp;utm_campaign=labrulez_produkty">Watrex website</a>.

Watrex Streamline™ UV1 HPLC detector, PEEK

The Streamline™ UV1 detector offers an excellent signal-to-noise ratio, making it ideal for demanding applications.

Watrex Streamline™ UV1 programmable UV/VIS detector exhibits excellent signal-to-noise ratio for even the most demanding applications. It is equipped with standard analytical cell. It has a 2-lamp source (deuterium + tungsten), variable wavelength detector configuration suitable for operation between 190 and 800 nm.<blockquote>Price 4 788 € ex VAT</blockquote><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Watrex_Watrex_Streamline_UV_1_UV_VIS_detector_686c6c9937.jpg" alt="Watrex: Streamline™ UV1 detector, PEEK" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Watrex_Watrex_Streamline_UV_1_UV_VIS_detector_686c6c9937.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="945" height="436"><h3>TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION</h3><ul><li>Light Source: Deuterium Lamp, Tungsten Lamp</li><li>Wavelength Range: 190 – 800 nm</li><li>Baseline Noise: 1 x 10-5 AU (@240 nm, 2 sec. risetime)</li><li>Baseline Drift: better than 3 x 10-4 AU/h</li><li>Wavelenghth Reproducibility: ± 0.1 nm</li><li>Linearity: better than 2.5 AU</li><li>Analog Output: 1x 1 V</li></ul>You can also visit this product on the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://watrex.com/obchod/chromatography/detectors/uv-vis-detectors/streamline-uv1-detector-2/?utm_source=labrulez&amp;utm_medium=propagace&amp;utm_campaign=labrulez_produkty">Watrex website</a>.

Products from category HPLC detectors focused on HPLC distributed by WATREX Prague - page 1

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New blood biomarkers reveal how faithfully diabetes patients take metformin

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EU Regulation 396/2005: Pesticide Residue Testing and the Critical Role of QuEChERS Evaporation in Food Safety