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Objective: To investigate the findings of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), and serum metabolomics for differentiating pre-eclampsia (PE) from gestational hypertension (GH). Methods: This prospective study enrolled 176 subjects including a primary cohort with healthy non-pregnant women (HN, n = 35), healthy pregnant women (HP, n = 20), GH (n = 27), and PE (n = 39) and a validation cohort with HP (n = 22), GH (n = 22), and PE (n = 11). T1 signal intensity index (T1SI), apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value, and the metabolites on MRS were compared. The differentiating performances of single and combined MRI and MRS parameters for PE were evaluated. Serum liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC–MS) metabolomics was investigated by sparse projection to latent structures discriminant analysis. Results: Increased T1SI, lactate/creatine (Lac/Cr), and glutamine and glutamate (Glx)/Cr and decreased ADC value and myo-inositol (mI)/Cr in basal ganglia were found in PE patients. T1SI, ADC, Lac/Cr, Glx/Cr, and mI/Cr yielded an area under the curves (AUC) of 0.90, 0.80, 0.94, 0.96, and 0.94 in the primary cohort, and of 0.87, 0.81, 0.91, 0.84, and 0.83 in the validation cohort, respectively. A combination of Lac/Cr, Glx/Cr, and mI/Cr yielded the highest AUC of 0.98 in the primary cohort and 0.97 in the validation cohort. Serum metabolomics analysis showed 12 differential metabolites, which are involved in pyruvate metabolism, alanine metabolism, glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, and glutamate metabolism. Conclusions: MRS is expected to be a noninvasive and effective tool for monitoring GH patients to avoid the development of PE. Key Points: • Increased T1SI and decreased ADC value in the basal ganglia were found in PE patients than in GH patients. • Increased Lac/Cr and Glx/Cr, and decreased mI/Cr in the basal ganglia were found in PE patients than in GH patients. • LC–MS metabolomics showed that the major differential metabolic pathways between PE and GH were pyruvate metabolism, alanine metabolism, glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, and glutamate metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The ORBITA trial of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) versus a placebo procedure for patients with stable angina was conducted across six sites in the United Kingdom via home monitoring and telephone consultations. Patients underwent detailed assessment of medication adherence which allowed us to measure the efficacy of the implementation of the optimization protocol and interpretation of the main trial endpoints. Methods: Prescribing data were collected throughout the trial. Self‐reported adherence was assessed, and urine samples collected at pre‐randomization and at follow‐up for direct assessment of adherence using high‐performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC MS/MS). Results: Self‐reported adherence was >96% for all drugs in both treatment groups at both stages. The percentage of samples in which drug was detected at pre‐randomization and at follow‐up in the PCI versus placebo groups respectively was: clopidogrel, 96% versus 90% and 98% versus 94%; atorvastatin, 95% versus 92% and 92% versus 91%; perindopril, 95% versus 97% and 85% versus 100%; bisoprolol, 98% versus 99% and 96% versus 97%; amlodipine, 99% versus 99% and 94% versus 96%; nicorandil, 98% versus 96% and 94% versus 92%; ivabradine, 100% versus 100% and 100% versus 100%; and ranolazine, 100% versus 100% and 100% versus 100%. Conclusions: Adherence levels were high throughout the study when quantified by self‐reporting methods and similarly high proportions of drug were detected by urinary assay. The results indicate successful implementation of the optimization protocol delivered by telephone, an approach that could serve as a model for treatment of chronic conditions, particularly as consultations are increasingly conducted online.Medical therapy for patients with stable angina optimised over 6 weeks of tele‐ health clinic visits. Treatment titrated to home blood pressure and heart rate measurements. Medication adherence confirmed using HPLC MS/MS and patient self‐reporting. Patients subsequently randomised to PCI or placebo procedure in the ORBITA trial. Adherence reassessed at final follow‐up. Self‐reported adherence was >96% for all drugs in both treatment groups at both stages. Proportion of expected drug detected was >90% for all first‐choice, protocol‐directed medicines at both stages. No significant between group differences at pre‐ randomisation or at follow‐up and medication taking patterns did not change following treatment with PCI. The study uses a simple model for optimisation of medical therapy in clinical practice using a telehealth approach with high levels of adherence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: At present, in the quality control file or technical standards of in vitro fertilization medium, indicators for component contents and detection methods have not yet been defined. To ensure the safety and effectiveness of these products, we should try to establish and improve the quality standards. OBJECTIVE: To establish a method for simultaneously testing 18 kinds of amino acids by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass-spectrometry (UHPLC-MSMS), and to analyze the difference in the content of different amino acids in the medium for different uses. METHODS: Using the UHPLC-MSMS, we detected the indicator components of 18 different amino acids in the in vitro fertilization medium. These amino acids included glycine, leucine, methionine, tyrosine, histidine, threonine, alanine, isoleucine, tryptophan, cystine, lysine, aspartic acid, valine, phenylalanine, valine, serine, glutamic acid, arginine. The UHPLC separation was performed on a SUPELCO Discovery HS F5-3 column (15 cm×2.1 mm, 3 μm) in a gradient elute mode with acetonitrile and water (both containing 0.1% formic acid) as the mobile phase at a flow rate of 0.35 mL/min. The column temperature was 40 ℃. MS detection was performed with multiple-reaction monitoring mode using negative electro spray ionization. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The linearity was achieved in the range of 0.25-12.5 mmol/L for the 18 different amino acids. The average recovery rate of these amino acids ranged 86.3% to 125.3%. The relative standard deviation of the precision experiment and the repeatability experiment was less than 4.7%. These findings indicate that this is a sensitive, rapid, accurate, and specific method that can be used for the quality control of in vitro fertilization medium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: It is a challenge to seek for ideal anti-bacterial surface modification by which silver ions can have sustained and durable release. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the in vitro characteristics and effect of titanium dioxide coating with silver ion injection against Staphylococcus aureus. METHODS: There were four groups in the study: control group (pure titanium), titanium oxide coating group, low silver ion group (titanium oxide coating+30 minutes injection of silver ions), and high silver ion group (titanium oxide coating+60 minutes injection of silver ions). Characteristics of the implanted material in each group were observed using scanning electron microscope. Antibacterial efficacy for Staphylococcus aureus was assessed through bacterial instillation method, antibacterial ring test, and microbial growth curve. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Silver ions could be loaded onto the surface of the titanium dioxide coating through the silver ion implantation. Moreover, the number of silver ions on the coating surface and the antibacterial ability of the modified coating were both increased with the extension of injection time. Therefore, the silver ion implantation technology is beneficial to prepare inorganic antibacterial materials with strong and long-lasting antibacterial ability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Opiorphin is a pentapeptide isolated from human saliva that suppresses pain from chemically induced inflammation and acute physical pain. Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is a chronic condition of a burning sensation in the mouth, where no underlying dental or medical cause can be identified. We aimed to measure the level of opiorphin in whole unstimulated (UWS) and stimulated (SWS) saliva of patients with BMS. Materials and methods: Originally developed and validated LC-MS/MS method was used for opiorphin quantification. Samples were obtained from 29 BMS patients and 29 age- and sex-matched controls. Results: The average concentration of opiorphin in UWS and SWS in the BMS group was 8.13 ± 6.45 and 5.82 ± 3.59 ng/ml, respectively. Opiorphin in BMS patients' UWS was significantly higher, compared to the control group ( t = 2.5898; p = 0.0122). SWS opiorphin levels were higher, but not significantly, in BMS patients than in controls. Conclusions: Our results indicate that higher quantities of salivary opiorphin in BMS may be a consequence of chronic pain, but we cannot exclude that they occur as a result of emotional and behavioral imbalances possibly associated with BMS. To our knowledge, this is the first original article measuring opiorphin in a pain disorder. Clinical relevance: Opiorphin may be a measurable biomarker for chronic pain, which could help in objectifying otherwise exclusively a subjective experience. Increased opiorphin could serve as a universal objective indicator of painful conditions. Since opiorphin may also reflect emotional and socio-relational imbalances occurring with BMS, it could as well represent a biomarker for BMS. Knowledge on opiorphin's involvement in pain pathways could contribute to developing new clinical diagnostic methods for BMS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aim. Tea and coffee are one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world due to their beneficial health effects which are largely associated with their phenolic compounds composition, including chlorogenic acid. The main aim of this study was to determine 5-caffeoylquinic acid (5-CQA), as one of the major classes of chlorogenic acid, in various commercial tea and coffee samples present at the Serbian market. Methods. A high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for determination of 5-CQA in plant extracts was applied to determine the content of this active compound in commercial tea and coffee samples. Mobile phase was aqueous 1.5% acetic acid - methanol (80:20, v/v) with the flow rate of 0.8 mL/min. Run time was 15 min and column temperature 25°C. The detection was performed at 240 nm. Results. The HPLC method was modified and revalidated. The 5-CQA content varied depending on the type of tea (white, green, black tea and mate) and the processing technology. Green tea had the highest 5-CQA content (16 mg/100 mL) among the analyzed tea samples. The content of 5-CQA in coffee samples ranged 0-36.20 mg/g of coffee and 0-46.98 mg/100 mL of beverage, showing that the content varied depending on the type of coffee, coffee processing technology and the formulation. Conclusion. The modified and revalidated HPLC method showed a good accuracy, repeatability, selectivity and robustness. The highest amount of 5-CQA was determined in green tea in comparison to white, black and mate tea because the increased oxidation level decreases the amount of 5-CQA. The obtained results for commercial coffee samples indicated that the formulation was the most important factor determining the amount of 5-CQA. It can be concluded that plant material selection, processing conditions and formulation have great influence on the amount of chlorogenic acid (5-CQA) in the final tea and coffee products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]