Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of compounds from complex matrices

The aim of the work was to establish two methods for the analysis of 4 thyroid hormones and 18 plant toxins by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) using electrospray ionisation (ESI). The developed and validated methods were then applied to samples, with a range of complex matrices, namely serum, simulated gastro-intestinal fluid, tablet formulation and plants, with sample preparation methods developed and validated for each. Thyroid disorders, hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, are a common medical condition with diagnosis obtained via the analysis of thyroid hormones present within serum samples. Currently within the NHS analysis is performed using electrochemiluminescence to measure thyroid stimulating hormone, thyroxine and triiodothyronine. However, these methods have limited sensitivity and inaccuracies of 30% at the limit of detection. Therefore, diagnosis of hypothyroidism can often be missed with multiple medical visits being required. The developed method allows for the detection and qualification of 4 thyroid hormones, thyroxine, triiodothyronine, reverse triiodothyronine and diiodothyronine, using low resolution and high resolution mass spectrometry. The developed method showed significant improvements over the current NHS method with LOQs of 0.990 and precision of <3.8 %. A direct comparison between the development method and the current clinical method showed that the result obtained were comparable in terms of thyroid hormone levels detected. Allowing for LC-MS/MS to be a suitable, more reliable alternative for the detection and quantification of thyroid hormones. Plant toxins are a common cause of accidental poisoning with a range of symptoms including burns, nausea, convulsions, paralysis and even death. Many of the plants analysed in this study can be purchased from garden centres and online nurseries with little to no safety information provided. A method was developed for the analysis of 18 plant toxins, atropine, aconitine, capsaicin, cathinone, colchicine, coumarin, digitoxin, digoxin, hellebrin, 5-methoxypsoralen, 8-methpxypsoralen, psoralen, salvinorin A, scopolamine, solanine, strychnine, thujone and veratridine, based upon the plant availability. The developed method showed good linearity, r2 > 0.9952 and precision of <10.7 %. The analysis of the plant materials showed toxins consistent with information obtained from the head gardener at Alnwick Gardens, which holds the largest poison garden in the UK. A risk assessment for ingestion and dermal exposure was compared with the LD50 and it was found that Colchicum autumnale posed the greatest risk via ingestion with Atropa belladonna also posing significant risk via ingestion. The dermal risk was minimal; however, care should be taken in the case of dermal contact due to the presence of phototoxins present in plant such as Heracleum mantegazzianum

Skin Diseases and Sexually Transmitted Infections

ПОСОБИЯКОЖНЫЕ БОЛЕЗНИДЕРМАТОЛОГИЯВЕНЕРОЛОГИЯИНОСТРАННЫЕ СТУДЕНТЫВЕНЕРИЧЕСКИЕ БОЛЕЗНИПособие охватывает как общие, так и редкие вопросы дерматологии и венерологии. Содержатся главы о кожных и венерических заболеваниях, которые являются общими для Азии, Африки и Латинской Америки

The EBMT Handbook

This Open Access edition of the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) handbook addresses the latest developments and innovations in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and cellular therapy. Consisting of 93 chapters, it has been written by 175 leading experts in the field. Discussing all types of stem cell and bone marrow transplantation, including haplo-identical stem cell and cord blood transplantation, it also covers the indications for transplantation, the management of early and late complications as well as the new and rapidly evolving field of cellular therapies. This book provides an unparalleled description of current practices to enhance readers’ knowledge and practice skills

Yale Medicine : Alumni Bulletin of the School of Medicine, Fall 2004- Summer 2005

This volume contains Yale medicine: alumni bulletin of the School of Medicine, v.39 (Fall 2004-Summer 2005). Prepared in cooperation with the alumni and development offices at the School of Medicine. Earlier volumes are called Yale School of Medicine alumni bulletins, dating from v.1 (1953) through v.13 (1965). Digitized with funding from the Arcadia fund, 2017.https://elischolar.library.yale.edu/yale_med_alumni_newsletters/1020/thumbnail.jp

Antioxidant and DPPH-Scavenging Activities of Compounds and Ethanolic Extract of the Leaf and Twigs of Caesalpinia bonduc L. Roxb.

Antioxidant effects of ethanolic extract of Caesalpinia bonduc and its isolated bioactive compounds were evaluated in vitro. The compounds included two new cassanediterpenes, 1α,7α-diacetoxy-5α,6β-dihydroxyl-cass-14(15)-epoxy-16,12-olide (1)and 12α-ethoxyl-1α,14β-diacetoxy-2α,5α-dihydroxyl cass-13(15)-en-16,12-olide(2); and others, bonducellin (3), 7,4’-dihydroxy-3,11-dehydrohomoisoflavanone (4), daucosterol (5), luteolin (6), quercetin-3-methyl ether (7) and kaempferol-3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1Ç2)-β-D-xylopyranoside (8). The antioxidant properties of the extract and compounds were assessed by the measurement of the total phenolic content, ascorbic acid content, total antioxidant capacity and 1-1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) and hydrogen peroxide radicals scavenging activities.Compounds 3, 6, 7 and ethanolic extract had DPPH scavenging activities with IC50 values of 186, 75, 17 and 102 μg/ml respectively when compared to vitamin C with 15 μg/ml. On the other hand, no significant results were obtained for hydrogen peroxide radical. In addition, compound 7 has the highest phenolic content of 0.81±0.01 mg/ml of gallic acid equivalent while compound 8 showed the highest total antioxidant capacity with 254.31±3.54 and 199.82±2.78 μg/ml gallic and ascorbic acid equivalent respectively. Compound 4 and ethanolic extract showed a high ascorbic acid content of 2.26±0.01 and 6.78±0.03 mg/ml respectively.The results obtained showed the antioxidant activity of the ethanolic extract of C. bonduc and deduced that this activity was mediated by its isolated bioactive compounds

Maternal-child health - interdisciplinary aspects within the perspective of global health

Maternal-Child Health is one of the greatest challenges the world has to cope with today. Every year, thousands of women, newborns and children die unnecessarily, particularly in resource-poor settings. There is a great disparity caused by food insecurity and hunger, environmental health risks, sanitation challenges, cultural barriers and non-accessibility to diagnosis and treatment. "Maternal-Child Health: Interdisciplinary Aspects within the Perspective of Global Health" addresses these issues. The contributions of this book are based on the ONE HEALTH concept by focusing on infectious and non-communicable diseases and to present interdisciplinary views from more than 60 authors who come from 14 countries. The aim is to shape our understanding on Maternal-Child Health Solutions by looking at > agricultural and environmental > economic, social and theological > biomedical and nutritional > clinical human and veterinary as well as > epidemiology and > public health expertise. The Göttingen International Health Network is corresponding to a variety of different geographic regions and programs to improve global health perspective and health of the most vulnerable: mothers and their children

Smoking and Second Hand Smoking in Adolescents with Chronic Kidney Disease: A Report from the Chronic Kidney Disease in Children (CKiD) Cohort Study

The goal of this study was to determine the prevalence of smoking and second hand smoking [SHS] in adolescents with CKD and their relationship to baseline parameters at enrollment in the CKiD, observational cohort study of 600 children (aged 1-16 yrs) with Schwartz estimated GFR of 30-90 ml/min/1.73m2. 239 adolescents had self-report survey data on smoking and SHS exposure: 21 [9%] subjects had “ever” smoked a cigarette. Among them, 4 were current and 17 were former smokers. Hypertension was more prevalent in those that had “ever” smoked a cigarette (42%) compared to non-smokers (9%), p\u3c0.01. Among 218 non-smokers, 130 (59%) were male, 142 (65%) were Caucasian; 60 (28%) reported SHS exposure compared to 158 (72%) with no exposure. Non-smoker adolescents with SHS exposure were compared to those without SHS exposure. There was no racial, age, or gender differences between both groups. Baseline creatinine, diastolic hypertension, C reactive protein, lipid profile, GFR and hemoglobin were not statistically different. Significantly higher protein to creatinine ratio (0.90 vs. 0.53, p\u3c0.01) was observed in those exposed to SHS compared to those not exposed. Exposed adolescents were heavier than non-exposed adolescents (85th percentile vs. 55th percentile for BMI, p\u3c 0.01). Uncontrolled casual systolic hypertension was twice as prevalent among those exposed to SHS (16%) compared to those not exposed to SHS (7%), though the difference was not statistically significant (p= 0.07). Adjusted multivariate regression analysis [OR (95% CI)] showed that increased protein to creatinine ratio [1.34 (1.03, 1.75)] and higher BMI [1.14 (1.02, 1.29)] were independently associated with exposure to SHS among non-smoker adolescents. These results reveal that among adolescents with CKD, cigarette use is low and SHS is highly prevalent. The association of smoking with hypertension and SHS with increased proteinuria suggests a possible role of these factors in CKD progression and cardiovascular outcomes