Pneumopericardium, pneumomediastinum and air travel: A case report in a patient with Gardner syndrome

© 2020 The Author(s) Onboard aircraft medical emergencies are on the rise as commercial air traffic is increasing. However, thoracic injury secondary to air travel is extremely rare and, most reported injuries are cases of pneumothoraces. Spontaneous pneumomediastinum and pneumopericardium have been barely reported in the medical literature as a complication of air travel. We are reporting a case of spontaneous pneumopericardium and pneumomediastinum in a patient with Gardner\u27s Syndrome after a flight from Central America to New York City. The patient presented with chest discomfort. He was managed conservatively with oxygen therapy as he was hemodynamically stable throughout his stay in the hospital. A thorough work up in hospital including and esophagogram and a CT scan of the chest were none revealing of the cause. However, the patient was noted to have metastatic rectal cancer with lung involvement. The patient was discharged with instructions to avoid air travel

Locked-In with COVID-19

© 2020 Elsevier Ltd Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) can be associated with various neurological manifestations including acute strokes. Hyper acute diagnosis and treatment are key factors which decrease mortality and morbidity in stroke patients. The COVID-19 pandemic has introduced a great strain on the healthcare system, and as a result clinicians are facing several barriers in diagnosing and treating strokes. Delayed presentation of strokes is a problem as some in the general population defer the decision to seek immediate medical attention fearing contracting the virus. Also playing a role is the paucity of healthcare professionals available during a pandemic. Recent literature demonstrates the association of acute strokes in young patients with COVID-19. Lack of clear pathophysiology of the neurological manifestations from COVID-19 intensifies the problem. A thorough examination of the intensive care unit patient has always been a challenge owing to several factors including use of sedatives, sepsis, uremia, and encephalopathy secondary to medications. Locked-In Syndrome (LIS) secondary to stroke is much more challenging to diagnose as patients are unable to communicate or elicit any motor functions apart from certain ocular movements. We present the case of a 25 year old patient with no known history of coagulopathy, but had developed COVID-19 cytokine storm which culminated in LIS secondary to pontine strokes

The use of the articulated total body model as a robot dynamics simulation tool

The Articulated Total Body (ATB) model is a computer sumulation program which was originally developed for the study of aircrew member dynamics during ejection from high-speed aircraft. This model is totally three-dimensional and is based on the rigid body dynamics of coupled systems which use Euler's equations of motion with constraint relations of the type employed in the Lagrange method. In this paper the use of the ATB model as a robot dynamics simulation tool is discussed and various simulations are demonstrated. For this purpose the ATB model has been modified to allow for the application of torques at the joints as functions of state variables of the system. Specifically, the motion of a robotic arm with six revolute articulations with joint torques prescribed as functions of angular displacement and angular velocity are demonstrated. The simulation procedures developed in this work may serve as valuable tools for analyzing robotic mechanisms, dynamic effects, joint load transmissions, feed-back control algorithms employed in the actuator control and end-effector trajectories

Seizure And COVID-19: Association and Review of Potential Mechanism.

Since the emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in Wuhan, China, this highly transmissible virus has since spread rapidly around the world. Though respiratory complication is the primarily reported manifestation though rare, yet serious neurological complications are being frequently reported in the literature. In selected coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) cases neurologic complications may manifest as seizures. In this paper, we have reviewed current literature on seizures linked with SARS- COV 2 infection including published or pre-print original articles, review articles, and case reports. We have discussed the electroencephalogram (EEG), imaging, and Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) findings in COVID-19 patients presenting with seizure. We will be concluding the paper by briefly discussing the three possible seizure development mechanisms in patients infected with SARS- COV 2, which includes - (a) Direct Mechanism (b) Indirect Mechanism and (c) Exacerbation of Seizure in Patients with Epilepsy (PWE). Our aim is to update the physicians working with COVID-19 patients about this potential complication and hope that understanding of these proposed mechanisms can provide an opportunity for the physicians for early diagnosis or even better, help prevent this complication

Analysis of Crocetins and Safranal variations in Saffron (Crocus sativus) Stigma Samples and Dietary Supplements using HPLC/UHPLC-PDA-MS: Chemical Profiling and Chemometric Analysis using LC-QToF

Saffron, the most expensive spice in the world, is comprised of dried and dark red stigma of Crocus sativus L. flowers of the Iridaceae family. It is mainly used as a spice for imparting color, fragrance, and flavor to food, but its medicinal and dyeing properties are also well known. In the United States, saffron products are used as dietary supplements for mood elevation, relaxation, weight loss, and to increase metabolism. This paper describes two analytical methods for the determination of crocetin esters, picrocrocin, and safranal in saffron samples and dietary supplements for inclusion in a monograph under development by the American Herbal Pharmacopoeia. Method validation showed satisfactory results in linearity, precision and recovery. The content of picrocrocin, safranal and crocetin esters ranged from 0.6-10.2%, 0.02-0.22%, and 2.8- 25.6%, respectively for thirty-seven stigma samples. Twenty-nine dietary supplements were analyzed. No saffron compounds were found in 16 (55%) of these products. Flower of Carthamus tinctorius and fruit of Gardenia jasminoides were the main adulterants detected in dietary supplements. Summarily, 60 compounds, including five standards were tentatively identified from saffron stigma, style, and petal samples using high resolution mass spectrometry. Principle component analysis was used to discriminate between saffron stigma samples and dietary supplements. The results indicated that commercial products are of variable quality and that this analytical method is suitable for quality assessment of a variety of both raw material and finished dietary supplements.https://egrove.olemiss.edu/pharm_annual_posters_2024/1015/thumbnail.jp

A Public Health Issue: Dietary Supplements Promoted for Brain Health and Cognitive Performance

© Cindy Crawford, et al. 2020; Published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. 2020. Background: Dietary supplements targeting brain health have quickly emerged in the marketplace as cognitive performance becomes an important public health issue. While manufacturers are required to report the exact ingredients and formulations listed on the Supplement Facts labels of products, many reports have indicated such labels are not always truthful, and the content of some products is inconsistent with the ingredients listed on the Supplement Facts label. Objectives: To identify dietary supplement products and ingredients marketed for brain health and cognitive performance and perform analyses of select products to verify whether purported claims are truthful and product labels accurate. Design: A scoping review was performed to identify products and ingredients. Products were selected for content analysis, investigated for scientific-sounding claims made, and assessed using an educational tool for potential red flags when reading Supplement Facts labels. Results: Twelve products were selected from the 650 products being marketed for brain health and queried about by Service Members. Eight (67%) had at least one ingredient listed on the Supplement Facts label not detected through analysis. Compounds not reported on the label were detected in 10 (83%) products. Scientific-sounding claims made are not supported by science and red flags are presented. Conclusions: There are dietary supplements targeting brain health being marketed to consumers that should be considered adulterated and misbranded. Advertisements and product labels may be deceiving and could put the public at risk. Education is required so that the public can recognize red flags while the U.S. Food and Drug Administration works to modernize the current regulations for dietary supplements

COVID-19 presenting as stroke

© 2020 Elsevier Inc. Objective: Acute stroke remains a medical emergency even during the COVID-19 pandemic. Most patients with COVID-19 infection present with constitutional and respiratory symptoms; while others present with atypical gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, or neurological manifestations. Here we present a series of four patients with COVID-19 that presented with acute stroke. Methods: We searched the hospital databases for patients that presented with acute stroke and concomitant features of suspected COVID-19 infection. All patients who had radiographic evidence of stroke and PCR-confirmed COVID-19 infection were included in the study. Patients admitted to the hospital with PCR- confirmed COVID-19 disease whose hospital course was complicated with acute stroke while inpatient were excluded from the study. Retrospective patient data were obtained from electronic medical records. Informed consent was obtained. Results: We identified four patients who presented with radiographic confirmation of acute stroke and PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. We elucidate the clinical characteristics, imaging findings, and the clinical course. Conclusions: Timely assessment and hyperacute treatment is the key to minimize mortality and morbidity of patients with acute stroke. Stroke teams should be wary of the fact that COVID-19 patients can present with cerebrovascular accidents and should dawn appropriate personal protective equipment in every suspected patient. Further studies are urgently needed to improve current understandings of neurological pathology in the setting of COVID-19 infection

R08. Characterization of Key Metabolites in Serum of Fuzheng Huayu Phase II Clinical Trial

Corresponding author (NCNPR): Yan-Hong Wang, [email protected]://egrove.olemiss.edu/pharm_annual_posters/1007/thumbnail.jp

Pathway-specific inhibition of primaquine metabolism by chloroquine/quinine

BACKGROUND: There has been some evidence to suggest that the addition of chloroquine (CQ) or quinine (QN) to 8-aminoquinoline (8-AQ) treatment regimens may increase the therapeutic efficacy of the 8-AQ and simultaneously mitigate against its haemolytic toxicity. However, both CQ and QN are considered effective, although perhaps moderate inhibitors of CYP2D6, an enzyme now regarded as necessary for primaquine (PQ) pharmacologic activity. An understanding of the influence of CQ and QN on the metabolism of PQ may shed light on the potential mechanisms of the beneficial interaction. METHODS: Differential metabolism of PQ enantiomers by recombinant human CYP2D6, monoamine oxidase A (MAO), and cryopreserved human hepatocytes in the presence/absence of CQ and QN. RESULTS: Both CQ and QN significantly inhibited the activity of CYP2D6. PQ depletion by MAO and human hepatocytes was not affected significantly by the presence of CQ and QN. CYP2D6-mediated hydroxylation was largely suppressed by both CQ and QN. The formation of the primary deaminated metabolites, including carboxyprimaquine (CPQ) and cyclized side chain derivative from the aldehyde (m/z 241), was not sensitive to the presence of CQ and QN. However, the appearance of the glucuronides of CPQ and PQ alcohol were significantly suppressed. CQ and QN also inhibited the appearance of the m/z 257 metabolite with a similar pattern, suggesting that it may be derived from the CPQ conjugate. The apparent quinone-imine of CPQ (m/z 289) was only partially suppressed by both QN and CQ, but with a differential pattern of inhibition for the two drugs. The m/z 274 (quinone-imine of a ring-hydroxylated PQ metabolite) and m/z 422 (an apparent glucose conjugate of PQ) metabolites in hepatocytes were strongly suppressed by both QN and CQ, perhaps a reflection of the 2D6 inhibition by these drugs. The formation of the carbamoyl glucuronide of PQ (m/z 480) was not affected by CQ/QN. CONCLUSION: The metabolite-specific interactions in the current studies seem at variance with earlier reports of the dependence of PQ on CYP2D6 metabolism, and enhanced PQ anti-malarial activity/reduced toxicity in the presence of CQ/QN. These results suggest a complex picture in which CQ/QN may shift metabolite pathway balances towards a profile that retains efficacy, while reducing the formation or availability of toxic metabolites to erythrocytes. Alternatively, these drugs may alter transport or distribution of PQ metabolites in a fashion that reduces toxicity while maintaining efficacy against the parasite

Characterization, quantification and quality assessment of avocado (Persea americana Mill.) Oils

© 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Avocado oil is prized for its high nutritional value due to the substantial amounts of triglycerides (TGs) and unsaturated fatty acids (FAs) present. While avocado oil is traditionally extracted from mature fruit flesh, alternative sources such as avocado seed oil have recently increased in popularity. Unfortunately, sufficient evidence is not available to support the claimed health benefit and safe use of such oils. To address potential quality issues and identify possible adulteration, authenticated avocado oils extracted from the fruit peel, pulp and seed by supercritical fluid extraction (SFE), as well as commercial avocado pulp and seed oils sold in US market were analyzed for TGs and FAs in the present study. Characterization and quantification of TGs were conducted using UHPLC/ESI-MS. Thirteen TGs containing saturated and unsaturated fatty acids in avocado oils were unambiguously identified. Compared to traditional analytical methods, which are based only on the relative areas of chromatographic peaks neglecting the differences in the relative response of individual TG, our method improved the quantification of TGs by using the reference standards whenever possible or the reference standards with the same equivalent carbon number (ECN). To verify the precision and accuracy of the UHPLC/ESI-MS method, the hydrolysis and transesterification products of avocado oil were analyzed for fatty acid methyl esters using a GC/MS method. The concentrations of individual FA were calculated, and the results agreed with the UHPLC/ESI-MS method. Although chemical profiles of avocado oils from pulp and peel are very similar, a significant difference was observed for the seed oil. Principal component analysis (PCA) based on TG and FA compositional data allowed correct identification of individual avocado oil and detection of possible adulteration