Targeted and non-targeted liquid chromatography-mass spectrometric workflows for identification of transformation products of emerging pollutants in the aquatic environment

Identification of transformation products (TPs) of emerging pollutants is challenging, due to the vast number of compounds, mostly unknown, the complexity of the matrices and their often low concentrations, requiring highly selective, highly sensitive techniques.Wecompile background information on biotic and abiotic formation of TPs and analytical developments over the past five years. We present a database of biotic or abiotic TPs compiled fromthose identified in recent years.We discuss mass spectrometric (MS) techniques and workflows for target, suspect and non-target screening of TPs with emphasis on liquid chromatography coupled to MS (LC-MS). Both low- and high-resolution (HR) mass analyzers have been applied, but HR-MS is the technique of choice, due to its high confirmatory capabilities, derived fromthe high resolving power and the mass accuracy in MS and MS/MS modes, and the sophisticated software developed

Advanced Technologies for Oral Controlled Release: Cyclodextrins for oral controlled release

Cyclodextrins (CDs) are used in oral pharmaceutical formulations, by means of inclusion complexes formation, with the following advantages for the drugs: (1) solubility, dissolution rate, stability and bioavailability enhancement; (2) to modify the drug release site and/or time profile; and (3) to reduce or prevent gastrointestinal side effects and unpleasant smell or taste, to prevent drug-drug or drug-additive interactions, or even to convert oil and liquid drugs into microcrystalline or amorphous powders. A more recent trend focuses on the use of CDs as nanocarriers, a strategy that aims to design versatile delivery systems that can encapsulate drugs with better physicochemical properties for oral delivery. Thus, the aim of this work was to review the applications of the CDs and their hydrophilic derivatives on the solubility enhancement of poorly water soluble drugs in order to increase their dissolution rate and get immediate release, as well as their ability to control (to prolong or to delay) the release of drugs from solid dosage forms, either as complexes with the hydrophilic (e.g. as osmotic pumps) and/ or hydrophobic CDs. New controlled delivery systems based on nanotechonology carriers (nanoparticles and conjugates) have also been reviewed

Impact of COVID-19 on cardiovascular testing in the United States versus the rest of the world

Objectives: This study sought to quantify and compare the decline in volumes of cardiovascular procedures between the United States and non-US institutions during the early phase of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the care of many non-COVID-19 illnesses. Reductions in diagnostic cardiovascular testing around the world have led to concerns over the implications of reduced testing for cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality. Methods: Data were submitted to the INCAPS-COVID (International Atomic Energy Agency Non-Invasive Cardiology Protocols Study of COVID-19), a multinational registry comprising 909 institutions in 108 countries (including 155 facilities in 40 U.S. states), assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on volumes of diagnostic cardiovascular procedures. Data were obtained for April 2020 and compared with volumes of baseline procedures from March 2019. We compared laboratory characteristics, practices, and procedure volumes between U.S. and non-U.S. facilities and between U.S. geographic regions and identified factors associated with volume reduction in the United States. Results: Reductions in the volumes of procedures in the United States were similar to those in non-U.S. facilities (68% vs. 63%, respectively; p = 0.237), although U.S. facilities reported greater reductions in invasive coronary angiography (69% vs. 53%, respectively; p < 0.001). Significantly more U.S. facilities reported increased use of telehealth and patient screening measures than non-U.S. facilities, such as temperature checks, symptom screenings, and COVID-19 testing. Reductions in volumes of procedures differed between U.S. regions, with larger declines observed in the Northeast (76%) and Midwest (74%) than in the South (62%) and West (44%). Prevalence of COVID-19, staff redeployments, outpatient centers, and urban centers were associated with greater reductions in volume in U.S. facilities in a multivariable analysis. Conclusions: We observed marked reductions in U.S. cardiovascular testing in the early phase of the pandemic and significant variability between U.S. regions. The association between reductions of volumes and COVID-19 prevalence in the United States highlighted the need for proactive efforts to maintain access to cardiovascular testing in areas most affected by outbreaks of COVID-19 infection

Magnetic resonance imaging of fetal pelvic cysts.

The detection of fetal anomalies has improved in the last years as a result of the generalization of ultrasound pregnancy screening exams. The presence of a cystic imaging in the fetal pelvis is a relatively common finding, which can correspond to a real congenital cystic lesion or result from the anomalous liquid accumulation in a whole pelvic organ, mainly the urinary bladder, the uterus, or the vagina. In selected cases with poor prognosis and/or inconclusive echographic findings, magnetic resonance may bring additional information in terms of the characterization, anatomical location, and real extension of the pathology. This pictorial essay describes the normal pelvic fetal anatomy, as well as the most common pelvic cysts. It also describes the causes of an anomalous distension of the whole pelvic organs detected in utero, with emphasis on prenatal magnetic resonance imaging exams. Moreover, it proposes practical teaching points to reduce the differential diagnosis of these lesions based on the sex of the fetus, the division of the pelvis in anatomical spaces, and the imaging findings of the pathology. Finally, it discusses the real utility of complementary MRI

Chromatographic behavior of zwitterionic enalapril-Exploring the conditions for lipophilicity assessment

The chromatographic behavior of enalapril was investigated under different stationary and mobile phase conditions in an effort to unravel interferences in the underlying retention mechanism, which would affect its relation to octanol-water partitioning. Extrapolated retention factors, log kw, were used as relevant chromatographic indices. The retention/pH profile was established and the peak split phenomenon, associated with cis/trans interconversion, was also monitored as a function of pH. The pH at maximum retention and minimum peak split occurrence was chosen for further investigation, so that the presence of zwitterionic structure was guaranteed and any effect of cis/trans interconversion could be ignored. Retention of zwitterionic enalapril was found to be very sensitive to mobile phase conditions in regard to organic modifier as well to the aqueous component. The use of morpholine-propanesulfonic acid (MOPS) as buffer and the presence of n-octanol as mobile phase additive proved critical factors for maximum suppression of secondary interactions. Nevertheless, the corresponding extrapolated retention factor was considerably larger than octanol-water log D value at the isoelectric point. However, log kw could be successfully converted to log D by means of a calibration equation established for ionized acidic compounds. © 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved