Sample preparation: a crucial factor for the analytical performance of rationally designed MALDI matrices

Evidence is presented that the performance of the rationally designed MALDI matrix 4-chloro-α-cyanocinnamic acid (ClCCA) in comparison to its well-established predecessor α-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid (CHCA) is significantly dependent on the sample preparation, such as the choice of the target plate. In this context, it becomes clear that any rational designs of MALDI matrices and their successful employment have to consider a larger set of physicochemical parameters, including sample crystallization and morphology/topology, in addition to parameters of basic (solution and/or gas-phase) chemistry

Human papillomavirus DNA in plasma of patients with cervical cancer

BACKGROUND: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a crucial etiological factor for cervical cancer (CC) development. From a diagnostic view-point, the consistent presence of HPV in CC allows the viral DNA to be used as a genetic marker. The aims of this study were to evaluate the presence, physical status and clinical significant of HPV DNA in circulation of CC patients. RESULTS: Whereas 6 out of 50 (12%) HPV positive CC patients revealed plasma HPV DNA, it was detected in none of 20 normal controls or 13 HPV negative CC cases. The plasma DNA exhibited an HPV type identical to the HPV in the primary tumors and the DNA from both sources was integrated into host genome. Interestingly, several findings suggested an association between plasma HPV DNA and metastasis. First, three of the HPV DNA positive cases were CC patients with clinical stage IVB or recurrence with distance metastases (P = 0.001, RR = 15.67). Second, the amount of plasma HPV DNA from metastatic patients to be three times more than three other patients without metastases. Finally, the later cases had tendency to develop recurrence distant metastases within one year after complete treatment when compared with other HPV associated CC patients with the same stage but without the present of plasma HPV DNA. CONCLUSIONS: The plasma HPV DNA originated from the CC, was associated with metastasis and could be used as a marker representing the circulating free CC DNA

Oroxylum indicum (L.) Kurz extract inhibits adipogenesis and lipase activity in vitro

Background: Oroxylum indicum (L.) Kurz (O. indicum) is found in Thailand. It has been used for the treatment of obesity. This study aimed to investigate the effects of an O. indicum extract (OIE) on the adipogenic and biomolecular change in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Methods: Initial studies examined the chemical components of OIE. The cell line 3T3-L1 was used to establish potential toxic effects of OIE during the differentiation of pre-adipocytes to adipocytes. The inhibitory effect of OIE on lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 cells was investigated. Moreover, the impact of OIE on pancreatic lipase activity was determined. In further experiments, Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) was used to monitor and discriminate biomolecular changes caused by the potential anti-adipogenic effect of OIE on 3T3-L1 cells. Results: Chemical screening methods indicated that OIE was composed of flavonoids, alkaloids, steroids, glycosides, and tannins. The percentage viability of 3T3-L1 cells was not significantly decreased after exposure to either 200 or 150 μg/mL of OIE for 2 and 10 days, respectively compared to control cells. The OIE exhibited a dose-dependent reduction of lipid accumulation compared to the control (p < 0.05). The extract also demonstrated a dosedependent inhibitory effect upon lipase activity compared to the control. The inhibitory effect of the OIE on lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 cells was also confirmed using FTIR microspectroscopy. The signal intensity and the integrated areas relating to lipids, lipid esters, nucleic acids, glycogen and carbohydrates of the OIE-treated 3T3-L1 adipocytes were significantly lower than the non-treated 3T3-L1 adipocytes (p < 0.05). Principal component analysis (PCA) indicated four distinct clusters for the FTIR spectra of 3T3-L1 adipocytes based on biomolecular changes (lipids, proteins, nucleic acids, and carbohydrates). This observation was confirmed using Unsupervised hierarchical cluster analysis (UHCA). Conclusions: These novel findings provide evidence that the OIE derived from the fruit pods of the plant is capable of inhibiting lipid and carbohydrate accumulation in adipocytes and also has the potential to inhibit an enzyme associated with fat absorption. The initial observations indicate that OIE may have important properties which in the future may be exploited for the management of the overweight or obese

Clinical Risk Score for Prediction of Urgency in Carotid Cavernous Sinus Fistulas

Pawasoot Supasai, Kanwasee Kanjana, Yosanan Yospaiboon KKU Eye Center, Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, ThailandCorrespondence: Yosanan Yospaiboon, KKU Eye Center, Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, 123 Mitraparb Highway, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand, Tel +66-4336-3010, Fax +66-4334-8383, Email [email protected]: To develop a clinical risk score for the prediction of urgency in patients with carotid cavernous sinus fistulas (CCFs) and test for the discriminative ability of the diagnostic prediction.Methods: The medical charts of 60 patients with CCFs were retrospectively reviewed. The clinical characteristics of direct and dural CCFs were analyzed by logistic regression. The clinical risk score was developed from the coefficient in the multivariable regression model and used to predict direct CCFs which were more urgent than the dural type. The score prediction was reported as an area under the receiver operating characteristic (AuROC) curve and 95% confidence interval (95% CI).Results: In a univariable analysis, the clinical characteristics which increased the risk of direct CCFs were age, gender, trauma, underlying diseases, visual acuity (VA) at presentation, bruit, chemosis, and dilated retinal vessels. However, in multivariable analysis, the significant predictors were limited to age, trauma, bruit, underlying diseases and logMAR VA. Regression coefficient of each predictor was converted to a risk score and summation of scores from these predictors for each patient was calculated. The total risk score predicted the urgent direct CCFs correctly with AuROC of 97.77% (95% CI; 93.57, 100).Conclusion: The clinical risk score for the prediction of urgent direct CCFs has been developed and used in the patients with CCFs in our setting. The discriminative ability of the score prediction is high. This simple clinical risk score may help clinicians suspect direct CCFs and urgently refer the patients to have prompt angiography and treatment.Keywords: clinical risk score, cavernous sinus, carotid cavernous fistulas, prediction, urgenc

Direct and Dural Carotid Cavernous Sinus Fistulas: Comparison of Clinical Characteristics

Pawasoot Supasai, Kanwasee Kanjana, Yosanan Yospaiboon KKU Eye Center, Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, ThailandCorrespondence: Yosanan Yospaiboon, KKU Eye Center, Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, 123 Mitraparb Highway, Khon Kaen, 40002, Thailand, Tel +66-4336-3010, Fax +66-4334-8383, Email [email protected]: To compare the clinical characteristics of patients with direct and dural carotid cavernous sinus fistulas (CCFs).Methods: The medical records of 60 patients diagnosed with CCFs were retrospectively reviewed. The collected data included demographic characteristics, clinical findings, and ocular manifestation. The clinical characteristics of the direct and the dural CCFs were compared on head-to-head basis. Logistic regression analysis was used to demonstrate the direction and magnitude of the difference and reported as odds ratio with its 95% confidence interval.Results: There were 28 patients (46.67%) with direct CCFs, and 32 patients (53.33%) with dural CCFs. Patients with direct CCF were mostly male (p=0.023), younger age (p< 0.001), had history of trauma (p< 0.001), and more visual impairment at presentation (p=0.025), when compared to those with dural CCFs. In addition, patients with direct CCF had significantly more chemosis (p=0.005), proptosis (p=0.042), bruit (p< 0.001) and dilated retinal vessels (p=0.008) than those with dural CCF. Thirty patients (50%) had increased intraocular pressure (IOP). Mean IOP of the affected eyes was significantly higher than the unaffected eyes (p< 0.0001). In patients with normal IOP, mean IOP of the affected eyes was also higher than the unaffected eyes (p=0.0027).Conclusion: Patients with direct CCF were younger age, associated with trauma, and more visual impairment at presentation. Chemosis, proptosis, bruit and dilated retinal vessels were detected more in the direct CCF than the dural CCF. Despite normal IOP, affected eyes had significantly higher IOP than the unaffected eyes. Information on these clinical characteristics may be helpful in discrimination of the direct type, which is more urgent for further investigation and treatment.Keywords: direct carotid cavernous fistula, dural carotid cavernous fistula, clinical characteristic

Assessment of production potential of long-linted Gossypium arboreum L. genotypes under different sowing times

Abstract Background Gossypium arboreum is one of the cultivated diploids which has inherent resistance against insect pests and diseases, can withstand moisture stress, needs less nutrients and is suitable for erratic, less rainfall and marginal soils. Due to its smaller boll size and poor locule retentivity, adoption of species by farmers is very low. So, best long-linted G. arboreum genotypes with high yielding potential and suitable sowing time will be identified for rainfed tracts of cotton cultivated areas in India. Results The pooled analysis results found that the significantly highest mean seed cotton yield was recorded with Phule Dhanwanthry (1069 kg/ha) which was on par with K12 (1027 kg/ha), DLSA 17 (977 kg/ha) and PA 812 (951 kg/ha). Planting at 4 August yielded the significantly higher seed cotton yield (1345 kg/ha) in comparison with 4 September sowing (536 kg/ha). The interaction results in pooled data revealed that Genotype PA 812 planted at 4 August registered the significantly highest seed cotton yield (1487 kg/ha) which was on par with all genotypes sown on 4 August except PA 402. Amongst long-linted genotypes, PA 760 recorded the significantly highest upper half length (29.9 mm), mean length (24.9 mm) and fibre strength (27.0 g/tex) and fibre quality index (349.7); which was on par with DLSA 17, PA 812 and PA 402. The quality characters had not been influenced significantly by different times of sowing. Conclusions The results concluded that the significantly highest mean seed cotton yield was recorded with Phule Dhanwanthry (1069 kg/ha) which was on par with K12 (1027 kg/ha), DLSA 17 (977 kg/ha) and PA 812 (951 kg/ha). Planting at 4 August found that the significantly higher seed cotton yield (1345 kg/ha) in comparison with 4 September sowing (536 kg/ha). Amongst long-linted genotypes, PA 760 recorded the significantly higher fibre quality index (349.7