Determination of cisplatin in human blood plasma and urine using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry for oncological patient s with a variety of fatty tissue mass for prediction of toxicity

Publisher Copyright: Copyright © Experimental Oncology, 2017.Aim: The research was aimed to analyze a level of triglycerides in blood serum as a possible new marker of toxicity, particularly in patients with excess body weight, receiving cisplatin. Materials and Methods: Study involved 20 oncological patients with stage III lung cancer, who received palliative treatment with cisplatin. High-performance liquid chromatography was used for quantitative determination of pure cisplatin in urine and blood samples. Cisplatin concentration of the test samples was determined based on the data obtained from the calibration graph. Results: Quantitative determination of pure cisplatin is quite complicated. The elimination half-time for one of the groups was observed higher almost by half than for other patients. Higher dose of cisplatin showed a significant association with increase in triglyceride levels. We found a close correlation between body mass index and triglyceride changes during chemotherapy (p = 0.001; r = 0.67). The results indicate that a higher body mass index gives higher fluctuations of triglyceride levels in blood serum. Analyses of correlation between level of triglycerides and elimination half-time show that by an increase in the level of triglycerides in the blood serum cisplatin elimination half-time is prolonged (R2 Linear = 0.596). Cisplatin concentration in urine is higher and elimination takes longer time at elevated levels of triglycerides, where close correlation between fraction of excreted substance in urine and concentration parameters was seen (p < 0.01). Also good correlation for body mass index with fraction of excreted substance in urine and concentration parameters was observed (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Clearance of cisplatin, which was determined by the chromatographic method, is reduced in individuals with increased adipose tissue mass. Research data suggest that overweight affects cisplatin elimination from the body. The greater body fat mass can contribute to a greater rise of triglyceride level in blood serum. Triglycerides in blood plasma may serve as an additional indicator of higher cisplatin toxicity as a cardiotoxicity marker.publishersversionPeer reviewe

Sintered glass-ceramic matrix composites made from Latvian silicate wastes

Powder technology and sintering were used to fabricate glass-ceramic matrix composites from Latvian industrial wastes and alumina platelets reinforcement. The optimization of the sintering behaviour of glass-ceramic compositions containing clay and alumina platelets was carried out. Highly crystalline and dense products (> 90 % theoretical density) were fabricated by sintering at temperatures in the range 1040 to 1060 °C, depending on composition. Addition of waste glass to influence the sintering temperature and sintering interval was also investigated. Composites showed higher fracture strength (up to 97 MPa) and hardness than unreinforced glass-ceramics. The "best" composition in terms of density and mechanical properties contained 20 wt% alumina platelets. The matrix exhibited a microstructure composed mainly of elongated crystals of pyroxene type in a residual glassy matrix. These composites are candidates for applications as building materials, such as floor and wall tiles, and for manufacturing machine elements and parts

Aerosol Jet Printed Organic Memristive Microdevices Based on a Chitosan:PANI Composite Conductive Channel

In this study we show a chitosan:polyaniline (CPA)-based ink, responding to eco-biofriendly criteria, specifically developed for the manufacturing of the first organic memristive device (OMD) with an aerosol jet printed conductive channel. Our contribution is in the context of bioelectronics, where there is an increasing interest in emulating neuro-morphic functions. In this framework, memristive devices and systems have been shown to be well suited. In particular organic-based devices are envisaged as very promising in some applications, such as brain-machine interfacing, owing to specific properties of organics (e.g., biocompatibility, mixed ionic-electronic conduction). On the other hand, the research activities on flexible organic (bio)electronic devices and direct writing (DW) noncontact techniques increasingly overlap in the effort of achieving reliable applications benefiting from the rapid prototyping to accomplish a fast device optimization. In this context, ink-based techniques, such as aerosol jet printing (AJP), although particularly well suited to implement 3D-printed electronics due to advantages it offers in terms of a wide set of allowed printable materials, still require research efforts aimed at conferring printability to the desired precursors. The developed CPA composite was characterized by FTIR, DLS, and MALDI-TOF techniques, while the related aerosol jet printed films were studied by SEM and profilometry. Taking advantage of the intrinsic and stable electrical conductivity of CPA films, which do not necessarily require any acidic treatment to promote a sustained charge carrier conduction, 10 mu m short-channel OMDs were hence manufactured by interfacing the printed CPA layers with a solid polyelectrolyte (SPE). We accordingly demonstrated prototypes of stable and best performing OMD devices with downscaled features, showing well-defined counterclockwise hysteresis/rectification and an enhanced durability. These properties pave the way to further improving performance, as well as to realizing a direct integration of the devices into hardware neural networks by in-line fabrication routes

Toxicity and Applications of Internalised Magnetite Nanoparticles Within Live Paramecium caudatum Cells

© 2017, The Author(s). The nanotechnology revolution has allowed us to speculate on the possibility of hybridising nanoscale materials with live substrates, yet significant doubt still remains pertaining to the effects of nanomaterials on biological matter. In this investigation, we cultivate the ciliated protistic pond-dwelling microorganism Paramecium caudatum in the presence of excessive quantities of magnetite nanoparticles in order to deduce potential beneficial applications for this technique, as well as observe any deleterious effects on the organisms’ health. Our findings indicate that this variety of nanoparticle is well-tolerated by P. caudatum cells, who were observed to consume them in quantities exceeding 5–12% of their body volume: cultivation in the presence of magnetite nanoparticles does not alter P. caudatum cell volume, swimming speed, growth rate or peak colony density and cultures may persist in nanoparticle-contaminated media for many weeks. We demonstrate that P. caudatum cells ingest starch-coated magnetite nanoparticles which facilitates their being magnetically immobilised whilst maintaining apparently normal ciliary dynamics, thus demonstrating that nanoparticle biohybridisation is a viable alternative to conventional forms of ciliate quieting. Ingested magnetite nanoparticle deposits appear to aggregate, suggesting that (a) the process of being internalised concentrates and may therefore detoxify (i.e. render less reactive) nanomaterial suspensions in aquatic environments, and (b) P. caudatum is a candidate organism for programmable nanomaterial manipulation and delivery

Determination of cisplatin in human blood plasma and urine using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry for oncological patients with a variety of fatty tissue mass for prediction of toxicity

Aim: The research was aimed to analyze a level of triglycerides in blood serum as a possible new marker of toxicity, particularly in patients with excess body weight, receiving cisplatin. Materials and Methods: Study involved 20 oncological patients with stage III lung cancer, who received palliative treatment with cisplatin. High-performance liquid chromatography was used for quantitative determination of pure cisplatin in urine and blood samples. Cisplatin concentration of the test samples was determined based on the data obtained from the calibration graph. Results: Quantitative determination of pure cisplatin is quite complicated. The elimination half-time for one of the groups was observed higher almost by half than for other patients. Higher dose of cisplatin showed a significant association with increase in triglyceride levels. We found a close correlation between body mass index and triglyceride changes during chemotherapy (p = 0.001; r = 0.67). The results indicate that a higher body mass index gives higher fluctuations of triglyceride levels in blood serum. Analyses of correlation between level of triglycerides and elimination half-time show that by an increase in the level of triglycerides in the blood serum cisplatin elimination half-time is prolonged (R²Linear = 0.596). Cisplatin concentration in urine is higher and elimination takes longer time at elevated levels of triglycerides, where close correlation between fraction of excreted substance in urine and concentration parameters was seen (p < 0.01). Also good correlation for body mass index with fraction of excreted substance in urine and concentration parameters was observed (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Clearance of cisplatin, which was determined by the chromatographic method, is reduced in individuals with increased adipose tissue mass. Research data suggest that overweight affects cisplatin elimination from the body. The greater body fat mass can contribute to a greater rise of triglyceride level in blood serum. Triglycerides in blood plasma may serve as an additional indicator of higher cisplatin toxicity as a cardiotoxicity marker

Correction to: Health-related qualify of life, angina type and coronary artery disease in patients with stable chest pain

The original article [1] contained an error in coauthor, Balazs Ruzsics’s name which has since been corrected

Health-related qualify of life, angina type and coronary artery disease in patients with stable chest pain

Background: Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is impaired in patients with stable angina but patients often present with other forms of chest pain. The aim of this study was to compare the pre-diagnostic HRQoL in patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD) according to angina type, gender, and presence of obstructive CAD. Methods: From the pilot study for the European DISCHARGE trial, we analysed data from 24 sites including 1263 patients (45.9% women, 61.1 ± 11.3 years) who were clinically referred for invasive coronary angiography (ICA; 617 patients) or coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA; 646 patients). Prior to the procedures, patients completed HRQoL questionnaires: the Short Form (SF)-12v2, the EuroQoL (EQ-5D-3 L) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Results: Fifty-five percent of ICA and 35% of CTA patients had typical angina, 23 and 33% had atypical angina, 18 and 28% had non-anginal chest discomfort and 5 and 5% had other chest discomfort, respectively. Patients with typical angina had the poorest physical functioning compared to the other angina groups (SF-12 physical component score; 41.2 ± 8.8, 43.3 ± 9.1, 46.2 ± 9.0, 46.4 ± 11.4, respectively, all age and gender-adjusted p &lt; 0.01), and highest anxiety levels (8.3 ± 4.1, 7.5 ± 4.1, 6.5 ± 4.0, 4.7 ± 4.5, respectively, all adjusted p &lt; 0.01). On all other measures, patients with typical or atypical angina had lower HRQoL compared to the two other groups (all adjusted p &lt; 0.05). HRQoL did not differ between patients with and without obstructive CAD while women had worse HRQoL compared with men, irrespective of age and angina type. Conclusions: Prior to a diagnostic procedure for stable chest pain, HRQoL is associated with chest pain characteristics, but not with obstructive CAD, and is significantly lower in women. Trial registration: Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT02400229

Calcified Algae for Tissue Engineering.

This book presents the latest advances in marine structures and related biomaterials for applications in both soft- and hard-tissue engineering, as well as controlled drug delivery

Primary stroke prevention worldwide : translating evidence into action

Funding Information: The stroke services survey reported in this publication was partly supported by World Stroke Organization and Auckland University of Technology. VLF was partly supported by the grants received from the Health Research Council of New Zealand. MOO was supported by the US National Institutes of Health (SIREN U54 HG007479) under the H3Africa initiative and SIBS Genomics (R01NS107900, R01NS107900-02S1, R01NS115944-01, 3U24HG009780-03S5, and 1R01NS114045-01), Sub-Saharan Africa Conference on Stroke Conference (1R13NS115395-01A1), and Training Africans to Lead and Execute Neurological Trials & Studies (D43TW012030). AGT was supported by the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council. SLG was supported by a National Heart Foundation of Australia Future Leader Fellowship and an Australian National Health and Medical Research Council synergy grant. We thank Anita Arsovska (University Clinic of Neurology, Skopje, North Macedonia), Manoj Bohara (HAMS Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal), Denis ?erimagi? (Poliklinika Glavi?, Dubrovnik, Croatia), Manuel Correia (Hospital de Santo Ant?nio, Porto, Portugal), Daissy Liliana Mora Cuervo (Hospital Moinhos de Vento, Porto Alegre, Brazil), Anna Cz?onkowska (Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, Warsaw, Poland), Gloria Ekeng (Stroke Care International, Dartford, UK), Jo?o Sargento-Freitas (Centro Hospitalar e Universit?rio de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal), Yuriy Flomin (MC Universal Clinic Oberig, Kyiv, Ukraine), Mehari Gebreyohanns (UT Southwestern Medical Centre, Dallas, TX, USA), Ivete Pillo Gon?alves (Hospital S?o Jos? do Avai, Itaperuna, Brazil), Claiborne Johnston (Dell Medical School, University of Texas, Austin, TX, USA), Kristaps Jurj?ns (P Stradins Clinical University Hospital, Riga, Latvia), Rizwan Kalani (University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA), Grzegorz Kozera (Medical University of Gda?sk, Gda?sk, Poland), Kursad Kutluk (Dokuz Eylul University, ?zmir, Turkey), Branko Malojcic (University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia), Micha? Maluchnik (Ministry of Health, Warsaw, Poland), Evija Migl?ne (P Stradins Clinical University Hospital, Riga, Latvia), Cassandra Ocampo (University of Botswana, Princess Marina Hospital, Botswana), Louise Shaw (Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust, Bath, UK), Lekhjung Thapa (Upendra Devkota Memorial-National Institute of Neurological and Allied Sciences, Kathmandu, Nepal), Bogdan Wojtyniak (National Institute of Public Health, Warsaw, Poland), Jie Yang (First Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, China), and Tomasz Zdrojewski (Medical University of Gda?sk, Gda?sk, Poland) for their comments on early draft of the manuscript. The views expressed in this article are solely the responsibility of the authors and they do not necessarily reflect the views, decisions, or policies of the institution with which they are affiliated. We thank WSO for funding. The funder had no role in the design, data collection, analysis and interpretation of the study results, writing of the report, or the decision to submit the study results for publication. Funding Information: The stroke services survey reported in this publication was partly supported by World Stroke Organization and Auckland University of Technology. VLF was partly supported by the grants received from the Health Research Council of New Zealand. MOO was supported by the US National Institutes of Health (SIREN U54 HG007479) under the H3Africa initiative and SIBS Genomics (R01NS107900, R01NS107900-02S1, R01NS115944-01, 3U24HG009780-03S5, and 1R01NS114045-01), Sub-Saharan Africa Conference on Stroke Conference (1R13NS115395-01A1), and Training Africans to Lead and Execute Neurological Trials & Studies (D43TW012030). AGT was supported by the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council. SLG was supported by a National Heart Foundation of Australia Future Leader Fellowship and an Australian National Health and Medical Research Council synergy grant. We thank Anita Arsovska (University Clinic of Neurology, Skopje, North Macedonia), Manoj Bohara (HAMS Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal), Denis Čerimagić (Poliklinika Glavić, Dubrovnik, Croatia), Manuel Correia (Hospital de Santo António, Porto, Portugal), Daissy Liliana Mora Cuervo (Hospital Moinhos de Vento, Porto Alegre, Brazil), Anna Członkowska (Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, Warsaw, Poland), Gloria Ekeng (Stroke Care International, Dartford, UK), João Sargento-Freitas (Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal), Yuriy Flomin (MC Universal Clinic Oberig, Kyiv, Ukraine), Mehari Gebreyohanns (UT Southwestern Medical Centre, Dallas, TX, USA), Ivete Pillo Gonçalves (Hospital São José do Avai, Itaperuna, Brazil), Claiborne Johnston (Dell Medical School, University of Texas, Austin, TX, USA), Kristaps Jurjāns (P Stradins Clinical University Hospital, Riga, Latvia), Rizwan Kalani (University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA), Grzegorz Kozera (Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland), Kursad Kutluk (Dokuz Eylul University, İzmir, Turkey), Branko Malojcic (University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia), Michał Maluchnik (Ministry of Health, Warsaw, Poland), Evija Miglāne (P Stradins Clinical University Hospital, Riga, Latvia), Cassandra Ocampo (University of Botswana, Princess Marina Hospital, Botswana), Louise Shaw (Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust, Bath, UK), Lekhjung Thapa (Upendra Devkota Memorial-National Institute of Neurological and Allied Sciences, Kathmandu, Nepal), Bogdan Wojtyniak (National Institute of Public Health, Warsaw, Poland), Jie Yang (First Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, China), and Tomasz Zdrojewski (Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland) for their comments on early draft of the manuscript. The views expressed in this article are solely the responsibility of the authors and they do not necessarily reflect the views, decisions, or policies of the institution with which they are affiliated. We thank WSO for funding. The funder had no role in the design, data collection, analysis and interpretation of the study results, writing of the report, or the decision to submit the study results for publication. Funding Information: VLF declares that the PreventS web app and Stroke Riskometer app are owned and copyrighted by Auckland University of Technology; has received grants from the Brain Research New Zealand Centre of Research Excellence (16/STH/36), Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC; APP1182071), and World Stroke Organization (WSO); is an executive committee member of WSO, honorary medical director of Stroke Central New Zealand, and CEO of New Zealand Stroke Education charitable Trust. AGT declares funding from NHMRC (GNT1042600, GNT1122455, GNT1171966, GNT1143155, and GNT1182017), Stroke Foundation Australia (SG1807), and Heart Foundation Australia (VG102282); and board membership of the Stroke Foundation (Australia). SLG is funded by the National Health Foundation of Australia (Future Leader Fellowship 102061) and NHMRC (GNT1182071, GNT1143155, and GNT1128373). RM is supported by the Implementation Research Network in Stroke Care Quality of the European Cooperation in Science and Technology (project CA18118) and by the IRIS-TEPUS project from the inter-excellence inter-cost programme of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic (project LTC20051). BN declares receiving fees for data management committee work for SOCRATES and THALES trials for AstraZeneca and fees for data management committee work for NAVIGATE-ESUS trial from Bayer. All other authors declare no competing interests. Publisher Copyright: © 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an Open Access article under the CC BY 4.0 licenseStroke is the second leading cause of death and the third leading cause of disability worldwide and its burden is increasing rapidly in low-income and middle-income countries, many of which are unable to face the challenges it imposes. In this Health Policy paper on primary stroke prevention, we provide an overview of the current situation regarding primary prevention services, estimate the cost of stroke and stroke prevention, and identify deficiencies in existing guidelines and gaps in primary prevention. We also offer a set of pragmatic solutions for implementation of primary stroke prevention, with an emphasis on the role of governments and population-wide strategies, including task-shifting and sharing and health system re-engineering. Implementation of primary stroke prevention involves patients, health professionals, funders, policy makers, implementation partners, and the entire population along the life course.publishersversionPeer reviewe