Synthesis of PS-PTHF block copolymers from duo-initiators for ATRP and cationic ring opening polymerization (Poster by K. Bernaerts)

C

The chemical ionization mass spectra of 2-tert-butyl-substituted 1,3-cycloalkanediol diacetates and dimethyl ethers

The chemical ionization (CI) mass spectra of the 2-tert-butyl-substituted 1,3-cyclopentane- and 1,3-cyclohexanediol diacetates and dimethyl ethers have been determined using isobutane and methane as reagent gases. From the differences in the spectra of these compounds, it clearly follows that steric and conformational effects are expresssed in the CI mass spectra. The relative impact of these effects, however, is strongly dependent on diol derivatization and 2-alkyl substitution

Design and evaluation of a multi-detection system composed of ultraviolet, evaporative light scattering and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry detection for the analysis of pharmaceuticals by liquid chromatography

Reversed-phase liquid chromatography was coupled to a multi-detection system composed of ultraviolet (UV) detection, evaporative laser scattering detection (ELSD) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). By applying the principle of post-column solvent compensation, the organic modifier content was kept constant in ELSD and ICP-MS under gradient elution. Chlorine (Cl-35), bromine (Br-79 and Br-81) and sulfur (S-34) were monitored in several pharmaceutical compounds. The limit of quantitation (LOQ) was 80 ng/rnL for chlorine (chlorpropamide) and 2 ng/mL for bromine (bromazepam). Calibration graphs were linear from 1.0 mu g/mL to 100 mu g/mL for chlorpropamide (r(2) 0.990) and from 10 ng/mL to 500 ng/mL for bromazeparn (r(2) 0.996). The low LOQ value for bromine allows to quantify bromine in pharmaceutical samples below the 0.05% level of the active pharmaceutical ingredient

Impact of COVID-19-related public containment measures on the ST elevation myocardial infarction epidemic in Belgium: a nationwide, serial, cross-sectional study

AIMS: The current study assessed the impact of COVID-19-related public containment measures (i.e. lockdown) on the ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) epidemic in Belgium. METHODS AND RESULTS: Clinical characteristics, reperfusion therapy modalities, COVID-19 status and in-hospital mortality of consecutive STEMI patients who were admitted to Belgian hospitals for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were recorded during a three-week period starting at the beginning of the lockdown period on 13 March 2020. Similar data were collected for the same time period for 2017-2019. An evaluation of air quality revealed a 32% decrease in ambient NO2 concentrations during lockdown (19.5 µg/m³ versus 13.2 µg/m³, p 12 h after onset of pain) (14% versus 7.6%, p = .04) and with longer door-to-balloon times (median of 45 versus 39 min, p = .02). Although the in-hospital mortality between the two periods was comparable (5.9% versus 6.7%), 5 of the 7 (71%) COVID-19-positive STEMI patients died. CONCLUSION: The present study revealed a 26% reduction in STEMI admissions and a delay in treatment of STEMI patients. Less exposure to external STEMI triggers (such as ambient air pollution) and/or reluctance to seek medical care are possible explanations of this observation.status: publishe

Impact of COVID-19-related public containment measures on the ST elevation myocardial infarction epidemic in Belgium: a nationwide, serial, cross-sectional study.

The current study assessed the impact of COVID-19-related public containment measures (i.e. lockdown) on the ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) epidemic in Belgium. Clinical characteristics, reperfusion therapy modalities, COVID-19 status and in-hospital mortality of consecutive STEMI patients who were admitted to Belgian hospitals for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were recorded during a three-week period starting at the beginning of the lockdown period on 13 March 2020. Similar data were collected for the same time period for 2017-2019. An evaluation of air quality revealed a 32% decrease in ambient NO concentrations during lockdown (19.5 µg/m³ versus 13.2 µg/m³,  12 h after onset of pain) (14% versus 7.6%,  = .04) and with longer door-to-balloon times (median of 45 versus 39 min,  = .02). Although the in-hospital mortality between the two periods was comparable (5.9% versus 6.7%), 5 of the 7 (71%) COVID-19-positive STEMI patients died. The present study revealed a 26% reduction in STEMI admissions and a delay in treatment of STEMI patients. Less exposure to external STEMI triggers (such as ambient air pollution) and/or reluctance to seek medical care are possible explanations of this observation