Quantification of phosphatidylethanol 16:0/18:1, 18:1/18:1, and 16:0/16:0 in venous blood and venous and capillary dried blood spots from patients in alcohol withdrawal and control volunteers

Phosphatidylethanol species (PEths) are promising biomarkers of alcohol consumption. Here, we report on the set-up, validation, and application of a novel UHPLC-ESI-MS/MS method for the quantification of PEth 16:0/18:1, PEth 18:1/18:1, and PEth 16:0/16:0 in whole blood (30 mu L) and in venous (V, 30 mu L) or capillary (C, 3 punches (3 mm)) dried blood spots (DBS). The methods were linear from 10 (LLOQ) to 2000 ng/mL for PEth 16:0/18:1, from 10 (LLOQ) to 1940 ng/mL for PEth 18:1/18:1, and from 19 (LLOQ) to 3872 ng/mL for PEth 16:0/16:0. Extraction efficiencies were higher than 55 % (RSD < 18 %) and matrix effects compensated for by IS were between 77 and 125 % (RSD < 10 %). Accuracy, repeatability, and intermediate precision fulfilled acceptance criteria (bias and RSD below 13 %). Validity of the procedure for determination of PEth 16:0/18:1 in blood was demonstrated by the successful participation in a proficiency test. The quantification of PEths in C-DBS was not significantly influenced by the hematocrit, punch localization, or spot volume. The stability of PEths in V-DBS stored at room temperature was demonstrated up to 6 months. The method was applied to authentic samples (whole blood, V-DBS, and C-DBS) from 50 inpatients in alcohol withdrawal and 50 control volunteers. Applying a cut-off value to detect inpatients at 221 ng/mL for PEth 16:0/18:1 provided no false positive results and a good sensitivity (86 %). Comparison of quantitative results (Bland-Altman plot, Passing-Bablok regression, and Wilcoxon signed rank test) revealed that V-DBS and C-DBS were valid alternatives to venous blood for the detection of alcohol consumption

Facteurs d’affiliation aux pairs sont étroitement associés à la criminalité des jeunes incarcérés à la prison centrale de Kinshasa : Affiliation Factors to Peers are strongly associated to the Criminality among the Youth of the Central Prison of Kinshasa

Context and objective. Increasing crime is one of the major social problems facing in the context of armed conflicts of various kinds. The objective of this study is to investigate the determinants of the peer affiliation domain of criminal and violent criminal behavior. Methods. We undertook a case-control study included 500 subjects: 297 incarcerated criminals (189 violent criminals, as crime against a person and 108 non-violent criminals, as crime against property) against 203 noncriminal subjects, between August 2015 and December 2016. We selected control subjects from general population of the city of Kinshasa and matched them with cases according to gender, age (± 2 years) and geographical origin. Logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the determinants of criminality and of violent criminality. Results. Compared to noncriminals, criminals were significantly gang members (55.6% versus 4.9%, p&lt;0.001), carry guns (40.1% versus 7.9%, p&lt;0.001), attend parties with friends without parental supervision (69.7% versus 34%, p&lt;0.001), and have friends who sell drugs (44.4% versus 14.8%, p&lt;0.001). Compared to non-violent criminals, violent criminals were significantly more likely to be gang members (60.8% versus 46.3%, p=0.015), carry weapons (46.6% versus 28.7%, p=0.003) and have friends who sell heroin (50.3% versus 34.3%, p=0.008). In multivariate logistic regression analyse, being a gang member (ORa 13.6; 95% CI: 6.76-27.67), carrying a weapon (ORa 2.85; 95% CI: 1.5-5.42) and unsupervised parties (ORa 1.95; 95% CI: 1.25-3.02) were the independently associated with crime. Only carrying weapons (ORa 1.87; 95% CI: 1.05-3.32) emerged as an independent determinant of violent crime. Conclusion. Violent and non-violent crime is a continuum in which the former differs from the latter in terms of carrying a weapon. Gang involvement, social gatherings with friends and carrying weapons are the common threads of their criminal behavior. Contexte et objectif. La criminalité croissante compte parmi les problèmes sociaux majeurs en République Démocratique du Congo aux prises à des conflits armés de diverse nature. Cette étude a pour objectif de rechercher les déterminants du domaine d’affiliation aux pairs du comportement criminel et criminel violent. Méthodes. Nous avons entrepris une étude cas-témoin enrôlant 500 sujets : 297 criminels incarcérés (189 criminels violents, crime contre la personne et 108 criminels non violents, crime contre la propriété) contre 203 sujets non criminels, entre août 2015 et décembre 2016. Les témoins ont été recrutés dans la population générale de la ville de Kinshasa et appariés aux cas, selon le sexe (même), l’âge (± 2 ans) et la provenance géographique. L’analyse de régression logistique a été utilisée pour rechercher les déterminants de la criminalité. Résultats. Comparés aux non criminels, les criminels étaient significativement membres de gang (55,6% versus 4,9%, p &lt; 0,001), porteurs des armes (40,1% versus 7,9% ; p &lt;0,001), dans des soirées entre amissans supervision parentale (69,7% versus 34%, p&lt;0,001), et&nbsp; avaient des amis vendeurs de drogues (44,4% versus 14,8%, p&lt;0,001). Par rapport aux criminels non violents, les criminels violents étaient significativement membres de gang (60,8% versus 46,3%, p=0,015), porteurs des armes (46,6% versus 28,7%, p=0,003) et avaient des amis vendeurs de drogues (50,3% versus 34,3%, p=0,008). En analyse de régression logistique multivariée, être membre de gang (ORa 13,6; IC 95% : 6,76-27,67), porter une arme (ORa 2,85; IC 95% : 1,5-5,42) et assister dans les soirées sans supervision (ORa 1,95; IC 95% : 1,25-3,02) constituaient les déterminants indépendamment associés à la criminalité. Seul porter des armes (ORa 1,87; IC 95% : 1,05-3,32) a émergé comme déterminant indépendant de la criminalité violente. Conclusion. La criminalité violente et non violente constitue un continuum dans lequel la première se différencie de la deuxième par le port d’arme. La participation à un gang, les soirées entre amis et le port d’arme constituent le fils conducteur de leur comportement criminel. &nbsp

A Realistic Validation Study of a New Nitrogen Multiple-Breath Washout System

Background For reliable assessment of ventilation inhomogeneity, multiple-breath washout (MBW) systems should be realistically validated. We describe a new lung model for in vitro validation under physiological conditions and the assessment of a new nitrogen (N2)MBW system. Methods The N2MBW setup indirectly measures the N2 fraction (FN2) from main-stream carbon dioxide (CO2) and side-stream oxygen (O2) signals: FN2 = 1−FO2−FCO2−FArgon. For in vitro N2MBW, a double chamber plastic lung model was filled with water, heated to 37°C, and ventilated at various lung volumes, respiratory rates, and FCO2. In vivo N2MBW was undertaken in triplets on two occasions in 30 healthy adults. Primary N2MBW outcome was functional residual capacity (FRC). We assessed in vitro error (√[difference]2) between measured and model FRC (100–4174 mL), and error between tests of in vivo FRC, lung clearance index (LCI), and normalized phase III slope indices (Sacin and Scond). Results The model generated 145 FRCs under BTPS conditions and various breathing patterns. Mean (SD) error was 2.3 (1.7)%. In 500 to 4174 mL FRCs, 121 (98%) of FRCs were within 5%. In 100 to 400 mL FRCs, the error was better than 7%. In vivo FRC error between tests was 10.1 (8.2)%. LCI was the most reproducible ventilation inhomogeneity index. Conclusion The lung model generates lung volumes under the conditions encountered during clinical MBW testing and enables realistic validation of MBW systems. The new N2MBW system reliably measures lung volumes and delivers reproducible LCI values

Učinak visokog intenziteta svjetlosti na okruglolisnu rosiku (Drosera rotundifolia L.)

Okruglolisna rosika (Drosera rotundifolia L.) mesojedna je biljka koja nastanjuje rijetka cretna staništa u Hrvatskoj kojima prijeti nestajanje. Metodom košnje visoke vegetacije pokušava se spriječiti zarašćivanje cretova, pri čemu se biljke prilagođene na uvjete sjene naglo izlažu uvjetima visokog intenziteta svjetlosti. Cilj ovog istraživanja bio je utvrditi promjene u učinkovitosti fotosinteze te promjene u sadržaju i sastavu fotosintetskih pigmenata i fenolnih spojeva nakon što rosike, koje smo uzgojili u uvjetima sjene, izložimo visokom intenzitetu svjetlosti (700 ± 20 μmol fotona m-2 s-1) u trajanju od 5, 30, 50 i 100 sati. Nakon izlaganja biljke koje su 5 i 100 sati bile izložene visokom intenzitetu svjetlosti, stavljene su 7 dana na oporavak u uvjete niskog intenziteta svjetla. Kontrolna grupa biljaka bila je izložena niskom intenzitetu svjetlosti (40 ± 20 μmol fotona m-2 s-1) te je predstavljala biljke koje žive u sjeni. Izlaganje biljaka visokom intenzitetu svjetlosti dovelo je do smanjenja vrijednosti optimalnog prinosa i stope prijenosa elektrona, a porasla je vrijednost nefotokemijskog gašenja. Tijekom izlaganja visokom intenzitetu svjetlosti u biljkama je izmjeren niži udio klorofila u tkivu te povećan udio karotenoida, a povećali su se i udjeli fenola, tanina, flavonoida i antocijana. Ovi rezultati ukazuju da je izlaganje visokom intenzitetu svjetlosti dovelo do preopterećenosti fotosintetskog aparata i fotoinhibicije. Međutim došlo je i do prilagođavanja biljaka jer je za očekivati da će se zbog manjeg udjela klorofila smanjiti apsorpcija energije, odnosno povišenjem udjela karotenoida povećat oslobađanje viška energije u obliku topline što će zaštiti fotosintetski aparat od svjetlosnog stresa. Osim toga, uočeno povećanje udjela fenolnih spojeva u tkivu također može imati ulogu u zaštiti biljaka od oksidacijskog stresa uzrokovanog svjetlosnim stresom i/ili u smanjenju apsorpcije svjetlosne energije.Roundleaf sundew (Drosera rotundifolia L.) is a carnivorous plant that inhabits peat-bog areas which are rare in Croatia and in danger of extinction. Proposed mowing treatment of high vegetation prevents the disappearance of peat-bogs due to overgrowth, but also exposes shade-acclimated plants to high light conditions. The aim of this study was to determine the changes in photosynthethic efficiency well as content of photosynthetic pigments and phenolic compounds in shade-acclimated plants exposed to high light intensity radiation (700 ± 20 μmol photons m-2 s-1) for 5, 30, 50 and 100 h. Plants exposed to 5 and 100 h of high-light radiation were brought to the 7 days recovery under low light intensity. The control group of plants were grown under low intensity radiation (40 ± 20 μmol photons m-2 s-1) and represented shade-acclimated plants. The sudden exposure of shade-acclimated plants to high light intensity decreased the fluorescence-based maximal quantum yield of PSII and rate of electron transfer, but increased the value of non-photochemical quenching. Following high light exposure the plants have reduced the chlorophyll content in tissue, but increased carotenoids content as well as content of total phenols, tannins, flavonoids and anthocyanins. These results suggest that the exposure to high light intensity led to an overload of the photosynthetic apparatus and photoinhibition. However, acclimatization of plants was also observed because it is expected that the lower chlorophyll content would result in reduced energy absorption while increased carotenoids could dissipate excess energy thus protecting photosynthetic apparatus from excess light. In addition observed increase of phenolic compounds would protect plants from oxidative stress and/or further reduce the absorption of excess light energy

A Systematic Approach to Multiple Breath Nitrogen Washout Test Quality

Background: Accurate estimates of multiple breath washout (MBW) outcomes require correct operation of the device, appropriate distraction of the subject to ensure they breathe in a manner representative of their relaxed tidal breathing pattern, and appropriate interpretation of the acquired data. Based on available recommendations for an acceptable MBW test, we aimed to develop a protocol to systematically evaluate MBW measurements based on these criteria. Methods: 50MBWtest occasions were systematically reviewed for technical elements and whether the breathing pattern was representative of relaxed tidal breathing by an experienced MBW operator. The impact of qualitative and quantitative criteria on inter-observer agreement was assessed across eight MBW operators (n = 20 test occasions, compared using a Kappa statistic). Results: Using qualitative criteria, 46/168 trials were rejected: 16.6%were technically unacceptable and 10.7% were excluded due to inappropriate breathing pattern. Reviewer agreement was good using qualitative criteria and further improved with quantitative criteria from (κ = 0.53– 0.83%) to (κ 0.73–0.97%), but at the cost of exclusion of further test occasions in this retrospective data analysis. Conclusions: The application of the systematic review improved inter-observer agreement but did not affect reported MBW outcomes

Alcohol-Related Context Modulates Performance of Social Drinkers in a Visual Go/No-Go Task: A Preliminary Assessment of Event-Related Potentials

Background Increased alcohol cue-reactivity and altered inhibitory processing have been reported in heavy social drinkers and alcohol-dependent patients, and are associated with relapse. In social drinkers, these two processes have been usually studied separately by recording event-related potentials (ERPs) during rapid picture presentation. The aim of our study was to confront social drinkers to a task triggering high alcohol cue-reactivity, to verify whether it specifically altered inhibitory performance, by using long-lasting background picture presentation. Methods ERP were recorded during visual Go/No-Go tasks performed by social drinkers, in which a frequent Go signal (letter “M”), and a rare No-Go signal (letter “W”) were superimposed on three different types of background pictures: neutral (black background), alcohol-related and non alcohol-related. Results Our data suggested that heavy social drinkers made more commission errors than light drinkers, but only in the alcohol-related context. Neurophysiologically, this was reflected by a delayed No-Go P3 component. Conclusions Elevated alcohol cue-reactivity may lead to poorer inhibitory performance in heavy social drinkers, and may be considered as an important vulnerability factor in developing alcohol misuse. Prevention programs should be designed to decrease the high arousal of alcohol stimuli and strengthen cognitive control in young, at-risk individuals.This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

A population-based phenome-wide association study of cardiac and aortic structure and function

Differences in cardiac and aortic structure and function are associated with cardiovascular diseases and a wide range of other types of disease. Here we analyzed cardiovascular magnetic resonance images from a population-based study, the UK Biobank, using an automated machine-learning-based analysis pipeline. We report a comprehensive range of structural and functional phenotypes for the heart and aorta across 26,893 participants, and explore how these phenotypes vary according to sex, age and major cardiovascular risk factors. We extended this analysis with a phenome-wide association study, in which we tested for correlations of a wide range of non-imaging phenotypes of the participants with imaging phenotypes. We further explored the associations of imaging phenotypes with early-life factors, mental health and cognitive function using both observational analysis and Mendelian randomization. Our study illustrates how population-based cardiac and aortic imaging phenotypes can be used to better define cardiovascular disease risks as well as heart–brain health interactions, highlighting new opportunities for studying disease mechanisms and developing image-based biomarkers

EVOLUTION DE LA CONSOMMATION DE BOISSONS ALCOOLISEES EN BELGIQUE

SCOPUS: NotDefined.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe