An improved in situ acetylation with dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for the sensitive determination of phenols in mainstream tobacco smoke.

Phenols in tobacco smoke can adversely affect health with serious consequences that include cardiovascular toxicity, tumor promotion and genotoxic activity. Hence, an improved method involving in situ acetylation and dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME) followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was developed for the determination of 39 phenols in mainstream tobacco smoke (MTS). The in situ acetylation was optimized using four protocols, after which the effects of experimental variables on acetylation efficiency were studied using a multifactorial experimental design.

Co-transplantation of neural stem cells and Schwann cells within poly (L-lactic-co-glycolic acid) scaffolds facilitates axonal regeneration in hemisected rat spinal cord.

Background: Various tissue engineering strategies have been developed to facilitate axonal regeneration after spinal cord injury. This study aimed to investigate whether neural stem cells (NSCs) could survive in poly(L-lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) scaffolds and, when cografted with Schwann cells (SCs), could be induced to differentiate towards neurons which form synaptic connection and eventually facilitate axonal regeneration and myelination and motor function.

Methods: NSCs and SCs which were seeded within the directional PLGA scaffolds were implanted in hemisected adult rat spinal cord.

Isolation of inulin-type oligosaccharides from Chinese traditional medicine: Morinda officinalis How and their characterization using ESI-MS/MS.

Inulin-type oligosaccharides with different DP were prepared by size-exclusion chromatography and purity of each oligosaccharide was determined by HPLC equipped with cyclodextrin-bond column. The purities of obtained inulin-type oligosaccharides with different DP were more than 98% by one-step process. The DP and molecular weight were obtained through ESI-MS in negative mode.

Tumefactive demyelinating lesions: nine cases and a review of the literature.

Tumefactive demyelinating lesions (TDLs) are misdiagnosed frequently. To investigate the characteristics of TDLs, clinical and radiological data from nine cases with TDLs were analyzed after admission. All cases underwent surgery and pathological examination; some received postoperative steroid therapy.