Interlaboratory Evaluation of Multiple LC-MS/MS Methods and a Commercial ELISA Method for Determination of Tetrodotoxin in Oysters and Mussels.

Background: Given the recent detection of tetrodotoxin (TTX) in bivalve molluscs but the absence of a full collaborative validation study for TTX determination in a large number of shellfish samples, interlaboratory assessment of method performance was required to better understand current capabilities for accurate and reproducible TTX quantitation using chemical and immunoassay methods.

Objective: The aim was to conduct an interlaboratory study with multiple laboratories, using results to assess method performance and acceptability of different TTX testing methods.

Methods: Homogenous and stable mussel and oyster materials were assessed by participants using a range of published and in-house detection methods to determine mean TTX concentrations.

Changes in body composition and physical performance measures during a regular competitive season among young backs and forwards rugby players.

This study aimed to compare the changes in body composition and physical qualities of under 19's backs and forwards during the season (i.e. from pre-season [Pre-S] to end-season [End-S]).

Can the Supido Radar Be Used for Measuring Ball Speed during Soccer Kicking? A Reliability and Concurrent Validity Study of a New Low-Cost Device.

The aim was to analyze the reliability and validity of a low-cost instrument, based on a radar system, to quantify the kicking ball speed in soccer. A group of 153 male soccer players (under-13, n = 53; under-15, n = 54; under-18, n = 46) participated in this study. Each player performed three kicks on the goal in a standardized condition while the ball speed was measured with three different devices: one Radar Stalker ATS II (reference criterion) and two Supido Radar (Supido-front of the goal and Supido-back of the goal).

Strength Deficit in Elite Young Rugby Players: Differences Between Playing Positions and Associations With Sprint and Jump Performance.

Zabaloy, S, Giráldez, J, Fink, B, Alcaraz, PE, Pereira, LA, Freitas, TT, and Loturco, I. Strength deficit in elite young rugby players: Differences between playing positions and associations with sprint and jump performance. J Strength Cond Res 36(4): 920-926, 2022-The aims of this study were twofold: to compare the strength-related performance between young forwards and backs rugby players and to examine the correlations between strength deficit (SDef), strength parameters, and sprint and jump performance.

Predictive value of ERCC2, ABCC2 and MMP2 of response and long-term survival in locally advanced head and neck cancer patients treated with chemoradiotherapy.

Purpose: Genetic variants in genes involved in the distribution, metabolism, accumulation or repair of lesions are likely to influence the response of drugs used in the treatment of Head and Neck Cancer (HNC). We examine the effect of 36 SNPs on clinical outcomes in patients with locally advanced HNC who were receiving platinum-based chemoradiotherapy (CRT).

Methods: These SNPs were genotyped in 110 patients using the iPLEX Gold assay on the MassARRAY method in blood DNA samples and used Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses to compare genotype groups with the survival.

Acute Effects on Physical Performance Measures after 45 Min of Official Competition in Youth Soccer Players.

(1) Background: An improved understanding of soccer players' match-related physical performance and recovery may help conditioning programs and re-warm up strategies to increase team performance during official competitions. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze the acute effects of 45 min of official competition (first half in matches) on physical performance variables in U-16 youth soccer players. (2) Methods: 20 male soccer players (age: 14.

In-Season Assessment of Sprint Speed and Sprint Momentum in Rugby Players According To the Age Category and Playing Position.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the interval in which male rugby union players reach maximum speed in a 50 m sprint according to age categories and playing positions. This study also aimed to establish the optimal distance for the assessment of sprint speed and to compare the differences in anthropometrics, sprint and sprint momentum according to the age and playing position. Three hundred amateur rugby players performed anthropometric and physical fitness tests (10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 m sprint times, acceleration, velocity, and sprint momentum) during the in-season period.

High Levels of Tetrodotoxin (TTX) in Trumpet Shell from the Portuguese Coast.

Tetrodotoxin (TTX) is a potent neurotoxin, considered an emerging toxin in Europe where recently a safety limit of 44 µg TTX kg was recommended by authorities. In this study, three specimens of the large gastropod trumpet shell bought in a market in south Portugal were analyzed using a neuroblastoma cell (N2a) based assay and by LC-MS/MS. N2a toxicity was observed in the viscera of two individuals analyzed and LC-MS/MS showed very high concentrations of TTX (42.

Estimation of maximum sprinting speed with timing gates: greater accuracy of 5-m split times compared to 10-m splits.

This study assessed the validity of 5-m (TG5) and 10-m (TG10) split times measured with timing gates to estimate maximum sprint speed (MSS) against a criterion measure radar gun (RG) during the maximum velocity phase of a 30-m sprint. Nineteen amateur rugby players performed two 30-m sprints. The timing gates were placed at the starting line and at 5-, 10-, 20-, 25- and 30-m.

Efficacy and toxicity of adjuvant chemotherapy on colorectal cancer patients: how much influence from the genetics?

We studied the predictive value for response and toxicity of functional polymorphisms in genes involved in the oxaliplatin/fluorouracil pathway in colorectal cancer patients. One hundred and twenty-seven (127) patients were treated with curative intended surgery followed by adjuvant chemotherapy with FOLFOX (fluorouracil, leucovorin and oxaliplatin) regimen. The median age was 65.

Ericaceous species reduce methane emissions in sheep and red deer: Respiration chamber measurements and predictions at the scale of European heathlands.

Despite the importance of atmospheric methane as a potent greenhouse gas and the significant contribution from ruminant enteric fermentation on methane emissions at a global scale, little effort has been made to consider the influence that different plant-based natural diets have on methane emissions in grazing systems. Heathland is an ericaceous dwarf-shrub-dominated habitat widespread across the northern hemisphere, in Europe, provides valuable ecosystem services in areas with poor soils, such as water flow regulation, land-based carbon skin, energy reservoir and habitat of key game species. We (i) measured methane emissions from red deer (Cervus elaphus) and sheep (Ovis aries) fed mixed diets of natural grass plus ericaceous species (either Calluna vulgaris or Vaccinium myrtillus) using open-circuit respiration chambers; and (ii) modelled the results to estimate methane emissions from red deer and sheep populations inhabiting heathland habitats across Europe under different scenarios of grass-based mixed diets with varying proportions of ericaceous species.

Association of GSTP1 and ERCC1 polymorphisms with toxicity in locally advanced head and neck cancer platinum-based chemoradiotherapy treatment.

Background: Platinum-based chemoradiotherapy (CRT) is the standard treatment for locally advanced head and neck squamous-cell carcinomas (HNSCC), and most patients experience serious toxicities. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between candidate genes involved in radiation/platinum pathways and acute toxicity of CRT to determine the predictive value of these polymorphisms for toxicity.

Methods: Thirty-six selected single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 29 genes were genotyped in 110 patients treated with cisplatin-based CRT.

Preliminary Results on the Evaluation of the Occurrence of Tetrodotoxin Associated to Marine Vibrio spp. in Bivalves from the Galician Rias (Northwest of Spain).

Tetrodotoxins (TTX) are a potent group of natural neurotoxins putatively produced by symbiotic microorganisms and affecting the aquatic environment. These neurotoxins have been recently found in some species of bivalves and gastropods along the European Coasts (Greece, UK, and The Netherlands) linked to the presence of high concentrations of , in particular . This study is focused on the evaluation of the presence of species and TTX in bivalves (mussels, oysters, cockles, clams, scallops, and razor clams) from Galician Rias (northwest of Spain).

Effects of sunflower soap stocks on light lamb meat quality.

Thirty-two lambs were used to study the effect of sunflower soap stocks (SS), a by-product from the vegetable oil refinery industry, on meat chemical composition, fatty acid profile, volatile compounds, and consumer acceptability. Lambs were finished (average length of fattening period 35 ± 7.3 d, 26.

Soil erosion control, plant diversity, and arthropod communities under heterogeneous cover crops in an olive orchard.

A 3-year experiment compared in an olive orchard the effect of different cover crops' composition on runoff, water erosion, diversity of annual plants, and arthropod communities which could provide an alternative to conventional management based on tillage (CT). The cover crops evaluated were a seeded homogeneous grass (GC), a seeded mix of ten different species (MC), and a non-seeded cover by vegetation naturally present at the farm after 20 years of mowing (MC). The results suggest that heterogeneous cover crops can provide a viable alternative to homogeneous ones in olives, providing similar benefits in reducing runoff and soil losses compared to management based on bare soil.

Calicophoron daubneyi (Paramphistomidae) in slaughtered cattle in Castilla y León (Spain).

The prevalence and aetiology of natural paramphistomosis was investigated in cattle slaughtered in the Castilla y León region (Spain) over a 3 year-period. The overall prevalence of positive animals was 6.20%.

Impact of maedi-visna in intensively managed dairy sheep.

Maedi-visna (MV) is a slow lentiviral disease of sheep that has a significant economic impact in many sheep-producing regions although there remains a paucity of data relating to actual production losses resulting from this disease. The objective of this study was to evaluate direct losses, through death or culling, from two dairy sheep flocks with high seroprevalences of infection over a 2 year period. Maedi-visna was found, either alone or in combination with other diseases, to be the most common disease diagnosed in these sheep, and the major cause of direct animal losses in the two flocks.

The value of genetic polymorphisms to predict toxicity in metastatic colorectal patients with irinotecan-based regimens.

Purpose: We are trying to identify predictive factors of high risk of toxicity by analyzing candidate genes in the irinotecan pathways in order to identify useful tools to improve mCRC patient management under real practice conditions.

Methods: Genomic DNA was genotyped for UGT1A1 (*28, *60 and *93) from all 101 patients, and irinotecan dose was 180 mg/m(2) every second week. Clinical data were obtained by retrospective chart review.

LC method for therapeutic drug monitoring of levetiracetam: evaluation of the assay performance and validation of its application in the routine area.

Objectives: An accurate and precise high-performance liquid chromatographic method using diode array detection for the determination of levetiracetam in human plasma has been developed and validated for use in pharmacokinetic studies.

Methods: A harmonized validation strategy based on the accuracy profiles was used to select the most appropriate regression model and to determine the limits of quantitation as well as the concentration range of the developed analytical procedure. On the other hand, the present paper also shows this validation approach as a suitable tool to guaranty the quality of the results obtained by the use of the analytical validated methodology for plasma levetiracetam determination in a routine setting and to ensure the risk of obtaining the future measurements outside the previously fixed acceptance limits.

Cost-effectiveness of ranibizumab compared with pegaptanib in neovascular age-related macular degeneration.

Objective: To assess the cost-effectiveness of ranibizumab compared with pegaptanib in the treatment of patients with minimally classic/occult neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD), from a societal perspective in Spain.

Methods: We constructed a Markov model with five states defined by visual acuity (VA) in the better-seeing eye (Snellen scale): VA >20/40, < or =20/40 to >20/80, < or =20/80 to >20/200, < or =20/200 to >20/400, < or =20/400, and an additional death state. Two cohorts of patients were distributed along the VA states, and treated with either ranibizumab or pegaptanib.

Cost-effectiveness of ranibizumab compared with photodynamic treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration.

Objective: This study compared the cost-effectiveness of ranibizumab with that of photodynamic therapy (PDT) in the treatment of predominantly classic choroidal neovascularization secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD) from the perspective of a third-party payer in a Spanish setting.

Methods: We constructed a Markov model with 5 states defined by visual acuity (VA) in the better-seeing eye (Snellen scale), as follows: VA >20/40, 20/80, 20/200, 20/400, and View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Landmark based augmented reality endoscope system for sinus and skull-base surgeries.

Endoscopic video stream during sinus and skull base surgeries can be augmented with the preoperatively chosen landmark to provide effective navigation for the operating surgeon. Currently available systems try to augment with CT or MR image slices. This will be of not much help since there is too much information overlaid.

Description of the seasonal pattern in ozone concentration time series by using the strange attractor multifractal formalism.

Ozone is a secondary pollutant that, at high concentrations in urban environment, affects human health. Thus, suitable knowledge of ozone dynamics is essential for avoiding undesirable effects on the population. Ten-minute ozone concentration time series recorded at Córdoba (southern Spain) in 2007, for January, April, July and October, have been analysed by using the strange attractor multifractal formalism with the aim of describing the seasonal pattern of this pollutant.

Endemic linezolid-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis in a critical care unit.

The aim of this article was to report the emergence of patient infections with linezolid-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis (LRSE) in a tertiary university hospital. Our objectives were to determine the molecular mechanism of the resistance, set up the genetic relationship among isolates, and analyze the relations between linezolid usage, period of treatment, and emergence of resistance in the hospital. The emergence of infection with linezolid-resistant S.