Molecular biomarkers of glial activation and injury in epilepsy.

Increasing evidence from fluid biopsies suggests activation and injury of glial cells in epilepsy. The prevalence of clinical and subclinical seizures in neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, frontotemporal dementia, and others merits review and comparison of the effects of seizures on glial markers in epilepsy and neurodegenerative diseases with concomitant seizures. Herein, we revisit preclinical and clinical reports of alterations in glial proteins in cerebrospinal fluid and blood associated with various types of epilepsy.

Handheld methanol detector for beverage analysis: interlaboratory validation.

Methanol is a toxic alcohol contained in alcoholic beverages as a natural byproduct of fermentation or added intentionally to counterfeits to increase profit. To ensure consumer safety, many countries and the EU have established strict legislation limits for methanol content. Methanol concentration is mostly detected by laboratory instrumentation since mobile devices for routine on-site testing of beverages in distilleries, at border stations or even at home are not available.

Exosomes in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Renal Cell Cancer.

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the most prevalent type of kidney cancer originating from renal tubular epithelial cells, with clear cell RCC comprising approximately 80% of cases. The primary treatment modalities for RCC are surgery and targeted therapy, albeit with suboptimal efficacies. Despite progress in RCC research, significant challenges persist, including advanced distant metastasis, delayed diagnosis, and drug resistance.

eFluorination of Activated Alcohols Using Collidinium Tetrafluoroborate.

Tertiary C-F bonds are important structural designs; however, they suffer from challenging synthesis. Current methodologies use corrosive amine-HF salts or expensive and hazardous catalysts and reagents. Our group recently introduced collidinium tetrafluoroborate as an efficient fluorinating agent for anodic decarboxyfluorination reactions.

eFluorination Using Cheap and Readily Available Tetrafluoroborate Salts.

A practical electrochemical method for the rapid, safer, and mild synthesis of tertiary hindered alkyl fluorides from carboxylic acids has been developed without the need for hydrofluoric acid salts or non-glass reactors. In this anodic fluorination, collidinium tetrafluoroborate acts as both the supporting electrolyte and fluoride donor. A wide range of functional groups has been shown to be compatible, and the possibility of scale-up using flow electrochemistry has also been demonstrated.

Electrochemical Isothiocyanation of Primary Amines.

Isothiocyanates are ubiquitous building blocks used across the fields. Nevertheless, their classical syntheses very often rely on the use of toxic and expensive reagents. Herein, we report a new practical, mild, high-yielding, and supporting-electrolyte-free electrochemical method for the preparation of aliphatic and aromatic isothiocyanates from amine and carbon disulfide.

Anodic Oxidation of Aminotetrazoles: A Mild and Safe Route to Isocyanides.

A new electrochemical method for the preparation of isocyanides from easily accessible aminotetrazole derivatives has been developed, which tolerates an unprecedented range of functional groups. The use of chemical, rather than electrochemical, oxidation to afford isocyanides was also demonstrated, which provides access to these compounds for those without electrosynthesis equipment. The practicality of scale-up using flow electrochemistry has been demonstrated, in addition to the possibility of using electrochemically generated isocyanides in further reactions.

Quantification of whisky congeners by H NMR spectroscopy.

Whisky is a complex mixture made up of thousands of compounds originating in different stages of its production. Analysis of whisky congeners is critical to our understanding of the manufacturing process, quality control, and the detection of counterfeit products. The current chromatographic methods have a long analysis time, can require milliliters of sample and may not detect all required compounds in a single analysis.

Anodic Oxidation of Dithiane Carboxylic Acids: A Rapid and Mild Way to Access Functionalized Orthoesters.

A new electrochemical methodology has been developed for the preparation of a wide variety of functionalized orthoesters under mild and green conditions from easily accessible dithiane derivatives. The new methodology also offers an unprecedented way to access tri(fluorinated) orthoesters, a class of compound that has never been studied before. This provides the community with a rapid and general method to prepare libraries of functionalized orthoesters from simple and readily available starting materials.

Kolbe Anodic Decarboxylation as a Green Way To Access 2-Pyrrolidinones.

Nootropic compounds are a group of pharmacologically active pyrrolidones. These molecules, which enhance cognition properties and possess a large prescription field, are particularly interesting synthetic targets for the pharmaceutical industry. In this Article, we disclose an effective and environmentally friendly pyrrolidinone synthesis using electrosynthesis.

Economical, Green, and Safe Route Towards Substituted Lactones by Anodic Generation of Oxycarbonyl Radicals.

A new electrochemical methodology has been developed for the generation of oxycarbonyl radicals under mild and green conditions from readily available hemioxalate salts. Mono- and multi-functionalised γ-butyrolactones were synthesised through exo-cyclisation of these oxycarbonyl radicals with an alkene, followed by the sp -sp capture of the newly formed carbon-centred radical. The synthesis of functionalised valerolactone derivatives was also achieved, demonstrating the versatility of the newly developed methodology.

Analysis of Scotch Whisky by H NMR and chemometrics yields insight into its complex chemistry.

Scotch Whisky has been analysed as a complex mixture in its raw form using high resolution Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and previously developed water and ethanol suppression techniques. This has allowed for the positive identification of 25 compounds in Scotch Whisky by means of comparison to reference standards, spike-in experiments, and advanced 1D and 2D NMR experiments. Quantification of compounds was hindered by signal overlap, though peak alignment strategies were largely successful.

Rapid Scotch Whisky Analysis and Authentication using Desorption Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionisation Mass Spectrometry.

Whisky, as a high value product, is often adulterated, with adverse economic effects for both producers and consumers as well as potential public health impacts. Here we report the use of DAPCI-MS to analyse and chemically profile both genuine and counterfeit whisky samples employing a novel 'direct from the bottle' methodology with zero sample pre-treatment, zero solvent requirement and almost no sample usage. 25 samples have been analysed from a collection of blended Scotch whisky (n = 15) and known counterfeit whisky products (n = 10).

Rapid through-container detection of fake spirits and methanol quantification with handheld Raman spectroscopy.

The spirits drinks industry is of significant global economic importance and a major employer worldwide, and the ability to ensure product authenticity and maintain consumer confidence in these high-value products is absolutely essential. Spirit drinks counterfeiting is a worldwide problem, with counterfeiting and adulteration of spirit drinks taking many forms, such as substitution, stretching with lower-grade products, or creation of counterfeits with industrial, surrogate, or locally produced alcohols. Methanol for example, which has been used as a substitute alcohol for ethanol, has a high toxicity in humans.

A novel approach to assess the quality and authenticity of Scotch Whisky based on gas chromatography coupled to high resolution mass spectrometry.

Whisky is one of the most popular spirit drinks in the world. Unfortunately, this highly valued commodity is vulnerable to fraud. To detect fraudulent practices and document quality parameters, a number of laboratory tests based on various principles including chromatography and spectroscopy have been developed.

Complementary Ionization Techniques for the Analysis of Scotch Whisky by High Resolution Mass Spectrometry.

Fourier transform mass spectrometry (FTMS) is widely used to characterize the chemical complexity of mixtures, such as natural organic matter (NOM), petroleum, and agri-food products (including Scotch whisky). Although electrospray ionization (ESI) is by far the most widely used ionization source in these studies, other ionization techniques are available and may offer complementary information. In a recent study, we found matrix free laser desorption/ionization (LDI) to be effective for the analysis of Suwannee river fulvic acid (SRFA), and to provide complementary chemical insights.

Practice and bias in intraoperative pain management: results of a cross-sectional patient study and a survey of anesthesiologists.

Background: Perioperative pain carries a considerable risk of becoming persistent; hence aggressive preventive approaches are advocated. Persistently high prevalence of postoperative pain, however, suggests anesthesiologists underuse these strategies. A prospective cross-sectional study of patients in the postanesthetic care unit (PACU) and a survey of anesthesiologists were thus conducted to evaluate practice and uncover bias in intraoperative pain management.

Through-container, extremely low concentration detection of multiple chemical markers of counterfeit alcohol using a handheld SORS device.

Major food adulteration incidents occur with alarming frequency and are episodic, with the latest incident, involving the adulteration of meat from 21 producers in Brazil supplied to 60 other countries, reinforcing this view. Food fraud and counterfeiting involves all types of foods, feed, beverages, and packaging, with the potential for serious health, as well as significant economic and social impacts. In the spirit drinks sector, counterfeiters often 'recycle' used genuine packaging, or employ good quality simulants.

Advanced solvent signal suppression for the acquisition of 1D and 2D NMR spectra of Scotch Whisky.

A simple and robust solvent suppression technique that enables acquisition of high-quality 1D H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra of alcoholic beverages on cryoprobe instruments was developed and applied to acquire NMR spectra of Scotch Whisky. The method uses 3 channels to suppress signals of water and ethanol, including those of C satellites of ethanol. It is executed in automation allowing high throughput investigations of alcoholic beverages.

Chemical Diversity and Complexity of Scotch Whisky as Revealed by High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry.

Scotch Whisky is an important product, both culturally and economically. Chemically, Scotch Whisky is a complex mixture, which comprises thousands of compounds, the nature of which are largely unknown. Here, we present a thorough overview of the chemistry of Scotch Whisky as observed by Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS).

Different measures, different outcomes? Survey into the effectiveness of chronic pain clinics in a London tertiary referral center.

Background: Chronic pain clinics aim to improve challenging conditions, and although numerous studies have evaluated specific aspects of therapies and outcomes in this context, data concerning service impact on outcome measures in a general pain population are sparse. In addition, current trends in commissioning increasingly warrant services to provide evidence for their effectiveness. While a plethora of outcome measures, such as pain-intensity or improvement scores, exist for this purpose, it remains surprisingly unclear which one to use.

The clinical psychologist and the management of inpatient pain: a small case series.

Recent research has confirmed that between 25% and 33% of all hospitalized patients experience unacceptable levels of pain. Studies further indicate that this reduces patient satisfaction levels, lengthens hospital stays, and increases cost. Hospitals are aiming to discharge patients earlier, and this can interfere with adequate pain management.

Online and offline mass spectrometric study of the impact of oxidation and ageing on glyoxal chemistry and uptake onto ammonium sulfate aerosols.

Recent laboratory and modelling studies have shown that reactive uptake of low molecular weight alpha-dicarbonyls such as glyoxal (GLY) by aerosols is a potentially significant source of secondary organic aerosol (SOA). However, previous studies disagree in the magnitude of the uptake of GLY, the mechanism involved and the physicochemical factors affecting particle formation. In this study, the chemistry of GLY with ammonium sulfate (AS) in both bulk laboratory solutions and in aerosol particles is investigated.

The role of HbA1c in the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus in Australia.

For many years, the diagnosis of diabetes has been made through the laboratory-based measurement of fasting or random blood glucose levels, or using the oral glucose tolerance test. A glycated haemoglobin (HbA(1c)) level ≥ 6.5% (48 mmol/mol) is now also acceptable for diagnosing diabetes.

Change of HbA1c reporting to the new SI units.

An international consensus statement recommends that dual reporting of haemoglobin A (HbA(1c)) levels--in the current units (percentage) and Système International (SI) units (mmol/mol)--be used as an interim measure for a 2-year transition period before progressing towards the use of SI units only. This recommendation is supported by the Australasian Association of Clinical Biochemists, the Australian Diabetes Educators Association, the Australian Diabetes Society and the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia. The SI units are a true measure of HbA(1c) and remove potential confusion between HbA(1c) values and blood glucose values.