The Role of TAP/RS Block in Minor Gynecologic Laparoscopic Surgery: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to compare, in patients undergoing minor gynecological laparoscopic procedures, the effects of ultrasound (US)-guided transversus abdominis plane (TAP) + rectus sheath (RS) block versus no TAP/RS block in terms of post-surgical pain control using the numeric pain rating scale (NRS) and the degree of patient satisfaction, according to the main goals of Early Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) programs. The primary outcome is to value the postoperative abdominal pain using NRS in both groups. Secondary outcomes are to evaluate blood values, presence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), postoperative ileus, level of patient expected satisfaction, time of discharge, length of stay (LOS), and the amounts of additional analgesics required.

A short review on the applicability and use of cubosomes as nanocarriers.

Abstract: Cubosomes are nanostructured lipid-based particles that have gained significant attention in the field of drug delivery and nanomedicine. These unique structures consist of a three-dimensional cubic lattice formed by the self-assembly of lipid molecules. The lipids used to construct cubosomes are typically nonionic surfactants, such as monoolein, which possess both hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions, allowing them to form stable, water-dispersible nanoparticles.

The pivotal role of HbA1c assay to detect hemoglobinopathies: A 5-year observational retrospective study in the population of Southern France.

Background And Aims: Mobility and migration flows are growing from different countries of the world to European countries, including France and in particular the Mediterranean basin. This study aimed to investigate the presence of hemoglobin (Hb) variants in outpatients/inpatients of the Montpellier Hospital (France) in whom an HbA1c assay had been performed and for which the country of birth had been informed.

Methods: This is a retrospective study from January 2016 to December 2020 based on all high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) chromatograms (Tosoh Bioscience HLC-723G8) having an alarm of suspected Hb variant during HbA1c measurement.

Analytical evaluation and bioclinical validation of new aldosterone and renin immunoassays.

Objectives: Aldosterone and renin determinations play an important role in the etiological diagnosis of secondary hypertension. The analytical performances of new aldosterone and renin immunoassays on the Lumipulse G600II system (Fujierbio) were investigated and compared with those of the iSYS system (IDS) on patients concerned by medical investigations in a context of suspected or proven Primary aldosteronism.

Methods: By using the Lumipulse G Aldosterone and Renin assays we performed imprecision study, linearity and method comparison (n=107).

Could a Multi-Marker and Machine Learning Approach Help Stratify Patients with Heart Failure?

Half of the patients with heart failure (HF) have preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). To date, there are no specific markers to distinguish this subgroup. The main objective of this work was to stratify HF patients using current biochemical markers coupled with clinical data.

Evaluation of a new automated immunoassay for the quantification of anti-Müllerian hormone.

Objectives: A newly developed fully automated Lumipulse G AMH method (Fujirebio Diagnostics) was recently introduced in clinical laboratories for quantitative determination of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) level in human serum or plasma. AMH has emerged as value-added biomarker in the assessment of ovarian reserve, in diagnosis of granulosa cells cancer and in the investigation of gonadal disorders. We compared Lumipulse G AMH assay performances with other methods largely applied for AMH measurements.

Association of CSF orexin-A levels and nocturnal sleep stability in patients with hypersomnolence.

Objective: To evaluate the associations between CSF orexin-A (ORX) levels and markers of nocturnal sleep stability, assessed by polysomnography.

Methods: Nocturnal polysomnography data and ORX levels of 300 drug-free participants (55% men, 29.9±15.

Cubic-to-inverted micellar and the cubic-to-hexagonal-to-micellar transitions on phytantriol-based cubosomes induced by solvents.

Cubosomes are nanoparticles composed of a specific combination of some types of amphiphilic molecules like lipids, such as phytantriol (PHY), and a nonionic polymer, like poloxamer (F127). Cubosomes have a high hydrophobic volume (> 50%) and are good candidates for drug delivery systems. Due to their unique structure, these nanoparticles possess the ability to incorporate highly hydrophobic drugs.

Usefulness of a blood glucose and ketone monitoring device as a screening tool for lethal diabetic ketoacidosis.

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a frequent and life-threatening complication, whose diagnosis remains challenging in forensic practice. We aimed at assessing the performance of a commercially available blood glucose and ketone monitoring device (BGMD) in measuring glucose and ketone levels in post-mortem vitreous (VH) and blood samples, in order to determine if such a device can be used for screening lethal cases of DKA at autopsy. VH and blood samples were collected in cases of unexplained causes of death at autopsy.

STADE-HF (sST2 As a help for management of HF): a pilot study.

Aims: Biomarkers are not recommended until now to guide the management of patients with heart failure (HF). Soluble suppression of tumorigenicity 2 (sST2) appears as a promising biomarker. The current study considered pre-discharged sST2 values as a guide for medical management in patients admitted for acute HF decompensation, in an attempt to reduce hospital readmission.

sST2 as a value-added biomarker in heart failure.

Soluble suppression of tumorigenicity-2 (sST2) is a biomarker widely investigated during the last few years. Its role has become clear in pathological conditions such as fibrosis and inflammation. From translational research to laboratory medicine, considerable efforts have been made to elucidate the features of sST2 biomarker and to consider its contribution to HF management.

sST2 as a New Biomarker of Chronic Kidney Disease-Induced Cardiac Remodeling: Impact on Risk Prediction.

Heart failure is the most frequent cardiac complication of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Biomarkers help identify high-risk patients. Natriuretic peptides (BNP and NT-proBNP) are largely used for monitoring patients with cardiac failure but are highly dependent on glomerular filtration rate (GFR).

Performance and Suitability of Mindray BS480©: A Fully Open Clinical Chemistry Analyzer.

Background: Mindray BS480©, a multi-parametric and random-access clinical chemistry instrument, is suitable for medium-sized hospital applications. Large laboratories in hospital environments require high throughput non-emergency settings that could slow routine production lines. In addition, the possibility to adapt to different methodologies is of great convenience for improving the transfer from manual to automated applications.

Affinity biosensors using recombinant native membrane proteins displayed on exosomes: application to botulinum neurotoxin B receptor.

The development of simple molecular assays with membrane protein receptors in a native conformation still represents a challenging task. Exosomes are extracellular vesicles which, due to their stability and small size, are suited for analysis in various assay formats. Here, we describe a novel approach to sort recombinant fully native and functional membrane proteins to exosomes using a targeting peptide.

A membrane-based ELISA assay and electrochemical immunosensor for microcystin-LR in water samples.

We describe within this paper the development of an affinity sensor for the detection of the cyanobacterial toxin microcystin-LR. The first stage of the work included acquiring and testing of the antibodies to this target. Following the investigation, a heterogeneous direct competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) format for microcystin-LR detection was developed, achieving a detection limit, LLD(80) = 0.

Iron-sulfur cluster dynamics in biotin synthase: a new [2Fe-2S](1+) cluster.

Biotin synthase (BioB) catalyses the final step in the biosynthesis of biotin. Aerobically purified biotin synthase contains one [2Fe-2S](2+) cluster per monomer. However, active BioB contains in addition a [4Fe-4S](2+) cluster which can be formed either by reconstitution with iron and sulfide, or on reduction with sodium dithionite.

Biotin synthase mechanism: mutagenesis of the YNHNLD conserved motif.

Biotin synthase, a member of the "radical SAM" family, catalyzes the final step of the biotin biosynthetic pathway, namely, the insertion of a sulfur atom into dethiobiotin (DTB). The active form of the enzyme contains two iron-sulfur clusters, a [4Fe-4S](2+) cluster liganded by Cys-53, Cys-57, and Cys-60 and the S-adenosylmethionine (AdoMet or SAM) cosubstrate and a [2Fe-2S](2+) cluster liganded by Cys-97, Cys-128, Cys-188, and Arg-260. Single-point mutation of each of these six conserved cysteines produced inactive variants.

Biotin synthase mechanism: an overview.

Biotin synthase, a member of the 'radical SAM' (S-adenosylmethionine) family, converts DTB (dethiobiotin) into biotin. The active form of the Escherichia coli enzyme contains two (Fe-S) centres, a (4Fe-4S) and a (2Fe-2S). The (4Fe-4S)2+/+ mediates the electron transfer required for the reductive cleavage of SAM into methionine and a DOA* (deoxyadenosyl radical).

Further investigation on the turnover of Escherichia coli biotin synthase with dethiobiotin and 9-mercaptodethiobiotin as substrates.

Biotin synthase, a member of the "radical-SAM" family, produces biotin by inserting a sulfur atom between C-6 and C-9 of dethiobiotin. Each of the two saturated carbon atoms is activated through homolytic cleavage of a C-H bond by a deoxyadenosyl radical, issued from the monoelectronic reduction of S-adenosylmethionine (SAM or AdoMet). An important unexplained observation is that the enzyme produces only 1 mol of biotin per enzyme monomer.