Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH): A useful diagnostic tool for childhood conjunctival melanoma.

Introduction: Conjunctival melanoma is extremely rare in children and has low rates of resolution. Definitive histopathological diagnosis based exclusively on microscopic findings is sometimes difficult. Thus, early diagnosis and adequate treatment are essential to improve clinical outcomes.

Determination of N-nitrosodiethanolamine in cosmetic products by reversed-phase dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction followed by liquid chromatography.

A new analytical method for the determination of N-nitrosodiethanolamine (NDELA), a very harmful compound not allowed in cosmetic products, is presented. The method is based on a new approach of dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME) useful for extraction of highly polar compounds, called reversed-phase DLLME (RP-DLLME), followed by liquid chromatography-ultraviolet/visible (LC-UV/Vis) determination. The variables involved in the RP-DLLME process were studied to provide the best enrichment factors.

Determination of 3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) in oral and nasal fluids by ion mobility spectrometry.

A fast and sensitive methodology has been developed for the evaluation of the 3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) consumed. Based on ion mobility spectrometry (IMS), MDPV was directly determined in nasal fluids with a limit of detection (LOD) in the order of 22 ng mL(-1), which corresponds to an absolute amount of 33 ng of MDPV per swab. MDPV was also determined after liquid-liquid microextraction (LLME) in oral fluids to avoid matrix effects, obtaining a LOD value of 4.

Carotid ultrasound is useful for the cardiovascular risk stratification of patients with rheumatoid arthritis: results of a population-based study.

Objective: To determine if the use of carotid ultrasonography (US) may improve the stratification of the cardiovascular (CV) risk in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: A set of 370 consecutive patients without history of CV events were studied to assess carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) and plaques. As previously proposed, CV risk was calculated according to the modified EULAR systematic coronary risk evaluation (mSCORE) for RA that was adapted by the application of a multiplier factor of 1.