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.

Characterization and identification of eight designer benzodiazepine metabolites by incubation with human liver microsomes and analysis by a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer.

Designer benzodiazepines (DBZDs) have become of particular importance in the past few years. The metabolite monitoring of DBZD in biological fluids could be of great interest in clinical and forensic toxicology. However, DBZD metabolites are not known or not commercially available.

Antioxidant and oligonutrient status, distribution of amino acids, muscle damage, inflammation, and evaluation of renal function in elite rugby players.

Background: Our study investigated the biochemical and anthropometric characteristics in elite athletes of rugby union based in the south of France during the different periods of the competition to identify metabolic and biochemical adaptations to particular lifestyle conditions.

Methods: Participants included 35 players in 2008 and 43 players in 2009. Biochemical variables [creatinine, uric acid, creatine kinase (CK), alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, C-reactive protein] were evaluated.

Vitamin E-coated polysulfone membrane improved red blood cell antioxidant status in hemodialysis patients.

Background: Oxidative stress has emerged as a strong pathogenic cofactor implicated in the development of long-term complications in hemodialysis (HD) patients, such as anemia, and as a major component of the malnutrition inflammation complex syndrome. This prospective multicenter study aimed at evaluating the short-term effects of the new vitamin E (vitE)-coated polysulfone (PS) membrane (VitabranE) on biocompatibility performances and anemia in HD patients.

Methods: After a 3-month washout period with a high-flux synthetic dialyzer, 43 HD patients were switched to a vitE-PS dialyzer.

Carbon monoxide exposure enhances arrhythmia after cardiac stress: involvement of oxidative stress.

Arrhythmias following cardiac stress are a key predictor of death in healthy population. Carbon monoxide (CO) is a ubiquitous pollutant promoting oxidative stress and associated with hospitalization for cardiovascular disease and cardiac mortality. We investigated the effect of chronic CO exposure on the occurrence of arrhythmic events after a cardiac stress test and the possible involvement of related oxidative stress.

Phycobiliprotein C-phycocyanin from Spirulina platensis is powerfully responsible for reducing oxidative stress and NADPH oxidase expression induced by an atherogenic diet in hamsters.

The effects of spirulina and its chromophore phycocyanin, both without bound Se or selenium-enriched, were studied on plasma cholesterol, early atherosclerosis, cardiac production of superoxide anions, and NAD(P)H oxidase expression in hamsters. Forty hamsters were divided into 5 groups of 8 and fed an atherogenic diet for 12 weeks. They received by gavage either 7.

Plasma lutein and zeaxanthin and other carotenoids as modifiable risk factors for age-related maculopathy and cataract: the POLA Study.

Purpose: To assess the associations of plasma lutein and zeaxanthin and other carotenoids with the risk of age-related maculopathy (ARM) and cataract in the population-based Pathologies Oculaires Liées à l'Age (POLA) Study.

Methods: Retinal photographs were graded according to the international classification. ARM was defined by the presence of late ARM (neovascular ARM, geographic atrophy) and/or soft indistinct drusen (>125 microm) and/or soft distinct drusen (>125 microm) associated with pigmentary abnormalities.

Associations of cataract with antioxidant enzymes and other risk factors: the French Age-Related Eye Diseases (POLA) Prospective Study.

Purpose: To determine the association of potential risk factors, including antioxidant enzymes, with the incidence of cataract.

Design: Cohort study.

Participants: At baseline, the Age-Related Eye Diseases (Pathologies Oculaires Liées à l'Age, POLA) Study included 2584 residents of Sète (southern France) aged 60 years or older.