A green procedure for the determination of bioavailable forms of aluminum in natural waters by electrothermal atomic absorption spectroscopy combined with microextraction technique.

Aluminum is a prevalent element in nature, but bioavailable forms of aluminum are toxic to plants, animals, and humans. The present study is dedicated to the development of an ecologically friendly, fast, simple, reliable, sensitive, and accurate improved procedure for the determination of subtrace concentrations of bioavailable forms of aluminum in natural waters. The procedure includes the separation and pre-concentration of bioavailable forms of aluminum using vortex-assisted liquid-liquid microextraction (VALLME) of ionic associates with salicylaldehyde 4-picolinhydrazone (SAPH) and sodium dodecyl sulfate (DDSNa) by isoamylacetate (200 μl) and direct electrothermal atomic absorption spectroscopy (ET AAS).

[Effect of components of the renin-angiotensin system, rs2106809 polymorphism of the gene, and therapy with RAS blockers on the severity of COVID-19].

Background: Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is a key component of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), providing counter-regulation of its effects and, simultaneously, a receptor for the SARS-CoV-2 entering. It is suggested that factors regulating the balance of the major components of RAS, including ACE2 gene polymorphism, therapy with RAS blockers (ACE inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers) - may affect the severity of COVID-19.

Aim: The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of RAS components, the relationship of ACE2 gene polymorphism rs2106809 and ACEi/ARBs therapy with the COVID-19 severity.

[Sub-analyses of the DAPA-CKD study: new data on the use of sodium-glucose cotransporter type 2 inhibitor in the treatment of chronic kidney disease].

Sodium-glucose cotransporter inhibitors updated their position in the therapy of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus due to proven nephro- and cardioprotective effects. The DAPA-CKD study, performed among individuals with CKD of various etiologies, was also conducted in a mixed population, including patients without type 2 diabetes, showed the ability of dapagliflozin to reduce the risk of the primary combined endpoint (eGFR<15 ml/min/1.73 m, the need for chronic dialysis or kidney transplantation, time to renal or cardiovascular death), and certain secondary endpoints.

Application of microextraction techniques for indirect spectrophotometric determination of fluorides in river waters.

The present study is dedicated to development of improved method for determination of trace amounts of fluorides in natural waters which is based on the interaction of fluorides with ion associate (IA) of Al(III), salicylic aldehyde acylhydrazones (benzhydrazone (SABH) and 4-picolinhydrazone (SAPH)) and polymethine dye Astra Phloxine FF (AP). Comparison of analytical forms [Al(SABH)]⋅AP and [Al(SAPH)]⋅AP showed that the analytical system Al(III)-SAPH-AP is more effective, namely, a higher level of preconcentration of the analytical form is ensured by and extraction equilibrium is achieved faster. Based on the study, we propose a new, fast, simple, reliable, sensitive, and accurate method of the indirect UV-Vis-spectrophotometric determination of fluorides grounded on the interaction of fluorides with IA of Al(III), SAPH and AP with the utilization of vortex-assisted liquid-liquid microextraction (VALLME).

SGLT2 inhibitors in T2D and associated comorbidities - differentiating within the class.

Background: For patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D), cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the single most common cause of mortality. In 2008 and 2012, the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) respectively mandated cardiovascular outcomes trials (CVOTs) on all new anti-diabetic agents, as prospective trials statistically powered to rule out excess cardiovascular risk in patients with T2D. Unexpectedly, some of these CVOTs have demonstrated not only cardiovascular safety, but also cardioprotective effects, as was first shown for the SGLT2 inhibitor empagliflozin in EMPA-REG OUTCOME.