Application of electrospray triple quadrupole mass spectrometry in assessing thalassemia in a population.

Introduction: Thalassemia is widely prevalent in Asian countries and the Middle East region of the world. While the prevalence of α thal is around 5-20% in the population, the incidence of β thal is around 3-4%. The available data on thalassemia in Indians is based on chromatographic or electrophoretic techniques.

Electrospray triple quadrupole mass spectrometry guides pathologists to suggest appropriate molecular testing in the identification of rare hemoglobin variants.

Background: The presumptive diagnosis of hemoglobinopathies relies on routine tests such as Complete Blood Count (CBC), peripheral blood smear, Liquid Chromatography (LC), and Capillary Electrophoresis (CE), along with clinical findings. Pathologists suggest molecular sequencing of HBA and HBB genes to correlate blood picture with clinical findings in order to identify unknown rare haemoglobin (Hb) variants or variants that coelute with Hb. This paper presents a low-resolution mass spectrometry (MS)-based method for presumptive identification of variants that eluted in zone 12 of CE, followed by molecular sequencing of the HBB gene for a definitive diagnosis of hemoglobinopathies.

Protocol for single case experimental design for yoga and sleep quality and inflammation: A two-hit model of sleep intervention.

Background: Poor sleep quality is a neglected clinical condition in the elderly that could predispose them to morbidities and even mortality. Several lines of clinical evidence support the potential of Meditative Movement Interventions (MMIs) in the alleviation of sleep-related disturbances in the elderly population. However, further studies are needed to provide more definitive evidence regarding the effectiveness of yoga-based MMI.

In vivo 19F MR studies of fluorine labeled photosensitizers in a murine tumor model.

The main focus of this report is the MR spectroscopy of the changes in the concentration of fluorine labeled photosensitizer that occur following the IP administration. This process is studied by (19)F in vivo MR methodology in a murine tumor model. The animal model used in these studies was mice bearing radiation induced fibrosarcoma (RIF) tumor on the foot dorsum.

Pharmacokinetics of lithium in rat brain regions by spectroscopic imaging.

Lithium (Li) and its salts have been demonstrated to be the most effective drug in both acute and prophylactic treatment of bipolar disorder. The exact molecular mechanisms and particular target regions accounting for its mood-stabilizing effect remain unknown. Knowledge of Li distribution and its regional pharmacokinetic properties in the living brain is of value in localizing its action in the brain.

Lithium spectroscopic imaging of rat brain at therapeutic doses.

Since the discovery that lithium (Li) is efficacious for the treatment of manic depressive illness, the brain Li distribution of mammals treated with lithium has been of interest. However, the spatial relationship of lithium in the brain regions to its function remains largely unknown. Knowledge of Li distribution in the brain is necessary to localize its action in the brain.

7Li MR measures of blood lithium--correlation with chemical analysis data.

Lithium is used in the treatment and prophylaxis of manic-depressive illness. A narrow therapeutic range of lithium (0.4-1.

NMR studies of intra- and extracellular red blood cell lithium by transverse relaxation measurements and shift reagents.

Lithium salts are used in the treatment and prophylaxis of bipolar or mood disorders. The mechanism of action by which the cation exerts its therapeutic influence is unknown. A knowledge of brain Li concentration, its distribution in the brain, and its properties in the cellular microenvironment may have a strong influence on the understanding of Li function.

Lithium distribution in red blood cells and plasma: NMR studies of rat blood.

To understand the interaction of lithium (Li+) with a coadministered drug in both the blood and the brain, we have treated rats with either Li+ alone or Li+ and a codrug. In this paper we address the important problem of quantitation of intra and extracellular Li+ ion contents in blood by the 7Li-NMR technique and the use of a shift reagent (SR). Although Li+ can be studied by atomic absorption techniques, these techniques involve tedious separation of intra- and extracellular components prior to chemical analysis.

Short-term intravenous milrinone for severe congestive heart failure: the good, bad, and not so good.

We evaluated the overall hemodynamic and clinical effects, beneficial and deleterious, of short-term intravenous milrinone in the management of severe congestive heart failure (CHF). Numerous hemodynamic measurements were obtained in 24 patients (mean age 65 yrs) with advanced, severe CHF (New York Heart Association class IV, ejection fraction 24 +/- 5%), including 3 with concomitant clinical sepsis. Hemodynamic data were recorded at baseline and after a bolus of intravenous milrinone 50 micrograms/kg and maintenance infusion based on creatinine clearance at 0.

Septic cardiomyopathy as a cause of long QT syndrome.

A 63-year-old woman admitted with 2:1 infranodal atrioventricular block subsequently developed ventricular dysfunction incident to septic syndrome. Concomitant changes included an abnormally prolonged QTc interval (600 ms) and the occurrence of torsade de pointes. Restoration of a normal QTc interval and cessation of torsade de pointes was coincident with return of normal ventricular function and remission of sepsis.

Life-threatening hyponatremia due to the syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone (SIADH) in a patient with the miller fisher syndrome.

We report a life-threatening hyponatremia due to SIADH which developed suddenly in a patient with the Miller Fisher syndrome (a variant of Guillian Barré syndrome characterized by complete ophthalmoplegia, ataxia, and areflexia). A 55 year-old female was admitted with a clinical picture of the Miller Fisher syndrome. Cerebrospinal fluid was acellular with elevated proteins, and electromyographic changes were characteristic of polyneuropathy.

In vivo relaxation time measurements on a murine tumor model--prolongation of T1 after photodynamic therapy.

RIF tumors implanted on mice feet were investigated for changes in relaxation times (T1 and T2) after photodynamic therapy (PDT). Photodynamic therapy was performed using Photofrin II as the photosensitizer and laser light at 630 nm. A home-built proton solenoid coil in the balanced configuration was used to accommodate the tumors, and the relaxation times were measured before, immediately after, and up to several hours after therapy.

In vivo 7Li NMR diffusion studies in rat brain.

Lithium (Li) is widely used for the treatment of several psychiatric disorders and is the drug of choice in the treatment of bipolar disorders. The mechanism of action of Li, however, is unknown. A knowledge of brain Li concentration, its distribution in the brain, and its properties in the cellular microenvironments may contribute significantly towards the understanding of its function.

Aminophylline induced atrial fibrillation.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) with a rapid ventricular response was induced by intravenous (i.v.) aminophylline during treatment for symptomatic pulmonary disease in three patients who had no evidence of underlying heart disease or previous cardiac arrhythmia.

Comparison of the in vivo and in vitro nuclear magnetic resonance detection of trifluoromethyl penicillin V in rats.

Fluorine nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and magnetic resonance imaging were examined as noninvasive methods for characterizing antibiotic disposition and pharmacokinetics in vivo. For determination of their utility, a 19F surface coil was constructed and an m-(trifluoromethyl)-containing penicillin V analogue (LY242072; 1) was synthesized. Various concentrations of 1 were injected intravenously into anesthetized rats whose urethras were occluded.

In vivo 7Li NMR imaging and localized spectroscopy of rat brain.

Lithium-7 in vivo NMR spectroscopy and imaging techniques have been developed at 4.7 T for rat head. The pharmacokinetics of lithium (Li) uptake in rat head has been measured using STEAM localized spectroscopy for the whole brain, which showed relatively rapid uptake of Li and a steady level of Li from about 5 to 20 h.

Proton nuclear magnetic resonance study of the solution distal histidine orientation in monomeric Chironomus thummi thummi cyanomet hemoglobins. Dynamic stability of the heme pocket as monitored by labile proton exchange.

The 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectral characteristics of the cyano-Met form of Chironomus thummi thummi monomeric hemoglobins I, III and IV in 1H2O solvent are reported. A set of four exchangeable hyperfine-shifted resonances is found for each of the two heme-insertion isomers in the hyperfine-shifted region downfield of ten parts per million. An analysis of relaxation, exchange rates and nuclear Overhauser effects leads to assignments for all these resonances to histidine F8 and the side-chains of histidine E7 and arginine FG3.

In vivo NMR spectroscopy of lithium-7 in humans.

The pharmacokinetics of lithium uptake was measured by 7Li NMR spectroscopy at 24.83 MHz in vivo in the brain and muscle of a normal subject and a patient suffering from bipolar affective disorder, using a modified General Electric Signa clinical magnetic resonance imaging system. Comparison was made to standard phantoms to estimate Li concentrations.

Two-dimensional 1H-, 13C-, and 31P-nuclear magnetic resonance and molecular-mechanics investigation of D-fructose 2,6-bisphosphate.

Two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance studies have been carried out to assign unequivocally all the proton, carbon, and phosphorus resonances of D-fructofuranose 2,6-bisphosphate (1) and to verify its structure using a 400-MHz spectrometer. Several unexpected chemical-shift values and coupling constants were obtained. Molecular mechanics calculations (Sybyl) carried out to minimize the conformational energy of 1 yield phi C-1,P-2 = + 84, phi C-3,P-2 = - 155, and phi C-5,P-6 = + 175.

Solvent exchange of buried water and hydrogen exchange of peptide NH groups hydrogen bonded to buried waters in bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor.

Solvent exchange of 18O-labeled buried water in bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI), trypsin, and trypsin-BPTI complex is measured by high-precision isotope ratio mass spectrometry. Buried water is labeled by equilibration of the protein in 18O-enriched water. Protein samples are then rapidly dialyzed against water of normal isotope composition by gel filtration and stored.

N.M.R. of 'oriented' monosubstituted amides--cis and trans N-methyl formamide.

The n.m.r.