Extracorporeal shockwave therapy of the perineum for male patients with chronic pelvic pain syndrome: a pilot study.

Background: Chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS) is a complex condition that is often difficult to treat and may sometimes require a multidisciplinary team. Among the wide array of treatment options is extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT). However, its role in CPPS remains controversial.

The impact of body mass index on oncological and surgical outcomes of patients undergoing nephrectomy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the impact of body mass index (BMI) on oncological (primary) and surgical (secondary) outcomes of patients who underwent nephrectomy, as obesity or high BMI is a known risk factor for renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and predictor of poorer outcomes.

Methods: Studies were identified from four electronic databases from database inception to 2 June 2021, according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis statement. The review protocol was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews with the identification number: CRD42021275124.

Author Correction: Clinical Validation of Targeted and Untargeted Metabolomics Testing for Genetic Disorders: A 3 Year Comparative Study.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

Clinical Validation of Targeted and Untargeted Metabolomics Testing for Genetic Disorders: A 3 Year Comparative Study.

Global untargeted metabolomics (GUM) has entered clinical diagnostics for genetic disorders. We compared the clinical utility of GUM with traditional targeted metabolomics (TM) as a screening tool in patients with established genetic disorders and determined the scope of GUM as a discovery tool in patients with no diagnosis under investigation. We compared TM and GUM data in 226 patients.

Consolidation of vitamin A and E methods onto a multiplexing liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry platform simplifies laboratory workflow.

Background: Vitamin A and E are routinely monitored to assess nutritional status. The most commonly used approach for their measurement involves laborious liquid-liquid extraction followed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis on dedicated instrumentation. We describe a simple, rapid protocol for measurement of vitamin A and E and their integration into an existing online sample preparation liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (SPLC-MS/MS) workflow.

Toxicants in folk remedies: implications of elevated blood lead in an American-born infant due to imported diaper powder.

Though most childhood lead exposure in the USA results from ingestion of lead-based paint dust, non-paint sources are increasingly implicated. We present interdisciplinary findings from and policy implications of a case of elevated blood lead (13-18 mcg/dL, reference level <5 mcg/dL) in a 9-month-old infant, linked to a non-commercial Malaysian folk diaper powder. Analyses showed the powder contains 62 % lead by weight (primarily lead oxide) and elevated antimony [1000 parts per million (ppm)], arsenic (55 ppm), bismuth (110 ppm), and thallium (31 ppm).

Improved separation and analysis of plasma amino acids by modification of the MassTrak™ AAA Solution Ultraperformance® liquid chromatography method.

Background: Ultraperformance® Liquid Chromatography (UPLC) is increasingly used for quantitative amino acid screening. The Waters MassTrak™ UPLC Amino Acid Analysis (AAA) Solution kit offers rapid analysis with minimal sample preparation. We describe a simple modification of this method enabling enhanced chromatographic separation of previously problematic analytes with improvements in quantification.

Variation in clinical vitamin D status by DiaSorin Liaison and LC-MS/MS in the presence of elevated 25-OH vitamin D2.

Background: We compared total 25-OH vitamin D status measured by DiaSorin Liaison and tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) among patients with high and low 25-OH vitamin D(2).

Methods: Total 25-OH vitamin D was measured in plasma containing high (>25 nmol/l or >50%, n=26) and low (<2.5 nmol/l, n=29) 25-OH vitamin D(2) using DiaSorin Liaison and an LC-MS/MS method using NIST 972-verified calibrators.

Lead poisoning from use of bronze drinking vessels during the late Chinese Shang dynasty: an in vitro experiment.

Introduction: Bronze drinking vessels famous for their intricate carvings and used by the aristocracy in the Chinese Shang dynasty (1555-1145 BCE) are known to have been fabricated with alloys containing soft metallic lead. The contribution of lead leaching from such vessels into the fermented grain wines drunk by the Chinese nobility in ancient times has not been previously estimated.

Methods: Three bronze vessels containing 8% lead by weight were fabricated to resemble the late Shang bronze goblets.

Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS) method for monitoring methotrexate in the setting of carboxypeptidase-G2 therapy.

Medications that have a narrow therapeutic window must be regularly monitored to assist in clinical dosing. Methotrexate (MTX) is one such chemotherapeutic agent that is closely monitored using various standard assays. Patients who have renal failure and who are treated using high-dose protocols are often given carboxypeptidase-G2 (CPDG(2)) as a chemoprotective agent.

Performance evaluation of a particle-enhanced turbidimetric cystatin C assay on the Hitachi 917 analyzer.

Background: Human cystatin C is a low molecular weight protein that has been proposed as a new endogenous marker of glomerular filtration rate. We investigated the performance of the Genzyme cystatin C assay on the Hitachi 917 analyzer.

Methods: Imprecision, linearity, recovery, and interference studies were performed on the Hitachi 917 analyzer.

Interference by carbamazepine and oxcarbazepine with serum- and urine-screening assays for tricyclic antidepressants.

Objective: The purpose of this work was to evaluate the potential cross-reactivity of 2 antiepileptic medications containing 3-ringed structures, namely, carbamazepine and oxcarbazepine, with screening assays for tricyclic antidepressants.

Methods: A cross-sectional study of 52 patients between 3 and 19 years of age who had been prescribed either carbamazepine or oxcarbazepine was conducted. A serum fluorescence-polarized immunoassay and a urine enzyme-linked immunoassay were used.

Measurement of whole blood sirolimus by an HPLC assay using solid-phase extraction and UV detection.

The authors developed an HPLC assay for determining blood sirolimus concentration using a relatively simple solid-phase extraction and UV detection. The retention times of sirolimus and the internal standard, 32-desmethoxyrapamycin, are 8.7 and 9.