Successive electromembrane extraction: A new insight in simultaneous extraction of polar and non-polar metabolic molecules from biological samples.

Background: Simultaneous determination of different natures of analytes is of great significance for saving sample volumes and simplifying analytical procedures. However, sample preparation for the simultaneous extraction of polar and non-polar analytes represents a challenge in sample preparation. Inspired by the successive liquid-phase microextraction (sLPME) method for acidic and basic analytes that we previously developed, we first proposed an efficient successive electromembrane extraction (sEME) system by adjusting the acidity of the donor solution and using binary organic solvents for extraction of polar and non-polar targets from biological samples in this work.

Ultrasound-guided vs. fluoroscopy-guided percutaneous leverage reduction for severely displaced radial neck fractures in children: a comparative analysis of clinical and radiological outcomes.

Background: Ultrasound (US) is a promising alternative to fluoroscopy (FL) for guiding percutaneous leverage reduction of displaced radial neck fractures in children. However, few studies have compared these modalities. This study aims to compare both the accuracy and efficacy of FL-guided versus US-guided percutaneous pinning in the treatment of radial neck fracture.

Radiography may not be accurate in assessing acute ankle sprains in children.

Background: Acute ankle sprains are among the most common injuries in children and are often associated with chondral avulsion fractures and ligament injuries. However, radiography may not be sufficiently accurate for assessing cartilage and ligament injuries in children. The primary purpose of this study was to evaluate the necessity of radiography in the diagnosis of acute ankle sprains in children.

Urinary metabolic alterations associated with occupational exposure to metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons based on non-target metabolomics.

Long-term occupational exposure to metals and organics have been reported to be under great health risks. However, limited data are available on the molecular mechanism between combined exposure to metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and harmful health effects. In present work, non-target metabolomics study was conducted based on urine samples from nonferrous metal smelting workers (n = 207), surrounding residents (n = 180), and the control residents (n = 187) by using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QTOF-MS).

Surveillance of antimicrobial resistance using isothermal amplification: a review.

The monitoring of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) is crucial for understanding the level of antimicrobial resistance and the associated health burden, which in turn is essential for the control and prevention of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Isothermal amplification, an emerging molecular biology technology, has been widely used for drug resistance detection. Furthermore, its compatibility with a range of technologies enables high-specificity, high-throughput, and portable and integrated detection in drug resistance, particularly in resource-limited areas.

Determination of aconitum alkaloids in acute poisoning case by electromembrane extraction.

In this work, electromembrane extraction (EME) was used for the first time to separate aconitine (AC), mesaconitine (Mes-AC) and hypaconitine (Hyp-AC) from biological samples and Chinese herbal medicines. Efficient EME of polar and high molecular weight aconitine alkaloids from different sample matrices was achieved with the solvent of 1-ethyl-2-nitrobenzene (ENB). Under the optimal EME conditions, EME provided recoveries for all targets in the range of 72%-74 %, 85%-103 % and 92%-94 % for whole blood, urine and aqueous samples.

Ultrasound-guided techniques for managing length- unstable femoral shaft fractures in children.

Objective: The management of length-unstable femoral shaft fractures(LUFSFs) in pediatric patients is still controversial. This study aims to explore the clinical efficacy of ultrasound-guided closed reduction combined with external fixation for treating LUFSFs in children.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of clinical data from 19 pediatric patients with LUFSFs who underwent ultrasound-guided closed reduction and external fixation between January 2018 and January 2023.

A novel indicator for lead poisoning beyond blood lead level: Facile diagnosis of lead poisoning using random urine with point-of-care testing.

Lead (Pb) poisoning is estimated to account for 1 % of the global disease burden. The gold standard for diagnosing lead poisoning in human body relies on blood lead level (BLL), which is always performed in hospitals using expensive instruments. However, there are still many countries and regions with a lack of medical resources (without enough professional medical staff and analytical instruments).

Associations of multiple hydroxy-polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons with serum levels of lipids in the workers from coking and non-ferrous smelting industries.

Epidemiological evidence indicates that exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is associated with certain metabolic diseases. However, the relationship between PAHs and serum lipid profiles in exposed subjects remain unknown. Herein, the associations of multiple (8) urinary hydroxylated PAHs (OH-PAHs) in workers of coking (n = 655) and non-ferrous smelting (n = 614) industries with serum lipid levels (marking lipid metabolism) were examined.

Comparison of the applicability of electromembrane extraction and liquid-phase microextraction for extraction of non-polar basic drugs from different biological samples: Using clozapine as the model analyte.

Understanding and comparing the applicability of electromembrane extraction (EME) and liquid-phase microextraction (LPME) is crucial for selecting an appropriate microextraction approach. In this work, EME and LPME based on supported liquid membranes were compared using biological samples, including whole blood, urine, saliva, and liver tissue. After optimization, efficient EME and LPME of clozapine from four biological samples were achieved.

Association between urinary multiple metals and platelet-related parameters: A cross-sectional study in a metal-contaminated area of China.

Previous works have shown that hematological system can be affected by exposure to lead; however, the effects of multiple metals on platelets remain elusive within the population from metal-contaminated areas. Hence, the study enrolled 609 participants, with 396 from a metal-exposed area and 213 from a control area. Platelet count (PLT), mean platelet volume (MPV), thrombocytocrit (PCT), platelet to large cell ratio (P-LCR), and platelet distribution width (PDW) were selected to evaluate platelet function.

Molecularly imprinted polymers by reflux precipitation polymerization for selective solid-phase extraction of quinolone antibiotics from urine.

Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) possess high specific cavities towards the template molecules, thus solid-phase extraction (SPE) based on MIPs using the target as the template has been widely used for selective extraction. However, the performance of SPE depends strongly on the shape and the distribution of the MIP sorbents, and rapid synthesis of MIPs with uniform particles remains a challenge. Our previous studies have shown that reflux precipitation polymerization (RPP) was a simple and rapid method for the synthesis of uniform MIPs.

A comparative study: Ultrasound-guided leverage reduction with internal fixation using Kirschner wires or elastic stable intramedullary nailing for severely displaced radial neck fractures in children.

Treatment of radial neck fractures (RNFs) in children, particularly those with severe displacement or angulation, remains controversial, largely due to the challenge of achieving optimal reduction without resorting to open reduction. This study aimed to assess the outcomes of ultrasonography (US)-guided percutaneous leverage reduction coupled with US-guided fixation using either elastic stable intramedullary nail (ESIN) or Kirschner wire (KW) for severely displaced Judet type III and IV RNFs in children. We hypothesized that both strategies would be effective and aimed to identify the superior approach.

Molecularly Imprinted Polymers Using Yeast as a Supporting Substrate.

Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) have gained significant attention as artificial receptors due to their low cost, mild operating conditions, and excellent selectivity. To optimize the synthesis process and enhance the recognition performance, various support materials for molecular imprinting have been explored as a crucial research direction. Yeast, a biological material, offers advantages such as being green and environmentally friendly, low cost, and easy availability, making it a promising supporting substrate in the molecular imprinting process.

Development and validation of an HPLC-MS/MS method for the simultaneous analysis of volatile organic compound metabolites, hydroxylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine in human urine.

Humans are widely and concurrently exposed to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). However, few studies have reported the internal co-exposure levels of these chemicals in occupational and general populations. Specifically, the associations revealed between the urinary levels of metabolites of VOCs (mVOCs), hydroxylated PAHs (OH-PAHs), and oxidative stress biomarkers for humans remain limited.

A Wearable Biofeedback Device for Monitoring Tibial Load During Partial Weight-Bearing Walking.

Patients with tibial fractures are usually advised to follow a partial weight-bearing gait rehabilitation program after surgery to promote bone healing and lower limb functional recovery. Currently, the biofeedback devices used for gait rehabilitation training in fracture patients use ground reaction force (GRF) as the indicator of tibial load. However, an increasing body of research has shown that monitoring GRF alone cannot objectively reflect the load on the lower limb bones during human movement.

Preparation of wax-based molecularly imprinted monolith for pipette-tip solid-phase extraction: a hybrid method.

The development of molecularly imprinted monolith (MIM) for pipette-tip solid-phase extraction (PT-SPE) for sample pretreatment is challenging . In this work, a wax-based molecularly imprinted monolith (WMIM) was successfully prepared with a hybrid method by integration of the traditional packing SPE column and MIM, including preparation of the salt column inside the pipette, polymerization of wax-based imprinted column (WIC) outside the pipette, and immobilization of WIC inside the pipette tip. To ensure the penetration of samples and solvents during the PT-SPE, micrometer-range interconnected macropores were tailor-made via the salt-template sacrifice method.

Synthesis of molecularly-imprinted polymers towards a group of amphetamine-type stimulants by reflux precipitation polymerization with a pseudo template.

Determination of amphetamine-type drugs (ATSs) in urine and wastewater is a simplified approach for the widespread monitoring of ATSs abuse. To improve the sensitivity of the analytical methods, molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) based solid-phase extraction (SPE) pretreatment attracted great attention in this field. Generally, smaller particle sizes and more uniform morphology of the MIPs could provide higher detection sensitivity.

Smartphone-controlled biosensor for viral respiratory infectious diseases: Screening and response.

Outbreaks of emerging viral respiratory infectious diseases (VRIDs) including coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) seriously endanger people's health. However, the traditional nucleic acid detection required professionals and larger instruments and antigen-antibody detection suffered a long window period of target generation. To facilitate the VRIDs detection in time for common populations, a smartphone-controlled biosensor, which integrated sample preparation (electromembrane extraction), biomarker detection (red-green-blue model) and remote response technology (a built-in APP), was developed in this work.