Results of a randomized controlled trial analyzing telemedically supported case management in the first year after living donor kidney transplantation - a budget impact analysis from the healthcare perspective.

Unlabelled: ᅟ: We analyze one-year costs and savings of a telemedically supported case management program after kidney transplantation from the perspective of the German Healthcare System. Recipients of living donor kidney transplantation (N = 46) were randomly allocated to either (1) standard aftercare or (2) standard aftercare plus additional telemedically supported case management. A range of cost figures of each patient's medical service utilization were calculated at month 3, 6 and 12 and analyzed using two-part regression models.

In-capillary approach to eliminate SDS interferences in antibody analysis by capillary electrophoresis coupled to mass spectrometry.

Capillary electrophoresis is an important technique for the characterization of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), especially in the pharmaceutical context. However, identification is difficult as upscaling and hyphenation of used methods directly to mass spectrometry is often not possible due to separation medium components that are incompatible with MS detection. Here a CE-MS method for the analysis of mAbs is presented analyzing SDS-complexed samples.

Structure-performance relationships of phenyl cinnamic acid derivatives as MALDI-MS matrices for sulfatide detection.

A key aspect for the further development of matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI)-mass spectrometry (MS) is a better understanding of the working principles of MALDI matrices. To address this issue, a chemical compound library of 59 structurally related cinnamic acid derivatives was synthesized. Potential MALDI matrices were evaluated with sulfatides, a class of anionic lipids which are abundant in complex brain lipid mixtures.

Raman spectroscopy and capillary zone electrophoresis for the analysis of degradation processes in commercial effervescent tablets containing acetylsalicylic acid and ascorbic acid.

In order to ensure the stability of pharmaceutical products appropriate manufacturing and storage conditions are required. In general, the degradation of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and subsequent formation of degradation products affect the pharmaceutical quality. Thus, a fast and effective detection and characterization of these substances is mandatory.

Interference-free mass spectrometric detection of capillary isoelectric focused proteins, including charge variants of a model monoclonal antibody.

CIEF represents an elegant technique especially for the separation of structural similar analytes, whereas MS is a state-of-the-art instrumentation for the identification and characterization of biomolecules. The combination of both techniques can be realized by hyphenating CIEF with CZE-ESI-MS applying a mechanical valve. During the CZE step, the remaining ESI-interfering components of the CIEF electrolyte are separated from the analytes prior to MS detection.

Refractive errors.

Background: All over the world, refractive errors are among the most frequently occuring treatable distur - bances of visual function. Ametropias have a prevalence of nearly 70% among adults in Germany and are thus of great epidemiologic and socio-economic relevance.

Methods: In the light of their own clinical experience, the authors review pertinent articles retrieved by a selective literature search employing the terms "ametropia, "anisometropia," "refraction," "visual acuity," and epidemiology.

Reducing the lag of accommodation by auditory biofeedback: A pilot study.

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether a reduction of the accommodative lag is possible by training the accuracy of accommodation using auditory biofeedback. Accommodation responses were measured in thirty-one young adults with myopia for dioptric target distances of 2.0, 2.

Development and validation of a capillary electrophoresis method for the characterization of sulfoethyl cellulose.

To characterize sulfoethyl cellulose el samples, a capillary electrophoresis method was developed and validated sulfoethyl cellulose el was hydrolyzed, and the resulting d-glucose derivatives were analyzed after reductive amination with 4-aminobenzoic acid using 150 mM boric acid, pH 9.5, as background electrolyte at 20°C and a voltage of 28 kV. Peak identification was derived from capillary electrophoresis with mass spectrometry using 25 mM ammonia adjusted to pH 6.

Long-term follow-up of astigmatic keratotomy for corneal astigmatism after penetrating keratoplasty.

Purpose: To report the long-term stability of paired arcuate corneal keratotomies (AKs) in patients with high regular postpenetrating keratoplasty astigmatism.

Methods: Retrospective chart review of best-corrected visual acuity, refraction and keratometric values of 41 eyes with AK between 2003 and 2012.

Results: Magnitude of median target induced astigmatism vector was 9.

CZE-CZE ESI-MS Coupling with a Fully Isolated Mechanical Valve.

The hyphenation of capillary electrophoresis and electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry is a powerful tool for peptide and protein analysis. It provides high separation power in combination with sensitive and selective detection and the possibility of analyte identification. Unfortunately, many proven capillary electrophoresis methods are not compatible with electrospray-mass spectrometry since several compounds of best separating background electrolytes are interfering in the electrospray ionization.

High-order lattice Boltzmann models for wall-bounded flows at finite Knudsen numbers.

We analyze a large number of high-order discrete velocity models for solving the Boltzmann-Bhatnagar-Gross-Krook equation for finite Knudsen number flows. Using the Chapman-Enskog formalism, we prove for isothermal flows a relation identifying the resolved flow regimes for low Mach numbers. Although high-order lattice Boltzmann models recover flow regimes beyond the Navier-Stokes level, we observe for several models significant deviations from reference results.

Screening of Small Intact Proteins by Capillary Electrophoresis Electrospray Ionization-Mass Spectrometry (CE-ESI-MS).

Capillary electrophoresis (CE) has been shown to be a suitable separation technique for complex samples. Combined with electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), it is a powerful tool offering the opportunity of high selectivity and sensitivity combined with the possibility to identify and characterize intact proteins. In this protocol, we demonstrate a screening method for intact proteins based on capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) separation coupled with online mass spectrometric detection.

Quantification of ascorbic acid and acetylsalicylic acid in effervescent tablets by CZE-UV and identification of related degradation products by heart-cut CZE-CZE-MS.

Capillary electrophoresis is commonly applied for the analysis of pharmaceutical products due to its high separation efficiency and selectivity. For this purpose, electrospray-ionization-(ESI)-interfering additives or electrolytes are often required, which complicates the identification of impurities and degradation products by mass spectrometry (MS). Here, a capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) method with ultraviolet (UV) absorption detection for the simultaneous determination and quantification of ascorbic acid and acetylsalicylic acid in effervescent tablets was developed.

Miniaturized modules for light sheet microscopy with low chromatic aberration.

Two miniaturized fibre-coupled modules for light sheet-based microscopy are described and compared with respect to image quality, chromatic aberration and beam alignment. Whereas in one module the light sheet is created by an achromatic cylindrical lens, reflection by a spherical mirror and concomitant astigmatic distortion are used to create the light sheet in the second module. Test experiments with fluorescent dyes in solution and multicellular tumour spheroids are reported, and some details on construction are given for both systems.

Morphometric Optic Nerve Head Analysis in Glaucoma Patients: A Comparison between the Simultaneous Nonmydriatic Stereoscopic Fundus Camera (Kowa Nonmyd WX3D) and the Heidelberg Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscope (HRT III).

Purpose. To investigate the agreement between morphometric optic nerve head parameters assessed with the confocal laser ophthalmoscope HRT III and the stereoscopic fundus camera Kowa nonmyd WX3D retrospectively. Methods.

CIEF-CZE-MS applying a mechanical valve.

Separation and determination of proteins by capillary isoelectric focusing (CIEF) and mass spectrometry (MS) are essential and complementary techniques in the field of bioanalysis. The hyphenation of these two techniques is challenging due to the nonvolatile substances required for the CIEF separation. An additional separation step prior to MS enables the removal of the nonvolatile substances.

Capillary electrophoresis combined in-line with solid-phase extraction using magnetic particles as new adsorbents for the determination of drugs of abuse in human urine.

A simple approach is presented based on the in-line coupling between magnetic particles-based SPE and CE. Silica-coated iron oxide particles functionalized with C18 were successfully synthesized and used as a reverse-phase sorbent for in-line SPE-CE. Magnets were used to locally immobilize these sorbents inside the capillary.

On-line two-dimensional capillary electrophoresis with mass spectrometric detection using a fully electric isolated mechanical valve.

CE is becoming more and more important in many fields of bioanalytical chemistry. Besides optical detection, hyphenation to ESI-MS detection is increasingly applied for sensitive identification purposes. Unfortunately, many CE techniques and methods established in research and industry are not compatible to ESI-MS since essential components of the background electrolyte interfere in ES ionization.

Analysis of antibiotics by CE and their use as chiral selectors: An update.

The widespread use of antibiotics in medicine and as growth-promoting agents has increased the demand for suitable analytical techniques for their analysis. Analytical methods based on CE or miniaturized CE systems have proved over the years their ability for the analysis of antibiotics. Since our last review (Electrophoresis 2014, 35, 28-49) several new CE methodologies have been reported for antibiotic analysis.

Capillary isoelectric focusing-mass spectrometry: Coupling strategies and applications.

IEF on immobilized pH gradient strips is a widespread tool for protein separation, especially as first dimension in commonly utilized 2DE. In the latter arrangement, separations are based on two orthogonal molecular characteristics according to pI in the first and molecular weight in the second dimension. However, the approach is time consuming, quantification is difficult and MS can be applied only offline.

Interlaboratory study to evaluate the robustness of capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometry for peptide mapping.

A collaborative study on the robustness and portability of a capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometry method for peptide mapping was performed by an international team, consisting of 13 independent laboratories from academia and industry. All participants used the same batch of samples, reagents and coated capillaries to run their assays, whereas they utilized the capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometry equipment available in their laboratories. The equipment used varied in model, type and instrument manufacturer.

Determination of counterfeit medicines by Raman spectroscopy: Systematic study based on a large set of model tablets.

In the last decade, counterfeit pharmaceutical products have become a widespread issue for public health. Raman spectroscopy which is easy, non-destructive and information-rich is particularly suitable as screening method for fast characterization of chemicals and pharmaceuticals. Combined with chemometric techniques, it provides a powerful tool for the analysis and determination of counterfeit medicines.

Sample holder for axial rotation of specimens in 3D microscopy.

In common light microscopy, observation of samples is only possible from one perspective. However, especially for larger three-dimensional specimens observation from different views is desirable. Therefore, we are presenting a sample holder permitting rotation of the specimen around an axis perpendicular to the light path of the microscope.

Monitoring of apoptosis in 3D cell cultures by FRET and light sheet fluorescence microscopy.

Non-radiative cell membrane associated Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) from an enhanced cyan fluorescent protein (ECFP) to an enhanced yellow fluorescent protein (EYFP) is used for detection of apoptosis in 3-dimensional cell cultures. FRET is visualized in multi-cellular tumor spheroids by light sheet based fluorescence microscopy in combination with microspectral analysis and fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM). Upon application of staurosporine and to some extent after treatment with phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA), a specific activator of protein kinase c, the caspase-3 sensitive peptide linker DEVD is cleaved.