Determination of iohexol by capillary blood microsampling and UHPLC-MS/MS.

One of the most important tools used to evaluate kidney function in the context of chronic kidney disease or other renal function related pathologies is the exploration of glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Iohexol is up to this moment a good candidate molecule for the GFR assessment since it exhibits minimum protein binding rates and minimum extra-renal clearance, being neither secreted nor reabsorbed at the tubular level. This study proposes and evaluates a new LC-MS/MS method for the iohexol determination from capillary blood, prelevated using volumetric absorbative microsampling (VAMS) systems.

Successful treatment of fungemia with isavuconazole in a patient with hematologic malignancies.

spp. are yeast-like microorganisms responsible for skin, urinary, pulmonary, or bloodstream infections. Due to intrinsic resistance to echinocandins, poor susceptibility to polyenes, and preferred occurrence in immunocompromised patients, such infections are often of poor prognosis.

Exacerbation of blood-brain barrier breakdown, edema formation, nitric oxide synthase upregulation and brain pathology after heat stroke in diabetic and hypertensive rats. Potential neuroprotection with cerebrolysin treatment.

There is a growing trend of hypertension among military and civilian populations due to lifetime stressful situations. If hypertension is uncontrolled it leads to development of diabetes and serious neurological complications. Most of the World populations live in temperate zone across the World.

Anesthetics influence concussive head injury induced blood-brain barrier breakdown, brain edema formation, cerebral blood flow, serotonin levels, brain pathology and functional outcome.

Several lines of evidences show that anesthetics influence neurotoxicity and neuroprotection. The possibility that different anesthetic agents potentially influence the pathophysiological and functional outcome following neurotrauma was examined in a rat model of concussive head injury (CHI). The CHI was produced by an impact of 0.

Potentiation of spinal cord conduction and neuroprotection following nanodelivery of DL-3-n-butylphthalide in titanium implanted nanomaterial in a focal spinal cord injury induced functional outcome, blood-spinal cord barrier breakdown and edema formation.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating disease inflicting lifetime disability to the victims. Military personnel are quite often victims of SCI for which no suitable therapeutic strategies have been developed so far. The main reason for SCI induced disability is loss of neural connections below and above the lesion site causing motor paralysis and somatosensory disturbances Loss of neuronal connections thwart spinal cord conduction resulting in motor function disability.

Neuroprotective effects of a potent bradykinin B2 receptor antagonist HOE-140 on microvascular permeability, blood flow disturbances, edema formation, cell injury and nitric oxide synthase upregulation following trauma to the spinal cord.

Bradykinin is a mediator of vasogenic brain edema formation. Recent reports suggest that bradykinin interacts with nitric oxide synthase (NOS) system in the central nervous system (CNS). However, role of bradykinin in spinal cord injury (SCI) induced alterations in the blood-spinal cord barrier (BSCB), spinal cord blood flow (SCBF), edema formation and cell changes are still not well known.

5-Hydroxytryptophan: A precursor of serotonin influences regional blood-brain barrier breakdown, cerebral blood flow, brain edema formation, and neuropathology.

5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP), a precursor of serotonin, is therapeutically used for several psychiatric disorders such as anxiety and depression in the clinic. However, severe side effects, including abnormal mental functions, behavioral disturbances and intolerance are associated with this treatment. 5-HTP-induced elevation of plasma and brain serotonin levels may affect blood-brain barrier (BBB) breakdown, edema formation and regional cerebral blood flow (CBF) disturbances.

Clinical prognostic factors associated with survival and a survival score for patients with brain metastases.

To identify prognostic factors of survival in patients with brain metastases (BM) and to devise a prognostic score. In this single-institution retrospective study, we analyzed potential clinical prognostic factors in 1363 patients with BM. Based on the Cox proportional hazard model, we devised a BM score with three classes (score <5, 5-6 and >6).

Endoscopic sphincterotoMy for delayIng choLecystectomy in mild acute biliarY pancreatitis (EMILY study): protocol of a multicentre randomised clinical trial.

Introduction: According to the literature, early cholecystectomy is necessary to avoid complications related to gallstones after an initial episode of acute biliary pancreatitis (ABP). A randomised, controlled multicentre trial (the PONCHO trial) revealed that in the case of gallstone-induced pancreatitis, early cholecystectomy was safe in patients with mild gallstone pancreatitis and reduced the risk of recurrent gallstone-related complications, as compared with interval cholecystectomy. We hypothesise that carrying out a sphincterotomy (ES) allows us to delay cholecystectomy, thus making it logistically easier to perform and potentially increasing the efficacy and safety of the procedure.

Digital pressure in haemodialysis patients with brachial arteriovenous fistula.

Background & Objectives: : The pathophysiological mechanisms involved in distal pressure changes following arteriovenous fistula (AVF) creation in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) are not completely understood. This study was aimed to assess digital pressure changes post-AVF creation and to identify the factors that might influence these changes in ESRD patients.

Methods: : In this prospective study, 41 patients with ESRD underwent AVF creation.

Gold nanorods: from anisotropy to opportunity. An evolution update.

Gold nanoparticles have drawn attention to nanomedicine for many years due to their physicochemical properties, which include: good stability; biocompatibility; easy surface chemistry and superior magnetic; and last, electronic properties. All of these properties distinguish gold nanoparticles as advantageous carriers to be exploited. The challenge to develop new gold nanostructures has led to anisotropy, a new property to exploit for various medical applications: diagnostic and imaging strategies as well as therapeutic options.

Advanced glycation end products as biomarkers in systemic diseases: premises and perspectives of salivary advanced glycation end products.

Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are glycated proteins associated with high dry temperature food processing, coloring and flavor modification of food products. Previous studies on diet-related disease support the role of the glycation products as biomarkers in local and general proinflammatory response. Exogenous and endogenous AGEs are involved in chronic low-level inflammation, which underlies the onset of metabolic syndrome influenced by food intake, there by demonstrating their implication in diet-related pathologies.

Nanowired delivery of DL-3-n-butylphthalide induces superior neuroprotection in concussive head injury.

Concussive head injury (CHI) is quite prevalent in military personnel leading to lifetime disability in more than 85% of cases. Other reasons of CHI include motor vehicle accident, fall or blunt trauma under various conditions. In United States of America (USA) alone more than 150k cases of head injury are added every year for which no suitable therapeutic strategies are still available.

Nanodelivery of cerebrolysin reduces pathophysiology of Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is affecting >10 million people worldwide for which no suitable cure has been developed so far. Roughly, about two people per thousand populations are affected with PD like symptoms especially over the age of 50. About 1% of the populations above 60 years suffer from PD-like disease.

Nanowired delivery of cerebrolysin with neprilysin and p-Tau antibodies induces superior neuroprotection in Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is estimated to be afflicting over 55 millions of individual worldwide in 2018-19 for which no suitable clinical therapeutic measures have been developed so far. Thus, there is an urgent need to explore novel therapeutic strategies using nanodelivery of drugs and agents either alone or in combination for superior neuroprotection in AD and enhanced quality of life of the affected individuals. There are reports that AD is often associated with diminished neurotrophic factors and neprilysin together with enhancement of phosphorylated Tau (p-Tau) within the brain and in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

Sleep deprivation exacerbates concussive head injury induced brain pathology: Neuroprotective effects of nanowired delivery of cerebrolysin with α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone.

Sleep deprivation (SD) is very common in military personnel resulting in mental anomalies and interfering with decision-making capabilities. Moreover during combat operation, these sleep-deprived soldiers often receive blunt head trauma casing concussive head injury (CHI). Recent observations clearly suggest that SD alone induces brain pathology and additional CHI further exacerbates brain damage.

A novel multidrug-resistant PVL-negative CC1-MRSA-IV clone emerging in Ireland and Germany likely originated in South-Eastern Europe.

This study investigated the recent emergence of multidrug-resistant Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL)-negative CC1-MRSA-IV in Ireland and Germany. Ten CC1-MSSA and 139 CC1-MRSA isolates recovered in Ireland between 2004 and 2017 were investigated. These were compared to 21 German CC1-MRSA, 10 Romanian CC1-MSSA, five Romanian CC1-MRSA and two UAE CC1-MRSA, which were selected from an extensive global database, based on similar DNA microarray profiles to the Irish isolates.

Effects of silver nanoparticles functionalized with Cornus mas L. extract on architecture and apoptosis in rat testicle.

Aim: To assess ultrastructural changes, alterations in matrix metalloproteinase activity and apoptosis induced by silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in the rat testicle.

Materials & Methods: For 45 days, two groups of animals received different doses of AgNPs (0.8 and 1.

Gelatin tannate versus other antidiarrheal medication in children with acute gastroenteritis: a retrospective, observational study.

Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of gelatin tannate (GT) for acute gastroenteritis (AGE) in children.

Materials & Methods: In this retrospective, observational study, children admitted for AGE received GT ± oral rehydration solution (ORS; n = 46) or other antidiarrheal medications ± ORS (n = 46). Number and consistency of stools were recorded.

Student Perceptions of Motor, Mental and Social Benefits and the Impact of Practicing Recreational Figure Skating.

The study aims to highlight the impact of practicing recreational figure skating by evaluating the relationship between the perceptions of motor, mental and social benefits of practicing figure skating and the frequency and duration allocated for this recreational activity. The study included 143 students of physical education and sport specialization. The questionnaire was designed to evaluate the students' perception about the benefits of practicing recreational figure skating; it included 30 items divided in three parts: motor, mental and social benefits.

Light energy transmission through six different makes of ceramic orthodontic brackets.

Objective: To measure Total Light Energy (TLE) Transmission through six makes of ceramic orthodontic brackets alone and bracket-plus-adhesive samples, using the MARC™-Resin Calibrator (RC).

Methods: Six makes, three each monocrystalline (M) and polycrystalline (P) were used; PureSapphire (M), SPA Aesthetic (M), Ghost (M), Mist (P), Reflections (P), and Dual Ceramic (P). The Ortholux™ Light Curing Unit (LCU) was used to cure the orthodontic adhesive Transbond™XT.

Topical nanodelivery system of lutein for the prevention of selenite-induced cataract.

Cataracts are responsible for half of the world blindness, surgery being the only viable treatment. Lutein, a naturally occurring carotenoid in the eye, has the potential to reduce cataract progression by protecting the eye from photo-oxidative stress. To restore the eye's natural line of defense against photo-oxidative stress, a formulation was developed using zein and poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles (NPs) embedded in an optimized bioadhesive thermosensitive gel for the delivery of lutein via topical application.

Combining SERS analysis of serum with PSA levels for improving the detection of prostate cancer.

Aim: Previous studies regarding surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) of serum have shown promising initial results in discriminating prostate cancer, a strategy which could complement standard tests such as the prostate-specific antigen (PSA).

Materials & Methods: SERS spectra of serum samples were combined with serum PSA levels to improve the discrimination accuracy between prostate cancer and nonmalignant pathologies in a cohort of 54 patients using principal component analysis-linear discriminant analysis (PCA-LDA).

Results & Discussion: Combining SERS spectra with serum PSA levels in a single PCA-LDA model could discriminate between the two groups with an overall accuracy of 94%, yielding better results than either method alone.

Gender differences in early systemic sclerosis patients: a report from the EULAR scleroderma trials and research group (EUSTAR) database.

Objectives: To describe differences in clinical presentation between men and women in a large group of patients with early (<3 years' duration) systemic sclerosis (SSc) according to disease subsets.

Methods: A cross-sectional analysis of the prospective EULAR Scleroderma Trial and Research database (EUSTAR) was performed. Patients fulfilling preliminary ACR 1980 classification criteria for SSc, with less than 3 years from the first non-Raynaud's symptom at first entry, were selected.