Significant Differences In Concentrations Research Articles

Association between blood Pentraxin-3 concentrations and rheumatic diseases: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Among the Pentraxins, the long Pentraxin-3 (PTX-3) is associated with several processes, particularly in the earliest phases of the innate humoral response. Increased blood PTX-3 concentrations have been observed in a wide range of conditions, from infectious to cardiovascular disorders. Since its increase is more rapid than C-reactive protein (CRP), PTX-3 can be useful to detect and monitor early inflammation. To dissect its pathophysiological role in rheumatic diseases (RD), we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis comparing blood PTX-3 concentrations in RD patients and healthy individuals and investigating possible associations with clinical, demographic, and study characteristics. We performed a search of published evidence until April 2024 in PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus, which led to the selection of 60 relevant manuscripts from a total of 1072 records. Our synthesis revealed a statistically significant difference in PTX-3 concentrations between RD patients and controls (standard mean difference, SMD = 1.02, 95% CI 0.77-1.26, p < .001), that correlated with CRP concentrations. The effect size was associated with geographical region of study conduction, RD type, with a reduction of the observed heterogeneity in patients with low LDL-cholesterol and triglycerides concentrations. Our study has shown a significant increase in blood PTX-3 concentrations in RD patients, which was associated with specific patient characteristics. Nevertheless, additional studies are needed to better define the utility of measuring PTX-3 in the early phase of RD. Our study was conducted in compliance with the PRISMA 2020 statement (study protocol available at PROSPERO CRD42024516600).

Biomarkers of inflammation and neoangiogenesis in premature rupture of membranes

BACKGROUND: Premature rupture of membranes complicates up to 2–10% of full-term pregnancies and up to 40% of all premature pregnancies. It is believed that the main cause of premature rupture of membranes is inflammation caused by both infectious agents and autoimmune processes. Numerous studies are aimed at searching for biomarkers that can predict inflammation in premature rupture of membranes. AIM: The aim of this study was to determine the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-6, -18 and procalcitonin, as well as interferon-α and soluble endoglin, in the blood serum of pregnant women with premature rupture of membranes and women in labor with timely discharge of amniotic fluid and evaluate the possibility of using these parameters to optimize obstetric tactics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included 69 patients delivered at the Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the Academician I.P. Pavlov First Saint Petersburg State Medical University from January 2022 to March 2023. The main study group consisted of 53 pregnant women with premature rupture of membranes, the control group included 16 women with term labor and timely discharge of amniotic fluid, or amniotomy performed in the first stage of labor. The levels of interleukin-6, -18, interferon-α, procalcitonin and soluble endoglin in maternal peripheral blood were assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Pregnancies complicated by severe preeclampsia, placenta abruption and chronic maternal diseases in the acute stage were excluded from the study. RESULTS: At the time of rupture, the minimum gestational age was 33+0 weeks and the maximum age — 41+3 weeks. The median duration of the anhydrous interval was 31.8 hours. No significant differences in interleukin-6, -18, procalcitonin and soluble endoglin concentrations were revealed in the main and control groups, interferon-α level being higher in the comparison group. The median concentration of interferon-α in pregnant women with premature rupture of membranes was 1.64 pg/ml and in women with timely discharge of amniotic fluid — 4.61 pg/ml (p = 0.001). A weak direct correlation was revealed between soluble endoglin and interleukin-18 concentrations (R = 0.26; p = 0.03), as well as a moderate direct correlation between soluble endoglin and procalcitonin levels (R = 0.4; p 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The study did not reveal differences in the concentrations of interleukin-6, -18, procalcitonin and soluble endoglin in the comparison groups. A decrease in interferon-α level in the blood in pregnant women increases the risk of developing premature rupture of membranes. The correlations between soluble endoglin and interleukin-18 or procalcitonin concentrations may indicate an association between different mechanisms of the pathogenesis of premature rupture of membranes. In this regard, an integrated approach and analysis of a combination of several cellular bioregulators are eligible to predict infectious complications in premature rupture of membranes.

Recovery and immune function after low pressure pneumoperitoneum during robot-assisted radical prostatectomy: a randomised controlled trial.

To compare the effectiveness of low intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) facilitated by deep neuromuscular block (NMB) to standard practice in improving the quality of recovery, preserving immune function, and enhancing parietal perfusion during robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP). In this blinded, randomised controlled trial, 96 patients were randomised to the experimental group with low IAP (8 mmHg) facilitated by deep NMB (post-tetanic count 1-2) or the control group with standard IAP (14 mmHg) and moderate NMB (train-of-four 1-2). Recovery was measured using the 40-item Quality of Recovery questionnaire and 36-item Short-Form Health survey. Immune function was evaluated by plasma damage-associated molecular patterns, cytokines, and ex vivo lipopolysaccharide-stimulated cytokine production. Parietal peritoneum perfusion was measured by analysing the recordings of indocyanine-green injection. Quality of recovery was not superior in the experimental group (n = 46) compared to the control group (n = 50). All clinical outcomes, including pain scores, postoperative nausea and vomiting, and hospital stay were similar. There were no significant differences in postoperative plasma concentrations of damage-associated molecular patterns, cytokines, and ex vivo cytokine production capacity. The use of low IAP resulted in better parietal peritoneum perfusion. Despite better perfusion of the parietal peritoneum, low IAP facilitated by deep NMB did not improve the quality of recovery or preserve immune function compared to standard practice in patients undergoing RARP.

Acute cardiovascular and muscular response to rowing ergometer exercise in artificial gravity – a pilot trial

Prolonged immobilization and spaceflight cause cardiovascular and musculoskeletal deconditioning. Combining artificial gravity through short-arm centrifugation with rowing exercise may serve as a countermeasure. We aimed to compare the tolerability, muscle force production, cardiovascular response, and power output of rowing on a short-arm centrifuge and under terrestrial gravity. Twelve rowing athletes (4 women, aged 27.2 ± 7.4 years, height 179 ± 0.1 cm, mass 73.7 ± 9.4 kg) participated in two rowing sessions, spaced at least six weeks apart. One session used a short-arm centrifuge with +0.5 Gz, while the other inclined the rowing ergometer by 26.6° to mimic centrifugal loading. Participants started self-paced rowing at 30 W, increasing by 15 W every three minutes until exhaustion. We measured rowing performance, heart rate, blood pressure, ground reaction forces, leg muscle activation, and blood lactate concentration. Rowing on the centrifuge was well-tolerated without adverse events. No significant differences in heart rate, blood pressure, or blood lactate concentration were observed between conditions. Inclined rowing under artificial gravity resulted in lower power output (−33%, p < 0.001) compared to natural gravity, but produced higher mean and peak ground reaction forces (p < 0.0001) and increased leg muscle activation. Muscle activation and ground reaction forces varied with rotational direction. Rowing in artificial gravity shows promise as a strategy against cardiovascular and muscular deconditioning during long-term spaceflight, but further investigation is required to understand its long-term effects.

Decrease in electrolyte after vitrectomy surgery may affect the results of forensic investigations using vitreous humor

PurposeVitreous humor (VH) is used for postmortem biochemical studies because it is well protected in an uncontaminated state even after death. The goal of this research was to investigate electrolyte concentrations in the VH from human eyes with and without a history of vitrectomy surgery.MethodsWe analyzed the sodium (Na), potassium (K), chloride (Cl) and magnesium (Mg) concentrations from 34 VH samples from 34 patients. Eleven samples were from eyes with a history of vitrectomy, and the remaining 23 eyes had no history of vitrectomy. The correlations of Na, K, Cl and Mg concentrations with patient age, interval between first and second vitrectomy, and lens status (history of cataract surgery) were also evaluated.ResultsThe Na, K, Cl and Mg concentrations in VH from vitrectomized eyes were 134.1 ± 7.9 mmol/L, 3.7 ± 0.2 mmol/L, 99.7 ± 6.7 mmol/L and 0.59 ± 0.09 mmol/L, respectively; all were significantly lower than the corresponding concentrations in VH from control eyes (lower by 5.0%, 11.0%, 11.7%, and 22.6%, respectively). Na, K, Cl and Mg concentrations in VH from vitrectomized eyes did not show significant correlations with patient ages or the interval between their first and second vitrectomies. There were no significant differences in Na, K, Cl and Mg concentrations in VH between phakic eyes and intraocular lens-implanted eyes.ConclusionsWith the increasing number of vitrectomies being performed, it is necessary to consider the history of vitrectomy when using a subject’s VH in forensic examination.

Contact lenses as novel tear fluid sampling vehicles for total RNA isolation, precipitation, and amplification.

The tear fluid is a readily accessible, potential source for biomarkers of disease and could be used to monitor the ocular response to contact lens (CL) wear or ophthalmic pathologies treated by therapeutic CLs. However, the tear fluid remains largely unexplored as a biomarker source for RNA-based molecular analyses. Using a rabbit model, this study sought to determine whether RNA could be collected from commercial CLs and whether the duration of CL wear would impact RNA recovery. The results were referenced to standardized strips of filtered paper (e.g., Shirmer Strips) placed in the inferior fornix. By performing total RNA isolation, precipitation, and amplification with commercial kits and RT-PCR methods, CLs were found to have no significant differences in RNA concentration and purity compared to Schirmer Strips. The study also identified genes that could be used to normalize RNA levels between tear samples. Of the potential control genes or housekeeping genes, GAPDH was the most stable. This study, which to our knowledge has never been done before, provides a methodology for the detection of RNA and gene expression changes from tear fluid that could be used to monitor or study eye diseases.

Effect of Yogic Practices on Concentration of Senior Secondary School Students

Aim of this study is to find the effect of yogic practices on concentration of senior secondary school students. There were 100 participants (50 from control group and 50 from experimental group) in this study. Yogic practices for 6 months (daily for 1 hour) were done by experimental group students and control group students did no yogic practices. Digit letter Substitution Test (DLST) tool was used for measuring the concentration of students. Mean and standard deviation was calculated for determining the nature of data. T-test was used to find the significant difference between the pre-test and post - test scores. Results show that there is a significant and important difference in concentration of experimental and control group of senior secondary school students

Grazing exclusion is more effective for vegetation restoration and nutrient transfer in the heavily degraded desert steppe

BackgroundGrazing exclusion is an efficient practice to restore degraded grassland ecosystems by eliminating external disturbances and improving ecosystems’ self-healing capacities, which affects the ecological processes of soil-plant systems. Grassland degradation levels play a critical role in regulating these ecological processes. However, the effects of vegetation and soil states at different degradation stages on grassland ecosystem restoration are not fully understood. To better understand this, desert steppe at three levels of degradation (light, moderate, and heavy degradation) was fenced for 6 years in Inner Mongolia, China. Community characteristics were investigated, and nutrient concentrations of the soil (0–10 cm depth) and dominant plants were measured.ResultsWe found that grazing exclusion increased shoots’ carbon (C) concentrations, C/N, and C/P, but significantly decreased shoots’ nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) concentrations for Stipa breviflora and Cleistogenes songorica. Interestingly, there were no significant differences in nutrient concentrations of these two species among the three degraded desert steppes after grazing exclusion. After grazing exclusion, annual accumulation rates of aboveground C, N, and P pools in the heavily degraded area were the highest, but the aboveground nutrient pools were the lowest among the three degraded grasslands. Similarly, the annual recovery rates of community height, cover, and aboveground biomass in the heavily degraded desert steppe were the highest among the three degraded steppes after grazing exclusion. These results indicate that grazing exclusion is more effective for vegetation restoration in the heavily degraded desert steppe. The soil total carbon, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, available nitrogen, and available phosphorus concentrations in the moderately and heavily degraded desert steppes were significantly decreased after six years of grazing exclusion, whereas these were no changes in the lightly degraded desert steppe. Structural equation model analysis showed that the grassland degradation level mainly altered the community aboveground biomass and aboveground nutrient pool, driving the decrease in soil nutrient concentrations and accelerating nutrient transfer from soil to plant community, especially in the heavily degraded grassland.ConclusionsOur study emphasizes the importance of grassland degradation level in ecosystem restoration and provides theoretical guidance for scientific formulation of containment policies.

Understanding the transition to viable but non-culturable state in Escherichia coli W3110: a comprehensive analysis of potential spectrochemical biomarkers.

The viable but non-culturable (VBNC) state is considered a survival strategy employed by bacteria to endure stressful conditions, allowing them to stay alive. Bacteria in this state remain unnoticed in live cell counts as they cannot proliferate in standard culture media. VBNC cells pose a significant health risk because they retain their virulence and can revive when conditions normalize. Hence, it is crucial to develop fast, reliable, and cost-effective methods to detect bacteria in the VBNC state, particularly in the context of public health, food safety, and microbial control assessments. This research examined the biomolecular changes in Escherichia coli W3110 induced into the VBNC state in artificial seawater under three different stress conditions (temperature, metal, and antibiotic). Initially, confirmation of VBNC cells under various stresses was done using fluorescence microscopy and plate counts. Subsequently, lipid peroxidation was assessed through the TBARS assay, revealing a notable increase in peroxidation end-products in VBNC cells compared to controls. ATR-FTIR spectroscopy and chemomometrics were employed to analyze biomolecular changes, uncovering significant spectral differences in RNA, protein, and nucleic acid concentrations in VBNC cells compared to controls. Notably, RNA levels increased, while protein and nucleic acid amounts decreased. ROC analyses identified the 995cm- 1 RNA band as a consistent marker across all studied stress conditions, suggesting its potential as a robust biomarker for detecting cells induced into the VBNC state under various stressors.

Enantiomeric profile of amphetamines in seized drug samples and in blood of impaired drivers in Iceland: the rise of (R)-methamphetamine?

Amphetamine (AMP) and methamphetamine (METH) use is increasing globally. Illegal AMP is generally a racemic mixture, whereas AMP-containing attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder drugs prescribed in Iceland consist of S-AMP. AMP is also a main metabolite of interest after METH intake. Distinguishing between legal and illegal AMP intake is vital in forensic toxicology. A chiral UPLC-MS/MS method was used to determine the enantiomeric profile of AMP and METH in circulation in Iceland by analysing blood samples from drivers suspected of driving under the influence of drugs (DUID) and seized drug samples from 2021 and 2022. All seized AMP samples (n = 48) were racemic, whereas all but one seized METH sample (n = 26) were enantiopure. Surprisingly, a large portion of the enantiopure METH samples was R-METH. DUID blood samples positive for AMP (n = 564) had a median blood concentration of 180 ng/mL (range 20-2770 ng/mL) and a median enantiomeric fraction (EFR) of 0.54 (range 0-0.73), whereas samples positive for METH (n = 236) had a median blood concentration of 185 ng/mL (range 20-2300 ng/mL) and a median EFR of 0.23 (range 0-1). The findings of this study show a significantly lower blood concentration in drivers with only S-AMP detected compared with when the R-isomer is also detected. No significant difference in blood concentration was detected between the sample groups containing S-METH, R-METH, or both enantiomers. The occurrence of R-METH in both seized drug samples and DUID cases indicates a change in drug supply and a need for better scientific knowledge on R-METH abuse.

Influence of ocean alkalinity enhancement with olivine or steel slag on a coastal plankton community in Tasmania

Abstract. Ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE) aims to increase atmospheric CO2 sequestration in the oceans through the acceleration of chemical rock weathering. This could be achieved by grinding rocks containing alkaline minerals and adding the rock powder to the surface ocean where it dissolves and chemically locks CO2 in seawater as bicarbonate. However, CO2 sequestration during dissolution coincides with the release of potentially bioactive chemicals and may induce side effects. Here, we used 53 L microcosms to test how coastal plankton communities from Tasmania respond to OAE with olivine (mainly Mg2SiO4) or steel slag (mainly CaO and Ca(OH)2) as alkalinity sources. Three microcosms were left unperturbed and served as a control, three were enriched with olivine powder (1.9 g L−1), and three were enriched with steel slag powder (0.038 g L−1). Olivine and steel slag powders were of similar grain size. Olivine was added in a higher amount than the steel slag with the aim of compensating for the lower efficiency of olivine to deliver alkalinity over the 3-week experiment. Phytoplankton and zooplankton community responses as well as some biogeochemical parameters were monitored. Olivine and steel slag additions increased total alkalinity by 29 and 361 µmol kg−1, respectively, corresponding to a respective theoretical increase of 0.9 % and 14.8 % of the seawater storage capacity for atmospheric CO2. Olivine and steel slag released silicate nutrients into the seawater, but steel slag released considerably more and also significant amounts of phosphate. After 21 d, no significant difference was found in dissolved iron concentrations (&gt;100 nmol L−1) in the treatments and the control. The slag addition increased dissolved manganese concentrations (771 nmol L−1), while olivine increased dissolved nickel concentrations (37 nmol L−1). There was no significant difference in total chlorophyll-a concentrations between the treatments and the control, likely due to nitrogen limitation of the phytoplankton community. However, flow cytometry results indicated an increase in the cellular abundance of several smaller (∼&lt;20 µm) phytoplankton groups in the olivine treatment. The abundance of larger phytoplankton (∼&gt;20 µm) decreased much more in the control than in the treatments after day 10. Furthermore, the maximum quantum yields of photosystem II (Fv/Fm) were higher in slag and olivine treatments, suggesting that mineral additions increased photosynthetic performance. The zooplankton community composition was also affected, with the most notable changes being observed in the dinoflagellate Noctiluca scintillans and the appendicularian Oikopleura sp. in the olivine treatment. Overall, the steel slag used here was more efficient for CO2 removal with OAE than the olivine over the 3-week timescale of the experiment. Furthermore, the steel slag appeared to induce less change in the plankton community than the olivine when comparing the CO2 removal potential of both minerals with the level of environmental impact that they caused.

Is there a role of calprotectin testing in the diagnosis of surgical site infections after total hip and knee arthroplasty? A preliminary study.

Recent studies have revealed the usefulness of synovial calprotectin (CLP) in diagnosing chronic periprosthetic joint infections (PJIs). However, there is still a lack of evidence to support the use of serum CLP in the diagnosis of early PJIs and surgical site infections (SSIs) after total joint arthroplasties (TJAs). The primary aim of this study is to investigate the standard kinetics of CLP concentrations in the blood during the very early postoperative period after non-complicated total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The secondary aim was to perform a preliminary comparison of CLP concentrations between non-infected patients and patients with recognized SSIs. A total of 64 consecutive patients who underwent primary THA and TKA were included in this prospective research. Sixty patients (30 THA and 30 TKA) were scheduled to determine the standard shape of the blood CLP curve and the expected concentrations during the first 5 postoperative days after non-complicated TJAs. In 4 additonal patients, early SSI was confirmed, and they were included in a separate SSI subgroup. Calprotectin demonstrated a linear increase during the first 5 postoperative days. Statistically significant differences in CLP concentrations between non-infected cases and SSIs were not observed. The preoperative median results with interquartile range (Q1-Q3) were 0.52 (0.39-0.64) mg/dL and 0.5 (0.47-0.52) mg/dL (p = 0.77), while post operation they were as follows: on postoperative day 1: 0.88 (0.53-1.3) mg/dL and 0.86 (0.62-1.1) mg/dL (p = 0.84), on postoperative day 3: 1.77 (1.29-2.08) mg/dL and 1.85 (1.70-1.95) mg/dL (p = 0.72), and on postoperative day 5: 2.32 (1.79-2.67) mg/dL and 2.56 (2.25-2.83) mg/dL (p = 0.55), respectively. Serial CLP measurements during the early postoperative period revealed a linear (statistically significant) increase in concentration to postoperative day 5 without an evident point of decrease. A significant difference in median values and the course of curve patterns between the non-complicated and SSI groups was not observed.

Correlation of serum DKK1 level with skeletal phenotype in children with osteogenesis imperfecta.

We aim to detect serum DKK1 level of pediatric patients with OI and to analyze its relationship with the genotype and phenotype of OI patients. A cohort of pediatric OI patients and age-matched healthy children were enrolled. Serum levels of DKK1 and bone turnover biomarkers were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured by Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Pathogenic mutations of OI were detected by next-generation sequencing and confirmed by Sanger sequencing. A total of 62 OI children with mean age of 9.50 (4.86, 12.00) years and 29 healthy children were included in this study. The serum DKK1 concentration in OI children was significantly higher than that in healthy children [5.20 (4.54, 6.32) and 4.08 (3.59, 4.92) ng/mL, P < 0.001]. The serum DKK1 concentration in OI children was negatively correlated with height (r = -0.282), height Z score (r = -0.292), ALP concentration (r = -0.304), lumbar BMD (r = -0.276), BMD Z score of the lumbar spine and femoral neck (r = -0.32; r = -0.27) (all P < 0.05). No significant difference in serum DKK1 concentration was found between OI patients with and without vertebral compression fractures. In patients with spinal deformity (22/62), serum DKK1 concentration was positively correlated with SDI (r = 0.480, P < 0.05). No significant correlation was observed between serum DKK1 concentration and the annual incidence of peripheral fractures, genotype and types of collagen changes in OI children. The serum DKK1 level was not only significantly elevated in OI children, but also closely correlated to their skeletal phenotype, suggesting that DKK1 may become a new biomarker and a potential therapeutic target of OI.

Assessing the effect of sample storage time on viral detection using a rapid and cost-effective CTAB-based extraction method

BackgroundCassava leaf samples degrade quickly during storage and transportation from distant areas. Proper sampling and efficient, low-cost storage methods are critical for obtaining sufficient quality DNA and RNA for plant virus epidemiology and improving disease control understanding. This is useful when samples are collected from remote areas far from a laboratory or in developing countries where money and materials for virus diagnostics are scarce.ResultsThe effect of sample storage duration on nucleic acid (N.A.) quality on virus detection was investigated in this study. A simple, rapid, and cost-effective CTAB-based approach (M3) for single N.A. extraction was optimized and tested alongside two existing CTAB-based methods (M1 and M2) for N.A. extraction from fresh and herbarium cassava leaves stored for; 1, 8, 26, and 56 months. The amount and quality of DNA and RNA were determined using Nanodrop 2000 c U.V.–vis Spectrophotometer and agarose gel electrophoreses. The sample degradation rate was estimated using a simple mathematical model in Matlab computational software. The results show no significant difference in mean DNA concentration between M1 and M2 but a significant difference between M3 and the other two methods at p < 0.005. The mean DNA concentration extracted using M3 was higher for 1 and 8 months of leave storage. M3 and M2 produced high concentrations at 26 and 56 months of leave storage. Using a developed scale for quality score, M3 and M2 produced high-quality DNA from fresh samples. All methods produced poor-quality DNA and RNA at 8 and 26 months of leave storage and no visual bands at the age of 56 months. Statistically, there was a significant difference in the mean DNA quality between M1 and M2, but there was no significant difference between M3 and the other two methods at p < 0.005. However, Cassava brown streak virus (CBSV) and Ugandan cassava brown streak virus (UCBSV) were readily detected by RT-PCR from RNA isolated using M3. The quality of DNA declined per storage time at 0.0493 and 0.0521/month, while RNA was 0.0678 and 0.0744/month. Compared to the existing two methods, modified CTAB extracted enough high-quality N.A. in one-third the time of the existing two methods.ConclusionOur method provides cost-effective, quick, and simple processing of fresh and dry samples, which will quicken and guide the decision on when and what type of sample to process for plant disease management and surveillance actions.

Therapeutic drug monitoring of osimertinib in EGFR mutant non-small cell lung cancer by dried blood spot and plasma collection: A pilot study.

Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) has led to significant improvements in individualized medical care, although its implementation in oncology has been limited to date. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are a group of therapies for which TDM has been suggested. Osimertinib is one such therapy used in the treatment of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation-driven lung cancer. Herein, we describe a prospective pilot study involving 21 patients on osimertinib primarily as a preliminary evaluation of drug levels in a real-world setting. Concentrations of the drug and its primary metabolites were measured with a validated liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) assay across serial timepoints. As part of this study, inter-individual variability by dose and ethnicity as well as intra-individual variability across timepoints are explored. Furthermore, we attempted to validate dried blood spot (DBS)-based quantitation as an accurate alternative to plasma quantitation. Successful quantitation of osimertinib and primary metabolites was achieved for our subjects. Compound plasma levels were highly correlated to DBS levels. There was no significant difference in concentrations with ethnicity or dosing or intra-individual variability across timepoints. As such, we demonstrate that TDM for osimertinib is practical for future trials. We also validated the use of DBS as an alternative to conventional quantitation for exploration of TDM for osimertinib in larger trials and for other targeted therapies.

Salivary metabolomic identification of biomarker candidates for oral melanoma and oral squamous cell carcinoma in dogs.

Oral melanoma (OM) and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) are frequently diagnosed in dogs, presenting a challenge in distinguishing them from benign oral tumors (BN). Salivary metabolomic biomarkers offer a practical solution because of saliva's direct contact with tumors and the noninvasive nature of collection. Assess the diversity and abundance of the salivary metabolome in dogs with BN, OM, and OSCC using amine/phenol submetabolome analysis and high-performance chemical isotope labeling liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (CIL LC-MS). Study included 11 BN, 24 OM, 10 OSCC, and 20 healthy control dogs. Case-control cross-sectional study was conducted to assess salivary submetabolic profiles in dogs with BN, OM, and OSCC and healthy dogs. Samples were labeled with 12C-dansyl chloride and analyzed using CIL LC-MS targeted to amine- and phenol-containing metabolites for amine/phenol submetabolome analysis. Distinct clusters and significant differences in metabolite concentrations were observed among the oral cancer, BN, and control groups. A total of 154 and 66 metabolites showed significantly altered concentrations, particularly in OM and OSCC, respectively, when compared with BN (Padj < .05). Potential metabolic biomarkers were identified for each cancer, including decreased concentrations of seryl-arginine and sarcosine in OSCC. Moreover, high-confidence putative metabolites were identified, including an increase in tryptophyl-threonine and a decrease in 1,2-dihydroxynapthalene-6-sulfonic acid and hydroxyprolyl-hydroxyproline for OM. We identified high coverage of the amine/phenol submetabolome, including seryl-arginine, and sarcosine, in OSCC. Our findings emphasize the potential of these biomarkers for distinguishing between oral OSCC and BN in dogs.

PSII-16 Effect of iron injection levels and second iron injection on preweaning growth performance and hematological variables

Abstract This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of intramuscular iron-dextran injection to suckling pigs at either a high level or with two doses on preweaning growth performance and hematological variables. At d 1 of age, a total of 36 pigs (body weight = 1.56 ± 0.13 kg) from 6 sow litters with litter size greater than 10 pigs were selected, and six piglets per litter were assigned to 3 treatments based on body weight and sex. Treatments were: 1) NC: 200 mg intramuscular iron injection at d 1 of age, 2) PC: 400 mg intramuscular iron injection at d 1 of age, 3) NC+IRON: 200 mg intramuscular iron injection at d 1 of age and 200 mg iron injection at d 7 of age. The body weight, hemoglobin, and hematocrit concentrations were measured at d 1 (before initial iron injection for all treatments), 3, 7 (second dose for the NC+IRON treatment), 9, 12, and 19 (weaning) of age. A repeated measures ANOVA was used to analyze body weight, hemoglobin, and hematocrit results. There were no significant differences in body weight, hemoglobin, and hematocrit concentrations among iron injection treatments (P &amp;gt; 0.89) and no interactions between iron injection treatment and day of age (P &amp;gt; 0.64) from d 1 to 19 of age, although hemoglobin and hematocrit concentrations were numerically greater in the PC and NC+IRON treatments at d 19 of age (129.2, 133.4, and 133.82 g/dL hemoglobin for the NC, PC, and NC+IRON treatments, respectively). Hemoglobin and hematocrit concentrations declined (P &amp;lt; 0.01) from d 1 to 3 of age regardless of iron injection and then increased until weaning (d 19 of age; 86.9, 78.1, 87.6, 94.0, 105.7, and 132.1 g/dL hemoglobin for d 1, 3, 7, 9, 12, and 19 of age, respectively), where the hemoglobin concentrations were similar between d 1 and 7 of age (P &amp;gt; 0.76) whereas the hematocrit concentrations were greater at d 7 of age compared with d 1 of age (P &amp;lt; 0.05; 31.8% vs. 29.1%). Hemoglobin concentrations were significantly correlated with hematocrit concentrations (P &amp;lt; 0.01), and the correlation coefficients were greatest at d 1 and 3 of age and weaning (d 19 of age; r &amp;gt; 0.92). In conclusion, increased hemoglobin and hematocrit concentrations were observed in all treatments, resulting in no significant difference in the preweaning growth performance of piglets. Although the iron injection was performed at d 1 of age, hemoglobin and hematocrit concentrations decreased in the first few days of life and then increased. Hemoglobin and hematocrit values are positively correlated from birth to weaning.

Ecological risk assessment of organochlorine pesticide residues in sediment samples from Lake Tana and Hayqe in Northwest Ethiopia

In most developing countries, including Ethiopia, the excessive use of toxic and persistent pesticides for agricultural and malaria control purposes poses a significant challenge. This study focuses on evaluating the concentration and ecological risks associated with organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in the sediments of Lake Tana and Hayqe. Employing a laboratory-based cross-sectional approach, the residues of OCPs in sediment samples were extracted using the Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe (QuEChERS) method, followed by dispersive solid phase extraction cleanup (d-SPE) techniques and analyzed for 18 OCPs by gas chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The risk Quotient (RQ) method was adopted for ecological risk assessments by using fish, daphnia, and algae as indicators. The concentration of OCPs ranged from 10.11 to 125.65 μg/kg and 10.96–45.17 μg/kg in Lake Tana and Hayqe, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference in the mean concentration of OCPs across the sampling sites in Lake Tana. Deltamethrin and lindane exhibit comparatively lower concentrations among the OCPs, whereas endrin, DDT, and their metabolites were the predominant pesticides in the study area, exceeding WHO and USEPA residue limits, except for endosulfan. Risk Quotient values ranged from 0.006 to 865.4 in Lake Tana and 0.005 to 729.9 in Lake Hayqe, indicating potential low to high ecological risks for aquatic organisms. High ecological risks are particularly evident in fish, daphnia, and algae species exposed to α and β-Endosulfan, DDT, and their metabolites, while specifically in daphnia, endrin poses high ecological risks. The ANOVA test revealed there were statistically significant differences (p-value <0.05) among sampling sites in Lake Tana and the mean values between Lake Tana and Lake Hayqe, underscoring the importance of addressing pesticide-related ecological concerns in the region.

Electro-Immobilisation and Fish Welfare: An Investigation into Stress, Consciousness, and Physiological Aspects During Slaughter

ABSTRACT The aquaculture industry frequently employs various slaughter methods that subject fish to inhumane conditions, resulting in significant suffering. This study examined the effects of electrical method on the welfare of farmed fish (Mesopotamichthys sharpeyi) compared to air asphyxiation. Fish captured with electricity exhibited calm behavior until death, in contrast to fish treated with air asphyxiation, which exhibited violent responses within 4 minutes of capture. The electrical method achieved a complete state of unconsciousness 7 minutes faster than air asphyxiation. Our results show that air asphyxiation raised cortisol levels more than the electrical method, with no significant difference in glucose and lactate concentrations. Electrically treated fish had higher superoxide dismutase and liver-reduced glutathione levels, while suffocated fish showed elevated GSH and liver catalase levels. Radiographs revealed no fractures or skeletal changes. Electrical stunning had no effect on gill tissue, but caused brain tissue hemorrhage, whereas air asphyxiation caused less damage. Air asphyxiation caused gill tissue issues but less brain damage. Consciousness loss is crucial for humane practices. Specific electrical currents (110V for 30s) could improve aquaculture and fish welfare.

Amino acids profile in children with acute brucellosis.

Many new cases of brucella infections are seen in Turkey every year, especially in March, April, and May, due to the consumption of local unpasteurized cheese. Amino acids profiles have not been studied in brucellosis so far. The amino acid profiles may be affected by infectious diseases. Our study aims to evaluate the plasma amino acid profile in the progression of acute brucellosis. Plasma amino acid profile was performed by an 8045 LC-MS / MS device (Shimadzu 8045, Japan) using JASEM amino acid kit. Analysis of 45 amino acid profiles was made and results profiles showed significant differences in concentrations and types of amino acids in brucella patients. We observed a significant difference in terms of alanine, arginine, aspartic acid, glutamine, glutamic acid, glycine, isoleucine, ornithine, phenylalanine, proline, tyrosine, valine, alpha-aminoadipic acid, alpha-amino-pimelic acid, argininosuccinic acid, gamma-aminobutyric acid, thiaproline, 1-methylhistidine, 3-methylhistidine, hydroxylysine, hydroxyproline, cystine, serotonin, ethanolamine, and taurine (p-value <0.05 for each). No significant differences were determined regarding asparagine, citrulline, histidine, leucine, alloisoleucine, lysine, methionine, serine, threonine, tryptophan, anserine, alpha aminobutyric acid, beta aminoisobutyric acid, beta-alanine, cystathionine, histamine, and 5-oh-trp (p-value >0.05 for all). Patients with brucellosis have a specific profile of amino acids which may reflect sequelae of pathological and metabolic biochemical changes in the disease process due to the growth of Brucella spp. in the human body leading to an imbalance of amino acid levels.