Urinary Monitoring Research Articles

Accurate point-of-care lotus biomimetic microfluidic urine testing platform for patients with chronic kidney disease

Improving outcomes of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) caused by glomerulonephritis needs regular home urine monitoring. Here we present an accurate, fast and easy-to-operate home urine analyzer using lotus leaf bionic structure for patients with CKD. Bottom of the gradient channel is consisting of bionic micro/nano structure similar with the surface of the lotus leaf. These microstructures can make the viscous resistance of the liquid in the channel greatly reduced, allowing the liquid to be transported spontaneously and directionally under the action of gravity, thus achieving the pump-free directional transport of sample. Urine albumin (UA) concentration, urine turbidity (UT) and urine color (UC), of the sample are obtained by capturing the image of the sample and conducting gradient RGB differential analysis. Historical data storage and cloud data interconnection can assist doctors in diagnosing patient conditions. The limit of detection (LOD) of albumin reaches 4.3 mg/L, which allows accurate diagnosis of microproteinuria. Personalized medical advice is provided by combining the acquired parameters with hospital. 40 samples were tested, the accuracy of the diagnosis results of albuminuria, hydration status and turbidity are 90 %, 92.5 % and 90 % respectively. It can be predicted that this low-cost, flexible and convenient urine detection device for CKD patients at home will inspire more home detection devices in the future.

Unveiling the Patterns of Water Diuresis in Profound Hyponatremia Management in Intensive Care Unit Settings.

Hyponatremia treatment guidelines recommend avoiding excessive increases in serum sodium concentration (s[Na]) to prevent osmotic demyelination syndrome. Although an unexpected rise in s[Na] has been attributed to water diuresis during the treatment of hyponatremia, clinical courses of water diuresis are unclear. We conducted this study to investigate the clinical characteristics of water diuresis during profound hyponatremia management. In this retrospective observational study, we examined patients with profound hyponatremia (s[Na] ≤120 mEq/L) admitted to the intensive care unit of a Japanese hospital. The manifestation of water diuresis was defined as a urine volume ≥2 ml/kg/h and a urinary sodium plus potassium concentration (u[Na+K]) ≤50 mEq/L. We analyzed changes in urine volume and u[Na+K] over time for patients experiencing water diuresis. This analysis employed a mixed-effects model with spline terms for time, and the results are graphically presented. Among 47 eligible patients, 30 (64%) met the criteria for water diuresis. The etiologies of hyponatremia were drug-related hyponatremia (n=10; 33%), primary polydipsia (n=8; 27%), hypovolemic hyponatremia (n=7; 23%), syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuresis (n=7; 23%), and acute heart failure (n=1; 3%). Among patients with water diuresis, 27 (90%) experienced the manifestation of water diuresis within 24 hours after the start of correction. The increased urine volume and decreased u[Na+K] levels began several hours before the peak manifestation of water diuresis. Within 6 hours after the manifestation of water diuresis, 29 patients (97%) received electrolyte-free infusions and 14 (47%) received desmopressin. One patient (3%) with water diuresis experienced overcorrection. Water diuresis is common during the treatment for profound hyponatremia and typically occurs within the first 24 hours, preceded by changes in urinary characteristics. Early detection and prompt response to water diuresis through urine monitoring during the early periods of hyponatremia treatment may be effective for managing water diuresis.

Mercury air, urine monitoring and health effects on occupationally exposed dental healthcare workers in Delhi, India.

Mercury (Hg) is a toxic heavy metal with multiple uses in various medical devices. Hg is used in dentistry as a restorative material. Such use creates significant exposure to dental practitioners. Hence, it is important to assess the risk created by Hg use in healthcare. To quantify airborne Hg vapour exposure and Hg levels in dental healthcare workers, and determine the association of various symptoms and diseases to Hg exposure. Air monitoring of Hg vapours were conducted in dental clinics and amalgam rooms. Urine samples were collected from occupationally exposed dental healthcare workers and urine Hg levels were measured. A cross-sectional health survey was conducted in 23 healthcare units of Delhi to determine an association between Hg exposure and various health effects. Hg vapour concentration ranged from 0.96μg/m3 to 15μg/m3, the highest concentration was recorded in the amalgam room (15μg/m3). Urine Hg levels in healthcare workers (0.51±0.17μg/L) were higher than the control (0.29±0.05μg/L). A cross-sectional health survey revealed a significant prevalence of confusion, forgetfulness, muscle spasm, and tremors by the respondents. Hg concentration in dental clinics may hover above the prescribed safe levels posing a definitive health risk to healthcare workers. Urinary Hg measurements did not reveal an excess of body burden except in one case. Since Hg bio accumulates, it is probable as these workers grow older, they may end up with a higher body burden of Hg that may lead to a variety of adverse health outcomes.

Scientific rationale for the indicators of biological urine monitoring in adolescents in Kazan City

BACKGROUND: Biomonitoring is crucial for assessing the level of pollution in a population, identifying risks and studying the impact of changes in technology. Knowledge of the reference values of trace elements in biological material is critical in comparing exposed with non-exposed groups and accurate. The control values of trace elements are crucial for ensuring public health and occupational safety. AIM: To study and analyze concentrations of priority chemical pollutants in the urine of adolescents aged 14–17 years in three zones in Kazan City and determine reference values for this age group. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The concentration of elements in urine of 276 adolescents aged 14–17 years was measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. RESULTS: The upper 95 percentiles and their confidence intervals (RV95) were determined, which established the upper limit of the current background exposure to adolescents for 12 biomarkers, interpreted as “conditional” reference values for this age group. The following reference values for adolescents in Kazan City were obtained: Al, 12.80 µg/L; Cr, 1.02 µg/L; Mn, 3.53 µg/L; Hg, 0.65 µg/L; Cu, 110.91 µg/L, and Ni, 8.72 µg/L. In adolescents, the highest level of exceedance over background values was observed in zones 1 and 2 (Kirovsky and Privolzhsky Districts): Al exceeded by 1.4 times, Cr by 1.3 times in zone 1 (Kirovsky District), Mn by 1.5 times, Hg by 1.3 times, and Cu by 1.14 times in zone 2 (Privolzhsky district).The results are of interest for further analysis and identification of interrelations in the territory of the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia, where exposure levels may vary between regions or separate subgroups living in the same territory. CONCLUSION: Research in the field of biomonitoring in Kazan established the levels of exposure to toxic elements among the studied population and provided means for comparing exposure for further research by population groups by age, sex, and ethnicity. Moreover, biomonitoring results can be used to determine research priorities, measure exposure trends over time, and verify effectiveness of individual measures to combat pollution and other measures in the field of the environment and public health. The study presents modern technologies for assessing exposure to chemical pollutants using human biomonitoring methods and demonstrates its advantages.

SERS as a tool for determination of structurally related compounds: The case of sulfanilamide class antibiotics

Analysis of real objects based on surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) often utilizes new SERS substrates and/or complex analysis procedures, and they are optimized for only the determination of a single analyte. Moreover, analysis simplicity and selectivity are often sacrificed for maximum (sometimes unnecessary) sensitivity. Consequently, this trend limits the versatility of SERS analysis and complicates its practical implementation. Thus, we have developed a universal, but simple SERS assay suitable for the determination of structurally related antibiotics (five representatives of the sulfanilamide class) in complex objects (human urine and saliva). The assay involves only mixing of acidified analyzed solution with co-activating agent (polydiallyldimethylammonium chloride – PDDA) and SERS substrate (standard colloidal silver nanoparticles). Acidification promotes the generation of SERS spectra with maximum similarity and intensity, which is explained by the favorable enhancement of the protonated sulfanilamide moiety (a structurally similar part of the studied antibiotics) as a result of its strong electrostatic interaction with the SERS-active surface. Meanwhile, the addition of PDDA improves analysis selectivity by reducing background signal from body fluids, enabling to simplify sample pretreatment (dilution for urine; mucin removal and dilution for saliva). Therefore, the assay allows for rapid (≤10 min), precise, and accurate class-specific determination of sulfanilamides within concentration ranges suitable for non-invasive therapeutic drug monitoring in urine (40–600 μM) and saliva (10–30 μM). We also believe that thorough investigation of structurally related analytes and accompanying effects (e.g., high spectral similarity) is a promising direction to improve the understanding of SERS in general and expand its capabilities as an analytical tool.

A specific and sensitive GC-MS-MS method for the quantitative determination of 2-phenoxyethanol and selected metabolites in human blood and urine.

2-Phenoxyethanol (PhE) is widely used as a preservative in consumer products such as cosmetics as well as at the workplace as a component of metal-working fluids and hydraulic fluids. Therefore, both industry workers and consumers may potentially be exposed to PhE. An analytical method for the quantification of PhE and three selected metabolites, namely phenoxyacetic acid (PhAA), 4-hydroxyphenoxyacetic acid (4-OH-PhAA), and 4-hydroxyphenoxyethanol (4-OH-PhE), in human urine and blood was developed and validated. The sample preparation includes enzymatic hydrolysis of urine samples or protein precipitation of blood samples, followed by liquid-liquid extraction and silylation of the target analytes. Analyses of the extracts were carried out by gas chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS-MS). 3,4-Hydroxyphenoxyethanol, a probably minor PhE metabolite, could not be reliably analyzed due to its instability. The limits of quantification (LOQ) of the analytes ranged between 0.5 and 6.1 μg/L and 2.0 and 3.9 μg/L in urine and blood, respectively. The method was successfully applied to spot urine samples of 50 individuals without occupational exposure to PhE and additionally to blood samples from seven volunteers. In urine, PhAA and 4-OH-PhAA could be quantified in all analyzed samples, whereas 4-OH-PhE and unchanged PhE were found in 36% and 32% of the samples, respectively. In blood, PhAA was also found in every sample in levels above the LOQ, whereas PhE itself was detected in three of seven samples only. Neither 4-OH-PhAA nor 4-OH-PhE was found in any of the analyzed blood samples. The developed method promises to be a valuable tool for PhE monitoring of urine and blood samples and may also enable an advanced investigation of PhE biotransformation pathways in humans.

Spontaneous Urethrocutaneous Fistula in Child with Spastic Cerebral Palsy: A Case Report

Urethrocutaneous fistulas are complications that usually seen after hypospadias repair. Spontaneous urethrocutaneous fistulas are extremely rare disorders unless related to the surgery of hypospadias. These fistulas are not associated with hypospadias repair, infection and trauma. While there are few cases reported in adults, there are no cases reported in children. Urethrocutaneous fistulas may rarely be encountered post-trauma, infection or due to weakness of spongious tissue of penis as well as. Children with spastic cerebral palsy often face various problems due to prolonged hospitalizations. Pressure ulcers are among the most common of these issues. Urinary catheterization is frequently performed in these patients for urine monitoring. A 6-year-old male patient with cerebral palsy developed a urethrocutaneous fistula while being monitored in the pediatric intensive care unit. Pre-existing unnoticed partial prepuce and weakness in the corpus spongiosum were present in the patient. We suspect that the development of the urethrocutaneous fistula is attributed to frequent urethral catheterization and the development of decubitus ulcer in the penile region. Since a similar case is not found in the pediatric literature, our aim is to present this case for reference.

The effects of cannabis abstinence on cognition and resting state network activity in people with multiple sclerosis: A preliminary study

We previously reported that people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) who have been using cannabis frequently over many years can have significant cognitive improvements accompanied by concomitant task-specific changes in brain activation following 28 days of cannabis abstinence. We now hypothesize that the default Mode Network (DMN), known to modulate cognition, would also show an improved pattern of activation align with cognitive improvement following 28 days of drug abstinence. Thirty three cognitively impaired pwMS who were frequent cannabis users underwent a neuropsychological assessment and fMRI at baseline. Individuals were then assigned to a cannabis continuation (CC, n = 15) or withdrawal (CW, n = 18) group and the cognitive and imaging assessments were repeated after 28 days. Compliance with cannabis withdrawal was checked with regular urine monitoring. Following acquisition of resting state fMRI (rs-fMRI), data were processed using independent component analysis (ICA) to identify the DMN spatial map. Between and within group analyses were carried out using dual regression for voxel-wise comparisons of the DMN. Clusters of voxels were considered statistically significant if they survived threshold-free cluster enhancement (TFCE) correction at p < 0.05. The two groups were well matched demographically and neurologically at baseline. The dual regression analysis revealed no between group differences at baseline in the DMN. By day 28, the CW group in comparison to the CC group had increased activation in the left posterior cingulate, and right, angular gyrus (p < 0.05 for both, TFCE). A within group analysis for the CC group revealed no changes in resting state (RS) networks. Within group analysis of the CW group revealed increased activation at day 28 versus baseline in the left posterior cingulate, right angular gyrus, left hippocampus (BA 36), and the right medial prefrontal cortex (p < 0.05). The CW group showed significant improvements in multiple cognitive domains. In summary, our study revealed that abstaining from cannabis for 28 days reverses activation of DMN activity in pwMS in association with improved cognition across several domains.

Moisture-modulated resistive switching behavior based on CaTiO3 prepared by the appropriate NaOH concentration

It is well known that the multi-mode responsive memristor has a great application prospect in the complex environment. The CaTiO3-based memristor was prepared under different NaOH concentrations, which exhibited an obvious resistive switching (RS) behavior at the working voltage of 1 V. The experimental results indicate that the purity of CaTiO3 is affected by different NaOH concentrations, leading to changes in its microstructure. Interestingly, moisture as an electrical stimulus can change the RS behavior. By comparison, a large memory window with stable cycling performance can be observed at the relative humidity (RH) of 60%. A physical model, which involves Ag+ ions, oxygen vacancy (Vo) and OH− ions, was proposed to explain the charge transport mechanism of the moisture-modulated RS behavior. As an effective method to improve the memristive characteristics, the moisture-modulated RS behavior provides a great application for multi-mode-controlled memristor in physiological monitoring, such as sweat and infant urine monitoring.

Impact of tramadol and heroin abuse on electroencephalography structure and cognitive functions

BackgroundOpioids, defined as medicines that stimulate opioid receptors, are primarily used in the treatment of moderate to severe pain. They induce central nervous system (CNS) adverse effects. This study aimed to assess the effect of opioids on brain electrical activity, the effect of opioids on cognitive functions, and corroborate whether there was any correlation between changes in brain electrical activity and cognitive functions that may do in opioid addicts.MethodsThis cross-sectional case–control study was performed on 80 cases (divided into two groups 40 cases with tramadol use disorders and 40 cases with heroin use disorders) and 40 age-/sex-matched healthy control. All subjects were subordinated to neuropsychiatric evaluation, assessment of opioid use complaint through history from the case and his relatives, substance monitoring in urine, medicine abuse screening test (DAST), electroencephalography (EEG), and cognitive assessment by Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA).ResultsOpioid dependence convinced global cognitive function impairment, specific cognitive disciplines impairment that included visual-conceptual, visual-motor tracking, visual-constructional skills, language function, attention, memory, and orientation. Additionally, affection of the brain’s electrical activities with significant changes compared with control. Comparison of cognitive impairment substantiated by lower cognitive scores in relation to abnormal EEG changes among studied case groups revealed significant differences.ConclusionsOpioid abusers had a significant impairment of cognitive functions and EEG changes with a significant correlation between changes in brain electrical activity and impairment of cognitive functions.

Eco-Friendly Elaborated Clay-Supported Reduced Graphene Oxide for the Determination of Antibacterial Ciprofloxacin in Wastewater, Urine, and Drug Samples

The accumulation of pharmaceutical residues in the environment can indeed lead to a wide range of environmental problems which can have a negative impact on human health through various pathways. For this reason, it is of great importance to develop a rapid and sensitive strategy to monitor the accumulation of pharmaceutical residues, ultimately safeguarding both the environment and human health. In this article, the development of a carbon paste electrode modified by clay-supported reduced graphene oxide (rGO-Clay-CPE) is described. This sensor was used for the electrochemical detection of ciprofloxacin (Cipro). The rGO-Clay material was synthesized based on the thermal reduction of GO. Then, it was characterized by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Using differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), the prepared electrode shows high electrochemical performance towards the oxidation of Cipro. Under the optimized conditions, the DPV at the rGO-Clay sensor showed that the electro-analytical signal of Cipro is linearly related to the concentration in the range of 0.08–2.0–50.0 μM with a sensitivity of 11.24 μA μM−1 cm−2 and a limit of detection (LOD) of 7.7 nM. The developed sensor has successfully been applied for Cipro monitoring in wastewater, urine, and drug samples with acceptable outcomes.

Revaluation of copper(II)-Schiff base complex for sensing of d-penicillamine and development of a molecular logic gate: A combined approach

d-penicillamine (D-PA) being a tri-functional organic compound (thiol, amine, and carboxylic acid) is used as a chelating drug for many serious diseases like Wilson’s disease. Due to its serious adverse effects, regular monitoring of blood and urine for D-PA is required during the clinical application of the drug. The dye-containing Cu(II)-Schiff base complex is revisited for easy monitoring of D-PA and the development of a new molecular logic gate through extensive studies. Revaluation is carried out in light of extensive experimental evidence and theoretical rationalization which help to achieve the target. The synthesized Cu(II)-salicylaldehyde rhodamine B hydrazone complex is characterized through FTIR, NMR, Mass spectrometry, UV–Vis, and fluorescence titrations. The crystal structure of the complex is optimized through DFT studies and found distorted square planar. Calculations of Frontier Molecular Orbitals (FMOs) assist to understand the electronic and optical properties of the complex. The recognition of D-PA (LOD = 2.60 × 10-8 M) is executed both colorimetrically and fluorometrically through the “Turn-off” mechanism. The NAND-type molecular logic gate has been developed.

Verification of analytical performance of the microalbumin assay on the Abbott Alinity ci®: Experience of the central laboratory Mohammed VI Oujda

The verification of analytical methods is a requirement of the standard NF EN ISO 15 189. It consists of evaluating the performance of an analytical method according to a well-defined protocol and then comparing it with pre-established analytical objectives. The mastery of this approach must be the concern of any biologist. Through this work we present the results of the protocol of verification of the method of determination of microalbumin by comparing two automats: Alinity ci ® and Architect ci-8200® Abbott. Microalbumin monitoring in urine is an important element in the treatment of diabetes mellitus types I and II. It can also be used to predict diabetic nephropathy, which is the leading cause of death in people with insulin-dependent diabetes.

Monitoring of Biogenic Amines in Human Urine Using Dispersive Liquid–Liquid Microextraction and Liquid Chromatography with High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry

The biogenic amines (BAs) synephrine (SNP), phenylephrine (PEP), tyramine (TYR), and octopamine (OCT) may be present in products widely consumed for weight loss, muscle power, and in energy supplements. Considering the toxicity of these BAs at high levels and their biomarker role in some human pathologies, their monitoring in urine can be of great help in the detection of abusive consumption or disease. In this work, a combination of dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (DLLME) with ultra-high performance liquid chromatography and quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS) for the simultaneous determination of four aromatic BAs in human urine is presented. The sample treatment included a previous derivatization step with dansyl chloride to achieve the highest extraction efficiency in the DLLME procedure for which a mixture of 350 μL of chloroform and 2 mL of ethanol was added to 5 mL of derivatized urine. Limits of detection were in the 0.54–3.6 µg L−1 range. Method precision and trueness were estimated at two concentration levels and were in the 3.4–10.2% and 93.6–114% ranges, respectively. The analysis of nine urine samples showed concentration levels for TYR between 52 and 304 µg L−1. Non-targeted analysis of the samples was undertaken to control the presence of other BAs and related metabolites, and none of these species was detected.

Heavy metal‐free electrochemical detection of pyrophosphate ions by Nafion/carbon dots decorated screen printed carbon electrodes

AbstractWe employ Nafion‐mixed carbon dots (CDs) and low‐cost screen‐printed carbon electrodes (SPCEs) as foundation matrices for the fabrication of electrochemical biosensors. The NH2 and COOH functional groups present on the SPCE surface after Nafion/CDs deposition allow for pyrophosphate ions (PPis) collection. Using Fe(CN)63− as the electrochemical mediator, the SPCE‐Nafion/CDs are applied to the detection of aqueous PPi by square wave voltammetry. Between 50 and 1 μM, a linear connection is established between the square wave voltammetry current and the PPi concentration. The limit of detection is determined to be 1.01 μM, and recoveries of 113% (±1.9%) and 108% (±3.9%) are achieved for human urine samples spiked with 6 and 3 μM of PPi, respectively. Furthermore, this PPi assay is suitable for the usage of complicated urine matrices without the inclusion of heavy metals. We anticipate that this unique approach will be beneficial for PPi level monitoring in urine during therapeutic treatments of illnesses and malignancies.

Universal Fully Integrated Wearable Sensor Arrays for the Multiple Electrolyte and Metabolite Monitoring in Raw Sweat, Saliva, or Urine.

Fully integrated wearable sensors are capable of dynamically, directly, and independently tracking biomarkers in raw noninvasive biofluids without any other equipment or accessories by integrating the unique on-body monitoring feature with the special complete functional implementation attribute. Sweat, saliva, and urine are three important noninvasive biofluids, and changes in their biomarkers hold great potential for revealing physiological conditions. However, it is still a challenge to design single fully integrated wearable sensor arrays (FIWSAs) that are universally able to concurrently measure electrolytes and metabolites in three of the most common noninvasive biofluids including sweat, saliva, and urine. Here, we propose the first single universal FIWSAs for wirelessly, noninvasively, and simultaneously measuring various metabolites (i.e., uric acid) and electrolytes (i.e., Na+ and H+) in raw sweat, saliva, or urine under subjects' exercise by integrating the specifically designed microfluidic, sensing, and electronic modules in a seamless manner. We evaluate its utility for noninvasive gout management in healthy subjects and in gout patients through a purine-rich meal challenge and with a medicine-treatment control, respectively. Noninvasive monitoring of multiple electrolytes and metabolites in a variety of raw noninvasive biofluids via such single universal FIWSAs may enrich the understanding of the biomarkers' levels in the body and would also facilitate self-health management.

Transplacental Therapeutic Drug Monitoring in Pregnant Women with Fetal Tachyarrhythmia Using HPLC-MS/MS.

Fetal arrhythmia develops in 0.1-5% of pregnancies and may cause fetal heart failure and fetal hydrops, thus increasing fetal, neonatal, and infant mortality. The timely initiation of transplacental antiarrhythmic therapy (ART) promotes the conversion of fetal tachycardia to sinus rhythm and the regression of the concomitant non-immune fetal hydrops. The optimal treatment regimen search for the fetus with tachyarrhythmia is still of high value. Polymorphisms of these genes determines the individual features of the drug pharmacokinetics. The aim of this study was to study the pharmacokinetics of transplacental anti-arrhythmic drugs in the fetal therapy of arrhythmias using HPLC-MS/MS, as well as to assess the effect of the multidrug-resistance gene ABCB1 3435C > T polymorphism on the efficacy and maternal/fetal complications of digoxin treatment. The predisposition to a decrease in the bioavailability of the digoxin in patients with a homozygous variant of the CC polymorphism showed a probable association with the development of ART side effects. A pronounced decrease in heart rate in women with the 3435TT allele of the ABCB1 gene was found. The homozygous TT variant in the fetus showed a probable association with an earlier response to ART and rhythm disruptions on the digoxin dosage reduction. high-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) methods for digoxin and sotalol therapeutic drug monitoring in blood plasma, amniotic fluid, and urine were developed. The digoxin and sotalol concentrations were determined in the plasma blood, urine, and amniotic fluid of 30 pregnant women at four time points (from the beginning of the transplacental antiarrhythmic therapy to delivery) and the plasma cord blood of 30 newborns. A high degree of correlation between the level of digoxin and sotalol in maternal and cord blood was found. The ratio of digoxin and sotalol in cord blood to maternal blood was 0.35 (0.27 and 0.46) and 1.0 (0.97 and 1.07), accordingly. The digoxin concentration in the blood of the fetus at the moment of the first rhythm recovery episode, 0.58 (0.46, 0.8) ng/mL, was below the therapeutic interval. This confirms the almost complete transplacental transfer of sotalol and the significant limitation in the case of digoxin. Previously, ABCB1/P-glycoprotein had been shown to limit fetal exposure to drugs. Further studies (including multicenter ones) to clarify the genetic features of the transplacental pharmacokinetics of antiarrhythmic drugs are needed.

A chronic EBV infection causing persistent facial erythema multiforme and a retrospective literature review: A case report

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection is associated with a variety of diseases and can involve multiple organs and systems, with complex and nonspecific clinical manifestations that are easily misdiagnosed. Chronic EBV infection with persistent erythema multiforme (EM) on the cheek as the main manifestation is very rare and has been reported rarely. This article reports a case of an adolescent female with chronic EBV infection who presented with chronic symmetrical erythema lesions on the face for 4 years, exacerbated with photophobia, lacrimation, Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP)-like rash, decline in granulocyte and erythrocyte lineages, hematuria, and proteinuria for 1 week. The disease was initially misdiagnosed as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and later confirmed as chronic EBV infection by skin biopsy. In the case, EBV infection not only caused chronic facial EM, but also induced acute HSP and purpura nephritis (hematuria and proteinuria type). The child was treated with 1 week of glucocorticosteroids in adequate doses combined with acyclovir antiviral therapy and 3 sessions of hemoperfusion. After discharge, she took prednisone acetate (15 mg twice a day) orally for 1 month and then discontinued. She was discharged with her rash relieved and normal blood routine test and urine routine test. After 13 months of long-term follow-up, her facial erythema and hyperpigmentation became lighter, and there was no new rash on the whole body, and no abnormality in continuous monitoring of complete blood count and urine test. This case suggests the need to be alert for chronic EBV infection in adolescent females with chronic facial EM rash and multiple organs and systems injury, in addition to connective tissue diseases such as SLE.

Vector Shedding and Immunogenicity Sampling in AAV-Based Gene Therapy for Retinitis Pigmentosa Patients.

Viral vectors are employed in gene therapy to deliver functional genes. It is often traceable in bodily secretions and excretions of the recipients. Methods of collecting, processing, and storing specimens need to be standardized to ensure effective regulation and monitoring of vector safety. Furthermore, these regulations are crucial in upholding the safety and efficacy of clinical trials and subsequent delivery of these treatments. This chapter discusses vector immunogenicity monitoring and methods of lacrimal, saliva, urine, blood, and serum sampling in patients with retinitis pigmentosa before and throughout the delivery of adeno-associated virus-based gene therapy.

Development of a diphenyl sulfide structure derivatization reagent for amino acid enantiomers analysis: Application of dynamic monitoring in human urine after drinking wine

We developed a novel chiral mass spectrometry derivatization reagent (S)-(3-(4-carboxythiazolidin-3-yl)-3-oxopropyl) diphenylsulfonium (CTOD) with a positively charged sulfur-containing structure for high-sensitivity detection of the chiral resolution of amino acid enantiomers. CTOD reacted with DL-amino acids at 60oC for 60 min to generate the corresponding diastereomers, fifteen chiral amino acid-derived products were separated. Resolution (Rs) values were of the range 1.54-4.36, except Asn 1.07, achieving good separation. A highly sensitive and selective UHPLC-MS/MS method for the simultaneous determination and chiral separation of five chiral amino acids (Pro, Ala, Glu, Asp, and Phe) based on CTOD derivatization was established and applied to the detection of chiral amino acids in different wines. The diastereomeric resolution of the five amino acids was 1.71–5.42, and an excellent linear relationship was obtained in the range of 0.25–500 pmol (R2 ≥0.9993). The detection limit was 0.05–0.25 pmol. The intra- and inter-day precisions were 0.51–5.76% and 0.78–5.18%, respectively, and the average recovery was 90.03–99.99%. In addition, the metabolic concentration of chiral amino acids was monitored after drinking red wine and white wine, and the fitting curve of metabolic concentration was drawn.