Determination of ethyl glucuronide in hair samples of Chinese people by protein precipitation (PPT) and large volume injection-gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LVI-GC/MS/MS)

Ethyl glucuronide (EtG) has been shown to be a suitable marker of excessive alcohol consumption. Determination of EtG in hair samples may help to differentiate social drinkers from alcoholics, and this testing can be widely used in forensic science, treatment programs, workplaces, military bases as well as driving ability test to provide legal proof of drinking. A method for determination of EtG in hair samples using large volume injection-gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LVI-GC/MS/MS) was developed and validated. Hair samples (in 1 mL deionized water) were ultrasonicated for 1h and incubated overnight; these samples were then deproteinated to remove impurities and derivatisated with 15 μL of pyridine and 30 μL of BSTFA. EtG was detected using GC/MS/MS in multiple-reaction monitoring mode. This method exhibited good linearity: y=0.0036 x+0.0437, R2=0.9993, the limit of detection and the limit of quantification were 5 pg/mg and 10 pg/mg, respectively. The extraction recoveries were more than 60%, and the inter-day and intra-day relative standard deviations (RSD) were less than 15%. This method has been applied to the analysis of EtG in hair samples from 21 Chinese subjects. The results for samples obtained from all of those who were teetotallers were negative, and the results for the other 15 samples ranged from 10 to 78 pg/mg, except for one negative sample. These data are the basis for interpretation of alcohol abuse.     

Integrated microfluidic magnetic immunosensor for quantification of human serum IgG antibodies to Helicobacter pylori

In this paper, we have developed and characterized a microfluidic magnetic immunosensor coupled to a gold electrode for the rapid and sensitive quantification of human serum IgG antibodies to Helicobacter pylori. This microorganism cause peptic ulcers and chronic gastritis, affecting around the 10% of the world population. The sensor was completely automated and the antibodies detection in serum samples was carried out using a non-competitive immunoassay based on the use of purified H. pylori antigens that are immobilized on magnetic microspheres 3-aminopropyl-modified. The magnetic microbeads were injected into microchannel devices and manipulated for an external removable magnet. The IgG antibodies in human serum sample are allowed to react immunologically with the immobilized antigens, and the bounded antibodies are quantified by alkaline phosphatase (AP) enzyme-labeled second antibodies specific to human IgG. The p-aminophenyl phosphate (p-APP) was converted to p-aminophenol (p-AP) by AP and an electroactive product was detected on gold layer electrode at 0.250 V. The response current obtained from the product of enzymatic reaction is directly proportional to the activity of the enzyme and, consequently, to the amount of IgG antibodies to H. pylori in serum samples. The electrochemical detection can be done within 1 min and total assay time was 25 min. The calculated detection limits for electrochemical detection and the ELISA procedure were 0.37 and 2.1 U mL⁻¹, respectively, and the within- and between-assay coefficients of variation were below 5%. Our results indicate the potential usefulness of our fabricated microbiochip for the early assessment of human serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies to H. pylori.     

IGF1在脑缺血大鼠脑组织中的表达与通络救脑注射液的脑保护作用

目的:观察脑缺血模型大鼠血清及脑组织中IGF1蛋白表达水平,以及通络救脑注射液对该因子表达水平的影响,分析通络救脑注射液的脑保护作用途径。方法:以线栓法制作大鼠大脑中动脉缺血模型(MCAO),将SD大鼠随机分为空白对照组、模型组及通络救脑注射药组,分别在造模后12小时、24小时、3天、7天4个时间点采取动物血清和脑组织,以免疫组化、酶联免疫(ELISA)以及RTPCR的方法,分别检测IGF1的表达部位及定量检测该因子的蛋白及mRNA表达水平,并测定血清NSE含量。结果:IGF1在正常脑组织有表达,在脑缺血后24小时表达增多,此后随脑缺血时间的延长不断减少;通络救脑组IGF1各时间点表达均高于模型组。模型组血清NSE水平显著升高,各时间点与正常组均有显著差异,通络救脑注射液组血清NSE水平在12小时、1天和7天时显著低于模型组。结论:大鼠脑缺血损伤后IGF1表达减少与神经元的坏死有相关性,通络救脑注射液能够提高其表达水平,对缺血损伤的脑组织发挥保护作用。     

Determination of rutin by flow injection chemiluminescence method using the reaction of luminol and potassium hexacyanoferrate(III) with the aid of response surface methodology

A novel flow injection chemiluminescence (CL) method for the determination of rutin was reported. The proposed method was based on the enhanced effect of rutin on the chemiluminescence intensity of luminol and potassium hexacyanoferrate(III) reaction in NaOH medium. The variables of reaction system, such as luminol concentration, potassium hexacyanoferrate(III) concentration and NaOH concentration, were optimized with the aid of response surface methodology. For the responses prediction, a second‐order polynomial model (SOPM) was applied. The optimal conditions for determination of rutin estimated by the model equation were as follows: NaOH concentration of 0.13 mol/L luminol concentration of 0.94 × 10^?6 mol/L, and K₃Fe(CN)₆ concentration of 1.09 × 10^?4 mol/L. The theoretical increased ratio of CL intensity (IRI) predicted and actual IRI for 0.05 mg/L rutin under the above conditions were 99.40 and 99.74%, respectively. The SOPM model proved to be powerful for navigating the design space. Under the above optimum conditions, the increased IRI was linearly related to the concentration of rutin in the range from 0.008 to 0.100 mg/L with the regression equation IRI = 1948.20c + 5.24 (r = 0.9994) and in the range from 0.100 to 1.000 mg/L with the regression equation IRI = 1362.50 c + 61.94 (r = 0.9996). The detection limit (3σ) was of 1.95 × 10^?3 mg/L. The sampling frequency of this method was 72/h. The method was used directly to determine rutin in tablets. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The determination of glutamine with flow‐injection chemiluminescence detection and mechanism study

The main purpose of this study was to develop an inexpensive, simple, rapid and sensitive chemiluminescence (CL) method for the determination of glutamine (Gln) using a flow‐injection (FI) system. Gln was found to strongly inhibit the CL signal of the luminol–H₂O₂–CuSO₄ system in Na₂B₄O₇ solution. A new FI‐CL method was developed for the determination of Gln. Parameters affecting the reproducibility and CL detection were optimized systematically. Under the optimized conditions, the corresponding linear regression equation was established over the range of 5.0 × 10^?7 to 2.5 × 10^?6 mol/L with the detection limit of 1.8 × 10^?8 mol/L. The relative standard deviation was found to be 1.8% for 11 replicate determinations of 1.5 × 10^?6 mol/L Gln. The proposed method has been satisfactorily applied for the determination of Gln in real samples (Marzulene‐s granules) with recoveries in the range of 98.7–108.6%. The minimum sampling rate was about 100 samples/h. The possible mechanism of this inhibitory CL was studied by fluorescence spectrophotometer and UV–vis spectrophotometer. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

加强手术室管理,控制医院感染

目的加强手术室医院感染的控制与管理,降低医院感染的发生率。方法针对手术室的工作特点,制定并落实各项有效的消毒隔离措施和感染监测制度,严格执行无菌操作规程,创造合格的手术环境。结果制定有效的手术室消毒隔离制度和感染监测制度,并通过医护人员的积极配合,创造合格的手术室环境,使无菌手术切口感染率下降至0.25%,特殊手术无医院感染发生。结论加强手术室医院感染的管理,可有效地防止医院感染的发生,降低无菌手术切口感染率。     

原位可注射壳聚糖基温敏水凝胶的制备及其在预防ESD术后食管狭窄中分阶段释药应用研究

摘要 目的：构建一种可以分阶段释放药物的原位可注射水凝胶，通过直接注射在ESD（Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection，内镜黏膜下剥离术）术后伤口处，形成水凝胶敷料，起到保护伤口的作用。同时凝胶中的两种药物通过分阶段释放的方式，更好地促进伤口的无瘢痕愈合，为ESD术后食管狭窄的预防提供一种新的参考方案。方法：在壳聚糖/β-甘油磷酸钠（CS/β-GP）温敏水凝胶的体系中加入聚多巴胺（PDA），制备壳聚糖/β-甘油磷酸钠/聚多巴胺（CS/?β-GP/PDA）水凝胶。通过在载药水凝胶中加入聚乙二醇-聚乳酸-羟基乙酸（PEG-PLGA）纳米载药微粒制备CS/β-GP/PDA/NPs双载药水凝胶，通过两种载药体系的复合，实现药物的分阶段释放。通过流变学实验测定CS/β-GP、CS/β-GP/PDA、CS/β-GP/PDA/NPs凝胶体系的相转变温度以及凝胶强度。通过高效液相色谱法检测CS/β-GP/PDA/NPs水凝胶中两种药物的释放动力学特征。通过CCK-8细胞增殖实验评价CS/β-GP/PDA、CS/β-GP/PDA/NPs温敏水凝胶的生物相容性。在体外猪食管中，模拟ESD术后创口，通过内镜辅助将水凝胶母液注射在伤口处，并通过内镜观察水凝胶的凝胶状态。结果：得到了粘附性显著增强的壳聚糖/β-甘油磷酸钠/聚多巴胺（CS/β-GP/PDA）凝胶体系。流变学实验证明聚多巴胺（PDA）的加入可以显著降低水凝胶的凝胶温度，缩短原位成胶时间。CCK-8实验显示CS/β-GP/PDA、CS/β-GP/PDA/NPs凝胶体系无潜在的细胞毒性。在体外猪食管模拟实验中，将其凝胶母液注射在伤口处后，可原位形成凝胶，且凝胶贴合伤口，具有较强的粘附性。通过体外释药速率测定，验证了CS/β-GP/PDA/NPs水凝胶中所载两种药物释放速率存在明显差异，可实现药物的分阶段释放。结论：设计的CS/β-GP/PDA/NPs凝胶体系适用于ESD术后的伤口修复，并能够实现分阶段释药，对于预防ESD术后食管狭窄具有潜在的应用价值。     

Determination of drugs in biological fluids by direct injection of samples for liquid-chromatographic analysis

The analysis of drugs in various biological fluids is an important criterion for the determination of the physiological performance of a drug. After sampling of the biological fluid, the next step in the analytical process is sample preparation. The complexity of biological fluids adds to the challenge of direct determination of the drug by chromatographic analysis, therefore demanding a sample preparation step that is often time-consuming, tedious, and frequently overlooked. However, direct on-line injection methods offer the advantage of reducing sample preparation steps and enabling effective pre-concentration and clean-up of biological fluids. These procedures can be automated and therefore reduce the requirements for handling potentially infectious biomaterial, improve reproducibility, and minimize sample manipulations and potential contamination. The objective of this review is to present an overview of the existing literature with emphasis on advances in automated sample preparation methods for liquid-chromatographic methods. More specifically, this review concentrates on the use of direct injection techniques, such as restricted-access materials, turbulent-flow chromatography and other automated on-line solid-phase extraction (SPE) procedures. It also includes short overviews of emerging automated extraction-phase technologies, such as molecularly imprinted polymers, in-tube solid-phase micro-extraction, and micro-extraction in a packed syringe for a more selective extraction of analytes from complex samples, providing further improvements in the analysis of biological materials. Lastly, the outlook for these methods and potential new applications for these technologies are briefly discussed.     

Transgene activity following somatic transgenesis in Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus

A detailed study was made of the persistence and expression of a plasmid-enclosed reporter gene construct after intramuscular injection into the somatic muscle tissue of juvenile Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus and also the effect of injecting a potentially growth-promoting gene construct. The plasmid-enclosed DNA proved stable at the site of injection, lasting in some cases for up to 6 months, and was, at a very low frequency, detected in gonad tissue, indicating occasional substantial movement from the injected muscle site. It was observed that the reporter gene and regulatory sequences were also functional within the somatic cells. In a comparison of expression levels by direct somatic injection, the 1·6 kb tilapia β-actin regulatory sequence (tiβAP) resulted in c. three-fold higher β-galactosidase activity than the 4·7 kb carp β-actin regulatory sequence (cβAP) when spliced to the lacZ gene. The enhancer element near the end of first intron in the tiβAP, when co-injected with tiβAP/lacZ plasmid at a 3:1 ratio, drove significantly higher reporter activity in somatic cells than the tiβAP/lacZ sequence alone. The introduction of a growth-promoting construct, the Nile tilapia growth hormone gene driven by a tiβAP, yielded no detectable growth enhancement.     

Execution by lethal injection, euthanasia, organ-donation and the proper goals of medicine

In a recent issue of this journal, David Silver and Gerald Dworkin discuss the physicians' role in execution by lethal injection. Dworkin concludes that discussion by stating that, at that point, he is unable to think of an acceptable set of moral principles to support the view that it is illegitimate for physicians to participate in execution by lethal injection that would not rule out certain other plausible moral judgements, namely that euthanasia is under certain conditions legitimate and that organ-donation surgery is sometimes permissible. This article draws attention to some problems in the views of Silver and Dworkin and suggests moral principles which support the three moral views just mentioned.