Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation: Determination of Endogenous Jasmonic Acid in Plant Samples by Liquid Chromatography-Electrochemical Detection Based on Derivatization With Dopamine.
Determination of endogenous jasmonic acid in plant samples by liquid chromatography-electrochemical detection based on derivatization with dopamine.
Filed under: Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation
Analyst. 2013 Jan 11;
Xie S, Wang F, Chen Z
Jasmonic acid (JA), a type of plant hormone, is widely distributed in a variety of higher plants at very low concentrations, usually several nanograms per gram (ng g(-1)) fresh weight of the plant tissue. The determination of endogenous JA is challenging work. The typical electrochemical oxidation behavior of JA could only be achieved under extreme conditions such as strongly acidic medium (H(2)SO(4)) and high applied working potential (1.4-1.6 V), which cannot be used in the electrochemical detection for liquid chromatography (LC). To realize electrochemical detection for LC separation, a mild supporting electrolyte for JA oxidation is required, as the supporting electrolyte solution also serves as the mobile phase of LC. Thus, a novel electrochemical derivatization with dopamine (DA) has been developed and successfully applied to the analysis of endogenous JA in wintersweet flowers and rice florets by liquid chromatography coupled with electrochemical detection (HPLC-ECD). Under optimized experimental conditions including a detection potential of +0.90 V, and 0.04 mol L(-1) acetate buffer solution (pH 5.07)?:?acetonitrile (67?:?33, v/v) as the mobile phase, the contents of JA in wintersweet flowers and rice florets were respectively determined to be 7.86 ?g g(-1) and 308 ng g(-1), consulting the linear relationship between the peak area of JA-DA derivatives and the standard JA concentration (1.0 × 10(-7) mol L(-1) to 2.0 × 10(-5) mol L(-1), R = 0.9986) with a detection limit of 5.0 × 10(-8) mol L(-1) (S/N = 3). The results were consistent with those by LC-UV and LC-MS methods in our group, indicating that this novel pre-column electrochemical derivatization method is feasible.
HubMed – drug
Identification of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus using an integrated and modular microfluidic system.
Filed under: Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation
Analyst. 2013 Jan 11;
Chen YW, Wang H, Hupert M, Soper SA
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a major cause of hospital-acquired (HA-MRSA) infection worldwide. As a result, the rapid and specific detection of MRSA is crucial not only for early prevention of disease spread, but also for the effective treatment of these infections. We report here an integrated modular-based microfluidic system for MRSA identification, which can carry out the multi-step assay used for MRSA identification in a single disposable fluidic cartridge. The multi-step assay included PCR amplification of the mecA gene harboring methicillin resistance loci that can provide information on drug susceptibility, ligase detection reaction (LDR) to generate fluorescent ligation products appended with a zip-code complement that directs the ligation product to a particular address on a universal array containing zip-code probes and a universal DNA array, which consisted of a planar waveguide for evanescent excitation. The fluidic cartridge design was based on a modular format, in which certain steps of the molecular processing pipeline were poised on a module made from a thermoplastic. The cartridge was comprised of a module interconnected to a fluidic motherboard configured in a 3-dimensional network; the motherboard was made from polycarbonate, PC, and was used for PCR and LDR, while the module was made from poly(methylmethacrylate), PMMA, and contained an air-embedded waveguide serving as the support for the universal array. Fluid handling, thermal management and optical readout hardware were situated off-chip and configured into a small footprint instrument. In this work, the cartridge was used to carry out a multiplexed PCR/LDR coupled with the universal array allowed for simultaneous detection of five genes that encode for 16S ribosomal RNA (SG16S), protein A (spa), the femA protein of S. epidermidis (femA), the virulence factor of Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) and the gene that confers methicillin resistance (mecA). Results indicated that this modular system could differentiate community-acquired MRSA (CA-MRSA) from hospital-acquired MRSA (HA-MRSA) based on the presence/absence of the PVL gene as well as S. aureus from other Staphylococcal species using the sequence content in the femA gene. This system can identify strains in <40 min and detect MRSA directly from a mixture of Staphylococci. HubMed – drug
Quality of Antenatal care services in eastern Uganda: implications for interventions.
Filed under: Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation
Pan Afr Med J. 2012; 13: 27
Tetui M, Ekirapa EK, Bua J, Mutebi A, Tweheyo R, Waiswa P
More efforts need to be directed to improving the quality of maternal health in developing countries if we are to keep on track with meeting the fifth millennium development goal. The World Health Organization says developing countries account for over 90% of maternal deaths of which three fifths occur in Sub-Saharan African countries like Uganda. Abortion, obstetric complications such as hemorrhage, dystocia, eclampsia, and sepsis are major causes of maternal deaths here. Good quality Antenatal Care (ANC) provides opportunity to detect and respond to risky maternal conditions. This study assessed quality of ANC services in eastern Uganda with a goal of benchmarking implications for interventions.Data was collected from 15 health facilities in Eastern Uganda to establish capacity of delivering ANC services. Observation checklists were used to assess structural components and completeness of the ANC consultation process among 291 women attending it. Lastly, structured exit-interviews were conducted to assess satisfaction of patients. Data analysis was done in STATA Version 10.There was an overall staffing gap of over 40%, while infection control facilities, drugs and supplies were inadequate. However, there was good existence of physical infrastructure and diagnostic equipment for ANC services. It was observed that counseling for risk factors and birth preparedness was poorly done; in addition essential tests were not done for the majority of clients.To improve the quality of ANC, interventions need to improve staffing, infection control facilities and drug-supplies. In addition to better counseling for risk factor-recognition and birth preparedness.
HubMed – drug
Contributions of biological tests and the 4 Ts score in the diagnosis of Heparin Induced Thrombocytopenia.
Filed under: Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation
Pan Afr Med J. 2012; 13: 9
Haouach K, Admou B, Lauriant P, Chabaa L
Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is an adverse drug reaction caused by antibodies to the heparin/platelet factor 4 (PF4) complexes. HIT diagnosis is challenging and depends on clinical presentation and laboratory tests. We investigated the interest of the combined use of 4 Ts score and the functional and immunological tests for the diagnosis of HIT.We analyzed 178 patients with suspected HIT, for which the 4 Ts score was calculated. Heparin-PF4 antibodies were detected by both Heparin-induced platelet activation test (HIPA) and Heparin platelet induced antibodies enzyme immunoassay.Our results shown that in low probability group, 85% of plasmas were found negative versus 55.5% in the high probability group. On the other hand, 22.2% of patients were HIT positive in high probability group versus 0% in the low probability group.These results confirmed that the negative predictive value of the HIT score was high. The 4T’s model has demonstrated excellent sensitivity but its specificity was limited. The specificity of the functional and immunological test is high only in a context suggestive of HIT. Both methods should be considered complementary in the diagnostic strategy.
HubMed – drug
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