Speciation and separation of Cr(VI) and Cr(III) using coprecipitation with Ni/2-Nitroso-1-naphthol-4-sulfonic acid and determination by FAAS in water and food samples

A speciation procedure for chromium(III) and chromium(VI) in the water and food samples has been established in the presented work. The procedure presented based on quantitative recoveries of Cr(III) > 95% using coprecipitation of Ni²⁺/2-Nitroso-1-naphthol-4-sulfonic acid. The total chromium was measured after reduction of Cr(VI) by concentrated H₂SO₄ and ethanol. The Cr(VI) was calculated as the difference between the total Cr content and the Cr(III) contents. The analytical variables, pH, amounts of precipitate, sample volume for optimum recoveries of Cr(III) were investigated. The influences of the some alkaline and earth alkaline ions and some transition metals on the recoveries of analyte ions were also investigated. The preconcentration factor was 50. The detection limit (3σ) of the reagent blank for chromium(III) was 1.33 μg L⁻¹. The relative standard deviations for determinations were found to be <7%, and % of relative error was calculated <6%. The method was validated by certified reference materials of tea (GBW 07605) and bush branches and leaves (GBW 0703). The procedure was successfully applied to the speciation of chromium in natural water and food samples (fish, white cheese, cow’s meat, black tea, boiled wheat).     

Pleural fluid and serum procalcitonin as diagnostic tools in tuberculous pleurisy

BACKGROUND: Diagnosis of tuberculous pleuritis is difficult because of its nonspecific clinical presentation and decreased efficiency of traditional diagnostic methods. We investigated the use of procalcitonin (PCT) concentration in tuberculous pleuritis diagnosis. METHODS: A prospective clinical study was performed with two different patient groups. A total of 28 patients were included: 18 with tuberculosis and 10 with nontuberculous pleurisy. Serum and pleural fluid PCT concentrations were evaluated before treatment. RESULTS: Serum and pleural fluid PCT concentrations were statistically different between tuberculous and nontuberculous pleurisy groups (P = 0.012 and P = 0.004, respectively), even though they were not elevated in relation to the cut-off level of 0.5 ng/mL. A positive and significant correlation was detected between serum and pleural fluid PCT levels (r = 0.49, P = 0.008). Diagnostic specificity and sensitivity values for serum and pleural fluid PCT in discriminating tuberculous from nontuberculous pleurisy were 80% and 72.2%, and 90% and 66.7% at the 0.081 and 0.113 ng/mL cut-off values, respectively. CONCLUSION: Relative to the current cut-off level of 0.5 ng/mL, PCT concentration is not a useful parameter for the diagnosis of tuberculous pleurisy. Because there were PCT levels in patients with tuberculous pleurisy that were below the current cut-off level but were significantly different from those of the nontuberculous group, the use of PCT should be further investigated.     

Transradial catheterization may decrease the radial artery luminal diameter and impair the vasodilatation response in the access site at late term: an observational study

The present study aimed to evaluate the late-term changes in radial artery luminal diameter (RAD) and vasodilatation response following transradial catheterization (TRC). TRC-inducing trauma to radial artery intima may trigger chronic phase vascular changes and lead to anatomical and functional impairment. There is controversial data whether the impairment persists or repairs later. Fifty-six consecutive patients undergoing TRC were enrolled prospectively. Baseline RAD, flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) and nitroglycerin-mediated dilatation (NMD) of the radial artery at the access site were measured before TRC by high-resolution ultrasound. Six months later; RAD, FMD and NMD were measured again at the same access site. RAD at the sixth month was reduced compared with pre-procedural measurements (2.85 ± 0.44 versus 2.74 ± 0.42 mm, p = 0.0001).The average FMD decreased to 5.66 ± 5.87 %, which was significantly lower than the observed pre-procedural FMD (9.45 ± 5.01 %) 6 months after TRC (p = 0.0001). Likewise, the average NMD at the sixth month was reduced compared with pre-procedural NMD (9.52 ± 6.77 versus 6.64 ± 6.51 %, p = 0.018). Logistic regression analysis indicated that pre-procedural radial artery diameter to sheath size ratio was the independent predictor of NMD reduction (95 % confidence interval, β = ?9.74, p = 0.024). TRC may lead to a significant luminal diameter reduction and impairment of vasodilatation response in the radial artery at late term.     

Uric Acid is an Important Predictor for Hypertensive Early Atherosclerosis

Introduction  

The association between hyperuricemia and cardiovascular disease in hypertensive subjects is controversial. Attempts to elucidate the possible association between hyperuricemia and early atherosclerosis in hypertensive patients may provide alternative prevention or therapy targets for future cardiovascular events.     

Anatomic evaluation of the carotid artery bifurcation in cadavers: implications for open and endovascular therapy

Knowledge of carotid bifurcation (CB), common carotid artery (CCA) and its branches and their recognition during diagnostic imaging are also important for vascular surgical procedures in the region, such as carotid endarterectomy or radical neck dissection, catheterization and aneurysms. The surgical anatomy of the carotid arteries was studied in 20 cadavers. Micrometric values of the CB and its relation with surrounding structures, measurements belonging to the external carotid artery (ECA) and internal carotid artery (ICA), and metric data, such as lower face including the greater horn, laryngeal prominence have been evaluated by making linear measures. The diameter of the CCA at the CB under 2 cm and CB diameter was measured as 8.1 +/- 2.24 mm and 12.79 +/- 2.87 mm, respectively. Evaluating data related to the ICA and the ECA in samples, the aspect was measured the ICA and the ECA in the CB discrimination point as 21.52 +/- 20.53 degrees . In the most location of the ECA origin according to the ICA has been determined as medial position in 35 specimens. The origin of the superior thyroid artery (STA) was found to be at the same level with the CB in 40% and below it in 25% specimens. This study has provided measured objective criteria for the arterial features of the neck region, which are crucial during surgery. The origins of the branches of the CCA act as key landmarks for adequate and appropriate placement of the cross-clamp on the carotid arteries.