Application of hollow fiber liquid phase microextraction and dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction techniques in analytical toxicology

The recent developments in hollow fiber liquid phase microextraction and dispersive liquid –liquid microextraction are reviewed. Applications of these newly emerging developments in extraction and preconcentration of a vast category of compounds including heavy metals, pesticides, pharmaceuticals and abused drugs in complex matrices (environmental and biological matrices) are reviewed and discussed. The new developments in these techniques including the use of solvents lighter than water, ionic liquids and supramolecular solvents are also considered. Applications of these new solvents reduce the use of toxic solvents and eliminate the centrifugation step, which reduces the extraction time.     

Emergence of biopharmaceutical innovators in China, India, Brazil, and South Africa as global competitors and collaborators

Biopharmaceutical innovation has had a profound health and economic impact globally. Developed countries have traditionally been the source of most innovations as well as the destination for the resulting economic and health benefits. As a result, most prior research on this sector has focused on developed countries. This paper seeks to fill the gap in research on emerging markets by analyzing factors that influence innovative activity in the indigenous biopharmaceutical sectors of China, India, Brazil, and South Africa. Using qualitative research methodologies, this paper a) shows how biopharmaceutical innovation is taking place within the entrepreneurial sectors of these emerging markets, b) identifies common challenges that indigenous entrepreneurs face, c) highlights the key role played by the state, and d) reveals that the transition to innovation by companies in the emerging markets is characterized by increased global integration. It suggests that biopharmaceutical innovators in emerging markets are capitalizing on opportunities to participate in the drug development value chain and thus developing capabilities and relationships for competing globally both with and against established companies headquartered in developed countries.     

The influence of social status on pre-school children's eating habits, caries experience and caries prevention behavior

Objectives  

To assess the prevalence of Early Childhood Caries (ECC) in a county in Northern Hesse and to correlate this parameter to various independent variables. Additionally to investigate the relationship between preventive measures and the socioeconomic status (SES).     

Genetic Variation of MSP-1 Gene in Plasmodium vivax Isolated from Patients in Hormozgan Province,Iran using SSCP-PCR

Background

The main goal of present study was to detect polymorphism in MSP-1 gene which is a major blood stage candidate for vaccine in Plasmodium vivax by Single Strand Conformational Polymorphism-Polymerase Chain Reaction (SSCP-PCR).

Methods

During 2008 to 2010 fifty samples were collected from Iranian patients with P. vivax in Hormozgan Province, southern Iran. All of the samples were detected by microscopical examination. Amplification of MSP-1 gene was done by PCR after DNA extraction. Single strand DNAs due to using in SSCP, was electrophoresed on polyacrylamid- Bisacrylamid gel then banding patterns were revealed by silver-staining method. Sequencing as a typing method was performed for some isolates.

Results

All of the 50 isolates were positive microscopically. Totally 12 (24%) isolates showed 440 bp and 38 (76%) showed 500 bp in PCR assay. SSCP analysis revealed four banding patterns. Pattern I (10/50), Pattern II (12/50), Pattern III (27/50), and Pattern IV (1/50). The results sequencing analysis of the MSP-1 gene in 19 isolates revealed diversity in nucleotides and amino acid in Iranian P. vivax isolates.

Conclusion

Our study confirms that the SSCP-PCR is a rapid method for detecting polymorphism in MSP-1 gene in P. vivax. The presence of different haplotypes in MSP-1 gene shows that several P. vivax strains exist in malaria endemic areas of Iran.     

Continuous control of tracheal cuff pressure: an effective measure to prevent ventilator-associated pneumonia?

In a previous issue of Critical Care, Lorente and colleagues reported the results of a prospective observational study aiming at evaluating the effect of continuous control of cuff pressure (P_cuff ) on the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). The results suggest a beneficial impact of this intervention on VAP prevention, which is in line with the results of a recent randomized controlled study. However, another randomized controlled study found no significant impact of continuous control of P_cuff on VAP incidence. Several differences regarding the device used to control P_cuff, study population, and design might explain the different reported results. Future randomized multicenter studies are needed to confirm the beneficial effect of continuous control of P_cuff on VAP incidence. Furthermore, the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of different available devices should be compared. Meanwhile, given the single-center design and the limitations of the available studies, no strong recommendation can be made regarding continuous control of P_cuff as a preventive measure of VAP.     

Hepatitis B virus genotypes in southwest Iran： Molecular, serological and clinical outcomes

AIM： To investigate the associations of hepatitis B virus （HBV） genotype with HBeAg and anti-HBe status, alanine aminotransferase （ALT） levels and HBV-DNA detection in different groups of HBV-infected patients in southwest Iran. METHODS： A total of 89 HBsAg-positive serum samples were collected from the same number of patients. All sera were then investigated to determine HBV DNA and serological markers. For all the polymerase chain reaction （PCR）-positive samples, biochemical, histopathological assays and genotyping were also performed. RESULTS： Genotype D was the only type of HBV foundin different clinical forms of acute and chronic infections. There was a high prevalence of HBeAg-negative HBV- infected patients with chronic hepatitis （52.7%）. Out of 55 patients with chronic hepatitis, seven （12.7%） were diagnosed with cirrhosis. A significant association between the presence of anti-HBe antibody and an increase in ALT level, among either HBeAg-negative （P = 0.01） or HBeAg-positive （P = 0.026） patients, was demonstrated. No significant differences were observed between the clinical outcomes of HBeAg-positive and -negative individuals （P = 0.24）. CONCLUSION： Genotype D has been recognized as the only type of HBV found in different clinical forms of HBV infections, including cirrhosis, among the residents of southwest Iran. Anti-HBe possibly plays a role in disease progression in some patients with chronic hepatitis, at least for a period of disease.     

Finding genetic contributions to sporadic disease: a recessive locus at 12q24 commonly contributes to patent ductus arteriosus

The causes of many sporadic diseases are unexplained; the contribution of recessive loci with reduced penetrance is one possibility that has been difficult to explore. We describe an approach to this problem by first searching for diseases with higher prevalence in populations with high rates of consanguinity, then determining whether disease cases are more commonly the product of consanguinous union than controls in such populations, followed by analysis of genetic linkage in consanguinous cases. We demonstrate the utility of this approach by investigation of congenital heart disease in Iran. We found that patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), a common congenital heart disease, accounts for a higher fraction of congenital heart disease in Iran (15%) than in the United States (2-7%). Moreover, Iranian PDA cases demonstrated a marked increase of parental consanguinity (63%), compared with the general Iranian population (25%) or control cases with tetralogy of Fallot (30%). The recurrence of PDA among siblings was 5%. A genomewide analysis of linkage in 21 unrelated consanguinous PDA cases demonstrated a multipoint logarithm of odds score of 6.27 in favor of linkage of PDA to a 3-centimorgan interval of chromosome 12q24, with 53% of kindreds linked. These findings together establish a recessive component to PDA and implicate a single locus, PDA1, in one third or more of all PDA cases in Iran; they further suggest a role for this locus in PDA worldwide. Finally, these results suggest a general approach to the identification of recessive contributions to sporadic diseases.