A ultra-pressure liquid chromatography/triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry method for the analysis of 13 eicosanoids in human urine and quantitative 24 hour values in healthy volunteers in a controlled constant diet.

RATIONALE: Isoprostanes (IsoPs) are a series of prostaglandin (PG)-like compounds formed non-enzymatically through free-radical-induced peroxidation of arachidonic acid. They are considered as 'gold-standard' biomarkers for oxidative stress, in general, and lipid peroxidation, in particular. METHODS: A new qualitative and quantitative analytical method for the determination of 13 eicosanoids in human urine using solid-phase extraction (SPE) and ultra-pressure liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC/MS/MS) has been developed. The SPE was optimized by comparison of the extraction efficiency and recoveries of three distinct cartridges: Strata X-AW, C18 Sep-Pak, and Oasis HLB. The UPLC/MS/MS approach in the multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode was developed using negative electrospray ionization (ESI). RESULTS: The validated method provides a high-throughput assay with an adequate linearity from 0.16 to 330 ng mL(-1). The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) for each analyte showed low intervals (0.021-0.64 ng mL(-1) and 0.042-1.28 ng mL(-1), respectively). Urinary IsoPs were determined in 24 healthy volunteers and ranged from 685 to 3480 ng 24 h(-1) and from 864 to 7511 ng 24 h(-1) in urine from women and men, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This analytical method could constitute a useful tool for the determination of oxidative stress biomarkers in clinical studies in which IsoPs may evidence early pathological conditions, as suggested by the determination of the baseline IsoPs content in human urine, since it improves upon the detection capacity of previously described methods. The quantity of IsoPs excreted in urine was higher than that found in previous reports due to the total hydrolysis of the conjugated forms.

Identification of PM sources by principal component analysis (PCA) coupled with wind direction data.

The effectiveness of combining principal component analysis (PCA) with multi-linear regression (MLRA) and wind direction data was demonstrated in this study. PM data from three grain-size fractions from a highly industrialised area in Northern Spain were analysed. Seven independent PM sources were identified by PCA: steel (Pb, Zn, Cd, Mn) and pigment (Cr, Mo, Ni) manufacture, road dust (Fe, Ba, Cd), traffic exhaust (P, OC + EC), regional-scale transport (, , V), crustal contributions (Al2O3, Sr, K) and sea spray (Na, Cl). The spatial distribution of the sources was obtained by coupling PCA with wind direction data, which helped identify regional drainage flows as the main source of crustal material. The same analysis showed that the contribution of motorway traffic to PM10 levels is 4-5 microg m-3 higher than that of local traffic. The coupling of PCA-MLRA with wind direction data proved thus to be useful in extracting further information on source contributions and locations. Correct identification and characterisation of PM sources is essential for the design and application of effective abatement strategies.

[Duodenal obstruction due to a biliary calculus (Bouveret's syndrome)]. / Obstrucción duodenal por cálculo biliar (síndrome de Bouveret).

We present a case of duodenal obstruction caused by biliary calculus (Bouveret's syndrome) an unusual cause of gallstone ileus. The clinical presentation simulated a pyloric stenosis, the gastrointestinal X-ray study being that which allowed us to establish diagnosis. Surgery was carried out only on the duodenal obstruction with successful results.

Metabolomics and the diagnosis of human diseases--a guide to the markers and pathophysiological pathways affected.

This review was designed as a handbook of metabolomic markers of high significance for a wide range of human diseases. This is the first report to collate results from recent studies in a format that allows ready identification of key metabolites by cross-comparisons of results from one disease to another. All the data presented in this work were obtained by previous research carried out exclusively during clinical trials in humans. Also, discussion of the pathophysiological pathways linked to the markers described is provided. The clinical assays focused on non-targeted or targeted metabolomics and metabolite profiling (focused assays which only refer to a limited array of known biomarkers, applying discriminatory and bioinformatic tools to them) as well as predictive modelling based on clinical trials. The data also highlight pathways and biological compounds that are disrupted at early stages of the diseases, in order to help elucidate target compounds and the pathophysiology of the considered diseases for early prognosis and diagnosis using noninvasive samples (saliva, sputum, serum, plasma, blood, urine, tissue, faecal water or faeces). In the tables, the candidate metabolites for biomarkers of diagnosis, or the biomarkers themselves, are detailed, indicating the type of sample in which they were detected and their up- or down-regulation (if calculated). The metabolites derived from each study have been filtered carefully, according to the analytical platform, and biostatistical discriminant analyses developed. Among the pool of data provided, those reaching a level of significance of p=0.05-0.0001, according to the Bonferroni correction, Steel-Dwass t- or Wilcoxon matched pair tests, are shown.

Non-targeted metabolomic approach reveals urinary metabolites linked to steroid biosynthesis pathway after ingestion of citrus juice.

Citrus juice intake has been highlighted because of its health-promoting effects. LC-MS based metabolomics approaches are applied to obtain a better knowledge on changes in the concentration of metabolites due to its dietary intake and allow a better understanding of involved metabolic pathways. Eight volunteers daily consumed 400 mL of juice for four consecutive days and urine samples were collected before intake and 24h after each citrus juice intake. Urine samples were analysed by nanoHPLC-q-TOF, followed by principal component analysis (PCA) and Student's t-test (p<0.05). PCA showed a separation between two groups (before and after citrus juice consumption). This approach allowed the identification of four endocrine compounds (tetrahydroaldosterone-3-glucuronide, cortolone-3-glucuronide, testosterone-glucuronide and 17-hydroxyprogesterone), which belonged to the steroid biosynthesis pathway as significant metabolites upregulated by citrus juice intake. Additionally, these results confirmed the importance of using the non-targeted metabolomics technique to identify new endogenous metabolites, up- or down-regulated as a consequence of food intake.

Soy isoflavones and cardiovascular disease epidemiological, clinical and -omics perspectives.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality rates are lower in Asian countries where dietary patterns are very different from Western diet. A number of studies have linked these lower rates to the inclusion of soy products as a staple food in those countries. Soy is the richest dietary source of isoflavones, a type of phytoestrogen associated with many potentially beneficial effects. Isoflavone-containing soy protein consumption has been linked to reduced levels of LDL cholesterol in hypercholesterolemic patients. This effect is increased with the concomitant administration of isoflavones, and seems to be also complemented by the isoflavone capacity to restore the endothelial function in patients with weak and moderated endothelial dysfunction. The effects are variable depending on individuals� � � metabolism and in particular to their ability to convert daidzein to equol that seems to be restricted to approximately 1/3 of the population. Equol production has been indeed linked to a decreased arterial stiffness and antiatherosclerotic effects via NO production. Because the relevance of isoflavones consumption on the modulation of cardiovascular risk still remains unclear, this paper aims to review the existing knowledge on the biological activity of the isoflavones on the human cardiovascular system from an epidemiological, clinical and -omics point of view.

[Workplace accidents in health-related personnel in the province of León]. / Accidentes de trabajo en personal relacionado con la sanidad en la provincia de León.

BACKGROUND: To get an initial knowledge about the morbidity by workplace accidents in health related personal (hospital and primary attention) in Leon province. METHODS: Retrospective study relative to workplace accidents with time off work result, in health related personal, in Leon province, for 1990. RESULTS: We have observed a rate of workplace accidents in health related personal (31, 4/1000) smaller than general workers in Leon province (63, 3/1000), Castilla y Leon community (44, 7/1000) and Spain (59, 8/1000). The rate in female population (37, 4/1000) was higher than the rate in men (21,7/1000). By jobs, the attendant an maintenance personal, had more accidents (rate of 118/1000). The most frequent mechanism was "fall" (38.2%). The most frequent lesion was "swerve" (38.2%). About the part of the body, the most injured were superior members (30.9%) and inferior members (30%), 93.7% of workplace accidents were qualified as slight accidents. CONCLUSIONS: The health related personal have a lower rate of accidents than general workers. The risk of workplace accident is directly related with job and place of work. The slight pathological result is most frequent.