Nature-Inspired Chemistry of Complex Alkaloids: Combining Targeted Molecular Networking Approach and Semisynthetic Strategy to Access Rare Communesins in a Marine-Derived Penicillium expansum.

Communesins are rare alkaloids isolated from fungi of the genus Penicillium. In this work, the extract of a marine-derived Penicillium expansum strain was studied using targeted molecular networking approach allowing to detect 65 communesins including 55 new ones. A fragmentation pattern for dimethylvinyl communesins was established and a script was implemented allowing to predict the structure and map all communesins in a global molecular network. A semisynthetic strategy was carried out to obtain some minor congeners from the two isolated communesins A and B. Nine communesins were then synthetised: two of them were already described as produced by the studied strain; four are new natural products which occurrence in the extracts was confirmed; three are new semi-synthetic analogues never described so far. These communesins were evaluated for their cytotoxicity on two human cancer cell lines KB and MCF-7 leading to a preliminary study of their structure-activity relationships.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of novel benzo[a]pyridazino[3,4-c]phenazine derivatives.

A convenient microwave-assisted one-pot four-component synthetic approach was developed en route to novel functionalized benzo[a]pyridazino[3,4-c]phenazine derivatives starting from 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone, aromatic aldehydes, methyl hydrazine and o-phenylenediamine. Nine new derivatives were successfully synthesized and subsequently evaluated in terms of their biological profiles. The results revealed good cytotoxic activities of compounds 6a, 6h against KB, HepG2, Lu1 and MCF7 human cancer cell lines. Besides that, compound 6d exhibited promising antimicrobial activities toward Staphylococcuc aureus and Bacillus subtilis bacterial strains with IC50 < 6 µM.

Synthesis of novel potent cytotoxicy podophyllotoxin-naphthoquinone compounds via microwave-assited multicomponent domino reactions.

A series of novel podophyllotoxin-naphthoquinone compounds 5a-p were synthesized in good yields using microwave-assisted four-component reactions of 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone, aromatic benzaldehydes, tetronic acid and ammonium acetate. All the synthesized compounds were fully characterized by spectral data and evaluated for their cytotoxicity activities against KB, HepG2, Lu1, MCF7, and non-cancerous Hek-293 cell lines. Among 16 new compounds screened, compounds 5a, 5d, 5h, and 5k displayed high potent inhibitory activities with IC50 < 40 nM against HepG2 and SK-Lu-1 cell lines, and showed lower toxicity for non-cancerous Hek-293 cell line, demonstrating the potential importance of these compounds in the development of potential anticancer agents.

Annotation and quantification of N-acyl homoserine lactones implied in bacterial quorum sensing by supercritical-fluid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry.

In recent years, use of supercritical-fluid chromatography (SFC) with CO2 as the mobile phase has been expanding in the research laboratory and industry since it is considered to be a green analytical method. This technique offers numerous advantages, such as good separation and sensitive detection, short analysis times, and stability of analytes. In this study, a method for quantification of N-acyl homoserine lactones (AHLs), signaling molecules responsible for cell-to-cell communication initially discovered in bacteria, by SFC coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) was developed. The SFC conditions and MS ionization settings were optimized to obtain the best separation and greatest sensitivity. The optimal analysis conditions allowed quantification of up to 30 AHLs in a single run within 16 min with excellent linearity (R2 > 0.998) and sensitivity (picogram level). This method was then applied to study AHL production by one Gram-negative endophytic bacterium, Paraburkholderia sp. BSNB-0670. Nineteen known AHLs were detected, and nine abundant HSLs were quantified. To further investigate the production of uncommon AHLs, a molecular networking approach was applied on the basis of the SFC-HRMS/MS data. This led to additional identification of four unknown AHLs annotated as N-3-hydroxydodecanoylol homoserine lactone, N-3-hydroxydodecadienoyl homoserine lactone, and N-3-oxododecenoyl homoserine lactones (two isomers).

Design, synthesis and evaluation of novel hybrids between 4-anilinoquinazolines and substituted triazoles as potent cytotoxic agents.

In this research several series of novel dioxygenated ring fused 4-anilinoquinazolines (10a-d) and 4-anilinoquinazoline-substituted triazole hybrid compounds (11-14) have been designed and synthesized. Their biological significance was highlighted by evaluating in vitro for anticancer activities, wherein several compounds displayed excellent activity specifically against three human cancer cell lines (KB, epidermoid carcinoma; HepG2, hepatoma carcinoma; SK-Lu-1, non-small lung cancer). Especially, compound 13a exhibited up to 100-fold higher cytotoxicity in comparison with erlotinib. Docking the most cytotoxic compounds (11d, 13a, 13b, and 14c) into the ATP binding site of different EGFR tyrosine kinase domains was perfomed to predict the analogous binding mode of these compounds to the EGFR targets.

Metabolomics-Driven Discovery of Meroterpenoids from a Mussel-Derived Penicillium ubiquetum.

Penicillium ubiquetum MMS330 isolated from the blue mussel Mytilus edulis collected on the Loire estuary in France was here investigated. As very few secondary metabolites have been documented for this species, its metabolome was studied following the OSMAC approach to enhance as many biosynthetic pathways as possible. Interestingly, HPLC-HRMS based hierarchical clustering analysis together with MS/MS molecular networking highlighted the selective overproduction of some structurally related compounds when the culture was performed on seawater CYA (Czapek Yeast extract Agar) medium. Mass-guided purification from large scale cultivation on this medium led to the isolation of nine meroterpenoids including two new analogues, 22-deoxyminiolutelide A (1) and 4-hydroxy-22-deoxyminiolutelide B (2), together with seven known compounds (3-9). The structures of 1 and 2 were elucidated on the basis of HR-ESIMS and NMR spectroscopic data analysis. Furthermore, NMR signals of 22-deoxyminiolutelide B (3) were reassigned.

Synthesis and cytotoxic evaluation of novel indenoisoquinoline-substituted triazole hybrids.

The synthesis of various substituted triazole-indenoisoquinoline hybrids was performed based on a CuI-catalyzed 1,3-cycloaddition between propargyl-substituted derivatives and the azide-containing indenoisoquinoline. Besides, a variety of N-(alkyl)propargylindenoisoquinolines was used as substrates for the construction of triazole-indenoisoquinoline-AZT conjugated via a click chemistry-mediated coupling with 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (AZT). Thus, twenty three new indenoisoquinoline-substituted triazole hybrids were successfully prepared and evaluated as cytotoxic agents, revealing an interesting anticancer activity of four triazole linker-indenoisoquinoline-AZT hybrids in KB and HepG2 cancer cell lines.

Synthesis of new simplified hemiasterlin derivatives with α,ß-unsaturated carbonyl moiety.

In this Letter, we report a convenient and efficient method for the synthesis of new simplified derivatives of hemiasterlin in which the α,α-dimethylbenzylic moiety A is replaced by α,ß-unsaturated aryl groups as Michael acceptor. Most of these derivatives have a strong cytotoxic activity on three human tumor cell lines (KB, Hep-G2 and MCF7). Analogs 17b and 17f showed a high cytotoxicity against KB and Hep-G2 cancer cell lines comparable to paclitaxel and ellipticine.

Effect of iodine species on biofortification of iodine in cabbage plants cultivated in hydroponic cultures.

Iodine is an essential trace element in the human diet because it is involved in the synthesis of thyroid hormones. Iodine deficiency affects over 2.2 billion people worldwide, making it a significant challenge to find plant-based sources of iodine that meet the recommended daily intake of this trace element. In this study, cabbage plants were cultivated in a hydroponic system containing iodine at concentrations ranging from 0.01 to 1.0 mg/L in the form of potassium iodide or potassium iodate. During the experiments, plant physiological parameters, biomass production, and concentration changes of iodine and selected microelements in different plant parts were investigated. In addition, the oxidation state of the accumulated iodine in root samples was determined. Results showed that iodine addition had no effect on photosynthetic efficiency and chlorophyll content. Iodide treatment did not considerably stimulate biomass production but iodate treatment increased it at concentrations less than 0.5 mg/L. Increasing iodine concentrations in the nutrient solutions increased iodine content in all plant parts; however, the iodide treatment was 2-7 times more efficient than the iodate treatment. It was concluded, that iodide addition was more favourable on the target element accumulation, however, it should be highlighted that application of this chemical form in nutrient solution decreased the concetrations of selected micoelement concentration comparing with the control plants. It was established that iodate was reduced to iodide during its uptake in cabbage roots, which means that independently from the oxidation number of iodine (+ 5, - 1) applied in the nutrient solutions, the reduced form of target element was transported to the aerial and edible tissues.

Predictive value of platelet-to-lymphocyte and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in HCC treated with sorafenib and radioembolization.

Background & Aims: Herein we used data derived from the SORAMIC trial to explore the predictive value of systemic inflammatory markers (neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio [NLR] and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio [PLR]) in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treated with sorafenib monotherapy or the combination of selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT)/sorafenib. Methods: Patients randomized to sorafenib monotherapy or SIRT/sorafenib within the per-protocol population of the SORAMIC trial were evaluated in this exploratory post hoc analysis. The median baseline values of NLR and PLR were used as cut-off values to describe subgroups. Kaplan-Meier curves with log-rank tests were used to evaluate median survival in the sorafenib and SIRT/sorafenib arms in each subgroup. Multivariable Cox regression analysis was applied to eliminate the effect of confounding factors. Results: A total of 275 patients with a median overall survival of 12.4 months were included in this analysis. The median NLR value of the cohort was 2.77 and the median PLR was 26.5. There was no significant difference in overall survival between the sorafenib and SIRT/sorafenib arms in patients with low NLR (p = 0.72) and PLR (p = 0.35) values. In patients with high NLR values, there was no statistically significant difference in median overall survival between SIRT/sorafenib and sorafenib cohorts (12.1 vs. 9.2 months, p = 0.21). In patients with high PLR values, overall survival in the SIRT/sorafenib arm was significantly longer than in the sorafenib arm (15.9 vs. 11.0 months, p = 0.029). This significant difference was preserved in the multivariable analysis (SIRT/sorafenib arm: hazard ratio 0.65, 95% CI 0.44-0.96, p = 0.03) incorporating age, Child-Pugh grade, and alpha-fetoprotein levels. Conclusions: PLR is a potential predictive factor of benefit from additional SIRT in patients with HCC receiving sorafenib therapy. The potential predictive value of PLR should be further evaluated in future trials. Impact and implications: Systemic therapies are the mainstay of treatment in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma at advanced stages. However, not all patients respond well to these treatments. In our analysis, using blood test parameters showing systemic inflammation status, we were able to identify patients who would benefit more from combined treatment with a locoregional treatment of radioembolization (or selective internal radiation therapy).

A compact metasurface-based circularly polarized antenna with high gain and high front-to-back ratio for RFID readers.

Developing a compact circularly polarized (CP) antenna with good radiation characteristics for handheld radio frequency identification (RFID) readers is a very challenging task. Many compact CP antennas have been reported in the open literature, but most suffer from critical drawbacks of low gain and/or high back radiation. This paper presents a metasurface (MS) based CP antenna with compact size, high gain, and high front-to-back ratio characteristics. The compact size of the proposed design is achieved by using a 2 × 2 unit-cell MS, while the CP realization is accomplished through a coupling between the MS and a Y-shaped patch as a primary CP source. The final antenna has compact overall dimensions of 0.45λ × 0.45λ × 0.02λ, where λ is the guided wavelength at the center frequency. The operating bandwidth is about 2.0% (2.43-2.48 GHz) and the broadside gain is about 6.3 dBi. Besides, the front-to-back ratio (FBR) defined by the difference gain levels between the forward and backward directions is about 18 dB. Compared with the related compact CP antennas in the literature, the proposed design has the advantages of high gain and high FBR, making it suitable for compact RFID readers.

Determinants of health-related quality of life among patients with systemic lupus erythematosus in Hanoi, Vietnam.

BACKGROUND: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease which impacts patients' lives. Many studies in high-income countries have focused on their health-related quality of life (HRQoL). However, evidence of awareness of SLE and HRQoL in low- and middle-income countries is lacking. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the determinants of HRQoL of SLE patients in Vietnam, a lower-middle income country. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the National Hospital of Dermatology and Venereology in 2019. A pre-tested structured questionnaire was used to collect data. It consisted of Short Form-36 to assess HRQoL which comprised physical and mental component summaries, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, Satisfaction with Life Scale, and Mental Adjustment to SLE. Multiple linear regression was used to identify the determinants of HRQoL. RESULTS: One hundred thirty four patients with SLE participated in this study. The majority of the patients were women (n = 126, 94.0%). The mean age of all participants was 37.9 years old (standard deviation [SD] 12.5). Of 134 participants, 104 (77.6%) were married. Older patients were more likely to have a lower score of mental component summary (B=-0.45, 95% CI -0.73, -0.17). Patients with more children were more likely to have a lower score of physical component summary (B=-5.14, 95% CI -9.27, -1.00). Patients who felt more helplessness or hopelessness were more likely to have lower scores of physical and mental component summaries (B=-1.85, 95% CI -2.80, -0.90; B=-1.69, 95% CI -2.57, -0.81). Also, patients who felt more anxious were more likely to have a lower score of mental component summary (B=-1.04, 95% CI -1.77, -0.32). Patients who were more satisfied with their lives were more likely to have higher scores of physical and mental component summaries (B = 1.07, 95% CI 0.50, 1.64; B = 1.08, 95% CI 0.55, 1.61). CONCLUSION: Factors associated with lower HRQoL in Vietnam were feelings of helplessness or hopelessness, and burdens of parenting roles. However, social support can contribute to a higher HRQoL, such as information support, self-support groups, and daycare services provided at the community level.

Prognostic value of baseline MRI features in patients treated with thermal ablation for hepatocellular carcinoma.

PURPOSE: To investigate prognostic value of baseline MRI features for time-to-recurrence (TTR) and local recurrence in patients with early hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHOD: Baseline and follow-up images of 88 patients treated with thermal ablation followed by adjuvant sorafenib or matching placebo due to HCC within the phase II prospective randomized trial (SORAMIC) were included. Baseline MRI images were evaluated in terms of atypical enhancement (lack of wash-in or wash-out), lesion diameter, tumor capsule, peritumoral enhancement on arterial phase, intratumoral fat, irregular margin, satellite lesions, and peritumoral hypointensity on hepatobiliary phase. Prognostic value of these features for TTR and local recurrence were assessed with univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazard models. RESULTS: Recurrence at any location was diagnosed during follow-up in 30 patients, and the median TTR was 16.4 (95% CI, 15 - NA) months. The presence of more than one lesion (p = 0.028) and peritumoral hypointensity on hepatobiliary phase images (p = 0.012) at baseline were significantly associated with shorter TTR in univariable analysis. AFP > 15 mg/dL (p = 0.084), and history of cirrhosis (p = 0.099) were marginally non-significant. Peritumoral hypointensity on hepatobiliary phase images was the only significant risk factor for recurrence in multivariable analysis (p = 0.003). Local recurrence (adjacent to thermal scar) was diagnosed in eleven (8.3%) out of 132 lesions that underwent thermal ablation. The only significant risk factor for local recurrence was a lesion diameter larger than 3 cm (22.2% vs. 4.5%, p = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS: Peritumoral hypointensity on hepatobiliary phase can serve as imaging biomarker to identify increased recurrence risk in patients undergoing thermal ablation for early-stage HCC.

Imaging-Derived Biomarkers Integrated with Clinical and Laboratory Values Predict Recurrence of Hepatocellular Carcinoma After Liver Transplantation.

Purpose: To investigate the prognostic value of computed tomography (CT) derived imaging biomarkers in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence after liver transplantation (LT) and develop a predictive nomogram model. Patients and Methods: This retrospective study included 178 patients with histopathologically confirmed HCC who underwent liver transplantation between 2007 and 2021 at the two academic liver centers. We evaluated dedicated imaging features from baseline multiphase contrast-enhanced CT supplemented by several clinical findings and laboratory parameters. Time-to-recurrence was estimated by Kaplan-Meier analysis. Univariable Cox proportional hazard regression and multivariable Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) regression were used to assess independent prognostic factors for recurrence. A nomogram model was then built based on the independent factors selected through LASSO regression, to predict the probabilities of HCC recurrence at one, three, and five years. Results: The rate of HCC recurrence after LT was 17.4% (31 of 178). The LASSO analysis revealed six independent predictors associated with an elevated risk of tumor recurrence. These predictors included the presence of peritumoral enhancement, the presence of over three tumor lesions, the largest tumor diameter greater than 3 cm, serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels exceeding 400 ng/mL, and the presence of a tumor capsule. Conversely, a history of bridging therapies was found to be correlated with a reduced risk of HCC recurrence. In addition, Kaplan-Meier curves showed patients with irregular margin, satellite nodules, or small lesions displayed shorter time-to-recurrence. Our nomogram demonstrated good performance, yielding a C-index of 0.835 and AUC values of 0.86, 0.88, and 0.85 for the predictions of 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year TTR, respectively. Conclusion: Imaging parameters derived from baseline contrast-enhanced CT showing malignant behavior and aggressive growth patterns, along with serum AFP and history of bridging therapies, show potential as biomarkers for predicting HCC recurrence after transplantation.

Outcome of Children with Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt: A Meta-Analysis of Individual Patient Data.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to investigate outcome after pediatric transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) with respect to survival MATERIAL AND METHODS: After searching for studies on TIPS in children in Ovid, Medline, Embase, Scopus and Cochrane published between 2000 and 2022, individual patient data were retrieved from five retrospective cohorts. Overall survival (OS) and transplant-free survival (TFS) were calculated using Kaplan-Meier analysis and log-rank test and compared to the indication (ascites vs. variceal bleeding) as well as to the level of obstruction (pre-hepatic vs. hepatic vs. post-hepatic). Additionally, TIPS patency was analyzed. RESULTS: n = 135 pediatric patients were included in the final analysis. Indication for pediatric TIPS creation was heterogeneous among the included studies. TIPS patency decreased from 6 to 24 months, subsequent pediatric liver transplantation was performed in 22/135 (16.3%) of cases. The presence of ascites was related with poorer TFS (HR 2.3, p = 0.023), while variceal bleeding was not associated with impaired survival. Analysis of the level of obstruction (pre-hepatic, hepatic and post-hepatic) failed to prove significantly reduced OS for post-hepatic obstruction (HR 3.2, p = 0.092) and TFS (HR 1.3, p = 0.057). There was no difference in OS and TFS according to age at time of TIPS placement. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of ascites associates with impaired survival after TIPS in children, with no differences in survival according to the age of the child. Interventional shunt procedures can be considered feasible for all ages. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 2a.

Anti-arthritic activity and phytochemical composition of "Cao Khai" (Aqueous extracts of Coptosapelta flavescens Korth.).

For a long time, ethnic minorities in Ninh Thuan province have combined "Day Khai" (Coptosapelta flavescens Korth) with many other medicinal herbs, creating an esoteric remedy called "Cao Khai"-an aqueous extract from Day Khai. This study tested an aqueous extract from "Day Khai" for total phenolics, total flavonoids, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activity in an in vivo mice model. The aqueous extracts of raw materials C. flavescens collected in different regions were found to have phenolics, flavonoids, and antioxidant capacity in vitro according to DPPH, ABTS, RP, TAC, and FRAP methods. This study evaluated the effect of C. flavescens on arthritis of Complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) induced-mice by observing changes in the degree of edema in the leg joints blood index and histology. The findings indicated that the "Cao Khai" had anti-inflammatory benefits and lowered the inflammatory symptoms in mice equivalent to Mobic medications (p < 0.05) while also limiting cartilage tissue damage after 14 days of usage. As a result, it is clear that "Cao Khai" can be considered a medicinal herb with tremendous potential for usage as an addition to illness therapy that should be protected and cultivated.

Diagnosis and Risk Factors for Delirium in Elderly Patients in the Emergency Rooms and Intensive Care Unit of the National Geriatric Hospital Emergency Department: A Cross-Sectional Observational Study.

PURPOSE: To diagnose delirium and identify risk factors for its development in elderly patients in the emergency department (ED) and intensive care units (ICU) at the National Geriatric Hospital (Vietnam). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted with a convenience sample of non-surgical patients admitted to ED and ICU at Hanoi National Geriatric Hospital in Vietnam. In total, 163 patients met the selection criteria and were included in the study. Screening involved using the Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) and the Confusion Assessment Method for the Intensive Care Unit (CAM-ICU). The diagnosis was established according to the DSM-5 and ICD-10 codes. RESULTS: Delirium was found in a total of 106 (63.1%) patients. The factors significantly affecting its development were vision impairment (OR, 3.3; 95% CI, 1.5 to 7.4, P=0.003), hearing impairment (OR, 3.6; 95% CI, 1.77 to 7.36, P=0.0001), acute or chronic kidney failure (OR, 7.1; 95% CI, 2.05 to 6.39, P<0.001), respiratory disorders (OR, 2.7; 95% CI, 1.4 to 5.2, P=0.004), and malnutrition (OR, 9.17; 95% CI, 3.43-24.5, P=0.0001). The list also include the fall risk factors (OR, 12.2; 95% CI, 4.1-36.3, P=0.0001), frailty (OR, 8.35; 95% CI, 3.4-20.6, P=0.0001), activities of daily living (OR, 8.35; 95% CI, 3.4-20.6, P=0.0001), hyponatremia (OR, 2.48; 95% CI, 1.07 to 5.75, P=0.001), hypernatremia (OR, 13.1; 95% CI, 1.67 to 2.5, P=0.001), and treatment interventions. In addition, delirium was linked to the duration of ICU admission (OR, 6.53; 95% CI, 4.5-25.5, P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: The CAM/CAM-ICU diagnostic algorithm makes it possible to diagnose delirium successfully. The present study confirmed the role of several premorbid and triggering factors in the occurrence of delirium in elderly patients in ED and ICU. There is a need for further research into risk factors for delirium in elderly patients.

Topical Antiseptic Formulations for Skin and Soft Tissue Infections.

Skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) are usually acute conditions of inflammatory microbial occupation of the skin layers and underlying soft tissues. SSTIs are one of the most frequent types of infection, typically requiring medical intervention and contribute to morbidity and mortality in both primary care and hospitalised patients. Due to the dramatic rise of antibiotic resistance, antiseptic agents can be potential alternatives for the prevention and treatment of SSTIs. Notably, they are commonly recommended in many global practical guidelines for use in per- and post- operative procedures. A range of antiseptics, including chlorhexidine, triclosan, alcohol, and povidone-iodine, are used and are mainly formulated as traditional, simple dosage forms such as solutions and semi-solids. However, in recent years, there have been studies reporting the potential for nanotechnology in the delivery of antiseptics. In this review, we have collated the scientific literature that focuses on topical antiseptic formulations for prevention and treatment of SSTIs, and have divided findings into traditional and advanced formulations. We conclude that although nanotechnological formulations have demonstrated potential advantages for delivering drugs; nevertheless, there is still scope for traditional formulations and further development of optimised topical formulations to address the rise of antimicrobial resistance.

A rapid and sensitive method for characterization and quantification of polyglycerol esters by supercritical fluid chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry (SFC-HRMS).

Polyglycerol esters of fatty acids (PGEs), a very complex mixture of various isomers, are widely used as green surfactants in different industrial fields such as in cosmetic, pharmaceutic and food industries. However, no study related to the purification and the absolute quantification of these compounds has been described yet. In this study, we developed a rapid and efficient method for characterization and quantification of PGEs using Supercritical Fluid CO2 coupled to High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry (SFC-HRMS). The SFC conditions were first considered including the stationary phase, the nature of mobile phase, the column temperature, the back-pressure regulator. The MS parameters (drying-gas temperature, capillary voltage, nozzle voltage, fragmentor voltage) were then investigated to get the best sensitivity for the PGE analysis. The MS/MS-based structural characterization of targeted PGE, triglycerol mono-oleate (PG3+1C18:1), was established and is helpful to study complex mixtures of PGEs with numerous isobaric PGEs. PG3+1C18:1 was then purified at lab scale and used as standard for quantification. This enabled to develop a rapid quantification method for PG3+1C18:1 within 12 min with good linearity (R2 = 0.9997) as well as sensitivity (picogram level). The validated method was then successfully applied to quantify PG3+1C18:1 in commercial products in order to evaluate their composition.

Depression among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: Evidence from the Northeast region of Vietnam.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Herein, we aim to examine the prevalence of depression in type 2 diabetic patients at a provincial general hospital located in the Northeast region of Vietnam and to explore its relationship with some sociodemographic, lifestyle and medical history characteristics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a single-centre cross-sectional descriptive study. The patients of both sexes who were at the age of 18 years or above, were treated at our institution and were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus, previously or during the study period. A total of 220 patients were included in the study. RESULTS: Depression prevalence was 32.27% according to ICD-10. The severity of depression was categorized as mild in 77.46% patients, moderate in 19.72% patients and severe in 2.82% patients. The odds of depression was 0.18 (95%CI 0.05-0.69, p = 0.012) less for those known as the upper social class compared with those in lower social class. Those who were not on insulin treatment had significantly higher odds of depression than those on treatment with insulin (OR 2.06, 95%CI: 1.01-4.21). Individuals on treatment without oral diabetes drugs had higher odd of depression compared to those being treated with oral diabetes drugs (OR 2.77, 95%CI: 1.14-6.73). Also, hypertension was an increasing contributor to the depression prevalence (OR 2.32, 95%CI: 1.10-4.90). CONCLUSIONS: A high prevalence of depression among type 2 diabetic patients was documented. Only significant factors for depression were lower social class, co-morbid hypertension and none of the insulin treatment or oral diabetes drugs.