Skin Antisepsis before Surgical Fixation of Extremity Fractures.

BACKGROUND: Studies evaluating surgical-site infection have had conflicting results with respect to the use of alcohol solutions containing iodine povacrylex or chlorhexidine gluconate as skin antisepsis before surgery to repair a fractured limb (i.e., an extremity fracture). METHODS: In a cluster-randomized, crossover trial at 25 hospitals in the United States and Canada, we randomly assigned hospitals to use a solution of 0.7% iodine povacrylex in 74% isopropyl alcohol (iodine group) or 2% chlorhexidine gluconate in 70% isopropyl alcohol (chlorhexidine group) as preoperative antisepsis for surgical procedures to repair extremity fractures. Every 2 months, the hospitals alternated interventions. Separate populations of patients with either open or closed fractures were enrolled and included in the analysis. The primary outcome was surgical-site infection, which included superficial incisional infection within 30 days or deep incisional or organ-space infection within 90 days. The secondary outcome was unplanned reoperation for fracture-healing complications. RESULTS: A total of 6785 patients with a closed fracture and 1700 patients with an open fracture were included in the trial. In the closed-fracture population, surgical-site infection occurred in 77 patients (2.4%) in the iodine group and in 108 patients (3.3%) in the chlorhexidine group (odds ratio, 0.74; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.55 to 1.00; P = 0.049). In the open-fracture population, surgical-site infection occurred in 54 patients (6.5%) in the iodine group and in 60 patients (7.3%) in the chlorhexidine group (odd ratio, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.58 to 1.27; P = 0.45). The frequencies of unplanned reoperation, 1-year outcomes, and serious adverse events were similar in the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with closed extremity fractures, skin antisepsis with iodine povacrylex in alcohol resulted in fewer surgical-site infections than antisepsis with chlorhexidine gluconate in alcohol. In patients with open fractures, the results were similar in the two groups. (Funded by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research; PREPARE ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT03523962.).

Solvent effect on the detection of peptides and proteins by nanoelectrospray ionization mass spectrometry: Anomalous behavior of aqueous 2-propanol.

To investigate the solvent effect on the detection of peptides and proteins, nanoelectrospray mass spectra were measured for mixtures of 1 % acetic acid and 5 × 10-6 M gramicidin S (G), ubiquitin (U), and cytochrome c (C) in water (W), methanol (MeOH), 1-propanol (1-PrOH), acetonitrile (AcN), and 2-propanol (2-PrOH). Although doubly protonated G (G2+) and multiply protonated U (Un+) and C (Cn+) were readily detected with a wide range of mixing ratios of W solutions for MeOH, 1-PrOH, and AcN, Cn+ was totally suppressed for the solutions with mixing ratios (v/v) of W/2-PrOH (50/50) and (70/30). However, denatured Cn+ started to be detected with W/2-PrOH (90/10) together with Gn+ (n = 1, 2) and native Un+ (n = 6-8). At the mixing ratio of W/2-PrOH (95/5), native Cn+ (n = 7-10) together with Gn+ (n = 1, 2) and native Un+ (n = 6-8) were detected with high ion intensities. The use of W/2-PrOH (95/5) is profitable because it enables the detection of native proteins with high detection sensitivities.

Efficient heterogeneous synthesis of nucleophilic carboxymethyl hydrazides of polysaccharides.

Nucleophilic moieties in polysaccharides (PS) with distinct higher reactivity compared with the hydroxy group are interesting for sustainable applications in chemistry, medicine, and pharmacy. An efficient heterogeneous method for the formation of such nucleophilic PS is described. Employing alcohols as slurry medium, protonated carboxymethyl (CM) PS and hydrazine hydrate are allowed to react at elevated temperatures. The CM derivatives of starch and pullulan can be transformed almost quantitatively to the corresponding hydrazides. The reaction is less efficient for CM dextrans and CM xylans. As slurry media, 2-propanol and ethanol were probed, and the results are compared with a homogeneous procedure performed in water. Overall, the heterogeneous procedure is superior compared with the homogeneous route. 2-Propanol is the best slurry medium investigated yielding PS hydrazides with the highest nitrogen content.

Prostate biopsy sepsis prevention: external validation of an alcohol needle washing protocol.

PURPOSE: Transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy (TRUS-Bx) is associated with a 1-8% risk of post-biopsy sepsis (PBS). A recent study described an isopropyl alcohol needle washing protocol that significantly decreased PBS rates. The current study examined the efficacy of this technique in our clinic population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data were reviewed for 1250 consecutive patients undergoing TRUS-Bx at the Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center from January 2017 to January 2023. Needle washing was adopted in February 2021. Complications occurring within 30 days after TRUS-Bx were recorded. RESULTS: There were 912 patients in group 1 (without needle washing) and 338 in group 2 (with needle washing). Groups had equivalent demographic features, and men of African descent comprised 70% of patients. Standard 12 core biopsies were done in 83% and 82% in groups 1 and 2, respectively (p = 0.788). Total complication rates were 4% and 2% in groups 1 and 2, respectively (p = 0.077). There were 13 sepsis events in group 1 (1.4%) and none in group 2 (p = 0.027). Clavien-Dindo Grade I-III complications occurred in 25 (2.7%) and 7 (2.1%) patients in groups 1 and 2, respectively (p = 0.505). Standard antibiotic prophylaxis (PO fluoroquinolone and IM gentamicin) was given in 80% and 86% of patients in groups 1 and 2, respectively (p = 0.030). Subset analysis limited to patients who received standard prophylaxis showed a significant difference in sepsis rates (1.5% vs 0%; p = 0.036). CONCLUSIONS: Adoption of isopropyl alcohol needle washing was associated with a significant decrease in PBS events.

Cleaning protocols in forensic genetic laboratories.

It is pivotal to avoid cross-sample contamination in forensic genetic laboratories and optimal cleaning protocols for the removal of DNA are essential. A survey was performed, and ten forensic genetic laboratories shared their cleaning protocols in pre-PCR and post-PCR laboratories. The cleaning frequencies on different surface areas were somewhat similar, whereas none of the laboratories used the same cleaning reagents. Therefore, the efficiencies of the cleaning protocol utilised were tested and compared. The results showed that freshly made household bleach and Virkon® removed all amplifiable DNA from the surfaces, whereas DNA AWAY™ and the disinfection reagents ethanol, isopropanol, and ChemGene HLD4L did not.

IgG glycopeptide enrichment using hydrophilic interaction chromatography-based solid-phase extraction on an aminopropyl column.

The sample preparation step is pivotal in glycoproteomic analysis. An effective approach in glycoprotein sample preparation involves enriching glycopeptides by solid-phase extraction (SPE) using polar stationary phases in hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) mode. The aim of this work is to show how different experimental conditions influence the enrichment efficiency of glycopeptides from human immunoglobulin G (IgG) on an aminopropyl-modified SPE column. Different compositions of the elution solvent (acetonitrile, methanol, and isopropanol), along with varying concentrations of elution solvent acidifiers (formic and acetic acid), and different concentrations of acetonitrile for the conditioning and washing solvents (65%, 75%, and 85% acetonitrile) were tested to observe their effects on the glycopeptide enrichment process. Isopropanol proved less effective in enriching glycopeptides, while acetonitrile was the most efficient, with methanol in between. Higher formic acid concentrations in the elution solvent weakened the ionic interactions, particularly with sialylated glycopeptides. Substituting formic acid with acetic acid led to earlier elution of more glycopeptides. The acetonitrile concentration in conditioning and washing solutions played a key role; at 65% acetonitrile, glycopeptides were not retained on the SPE column and were detected in the flow-through fraction. Ultimately, it was proven that the enrichment method was applicable to human plasma samples, resulting in a significant decrease in the abundances of non-glycosylated peptides. To the best of our knowledge, this study represents the first systematic investigation into the impact of the mobile phase on glycopeptide enrichment using an aminopropyl-modified SPE column in HILIC mode. This study demonstrates the substantial impact of even minor variations in experimental conditions, which have not yet been considered in the literature, on SPE-HILIC glycopeptide enrichment. Consequently, meticulous optimization of these conditions is imperative to enhance the specificity and selectivity of glycoproteomic analysis, ensuring accurate and reliable quantification.

In situ and in vitro evaluation of two antiseptics for blood bank based on chlorhexidine gluconate/isopropyl alcohol and povidone-iodine.

BACKGROUND: Poor disinfection is the main cause of blood contamination, so its elimination is key to limiting the entry of bacteria into the collection system. With the advancement of antiseptic technology, antiseptics with sterile, disposable applicators are now available. AIM: To evaluate in situ two antiseptics (with and without applicators) for blood banks and to demonstrate in vitro antiseptic activity on bacterial biofilms of importance in transfusion medicine. METHODS: Antiseptic A (2% sterile solution of chlorhexidine gluconate/70% isopropyl alcohol provided with applicator) and bulk antiseptic B (10% povidone-iodine) were evaluated. The deferred blood donor arms were subjected to disinfection with antiseptics A and B and the contralateral arms were cultured to determine the baseline bacterial load (control). Antiseptic activity was assessed by ANOVA and logaritmic reduction values (LRV) and percentage reduction values (PRV) were calculated. Finally, the in vitro activity of antiseptic A was analyzed by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) on biofilm models. RESULTS: Prior to disinfection tests, commensal and clinically important bacteria were identified; antiseptic A showed post-disinfection bacterial growth rates of zero compared to controls (p < 0.0001). The frequency of bacterial growth with antiseptic B was 74%. A significant difference was identified between both antiseptics, where antiseptic A showed higher activity (p < 0.5468). LRV and PRV were 0.6-2.5/100% and 0.3-1.7/66.7-99.7% for antiseptics A and B, respectively. Through CLSM, disinfectant A (without applicator) showed lower in vitro antiseptic activity on the tested biofilms at the exposure times recommended by the manufacturer. CONCLUSIONS: Sterile solution of chlorhexidine gluconate/isopropyl alcohol with applicator showed advantages disinfection in deferred blood donors over povidone-iodine.

A Novel and Simple Method for a Differentiation of Alcohol Types.

BACKGROUND: Alcohol poisoning is a significant global problem that has become an epidemic. The determination of the alcohol type is hereby essential as it may affect the course of the treatment; however, there is no routine laboratory diagnostic method for alcohol types other than for ethanol. In this study, we aimed to define a simple method for alcohol type differentiation by utilizing a combination of breathalyzer and spectrophotometrically measured serum ethanol results. METHODS: A breathalyzer and spectrophotometry were used to measure four different types of alcohol: ethanol, isopropanol, methanol, and ethylene glycol. To conduct serum alcohol analysis, four serum pools were created, each containing a different type of alcohol. The pools were analyzed using the spectrophotometric method with an enzymatic ethanol test kit. An experiment was conducted to measure the different types of alcohol using impreg-nated cotton and a balloon, simulating a breathalyzer test. An algorithm was created based on the measurements. RESULTS: Based on the results, the substance consumed could be methanol or isopropanol if the breathalyzer test indicates a positive reading and if the blood ethanol measurement is negative. If both the breathalyzer and the blood measurements are negative, the substance in question may be ethylene glycol. CONCLUSIONS: This simple method may determine methanol or isopropanol intake. This straightforward and innovative approach could assist healthcare professionals in different fields with diagnosing alcohol intoxication and, more precisely, help reducing related morbidity and mortality.

Numerical analysis and early detection of Plasmodium falciparum using a high performance plasmonic biosensor with an external sensing approach.

The authors propose a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor based on photonic crystal fibers (PCFs) using three hexagonal ring lattices. The sensor can detect biomolecules with maximum wavelength and amplitude sensitivities of 23,000 nm/RIU and 1310.93R I U -1, respectively, in the RI range of 1.32 to 1.42. It can detect infected red blood cells with Plasmodium falciparum for RIs of 1.402, 1.373, 1.395, and 1.383 in various malaria-infected red blood cell stages, including ring phase, trophozoite phase, and schizont phase. Furthermore, the sensor will be able to detect biomolecules such as viruses, proteins, DNA/RNA strands, acetone, ethanol, hexane, isopropanol, hexanol, formic acid, allyl cyanide, and others in its range. With these impressive results and identification capacity, the proposed sensor would benefit the biomaterial field and be appropriate for the early identification of malaria disease.

A comparative study on the effect of alcohol-based hand sanitizers in spray and gel formulation on the skin: A prospective, randomised, crossover trial.

BACKGROUND: Many formulations of Alcohol-based hand rubs (ABHRs), such as liquid, gel, and spray have been developed and used for preventing infections. This study aimed to compare skin irritation from using ABHRs in gel and spray formulations. METHOD: This was a prospective, randomised, crossover trial conducted to investigate the effect of skin irritation caused by ABHRs in gel compared to spray formulation after 21 days of using each formulation. Clinical outcomes were assessed using subjective Larson's skin assessment score and Frosch and Kligman observer skin assessment score, as well as bioengineering measures: transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and skin capacitance on days 3, 7, 14, and 21. RESULTS: Among 38 participants, both formulations showed no significant change in clinical scores and skin capacitance during the study. However, TEWL increased significantly from baseline on day 3 (p = 0.029) for the spray formulation and on day 21 (p = 0.019) for the gel formulation, with no statistically significant difference between the formulations (p = 0.46). CONCLUSION: Our research supports the safety of gel and spray ABHRs for regular use, with the only potential issue being mild skin irritation. For those with sensitive skin, the gel formulation is preferable.

Prevalent occupational exposures and risk of lung cancer among women: Results from the application of the Canadian Job-Exposure Matrix (CANJEM) to a combined set of ten case-control studies.

BACKGROUND: Worldwide, lung cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women. The present study explored associations between occupational exposures that are prevalent among women, and lung cancer. METHODS: Data from 10 case-control studies of lung cancer from Europe, Canada, and New Zealand conducted between 1988 and 2008 were combined. Lifetime occupational history and information on nonoccupational factors including smoking were available for 3040 incident lung cancer cases and 4187 controls. We linked each reported job to the Canadian Job-Exposure Matrix (CANJEM), which provided estimates of probability, intensity, and frequency of exposure to each selected agent in each job. For this analysis, we selected 15 agents (cleaning agents, biocides, cotton dust, synthetic fibers, formaldehyde, cooking fumes, organic solvents, cellulose, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from petroleum, ammonia, metallic dust, alkanes C18+, iron compounds, isopropanol, and calcium carbonate) that had lifetime exposure prevalence of at least 5% in the combined study population. For each agent, we estimated lung cancer risk in each study center for ever-exposure, by duration of exposure, and by cumulative exposure, using separate logistic regression models adjusted for smoking and other covariates. We then estimated the meta-odds ratios using random-effects meta-analysis. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: None of the agents assessed showed consistent and compelling associations with lung cancer among women. The following agents showed elevated odds ratio in some analyses: metallic dust, iron compounds, isopropanol, and organic solvents. Future research into occupational lung cancer risk factors among women should prioritize these agents.

Neurologic Complications in Critically Ill Patients with Toxic Alcohol Poisoning: A Multicenter Population-Based Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Toxic alcohol poisoning is regularly encountered in emergency departments and intensive care units (ICUs). Most patients present with an altered level of consciousness, but the subsequent course and spectrum of neurologic complications and outcomes is highly variable. METHODS: We performed a population-based, multicenter retrospective cohort study of critically ill patients with toxic alcohol poisoning admitted to ICUs in Alberta, Canada, between 2007 and 2019 to describe neurologic sequelae, including seizures, coma, neuroimaging abnormalities, persistent cognitive or visual impairment, and mortality. Multivariate analysis was performed to identify predictors of poor outcome. RESULTS: We identified 104 patients, including 55 (53%) with methanol ingestion, 36 (35%) with ethylene glycol ingestion, and 13 (13%) with isopropanol ingestion. In patients who underwent neuroimaging, abnormalities were detected in 9 of 24 (38%) with methanol toxicity, 5 of 20 (25%) with ethylene glycol toxicity, and 0 of 10 with isopropanol toxicity (p = 0.07). Basal ganglia were commonly involved with both methanol and ethylene glycol poisoning, but prominent subcortical involvement and restricted diffusion were observed only with methanol poisoning. The composite of death, persistent cognitive impairment, or visual loss occurred in 13 (24%) patients with methanol poisoning, compared with one (3%) with ethylene glycol poisoning and none with isopropanol poisoning (p = 0.006). Among patients with methanol toxicity, greater elevation of the anion gap and lower Glasgow Coma Scale score were independent predictors of poor outcome. No patient with an anion gap ≥ 28 at presentation had a favorable recovery. Progression to death by neurologic criteria occurred in 3 of 55 (5%) patients with methanol poisoning and in none with other toxic alcohols. CONCLUSIONS: Methanol overdose is the most common form of toxic alcohol poisoning to result in ICU admission. Poor neurologic outcomes may occur especially with methanol poisoning, with more than one in five patients dying or having persistent cognitive or visual impairment. A wide anion gap independently predicts poor outcome, emphasizing the importance of expeditious recognition and treatment.

Dielectric Response of Different Alcohols in Water-Rich Binary Mixtures from THz Ellipsometry.

We report a study on the hydrogen bonding mechanisms of three aliphatic alcohols (2-propanol, methanol, and ethanol) and one diol (ethylene glycol) in water solution using a time-domain ellipsometer in the THz region. The dielectric response of the pure liquids is nicely modeled by the generalized Debye-Lorentz equation. For binary mixtures, we analyze the data using a modified effective Debye model, which considers H-bond rupture and reformation dynamics and the motion of the alkyl chains and of the OH groups. We focus on the properties of the water-rich region, finding anomalous behavior in the absorption properties at very low solute molar concentrations. These results, first observed in the THz region, are in line with previous findings from different experiments and can be explained by taking into account the amphiphilic nature of the alcohol molecules.

Pervaporation Dehydration Mechanism and Performance of High-Aluminum ZSM-5 Zeolite Membranes for Organic Solvents.

Membrane-based pervaporation (PV) for organic solvent dehydration is of great significance in the chemical and petrochemical industries. In this work, high-aluminum ZSM-5 zeolite membranes were synthesized by a fluoride-assisted secondary growth on α-alumina tubular supports using mordenite framework inverted (MFI) nanoseeds (~110 nm) and a template-free synthesis solution with a low Si/Al ratio of 10. Characterization by XRD, EDX, and SEM revealed that the prepared membrane was a pure-phase ZSM-5 zeolite membrane with a Si/Al ratio of 3.8 and a thickness of 2.8 µm. Subsequently, two categories of PV performance parameters (i.e., flux versus separation factor and permeance versus selectivity) were used to systematically examine the effects of operating conditions on the PV dehydration performance of different organic solvents (methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, and isopropanol), and their PV mechanisms were explored. Employing permeance and selectivity effectively disentangles the influence of operating conditions on PV performance, thereby elucidating the inherent contribution of membranes to separation performance. The results show that the mass transfer during PV dehydration of organic solvents was mainly dominated by the adsorption-diffusion mechanism. Furthermore, the diffusion of highly polar water and methanol molecules within membrane pores had a strong mutual slowing-down effect, resulting in significantly lower permeance than other binary systems. However, the mass transfer process for water/low-polar organic solvent (ethanol, n-propanol, and isopropanol) mixtures was mainly controlled by competitive adsorption caused by affinity differences. In addition, the high-aluminum ZSM-5 zeolite membrane exhibited superior PV dehydration performance for water/isopropanol mixtures.

Evaluation of stability of (1R,2 S)-(-)-2-methylamino-1-phenyl-1-propanol hydrochloride in plasma and urine samples-inoculated with Escherichia coli using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).

The preservation of drug stability in biological evidence during the processes of collection and storage poses a substantial obstacle to the progress of forensic investigations. In conjunction with other constituents, the microorganisms present in the samples play a vital role in this investigation. The present investigation employed the high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) technique to assess the stability of (1R,2 S)-(-)-2-methylamino-1-phenyl-1-propanol hydrochloride in plasma and urine samples that were inoculated with Escherichia coli. These samples were subjected to storage conditions of 37 °C for 48 h and - 20 °C for a duration of 6 months. Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and Minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) of MPPH against E. coli were determined using microdilution method. The stability of MPPH in plasma and urine samples inoculated with E. coli was investigated using HPLC method. The results showed the MIC and MBC of MPPH were 87.5 ± 25 ppm and 175 ± 50 ppm, respectively. While MPPH remained stable in plasma for 48 h at 37 °C, it showed a notable decrease of about 11% in stability when stored in urine for the same period and temperature. From the beginning of the first month, a decrease in the stability of the compound appeared in all samples that were stored at - 20 °C, and the decrease reached 7% for plasma samples and about 11% for urine samples. The decrease in the stability reached its peak in the sixth month, reaching more than 30% and 70% of plasma and urine samples preserved at - 20 °C. This work concluded that E. coli can negatively affect the stability of MPPH in plasma and urine samples. This may lead to incorrect conclusions regarding the analysis of biological samples in criminal cases.

The impact of skin preparation method on electrocardiogram quality in horses.

Objective: Several skin preparation techniques are used in electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring of horses. The objective of this study was to determine which methods produce the greatest signal quality using textile electrodes and standard silver/silver chloride (Ag/AgCl) electrodes. Animals and samples: Electrocardiogram data were collected using textile and Ag/AgCl electrodes simultaneously for 4 skin preparation techniques in 6 horses. Procedure: The effects of skin preparation (cleansing with isopropyl alcohol, with or without shaving the hair) and the effects of the application of a conductive gel were assessed using metrics of signal quality. Results: Shaving and cleansing with alcohol had no effect on signal quality for either electrode type. The Ag/AgCl electrodes contain a solid gel, and the application of additional gel did not affect signal quality. Data quality was significantly improved when gel was applied to textile electrodes. Furthermore, there was no difference in signal quality between electrode types when gel was used. Conclusion and clinical relevance: This study suggests that skin preparation by cleansing and/or shaving does not have a significant effect on equine ECG signal quality. When gel is used, textile electrodes are a practical alternative for Ag/AgCl electrodes, as they produce ECG recordings of the same quality.

Impact de la méthode de préparation de la peau sur la qualité de l'électrocardiogramme chez le cheval. Objectif: Plusieurs techniques de préparation de la peau sont utilisées lors de la surveillance électrocardiographique (ECG) des chevaux. L'objectif de cette étude était de déterminer quelles méthodes produisent la meilleure qualité de signal en utilisant des électrodes textiles et des électrodes standard argent/chlorure d'argent (Ag/AgCl). Animaux et échantillons: Les données d'électrocardiogramme ont été obtenues simultanément à l'aide d'électrodes textiles et d'électrodes Ag/AgCl pour 4 techniques de préparation cutanée chez 6 chevaux. Procédure: Les effets de la préparation de la peau (nettoyage à l'alcool isopropylique, avec ou sans rasage des cheveux) et les effets de l'application d'un gel conducteur ont été évalués à l'aide de métriques de qualité du signal. Résultats: Le rasage et le nettoyage à l'alcool n'ont eu aucun effet sur la qualité du signal pour les deux types d'électrodes. Les électrodes Ag/AgCl contiennent un gel solide et l'application de gel supplémentaire n'a pas affecté la qualité du signal. La qualité des données a été considérablement améliorée lorsque le gel a été appliqué sur des électrodes textiles. De plus, il n'y avait aucune différence dans la qualité du signal entre les types d'électrodes lorsque du gel était utilisé. Conclusion et pertinence clinique: Cette étude suggère que la préparation de la peau par nettoyage et/ou rasage n'a pas d'effet significatif sur la qualité du signal ECG équin. Lorsque du gel est utilisé, les électrodes textiles constituent une alternative pratique aux électrodes Ag/AgCl, car elles produisent des enregistrements ECG de même qualité.(Traduit par Dr Serge Messier).

Efficient Inactivation of Monkeypox Virus by World Health Organization‒Recommended Hand Rub Formulations and Alcohols.

Increasing nonzoonotic human monkeypox virus (MPXV) infections urge reevaluation of inactivation strategies. We demonstrate efficient inactivation of MPXV by 2 World Health Organization‒recommended alcohol-based hand rub solutions. When compared with other (re)emerging enveloped viruses, MPXV displayed the greatest stability. Our results support rigorous adherence to use of alcohol-based disinfectants.

Modelling the equilibrium partitioning of low concentrations of airborne volatile organic compounds in human IVF laboratories.

RESEARCH QUESTION: Can volatile organic compounds (VOC) be modelled in an IVF clinical setting? DESIGN: The study performed equilibrium modelling of low concentrations of airborne VOC partitioning from the air phase into the oil cover layer into the water-based culture media and into/onto the embryo (air-oil-water-embryo). The air-phase VOC were modelled based on reported VOC concentrations found in modern assisted reproductive technology (ART) suites, older IVF clinics, and hospitals, as well as at 10 parts per billion (ppb) and 100 ppb for all compounds. The modelling was performed with 23 documented healthcare-specific VOC. RESULTS: Based on the partitioning model, seven compounds (acrolein, formaldehyde, phenol, toluene, acetaldehyde, ethanol and isopropanol) should be of great concern to the embryologist and clinician. Acrolein, formaldehyde, phenol, toluene and acetaldehyde are the VOC with the most potent cytotoxic factor and the highest toxic VOC concentration in media. In addition, ethanol and isopropanol are routinely found in the greatest air-phase concentrations and modelled to have the highest water-based culture concentrations. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the equilibrium partitioning modelling of VOC provides a fundamental understanding of how airborne VOC partition from the air phase and negatively influence human IVF outcomes. The results presented here are based on the theoretical model and the values presented have not yet been measured in a laboratory or clinical setting. High air-phase concentrations and toxic concentrations of VOC in culture media are likely indicators of poor clinical outcomes. Based on this model, improved air quality in IVF laboratories reduces the chemical burden imparted on embryos, which supports findings of improved IVF outcomes with reduced air-phase VOC concentrations.

Liquid chromatography and differential mobility spectrometry-data-independent mass spectrometry for comprehensive multidimensional separations in metabolomics.

The benefits of combining drift time ion mobility (DTIMS) with liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) have been reported for metabolomics but the use of differential time mobility spectrometry (DMS) is less obvious due to the need for rapid scanning of the DMS cell. Drift DTIMS provides additional precursor ion selectivity and collisional cross-section information but the separation resolution between analytes remains cell- and component-dependent. With DMS, the addition of 2-propanol modifier can improve the selectivity but on cost of analyte MS response. In the present work, we investigate the liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis of a mix of 50 analytes, representative for urine and plasma metabolites, using scanning DMS with the single modifiers cyclohexane (Ch), toluene (Tol), acetonitrile (ACN), ethanol (EtOH), and 2-propanol (IPA), and a binary modifier mixture (cyclohexane/2-propanol) with emphasis on selectivity and signal sensitivity. 1.5% IPA in the N2 stream was found to suppress the signal of 50% of the analytes which could be partially recovered with the use of IPA to 0.05% as a Ch/IPA mixture. The potential to use the separation voltage/compensation voltage/modifier (SV/CoV/Mod) feature as an additional analyte identifier for qualitative analysis is also presented and applied to a data-independent LCxDMS-SWATH-MS workflow for the analysis of endogenous metabolites and drugs of abuse in human urine samples from traffic control.

Isopropyl alcohol inhalation versus 5-HT3 antagonists for treatment of nausea: a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.

PURPOSE: Nausea is a common and unpleasant sensation for which current therapies such as serotonin (5-HT3) antagonists are often ineffective, while also conferring a risk of potential adverse events. Isopropyl alcohol (IPA) has been proposed as a treatment for nausea. We aimed to compare IPA with 5-HT3 antagonists for the treatment of nausea across all clinical settings. METHODS: MEDLINE, EMBASE, PubMed, CENTRAL and CINAHL were searched from inception to 17 July 2023 for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing inhaled IPA and a 5-HT3 antagonist for treatment of nausea. Severity and duration of nausea, rescue antiemetic use, adverse events and patient satisfaction were the outcomes sought. Risk of bias (RoB) was assessed using Cochrane RoB 2. Random-effects model was used for meta-analysis. Combination of meta-analyses and narrative review was used to synthesise findings. The evidence was appraised using GRADE. RESULTS: From 1242 records, 4 RCTs were included with 382 participants. Participants receiving IPA had a significantly lower mean time to 50% reduction in nausea (MD - 20.06; 95% CI - 26.26, - 13.85). Nausea score reduction at 30 min was significantly greater in the IPA group (MD 21.47; 95% CI 15.47, 27.47). IPA led to significantly reduced requirement for rescue antiemetics (OR 0.60; 95% CI 0.37, 0.95; p = 0.03). IPA led to no significant difference in patient satisfaction when compared with a 5-HT3 antagonist. The overall GRADE assessment of evidence quality ranged from very low to low. CONCLUSION: IPA may provide rapid, effective relief of nausea when compared with 5-HT3 antagonists.