Extended genetic testing in fetuses with sonographic skeletal system abnormalities.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze genetic causes of skeletal system abnormalities diagnosed by prenatal sonography and to establish a diagnostic protocol with regard to extended genetic testing in this group of patients. METHODS: This prospective observational cohort study included all singleton pregnancies with a sonographic abnormality of the skeletal system evaluated in a single ultrasound department during a 1-year period (2019). Fetuses underwent routine genetic testing by chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) supplemented with polyploidy testing, and those with either a normal result or an abnormal result not consistent with the observed phenotype underwent exome sequencing (ES). Interpretation of variants was discussed by a panel of specialists to identify pathogenic/likely pathogenic variants. RESULTS: The study group comprised 55 fetuses. A chromosomal abnormality consistent with the observed phenotype was detected in 24 (43.6%) cases. After exclusions, 26 (47.3%) cases underwent further molecular testing by ES, of which 18 (69.2%) were classified as having abnormal ES results, thus increasing the diagnostic yield by a further 18 (32.7%) cases and giving an abnormal genetic test result in 42/55 (76.4%) fetuses overall. Pathogenic or likely pathogenic sequence variants in 14 different genes were detected across 18 fetuses. Seven genes are already listed in the International Skeletal Dysplasia Society Nosology and seven are not typically found to be causal for skeletal dysplasias and are not listed in the Nosology. CONCLUSIONS: In fetuses with skeletal system anomalies, chromosomal abnormality was the most common genetic diagnosis. Exome sequencing increased the diagnostic yield over that of CMA and polyploidy testing. Fetuses with skeletal abnormalities should undergo extended genetic testing following routine testing, as many genetic anomalies responsible for skeletal defects may otherwise be missed. © 2021 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Amorphous Protic Ionic Systems as Promising Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients: The Case of the Sumatriptan Succinate Drug.

In this article, we highlight the benefits coming from the application of amorphous protic ionic systems as active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). Using the case of the sumatriptan (STR) drug, we show that the conversion of nonionic API to partially ionized amorphous protic succinate salt (STR SUCC) brings a substantial improvement in apparent solubility. Since in general the disordered systems reveal a tendency to self-arrangement during storage, the dominant part of this article is dedicated to the physical stability issue of sumatriptan and its ionic counterpart. To recognize the crystallization tendency of the studied systems, the calorimetric measurements were performed. Additionally, the role of ion dynamics in spontaneous nucleation of amorphous sumatriptan succinate is discussed. The differential scanning calorimetry analysis of ionic and nonionic sumatriptan reveals many similarities in thermal properties of these APIs as well as distinct differences in their resistance against crystallization in the supercooled liquid state. To determine the long-term physical stability of STR SUCC at room temperature conditions, the time scale of structural relaxation below their glass transition temperatures is estimated. We show that in contrast to nonionic materials, τα predictions of STR SUCC are much more complex and require aging experiments.

An application of high performance liquid chromatographic assay for the kinetic analysis of degradation of faropenem.

An isocratic RP-HPLC-DAD procedure was developed and validated for kinetic analysis of degradation of faropenem in bulk drug substance and in tablets. It involved the use of a C-18 analytical column (5 microm particle size, 250 mm x 4.6 mm), flow rate 1.3 ml/min and 50 microl injection volume. The mobile phase consisted of acetate buffer (pH 3.5) - acetonitrile (70:30 v/v). The determination was carried out at the wavelength of 323 nm. Kinetic studies of faropenem degradation in aqueous solutions included hydrolysis, oxidation, photolysis and thermal degradation. A derivative spectrophotometry was used as an alternative method to compare the observed rate constants.

[Tools for a clinical assessment of patients' attitudes toward their schizophrenic illness: 1. "Experience of illness" scale (EIS)]. / Narzedzia klinicznej oceny postaw pacjentów wobec prezezywanej choroby schizofreniczej: 1. Skala "doswiadczenie choroby" (DC).

Rationale and construction of the scale "Experience of illness" (EIS)-a simple scale for evaluation of patients' attitudes toward their schizophrenic disorders were presented. The EIS consists of three scales describing selected dimensions of the attitudes: cognitive (identification of the experience of illness with self), emotional (evaluating of the experience of illness), and behavioural (reflectiveness toward the experience of illness). Transformed sum of dimensional ratings allows to point the position of the whole attitude of each individual patient on a continuum between the isolation of his/her illness experience from other life experiences or the integration of the two kinds of experiences. Empirical results documenting reliability, validity, and feasibility of the EIS were also presented. Clinical usefulness of the proposed scale--as a premise for the treatment plan--is shortly discussed.

The use of UV, FT-IR and Raman spectra for the identification of the newest penem analogs: solutions based on mathematic procedure and the density functional theory.

The application of ultraviolet, FT-IR and Raman spectra was proposed for identification studies of the newest penem analogs (doripenem, biapenem and faropenem). An identification of the newest penem analogs based on their separation from related substances was achieved after the application of first derivative of direct spectra in ultraviolet which permitted elimination of overlapping effects. A combination of experimental and theoretical studies was performed for analyzing the structure and vibrational spectra (FT-IR and Raman spectra) of doripenem, biapenem and faropenem. The calculations were conducted using the density functional theory with the B3LYP hybrid functional and 6-31G(d,p) basis set. The confirmation of the applicability of the DFT methodology for interpretation of vibrational IR and Raman spectra of the newest penem analogs contributed to determination of changes of vibrations in the area of the most labile bonds. By employing the theoretical approach it was possible to eliminate necessity of using reference standards which - considering the instability of penem analogs - require that correction coefficients are factored in.