Research Progress of Metabolomics in Forensic Pathology.

ABSTRACT: Metabolomics is an interdisciplinary subject that rose in the post-genomic era, which focuses on quantitative study of the response of living organisms to outside stimulation and pathophysiological changes, as well as multiple dynamic response of the level of in vivo metabolites caused by genetic mutation. It is extensively used in basic research of system biology, materia medica, clinical medicine, etc. In the forensic field, metabolomics mainly focuses on forensic toxicology, but with the generalization of certain techniques, it's foreseeable that metabolomics has a broad research prospect in forensic pathology. This article summarizes the major analysis techniques and methods of metabolomics, describes the research status of metabolomic techniques in the field of forensic pathology application research, including postmortem interval and death cause. Moreover, this article summarizes and discusses the potential applicable areas, in order to provide reference for relative research and application.

Risk of empyema in patients with end-stage renal disease: a nationwide propensity-matched cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Empyema is a rare but important complication among patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). However, a nationwide, propensity-matched cohort study has never been performed. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using data from the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan. The ESRD group consisted of 82 765 patients diagnosed between 2000 and 2008. The comparison group consisted of individuals without kidney disease selected at a 1:1 ratio matched by propensity score estimated with age, gender, year of diagnosis and comorbidities. The occurrence of empyema was monitored until the end of 2011. The hazard ratios (HRs) of empyema were estimated using the Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS: The incidence of empyema was 2.76-fold higher in the ESRD group than in the comparison group (23.7 vs. 8.19/10 000 person-years, P <0.001), with an adjusted HR of 3.01 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.67-3.39]. There was no difference of the incidence of empyema between hemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD) (adjusted HR = 0.96, 95% CI = 0.75-1.23). In addition, 30-day mortality rate since empyema diagnosis was significantly higher in ESRD group than the comparison group (15.9% vs. 10.9%), with an adjusted OR of 1.69 (95% CI = 1.17-2.44). CONCLUSION: The risk of empyema was significantly higher in patients with ESRD than in those without kidney disease. The occurrence of empyema was without difference in patients undergoing HD compared to those undergoing PD. The 30-day mortality rate since empyema diagnosis was also significantly higher in patients with ESRD.

Pharmacokinetics of Astragaloside IV in rats by liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry.

Pharmacokinetics of Astragaloside IV (AGS-IV) in rats was studied by high performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. The concentration in plasma was determined after i.v. administration of 1, 2, 4 mg/kg and p.o. administration of 20 mg/kg of AGS-IV. The AUC were linearly correlated to doses. Recoveries of AGS-IV in bile, urine and feces were also analyzed following i.v. dose of 2 mg/kg. Cumulative recovery of AGS-IV in bile reached 30.8% in 24h. Cumulative recovery of AGS-IV in urine and feces was 52.14%, which indicates that about 50% of AGS-IV was metabolized in vivo. The bioavailability of AGS-IV after p.o. administration was found to be 3.66%. These findings provide useful information for the research and development of AGS-IV and other potential agents.