Correlation between Oral Hygiene and IL-6 in Children.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between marginal gingivitis, oral hygiene parameters, and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels in gingival crevicular fluid of 40 children. The marginal periodontal pathology was evaluated by gingival index (GI). The status of oral hygiene was estimated by using patient hygiene performance (PHP), brushing frequency (BF), and plaque index (PI). IL-6 levels in gingival crevicular fluid were measured to evaluate the inflammation in marginal gingiva. PHP score showed a significant correlation with GI, BF, and PI. The groups based on PHP ranges were significantly related to IL-6 concentration in crevicular fluid.

Spectrophotometric Evaluation of Enamel Color Variation Using Infiltration Resin Treatment of White Spot Lesions at One Year Follow-Up.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the color changes and the stability at a 1-year follow-up of white spot lesions (WSLs) treated with an infiltrating technique by using etching and TEGDMA resin. The color of 22 white spot lesions and the sound adjacent enamel (SAE) were assessed with a spectrophotometer at T0 (baseline), T1 (after treatment), and T2 (1 year after). The color change ΔE (WSLs-SAE) at T0 vs. T1 were compared to evaluate the camouflage effect efficiency, and at T1 vs. T2 to assess the stability of outcomes. To evaluate the effect on the treatment outcome of gender, the presence or not of previous orthodontic treatment, WSLs onset more/less than 10 years, the age of the patient, and the ΔE WSL (T0 vs. T1) was analyzed. The difference between ΔE (WSLs-SAE) at T0 and T1 resulted in statistical significance (p < 0.01). No statistical difference was found between ΔE (WSLs-SAE) at T1 vs. T2. The variables considered showed no statistical differences in treatment outcomes. The results of our investigation show that the technique used is immediately effective and the camouflage effect keeps up and steady one year after treatment. Such results do not appear to be influenced by analyzed clinical variables.

Evaluation of automated micro solid phase extraction tips (micro-SPE) for the validation of a LC-MS/MS bioanalytical method.

Automated micro-SPE tips were successfully utilized for the determination of posaconazole in rat plasma. The bioanalytical method using micro-SPE tips was successfully qualified for routine quantitation of posaconazole over the concentration range of 10.0-10,000 ng/mL in rat EDTA plasma. Inter-assay precision, based on percent relative deviation for n=18 replicate quality controls, was < or =5.7%. Inter-assay accuracy based on n=18 replicate quality controls was +/-7.7%. Complete solid phase extraction using micro-SPE tips was demonstrated on a Tomtec liquid handler where >95% recovery for posaconazole was obtained. The micro-SPE tips had sufficient capacity to extract at least 100 microL plasma fortified with 10 microg/mL of posaconazole and the analyte could be efficiently eluted with as little as 60 microL of methanol. Of particular note is the unique ability of these micro-SPE tips to perform exhaustive solid phase extraction more commonly performed when using liquid/liquid extraction.

A dried blood spots technique based LC-MS/MS method for the analysis of posaconazole in human whole blood samples.

A rugged and robust liquid chromatographic tandem mass spectrometric (LC-MS/MS) method utilizing dried blood spots (DBS) was developed and validated for the analysis of posaconazole in human whole blood. Posaconazole fortified blood samples were spotted (15 µL) onto Ahlstrom Alh-226 DBS cards and dried for at least 2h. Punched spots were then extracted by using a mixture of acetonitrile and water containing stable labeled internal standard (IS). Posaconazole and its IS were separated from endogenous matrix components on a Kinetex™ C18 column under gradient conditions with a mobile phase A consisting of 0.1% formic acid and a mobile phase B consisting of 0.1% formic acid in acetonitrile/methanol (70/30, v/v). The analyte and IS were detected using a Sciex API 4000 triple quadrupole LC-MS/MS system equipped with a TurboIonSpray™ source operated in the positive ion mode. The assay was linear over the concentration range of 5-5000 ng/mL. The inter-run accuracy and precision of the assay were -1.8% to 0.8% and 4.0% to 10.4%, respectively. Additional assessments unique to DBS were investigated including sample spot homogeneity, spot volume, and hematocrit. Blood spot homogeneity was maintained and accurate and precise quantitation results were obtained when using a blood spot volume of between 15 and 35 µL. Human blood samples with hematocrit values ranging between 25% and 41% gave acceptable quantitation results. The validation results indicate that the method is accurate, precise, sensitive, selective and reproducible.

Determination of a novel thrombin receptor antagonist (SCH 530348) in human plasma: evaluation of Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography™-tandem mass spectrometry for routine bioanalytical analysis.

SCH 530348 is a safe and effective oral anti-platelet agent for patients with acute coronary syndrome. Clinical study results suggest that SCH 530348 dosage at 20 mg or 40 mg is feasible to achieve rapid maximum platelet inhibition following an acute coronary event or intervention procedure. To permit accurate determinations of circulating SCH 530348 in plasma following dosing, a method for measuring SCH 530348 concentrations in human plasma was validated using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The method utilized semi-automated 96-well protein precipitation with gradient chromatography using an ACQUITY™ UPLC BEH C18 (2.1 mm×50 mm, 1.7 µm) column. The retention time of SCH 530348 was approximately 1.5 min. This method was validated for routine quantitation of SCH 530348 over the concentration range of 1.00-1000 ng/mL. Inter-run accuracy based on mean percent theoretical for replicate quality control samples was better than 95.2%. Inter-run precision based on percent relative deviation for replicate quality control samples was ≤3.3%. SCH 530348 quality control samples were stable in human plasma for up to three freeze/thaw cycles, for at least 467 days when frozen at -20 °C and for at least 7 h when stored at room temperature. The lower limit of quantitation was 1.00 ng/mL for a 100 µL plasma aliquot.

Simultaneous determination of desloratadine and pseudoephedrine in human plasma using micro solid-phase extraction tips and aqueous normal-phase liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry.

Cation-exchange micro solid-phase extraction (SPE) tips and aqueous normal-phase (ANP) chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry were explored for the rapid, selective and sensitive quantitation of desloratadine and pseudoephedrine in human plasma. A novel micro-SPE device was evaluated for analyte capacity, extraction efficiency and its ability to maximize recovery of an analyte of interest from bioanalytical matrices by successive replicates of linked extraction steps. Ion suppression using two different methods with micro-SPE tips was negligible when compared to protein precipitation. The use of ANP chromatography eliminated the need for sample reconstitution following extraction and was found to be highly selective. A reliable chromatography system was developed with a short duty cycle of 2 min/sample. The proposed bioanalytical method required 50 microL of plasma for the determination of desloratadine and pseudoephedrine at limits of quantitation of 0.1 and 1.25 ng/mL, respectively. The analytical method was validated in accordance with the FDA guidance on bioanalytical method validation; selectivity, linearity, reproducibility and accuracy were all acceptable.