Navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation to measure motor evoked potentials in a child with hemispheric polymicrogyria and focal epilepsy.

Malformations of cortical development such as polymicrogyria can cause medically refractory epilepsy. Epilepsy surgery (hemispherotomy) can be a good treatment option. In recent years, navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation (nTMS), a noninvasive brain mapping technique, has been used to localize the eloquent cortex for presurgical evaluation of patients with epilepsy. In the present case study, neurophysiological markers of the primary motor cortex (M1), including resting motor threshold (rMT), motor evoked potentials (MEPs), and silent period (SP), were assessed in both hands of a right-handed 10-year-old girl with a history of epilepsy and right hemispheric polymicrogyria. Bilateral MEPs with short latencies were elicited from the contralesional side. The average MEP amplitude and the latency for the patient's paretic and non-paretic hands differed significantly. We conclude that nTMS is a safe and tolerable procedure that can be used for presurgical evaluation in children with intractable epilepsy.

Risk factors associated with higher mortality in patients with cardiac implantable electronic device infection.

INTRODUCTION: Cardiac Implantable Electronic Devices (CIEDs) are widely used for the management of advanced heart failure and ventricular arrhythmias. CIED-Infection (CIED-I) has very high mortality, especially in the subsets of patients with limited health-care access and delayed presentation. The purpose of this study is to identify the risk-predictors mortality in subjects with CIED-I. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study of a regional database in patients presenting with CIED infections to tertiary care medical centers across Western New York, USA from 2012 to 2020. The clinical outcomes included recurrent device infection (any admission for CIED-I after the first hospitalization for device infection), septic complications (pulmonary embolism, respiratory failure, septic shock, decompensated HF, acute kidney injury) and mortality outcomes (death during hospitalization, within 30 days from CIED-I, and within 1 year from CIED-I). We studied associations between categorical variables and hard outcomes using χ2 tests and used one-way analysis of variance to measure between-groups differences. RESULTS: We identified 296 patients with CIED-I, among which 218 (74%) were male, 237 (80%) were white and the mean age at the time of infection was 69.2 ± 13.7 years. One-third of the patients were referred from the regional facilities. Staphylococcus aureus was responsible for most infections, followed by Enterococcus fecalis. On multivariate analysis, the covariates associated with significantly increased mortality risk included referral from regional facility (OR: 2.0;1.0-4.0), hypertension (Odds ratio, OR: 3.2;1.3-8.8), right ventricular dysfunction (OR: 2.6;1.2-5.1), end-stage renal disease (OR: 2.6;1.1-6.2), immunosuppression (OR: 11.4;2.5-53.3), and septic shock as a complication of CIED-I (OR: 3.9;1.3-10.8). CONCLUSION: Hypertension, right ventricular dysfunction, immunosuppression, and end-stage renal disease are associated with higher mortality after CIED-I. Disproportionately higher mortality was also noted in subjects referred from the regional facilities. This underscores the importance of early clinical risk-assessment, and the need for a robust referral infrastructure to improve patient outcomes.

Constitutional Mismatch Repair Deficiency Syndromes, a Neurofibromatosis 1 Mimicker That Hinders Timely Management.

BACKGROUND: Constitutional mismatch repair deficiency (CMMRD) is a rare, autosomal recessive disease caused by a biallelic germline mutation in one of the DNA mismatch repair genes ( MLH1 , MSH2 , MSH6 and PMS2 ). In addition to colorectal, brain, and hematological malignancies, many additional premalignant and non-malignant features that can point toward the diagnosis of CMMRD have been reported. The report from the CMMRD consortium revealed that all children with CMMRD have café-au-lait macules (CALMs) but the number of CALMs does not reach > 5 in all CMMRD patients, which is one of the diagnostic criterions of NF1. About half of the patients with CMMRD develop brain tumors and up to 40% develop metachronous second malignancies. METHODS: This is an observational retrospective case series describing five pediatric patients with CMMRD. RESULTS: All the five patients in our cohort developed brain tumors and showed a predilection to the frontal lobe. In our cohort, multiple Mongolian spots, coloboma, obesity, CHD, dysmorphism, and clubfoot were also encountered. In all our patients, NF1 and other tumorigenic predisposing syndromes were initially suspected. CONCLUSION: Increasing awareness of this condition and its shared reminiscent NF1 features, particularly CALMs among child neurologists, oncologists, geneticists, and dermatologists can help uncover the tip of the iceberg of CMMRD that carries an important consequence on management.

Dispersive solid phase extraction of metronidazole and clarithromycin from human plasma using a ß-cyclodextrin grafted polyethylene polymer composite.

In this work, for the first time, a polymeric composite based on ß-cyclodextrin grafted with polyethylene has been prepared through ball milling and used as an efficient sorbent for dispersive solid phase extraction of metronidazole and clarithromycin from plasma samples. The prepared sorbent was characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometry, X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy. In the extraction process, after precipitating the proteins, the sorbent was added into the sample solution, and the mixture was vortexed to facilitate and speed up the sorption of the analytes onto the sorbent surface. After centrifuging, the sorbent particles were contacted with methanol to elute the analytes under the vortexing process. After this step, an aliquot of the eluate was taken and injected into high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detector for quantitative analysis. Under the optimum extraction conditions, the extraction recoveries for metronidazole and clarithromycin were 76 and 83%, respectively. The limits of detection were 2.6 and 2.2 ng/ml for metronidazole and clarithromycin, respectively. The repeatability of the offered approach, expressed as relative standard deviation, was equal to or less than 4.7%. Finally, the method was successfully applied to plasma samples of the patients treated with metronidazole and clarithromycin.

Polycarbonate-coated magnetic nanoparticles for the extraction of imipramine and its primary metabolite from urine.

This study introduces a reliable and inexpensive magnetic dispersive solid phase extraction to extract imipramine and its primary metabolite (desipramine) from urine samples. To accomplish this aim, Fe3 O4 magnetic nanoparticles were synthesized by sonication, subsequently, polycarbonate was precipitated gradually onto the surface of them to form the adsorbent. Extraction recoveries of 85% and 76%, enrichment factors of 57 and 51, limits of detection of 2.5 and 2.8 µg/L, and limits of quantification of 8.3 and 9.3 µg/L were obtained for imipramine and desipramine under the optimal conditions, respectively. In addition, relative standard deviations for intra- (n = 6) and inter-day (n = 5) precisions at two concentrations (50 and 100 µg/L of each analyte) were less than or equal to 4%. Short extraction time, good repeatability, high enrichment factors, and simplicity are the main advantages of the proposed method.

Selective extraction of apixaban from plasma by dispersive solid-phase microextraction using magnetic metal organic framework combined with molecularly imprinted polymer nanocomposite.

This research aims to synthesize a specific and efficient sorbent to use in the extraction of apixaban from human plasma samples and its determination by high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. High specific surface area of metal-organic framework, magnetic property of iron oxide nanoparticles, selectively of molecular imprinted polymer toward the analyte, and the combination of dispersive solid-phase extraction method with a sensitive analysis system provided an efficient analytical method. In this study, first, a molecularly imprinted polymer combined with magnetic metal organic framework nanocomposite was prepared and then characterized using different techniques. Then the sorbent particles were used for selective extraction of the analyte from plasma samples. The efficiency of the method was improved by optimizing effective parameters. According to the validation results, wide linear range (1.02-200 ng mL-1 ), acceptable coefficient of determination (0.9938), low limit of detection (0.32 ng mL-1 ) and limit of quantification (1.02 ng mL-1 ), high extraction recovery (78%), and good precision (relative standard deviations ≤ 2.9% for intra- (n = 6) and interday (n = 6) precisions) were obtainable using the proposed method. These outcomes showed the high potential of the proposed method for screening apixaban in the human plasma samples.

Where There Is A Will, There Is A Way: Enhancing Contraceptive Uptake In Pakistan.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the contribution of a series of interventions on contraceptive uptake and reduction in unmet need in areas covered by the Family Advancement for Life and Health project. Methods: The study was conducted from 2008-09 to 2011-12 in 14 districts across Pakistan. The sample comprised all urban and rural households in each district. A total or 40 blocks/villages were selected, with 13 households selected per block/village. Within each household, all married women of reproductive age 15-49 years were interviewed, and their husbands who were present at the time were also interviewed to a maximum of 5 per block. Baseline data was collected in 2008-09, while end line data was collected in 2010-11. Change in family planning uptake attributed to the project interventions were estimated. Besides, a situation analysis of service delivery points was also conducted. Data was analysed using SPSS 21. RESULTS: The panel comprised 5,304 women and 950 husbands. Interventions with the most robust effects were LHWs' home visits, attending women's group meetings, and watching family planning messages on television (p<0.05). The greatest changes were observed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, in urban areas and among younger women (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Investing in public-sector services does pay off in terms of meeting family planning needs, and so do better, wider and clearer communication.

SLC gene mutations and pediatric neurological disorders: diverse clinical phenotypes in a Saudi Arabian population.

The uptake and efflux of solutes across a plasma membrane is controlled by transporters. There are two main superfamilies of transporters, adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) binding cassettes (ABCs) and solute carriers (SLCs). In the brain, SLC transporters are involved in transporting various solutes across the blood-brain barrier, blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier, astrocytes, neurons, and other brain cell types including oligodendrocytes and microglial cells. SLCs play an important role in maintaining normal brain function. Hence, mutations in the genes that encode SLC transporters can cause a variety of neurological disorders. We identified the following SLC gene variants in 25 patients in our cohort: SLC1A2, SLC2A1, SLC5A1, SLC6A3, SLC6A5, SLC6A8, SLC9A6, SLC9A9, SLC12A6, SLC13A5, SLC16A1, SLC17A5, SLC19A3, SLC25A12, SLC25A15, SLC27A4, SLC45A1, SLC46A1, and SLC52A3. Eight patients harbored pathogenic or likely pathogenic mutations (SLC5A1, SLC9A6, SLC12A6, SLC16A1, SLC19A3, and SLC52A3), and 12 patients were found to have variants of unknown clinical significance (VOUS); these variants occurred in 11 genes (SLC1A2, SLC2A1, SLC6A3, SLC6A5, SLC6A8, SLC9A6, SLC9A9, SLC13A5, SLC25A12, SLC27A4, and SLC45A1). Five patients were excluded as they were carriers. In the remaining 20 patients with SLC gene variants, we identified 16 possible distinct neurological disorders. Based on the clinical presentation, we categorized them into genes causing intellectual delay (ID) or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), those causing epilepsy, those causing vitamin-related disorders, and those causing other neurological diseases. Several variants were detected that indicated possible personalized therapies: SLC2A1 led to dystonia or epilepsy, which can be treated with a ketogenic diet; SLC6A3 led to infantile parkinsonism-dystonia 1, which can be treated with levodopa; SLC6A5 led to hyperekplexia 3, for which unnecessary treatment with antiepileptic drugs should be avoided; SLC6A8 led to creatine deficiency syndrome type 1, which can be treated with creatine monohydrate; SLC16A1 led to monocarboxylate transporter 1 deficiency, which causes seizures that should not be treated with a ketogenic diet; SLC19A3 led to biotin-thiamine-responsive basal ganglia disease, which can be treated with biotin and thiamine; and SLC52A3 led to Brown-Vialetto-Van-Laere syndrome 1, which can be treated with riboflavin. The present study examines the prevalence of SLC gene mutations in our cohort of children with epilepsy and other neurological disorders. It highlights the diverse phenotypes associated with mutations in this large family of SLC transporter proteins, and an opportunity for personalized genomics and personalized therapeutics.

A rare case of Wernicke encephalopathy in stage IV gastric cancer.

A 38-year-old male with stage IV gastric adenocarcinoma presented with abdominal pain, nausea, bilious non-bloody vomiting, and lethargy. He was found to have an ileus and was treated appropriately with bowel rest and nasogastric tube decompression. However, the patient was also noted to have confusion and nystagmus. While he was abstinent from alcohol for 20 years, he was found to have Wernicke Encephalopathy (WE) as a result of malnutrition from the underlying malignancy.

Magnetic dispersive solid-phase extraction of some polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from honey samples using iron (III) oxinate nanocomposite as an efficient sorbent.

In this work, iron (III) oxinate magnetic nanocomposite was synthesized and employed as an efficient sorbent for the magnetic dispersive solid-phase extraction of some polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from honey samples. In the following, dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction procedure was used for further preconcentration of the analytes. The prepared sorbent was characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometry, X-ray diffractometry, vibrating sample magnetometry, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. The results verified the successful formation of the magnetic sorbent. In the extraction process, the sorbent was added into an aqueous solution and the mixture was vortexed. After completing the adsorption process, the supernatant phase was separated in the presence of a magnet and the analytes adsorbed onto sorbent were eluted by acetonitrile. Then, microliter-level 1,1,1-trichloroethane was mixed with the obtained acetonitrile and injected into NaCl solution. Finally, one microliter of the sedimented phase was injected into gas chromatography-flame ionization detector after centrifugation. Under the optimum conditions, a great repeatability (relative standard deviation equal or less than 5 and 6% for intra- and interday precisions, respectively), acceptable extraction recoveries (59-84%), high enrichment factors (118-168), and low limits of detection and quantification (0.16-0.36 and 0.56-1.22 ng/g, respectively) were acquired.

In-situ sorbent formation for the extraction of pesticides from honey.

An organic polymer was re-precipitated in solution to use as an adsorbent in dispersive solid-phase extraction of some pesticides from honey samples prior to their determination by high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. In this approach, different deep eutectic solvents were prepared using lysine and their ability in elution of the analytes from the adsorbent surface was tested. A diluted honey solution was transferred into a glass test tube and then a solution of polystyrene dissolved in dimethylformamide was injected into the solution. By doing this, polystyrene is re-precipitated in the solution and dispersed in whole parts of it as many tiny particles. Then the mixture was centrifuged and the adsorbed analytes on the particles were eluted using a proper hydrophilic deep eutectic solvent. The central composite design approach was used for the optimization of effective parameters. The limits of detection and quantification were in the ranges of 0.06-0.20 and 0.22-0.69 ng/g, respectively. The calibration curves obtained by matrix-matched standard solutions were linear in the range of 0.69-500 ng/g with a coefficient of determinations ≥0.9962. The method provided high extraction recoveries (70-99%) and enrichment factors (140-198), and an acceptable precision (relative standard deviations ≤7.1%).

Application of calcium oxide as an efficient phase separation agent in temperature-induced counter-current homogenous liquid-liquid extraction of aflatoxins from dried fruit chips followed by high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry determination.

A temperature-induced counter-current homogenous liquid-liquid extraction procedure performed in a burette has been proposed for the isolation of aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, and G2 from various fruit chip samples. In this method, a homogenous solution of deionized water and cyclohexylamine is added to the solid sample and the resulted mixture is vortexed. In the following, the liquid phase is taken and passed through the burette filled with a mixture of calcium oxide (as a phase separation agent) and sand (to avoid clumping the calcium oxide). By doing so, the temperature of the solution is increased by hydration of calcium oxide and consequently, the homogenous state is broken and the aflatoxins are migrated into the resulted tiny droplets of cyclohexylamine. This phase is collected on the top of the solution owing to its low density with respect to an aqueous solution. Numerous parameters which can affect the efficiency of the suggested approach were evaluated and under the best situations, great repeatability, low limits of determination and quantification, and high extraction recoveries were acquired. In the end, the suggested approach was employed for the quantification of the selected aflatoxins in various fruit chips samples marketed in Tabriz City, Iran.

Riboflavin as a green sorbent in dispersive micro-solid-phase extraction of several pesticides from fruit juices combined with dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction.

A vortex-assisted dispersive micro-solid-phase extraction procedure using a new and green sorbent was developed as a simple, fast, and efficient sample preparation method for the extracting five pesticides in several fruit juice samples. In this study, for the first time, riboflavin was used as an efficient sorbent. A few milligrams of riboflavin was directly added into the aqueous solution containing the analytes to adsorb them. After adsorption the analytes, they were desorbed and more concentrated by a dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction procedure. The influence of several effective parameters such as amount of riboflavin, pH, vortex time, eluent nature and volume, and extraction solvent type and volume on the extraction efficiency was investigated. In optimal conditions, linear ranges of the calibration curves were broad. The limits of detection and quantification were attained in the ranges of 0.56-1.5  and 1.9-0.52 ng mL-1 , respectively. The proposed method demonstrated to be suitable for concurrent extraction of the studied pesticides in various fruit juice samples with high enrichment factors (320-360) and precision (relative standard deviation ≤7.8% for intra- [n = 6] and interday [n = 4] precisions at a concentration of 25 ng mL-1 of each pesticide).

Combination of microwave-assisted extraction with dispersive micro solid-phase extraction as an efficient sample pretreatment method for the extraction of some antiparasitic drugs from cow liver, meat, and kidney samples.

A simple pretreatment method based on the combination of microwave-assisted extraction and dispersive micro solid phase extraction has been developed for the extraction of eprinomectin, doramectin, ivermectin, and abamectin from cow meat, liver, and kidney samples. The extracted drugs were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography equipped with a diode array detector. In this method, the solid samples were mixed with deionized water and organic solvent mixture, and the resulting mixtures were exposed to microwave irradiations to accelerate the analytes' extraction from the samples into the solution. Then, the supernatant was taken and mixed with a mixture of three sorbents optimized by a simplex centroid design. After vortexing and centrifuging, the sorbent particles were isolated and the adsorbed analytes onto the sorbent surface eluted with a natural deep eutectic solvent for more concentration. After centrifuging, the supernatant was taken and injected into the separation system. Acceptable repeatability (relative standard deviations ≤7.0%), high extraction recoveries (72%-86%) and enrichment factors (216-258), and low limits of detection and quantification (0.06-0.10 and 0.19-0.32 ng/g, respectively) were acquired. The method was successfully applied for the assessment of the analytes in the mentioned samples and ivermectin was found in three samples.

A modified quick-easy-cheap-effective-rugged-and-safe method involving carbon nano-onions-based dispersive solid-phase extraction and dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction for pesticides from grapes.

A combination of modified quick easy cheap effective rugged and safe extraction approach with carbon nano-onions-based dispersive solid-phase extraction and dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction was developed for the extraction of several pesticides (diazinon, chlorpyrifos, tebuconazole, deltamethrin, permethrin, haloxyfop-methyl, penconazole, and cyhalothrin) from grape before their analysis by gas chromatography-flame ionization detection. In the extraction approach, an aliquot of grape sample is chopped and after separating its juice, the pesticides that remained in the refuse are extracted by the quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe extraction method. The obtained acetonitrile phase is mixed with juice and the analytes are extracted by the carbon nano-onions-based dispersive solid-phase extraction. The analytes are concentrated using the microextraction procedure to obtain high enrichment factors. The results showed low limits of detection (0.5-1.6 ng/g) and quantification (1.8-5.4 ng/g) with satisfactory linearity of the calibration curves (determination coefficient, r2 ≥ 0.994). The precision of the developed method expressed as relative standard deviations was good (≤7.2%). The method provided high enrichment factors (350-410) and extraction recoveries (70-82%). Finally, seven grape samples were analyzed successfully.

Dietary Pattern or Weight Loss: Which One Is More Important to Reduce Disease Activity Score in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis? A Randomized Feeding Trial.

Objectives: Herein, disease activity score 28 (DAS 28) was compared between patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) receiving the Mediterranean dietary pattern (MD) and low-fat diet. Subjects/Methods. Overweight and obese RA patients aged 15-75 y participated in this randomized feeding trial. Participants were randomized to MD (n = 51) and low-fat high-carbohydrate diet (n = 53) for 12 weeks. The control group followed their regular diet (n = 50). Participants completed the form of tender and swollen joint counts before the study enrollment and after 12 weeks to compute DAS 28. Results: Weight loss was not statistically significant between the MD and LF-HC groups. DAS 28 significantly decreased in MD compared to the LF-HC group (p=0.02) and controls (p=0.001). Adjusting for the baseline variables, MD reduced DAS 28 by 76% (95% CI = -0.45, -0.2; p=0.03) after 12 weeks of intervention. The baseline serum ESR level showed 99.8% effect on DAS 28 score at the end (95% CI = 0.014, 0.035; p < 0.001). Conclusions: The MD showed beneficial effects on DAS 28 compared to the LF-HC diet in patients with RA, regardless of weight loss. It is a better dietary choice for pain reduction in patients with RA. The trial is registered at Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT20200929048876N2).

Application of microcrystalline cellulose as an efficient and cheap sorbent for the extraction of metoprolol from plasma and wastewater before HPLC-MS/MS determination.

A dispersive solid-phase extraction method based on a new sorbent has been performed on plasma and wastewater samples to determine metoprolol by high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. In this study, the analyte was adsorbed from the samples onto microcrystalline cellulose as a green and efficient sorbent and then eluted for use in the determination step. In the mass spectrometer, the analyte was detected in the positive mode and selectivity of the analysis was increased by sequential mass analysis through multiple reaction monitoring. All of the effective parameters in the extraction of metoprolol from plasma and wastewater were optimized. Under optimal conditions the method was linear in the ranges of 1-1,000 and 0.1-1,000 ng/ml in plasma and wastewater samples, respectively. The detection limits of the method were 0.30 and 0.03 ng/ml in plasma and wastewater samples, respectively. The data showed that the method provides low detection limit, wide linear range, good precision and high extraction recovery. Finally several plasma and wastewater samples were successfully analyzed using the method. The use of a small amount of a green and inexpensive sorbent and a low volume of plasma without the need for further pretreatment steps are the main advantages of the method.

Improved magnetic solid-phase extraction based on magnetic sorbent obtained from sand for the extraction of pesticides from fruit juice.

BACKGROUND: A combination of magnetic solid-phase extraction using an efficient and cheap magnetic sorbent obtained from sand and dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction has been developed for the extraction of nine multiclass pesticides (clodinafop-propargyl, haloxyfop-R-methyl, fenoxaprop-P-ethyl, oxadiazon, penconazole, diniconazole, chlorpyrifos, fenazaquin, and fenpropathrin) from commercial fruit juices (sour cherry, pomegranate, grape, watermelon, orange, apricot, and peach juices). The enriched pesticides were determined by gas chromatography-flame ionization detector and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The sorbent was natural iron oxide entrapped in silica along with some impurities. In this method, to extract the analytes from the samples, an appropriate amount of the magnetic sorbent (at mg level) is added. Then the sorbent particles are isolated from the solution using an external magnetic field and the adsorbed analytes are desorbed from the sorbent by acetone. In the following, a dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction procedure is carried out to concentrate the analytes more and to reach low limits of detection. RESULTS: Under optimized extraction conditions, the method revealed satisfactory repeatability (relative standard deviation ≤8% for intra-day and inter-day precision), reasonable extraction recovery (43.3-55.9%), high enrichment factors (433-559), and low limits of detection (0.45-0.89 µg L-1 ). CONCLUSION: The method was applied in the analysis of pesticides in various fruit juices. Chlorpyrifos was found in peach juice at a concentration of 27 ± 2 µg L-1 (n = 3) using a gas chromatography-flame ionization detector. To verify the results, the peach juice was also injected into gas chromatography-mass spectrometry after applying the proposed extraction method. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

MiR-21 in Lung Transplant Recipients With Chronic Lung Allograft Dysfunction.

Background: Micro-RNA-21 (miR-21) is a post-translational regulator involved in epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Since EMT is thought to contribute to chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD), we aimed to characterize miR-21 expression and distinct EMT markers in CLAD. Methods: Expression of miR-21, vimentin, Notch intracellular domain (NICD) and SMAD 2/3 was investigated in explanted CLAD lungs of patients who underwent retransplantation. Circulating miR-21 was determined in collected serum samples of CLAD and matched stable recipients. Results: The frequency of miR-21 expression was higher in restrictive allograft syndrome (RAS) than in bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) specimens (86 vs 30%, p = 0.01); Vimentin, NICD and p-SMAD 2/3 were positive in 17 (100%), 12 (71%), and 7 (42%) BOS patients and in 7 (100%), 4 (57%) and 4 (57%) RAS cases, respectively. All four markers were negative in control tissue from donor lungs. RAS patients showed a significant increase in serum concentration of miR-21 over time as compared to stable recipients (p = 0.040). Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge this is the first study highlighting the role miR-21 in CLAD. Further studies are necessary to investigate the involvement of miR-21 in the pathogenesis of CLAD and its potential as a therapeutic target.

Development of a surfactant-assisted dispersive solid phase extraction using deep eutectic solvent to extract four tetracycline antibiotics residues in milk samples.

In this study, a new floating dispersive solid phase extraction method based on deep eutectic solvents has been developed in a home-made extraction device for the extraction of four tetracycline antibiotics from milk samples. In this approach, the sorbent (activated carbon) was dispersed in whole parts of solution with the aid of air stream and floated on top of the solution with the aid of the surfactant (lauryl betaine) and air bubbles. After collection of the sorbent, the adsorbed analytes were eluted with tetrabutyl ammonium chloride-propionic acid deep eutectic solvent under sonication. In this method, there was no need of organic dispersive and extraction solvents and the used sorbent was collected on top of the solution and collected without centrifugation. The validation parameters showed that low limits of detection (0.1-0.3 µg/kg) and quantification (0.6-1.0 µg/kg), acceptable enrichment factors (52-60), efficient extraction recoveries (80-91%), and satisfactory relative standard deviations (≤9.8%) were obtained. Eventually, the method was successfully applied on different milk samples and tetracycline was determined in them.