Preventing Mislabeling: A Comparative Chromatographic Analysis for Classifying Medical and Industrial Cannabis.

Gas chromatography (GC) techniques for analyzing and determining the cannabinoid profile in cannabis (Cannabis sativa L.) are widely used in standard laboratories; however, these methods may mislabel the profile when used under rapid conditions. Our study aimed to highlight this problem and optimize GC column conditions and mass spectrometry (MS) parameters to accurately identify cannabinoids in both standards and forensic samples. The method was validated for linearity, selectivity, and precision. It was observed that when tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) and cannabidiolic acid (CBD-A) were examined using rapid GC conditions, the resulting derivatives generated identical retention times. Wider chromatographic conditions were applied. The linear range for each compound ranged from 0.02 µg/mL to 37.50 µg/mL. The R2 values ranged from 0.996 to 0.999. The LOQ values ranged from 0.33 µg/mL to 5.83 µg/mL, and the LOD values ranged from 0.11 µg/mL to 1.92 µg/mL. The precision values ranged from 0.20% to 8.10% RSD. In addition, forensic samples were analyzed using liquid chromatography (HPLC-DAD) in an interlaboratory comparison test, with higher CBD and THC content than GC-MS determination (p < 0.05) in samples. Overall, this study highlights the importance of optimizing GC techniques to avoid mislabeling cannabinoids in cannabis samples.

Study of the peak splitting in an alternative method for the radiochemical purity measurement of 99mTechnetium-sestamibi.

One of the alternative methods for the measurement of radiochemical purity (RCP) of Technetium-sestamibi uses Whatman 3MM paper as the stationary phase and ethyl acetate as the mobile phase. However, alternative method shows peak splitting and shouldering of the radiopharmaceutical. This could be because of higher levels of analyte. We aimed to assess the effect of sample dilution (1 : 1) on this method and to compare these RCP values with the reference method. The diluted samples showed a unique peak in the radiopharmaceutical zone, but the RCP values were significantly different (P<0.05) and correlated poorly with the reference method.

A new method for the radiochemical purity measurement of ¹¹¹In-pentetreotide.

OBJECTIVES AND METHODS: The recommended method for the measurement of radiochemical purity (RCP) of ¹¹¹In-labelled pentetreotide is thin-layer chromatography with a silica gel as the stationary phase and a 0.1 N sodium citrate solution (pH 5) as the mobile phase. According to the supplier's instructions, the mobile phase must be prepared before the test is carried out, and the recommended stationary phase is off-market. We propose a new method for RCP measurement in which the mobile phase is acid citrate dextrose, solution A, which does not need to be prepared beforehand, and thin-layer chromatography is performed with a silica gel-impregnated glass fibre sheet as the stationary phase. We used both methods to measure the percentages of radiopharmaceutical and impurities. RESULTS: The range of RCP values obtained was 98.0-99.9% (mean=99.3%) by the standard method and 98.1-99.9% (mean=99.2%) by the new method. We observed no differences between the RCP values of both methods (P=0.070). CONCLUSION: The proposed method is suitable for RCP testing because it yields results that are in good agreement with those of the standard method and because it is easier to perform as the mobile-phase solution need not be prepared in advance.

Clinical outcomes with off-pump coronary surgery after angioplasty with stent.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: The aim was to determine whether prior coronary stent implantation affects postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting. METHODS: Between January 2005 and April 2008, a retrospective analysis was carried out to evaluate the effect of prior coronary stent implantation in patients undergoing off-pump coronary surgery on the incidence of major cardiovascular events in the postoperative period (i.e. at 30 days or during postoperative hospitalization). RESULTS: In total, 796 consecutive patients underwent coronary artery bypass grafting. Of these, 116 (14.6%) had a coronary stent at the time of surgery. Patients with and without stents had similar levels of risk (i.e. EuroSCORE). Multivariate analysis, adjusted for the presence of confounding variables (i.e. preoperative left ventricular ejection fraction <40%, critical preoperative state, age, history of cerebrovascular accident, recent acute myocardial infarction, number of diseased coronary vessels, incomplete revascularization and on-pump conversion), showed that the presence of a stent was significantly associated with increased risks of postoperative myocardial infarction (relative risk [RR]=3.13; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.75-5.96), in-hospital cardiac mortality (RR=4.62; 95% CI, 1.76-12.11) and in-hospital all-cause mortality (RR=3.65; 95% CI, 1.60-8.34). CONCLUSIONS: In our experience, coronary artery stent implantation prior to coronary surgery was associated with increased risks of postoperative myocardial infarction, cardiac mortality and all-cause mortality in the postoperative period.

Resultados de la cirugía coronaria sin circulación extracopórea tras angioplastia con stent / Clinical outcomes with off-pump coronary surgery after angioplasty with stent

Introducción y objetivos. Evaluar el impacto de la implantación de stents coronarios previa a la cirugía de revascularización miocárdica en los resultados postoperatorios de ésta. Métodos. Desde enero de 2005 hasta abril de 2008, se evaluó retrospectivamente el impacto de la implantación de stents coronarios previa a la cirugía coronaria sin circulación extracorpórea en la incidencia de eventos cardiovasculares mayores en el postoperatorio (30 días o ingreso hospitalario postoperatorios). Resultados. Se sometió a 796 pacientes consecutivos a revascularización miocárdica quirúrgica; 116 (14,6%) portaban algún stent coronario en el momento de la cirugía. Los grupos con stent y sin stent tenían un perfil de riesgo similar (EuroSCORE). En el análisis multivariable, ajustando el riesgo por las variables de confusión detectadas (fracción de eyección del ventrículo izquierdo preoperatoria < 40%, estado crítico preoperatorio, edad, antecedentes de accidente cerebrovascular agudo, infarto miocárdico agudo previo reciente, número de vasos coronarios enfermos, revascularización quirúrgica incompleta y conversión a circulación extracorpórea) se detectó que el ser portador de stent se asociaba de forma significativa a un mayor riesgo de infarto miocárdico postoperatorio (RR = 3,13; intervalo de confianza [IC] del 95%, 1,75-5,96), mortalidad cardiaca hospitalaria (RR = 4,62; IC del 95%, 1,76-12,11) y mortalidad hospitalaria por todas las causas (RR = 3,65; IC del 95%, 1,6-8,34). Conclusiones. En nuestra experiencia, la implantación previa de stents coronarios se asocia a un mayor riesgo de infarto miocárdico y mortalidad cardiaca y por todas las causas en el postoperatorio de la cirugía coronaria (AU)

Introduction and Objectives. The aim was to determine whether prior coronary stent implantation affects postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting. Methods. Between January 2005 and April 2008, a retrospective analysis was carried out to evaluate the effect of prior coronary stent implantation in patients undergoing off-pump coronary surgery on the incidence of major cardiovascular events in the postoperative period (ie, at 30 days or during postoperative hospitalization). Results. In total, 796 consecutive patients underwent coronary artery bypass grafting. Of these, 116 (14.6%) had a coronary stent at the time of surgery. Patients with and without stents had similar levels of risk (ie, EuroSCORE). Multivariate analysis, adjusted for the presence of confounding variables (ie, preoperative left ventricular ejection fraction <40 critical preoperative state age history of cerebrovascular accident recent acute myocardial infarction number diseased coronary vessels incomplete revascularization and on-pump conversion showed that the presence a stent was significantly associated with increased risks postoperative relative risk rr="3.65;" 95 confidence interval ci 1 75-5 96 in-hospital cardiac mortality 76-12 11 all-cause 60-8 34 conclusions in our experience artery implantation prior to surgery period inhospital (AU)

Guías de práctica clínica de la Sociedad Española de Cardiología en enfermedades de la aorta / Guidelines of the Spanish Society of Cardiology on aortic diseases

La patología aórtica aguda es una situación clínica crítica cuyo pronóstico suele depender de un diagnóstico certero y rápido, así como de la instauración temprana de su tratamiento. En el siguiente capítulo se realiza una revisión de la patología aórtica centrada en la disección de la aorta. Se describen sus agentes etiológicos, presentación clínica y métodos diagnósticos. Asimismo, se describen la actitud médica y las indicaciones quirúrgicas de los aneurismas, de la disección aórtica y del hematoma intramural aórtico (AU)