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•The QuEChERS method used for pesticide analysis is applied to POPs.•Multi-residue analysis of POPs are effectively performed using the QuEChERS method.•The QuEChERS method is used to ...extract POPs and pesticides mainly from food.•The QuEChERS method with advanced instrumentation is promising for POPs analysis.
In multi-residue pesticide analysis, the quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe (QuEChERS) extraction method has replaced less efficient traditional extraction methods due to its many advantages. In addition to pesticide analysis, this method has been widely used for the detection and analysis of pharmaceuticals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and several persistent organic pollutants (POPs), including dioxins, polychlorinated biphenyls, perfluoroalkyl substances, and brominated flame retardants in food, biological, and environmental matrices. The analysis of PAHs and POPs is challenging due to the properties of the target compounds and their low concentrations in complex matrices. This review summarizes previously reported the QuEChERS extraction approaches to the analysis of a wide range of analytes. The QuEChERS approaches, which include dispersive solid phase extraction (d-SPE), have generally been combined with either gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) or liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS) analysis. Further on, in recent years, GC and LC-tandem mass spectrometry has been utilized with the QuEChERS extraction due to its high selectivity, sensitivity, and specificity. This enables the extraction methods for target analytes to be modified through the selection of different extraction solvents, salt formulations, and buffers for salting-out partitioning and the selection of different d-SPE and SPE sorbents for the clean-up process. The most significant advantage of this method is that concentration steps are not required. This review aims to provide an up-to-date overview of information regarding the modification of extraction techniques based on target compounds and sample matrices.
Situs inversus totalis (SIT) is a rare anatomical condition, where all the viscera appear in its reverse position. Although minimally invasive surgery has evolved to achieve totally laparoscopic ...gastrectomy for gastric cancer patients with SIT, it is difficult to perform lymphadenectomy in such a transposed anatomical condition. Recently, we performed a single-port laparoscopic total gastrectomy (SPTG) for gastric cancer in a patient with SIT. No postoperative complications or dietary problems were observed. Based on this experience, we are to design a safe strategy to perform D2 lymphadenectomy during SPTG in patients with SIT.
Herein, we introduce a smartphone-integrated immunosensor based on non-spectroscopic optical detection. Sedimentation of the retroreflector and gentle inversion of the microfluidic chip was chosen as ...biosensing principles to ensure minimal human involvement. To realize this, wash-free immunosensing was implemented on a polymeric microfluidic chip device fabricated for light signal penetration in retroreflection signal acquisition. Applying a transparent chip and passive modulation of retroreflectors enabled the minimization of human error during sensing. In addition, a retroreflection-detectable optical gadget was constructed for integration with the commercial smartphone. The gadget had an optical chamber that induced retroreflection by integration with a smartphone. When the micro-sized reflector, named the retroreflective Janus microparticle, reacted on the sensing surface, the incident light was retroreflected towards the image sensor and quantified by a smartphone-installed Android application package. The developed application package features include time-lapse image capture performed by manipulating LED flash and camera modules, and quantification of retroreflected signal counts by image processing of time-lapse images. With this platform, the user could independently commence optical signal processing without a complicated optical setup and running software on a PC, and sensitive and reproducible immunosensing results could be obtained. The applicability test for creatine kinase-myocardial band detection from the buffer to serum was conducted and presented a calibration curve of 0–1000 ng/mL within 1 h. With the developed system, we believe that the applicability of the platform in bioanalytical detection can be expanded.
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•The retroreflection-based optical immunosensor has been developed to operate on smartphone.•A non-spectroscopic optical setup was constructed on a smartphone without additional optical components.•A wash-free immunosensing was demonstrated using the sedimentation of optical probe to minimize human involvement.•Time-lapse image acquisition and image processing algorithms were developed and installed on the Android APP.•CK-MB spiked serum sample was analyzed on a smartphone APP for quantitative POCT.
Background & Aims Little is known about whether surveillance for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is worthwhile in chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV)-infected patients who have achieved HBsAg ...seroclearance. Methods A retrospective analysis of 829 patients (mean age: 52.3 years; 575 males; 98 with cirrhosis) achieving HBsAg seroclearance was performed at a tertiary hospital in Korea between 1997 and 2012. We evaluated incidence rates of HCC, and validated CU-HCC score based on data at the time of HBsAg seroclearance. Results During a follow-up of 3464 patient-years, 19 patients developed HCC (annual rate: 0.55%). Liver cirrhosis (hazard ratio HR: 10.80; 95% confidence interval CI: 4.25–27.43), male gender (HR: 8.96; 95% CI: 1.17–68.80), and age ⩾50 years at the time of HBsAg seroclearance (HR: 12.14; 95% CI: 1.61–91.68) were independently associated with HCC. The estimated annual incidence of HCC was 2.85% and 0.29% in patients with and without cirrhosis, respectively. Among the non-cirrhotic patients, the annual rate of HCC was higher in the male patients than in the females (0.40% vs. 0%, respectively), and all the HCCs developed after age 50. The time-dependent area under the receiver operating characteristic curves for the CU-HCC score for 5 year and 10 year HCC prediction were 0.85 and 0.74, respectively. Conclusions HCC surveillance should be considered for cirrhotic patients and non-cirrhotic male patients over age 50, even after HBsAg seroclearance, especially those infected with HBV genotype C. HBsAg seroclearance at age ⩾50 years was also an independent predictor for HCC.
The terrestrial ecosystem in East Asia mainly consists of semi-arid regions that are sensitive to climate change. Therefore, gross primary productivity (GPP) in East Asia could be highly variable and ...vulnerable to climate change, which can significantly affect the local carbon budget. Here, we examine the spatial and temporal characteristics of GPP variability in East Asia and its relationship with climate factors over the last three decades. We detect an abrupt decrease in GPP over Eastern China-Mongolia region around the year 2000. This is attributed to an abrupt decrease in precipitation associated with the phase shift of the Pacific decadal oscillation (PDO). We also evaluate the reproducibility of offline land surface models to simulate these abrupt changes. Of the twelve models, eight were able to simulate this abrupt response, while the others failed due to the combination of an exaggerated CO
fertilization effect and an underrated climate impact. For accurate prediction, it is necessary to improve the sensitivity of the GPP to changes in CO
concentrations and the climate system.
Various adjuvants have been tested clinically for patients with problems with embryo implantation during in vitro fertilization (IVF)-embryo transfer (ET). Vitamin D3, an essential modulator of ...various physiological processes, has received attention as an important adjuvant for successful pregnancy, as many studies have shown a strong association between vitamin D deficiency and implantation failure and fetal growth restriction. However, vitamin D has been widely utilized in different protocols, resulting in non-reproducible and debatable outcomes. In the present study, we demonstrated that cyclic intrauterine administration of vitamin D3 increased endometrial receptivity and angiogenesis, which could be attributed to increased recruitment of uterus-resident natural killer cells. In particular, cyclic treatment of vitamin D3 promoted stable attachment of the embryo onto endometrial cells in vitro, suggesting its merit during the early stage of embryo implantation to support the initial maternal-fetal interactions. Our findings suggest that women with repeated implantation failure may benefit from the use of vitamin D3 as a risk-free adjuvant prior to IVF-ET procedures to improve the uterine environment, and make it favorable for embryo implantation.
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•Vitamin D3 cyclic treatments prior to embryo implantation improve endometrial receptivity and angiogenesis.•Vitamin D3 promotes recruitment of uterus-resident NK cells, required for the embryo implantation and pregnancy.•Vitamin D3 cyclic treatments enhance the stability of attached embryo and rates of embryo implantation.•Optimal strategy of vitamin D3 cyclic treatments might maximize the efficacy during IVF-ET for patients with infertility.
Debates on the encroaching commercialization of public space by outdoor advertising highlight its possible negative impact on local quality of life and enjoyment of public spaces. These ...overstimulating outdoor advertisements are often considered a source of visual pollution, but cities have no standard way of measuring where it exists and its local impact, and thus cannot regulate it effectively. This study illustrates that visual pollution can be measured in a useful way by relating public opinion to the number of visible advertisements (intervisibility analysis). Using a 2.5D outdoor advertisement (OA) dataset (location and height) of a busy urban street in Lublin, Poland, this preliminary experiment translates visibility into visual pollution. It was found that streetscape views with more than seven visible OAs created visual pollution in this case study. The GIS-based methodology proposed could provide Lublin officials with a basic tool to assess and manage visual pollution, by informing permitting decisions on OAs.
In clinical practice, transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) has been widely used for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) beyond as well as within guideline recommendations. Here we aimed ...to verify whether two consecutive non-responses could be an optimal criterion for creating a rule to stop TACE being performed on these patients.
This study evaluated 200 patients with HCC beyond the Milan criteria, initially treated with TACE. TACE response was determined using the mRECIST criteria via dynamic CT or MRI. Median follow-up duration was 23.9 months.
Within the 200 patients analyzed, 183 (91.5%) were male, with a total median age of 59.8 years. The mean size of the largest tumor was 6.8 cm, with 80 (40.0%) patients with ≥4 tumors. After the first TACE procedure, complete response, partial response, stable disease, or progressive disease were observed in 48 (24.0%), 87 (43.5%), 59 (29.5%) and 6 (3.0%) of patients, respectively. 45 (22.5%) patients showed no objective response (OR) following two consecutive TACE sessions. Of these, 28 received a subsequent TACE, with a 10.7% OR rate. Patients without OR showed poorer survival when compared to patients who achieved OR after repeated TACE. Multivariable analysis showed that size of the largest tumor >5cm and high alpha-fetoprotein of >200 ng/mL were significant factors associated with failure of OR to two consecutive TACE sessions.
Patients showing no OR to two consecutive TACE sessions will present a poor OR to subsequent TACE procedures. Early transition to systemic therapy may be advocated in such cases.
With the wide application of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) for hepatitis C virus infection, the number of patients achieving a sustained virologic response (SVR) will continue to increase. However, ...no consensus has been achieved on exempting SVR-achieving patients from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) surveillance.
Between 2013 and 2021, 873 Korean patients who achieved SVR following DAA treatment were analyzed. We evaluated the predictive performance of seven noninvasive scores (PAGE-B, modified PAGE-B, Toronto HCC risk index, fibrosis-4, aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index, albumin-bilirubin, and age male albumin-bilirubin platelet aMAP) at baseline and after SVR.
The mean age of the 873 patients (39.3% males) was 59.1 years, and 224 patients (25.7%) had cirrhosis. During 3,542 person-years of follow-up, 44 patients developed HCC, with an annual incidence of 1.24/100 person-years. Male sex (adjusted hazard ratio AHR, 2.21), cirrhosis (AHR, 7.93), and older age (AHR, 1.05) were associated with a significantly higher HCC risk in multivariate analysis. The performance of all scores at the time of SVR were numerically better than those at baseline as determined by the integrated area under the curve. Time-dependent area under the curves for predicting the 3-, 5-, and 7-year risk of HCC after SVR were higher in mPAGE-B (0.778, 0.746, and 0.812, respectively) and aMAP (0.776, 0.747, and 0.790, respectively) systems than others. No patients predicted as low-risk by the aMAP or mPAGE-B systems developed HCC.
aMAP and mPAGE-B scores demonstrated the highest predictive performance for de novo HCC in DAA-treated, SVR-achieving patients. Hence, these two systems may be used to identify low-risk patients that can be exempted from HCC surveillance.
Siloxanes have been used as chemical additives in various products since the 1940s. They are known to have potentially toxic effects, to be environmentally persistent, and to be bioaccumulative. ...Previous studies have reported high levels of siloxanes in various environmental matrices. In this study, 6 cyclic siloxanes (D4–D9) and 13 linear siloxanes (L3–L15) in coastal sediment collected from southeastern bays adjacent to industrial zones in South Korea (Busan, Ulsan, Jinhae, and Gwangyang) were analyzed. The contamination levels and spatial distribution of siloxanes in the coastal sediment samples were investigated, with the hazard quotients (HQs) for siloxanes evaluated using Monte Carlo simulation. Across all samples, the total concentration (Σ19) of siloxanes was in the range of 11.6–3877 (mean: 305; median: 133) ng/g dry weight (dw). The highest average concentration of Σ19 siloxanes was found in Busan (mean: 580; median: 233 ng/g dw), followed by Ulsan (mean: 316; median: 209 ng/g dw), Jinhae (mean: 266; median: 125 ng/g dw), and Gwangyang (mean: 33; median: 27 ng/g dw), all of which are suggested to be affected by both industrial and domestic activities. The highest contributions were from D5 (18%) and D6 (34%), followed by D9 (7.3%) and L11 (5.8%). The HQs for siloxanes were less than 1, indicating that there was no risk to benthic organisms in the study areas; however, further monitoring of various environmental matrices is required to fully assess the potential ecological risks.
•Coastal sediment samples were collected from four industrialized bays in South Korea.•Cyclic (D4–D9) and linear siloxanes (L3–L15) were analyzed.•Industrial and domestic activities were important sources of siloxanes.•Highly contaminated stations were significantly influenced by cyclic siloxanes.•The risk of cyclic siloxanes to benthic organisms was negligible.
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