An improved and easy to use liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometric (LC/MS/MS) method in human serum was developed for the quantification of clonidine (CLD), an alpha
2-/alpha
1-adrenoceptor ...agonist, used for analgo-sedation and the therapy of opioid withdrawal in pediatric patients. Sample preparation consisted of precipitation of serum proteins by adding acetonitrile and centrifugation of the sample subsequently.
2H
4Clonidine (CLD4) served as internal standard. Chromatographic separation of the supernatant was achieved using a 100
mm
×
3
mm, 5
μm Thermo Electron BetaBasic C4 column with isocratic flow and elution consisting of 0.1% formic acid/acetonitrile (85/15, v/v) and a flow-rate of 350
μl/min resulting in a column pressure of 280–420
kPa. LC/MS/MS detection was performed by using a triple-stage quadrupole mass spectrometer (TSQ Quantum, Thermo Electron) working in selected reaction monitoring mode with positive electrospray ionization. The analyte was quantified in a single run within 5
min. Linearity was demonstrated over the expected concentration range 0.15–50
μg/l CLD. The lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) and the limit of detection were 0.1
μg/l and 0.01
μg/l, respectively. None of the drugs used concomitantly during analgesic therapy interfered in the assay in vitro. Intra-day precision expressed as RSD was 9.6% or less for CLD, while inter-day result was 10.0% or less for CLD. Intra-day and inter-day accuracy was within ±4.9% and ±1.8%, respectively. The method was validated according to the international guidelines of the International Conference on Harmonisation (ICH) and the US Food and Drugs Administration (FDA). The described method is suitable to analyse serum samples with very small volumes and sets the stage for pharmacokinetic studies in pediatric studies.
Abstract
Background
Dietary supplements use continues to increase in many countries. They are often used without a full understanding of the potential benefits and risks associated with their use, ...and without consultation with a health care professional. This study aimed to explore health beliefs and patterns of dietary supplement usage among fitness club participants.
Methods
This cross-sectional study was conducted in fitness clubs of the city of Nis, Serbia. Male adults, age 18-45 years, participated. Data from participants were collected through an original structured, self-administered questionnaire describes the prevalence and type of supplements used, the reasons for using and the information source.
Results
The prevalence of dietary supplement intake among participants was 85.86%. Most participants were between the age of 20 and 40 years, had a college degree (57.1%), non-smokers (80.5%), without chronic disease (86%), perform exercise at least thrice weekly (76.2%) and 63% had at least1 hour. The percentage of participants who had favorable health views on dietary supplements was significantly higher among the supplement users than among the non-users (P < 0.0001). Most participants (76.19%) perform exercise from 3 to 5 times weekly and 82.85% had from 1 to 2 hours exercise duration. The percentage of subjects who think supplements have side effects was significantly higher among the supplement non-users than among the users (p < 0 .05). Proteins (83.33%), amino acids (63.09%) and creatine (52.38%) were the most commonly reported supplements used. The places of buying dietary supplements most mentioned were specialized supplement store (78.57%), online (11.9%) and pharmacy (9.52%).
Conclusions
Male fitness club member are large consumers of dietary supplements. Public health campaigns could be useful to educate Serbian population regarding using dietary supplements during fitness activities.
Key messages
Male fitness club members are large consumers of dietary supplements in Serbia. Public health campaigns are needed to educate fitness participants about using dietary supplements.
Clinical and laboratory studies have suggested that amphetamine treatment when paired with rehabilitation results in improved recovery of function after stroke or traumatic brain injury. In the ...present study, we investigated whether new anatomical pathways developed in association with improved motor function after brain damage and amphetamine treatment linked with rehabilitation. Following a unilateral sensorimotor cortex lesion in the adult rat, amphetamine (2 mg/kg) was administered in conjunction with physiotherapy sessions on postoperative days two and five. Physiotherapy was continued twice daily for the first 3 weeks after injury, and then once daily until week six. Performance on skilled forelimb reaching and ladder rung walking was used to assess motor improvement. Our results show that animals with sensorimotor cortical lesions receiving amphetamine treatment linked with rehabilitation had significant improvement in both tasks. Neuroanatomical tracing of efferent pathways from the opposite, non-damaged cortex resulted in the novel finding that amphetamine treatment linked with rehabilitation, significantly increased axonal growth in the deafferented basilar pontine nuclei. These results support the notion that pharmacological interventions paired with rehabilitation can enhance neuronal plasticity and thereby improve functional recovery after CNS injury.
Most people will experience bereavement grief, but some suffer from persistent or prolonged (PoP) grief, grief that used to be identified as “complicated” before recent DSM-5 and ICD-11 definitional ...developments. In 2020, a scoping literature review was undertaken to identify and consolidate contemporary evidence from research articles published in 2018 or 2019 in paper-based and open access peer-review journals on: (a) the incidence or prevalence of PoP grief, and (b) who develops it or is diagnosed as suffering from it, and correspondingly what causative factors or predictors are associated with PoP grief. All of the 11 identified research articles reported an incidence or prevalence rate, with these varying greatly, but with a much higher rate now that a 6-month post-death measurement timeframe is used. The predictors or factors among people who were identified as having PoP grief also varied considerably, although sudden and unexpected deaths were often implicated.
The objective of this study was observation of the adhesive interface on original tooth samples, as well as their epoxy replicas, under SEM. A light‐cure flowable composite was incrementally placed ...and light‐polymerized in previously prepared cylindrical dentinal cavities on the buccal surfaces of extracted human third molars. After finishing procedures, impressions of the composite/dentin margin were made using polyvinylsiloxane in order to obtain accurate epoxy replicas for SEM analysis. Ultrastructural morphology of the adhesive surface was observed at high magnifications (≥1,000×) on original tooth samples, which were previously prepared to expose the part of the dentin surface, which participates in the formation of adhesive bond. SEM micrographs showed that marginal adaptation was mostly of acceptable quality. In some of the SEM micrographs of original tooth samples, marginal gap formation, and resin tag breakdown were noted, which were ascribed to polymerization shrinkage. Profound understanding of ultrastructural morphology is necessary for achieving more predictable and durable margin between composite restorations and surrounding tooth structures, and SEM analysis can serve that purpose.
In this paper, we report on the influence of the application of scanning electron microscopy in the observation of ultrastructural morphology of the adhesive interface in achieving more predictable margin between composite restorations and surrounding tooth structures.
There has been supporting evidence that older adults with underlying health conditions form the majority of the fatal cases in the current novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. While the ...impact of COVID-19 is affecting the general public, it is clear that these distressful experiences will be magnified in older adults, particularly people living with Alzheimer's disease and related dementia (ADRD), making them the most vulnerable group during this time. People with differing degrees of ADRD are especially susceptible to the virus, not only because of their difficulties in assessing the threat or remembering the safety measures, but also because of the likelihood to be subject to other risk factors, such as lack of proper care and psychological issues. Therefore, in this article, we will discuss the challenges related to home-based care for people with ADRD during a pandemic and propose a formulation of systematic solutions to address these challenges and to alleviate the social and economic impact resulting from the crisis.
The aim of this two-year prospective clinical study was to evaluate and compare the clinical performance of three different adhesive esthetic materials in noncarious cervical lesions.
A total of 90 ...restorations (30 per material) were placed in 30 patients who ranged in age between 18 and 50 years and of both genders, by a single operator with no previous preparation. The restoration of noncarious cervical lesions was done with either a microfilled composite (Esthet.X/Dentsply/De Trey, Konstanz, Germany, and Prime&Bond NT/Dentsply/De Trey), a nanohybrid composite (TetricEvoCeram/Vivadent, Schaan, Liechtenstein, and AdheSE/Vivadent), or a compomer (Dyract eXtra/Dentsply/De Trey and Xeno III Dentsply/De Trey). All restorations were evaluated by independent examiners using a modified US Public Health Service criteria at baseline and after 12 and 24 months for six clinical categories. Data were analyzed statistically by Pearson's chi-square or the Fisher's exact test at 5% significance level (p<0.05).
Results showed that most of the restorations were clinically satisfactory after 12 and 24 months, with no statistically significant differences among the three groups for all evaluated criteria.
Treatment of noncarious cervical lesions using composite and compomer materials, combined with the appropriate adhesive systems and properly implemented restorative procedures, gives satisfactory results after a two-year evaluation period.
Traumatic dental injuries usually occur among children and adolescents, with maxillary central incisors as the most often affected teeth. Complicated crown-root fractures are particularly challenging ...for esthetic and functional rehabilitation and often require a multidisciplinary approach. A 21-year-old male patient came to the Dental Clinic due to fractured maxillary incisors caused by trauma during a sporting activity. Clinical examination revealed horizontal fractures of teeth 7, 8, and 9, initiating in the labial cervical third and extending subgingivally on the palate, with exposed pulp tissues. On provisional repositioning and splinting the fragments, root canal treatment was performed. Definitive repositioning was accomplished by raising a full-thickness gingival flap, using fiber-reinforced composite posts, by an endodontist and an oral surgeon. Reattachment was accomplished under surgical conditions to ensure precise positioning of fragments by exposing the palatal aspect of the fracture lines and providing a dry operating field. Definitive composite resin veneers were performed after seven days.
PDF
