Matrix-assisted Laser Desorption Ionization Mass Spectrometry for Detection of α/β-Chain Changes From Human Hemoglobin: An Exploratory Study.

In this work, we developed a matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) method to directly analyze human whole blood samples. 1.0 µL of whole blood samples and 1.

Portable collection of breath phenylpyruvic acid for noninvasive assessment of pediatric hyperphenylalaninemia by mass spectrometry.

Despite the efforts of Hyperphenylalaninemia (HPA) prevention in prenatal testing, many infants with HPA are still found in new-born screening. Because there is no definitively effective cure for HPA, routine examination and monitoring is of paramount importance to effective management of HPA conditions through dietary restriction. Blood phenylalanine (Phe) has been one of the metabolic biomarkers of the HPA and thus is considered as indicators for HPA management but poses a challenge in invasive sampling.

Portable Miniature Mass Spectrometry for Enhanced On-Site Detection of Analytes in Complex Samples by Integrating Solid-Phase Microextraction and Nano-Electrospray Ionization.

On-site mass spectrometry (MS) analysis plays a crucial role in timely understanding chemical compositions of field samples but presents a challenge to miniaturization, portability, and sensitivity. In this work, a portable MS approach was developed by integrating biocompatible solid-phase microextraction (SPME) and a nano-electrospray ionization (nESI) emitter into a kit to couple miniature MS (mMS). The SPME fiber was used for on-site extractive sampling of analytes from complex liquid samples and living organisms and was then inserted into an nESI emitter for on-site MS analysis via the facile kit.

Wearable solid-phase microextraction sampling for enhanced detection of volatile analytes in human ears.

Background: Investigating ear at molecule level is challenging task, since there is a lack of molecular detection by traditional diagnosis techniques such as otologic endoscopy, ear swab culture, and imaging diagnostic technique. Therefore, new development of noninvasive, highly sensitive, and convenient analytical method for investigating human ears is highly needed.

Results: We developed a wearable sampling device for extracting trace analytes in ear by fixing solid-phase microextraction fibers into modified earmuffs (SPME-in-earmuffs).

ITRAQ-based proteomics analysis of human ectopic endometrial stromal cells treated by Maqian essential oil.

Background: Endometriosis is a common and complex syndrome characterized by the presence of endometrial-like tissue outside the uterus. Chinese medicine has been recently found to show good efficacy in treating endometriosis. Our previous results revealed that Maqian fruit essential oil (MQEO) could inhibit the proliferation and induce apoptosis of ectopic endometrial stromal cells (EESCs), but the mechanisms remain unclear.

In Vitro Inhibitory Effects of Maqian Essential Oil against Ectopic Endometrial Stromal Cells and LPS-Induced Endometrial Epithelial Cells.

Previous studies revealed that MQEO (Maqian fruits essential oil), which is extracted from the fruit of Maqian (Zanthoxylum myriacanthum var. Pubescens), had a good anti-inflammatory effect, but the effect on endometriosis in vitro remains unknown. In the present study, the inhibitory effects of MQEO against the EESCs (ectopic endometrial stromal cells) were investigated.

A Meta-Analysis of 13 Randomized Trials on Traditional Chinese Medicine as Adjunctive Therapy for COVID-19: Novel Insights into Lianhua Qingwen.

The efficacy and safety of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) paired with western medicine in the treatment of patients with COVID-19 remains controversial. This meta-analysis was performed to identify the effects of TCM. Seven electronic databases were reviewed from the inception of these databases to 30 June 2022.

An alternative surgical technique for varicoceles: a preliminary experience of the microsurgical spermatic (distal end)-inferior or superficial epigastric vein anastomosis in symptomatic varicoceles associated with perineal pain.

Many therapies are effective in treating varicoceles, including dilation of the pampiniform plexus in males. The most common method of treatment is varicocelectomy. We aimed to assess an alternative technique (microsurgical spermatic [distal end]-superficial or inferior epigastric vein anastomosis) that preserves the normal blood flow pattern for varicocele treatment.

Hemangioma of the prostate with retrograde ejaculation - a case report.

Introduction And Importance: Hemangioma of the prostate is rarely reported. We here describe a hemangioma of the prostate in a 31-year-old man.

Case Presentation: The history, imaging characteristics, treatment and one year follow-up results were well documented.

[Compound Chamomile and Lidocaine Hydrochloride Gel applied at different time-windows for premature ejaculation: A prospective single-center randomized controlled study].

Objective: To investigate the efficacy and safety of Compound Chamomile and Lidocaine Hydrochloride Gel (CCLH) (Kamistad) applied at different time-windows on premature ejaculation (PE).

Methods: This prospective study included 72 PE patients treated by application of CCLH to the glans and penile body in our hospital from February to October 2021. According to the time of drug administration before insertion into the vagina, we randomly divided the patients into a 5-minute group (n = 39) and a 15-minute group (n = 33).

Plasma Lipidomics Identifies Unique Lipid Signatures and Potential Biomarkers for Patients With Aortic Dissection.

Aortic dissection (AD) is a catastrophic cardiovascular emergency with a poor prognosis, and little preceding symptoms. Abnormal lipid metabolism is closely related to the pathogenesis of AD. However, comprehensive lipid alterations related to AD pathogenesis remain unclear.

Diagnostic re-evaluation and predictors of congenital hypothyroidism with eutopic thyroid gland in Jiangxi, China.

Objectives: An increase in the incidence of congenital hypothyroidism (CH) with eutopic gland has been reported worldwide due to neonatal screening programs. In this study, we aimed to determine the prevalence of transient CH (TCH) and to investigate predictive factors that could distinguish between permanent and transient CH in patients with eutopic thyroid glands.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 508 children treated for CH with eutopic thyroid glands between June 1998 and June 2020 in Jiangxi Newborn Screening Center.

In vivo solid-phase microextraction swab-mass spectrometry for multidimensional analysis of human saliva.

Solid phase microextraction (SPME) is one of the most powerful sample preparation techniques for analyte extraction and enrichment from complex matrices. SPME fibers are commonly used to extract analytes from collected samples. Following our recent work on development of in vivo SPME swab that integrates an SPME fiber and a medical swab (Anal Chim Acta, 2020, 1124, 71-77), the multiple SPME fibers inserted into a medical swab (multiple-SPME swab) is further developed to couple with different mass spectrometry (MS) approaches for multidimensional analysis of human saliva in this work.

Metabolomics Insights into Oleate-Induced Disorders of Phospholipid Metabolism in Macrophages.

Background: Diet-induced disordered phospholipid metabolism and disturbed macrophage metabolism contribute to the pathogenesis of metabolic diseases. However, the effects of oleate, a main dietary fatty acid, on macrophage phospholipid metabolism are unclear.

Objectives: We aimed to discover oleate-induced disorders of macrophage phospholipid metabolism and potential therapeutic targets for treating diet-related metabolic diseases.

Comparative study of intracavernous pressure and cavernous pathology after bilateral cavernous nerve crushing and resection in rats.

This study aimed to compare the effects of bilateral cavernous nerve crushing (BCNC) and bilateral cavernous nerve resection (BCNR) on intracavernous pressure (ICP) and cavernous pathology in rats and to explore the optimal treatment time for the BCNC and BCNR models. Seventy-two male rats aged 12 weeks were randomly divided into three equal groups: Sham (both cavernous nerves exposed only), BCNC (BCN crushed for 2 min), and BCNR (5 mm of BCN resected). Erectile function was then measured at 1 week, 3 weeks, and 5 weeks after nerve injury, and penile tissues were harvested for histological and molecular analyses by immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, Western blot, and cytokine array.

The Expression of MBD6 Is Associated with Tumor Size in Uterine Leiomyomas.

Uterine leiomyoma (UL) is the most common benign smooth muscle tumor of the uterus in reproductive women. Prior studies indicated that methyl-CpG-binding domain proteins (MBDs) may be involved in the pathogenesis of UL. In this study, UL tissues and paired adjacent myometrium were collected from a total of 51 patients.

Simple Fabrication of Solid-Phase Microextraction with Surface-Coated Aluminum Foil for Enhanced Detection of Analytes in Biological and Clinical Samples by Mass Spectrometry.

Rapid detection of analytes in biological and clinical samples is highly desirable, and significant progress has been made with direct mass spectrometric (MS) analysis. Rapid and sensitive detection, however, remains a major challenge in direct analysis of raw samples. In this study, we described a simple, rapid, and efficient method for enhanced detection of analytes in complex samples, using surface-coated aluminum (Al) foil that was simply made with conductive resin for physical adhesion of functional particles.

Development of tip-desorption electrospray ionization coupled with ion mobility-mass spectrometry for fast screening of carbapenemase-producing bacteria.

Drug-resistant bacteria is posing one of the greatest threats to human health. Carbapenemase-producing (CP) bacteria are a group of emerging highly drug-resistant bacteria which cause serious health problem in worldwide. Rapid and reliable detection of CP-bacteria is essential for point-of-care therapy and rapid infection control.

High-throughput polymer tip-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry for enhanced detection of neopterin and biopterin in clinical urine samples.

Urinary biopterin (Bio) and neopterin (Neo) are important markers for clinical diagnosis of hyperphenylalaninemia. Herein, we developed a high-throughput analysis method based on electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) with polymer tips for the rapid quantitative detection of Bio and Neo in clinical urine samples. Different polymer tips were investigated.

Rapid determination of carbendazim in complex matrices by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry with syringe filter needle.

The determination of pesticide residues is an indispensable task in controlling food safety and environment protection. Carbendazim is one of the extensive uses of pesticides in the agricultural industry. In this study, a simple method utilizing syringe filter has been applied as electrospray ionization emitter for mass spectrometric identification and quantification of carbendazim in complex matrices including soil, natural water, and fruit juice samples, which contain many insoluble materials.

Quantification of monohydroxylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in human urine samples using solid-phase microextraction coupled with glass-capillary nanoelectrospray ionization mass spectrometry.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are environmental contaminants with carcinogenic effect raising worldwide concerns. Hydroxylated PAHs (OH-PAHs) could be formed in the body as metabolites of PAHs in human urine samples and thus considered as biomarkers of PAH exposure. In this study, five OH-PAHs including 3-phenanthrol, 1-naphthol, 2-hydroxy fluorene, 1-hydroxprene and 6-hydroxy chrysene in human urine samples were selectively enriched by C18 solid-phase microextraction (SPME), then SPME fiber was connected high voltage and then was inserted into a glass-capillary to elute and ionize the analytes for mass spectrometric (MS) detection.

Downregulation of DNA methyltransferase 3 alpha promotes cell proliferation and invasion of ectopic endometrial stromal cells in adenomyosis.

Adenomyosis is a common benign gynecological condition in female reproductive tract and the detailed molecular etiology remains largely elusive. Previous studies implicated that deregulated expression of DNA (cytosine-5)-methyltransferase 3A (DNMT3A), a de novo DNA methyltransferase, might be involved in the pathogenesis of adenomyosis. Meanwhile, ectopic endometrial stromal cells (EESCs) were suggested to play crucial roles in adenomyosis.

Medical swab touch spray-mass spectrometry for newborn screening of nicotine and cotinine in meconium.

Newborn screening is one of public health concerns designed to screen infants shortly after birth. Prenatal exposure to tobacco smoke such as nicotine has been reported to affect babies. Levels of nicotine and cotinine in meconium were widely used to evaluate the tobacco exposure of foetuses during pregnancy in a polluted environment.

Therapeutic effects of adipose-derived stem cells-based microtissues on erectile dysfunction in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

This study aimed to explore the therapeutic effects of adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs)-based microtissues (MTs) on erectile dysfunction (ED) in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Fifty-six 8-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats received intraperitoneal injection of STZ (60 mg kg-1 ), and 8 weeks later, the determined diabetic rats randomly received intracavernous (IC) injection of phosphate buffer solution (PBS), ADSCs, or MTs. Another eight normal rats equally got IC injection of PBS.

A novel somatic MAPK1 mutation in primary ovarian mixed germ cell tumors.

A recent exome-sequencing study revealed prevalent mitogen-activated protein kinase 1 (MAPK1) p.E322K mutation in cervical carcinoma. It remains largely unknown whether ovarian carcinomas also harbor MAPK1 mutations.