Applications of deep eutectic solvents in microextraction and chromatographic separation techniques: Latest developments, challenges, and prospects

Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) have recently sparked considerable attention in a variety of scientific and technological fields. The unique properties of DESs include biodegradability, easy preparation, low cost, and tuneability, rendering them a new and prospective alternative to hazardous solvents. Analytical chemistry is one of the most appealing fields where DESs proved to be applicable in either sample preparation or chromatographic separation. This review summarizes the new horizons dedicated to the application of DESs in microextraction and chromatographic separation. The utilization of DESs in microextraction, in chromatography as mobile phase additives, and in chromatographic material preparation processes is outlined. The enhancements in chromatographic performance achieved using DESs and any potential explanations deduced from the experimental findings were primarily discussed. An additional brief discussion on DESs preparation, characterization, and properties is addressed in this work. Finally, current challenges and future trends are also presented, supplying evidence for distinct possibilities regarding new research approaches involving DESs. This review can represent a guide and stimulate further research in this field.

P3603Impact of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura on clinical outcomes in patients with acute myocardial infarction

Background

There is scarce evidence reflecting the clinical outcomes in patients with Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP) and Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI). The ITP patient population is at higher risk of bleeding complications due to low platelet counts and difficulty in managing their antiplatelet and anticoagulation therapy. In our study, we sought to assess clinical outcomes of ITP patients admitted with AMI using the US national inpatient sample (NIS) database.

Purpose

To determine difference in in-hospital mortality, clinical complications, and length of stay (LOS) in AMI patients with and without ITP.

Methods

We identified adults aged ≥18 years hospitalized from 2005 to 2014 with AMI as their primary diagnosis utilizing ICD-9 codes 410.0 to 410.92. Patients with ITP were identified using ICD-9 code 287.31. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes included coronary revascularization procedures (PCI and CABG), and in-hospital complications including bleeding (intracranial, epistaxis, GI, and GU bleeding, hematoma, and bleeding requiring transfusion), cardiac complications, transfusions, acute ischemic stroke (AIS), and LOS. A propensity-matched cohort accounting for demographic characteristics, comorbidities, and cardiovascular risk factors, was created to compare these outcomes. Patients with secondary causes of ITP such as HIV, pregnancy, sepsis, SLE, malignancy were excluded.

Results

A total of 1108034 AMI admissions, of which 1002 with ITP, were identified. In the unmatched group, patients with ITP were older, and had more comorbidities (diabetes mellitus; hypothyroidism; atrial fibrillation; previous history of cardiovascular, peripheral, and end stage renal disease; all p<0.05). In the AMI population, 851 ITP and 851 non-ITP admissions were propensity-matched. Figure 1 illustrates the primary and secondary outcomes of the study among the propensity-matched study groups. Although there was no difference in short-term mortality between the ITP and non-ITP patients with AMI, patients with ITP were less likely to undergo coronary revascularization possibly because of thrombocytopenia. Patients with ITP had significantly more bleeding complications and transfusions. We observed in our study that patients with ITP had a significantly longer LOS compared to non-ITP patients (6.1 vs 5.4 days, with a mean ratio of 1.14 (95% CI: 1.05,1.23)).

Conclusion

In the large population of patients included in the NIS database, patients with ITP admitted with AMI, have a significantly higher rate of bleeding complications, undergo less PCI and have a longer LOS compared to AMI patients without ITP. There are no current guidelines by ACC/AHA/ESC regarding management of patients with AMI and thrombocytopenia. These results warrant further investigation through randomized controlled trials including patients with thrombocytopenia to assess long term outcomes and to define optimal management in this population.

Assessing the performance of a method of simultaneous compression and encryption of multiple images and its resistance against various attacks

We introduce a double optimization procedure for spectrally multiplexing multiple images. This technique is adapted from a recently proposed optical setup implementing the discrete cosine transformation (DCT). The new analysis technique is a combination of spectral fusion based on the properties of DCT, specific spectral filtering, and quantization of the remaining encoded frequencies using an optimal number of bits. Spectrally multiplexing multiple images defines a first level of encryption. A second level of encryption based on a real key image is used to reinforce encryption. A set of numerical simulations and a comparison with the well known JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) image compression standard have been carried out to demonstrate the improved performances of this method. The focus here will differ from the method of simultaneous fusion, compression, and encryption of multiple images (SFCE) [Opt. Express 19, 24023 (2011)] in the following ways. Firstly, we shall be concerned with optimizing the compression rate by adapting the size of the spectral block to each target image and decreasing the number of bits required to encode each block. This size adaptation is achieved by means of the root-mean-square (RMS) time-frequency criterion. We found that this size adaptation provides a good tradeoff between bandwidth of spectral plane and number of reconstructed output images. Secondly, the encryption rate is improved by using a real biometric key and randomly changing the rotation angle of each block before spectral fusion. By using a real-valued key image we have been able to increase the compression rate of 50% over the original SFCE method. We provide numerical examples of the effects for size, rotation, and shifting of DCT-blocks which play noteworthy roles in the optimization of the bandwidth of the spectral plane. Inspection of the results for different types of attack demonstrates the robustness of our procedure.

Simultaneous fusion, compression, and encryption of multiple images

We report a new spectral multiple image fusion analysis based on the discrete cosine transform (DCT) and a specific spectral filtering method. In order to decrease the size of the multiplexed file, we suggest a procedure of compression which is based on an adapted spectral quantization. Each frequency is encoded with an optimized number of bits according its importance and its position in the DC domain. This fusion and compression scheme constitutes a first level of encryption. A supplementary level of encryption is realized by making use of biometric information. We consider several implementations of this analysis by experimenting with sequences of gray scale images. To quantify the performance of our method we calculate the MSE (mean squared error) and the PSNR (peak signal to noise ratio). Our results consistently improve performances compared to the well-known JPEG image compression standard and provide a viable solution for simultaneous compression and encryption of multiple images.

Predicting and monitoring tumor response to epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitor gefitinib in patients with locally advanced esophageal adenocarcinoma

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Background: This study aimed to validate an ex vivo chemosensitivity assay to measure the pharmacodynamic effect of gefitinib on esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) prior to treatment with pre-operative concomitant chemoradiotherapy (CRT). Methods: A 14 day run-in period with 250 mg/day of gefitinib preceded CRT. Endoscopic biopsies (D 0 and 14) in 4 patients with T2–3N0/1M0/1a EAC were analyzed by ex vivo chemosensitivity assay. Day 0 tissue was exposed to gefitinib ex vivo, then tumor was exposed to gefitinib for 14 days in vivo (ie in the patient). Phosphorylation of the EGFR, raf/MEK/ERK and PI3/AKT pathways was measured by Western blot. Profiles were compared for correlation between ex vivo and in vivo exposure, and patterns were correlated with response to CRT. The effects were also characterized by immunohistochemistry (IHC). EGFR, K-Ras, and PI3K mutations, serum concentrations of gefitinib and PTEN status were measured as potential confounders. Results: One patient with stage T3N1 died of unexplained hemorrhage during surgery. Three had clinical and path stages of: T3N1/T0N0, T3N0/T3N0, T3N1/T2N1. Gefitinib levels were constant, confirming exposure of target tissue to the drug. Ex vivo exposure yielded four distinct pathway patterns. The exact same patterns were seen after in vivo exposure. No mutations were identified in exons 18–21 of the EGFR, exons 2/3 of K-ras or exons 9/22 of PI3K. PTEN levels were similar in all tumors. PCNA expression correlated with raf/MEK/ERK pathway inhibition, but not with inhibition of EGFR activity. IHC correlated with Western blot for expression of EGFR, and phospho- and total ERK levels. No correlation was observed between gefitinib effect and pathologic response to CRT. Conclusions: This study used a novel ex vivo chemosensitivity assay to demonstrate the activity of gefitinib to inhibit target in tumor tissue obtained from patients with EAC. The exact correlation of pre- and post-treatment profiles suggests potential use in the pre-treatment setting to predict in vivo effects of targeted therapies. This approach may facilitate the further refinement of patient selection to maximize potential benefit while sparing patients unlikely to respond to a given agent.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

The effect of fertilizer treatments on yield of seed and volatile oil of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.)

Nitrogen fertilization gave higher number of compound umbels and increased oil percentage, seed yield and oil yield with increase in dose. Phosphorus and potassium produced significant increase in the previons aspects with the second dose only.

The effect of date of sowing and plant spacing on yield of seed and volatile oil of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.)

Wider spacing produced taller fennel plants. The compound umbels per plant increased as the distance between plants increased. The yield of seed per plant was greater in wider spacing. On the other hand, the medium space (30 cm) produced higher seed and oil contant per acre. Early sown plants produced taller plants, with higher compound umbels. The oil percentage was not affected while higher yield of seed and oil were significantly obtained.