Capillary electromigration methods for food analysis and Foodomics: Advances and applications in the period March 2021 to March 2023

This work presents a revision of the main applications of capillary electromigration (CE) methods in food analysis and Foodomics. Papers that were published during the period March 2021 to March 2023 are included. The work shows the multiple CE methods that have been developed and applied to analyze different types of molecules in foods and beverages. Namely, CE methods have been applied to analyze amino acids, biogenic amines, heterocyclic amines, peptides, proteins, phenols, polyphenols, pigments, lipids, carbohydrates, vitamins, DNAs, contaminants, toxins, pesticides, additives, residues, small organic and inorganic compounds, and other minor compounds. In addition, new CE procedures to perform chiral separation and for evaluating the effects of food processing as well as the last developments of microchip CE and new applications in Foodomics will be also discussed. The new procedures of CE to investigate food quality and safety, nutritional value, storage, and bioactivity are also included in the present review work.

Developments in on-line, post separation sample manipulation in the last 22 years: Pharmaceutical and biomedical applications

On-line post separation sample manipulation is a powerful approach increasing the sensitivity and selectivity in chemical analysis. Post separation sample manipulation includes the treatment of the analytes after their separation through a suitable separation technique, mainly liquid chromatography and capillary electrophoresis. Typically, post separation approaches include either the addition of a reagent/solvent to derivatize the analyte/enhance the sensitivity, pH change, or the conversion of the analyte through a photochemical/electrochemical system (reagent-free systems). This review focuses on the developed methods using post-column manipulation of sample with pharmaceuticals and biomedical applications, covering the period from 2000 to midle-2023. Chemistries combined with fluorescence, UV-vis and mass spectrometric detection are discussed employing both liquid chromatography and electrophoretic techniques for separation. Noteworthy instrumental modifications are also discussed.

Design and simulation of a utility oilfield flare in Iraq/Kurdistan region using CFD and API-521 methodology

This paper aims at reviewing and analyzing the operation and design of a utility flare in an oilfield in the Iraq/Kurdistan region. The flare supports a gas separation unit that separates 100 MMSCFD of natural gas from other liquid compounds in petroleum refining. The actual flare dimensions are 50 m high and 0.6 m diameter and works in summer where the crosswind speed is 9 m/s and a flow of 1.2 MMSCFD of treated natural gas is flaring through it. At the beginning, the flare design was performed using the API-521 recommended approach based on full operating capacity of the unit and composition of the gas to be flared. The API-521 based design resulted in a flare with a 0.76 m diameter and 48.19 m height. The effects of stack height on heat radiation in case of full capacity firing showed that as the flare height increases from 42.34 m to 133.05 m, the heat radiation decreases from 15.8 kW/m^2 to 1.6 kW/m^2 within 45.7 m dimeter. Furthermore, the relation between stack height and heat radiation was studied for the actual firing rate 1.2MMSCFD using simulation, where the results showed that as the stack height increasing from 10 m to 50 m the heat radiation decreasing from over 1000 w/m^2 to around 150 W/m^2. In fact, CFD code C3d was used to analyze flare performance at normal firing condition during summer operation of 1.2 MMSCFD with a flare diameter and height of 50 m and 0.6 m, respectively. The code was able to predict the flame shape and size during actual flare operation. The results of the simulation demonstrated by defining four locations in the domain to measure the average temperatures and emissions, and to calculate the Combustion Efficiency (CE) and Destruction and Removal Efficiency (DRE). These points were 6 m, 8 m, 10 m, 12 m far from the tip on x-axis and at height of 52 m. The results showed that the average temperature at 6 m far from the flare is 658 K and it decreasing to 490 K at 12 m away from the tip. The CO and CO2 also decreased from 7.27E-5 and 0.033 mass% to 4.53E-6 and 0.027 mass%, respectively. Generally, soot formation was low but at points 8 m and 10 m from the tip the soot formation was considerably lower, respectively at 6.16E-5 and 8.71E-5 mass%. The emissions of C1, C2, C3 and C6+ were measured at 7.46E-9, 5.39E-9, 5.13E-9 and 4.35E-9 mass% at 6 m away from the tip. The emissions increased slightly at 8 m and 10 m from the tip but at 12 m they were observed to decrease. The flare CE and DRE were estimated to be 98% and 100%, respectively. Analysis results confirmed that the flare design was safe and the flare operation was highly efficient with very little smoke produced as indicated by the predicted CE and DRE.

Multidimensional Separations in Top-Down Proteomics

Top-down proteomics (TDP) identifies, quantifies, and characterizes proteins at the intact proteoform level in complex biological samples to understand proteoform function and cellular mechanisms. However, analyzing complex biological samples using TDP is still challenging due to high sample complexity and wide dynamic range. High-resolution separation methods are often applied prior to mass spectrometry (MS) analysis to decrease sample complexity and increase proteomics throughput. These separation methods, however, may not be efficient enough to characterize low abundance intact proteins in complex samples. As such, multidimensional separation techniques (combination of two or more separation methods with high orthogonality) have been developed and applied that demonstrate improved separation resolution and more comprehensive identification in TDP. A suite of multidimensional separation methods that couple various types of liquid chromatography (LC), capillary electrophoresis (CE), and/or gel electrophoresis-based separation approaches have been developed and applied in TDP to analyze complex biological samples. Here, we reviewed multidimensional separation strategies employed for TDP, summarized current applications, and discussed the gaps that may be addressed in the future.

Chiral Separation of Oxazolidinone Analogs by Capillary Electrophoresis Using Anionic Cyclodextrins as Chiral Selectors: Emphasis on Enantiomer Migration Order

Comparative chiral separations of enantiomeric pairs of four oxazolidinone and two related thio-derivatives were performed by capillary electrophoresis, using cyclodextrins (CDs) as chiral selectors. Since the selected analytes are neutral, the enantiodiscrimination capabilities of nine anionic CD derivatives were determined, in 50 mM phosphate buffer pH = 6. Unanimously, the most successful chiral selector was the single isomeric heptakis-(6-sulfo)-β-cyclodextrin (HS-β-CD), which resulted in the highest enantioresolution values out of the CDs applied for five of the six enantiomeric pairs. The enantiomer migration order (EMO) was the same for two enantiomeric pairs, irrespective of the CD applied. However, several examples of EMO reversals were obtained in the other cases. Interestingly, changing from randomly substituted, multi-component mixtures of sulfated-β-CD to the single isomeric chiral selector, enantiomer migration order reversal occurred for two enantiomeric pairs and similar observations were made when comparing heptakis-(2,3-di-O-methyl-6-O-sulfo)-β-CD, (HDMS-β-CD) with HS-β-CD. In several cases, cavity-size-dependent, and substituent-dependent EMO reversals were also observed. Minute differences in the structure of the analytes were also responsible for several cases of EMO reversal. The present study offers a complex overview of the chiral separation of structurally related oxazolidinones, and thio-analogs, highlighting the importance of the adequate choice of chiral selector in this group of compounds, where enantiomeric purity is of utmost importance.

Evaluation of sterol‑o‑acyl transferase 1 and cholesterol ester levels in plasma, peritoneal fluid and tumor tissue of patients with endometrial cancer: A pilot study

Endometrial cancer (EC) is the most prevalent gynecological malignancy. Abnormal accumulation of sterol-O-acyl transferase 1 (SOAT1) and SOAT1-mediated cholesterol ester (CE) contributes to cancer progression in various malignancies, including ovarian cancer. Therefore, it was hypothesized that similar molecular changes may occur in EC. The present study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic and/or prognostic potential of SOAT1 and CE in EC by: i) Determining SOAT1 and CE levels in plasma, peritoneal fluid and endometrial tissue from patients with EC and control subjects; ii) performing receiver operating characteristic curve analysis to determine diagnostic performance; iii) comparing SOAT1 and CE expression to that of the tumor proliferation marker Ki67; and iv) assessing the association between SOAT1 expression and survival. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to determine the levels of SOAT1 protein in tissue, plasma and peritoneal fluid. The mRNA and protein expression levels of SOAT1 and Ki67 in tissues were detected by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry, respectively. CE levels were determined colorimetrically in plasma and peritoneal fluid. SOAT1-associated survival data from the cBioPortal cancer genomics database were used to assess prognostic relevance. The results revealed that SOAT1 and CE levels were significantly elevated in tumor tissue and peritoneal fluid samples collected from the EC group. By contrast, the plasma levels of SOAT1 and CE in the EC and control groups were similar. Significant positive associations between CE and SOAT1, SOAT1/CE and Ki67, and SOAT1/CE and poor overall survival in patients with EC suggested that SOAT1/CE may be associated with malignancy, aggressiveness and poor prognosis. In conclusion, SOAT1 and CE may serve as potential biomarkers for prognosis and target-specific treatment of EC.

Economic and environmental benefits by means of recycling processes grounded in the CE: Case studies in the metal mechanical sector

Industrial and economic growth activities induce an increase in the generation and emission of large amounts of polluting waste to the environment. However, the scarcity of natural resources in ecosystems denotes the importance of the practical application of Circular Economy (CE) at the micro level. This research aims to evaluate the environmental and economic advantages of adopting waste recycling and reuse processes based on the CE in four industrial companies in the metal-mechanical sector. Multiple cases studies were conducted, supported by direct observations of the production processes, in addition to document examination and interviews. In the data analysis, the companies' environmental and economic gains were calculated and compared. It was concluded that the implementation of closed-loop recycling by companies in the metal-mechanic sector is an important strategy to promote CE at the micro-enterprise level. In addition to generating a consistent financial return, it resulted in the reduction of environmental impacts in the abiotic compartment (contributing to the control of global warming and flora contamination); in biotic compartment (correct disposal of wastes does not affect terrestrial living beings); in water, (the disposal of industrial waste in water bodies); and elimination of emission of any nature into the air. Despite the evidence of economic gains and the reduction of the environmental impact, environmental gains were more significant at global levels. It is expected that these findings can encourage industry managers and researchers to implement closed-loop recycling at the micro level, in addition to making its CE actions transparent to the market and government, contributing to their competitive advantage.

Chiral Separation of Apremilast by Capillary Electrophoresis Using Succinyl-β-Cyclodextrin-Reversal of Enantiomer Elution Order by Cationic Capillary Coating

A stereospecific capillary electrophoresis method was developed for the separation of the novel, antipsoriatic agent, apremilast (APR). Six anionic cyclodextrin (CD) derivatives were screened for their ability to discriminate between the uncharged enantiomers. Only succinyl-β-CD (Succ-β-CD) presented chiral interactions; however, the enantiomer migration order (EMO) was unfavorable, and the eutomer, S-APR, migrated faster. Despite the optimization of all possible parameters (pH, cyclodextrin concentration, temperature, and degree of substitution of CD), the method was unsuccessful for purity control due to the low resolution and the unfavorable enantiomer migration order. Changing the direction of electroosmotic flow (EOF) by the dynamic coating of the inner surface of the capillary with poly(diallyldimethylammonium) chloride or polybrene resulted in EMO reversal, and the developed method could be applied for the determination of R-APR as the enantiomeric purity. Thus, the application of the dynamic capillary coating offers a general opportunity for enantiomeric migration order reversal in particular cases when the chiral selector is a weak acid.

Biotinylation of reducing and non-reducing termini to create plug-and-play polysaccharides

Single-molecule studies continue to grow in popularity. In cases where biopolymer samples of interest exhibit variations in fine-structure between individual chains such single-molecule studies uniquely offer the promise of revealing deep structure-function relationships. Polysaccharides are typically studied in bulk and, as such, their study could greatly benefit from the application of single-molecule techniques. However, while for example single-molecule optical tweezers (OT) studies have become commonplace for DNA, studies of polysaccharides have lagged behind somewhat, complicated by the difficulty of studying molecules that amongst other things have more complex end-group chemistry. Recently, divalent streptavidin linkers have been shown to be capable of concatenating two pieces of biotin-terminated DNA to produce robust composite strings that run intact through conventional gels, and can be used in single-molecule OT experiments (Mohandas, Kent, Raudsepp, Jameson, & Williams, 2022). By using two such streptavidin linkers, biotin-terminated polymers could be inserted between two sections of DNA in order to facilitate single-molecule experiments on biopolymers that are currently difficult to address by other means. Here, we describe a generic approach for placing the required biotin moieties at both ends of polysaccharide chains, producing plug-and-play polysaccharide inserts that can be incorporated into composite polymer strings using streptavidin linking hubs.

PUFAs dictate the balance of power in ferroptosis

Ferroptosis is an iron-dependent form of cell death triggered by dysregulation of biochemical processes that culminate in lethal lipid peroxidation. Lipid metabolism is fundamental for determining ferroptotic fate, however, the mechanisms that alter lipid components to shape ferroptosis susceptibility remains elusive. A recent article by Lin and colleagues in Nature Communications systematically analyzed phospholipid transporters (phospholipid scramblases, flippases, and floppases), and identified that the lipid flippase solute carrier family 47 member 1 (SLC47A1) functions as a regulator of lipid remodeling and promotes ferroptosis resistance. SLC47A1 is transactivated by peroxisome proliferator activated receptor alpha (PPARA). Upon ferroptosis induction, SLC47A1 upregulation inhibits DHA/DPA polyunsaturated fatty acid containing glycerophospholipids (PUFA-PLs) accumulation to block ferroptosis. Depletion of either PPARA or SLC47A1 sensitized cells to ferroptosis by favoring ACSL4-SOAT1-mediated production of polyunsaturated fatty acid containing (PUFA) cholesterol esters. Ferroptosis has been widely linked to degenerative processes and tumor suppression. These findings indicate that lipid transporters may provide yet another means by which PUFA-containing membrane lipids convey ferroptosis sensitivity.

Selection and Identification of an ssDNA Aptamer for Fibroblast Activation Protein

As a type II transmembrane serine protease, fibroblast activation protein (FAP) is specifically expressed on the surface of fibroblasts associated with a variety of epithelial-derived malignancies such as pancreatic cancer, breast cancer, and colon cancer. It participates in the processes of tumorigenesis, progression, and immunosuppression. FAP constitutes an important target for tumor treatment; however, the current studies on FAP are mainly related to structural characteristics, enzymatic properties, and biological functions, and aptamers of FAP have not been investigated. In this work, by using recombinant human FAP as the target, five candidate aptamers, which are AptFAP-A1, AptFAP-A2, AptFAP-A3, AptFAP-A4, and AptFAP-A5, were selected by capillary electrophoresis-systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (CE-SELEX), and their secondary structures were predicted to be mainly stem-loop. Moreover, the CE-laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) method was used to determine the equilibrium dissociation constant K_D values between the FAP protein and candidate aptamers, and the K_D value was in the low molar range. Finally, Cy5-labeled aptamers were co-incubated with human pancreatic cancer-associated fibroblasts highly expressing FAP protein, and confocal microscopy imaging showed that aptamer AptFAP-A4 had the highest affinities with the cells. The FAP aptamers screened in this study provide a promising direction for the development of rapid tumor diagnosis and targeted therapy.

Switching positions: Assessing the dynamics of conjugational heterogeneity in antibody-drug conjugates using CE-SDS

Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) are a prospective class of new oncology therapeutics with the ability to deliver a cytotoxic drug to a targeted location. The concept appears simple, but ADCs are highly complex due to their intrinsic heterogeneity. Randomly conjugated ADCs, for instance, are composed of conjugated species carrying between 0 and 8 linker-drug molecules, with several positional isomers that vary in drug distribution across the antibody. The drug load, expressed as drug-to-antibody ratio (DAR), is a critical quality attribute and should be well controlled, together with the distribution of drug molecules. Here, the impact of the duration of disulfide bond reduction on the DAR was investigated by quantitating the (isomeric) DAR species in ADCs produced with varying reduction times. Although hydrophobic interaction chromatography showed a constant DAR value as a function of reduction time, data obtained by non-reducing CE-SDS revealed an unexpected dynamic in the positional conjugated isomers. The insights obtained have improved our understanding of the correlation between the disulfide bond reduction, an important step in the manufacturing of a cysteine-conjugated ADC, and the conjugational heterogeneity.

Evaluation of clinical versus non-clinical continuing education in terms of preferences and value for oral healthcare workers

BACKGROUND

Continuing professional development (clinical) and continuing education (non-clinical) is fundamental to education and self-improvement of all categories of staff within a large healthcare facility.

AIM

This study sought to examine the attendance preferences and perceived value of clinical and non-clinical oral healthcare workers towards clinical continuing professional development (CPD) and non-clinical, continuing education (CE) activities.

METHODS

A retrospective cross-sectional survey design was used capturing 8640 self-reported evaluations collected across 8 successive years and 160 CPD and CE activities in a large dental hospital. Analysis was performed using descriptive statistics including mean scores, independent t-test and cross tabulations using chi-square.

RESULTS

A strongly significant association (p < 0.001) was found between attendee position type (clinical or non-clinical) and attendance preference to either clinical or non-clinical education. Dental assistants, compared to Dentist/Specialist (p < 0.001) found the programs more accurate, relevant, improved their knowledge, would use what was learned and rated the sessions higher overall. Clinical CPD was deemed more relevant (p = 0.025) and improved knowledge (p = 0.01) while non-clinical CE had higher presenter quality (p < 0.001) and overall mean scores (p = 0.015).

CONCLUSION

There was a preference towards attending clinical CPD over non-clinical CE, by not only clinical, but also non-clinical oral healthcare workers. Non-clinical CE was scored higher by both clinical and non-clinical participants and should therefore be considered for inclusion in CPD education programs with similar settings.

Rapid determination of NSAIDs by capillary and microchip electrophoresis with capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection in wastewater

A simple, rapid method using CE and microchip electrophoresis with C⁴ D has been developed for the separation of four nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in the environmental sample. The investigated compounds were ibuprofen (IB), ketoprofen (KET), acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), and diclofenac sodium (DIC). In the present study, we applied for the first time microchip electrophoresis with C⁴ D detection to the separation and detection of ASA, IB, DIC, and KET in the wastewater matrix. Under optimum conditions, the four NSAIDs compounds could be well separated in less than 1 min in a BGE composed of 20 mM His/15 mM Tris, pH 8.6, 2 mM hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin, and 10% methanol (v/v) at a separation voltage of 1000-1200 V. The proposed method showed excellent repeatability, good sensitivity (LODs ranging between 0.156 and 0.6 mg/L), low cost, high sample throughputs, portable instrumentation for mobile deployment, and extremely lower reagent and sample consumption. The developed method was applied to the analysis of pharmaceuticals in wastewater samples with satisfactory recoveries ranging from 62.5% to 118%.

Monitoring of amoxicilline and ceftazidime in the microdialysate of diabetic foot and serum by capillary electrophoresis with contactless conductivity detection

Determination of the broad-spectrum antibiotics amoxicilline (AMX) and ceftazidime (CTZ) in blood serum and microdialysates of the subcutaneous tissue of the lower limbs is performed using CE with contactless conductivity detection (C⁴ D). Baseline separation of AMX is achieved in 0.5 M acetic acid as the background electrolyte and separation of CTZ in 3.2 M acetic acid with addition of 13% v/v methanol. The CE-C⁴ D determination is performed in a 25 µm capillary with suppression of the EOF using INST-coating on an effective length of 18 cm and the attained migration time is 4.2 min for AMX and 4.4 min for CTZ. The analysis was performed using 20 µl of serum and 15 µl of microdialysate, treated by the addition of acetonitrile in a ratio of 1/3 v/v and the sample is injected into the capillary using the large volume sample stacking technique. The LOQ attained in the microdialysate is 148 ng/ml for AMX and 339 ng/ml for CTZ, and in serum 143 ng/ml for AMX and 318 ng/ml for CTZ. The CE-C⁴ D method is employed for monitoring the passage of AMX and CTZ from the blood circulatory system into the subcutaneous tissue at the sites of diabetic ulceration in patients suffering from diabetic foot syndrome and also for measuring the pharmacokinetics following intravenous application of bolus antibiotic doses.

Development of a capillary electrophoresis method for the separation of flavonolignans in silymarin complex

CE method for the baseline separation of structurally similar flavonolignans silybin A, silybin B, isosilybin A, isosilybin B, silychristin, silydianin, and their precursor taxifolin in silymarin complex has been developed and validated. The optimized background electrolyte was 100 mmol/L boric acid (pH 9.0) containing 5 mmol/L heptakis(2,3,6-tri-O-methyl)-β-CD and 10% (v/v) of methanol. The separation was carried out in an 80.5/72 cm (50 μm id) fused silica capillary at +25 kV with UV detection at 200 nm. Genistein (10 μg/mL) was used as internal standard. The resolution between the diastereomers of silybin and isosilybin was 1.73 and 2.59, respectively. The method was validated for each analyte in a concentration range of 2.5-50 μg/mL. The calibration curves were rectilinear with correlation coefficients ≥0.9972. The method was applied to determine flavonolignans in two dietary supplements containing Silybum marianum extract. The accuracy was evaluated by comparing the results of the CE analyses of the dietary supplements with those of the reference United States Pharmacopeial HPLC method. The unpaired t-test did not show a statistically significant difference between the results of both the proposed CE and the reference method (p > 0.05, n = 3).

Genetic structure and phylogeography of Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto genotypes G1 and G3 in Pakistan and other regions of the world based on nad5 gene

Pakistan is a neglected endemic focus for Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato, a zoonotic parasite species complex with the ability to infect wide spectrum of hosts. Wide gaps exist in literature for etiological agents of cystic echinococcosis (CE) in Pakistan due to a very low number of studies on identifying the exact genotypes involved in epidemiological manifestation of this disease. Focusing on transmission patterns and epidemiological dynamics, this study aimed at investigating infective genotypes among the cattle population of south Punjab, Pakistan, employing a mitochondrial marker nad5 (680 bp). Nucleotide sequences retrieved from 28 hydatid cyst isolates displayed considerable intraspecific variation revealing the existence of G3 and G1 strains of Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto. The G3 genotype emerged as the predominant cause (78.57%) of hydatidosis in cattle. Apart from this, to understand phylogeographical relations, homologous nucleotide sequences of the partial nad5 gene from six major regions of the world were employed in the population genetics analysis to have an insight into genetic variability and demographics of G3 genotype in particular. Diversification of G3 and its haplotypes in Pakistan (n = 11) and other regions of the world (India, Iran, Turkey, Italy and France) was demonstrated. It was further demonstrated that the South Asian population (Pakistan and India) was highly differentiated from the other regions. It could, therefore, be speculated that G3 is diverging and expanding its population with South Asia as the main focal point.

The diagnostic value of contrast enhancement on MRI in diffuse and anaplastic gliomas

PURPOSE

We evaluated differentiations in gadolinium contrast enhancement (CE) between low-grade WHO °II and high-grade WHO °III gliomas in conventional MRI, which have been repeatedly questioned.

METHODS

Ninety-nine patients, who underwent first resection of WHO°II and °III gliomas, were retrospectively retrieved from a prospective database. The quantitative metric volume of Gd-CE in T1-weighted pre-operative MRI was measured using volumetric segmentation.

RESULTS

The OR to detect CE in anaplastic gliomas was seven times higher than that in diffuse gliomas (CI95% 2.8-17.2, p<0.0001). No CE was seen in 50% (8/16) of focal anaplastic and in 28% (10/36) of entirely anaplastic gliomas. CE was present in 21% (10/47) of diffuse gliomas. Anaplasia correlated with a larger CE volume (r=0.49, p<0.0001) and provided additional 4 cm³ of CE volume compared to entirely diffuse tumors. The OR to have CE was 3.6 times for IDH1 wild-type tumors (CI95% 1.3-10.2, p=0.05) and 4.8 for tumors with ATRX expression (CI95% 1.3-17.2, p=0.05). In all sub-groups, at least a quarter of cases showed no CE at all and there were cases with present CE.

CONCLUSION

CE is associated with higher odds of unfavorable prognostic features like anaplasia, wild-type IDH1 and retained ATRX. There was no CE in one-fourth of anaplastic gliomas and half of gliomas with focal anaplasia.

bracteatum extract attenuates Aβ-induced toxicity by inhibiting RIP1-driven inflammation and necroptosis

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Tibetan ginseng named Wangla (tuber of Coeloglossum viride var. bracteatum) is a traditional tonic that has Yang-strengthening and qi-enhancing, tranquilizing, intelligence-enhancing and longevity-enhancing properties. It has been used to treat impotence, spermatorrhea, anemia and insomnia. Therefore, its characteristic components and neuronal modulating effects were studied.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To investigate the elimination of Aβ-induced toxicity by CE and to elucidate the molecular mechanisms involving BDNF, FGF2, and their related signaling axis, and the RIP1-driven inflammatory pathway.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We established Aβ-induced toxicity models in cultured neurons and ICR mice, respectively. MWM and fear conditioning tests were performed for behavioral analysis of cognitive functions in mice. Western blot was used to investigate the levels of BDNF, FGF2, and their downstream effector TrkB/Akt/Bcl-2, as well as the RIP1-driven RIP1/RIP3/MLKL pathway. Immunofluorescence assay is used to examine the status of glial cells.

RESULTS

CE abrogated Aβ toxicity and inhibited apoptosis in cultured neurons, mainly by regulating the BDNF, FGF2, and TrkB/Akt signaling pathways as well as RIP1-driven inflammation and necroptosis. Similarly, mice injected intracerebrally with Aβ exhibited cognitive deficits and had elevated oxidative stress and inflammatory factors detected in their serum and brain. However, CE-treated mice showed recovery of cognitive abilities and quelled levels of oxidative stress and inflammatory factors. Moreover, Aβ toxicity led to a reduction in BDNF, FGF2, and related signaling regulators in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, accompanied by activation of RIP1-driven inflammatory signaling pathways, and a reduction in TBK1 and Bcl-2. However, CE restored the levels of BDNF, FGF2, and TrkB/Akt signaling pathway, while inhibiting RIP1-induced RIP1/RIP3/MLKL pathway, thereby antagonizing apoptosis and maintaining neuronal activity.

CONCLUSIONS

CE effectively eliminated the toxicity of Aβ in cultured neurons and mouse models, which holds promise for drug development.

Isotachophoresis for rapid transformation of Escherichia coli

A frequent limitation of electroporation (EP) and chemical transformation (CT) are the need of tedious and time-consuming procedures for inducing transformation competence, the substantial number of cells required, and the low transformation yields typically achieved. Here, we show a new and rapid electrokinetic method for transformation of small number of noncompetent Escherichia coli TOP10 cells (2-3 × 10⁵ ) at room temperature. Escherichia coli TOP10 cells and plasmid DNA are sequentially injected into a 50 μm ID capillary and focused into 11.5 nL by isotachophoresis (ITP) induced by application of high DC voltage (-16 kV). Through ITP, a large excess of plasmid DNA is brought in contact with the cell surface, with the contact time adjusted by application of a counter-pressure (1.3 psi) opposing the ITP movement. The transformation rate was more than 1000-fold higher compared to EP and CT at survival rates greater than 60%.

Sixteen capillary electrophoresis applications for viral vaccine analysis

A broad range of CE applications from our organization is reviewed to give a flavor of the use of CE within the field of vaccine analyses. Applicability of CE for viral vaccine characterization, and release and stability testing of seasonal influenza virosomal vaccines, universal subunit influenza vaccines, Sabin inactivated polio vaccines (sIPV), and adenovirus vector vaccines were demonstrated. Diverse CZE, CE-SDS, CGE, and cIEF methods were developed, validated, and applied for virus, protein, posttranslational modifications, DNA, and excipient concentration determinations, as well as for the integrity and composition verifications, and identity testing (e.g., CZE for intact virus particles, CE-SDS application for hemagglutinin quantification and influenza strain identification, chloride or bromide determination in process samples). Results were supported by other methods such as RP-HPLC, dynamic light scattering (DLS), and zeta potential measurements. Overall, 16 CE methods are presented that were developed and applied, comprising six adenovirus methods, five viral protein methods, and methods for antibodies determination of glycans, host cell-DNA, excipient chloride, and process impurity bromide. These methods were applied to support in-process control, release, stability, process- and product characterization and development, and critical reagent testing. Thirteen methods were validated. Intact virus particles were analyzed at concentrations as low as 0.8 pmol/L. Overall, CE took viral vaccine testing beyond what was previously possible, improved process and product understanding, and, in total, safety, efficacy, and quality.

Using capillary electrophoresis to characterize the hydrodynamic and electrostatic properties of DNA in solutions containing various monovalent cations

This review describes the results obtained by using free-solution capillary electrophoresis to probe the electrostatic and hydrodynamic properties of DNA in solutions containing various monovalent cations. In brief, we found that the mobilities of double-stranded DNAs (dsDNAs) increase with increasing molecular weight before leveling off and becoming constant at molecular weights ≥400 bp. The mobilities of single-stranded DNAs (ssDNAs) go through a maximum at ∼10-20 nucleotides before decreasing and becoming constant for oligomers larger than ∼30-50 bases. The mobilities of both ss- and dsDNAs increase linearly with the logarithm of increasing charge per unit length and decrease linearly with the logarithm of increasing ionic strength. Surprisingly, ss- and dsDNA mobilities level off and become nearly constant at ionic strengths ≥0.6 M. The thermal stabilities of dsDNAs decrease linearly with increasing solution viscosity. The diffusion coefficients of dsDNA are modulated by the diffusion coefficients of their counterions because of electrostatic DNA-cation coupling interactions. Finally, the anomalously slow mobilities observed for A-tract-containing DNAs can be attributed both to differences in shape and to the preferential localization of small cations in the A-tract minor groove. Since many of these results are mirrored in other polyion-counterion systems, free-solution electrophoresis can be viewed as a reporter of the electrostatics and hydrodynamics of highly charged polyions. New results describing the mobilities of dsDNA analogues of a microRNA-messenger RNA complex are also presented.

Capillary electromigration methods for food analysis and Foodomics: Advances and applications in the period February 2019-February 2021

This work presents a revision of the main applications of capillary electromigration methods in food analysis and Foodomics. Articles that were published during the period February 2019-February 2021 are included. The work shows the multiple CE methods that have been developed and applied to analyze different types of molecules in foods. Namely, CE methods have been applied to analyze amino acids, biogenic amines, carbohydrates, chiral compounds, contaminants, DNAs, food additives, heterocyclic amines, lipids, secondary metabolites, peptides, pesticides, phenols, pigments, polyphenols, proteins, residues, toxins, vitamins, small organic and inorganic compounds, as well as other minor compounds. The last results on the use of CE for monitoring food interactions and food processing, including recent microchips developments and new applications of CE in Foodomics, are discussed too. The new procedures of CE to investigate food quality and safety, nutritional value, storage and bioactivity are also included in the present review work.

Dopamine-polyethyleneimine co-deposition of a capillary for α-glucosidase immobilization and its application in enzyme inhibitor screening

An online method based on CE was established to screen α-glucosidase inhibitors from traditional Tibetan medicine extracts. First, the inner wall at the inlet of capillary column was simply and effectively functionalized by dopamine-polyethyleneimine co-deposition method, which combines the adhesion property of dopamine and easy cationization of polyethyleneimine. Then α-glucosidase was rapidly immobilized on the inner wall of the capillary column by electrostatic adsorption. The inter- and intraday repeatability of the peak area of the enzymatic reaction product (p-nitrophenol) in a capillary was evaluated, and RSD% (n = 3) was 0.94% and 1.09%, respectively. Good batch-to-batch reproducibility of the peak area between different capillaries (RSD = 2.1%, n = 5) shows that the preparation method has good reproducibility. The Michaelis-Menten constant of the immobilized α-glucosidase was measured to be 1.18 mM, and the capillary column enzyme reactor retained 85.9% of initial activity after 30 cycles. Finally, it was applied to the screening of enzyme inhibitors in 20 traditional Tibetan medicine extracts. Sixteen medicines with inhibitory activity were screened out, and Rheum australe had the strongest inhibitory effect with an inhibitory rate of 83.3 ± 0.4%. These results showed that this method is effective to find potential enzyme inhibitors.

bracteatum extract attenuates staurosporine induced neurotoxicity by restoring the FGF2-PI3K/Akt signaling axis and Dnmt3

We previously demonstrated the antioxidant activity of Coeloglossum viride var. bracteatum extract (CE) in rat cortical neurons and in mice with chemically induced cognitive impairment. In this work, we established a staurosporine (STS)-induced toxicity model to decipher the neuroprotective mechanisms of CE. We found that CE protected cell viability and neurite integrity in STS-induced toxicity by restoring the levels of FGF2 and its associated PI3K/Akt signaling axis. LY294002, a pan-inhibitor of PI3K, antagonized the activity of CE, although its-mediated restoration of FGF2 was unaffected. In addition, CE restored levels of Bcl-2/Caspase-3, PKCα/CaM pathway, and Dnmt3a and Dnmt3b, two methyltransferases that contribute to de novo DNA methylation. The Dnmts inhibitor 5-azacytidine impaired CE-mediated restoration of Dnmt3 or CaM, as well as the transition of DNA methylation status on the Dnmt3 promoter. These results reveal potential mechanisms that could facilitate the study and application of CE as a neuroprotective agent.

Sustainable space for a sustainable Earth? Circular economy insights from the space sector

The drive toward an efficient use of finite resources and the emphasis on sustainability that characterises CE (Circular Economy) models is also shared by many space projects, as summarised decades ago with the catchphrase 'Spaceship Earth'. Carrying out a comparison of the applications of circular economy models and the space industry's best practice, the article argues that the space sector represents a sort of 'native environment' for circular economy and shows how to apply more efficiently those same CE principles down to Earth. Adopting a case-study approach and using evidence from a close-loop system originally conceived for life in a space environment (ESA-MELiSSA for water treatment), this study demonstrates how the space sector is not only fully 'CE compliant' but also provides a comprehensive framework to further extend the remit of the CE philosophy. If the world economy is indeed at the onset of a new industrial revolution (the so-called Industry 4.0), the space sector can offer insights on how to this revolution can be made both inclusive and sustainable.

A targeted ancestry informative InDels panel on capillary electrophoresis for ancestry inference in Asian populations

CE is the primary methodology used in forensic DNA typing. Alleles of commonly used types of genetic markers could be separated and detected via CE based on dye color and migration time. Insertion/deletion (InDel) is an ideal genetic marker for forensic DNA analysis due to their abundance in the human genome, low mutation rate, availability of their allele types via CE, and elimination of stutter peaks. Moreover, InDels could be used as ancestry informative markers since allele frequencies of InDels is different among geographically separated populations. Several ancestry informative insertion/deletion panels have been established based on CE platform to achieve the intercontinental populations distinction. However, improvements to differentiate intracontinental populations is few. In this study, 21 InDels with fixation index (F_ST ) > 0.15 were selected and assembled into one ancestry informative insertion/deletion panel. Using well-designed primers, those 21 InDels could be amplified successfully and genotyped on the CE platform accurately and completely. The panel showed a large F_ST distance distinction among the ten Asian populations. Using clustering analysis, ten Asian populations were classified into three subgroups: East Asian, Southeast Asian, and South Asian subgroups. To evaluate the panel's capability in ancestry inference, a validation experiment was undertaken with 319 individuals from four geographically separated populations in China. Four Chinese populations were classified into different ancestry subgroups and 81.8% test individuals' ancestry could be inferred correctly. Our result showed that development of high ancestry informative InDels panel based on CE platform is a potential for individual ancestry inference among intracontinental populations.

Cedrol from Ginger Ameliorates Rheumatoid Arthritis via Reducing Inflammation and Selectively Inhibiting JAK3 Phosphorylation

Ginger, as a food spice, is widely applied due to its extensive effects. Cedrol (CE) found in ginger is a sesquiterpene with anti-inflammatory activity. The objective of this research is to discuss the efficacy of CE on ameliorating rheumatoid arthritis (RA). CE inhibited chronic inflammation and pain in a dose-dependent manner accompanied by rapid onset and long duration. Besides, CE treatment effectively ameliorated the paw edema volume and arthritis score with no significant effect on body weight. Organ index, T-cell and B-cell proliferation, histopathology, and immunohistochemistry demonstrated that CE had immunological enhancement and attenuated RA effects. Remarkably, inhibition of phosphorylated-JAK3 protein, thereby abating the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines and inflammation-related mediators, was involved in the potential mechanism of CE efficiency through forming a hydrogen bond with ARG953 and ILE955 in the JAK3 active pocket. At the same time, the pharmacokinetic results showed that the absolute bioavailability of CE at 20, 40, and 80 mg/kg was 30.30, 23.68, and 16.11%, respectively. The current results offered clues for mastering the ameliorated RA of CE and further perfected the effective substance basis on the anti-inflammatory effect of ginger, which was beneficial for further applications.

Continuing professional development for pharmacists in three countries with developing health systems

INTRODUCTION

The role of pharmacists in healthcare is undergoing transformation throughout the world. The continuing professional development (CPD) model has motivated pharmacists in developed countries to adopt lifelong learning. This is vital to improve competence and to optimize patient care. This study aimed to explore the existence and understanding of CPD in Ghana, Pakistan, and Trinidad and Tobago, the barriers faced in development of a CPD model, and probable policies needed to build/improve such a model.

METHODS

Audiotaped qualitative in-depth interviews were conducted, transcribed, and coded with pharmacy stakeholders, including academics, community pharmacists, and regulatory professionals. A thematic analysis of the transcribed data led to the extraction of the main themes.

RESULTS

The findings showed a process of establishment of CPD for pharmacists in Ghana, whereas in Pakistan, Trinidad, and Tobago there was no CPD model.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings indicate the need for a realistic, relevant, and mandatory program of CPD in these countries.

Use of Exoglycosidases for the Structural Characterization of Glycans

The use of sequential exoglycosidase digestion of oligosaccharides followed by LC-FLD, LC-MS or CE analysis provides detailed carbohydrate structural information. Highly specific exoglycosidases cleave monosaccharides from the nonreducing end of an oligosaccharide and yield information about the linkage, stereochemistry and configuration of the anomeric carbon. Here we use combinations of exoglycosidases to precisely characterize glycans on the Fc domain of therapeutic antibodies and dimeric fusion proteins. The workflow described includes glycan release with Rapid™ PNGase F (NEB #P0710), direct labeling of released glycans with procainamide (PCA) or 2-aminobenzamide (2AB), cleanup of labeled glycans and a 3 h enzymatic digestion with exoglycosidases. This protocol is designed for completion within an 8 h time frame to allow for subsequent LC-FLD, LC-MS, or CE analysis overnight.

A dual preconcentration method by combining micro matrix solid-phase dispersion extraction with field-enhanced sample injection and micelle to cyclodextrin stacking for sensitive analysis of neutral coumarins

A rapid, sensitive, environmental friendly dual preconcentration method by combining micro matrix solid-phase dispersion extraction with field-enhanced sample injection and micelle to cyclodextrin stacking has been developed for the determination of furocoumarins. Molecular sieve, KIT-6, was used as an adsorbent in micro matrix solid-phase dispersion process. The important parameters affecting off-line and online CE preconcentration efficiency were optimized. Under the optimal experimental conditions, all analytes showed good linearity (R² > 0.999). The LODs of notopterol, isoimperatorin, and imperatorin were 0.1 μg/mL, 1.2 mg/kg, and 1.0 mg/kg, respectively. Compared with the normal CE method, the enrichment times were up to 300. Moreover, Angelicae Dahuricae Radix was used as the mode of complex solid sample matrix to demonstrate the prospect of application of this methodology. The results showed the proposed strategy is promising for determining trace furocoumarins in complex matrix samples, which might be applied as a powerful and economic tool in monitoring illegal cosmetic adding.

Development and validation of a new 18 X-STR typing assay for forensic applications

With a unique inheritance pattern compared to autosomal short tandem repeats (A-STRs), X chromosomal STRs (X-STRs) have special usage in forensic relationship testing. In this study, we designed a multiplex amplification system (named TYPER-X19 multiplex assay) consisting of 18 STR loci spreading from 7.837 to 149.460 Mb on the X chromosomes (DXS9895, DXS8378, DXS9902, DXS6810, DXS7132, DXS10079, DXS6789, DXS7424, DXS101, DXS6797, DXS7133, DXS6804, GATA165B12, DXS10103, HPRTB, GATA31E08, DXS8377, and DXS7423), and the amelogenin. PCR primers were marked with four kinds of fluorophores including FAM, HEX, TAMRA, and ROX. The multiplex system was optimized and tested for precision, concordance, reproducibility, sensitivity, stability, DNA mixture, and species specificity according to the conventional validation guidelines. The results indicated that the system was accurate, reliable, and sensitive enough, and was suitable for common forensic case-type samples. In the population genetic study, a total of 148 alleles were detected at the 18 X-STR loci in 398 Southern Han Chinese. Relatively high combined power of discrimination in male (PD_m ), power of discrimination in female (PD_f ), mean paternity exclusion chance in trios (MEC_trio ), and mean paternity exclusion chance in duos (MEC_Duo ) by Desmarais were detected, and HPRTB-DXS10103 was in linkage disequilibrium. The results suggested that the TYPER-X19 multiplex assay was suitable for forensic applications.

Harnessing the power of electrophoresis and chromatography: Offline coupling of reverse phase liquid chromatography-capillary zone electrophoresis-tandem mass spectrometry for analysis of host cell proteins in monoclonal antibody producing CHO cell line

Host cell proteins (HCPs) are widely regarded as a critical quality attribute for a biotherapeutic product. Bottom up MS is the present gold standard for HCP analysis but suffers from incomplete protein identification due to complex nature of the HCP mixture and limited separation efficiency of the preceding LC-based systems. In this paper, we present for the first time an application involving use of LC-CE-MS/MS platform for analysis of HCPs. It has been demonstrated that the proposed platform has been able to successfully identify 397 HCPs from the supernatants of recombinant Chinese hamster ovary cells, twice and thrice the number of proteins identified by the state-of-the-art LC-MS/MS (189 HCPs) and CE-MS/MS (128 HCPs) analyses, respectively. Of these, 225 HCPs were unique to the LC-CE-MS/MS approach and were not identified by either LC-MS/MS or CE-MS/MS. It is observed that the LC-CE-MS/MS platform combines the benefits of LC-MS/MS and CE-MS/MS techniques and identifies peptides in a wider range of size, pI, and hydrophobicity. Additionally, LC-CE-MS/MS also identified more HCPs associated with cellular components, molecular functions, biological processes, peptidases, and secretory proteins. The proposed approach would thus be a useful addition in HCP analysis and secretome studies of mAb-producing Chinese hamster ovary cells.

Developments and applications of separation and microfluidics methods coupled to electrospray mass spectrometry in glycomics of nervous system gangliosides

Gangliosides are particularly abundant in the nervous system (NS) where their pattern and structure in a certain milieu or a defined region exhibit a pronounced specificity. Since gangliosides are useful biomarkers for diagnosis of NS ailments, a clear-cut mapping of individual components represents a prerequisite for designing ganglioside-based diagnostic procedures, treatments, or vaccines. These bioclinical aspects and the high diversity of ganglioside species claim for development of specific analytical strategies. This review summarizes the state-of-the-art in the implementation of separation techniques and microfluidics coupled to MS, which have contributed significantly to the advancement of the field. In the first part, the review discusses relevant approaches based on HPLC MS and CE coupled to ESI MS and their applications in the characterization of gangliosides expressed in healthy and diseased NS. A considerable section is dedicated to microfluidics MS and ion mobility separation MS, developed for the study of brain gangliosidome and its changes triggered by various factors, as well as for ganglioside biomarker discovery in neurodegenerative diseases and brain cancer. In the last part of the review, the benefits and perspectives in ganglioside research of these high-performance techniques are presented.

Determination of antiretroviral drugs for buyers' club in Switzerland using capillary electrophoresis methods

Human immunodeficiency virus-acquired immunodeficiency syndrome continues to be a major global public health issue, having claimed almost 33 million lives to date. Due to the high cost of antiretroviral treatment, access to these drugs remains difficult for vulnerable populations, such as migrants and people living in prisons, who often do not have health insurance. These factors lead to poorer health outcomes and higher transmission rates. The personal importation scheme for unapproved generics from foreign countries is one option to access affordable human immunodeficiency virus treatment. However, the risk of importing falsified medicine remains high, and the quality control of unapproved drugs is lacking. In this context, three CE methods for the analysis of nine antiviral drugs found in commercial pharmaceutical formulations were evaluated. The selected compounds were emtricitabine, tenofovir disoproxil, tenofovir alafenamide, rilpivirine, efavirenz, raltegravir, dolutegravir, abacavir, and lamivudine. The developed methods were successfully applied to determine the active pharmaceutical ingredients of commercial formulations and unapproved generics. The quality control of unapproved generics by CE is an attractive approach due to its good standard of quality, low cost, ecofriendliness, and ease of implementation.

Quantification of the bisphosphonate alendronate using capillary electrophoresis mass spectrometry with dynamic pH barrage junction focusing

A quantitative method was developed for the direct identity confirmation and quantification of alendronate using CE-MS combined with a pH-assisted focusing technique, dynamic pH barrage junction focusing. A pH-induced variation in electrophoretic mobility led to online focusing of alendronate at the sample/pH barrage boundary, significantly improving the detection sensitivity. In addition, the use of a flow-through microvial CE electrospray interface and the multiple reaction monitoring mode of MS further improved the specificity and quantification capability of this technology. This quantitative method presented a wide linear dynamic range over 8-2000 ng/mL and an LOD of 2 ng/mL. A 460-fold improvement in sensitivity was obtained when pH barrage junction focusing was applied during the CE process, in comparison to when normal CE was conducted without online sample stacking. The superior detection sensitivity over previously reported methods enables direct analysis of bisphosphonate compounds, eliminating tedious pre-column sample enrichment and derivatization. Validation of alendronate content in a commercial drug tablet further proved the reliability and power of this method. This simple method with no sample derivatization, superior sensitivity, and short run time (<8 min) is a promising alternative for accurate quantification of alendronate and other types of bisphosphonate compounds in both drug formulations and plasma samples.

Inorganic oxidizer detection from propellants, pyrotechnics, and homemade explosive powders using gradient elution moving boundary electrophoresis

Advancement in rapid targeted chemical analysis of homemade and improvised explosive devices is critical for the identification of explosives-based hazards and threats. Gradient elution moving boundary electrophoresis (GEMBE), a robust electrokinetic separation technique, was employed for the separation and detection of common inorganic oxidizers from frequently encountered fuel-oxidizer mixtures. The GEMBE system incorporated sample and run buffer reservoirs, a short capillary (5 cm), an applied electric field, and a pressure-driven counterflow. GEMBE provided a separation format that allowed for continuous injection of sample, selectivity of analytes, and no sample cleanup or filtration prior to analysis. Nitrate, chlorate, and perchlorate oxidizers were successfully detected from low explosive propellants (e.g., black powders and black powder substitutes), pyrotechnics (e.g., flash powder), and tertiary explosive mixtures (e.g., ammonium nitrate- and potassium chlorate-based fuel-oxidizer mixtures). Separation of these mixtures exhibited detection without interference from a plethora of additional organic and inorganic fuels, enabled single particle analysis, and demonstrated semiquantitative capabilities. The bulk counterflow successfully excluded difficult components from fouling the capillary, yielding estimated limits of detection down to approximately 10 μmol/L. Finally, nitrate was separated and detected from postblast debris collected and directly analyzed from two nitrate-based charges.

Application of capillary electrophoresis technique for the enantioseparation of bioactive ferrocene-based compounds versus DFT calculated data

Herein, a series of bioactive ferrocene-modified N-heterocycles with alkyl linkers was prepared in good to quantitative yields starting from easy accessible ferrocene alcohols and heterocycles under acidic or neutral (for imidazole) conditions in racemic forms. The analytical resolution of a number of bioactive racemic ferrocene azoles 1-6 (where azole = imidazole, pyrazole, and benzotriazole derivatives) into enantiomers was first carried out by CE using sulfobuthylether-β-CD (captisol) as a chiral selector. The analytical approaches to highly enantiomeric-enriched ferrocene derivatives are based on the formation of their inclusion complexes. The best chiral separation was achieved using zone CE in a quartz capillary. The ACE was used to evaluate the stability constants of captisol complexes with enantiomeric forms of two ferrocene derivatives 1, FcCHMe-imidazole, and 6, FcCHMe-benzotriazole. The optimal conditions for the resolution of the studied (R, S)-ferrocene compounds 1, 2, and 6 were predicted on the basis of the performed quantum chemical calculations and then implemented by the electrophoretic method. A high correlation between density functional theory calculation results and experimental electrophoresis data were obtained. Successful enantioseparation of racemic mixtures is of great importance for the characterization and further applications of drug candidates in enantiopure forms and in the development of clinical treatment. The advantages of the CE procedure make it possible to have important practical value and significance for determining the purity and enantiomeric excess of other ferrocene-containing compounds.

A Survey on Medical Image Analysis in Capsule Endoscopy

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Capsule Endoscopy (CE) is a non-invasive, patient-friendly alternative to conventional endoscopy procedure. However, CE produces 6 to 8 hrs long video posing a tedious challenge to a gastroenterologist for abnormality detection. Major challenges to an expert are lengthy videos, need of constant concentration and subjectivity of the abnormality. To address these challenges along with high diagnostic accuracy, design and development of automated abnormality detection system is a must. Machine learning and computer vision techniques are devised to develop such automated systems.

METHODS

Study presents a review of quality research papers published in IEEE, Scopus, and Science Direct database with search criteria as capsule endoscopy, engineering, and journal papers. The initial search retrieved 144 publications. After evaluating all articles, 62 publications pertaining to image analysis are selected.

RESULTS

This paper presents a rigorous review comprising all the aspects of medical image analysis concerning capsule endoscopy namely video summarization and redundant image elimination, Image enhancement and interpretation, segmentation and region identification, Computer-aided abnormality detection in capsule endoscopy, Image and video compression. The study provides a comparative analysis of various approaches, experimental setup, performance, strengths, and limitations of the aspects stated above.

CONCLUSIONS

The analyzed image analysis techniques for capsule endoscopy have not yet overcome all current challenges mainly due to lack of dataset and complex nature of the gastrointestinal tract.

Low-cost and versatile analytical tool with purpose-made capillary electrophoresis coupled to contactless conductivity detection: Application to antibiotics quality control in Vietnam

In this study, the development of our purpose-made capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection (C⁴ D) for CE is reported. These systems have been employed as a simple, versatile, and cost-effective analytical tool. CE-C⁴ D devices, whose principle is based on the control of the ion movements under an electrical field, can be constructed even with a modest financial budget and limited infrastructure. A featured application was developed for quality control of antimicrobial drugs using CE-C⁴ D, with most recent work on determination of aminoglycoside and glycopeptide antibiotics being communicated. For aminoglycosides, the development of CE-C⁴ D methods was adapted to two categories. The first one includes drugs (liquid or powder form) for intravenous injection, containing either amikacin, streptomycin, kanamycin A, or kanamycin B. The second one covers drugs for eye drops (liquid or ointment form), containing either neomycin, tobramycin, or polymyxin. The CE-C⁴ D method development was also made for determination of some popular glycopeptide antibiotics in Vietnam, including vancomycin and teicoplanin. The best detection limit achieved using the developed CE-C⁴ D methods was 0.5 mg/L. Good agreement between results from CE-C⁴ D and the confirmation method (HPLC- Photometric Diode Array ) was achieved, with their result deviations less than 8% and 13% for aminoglycoside and glycopeptide antibiotics, respectively.

Novel antifouling polymer with self-cleaning efficiency as surface coating for protein analysis by electrophoresis

The non-specific adsorption of protein has caused many problems in the application of materials. In this paper, a tri-block copolymer PEO-PNIPAAm-PSPMAP with double effects were obtained via atom transfer radical copolymerization (ATRP). The double-effect copolymer is covalently bonded to the hydrophobic material through a photosensitizer to achieve surface modification and applied to analytical chemistry. Sufficient hydratable groups (for instance, ether bonds, amide groups, and sulfonic acid groups) in the copolymer provides a basis for the anti-protein adsorption. At the same time, the interaction of the hydrophilic group and isopropyl group with temperature changes provides the possibility of elastic self-cleaning of the material, which is instrumental in extending the circulate lifetime of materials. Therefore, it is an environmentally friendly coating material. Besides, the effective antifouling performance and elastic self-cleaning function of the coating have been confirmed by the dynamic adsorption experiment of a fluorescent protein. The coating is used in capillary electrophoresis (CE), and its excellent protein separation spectrum verifies the practicality of the coating.

Capillary electrophoresis-based immunoassay and aptamer assay: A review

Over the last two decades, the group of techniques called affinity probe CE has been widely used for the detection and the determination of several types of biomolecules with high sensitivity. These techniques combine the low sample consumption and high separation power of CE with the selectivity of the probe to the target molecule. The assays can be defined according to the type of probe used: CE immunoassays, with an antibody as the probe, or aptamer-based CE, with an aptamer as the probe. Immunoassays are generally divided into homogeneous and heterogeneous groups, and homogeneous variant can be further performed in competitive or noncompetitive formats. Interacting partners are free in solution at homogeneous assay, as opposed to heterogeneous analyses, where one of them is immobilized onto a solid support. Highly sensitive fluorescence, chemiluminescence or electrochemical detections were typically used in this type of study. The use of the aptamers as probes has several advantages over antibodies such as shorter generation time, higher thermal stability, lower price, and lower variability. The aptamer-based CE technique was in practice utilized for the determination of proteins in biological fluids and environmentally or clinically important small molecules. Both techniques were also transferred to microchip. This review is focused on theoretical principles of these techniques and a summary of their applications in research.

Characterization of ADCs by Capillary Electrophoresis

Capillary electrophoresis (CE) is a highly efficient separation technique that resolves ions based on their electrophoretic mobility in the presence of an applied voltage. It has been broadly applied for characterizing biotherapeutics including ADCs. In this chapter, step-by-step procedures for characterizing ADCs using CE will be described with focus placed on reduced and non-reduced capillary electrophoresis sodium dodecyl sulfate (CE-SDS) for purity determination and imaged capillary isoelectric focusing (iCIEF) for charge heterogeneity analysis.

CE-MS with electrokinetic supercharging and application to determination of neurotransmitters

Electrokinetic supercharging (EKS) is known as one of the most effective online electrophoretic preconcentration techniques, though pairing with it with mass spectrometry has presented challenges. Here, EKS is successfully paired with ESI-MS/MS to provide a sensitive and robust method for analysis of biogenic amines in biological samples. Injection parameters including electric field strength and the buffer compositions used for the separation and focusing were investigated to achieve suitable resolution, high sensitivity, and compatibility with ESI-MS. Using EKS, the sensitivity of the method was improved 5000-fold compared to a conventional hydrodynamic injection with CZE. The separation allowed for baseline resolution of several neurotransmitters within 16 min with LODs down to 10 pM. This method was applied to targeted analysis of seven biogenic amines from rat brain stem and whole Drosophila tissue. This is the first method to use EKS with CE-ESI-MS/MS to analyze biological samples.

Continuing Professional Development: Reflections on a Lifelong Learning Process

In the ever-changing fields of health care, continuing professional development (CPD) and lifelong learning are essential for patient care, regulatory requirements, personal growth, and job satisfaction. However, no specific systems in approaching CPD have been delineated, and most health professionals are left to their own devices to manage it, on top of all their other professional responsibilities. This article (1) outlines the importance of CPD, (2) describes potential systematic approaches to CPD and potential ways to assess their effectiveness, and (3) reviews resources available to incorporate into a systematic approach.

Improvement of pyridoxine-induced peripheral neuropathy by Cichorium intybus hydroalcoholic extract through GABAergic system

Pyridoxine (vitamin B6) toxicity is a well-known model for peripheral neuropathy. GABA and glutamate are two neurotransmitters in neural pathways involved in the peripheral neuropathy. Cichorium intybus (Chicory) contains glycosides and triterpenoids, which inhibit glutamatergic transmission and enhance GABAergic transmission. The present study was aimed at studying the effect of chicory extract (CE) on the pyridoxine-induced peripheral neuropathy with a particular focus on glutamatergic and GABAergic systems. In this experimental study, a high dose of pyridoxine (800 mg/kg, i.p.) was injected for 14 days to induce neuropathy in male rats. To evaluate the behavioral symptoms, three tests including rotarod, hot plate, and foot fault were used. After the induction of neuropathy, CE (50 mg/kg i.p.) was injected intraperitoneally for 10 consecutive days. Morphologically, the sciatic nerve and the DRG neurons were evaluated in the control, neuropathy, and chicory groups by H&E staining. For evaluating the mechanism, picrotoxin (1 mg/kg) and MK-801 (0.1 mg/kg) were also individually injected 15 min before the extract administration. The concentration of TNF-α in rat sciatic nerve and DRG neurons were also measured by enzyme-linked-immunoassay (ELISA). Morphological and physiological changes occurred in the DRG and sciatic nerve following pyridoxine intoxication. The CE exerted an anti-neuropathic effect on the sciatic nerve and DRG neurons and also decreased reaction time in hot plate test (p < 0.05), increased balance time in rotarod test (p < 0.001), and improved foot fault performance (p < 0.01). Moreover, CE administration reduced TNF-α level in DRG (p < 0.001) and sciatica nerve (p < 0.001). Picrotoxin, unlike MK-801, showed a significant difference in all three behavioral tests and reduced TNF-α content in comparison with group received extraction alone (with p < 0.001 for all three tests). Our results showed beneficial effects of CE on pyridoxine-induced peripheral neuropathy. Modulating of the GABAergic system mediated by TNF-α may be involved in the anti-neurotoxic effect of CE.

Comparison of bench test results measuring the accuracy of peak flow meters

Background

The study evaluates and compares the accuracy of nine peak flow meters (“PFMs”) and spirometers that are currently available in Europe and have Conformité Européene (“CE”) marking. The CE marking is a manufacturer’s declaration that their product complies with European health regulations and it is a requirement for marketing medical devices in Europe.

Methods

The nine devices were selected as they all had received or were in the process of receiving CE approval in Europe and were readily obtainable. The devices were bench tested following the ISO 23747:2015 accuracy guidelines for medical devices measuring peak flow. All standards, including accuracy, from these guidelines must be met to obtain CE marking.

This study was performed with a certified piston pump testing apparatus. The apparatus chosen was the pulmonary waveform generator manufactured by Piston Medical Ltd. Using predefined flow (time) and volume (time) waveforms, peak flow meters and spirometers were tested for validation and calibration. Three CE guideline tests were utilised, and standards require that all three tests are passed for the device to obtain certification.

Results

Of the nine devices that were tested, two passed and seven failed. The devices that passed the tests were the Smart Peak Flow® and the Mini Wright®.

Conclusions

A high percentage of devices failed accuracy testing in this study. This is a concern as the CE marking is a manufacturer’s certification documenting the accuracy, reliability and safety of devices. Of the seven devices that failed all have the CE marking. All tested devices are on the market in Europe based upon studies conducted by each of the manufacturers. The data used to obtain CE certification of these devices, however, are not in the public domain.

A sensitive and high throughput method for the analysis of d-psicose by capillary electrophoresis

d-Psicose/allulose is a rare sugar and it has high potential benefits for pharmaceutical and food industry. The existed analytical methods have its own limitations to quantify fructose and d-psicose mixtures. Hence there is a need for the development of an effective, efficient and sensitive analytical method for quantification of d-psicose in presence of other sugars. Quantification of sugars by capillary electrophoresis (CE) have been previously reported. However, the list does not include d-psicose. In this study, d-psicose is successfully quantified for the first time in the presence of d-fructose and glucose with a good resolution. Standard curves for all the sugars are established in a concentration range of 0.1 mM (0.0018% w/v) to 3.0 mM (0.0540% w/v) with a coefficient of determination of >0.99. The scope of this method can be extended to quantify d-psicose and their processed impurities in food products with minor modifications in sample preparation.

Lessons learnt from implementing community engagement interventions in mobile hard-to-reach (HTR) projects in Nigeria, 2014-2015

BACKGROUND

The year 2014 was a turning point for polio eradication in Nigeria. Confronted with the challenges of increased numbers of polio cases detected in rural, hard-to-reach (HTR), and security-compromised areas of northern Nigeria, the Nigeria polio program introduced the HTR project in four northern states to provide immunization and maternal and child health services in these communities. The project was set up to improve population immunity, increase oral polio vaccine (OPV) and other immunization uptake, and to support Nigeria's efforts to interrupt polio transmission by 2015. Furthermore, the project also aimed to create demand for these services which were often unavailable in the HTR areas. To this end, the program developed a community engagement (CE) strategy to create awareness about the services being provided by the project. The term HTR is operationally defined as geographically difficult terrain, with any of the following criteria: having inter-ward/inter-Local Government Area/interstate borders, scattered households, nomadic population, or waterlogged/riverine area, with no easy to access to healthcare facilities and insecurity.

METHODS

We evaluated the outcome of CE activities in Kano, Bauchi, Borno, and Yobe states to examine the methods and processes that helped to increase OPV and third pentavalent (penta3) immunization coverage in areas of implementation. We also assessed the number of community engagers who mobilized caregivers to vaccination posts and the service satisfaction for the performance of the community engagers.

RESULTS

Penta3 coverage was at 22% in the first quarter of project implementation and increased to 62% by the fourth quarter of project implementation. OPV coverage also increased from 54% in the first quarter to 76% in the last quarter of the 1-year project implementation.

CONCLUSIONS

The systematic implementation of a CE strategy that focused on planning and working with community structures and community engagers in immunization activities assisted in increasing OPV and penta3 immunization coverage.

A Foodomics Approach: CE-MS for Comparative Metabolomics of Colon Cancer Cells Treated with Dietary Polyphenols

The potential of capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometry (CE-MS) for metabolomics is demonstrated through the analysis of metabolites from human HT29 colon cancer cells treated and non-treated with dietary polyphenols. Prior to CE-MS analysis, four different metabolite purification strategies are investigated. Namely, the results obtained after methanol deproteinization, ultrafiltration, and two solid-phase extraction methods using C18 and polymer-based cartridges are described. These generic methods can have broad applications to analyze metabolites in a large variety of matrices and fields, including the new Foodomics area.