OBJECTIVE: Exposures to hazardous chemicals have been linked to many detrimental health effects and it is therefore critical to have effective biomonitoring methods to better evaluate key environmental exposures that increase the risk of chronic disease and death. Traditional biomonitoring utilizing blood and urine is limited due to the specialized skills and invasiveness of collecting these fluid samples. This systematic review focuses on tear fluid, which is largely under-researched, as a promising complementary matrix to the traditional fluids used for biomonitoring. The objective is to evaluate the practicability of using human tear fluid for biomonitoring environmental exposures, highlighting potential pitfalls and opportunities.
RESULTS: Tear fluid biomonitoring represents a promising method for assessing exposures because it can be collected with minimal invasiveness and tears contain exposure markers from both the external and internal environments. Tear fluid uniquely interfaces with the external environment at the air-tear interface, providing a surface for airborne chemicals to diffuse into the ocular environment and interact with biomolecules. Tear fluid also contains molecules from the internal environment that have travelled from the blood to tears by crossing the blood-tear barrier. This review demonstrates that tear fluid can be used to identify hazardous chemicals from the external environment and differentiate exposure groups.

Exsolution of metal nanoparticles (NPs) on perovskite oxides has been demonstrated as a reliable strategy for producing catalyst-support systems. Conventional exsolution requires high temperatures for long periods of time, limiting the selection of support materials. Plasma direct exsolution is reported at room temperature and atmospheric pressure of Ni NPs from a model A-site deficient perovskite oxide (La0.43Ca0.37Ni0.06Ti0.94O2.955). Plasma exsolution is carried out within minutes (up to 15 min) using a dielectric barrier discharge configuration both with He-only gas as well as with He/H2 gas mixtures, yielding small NPs (<30 nm diameter). To prove the practical utility of exsolved NPs, various experiments aimed at assessing their catalytic performance for methanation from synthesis gas, CO, and CH4 oxidation are carried out. Low-temperature and atmospheric pressure plasma exsolution are successfully demonstrated and suggest that this approach could contribute to the practical deployment of exsolution-based stable catalyst systems.

OBJECTIVE: Legumes intake is known to be associated with several health benefits the origins of which is still a matter of debate. This paper addresses a pilot small cohort to probe for metabolic aspects of the interplay between legumes intake, human metabolism and gut microbiota.
METHODS: Untargeted nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) metabolomics of blood plasma and fecal extracts was carried out, in tandem with qPCR analysis of feces, to assess the impact of an 8-week pilot legumes diet intervention on the fecal and plasma metabolomes and gut microbiota of 19 subjects.
RESULTS: While the high inter-individual variability hindered the detection of statistically significant changes in the gut microbiome, increased fecal glucose and decreased threonine levels were noted. Correlation analysis between the microbiome and fecal metabolome lead to putative hypotheses regarding the metabolic activities of prevalent bacteria groups (Clostridium leptum subgroup, Roseburia spp., and F. prausnitzii). These included elevated fecal glucose as a preferential energy source, the involvement of valerate/isovalerate and reduced protein degradation in gut microbiota. Plasma metabolomics advanced mannose and betaine as potential markers of legume intake and unveiled a decrease in formate and ketone bodies, the latter suggesting improved energy utilization through legume carbohydrates. Amino acid metabolism was also apparently affected, as suggested by lowered urea, histidine and threonine levels.
CONCLUSIONS: Despite the high inter-individual gut microbiome variability characterizing the small cohort addressed, combination of microbiological measurements and untargeted metabolomics unveiled several metabolic effects putatively related to legumes intake. If confirmed in larger cohorts, our findings will support the inclusion of legumes in diets and contribute valuable new insight into the origins of associated health benefits.

OBJECTIVE: Blood neurofilament light chain (NfL) is robustly associated with disease worsening in multiple sclerosis (MS), though potentially affected by concomitant factors also determining neuro-axonal loss. We investigated the association between plasma NfL (pNfL) measured with Lumipulse™ immunoassay and demographic and clinical variables in MS.
METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 685 people with MS (age 49.7 ± 12.4 years; sex 65.55% females). On the same day, we collected plasma samples, along with demographics, comorbidities, and clinical variables (MS disease duration, expanded disability status scale (EDSS), Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT), descriptor of disease progression, current disease modifying treatment (DMT), number of previous DMTs, evidence of disease activity in the past year (i.e. relapse or MRI new lesions), EDSS progression). pNfL was evaluated using Lumipulse™ fully automated chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay.
RESULTS: On multivariable linear regression model, higher pNfL was associated with higher EDSS (Coeff = 1.73; 95%CI 0.78, 2.68; p < 0.01), recent disease activity (Coeff = 15.70; 95%CI = 5.35, 26.06; p < 0.01), and presence of cardiovascular comorbidity (Coeff = 3.84; 95%CI 0.48, 7.20; p = 0.025). Lower pNfL was found in patients on DMT treatment (Coeff = -10.23; 95%CI -18.42, -2.04; p = 0.015), when compared with no DMT (reference). For 77.81% of our population there was correspondence between pNfL levels and two previously-validated cutoffs.
CONCLUSIONS: pNfL measured using Lumipulse™ confirms known associations with MS activity, disability and treatments, and related confounding (e.g., cardiovascular comorbidity), thus granting further utilization in research and clinical practice.

The objective of this study was to compare the plasma (PL) and seminal plasma (SP) pharmacokinetic profile of ceftiofur (CEFT) and desuroylceftiofur acetamide (DFCA) after administration of CEFT crystalline-free acid (CCFA) by SC route in two sites of the ear in beef bulls. Four clinically healthy Hereford bulls received a comprehensive physical exam and subsequently a breeding-soundness examination, CBC, and chemistry profile panel. All bulls were diagnosed healthy and satisfactory potential breeders. In one group (n = 2), a single dose of CCFA was administered SC route at the base of the ear (BOE) at a dose of 6.6 mg/kg of body weight. The second group (n = 2) was also administered by SC route in the middle third of the posterior aspect of the ear (MTE). The concentrations of CEFT and DFCA in PL and SP were determined by a high-performance liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS). Blood and semen samples were collected before the administration of CCFA and at 12, 24, 36, 48, 72, 96, 120, 144, and 168 h after injection. No levels of CEFT were detected in PL and only in 20 of the 40 SP samples (P = 0.0001). The mean level of CEFT in SP was 0.11 % in comparison with the DFCA level. DFCA was found in all PL and SP samples. Therefore, DFCA was chosen to be utilized in the study of the pharmacokinetics parameters both in PL and SP. There were no differences in the mean PL levels of DFCA for the two sites of SC administration between the BOE (102.9 ± 78.9 ng/mL; X ± SD) and to MTE (116.1 ± 70.2 ng/mL; P = 0.58). The mean SP levels of DFCA after administration in the BOE was 857 ± 747 ng/mL, and for the MTE was 549 ± 488 ng/mL without differences between both sites (P = 0.15). The mean level of DFCA in PL was 109.5 ± 74.0 ng/mL, which was lower than the mean SP levels of 695 ± 103 ng/mL (P = 0.001). Moreover, the PL peak DFCA concentration (Cmax) was 229 ± 46 ng/mL at 36.0 ± 29.4 h (Tmax) post-administration. The SP Cmax was 1851 ± 533 ng/mL at 30.0 ± 28.6 h (Tmax) post-administration. The Cmax between PL and SP were distinctive (P = 0.004) without any differences in Tmax between PL and SP (P = 0.60). The terminal half-life for PL DFCA (47.4 ± 29.3 h) was not different than in SP (53.1 ± 23.6 h; P = 0.77). The PL area under the curve concentration time from the first to the last sample (AUC0-last) was 18,984 ± 4841 ng/mL/h, which was significatively smaller compared with 125,677 ± 59,445 ng/mL/h for SP AUC0-last (P = 0.04). The PL mean residence time from the first to the last sample (MRT0-last) was 69.7 ± 15.1 h, and it was similar than for SP of 66.5 ± 7.7 h (P = 0.69). From the present investigation, based in its pharmacokinetic features, it was concluded that CCFA should be an appropriate antibiotic that could be used for the treatment of bull genital infections when its indication is properly outlined. To study the pharmacokinetics of CCFA in SP, DFCA metabolite was appropriated.

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of plasma treatment of sandblasted and acid-etched (SLA) titanium implants on surface cleansing and osseointegration in a beagle model.
METHODS: For morphological analysis and XPS analysis, scanning electron microscope and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were used to analyze the surface topography and chemical compositions of implant before and after plasma treatment. For this animal experiment, twelve SLA titanium implants were divided into two groups: a control group (untreated implants) and a plasma group (implants treated with plasma). Each group was randomly located in the mandibular bone of the beagle dog (n = 6). After 8 weeks, the beagle dogs were sacrificed, and volumetric analysis and histometric analysis were performed within the region of interest.
RESULTS: In morphological analysis, plasma treatment did not alter the implant surface topography or cause any physical damage. In XPS analysis, the atomic percentage of carbon at the inspection point before the plasma treatment was 34.09%. After the plasma treatment, it was reduced to 18.74%, indicating a 45% reduction in carbon. In volumetric analysis and histometric analysis, the plasma group exhibited relatively higher mean values for new bone volume (NBV), bone to implant contact (BIC), and inter-thread bone density (ITBD) compared to the control group. However, there was no significant difference between the two groups (P > .05).
CONCLUSIONS: Within the limits of this study, plasma treatment effectively eliminated hydrocarbons without changing the implant surface.

Mefenamic acid, renowned for its analgesic properties, stands as a reliable choice for alleviating mild to moderate pain. However, its versatility extends beyond pain relief, with ongoing research unveiling its promising therapeutic potential across diverse domains. A straightforward, environmentally friendly, and sensitive spectrofluorometric technique has been developed for the precise quantification of the analgesic medication, mefenamic acid. This method relies on the immediate reduction of fluorescence emitted by a probe upon interaction with varying concentrations of the drug. The fluorescent probe utilized, N-phenyl-1-naphthylamine (NPNA), was synthesized in a single step, and the fluorescence intensities were measured at 480 nm using synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy with a wavelength difference of 200 nm. Temperature variations and lifetime studies indicated that the quenching process was static. The calibration curve exhibited linearity within the concentration range of 0.50-9.00 μg/mL, with a detection limit of 60.00 ng/mL. Various experimental parameters affecting the quenching process were meticulously examined and optimized. The proposed technique was successfully applied to determine mefenamic acid in pharmaceutical formulations, plasma, and urine, yielding excellent recoveries ranging from 98% to 100.5%. The greenness of the developed method was evaluated using three metrics: the Analytical Eco-scale, AGREE, and the Green Analytical Procedure Index.

Celiac Disease (CD) is a primary malabsorption syndrome resulting from the interplay of genetic, immune, and dietary factors. CD negatively impacts daily activities and may lead to conditions such as osteoporosis, malignancies in the small intestine, ulcerative jejunitis, and enteritis, ultimately causing severe malnutrition. Therefore, an effective and rapid differentiation between healthy individuals and those with celiac disease is crucial for early diagnosis and treatment. This study utilizes Raman spectroscopy combined with deep learning models to achieve a non-invasive, rapid, and accurate diagnostic method for celiac disease and healthy controls. A total of 59 plasma samples, comprising 29 celiac disease cases and 30 healthy controls, were collected for experimental purposes. Convolutional Neural Network (CNN), Multi-Scale Convolutional Neural Network (MCNN), Residual Network (ResNet), and Deep Residual Shrinkage Network (DRSN) classification models were employed. The accuracy rates for these models were found to be 86.67%, 90.76%, 86.67% and 95.00%, respectively. Comparative validation results revealed that the DRSN model exhibited the best performance, with an AUC value and accuracy of 97.60% and 95%, respectively. This confirms the superiority of Raman spectroscopy combined with deep learning in the diagnosis of celiac disease.

OBJECTIVE: Quantifying the contribution of individual coagulation factors to haemostasis may aid our understanding of the haemostatic function in patients with rare coagulation deficiencies (RCDs) and the exploration of suitable treatments.
METHODS: Reconstituted blood prepared from specific coagulation factor-deficient plasma (factor [F]II; prothrombin, FV, FVII, FVIII, FIX, FX, FXI or FXII) and red blood cell/platelet products were used to simulate the whole blood of patients with RCD. We prepared in vitro treatment models for patients with prothrombin deficiency using coagulation factor agents and fresh frozen plasma. Haemostatic function was measured using a microchip flow chamber system at 600 s-1.
RESULTS: The haemostatic function was low, especially in blood samples reconstituted with prothrombin- and FX-deficient plasma. In a plasma transfusion model of prothrombin deficiency, haemostatic function recovered after 10% replacement with normal plasma and reached a plateau at ≧60% replacement. A treatment model of prothrombin deficiency with prothrombin complex concentrates revealed dose-dependent therapeutic effects in the range of 0-50 IU/kg.
CONCLUSIONS: Microchip flow chamber system-based quantification of haemostatic function using reconstituted blood could predict haemostasis and therapeutic effects of treatments in patients with prothrombin deficiency.

The use of protein biomarkers in blood for clinical settings is limited by the cost and accessibility of traditional venipuncture sampling. The dried blood spot (DBS) technique offers a less invasive and more accessible alternative. However, protein stability in DBS has not been well evaluated. Herein, we deployed a quantitative LC-MS/MS system to construct proteomic atlases of whole blood, DBSs, plasma, and blood cells. Approximately 4% of detected proteins\' abundance was significantly altered during blood drying into blood spots, with overwhelming disturbances in cytoplasmic fraction. We also reported a novel finding suggesting a decrease in the level of membrane/cytoskeletal proteins (SLC4A1, RHAG, DSC1, DSP, and JUP) and an increase in the level of proteins (ATG3, SEC14L4, and NRBP1) related to intracellular trafficking. Furthermore, we identified 19 temporally dynamic proteins in DBS samples stored at room temperature for up to 6 months. There were three declined cytoskeleton-related proteins (RDX, SH3BGRL3, and MYH9) and four elevated proteins (XPO7, RAN, SLC2A1, and SLC29A1) involved in cytoplasmic transport as representatives. The instability was governed predominantly by hydrophilic proteins and enhanced significantly with an increasing storage time. Our analyses provide comprehensive knowledge of both short- and long-term storage stability of DBS proteins, forming the foundation for the widespread use of DBS in clinical proteomics and other analytical applications.