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Journal of AOAC International Nov 2023In response to the growing global need for pesticide residue testing, laboratories must develop versatile analytical methods and workflows to produce scientifically...
BACKGROUND
In response to the growing global need for pesticide residue testing, laboratories must develop versatile analytical methods and workflows to produce scientifically sound results. One of the many challenges faced by food chemists is acquiring suitable pesticide certified reference materials (CRMs) to calibrate analytical equipment, monitor method performance, and confirm the identity and concentration of hundreds of pesticide residues in food samples. CRM producers invest considerable resources to ensure the stability of their products.
OBJECTIVE
To present proper CRM handling and storage practices as guidance to ensure stability based on the results of several multiresidue pesticide stability studies.
METHODS
The open ampoule and combined multiresidue mix studies were conducted under controlled conditions. New ampoules containing multiresidue pesticide CRM mixtures were opened and compared to previously opened ampoules at multiple intervals while stored under freezing and refrigerated temperatures. Both LC- and GC-amenable pesticides (>200 residues) were combined and stored under typical laboratory conditions. Studies were performed with and without celery matrix.
RESULTS
The open ampoule study showed high levels of stability for all mixtures. All GC residues remained stable over the duration of the experiment. A week after opening LC multiresidue pesticide mixtures showed minor degradation. After combination of the multiresidue pesticide mixtures, degradation occurred rapidly for both the GC and LC mixtures.
CONCLUSION
Multiresidue pesticide mixtures are stable as ampullated until they are opened. Once the contents of a kit were opened and combined, decreasing stability was observed over time. This was true for both the LC and GC kits. Working mixtures of CRMs for instrument calibration should be made daily.
HIGHLIGHTS
This article shows a novel approach for measuring stability of CRM mixes. In-depth analysis of multiresidue pesticide mixtures and the stability that can be expected before and after mixing under typical storage conditions is described.
Topics: Tandem Mass Spectrometry; Pesticides; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Chromatography, Liquid; Pesticide Residues
PubMed: 37701991
DOI: 10.1093/jaoacint/qsad096 -
STAR Protocols Dec 2021The preservation of mammalian freeze-dried (FD) spermatozoa is commonly performed using small glass ampules; however, they are bulky and breakable. In this study, we...
The preservation of mammalian freeze-dried (FD) spermatozoa is commonly performed using small glass ampules; however, they are bulky and breakable. In this study, we present a protocol to prepare and preserve mouse FD sperm using thin plastic sheets. This approach allows storing thousands of mouse strains in a card folder. We can also send the FD sperm domestically using a postcard without any extra equipment. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Ito et al. (2021).
Topics: Animals; Freeze Drying; Male; Mice; Semen Preservation; Spermatozoa
PubMed: 34806046
DOI: 10.1016/j.xpro.2021.100933 -
Marine Life Science & Technology Nov 2022The ultrastructure of ciliates carries important cytological, taxonomical, and evolutionary signals for these single-celled eukaryotic organisms. However, little...
The ultrastructure of ciliates carries important cytological, taxonomical, and evolutionary signals for these single-celled eukaryotic organisms. However, little ultrastructural data have been accumulated for most ciliate groups with systematic problems. In the present work, a well-known marine uronychiid, , was investigated using electron microscopy and a comparison with, and a discussion considering, phylogenetic analyses were made. The new findings primarily show that: (i) this species lacks the typical alveolar plate, bears cortical ampule-like extrusomes, and has microtubular triads in the dorsal pellicle, and thus exhibits some ultrastructural features in common with most of its previously studied congeners; (ii) each adoral membranelle before the level of frontal cirrus II/2 contains three rows of kinetosomes and each membranelle after the level of frontal cirrus II/2 contains four rows, which might be related with morphogenesis and could be considered as a distinctive character of ; (iii) some structural details of the buccal field, such as the extra-pellicular fibrils, pellicle, pharyngeal disks and microtubular sheet, were documented. In addition, based on the ultrastructural comparison of representatives, we discuss the differentiation between the subfamilies Diophryinae and Uronychiinae. A hypothetical systematic relationship of members in the order Euplotida based on a wide range of data is also provided.
PubMed: 37078077
DOI: 10.1007/s42995-022-00153-y -
Harm Reduction Journal Feb 2019The availability of take home naloxone (THN) was increased for Canadians in 2016, including access to kits via pharmacies. Unlike typical over-the-counter (OTC) and...
PURPOSE
The availability of take home naloxone (THN) was increased for Canadians in 2016, including access to kits via pharmacies. Unlike typical over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription drugs, THN kits may be stored in non-standard conditions, including in vehicles, backpacks, and out of doors. To evaluate whether these non-standard storage conditions affect stability, we investigated the impact of heat and freeze-thaw cycling on naloxone hydrochloride stability.
METHODS
To assess the effect of heat, naloxone hydrochloride ampoules were exposed to 80 °C in a temperature-controlled oven for 8 h followed by 16 h at room temperature. To assess the effect of freeze-thaw cycles, naloxone hydrochloride ampoules were exposed to - 20 °C for 16 h followed by 8 h at 4 °C. The impact of these conditions on naloxone hydrochloride stability was evaluated each day for 1 week and after 2 and 4 weeks. The concentration of remaining naloxone hydrochloride was quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Naloxone hydrochloride ampoules stored at room temperature served as the experimental control.
RESULTS
Naloxone hydrochloride ampoules exhibit no changes in drug concentration following exposure to heat or freeze-thaw cycles for up to 28 days compared to ampoules maintained at room temperature (as indicated in the product monograph).
CONCLUSIONS
Naloxone hydrochloride remains chemically stable following exposure to heat or freeze-thaw cycles after 28 days. If THN kits are stored in non-standard conditions (for up to 28 days) the active naloxone is likely to remain stable. Despite this, pharmacists should continue to emphasize the importance of appropriate storage of THN kits to ensure optimal efficacy should naloxone administration be required in an emergency situation.
Topics: Calibration; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Drug Packaging; Drug Stability; Freezing; Hot Temperature; Naloxone; Narcotic Antagonists; Temperature
PubMed: 30813917
DOI: 10.1186/s12954-019-0288-4 -
Advanced Biomedical Research 2023In this case, a 44-year-old pregnant woman at a gestational age of 28 weeks and 6 days with symptoms of cold, shortness of breath, and cough since a week ago. She had...
In this case, a 44-year-old pregnant woman at a gestational age of 28 weeks and 6 days with symptoms of cold, shortness of breath, and cough since a week ago. She had received remdesivir ampoule, Tamiflu tablet, meropenem and linezolid, and dexamethasone. She received oxygen through a 14-liter reservoir bag mask and hydrocortisone, heparin, and ceftriaxone. Nine hours after hospitalization, the patient suffered a cardiorespiratory arrest, resuscitation was performed, and the patient was intubated. Emergency cesarean section was done in the intensive care unit. Finally, the patient suffered a cardiorespiratory arrest, prop was placed for the patient, and evidence of severe Mitral stenosis and right ventricle dilation were observed. The cardiopulmonary resuscitation operation continued for an hour, but unfortunately the patient died. So, it is important to be careful about influenza during pregnancy and in the case of heart failure symptoms, it is necessary to consider the presence of underlying mitral stenosis.
PubMed: 38192899
DOI: 10.4103/abr.abr_104_23 -
British Journal of Anaesthesia Jan 2000Albert Woolley and Cecil Roe were healthy, middle-aged men who became paraplegic after spinal anaesthesia for minor surgery at the Chesterfield Royal Hospital in 1947....
Albert Woolley and Cecil Roe were healthy, middle-aged men who became paraplegic after spinal anaesthesia for minor surgery at the Chesterfield Royal Hospital in 1947. The spinal anaesthetics were given by the same anaesthetist, Dr Malcolm Graham, using the same drug on the same day at the same hospital. The outcome for the patients and their families was devastating, as it was for the use of spinal anaesthesia in the UK. At the trial 6 yr later, and against the opinion of leading neurologists, the judge accepted Professor Macintosh's suggestion that phenol, in which the ampoules of local anaesthetic had been immersed, had contaminated the local anaesthetic through invisible cracks. In an interview 30 yr after the verdict, Dr Graham believed tha the tragedy was caused by contamination of the spinal needles or syringes during the sterilization process. The subsequent explanation that, on the day in question, descaling liquid in the sterilizing pan had not been replaced by water, supported his belief and finally offered a credible explanation. We review the Woolley and Roe case, the status of spinal anaesthesia before and after 1947, and the relevant medico-legal judgments in claims for negligence in the early days of the National Health Service.
Topics: Anesthesia, Spinal; Drug Contamination; England; Equipment Contamination; History, 20th Century; Humans; Legislation, Medical; Liability, Legal; Paraplegia; State Medicine
PubMed: 10740564
DOI: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.bja.a013370 -
Biologicals : Journal of the... May 2023The International Standard for Diphtheria Antitoxin Equine is essential for the standardisation of assays used to determine the potency of therapeutic diphtheria...
The International Standard for Diphtheria Antitoxin Equine is essential for the standardisation of assays used to determine the potency of therapeutic diphtheria antitoxin products produced from equine serum. This paper describes the production and characterization of the 2nd International Standard for Diphtheria Antitoxin Equine and its calibration in International Units. Calibration was performed by toxin neutralization test in vivo and in vitro (Vero cell assay), and potency was expressed relative to the 1st International Standard to ensure continuity of the International Unit. The candidate standard (NIBSC product code 18/180) was assigned a unitage of 57 IU/ampoule based on results from 14 laboratories in 9 different countries and was established by the World Health Organisation Expert Committee on Biological Standardization in 2021.
Topics: Chlorocebus aethiops; Animals; Horses; Diphtheria Antitoxin; Calibration; Reference Standards; Vero Cells; World Health Organization
PubMed: 37149975
DOI: 10.1016/j.biologicals.2023.101682 -
Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) Apr 2022People struggling with acne vulgaris, not only experience skin eruptions and skin pain, but also report that their quality of life is worse compared with healthy people....
People struggling with acne vulgaris, not only experience skin eruptions and skin pain, but also report that their quality of life is worse compared with healthy people. This study examined, for the first time, the effect of sonophoresis on select skin parameters (sebum level) in young women suffering from acne vulgaris. The study included 60 women 19-23 years of age ( = 21.45, = 0.91) with mild and moderate facial acne. The inclusion criteria were 19-23 years of age, female or male gender, mild to moderate acne, no dermatological treatment within last 12 months, and no hormonal contraception (women). No men volunteered for the study, so the group was homogeneous. The patients were divided into two groups. Group A underwent a sonophoresis procedure using ultrasound and ultrasound gel combined with a green tea, bamboo extract ampule, and 5% lactic acid. Group B was the placebo group, where sonophoresis was performed using only ultrasound gel (no ampules). The members of the placebo group were told that they were undergoing sonophoresis with a green tea, bamboo extract, and 5% lactic acid ampule. Before and after the series of procedures, sebum levels were measured in the skin. Each patient underwent a series of five procedures using sonophoresis equipment at one-week intervals. Sonophoresis with green tea, bamboo extract, and 5% lactic acid contributed to the reduction of skin eruptions and sebum levels in the participants of the study (group A). The study results demonstrated that the combined use of plant preparations, lactic acid, and ultrasound had a positive effect on the skin of people suffering from acne vulgaris, including reduction of skin eruptions and sebum levels on the surface of the skin.
PubMed: 35455861
DOI: 10.3390/healthcare10040684 -
British Dental Journal Dec 2020Anaphylaxis is a severe and potentially life-threatening allergic reaction that can occur in the dental practice. There are a number of dental-related causes including...
Anaphylaxis is a severe and potentially life-threatening allergic reaction that can occur in the dental practice. There are a number of dental-related causes including mouthwashes, local anaesthetics, latex and antibiotics. The dental team must be able to respond effectively and manage the life-threatening situation appropriately following Resuscitation Council UK guidelines. The timely administration of adrenaline is life-saving; any delays can lead to a poor outcome. With the current national supply issues with adrenaline auto-injector devices, there is an expectation that GDPs should be competent at drawing up adrenaline from an ampoule and administrating it intramuscularly. The aim of this article is to provide an update on the management of anaphylaxis in the dental practice with particular reference to the procedure for intramuscular injection of adrenaline.
Topics: Anaphylaxis; Epinephrine; Humans; Injections, Intramuscular
PubMed: 33311677
DOI: 10.1038/s41415-020-2454-1 -
Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology... Aug 2020There is a need for a reference material to support the development and ensure the quality of immunoassays for human AMH. A batch of ampoules, coded 16/190, containing...
BACKGROUND
There is a need for a reference material to support the development and ensure the quality of immunoassays for human AMH. A batch of ampoules, coded 16/190, containing lyophilised recombinant AMH was evaluated in a WHO Collaborative Study. The aims of the study were to determine the AMH content in terms of the calibration of each immunoassay method, to predict long-term stability and to assess the suitability of the preparation to calibrate AMH immunoassays.
METHODS
Study participants were asked to report the AMH content of specific dilutions of coded ampoules of 16/190 and a comparator preparation containing approximately half the AMH content. In each assay, participants also reported the AMH content of 22 patient samples to assess commutability. A robust all-laboratory geometric mean of the content estimates was determined using the laboratory geometric mean estimates. Commutability was assessed using a difference in bias approach. Stability was predicted by the measurement of thermally accelerated degradation samples.
RESULTS
Seven laboratories performed twenty-one immunoassay method-platform combinations, sixteen of which provided data which met the validity criteria, giving a consensus geometric mean estimate of AMH content of 511 ng/ampoule (95% CI, 426-612, n = 16, GCV 42%) and a robust geometric mean of 489 ng/ampoule. By contrast, the GCV% for the all-laboratory geometric mean of the relative content estimates for the comparator sample to 16/190 was 12%. Commutability was assessed using 20 of the 22 representative patient samples. Of the valid assays, 16/190 was within the limits of acceptable commutability for 6 methods, partially commutable for a further 3 methods and non-commutable when measured by 7 methods. The preparation was predicted to be highly stable when stored at - 20 °C.
CONCLUSION
The majority of methods met the validity criteria. Content estimates showed a high between-method variability, yet assays exhibited a similar proportionality of response as demonstrated using the comparator sample. 16/190 was commutable in some but not all methods. On the basis of these results, it was agreed by the WHO Expert Committee on Biological Standardization to establish 16/190 as a WHO Reference Reagent for AMH with a content defined by consensus immunoassay of 489 ng/ampoule.
Topics: Animals; Anti-Mullerian Hormone; Biological Assay; CHO Cells; Calibration; Clinical Laboratory Services; Cricetulus; Female; Humans; Immunoassay; Indicators and Reagents; International Cooperation; Internationality; Laboratory Proficiency Testing; Reference Standards; World Health Organization
PubMed: 32799874
DOI: 10.1186/s12958-020-00641-9