Characterization of CNS disorders and evaluation of therapy using structural and functional MRI

Modern drug development requires technologies that allow rapid translation from the preclinical to the clinical stage. It is obvious that non-invasive imaging modalities such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) will play a central role in this regard. This article reviews the use of structural and functional MRI readouts for characterization of central nervous system (CNS) disorders and evaluation of the efficacy of potential CNS drugs. Examples comprise dementia of Alzheimer's type, cerebral ischemia, and neuroinflammation covering both clinical and preclinical aspects. In these examples MRI has been used to obtain relevant structural information on brain atrophy, on the location and extent of ischemic brain areas, and on the number and distribution of demyelinated plaques. These structural data are complemented by readouts assessing the functional consequences associated with the pathomorphological changes. In the last decade, MRI has evolved into a standard tool for the development of CNS drugs. With regard to target-specific/molecular imaging applications MRI is limited by its inherently low sensitivity; complementary imaging modalities utilizing optical and radionuclear reporter systems will thus be required.     

An Example of Information Exchange Between a Liquid Chromatographic System And a Robotic Sample Preparation System

Abstract

Analytical laboratories are looking for the “Total Solution” today. Ideally, the “Total Solution” is the automation of all steps after receiving a sample for analysis including generation of the final report. While that goal is not yet fully realized, efforts to attain it are well underway. Robotic sample preparation systems have rapidly evolved to become common tools in many analytical laboratories which use them along with standard analytical instruments such as chromatographs and spectrophotometers. Physically coupling the two types of systems can offer advantages – the full extent of which depends upon the degree of sophistication in the communication between them. The goal of a “Total Solution” demands real-time decision-making capability based on the information associated with each sample. This information includes everything from its origin to just-completed chromatographic results as the sample travels through the lab. Hence, the level of information exchange between preparation and analysis systems will determine how fully the potential power of such a coupling is utilized.     

Optical filtering technologies for integrated fluorescence sensors

Numerous approaches have been taken to miniaturizing fluorescence sensing, which is a key capability for micro-total-analysis systems. This critical, comprehensive review focuses on the optical hardware required to attenuate excitation light while transmitting fluorescence. It summarizes, evaluates, and compares the various technologies, including filtering approaches such as interference filters and absorption filters and filterless approaches such as multicolor sensors and light-guiding elements. It presents the physical principles behind the different architectures, the state-of-the-art micro-fluorometers and how they were microfabricated, and their performance metrics. Promising technologies that have not yet been integrated are also described. This information will permit the identification of methods that meet particular design requirements, from both performance and integration perspectives, and the recognition of the remaining technological challenges. Finally, a set of performance metrics are proposed for evaluating and reporting spectral discrimination characteristics of integrated devices in order to promote side-by-side comparisons among diverse technologies and, ultimately, to facilitate optimized designs of micro-fluorometers for specific applications.     

New global communication process in thermodynamics: impact on quality of published experimental data

Thermodynamic data are a key resource in the search for new relationships between properties of chemical systems that constitutes the basis of the scientific discovery process. In addition, thermodynamic information is critical for development and improvement of all chemical process technologies. Historically, peer-reviewed journals are the major source of this information obtained by experimental measurement or prediction. Technological advances in measurement science have propelled enormous growth in the scale of published thermodynamic data (almost doubling every 10 years). This expansion has created new challenges in data validation at all stages of the data delivery process. Despite the peer-review process, problems in data validation have led, in many instances, to publication of data that are grossly erroneous and, at times, inconsistent with the fundamental laws of nature. This article describes a new global data communication process in thermodynamics and its impact in addressing these challenges as well as in streamlining the delivery of the thermodynamic data from "data producers" to "data users". We believe that the prolific growth of scientific data in numerous and diverse fields outside thermodynamics, together with the demonstrated effectiveness and versatility of the process described in this article, will foster development of such processes in other scientific fields.     

天然糖类纳米药物传递系统的研究进展

纳米技术作为影响未来人类生活的世界三大新兴科技之一,其与药物传递系统的融合,既可以将药物的药理作用极大限度地发挥出来,又克服了药物本身的局限性.天然糖类的来源十分广泛,不仅价格低廉、无毒性,且具有良好的生物相容性和生物可降解性,被广泛用于纳米药物传递系统.本文对纳米药物传递系统的体系组成进行了归纳,重点阐述了常见糖类及...     

Lithium ion,lithium metal,and alternative rechargeable battery technologies: the odyssey for high energy density

Since their market introduction in 1991, lithium ion batteries (LIBs) have developed evolutionary in terms of their specific energies (Wh/kg) and energy densities (Wh/L). Currently, they do not only dominate the small format battery market for portable electronic devices, but have also been successfully implemented as the technology of choice for electromobility as well as for stationary energy storage. Besides LIBs, a variety of different technologically promising battery concepts exists that, depending on the respective technology, might also be suitable for various application purposes. These systems of the “next generation,” the so-called post-lithium ion batteries (PLIBs), such as metal/sulfur, metal/air or metal/oxygen, or “post-lithium technologies” (systems without Li), which are based on alternative single (Na⁺, K⁺) or multivalent ions (Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺), are currently being studied intensively. From today’s point of view, it seems quite clear that there will not only be a single technology for all applications (technology monopoly), but different battery systems, which can be especially suitable or combined for a particular application (technology diversity). In this review, we place the lithium ion technology in a historical context and give insights into the battery technology diversity that evolved during the past decades and which will, in turn, influence future research and development.     

Trace element analytical speciation in biological systems: importance,challenges and trends

Speciation of trace elements is a relatively new field and it was in toxicology that the relationship between the chemical form of a metal and its harmful effects was first recognized. The present need for chemical speciation information in biochemistry bioinorganic and clinical chemistry is documented in an attempt to justify the present demand for innovative chemical speciation strategies and analytical technologies.The challenge and complexity of speciation is stressed and three different categories of analytical speciation of increasing analytical difficulty are proposed. Analytical strategies developed so far to try to tackle speciation problems (computational approaches, direct species-specific and hybrid techniques) are reviewed and critically assessed for biological materials. It is indisputable these days that in most cases of real-life analytical speciation we have to resort to the development and use of hybrid techniques combining an adequate separation technique for the species physical separation and an element specific detector such as those based in atomic spectrometry. Examples of such strategies, as developed mainly in the author's laboratory and including chromatographic and non-chromatographic type hybrid strategies coupled to flame, plasma and electrothermal vaporization atomic detectors, are discussed in more detail.Finally, in light of the latest trends observed in this new field, the author attempts to cast a forward look into the foreseeable future of analytical speciation research in biological and biomedical sciences. The urgent plea for quality assurance in non-routine analysis and the concept of using complementary analytical techniques and definitive methods to attack the complexity of chemical speciation in biological systems are particularly highlighted.     

The chemical information system

The CIS is a collection of computerised data storage and retrieval components for chemical information, covering such aspects as structure, names, spectra, toxicology, hazards, literature references and molecular modeling. Each component is essentially a 'standalone' system but they share utility software and therefore composite searches within different databases are easily performed.     

Artificial intelligence-based microfluidic platforms for the sensitive detection of environmental pollutants: Recent advances and prospects

Environmental pollution and its drastic effects on human and animal health have urged governments to implement strict policies to minimize damage. The first step in applying such policies is to find reliable methods to detect pollution in various media, including water, food, soil, and air. In this regard, various approaches such as spectrophotometric, chromatographic, and electrochemical techniques have been proposed. To overcome the limitations associated with conventional analytical methods, microfluidic devices have emerged as sensitive technologies capable of generating high content information during the past few years. The passage of contaminant samples through the microfluidic channels provides essential details about the whole environment after detection by the detector. In the meantime, artificial intelligence is an ideal means to identify, classify, characterize, and even predict the data obtained from microfluidic systems. The development of microfluidic devices with integrated machine learning and artificial intelligence is promising for the development of next-generation monitoring systems. Combination of the two systems ensures time efficient setups with easy operation. This review article is dedicated to the recent developments in microfluidic chips coupled with artificial intelligence technology for the evolution of more convenient pollution monitoring systems.     

Machine Learning Methods in Drug Discovery

The advancements of information technology and related processing techniques have created a fertile base for progress in many scientific fields and industries. In the fields of drug discovery and development, machine learning techniques have been used for the development of novel drug candidates. The methods for designing drug targets and novel drug discovery now routinely combine machine learning and deep learning algorithms to enhance the efficiency, efficacy, and quality of developed outputs. The generation and incorporation of big data, through technologies such as high-throughput screening and high through-put computational analysis of databases used for both lead and target discovery, has increased the reliability of the machine learning and deep learning incorporated techniques. The use of these virtual screening and encompassing online information has also been highlighted in developing lead synthesis pathways. In this review, machine learning and deep learning algorithms utilized in drug discovery and associated techniques will be discussed. The applications that produce promising results and methods will be reviewed.     

Polymer microfabrication technologies for microfluidic systems

Polymers have assumed the leading role as substrate materials for microfluidic devices in recent years. They offer a broad range of material parameters as well as material and surface chemical properties which enable microscopic design features that cannot be realised by any other class of materials. A similar range of fabrication technologies exist to generate microfluidic devices from these materials. This review will introduce the currently relevant microfabrication technologies such as replication methods like hot embossing, injection molding, microthermoforming and casting as well as photodefining methods like lithography and laser ablation for microfluidic systems and discuss academic and industrial considerations for their use. A section on back-end processing completes the overview.     

Organotins: Toxicology and biological effects

Organotins are currently one of the most studied groups of organometallic compounds; their novel and often unique chemical properties have intrigued chemists for over 100 years and, today, many of these compounds find extensive use in agriculture and industry. Over the years, however, a number of the organotins have been demonstrated to be toxic and there is now increasing concern that their widespread use may cause adverse effects within environmental and biological systems. This article reviews and updates the current literature concerning organotin toxicology. It identifies the various target organs and systems, discusses mechanisms and species susceptibility, and directs the reader to additional sources of more specialized information as appropriate.     

Evaluation of the Potential Release Tendency of Metals and Metalloids from the Estuarine Sediments: Case Study of Raša Bay

Assessing the environmental quality of coastal systems is important not only for the management and protection of such areas, but also for improving the quality of water resources. Since sediment itself can often be a source of certain toxic elements, in addition to information on the distribution of metals in the water column and in the sediment itself, it is useful to determine the bioavailable forms of individual elements, particularly toxic ones. In this study, water and sediment geochemical data were supplemented with oxyanion mobility in sediments estimated by diffusion gradients in thin film (DGTs). The data obtained indicate that the chemical composition of the water in the Raša River estuary primarily reflects the high input of suspended sediment from the catchment, the mixing of freshwater and seawater, and to a lesser extent the effects of anthropogenic activities. Although sediment composition is primarily determined by geological and hydrodynamic conditions in the catchment, it also indicates moderate enrichment in Co, Cr, Mo and Ni. In contrast, the distribution of oxyanions in sediment pore water indicates the influence of sediment as a source of some elements in the bottom water; e.g., sediment contributes to 40% of the arsenic bottom water budget. The obtained depth profiles of the oxyanion distribution in the sediment pore water indicate an early onset of suboxic to anoxic conditions in Raša Bay, which is prone to rapid sedimentation. All this demonstrates the need to consider the bioavailable forms of elements when assessing environmental quality, as the lack of such information can lead to an incomplete assessment, especially in dynamic coastal systems such as estuaries.     

An overview on the standardization of chromatographic methods for screening analysis in toxicology by means of retention indices and secondary standards

Summary A review is presented on the methods of standardization of HPLC data as used in systematic toxicological analysis. In straight-phase HPLC, the best results were obtained with a series of selected drugs as retention standards. In reversed-phase HPLC, various retention index systems were introduced. However, these systems alone cannot compensate large differences in selectivities of nominally identical, but commercially different reversed-phase column packings. Much better results were achieved with selected drugs as retention index markers. The practical applicability of such a standardized HPLC system is demonstrated.Part I see [1]Dedicated to Prof. Dr. Dr. Marika Geldmacher-von Mallinckrodt in recognition of her pioneering contributions in clinical and forensic toxicology     

Bacillus anthracis: toxicology, epidemiology and current rapid-detection methods

B. anthracis, the causative agent for anthrax, has been well studied for over 150 years. Due to the genetic similarities among various Bacillus species, as well as its existence in both a spore form and a vegetative state, the detection and specific identification of B. anthracis have been proven to require complex techniques and/or laborious methods. With the heightened interest in the organism as a potential biological threat agent, a large number of interesting detection technologies have recently been developed, including methods involving immunological and nucleic acid-based assay formats. The technologies range from culture-based methods to portable Total Analysis Systems based on real-time PCR. This review with 170 references provides a brief background on the toxicology and epidemiology of B. anthracis, discusses challenges associated with its detection related to genetic similarities to other species, and reviews immunological and, with greater emphasis, nucleic acid-based detection systems. Harriet A. Clancy is currently on active duty with the U.S. Army’s 3rd COSCOM (Corps Support Command)     

Polymer characterization by thermal evolution techniques

Thermal evolution techniques continuously monitor materials thermally evolved from a sample on controlled heating. Either stepwise detection of such volatiles as a function of temperature or time, or quantitative measurement and identification of these materials provides very useful information. Transducers include vacuum gauges, electrochemical devices, thermal conductivity and flame ionization detectors, etc. These techniques have shown promise in studies of thermal stability and degradation mechanism, analysis of trace impurities and additives, and elucidation of polymer structures. Other applications are in the areas of vapor pressure measurement and toxicity studies of constituents in polymer systems.     

Cellular copper management—a draft user's guide

Copper is essential to many organisms as a cofactor for many proteins and enzymes involved in key biological processes such as respiration and protection from oxidative stress. However, as copper is potentially toxic to living systems, regulatory mechanisms have evolved for its acquisition, trafficking, and release. These mechanisms, whose malfunction is typically associated with severe cellular damage, rely on the concerted action of protein systems that implement mechanisms for copper homeostasis and usage. The ensemble of copper proteins in given organisms can now be predicted with bioinformatics methods from an analysis of amino acid sequences. This work has endeavored to study the copper binding sites in these proteins, and to classify them based on their structural features. When associated with information on occurrence throughout the domains of life and intracellular localization, some generalized perspectives on copper management emerge that may provide a basis for the creation of models of cellular copper metabolism within a systems framework.     

Aqueous organic and redox-mediated redox flow batteries: a review

Redox flow batteries (RFBs) are among the most investigated technologies for large-scale energy storage applications. Since the first commercialization of all-vanadium RFB (in the early 90s), the technology has evolved towards the development of new systems. This review focuses on three innovative concepts including aqueous organic RFB (AO-RFB), dual-circuit RFB and redox solid booster–based RFB. We will highlight the recent advances in the last five years and discuss the main challenges encountered. Particularly, we focused on the use of redox-mediated process to reach higher energy density than conventional RFB.     

Aspects of matrix effects in applications of liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry to forensic and clinical toxicology—a review

In the last decade, liquid chromatography coupled to (tandem) mass spectrometry (LC-MS(-MS)) has become a versatile technique with many routine applications in clinical and forensic toxicology. However, it is well-known that ionization in LC-MS(-MS) is prone to so-called matrix effects, i.e., alteration in response due to the presence of co-eluting compounds that may increase (ion enhancement) or reduce (ion suppression) ionization of the analyte. Since the first reports on such matrix effects, numerous papers have been published on this matter and the subject has been reviewed several times. However, none of the existing reviews has specifically addressed aspects of matrix effects of particular interest and relevance to clinical and forensic toxicology, for example matrix effects in methods for multi-analyte or systematic toxicological analysis or matrix effects in (alternative) matrices almost exclusively analyzed in clinical and forensic toxicology, for example meconium, hair, oral fluid, or decomposed samples in postmortem toxicology. This review article will therefore focus on these issues, critically discussing experiments and results of matrix effects in LC-MS(-MS) applications in clinical and forensic toxicology. Moreover, it provides guidance on performance of studies on matrix effects in LC-MS(-MS) procedures in systematic toxicological analysis and postmortem toxicology.     

Mass spectrometric approaches in impaired driving toxicology

Driving under the influence of prescribed or illegal drugs increases the risk of having road accidents, just like driving under the influence of alcohol. In forensic toxicology, an increasing number of blood samples must be analyzed for drugs. Immunoassays tailored for a limited number of drugs (of abuse) are usually applied as prescreening tests at the roadside and/or in the laboratory. However, many other common drugs, such as anesthetics, antidepressants, antiepileptics, antihistamines, newer designer drugs, herbal drugs, neuroleptics (antipsychotics), opioids, or sedative-hypnotics, can also impair drivers. Therefore, this paper reviews multianalyte single-stage and tandem gas or liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS or LC-MS) procedures for the screening, identification, and validated quantification of such drugs in blood that have been reported since 2003. Basic information about the biosample assayed, workup, chromatography, the mass spectral detection mode, and validation data is summarized in tables. The pros and cons of the reviewed procedures are critically discussed, particularly with respect to their probable usefulness in impaired driving toxicology. Parts of this review were presented as a plenary lecture at T2007, the joint meeting of the International Council on Alcohol, Drugs, and Traffic Safety (ICADTS) and The International Association of Forensic Toxicologists (TIAFT), Seattle (WA), August 26–30, 2007.