Test Samples for Optimizing STORM Super-Resolution Microscopy

STORM is a recently developed super-resolution microscopy technique with up to 10 times better resolution than standard fluorescence microscopy ...

National Physical Laboratory

To report a patient who experienced severe, reversible thrombocytopenia after receiving eptifibatide for acute coronary syndrome.

Reversible thrombocytopenia associated with eptifibatide.

Our aim was to determine if antenatal hypoxia was associated with liver dysfunction and coagulation abnormalities in small-for-gestational-age (SGA) infants. Sixteen SGA infants, median gestational age 30 (range 26-32) weeks, who consecutively had had umbilical artery Doppler studies in the week before delivery, were compared to appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA) controls, who were each matched to an SGA infant for gestational age. The median international normalised ratio (INR) was significantly higher (1.9 vs. 1.3, p < 0.001) and the neutrophil (p = 0.003) and platelet counts (p < 0.001), alkaline phosphatase (p < 0.001) and albumin (p < 0.02) levels significantly lower in the SGA compared to the AGA group. The umbilical artery pulsatility index (PI) was elevated, indicating antenatal hypoxia, in all but 1 of the SGA infants. Multiple linear regression analysis demonstrated that the INR was significantly related to the umbilical artery PI independent of the other variables (p = 0.0002, R(2) = 0.71). These results suggest that the coagulopathy seen in preterm SGA infants might at least be partially explained by antenatal hypoxia affecting the liver and hence vitamin K-dependent coagulation.

Neonatal coagulopathy in preterm, small-for-gestational-age infants.

Two experiments on finger localization are reported. Experiment 1 compared children who were poor readers with two groups of children matched to poor readers for sex and either age (CA controls) or reading age (RA controls). The participant's hands were kept out of his or her sight in a semi-open box while the fingers of one hand were lightly touched by the experimenter. The participant's task was to indicate, using the thumb of either the same hand (within-hand condition) or the opposite hand (across-hands condition) to respond, the finger(s) which had been touched by the experimenter. Performance was significantly impaired in the across-hands condition compared with the within-hand condition. Experiment 2 was carried out with dyslexic adults and a control group of normal readers. Using the same method of responding as in Experiment 1, a significant deficit in the across-hands condition compared to the within-hand condition was found for both groups. The effect was also obtained for both groups when participants were required to point to the relevant fingers on a photograph of a hand rather than use the thumb of the opposite hand to respond. The results are discussed in relation to the hypothesis of a deficit in inter-hemispheric transfer of tactile information in dyslexia.

Dyslexia and across-hands finger localization deficits.

To compare potentially inappropriate medication prescribing, as defined by the updated Beers criteria, in an acute care of the elderly (ACE) unit and a general medicine service.

Potentially inappropriate prescribing for geriatric inpatients: an acute care of the elderly unit compared to a general medicine service.

Gynecomastia can have a significant emotional and social impact on men. Although numerous drug therapies may cause this condition, we found no documented cases of gynecomastia associated with atorvastatin. We describe the development of breast enlargement and tenderness in a 52-year-old Caucasian man 6 months after his simvastatin therapy had been switched to atorvastatin. His symptoms ultimately interfered with his ability to play golf and participate in other activities. These problems resolved after atorvastatin discontinuation and did not recur despite resumption of simvastatin therapy. The gynecomastia in this patient represented a possible adverse effect of atorvastatin according to the Naranjo adverse drug reaction probability scale. The mechanism may be atorvastatin's theoretical suppression of adrenal or gonadal steroid production through effects on cholesterol synthesis. Based on this and other case reports, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (statins) should be considered as a potential cause when evaluating otherwise unexplainable cases of gynecomastia in patients taking these drugs.

Golf-inhibiting gynecomastia associated with atorvastatin therapy.

Pharmacology decision making requires clinical judgment. The authors created interactive microsimulation applying drug information to varying patients' situations. The theory-based microsimulation requires situational analysis for each scenario. The microsimulation uses an interactive format that allows the participant to navigate through three separate virtual clients' situations. Correct clinical decisions are rewarded by sounds and by video footage of the patient improving. Conversely, incorrect choices show video footage of the patient decompensating. This micro-simulation was developed to help students learn from the consequences of incorrect medication decision making in the virtual world without harming patients. The feedback of watching an incorrect decision on a patient helps students associate cause and effect on patient outcomes. The microsimulation reinforces the ease with which medication errors can occur and the extent of possible sequalae. The development process used to incorporate the technology in the nursing curriculum is discussed.

Developing an interactive microsimulation method in pharmacology.

Hemoglobinopathies are the most common inherited disorders. Newborn blood screening for clinically significant hemoglobin variants, including sickle (HbS), HbC, and HbD, has been adopted in many countries as it is widely acknowledged that early detection improves the outcome. We present a method for determination of Hb variants by direct surface sampling of dried blood spots by use of an Advion Triversa Nanomate automated electrospray system coupled to a high-resolution mass spectrometer. The method involves no sample preparation. It is possible to unambiguously identify homozygous and heterozygous HbS, HbC, and HbD variants in <10 min without the need for additional confirmation. The method allows for repeated analysis of a single blood spot over a prolonged time period and is tolerant of blood spot storage conditions.

Hemoglobin variant analysis via direct surface sampling of dried blood spots coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry.

Graphene, a true wonder material, is the newest member of the nanocarbon family. The continuous network of hexagonally arranged carbon atoms gives rise to exceptional electronic, mechanical, and thermal properties, which could result in the application of graphene in next generation electronic components, energy-storage materials such as capacitors and batteries, polymer nanocomposites, transparent conducting electrodes, and mechanical resonators. With one particularly attractive application, optically transparent conducting electrodes or films, graphene has the potential to rival indium tin oxide (ITO) and become a material for producing next generation displays, solar cells, and sensors. Typically, graphene has been produced from graphite using a variety of methods, but these techniques are not suitable for growing large-area graphene films. Therefore researchers have focused much effort on the development of methodology to grow graphene films across extended surfaces. This Account describes current progress in the formation and control of graphene films on polycrystalline metal surfaces. Researchers can grow graphene films on a variety of polycrystalline metal substrates using a range of experimental conditions. In particular, group 8 metals (iron and ruthenium), group 9 metals (cobalt, rhodium, and iridium), group 10 metals (nickel and platinum), and group 11 metals (copper and gold) can support the growth of these films. Stainless steel and other commercial copper-nickel alloys can also serve as substrates for graphene film growth. The use of copper and nickel currently predominates, and these metals produce large-area films that have been efficiently transferred and tested in many electronic devices. Researchers have grown graphene sheets more than 30 in. wide and transferred them onto display plastic ready for incorporation into next generation displays. The further development of graphene films in commercial applications will require high-quality, reproducible growth at ambient pressure and low temperature from cheap, readily available carbon sources. The growth of graphene on metal surfaces has drawbacks: researchers must transfer the graphene from the metal substrate or remove the metal by etching. Further research is needed to overcome these transfer and removal challenges.

Graphene film growth on polycrystalline metals.

We have previously shown that liquid microjunction surface sampling of dried blood spots coupled with high resolution top-down mass spectrometry may be used for screening of common hemoglobin variants HbS, HbC, and HbD. In order to test the robustness of the approach, we have applied the approach to unknown hemoglobin variants. Six neonatal dried blood spot samples that had been identified as variants, but which could not be diagnosed by current screening methods, were analyzed by direct surface sampling top-down mass spectrometry. Both collision-induced dissociation and electron transfer dissociation mass spectrometry were employed. Four of the samples were identified as Î²-chain variants: two were heterozygous Hb D-Iran, one was heterozygous Hb Headington, and one was heterozygous Hb J-Baltimore. The fifth sample was identified as the Î±-chain variant heterozygous Hb Phnom Penh. Analysis of the sixth sample suggested that it did not in fact contain a variant. Adoption of the approach in the clinic would require speed in both data collection and interpretation. To address that issue, we have compared manual data analysis with freely available data analysis software (ProsightPTM). The results demonstrate the power of top-down proteomics for hemoglobin variant analysis in newborn samples.

Top-down proteomics and direct surface sampling of neonatal dried blood spots: diagnosis of unknown hemoglobin variants.

Graphene is a true wonder material that promises much in a variety of applications that include electronic devices, supercapacitors, batteries, composites, flexible transparent displays and sensors. This review highlights the different methods available for the synthesis of graphene and discusses the viability and practicalities of using the materials produced via these methods for different graphene-based applications.

Graphene synthesis: relationship to applications.

MS allows for the unequivocal diagnosis of hemoglobin variants, or hemoglobinopathies. Hemoglobinopathies are the most common inherited disorder and there is a need for rapid detection of clinically significant variants, such as sickle hemoglobin, which is responsible for sickle cell disease. In this review, we describe the development of MS approaches for the determination of hemoglobin variants from both whole blood samples and dried blood spots. MS approaches that are suitable for population screening are discussed, as are recent advances in direct surface analysis of dried blood spots.

Rebecca Edwards

Analytical Science Division

National Physical Laboratory

Test Samples for Optimizing STORM Super-Resolution Microscopy

Rebecca Edwards

.css-o250i3{font-size:18px;font-family:Open Sans,sans-serif;line-height:21.6px;}Analytical Science Division

National Physical Laboratory

Test Samples for Optimizing STORM Super-Resolution Microscopy

Analytical Science Division