Discrete sampling based-flow injection as an introduction system in ICP-MS for the direct analysis of low volume human serum samples

Evaluation of the environmental contamination and exposure risk in medical/non-medical staff after oxaliplatin-based pressurized intraperitoneal aerosol chemotherapy

Pressurized intraperitoneal aerosol chemotherapy (PIPAC) is a technique to directly deliver chemotherapeutic drugs in the abdomen for the treatment of peritoneal metastases. Pressurization improves the treatment efficacy but increases the risk of exposure for the medical/non-medical staff who can be exposed by dermal or ocular contact, or inhalation of aerosols containing the cytotoxic drugs. The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk of exposure for the medical/non-medical staff (nurses, surgeons, anaesthesiologists and cleaning personnel; n = 13) during PIPAC with oxaliplatin performed according to the protocol recommended in France. Blood samples were collected 1 h before and immediately after PIPAC, and urine samples 1 h before, and then 3 h and the morning after PIPAC. In the control, non-exposed group (n = 7), only one urine and blood sample were collected. Surface contamination in the operating room was assessed in water- and Surfanios-impregnated wipe samples. The total elemental platinum in each sample was quantified by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, using a method adapted to quantify trace amounts (ng.L^-1) in very low volumes (100 μl). No surface contamination was detected. Although 25% of urine samples in the exposed group contained platinum, no statistical difference was observed in urine and plasma samples collected before and after PIPAC and with the control group samples. These findings suggest that the French PIPAC protocol does not increase the risk of exposure to platinum in all staff categories involved. This protocol could be considered in future occupational policies and consensus statements. Trial registration: NCT04014426.

Flow-based System: A Highly Efficient Tool Speeds Up Data Production and Improves Analytical Performance

In this review, we cite references from the period between 2015 and 2020 related to the use of a flow-based system as a tool to obtain a modern analytical system for speeding up data production and improving performance. Based on a great deal of concepts for automatic systems, there are several research groups introduced in the development of flow-based systems to increase sample throughput while retaining the reproducibility and repeatability as well as to propose new platforms of flow-based systems, such as microfluidic chip and paper-based devices. Additionally, to apply a developed system for on-site analysis is one of the key features for development. We believe that this review will be very interested and useful for readers because of its impact on developing novel analytical systems. The content of the review is categorized following their applications including quality control and food safety, clinical diagnostics, environmental monitoring and miscellaneous.

Toxicological Risks of Renqingchangjue in Rats Evaluated by 1H NMR-Based Serum and Urine Metabolomics Analysis

Renqingchangjue (RQCJ), a kind of Traditional Tibetan Medicine, has been widely utilized to treat various gastroenteritis diseases. However, the biosafety and toxicity of RQCJ was still indefinite because of toxic components in RQCJ, which included a variety of heavy metals. Thus, this study was aimed to evaluate the toxicity and expound the toxicological mechanism of RQCJ. In this study, rats were intragastrically administered with different doses of RQCJ for 15 days, and then, the restorative observation period lasted for 15 days. Liver and kidney tissues were collected for histopathological examination, and simultaneously serum and urine samples were collected for 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) spectroscopy analysis and biochemical analysis combined with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) measurement. The 1H NMR-based metabolomics analysis revealed that the administration of RQCJ significantly altered the concentrations of 14 serum metabolites and 14 urine metabolites, which implied disturbances in energy metabolism, amino acid metabolism, intestinal flora environment, and membrane damage. Besides, the biochemical analysis of serum samples was consistent with the histopathological results, which indicated slight hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity. The quantification of As and Hg in urine and serum samples by ICP-MS provided more evidence about the toxicity of RQCJ. This work provided an effective method to systematically and dynamically evaluate the toxicity of RQCJ and suggested that precautions should be taken in the clinic to monitor the potential toxicity of RQCJ.