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Inductively coupled plasma-tandem mass spectrometry (ICP-MS/MS) is a relatively new technique, with the first triple quadrupole ICP-MS (ICP-QQQ) being introduced commercially in 2012. However, the technique has quickly been accepted for a wide variety of applications in industries including, but not limited to, manufacturing, contract analysis, government, research, and academia. In this article, we explain the key steps to setting up an ICP-MS/MS method and address some of the common misconceptions surrounding the technique., Compared to conventional single quadrupole inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), the main benefits of ICP-MS/MS include: * the unprecedented ability to resolve spectral interferences using controlled reaction chemistry in the [...]

Various complications of arterial embolisation (AE) for postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) are reported. Endometritis (EM) frequently causes abscesses, increasing hysterectomy risk. However, risk factors for EM after AE for PPH are unclear. We explored these risk factors. We included patients who underwent AE for PPH in our hospital from 2005 to 2020 and compared those who did (EM group) and did not develop EM after AE (non-EM group) in a case-control study. Twenty patients met the study criteria; eight patients (40%) had EM. There were no differences in risk factors between groups involved in infection, such as premature rupture of membranes. However, the contrast medium extravasation rate on computed tomography scans before the AE procedure was significantly higher in the EM group (p=.019) compared to the non-EM group. The greatest EM risk factor was contrast medium extravasation before AE for PPH, determined by classification and regression tree modelling (relative risk: 4.5). What is already known on this subject? Reportedly, the clinical success rate of arterial embolisation (AE) for critical haemorrhage in obstetrics is high, around 90%. However, information regarding AE complications is limited. Endometritis is one of these complications, which not only causes prolonged hospitalisation but may also require further treatment, such as hysterectomy. However, the incidence rate and risk factors for EM remain unknown. What do the results of this study add? In this study, 40.0% of patients developed EM after AE for PPH. Extravasation of contrast medium was the top risk factor (relative risk: 4.5 compared to those without EM, p=.019). The second-leading risk factor was a bleeding volume greater than 2500 mL (relative risk: 4.5 compared to those without EM, p=.019). What are the implications of these findings for future clinical practice and/or future research? We created an EM prediction model using extravasation and a bleeding volume greater than 2500 mL. The model was 87.5% sensitive and 66.7% specific. This prediction model allows for the early detection and treatment of EM by recognising high-risk patients and providing intensive postpartum management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To evaluate the perinatal outcomes by gestational weight gain (GWG) range at 30 weeks of gestation among underweight pregnant women (pre‐pregnancy body mass index ≤ 18.5 kg/m2) in Japan. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted at a hospital in Japan from 2003 to 2020. The underweight pregnant women (UPW; n = 3643) were divided into quartile groups based on the weight gain at 30 weeks of gestation: group Q1 ≤ 5.7 kg, 5.7 kg < Q2 ≤ 7.2 kg, 7.2 kg < Q3 ≤ 8.8 kg, and 8.8 kg < Q4. Clinical characteristics and outcomes were compared using the t‐test, chi‐square test, and multivariable logistic regression analysis. Results: The cumulative incidences of preterm births were 7.5% (n = 70), 5.0% (n = 45), 5.4% (n = 50), and 4.9% (n = 44), and the birth rates of small for gestational age (SGA) infants were 15.7% (n = 147), 9.6% (n = 87), 6.9% (n = 64), and 5.9% (n = 53) in Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4, respectively. Multivariable analysis revealed that Q1 was significantly associated with preterm births (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.6; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.0–2.3), and Q1 and Q2 were significantly associated with SGA (adj. OR = 3.0; 95% CI = 2.2–4.3; adj. OR = 1.7; 95% CI = 1.2–2.5, respectively). None of the quartile groups were significantly associated with the incidence of primary cesarean sections, gestational diabetes mellitus, and macrosomia. Conclusions: In UPW, GWG at 30 weeks of ≤5.7 kg and ≤7.2 kg are associated with preterm birth and SGA rates, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vascular Ehlers–Danlos syndrome (vEDS) is a hereditary connective tissue disorder (HCTD) characterized by arterial dissection/aneurysm/rupture, sigmoid colon rupture, or uterine rupture. Diagnosis is confirmed by detecting heterozygous variants in COL3A1. This is the largest Asian case series and the first to apply an amplification‐based next‐generation sequencing through custom panels of causative genes for HCTDs, including a specific method of evaluating copy number variations. Among 429 patients with suspected HCTDs analyzed, 101 were suspected to have vEDS, and 33 of them (32.4%) were found to have COL3A1 variants. Two patients with a clinical diagnosis of Loeys–Dietz syndrome and/or familial thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissection were also found to have COL3A1 variants. Twenty cases (57.1%) had missense variants leading to glycine (Gly) substitutions in the triple helical domain, one (2.9%) had a missense variant leading to non‐Gly substitution in this domain, eight (22.9%) had splice site alterations, three (8.6%) had nonsense variants, two (5.7%) had in‐frame deletions, and one (2.9%) had a multi‐exon deletion, including two deceased patients analyzed with formalin‐fixed and paraffin‐embedded samples. This is a clinically useful system to detect a wide spectrum of variants from various types of samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. Our purpose was to examine the significance of diffuse chorioamniotic hemosiderosis (DCH) on neonatal morbidity and mortality. Methods. Using data from a retrospective case-control study, we analyzed 46 singleton placentas with DCH from infants who were delivered and/or admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of Kanagawa Children&apos;s Medical Center during 1987-2001 and 92 control placentas without DCH from infants of comparable gestational age, birth weight, and duration. Results. Mean and standard deviation of gestational age and infants&apos; birth weight at delivery from the DCH group were 27 [+ or -] 3 weeks and 939 [+ or -] 342 g, respectively. Macroscopically, the placentas with DCH were more likely to show old peripheral blood clots (46% in the DCH group vs 8% in control group), subchorionic hematoma (20% vs 1%), and circumvallation (13% vs 1%). Histologically, amniotic necrosis was significantly more frequent in the DCH group (63% vs 24%). Of the obstetric factors, incidence of recurrent episodes of vaginal bleeding (70% vs 11%), oligohydramnios (59% vs 8%), and chronic abruption-oligohydramnios sequence (57% vs 5%) were significantly higher in the DCH group. Of the neonatal factors, persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (29% vs 8%) and dry lung and/or pulmonary hypoplasia (20% vs 4%) were more common. However, respiratory distress syndrome was rare (15% vs 45%) in the DCH group. Neonatal death including stillbirth was increased in the DCH group but was not significant (24% vs 15%). Of infants who survived beyond day 28, chronic lung disease (CLD) was more frequent in the DCH group (51% vs 22%). The association of DCH, especially accompanied by amniotic necrosis, with CLD was still evident using likelihood ratio test. Conclusion. DCH is closely associated with preterm delivery, pulmonary hypertension of the newborn, and dry lung syndrome and is a significant risk factor for CLD. Pediatrics 2004;113:800-805; diffuse chorioamniotic hemosiderosis, chronic abruption-oligohydramnios sequence, dry lung syndrome, persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn, chronic lung disease., Recent articles about placental separation point out that there are 2 types of separation, arterial and venous. Arterial bleeding leads to abruptio placentae, whereas venous hemorrhage represents marginal, terminal, and [...]

A glass rod (5-20 cm long, 2 mm o.d.) containing more than 1200 parallel microchannels ( 100 theoretical plates cm(super -1)) GC column by coating the inside of each channel in a way that compensated for the dispersion of the channel inner diameter. The columns were evaluated for the separation of mixtures of several organometallic (Hg, Sn, Pb) compounds prior to on-line sensitive metal-selective detection by ICPMS. Chromatographic separation conditions were optimized to enable a rapid (within a maximum 30 s) multielemental speciation analysis. Absolute detection limits were 0.1 pg for Hg, 0.05 pg for Sn, and 0.03 pg for Pb using the carrier gas flows of approximately 200 mL min(super -1). The microcolumn multicapillary GC/ICPMS developed was applied to the analysis of a number of environmental samples. The results were validated with certified reference materials for tin (BCR477, PACS-2) and mercury (DORM-1, TORT-1).

Objective: We evaluated the association between pre-hypertension (120–139 or 80–89 mmHg) in early pregnancy, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP), and perinatal adverse outcomes. Methods: We included 14,066 pregnant women, treated between 2003 and 2019 in Japan. Based on a blood pressure chart review recorded before 20 weeks of gestation, we stratified participants into the prehypertension (n = 3,806) and normotensive (n = 10,260) groups. Results: Prehypertension, an independent risk factor for HDP in the multivariate analysis (P< 0.001), was significantly associated with preterm and small-for-gestational age infants. Conclusion: Prehypertension potentially confers a risk for adverse perinatal outcomes in apparently normal pregnancies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Infants are at particular risk of iron-deficiency anemia. We investigated changes in the blood count of the mother and infant as well as the relationship between them and the relationship between infant nutrition method and infant anemia. Methods This retrospective cohort study included healthy neonates born between August 2011 and July 2014 at St Luke's International Hospital, Tokyo, Japan. Data from maternal blood samples obtained during late pregnancy and those of infants obtained at birth and at the age of 3, 6, and 9 months were analyzed. Using multivariate logistic regression, we investigated nutrition methods, maternal anemia, and other clinically relevant parameters that were potential risk factors for infant anemia. Results In total, data for 3472 infants and their mothers were analyzed. Nutrition method was the most significant risk factor for infant anemia, with risk of future anemia decreasing in the following order: exclusive breast-feeding, partial breast-feeding, and formula feeding. Furthermore, low umbilical cord blood hemoglobin led to a tendency toward anemia in the child. Conclusion Infant nutrition method was the most significant factor related to anemia in late infancy. Infants with low umbilical cord blood hemoglobin are more likely to develop anemia in late infancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]