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Biomedical subjects

T Cairns

Publications and source records attributed to T Cairns.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Improvements in ion-trap chemical-ionization performance.

Ion-trap chemical-ionization performance has been improved by application of a modified scan function for the rejection of the undesired electron-ionization-like (EI-like) ions formed at the beginning of the reaction ionization period. The net effect of this software modification to the automatic reaction control is to produce chemical ionization (CI) spectra that are no longer adulterated with concentration-dependent EI-like ions. Under such improved conditions, CI spectra from an ion trap can now be directly compared with CI spectra produced on conventional quadrupole and magnet-scanning instruments.

Ions↗
PubMed1991

Confirmation of trace level residues in the food supply.

With the recent proliferation of mass spectrometric methods available for the identification and confirmation of various compounds in different environmental matrices, it is timely to address the criteria desirable in a regulatory sample case. The emphasis of this review is on the experimental process of confirmation at concentration levels in the range of low parts per million (ppm) to parts per trillion (ppt). At such levels, various data manipulations or alternate choices of approaching the analytical problem of confirmation must be employed to ensure an acceptable result. The problems experienced when dealing with nanogram levels in analysis are much more complex than when recording a mass spectrum of an ample supply of a reference standard. This review reflects an interpretation of the developing status of confirmation since there does not yet exist "accepted criteria".

Drug Residues↗
PubMed1991

Treatment of rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis by extracorporeal immunoadsorption, prednisolone and cyclophosphamide.

Ten patients with rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis and acute renal failure were treated with extracorporeal immunoadsorption, prednisolone, and cyclophosphamide. Three patients had systemic lupus erythematosus, five had microscopic polyarteritis and two had Wegener's granulomatosis. All ten patients were dialysis-dependent prior to immunoadsorption. Nine of ten patients rapidly regained renal function and seven continue to have independent renal function between 9 and 30 months after immunoadsorption. Three patients at presentation were not dialysis dependent. Despite treatment with methylprednisolone, cyclophosphamide, and oral prednisolone, renal function continued to deteriorate and they required dialysis. Immunoadsorption was then started without alteration in baseline immunosuppression. Within a mean of 4.6 days, range 3-7 days, renal function improved and the patients no longer required dialysis. Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies and double-stranded DNA antibodies were rapidly removed by immunoadsorption. Only one patient with systemic lupus erythematosus and two with microscopic polyarteritis had significant resynthesis of antibody at 1 month post-immunoadsorption. Renal biopsy before and after immunoadsorption and immunosuppressive therapy showed resolution of glomerular crescents and no evidence of active disease. Immunoadsorption coupled with prednisolone and cyclophosphamide may be of value in the treatment of rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Potential misidentification of trichlorophenylethanol in imported peppers.

During regulatory analyses for the determination of pesticide residues on agricultural commodities, a frequently encountered trichlorinated compound was misidentified by the NBS library search routine. This case history illustrates the need for more rigorous confirmation criteria when dealing with multi-chlorinated compounds where fragmentation can be dominated by methyl loss followed by loss of CO and HCI.

Benzyl Alcohols↗
PubMed1989

Residue characterization of triadimefon in grapes by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry.

A field study of the use of the new fungicide triadimefon (Bayleton) on grapes has indicated that residue levels of 0.01 ppm may be expected on the ripe fruit in spite of the 60-75 day interval from spray to harvest. Triadimefon and its primary metabolite triadimenol (Baytan) have been characterized by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry to provide identification down to a detection level of 0.001 ppm. Recovery studies on these fungicides have indicated that they are completely extracted by the single multi-residue analytical methodology presently in use for monitoring fresh produce.

Fruit↗
PubMed1989

Screening by tandem mass spectrometry for trace levels of alkylbenzenes.

Product ion spectra derived from molecule ions as the precursor ions for 14 alkylbenzenes have been studied under electron ionization and methane chemical ionization. The data have provided a satisfactory screening method for both detection and confirmation of such compounds at low parts per million levels.

Benzene Derivatives↗
PubMed1988

Structural determination of testosterone esters in oil injectables by thermospray mass spectrometry.

In the absence of analytical reference standards, the combination of thermospray and collision-activated dissociation mass spectrometry has been utilized to separate and identify the presence of several esters of testosterone in imported oil injectables. Structural identifications were based on generic daughter ions considered diagnostic of the steroidal ring structure of these anabolic steroids as well as daughter ions representative of the ester alkyl or aryl side chains.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗
PubMed1988

Hypothyroidism presenting with respiratory muscle weakness.

A 58-yr-old woman presented with recurrent chest infections, breathlessness, and orthopnea. She complained of nonspecific tiredness and aching limbs. A chest radiograph showed an elevated right hemidiaphragm. Thyroid function tests showed her to be severely hypothyroid (T4 = 23 nmol/L; TSH greater than 50 mU/L). Measurement of maximal respiratory mouth pressures (expiratory: 50 cm H2O, normal, 94 +/- 33; inspiratory: 15 cm H2O, normal, 71 +/- 27) suggested global respiratory muscle weakness. Severe bilateral diaphragm weakness was demonstrated by a greatly reduced maximal transdiaphragmatic pressure (Pdi) (Pdi Pimax = 0, normal, 65 +/- 31 cm H2O; sniff Pdi = 25 cm H2O, normal, 121 +/- 25). No Pdi was detectable on stimulation of the right phrenic nerve, whereas, on the left, it was 11 cm H2O (normal 7 to 15 cm H2O). Phrenic nerve conduction time was prolonged to both sides (right, 12 ms, left, 10 ms; normal, less than 9.5 ms). The relaxation rate of Pdi after a maximal sniff and after bilateral phrenic nerve stimulation was abnormally slow (7.4%/10 ms, 6.3%/10 ms, respectively). Three months after starting treatment with thyroxine she had become euthyroid, and phrenic nerve conduction times and Pdi relaxation rates had returned to normal. Maximal respiratory pressures, vital capacity, and maximal voluntary ventilation improved progressively on treatment, although maximal respiratory pressures still had not reached the normal range after six months. We conclude that hypothyroidism may present with breathlessness due to respiratory muscle weakness and/or phrenic nerve neuropathy and is reversible with treatment.

Diaphragm↗
PubMed1987

Identification of prescription drugs in adulterated Chinese herbal medications.

Analytical difficulties involved in the detection of a wide range of suspected polar and nonpolar drugs in botanical matrices have been solved by adopting a multipronged approach. Preliminary screening of Chinese herbal medications can be accomplished by a combination of thin-layer chromatography and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and/or the employment of liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry as a probe introduction technique.

Chromatography, Liquid↗
PubMed1986

Chemical ionization mass spectrometry of dichlofluanid and its major metabolite.

Gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric techniques using chemical ionization have been employed to characterize the fungicide dichlofluanid and its major metabolite. The results have indicated some unusual fragmentation pathways for perhalogenmethylmercapto compounds. Use of deuterated ammonia as reagent gas has permitted a comparative assessment of protonation and exchangeable hydrogens within the major fragment ion structures. Resultant structural information has been employed to confirm residue findings in strawberries at the low part-per-million level.

Aniline Compounds↗
PubMed1986

Levels of plasticizer in the frequent plasma donor.

Di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), a commonly employed plasticizer reported to be carcinogenic in rats and mice, has been confirmed to leach from all plastic component parts of the equipment employed in plasma donation. Resident aqueous solutions of both sodium chloride and sodium citrate were found to contain only trace levels of DEHP (0.03 ppm), while stored plasma samples contained levels at least one order of magnitude higher (0.4 ppm). Since at least 5% of all plasma donations in the Los Angeles area are deemed to be of the high frequency classification, investigation into repeated red blood cell exposure to DEHP was considered imperative. However, there was no difference in the levels of DEHP found in the plasma of the frequent plasma donor (50-60 times per annum) relative to the first-time donor. It is concluded that there is no increased contamination threat to frequent plasma donation from migrating plasticizer via red blood cell exposure, at least during the collection process. Furthermore, there is no more risk to recipients of plasma products from frequent donors than from occasional donors. It would seem that the ambient level of DEHP to be expected in stored frozen plasma products averages no greater than about 0.5 ppm.

Blood Donors↗