Trimethlyamine-N-oxide (TMAO) was recently identified as a promoter of atherosclerosis. Patients with CKD exhibit accelerated development of atherosclerosis; however, no studies have explored the relationship between TMAO and atherosclerosis formation in this group. This study measured serum concentrations and urinary excretion of TMAO in a CKD cohort (n=104), identified the effect of renal transplant on serum TMAO concentration in a subset of these patients (n=6), and explored the cross-sectional relationship between serum TMAO and coronary atherosclerosis burden in a separate CKD cohort (n=220) undergoing coronary angiography. Additional exploratory analyses examined the relationship between baseline serum TMAO and long-term survival after coronary angiography. Serum TMAO concentrations demonstrated a strong inverse association with eGFR (r 2 =0.31, P,0.001). TMAO concentrations were markedly higher in patients receiving dialysis (median [interquartile range], 94.4 mM [54.8-133.0 mM] for dialysis-dependent patients versus 3.3 mM [3.1-6.0 mM] for healthy controls; P,0.001); whereas renal transplantation resulted in substantial reductions in TMAO concentrations (median [min-max] 71.2 mM [29.2-189.7 mM] pretransplant versus 11.4 mM [8.9-20.2 mM] posttransplant; P=0.03). TMAO concentration was an independent predictor for coronary atherosclerosis burden (P=0.02) and predicted long-term mortality independent of traditional cardiac risk factors (hazard ratio, 1.26 per 10 mM increment in TMAO concentration; 95% confidence interval, 1.13 to 1.40; P,0.001). In conclusion, serum TMAO concentrations substantially increase with decrements in kidney function, and this effect is reversed by renal transplantation. Increased TMAO concentrations correlate with coronary atherosclerosis burden and may associate with long-term mortality in patients with CKD undergoing coronary angiography. Patients with CKD have a high prevalence of cardiovascular comorbidities, which primarily contributes to the exceedingly high mortality in this group. 1,2 For example, the 5-year survival for ESRD patients receiving dialysis is approximately 35%, with .50% of the mortality in this group resulting directly from cardiovascular causes. 1 It is well established that CKD patients exhibit a disproportionate burden of atherosclerosis as compared with individuals having normal kidney function. [2][3][4][5] Furthermore, a higher prevalence of traditional risk factors for the development of atherosclerosis, such as hypertension, diabetes and hyperlipidemia, only partially accounts for the accelerated atherosclerosis in CKD patients, leading to the hypothesis that unique risk factors must be present in this population. 6,7

In this pilot study, our data suggests that HDL and its component proteins within FF may play protective roles in the health of the human oocyte and subsequent early embryo development. We describe for the first time the activities of PON1 and PON3 in FF. We suspect that PON3 activity may be locally generated due to higher activities in FF compared with serum.

Purpose To investigate whether follicular fluid lipid-soluble micronutrients are associated with embryo morphology parameters during IVF. Methods Follicle fluid and oocytes were obtained prospectively from 81 women. Embryo morphology parameters were used as surrogate markers of oocyte health. HDL lipids and lipid-soluble micronutrients were analyzed by high-pressure liquid chromatography. Non-parametric bivariate analysis and multivariable ordinal logistic regression models were employed to examine associations between biochemical and embryo morphology parameters. Results Follicular fluid HDL cholesterol (r=−0.47, p<0.01), α-tocopherol (r=−0.41, p<0.01), δ-tocopherol (r=−0.38, p< 0.05) and β-cryptoxanthine (r=−0.42, p<0.01) are negatively correlated with embryo fragmentation. Ordinal logistic regression models indicate that a 0.1 μmol/L increase in β-cryptoxanthine, adjusted for γ-tocopherol, is associated with a 75% decrease in the cumulative odds of higher embryo fragmentation (p=0.010). Conclusion Follicular fluid HDL micronutrients may play an important role in the development of the human oocyte as evident by embryo fragmentation during IVF.

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A liquid chromatography with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry method was developed and validated for the determination of tenofovir and tenofovir alafenamide concentrations in human plasma and cerebrospinal fluid. Tenofovir and tenofovir alafenamide were extracted from matrix by solid phase extraction. The dried extraction eluents were dissolved in water for LC-MS/MS analysis. Separation was achieved with a Phenomenex Synergi 4 μm Polar-RP 80A column (50 × 2 mm) with a gradient elution of 0.1% formic acid in water and acetonitrile. The total run time was 5 min. Detection of analytes was achieved using electrospray ionization (positive mode) and triple quadrupole selected reaction monitoring. Standard curve concentrations ranged from 0.5 to 500 ng/mL for the plasma assay and 0.1-50 ng/mL for the cerebrospinal fluid assay. The intra- and inter-day accuracy and precision were less than 12% in low, medium, and high quality control samples for both matrices. The validated methods were applied to the analysis of plasma and cerebrospinal fluid samples of a patient undergoing tenofovir therapy which involved the switch from Stribild (elvitegravir 150 mg/cobicistat 150 mg/emtricitabine 200 mg/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate 300 mg) to Genvoya (elvitegravir 150 mg/cobicistat 150 mg/emtricitabine 200 mg/tenofovir alafenamide 10 mg).

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An ultra-performance liquid chromatography with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry method was developed and validated for the determination of direct acting antiviral drug concentrations in human liver fine needle aspirates. Liver fine needle aspirate (FNA) biopsy samples were homogenized in acetonitrile to stabilize the analytes and precipitate protein. The acetonitrile supernatants were diluted with internal standards and mobile phase. Separation was achieved with a Waters Acquity BEH C18 column (50 X 2.1 mm, 1.7 um) with a gradient elution of 0.1% formic acid in water and acetonitrile. The total run time was 4.25 minutes. Detection of analytes was achieved using electrospray ionization (positive mode) and triple quadrupole selected reaction monitoring. Standard curve concentrations ranged from 12.5 to 5000 ng/mL for dasabuvir and the m1 metabolite of dasabuvir, 1.25 to 2500 ng/mL for ombitasvir and ritonavir, and 5.00 to 5000 ng/mL for paritaprevir. The intra- and inter-day accuracy and precision were less than 13.7% in low, medium, and high quality control samples. The validated method was applied to the analysis of a liver fine needle aspirate of a patient undergoing direct acting antiviral therapy for hepatitis C virus.