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Chaya (Cnidoscolus chayamansa) leaves are known for their strong umami taste and widespread use as a dried seasoning. This study aimed to assess the impact of different drying methods [freeze drying (FD), vacuum drying, oven drying at 50 °C and 120 °C (OD120) and pan roasting (PR)] on the metabolome using mass spectrometry, umami intensity, and antioxidant properties of chaya leaves. The predominant volatile compound among all samples, 3-methylbutanal, exhibited the highest relative odor activity value (rOAV), imparting a malt-like odor, while hexanal (green grass-like odor) and 2-methylbutanal (coffee-like odor) are the second highest rOAV in the FD and PR samples, respectively. OD120 and PR samples possessed the highest levels of umami-tasting amino acids and 5'-ribonucleotides as well as the most intense umami taste, whereas FD samples exhibited the highest antioxidant capacity. These findings enhance our understanding of the aroma characteristics, umami taste, and antioxidant potential of processed chaya leaves.

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Chaya (Cnidoscolus chayamansa and C. aconitifolius) is a fast-growing medicinal plant, and its leaves exhibit a strong umami taste. Here metabolite variation and umami-related compounds in the leaves of two chaya species were determined using a multiplatform untargeted-metabolomics approach, electronic tongue, and in silico screening. Metabolite profiles varied between the leaves of the two species and among leaf maturation stages. Young leaves exhibited the highest umami taste intensity, followed by mature and old leaves. Partial least square regression and computational molecular docking analyses revealed five potent umami substances (quinic acid, trigonelline, alanyl-tyrosine, leucyl-glycyl-proline, and leucyl-aspartyl-glutamine) and three known umami compounds (l-glutamic acid, pyroglutamic acid, and 5'-adenosine monophosphate). The five substances were validated as novel umami compounds using electronic tongue assay; leucyl-glycyl-proline exhibited synergism with monosodium glutamate, thereby enhancing the umami taste. Thus, substances contributing to the taste of chaya leaves were successfully identified.

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Gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB) levels in biological fluids are known to be increased after death. To date, there have been studies on sample storage conditions and preservatives on the postmortem in vitro formation of GHB. However, only few studies explored the effects of body storage conditions on GHB formation after death. In this study, we determined the effect of body refrigeration during body storage in mortuary refrigerators on postmortem formation of GHB in whole blood samples. A total of 41 fatalities were divided into two groups: Group A with a total refrigeration time less than 10 h and Group B with a total body refrigeration time more than 10 h. Femoral blood was collected 3 times: upon arrival at the mortuary, after 4 h of refrigeration, and at autopsy. Rectal temperatures were recorded at the time of specimen collection. Blood GHB concentration was analyzed by LC-MS/MS. The rate of change in GHB levels was calculated. The study revealed that in the later phase of refrigeration, no difference was observed in the blood GHB levels between the two groups despite differences in the postmortem interval (PMI) and refrigeration time. Moreover, the rate of change in the GHB levels was lower in the group with a longer refrigeration time. Hence, we concluded that once the plateau of postmortem GHB formation is reached in a refrigerated body, further formation is not expected even with prolonged PMI. Early body refrigeration can minimize postmortem GHB production, thereby preventing the incorrect interpretation of analytical results.

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A reliable method has been validated using ultra-performance liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (MS)/MS for simultaneous evaluation of human plasma concentration of mycophenolic acid (MPA) and its major metabolites both total and free form. All analytes were extracted from plasma by simple protein precipitation procedure with methanol. Samples for determination of their free form concentration require a preanalytic spin through an ultrafiltration system. The chromatographic separation was completed using C18column at 0.3 ml/min with a gradient condition. Method validation was performed as the United State Food and Drug Administration guidelines for bio-analytical methods concerning precision, accuracy, linearity, selectivity, recovery, and matrix effect. Linearity was obtained over concentration of 0.05-4, 0.5-60, and 0.025-3 µg/ml for total MPA, mycophenolic acid glucuronide (MPAG) and mycophenolic acid acyl-glucuronide (AcMPAG), respectively. The linearity of the method for free form of analytes was confirmed in the range of 10-500, 125-10,000, and 0.5-300 ng/ml for MPA, MPAG, and AcMPAG, respectively. The intra- and interday accuracy ranged from 85.73%-102.01% for total form, and 87.23%-111.89% for free form, and the precisions of all analytes were lower than 15%. The mean recoveries of the analytes ranged from 85.54% to 94.76% and the matrix factor ranged from 0.88-1.06. The developed method is rapid, sensitive and convenient for pharmacokinetic study or therapeutic drug monitoring in patients after oral administration of enteric-coated mycophenolate sodium or mycophenolate mofetil.

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Cosmetic surgery to improve aesthetic and body conditions is becoming increasingly popular worldwide. In 2013, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) reported that one of the top five cosmetic procedures in the US is liposuction with over 200,000 procedures per year. This type of surgery is regarded as a minimal risk operation. Since surgical complications are not often reported, liposuction is usually performed in outpatient clinics. Fatality after cosmetic liposuction surgery is also relatively rare. This case report presents a death following cosmetic liposuction with allogenic fat transfer and gluteal augmentation. The medico-legal autopsy, pathology, and postmortem microbiology examinations reveal that septicemia by Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the definite cause of death. Surgical risk assessment and pathogenesis of the organism was reviewed.

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Four bio-mechanical tests were used to study properties of the rectus sheath for laparoscopic abdominal access procedure and to provide surgical exposure by the ChulaLift gasless retractor. The profile of forces and displacement showed how some patients were good candidates for the gasless operation. The lifting weight should not excess 10 kg for minimal harm and optimal exposure. The rectus hooking could be an alternative choice for abdominal wall fixing during the first trocar entry. One-cm width hooking, the rectus sheath could withstand 18-20 kg lifting force. The exposure provided by the gasless technique was narrow between the lateral ports compared to the conventional technique. The rectus sheath could be hooked to provide effective fixing of the area to be penetrated by the first trocar, and this fascial layer could be lifted to produce exposure in the gasless technique.

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The missile trocar was developed for controllable entry force, smaller fascial defects and post-operative pain improvement. The trocar was composed of a fascial-dilating long-conical head and a handle. Accompanied with this trocar, the authors designed a rectus sheath-hooking instrument to promote negative intra-abdominal pressure during the trocar puncture. The hooking procedure allowed room air to pass through the central canal of the trocar and fill the space between the intestinal loops and the trocar tip. The abdominal access procedure succeeded in forty-five attempts in fresh cadavers. No second attempt was done. The trocar accessed into the peritoneal cavity at every attempt without intestinal penetration. The missile trocar may be an alternative device for establishment of the primary port. Its efficacy and safety still has to be proved.

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