Long term follow-up on young adults that underwent hypospadias repair through urethral advancement in childhood.

Assess the long-term outcome on cosmetic appearance, voiding, sexual function, and psychological impact of young adults operated by urethral advance (UA) technique in childhood. Patients over 14 years old, who underwent UA hypospadias repair in our centre (2000-2010) were evaluated. All patients presented mid-distal hypospadias with subcoronal or penile meatus and curvature lower than 20°. The cosmetic appearance, urinary and sexual function, body perception and overall satisfaction were assessed through 5 questionnaires. From 2000 to 2010, 143 children underwent UA hypospadias repair. 36 patients between 14 and 27 years were evaluated. The Hypospadias Objective Penile Evaluation (HOPE) showed an average of 8.75 (+/- 0.97), which indicates a good aesthetic result. Voiding dysfunction symptoms were assessed through the American Urological Association Symptom Index (AUASI) where 80.6% had none or mild symptoms and 19.4% had moderate symptoms. Only 11/36 patients were sexually active, according to the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-15) scale, none had erectile dysfunction, and their relationships were satisfactory. Assessment of the body perception through the Genital Perception Scale (GPS) was positive or very positive in 88.9% of the patients. However, the perception of their genitals was positive or very positive in 77.8%, there is a negative correlation between the perception of their body and genitals in 13.9% of the patients. Our results indicate that UA technique for hypospadias repair might be a valid option for the correction of mid-distal hypospadias when indicated.

Derivatization coupled to headspace programmed-temperature vaporizer gas chromatography with mass spectrometry for the determination of amino acids: Application to urine samples.

A new method based on headspace programmed-temperature vaporizer gas chromatography with mass spectrometry has been developed and validated for the determination of amino acids (alanine, sarcosine, ethylglycine, valine, leucine, and proline) in human urine samples. Derivatization with ethyl chloroformate was employed successfully to determine the amino acids. The derivatization reaction conditions as well as the variables of the headspace sampling were optimized. The existence of a matrix effect was checked and the analytical characteristics of the method were determined. The limits of detection were 0.15-2.89 mg/L, and the limits of quantification were 0.46-8.67 mg/L. The instrumental repeatability was 1.6-11.5%. The quantification of the amino acids in six urine samples from healthy subjects was performed with the method developed with the one-point standard additions protocol, with norleucine as the internal standard.

In situ derivatization combined to automated microextraction by packed sorbents for the determination of chlorophenols in soil samples by gas chromatography mass spectrometry.

A method based on the coupling of in situ extraction and derivatization of chlorophenols (CPs) (2-chlorophenol, 4-chloro-3-methylphenol, 2,4-dichlorophenol, and 2,4,6-trichlorophenol) from soils, accomplishing their preconcentration by means of automated microextraction by packed sorbent (MEPS), is proposed. After extraction and acylation of the chlorophenols in aqueous medium, the liquid phase obtained is subjected to the MEPS procedure. The QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged and Safe) and MEPS techniques were compared and the results confirmed the preconcentration carried out with MEPS. The existence of a matrix effect was checked and the analytical characteristics of the method were determined in a soil sample. The method provided good linearity (from 1 to 12µgkg(-1)), together with good repeatability and reproducibility values (RSD equal to or less than 10%). The limits of detection were in the 0.118-0.894µgkg(-1) range. A certified reference material was applied to validate the proposed methodology.

Ionic liquids as stationary phases in gas chromatography: determination of chlorobenzenes in soils.

The present research focuses on the evaluation of different ionic liquid (IL) stationary phases in gas chromatography. The different IL columns were evaluated in terms of peak resolution (Rs) and peak symmetry for the separation of the chlorobenzenes. The determination of chlorobenzenes in soil samples by means of the optimal IL stationary phase (SLB-IL82) is proposed as an application. Soil pretreatment was based on a simplified quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe extraction procedure and a large injection volume via a programed temperature vaporizer working in solvent vent mode. The retention time of the chlorobenzenes increased as the polarity of the IL column decreased. SLB-IL82 is the stationary phase that provides the best values as regards Rs and asymmetry factor. Soil sample blanks were spiked with the analytes before subjecting the sample to the extraction process. The existence of a matrix effect was checked and the analytical characteristics of the method were determined in a fortified garden soil sample. The method provided good linearity, good repeatability and reproducibility values, and the LODs were in the 0.1-4.7 µg/kg range. Two fortified soil samples were applied to validate the proposed methodology.