Palbociclib and abemaciclib are two cyclin-dependent kinases 4 and 6 used for breast cancer treatment. Levels of these medicines present a significant interindividual variability, so monitoring those concentrations might be necessary in therapy. Most of the methods presented so far in the literature use simple protein precipitation of plasma proteins as sample preparation method followed by direct injection of the supernatant into the LC instrument, preceded or not by a simple filtration step. Within that approach, the probability of injecting proteins in the chromatographic system is increased. With the purpose of obtaining a cleaner extract of the drugs, we developed and validated a simple and accurate LC-MS method for determining palbociclib and abemaciclib in human plasma. Solid phase extraction (SPE) using Oasis PRiME HLB^® cartridges was used for plasma sample preparation. The method provided clean extracts with a recovery extraction higher than 85% for both compounds. Separation was achieved by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), using a C18 (4.6 × 50 mm) column, with a gradient elution of ammonium acetate/acetic acid-acetonitrile as the mobile phase. Detection was performed by mass spectrometry (MS) in single ion recording (SIR) mode. Intra-day and inter-day precision data for both analytes were 3.8–7.2% and 3.6–7.4%, respectively. Calibration curves were both linear between 2 and 400 ng/mL with a correlation coefficient higher than 0.998. The LC-MS method can be used to quantify the drugs in human plasma in routine analysis. The method proved to be useful in determining real plasma levels in patients involved in cancer therapy. Drug concentrations were determined in a 10 min run-time, including re-equilibration of the column.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and tuberculosis (TB) increasingly co-occur in low- and middle-income countries and aging populations. Prior pulmonary TB is a robust, smoking-independent determinant of COPD and is linked to persistent systemic inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, dyslipidemia, and hypercoagulability axes that also amplify cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. We conducted a targeted narrative non-systematic review (2005–2025) of PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science, selecting studies for clinical relevance across epidemiology, clinical phenotypes, pathobiology, biomarkers, risk scores, sleep-disordered breathing, and management. No quantitative synthesis or formal risk-of-bias assessment was performed. Accordingly, findings should be interpreted as a qualitative synthesis rather than pooled estimates. Prior TB is associated with a distinctive COPD phenotype characterized by mixed obstructive–restrictive defects, reduced diffusing capacity (DLCO), radiographic sequelae, and higher exacerbation/hospitalization burden. Mechanistic insights: Convergent mechanisms chronic immune activation, endothelial injury, prothrombotic remodeling, molecular mimicry, and epigenetic reprogramming provide biologic plausibility for excess CVD, venous thromboembolism, and pulmonary hypertension. Multimarker panels spanning inflammation, endothelial injury, myocardial strain/fibrosis, and coagulation offer incremental prognostic value beyond clinical variables. While QRISK4 now includes COPD, it does not explicitly model prior TB or COPD-TB outcomes, but data specific to post-TB cohorts remain limited. Clinical implications: In resource-constrained settings, pragmatic screening, prioritized PAP access, guideline-concordant pharmacotherapy, and task-shifting are feasible adaptations. A history of TB is a clinically meaningful modifier of cardiopulmonary risk in COPD. An integrated, multimodal assessment history, targeted biomarkers, spirometry/lung volumes, DLCO, 6 min walk test, and focused imaging should guide individualized care while TB-aware prediction models and implementation studies are developed and validated in high-burden settings.

Background: Apnea of prematurity affects at least 85% of infants born before 34 weeks’ gestation and represents a significant clinical challenge in neonatal intensive care. Methylxanthines, including caffeine, theophylline, and aminophylline, have emerged as the primary pharmacological intervention for this condition. Objective: To conduct a comprehensive systematic review of the use of methylxanthine in the treatment and prevention of apnea episodes in preterm infants, evaluating efficacy, safety, and long-term outcomes. Methods: We searched multiple databases including PubMed, Embase, Web of Science for randomized controlled trials, retrospective studies, or case–control studies of methylxanthine effects in preterm apnea. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool. Results were summarized narratively and grouped by methylxanthine type, study design, and primary outcomes (reduction in frequency and severity of apnea episodes, success of extubation, risk of bronchopulmonary dysplasia). Results: Twenty-five studies (n = 4599 preterm infants) were included. The landmark Caffeine for Apnea of Prematurity (CAP) trial (n = 2006) demonstrated that caffeine therapy significantly reduced bronchopulmonary dysplasia (36.3% vs. 46.9%, adjusted OR 0.63) and facilitated the earlier discontinuation of positive airway pressure (median 1 week earlier). Studies with a smaller number of cases have consistently demonstrated the efficacy of methylxanthines in reducing the incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia and apneic episodes and in supporting successful extubation. Long-term follow-up at 11 years showed improved pulmonary function (FEV₁ z-score −1.00 vs. −1.53). Discussion: Limitations of this review include heterogeneity in outcome definitions, small sample sizes in early studies, and the dominance of evidence from the CAP trial. Methylxanthines, particularly caffeine, are an evidence-based intervention used for apnea of prematurity, with demonstrated benefits that extend beyond reducing the frequency and severity of apnea episodes, including decreasing the risk of bronchopulmonary dysplasia as well as reducing the need for mechanical ventilation. No external funding was received for this review. No registration record exists for this systematic review.

Background/Objectives: Epirubicin, Olaparib, and Ribociclib are widely used anticancer agents whose serum concentrations exhibit significant inter-individual variability, supporting the need for reliable and robust analytical methods suitable for pharmacokinetic evaluation and therapeutic exposure assessment. Variations in metabolism, drug–drug interactions, organ function, and treatment regimens may substantially influence systemic exposure, highlighting the importance of accurate quantification in clinical practice. This study describes the development and validation of a solid-phase extraction–liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (SPE–LC–MS) method for the simultaneous quantification of these drugs in human serum. Methods: Sample preparation was performed using Oasis PRiME HLB^® cartridges to ensure efficient clean-up, optimal recovery, and reduced matrix effects. Chromatographic separation was achieved using gradient elution with 0.1% formic acid and acetonitrile on a reversed-phase column, followed by single-quadrupole mass spectrometric (QDa) detection in the selected ion recording mode. The total run time was 13 min, enabling high-throughput analysis. Results: The method demonstrated good linearity (r > 0.997) over the tested concentration ranges, along with adequate selectivity, precision, accuracy, recovery, and stability, fulfilling the ICH M10 guideline validation criteria. No significant carry-over or interference from endogenous compounds was observed. Conclusions: Application to patient samples confirmed reliable performance in real clinical matrices and consistent quantification across different concentration levels. The proposed approach provides a potentially more accessible alternative in laboratories already equipped with LC-MS systems compared to LC-MS/MS platforms and can be applied in pharmacokinetic studies, representing a proof-of-concept for exposure assessment in oncology.

Epirubicin, olaparib and ribociclib are three anti-tumoral molecules currently used in cancer therapy. Since serum levels of these drugs reveal a large inter-individual variability, validation of a fast, simple and reliable analytical method for quantitative determination of these molecules in human serum, with Therapeutic Drug Monitoring (TDM) purposes would be necessary. Papers in literature describe separation, identification and quantitation of the drugs in pharmaceutical formulas and biological matrices. The large majority of these approaches use protein precipitation for sample pre-treatment, followed by LC separation and tandem-mass-spectrometry (MS/MS) detection. We propose an alternative method using Solid Phase Extraction (SPE) with Oasis PRiME HLB® cartridges followed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) using a C18 (4.6 × 50 mm) column. A gradient mobile phase with 0.1% formic acid/acetonitrile was utilized. MS detection in single ion recording (SIR) mode was employed. A 13-minutes run-time analysis, including column re-equilibration was assessed. Data for all molecules were validated according to ICH Guidelines. Calibration curves for all analytes were linear with correlation coefficient larger than 0.997. Values for precision were less than 6%. The method was applied on serum samples from patients up-taking the drugs, proving its suitability in TDM assisted adjustment of doses in therapy.

Background/Objectives: Infectious keratitis represents a major ophthalmological emergency and a leading cause of corneal blindness worldwide. Rapid progression, frequent antimicrobial resistance, and poor therapeutic outcomes make genotypic surveillance essential. This study aimed to analyze the distribution of bacterial pathogens involved in infectious keratitis and characterize their resistance mechanisms at the genotypic level, with emphasis on extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) genes. Methods: Corneal scrapings were collected from patients diagnosed with bacterial keratitis at the County Clinical Emergency Hospital of Craiova. Isolates were identified using standard microbiological techniques, followed by antimicrobial susceptibility testing. Genotypic resistance markers, including tem, shv, and ctx-M gene families, were investigated using PCR-based methods, while phenotypic resistance was investigated using the Vitek2 system. Results: Gram-positive bacteria were the predominant isolates, with coagulase-negative staphylococci and Staphylococcus aureus accounting for most cases. Among Gram-negative pathogens, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterobacteriaceae were frequently detected. Genotypic analysis revealed tem genes in a substantial proportion of ocular isolates, often plasmid-mediated, while shv genes showed low prevalence and ctx-M genes were less frequent. The genetic determinants correlated well with phenotypic resistance expressed by MICs. Conclusions: The study highlights the significant correlation between genotypic markers and resistance phenotypes in bacterial keratitis. Continuous molecular surveillance is essential to guide targeted therapy, prevent therapeutic failure, and improve patient outcomes in infectious keratitis.