A Novel Toxicological Evaluation of TiO2 Nanoparticles on DNA Structure0

TiO2 has been tested to be toxic to DNA under the photo-irradiation of ultraviolet A （UVA）. However, in the dark conditions, after several days of treatment with TiO2 in aqueous solution, the interaction between TiO2 and two types of DNA was detected and the mechanisms were studied by the methods of gel-electrophoresis, IR spectroscopy and TEM. The results showed that the DNA would be bound to TiO2; the ratio of binding was related to the concentration and the treating time; the mechanism of binding is related to phosphate groups of DNA. Besides, DNA with different structure showed different degree of binding. These findings showed a new possible way through which the TiO2 nanoparticles interact with DNA.     

Heavy metal phosphate nanophases in silica: influence of radiolysis probed via f-electron state properties

We have assessed the feasibility of carrying out time- and wavelength-resolved laser-induced fluorescence measurements of radiation damage in glassy silica. The consequences of alpha decay of Es-253 in LaPO₄ nanophases embedded in silica were probed based on excitation of 5f states of Cm³⁺, Bk³⁺, and Es³⁺ ions. The recorded emission spectra and luminescence decays showed that alpha decay of Es-253 ejected Bk-249 decay daughter ions into the surrounding silica and created radiation damage within the LaPO₄ nanophases. This conclusion is consistent with predictions of an ion transport code commonly used to model ion implantation. Luminescence from the ⁶D_7/2 state of Cm³⁺was used as an internal standard. Ion-ion energy transfer dominated the dynamics of the observed emitting 5f states and strongly influenced the intensity of observed spectra. In appropriate sample materials, laser-induced fluorescence provides a powerful method for fundamental investigation of alpha-induced radiation damage in silica.     

EPR spectroscopy on irradiated nickel tetracyanide in NaCl host lattice: mechanism for the simultaneous formation of reduced and oxidized species

The kinetics of oxidized and reduced Ni²⁺ complexes produced by X-ray irradiation on single crystals of NaCl doped with [Ni(CN)₄]²⁻ is studied by Electron Paramagnetic Resonance at room temperature. The interdependent generation of these two complexes is attributed to migration of the charge compensating vacancy from the reduced to the oxidized complex in a reversible reaction. At higher X-ray doses, there is a predominant formation of the reduced complex.     

Voltammetric Behavior of the Alizarin Red S Interaction with DNA and Damage to DNA

The electrochemical behavior and the interaction of alizarin red S (ARS) with calf thymus DNA was investigated on a bare glassy carbon electrode (GCE) and DNA modified GCE (DNA/GCE), respectively. ARS showed a pair of redox peaks at ?0.445 V and ?0.414 V on a bare GCE. On addition of DNA into the ARS solution, the peak current of ARS decreased and the peak potential positively shifted, but without new redox peaks appeared. The ARS reduction peak current increased with immersion time on a DNA/GCE. The results showed that ARS could interact with DNA molecules by intercalative binding mode. The equilibrium constant, binding number and the ratio of binding constant for oxidized and reduced ARS forms were obtained. The DNA damage was directly detected by appearance of guanosine and adenosine bases oxidation signal. The influence of experimental conditions on DNA damage extent was discussed in detail.     

A practical approach to the implementation of autoverify

Autoverification is a process in which computer software will automatically evaluate laboratory test results, verify result integrity, and then release the results to the hospital interface without any technologist intervention. Autoverify release criteria are user defined and can be customized. The process of developing, implementing, and monitoring autoverify is achievable for most test results in laboratory medicine. The use of autoverification will improve result quality, increase revenue, and create faster turn-around times. All of this put together will ultimately lead to improved customer satisfaction. Computers and autoverification are survival tools in the competitive market of laboratory diagnostics services.Presented at the 8th Conference on Quality in the Spotlight, 17–18 March 2003, Antwerp, Belgium     

Uncertainty assessment from robustness testing applied on an LC assay for R-timolol and other related substances in S-timolol maleate

The robustness testing of a normal-phase liquid chromatographic (LC) method for the determination of R-timolol and other related substances in S-timolol maleate was performed applying a two-level Plackett-Burman design. Two qualitative and five quantitative factors were examined. Two types of responses were considered, qualitative, i.e. chromatographic performance criteria, and quantitative ones. The latter were taken into account to determine if the analytical procedure was robust. The quantitative responses were the contents of R-timolol in two S-timolol maleate samples. Even though some significant factor effects were observed on the qualitative responses, the R-timolol contents were not significantly different from those observed at nominal conditions, which demonstrated the robustness of the procedure.Since the experiments of the Plackett-Burman design can be assimilated to laboratories in an interlaboratory study, uncertainty can be evaluated using the robustness test data. The robustness test was set-up in such a way that the required variances could be estimated. It was shown that the robustness set-up allows estimating the reproducibility uncertainty without performing an interlaboratory study.     

Paramagnetic defects induced by ion implantation in oxide glasses

Radiation defects induced by ion bombardment of multicomponent oxide glasses of five compositions (phosphates and borosilicates) were investigated by means of electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). The samples were implanted with N⁺, O⁺, Ar⁺, Mn⁺, Cu⁺ and Pb⁺ ions at energy E=150 keV at three different doses between 3×10¹⁵ and 10¹⁷ ions/cm². The broad anisotropic EPR spectra with principal g-values answering the relationship g_z>g_y>g_x˜g_e (g_e is g-factor of free electron) were observed for the samples of all five compositions. The g-values depend on glass composition. For example, g_z ranges from 2.016 to 2.057. Computer simulation shows that the spectra of many samples are superpositions of two spectra with g-values answering the mentioned relationship. These spectra are attributed to molecular O₂⁻ ions weakly coupled with glass network. In some samples narrow almost symmetric lines with g=2.0025±0.0005 were observed. The possible radiation defects responsible for this signal are discussed.     

脑神经退行性疾病中的有机化学-朊病毒(疯牛病)中的蛋白物理有机化学和自由基化学

通过关于“普里昂”蛋白病毒疾病的已有临床、医学生理、免疫和化学等方面的现象，讨论了朊病毒当中的部分蛋白氧化损伤和蛋白自由基化学本质。     

大鼠肾组织的超低温快速冷冻固定和冷冻置换研究

超低温快速冷冻固定以极高的冷冻速率（１００００Ｋ／ｓ）对生物组织进行物理固定，可使生物组织结构、组织内可溶性离子及游离性物质得到保存，使被固定后的生物组织保持最接近于原自然状态，这种样品制备方法大大优于化学制备法，因而在Ｘ－射线微分析及免疫细胞化学中得到广泛应用。生物样品超低温快速冷冻后，利用冷冻置换法，在低温下将生物组织内的结晶水缓慢置换出来，而后常规包埋切片，可获得理想的组织结构及组织内待分析成分。本文应用超低温快速冷冻固定技术及冷冻置换法对大鼠肾皮质部的快速冷冻固定及损伤进行探讨。     

Development of an HPLC method with electrochemical detection of femtomoles of 8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanine and 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine in the presence of uric acid

A selective method based on high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection (HPLC-ECD) was developed to enable simultaneous detection of 8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanine (8-oxoGua) and 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-oxodGuo), products of DNA oxidative damage, in the presence of uric acid (UA), a strong interferent in their electrochemical detection. The method developed consists of HPLC isocratic elution with amperometric detection on a glassy carbon electrode, enabling a detection limit for 8-oxoGua and 8-oxodGuo lower than 1 nM in standard mixtures. Detection of low concentrations up to 25 nM of 8-oxoGua and 8-oxodGuo in the presence of UA in a 10⁴-fold higher concentration was achieved after one-step solid phase extraction (SPE). The method was tested with urine samples and it was possible to detect and quantify the presence of 8-oxoGua, and to confirm that UA was eliminated after uricase degradation and SPE. The LOD found in urine samples was about 80 nM, a value higher than in standard mixtures, due to the increase of background current in the urine matrix. The results presented here contribute to the development of a methodological approach to simultaneous determination of 8-oxoGua and 8-oxodGuo in urine samples.