Capillary electrophoresis-acid barrage stacking online enrichment method for highly sensitive determination of four isoflavones

A capillary electrophoresis-acid barrage stacking online enrichment method has been established to detect the four isoflavones which are Daidzein, Genistein, Formononetin, and Biochanin A. The proposed method was optimized using a single factor alternative method, and the optimal conditions obtained from the optimization were: the BGE was 25 mM borax and 2 mM β-cyclodextrin, the applied separation voltage was 20 kV, and the detection wavelength was 260 nm. The time ratio of the injection of sample and the injection of acid was 150 s:20 s, and the acid used was 250 mM acetic acid. The sample solvent used was 60% v/v acetonitrile. The established method had the enrichment factor of these four isoflavones at 24.5, 32.0, 29.2, and 33.7, respectively, LOD and LOQ are as low as nanograms per milliliter. Finally, the CE-acid barrage stacking method was successfully applied to the determination of four isoflavones in rat plasma and red clover extract, verifying the applicability and feasibility of the method.     

Low‐temperature headspace‐trap gas chromatography with mass spectrometry for the determination of trace volatile compounds from the fruit of Lycium barbarum L.

The total saccharides content of Lycium barbarum L. is very high, and a high temperature would result in saccharide decomposition and the emergence of a large amount of water. Moreover, the volatile compounds from the fruit of L. barbarum L. are rather low in concentration. Hence, it is difficult for a conventional headspace method to study the volatile compounds from the fruit of L. barbarum L. Since headspace‐trap gas chromatography with mass spectrometry is an excellent method for trace analysis, a headspace‐trap gas chromatography with mass spectrometry method based on low‐temperature (30°C) enrichment and multiple headspace extraction was developed to explore the volatile compounds from the fruit of L. barbarum L. The headspace of the sample was extracted in 17 cycles at 30°C. Each time, the compounds extracted were concentrated in the trap (Tenax TA and Tenax GR, 1:1). Finally, all the volatile compounds were delivered into the gas chromatograph after thermal desorption. With the method described above, a total of 57 compounds were identified. The identification was completed by mass spectral search, retention index, and accurate mass measurement.     

A Gibbs sampling method to determine biomarkers for asthma

PurposeTo identify potential biomarkers and to uncover the mechanisms underlying asthma based on Gibbs sampling.MethodsThe molecular functions (MFs) with genes greater than 5 were determined using AnnotationMFGO of BAGS package, and the obtained MFs were then transformed to Markov chain (MC). Gibbs sampling was conducted to obtain a new MC. Meanwhile, the average probabilities of MFs were computed via MC Monte Carlo (MCMC) algorithm, followed by identification of differentially expressed MFs based on the probabilities of MF more than 0.6. Moreover, the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and their correlated genes were screened and merged, called as co-expressed genes. Pathways enrichment analysis was implemented for the co-expressed genes.ResultsBased on the gene set more than 5, overall 396 MFs were determined. After Gibbs sampling, 5 differentially expressed MF were acquired according to alfa.pi > 0.6. Moreover, the genes in these 5 differentially expressed MF were merged, and 110 DEGs were identified. Subsequently, 338 co-expressed genes were gained. Based on the P value < 0.01, the co-expressed genes were significantly enriched in 6 pathways. Among these, ubiquitin mediated proteolysis contained the maximum numbers of 35 co-expressed genes, and cell cycle were enriched by the second largest number of 11 co-expressed genes, respectively.ConclusionsThe identified pathways such as ubiquitin mediated proteolysis and cell cycle might play important roles in the development of asthma and may be useful for developing the credible therapeutic approaches for diagnosis and treatment of asthma in future.     

Solid‐phase extraction disk based on multiwalled carbon nanotubes for the enrichment of targeted pesticides from aqueous samples

A sensitive method for the determination of six varying polarity pesticides (imidacloprid, acetamiprid, carbendazim, simazine, linuron, and tebufenozide) based on a solid‐phase extraction disk with multiwalled nanotubes is proposed.A dispersion of multiwalled nanotubes in a surfactant aqueous solution (Triton X‐100) was used for the preparation of the solid‐phase extraction disk. The effect of surfactant on the functional groups of multiwalled nanotubes was examined by applying temperature‐programmed desorption. It was found that this treatment increased the amount of oxygen groups of treated multiwalled nanotubes comparing with untreated ones. The factors that may influence the adsorption and recovery such as the kind and volume of eluent, volume, flow rate and pH of sample were investigated and optimized. Under the optimized conditions, the maximal enrichment factors for low polar pesticides are ranging from 4000 to 4985 and for more polar are 2250 and 2750. The linear range of calibration curves was 10–500 ng/L with correlation coefficient higher than 0.9960, and the detection limit was 6.2–23.7 ng/L. Finally optimized method was applied for determination trace level of five out of six pesticides in tap and river water samples with good recovery.     

Directly‐coupled‐column ultra‐fast liquid chromatography with diode array detection method for the rapid quantification of allergenic disperse dyes in water preconcentrated by magnetic solid‐phase extraction

A directly‐coupled‐column ultra‐fast liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detection method for the determination of 12 allergenic disperse dyes in river water at sub‐ppb levels has been developed and successfully validated. The analytical method is based on the use of two different reversed‐phased columns connected through a two‐position switching valve. A baseline separation was achieved by proper selection of stationary phases, mobile phases, and the use of a gradient elution in both dimensions. Furthermore, an easy‐to‐handle magnetic solid‐phase extraction procedure was developed for the preconcentration of 12 allergenic disperse dyes from river water. An enrichment factor of 100 times was obtained. The results showed excellent performance in terms of trueness (76.8–99.0%), precision (intraday: 2.2–8.0%, interday: 3.3–8.2%), and sensitivity (limits of determination, 0.027–1.46 μg/L). Twenty real samples collected from the outfalls in the Yaojiang, Yongjiang and Fenghuajiang estuary were analyzed, and three of the studied compounds were found in one collected sample (12.6 μg/L for disperse blue 7, 11.6 μg/L for disperse blue 106, and 0.22 μg/L for disperse blue 3).     

成都平原典型地区水果-土壤重金属污染特征研究

为摸清成都平原土壤-水果系统中重金属污染水平和富集特征,通过对成都平原典型地区333个水果作物及其根部表层土壤中Hg、As、Pb、Cd、Cu、Cr和土壤理化指标的测定,结果表明：（1）研究区土壤养分整体呈现出有效磷和碱解氮较丰富,有机质和速效钾较缺乏的特征,可通过增施有机肥、地面覆草、施用绿肥等方式提升土壤肥力水平。（2）研究区土壤重金属存在部分点位超标,以Cd的超标率最高。土壤重金属单因子评价污染等级为清洁,土壤综合污染指数评价污染等级为中度污染,其主要贡献为Cd。研究区重金属存在一定程度的富集,Cd和Hg的污染指数高,潜在生态风险强,应重点关注土壤Cd污染和Hg含量水平的增加趋势,将Cd污染作为下一步土壤风险管控和修复治理的重点目标。（3）研究区水果Pb、Cd的超标率分别为5.7%、7.8%,不同水果Pb、Cd的超标率差异显著,草莓Cd的超标率最高。研究区水果中重金属未对成人构成非致癌健康风险,而水果中的As和Cu对儿童构成了非致癌健康风险,As和Cu对水果重金属非致癌总指数的贡献超过70%,应特别关注水果中As和Cu的管控,以免造成较大的食源性危害。（4）重金属在水果与土壤中的含量水平关联性较低,水果中重金属的含量与水果富集重金属的能力关联度极高,应进一步查明水果重金属与土壤重金属形态的关系,并结合调整水果种植结构、筛选重金属低积累水果品种等方式降低水果重金属的健康风险。     

Prediction of human-Streptococcus pneumoniae protein-protein interactions using logistic regression

Streptococcus pneumoniae is a major cause of mortality in children under five years old. In recent years, the emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains of S. pneumoniae increases the threat level of this pathogen. For that reason, the exploration of S. pneumoniae protein virulence factors should be considered in developing new drugs or vaccines, for instance by the analysis of host-pathogen protein-protein interactions (HP-PPIs). In this research, prediction of protein-protein interactions was performed with a logistic regression model with the number of protein domain occurrences as features. By utilizing HP-PPIs of three different pathogens as training data, the model achieved 57–77 % precision, 64–75 % recall, and 96–98 % specificity. Prediction of human-S. pneumoniae protein-protein interactions using the model yielded 5823 interactions involving thirty S. pneumoniae proteins and 324 human proteins. Pathway enrichment analysis showed that most of the pathways involved in the predicted interactions are immune system pathways. Network topology analysis revealed β-galactosidase (BgaA) as the most central among the S. pneumoniae proteins in the predicted HP-PPI networks, with a degree centrality of 1.0 and a betweenness centrality of 0.451853. Further experimental studies are required to validate the predicted interactions and examine their roles in S. pneumoniae infection.     

低温富集液液萃取-气相色谱-串联质谱法测定水样中15种农药残留

利用低温冷冻条件下农药在水相和有机相之间达到新的传质平衡,建立了低温富集液液萃取-气相色谱-三重四极杆串联质谱法同时测定水样中15种有机磷、有机氯及菊酯类农药的方法。通过对样品前处理中的溶剂选择、冷冻温度及冷冻时间的优化,最终确定的样品前处理条件为:萃取溶剂为甲苯2.0 mL;冷冻温度-40℃;冷冻时间1h。15种农药的检出限(3S/N)在0.005~0.02μg·L-1范围,测定下限(10S/N)为0.02~0.07μg·L-1。方法用于水样中农药的分析,加标回收率在78.8%~124%之间,测定值的相对标准偏差(n=5)在0.9%~9.1%之间。     

免疫磁珠捕获富集结合HPLC-Q-TOF/MS技术分析复杂水样中的蓖麻毒素

以自来水、海水以及国际禁化武组织(OPCW)官方水平考试水样为背景基质,在优化仪器参数的基础上,建立了3种水样基质中蓖麻毒素的高效液相色谱-四极杆/飞行时间质谱(HPLC-Q-TOF/MS)分析方法。蓖麻毒素在3种基质中的检出限分别为0.05,0.20,1.00μg/m L,HPLC-Q-TOF/MS测得蓖麻毒素的分子量为62 884.97 Da。为提高复杂水样的分析灵敏度,采用连接有蓖麻毒素单克隆抗体6A6的免疫磁珠对不同水样中的蓖麻毒素进行富集与纯化,利用酶联免疫吸附(ELISA)法绘制了免疫磁珠捕获方法的工作曲线,在5.00~100μg/m L线性范围内,不同浓度加标样品的回收率为82.1%~88.8%,相对标准偏差为4.2%~5.9%。将免疫捕获技术与HPLC-Q-TOF/MS分析方法相结合,对真实蓖麻毒素加标样品进行分析,3种基质中蓖麻毒素的检出限分别达2.5,10,50 ng/m L。本方法可用于水样中痕量蓖麻毒素的快速、有效检测。     

High‐throughput workflow for identification of phosphorylated peptides by LC‐MALDI‐TOF/TOF‐MS coupled to in situ enrichment on MALDI plates functionalized by ion landing

We report an MS‐based workflow for identification of phosphorylated peptides from trypsinized protein mixtures and cell lysates that is suitable for high‐throughput sample analysis. The workflow is based on an in situ enrichment on matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) plates that were functionalized by TiO₂ using automated ion landing apparatus that can operate unsupervised. The MALDI plate can be functionalized by TiO₂ into any array of predefined geometry (here, 96 positions for samples and 24 for mass calibration standards) made compatible with a standard MALDI spotter and coupled with high‐performance liquid chromatography. The in situ MALDI plate enrichment was compared with a standard precolumn‐based separation and achieved comparable or better results than the standard method. The performance of this new workflow was demonstrated on a model mixture of proteins as well as on Jurkat cells lysates. The method showed improved signal‐to‐noise ratio in a single MS spectrum, which resulted in better identification by MS/MS and a subsequent database search. Using the workflow, we also found specific phosphorylations in Jurkat cells that were nonspecifically activated by phorbol 12‐myristate 13‐acetate. These phosphorylations concerned the mitogen‐activated protein kinase/extracellular signal‐regulated kinase signaling pathway and its targets and were in agreement with the current knowledge of this signaling cascade. Control sample of non‐activated cells was devoid of these phosphorylations. Overall, the presented analytical workflow is able to detect dynamic phosphorylation events in minimally processed mammalian cells while using only a short high‐performance liquid chromatography gradient. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.