基于化学计量学结合ICP-MS的党参道地性的研究及安全评价

微量元素与中药的功效和安全性密切相关,也是药材道地性研究的一部分,为探讨党参中重金属元素的安全性、风险性及道地性的相关性。本文采用电感耦合等离子体质谱法（ICP-MS）及原子荧光光谱法(AFS)测定来源于甘肃、山西、湖北、四川等产区的39批党参药材中的20种元素的含量,结果结合化学计量学分析对党参产区进行差异判别。通过单因子污染指数法和内梅罗综合污染指数法对其进行安全性评价,通过健康风险基于暴露量、危害指数法和暴露限值法对其进行风险评估。结果表明,重金属在各自范围内线性关系良好,加样回收率,仪器精密度和重复性良好,其中 Ba、Sr、Mn的含量最高。主成分分析显示39批药材分为三类,同一产区的党参能较好的聚在一起,元素含量差异与产区分布有一定规律,其中Cs、Ga、As、Co、Li、Pb、Hg、Se、V、Mn为关键的差异标志物,为产地元素特征分析鉴别提供依据。安全评价结果为39批党参药材污染等级为安全,但风险评估后DS-31、DS-32、DS-34、DS-36及 DS-37在人体长期蓄积中具有健康风险。结论：本研究方法高效、准确、简便,结合化学计量学可以对党参进行有效的产地判别,评价党参中元素的安全性及风险性,为党参道地性及健康评价提供了科学依据。     

动能歧视(KED)-电感耦合等离子体质谱(ICP-MS)法测定贵州沉积型稀土矿中16种稀土元素

贵州沉积型稀土矿主要含有高岭土-锐钛矿石等矿物,存在高含量Si、Al、Fe、Ti、Zr等难溶基体元素,采用高压密闭微波消解法处理难以将其完全溶解,易使测定结果偏低,需再次消解或进一步电热板敞开酸溶处理,方法耗时长,不利于大批量样品检测需求。同时电感耦合等离子体质谱法(ICP-MS)在测定稀土元素时存在基体效应和质谱干扰,影响了检测数据的准确性。本文采用过氧化钠熔融分解样品,熔融物冷却后引入三乙醇胺溶液,在碱性溶液中,大量基体元素与三乙醇胺形成稳定配合物,并与大量溶剂钠盐存于溶液中,稀土元素与Ca、Mg、Sr、Ba等留存于沉淀,经过滤,实现稀土元素与大量基体元素分离,随后沉淀用(1+1)硝酸复溶,并以103Rh和185Re为在线注入内标协同降低基体干扰;启用动能歧视(KED)模式以降低测定过程中潜在的质谱干扰。实验结果表明:高压密闭微波消解法消解液浑浊有残渣,溶矿耗时长,测试结果偏低,碱溶法酸化后溶液清亮透明,稀土元素测定值准确性高;经条件试验,采用10%三乙醇胺溶液提取能较大降低基体干扰;启用KED模式可降低测定过程中的质谱干扰,且准确度优于STD模式;碱溶法方法检出限为0.008μg/g~0.049μg/g,测定下限为0.034μg/g~0.195μg/g,相对标准偏差RSD在0.78%～10.2%之间,相对误差RE在0.0225%~13.5%之间。经实际样品验证,碱熔法较适用于贵州沉积性稀土矿中16种稀土元素的测定。     

Acid–Base Equilibrium and Self-Association in Relation to High Antitumor Activity of Selected Unsymmetrical Bisacridines Established by Extensive Chemometric Analysis

Unsymmetrical bisacridines (UAs) represent a novel class of anticancer agents previously synthesized by our group. Our recent studies have demonstrated their high antitumor potential against multiple cancer cell lines and human tumor xenografts in nude mice. At the cellular level, these compounds affected 3D cancer spheroid growth and their cellular uptake was selectively modulated by quantum dots. UAs were shown to undergo metabolic transformations in vitro and in tumor cells. However, the physicochemical properties of UAs, which could possibly affect their interactions with molecular targets, remain unknown. Therefore, we selected four highly active UAs for the assessment of physicochemical parameters under various pH conditions. We determined the compounds’ pK_a dissociation constants as well as their potential to self-associate. Both parameters were determined by detailed and complex chemometric analysis of UV-Vis spectra supported by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The obtained results indicate that general molecular properties of UAs in aqueous media, including their protonation state, self-association ratio, and solubility, are strongly pH-dependent, particularly in the physiological pH range of 6 to 8. In conclusion, we describe the detailed physicochemical characteristics of UAs, which might contribute to their selectivity towards tumour cells as opposed to their effect on normal cells.     

Chemometric Analysis of Urinary Volatile Organic Compounds to Monitor the Efficacy of Pitavastatin Treatments on Mammary Tumor Progression over Time

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in urine are potential biomarkers of breast cancer. Previously, our group has investigated breast cancer through analysis of VOCs in mouse urine and identified a panel of VOCs with the ability to monitor tumor progression. However, an unanswered question is whether VOCs can be exploited similarly to monitor the efficacy of antitumor treatments over time. Herein, subsets of tumor-bearing mice were treated with pitavastatin at high (8 mg/kg) and low (4 mg/kg) concentrations, and urine was analyzed through solid-phase microextraction (SPME) coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Previous investigations using X-ray and micro-CT analysis indicated pitavastatin administered at 8 mg/kg had a protective effect against mammary tumors, whereas 4 mg/kg treatments did not inhibit tumor-induced damage. VOCs from mice treated with pitavastatin were compared to the previously analyzed healthy controls and tumor-bearing mice using chemometric analyses, which revealed that mice treated with pitavastatin at high concentrations were significantly different than tumor-bearing untreated mice in the direction of healthy controls. Mice treated with low concentrations demonstrated significant differences relative to healthy controls and were reflective of tumor-bearing untreated mice. These results show that urinary VOCs can accurately and noninvasively predict the efficacy of pitavastatin treatments over time.     

The DI-SPME Method for Determination of Selected Narcotics and Their Metabolites,and Application to Bone Marrow and Whole Blood Analysis

The present investigation utilised the quick and easy SPME/LC-MS method to determine selected narcotic substances and their metabolites in whole blood. The study included qualitative analysis and validation of the method. Analytes were determined in the linearity range of 25–300 ng/mL. The precision during and between days (in general CV < 13.41%), and the LOD which results in between 0.36 and 11.08 ng/mL, and the LOQ between 1.20 and 36.90 ng/mL were investigated. The validation results obtained, as well as the results of subsequent in-laboratory tests, confirmed the applicability of the method in the analysis of blood samples. An attempt to apply the method to the analysis of bone marrow samples has yielded promising results; however, more detailed studies are needed in this area.     

In Vitro and In Vivo Human Body Odor Analysis Method Using GO:PANI/ZNRs/ZIF−8 Adsorbent Followed by GC/MS

Among various volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from human skin, trans-2-nonenal, benzothiazole, hexyl salicylate, α-hexyl cinnamaldehyde, and isopropyl palmitate are key indicators associated with the degrees of aging. In our study, extraction and determination methods of human body odor are newly developed using headspace-in needle microextraction (HS-INME). The adsorbent was synthesized with graphene oxide:polyaniline/zinc nanorods/zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (GO:PANI/ZNRs/ZIF−8). Then, a wire coated with the adsorbent was placed into the adsorption kit to be directly exposed to human skin as in vivo sampling and inserted into the needle so that it was able to be desorbed at the GC injector. The adsorption kit was made in-house with a 3D printer. For the in vitro method, the wire coated with the adsorbent was inserted into the needle and exposed to the headspace of the vial. When a cotton T-shirt containing body odor was transferred to a vial, the headspace of the vial was saturated with body odor VOCs. After volatile organic compounds were adsorbed in the dynamic mode, the needle was transferred to the injector for analysis of the volatile organic compounds by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The conditions of adsorbent fabrication and extraction for body odor compounds were optimized by response surface methodology (RSM). In conclusion, it was able to synthesize GO:PANI/ZNRs/ZIF−8 at the optimal condition and applicable to both in vivo and in vitro methods for body odor VOCs analysis.     

Metabolic Profile of Agropyron repens (L.) P. Beauv. Rhizome Herbal Tea by HPLC-PDA-ESI-MS/MS Analysis

Agropyron repens (L.) P. Beauv. (couch grass) is a world-wide infesting rhizomatous plant with pharmacological applications. Chemical research is focused on its allelopathic and anti-inflammatory components, which are mainly present in the essential oil. Conversely, the aqueous extracts have been sparingly investigated, although the herbal tea is by far the most used formulation. To fill the gap, the metabolic profile of Agropyron repens rhizome herbal tea was investigated by electrospray ionization (ESI) tandem–mass spectrometry (MS/MS); the phenolic profile was investigated by HPLC-PDA-ESI-MS/MS. ESI-MS fingerprinting was provided, evidencing diagnostic ions for saccharides, organic acids and amino acids. The HPLC-PDA-ESI-MS/MS analysis evidenced at least 20 characteristic phenolic compounds, the most representative being caffeoyl and feruloyl quinic esters, followed by coumaric, caffeic and ferulic acids, and hesperidin among flavonoids. In addition, the essential amino acid tryptophan was identified for the first time. The results suggest new perspectives of applications for Agropyron repens rhizome.     

Proteome Analysis of Aflibercept Intervention in Experimental Central Retinal Vein Occlusion

Aflibercept is a frequently used inhibitor of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the treatment of macular edema following central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO). Retinal proteome changes following aflibercept intervention in CRVO remain largely unstudied. Studying proteomic changes of aflibercept intervention may generate a better understanding of mechanisms of action and uncover aspects related to the safety profile. In 10 Danish Landrace pigs, CRVO was induced in both eyes with an argon laser. Right eyes were treated with intravitreal aflibercept while left control eyes received isotonic saline water. Retinal samples were collected 15 days after induced CRVO. Proteomic analysis by tandem mass tag-based mass spectrometry identified a total of 21 proteins that were changed in content following aflibercept intervention. In retinas treated with aflibercept, high levels of aflibercept components were reached, including the VEGF receptor-1 and VEGF receptor-2 domains. Fold changes in the additional proteins ranged between 0.70 and 1.19. Aflibercept intervention resulted in a downregulation of pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) (fold change = 0.84) and endoplasmin (fold change = 0.91). The changes were slight and could thereby not be confirmed with less precise immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. Our data suggest that aflibercept had a narrow mechanism of action in the CRVO model. This may be an important observation in cases when macular edema secondary to CRVO is resistant to aflibercept intervention.     

Separation of Dihydro-Isocoumarins and Dihydro-Stilbenoids from Hydrangea macrophylla ssp. serrata by Use of Counter-Current Chromatography

Previously, different Hydrangea macrophylla ssp. serrata cultivars were investigated by untargeted LC-MS analysis. From this, a list of tentatively identified and unknown compounds that differ significantly between these cultivars was obtained. Due to the lack of reference compounds, especially for dihydro-isocoumarins, we aimed to isolate and structurally characterise these compounds from the cultivar ‘Yae-no-amacha’ using NMR and LC-MS methods. For purification and isolation, counter-current chromatography was used in combination with reversed-phase preparative HPLC as an orthogonal and enhanced purification workflow. Thirteen dihydro-isocoumarins in combination with other metabolites could be isolated and structurally identified. Particularly interesting was the clarification of dihydrostilbenoid glycosides, which were described for the first time in H. macrophylla ssp. serrata. These results will help us in further studies on the biological interpretation of our data.     

2,2-双(4-氯-2-氟苄基)丙二酸二乙酯的晶体结构和密度泛函理论研究

标题化合物是一个重要的精细化工中间体,可用于制备嘧啶类、吡唑类等产品.本文利用红外光谱(IR)、质谱(MS)、核磁共振氢谱(1 H NMR)、核磁共振碳谱(13 C NMR)和X-射线单晶衍射对此化合物进行了表征,并在B3LYP/6-311G(d,p)模式下使用密度泛函理论(DFT)计算了此化合物的最稳定晶体结构以及最...