Comparison of the column performance of narrow-bore and standard-bore columns for the chromatographic determination of alpha-, beta-, gamma-, and delta-tocopherol

A comparison of the performance of narrow-bore (2.1-mm i.d.) and standard-bore (4.6-mm i.d.) analytical silica columns having the same length is completed for the resolution of alpha-, beta-, gamma-, and delta-tocopherol. The studies are performed on high-performance liquid chromatographic equipment with minimum extracolumn contribution. Column permeabilities are 1.16 x 10(-9) and 2.48 x 10(-9) cm2 for narrow and standard bore, respectively. The narrow-bore column gives up to a 7 times increase in sensitivity compared with a standard-bore column at equivalent running times for the analytes. Approximately one-third solvent savings can be achieved with the narrow-bore column. Theoretical plates of the standard-bore column are higher than that of the narrow-bore column.     

Liquid chromatographic analysis of vitamin B6 in reconstituted infant formula: collaborative study

A liquid chromatographic (LC) method was validated for the determination of total vitamin B6 in infant formula. Total vitamin B6 was quantified by converting the phosphorylated and free vitamers into pyridoxine. Pyridoxine was determined by ion pair reversed-phase LC with fluorescence detection. The method was subjected to an AOAC collaborative study involving a factory-manufactured, milk- and soy-based infant formula. Each was spiked at 3 concentrations in the range of 0-1 microg/g and sent as blind duplicate to participant laboratories. Nine laboratories returned valid data which were statistically analyzed for outliers and precision parameters. The repeatability relative standard deviation (RSD(r)) ranges were 2.0-4.0 and 3.5-5.9% for fortified milk- and soy-based formulas, respectively. The reproducibility relative standard deviation (RSD(R)) ranges were 8.2-8.4 and 6.7-11.2% for fortified milk- and soy-based formulas, respectively. HORRAT values ranged from 0.42 to 0.53, indicating that the precision of the method is acceptable. The mean RSD(r):RSD(R) values were 0.60 and 0.55 for milk- and soy-based formulas, respectively. As expected, RSDs for the unfortified samples were higher, but their HORRAT values (0.81 and 2.06) helped define a realistic limit of quantitation as 0.05 microg/g. Recovery data were quantitative and varied between 81.4 and 98.0% (mean = 89.8%) for each of 6 spiked materials.     

Identification of archaeal proteins that affect the exosome function in vitro

Background  

The archaeal exosome is formed by a hexameric RNase PH ring and three RNA binding subunits and has been shown to bind and degrade RNA in vitro. Despite extensive studies on the eukaryotic exosome and on the proteins interacting with this complex, little information is yet available on the identification and function of archaeal exosome regulatory factors.     

Modulation of humoral immune response to oral BCG vaccination by Mycobacterium bovis BCG Moreau Rio de Janeiro (RDJ) in healthy adults

We hypothesize that the energy strategy of a cell is a key factor for determining how, or if, the immune system interacts with that cell. Cells have a limited number of metabolic states, in part, depending on the type of fuels the cell consumes. Cellular fuels include glucose (carbohydrates), lipids (fats), and proteins. We propose that the cell's ability to switch to, and efficiently use, fat for fuel confers immune privilege. Additionally, because uncoupling proteins are involved in the fat burning process and reportedly in protection from free radicals, we hypothesize that uncoupling proteins play an important role in immune privilege. Thus, changes in metabolism (caused by oxidative stresses, fuel availability, age, hormones, radiation, or drugs) will dictate and initiate changes in immune recognition and in the nature of the immune response. This has profound implications for controlling the symptoms of autoimmune diseases, for preventing graft rejection, and for targeting tumor cells for destruction.     

Liquid chromatographic analysis of vitamin B6 in soy-based infant formula

A liquid chromatographic (LC) method is described for determination of total vitamin B6 in soy-based infant formula. Total vitamin B6 is quantitated by using ion-pair LC after precolumn transformation of phosphorylated and free vitamers into pyridoxol. The limit of detection is 0.3 ng and the limit of quantitation is 1.0 ng on-column (injection volume = 100 microL). Linear response ranged from 39 to 616 ng/mL (r2 = 0.99986). Analysis of a soy-based infant formula control fortified at 6 different concentration levels gave recoveries that averaged 104%. Assay of SRM 1846 gave results within the certified range (8.6 +/- 0.086 mg/kg versus the certified value of 8.4 +/- 1.0 mg/kg). The method provides a rapid and specific assay for the analysis of total vitamin B6 in fortified soy-based infant formula.     

Determination of vitamin K1 in medical foods by liquid chromatography with postcolumn reduction and fluorometric detection

A liquid chromatographic (LC) method is described for the determination of vitamin K1 in medical foods. The sample is enzymatically digested with lipase and alpha-amylase and extracted with 1% sodium bicarbonate solution-isopropanol (1 + 1). After C18 solid-phase extraction, vitamin K1 is separated by nonaqueous reversed-phase LC, converted to the hydroquinone by postcolumn zinc reduction, and quantitated by fluorescence detection. The limit of detection is 8 pg (3 sigma), and the limit of quantitation is 27 pg (10 sigma) on column. Linear response ranged from 0.1 to 1.0 ng vitamin K1 (r= 0.9999). The mean recovery (n = 38) for all spiking levels was 101.6 +/- 2.85%. Analysis of Standard Reference Material 1846, Infant Formula, gave a mean value of 0.95 +/- 0.088 mg vitamin K/kg (K or K1?) (n = 31) with a coefficient of variation of 9.26.     

An interlaboratory-verified method for the determination of vitamins A and E in milk- and soy-based infant formula by liquid chromatography with matrix solid-phase dispersion extraction

An interlaboratory-verified, liquid chromatographic (LC) method is presented for determination of all-racemic alpha-tocopheryl acetate and retinyl palmitate in infant formula. The extraction procedure uses matrix solid-phase dispersion. A sample is mixed with C18, and the mixture is packed into a reservoir and eluted with selective solvents to extract the analytes. After evaporation and filtration, the sample extract is injected directly into a normal-phase LC system with fluorescence detection. All-racemic alpha-tocopheryl acetate and retinyl palmitate are quantitated isocratically with a mobile phase of hexane containing isopropanol at 0.2% (v/v) and 0.125% (v/v), respectively. A nonfortified zero control reference material (ZRM) was spiked at 5 levels, with 5 replicate analyses of 1/2x, x, 2x, 4x, and 16x where "x" represents the minimum levels of 250 IU/100 kcal (vitamin A) and 0.7 IU/100 kcal (vitamin E) as specified in Title 21 of the Code of Federal Regulations, part 107.100. Recoveries of retinyl palmitate ranged from 83.8 to 107%, and those of all-racemic alpha-tocopheryl acetate ranged from 87.7 to 108%. Two additional laboratories analyzed the ZRM samples at 4 spiking levels with 6 replicates. Recoveries of retinyl palmitate and all-racemic alpha-tocopheryl acetate ranged from 92.2 to 104% and from 91.7 to 101%, respectively, in the second laboratory. Recoveries of retinyl palmitate and all-racemic alpha-tocopheryl acetate ranged from 85.3 to 97.0% and from 86.6 to 110%, respectively, in the third laboratory. Relative standard deviations for all 3 laboratories ranged from 0.2 to 7.5% with an average of 2.9%. In addition, each laboratory analyzed a commercial milk- and commercial soy-based infant formula. Excellent agreement in results was obtained between the 3 laboratories for vitamins A and E in all matrixes.     

Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Rheumatic Potential of Selective Plant Compounds by Targeting TLR-4/AP-1 Signaling: A Comprehensive Molecular Docking and Simulation Approaches

Plants are an important source of drug development and numerous plant derived molecules have been used in clinical practice for the ailment of various diseases. The Toll-like receptor-4 (TLR-4) signaling pathway plays a crucial role in inflammation including rheumatoid arthritis. The TLR-4 binds with pro-inflammatory ligands such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to induce the downstream signaling mechanism such as nuclear factor κappa B (NF-κB) and mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPKs). This signaling activation leads to the onset of various diseases including inflammation. In the present study, 22 natural compounds were studied against TLR-4/AP-1 signaling, which is implicated in the inflammatory process using a computational approach. These compounds belong to various classes such as methylxanthine, sesquiterpene lactone, alkaloid, flavone glycosides, lignan, phenolic acid, etc. The compounds exhibited different binding affinities with the TLR-4, JNK, NF-κB, and AP-1 protein due to the formation of multiple hydrophilic and hydrophobic interactions. With TLR-4, rutin had the highest binding energy (−10.4 kcal/mol), poncirin had the highest binding energy (−9.4 kcal/mol) with NF-κB and JNK (−9.5 kcal/mol), respectively, and icariin had the highest binding affinity (−9.1 kcal/mol) with the AP-1 protein. The root means square deviation (RMSD), root mean square fraction (RMSF), and radius of gyration (RoG) for 150 ns were calculated using molecular dynamic simulation (MD simulation) based on rutin’s greatest binding energy with TLR-4. The RMSD, RMSF, and RoG were all within acceptable limits in the MD simulation, and the complex remained stable for 150 ns. Furthermore, these compounds were assessed for the potential toxic effect on various organs such as the liver, heart, genotoxicity, and oral maximum toxic dose. Moreover, the blood–brain barrier permeability and intestinal absorption were also predicted using SwissADME software (Lausanne, Switzerland). These compounds exhibited promising physico-chemical as well as drug-likeness properties. Consequently, these selected compounds portray promising anti-inflammatory and drug-likeness properties.