Simultaneous quantification of leukotrienes and hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids in cell culture medium using liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry

Leukotrienes (LTs) and hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids (HETEs) are important bioactive lipid mediators that participate in various pathophysiological processes. To advance understanding of the mechanisms that regulate these mediators in physiological and pathological processes, an analytical method using liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry for the simultaneous quantification of LTB₄, LTC₄, LTD₄, LTE₄, 5‐HETE_, 8‐HETE, 12‐HETE and 15‐HETE in cell culture media was developed. A Supel?‐Select HLB solid‐phase extraction cartridge was used for sample preparation. The compounds were separated on a C₁₈ column using gradient elution with acetonitrile–water–formic acid (20:80:0.1, v/v/v) and acetonitrile–formic acid (100:0.1, v/v). The calibration curves of LTB₄, LTD₄, LTE₄ and HETEs were linear in the range of 0.025–10 ng/mL, and the calibration curve of LTC₄ was linear in the range of 0.25–10 ng/mL. Validation assessment showed that the method was highly reliable with good accuracy and precision. The stability of LTs and HETEs was also investigated. Using the developed method, we measured LTs and HETEs in the culture supernatant of the human mast cell line HMC‐1. The present method could facilitate investigations of the mechanisms that regulate the production, release and signaling of LTs and HETEs. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Standardization of BSE rapid test performances and experiences gathered during the implementation of large-scale testing

The accumulation of pathological prion protein is used as a diagnostic marker for transmissible spongiform encephalopathies. According to European Union (EU) regulations cattle older than 30 months of age (Germany, France, Italy, and Spain by national law >24 months) and slaughtered for human consumption must be tested by using rapid tests for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). Likewise fallen stock and clinically affected animals must be tested. This article gives a short overview of the incidence of BSE in Europe. The diagnostic hierarchy, i.e., the officially approved methodology for the confirmation of suspect rapid test cases, and the organization of the numerous laboratories involved in this large-scale testing for BSE are described. Special emphasis is given to necessary quality control measures currently in place for BSE rapid testing laboratories and to measures intended to assure a consistent performance of the commercially available rapid test kits.Presented at BERM-9—Ninth International Symposium on Biological and Environmental Reference Materials, 15–19 June 2003, Berlin, Germany.     

乳糖修饰壳聚糖微载体的制备及对培养肝细胞代谢活性的影响

液体石蜡作分散介质。戊二醛作交联刑，通过反相悬浮聚合制备了微米级的壳聚糖微载体．环氧氟丙烷活化后，乳糖进行修饰．用孔糖修饰的微载体进行原代大鼠肝细胞培养，利用相差显微镜对培养细胞进行形态观察，并测定肝细胞的代谢活性，结果显示，乳糖修饰壳聚糖微载体是一种优良的肝细胞培养支架．     

Quality assurance for the analytical data of micro elements in food

The micro element content of food is an important quality index due to the action of these elements on human health. In this article, we discuss how to ensure the reliability of analytical data on micro elements in order to truly represent the condition of food. Sampling, treatment of the analytical sample, selection of the analytical method, standard solution, and certified reference material, blank test, calibration of the instrument and equipment, application of the quality control chart, assessment of the final analytical result, and quality assurance system are briefly described. Received: 5 July 2001 Accepted: 19 November 2001     

Altered protein synthesis in rat kidney cells exposed to semiconductor materials

It is thought that the extensive industrial use of arsenic, gallium and indium, which have applications as the materials for III–V semiconductors, will increase human exposure to these compounds in the near future. We have undertaken the development of new biological indicators for assessing exposure to these elements. Element-specific alterations in protein synthesis patterns were expected to occur following exposure to arsenic compounds. We examined alterations in protein synthesis in primary cultures of rat kidney proximal tubule epithelial cells by sodium arsenite, gallium chloride and indium chloride, utilizing two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. After incubation with the chemicals for 20 h, newly synthesized proteins were labeled with [³⁵S]methionine. A protein with a molecular weight (M_r) of 30 000 was markedly induced on exposure to 10 μM arsenite or 300 μM gallium chloride, and synthesis of proteins with M_r values of 85 000, 71 000, 65 000, 51 000, 38 000 and 28 000 were also increased by exposure to arsenite and gallium chloride. No significant changes were observed upon exposure to indium. Some of these increased proteins could be heat-shock proteins.     

Uptake and excretion of total inorganic arsenic by the freshwater alga Chlorella vulgaris

Arsenic-tolerant freshwater alga Chlorella vulgaris which had been collected from an arsenicpolluted environment were tested for uptake and excretion of inorganic arsenic. Approximately half the quantity of arsenic taken up by C. vulgaris was estimated to be adhered to the extraneous coat (10 wt %) of the cell. The remainder was bioaccumulated by the cell. Both adhered and accumulated arsenic concentrations increased with an increase in arsenic(V) concentration of the aqueous phase. Arsenic(V) accumulation was affected by the growth phse: arsenic was most actively accumulated when the cell was exposed to arsenic during the early exponential phase and then accumulation decreased with an increase in culture time exposed to arsenic. The alga grew well in the modified Detmer (MD) medium containing 1 mg As(III) dm^?3 and the growth curve was approximated by a ‘logistic equation’. Arsenic(III) was accumulated up to the second day of the culture time and arsenic(III) accumulation decreased with an increase in the culture time after that. Arsenic accumulation was also largely affected by various nutrients, especially by managanese, iron and phosphorus compounds. A modified MD medium with the three nutrients was proposed for the purpose of effective removal of arsenic from the aqueous phase. Using radioactive arsenate (Na₂H⁷⁴AsO₄), the arsenic accumulated was found to be readily excreted under conditions which were unfavourable for the multiplication of C. vulgaris.     

人原始生殖细胞的分离和体外培养

从4～10周龄药物流产胚胎的生殖嵴和肠系膜组织中分离原始生殖细胞(primordial germ cells,PGCs),培养在添加人重组白血病抑制因子(rh LIF)、人重组碱性成纤维细胞生长因子(rh bFGF)和Forskolin的小鼠饲养层细胞上.经过4～7 d培养,PGCs形成典型的鸟巢状集落.集落在传代过程中保持碱性磷酸酶活性,且胚胎阶段性特异抗原1(SSEA-1)、胚胎阶段性特异抗原3(SSEA-3)免疫荧光染色呈阳性.具有分化潜能的PGCs能在体外连续传代培养12代.结果表明从药物流产胚胎中分离的人类PGCs可以在体外培养成为具有分化潜能的多能性干细胞.     

槲寄生蛋白注射液细胞毒活性测定的MTT方法探讨

采用MTT比色法对体外培养的肿瘤细胞进行细胞毒作用实验，验证槲寄生蛋白注射液体外抗肿瘤效果．并且鉴定这种检测方法的有效性。实验结果表明槲寄生蛋白注射液有一定的体外抗肿瘤效果；MTT比色法是一种可用的体外细胞毒作用检测法，为新药品的开发提供了实验依据。