A volatolomic approach using cerumen as biofluid to diagnose bovine intoxication by Stryphnodendron rotundifolium

An innovative volatolomic approach employs the detection of biomarkers present in cerumen (earwax) to identify cattle intoxication by Stryphnodendron rotundifolium Mart., Fabaceae (popularly known as barbatimão). S. rotundifolium is a poisonous plant with the toxic compound undefined and widely distributed throughout the Brazilian territory. Cerumen samples from cattle of two local Brazilian breeds (‘Curraleiro Pé-Duro’ and ‘Pantaneiro’) were collected during an experimental intoxication protocol and analyzed using headspace (HS)/GC–MS followed by multivariate analysis (genetic algorithm for a partial least squares, cluster analysis, and classification and regression trees). A total of 106 volatile organic metabolites were identified in the cerumen samples of bovines. The intoxication by S. rotundifolium influenced the cerumen volatolomic profile of the bovines throughout the intoxication protocol. In this way, it was possible to detect biomarkers for cattle intoxication. Among the biomarkers, 2-octyldecanol and 9-tetradecen-1-ol were able to discriminate all samples between intoxicated and nonintoxicated bovines. The cattle intoxication diagnosis by S. rotundifolium was accomplished by applying the cerumen analysis using HS/GC–MS, in an easy, accurate, and noninvasive way. Thus, the proposed bioanalytical chromatography protocol is a useful tool in veterinary applications to determine this kind of intoxication.     

Design and development of a two‐dimensional system based on hydrophilic and reversed‐phase liquid chromatography with on‐line sample treatment for the simultaneous separation of excreted xenobiotics and endogenous metabolites in urine

In the present work we describe a two‐dimensional liquid chromatographic system (2D‐LC) with detection by mass spectrometry (MS) for the simultaneous separation of endogenous metabolites of clinical interest and excreted xenobiotics deriving from exposure to toxic compounds. The 2D‐LC system involves two orthogonal chromatographic modes, hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) to separate polar endogenous metabolites and reversed‐phase (RP) chromatography to separate excreted xenobiotics of low and intermediate polarity. Additionally, the present proposal has the novelty of incorporating an on‐line sample treatment based on the use of restricted access materials (RAMs), which permits the direct injection of urine samples into the system. The work is focused on the instrumental coupling, studying all possible options and attempting to circumvent the problems of solvent incompatibility between the RAM device and the two chromatographic columns, HILIC and RP. The instrumental configuration developed, RAM‐HILIC‐RPLC‐MS/MS, allows the simultaneous assessment of urinary metabolites of clinical interest and excreted compounds derived from exposure to toxic agents with minimal sample manipulation. Thus, it may be of interest in areas such as occupational and environmental toxicology in order to explore the possible relationship between the two types of compounds. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

血镁水平与糖尿病肾病

为探讨糖尿病肾病 (DN)患者血镁水平 ,以 1 5 9例 2型糖尿病 (T2DM)患者为研究对象 ,用xylidylblue比色法测定了其正常白蛋白尿期、微量白蛋白尿期 (早期DN)、临床DN及晚期DN血镁水平 ,与 2 0例正常对照组相比较 ;同时将 1 1 0例DN患者分为肾功能不全代偿组、失代偿组和肾功能衰竭组 ,将其血镁水平与 1 0 2例慢性肾小球肾炎 (CGN)患者相比较 ,组间比较采用t检验 ;对 79例T2DM正常白蛋白尿期及微量白蛋白尿期患者尿白蛋白排泄率 (UAER)与血镁水平进行了等级相关分析。结果表明 ,T2DM正常白蛋白尿期、早期DN及临床DN血镁水平降低 ,晚期DN血镁水平升高 ,各组与正常对照组相比存在显著性差异 (P <0 0 5或P <0 0 1 ) ;T2DMDN及CGN肾功能不全代偿期、失代偿期及肾功能衰竭期血镁水平渐升高 ,且肾功能处于同一期的DN和CGN相比 ,前者血镁水平均较后者显著降低 (P <0 0 1或P <0 0 5 ) ;T2DM正常白蛋白尿期和微量白蛋白尿期血镁水平与UAER呈负相关 (r=0 5 47,P <0 0 1 )。提示T2DM患者肾功能正常时存在低镁倾向 ,但晚期DN血镁水平升高 ;随着肾功能不全进展 ,DN和CGN患者血镁水平升高 ,但前者血镁水平仍较后者低 ,镁代谢紊乱与DM及其并发症的相互关系有待进一步研究 ;血镁水平测定可否作为DN的早期诊断指标亦     

凝胶体系中羧酸对草酸钙结晶的影响

羧酸是泌尿系结石形成的抑制剂。本文采用双扩散法考察凝胶体系中一元羧酸HAc、二元羧酸酒石酸、三元羧酸柠檬酸和四元羧酸EDTA对草酸钙(CaOx)结晶的影响。HAc没有抑制作用。酒石酸和柠檬酸能够改变一水草酸钙(COM)晶体的形貌，并抑制草酸钙晶体二维生长，这种抑制作用随时间的增加而增强。EDTA使COM晶体在长度方向生长更快，而在宽度和厚度上生长更慢。随着结晶温度的降低，形成草酸钙晶体的时间增加，且二水草酸钙(COD)的比例增加。在5℃的低温条件下，添加有二元、三元和四元羧酸的CaOx结晶中，COD成为主要的物相。     

Magnetic microcapsules for targeted delivery of anticancer drugs

To achieve targeted distribution of anticancer drugs with sustained activity, ferromagnetic ethylcellulose microcapsules containing an anticancer drug, mitomycin C (FM-MMC-mc), were prepared by a method based on phase separation principles. Two prototypes of FM-MMC-mc were made: one with the drug as the core and zinc ferrite on its capsular surface (outer type); the other with both the drug and zinc ferrite as the core (inner type). Both preparations provided a sustained-release property and a sensitive response to conventional magnetic force, although certain differences in the release rate of drug, magnetic responsiveness, and particle size were found between the two dosage forms. Animal studies showed that the magnetic microcapsules could be magnetically controlled in the artery and urinary bladder. VX2 tumors in the rabbit hind limb and urinary bladder were successfully treated with magnetic control of FM-MMC-mc. Pharmacokinetic study revealed that the targeting of the microcapsules markedly enhanced the drug absorption into the surrounding tissues for a prolonged period of time. The results indicate the feasibility and effectiveness of the magnetic microcapsules as a targeted drug delivery system.     

不同结构的磷酸盐对凝胶体系中草酸钙晶体物相和相组成的影响

泌尿系结石的形成是一种病理性生物矿化过程，不同地区的结石发病率在3％～15％之间。且50％(美国)至80％(中国)的人会复发。结石中约70％以上为草酸钙(CaC2O4)结石。CaC2O4结石的形成与其热力学(过饱和度)和动力学(成核、生长和聚集)因素有关。由于结石患者尿液和正常人尿液中     

Effects of temperature and sodium carboxylate additives on mineralization of calcium oxalate in silica gel systems

Urolithiasis remains a major medical problem in China, especially in Guangdong Province in the southest of China[1]. A survey in Shenzhen city, the most southern city in China, showed the incidence of renal calculus was 4.87%, being 6.12% in the males and 4.07% in the females[2]. The prevalence of renal calculus has been more as the age advances and in the male population and so was in the less-educated population. The recurrence rate is more than 80%, with a moderate improvement by conventi…     

A UPLC‐TOF/MS‐based metabolomics study of rattan stems of Schisandra chinensis effects on Alzheimer's disease rats model

A UPLC‐TOF/MS‐based metabolomics method was established to explore the therapeutic mechanisms of rattan stems of S. chinensis (SCS) in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Experimental AD model was induced by intra‐hippocampal Aβ_1–42 injection in rats. Cognitive function and oxidative stress condition in brain of AD rats were assessed using Morris water maze tests and antioxidant assays [malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH‐Px)], respectively. UPLC‐TOF/MS combined with multivariate statistical analysis were conducted to study the changes in metabolic networks in serum of rats. The results indicated that the AD model was established successfully and the inducement of Aβ_1–42 caused a decline in spatial learning and memory of rats. The injection of Aβ_1–42 in rat brains significantly elevated the level of MDA, and reduced SOD and GSH‐Px activities. In addition, SCS showed significant anti‐AD effects on model rats. A total of 30 metabolites were finally identified as potential biomarkers of AD and 14 of them had a significant recovery compared with the AD model after SCS administration. Changes in AD metabolite profiling were restored to different levels through the regulation of 13 pathways. This is first report on the use of the UPLC‐TOF/MS‐based serum metabolomics method to investigate therapeutic effects of SCS on AD, and enrich potential biomarkers and metabolic networks of AD.     

Anti‐inflammatory activities and glycerophospholipids metabolism in KLA‐stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophage cells by diarylheptanoids from the rhizomes of Alpinia officinarum

Alpinia officinarum is used for its anti‐inflammatory activity historically in China. Diarylheptanoids isolated from A. officinarum play important biological roles in the prevention and treatment of inflammatory disorders. Seven diarylheptanoids (1–7) were isolated from A. officinarum. The cell viabilities and anti‐inflammatory activities of diarylheptanoids were evaluated by MTT assay and tumor necrosis factor‐α production in Kdo2‐lipid A‐stimulated RAW 264.7 cells in vitro. The relationships between their anti‐inflammatories and structure‐activities are discussed. The results indicated that compounds 1 and 3–7 had significant anti‐inflammatory activities. The relationships between inflammation and phospholipids metabolism were elucidated by multivariate data analysis. Twenty‐two potential biomarkers were identified in inflammatory group vs. blank group, and 11 potential biomarkers were identified for inflammatory group vs. drug‐treatment groups. Ten common phospholipids were characterized. On the basis of a previous study in our laboratory, we found that phosphatidylethanolamine (18:0/18:1) might be the important glycerophospholipid biomarker in inflammation. In this study, we firstly combined anti‐inflammatory activities and glycerophospholipids changes of traditional Chinese medicine. This work suggests that the anti‐inflammatory activities of diarylheptanoids might be significantly related to glycerophospholipids and could provide a useful database for investigating the anti‐inflammatory effects of traditional Chinese medicine.     

Nanoproteomic Approach for Isolation and Identification of Potential Biomarkers in Human Urine from Adults with Normal Weight,Overweight and Obesity

In this work, previously synthesized and characterized core-shell silica nanoparticles (FCSNP) functionalized with immobilized molecular bait, Cibacron blue, and a porous polymeric bis-acrylamide shell were incubated with pooled urine samples from adult women or men with normal weight, overweight or obesity for the isolation of potential biomarkers. A total of 30 individuals (15 woman and 15 men) were included. FCSNP allowed the capture of a variety of low molecular weight (LMW) proteins as evidenced by mass spectrometry (MS) and the exclusion of high molecular weight (HMW) proteins (>34 kDa) as demonstrated by SDS-PAGE and 2D SDS-PAGE. A total of 36 proteins were successfully identified by MS and homology database searching against the Homo sapiens subset of the Swiss-Prot database. Identified proteins were grouped into different clusters according to their abundance patterns. Four proteins were found only in women and five only in men, whereas 27 proteins were in urine from both genders with different abundance patterns. Based on these results, this new approach represents an alternative tool for isolation and identification of urinary biomarkers.