Three-fluorescence sensor for minute-time scale low-cost analysis of urinary oxalate in urolithiasis metabolic assessment.

Since oxalate plays an important role in the metabolic assessment of urolithiasis, there is need for convenient and efficient methods for oxalate detection. Herein, we report a three-signal fluorescence strategy for oxalate analysis based on the ability of oxalate to reduce Cu2+ to Cu+, and the ability of pyrophosphate-cerium coordination polymeric networks (PPi-Ce CPNs), cadmium telluride quantum dots (CdTe QDs), and N-Methyl Mesoporphyrin (NMM) to selectively detect Cu2+ and Cu+. The detection range was 100 nM to 1 mM, the turnaround time was 6 min, while the limits of detections for PPi-Ce CPNs, QDs and NMM as reporters were 25 nM, 10 nM and 40 nM, respectively. Visual detection of oxalate relied on color change in the solution, which could be observed using the naked eye. The fluorescent system was used for oxalate analysis in 44 urine samples (32 calcium oxalate stone patients, 12 controls without urolithiasis), and the results were consistent with clinical diagnosis and imaging data. Moreover, the visual system was used to analyze 8 urine samples (4 patients and 4 controls), and showed good consistency with clinical diagnosis and computed tomography imaging results. These findings suggest that the method has potential application for the metabolic assessment of urolithiasis.

18 F-2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose-positron emission tomography metabolic pattern assessment in the brain of betel quid dependent individuals.

The primary objective of this study was to identify the metabolic pattern in the brains of betel quid dependent (BQD) individuals using 18 F-2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose-positron emission tomography (18 F-FDG-PET). A total of 42 individuals (16 BQD individuals and 26 healthy controls, HCs) enrolled at the Department of Nuclear Medicine of Xiangya Hospital underwent brain 18 F-FDG-PET. Group comparisons using statistical parametric mapping (SPM) were performed to identify the 18 F-FDG-PET patterns. Standardized uptake value ratios of anterior cingulate, frontal, thalamus, parietal, occipital, temporal and cerebellum were calculated by SPM. The characteristics of abnormal metabolism in brain regions were quantified using the xjView toolbox, and a 3-D brain map was drawn using BrainNet Viewer. We found significant metabolic reduction in the bilateral middle prefrontal cortex (PFC) and the left orbital frontal gyrus (OFC). In contrast, hypermetabolism was observed in the inferior cerebellum, fusiform, superior cerebellum, parahippocampal, vermis, lingual and thalamus. However, we found no significant difference between the BQD and HC group in the anterior cingulate, thalamus, cerebellum and frontal, temporal, parietal and occipital lobes. In summary, we found abnormal 18 F-FDG-PET metabolic pattern in BQD individuals, and this pattern may help the treatment of BQD.

[Contamination of zearalenone and its dietary exposure assessment in coix seed in Shanghai].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the zearalenone(ZEN) level in coix seed, and assess the risk of dietary exposure of ZEN in coix seed in Shanghai. METHODS: The ZEN contents of 147 coix seed samples collected in Shanghai were determined. The consumption data of 730 adults in Shanghai was collected by questionnaire survey with random sampling method. Dietary intake of ZEN from coix seed in Shanghai was simulated by Monte Carlo simulation. RESULTS: The total detection rate of ZEN in coix seed was 69. 39 %(102/147), with the content range of <1. 0-9361 µg/kg and the average value of 327. 7 µg/kg. The average exposure level of populations to ZEN in coix seed was 0. 0216 µg/(kg·d), which was much lower than the tolerable daily intake(TDI). The high exposure level(P95) of populations to ZEN in coix seed was 0. 0609 µg/(kg·d), which accounted for about 24% of TDI. There were about 1. 1% people with the dietary exposure to ZEN exceeding TDI on the basis of the ZEN contents in coix seed and consumption data of coix seed in Shanghai. CONCLUSION: The health risk of ZEN exposure of coix seed in Shanghai population is lower when taking coix seed regularly, and there are potential health risks when taking coix seed highly contaminated with ZEN at a higher dose for a long time.