The association between the essential metal mixture and fasting plasma glucose in Chinese community-dwelling elderly people.

BACKGROUND: Epidemiological studies about the effect of essential metal mixture on fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels among elderly people are sparse. The object of this study was to examine the associations of single essential metals and essential metal mixture with FPG levels in Chinese community-dwelling elderly people. METHODS: The study recruited 2348 community-dwelling elderly people in total. Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry was adopted to detect the levels of vanadium (V), selenium (Se), magnesium (Mg), cobalt (Co), calcium (Ca), and molybdenum (Mo) in urine. The relationships between single essential metals and essential metal mixture and FPG levels were evaluated by linear regression and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) models, respectively. RESULTS: In multiple-metal linear regression models, urine V and Mg were negatively related to the FPG levels (ß = - 0.016, 95 % CI: - 0.030 to - 0.003 for V; ß = - 0.021, 95 % CI: - 0.033 to - 0.009 for Mg), and urine Se was positively related to the FPG levels (ß = 0.024, 95 % CI: 0.014-0.034). In BKMR model, the significant relationships of Se and Mg with the FPG levels were also found. The essential metal mixture was negatively associated with FPG levels in a dose-response pattern, and Mg had the maximum posterior inclusion probability (PIP) value (PIP = 1.0000), followed by Se (PIP = 0.9968). Besides, Co showed a significant association with decreased FPG levels in older adults without hyperlipemia and in women. CONCLUSIONS: Both Mg and Se were associated with FPG levels, individually and as a mixture. The essential metal mixture displayed a linear dose-response relationship with reduced FPG levels, with Mg having the largest contribution to FPG levels, followed by Se. Further prospective investigations are necessary to validate these exploratory findings.

Simultaneous extraction and determination of monoamine neurotransmitters in human urine for clinical routine testing based on a dual functional solid phase extraction assisted by phenylboronic acid coupled with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

The major monoamine neurotransmitters, serotonin (5-HT) and catecholamines (i.e., norepinephrine (NE), epinephrine (E), and dopamine (DA)), are critical to the nervous system function, and imbalances of the neurotransmitters have been connected to a variety of diseases, making their measurement useful in a clinical setting. A simple, rapid, robust, sensitive, and specific LC-MS/MS method has been developed and validated for the simultaneous quantitation of urinary serotonin and catecholamines with low cost, which is ideal for routine clinical applications. A simple extraction from complex urine was accomplished using tailored solid phase extraction incorporating phenylboronic acid complexation on a 96-well HLB microplate for the sample extraction and resulted in significantly improved throughput, selectivity, and extraction recovery. Compared to 1-10 mL of urine typically used, this method required only 10 µL. A rapid chromatographic elution with a total cycle time of 6 min per sample compared to reported run times of 19-75 min was achieved on a PFP column. The sensitivity of l and 2 ng mL-1 for the detection of low abundant E and NE combined with the high coverage of 1024 ng mL-1 for DA enabled the multi-analyte detection of these biogenic amines in a single run. Good linearity (2.0-512, 1.0-512, 4.0-1024, and 4.0-1024 ng mL-1 for NE, E, DA, and 5-HT, respectively), accuracy (87.6-104.0%), precision (≤8.0%), extraction recovery (69.6-103.7%), and matrix effect (87.1-113.1% for catecholamines and 63.6-71.4% for 5-HT) were obtained. No autosampler carryover was observed. The analytes were stable for 5 days at 20 °C, 14 days at 4 °C, and 30 days at -20 °C and five freeze-thaw cycles. The easy sample preparation, rapid LC, and multi-analyte MS detection allow two 96-well plates of samples to be extracted within 2 h and analyzed on an LC-MS/MS system within 24 h. The applicability and reliability of the assay were demonstrated by assessment of the reference interval for authentic urine specimens from 90 healthy individuals. Graphical abstract A simple, rapid, robust, sensitive and specific LC-MS/MS method combined with a dual functional solid phase extraction has been developed and validated for the simultaneous extraction and quantitation of monoamine neurotransmitters in human urine with low cost.

A method for the simultaneous quantification of eight metabolites of synthetic pyrethroids in urine of the general population using gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

Synthetic pyrethroids are highly effective, widespread insecticides applied worldwide for different purposes. Among the possible sources of exposure for the general population, pyrethroid residues in food and their prominent use for the conservation of wool carpets or in indoor pest control might play a major role. On the basis of previous works, we have developed and validated a highly sensitive and specific GC/MS/MS-method to simultaneously quantify the metabolites of the most common synthetic pyrethroids in urine, namely cis- and trans-(2,2-dichlorovinyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylic acid (DCCA), cis-(2,2-dibromovinyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylic acid (DBCA), 4-fluoro-3-phenoxybenzoic acid (F-PBA), 3-phenoxybenzoic acid (3-PBA) as well as the metabolites cis-3-(2-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoroprop-1-enyl)-2,2-dimethyl-cyclopropanecarboxylic acid (ClF3CA, λ-cyhalothrin/bifenthrin), 4-chloro-α-isopropylbenzene acetic acid (CPBA, esfenvalerate), and 2-methyl-3-phenylbenzoic acid (MPB, bifenthrin). After acidic hydrolysis to cleave conjugates in urine, the analytes are subjected to a pH-controlled extraction into n-hexane. After concentration, the analytes are derivatised using MTBSTFA and finally quantified by GC/MS/MS in EI-mode using d6-trans-DCCA and (13)C6-3-PBA as internal standards. The limit of quantification for these metabolites was 0.01 µg/L urine. Precision within and between series was determined to range between 1.6 and 10.7 % using a native quality control sample as well as a urine sample spiked with 0.3 µg/L of the analytes. To investigate possible background excretions, we analysed spot urine samples of 38 persons of the general population in a pilot study. cis- and trans-DCCA as well as 3-PBA could be quantified in every urine sample investigated, while MPB and F-PBA could only be detected in two samples. The median levels for excretion of cis-DCCA, trans-DCCA, 3-PBA, ClF3CA, DBCA, CPBA, F-PBA and MPA were 0.08, 0.17, 0.22, 0.04, 0.04, <0.01, <0.01 and < 0.01 µg/L urine, respectively. The excretion of metabolites revealed excellent correlations between cyclopropane carboxylic acids and 3-PBA. Our method is highly suitable for human biomonitoring of exposures to synthetic pyrethroids in environmental medicine. Remarkable are the high detection rates for the metabolites ClF3CA (90 %) and CPBA (40 %), proving that their parent pyrethroids have entered the market in Germany.

Iron nanoparticles decorated multi-wall carbon nanotubes modified carbon paste electrode as an electrochemical sensor for the simultaneous determination of uric acid in the presence of ascorbic acid, dopamine and L-tyrosine.

Iron nanoparticles decorated multi-wall carbon nanotubes modified carbon paste electrode (Fe-MWCNTs/MCPE) was prepared by bulk-modification method. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) suggests least charge transfer resistance at the modified electrode. The electrochemical behavior of UA was studied in 0.1M phosphate buffer solution (PBS) of pH3.0 using cyclic voltammetry (CV) while differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) was used for quantification. The spectroelectrochemial study of oxidation of UA at Fe-MWCNTs/MCPE showed a decrease in the absorbance of two peaks with time, which are ascribed to π to π(⁎) and n to π(⁎) transitions. Under optimum condition, the DPV response offered two linear dynamic ranges for UA in the concentration range 7.0×10(-8)M-1.0×10(-6)M and 2.0×10(-6)M-1.0×10(-5)M with detection limit (4.80±0.35)×10(-8)M (S/N=3). The practical analytical application of this sensor was successfully evaluated by determination of spiked UA in clinical samples, such as human blood serum and urine with good percentage recovery. The proposed electrochemical sensor offers a simple, reliable, rapid, reproducible and cost effective analysis of a quaternary mixture of biomolecules containing AA, DA, UA and Tyr which was free from mutual interferences.

Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) point-of-care system for rapid multiplexed detection of microRNAs in human urine specimens.

MicroRNAs have been identified as promising biomarkers for human diseases. The development of a point-of-care (POC) test for the disease-associated miRNAs would be especially beneficial, since miRNAs are unexpectedly well preserved in various human specimens, including urine. Here, we present the Mach-Zehnder interferometer-miRNA detection system capable of detecting multiple miRNAs in clinical urine samples rapidly and simultaneously in a label-free and real-time manner. Through measurement of the light phase change, the MZI sensor provides an optical platform for fast profiling of small molecules with improved accuracy. We demonstrate that this system could specifically detect target miRNAs (miR-21, and let-7a), and even identify the single nucleotide polymorphism of the let-7 family of miRNAs from synthetic and cell line samples. The clinical applicability of this system is confirmed by simultaneously detecting two types of miRNAs in urine samples of bladder cancer patients in a single reaction, with a detection time of 15 min. The POC system can be expanded to detect a number of miRNAs of different species and should be useful for a variety of clinical applications requiring at or near the site of patient care.

Lead, Arsenic, and Manganese Metal Mixture Exposures: Focus on Biomarkers of Effect.

The increasing exposure of human populations to excessive levels of metals continues to represent a matter of public health concern. Several biomarkers have been studied and proposed for the detection of adverse health effects induced by lead (Pb), arsenic (As), and manganese (Mn); however, these studies have relied on exposures to each single metal, which fails to replicate real-life exposure scenarios. These three metals are commonly detected in different environmental, occupational, and food contexts and they share common neurotoxic effects, which are progressive and once clinically apparent may be irreversible. Thus, chronic exposure to low levels of a mixture of these metals may represent an additive risk of toxicity. Building upon their shared mechanisms of toxicity, such as oxidative stress, interference with neurotransmitters, and effects on the hematopoietic system, we address putative biomarkers, which may assist in assessing the onset of neurological diseases associated with exposure to this metal mixture.

Flow-injection post-chemiluminescence method for the determination of palmatine.

A post-chemiluminescence (PCL) phenomenon was observed when palmatine was injected in a mixture of N-bromosuccinimide (NBS) and alkaline dichlorofluorescein (DCF) after the chemiluminescence (CL) reaction of NBS-alkaline DCF had finished. Based on the PCL reaction, a rapid and sensitive method for the determination of palmatine was established. Under optimum conditions, the CL intensity was linear, with the concentration of palmatine in the range of 5.0 × 10(-9) to 1.0 × 10(-6) M. The detection limit was 6.0 × 10(-10) M for palmatine. The relative standard deviation for 11 parallel measurements of 1.0 × 10(-7) M palmatine was 1.5%. This method was applied to the determination of palmatine in pharmaceutical samples and biological fluids, with satisfactory results. The possible reaction mechanism is discussed briefly.

Application of ultraperformance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry-based metabonomic techniques to analyze the joint toxic action of long-term low-level exposure to a mixture of organophosphate pesticides on rat urine profile.

In previously published articles, we evaluated the toxicity of four organophosphate (OP) pesticides (dichlorvos, dimethoate, acephate, and phorate) to rats using metabonomic technology at their corresponding no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL). Results show that a single pesticide elicits no toxic response. This study aimed to determine whether chronic exposure to a mixture of the above four pesticides (at their corresponding NOAEL) can lead to joint toxic action in rats using the same technology. Pesticides were administered daily to rats through drinking water for 24 weeks. The above mixture of the four pesticides showed joint toxic action at the NOAEL of each pesticide. The metabonomic profiles of rats urine were analyzed by ultraperformance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. The 16 metabolites statistically significantly changed in all treated groups compared with the control group. Dimethylphosphate and dimethyldithiophosphate exclusively detected in all treated groups can be used as early, sensitive biomarkers for exposure to a mixture of the OP pesticides. Moreover, exposure to the OP pesticides resulted in increased 7-methylguanine, ribothymidine, cholic acid, 4-pyridoxic acid, kynurenine, and indoxyl sulfate levels, as well as decreased hippuric acid, creatinine, uric acid, gentisic acid, C18-dihydrosphingosine, phytosphingosine, suberic acid, and citric acid. The results indicated that a mixture of OP pesticides induced DNA damage and oxidative stress, disturbed the metabolism of lipids, and interfered with the tricarboxylic acid cycle. Ensuring food safety requires not only the toxicology test data of each pesticide for the calculation of the acceptable daily intake but also the joint toxic action.