Activation of phospholipase A2 by 1-palmitoyl-2-(9'-oxo-nonanoyl)-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine in vitro

Oxidative stress leads to drastic modifications of both the biophysical properties of biomembranes and their associated chemistry imparted upon the formation of oxidatively modified lipids. To this end, oxidized phospholipid derivatives bearing an aldehyde function, such as 1-palmitoyl-2-(9'-oxo-nonanoyl)-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (PoxnoPC) can covalently react with proteins that come into direct contact. Intriguingly, we observed PoxnoPC in a 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) matrix to shorten and abolish the lag time in the action of phospholipase A2 (PLA2) on this composite substrate, with concomitant augmented decrement in pH, indicating more extensive hydrolysis, which was in keeping with enhanced 90° light scattering. The latter was abolished by the aldehyde scavenger methoxyamine, thus suggesting the involvement of Schiff base. Enhanced hydrolysis of a fluorescent phospholipid analogue was seen for PLA2 preincubated with PoxnoPC. Mixing PLA2 with submicellar (22 µM) PoxnoPC caused a pronounced increase in Thioflavin T fluorescence, in keeping with the formation of amyloid-type fibers, which were seen also by electron microscopy.     

Application of solid–liquid TPPBs to the production of L‐phenylacetylcarbinol from benzaldehyde using Candida utilis

The biotransformation of benzaldehyde and glucose to L ‐phenylacetylcarbinol (PAC) using Candida utilis was demonstrated in a solid–liquid two‐phase partitioning bioreactor (TPPB) with the aim of reducing substrate, product, and by‐product toxicity via sequestration. Previous work in the field had used octanol as the sequestering phase of liquid–liquid TPPBs but was limited by the toxic effects of octanol on C. utilis. To improve solvent selection in any future studies, the critical log P of C. utilis was determined in the current study to be 4.8 and can be used to predict biocompatible solvents. Bioavailability tests showed alkanes and alkenes to be non‐bioavailable. As polymers are biocompatible and non‐bioavailable, a wide range of commercially available polymers was screened and it was demonstrated that polymer softness plays a key role in absorptive capability. The polymer Hytrel G3548L was selected as the second phase to sequester benzaldehyde, PAC, and benzyl alcohol, with partition coefficients of 35, 7.5, and 10, respectively. With a 9% by volume partitioning phase, 13.6 g/L biomass of C. utilis achieved an overall PAC concentration of 11 g/L, a 1.9‐fold improvement over the single‐phase case. Benzyl alcohol concentration was 4.5 g/L, a 1.6‐fold reduction. The volumetric productivity was 0.85 g/L h, a 1.2‐fold improvement over the single‐phase system. These results demonstrate a promising starting point for solid–liquid TPPBs for PAC production. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2010;107:633–641. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Impact of serum amyloid A on high density lipoprotein composition and levels

Serum amyloid A (SAA) is an acute-phase protein mainly associated with HDL. To study the role of SAA in mediating changes in HDL composition and metabolism during inflammation, we generated mice in which the two major acute-phase SAA isoforms, SAA1.1 and SAA2.1, were deleted [SAA knockout (SAAKO) mice], and induced an acute phase to compare lipid and apolipoprotein parameters between wild-type (WT) and SAAKO mice. Our data indicate that SAA does not affect apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) levels or clearance under steady-state conditions. HDL and plasma triglyceride levels following lipopolysaccharide administration, as well as the decline in liver expression of apoA-I and apoA-II, did not differ between both groups of mice. The expected size increase of WT acute-phase HDL was surprisingly also seen in SAAKO acute-phase HDL despite the absence of SAA. HDLs from both mice showed increased phospholipid and unesterified cholesterol content during the acute phase. We therefore conclude that in the mouse, SAA does not impact HDL levels, apoA-I clearance, or HDL size during the acute phase and that the increased size of acute-phase HDL in mice is associated with an increased content of surface lipids, particularly phospholipids, and not surface proteins. These data need to be transferred to humans with caution due to differences in apoA-I structure and remodeling functions.     

基于独立元分析和联合小波熵检测多导联ECG信号的QRS

QRS波群的准确定位是ECG信号自动分析的基础。为提高QRS检测率,提出一种基于独立元分析（ICA）和联合小波熵（CWS）检测多导联ECG信号QRS的算法。ICA算法从滤波后的多导联ECG信号中分离出对应心室活动的独立元;然后对各独立元进行连续小波变换（CWT）,重构小波系数的相空间,结合相空间中的QRS信息对独立元排序;最后检测排序后独立元的CWS得到QRS信息。实验对St.Petersburg12导联心率失常数据库及64导联犬心外膜数据库测试,比较本文算法与单导联QRS检测算法和双导联QRS检测算法的性能。结果表明,该文算法的性能最好,检测准确率分别为99.98%和100%。     

Behavioural phase change in the Australian plague locust, Chortoicetes terminifera, is triggered by tactile stimulation of the antennae

Density-dependent phase polyphenism is a defining characteristic of the paraphyletic group of acridid grasshoppers known as locusts. The cues and mechanisms associated with crowding that induce behavioural gregarization are best understood in the desert locust, Schistocerca gregaria, and involve a combination of sensory inputs from the head (visual and olfactory) and mechanostimulation of the hind legs, acting via a transient increase in serotonin in the thoracic ganglia. Since behavioural gregarization has apparently arisen independently multiple times within the Acrididae, the important question arises as to whether the same mechanisms have been recruited each time. Here we explored the roles of visual, olfactory and tactile stimulation in the induction of behavioural gregarization in the Australian plague locust, Chortoicetes terminifera. We show that the primary gregarizing input is tactile stimulation of the antennae, with no evidence for an effect of visual and olfactory stimulation or tactile stimulation of the hind legs. Our results show that convergent behavioural responses to crowding have evolved employing different sites of sensory input in the Australian plague locust and the desert locust.     

Epigenetic transmission of phase in the desert locust, Schistocerca gregaria: Determining the stage sensitive to crowding for the maternal determination of progeny characteristics

Desert locust female adults respond to crowded conditions by changing progeny characteristics such as egg size, clutch size (no. of eggs per pod), hatchling body size and coloration. This study was conducted to determine the stage sensitive to crowding in this locust. Reproductively active females reared in isolation increased egg size and decreased clutch size and the proportion of green hatchlings after exposure to crowded conditions (in which each female was kept with four male adults). These changes depended not only on the timing of exposure to crowded conditions during the reproductive cycle but also on the length of the exposure. By varying the time and length of the exposure, it was found that crowding had no influence on progeny characteristics during the last two days of egg development at 31 °C and that there was a four-day sensitive stage before this period. The sensitive stage coincided with the time when the affected oocytes were 1.5-4 mm long, while the sensitivity to crowding appeared to be constant over the sensitive stage. The larger the magnitude of the increase in egg size after exposure to crowding, the smaller the proportion of green hatchlings (and the larger the proportion of gregarized dark hatchlings); there was a sigmoidal relationship between the two variables. Based on these results, we propose a model for determining the stage sensitive to crowding in both the female parent and the oocytes.     

Hollow fiber-liquid phase microextraction combined with gas chromatography for the determination of phenothiazine drugs in urine

A simple method of hollow fiber-liquid phase microextraction (HF-LPME) combined with gas chromatography (GC) was developed for the analysis of four phenothiazine drugs (promethazine, promazine, chlorpromazine and trifluoperazine) in human urine samples. All variables affecting the extraction of target analytes including organic solvent type, stirring rate, extraction time, extraction temperature, pH of sample solution and ionic strength were carefully studied and optimized. Under the optimal conditions, the analytical performance of HF-LPME-GC-flame photometric detector (FPD) and HF-LPME-GC-flame ionization detector (FID) were evaluated and compared. The results showed that the HF-LPME-GC-FID was more sensitive than HF-LPME-GC-FPD for the determination of four target phenothiazine drugs, while the signal peak shape and resolution obtained by HF-LPME-GC-FPD was better than that obtained by HF-LPME-GC-FID. HF-LPME-GC-FPD/FID was successfully applied for the assay of the interested phenothiazine drugs in urine sample, and the excretion of the drugs was also investigated by monitoring the variation of the concentration of chlorpromazine in urine of a psychopath within 8 h after drug-taking. The proposed method provided an effective and fast way for the therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) of phenothiazine.     

Automated mass spectrometric analysis of urinary free catecholamines using on-line solid phase extraction

Analysis of catecholamines (epinephrine, norepinephrine and dopamine) in plasma and urine is used for diagnosis and treatment of catecholamine-producing tumors. Current analytical techniques for catecholamine quantification are laborious, time-consuming and technically demanding. Our aim was to develop an automated on-line solid phase extraction method coupled to high performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (XLC–MS/MS) for the quantification of free catecholamines in urine. Five microlitre urine equivalent was pre-purified by automated on-line solid phase extraction, using phenylboronic acid complexation. Reversed phase (pentafluorophenylpropyl column) chromatography was applied. Mass spectrometric detection was operated in multiple reaction monitoring mode using a quadrupole tandem mass spectrometer with positive electrospray ionization. Urinary reference intervals were set in 24-h urine collections of 120 healthy subjects. XLC–MS/MS was compared with liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection (HPLC–ECD). Total run-time was 14 min. Intra- and inter-assay analytical variations were <10%. Linearity was excellent (R² > 0.99). Quantification limits were 1.47 nmol/L, 15.8 nmol/L and 11.7 nmol/L for epinephrine, norepinephrine and dopamine, respectively. XLC–MS/MS correlated well with HPLC–ECD (correlation coefficient >0.98). Reference intervals were 1–10 μmol/mol, 10–50 μmol/mol and 60–225 μmol/mol creatinine for epinephrine, norepinephrine and dopamine, respectively. Advantages of the XLC–MS/MS catecholamine method include its high analytical performance by selective PBA affinity and high specificity and sensitivity by unique MS/MS fragmentation.     

Improved liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method for the analysis of eptifibatide in human plasma

A rapid, selective and highly sensitive high performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method (LC–MS/MS) was developed and validated for the determination and pharmacokinetic investigation of eptifibatide in human plasma. Eptifibatide and the internal standard (IS), EPM-05, were extracted from plasma samples using solid phase extraction. Chromatographic separation was performed on a C₁₈ column at a flow rate of 0.5 mL/min. Detection of eptifibatide and the IS was achieved by tandem mass spectrometry with an electrospray ionization (ESI) interface in positive ion mode. Traditional multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) using the transition of m/z 832.6 → m/z 646.4 and m/z 931.6 → m/z 159.4 was performed to quantify eptifibatide and the IS, respectively. The calibration curves were linear over the range of 1–1000 ng/mL with the lower limit of quantitation validated at 1 ng/mL. The intra- and inter-day precisions were within 13.3%, while the accuracy was within ±7.6% of nominal values. The validated LC–MS/MS method was successfully applied for the evaluation of pharmacokinetic parameters of eptifibatide after intravenous (i.v.) administration of a 45 μg/kg bolus of eptifibatide to 8 healthy volunteers.