EarlyView Articles

A stable ‘sandwich’ system of Surface‐Enhanced Resonance Raman Scattering for the analysis of β‐carotenes in a photosynthetic pigment‐protein complex

Published: Jul 18, 2013

Author(s): Xiaochun Qin, Jiajia Zhu, Wenda Wang, Xiang Ding, Kebin Wang, Yan Fang, Tingyun Kuang

Journal: Journal of Raman Spectroscopy

In plants, Photosystem I (PSI) is composed of a core complex and a membrane‐associated antenna complex light‐harvesting complex I that captures light and funnels its energy to the core complex. To obtain Raman structural information on β‐carotenes embedded in the PSI core complex, a ‘sandwich’ system of roughened silver slice: target protein complexes: single silver nanoparticles was fabricated for Surface‐Enhanced Resonance Raman...

Screening and long‐term retrospection for psychoactive drugs in presumptive drug‐facilitated crimes using segmented single hairs

Published: Jul 18, 2013

Author(s): Detlef Thieme, Carina Baumer, Hans Sachs, Joerg Teske

Journal: Drug Testing and Analysis

On‐capillary fluorescent labeling and capillary electrophoresis laser‐induced fluorescence analysis of glycoforms of intact prostate‐specific antigen

Published: Jul 17, 2013

Author(s): Raul Garrido‐Medina, Jose Carlos Diez‐Masa, Mercedes Frutos

Journal: ELECTROPHORESIS

The test used in clinics as prostate cancer (PCa) biomarker, based on the concentration of the glycoprotein prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) in serum, leads to an elevated number of false positives. In the search for new PCa biomarkers, analysis of the proportions of different groups of glycoforms of PSA is promising. Peaks of PSA, called isoforms and containing one or several glycoforms of the glycoprotein, can be separated by CE. For...

Interaction study of acetylcholinestrase inhibitors on pharmacokinetics of memantine in rat plasma by HPLC‐fluorescence method

Published: Jul 17, 2013

Author(s): Mohamed G. Hassan, Rie Ikeda, Mitsuhiro Wada, Naotaka Kuroda, Hanaa M. Abdel‐Wadood, Horria A. Mohamed, Kenichiro Nakashima

Journal: Biomedical Chromatography

ABSTRACT The present study aims to investigate the possibility of interaction of donepezil (DP) and galantamine (GAL) as acetylcholinestrase inhibitors, on memantine (MT) hydrochloride in rat plasma by HPLC‐fluorescence detection. The separation of MT was achieved within 12 min without interference of DP and GAL on the chromatogram. MT levels in rat plasma with a single administration of MT (2.5 mg/kg, i.p.) and those with a...

Investigation and visualization of resolution theorems in self modeling curve resolution (SMCR) methods

Published: Jul 16, 2013

Author(s): Mahsa Akbari, Hamid Abdollahi

Journal: Journal of Chemometrics

Different approaches have been proposed during recent years to improve the solutions obtained by multivariate curve resolution methods, among them studies on circumstances that result in unique answers are of particular importance. Three so‐called resolution theorems proposed by Rolf Manne comprehensively discuss and survey these conditions. Despite the importance of these theorems, they have not attracted much attention in the...

Application of a portable XRF spectrometer for classification of potash glass beads unearthed from tombs of Han Dynasty in Guangxi, China

Published: Jul 16, 2013

Author(s): S. Liu, Q. H. Li, Q. Fu, F. X. Gan, Z. M. Xiong

Journal: X-Ray Spectrometry

Thirty‐seven glass beads excavated from the Han Dynasty tombs in Hepu county, Guangxi, China, were analyzed using a portable X‐ray fluorescence (PXRF) spectrometer. Reference sample Corning glass D is used to check precision and accuracy of the equipment for major and minor components. The results of inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy and PXRF are compared to evaluate the quality of equipment for trace elements....

The secondary transfer of gunshot residue: an experimental investigation carried out with SEM‐EDX analysis

Published: Jul 16, 2013

Author(s): James French, Ruth Morgan, James Davy

Journal: X-Ray Spectrometry

Gunshot residue (GSR) is produced when a firearm is discharged and is routinely used in the forensic reconstruction of incidents involving firearms. SEM‐EDX with automated detection and analysis software was used to investigate the extent of GSR secondary transfer following the discharge of a firearm. A series of experiments, which mimicked real‐world scenarios, was set up to explore these under‐researched mechanisms. The findings...

Brown adipose tissue mapping in rats with combined intermolecular double‐quantum coherence and Dixon water–fat MRI

Published: Jul 15, 2013

Author(s): Jianfeng Bao, Xiaohong Cui, Shuhui Cai, Jianhui Zhong, Congbo Cai, Zhong Chen

Journal: NMR in Biomedicine

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is a promising therapeutic target in obesity studies. Recently, MRI has been proposed for the mapping of BAT. However, because of the limitation of spatial resolution, similar to the existing positron emission tomography and computed tomography techniques for BAT detection, it fails to distinguish BAT cells when they are mixed with other cells. In this work, a new MRI method is proposed, combining intermolecular...

An MEKC assay for the therapeutic drug monitoring of cefepime

Published: Jul 15, 2013

Author(s): Regula Theurillat, Parham Sendi, Wolfgang Thormann

Journal: Journal of Separation Science

The development of a robust assay based on MEKC for cefepime in human serum and plasma with internal quality assurance is reported. Sample preparation comprises protein precipitation in the presence of SDS at pH 4.5. This is a gentle approach for which decomposition of cefepime during sample handling is negligible. After hydrodynamic sample injection of the supernatant, analysis occurs in a phosphate/borate buffer at pH 9.1 with...

XPS and AFM characterization of aminosilanes with different numbers of bonding sites on a silicon wafer

Published: Jul 15, 2013

Author(s): G. Jakša, B. Štefane, J. Kovač

Journal: Surface and Interface Analysis

The aim of this work was the preparation and characterization of a silicon surface modified by different self‐assembled aminopropylsilanes with the purpose of using them in sensor applications. Single‐crystal silicon wafers (111) were modified with aminosilanes that have different numbers of bonding sites: 3‐aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (APTMS), 3‐aminopropyldiethoxymethylsilane (APRDMS) and 3‐aminopropylethoxydimethylsilane (APREMS). We...

Ultra‐performance liquid‐chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry for rapid analysis of pharmacokinetics, biodistribution and excretion of schisandrin after oral administration of Shengmaisan

Published: Jul 15, 2013

Author(s): Sheng‐wen Lu, Ai‐hua Zhang, Hui Sun, Guang‐li Yan, Ying Han, Xiu‐hong Wu, Xi‐jun Wang

Journal: Biomedical Chromatography

ABSTRACT This study aimed to investigate the in vivo behaviors of the main components in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) fomulae. The plasma pharmacokinetics, tissue distribution and excretion of the main component‐schisandrin in rats after oral administration of a classical TCM prescription, shengmaisan (SMS), were studied by a developed and validated UPLC‐MS/MS method. The separation of schisandrin was achieved on a UPLC HSS T3...

Determination of chidamide in rat plasma by LC‐MS and its application to pharmacokinetics study

Published: Jul 15, 2013

Author(s): Xianqin Wang, Mengchun Chen, Congcong Wen, Qingwei Zhang, Jianshe Ma

Journal: Biomedical Chromatography

ABSTRACT A sensitive and selective liquid chromatography mass spectrometry method for determination of chidamide in rat plasma was developed. After addition of linezolid as internal standard, protein precipitation by acetonitrile–methanol (9:1, v/v) was used as sample preparation. Chromatographic separation was achieved on a Zorbax SB‐C18 (2.1 × 150 mm, 5 µm) column with acetonitrile–0.1% formic acid as mobile phase with gradient elution. An...

Diagnosis of coronary heart disease based on ¹ H NMR spectra of human blood plasma using genetic algorithm‐based feature selection

Published: Jul 14, 2013

Author(s): Mahdi Vasighi, Ali Zahraei, Saeed Bagheri, Jamshid Vafaeimanesh

Journal: Journal of Chemometrics

1H NMR spectroscopy was used for the diagnosis of coronary heart disease (CHD) by using human blood plasma samples. One‐dimensional 1H NMR spectra from 29 normal and 35 CHD patients were obtained and investigated. Classification model was built on the basis of linear discriminant analysis in order to establish adequate model for discrimination between pathological and normal samples. Because of high similarity between 1H NMR spectra of...

Detecting intermediate particles in the growth of colloidal zinc oxide nanoparticles in different chemical routes using MCR–ALS

Published: Jul 14, 2013

Author(s): M. Reza Hormozi‐Nezhad, Mehdi Jalali‐Heravi, Fatemeh Kafrashi

Journal: Journal of Chemometrics

Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles have been used in a wide‐ranging of applications such as transparent UV protection, light emitting diodes, sensors and photovoltaic cells. Many applications of ZnO nanoparticles could be improved by changing the particle size, shape and morphology. Therefore, studying the mechanism of shape evolution is crucial for size and shape controlled synthesis of nanocrystaline ZnO particles. As an alternative to...

From Portable to SCA Raman devices to characterize harmful compounds contained in used black slag produced in Electric Arc Furnace of steel industry

Published: Jul 13, 2013

Author(s): Leticia Gómez‐Nubla, Julene Aramendia, Silvia Fdez‐Ortiz Vallejuelo, Kepa Castro, Juan Manuel Madariaga

Journal: Journal of Raman Spectroscopy

Black slag from steel production is an industrial waste used as secondary material for some applications (forest tracks, cement, etc.). When it disposed to the open air, little is known about possible side effects that could appear with time. To foresee those side effects, various Raman equipments were used. This analytical strategy has been applied to six different black slag. Four of them were obtained from two steel producers (two...

Raman and surface enhanced Raman scattering of a black dyed silk

Published: Jul 12, 2013

Author(s): T. Aguayo, C. Garrido, R. E. Clavijo, J. S. Gómez‐Jeria, C. Araya Monasterio, M. Icaza, F. Espinoza Moraga, M. M. Campos Vallette

Journal: Journal of Raman Spectroscopy

The Raman and surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectra of a black dyed silk sample (BDS) were registered. The spectral analysis was performed on the basis of Raman and SERS spectral data of isolated samples of Bombyx mori silk fibroin, its motif peptide component (GAGAGS) and the synthetic reactive black 5 dye (RB5). The macro FT‐Raman spectrum of the silk sample is consistent with a silk II‐Cp crystalline fraction of Bombyx mori silk...

Study of a tabernacle with a remarkable architectural structure: In situ examination using Raman spectroscopy

Published: Jul 12, 2013

Author(s): A. C. Prieto, O. Martínez, J. Souto, M. Avella, A. Guedes

Journal: Journal of Raman Spectroscopy

In order to characterize ornamental stones and gemstones from the monstrance ‘Tabernáculo de la Colegiata de S. Pedro’ in Lerma, Burgos, a Raman spectroscopy in situ non‐destructive study has been performed on these materials. The Raman spectra obtained correspond to cornalline‐like chalcedony, nephrite jade, quartz veinlets, agates with moganite and jasper, together with goethite showing several degrees of...

Raman spectroscopy of proteins: a review

Published: Jul 12, 2013

Author(s): A. Rygula, K. Majzner, K. M. Marzec, A. Kaczor, M. Pilarczyk, M. Baranska

Journal: Journal of Raman Spectroscopy

In this work, 26 proteins of different structure, function and properties are investigated by Raman spectroscopy with 488, 532 and 1064 nm laser lines. The excitation lines were chosen in NIR and Vis range as the most common and to show the difference due to normal and resonance effect, sometimes accompanied by the fluorescence. The selected proteins were divided, according to the Structural Classification of Proteins, into four classes...

Simultaneous qualitative and quantitative analysis of counterfeit and unregistered medicines using Raman spectroscopy

Published: Jul 12, 2013

Author(s): Sara J. Fraser, James Oughton, William A. Batten, Austina S. S. Clark, David M. Schmierer, Keith C. Gordon, Clare J. Strachan

Journal: Journal of Raman Spectroscopy

Raman spectroscopy was used to classify a group of seized counterfeit medications associated with erectile dysfunction. Using appropriate data preprocessing, principal component analysis and the classification method soft independent modelling of class analogy (SIMCA), it was possible to classify genuine from unregistered generic and counterfeit Cialis® batches. However, SIMCA did not effectively classify samples on the basis of their...

Chloroquine and diazepam for her last sleep

Published: Jul 12, 2013

Author(s): Sarah Hangartner, Sebastian Eggert, Franz Dussy, Daniel Wyler, Thomas Briellmann

Journal: Drug Testing and Analysis

A 25‐year‐old woman was found dead in a hotel room. At the coroner's inquest, several objects of interest were found in the room: two jars containing residuals of blue and white powders, cans of apple purée (empty), leftovers of apple purée with traces of blue powder and a flask of Paspertin®. As the results of the post‐mortem examination pointed to intoxication, a forensic toxicological analysis was performed. The cause of death was the...