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[Use of solid phase extraction for rapid sample preparation in the determination of food constituents. I. Quinine in beverages].

A routine method was developed for the determination of quinine in spirits and alcohol-free beverages. Using ion pair chromatography quinine was separated from interfering substances by high-performance liquid chromatography on a RP 18 phase and analysed by UV and fluorescence detection. In contrast to the analysis of alcohol-free beverages, sample preparation was necessary in the study of alcoholic beverages. Solid-phase extraction on phenyl sorbens was found to be a rapid, specific and simple technique.

Beverages↗

Optimisation of sample preparation methods for air imaging of ocular mucins by AFM.

The addition of cations to the imaging buffer for AFM has been previously shown to improve the binding of biological molecules to mica. Investigations were carried out to find the concentration of NiCl(2) required to immobilize mucin molecules on a freshly cleaved mica surface, for imaging using intermittent contact in air. Drop-deposition of samples prepared in HEPES buffer with 1, 2 and 5mM NiCl(2) revealed the sensitivity of the mucin molecules to salt. Dialysis of the mucin solutions dramatically reduced the amount of salt present and allowed single molecules to be imaged, revealing a variation in thickness along their length. Spray deposition of the same mucin solutions produced single molecules that, although less affected by co-adsorbed salt, showed a degree of self-folding. This shows the sensitive balance between HEPES and NiCl(2) required for successful imaging of the sub-molecular features of individual mucin molecules.

Air↗

The effect of sample preparation technique on determination of structure and nanomechanical properties of human cementum hard tissue.

The mechanical properties of a tissue can be evaluated by determining the response of the structure to mechanical loading. This can be accomplished only when the tissue has been prepared with minimum to no artifacts, thus preserving its structure. In this study it was hypothesized that the structure of cementum is inhomogeneous, contributing to a significant variation in mechanical properties of cementum. Therefore, the goals of the study were to identify potential artifacts generated by conventional sample preparation techniques such as polishing and ultrasectioning and subsequently characterize the prepared specimens using an atomic force microscope (AFM) and an AFM-nanoindenter. Comparisons between cryofractured, ultrasectioned and polished specimens concluded that ultrasectioned surfaces have significantly lower average surface roughness 'R(a)' (p<0.05). Microstructure of ultrasectioned specimens characterized using an AFM illustrated Sharpey's fibers (SF) and intrinsic fibers (IF) running perpendicular and parallel to the root surface similar to the observed microstructure of cryofractured cementum. In addition, a 10-50 microm wide cementum dentin junction (CDJ) was distinctly observed in the ultrasectioned specimens but not in polished specimens. The SF and CDJ illustrated relatively higher levels of hydrophilicity under wet conditions. The observed inhomogeneous microstructure of the ultrasectioned specimens led to a broader range of nanomechanical properties (modulus: 14.2-25.9 GPa; hardness: 0.48-1.09 GPa). However, masking of the same regions such as SF and CDJ due to smeared cementum in polished specimens resulted in a narrower range of nanomechanical properties (modulus: 18.2-20.8 GPa; hardness: 0.79-0.89 GPa). This effect is most noticeable under wet conditions for ultrasectioned specimens (modulus 2.6-10.9 GPa; hardness 0.05-0.30 GPa) compared to the polished specimens (modulus 12.2-14.5 GPa; hardness 0.33-0.45 GPa). Cementum also was shown to be highly viscoelastic, especially when hydrated. The results suggest ultrasectioning of cementum was superior to polishing preparation technique since it allowed visualization of cementum structures similar to cryofractured specimens while providing a flat surface necessary for AFM-based nanoindentation techniques. Additionally, the structural inhomogeneity observed within ultrasectioned cementum contributed to a broader range of mechanical properties.

Aged↗

A novel fully automated method for the measurement of sulphoconjugated catecholamines in urine using the Gilson ASTED-XL sample preparation system and high-performance liquid chromatography.

Dopamine is produced in the kidney where it causes sodium excretion. Dopamine sulphate is deconjugated in vivo, and may be a physiological reservoir for this active renal dopamine. To investigate the role of dopamine and dopamine sulphate in sodium homeostasis we have developed a fully automated HPLC assay for free, total and sulphoconjugated dopamine. Using the Gilson ASTED-XL sample preparation unit, with temperature controlled racks, urinary free and total dopamine are measured pre-and post-incubation with arylsulphatase. Dopamine sulphate is calculated from the difference between free and total measurements. Acidified 24 h urines are processed automatically. Free dopamine assay follows buffering to pH 7.0, addition of internal standard, addition of EDTA to stabilize free catecholamines at neutral pH, and incubation at 37 degrees C for 30 min. This mixture is trace enriched on a HEMA-SB TEC prior to ion-paired HPLC with amperometric detection. To measure total dopamine the entire process is automatically repeated with addition of arylsulphatase (400 mU/mL urine) at the beginning of the 37 degrees C incubation. The working range of the assay is up to 7 micromol/L total dopamine. Within-and between-run imprecision for dopamine sulphate is less than 3 and 7% respectively. Median dopamine sulphate excretion in 12 normotensive subjects was 4.3 micromol/24 h.

Adult↗

Analysis of human serum by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry: improved sample preparation and data analysis.

Discovery of biomarkers is a fast developing field in proteomics research. Liquid chromatography coupled on line to mass spectrometry (LC-MS) has become a powerful method for the sensitive detection, quantification and identification of proteins and peptides in biological fluids like serum. However, the presence of highly abundant proteins often masks those of lower abundance and thus generally prevents their detection and identification in proteomics studies. To perform future comparative analyses of samples from a serum bank of cervical cancer patients in a longitudinal and cross-sectional manner, methodology based on the depletion of high-abundance proteins followed by tryptic digestion and LC-MS has been developed. Two sample preparation methods were tested in terms of their efficiency to deplete high-abundance serum proteins and how they affect the repeatability of the LC-MS data sets. The first method comprised depletion of human serum albumin (HSA) on a dye ligand chromatographic and immunoglobulin G (IgG) on an immobilized Protein A support followed by tryptic digestion, fractionation by cation-exchange chromatography, trapping on a C18 column and reversed-phase LC-MS. The second method included depletion of the six most abundant serum proteins based on multiple immunoaffinity chromatography followed by tryptic digestion, trapping on a C18 column and reversed-phase LC-MS. Repeatability of the overall procedures was evaluated in terms of retention time and peak area for a selected number of endogenous peptides showing that the second method, besides being less time consuming, gave more repeatable results (retention time: <0.1% RSD; peak area: <30% RSD). Application of an LC-MS component detection algorithm followed by principal component analysis (PCA) enabled discrimination of serum samples that were spiked with horse heart cytochrome C from non-spiked serum and the detection of a concentration trend, which correlated to the amount of spiked horse heart cytochrome C to a level of 5 pmol cytochrome C in 2 microl original serum.

Animals↗

The effects of sample preparation and gas chromatograph injection techniques on the accuracy of measuring guaiacol, 4-methylguaiacol and other volatile oak compounds in oak extracts by stable isotope dilution analyses.

The deuterium-labeled standards [(2)H(3)]-guaiacol and [(2)H(3)]-4-methylguaiacol were synthesized and utilized in a method employing gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to determine the concentration of guaiacol and 4-methylguaiacol in wine or extracts of oak shavings. The method was combined with previously published methods for 4-ethylphenol, 4-ethylguaiacol, cis- and trans-oak lactone and vanillin, so that all these compounds could be quantified in a single analysis. The method can employ either liquid-liquid extraction or headspace solid-phase microextraction (SPME) and is rapid, robust, precise, and accurate. Under certain conditions, there was artifactual generation, to varying degrees, of guaiacol, 4-methylguaiacol, cis-oak lactone, and vanillin during the analysis of oak extracts, especially when diethyl ether extraction and injector block temperatures at or above 225 degrees C were employed. The most substantial effects were observed for guaiacol, in which results could be exaggerated by over 10 times. These artifacts could be avoided by using headspace SPME or by preparing liquid-liquid extracts with pentane or pentane/diethyl ether (2:1) injected at 200 degrees C providing spot checks using headspace SPME were performed. Data obtained for previously published quantitative determination of guaiacol in oak extracts should be reexamined carefully, with special attention paid to their respective methods of sample preparation and analysis.

Chromatography, Gas↗

Sample preparation for peptide mapping--A pharmaceutical quality-control perspective.

In quality control of therapeutic proteins peptide mapping is used for confirmation of primary structure and detection of posttranslational modifications. The demands put on the experimental procedure are therefore different than in the case of determination of an unknown protein structure. It is here recognized that a peptide-mapping method for quality control of proteins should be inert (not induce or revert modifications), general, robust, and allow a high sample throughput. The steps prior to the separation of the generated peptides are identified as crucial for meeting these demands. This includes denaturation, reduction, alkylation, buffer exchange, solubilization, and digestion. A critical review of the literature regarding these steps is presented. Relevant options in all steps are experimentally evaluated. Novel approaches are developed for many of the steps. The result is a sample preparation procedure that essentially meets the stated demands.

Alkylation↗

Quantification of tamoxifen DNA adducts using on-line sample preparation and HPLC-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry.

The nonsteroidal antiestrogen tamoxifen is used as an adjuvant chemotherapeutic agent for the treatment of all stages of hormone-dependent breast cancer and more recently as a chemopreventive agent in women with elevated risk of developing the disease. While clearly beneficial for the treatment of breast cancer, tamoxifen has been reported to increase the risk of endometrial cancer in women. Furthermore, it has been shown to be hepatocarcinogenic in rats. Tamoxifen is clearly genotoxic in rat liver, as indicated by the formation of DNA adducts; the occurrence of tamoxifen DNA adducts in human endometrial tissue is more controversial. The detection and quantitation of tamoxifen DNA adducts have relied primarily upon (32)P-postlabeling, with other techniques, such as immunoassays and accelerator mass spectrometry, being used to a much lesser extent. To expand the range of available analytical methodologies for quantifying tamoxifen DNA adducts, we have developed an assay using on-line sample preparation, coupled with HPLC and electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (ES-MS/MS). alpha-Acetoxytamoxifen was reacted with salmon testis DNA at ratios between 0.1 ng and 1 mg alpha-acetoxytamoxifen per mg DNA. After enzymatic hydrolysis to nucleosides, the most highly modified DNA samples were analyzed by HPLC-UV, which indicated the presence of two adduct peaks in approximately a 1:4 ratio. The major adduct was isolated, rigorously characterized as (E)-alpha-(deoxyguanosin-N(2)-yl)tamoxifen, and quantified on the basis of its molar extinction coefficient. A similar reaction was conducted with [N(CD(3))(2)]-alpha-acetoxytamoxifen to prepare a deuterated adduct that could serve as an internal standard for ES-MS/MS. The limit of detection for the HPLC-ES-MS/MS method was approximately 5 adducts/10(9) nucleotides, with an intra- and interassay precision of 3% relative standard deviation. The method was validated over the range of 8-1 520,000 adducts/10(8) nucleotides using 100 microg samples of DNA modified in vitro. Analysis of liver DNA from female Sprague-Dawley rats treated by gavage with seven daily doses of 20 mg tamoxifen/kg body weight gave a value of 496 +/- 16 adducts/10(8) nucleotides for (E)-alpha-(deoxyguanosin-N(2)-yl)tamoxifen and 626 +/- 18 adducts/10(8) nucleotides for (E)-alpha-(deoxyguanosin-N(2)-yl)-N-desmethyltamoxifen. These data indicate that the HPLC-ES-MS/MS methodology has sufficient sensitivity and precision to be useful in the analysis of tamoxifen DNA adducts formed in vivo in experimental models and may be able to detect tamoxifen DNA adduct formation in human tissue samples.

Animals↗

Detection of testosterone misuse: comparison of two chromatographic sample preparation methods for gas chromatographic-combustion/isotope ratio mass spectrometric analysis.

Two chromatographic methods, reversed-phase liquid chromatography (LC) and immunoaffinity chromatography (IAC), were compared in the preparation of purified testosterone extracts suitable for gas chromatography-combustion/isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC-C-IRMS) analysis. We have shown previously that GC-C-IRMS is a promising means of detection of testosterone misuse in sport. The two clean-up procedures afford sufficient recovery and adequate purity of testosterone. LC presents several advantages over IAC: access to other urinary steroids, longer column life, no need for special equipment and no antibody preparation. For IAC, the antibodies to testosterone must be selected with care for high affinity and low cross-reactivity. Nevertheless, IAC is of some interest in our experiments, the recovery is slightly better for low concentrations of urinary testosterone and IAC does not induce isotopic discrimination even in overloading experiments. This is the first report on sample preparation by IAC prior to GC-C-IRMS and carbon isotope ratio values for urinary epitestosterone. The carbon isotope ratio test can identify users' urines missed by the testosterone to epitestosterone ratio (T/E > 6) test.

Antibodies↗

Sample preparation for routine high-performance liquid chromatographic determination of retinol palmitate in emulsified nutritional supplements by solid-phase extraction using monosodium L-glutamate as dissolving agent.

Retinol palmitate (vitamin A, 73.3 microg/g) in an emulsified nutritional supplement was determined by solid-phase extraction (SPE) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence detection (excitation 350 nm, emission 480 nm) using monosodium L-glutamate as a dissolving agent to obtain higher recovery of vitamin A from the emulsified sample solution. A Bond Elut C2 cartridge (500 mg) was chosen for SPE after comparison with 16 other types. A sample solution was applied to a conditioned Bond Elut C2 cartridge and then vitamin A was eluted with ethanol followed by HPLC. The proposed method was simple, rapid (sample preparation time by SPE: ca. 8 min, retention time: ca. 8 min), sensitive [detection limit: ca. 0.1 pg/injection (100 microl) at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3:1], highly selective and reproducible (relative standard deviation (RSD): ca. 2.9% (n = 5), between-day RSD ca. 3.7 (5 days). The recovery of vitamin A was over 90% by the standard addition method.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗

Multi-element trace determinations in pure alkaline earth fluoride powders by high-resolution ICP-MS using wet-chemical sample preparation and laser ablation.

Four alternative analytical procedures for the determination of ten important trace impurities (Mg, Cr, Fe, Cu, Zn, Sr, Zr, Cd, Ba, and Pb) in pure alkaline earth fluoride powders were applied using high-resolution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Two procedures are based on a wet-chemical microwave digestion with boric acid and quantification by the standard addition technique and isotope dilution mass spectrometry (IDMS), respectively. In addition, analyses are also performed by laser ablation as a direct solid sampling technique applying matrix-matched external calibration as well as isotope dilution of the powdered sample. For most elements good agreement between the different methods is found. Detection limits for laser ablation vary between 0.05 ng g(-1) for Zr and 20 ng g(-1) for Mg. They are about one to two orders of magnitude lower than those of the wet-chemical procedures, which is mainly due to the high dilution factor during the sample preparation step. Advantages and restrictions of the different analytical procedures are discussed with respect to their routine applicability. Due to its relatively high accuracy, low detection limits, and time-efficiency LA-ICP-IDMS is the preferred choice if no standard reference materials are available.

Journal Article↗

Ovine luteinizing hormone. V. Significance of flow-through peaks observed during chromatofocusing as revealed by various methods of sample preparation and application.

In a previous study [Keel et al., Biol, Reprod., 36 (1987) 1102] the ovine luteinizing hormone (oLH) in pituitary extracts was chromatofocused on pH 10.5-7 gradients after equilibration in 25 mM triethylamine-HCl, pH 11.0, by gel permeation. Under these conditions, some immunoreactive oLH flowed through the columns unrestricted and this was interpreted to represent extremely basic isoforms. However, when selected flow-through peaks were re-chromatofocused, each was contaminated with other isoforms of oLH. In order to clarify this dilemma, various methods of sample preparation and application were systematically compared. Consistent with previous observations, variable amounts of the immunoreactive oLH in pituitary extracts equilibrated in triethylamine by gel permeation, dialysis, flow dialysis or ion-retardation chromatography eluted as flow-through peaks when chromatofocused. In contrast, when the ionic components in the pituitary homogenization buffer were removed by these methods as well as ultrafiltration and the proteins were applied to the resin in the elution buffer (1:45 Pharmalyte 8-10.5-HCl, pH 7.0), none of the immunoreactive oLH in pituitary extracts eluted as a flow-through peak. Thus, it appears that oLH eluting as a flow-through peak results from incomplete binding of the hormone to the chromatofocusing resin when applied in triethylamine.

Animals↗

Sample Preparation of Caenorhabditis elegans for GC-MS-Based Metabolomics in Toxicity Assessment.

The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, widely recognized as a model organism due to its ease of breeding and well-characterized genomes, boasts complete digestive, reproductive, and endocrine systems, as well as conserved signaling pathways shared with mammals. It has become an invaluable resource for metabolomics research, particularly in examining responses to chemical or environmental factors and toxicity assessments. In this article, we provide detailed, step-by-step protocols for cultivating C. elegans and conducting metabolomics analyses, specifically focusing on sample preparation for GC-MS analysis in response to toxic compound treatments. We highlight the critical choice of extraction solvent, introducing two representative systems for extracting metabolites from C. elegans.

Animals↗

A quantitative densitometric method for the rapid separation and quantitation of the major tissue and lipoprotein lipids by high-performance thin-layer chromatography. I. Sample preparation, chromatography, and densitometry.

A rapid method for the separation and quantitation of the major lipids of tissues and lipoproteins by automated high-performance thin-layer chromatography is presented. Solvent systems for one-dimensional separation of neutral lipids, of cholesteryl esters, and of phospholipids are described. Separated lipids are measured following treatment with methanolic sulphuric acid containing manganese chloride and scanned in fluorescence or absorption mode. Absolute quantitation is obtained by the use of an internal standard and by references to standards for each lipid run on the same plates as samples. The method described here is particularly suitable for the rapid quantitation of small amounts of lipid (0.01-0.02 nmol per sample), for example in tissue culture studies; 100 micrograms of fibroblast or macrophage protein are sufficient for complete lipid analysis. The coefficients of variation due to the sample preparation, application to the plates and densitometry are in the range 7.2-9.1%. The method was compared with enzymatic determinations for cholesterol and gave correlation coefficients of 0.95 for total cholesterol and 0.91 for unesterified cholesterol. Phospholipid estimation was compared with large-plate thin-layer chromatography and phosphorus analysis and gave correlation coefficients of 0.90 for phosphatidylcholine and 0.89 for sphingomyelin.

Animals↗

High-performance liquid chromatography of rat and mouse islet polypeptides: potential risk of oxidation of methionine residues during sample preparation.

After preparative high-performance liquid chromatography of mouse islet culture medium, concentrated on disposable C18 cartridges (Sep-Pak), an unexpected insulin immunoreactive peak eluting earlier than mouse insulin I and II was detected. Molecular mass determination by mass spectrometry supported its suspected identity as methionine sulphoxide insulin II. We have examined the formation of Met-O derivatives of insulin II, glucagon and pancreatic polypeptide during sample preparation (Sep-Pak and Speed-Vac concentrating). The oxidation of methionine residues was found to depend very much on the buffer, the organic modifier and the procedure. In particular the use of methanol-trifluoroacetic acid resulted in extensive oxidation. The oxidation could be minimized by adding 2 mM dithiothreitol to the buffer and by degassing and/or nitrogen-bubbling of the buffer. Minimal formation of Met-O derivatives is important for the quantitation of methionine-containing polypeptides.

Animals↗

Human bronchoalveolar lavage: biofluid analysis with special emphasis on sample preparation.

Respiratory diseases are an important health problem throughout the world. Whether caused by industrial pollutants, infections, smoking, cancer or metabolic diseases, damage to the lungs and airways often lead to morbidity or death. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) obtained by fiber-optic bronchoscopy is a biofluid mirroring the expression of normally secreted pulmonary proteins and the products of activated cells and destructive processes. The characterization of the proteome within this compartment provides an opportunity to establish temporal and prognostic indicators of airway disease. The objective of this study was to develop methods of analysis of BAL samples, which achieved the highest level of annotation of the expression map of this proteome. We have optimized the process of sample preparation after investigating a variety of techniques including dialysis, ultramembrane filtration, precipitation and gel filtration. We have further studied methods to remove albumin from BAL in order to unmask proteins hidden on two-dimensional gels. In a pilot application of the method, BAL protein profiles obtained from healthy nonsmokers and smokers at risk for developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease showed distinct differences.

Albumins↗

Analysis of plasma catecholamines by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection: simple sample preparation for pre-column fluorescence derivatization.

Analysis of plasma catecholamines (norepinephrine, epinephrine and dopamine) by high-performance liquid chromatography using 1,2-diphenylethylenediamine as a fluorescent reagent is described. We have developed an automatic catecholamine analyser, based on pre-column fluorescence derivatization and column switching. The analysis time for one assay was 15 min. The correlation coefficients of the linear regression equations were greater than 0.9996 in the range 10-10,000 pg/ml. The detection limit, at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3, was 2 pg/ml for dopamine. A new method of sample preparation for the pre-column fluorescence derivatization of plasma catecholamines was used. In order to protect the catecholamines from decomposition, an ion-pair complex between boric acid and the diol group in the catecholamine was formed at a weakly alkaline pH. The stabilities of plasma catecholamines were evaluated at several temperatures. After complex formation, the catecholamines were very stable at 17 degrees C for 8 h, and the coefficients of variation for norepinephrine, epinephrine and dopamine were 1.2, 4.2 and 9.3%, respectively.

Autoanalysis↗

Free flow-isoelectric focusing of human cellular lysates as sample preparation for protein analysis.

A whole cell lysate of human cells was separated into 80 fractions according to the pI of proteins using free flow isoelectric focusing with carrier ampholytes. The resolution of the process was highly reproducible, with an overlap of fractions of less than 30%. A protein of a faint silver stained spot in two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) could be enriched, yielding a Coomassie blue stained spot which could be further characterized by protein chemical methods. The enrichment of less abundant proteins from a complex crude cell extract was found to be a suitable tool for sample preparation and enrichment before applying proteins to 2-DE and reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography.

Buffers↗