John Chasse

Testosterone measurements are typically performed using serum or plasma, but this presents several logistical challenges, especially for sample collection, storage, and transport. In a recently published article, Yehudah Gruenstein of the University of Miami explored key insights gained from dried blood spot assay validation for testosterone measurement.

A recent study examines the specific traits of the intestinal microbiota and metabolites in Bactrian camels. The results of profiling 36 intestinal mucosal samples from six Bactrian camels using liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) provides valuable data for understanding the relationship between regional intestinal immunity and the general health and disease of the host.

A recent study used gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to evaluate the potential of the foliar application of C. vulgaris extract to improve crop yield, chemical composition, and antioxidant and antibacterial activities of the essential oil of spearmint.

Researchers from the University of Copenhagen (Denmark) have developed a broad screening strategy using evaporation enrichment and liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC–HRMS) to evaluate migration of non-volatile chemicals from various reusable plastic bottles. LCGC International spoke to Selina Tisler, corresponding author of a paper resulting from the research, about this strategy.

Research conducted by the Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences (Wenchang, China) investigated the changes in flavonoid metabolite profiles in coconut water from two varieties, Wenye No.5 (W5) and Hainan local coconut (CK), across six developmental stages, utilizing liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) in their work. Their findings have repercussions in yielding coconut-based products offering superior nutritional and functional properties.

Citrinin, a hepato-nephrotoxic mycotoxin produced by fungal species, plays a crucial role in the fermentation of red rice to produce red yeast rice-based food supplements, which represent the primary source of human exposure to this contaminant. A recent study conducted by the University of Valencia and the Public Health Laboratory of Valencia (Spain) developed and validated a simple and sensitive analytical method for the citrinin determination in these products.

To determine sample patterns and identify possible markers of quality, variety, or origin to deal with authentication or fraud detection issues, researchers from the University of Barcelona’s Department of Chemical Engineering and Analytical Chemistry characterized dark chocolate samples according to geographical origin, cocoa variety, and cocoa content. Filtered extracts were analyzed by reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) with ultraviolet (UV) and spectrophotometric methods to establish individual phenolics and overall indexes of antioxidant and flavonoid content.

A recent study conducted at the Department of Biotechnology of Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology (Punjab, India) examined the isolation and characterization of catechin-producing endophytic fungi isolated from tea leaves, their chemical characterization, and associated bioactivities. LCGC International spoke to Priyankar Dey of the Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology about the work done by his group, and the paper that resulted from it.

LCGC International spoke to Silvia Valverde and Ana María Ares of this group about their research and the resulting article.

A high performance liquid chromatography–ultraviolet (HPLC–UV)-based method was recently developed for the quantification of selpercatinib in human plasma, an advance that may lead to the reduction of adverse events as well as an optimization of efficacy.

Researchers measured bovine tooth enamel samples with colorimetry, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectrophotometry to develop a comprehensive understanding of coffee-induced tooth discoloration by examining the individual and combined effects of CGA and pigments and determining how their concentrations are affected by coffee roast level.

A recent study investigating the association between dietary polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) intake and estradiol levels in women in the United States utilized isotope dilution liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry to measure serum estradiol levels.

Using a solid phase microextraction gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (SPME GC-MS)-based metabolomics approach, a recent study by the School of Life Sciences and Technology at Institut Teknologi Bandung (Indonesia) investigated the impact of environmental factors (including temperature, rainfall, and altitude) on volatile metabolite profiles of Robusta green coffee beans from West Java.

LCGC International sat down with Christopher Kozak, a professor at Memorial University to speak about his recent research using MALDI-TOF analysis to identify unknown blobs in Newfoundland, Canada’s Placentia Bay.

Researchers showed that a 12-week aerobic exercise regimen reduced circulating branched-chain amino acid levels in obese mice while attenuating insulin resistance.

Researchers used high performance liquid chromatography and untargeted metabolomics by Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance-mass spectrometry to highlight the critical role of root exudates in drought tolerance.

A recent study identified and quantified anthocyanin (which are known for their antioxidative properties and potential effectiveness against depression) in blueberries, blackberries, black mulberries, and cranberries using ultra high-pressure liquid chromatography (UHPLC) followed by in vivo evaluation of their antidepressant-like activities.

A recent study measured stress and reproductive hormones in three stocks of free-ranging bottlenose dolphins inhabiting different natural salinities across the Gulf of Mexico, with hormones extracted from the blubber of 82 remotely biopsied dolphins and quantified using ultrahigh-pressure liquid chromatography (UHPLC) coupled with orbital ion trap fusion mass spectrometry.

“Strange blobs” that started washing up on Newfoundland’s shores months ago may have been identified through a Canadian chemist’s investigation using mass spectrometry (MS).

After collecting dried blood spots from preterm infants with gestational age (GA) of less than 32 weeks within 24 hours after birth, researchers used liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) to perform targeted measurements of metabolites to identify differential metabolites in preterm infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia and uncovering circulating biomarkers for the early prediction of this chronic lung disease.

Aiming to develop a comprehensive strategy for evaluating the chemical migration from various reusable plastic bottles, researchers from the University of Copenhagen utilized vacuum evaporation concentration (VEC) enrichment combined with liquid chromatography (LC) high resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) analysis to investigate a wide range of materials from different manufacturers to identify those with higher and lower chemical migration rates.

A recent study evaluated the potential of fruit by-products from acerola, guava, and tamarind’s potential in producing fermented beverages, with their acid profiles determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).

A recent study set out to assess the significance of geographical and varietal factors in the content of alkaloids, phenolic compounds, and the antioxidant capacity of chocolate samples. Filtered extracts were analyzed by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) with ultraviolet (UV) and spectrophotometric methods to determine individual phenolics and overall indexes of antioxidant and flavonoid content.

Liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) was used to show that repeated stress can cause delayed but sustained changes in blood plasma proteins associated with water conservation, immune responses, fat metabolism, insulin sensitivity, iron recycling, and hormone transport in elephant seals. Some of these changes may be novel markers of recent and chronic stress exposure in marine mammals.

LCGC International spoke to Heather Barkholtz and Maia Bates of the University of Wisconsin-Madison about their recent evaluation of a broad screening technique for high-priority drugs of abuse in whole blood.

A recent study investigated the protein composition and baking quality of 14 German common wheat landraces, with 6 modern varieties serving as a control group. The protein composition was determined using modified Osborne fractionation and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC).

A recent study examined the impurity profile of thirteen different lots of synthetic nicotine and compared them to fourteen lots of nicotine extracted from plants using in-house analytical methods, with samples tested for alkaloids and phenols with reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC).

The aroma properties of spontaneously fermented Cabernet Sauvignon wines produced from seven sub-regions of Shangri-La, China were comprehensively analyzed using the headspace micro-extraction with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), odor activity values, and olfactory evaluation.

On the suggestion that per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) affect both lactation and the human metabolome, perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) were measured in the milk of 425 participants from the New Hampshire Birth Cohort Study using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).

A recent study compared different workflows for extracting, purifying, and analyzing bone proteins using liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS), including an in-StageTip protocol previously optimized for forensic applications, and two protocols using novel suspension-trap technology (S-Trap) and different lysis solutions. LCGC International discussed this work with Noemi Procopio of the School of Law and Policing and the Research Centre for Field Archaeology and Forensic Taphonomy at the University of Central Lancashire (UK), corresponding author of the paper that resulted from this study.