John Chasse

Can a protein involved in delivering Vitamin D to target tissues have an altered serum profile in psoriasis patients with cardiovascular disease? Researchers used liquid chromatography (LC) to help find out.

LCGC International spoke to Michelle Klein from the Faculty of Chemistry of the University of Duisburg-Essen (Essen, Germany) about how, by using the green analytical chemistry tool Analytical GREEnness (AGREE) and the white analytical chemistry (WAC) framework, her team was able to conduct a comparative analysis of gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC–MS/MS), liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS), and the yeast-cell-based reporter gene assay (A-YES).

The objective of this study was to investigate contamination by 32 plasticizers in olive oil throughout its production and packaging process. Separation and detection were carried out by gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (GC–MS/MS), without the need for pre-concentration steps.

A recent study aimed to investigate the impact of lavender essential oil (LEO) and of its terpenic components on the properties of glioblastoma (GBM) cells in an in vitro model. The study demonstrated that LEO induces a proliferation slowdown and an impairment of cell migration of GBM cells besides reducing oxidative stress.

New research characterizes walnut milk residue according to its phenolic content and antioxidant and cytotoxic potential using ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography–electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC–ESI-MS/MS).

A recent study aimed to directly compare the changes in serum metabolites among very low birth-rate (VLBW) infants following the administration of the soybean oil-based lipid emulsion and soybean oil, medium-chain triglycerides, olive oil, and fish oil (SMOF) lipid emulsion using untargeted metabolomics techniques.

Differences in serum metabolites of sheep infected with Echinococcus granulosus were analyzed using ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) separation with tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) detection, providing a basis for the early diagnosis and pathogenetic study of cystic echinococcosis (CE) in intermediate hosts at the metabolomics level.

In forensic science, scientific testimony is routinely presented in court to juries who may have limited or no scientific background, putting law enforcement and defense personnel in the position of having to make rapid decisions in short timeframes based on findings of which they are not specialists. Katelynn Perrault Uptmor, Assistant Professor of Chemistry at William & Mary (Williamsburg, Virginia) believes that the introduction of new technologies into the framework of routine forensic analysis must therefore bridge the gap between introduction of new and novel analytical science and the communication of that science to a court of law, and that analytical chemistry research must be mindful of the need to fill this gap in promoting new technologies.

Researchers employed a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS)-based metabolomic approach combined with sophisticated statistical methods to identify metabolic biomarkers in coronary heart disease (CHD), hypertension-comorbid CHD, depression-comorbid CHD, and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM)-comorbid CHD to provide an objective diagnostic method and help identify metabolomic signatures to better identify risk groups early, as well as improve understanding of pathophysiologic pathways.

Davy Guillarme of the Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Western Switzerland and the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Geneva (Switzerland) recently spoke with LCGC International about his work analyzing therapeutic oligonucleotides.

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.