Graphene oxide enters the rice roots and disturbs the endophytic bacterial communities.

The environmental release of graphene oxide (GO) will certainly induce the GO exposure to plants. To date, the influence of GO on the intracellular structures and the endophytic bacterial ecology of plants have been rarely reported. In the present study, the rice seedlings were exposed to GO (5 mg/L) under hydroponic condition for fifteen days with periodic stir.

Facile preparation of magnetic covalent organic framework-metal organic framework composite materials as effective adsorbents for the extraction and determination of sedatives by high-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry in meat samples.

Rationale: Sedatives, which are prone to cause residues in animals, have been abused in modern animal husbandry. Long-term consumption of contaminated meat products would be unfavorable to the human nervous system. Taking into account public health and food safety, it was essential to develop an effective method for the enrichment and detection of sedatives in meat.

Role of IL-9 and IL-10 in the pathogenesis of chronic spontaneous urticaria through the JAK/STAT signalling pathway.

This study investigated the role of interleukin (IL)-9 and IL-10 in the pathogenesis of chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU). Autologous serum skin test and histamine release test were performed in CSU patients and normal subjects. Kunming mice were used to develop a mouse model for CSU.

Thiol radical-based chemical isotope labelling for sterols quantitation through high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis.

Enlightened by the high specificity and reactivity of thiol radical toward allyl, here, we first established a rapid thiol radical-based chemical isotope-labelling (CIL) strategy coupled with high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) analysis for the quantitative profiling of sterols. In this strategy, N-(4-(carbazole-9-yl)-phenyl)-N-maleimide labelled derivative of ethylenedithiol (NCPM-d-SH) and its deuterated analogue NCPM-d-SH were employed as a novel pair of CIL reagents to efficiently label sterols. Under lighting condition, the thiol radical obtained from NCPM-d/d-SH attacks one allyl hydrogen in the B-ring of sterols to produce a reactive radical intermediate which can quickly react with another thiol radical to form the last labelled derivatives.

Polychlorinated naphthalenes in human milk: Health risk assessment to nursing infants and source analysis.

Polychlorinated naphthalenes are teratogenic environmental contaminants. Mother milk is the most important food for nursing infants. The World Health Organization actively promotes breastfeeding for its immunological, psychological, and economic advantages.

Dietary exposure to neonicotinoid insecticides and health risks in the Chinese general population through two consecutive total diet studies.

Neonicotinoid insecticides are ubiquitous in food and the environment due to their wide use. Growing evidence suggests the adverse effects of neonicotinoids in many species, including mammals. Some studies have reported the urinary concentrations of neonicotinoids in human biological monitoring, but the potential risks of neonicotinoids on human health based on long-term chronic exposure studies in any general population have been rarely tackled.

Liver-derived exosome-laden lncRNA MT1DP aggravates cadmium-induced nephrotoxicity.

Cadmium (Cd) is a well-characterized toxic heavy metal which could cause severe kidney injury. However, currently the knowledge of Cd toxicity towards kidney is still insufficient. Our previous data has identified that MT1DP (metallothionein 1D pseudogene) could promote Cd-induced detrimental effects on hepatocytes.

The neurotoxicity of Nε-(carboxymethyl)lysine in food processing by a study based on animal and organotypic cell culture.

Nε-(carboxymethyl)lysine (CML) is a potentially noxious compound that is causing widespread concern due to its use in various food products. In this study, we investigated CML neurotoxicity via an in vivo experiment with mice, and an in vitro experiment using a 3D microvascular network model (with human brain vascular endothelial cell and human astrocyte) that simulated the blood-brain barrier. We found that CML could induce cell survival status variations, and histopathological changes to the brain.

Emerging strategies for the activity assay and inhibitor screening of alpha-glucosidase.

The high incidence of diabetes mellitus has caused widespread concern around the world, and has quickly become one of the most prevalent and costly chronic diseases. Alpha-glucosidase has been considered as the main target enzyme in the prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes, and the inhibition of alpha-glucosidase activity can control postprandial blood glucose levels of diabetics and keep blood glucose levels normal. However, most of the current antidiabetic drugs in the clinic have many side effects.

A Multicolor Immunosensor for Sensitive Visual Detection of Breast Cancer Biomarker Based on Sensitive NADH-Ascorbic-Acid-Mediated Growth of Gold Nanobipyramids.

Many studies have demonstrated that the extracellular domain of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2 ECD) level in serum can act as a breast cancer biomarker and serve as a monitoring neoadjuvant therapy of breast cancer. In this study, we developed a sensitive ascorbic acid (AA)-mediated AuNBPs (gold nanobipyramids) growth method with NADH (reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide I) assistance, and we further fabricated a high-resolution multicolor immunosensor for sensitive visual detection of HER2 ECD in serum by using AuNBPs as signal and antibody as recognition probe. The NADH-assisted AA-mediated method effectively suppressed color formation in the blank and greatly improved the sensitivity of mediating AuNBPs growth, allowing us to use a low concentration of AA to mediate AuNBPs growth to generate more colorful and clearer color changes.

Sulphonate functionalized covalent organic framework-based magnetic sorbent for effective solid phase extraction and determination of fluoroquinolones.

Most of the reported covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are hydrophobic, limiting their adsorption application in sample pretreatment field. In this work, sulphonate functionalized magnetic covalent organic frameworks (COFs) composites were first synthesized by loading gold nanoparticles on FeO@COF(TpBD) surface and then functionalized by sodium 3-mercaptopropanesulphonate immobilization via Au-S bonding formation (denoted as FeO@COF(TpBD)@Au-MPS nanocomposites), which were further utilized as adsorbents for magnetic solid-phase extraction (MSPE) of fluoroquinolones. Compared with FeO@COF(TpBD), the composites exhibited higher affinity to fluoroquinolones.

One-step cold-induced aqueous two-phase system for the simultaneous determination of fipronil and its metabolites in dietary samples by liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry and the application in Total Diet Study.

Herein, a cold-induced aqueous two-phase system (CI-ATPS)-based concurrent sample enrichment and cleanup strategy was developed for the analysis of fipronil and its metabolites in dietary samples by liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry. By optimizing the conditions in CI-ATPS, the analytes were extracted to a small volume acetonitrile-rich phase with the enrichment factor of three-folds. Additionally, the lipids could be efficiently precipitated between the lower and upper layer to complete the removal of lipids.

Hepatotoxic effects of inhalation exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on lipid metabolism of C57BL/6 mice.

Inhalation from ambient air and cigarette smoke is a common route of human exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Little information is available regarding hepatotoxicities of inhaled PAHs so for. In this study, we evaluated the toxic effects of intratracheally instilled benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) on hepatic lipid metabolism of C57BL/6 mice at relevant environmental exposure levels by using two different mass-based lipidomics approaches.

Determination of Hydrogen Sulfide in Wines Based on Chemical-Derivatization-Triggered Aggregation-Induced Emission by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with Fluorescence Detection.

A chemical-derivatization-triggered aggregation-induced emission (AIE) method for the highly selective determination of hydrogen sulfide (HS) in wine matrices by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection (HPLC-FLD) was developed. The detection strategy was developed based on the chemical derivatization of HS using a low-cost AIE-active fluorescence derivatization reagent, -(3-iodine-2-oxopropyl)pyrene methamine (NIPM), to trigger specific AIE at 475 nm, which was red-shifted sharply to the maximum emission wavelength as compared with NIPM monomers of 375 nm, effectively quenching the interference from other thiol-containing compounds. With the aid of specific AIE and the effective separation of HPLC, the proposed method showed high selectivity and sensitivity toward HS.

Preparation and characterization of carboxymethyl starch from cadmium-contaminated rice.

Cadmium-contaminated rice has been a serious food safety issue in China. In this research, carboxymethyl rice starch (CMS) from cadmium-contaminated rice and native rice was prepared to remove the cadmium in rice. The preparation of native rice starch (NRS) and starch from cadmium-contaminated rice (Cd-CRS) was similar, and carboxymethyl starch was prepared following the same steps.

Effective enrichment and detection of plant growth regulators in fruits and vegetables using a novel magnetic covalent organic framework material as the adsorbents.

The present research reported a facile strategy for the synthesis of a novel magnetic covalent organic frameworks (FeO@COF(TpDA)) material and applied it as a sorbent for magnetic solid phase extraction of plant growth regulators from fruits and vegetables. The prepared FeO@COF materials showed many attractive features involving large specific surface area (180.2 m/g) and high saturation magnetization (62.

Associations of urinary phthalate metabolites with risk of papillary thyroid cancer.

Some studies have revealed thyrotoxicity of phthalates; however, associations of phthalate exposure with papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) remain unclear. We conducted a pair-matching case-control study of 111 PTC cases and 111 age- and sex-matched non-PTC controls to examine associations between urinary concentrations of phthalate metabolites and PTC. Phthalate metabolites were determined in fasting urine specimens by ultra-performance liquid chromatography - tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS).

Paeoniflorin on Rat Myocardial Ischemia Reperfusion Injury of Protection and Mechanism Research.

Objective: To study the myocardial benefit effect and mechanism of paeoniflorin on myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury (MIRI) in rats.

Methods: Hundred SD rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: sham group, model group, Paeoniflorin (15 mg/kg) group, Paeoniflorin (30 mg/kg) group, and Paeoniflorin (60 mg/kg) group. Myocardial ischemia reperfusion model was established in each group except the sham group.

[Evaluation based on the results of international proficiency tests for aflatoxins and analysis of keypoint detection].

Objective: To analyze the results of international proficiency tests for aflatoxin determination and to identify the requirement of quality assurance and control in mycotoxin analysis.

Methods: By the use of Z-scores, the results of aflatoxins from international proficiency tests were analyzed and the critical control points in experimental operation were discussed.

Results: The absolute values of the Z-scores of aflatoxins were less than 2, indicating that the results from the laboratory were satisfactory.

Recent advances in the construction of functionalized covalent organic frameworks and their applications to sensing.

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs), as an emerging class of porous crystalline polymers, are built by the combination of the light elements through the strong covalent bonds. In the past decade, COFs have been reported to show plenty of unique properties (such as ordered channels, large specific surface area, highly tunable porosity, optional building blocks, predictable and stable structure, and abundant functional groups), and have been widely applied in multiple fields. Recently, to further improve the potential performances of COFs and extend their applicability, a number of COFs with various functionalities have been successfully developed through the functionalization modification.

Multicolor Aptasensor Based on DNA-Induced Au-Ag Nanorods for Simultaneous and Visual Detection of Inorganic and Organic Mercury.

Compared to inorganic mercury (Hg), methyl-mercury (CHHg) and ethyl-mercury (CHHg) (organic mercury) not only have a much stronger toxicity but also are more easily accumulated by marine organisms to produce bioamplification. Therefore, the simultaneously onsite detection of Hg and organic mercury is of great significance to ensure the safety of seafood, and it is also a hard challenge. We designed a T-rich aptamer, H, for specifically recognizing Hg and organic mercury and developed a multicolor aptasensor for simultaneous discrimination and detection of Hg and organic mercury with only bare-eye observation using H as a recognition probe and gold nanorods (AuNRs) as a signal.

Ratiometric Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering Immunosorbent Assay of Allergenic Proteins via Covalent Organic Framework Composite Material Based Nanozyme Tag Triggered Raman Signal "Turn-on" and Amplification.

The exploration of nanomaterials with mimic enzyme activity (named nanozyme) has gained extensive attention in the fields of advanced analytical chemistry and materials science. Herein, the gold nanoparticles doped covalent organic frameworks (COFs) were prepared, which exhibited not only excellent mimic nitroreductase activity but also robust stability. By replacing the traditional natural enzyme tag in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), we employed the proposed nanozyme to label the detecting antibody.

Simultaneous detection of aflatoxin B1, ochratoxin A, zearalenone and deoxynivalenol in corn and wheat using surface plasmon resonance.

Mycotoxins are toxic metabolites produced by fungi or molds, which may cause serious harm to human health through polluted cereal foods. In order to measure the typical mycotoxin contaminations in wheat and corn, a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) method was established using SPR sensor chip that was fabricated based on self-assembled monolayer. The minimum detection limit of aflatoxin B1, ochratoxin A, zearalenone and deoxynivalenol were identified as 0.

Polychlorinated Dibenzo-p-Dioxins, Polychlorinated Dibenzofurans, and Dioxin-Like Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Umbilical Cord Serum from Pregnant Women Living Near a Chemical Plant in Tianjin, China.

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs), and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (dl-PCBs) are bioaccumulative compounds that may affect fetal growth and infant development. The aim of this study was to determine whether the pregnant women living near a chemical plant in Tianjin had a risk of exposure to dioxins. Concentrations of PCDD/Fs and dl-PCBs in 24 umbilical cord serum samples collected from pregnant women were measured using a high-resolution gas chromatograph with a high-resolution mass spectrometer (HRGC-HRMS) and an isotopic dilution method.