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The toxic effects of two brominated diphenyl ethers (BDE), BDE-47, and BDE-183, on a benthic oligochaete tubificid, Monopylephorus limosus were studied under laboratory conditions. Investigated responses included survival, growth, and protein expression profiles, at BDE concentrations of 1, 10, 100, and 700 ng/g on a dry soil weight basis, with isooctane as the carrier solvent. Body weight losses among treatments were insignificant after 8 weeks of exposure. The 8-wk LC(50) of BDE-47 and -183 were 2311 and 169 ng/g, respectively. By applying multivariate analysis techniques, protein expression patterns were compared and correlated with stressful sources of long-term culture, carrier solvent, BDE-47 and -183. The treatment of 8-wk 100 ng/g BDE-47 was most closely clustered to the 10 ng/g BDE-183 treatment, based on the 40 examined protein spots. This indicated that BDE-183 was more potent to M. limosus, than was BDE-47. The 2-wk and 8-wk controls clustered into different groups indicating the occurrence of physiological changes due to long-term laboratory culture. Additionally, solvent effect was shown by grouping the isooctane carrier to different clusters. With further characterization by principle component analysis, it was found that the separation was mainly contributed by the 2nd principal-component. And, the primarily inhibitory variation was at spots 2 (UMP-CMP kinase) and 40 (plasma retinol-binding protein precursor) in the 8-wk groups. On the contrary, protein spots 16 (cell division control protein 2 homolog) and 24 (mitochondrial DNA mismatch repair protein) showed stimulatory variation. In all, the observed proteomic responses suggest that BDEs disrupted metabolic function in M. limosus and multivariate analysis tool offers significant potential for the assessment of various stress sources at biochemical level.

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Non-invasive gene monitoring is important for most gene therapy applications to ensure selective gene transfer to specific cells or tissues. We developed a non-invasive imaging system to assess the location and persistence of gene expression by anchoring an anti-dansyl (DNS) single-chain antibody (DNS receptor) on the cell surface to trap DNS-derivatized imaging probes. DNS hapten was covalently attached to cross-linked iron oxide (CLIO) to form a 39+/-0.5 nm DNS-CLIO nanoparticle imaging probe. DNS-CLIO specifically bound to DNS receptors but not to a control single-chain antibody receptor. DNS-CLIO (100 microM Fe) was non-toxic to both B16/DNS (DNS receptor positive) and B16/phOx (control receptor positive) cells. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging could detect as few as 10% B16/DNS cells in a mixture in vitro. Importantly, DNS-CLIO specifically bound to a B16/DNS tumor, which markedly reduced signal intensity. Similar results were also shown with DNS quantum dots, which specifically targeted CT26/DNS cells but not control CT26/phOx cells both in vitro and in vivo. These results demonstrate that DNS nanoparticles can systemically monitor the expression of DNS receptor in vivo by feasible imaging systems. This targeting strategy may provide a valuable tool to estimate the efficacy and specificity of different gene delivery systems and optimize gene therapy protocols in the clinic.

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BACKGROUND: The relationship between Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection and oesophageal squamous-cell carcinoma (ESCC) risk is still inconclusive. Our previous study found an inverse association between the two, but its mechanism is still unknown. Thus, we conducted in vitro studies to clarify the issue. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One ESCC (CE 81T/VGH) cell line was co-cultured with Hp, using one gastric adenocarcinoma (AGS) cell line as the control. Hp-induced cell apoptosis was determined by flow cytometry, terminal transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labelling (TUNEL) assay and staining; caspase-3 protein expressions in cell lysates were detected by Western immunoblot. RESULTS: Increased apoptosis was found in CE 81T/VGH, but not in AGS cells, by flow cytometry and TUNEL assay after being co-cultured with Hp at the multiplicity of infection of 1/100 (but not at 1/400) for 36 h. The amount of activated caspase-3 (17/19 kDa) also increased in CE 81T/VGH, but not in AGS cells, after co-culturing with Hp at MOI of 1/100 for 36 h. The results were confirmed by triplicate experiments in which the different apoptotic assays remained consistent. CONCLUSIONS: Our study provides indirect evidence of the inverse association between Hp infection and ESCC risk, which is possibly due to Hp-induced apoptosis in ESCC cells. A further in vivo study is necessary to confirm our findings.

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Increasing the specificity of chemotherapy may improve the efficacy of cancer treatment. Toward this aim, we developed a strain of bacteria to express enzymes for selective prodrug activation and non-invasive imaging in tumors. beta-glucuronidase and the luxCDABE gene cluster were expressed in the DH5alpha strain of Escherichia coli to generate DH5alpha-lux/betaG. These bacteria emitted light for imaging and hydrolyzed the glucuronide prodrug 9ACG to the topoisomerase I inhibitor 9-aminocamptothecin (9AC). By optical imaging, colony-forming units (CFUs) and staining for betaG activity, we found that DH5alpha-lux/betaG preferentially localized and replicated within CL1-5 human lung tumors in mice. The intensity of luminescence, CFU and betaG activity increased with time, indicating bacterial replication occurred in tumors. In comparison with DH5alpha-lux/betaG, 9AC or 9ACG treatment, combined systemic administration of DH5alpha-lux/betaG followed by 9ACG prodrug treatment significantly (P<0.005) delayed the growth of CL1-5 tumors. Our results demonstrate that prodrug-activating bacteria may be useful for selective cancer chemotherapy.

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An ultrasonic nebulization/multiple channel electrospray ionization (USN/MC-ES) source, which generates multiply charged peptides and proteins ions, was developed. The source is an ultrasonic nebulizer that is connected to a multiple channel electrospray ionization source. Aerosols were formed by ultrasonically nebulizing the sample solution. The aerosols were then purged into the central channel of a seven-channel ES source via nitrogen gas. A methanol solution that contained 1% trifluroacetic acid was electrosprayed through the outlying six electrosprayers. Detection of multiply charged peptide and protein ions indicated that electrospray was generated from the charged droplet containing analyte. The sample aerosol appeared to fuse with the charged methanol droplet in the air. Then electrospray ionization of the analyte occurred from the newly formed droplet. The peptide and protein prepared in deionized water were detected by this USN/MC-ES-MS. By varying the electrospray solvents, the signals of certain components in the mixture were selectively suppressed.

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Activated phagocytic cells generate reactive nitrogen species, including nitryl chloride and peroxynitrite, for host defense against invading pathogens. It has been proposed that these reactive nitrogen species may cause DNA damage and thus contribute to the multistage carcinogenesis process associated with chronic infections and inflammation. Previous studies showed that peroxynitrite reacted with guanine, 2'-deoxyguanosine, or DNA forming 8-nitroguanine. We herein report formation of 8-nitroxanthine as the major nitration product in reactions of 2'-deoxyguanosine or calf thymus DNA with nitryl chloride produced by mixing nitrite with hypochlorous acid, and 8-nitroguanine was a minor product in these reactions. 8-Nitroxanthine was characterized by its NMR and laser desorption ionization mass spectra and by deamination of 8-nitroguanine. Formation of 8-nitroxanthine was also detected by xanthine reaction with various reactive nitrogen species, including nitryl chloride, peroxynitrite, nitronium tetrafluoroborate, and heated nitric and nitrous acid. The identity of 8-nitroxanthine in nitryl chloride-treated dG and DNA was confirmed by co-injection with synthetic 8-nitroxanthine and by its reduction to 8-aminoxanthine. Levels of 8-nitroxanthine and 8-nitroguanine in these reactions were quantified by reversed-phase HPLC with photodiode array detection. Once formed, 8-nitroxanthine was spontaneously removed from DNA with a half-life of 2 h at 37 degrees C and pH 7.4. Therefore, 8-nitroxanthine might be an important DNA lesion derived from reactive nitrogen species in vivo.

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This study examines the feasibility of generating electrospray directly from the tip of two optical fibers bound together with Teflon tape. This approach does not require a capillary and syringe pump. The electrospray source is simply constructed by coiling the two optical fibers with a platinum (Pt) wire. The optical fibers extend beyond the Pt coil for approximately 1 cm. The sample solution is predeposited on the Pt coil by a micropipette. As the high voltage required for electrospray is applied to the coil, the sample solution moves along the grooves between the two optical fibers. A stable electrospray is subsequently generated at the tip of the fibers. The mass spectra of insulin, lysozyme, and ubiquitin are exactly the same as those obtained by conventional electrospray using a capillary and syringe pump. Rapid determination of the active ingredient in a tablet by this technique is demonstrated.

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This work detects protonated molecular ions of highly reactive pyrolytic products--cyclopentadienylideneketene, cyclohexadienylideneketenimine, and acetylketene--using a flow pyrolyzer connected to a multiple-channel electrospray mass spectrometry. The ketene generated in the flow pyrolyzer is directly conducted into the central channel of a seven-channel electrospray ionization source by a stream of nitrogen gas. Concurrently, a methanol solution containing 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid is electrosprayed through the outside six channels. The protonated methanol ions and the charged droplets generated from the outside six electrospray channels facilitate the ionization of the neutral ketenes through ion-molecule reactions or absorption followed by protonation.

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A rapid technique for the screening of trace compounds in water by combining solid-phase extraction (SPE) with activated carbon surface-assisted laser desorption/ionization (SALDI) time-of-flight mass spectrometry is demonstrated. Activated carbon is used both as the sorbent in SPE and as the solid in the SALDI matrix system. This eliminates the need for an SPE elution process. After the analytes have been adsorbed on the surfaces of the activated carbon during SPE extraction, the activated carbon is directly mixed with the SALDI liquid and mass spectrometric analysis is performed. Trace phenolic compounds in water were used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the method. The detection limit for these compounds is in the ppb to ppt range.

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This study describes a matrix-assisted laser-desorption-ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry for rapid screening of 12 diuretics in spiked urine. C60 is used as the matrix for MALDI. Diuretics are directly analyzed by C60-MALDI without previous derivatization. The fact that most diuretic molecules contain sulfate groups accounts for why anions of the molecules can be easily desorbed and ionized in MALDI. Using C60 as the matrix is advantageous because of the low background in the low mass range on the negative MALDI mass spectrum. A clear mass window between m/z 200 and 600 in negative ion mode is also obtained. Only a minimum amount of the sample (< 1 microL) is necessary to perform the analysis. The detection limit of diuretics is approximately 0.1-1 microg/mL.

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This work presents two novel direct electrospray probes (DEP) to generate an electrospray without using a capillary and/or syringe pump. One of the DEPs is simply a copper coil connecting to a high-voltage power supply. The sample solution is deposited on the coil by a micropipet and the electrospray is subsequently generated at the tip of the copper coil after high voltage is applied to it. Another DEP is constructed by inserting two parallel optical fibers through the copper coil. The two fibers extend one end of the copper coil by 1 cm. Electrospray is generated at the tip of the fibers through the solution predeposited on the copper coil as the high voltage is applied on the copper coil. The ES mass spectra of myoglobin in liquid or solid phases can be obtained using this DEP-MS. Coupling the DEP to a solid-phase microextraction fiber is extremely easy, and a trace amount (in ppb range) of surfactants (Triton X-100) in the aqueous solution are selectively concentrated and detected.

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The analysis of compounds separated by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) by surface-assisted laser desorption ionization (SALDI) mass spectrometry has been demonstrated. The compounds are analyzed from the surface of the intact TLC plate, and the preparation of the TLC plate is rapid and robust: the gel surface is covered with 2 microns activated carbon particles, and glycerol is added. Analytes diffuse from the interior of the gel to the surface where they are adsorbed onto the activated carbon. A nitrogen laser is used to desorb analyte ions from the carbon particles in a time-of-flight mass spectrometer. A wide range of organic compounds, including peptides, can be detected, either as protonated or as cationized molecules. Interference with "matrix peaks" is limited since background TLC-SALDI mass spectra typically show only a few intense peaks at low mass. The detection limit for bradykinin from a developed plate is approximately 25 ng (calculated for S/N = 3). The mass resolution (FWHM) varied from a high of about 500 to a low of about 100. This variability was likely due to surface charging. Methods to improve both mass resolution and sensitivity of TLC-SALDI are suggested.

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This work successfully connected gas chromatography (GC) to seven-channel electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectrometry to separate and detect a mixture of volatile organic compounds. Gaseous analyte was eluted separately from a GC column and directed into the central channel of the ESI source. The analyte was protonated by ion-molecule reactions between the analyte and the ions which were generated by electrospraying the acidic solution through the outside six channels surrounding the central channel. Real-time analysis of the organic reaction involving volatile and thermally unstable compounds (dimethylhydrazine ⇌ azomethane + H(2)) was also achieved by continuously purging the air in the reaction vessel to the seven-channel ESI source.