Analyzing crude oils from the Junggar Basin(NW China) using comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography coupled with time-of-flight mass spectrometry(GC×GC-TOFMS)

As a new technology of analyzing crude oils, comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography cou- pled with time-of-flight mass spectrometry （GCxGC- TOFMS） has received much research attention. Here we present a case study in the Junggar Basin of NW China. Results show that the hydrocarbons, including saturates and aromatics, were all well-separated without large co- elution, which cannot be realized by conventional one-dimensional GC-MS. The GC×GC technique is especially effective for analyzing aromatics and low-to-middle- molecular-weight hydrocarbons, such as diamondoids. The geochemical characteristics of crude oils in the study area were investigated through geochemical parameters extracted by GC×GC-TOFMS, improving upon the understanding obtained by GC-MS. Thus, the work here represents a new successful application of GC×GC- TOFMS, showing its broad usefulness in petroleum geochemistry.

liver and the defects of cholesterol and bile acids biosynthesis: rare disorders many diagnostic pitfalls

In recent decades, biotechnology produced a growth of knowledge on the causes and mechanisms of metabolic diseases that have formed the basis for their study, diagnosis and treatment. Unfortunately, it is well known that the clinical features of metabolic diseases can manifest themselves with very different characteristics and escape early detection. Also, it is well known that the prognosis of many metabolic diseases is excellent if diagnosed and treated early. In this editorial we briefly summarized two groups of inherited metabolic diseases, the defects of cholesterol biosynthesis and those of bile acids. Both groups show variable clinical manifestations but some clinical signs and symptoms are common in both the defects of cholesterol and bile acids. The differential diagnosis can be made analyzing sterol profiles in blood and/or bile acids in blood and urine by chromatographic techniques(GC-MS and LC-MS/MS). Several defects of both biosynthetic pathways are treatable so early diagnosis is crucial. Unfortunately their diagnosis is made too late, due either to the clinical heterogeneity of the syndromes(severe, mild and very mild) that to the scarcity of scientific dissemination of these rare diseases. Therefore, the delay in diagnosis leads the patient to the medical observation when the disease has produced irreversible damages to the body. Here, we highlighted simple clinical and laboratory descriptions that can potentially make you to suspect a defect in cholesterol biosynthesis and/or bile acids, as well, we suggest appropriate request of the laboratory tests that along with common clinical features can help to diagnose these defects.

Antioxidant and Antifungal Activities of the Essential Oils of Ocimum gratissimum from Yaounde and Dschang （Cameroon）

Due to the harmful effect of free radical on physiological and pathological state of our body on one hand, and the increase of the fungal infection on the other hand, drug that can reduce free radical and inhibit fungal growth is needed. This work aims to evaluate the antioxidant and antifungal activities of the Ocimum gratissimum L. essential oils from center and west region of Cameroon. Essential oil was analyzed by GC （gas chromatography） and GC coupled with MS （mass spectrometry）. The antioxidant activities of essential oils were studied by the Diphenylpicrylhydrazyl method and the β-carotene bleaching test. The antifungal activities were assessed using micro-dilution technique for yeasts and agar dilution method for Aspergillus. Thymol and γ-terpinene, eugenol and thymol were the major compounds for Yaounde and Dschang, respectively. The scavenging capacity of sample from Dschang was higher than that of Yaounde. Also, the β-carotene bleaching tests of the sample from Dschang were better than that from Yaounde. The antifungal activity of the sample from Yaounde was higher than that from Dschang on yeasts and Aspergillus isolates, respectively. This work presents and compares the chemical composition, antioxidant and antifungal activity of Ocimum gratissimum essential oil from center and west region of Cameroon.

Analgesic Activity of Jin Ling Zi Powder and Its Single Herbs:A Serum Metabonomics Study

Objective:To compare the analgesic effect of Jin Ling Zi Powder(JLZ)and its two single herbs.Methods:The hot plate method was used to induce pain.Totally 36 mice were randomly divided into 6 groups by a complete random design,including control,model,aspirin(ASP,0.14 g/kg body weight),JLZ(14 g/kg body weight),Corydalis yanhusuo(YHS,14 g/kg body weight),and Toosendan Fructus(TF,14 g/kg body weight)groups,6 mice in each group.The mice in the control and model groups were given the same volume of saline,daily for 2 consecutive weeks.At 30,60,90,and 120 min after the last administration,the pain threshold of mice in each group was measured,and the improvement rate of pain threshold was calculated.Serum endogenous metabolites were analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry(GC–MS).Results:There was no statistical difference in pain threshold among groups before administration(P>0.05).After 2 weeks of administration,compared with the model group,the pain threshold in JLZ,YHS,TF and ASP groups were increased to varying degrees(P<0.05).JLZ had the best analgesic effect and was superior to YHS and TF groups.A total of 14 potential biomarkers were screened in serum data analysis and potential biomarkers levels were all reversed to different degrees after the treatment with JLZ and its single herbs.These potential biomarkers were mainly related to glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism,glycine,serine and threonine metabolism,valine,leucine and isoleucine biosynthesis,aminoacyl-t RNA biosynthesis and inositol phosphate metabolism.Conclusions:The analgesic mechanism of JLZ and YHS was mainly due to the combination of glycine and its receptor,producing post-synaptic potential,reducing the excitability of neurons,and weakening the afferent effect of painful information.