1.Analysis of Organophosphate Esters in Dust, Soil and Sediment Samples Using Gas Chromatography Coupled with Mass Spectrometry
Jianxia LU ; Wen JI ; Shengtao MA ; Zhiqiang YU ; Zhao WANG ; Han LI ; Guofa REN ; Jiamo FU
Chinese Journal of Analytical Chemistry 2014;(6):859-865
Background contamination is a major problem in the analysis of organophosphate esters (OPEs). In this study, the possible sources of OPEs pollution were screened and several different ways were applied to minimize the blank contamination. Under the strict quality control measures, the cleanup efficiency of different solid phase extraction (SPE) was investigated for OPEs in different environmental matrices. A method was developed for the detection of 7 OPEs in dust, soil and sediment samples by gas chromatograph coupled with mass spectrometry ( GC / MS). Target compounds were extracted by hexane:dichloromethane (1 : 1, V/ V) followed by aminopropyl silica gel SPE column cleanup for dust, and target compounds in soil and sediment were Soxhlet extracted and cleanuped by two-step SPE. The results showed that the aminopropyl silica gel SPE column displayed the best purification performance among the three employed columns. Instrumental detection limits among the 7 OPEs ranged from 2. 5 to 25. 8 μg / L, and the method limits of quantification (MLOQs) in dust and soil sample ranged from 1. 4 to 15. 7 ng / g and 0. 3 to 2. 9 ng / g, respectively. The average recoveries of 7 OPEs in different matrices ( dust and soil) at two spiked concentration levels ranged from 67. 9% to 117. 4% . The proposed method was successfully applied to detect OPEs in different environmental matrices collected in Shanghai.
2.A three years longitudinal follow-up study of pulmonary function changes in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Jun WANG ; Xuemei ZHOU ; Xu YANG ; Shengtao ZHAO ; Qianli MA ; Changzheng WANG
Chinese Journal of Internal Medicine 2016;55(4):302-306
Objective To investigate the characteristics and the risk factors of pulmonary function in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) for a 3 year follow-up.Methods Subjects diagnosed as COPD were followed up for 3 years in the Management Center of Chronic Respiratory Disease at XINQIAO Hospital from September 2009 to June 2012.This was a retrospective study.Parameters related to respiratory function mainly first second forced expiratory volume (FEV1),COPD assessment test (CAT),6 minutes walking distance (6MWD) and acute exacerbation were recorded during follow-up.Results Although the majority of patients were treated with drugs such as inhaled corticosteroid combined with longterm bronchial dilatation during the three years,FEV1 decreased progressively.The average annual decline of FEV1 was(31.80 ± 61.99) ml,translating into a mean annual decline of(3.74 ± 6.18) %.However,there were significant differences in changes of FEV1.Approximately,FEV1 in 78.3% (47/60) patients decreased,only 21.7% (13/60) patients kept stable FEV1.There was a correlation between decrease of FEV1,FEV1 % predicted and the exacerbation (r =0.298,0.361,0.273;P < 0.05).Logistic regression showed that the positive bronchodilator reversibility and the initial FEV1 were the independent factors associated with significant changes in FEV1 (respectively,OR =5.54,95% CI 1.55-19.73;OR =8.28,95% CI 1.42-48.32).Conclusion The changes of pulmonary function in patients with COPD are heterogeneous,although most patients are treated in a standard way.Nearly 80% patients still represent deterioration of pulmonary function.Decline of FEV1 is closely related to the initial pulmonary function and bronchodilator reversibility.
3.Analysis of infection of fungi, bacteria and Demodex in eyelid margin of non-blepharitis and blepharitis
Lulu WANG ; Shengtao SUN ; Xiaofei YU ; Qiufei MA ; Yanting XIE
Chinese Journal of Experimental Ophthalmology 2023;41(10):998-1003
Objective:To observe the distribution characteristics of fungi, bacteria and Demodex in the eyelid margin of patients with blepharitis and without blepharitis at different ages. Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted.A total of 98 patients diagnosed with anterior blepharitis and 99 patients diagnosed with posterior blepharitis in Henan Eye Hospital from March 2021 to June 2022 were enrolled as anterior blepharitis group and posterior blepharitis, respectively.Additionally, 100 patients with an initial diagnosis of refractive error and 200 patients with vitreous opacity were enrolled during the same period as a non-blepharitis group.All patients underwent examinations for lid margin fungi, bacteria and eyelash Demodex, as well as fungal spores and ciliary Demodex count.The differences in the positive rate and load of palpebral fungi, bacteria and eyelash Demodex were compared between anterior and posterior blepharitis groups, as well as across different ages in non-blepharitis group.This study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of Henan Eye Hospital (No.HNEECKY-2019[18]).All patients were informed about the purpose and methods of the study.Written informed consent was obtained from each patient. Results:There were significant differences in the positive rates of bacteria, fungi and Demodex and the load of Demodex in the non-blepharitis group at different ages ( χ2=28.34, 10.36, 51.57, H=35.66; all at P<0.01).The positive rates of palpebral bacteria and ciliary Demodex and the load of Demodex were significantly higher and the palpebral fungi positive rate was significantly lower in the ≥60 years old than in the <60 years old (all at P<0.05).There were significant differences in the positive rates of bacteria and fungi among anterior blepharitis, posterior blepharitis and non-blepharitis groups ( χ2=18.99, 6.36; all at P<0.01).The palpebral bacteria positive rate was significantly higher in anterior blepharitis group than in posterior blepharitis and non-blepharitis groups, and the palpebral fungi positive rate was significantly higher in anterior blepharitis and posterior blepharitis groups than in non-blepharitis group (all at P<0.05).There was no significant difference in the ciliary Demodex detection rate among the three groups ( χ2=0.16, P=0.74).The number of palpebral fungi spores and eyelash Demodex counts were higher in anterior and posterior blepharitis groups than in non-blepharitis group, and the differences were statistically significant (all at P<0.05).The positive rate of palpebral margin bacteria in ciliary Demodex-positive group was 45.7%(156/341), which was significantly higher than 25.6%(40/156) in ciliary Demodex-negative group ( χ2=17.20, P<0.01), and there was no significant difference in the positive rate of palpebral margin fungi between them ( χ2=0.11, P=0.70). Conclusions:In the population with normal eyelid margin, the infection of Demodex and bacteria in lid margin increases and fungal infection decreases in the ≥60 years old.Fungal and bacterial infections are the main sources of palpebral infection in patients with blepharitis, and positive detection of Demodex increases the chance of bacterial infection.