Raman spectroscopy is an optical technology based on the theory of Raman scattering, which is generally used in the research of medical and biological science. Raman spectroscopy can be used to detect the molecular structures and components of proteins, lipids, DNA, and other biological molecules, and provide substantial information about molecules. Thus, Raman spectroscopy is generally considered a "molecular fingerprint", and it has exceptional advantages in medical research. Moreover, this technique can reflect the changes in molecular structures and detect the alterations of chemical constituents in the samples. Raman spectroscopy, given its high sensitivity and specificity in the detection of the biological samples, has been successfully used to detect and diagnose diseases in numerous sites, such as skin, oral mucosa, breast, head, and neck. In this paper, we introduce the application of Raman spectroscopy in stomatology by conducting a review of the literature.
DNA ; Lipids ; Oral Medicine ; Proteins ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Spectrum Analysis, Raman

Botryococcus braunii is a unique colonial green microalga and a great potential renewable resource of liquid fuel because of its ability to produce lipids. Due to the dense cell colonies and rigidly thick cell wall of B. braunii, the traditional Nile red method is usually of low sensitivity and bad repeatability and hard for the determination of lipid content in the cells. By dispersing the colony with ultrasonic, assisting permeation of Nile red across the cell wall with dimethyl sulfoxide and optimizing the staining conditions, we established an improved detection method. The details were as follows: after the colonial algal sample was treated by ultrasonic at 20 kHz for 20 s, 100 W transmitting power and with 1 s on/1 s off intermittent cycle, the equivoluminal 15% (V/V) dimethyl sulfoxide and 3 microg/mL Nile red were successively added and mixed evenly, then the staining system was incubated in dark at 40 degrees C for 10 min, and subsequently was measured by fluorescence spectroscopy detection with an excitation wavelength of 490 nm. Compared with the traditional method, the improved one not only had higher detection sensitivity which was increased by 196.6%, but also had obviously better detection repeatability whose characteristic parameter - relative standard deviation (RSD) was decreased from 10.91% to 1.84%. Therefore, the improved method could provide a rapid and sensitive detection of lipid content for B. braunii breeding and cultivation.
Chlorophyta ; chemistry ; Lipids ; analysis ; Microalgae ; chemistry ; Spectrometry, Fluorescence ; methods ; Ultrasonics

As an effective tool to study proteins, nucleic acids, cells and other biological samples, atomic force microscope (AFM) has been widely used in various fields of life science. Biological sample preparation via self-assembly is the precondition of the research. In this paper, common self-assembly methods of biological samples such as proteins, lipid films, DNA and cells for AFM studies are reviewed, and how the samples to be well attached to a substrate using appropriate, nondestructive methods is discussed. The trends towards the development in the future are also looked into.
Animals ; Cells ; DNA ; analysis ; Humans ; Lipids ; analysis ; Microscopy, Atomic Force ; methods ; Proteins ; analysis ; Specimen Handling ; methods

To further develop the methods to remotely sense the biochemical content of plant canopies, we report the results of an experiment to estimate the concentrations of three biochemical variables of corn, i.e., nitrogen (N), crude fat (EE) and crude fiber (CF) concentrations, by spectral reflectance and the first derivative reflectance at fresh leaf scale. The correlations between spectral reflectance and the first derivative transformation and three biochemical variables were analyzed, and a set of estimation models were established using curve-fitting analyses. Coefficient of determination (R2), root mean square error (RMSE) and relative error of prediction (REP) of estimation models were calculated for the model quality evaluations, and the possible optimum estimation models of three biochemical variables were proposed, with R2 being 0.891, 0.698 and 0.480 for the estimation models of N, EE and CF concentrations, respectively. The results also indicate that using the first derivative reflectance was better than using raw spectral reflectance for all three biochemical variables estimation, and that the first derivative reflectances at 759 nm, 1954 nm and 2370 nm were most suitable to develop the estimation models of N, EE and CF concentrations, respectively. In addition, the high correlation coefficients of the theoretical and the measured biochemical parameters were obtained, especially for nitrogen (r=0.948).
Lipids ; analysis ; Nitrogen ; analysis ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Spectrum Analysis ; Zea mays ; chemistry

As a renewable energy sources to replace conventional fossil fuels, biodiesel fuels have been becoming increasingly requirements to global fuels market. Biodiesel derived from oil crops cannot realistically satisfy even more fraction of the raw material existing costs and soil competitive demand for its growth. Microalgae appear to be the advantage of costs that is capable of higher photosynthetic efficiency, larger biomass, faster growth compared to those of oil crops. Lipid content of many microalgae is usually 80% of its dry weight. Genetic microalgae with high-oil productivity by genetic manipulations are capable of making microalgal biodiesel economically competitive with petrodiesel through large-scale production of genetic microalgal biomass. As demonstrated here, the use of biodiesel fuels in home and abroad are currently introduced, and the cost advantage of microalgae as the raw material is analyzed; And moreover, the progress of microalgal genetic engineering in regulation of lipid metabolism and the problems in the construct of genetic microalgae strains as well as approaches for making microalgal biodiesel appear to be an important source of renewable fuel that has the potential to completely displace fossil diesel are discussed in this review.
Bioelectric Energy Sources ; trends ; Biotechnology ; methods ; Eukaryota ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism ; Fatty Acids ; analysis ; Gasoline ; Lipids ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo explore in vivo metabolic changes in abnormal savda patients with different types of tumor.

METHODSA total of 142 abnormal savda patients with common cancer types were enrolled in this study, and 50 healthy volunteers were recruited as the control group. For each sample, the H Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) based metabonomic analysis was performed. The free attenuation signal was computed subsection integral. Data obtained were analyzed by the Orthogonal Partial Least-Squares Discriminant Analysis (OPLS-DA).

RESULTSCompared with the control group, leucine, isoleucine, valine, histidine, phenylalanine, tyrosine, alanine, creatine, lactic acid, inositol, alpha-and beta-glucose, unsaturated lipids, very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) significantly decreased (P <0.05), while glycoprotein and carnitine significantly increased (P <0. 05) in the abnormal Savda group.

CONCLUSIONAbnormal savda patients with different types of tumor had similar metabonomics changes.

Discriminant Analysis ; Humans ; Least-Squares Analysis ; Lipids ; blood ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Metabolome ; physiology ; Metabolomics ; Neoplasms ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the dynamic changes in macronutrients and energy in human milk from mothers of premature infants.

METHODSA total of 339 human milk samples were collected from 170 women who delivered preterm or full-term infants in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital between November 2012 and January 2014. Macronutrients (proteins, fats and carbohydrates and energy were measured using a MIRIS human milk analyzer and compared between groups.

RESULTSIn milk samples from premature infants' mothers, the protein levels were the highest in colostrum (2.22±0.49 g/dL), less in transitional milk (1.83±0.39 g/dL), and the least in mature milk (1.40±0.28 g/dL) (P<0.01), and the levels of fats (2.4±1.3 g/dL vs 3.1±1.1 g/dL; P<0.01), carbohydrates (6.4±0.9 g/dL vs 6.6±0.4 g/dL; P<0.05) and energy (55±9 kcal/dL vs 62±8 kcal/dL; P<0.01) were significantly lower in colostrum than in transitional milk. The protein levels in colostrum from premature infants' mothers were significantly higher than those in colostrum from term infants' mothers (2.22±0.49 g/dL vs 2.07±0.34 g/dL; P<0.05). The colostrum from mothers of premature infants with a gestational age of ≤30 weeks had significantly higher protein levels than those from mothers of premature infants with gestational ages of 30(+1)-33(+6) weeks and ≥34 weeks (2.48±0.68 g/dL vs 2.11±0.25 g/dL and 2.22±0.39 g/dL respectively, P<0.05); the energy levels in colostrum from mothers of premature infants with a gestational age of ≤30 weeks group (51±6 kcal/dL) were significantly lower than those in colostrum from mothers of premature infants with a gestational age of 30(+1)-33(+6) weeks (58±8 kcal/d; P<0.05). The carbohydrate levels in transitional milk from mothers of premature infants with a gestational age of ≤30 weeks were significantly higher than those in transitional milk from mothers of premature infants with gestational ages of 30(+1)-33(+6) weeks and ≥34 weeks (P<0.05). The protein levels in mature milk from mothers of premature infants with a gestational age of 30(+1)-33(+6) weeks were significantly higher than those in mature milk from mothers of premature infants with gestational ages of ≤30 weeks and ≥34 weeks (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe levels of macronutrients and energy in milk from mothers of premature infants vary significantly between colostrum, transitional milk, and mature milk. Protein levels are significantly higher in colostrum from premature infants' mothers than in colostrum from term infants' mothers, but the significant difference is not seen for mature milk. Macronutrient and energy levels show significant differences between milk samples from mothers of premature infants with different gestational ages, so as to meet different needs of premature infants.

Adult ; Carbohydrates ; analysis ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Lipids ; analysis ; Middle Aged ; Milk Proteins ; analysis ; Milk, Human ; chemistry ; Pregnancy

Adult ; Blood Glucose ; analysis ; China ; Diabetes Mellitus ; blood ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Lipids ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo observe the therapeutic effects of Berberine Capsule (BC) on patients with mild hyperlipidemia.

METHODSTotally 102 mild hyperlipemia patients were recruited. All patients were suggested to have proper diet and physical activity as basic therapy for 1 month of run-in period. Totally 97 patients completed it. Then they were randomly assigned to the berberine group (the treatment group, 49 cases) and the placebo group (the control group, 48 cases). Patients in the treatment group took BC 300 mg, while those in the control group took placebo 300 mg, thrice per day for 3 successive months. Then placebos and BC were interrupted for 2 months (as washout period). All subjects received only diet control and physical activity during washout period. After washout period, placebos and BC were re-administered to all patients in the same way for 3 months. Body mass index (BMI), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), TG, TC, LDL-C, and HDL-C were assessed after run-in period, washout period, at month 1, 2, 3 after the first therapy, at month 1, 2, 3 after second treatment, respectively.

RESULTSCompared with the end of run-in period, TG, TC, and LDL-C decreased, and HDL-C increased in the treatment group (P < 0.05) after first 3 months of treatment. Compared with 3 months after the first therapy, TG, TC, and LDL-C increased and HDL-C decreased in the treatment group after washout period (P < 0.05). Compared with the end of wash- out period, TC and LDL-C decreased in the treatment group at month 2 after second treatment (P < 0.05); TG, TC, and LDL-C decreased (P < 0.01, P < 0.05), and HDL-C increased (P < 0.05) at month 3 after second treatment. Compared with the control group at month 3 after second treatment, TG, TC, and LDL-C all decreased, and HDL-C increased in the treatment group (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONBC was effective in improving blood lipid level in mild hyperlipidemia patients.

Berberine ; therapeutic use ; Blood Glucose ; analysis ; Body Mass Index ; Capsules ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; drug therapy ; Lipids ; blood

This study was aimed to evaluate the effects of different echo time (TE) on the liver fat quantification using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS). Liver 1H-MRS was performed on 24 adult male wistar rats on a 1.5 T superconductor MR scanner. Spectrums were collected with a TR of 1500 ms and different TE of 35, 45, 55, 65, 75, 85, 95, 105, 144 ms, respectively. The water and lipid peaks, baseline of the spectrum and lipid to water ratio were evaluated. With the increment of TE, the amplitude and integrated area of the water and lipid peaks decreased, and the baseline of the spectrum and the lipid to water ratio became unstable. The lipid to water ratio determined by 1H-MRS was highly correlated with the liver fat content determined by pathological analysis at TE between 35 and 55 ms (r > 0.9) and poorly to moderately correlated at TE > or =65 ms (r < 0.9). The results indicated that long TE would compromise the liver fat quantification using 1H-MRS, and therefore short TE was strongly recommended for liver fat quantification.
Adipose Tissue ; metabolism ; Animals ; Lipids ; analysis ; Liver ; metabolism ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; methods ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Spectrum Analysis