1.A comprehensive method for determination of 55 traditional and emerging per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in infant complementary foods using liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry
Ziwei LIANG ; Chao FENG ; Jiawen YOU ; Zixin QIAN ; Sunyang LE ; Dasheng LU
Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine 2025;42(2):211-217
Background Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are a class of persistent organic pollutants that pose potential health risks to humans. Infants and young children have higher requirements for food safety due to the underdeveloped detoxification and immune systems. Therefore, developing a comprehensive method for determination of PFASs and their novel alternatives in infant complementary food is of great significance. Objective To develop an analytical method using liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry technology for determination of 55 PFASs in plant- and animal-derived infant complementary fruit purees. Methods Oasis WAX (200 mg, 6 CC) solid-phase extraction columns were used for sample enrichment and purification. The pH of the acetonitrile extract was adjusted using 0%, 1%, 1.5%, and 2% formic acid aqueous solutions to evaluate its impact on the recovery rate of target compounds. Additionally, the impact of a 2 mL methanol wash during the purification process on the recovery of target compounds was assessed to determine the optimal pretreatment conditions. Three types of chromatographic columns—Agilent Poroshell 120 EC-C18, Thermo InfinityLab Poroshell 120 Aq-C18, Acquity Waters BEH-C18, and changes in mobile phase, were compared for their effects on retention time, peak shape, and response of target compounds. The method was validated in terms of selectivity, linear range, detection limit, and precision. The established method was applied to 49 commercial samples of infant complementary fruit purees. Results Adjusting the sample pH using 1.5% formic acid water and incorporating a 2 mL methanol wash during purification achieved satisfactory recovery rates. The target compounds were chromatographically separated using an Agilent Poroshell 120 EC-C18 column with a gradient elution system. The mobile phase consisted of methanol-water (methanol/water: 2/98, v/v) containing 5 mmol·L−1 ammonium formate as mobile phase A, and methanol as mobile phase B. Good separation was achieved within 15 min, resulting in optimal chromatographic peak shapes. The 55 target compounds exhibited good linearity across the standard curve range, with correlation coefficients (R²) greater than 0.99. The method detection limits ranged from 0.02 to 0.05 µg·L−1. In the plant- and animal-based fruit puree samples, the spiked recovery rates ranged from 60% to 112% and 57% to 119%, respectively, with relative standard deviations (RSD) ≤ 30%. A total of 9 traditional PFASs and 5 novel PFASs were positive in 49 samples of infant complementary fruit purees. Conclusion This method enables comprehensive detection of 55 traditional and emerging PFASs, offering wide coverage, high accuracy, and excellent sensitivity. It provides technical support for characterizing contamination by traditional and emerging PFASs in food matrices.
2.Mechanism of Huangwu Ganfu Ointment in Treatment of Peripheral Inflammatory Hyperalgesia of Knee Osteoarthritis Based on TRPV1
Chuyang JIANG ; Zhaonan WANG ; Hongliang JIANG ; Ziwei ZHAO ; Le ZHAO ; Yanmiao MA ; Yanyan LI
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2024;30(14):97-106
ObjectiveTo observe the regulatory effect of Huangwu Ganfu ointment on transient receptor potential anchor protein 1 (TRPV1) receptor expression, macrophage polarization, and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) signaling pathway in synovial tissue of knee osteoarthritis (KOA) rats with yang deficiency and cold coagulation syndrome and explore the mechanism of relieving peripheral inflammatory hyperalgesia of KOA. MethodForty-eight male SD rats were randomly divided into blank group, model group, high-dose, middle-dose, and low-dose groups of Huangwu Ganfu ointment (9.3, 4.65, 2.325 g·kg-1), and celecoxib group (20.82 mg·kg-1). The KOA rat model of yang deficiency and cold coagulation syndrome was established through climate box and swimming for two weeks combined with an injection of sodium iodoacetate (MIA) in the articular cavity. After continuous administration for four weeks, the general condition of rats in each group was observed, and the pain withdrawal threshold (PWT) and joint diameter induced by mechanical stimulation were recorded. The expression levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), nerve growth factor (NGF), and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) inflammatory factor were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the histopathological changes of synovial tissue of the knee joint were observed by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. Western blot was used to detect the protein expression of TRPV1, p38 MAPK, and p-p38 MAPK in synovial tissue of the knee joint, and immunofluorescence (IF) was used to evaluate the polarization of M1/M2 macrophages. ResultCompared with that in the blank group, the overall mental state of the model group was worse, and the autonomous activity was decreased. The body mass was lower, and the joint diameter was increased. The X-ray showed that the osteophyte at the edge of the joint proliferated, and the articular surface was obviously rough. The articular cavity was significantly narrowed, and the PWT was significantly decreased (P<0.01). The contents of IL-1β, TNF-α, CGRP, and NGF in serum and synovium Krenn score increased significantly (P<0.01). The protein expression of TRPV1 and p-p38 MAPK/p38 MAPK increased significantly (P<0.01), and the proportion of M1 macrophages and M1/M2 increased (P<0.01), while the proportion of M2 macrophages decreased (P<0.01). Compared with model group, the body mass in the low, middle, and high dose groups of Huangwu Ganfu ointment increased to different degrees (P<0.05, P<0.01). The diameter of the knee joint in the high dose group of Huangwu Ganfu ointment and celecoxib group decreased (P<0.01). The recovery of PWT in the high and middle dose groups of Huangwu Ganfu ointment groups was more obvious (P<0.05). The contents of IL-1β and CGRP in the serum of rats in each administration group were significantly decreased (P<0.01), and the content of serum TNF-α in the celecoxib group and high dose group of Huangwu Ganfu ointment decreased significantly (P<0.05). The content of serum NGF in the middle dose group of Huangwu Ganfu ointment decreased significantly (P<0.05), and the synovium Krenn score decreased in the high dose group of Huangwu Ganfu ointment (P<0.05). In addition, the protein expression of TRPV1 and p-p38 MAPK/p38 MAPK in synovial tissue decreased significantly in all groups of Huangwu Ganfu ointment (P<0.01). The proportion of M1 macrophages in synovial tissue in the celecoxib group and all groups of Huangwu Ganfu ointment decreased (P<0.01), and the proportion of M2 macrophages in the high dose group of Huangwu Ganfu ointment increased (P<0.05). The M1/M2 in the middle and high dose groups of Huangwu Ganfu ointment decreased (P<0.05). ConclusionHuangwu Ganfu ointment can mediate the polarization of macrophages to reduce the inflammatory reaction of KOA, alleviate the release of inflammatory pain mediators, and lower the protein expression of TRPV1. The mechanism may be related to the p38 MAPK signaling pathway, so as to improve the peripheral hyperalgesia of KOA.
3.Analysis on Mechanism of Huangwu Ganfu Ointment in Relieving Knee Osteoarthritis Pain Based on Network Pharmacology and Experimental Verification
Chuyang JIANG ; Zhaonan WANG ; Jiahao LI ; Qianyu QING ; Le ZHAO ; Ziwei ZHAO ; Yanyan LI
Chinese Journal of Information on Traditional Chinese Medicine 2024;31(1):20-28
Objective To analyze the mechanism of Huangwu Ganfu Ointment in relieving pain of knee osteoarthritis(KOA)based on network pharmacology;To verify it in animal experiments.Methods The active components of Huangwu Ganfu Ointment were obtained by TCMSP database,PubChem database and SwissADME platform,the effective components were screened,and the targets were obtained from SEA database.KOA disease-related targets were obtained from GeneCards,OMIM and other databases,and the intersection targets were obtained.A effective component-target-disease network was constructed using Cytoscape 3.9.0 Software.Protein-protein interaction(PPI)network was constructed by STRING database and core targets were screened.GO and KEGG enrichment analysis of intersection targets were analyzed using DAVID platform.The KOA rat model with cold and damp syndrome was established,and the intervention of Huangwu Ganfu Ointment was carried out.The efficacy was observed and the core target expressions were detected.Results Totally 104 effective components were screened from Huangwu Ganfu Ointment,and 59 potential targets were obtained for treating KOA.PPI network interaction analysis obtained the important targets of IL6,IL1B and PTGS2.KEGG enrichment results showed that Huangwu Ganfu Ointment may involve 84 signaling pathways such as IL-17,TNF,TRP and NF-κB in the treatment of KOA,most of which were related to inflammation.The results of animal experiments showed that Lecuesne MG scores increased in the model rats(P<0.05),and paw withdrawal threshold(PWT)significantly decreased(P<0.05).Compared with model group,PWT in Huangwu Ganfu Ointment medium-and high-dosage groups were significantly recovered,and synovitis Krenn score decreased(P<0.05).The Mankin score of cartilage tissue of Huangwu Ganfu Ointment high-dosage group decreased(P<0.05).The contents of IL-6 and IL-1β in all Huangwu Ganfu Ointment groups decreased(P<0.01).Huangwu Ganfu Ointment medium-and high-dosage groups could down-regulate the expression of TRPV1 protein(P<0.05,P<0.01).Conclusion The mechanism of Huangwu Ganfu Ointment in alleviating the pain of KOA may be related to reducing inflammatory response,reducing the release of inflammatory factors of IL-1β and IL-6,alleviating inflammatory pain sensitivity of KOA,and down-regulating the expression level of TRPV1.
4.Whole-brain Mapping of Inputs and Outputs of Specific Orbitofrontal Cortical Neurons in Mice.
Yijie ZHANG ; Wen ZHANG ; Lizhao WANG ; Dechen LIU ; Taorong XIE ; Ziwei LE ; Xiangning LI ; Hui GONG ; Xiao-Hong XU ; Min XU ; Haishan YAO
Neuroscience Bulletin 2024;40(11):1681-1698
The orbitofrontal cortex (ORB), a region crucial for stimulus-reward association, decision-making, and flexible behaviors, extensively connects with other brain areas. However, brain-wide inputs to projection-defined ORB neurons and the distribution of inhibitory neurons postsynaptic to neurons in specific ORB subregions remain poorly characterized. Here we mapped the inputs of five types of projection-specific ORB neurons and ORB outputs to two types of inhibitory neurons. We found that different projection-defined ORB neurons received inputs from similar cortical and thalamic regions, albeit with quantitative variations, particularly in somatomotor areas and medial groups of the dorsal thalamus. By counting parvalbumin (PV) or somatostatin (SST) interneurons innervated by neurons in specific ORB subregions, we found a higher fraction of PV neurons in sensory cortices and a higher fraction of SST neurons in subcortical regions targeted by medial ORB neurons. These results provide insights into understanding and investigating the function of specific ORB neurons.
Animals
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Neurons/physiology*
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Mice
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Prefrontal Cortex/cytology*
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Parvalbumins/metabolism*
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Brain Mapping/methods*
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Neural Pathways/physiology*
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Somatostatin/metabolism*
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Male
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Interneurons/physiology*
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Mice, Inbred C57BL
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Thalamus/physiology*
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Mice, Transgenic

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