Proteome analysis of human dorsolateral prefrontal cortex using shotgun mass spectrometry

The prefrontal cortex executes important functions such as differentiation of conflicting thoughts, correct social behavior and personality expression, and is directly implicated in different neurodegenerative diseases. We performed a shotgun proteome analysis that included IEF fractionation, RP-LC, and MALDI-TOF/TOF mass spectrometric analysis of tryptic digests from a pool of seven human dorsolateral prefrontal cortex protein extracts. In this report, we present a catalog of 387 proteins expressed in these samples, identified by two or more peptides and high confidence search scores. These proteins are involved in different biological processes such as cell growth and/or maintenance, metabolism/energy pathways, cell communication/signal trarisduction, protein metabolism, transport, regulation of nucleobase, nucleoside, nucleotide and nucleic acid metabolism, and immune response. This analysis contributes to the knowledge of the human brain proteome by adding sample diversity and protein expression data from an alternative technical approach. It will also aid comparative studies of different brain areas and medical conditions, with future applications in basic and clinical research.

MODELLING OF HIGH-PRESSURE PHASE EQUILIBRIUM IN SYSTEMS OF INTEREST IN THE FOOD ENGINEERING FIELD USING THE PENG-ROBINSON EQUATION OF STATE WITH TWO DIFFERENT MIXING RULES

In this work, thermodynamic models for fitting the phase equilibrium of binary systems were applied, aiming to predict the high pressure phase equilibrium of multicomponent systems of interest in the food engineering field, comparing the results generated by the models with new experimental data and with those from the literature. Two mixing rules were used with the Peng-Robinson equation of state, one with the mixing rule of van der Waals and the other with the composition-dependent mixing rule of Mathias et al. The systems chosen are of fundamental importance in food industries, such as the binary systems CO(2)-limonene, CO(2)-citral and CO(2)-linalool, and the ternary systems CO(2)-Limonene-Citral and CO(2)-Limonene-Linalool, where high pressure phase equilibrium knowledge is important to extract and fractionate citrus fruit essential oils. For the CO(2)-limonene system, some experimental data were also measured in this work. The results showed the high capability of the model using the composition-dependent mixing rule to model the phase equilibrium behavior of these systems.

High intake of fruits and vegetables predicts weight loss in Brazilian overweight adults

To determine whether changes in dietary intakes predict weight loss, we studied 80 overweight adults who attended a nutritional counseling program during 6 months of follow-up at a primary health care center in Brazil. Habitual diet was assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire at baseline and after 6 months. The mean age (+/-SD) of the participants was 46.5 +/- 9.5 years, and their mean body mass index was 29 +/- 3 kg/m(2) at baseline. After 6 months, the differences in body weight and fruit/vegetable intake were -1.4 +/- 3 kg and 109 +/- 320 g daily, respectively. Using multiple linear regression models adjusted for age, sex, changes in walking time, and total energy intake, the increased intake of dietary fiber from fruits/vegetables was associated with a greater weight loss (beta 1 [95% confidence interval (CI)] = -0.180 [-0.269, -0.0911) after 6 months of follow-up. Similar results were observed for increased intake of vegetables (beta 1 [95% CI] = -0.00497 [-0.008, -0.0021) and fruits (beta 1 [95% CI] = -0.00290 [-0.005, -0.001]) as predictors of weight loss. The increase of 100 g/d of vegetables and fruits represented a body weight loss of 500 and 300 g after 6 months, respectively (P <.05). Our findings support the relevance of increased intakes of fruits and vegetables that may help avoid weight gain in overweight adults. (C) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Ciprofibrate quantification in human plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray tandem mass spectrometry for pharmacokinetic studies

A rapid, sensitive and specific method for quantifying ciprofibrate in human plasma using bezafibrate as the internal standard (IS) is described. The sample was acidified prior extraction with formic acid (88%). The analyte and the IS were extracted from plasma by liquid-liquid extraction using an organic solvent (diethyl ether/dichloromethane 70/30 (v/v)). The extracts were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). Chromatography was performed using Genesis C18 4 mu m analytical column (4.6 x 150 mm i.d.) and a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile/water (70/30, v/v) and 1 mM acetic acid. The method had a chromatographic run time of 3.4 min and a linear calibration curve over the range 0.1-60 mu g/mL (r > 0.99). The limit of quantification was 0.1 mu g/mL. The intra- and interday accuracy and precision values of the assay were less than 13.5%. The stability tests indicated no significant degradation. The recovery of ciprofibrate was 81.2%, 73.3% and 76.2% for the 0.3, 5.0 and 48.0 ng/mL standard concentrations, respectively. For ciprofibrate, the optimized parameters of the declustering potential, collision energy and collision exit potential were -51 V, -16 eV and -5 V, respectively. The method was also validated without the use of the internal standard. This HPLC-MS/MS procedure was used to assess the bioequivalence of two ciprofibrate 100 mg tablet formulations in healthy volunteers of both sexes. The following pharmacokinetic parameters were obtained from the ciprofibrate plasma concentration vs. time curves: AUC(last), AUC(0-168 h), C(max) and T(max). The geometric mean with corresponding 90% confidence interval (CI) for test/reference percent ratios were 93.80% (90% CI = 88.16-99.79%) for C(max), 98.31% (90% CI = 94.91-101.83%) for AUC(last) and 97.67% (90% CI = 94.45-101.01%) for AUC(0-168 h). Since the 90% Cl for AUC(last), AUC(0-168 h) and C(max) ratios were within the 80-125% interval proposed by the US FDA, it was concluded that ciprofibrate (Lipless (R) 100 mg tablet) formulation manufactured by Biolab Sanus Farmaceutica Ltda. is bioequivalent to the Oroxadin (R) (100 mg tablet) formulation for both the rate and the extent of absorption. (C) 2011 Published by Elsevier B.V.