Lactofermented Annurca Apple Puree as a Functional Food Indicated for the Control of Plasma Lipid and Oxidative Amine Levels: Results from a Randomised Clinical Trial

University of Naples Federico II, Hospital Cardarelli, Coop. Samnium Medica, UCCP

Abstract

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases are preferential targets of healthy diet and preventive medicine partially through strategies to improve lipid profile and counteract oxidative metabolites. Ninety individuals with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors were randomized (1:1:1 ratio) to three arms, according to a four-week run-in, eight-week intervention, and four-week follow up study, testing the effects of a lactofermented Annurca apple puree (lfAAP), compared to unfermented apple puree (AAP) or probiotic alone (LAB) on plasma lipid profile and trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) levels. By comparing the treatments, data indicated for the subjects tested with lfAAP a higher variation of the following serum parameters, in respect to the other treatment groups: high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), +61.8% (p = 0.0095); and TMAO levels, −63.1% (p = 0.0042). The present study would suggest lfAAP as an effective functional food for beneficial control of plasma HDL-C and TMAO levels.

HPLC-DAD/ESI-MS analysis using the Advion expression® Compact Mass Spectrometer (CMS) was used to quantify TMAO in blood samples.

University of Cambridge, NIHR BCR Metabolomics and Lipidomics Facility

What is the focus of your lab’s research?

Almost exclusively high throughput lipid profiling of samples from large epidemiological studies, where we study gene-lifestyle interactions. The method works with plasma samples as well as dried blood spots. The method is also applied to small-scale studies of specific disease groups, dietary interventions and model systems such as yeast. The TriVersa NanoMate® is also used to study the lipid composition of tissues analyzed by LESA®.

Why did you incorporate the TriVersa NanoMate® into your laboratory?

The TriVersa NanoMate® is essential to efficiently analyze large-scale studies. It offers a really robust method for high throughput studies with minimal carryover.

Who would you recommend to purchase the TriVersa NanoMate®?

I recommend the TriVersa NanoMate® to laboratories with a large number of samples requiring a robust and reliable delivery system. The TriVersa NanoMate® eliminates typical nanoelectrospray ionization challenges.

Do you have any publications or presentations using the TriVersa NanoMate®?

Publication Highlight:
Development and Application of High-Throughput Single Cell Lipid Profiling: A Study of SNCA-A53T Human Dopamine Neurons
Snowden, et al. iScience, 2020, 23(10), 101703

Combining FACS and LESA-MS to establish high-throughput single cell lipid profiling. Research identifies lipid differences found within and between populations of human dopamine neurons.

Other Publications:
  • Snowden et al. Combining lipidomics and machine learning to measure clinical lipids in dried blood spots. Metabolomics. DOI: 10.1007/s11306-020-01703-0
  • Koulman et al. The development and validation of a fast and robust dried blood spot based lipid profiling method to study infant metabolism. Metabolomics. DOI: 10.1007/s11306-014-0628-z
  • Furse et al. A high-throughput platform for detailed lipidomic analysis of a range of mouse and human tissues. Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry. DOI: 10.1007/s00216-020-02511-0
  • Harshfield et al. An unbiased lipid phenotyping approach to study the genetic determinants of lipids and their associations with coronary heart disease risk factors. J Proteom Res. DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.8b00786
  • Mann et al. Insights into genetic variants associated with NASH-fibrosis from metabolite profiling. Hum Mol Genet. DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddaa162

Distinguishing neurocysticercosis epilepsy from epilepsy of unknown etiology using a minimal serum mass profiling platform

J. S. Hanas, J. R. Hocker, G. Ramajayam, V. Prabhakaran, V. Rajshekhar, A. Oommen, J. J. Manoj, M. P. Anderson, D. A. Drevets, H. Carabin

Neurocysticercosis is associated with epilepsy in pig-raising communities with poor sanitation. Current internationally recognized diagnostic guidelines for neurocysticercosis rely on brain imaging, a technology that is frequently not available or not accessible in areas endemic for neurocysticercosis. Minimally invasive and low-cost aids for diagnosing neurocysticercosis epilepsy could improve treatment of neurocysticercosis. The goal of this study was to test the extent to which patients with neurocysticercosis epilepsy, epilepsy of unknown etiology, idiopathic headaches and among different types of neurocysticercosis lesions could be distinguished from each other based on serum mass profiling. For this, we collected sera from patients with neurocysticercosis-associated epilepsy, epilepsy of unknown etiology, recovered neurocysticercosis, and idiopathic headaches then performed binary group comparisons among them using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. A leave one [serum sample] out cross validation procedure was employed to analyze spectral data. Sera from neurocysticercosis patients was distinguished from epilepsy of unknown etiology patients with a p-value of 10-28. This distinction was lost when samples were randomized to either group (p-value = 0.22). Similarly, binary comparisons of patients with neurocysticercosis who has different types of lesions showed that different forms of this disease were also distinguishable from one another. These results suggest neurocysticercosis epilepsy can be distinguished from epilepsy of unknown etiology based on biomolecular differences in sera detected by mass profiling.

The MS analysis was carried out using the Advion expression CMS.

Trimethylamine N-oxide, Mediterranean Diet, and Nutrition in Healthy, Normal-Weight Adults: Also a Matter of Sex?

Federico II University Medical School of Naples, University of Naples “Federico II”, Institute for Hospitalization and Healthcare SDN

Abstract

Objective. Sex exerts an important influence on food preferences. The Mediterranean diet (MD) is based on the common dietary characteristics and lifestyle behaviors of the Mediterranean countries. Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), a marker of gut dysbiosis linked to the development of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular risk, is mainly dependent on dietary pattern and gut microbiota metabolism. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between levels of TMAO and adherence to the MD as a function of sex.

Plate Express®: Direct Mass Analysis from TLC Plates

Provides simple, automated MS analysis in seconds, directly from TLC plates

The Plate Express® is a device that provides a simple, automated means of obtaining mass spectra directly from TLC plates, creating a technique known as TLC/MS. Combined with Advion Interchim Scientific’s expression® compact mass spectrometer (CMS) this becomes TLC/CMS. Using this technique, chemists can quickly and confidently identify products even in complex mixtures without additional sample preparation.

  • Identify spots in <1 minute
  • Avoid the risk of overloading the mass spectrometer – TLC spots contain the ideal amount of sample for mass spectrometry
  • Software controlled – spectra obtained within a few mouse clicks
  • Simplify the process of obtaining spectra – ideal for multi-user labs

AVANT® HPLC & (U)HPLC Chromatography Systems

Providing simple, high-performance, LC/CMS with the expression® CMS

Modular, stackable design, with many options provides custom solutions for both HPLC and UHPLC needs. From the simplest manual injection HPLC to a fully automated, streamlined UHPLC system and everything in-between, the Avant series can be configured to fit your analytical requirements and your budget.

The AVANT® (U)HPLC series is the latest in Advion’s innovative line of sample inlet devices for the expression® CMS which include:

  • Plate Express® for automated mass assays from TLC plates
  • The ASAP® direct analysis probe for solid, liquid and even air sensitive samples using iASAP
  • vAPCI for analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from head spaces, breath, and other gas samples.
  • Flow chemistry interfaces

All these techniques can be simply, simultaneously, interfaced with the CMS so that the chemist can move quickly and effortlessly between workflows.

Distinguishing Neurocysticercosis Epilepsy from Epilepsy of Unknown Etiology using a Minimal Serum Mass Profiling Platform

University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, Christian Medical College

Abstract

Minimally invasive and low-cost aids for diagnosing neurocysticercosis epilepsy could improve treatment of neurocysticercosis.

The goal of this study was to test the extent to which patients with neurocysticercosis epilepsy, epilepsy of unknown etiology, idiopathic headaches and among different types of neurocysticercosis lesions could be distinguished from each other based on serum mass profiling.

The results from this study suggest neurocysticercosis epilepsy can be distinguished from epilepsy of unknown etiology based on biomolecular differences in sera detected by mass profiling.

Samples were analyzed by ESI source on the Advion expression® Compact Mass Spectrometer (CMS) and the data analyze using the Advion Data Express software.

Urinary Cortisol Quantitation Using Ultra High Pressure Liquid Chromatography/Compact Mass Spectrometry

Introduction

Cortisol is an important steroid hormone produced from cholesterol in the adrenal cortex. Its secretion is closely regulated by the Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). Most cortisol is protein-bound and only unbound cortisol is excreted in urine. The measurement of cortisol in urine is typically used to diagnosis of Cushing’s syndrome, a disorder of hypercortisolism.

Although immunoassay methods have extremely high sensitivity, they are subject to variable interferences from other steroids and their conjugates. Liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry is used in clinical analysis because of its higher specificity and selectivity than immunoassay methods.

A simple and robust UHPLC/MS method using the Advion Interchim Scientific expression® Compact Mass Spectrometer (CMS) is introduced for urinary cortisol analysis and the dynamic range and sensitivity (LOD and LLOQ) of the UHPLC/CMS method will be evaluated.