Multivariate data analysis of trace element content in animal organs measured by simultaneous atomic absorption spectrometry

The simultaneous determination of trace elements in animal organs offers improved possibilities to characterize the geographical origin of the animal by analyzing its pollution characteristics. Pb, Cd, Ni (GF-AAS) and Cu, Zn, Fe, Mn (F-AAS) in kidneys and livers of cows from different sites have been measured using simultaneous AAS. The correct allocation of cows to specific regions shows that multivariate data analysis provides efficient tools for the geographical classification. The consideration of absorbance rather than concentration as the data input simplified the analytical procedures by omitting the calibration step.     

Die quantitative bestimmung von alkali- und erdalkaliionen durch fällungstitration in nichtwässrigen lösungen

Precipitation titrations of the cations of salts such as sodium perchlorate, potassium hexafluoroarsenate, barium perchlorate and barium iodide, were investigated in acetone and methyl isobutyl ketone media. The titrant was a solution of lithium chloride in the same ketone and end-points were detected oscillometrically or conductometrically. The different types of titration curve found can be explained by comparing the specific conductivities of the solutions before and after titration. Barium iodide and barium perchlorate can be determined in both ketones with an error of ±1%. In the case of sodium perchlorate and potassium hexafluoroarsenate, accurate titrations are possible only in methyl isobutyl ketone media.     

Screening an In-House Isoquinoline Alkaloids Library for New Blockers of Voltage-Gated Na+ Channels Using Voltage Sensor Fluorescent Probes: Hits and Biases

Voltage-gated Na⁺ (Na_V) channels are significant therapeutic targets for the treatment of cardiac and neurological disorders, thus promoting the search for novel Na_V channel ligands. With the objective of discovering new blockers of Na_V channel ligands, we screened an In-House vegetal alkaloid library using fluorescence cell-based assays. We screened 62 isoquinoline alkaloids (IA) for their ability to decrease the FRET signal of voltage sensor probes (VSP), which were induced by the activation of Na_V channels with batrachotoxin (BTX) in GH3b6 cells. This led to the selection of five IA: liriodenine, oxostephanine, thalmiculine, protopine, and bebeerine, inhibiting the BTX-induced VSP signal with micromolar IC₅₀. These five alkaloids were then assayed using the Na⁺ fluorescent probe ANG-2 and the patch-clamp technique. Only oxostephanine and liriodenine were able to inhibit the BTX-induced ANG-2 signal in HEK293-hNa_V1.3 cells. Indeed, liriodenine and oxostephanine decreased the effects of BTX on Na⁺ currents elicited by the hNa_V1.3 channel, suggesting that conformation change induced by BTX binding could induce a bias in fluorescent assays. However, among the five IA selected in the VSP assay, only bebeerine exhibited strong inhibitory effects against Na⁺ currents elicited by the hNav1.2 and hNav1.6 channels, with IC₅₀ values below 10 µM. So far, bebeerine is the first BBIQ to have been reported to block Na_V channels, with promising therapeutical applications.     

Snake Venom Components: Tools and Cures to Target Cardiovascular Diseases

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are considered as a major cause of death worldwide. Therefore, identifying and developing therapeutic strategies to treat and reduce the prevalence of CVDs is a major medical challenge. Several drugs used for the treatment of CVDs, such as captopril, emerged from natural products, namely snake venoms. These venoms are complex mixtures of bioactive molecules, which, among other physiological networks, target the cardiovascular system, leading to them being considered in the development and design of new drugs. In this review, we describe some snake venom molecules targeting the cardiovascular system such as phospholipase A2 (PLA2), natriuretic peptides (NPs), bradykinin-potentiating peptides (BPPs), cysteine-rich secretory proteins (CRISPs), disintegrins, fibrinolytic enzymes, and three-finger toxins (3FTXs). In addition, their molecular targets, and mechanisms of action—vasorelaxation, inhibition of platelet aggregation, cardioprotective activities—are discussed. The dissection of their biological effects at the molecular scale give insights for the development of future snake venom-derived drugs.     

On the Connectedness of Probabilistic Constraint Sets

We prove a result on the connectedness of (abstract) probabilistic constraints P(h(x,)0)p without any assumption on the distribution of . An application to storage level constraints is discussed briefly. Illustrating examples are provided and a simple criterion for the required condition is given in the case of linear h.     

Evaluation of contributions to the uncertainty of cholesterol determination in human serum by means of gas chromatography/(quadrupole-) mass spectrometry

 The uncertainty budget of the determination of cholesterol in a reference material (freeze-dried human serum) by isotope dilution mass spectrometry (IDMS) was evaluated. Measurements were run on a GC/quadrupole MS. A nested experimental design combined with a corresponding model for the analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed the components making up the total uncertainty of the determinations. The coefficient of variation (CV) of the sole GC/MS-step was 0.47%, while that of the sample preparation including hydrolyzation, extraction and derivatization was 0.84%. This made the in-laboratory (overall) CV 0.96%. In addition, there was a vial-to-vial effect of 1.00% probably due to both inhomogeneity of the pooled material and lack of reproducibility of the filling procedure (including freeze drying) of the supplier as well as the reconstitution prior to use in the laboratory. These contributions sum up to an overall CV of a single determination of about 1.4%. Received: 17 October 1996/Revised: 14 November 1996/Accepted: 18 November 1996     

A reliable and ultrasensitive voltammetric method for the determination of molybdenum

Summary The determination of molybdenum(VI) in aquatic media by polarography, voltammetry and adsorptive stripping voltammetry using the formation of a Mo-chlorate-mandalic acid complex at +100 mV (SCE) is described. The 3 s_blank-detection limit is 0.1 nmol/l with differential pulse adsorptive stripping voltammetry (DPAdsSV, catalytic current). The calibration graphs are linear up to 200 nmol/l for the latter, 400 nmol/l for staircase voltammetry without accumulation time and 1 mg/l for staircase polarography. The accuracy of the DPAdsSV method was checked by analysis of a standard reference water material. The utility of differential pulse voltammetry was tested in different aquatic media, e.g., tap water, ground water, surface water.

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Eine zuverlässige und äußerst empfindliche Methode zur Bestimmung von Molybdän