Spatial distribution, source, and fate of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in the surrounding environment of closed and converted fluorochemical factories in Fujian, China

Following the closure of perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) production to comply with the Stockholm Convention regulations or restrictions, manufacturers have shifted to developing short-chain alternatives like perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS). However, limited research has been conducted to evaluate the impact of this transition on the surrounding environment. This study focused on the spatial distribution, source, and fate of 18 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the surrounding environment of the closure and transformation of two PFAS manufacturing plants in Fujian, China. The total concentrations of PFAS in surface water, sediment, and fish were within the range of 48.9-72,400 ng/L, 0.930-57.6 ng/g dw, and 3.33-1245 ng/g dw, respectively. The predominant compounds were PFBS, PFOS, and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) among the three matrices. Principal component analysis highlighted significant differences in PFAS profiles across different regions of the Futun River, suggesting diverse sources of PFAS. Source apportionment indicated that despite being closed or converted for almost three years, the two factories still significantly impacted the surrounding environment. The shutdown factory mainly released PFAS characterized by perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acids. In contrast, the PFAS were released from conversion plant with the fingerprint being PFBS and perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids. The conversion of the factories has resulted in the coexistence of long-chain and short-chain PFAS, which has complicated the composition of PFAS in the environment. As sewage treatment plant could not effectively remove PFBS and perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) in wastewater, and due to their strong migration ability, these chemicals had a wider impact range, increasing the difficulty of environmental restoration and management. Risk assessment showed that PFAS downstream of the two factories posed high or moderate ecological risks. Specifically, PFBS, PFOS, and PFOA displayed the highest risk quotients and should be paid further attention.

Rapid authenticity assessment of PGI Hongyuan yak milk based on SICRIT-QTOF MS

Hongyuan (HY) yaks live in a pollution-free environment, making HY yak milk a green food, but their short milk production period and low milk yield make yak milk precious and expensive. The phenomenon of counterfeiting HY yak milk with ordinary milk from other origins has already occurred, so the authenticity assessment of HY yak milk is necessary. This study developed a rapid soft ionisation by chemical reaction in transfer quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (SICRIT-QTOF MS) for HY yak milk differences assessment. Principal component analysis and orthogonal least squares discriminant analysis showed differences between HY milk and the other three origins. Twenty-eight differential compounds were screened out by variable importance in projection, fold change, P-value, and database matching. Furthermore, six characteristic compounds (proline, 2-hydroxy-3-methylbutyric acid, and l-isoleucine, etc.) of HY samples were putatively identified. The study demonstrated that SICRIT-QTOF MS has great potential for rapidly distinguishing the milk origin.

Trace the origin of yak meat in Xizang based on stable isotope combined with multivariate statistics

In this study, the feasibility of tracing the origin of yak meat in Xizang Autonomous Region based on stable isotope combined with multivariable statistics was researched. The δ13C, δ15N, δ2H and δ18O in yak meat were determined by stable isotope ratio mass spectrometry, and the data were analyzed by analysis of variance, fisher discriminant analysis (FDA), back propagation (BP) neural network and orthogonal partial least squares discrimination analysis (OPLS-DA). The results showed that the δ13C, δ15N, δ2H and δ18O had significant differences among different origins (P < 0.05). The overall original correct discrimination rate of fisher discriminant analysis was 89.7 %, and the correct discrimination rate of cross validation was 88.2 %. The correct classification rate of BP neural network based on training set was 93.38 %, and the correct classification rate of BP neural network based on test set was 89.83 %. The OPLS-DA model interpretation rate parameter R2Y was 0.67, the model prediction rate parameter Q2 was 0.409, which could distinguish yak meat from seven different producing areas in Xizang Autonomous Region. The results showed that the origin of yak meat in Xizang Autonomous Region can be traced based on stable isotope combined with multivariate statistics.

Rapid analysis technologies with chemometrics for food authenticity field: A review

In recent years, the problem of food adulteration has become increasingly rampant, seriously hindering the development of food production, consumption, and management. The common analytical methods used to determine food authenticity present challenges, such as complicated analysis processes and time-consuming procedures, necessitating the development of rapid, efficient analysis technology for food authentication. Spectroscopic techniques, ambient ionization mass spectrometry (AIMS), electronic sensors, and DNA-based technology have gradually been applied for food authentication due to advantages such as rapid analysis and simple operation. This paper summarizes the current research on rapid food authenticity analysis technology from three perspectives, including breeds or species determination, quality fraud detection, and geographical origin identification, and introduces chemometrics method adapted to rapid analysis techniques. It aims to promote the development of rapid analysis technology in the food authenticity field.

Effects of Fertilizer on the Quality and Traceability of Tibet highland Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.): A Diagnosis Using Nutrients and Mineral Elements

Production areas influence the quality of highland barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), and fertilization levels may be associated with the origin traceability of highland barley. As the main object of the study, a collection of highland barley was planted in different areas in Tibet, China, to explore the effect of fertilizer on the quality and traceability of highland barley. We carried out field experiments with and without fertilizer treatment (using urea and diamine phosphate). Highland barley was distinguished by nutrient and mineral element contents in combination with chemometric methods. The results indicated that fertilizer treatment significantly affected some mineral element contents in highland barley and improved the accuracy of highland barley traceability. The combination of nutrients and mineral elements could distinguish highland barley from those raised in other areas due to influence of growing environment. P, K, Fe, and Cu provided a great contribution to the classification of highland barley. Thus, the combination of nutrients and mineral elements can be used as a powerful tool to track highland barley, indicating that fertilization treatment should be considered when tracing highland barley.

Direct analysis in real time high-resolution mass spectrometry for authenticity assessment of lamb

In comparison to more traditional methods of determining food authenticity, such as gas chromatography analysis, the primary advantages of DART-HRMS include its high speed and throughput of analysis. This study used a non-targeted metabolomics method based on real-time high-resolution mass spectrometry combined with chemometric analysis to distinguish lamb samples from four regions. Orthogonal least squares-discriminant analysis revealed a distinct difference between these four lamb regions. The potential markers were chosen based on the variable's importance in projection values, variance, and fold change. A total of 79 markers were identified using the matching chemistry database. These markers differed significantly between lambs in four regions according to heatmap analysis. The linear discriminatory analysis model had an initial classification rate of 100.0% and a cross-validation accuracy of 82.50% on the identified markers. The research demonstrates that DART-HRMS can perform a rapid authentication evaluation of lamb samples.

Study of the occurrence of toxic alkaloids in forage grass by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry

The toxic alkaloids in forage grass present a serious health hazard to humans and livestock, especially ergot alkaloids (EAs), pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) and tropane alkaloids (TAs). Hence, there is a need for a simultaneous method that allows these dangerous plant toxins to be determined. A simple and effective method was developed to determine fifteen toxic alkaloids (EAs, PAs and TAs) in forage grass using the QuEChERS method and liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The developed method was validated with average recoveries ranging from 63.10 to 102.10%, and relative standard deviations lower than or equal to 6.39% were obtained. Good linearity over the concentration range of 10-600 µg/kg dry matter (DM) was observed for the target alkaloids. The determination coefficients R² calculated for each of the matrix calibration curves were greater than 0.99. The limits of detection and quantification were 5 µg/kg DM and 10 µg/kg DM, respectively. The reproducibility of the method was verified in three laboratories: all of the mean recoveries of 15 alkaloids were higher than 60%, and the relative standard deviations in alkaloids between laboratories were all less than 14.24%. The proposed method was applied to analyse 134 forage grass samples from the meadow steppe of Inner Mongolia to monitor toxic alkaloids. A significant difference in the frequency of contamination was found between different herbage species and different regions.

Study on the origin traceability of Tibet highland barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) based on its nutrients and mineral elements

The potential of traceability by nutrients and mineral elements in highland barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) from five cities in Tibet were investigated. The results showed that there were significant differences in nutrients and mineral elements in highland barley from different regions (P < 0.05). The original classification accuracy of linear discriminant analysis (LDA) was 78.3%, and the discrimination accuracy of training set samples based on partial least-squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) model was over 65%. The results of correlation analysis show that five elements (Fe, Zn, K, Mn and P) in highland barley are related to the concentration of elements in soil, while three elements (Ca, Cu and Mg) in highland barley have no obvious correlation with soil, because the special natural environment in Tibet affecting the growth of highland barley. This indicates that the origin traceability of highland barley can be achieved by measuring its nutrients and mineral elements.

Authentication of organic pork and identification of geographical origins of pork in four regions of China by combined analysis of stable isotopes and multi-elements

The purpose of this study was to verify that the organic status of pork purchased in the markets from four different regions of China can be authenticated by the combined analysis of stable isotopes and multiple elements. Four stable isotope ratios (δ¹³C, δ¹⁵N, δ²H and δ¹⁸O) and the concentrations of seven elements (K, Na, Mg, Ca, Fe, Cu and Se) were determined in organic and conventional pork samples from four locations of China. Principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) were used to analyze stable isotope ratios and multi-element concentrations in pork. Based on the limited database of analytical values, the methodology would be potentially able to confirm whether a sample of pork came from the region and organic status it claimed. These results provide a possibility for authenticity of organic agricultural products from a large scope such as a province even a country.

Relationship between NFKB1 -94 insertion/deletion ATTG polymorphism and susceptibility of cervical squamous cell carcinoma risk

BACKGROUND

A very high expression of nuclear factor-kappa B protein (nuclear p50, encoded by NFKB1) in high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion and invasive cancers has been observed. The aim of this study was to determine whether the functional NFKB1 -94 insertion/deletion ATTG polymorphism (rs28362491) is associated with cervical squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

PCR-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis method was used to genotype the NFKB1 -94 insertion/deletion ATTG polymorphism in 233 women with CSCC and 365 ethnicity-matched healthy control women. The genotyping method was confirmed by the DNA sequencing analysis.

RESULTS

The frequency of ATTG(2)/ATTG(2) genotype and ATTG(2) allele in the CSCC patients was significantly higher than that of controls, indicating that the -94 insertion/deletion ATTG polymorphism in NFKB1 promoter was associated with CSCC [P = 0.001, odds ratio (OR) = 2.560, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.459-4.492 and P = 0.001, OR = 1.493, 95% CI 1.168-1.908, respectively]. Results of stratified analyses revealed that this polymorphism is associated with younger age (< or =35 years) and positive parametrial invasion but not with tumor differentiation, high clinical stage or lymph node status.

CONCLUSION

Our results indicate that the functional NFKB1 -94 insertion/deletion ATTG polymorphism is associated with CSCC, especially with younger age (< or =35 years) and positive parametrial invasion of CSCC patients.

[The effect of a vaccine made from 39kd hydrophobic outer membrane protein of Leptospira interrogans on neurohumoral and red cell immunity function of the guinea pigs]

A randomized control trial was conducted to determine the immunoprotective efficacy of OmpL39. 36 guinea pigs were divided into OmpL39 group, whole leptospiral cell vaccine (WLCV) group, other proteins of Leptospira group, and negative control group (normal saline, NS). The results showed that all the guinea pigs of infected OmpL39 and WLCV still survived, but all the control guinea pigs died. Immunoprotective efficacy was 100% for OmpL39 and WLCV. OmpL39 levels were similar to WLCV levels and higher than controls (P < 0.05). These suggested that OmpL39 could be used as important immunoprotective antigen to develop the genetic vaccine of the targeting delivery system. Also it was observed that OmpL39 could produce 100% immunoprotective efficacy, have higher MAT level (> 1:3200) and regulate 5-HT, 5-HIAA, DA, NE. The 5-HT, DA, NE concentration was lower and 5-HIAA was higher than that of controls after stimulating the guinea pigs with OmpL39 (P < 0.05). The results suggested that OmpL39 genetic vaccine could produce immunity function and have an active effect on absorbing inflammation and protecting organs and tissues. Besides, the red cell immunity efficacy of the guinea pigs was changed during immunity response and the RBC-C3b RR and the RBC-ICR were increased. The RFER was increased; the RFIR was decreased. RFER/RFIR was remarkably higher than that of control (P < 0.05). These suggested that OmpL39 could increase red cell immunity function.

[Evaluation on ISGP classification of endometrial hyperplasia in clinical application]

To evaluate clinical application of International Society of Gynecologic Pathologists Classification of endometrial hyperplasia 424 patients with endome trial hyperplasia were treated in our hospital from Sept. 1989 to Feb. 1995. Our of these cases, 339 were simple hyperplasia, 28 were complex hyperplasia and 57 atypical hyperplasia. We made an analysis of the cases of complex and atypical hyperplasia in terms of the ISGP classification. The total rate of curettage was 63.5%. The agreement rate for pathologic diagnoses before and after operation was 78%. Under the age of 40, 18 patients had atypical hyperplasia and 15 of them underwent hysterectomy. Eight patients had complex hyperplasia and 3 of them underwent hysterectomy. Above the age of 40, 39 patients had atypical hyperplasia and 30 of them had uterus removed. Twenty patients had complex hyperplasia and 12 of them had uterus removed. These suggest that the ISGP pathologic diagnostic method is good to avoid overdiagnosis and overtreatment. Yet, diagnostic curettage is still the best means in diagnosis before operation.

[Perinatal monitoring in intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy]

The sensitivity of meconium stain in amniotic fluid for prediction of fetal well-being in intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy(ICP) was evaluated. The study consisted of an ICP group(n = 30), and a control group (n = 30) and the umbilical arterial pH value(< 7.2) was used as a standard. The positive and negative predicttive valus of meconium-stained amniotic fluid in ICP group were 80.0%; the positive and negative predictive values in control group were 60.0% and 92.0% respectively. There was no significant difference (P > 0.05) between the two groups in positive and negative predictive values. However, the positive and negative predictive values of the two groups were high, which indicated that meconium-stained amniotic fluid related to fetal hypoxia. Moreover, the incidence of meconium-stained amniotic fluid in ICP was higher than that in control (40.0%: 16.70%, P < 0.05). Therefore, we suggest that the amniotic fluid of patients with ICP should be observed very closely. When meconium-stained amniotic fluid is discovered, delivery by cesarean section is imminent.

[The value of CA125 and LDH assays in assisting diagnosis of epithelial ovarian carcinoma]

40 first-treated cases of epithelial ovarian cancer, 13 cases of cervical cancer, 13 cases of corpus cancer and 50 cases of benign tumor were included in this study from Jan. 1991 through May 1992 to evaluate the significance of the blood CA125, LDH, CR and SA levels in assisting diagnosis of epithelical ovarian cancer. The CA125 levels of the 40 canses of ovarian cancer were higher than those of cervical cancer and corpus cancer (P < 0.05); the SS, PLR and AC of CA125 in ovarian cancer were higher than those of LDH, SA and CR (P < 0.05); the SS of CA125 in ovarian cancer was higher than that of LDH isoenzyme (P < 0.05). The results show that CA125 may be the best tumor marker in assisting ovarian cancer; CA125 is more informative than LDH, CR and SA; when CA125 is used incombination with other tumor markers, SS, SP, NPV and PPV can be greatly raised.