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In this study, we i assessed the metabolic profile of the normal adrenal cortex and medulla of adult human subjects by means of ¹H-high-resolution magic-angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (HRMAS NMR) spectroscopy; ii) compared the biochemical profile of adenoma (Ad), adrenal cortical carcinoma (ACC), and pheochromocytoma (PCC) samples with that of healthy adrenal tissue samples; and iii) investigated the metabolic differences between ACCs and Ads as well as between ACCs and PCCs. Sixty-six tissue samples (13 adrenal cortical tissue, eight medullary tissue, 13 Ad, 12 ACC, and 20 PCC samples) were analyzed. Adrenaline and noradrenaline were undetectable in cortical samples representing the metabolic signature of the tissue derived from neural crest. Similarity between the metabolic profile of Ads and that of the normal adrenal cortex was shown. Inversely, ACC samples clearly made up a detached group exhibiting the typical stigmata of neoplastic tissue such as choline-containing compounds, biochemical markers of anaerobic processes, and increased glycolysis. Significantly higher levels of lactate, acetate, and total choline-containing compounds played a major role in the differentiation of ACCs from Ads. Moreover, the high fatty acid content of ACCs contributed to the cluster identification of ACCs. Of the 14 sporadic PCC samples, 12 exhibited predominant or exclusive noradrenaline secretion. The noradrenaline: adrenaline ratio was inverted in the normal medullary tissue samples. Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2- and NF1-related PCC samples exhibited both adrenaline and noradrenaline secretion. In the von Hippel-Lindau disease-related PCC samples, only noradrenaline secretion was detected by HRMASNMRspectroscopy. This study is one of the first applications of metabolomics to adrenal pathophysiology and it is the largest study to report HRMASNMR data related to the adrenal cortex and adrenal cortical tumors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A novel coil, called Z coil, is presented. Its function is to reduce the strong thermal effects produced by rf heating at high frequencies. The results obtained at 500MHz in a 50μl sample prove that the Z coil can cope with salt concentrations that are one order of magnitude higher than in traditional solenoidal coils. The evaluation of the rf field is performed by numerical analysis based on first principles and by carrying out rf field measurements. Reduction of rf heating is probed with a DMPC/DHPC membrane prepared in buffers of increasing salt concentrations. The intricate correlation that exists between the magnetic and electric field is presented. It is demonstrated that, in a multiply tuned traditional MAS coil, the rf electric field E 1 cannot be reduced without altering the rf magnetic field. Since the detailed distribution differs when changing the coil geometry, a comparison involving the following three distinct designs is discussed: (1) a regular coil of 5.5 turns, (2) a variable pitch coil with the same number of turns, (3) the new Z coil structure. For each of these coils loaded with samples of different salt concentrations, the nutation fields obtained at a certain power level provide a basis to discuss the impact of the dielectric and conductive losses on the rf efficiency. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Two-dimensional (2D) 59Co correlation spectroscopy (COSY)/double-quantum-filtered (DQF)COSY experiments are reported for three tetrahedral mixed-metal clusters HFeCo3(CO)11L with L = PPh3, P(OMe)3, and PCy3 (Cy = cyclohexyl) in which the L-substituted Co center is chemically different from the other two. The 2D 59Co COSY and DQFCOSY NMR spectra of these clusters in solution prove the existence of a scalar coupling constant between the 59Co nuclei. To determine this value for each cluster, 2D 59Co COSY and DQFCOSY NMR spectra have been simulated by numerical density-matrix calculations. The predicted spectra mimic well the features of the experimental spectra if a scalar coupling is introduced between the Co nuclei. It was initially observed that the scalar coupling constants between the Co nuclei obtained from the 2D COSY and DQFCOSY NMR spectra differed significantly. In contrast to the 2D COSY spectra, the diagonal and cross peaks are of comparable intensity in the 2D DQFCOSY spectra, which leads to a considerable increase in the accuracy of the determination of the scalar coupling constant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: High-resolution magic angle spinning (HRMAS) has become an extremely versatile tool to study heterogeneous systems. HRMAS relies on magic angle spinning of the sample and on pulse sequences originally developed for liquid state NMR. In most cases the outcome of the experiment is conform to what is expected from high-resolution liquid state NMR spectroscopy. However in some instances, experiments run under MAS can produce some very puzzling results. After reviewing the basic hardware which is at the heart of HRMAS spectroscopy, we show that the origin of this behavior lies in the natural time-dependence of some physical quantities imparted by the rotation. We focus in particular on the effects of B1 inhomogeneities on the nutation, the (90°)+x–t–(90°)−x and the MLEV16 experiments. Different models of radiofrequency distribution of B1 fields in a solenoidal coil are derived from simple geometrical considerations. These models are shown by NMR spin dynamics calculations to reproduce the experimental NMR results. They are also consistent with electromagnetic simulations of the B1 field distribution inside a solenoidal coil. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: High resolution magic angle spinning (HRMAS) has become an extremely versatile tool to study heterogeneous systems. HRMAS relies on magic angle spinning of the sample to average out to zero magnetic susceptibility differences in the sample and to obtain resonance linewidths approaching those of liquid state NMR. Shimming such samples therefore becomes an important issue. By analyzing the different sources of magnetic field perturbations present in a sample under MAS conditions, we propose a simple protocol to obtain optimum shim settings in HRMAS. In the case of aqueous samples, we show that the lock level cannot be used as a reliable indicator of the quality of the shims at high spinning speeds. This effect is explained by the presence of temperature gradients imparted by the sample rotation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: High‐resolution magic angle spinning (HRMAS) is a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technique that enables the characterization of metabolic phenotypes/metabolite profiles of cells, tissues, and organs, under both normal and pathological conditions, without resorting to time‐consuming extraction techniques. Objectives: To assess the impact of chemical skin sensitizers vs non‐sensitizers on the metabolome of three‐dimensional reconstructed human epidermis (RHE) by HRMAS NMR. Methods: Based on the SENS‐IS assay, 12 skin sensitizers and five non‐sensitizing chemicals were investigated and applied on EpiSkin RHE at the published maximal non‐irritating concentrations under the conditions of the test. The metabolome of RHE samples was then analyzed by HRMAS NMR. Results: A total of 32 different metabolites were identified; 20 of these were quantified for all samples. Statistical univariate analysis showed that the tissue content of most measured metabolites (with the exception of acetate and glucose) was different in the untreated, treated with non‐sensitizers, and treated with sensitizers samples. In RHE samples in contact with sensitizing chemicals, concentrations of 18 metabolites were significantly decreased. Alanine and tyrosine could not discriminate between sensitizer‐ and non‐sensitizer‐treated groups. A multivariate partial least‐squares‐discriminant analysis was performed on the two treated groups, discriminating sensitizing and non‐sensitizing chemicals with a very good R2Y value of 0.87 and a good Q2Y value of 0.70. Conclusions: Data suggest that HRMAS NMR could be used to monitor the impact of chemicals, skin allergens vs non‐sensitizers, on the metabolome of three‐dimensional RHE. Highlights: A total of 32 different metabolites were identified in reconstructed human epidermis (RHE) by high‐resolution magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance, among which 20 could be quantified for all samples.Statistical univariate analysis showed that the measured metabolites were different in the RHE samples treated with sensitizers vs non‐sensitizers.A multivariate partial least‐squares‐discriminant analysis was performed on the two treated groups, discriminating sensitizing and non‐sensitizing chemicals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Methylisothiazolinone ( MI) [with methylchloroisothiazolinone ( MCI) in a ratio of 1:3, a well-recognized allergenic preservative] was released as an individual preservative in the 2000s for industrial products and in 2005 for cosmetics. The high level of exposure to MI since then has provoked an epidemic of contact allergy to MI, and an increase in MI/ MCI allergy. There are questions concerning the MI/ MCI cross-reaction pattern. Objectives To bring a new perspective on the MI/ MCI cross-reactivity issue by studying their in situ chemical behaviour in 3D reconstructed human epidermis ( RHE). Methods MI and MCI were synthesized with 13C substitution at positions C-4/ C-5 and C-5, respectively. Their in situ chemical behaviours in an RHE model were followed by use of the high-resolution magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance technique. Results MI was found to react exclusively with cysteine thiol residues, whereas MCI reacted with histidines and lysines. The reaction mechanisms were found to be different for MI and MCI, and the adducts formed had different molecular structures. Conclusion In RHE, different MI/ MCI reactions towards different nucleophilic amino acids were observed, making it difficult to explain cross-reactivity between MI and MCI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemical modification of epidermal proteins by skin sensitizers is the molecular event which initiates the induction of contact allergy. However, not all chemical skin allergens react directly as haptens with epidermal proteins but need either a chemical (prehaptens) or metabolic (prohaptens) activation step to become reactive. Cinnamyl alcohol has been considered a model prohapten, as this skin sensitizer has no intrinsic reactivity. Therefore, the prevailing theory is that cinnamyl alcohol is enzymatically oxidized into the protein-reactive cinnamaldehyde, which is the sensitizing agent. Knowing that reconstructed human epidermis (RHE) models have been demonstrated to be quite similar to the normal human epidermis in terms of metabolic enzymes, use of RHE may be useful to investigate the in situ metabolism/activation of cinnamyl alcohol, particularly when coupled with high-resolution magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance. Incubation of carbon-13 substituted cinnamyl derivatives with RHE did not result in the formation of cinnamaldehyde. The metabolites formed suggest the formation of an epoxy-alcohol and an allylic sulfate as potential electrophiles. These data suggest that cinnamyl alcohol is inducing skin sensitization through a route independent of the one involving cinnamaldehyde and should therefore be considered as a skin sensitizer on its own. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Succinate dehydrogenase gene (SDHx) mutations increase susceptibility to develop pheochromocytomas/ paragangliomas (PHEOs/PGLs). In the present study, we evaluate the performance and clinical applications of ¹H high-resolution magic angle spinning (HRMAS) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy-based global metabolomic profiling in a large series of PHEOs/PGLs of different genetic backgrounds. Eighty-seven PHEOs/ PGLs (48 sporadic/23 SDHx/7 von Hippel-Lindau/5 REarranged during Transfection/3 neurofibromatosis type 1/1 hypoxia-inducible factor 2α), one SDHD variant of unknown significance, and two Carney triad (CTr)-related tumors were analyzed by HRMAS-NMR spectroscopy. Compared to sporadic, SDHx-related PHEOs/PGLs exhibit a specific metabolic signature characterized by increased levels of succinate (P b .0001), methionine (P = .002), glutamine (P = .002), and myoinositol (P b .0007) and decreased levels of glutamate (P b .0007), regardless of their location and catecholamine levels. Uniquely, ATP/ascorbate/glutathione was found to be associated with the secretory phenotype of PHEOs/PGLs, regardless of their genotype (P b .0007). The use of succinate as a single screening test retained excellent accuracy in distinguishing SDHx versus non-SDHx-related tumors (sensitivity/ specificity: 100/100%). Moreover, the quantification of succinate could be considered a diagnostic alternative for assessing SDHx-related mutations of unknown pathogenicity. We were also able, for the first time, to uncover an SDH-like pattern in the two CTr-related PGLs. The present study demonstrates that HRMAS-NMR provides important information for SDHx-related PHEO/PGL characterization. Besides the high succinate-low glutamate hallmark, SDHx tumors also exhibit high values of methionine, a finding consistent with the hypermethylation pattern of these tumors. We also found important levels of glutamine, suggesting that glutamine metabolism might be involved in the pathogenesis of SDHx-related PHEOs/PGLs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paragangliomas (PGLs) are frequently associated with germline mutations in genes involved in energy metabolism. The purpose of the present study was to assess whether the tumor metabolomic profile of patients with hereditary and apparently sporadic PGLs enables the distinction of different subtypes of tumors. Twenty-eight unrelated patients with a histological diagnosis of PGLs were included in the present study. Twelve had germline mutations in SDHx genes (5 SDHB, 7 SDHD), 6 VHL, and 10 were apparently sporadic. Intact tumor samples from these patients (one per patient) were evaluated with 1H high-resolution magic angle spinning (HRMAS) NMR spectroscopy. SDHx-related tumors were characterized by an increase in succinate levels in comparison to other tumor subtypes (p = 0.0001 vs VHL and p = 0.000003 vs apparently sporadic). Furthermore, we found significantly lower values of glutamate in SDHx-related tumors compared to other subtypes (p = 0.0007 vs VHL and p = 0.003 vs apparently sporadic). Moreover, SDHx-tumors also exhibited lower values of ATP/ADP/AMP (p = 0.01) compared to VHL. VHL tumors were found to have the highest values of glutathione (GSH) compared to other tumors. Based on 4 metabolites (succinate, glutamate, GSH, and ATP/ADP/AMP), tumors were accurately distinguished from the other ones on both 3- and 2-class PLS-DA models. The present study shows that HRMAS NMR spectroscopy is a very promising method for investigating the metabolomic profile of various PGLs. The present data suggest the existence of a specific succinate-glutamate hallmark of SDHx PGLs. The relevance of such a metabolomic hallmark is expected to be very useful in designing novel treatment options as well as improving the diagnosis and follow-up of these tumors, including metastatic ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Providing information on cancerous tissue samples during a surgical operation can help surgeons delineate the limits of a tumoral invasion more reliably. Here, we describe the use of metabolic profiling of a colon biopsy specimen by high resolution magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to evaluate tumoral invasion during a simulated surgical operation.Case Presentation: Biopsy specimens (n = 9) originating from the excised right colon of a 66-year-old Caucasian women with an adenocarcinoma were automatically analyzed using a previously built statistical model.Conclusions: Metabolic profiling results were in full agreement with those of a histopathological analysis. The time-response of the technique is sufficiently fast for it to be used effectively during a real operation (17 min/sample). Metabolic profiling has the potential to become a method to rapidly characterize cancerous biopsies in the operation theater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rotational resonance and radiofrequency-driven dipolar recoupling (RFDR) experiments have been used to recover the weak proton dipolar interaction present in peptides bound to swollen resins spun at the magic angle. The intensity of the correlation peaks obtained using these sequences is shown to be significantly stronger than the one obtained using the classical NOESY experiment. In addition, it is found that during the relatively long mixing times required to transfer magnetization in such soft materials, the RFDR sequence also achieves magnetization transfer via the scalar J-coupling. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Focuses on the use of high-resolution magic angle spinning (HRMAS) NMR spinning spectroscopy in determining bioactive peptide bound to different solid supports. Conformational characterization of an immunogenic foot-and-mouth disease; Adaptation of a regular helical structure.