Solid-phase extraction and field-amplified sample injection-capillary zone electrophoresis for the analysis of benzophenone UV-filters in environmental water samples

A field amplified sample injection-capillary zone electrophoresis (FASI-CZE) method for the analysis of benzophenone (BP) UV-filters in environmental water samples was developed, allowing the separation of all compounds in less than 8 minutes. A 9- to 25-fold sensitive enhancement was obtained with FASI-CZE, achieving limits of detection down to 21-59 µg/L for most of the analyzed BPs, with acceptable run-to-run and day-to-day precisions (relative standard deviations lower than 17%). In order to remove water sample salinity and to enhance FASI sensitivity, an off-line solid-phase extraction (SPE) procedure using a Strata X polymeric reversed-phase sorbent was proposed, obtaining recoveries up to 72-90% for most of benzophenones. With the combination of off-line SPE and FASI-CZE, limits of detection in the range 0.06-0.6 µg/L in a river water matrix, representing a 2400- to 6500-fold enhancement, were obtained. Method performance was evaluated by quantifying a blank river water sample spiked at 1 µg/L. For a 95% confidence level, no statistical differences were observed between found concentrations and spiked concentrations (probability at the confidence level, p value, of 0.60), showing that the proposed off-line SPE-FASI-CZE method is suitable for the analysis of benzophenone UV-filters in environmental water samples at low µg/L levels. The method was successfully applied to the analysis of BPs in river water samples collected before and after industrialized and urban areas, and in some drinking water samples

Solid-phase extraction and field-amplified sample injection-capillary zone electrophoresis for the analysis of benzophenone UV-filters in environmental water samples

A field amplified sample injection-capillary zone electrophoresis (FASI-CZE) method for the analysis of benzophenone (BP) UV-filters in environmental water samples was developed, allowing the separation of all compounds in less than 8 minutes. A 9- to 25-fold sensitive enhancement was obtained with FASI-CZE, achieving limits of detection down to 21-59 µg/L for most of the analyzed BPs, with acceptable run-to-run and day-to-day precisions (relative standard deviations lower than 17%). In order to remove water sample salinity and to enhance FASI sensitivity, an off-line solid-phase extraction (SPE) procedure using a Strata X polymeric reversed-phase sorbent was proposed, obtaining recoveries up to 72-90% for most of benzophenones. With the combination of off-line SPE and FASI-CZE, limits of detection in the range 0.06-0.6 µg/L in a river water matrix, representing a 2400- to 6500-fold enhancement, were obtained. Method performance was evaluated by quantifying a blank river water sample spiked at 1 µg/L. For a 95% confidence level, no statistical differences were observed between found concentrations and spiked concentrations (probability at the confidence level, p value, of 0.60), showing that the proposed off-line SPE-FASI-CZE method is suitable for the analysis of benzophenone UV-filters in environmental water samples at low µg/L levels. The method was successfully applied to the analysis of BPs in river water samples collected before and after industrialized and urban areas, and in some drinking water samples

Thinking versus feeling: How interoception and cognition influence emotion recognition in behavioural-variant frontotemporal dementia, Alzheimers disease, and Parkinsons disease

Disease-specific mechanisms underlying emotion recognition difficulties in behavioural -variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD), Alzheimers disease (AD), and Parkinsons dis-ease (PD) are unknown. Interoceptive accuracy, accurately detecting internal cues (e.g., ones heart beating), and cognitive abilities are candidate mechanisms underlying emotion recognition.One hundred and sixty-eight participants (52 bvFTD; 41 AD; 24 PD; 51 controls) were recruited. Emotion recognition was measured via the Facial Affect Selection Task or the Mini-Social and Emotional Assessment Emotion Recognition Task. Interoception was assessed with a heartbeat detection task. Participants pressed a button each time they: 1) felt their heartbeat (Interoception); or 2) heard a recorded heartbeat (Exteroception-con-trol). Cognition was measured via the Addenbrookes Cognitive Examination-III or the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Voxel-based morphometry analyses identified neural correlates associated with emotion recognition and interoceptive accuracy. All patient groups showed worse emotion recognition and cognition than controls (all Ps &amp;lt; .008). Only the bvFTD showed worse interoceptive accuracy than controls (P &amp;lt; .001). Regression analyses revealed that in bvFTD worse interoceptive accuracy predicted worse emotion recognition (P = .008). Whereas worse cognition predicted worse emotion recogni-tion overall (P &amp;lt; .001). Neuroimaging analyses revealed that the insula, orbitofrontal cortex, and amygdala were involved in emotion recognition and interoceptive accuracy in bvFTD. Here, we provide evidence for disease-specific mechanisms for emotion recognition difficulties. In bvFTD, emotion recognition impairment is driven by inaccurate perception of the internal milieu. Whereas, in AD and PD, cognitive impairment likely underlies emotion recognition deficits. The current study furthers our theoretical understanding of emotion and highlights the need for targeted interventions. (c) 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).Funding Agencies|ForeFront; National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) [GNT1037746]; Australian Research Council grant [DP170101815]; Takeda [CW2680521]; CONICET; FONCYT-PICT [2017-1818, 2017-1820]; ANID/FONDECYT [1,210,195, 1,210,176, 1,220,995]; ANID/FONDAP [15,150,012]; ANID/PIA/ANILLOS [ACT210096]; Multi-Partner Consortium to Expand Dementia Research in Latin America (ReDLat) - National Institutes of Aging of the National Institutes of Health [R01AG057234]; Alzheimers Association grant [SG-20-725707-ReDLat]; Rainwater Foundation; Global Brain Health Institute; NHMRC Senior Research Fellowship [GNT1103258]; NHMRC Career Development Fellowship [GNT1158762]</p

Clinical and genetic characteristics of late-onset Huntington's disease

Background: The frequency of late-onset Huntington's disease (&gt;59 years) is assumed to be low and the clinical course milder. However, previous literature on late-onset disease is scarce and inconclusive. Objective: Our aim is to study clinical characteristics of late-onset compared to common-onset HD patients in a large cohort of HD patients from the Registry database. Methods: Participants with late- and common-onset (30–50 years)were compared for first clinical symptoms, disease progression, CAG repeat size and family history. Participants with a missing CAG repeat size, a repeat size of ≤35 or a UHDRS motor score of ≤5 were excluded. Results: Of 6007 eligible participants, 687 had late-onset (11.4%) and 3216 (53.5%) common-onset HD. Late-onset (n = 577) had significantly more gait and balance problems as first symptom compared to common-onset (n = 2408) (P &lt;.001). Overall motor and cognitive performance (P &lt;.001) were worse, however only disease motor progression was slower (coefficient, −0.58; SE 0.16; P &lt;.001) compared to the common-onset group. Repeat size was significantly lower in the late-onset (n = 40.8; SD 1.6) compared to common-onset (n = 44.4; SD 2.8) (P &lt;.001). Fewer late-onset patients (n = 451) had a positive family history compared to common-onset (n = 2940) (P &lt;.001). Conclusions: Late-onset patients present more frequently with gait and balance problems as first symptom, and disease progression is not milder compared to common-onset HD patients apart from motor progression. The family history is likely to be negative, which might make diagnosing HD more difficult in this population. However, the balance and gait problems might be helpful in diagnosing HD in elderly patients