Mass spectrometric detection of cortisol in hair samples

Abstract

Stress is experienced all over the world in various forms. It is typically diagnosed through the evaluation of psychological and physical factors. These diagnoses are often time consuming. Stress can negatively impact individual’s health and quality of life and treatment for stress is often difficult because stress tolerance levels are different for everyone. Cortisol is a steroid hormone that is released as a response to stress and changes in blood sugar levels. Cortisol is produced naturally in humans and is detectable in blood, urine, saliva, and hair. Liquid chromatography (LC) coupled with mass spectrometry (MS) is a useful analytical technique in biological research. The goal of this study is to develop an LC-MS method that will allow clinical researchers and healthcare professionals to quickly quantify cortisol levels of individuals over a specific timeframe. Our research focuses on cortisol produced in human hair. The goal is to integrate the methods in the literature and establish a non-invasive method for quantifying cortisol in hair samples. We seek to replace a commercialized immunodetection method for measuring extracted cortisol with an ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method due to its benefits of higher sensitivity and lower running costs. In the LC-MS method, reversed phase chromatography is used. The eluent from the LC column is ionized by electrospray ionization. The triple quadrupole mass spectrometer is operated in selected reaction monitoring (SRM) mode. A standard curve was used to determine that the linear dynamic range of the cortisol was 0.80-500 ng/mL. The long-term goal of this research project is to apply the established LC-MS method to determine the cortisol level in hair and correlate the information to stress level experienced by individuals, in a collaborative research study in the School of Nursing at UNCG. [This abstract has been edited to remove characters that will not display in this system. Please see the PDF for the full abstract.]]]> 2018 Hair $x Analysis Hydrocortisone$x Analysis Stress (Psychology) $x Diagnosis Liquid chromatography Mass spectrometry English http://libres.uncg.edu/ir/uncg/f/Howell_uncg_0154M_12509.pdf oai:libres.uncg.edu/25154 2019-02-20T14:52:09Z UNCG Recommendations for competing sexual-asexually typified generic names in Sordariomycetes (except Diaporthales, Hypocreales, and Magnaporthales) NC DOCKS at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro Raja, Huzefa A. <![CDATA[With the advance to one scientific name for each fungal species, the generic names in the class Sordariomycetes typified by sexual and asexual morphs are evaluated based on their type species to determine if they compete with each other for use or protection. Recommendations are made for which of the competing generic names should be used based on criteria such as priority, number of potential names changes, and frequency of use. Some recommendations for well-known genera include Arthrinium over Apiospora, Colletotrichum over Glomerella, Menispora over Zignoëlla, Microdochium over Monographella, Nigrospora over Khuskia, and Plectosphaerella over Plectosporium. All competing generic names are listed in a table of recommended names along with the required action. If priority is not accorded to sexually typified generic names after 2017, only four names would require formal protection: Chaetosphaerella over Oedemium, Diatrype over Libertella, Microdochium over Monographella, and Phaeoacremonium over Romellia and Togninia. Concerning species in the recommended genera, one replacement name (Xylaria benjaminii nom. nov.) is introduced, and the following new combinations are made: Arthrinium sinense, Chloridium caesium, C. chloroconium, C. gonytrichii, Corollospora marina, C. parvula, C. ramulosa, Juncigena fruticosae, Melanospora simplex, Seimatosporium massarina, Sporoschisma daemonoropis, S. taitense, Torpedospora mangrovei, Xylaria penicilliopsis, and X. termiticola combs. nov