Atherosclerosis (AS) is a metabolic disorder and the pre-stage of several cardiovascular diseases, including myocardial infarction, stroke, and angina pectoris. Early detection of AS can provide the opportunity for effective management and better clinical results, along with the prevention of further progression of the disease. In the current study, an untargeted and targeted metabolomic approach was used to identify possible metabolic signatures that have altered levels in AS patients. A total of 200 serum samples from individuals with AS and normal were analyzed via liquid chromatography–high-resolution mass spectrometry. Univariate and multivariate analysis approaches were used to identify differential metabolites. A group of metabolites associated with bile acids, amino acids, steroid hormones, and purine metabolism were identified that are capable of distinguishing AS-risk sera from normal. Further, the targeted metabolomics approach confirmed that six metabolites, namely taurocholic acid, cholic acid, cortisol, hypoxanthine, trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), and isoleucine, were found to be significantly upregulated, while the concentrations of glycoursodeoxycholic acid, glycocholic acid, testosterone, leucine, methionine, phenylalanine, tyrosine, and valine were found to be significantly downregulated in the AS-risk sera. The receiver operating characteristic curves of three metabolites, including cortisol, hypoxanthine, and isoleucine, showed high sensitivity and specificity. Taken together, these findings suggest cortisol, hypoxanthine, and isoleucine as novel biomarkers for the early and non-invasive detection of AS. Thus, this study provides new insights for further investigations into the prevention and management of AS.

As the variety of chemicals used in consumer products (CPs) has increased, concerns about human health risk have grown accordingly. Even though restrictive guidelines and regulations have taken place to minimize the risks, human exposure to these chemicals and their eco-compatibility has remained a matter of greater scientific concern over the years. A major challenge in understanding the reality of the exposure is the lack of available information on the increasing number of ingredients and additives in the products. Even when ingredients of CPs formulations are identified on the product containers, the concentrations of the chemicals are rarely known to consumers. In the present study, an integrated target/suspect/non-target screening procedure using liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) with stepwise identification workflow was used for the identification of known, suspect, and unknown chemicals in CPs including cosmetics, personal care products, and washing agents. The target screening was applied to identify and quantify isothiazolinones and phthalates. Among analyzed CPs, isothiazolinones and phthalates were found in 47% and in 24% of the samples, respectively. The highest concentrations were 518 mg/kg for benzisothiazolone, 7.1 mg/kg for methylisothiazolinone, 2.0 mg/kg for diethyl phthalate, and 21 mg/kg for dimethyl phthalate. Suspect and non-target analyses yielded six tentatively identified chemicals across the products including benzophenone, ricinine, iodocarb (IPBC), galaxolidone, triethanolamine, and 2-(2H-Benzotriazol-2-yl)-4, 6-bis (1-methyl-1-phenylethyl) phenol. Our results revealed that selected CPs consistently contain chemicals from multiple classes. Excessive use of these chemicals in daily life can increase the risk for human health and the environment.

Pesticides have been used for decades to protect agricultural products and increase productivity by controlling crop pests. However, the frequent application of pesticides on crops or soil leads to the accumulation of their residues in the environment, which will be subsequently absorbed by plants and finally translocated to edible parts. This study aimed to investigate the uptake of soil-applied dinotefuran and three major metabolites by lettuce and celery from the previous season’s applications and analyze their residues in soil and consumable parts. Dinotefuran was soil-applied at plant back intervals of 30 and 60 days (PBI-30 and PBI-60). Residues of dinotefuran and its metabolites in 50% and 100% mature lettuce leaves and celery shoots, soil after application, at planting, and at 50% and 100% plant maturity were estimated. Half-lives and bio-concentration factors were calculated. The uptake of dinotefuran by lettuce and celery ranged between 23.8% and 28% and between 51.73% and 53.06%, respectively. Respective half-lives (days) of dinotefuran applied on PBI-30 and PBI-60 were 1.33–1.54 and 0.91–2.16 in lettuce soil and 0.9–1.47 and 0.79–1.65 in celery soil. Residues were below Korean MRLs in PBI-60 and most PBI-30 samples. The calculated risk assessment parameters indicated that negligible risk could be expected. The current study recommends growing the next crop 60 days after harvesting the first crop, but not less than 30 days.

In this study, the residual behavior and safety of cyantraniliprole and indoxacarb applied to wild garlic (Allium vineale) were investigated. Samples were harvested after treatments of 0, 3, 7, and 14 days, then were prepared and extracted following the QuEChERS method and analyzed by UPLC-MS/MS. The linearity (R² ≥ 0.99) of the calibration curves was excellent for both compounds. The average recoveries of cyantraniliprole and indoxacarb at two spiking concentrations (0.01 and 0.1 mg/kg) ranged from 94.2% to 111.4%. The relative standard deviation value was below 10%. The initial concentrations of cyantraniliprole and indoxacarb in wild garlic were degraded to 75% and 93% after seven days. The average half-lives were 1.83 and 1.14 days for cyantraniliprole and indoxacarb, respectively. The preharvest intervals (PHIs) for the two pesticides in wild garlic are recommended as two treatments seven days before harvest. The safety assessment data indicated that the percent acceptable daily intakes of cyantraniliprole and indoxacarb were 0.3 × 10⁻⁴% and 6.7 × 10⁻²%, respectively, in wild garlic. The theoretical maximum daily intake value of cyantraniliprole was 9.80%, and that of indoxacarb was 60.54%. Both compounds’ residues in wild garlic pose low health risks to consumers. The findings of the current investigation provide essential data for the safe use of cyantraniliprole and indoxacarb in wild garlic.

Pesticide residue analysis in medicinal herbs is a challenging task because of the matrix effect and its influence on quantitative analysis despite the continuous development of several new analytical methods and instrumentations. In this study, a modified QuEChERS method was developed for the analysis of indoxacarb residue in medicinal herbs by using the conventional instrument, gas chromatography micro-electron-capture-detector (GC–μECD), and comparing it with gas chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (GC–MS/MS) and liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). Samples were extracted with acetonitrile and purified using an NH₂ cartridge. The optimized method efficiently removes the co-extractives and offered a limit of quantification of 0.01 mg kg⁻¹. The GC–μECD analysis results of indoxacarb in seven medicinal herbs out of fourteen species at a fortification level of 0.01 mg kg⁻¹ showed a recovery range of 79.7–117.6%, while the rest showed recovery > 120%. Similarly, the recovery of indoxacarb by GC and LC–MS/SM were 74.1–105.9 and 73.0–99.0%, respectively, with a relative standard deviation of ±20%. Whereas the results for LC–MS/MS were <20%, which was within the acceptable range according to the SANTE/11312/2021 guidelines. Considering the performance of the method and alignment with the regulatory guidelines, LC–MS/MS is recommended for the analysis of indoxacarb in selected medicinal herbs.

This study was conducted to investigate the residual behavior and safety assessment of fenazaquin and metaflumizone in butterbur. The samples were periodically harvested, extracted using QuEChERS method, and determined by LC-MS/MS. The linearity of matrix-matched calibration curve was ≥0.99 for both compounds. The average recoveries of fenazaquin and metaflumizone at two fortification levels (0.01 and 0.1 mg kg⁻¹) ranged from 86.6 to 97.2%. The relative standard deviation was <10%. After 7 days, the fenazaquin and metaflumizone initial residues in butterbur were dissipated to 79 and 78%, with the respective half-lives, 3.08 and 3.15 days. The proposed preharvest intervals (PHIs) for fenazaquin is recommended as twice treatment 14 days before harvest and metaflumizone twice treatment 7 days before harvest of butterbur. Risk assessment showed that the acceptable daily intake of fenazaquin and metaflumizone in butterbur was 0.004 and 0.029%, respectively. The respective theoretical maximum daily intakes of fenazaquin and metaflumizone were 58.74 and 15.15%, indicating negligible risk.