Daily variations in human plasma fluoride concentrations

This study investigated the variations in human plasma fluoride concentrations ([F]) and sought to determine the causes. Five subjects (27-33 years old) received a low-F diet during the 5 days of the study. Plasma samples and urine were collected every 3 h from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. F, PTH, Ca and P were analyzed with the electrode, by chemiluminescence, AAS and colorimetry, respectively. A trend for the plasma [F] was found. The peak [F], 0.55 ± 0.11 μmol L⁻¹, occurred at 11 a.m. and the lowest [F], 0.50 ± 0.06 μmol L⁻¹ occurred between 5 and 8 p.m. Plasma [F] were positively correlated with urinary F excretion rates and with serum PTH levels, but not with the Ca or P levels. Serum PTH levels were positively correlated with urinary F excretion rates and negatively correlated with plasma Ca. The results suggest that the renal system seems to control the daily fluctuations in plasma [F].     

Potentiometric measurement of ionic, acid-labile and covalently bound fluorine

Fluoride (F⁻) is the predominant chemical form of F in serum and bone, during administration of NaF as cariostatic agent or in the treatment of osteoporosis. In the treatment with sodium monofluorophosphate (MFP), F⁻, F bound to proteins by acid-labile linkage and non-volatile covalently bound F are detected. Only F⁻ is detectable with the ion-selective electrode. This paper describes a method for the measurement of non-volatile covalently bound F with the ion-selective electrode, which has a detection limit of 0.8 ± 0.6 nmol, within-run standard deviation of 7 nmol and a between-run standard deviation of 13 nmol at 100 nmol F and has a linear behaviour above 1 nmol. This paper also reports a methodology for the potentiometric measurement of F⁻, acid-labile F and covalently bound F in biological samples.     

Radical copolymerization of vinylidene fluoride with perfluoroalkylvinyl ethers

The radical copolymerization of perfluoromethylvinyl ether (PMVE) and perfluoropropylvinyl ether (PPVE) with vinylidene fluoride (VDF), initiated by tertiobutyl peroxypivalate (TBPPI) and ditertiobutyl peroxide (DTBP), respectively, are presented. The kinetics of copolymerization were investigated for each monomer from series of at least eight reactions for which the initial [VDF]₀/[fluorinated vinyl ether]₀ molar ratios ranged between 20/80 and 80/20. The copolymer compositions of these random-type copolymers were calculated by means of ¹⁹F NMR spectroscopy and allowed one to quantify the respective amounts of each monomeric unit in the copolymer. According to the Tidwell and Mortimer method, the reactivity ratios (r_i) of both comonomers for each type of copolymerization were obtained : r_VDF = 3.40 ± 0.40 and r_PMVE = 0 at 74 °C; and r_VDF = 1.15 ± 0.36 and r_PPVE = 0 at 120 °C. Moreover, the glass transition temperatures (T_g’s) of poly(VDF-co-PMVE) and poly(VDF-co-PPVE) copolymers containing different amounts of VDF and PMVE or PPVE, were determined and the theoretical glass transition temperatures of poly(PMVE) and poly(PPVE) homopolymer were deduced.     

Radical solution copolymerisation of vinylidene fluoride with hexafluoropropene

The radical copolymerisation in solution of vinylidene fluoride (or 1,1-difluoroethylene (VDF)) with hexafluoropropylene (HFP) initiated by di-tert-butyl peroxide is presented. A series of eight copolymerisation reactions was investigated with initial [VDF]_o/[HFP]_o molar ratios ranging from 5.0/95.0 to 85.2/14.8. Both co-monomers copolymerised in this range of copolymerisation. Moreover, only VDF homopolymerised in these conditions. The copolymer compositions of these random-type copolymers were calculated by means of ¹⁹F NMR spectroscopy which allowed the respective amount of each monomeric unit in the copolymer to be quantified. The Tidwell and Mortimer method led to the assessment of the reactivity ratios, r_i, of both co-monomers showing a higher incorporation of VDF in the copolymer (r_HFP = 0.12 ± 0.05 and r_VDF = 2.9 ± 0.6 at 393 K). Alfrey-Price's Q and e values of HFP were calculated to be 0.002 (from Q_VDF = 0.008) or 0.009 (from Q_VDF = 0.015) and +1.44 (versus e_VDF = 0.40) or +1.54 (versus e_VDF = 0.50), respectively, indicating that HFP is an electron-accepting monomer. The thermal properties of these fluorinated copolymers were also determined. Except for those containing a high amount of VDF, they were amorphous. Each showed one glass transition temperature (T_g) only, and from known laws of T_g, that of the homopolymer of HFP was assessed. It was compared with that obtained from the literature after extrapolation and is discussed.     

Enthalpy change and mechanism of oxidation of o-phenylenediamine by hydrogen peroxide catalyzed by horseradish peroxidase

The hydrogen peroxide-oxidation of o-phenylenediamine (OPD) catalyzed by horseradish peroxidase (HRP) at 37 °C in 50 mM phosphate buffer (pH 7.0) was studied by calorimetry. The apparent molar reaction enthalpy with respect to OPD and hydrogen peroxide were −447 ± 8 kJ mol⁻¹ and −298 ± 9 kJ mol⁻¹, respectively. Oxidation of OPD by H₂O₂ catalyzed by HRP (1.25 nM) at pH 7.0 and 37 °C follows a ping-pong mechanism. The maximum rate V_max (0.91 ± 0.05 μM s⁻¹), Michaelis constant for OPD K_m,S (51 ± 3 μM), Michaelis constant for hydrogen peroxide Km,H₂O₂ (136 ± 8 μM), the catalytic constant k_cat (364 ± 18 s⁻¹) and the second-order rate constants k₊₁ = (2.7 ± 0.3) × 10⁶ M⁻¹ s⁻¹ and k₊₅ = (7.1 ± 0.8) × 10⁶ M⁻¹ s⁻¹ were obtained by the initial rate method.     

Incorporation of methamphetamine and amphetamine in human hair following controlled oral methamphetamine administration

Background

Although hair testing is well established for the assessment of past drug exposure, uncertainties persist about mechanisms of drug incorporation into hair and interpretation of results. The aim of this study was to administer methamphetamine (MAMP) under controlled conditions as a model drug to investigate drug incorporation into human hair.

Material and methods

Seven volunteers with a history of stimulant use received 4 × 10 mg (low) doses of sustained release S-(+)-MAMP HCl within 1 week, with weekly head hair samples collected by shaving. 3 weeks later, 4 of them received 4 × 20 mg (high) doses. After extensive isopropanol/phosphate buffer washing of the hair, MAMP and its metabolite amphetamine (AMP) concentrations were determined in all weekly hair samples by LC–MS–MS in selected reaction monitoring mode with the undeca- and deca-deuterated drugs, respectively, as internal standards (LLOQ, 0.005 ng mg⁻¹).

Results

MAMP T_max occurred from 1 to 2 weeks after both doses, with C_max ranging from 0.6 to 3.5 ng mg⁻¹ after the low and 1.2 to 5.3 ng mg⁻¹ after the high MAMP doses. AMP C_max in hair was 0.1–0.3 ng mg⁻¹ and 0.2–0.5 ng mg⁻¹, respectively, for low and high doses. Highly dose-related concentrations within subjects, but large variability between subjects were observed. MAMP concentrations were above the 0.2 ng mg⁻¹ cut-off for at least 2 weeks following administration of both low and high doses. The overall AMP/MAMP ratio ranged from 0.07 to 0.37 with a mean value of 0.15 ± 0.07, and a median of 0.13. The percentage of MAMP and AMP removed with the washing procedure decreased with time after administration. A strong correlation was found between area under the curve of MAMP (r² = 0.90, p = 0.00) and AMP (r² = 0.94, p = 0.00) concentrations calculated for the 3-week period following administration and the total melanin concentration in hair. Significant correlations were observed also between C_max and melanin.

Conclusions

This study demonstrated that despite large inter-individual differences, the incorporation of MAMP and AMP into hair is dose-related with much of the observed scatter of MAMP and AMP concentrations explained by melanin concentration in hair.     

Quantitative F NMR method validation and application to the quantitative analysis of a fluoro-polyphosphates mixture

Quantitative ¹⁹F NMR (QNMR) was developed and employed to determine the amounts of four kinds of fluoropolyphosphates (FPPs) in a mixture containing sodium monofluoro-phosphate (MFP), sodium monofluoro-dipolyphosphate (MFDPP), sodium monofluoro-tripolyphosphate (MFTPP) and sodium difluoro-tripolyphosphate (DFTPP). The amounts of these ingredients cannot be measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) because no high-purity standard samples are available. The main parameter “delay time (d1) between two scans” of affecting the response of NMR signal was determined by measuring longitudinal relaxation time (T1) to be 25 s. By using NaF as an internal reference to measure the amount of MFP solution with known concentration and then to compare the deviation between experiment value and real value, a simple and effective approach for checking out the validity of ¹⁹F QNMR method was carried out. Six experiments with different mole ratios of NaF/MFP over 200 times were repeated and the relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) of results is less than 2.0%, the limit of detection of ¹⁹F QNMR can reach to 1.0 mmol/L. NaF was used as an internal reference for the quantitative analysis of FPPs mixture. The amount of each FPP in FPPs mixture obtained by ¹⁹F QNMR was calculated and the R.S.D.s of results were less than 4.81%.     

Synthesis and copolymerisation of fluorinated monomers bearing a reactive lateral group : Part 21. Radical copolymerisation of vinylidene fluoride with 2-hydroperfluorooct-1-ene

The synthesis and the radical copolymerisation of 2-hydroperfluorooct-1-ene (HPO) with vinylidene fluoride (VDF), initiated by tertio-butyl peroxypivalate (TBPPI) at 75 °C, are presented. That fluorinated alkene (HPO) was synthesised in two steps starting from the thermal or redox telomerisation of VDF with C₆F₁₃I (after purification of the monoadduct compound by rectification) followed by a dehydroiodination in the presence of various alkalies. Their influences are discussed toward the yield of the reaction. The compositions of the resulting random-type copolymers were calculated by means of ¹⁹F NMR spectroscopy and allowed one to quantify the respective amounts of each monomeric unit in the copolymer. From the Tidwell and Mortimer method, the reactivity ratios (r_i) of both comonomers for this copolymerisation were determined showing a higher incorporation of VDF: r_VDF = 12.0 ± 3.0 and rF₂CCHC₆F13=0.9±0.4 at 74 °C.     

A validated stripping voltammetric procedure for quantification of the anti-hypertensive and benign prostatic hyperplasia drug terazosin in tablets and human serum

The electrochemical behavior of terazosin at the hanging mercury drop electrode was studied in Britton-Robinson buffer (pH 2-11), acetate buffer (4.5-5.5), and in 0.1 M solution of each of sodium sulfate, sodium nitrate, sodium perchlorate and potassium chloride as supporting electrolytes. The square-wave adsorptive cathodic stripping voltammogram of terazosin exhibited a single well-defined two-electron irreversible cathodic peak which may be attributed to the reduction of CO double bond of the drug molecule. A fully validated, simple, high sensitive, precise and inexpensive square-wave adsorptive cathodic stripping voltammetric procedure was described for determination of terazosin in bulk form, tablets and human serum. A mean recovery for 1×10⁻⁸ M terazosin in bulk form, following preconcentration onto the hanging mercury drop electrode for 60 s at a −1.0 V (versus Ag/AgCl/KCl_s), of 99±0.7% (n=5) was obtained. Limits of detection (LOD) and quantitation (LOQ) of 1.5×10⁻¹¹ and 5×10⁻¹¹ M bulk terazosin were achieved, respectively. The proposed procedure was successfully applied to determination of the drug in its Itrin^® tablets and human serum samples. The achieved LOD and LOQ of the drug in human serum samples were 5.3×10⁻¹¹ and 1.8×10⁻¹⁰ M THD, respectively. The pharmacokinetic parameters of the drug in human plasma were estimated as: C_max=77.5 ng ml⁻¹, t_max=1.75 h, AUC_0-t=602.3 ng h ml⁻¹, K_e=0.088 h⁻¹ and t_1/2=11.32 h) which are favorably compared with those reported in literature.     

Effect of aldehyde and methoxy substituents on nucleophilic aromatic substitution by [F]fluoride

For a series of benzaldehydes only with a leaving group or with both a leaving group and a single methoxy substituent ¹⁸F-fluorination via nucleophilic aromatic substitution (S_NAr) was studied in DMF and Me₂SO. In general, the radiochemical yields were clearly higher in DMF than in Me₂SO. In the fluorodehalogenation reaction (leaving group: halogen = Br, Cl), extremely low radiochemical yields were observed in Me₂SO (<1%). By monitoring labeling reactions using HPLC, oxidation of the aldehyde function of the precursor was detected. Especially, 2-bromobenzaldehyde was oxidized fastest in Me₂SO (within 3 min reaction time, 90% of the precursor was consumed; radiochemical yield = 1.0 ± 0.5%); however, in DMF oxidation was always kept at a low level during the entire reaction (<5% of the precursor was oxidized; radiochemical yield = 73.0 ± 0.2%). In DMF, nitrobenzaldehydes with a methoxy substituent (methoxy group in meta-position to the nitro group) were labeled with good radiochemical yields (4-methoxy-2-nitrobenzaldehyde: 87 ± 3%; 2-methoxy-4-nitrobenzaldehyde: 83 ± 3%; 2-methoxy-6-nitrobenzaldehyde: 79 ± 4%) comparable to the non-substituted nitrobenzaldehydes (2-nitrobenzaldehyde: 84 ± 3%; 4-nitrobenzaldehyde: 81 ± 5%). Moreover, for structurally similar compounds, radiochemical yields showed a good correlation with ¹³C-NMR ppm values of the aromatic carbon atom bearing the leaving group.     

Structure and magnetic properties of the cubic oxide fluoride BaFeO2F

Fluorination of the parent oxide, BaFeO_3−δ, with polyvinylidine fluoride gives rise to a cubic compound with a=4.0603(4) Å at 298 K. ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectra confirmed that all the iron is present as Fe³⁺. Neutron diffraction data showed complete occupancy of the anion sites, indicating a composition BaFeO₂F, with a large displacement of the iron off-site. The magnetic ordering temperature was determined as T_N=645±5 K. Neutron diffraction data at 4.2 K established G-type antiferromagnetism with a magnetic moment per Fe³⁺ ion of 3.95 μ_B. However, magnetisation measurements indicated the presence of a weak ferromagnetic moment that is assigned to the canting of the antiferromagnetic structure. ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectra in the temperature range 10-300 K were fitted with a model of fluoride ion distribution that retains charge neutrality of the perovskite unit cell.     

A solid-phase extraction and size-exclusion liquid chromatographic method for polyethylene glycol 25 p-aminobenzoic acid determination in urine: validation for urinary excretion studies of users of sunscreens

No previous publications about percutaneous absorption of polyethylene glycol 25 p-aminobenzoic acid (PEG-25 PABA) have been found in the literature and the expected levels to be found in human urine after sunscreens use are unknown. The method proposed here is suitable to determine PEG-25 PABA in the urine of sunscreens users in order to carry out studies on body accumulation/excretion. It is based on solid-phase extraction (SPE) with size-exclusion liquid chromatography determination. Solid-phase extraction allows the analyte to be retained and subsequently eluted for a clean-up, using a silica-based cartridge. The size-exclusion liquid chromatography of the eluted allows the rest of matrix interferences to be avoided. Fluorescence intensity was measured at λ_em = 350 nm (λ_exc = 300 nm). The sensitivity of the proposed method is in the order of 450 ± 5 mL ng⁻¹ and the detection limit (3 S_y/x/b) in the measured solutions is in the order of 13 ng mL⁻¹, that is 2.6 ng mL⁻¹ in urine samples. The method enables PEG-25 PABA to be determined in both, spiked and unspiked human urine samples. Results obtained for spiked human urine samples (11-100 ng mL⁻¹) demonstrated the accuracy of the method. The mean relative standard deviation of the results was in the order of 3-10%. Three volunteers applied a sunscreen lotion containing a 8% PEG-25 PABA sunscreen cream and their urinary excretion was controlled from the moment of application until the excreted amounts were no longer detectable.     

Pharmacokinetics of protein-unbound linezolid in the blood and the mechanism of hepatobiliary excretion in the rat

Linezolid (Zyvox), an oxazolidinones antibiotic, was developed for the treatment of infectious diseases caused by gram-positive pathogens. To investigate the mechanism of hepatobiliary excretion of linezolid, a parallel study design used two groups; in the control group, rats received linezolid alone (3 or 10 mg/kg, i.v.). In the drug-treated groups, 10 min prior to linezolid administration, cyclosporin A (CsA; 10 mg/kg, i.v.), a P-glycoprotein (P-gp) inhibitor, was given in the rats. The microdialysis probes were implanted into the jugular vein toward right atrium and the bile duct of Sprague-Dawley rats for multiple biological fluid sampling. Separation was performed using a reversed phase C₁₈ (4.6 mm × 150 mm i.d., 5 μm) with mobile phase of acetonitrile-methanol-1% 1-octanesulfonic acid in water of 30:10:60 (v/v/v) at flow rate of 1 ml/min. The UV detection for linezolid was set at a wavelength of 260 nm. Following linezolid (10 mg/kg, i.v.) administration, the concentration of linezolid in the brain was less than the limit of quantification and the area-under the concentration curve versus time curve (AUC) of blood and bile were 1780 ± 50 and 2850 ± 276 (min μg/ml), respectively. The bile-to-blood distribution ratio was 1.6 ± 0.2 (n = 6), which was defined as AUC_bile/AUC_blood. The results demonstrated that the transportation of linezolid into bile might be mediated by active transport. However, after treatment with CsA, the linezolid AUC in bile was 3060 ± 411 (min μg/ml) which did not indicate a significant difference with linezolid alone. These results suggest that the hepatobiliary excretion of linezolid might not be regulated by P-gp transportation.     

Evaluation of pharmacokinetics,bioavailability and urinary excretion of scopolin and its metabolite scopoletin in Sprague Dawley rats by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry

We aimed to investigate the pharmacokinetics, bioavailability and urinary excretion of scopolin and its metabolite scopoletin in rats. An LC–tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) method for simultaneous determination of scopolin and scopoletin in rat biomatrices was developed and validated over a plasma and urine concentration range of 5.0–2000 ng/mL. Chromatographic separation was performed on a Hypersil GOLD C₁₈ column with acetonitrile and 0.1% formic acid in water as mobile phase with gradient elution. Detection was performed in the positive ionization and selected reaction monitoring mode. The intra‐ and inter‐batch precision and accuracy, extraction recovery and matrix effect and stability of scopolin and scopoletin were well within the acceptable limits of variation. There was no gender‐related difference in the pharmacokinetic profiles of scopolin. There were significant differences in total area under the concentration–time curve (AUC), time required to achieve a maximal concentration (T_max) and apparent clearance from plasma (Cl/F) of scopoletin between the male and female rats (p < .05). The bioavailability (F) of scopolin was exceptionally low. The maximal excretion rates were 7.61 μg/h and 7.15 μg/h for scopolin and 31.68 μg/h and 25.58 μg/h for scopoletin in male and female rats, respectively. The LC–MS/MS method was successfully applied to the pharmacokinetic, bioavailability and urinary excretion studies of scopolin and its metabolite scopoletin following a single administration of scopolin to rats.     

Colorimetric detection of fluoride in an aqueous solution using Zr(IV)-EDTA complex and a novel hemicyanine dye

A new highly sensitive and selective colorimetric method for fluoride determination in water is described. The novel reagent used is a hemicyanine dye (HC), which forms a stable complex with Zr-EDTA, the fluoride-binding site, through the hydroxyl groups. The hemicyanine-chelating Zr-EDTA complex (HC-Zr-EDTA) is ready to react with fluoride ion to release HC. This result in remarkable color change of the sensing solutions from red (λ_max = 513 nm) to yellow (λ_max = 427 nm) at pH 4.40. When applied to the colorimetric determination of fluoride ions, a linear range from 3.0 × 10⁻⁶ to 5.0 × 10⁻⁵ mol/L and a detection limit of 2.8 × 10⁻⁶ mol/L with a correlation coefficient of 0.9993 can be achieved under the optimized conditions. Because of the specific affinity of fluorides for the [Zr-EDTA], there is little interference by other ions. This method has been successfully applied to the determination of fluorides in toothpaste samples.     

Metabolism profile of scutellarin in urine following oral administration to rats by ultra performance liquid chromatography coupled to time-of-flight mass spectrometry

Scutellarin, a flavone glucuronide of 5,6,4′-trihydroxyflavone-7-O-glucoronide, is the main active component of the traditional Chinese botanic drug Erigeron breviscapus (Vant.) Hand.-Mazz. In this study, a method based on ultra performance liquid chromatography coupled with a time-of-flight mass spectrometer (UPLC/TOF MS) was established and validated to profile the metabolites of scutellarin in Sprague-Dawley rat urine following oral administration of single dose of scutellarin at 80.8 mg/kg. The column utilized was an Acquity BEH C18 (150 mm × 2.1 mm, 1.7 μm). The mobile phase was 0.2% formic acid and acetonitrile with gradient condition. Two standard curves of scutellarin were obtained for the concentration range of 1.065-10.65 μg/mL and 10.65-63.92 μg/mL, respectively. By automating the data processing of the software Masslynx developed by Waters Ltd., 17 metabolites of scutellarin were found and determined in rat urine, with the corresponding reactions in vivo such as isomerism, reduction, methylation, glucuronide conjugation, hydroxylation, hydroxylation and methylation, etc., most of which were discovered for the first time. For most metabolites, the time (T_p) of peak excretion was 8-12 h. Calculated as scutellarin, the cumulative urine excretion rate of the metabolites was 1.93%.     

A computational study of SbnF5n (n = 1-4): Implications for the fluoride ion affinity of nSbF5

This contributions shows with a series of ab initio MP2 and DFT (BP86 and B3-LYP) computations with large basis sets up to cc-pVQZ quality that the literature value of the standard enthalpy of depolymerization of Sb₄F_20(g) to give SbF_5(g) (+18.5 kJ mol⁻¹) [J. Fawcett, J.H. Holloway, R.D. Peacock, D.R. Russell, J. Fluorine Chem. 20 (1982) 9] is by about 50 kJ mol⁻¹ in error and that the correct value of (Sb₄F_20(g)) is +68 ± 10 kJ mol⁻¹. We assign , , and values for Sb_nF_5n with n = 2-4 and compare the results to available experimental gas phase data. Especially the MP2/TZVPP values obtained in an indirect procedure that rely on isodesmic reactions or the highly accurate compound methods G2 and CBS-Q are in excellent agreement with the experimental data, and reproduce also the fine experimental details at temperatures of 423 and 498 K. With these data and the additional calculation of [Sb_nF_5n+1]⁻ (n = 1-4), we then assessed the fluoride ion affinities (FIAs) of Sb_nF_5n(g), nSbF_5(g), nSbF_5(l) and the standard enthalpies of formation of Sb_nF_5n(g) and [Sb_nF_5n+1]⁻_(g): FIA(Sb_nF_5n(g)) = 514 (n = 1), 559 (n = 2), 572 (n = 3) and 580 (n = 4) kJ mol⁻¹; FIA(nSbF_5(g)) = 667 (n = 2), 767 (n = 3) and 855 (n = 4) kJ mol⁻¹; FIA(nSbF_5(l)) = 434 (n = 1), 506 (n = 2), 528 (n = 3) and 534 (n = 4) kJ mol⁻¹. Error bars are approximately ±10 kJ mol⁻¹. Also the related Gibbs energies were derived. Δ_fH°([Sb_nF_5n+1]⁻_(g)) = −2064 ± 18 (n = 1), −3516 ± 25 (n = 2), −4919 ± 31 (n = 3) and −6305 ± 36 (n = 4) kJ mol⁻¹.     

Reactivity studies of trans-[PtClMe(SMe2)2] towards anionic and neutral ligand substitution processes

Reaction of trans-[PtClMe(SMe₂)₂] with the mono anionic ligands azide, bromide, cyanide, iodide and thiocyanate result in substitution of the chloro ligand as the first step. In contrast the neutral ligands pyridine, 4-Me-pyridine and thiourea substitute a SMe₂ ligand in the first step as confirmed by ¹H NMR spectroscopy and the kinetic data. Detailed kinetic studies were performed in methanol as solvent by use of conventional stopped-flow spectrophotometry. All processes follow the usual two-term rate law for square-planar substitutions, k_obs = k₁ + k₂[Y] (where k₁ = k_MeOH[MeOH]), with k₁ = 0.088 ± 0.004 s⁻¹ and k₂ = 1.18 ± 0.13, 3.8 ± 0.3, 17.8 ± 1.3, 34.9 ± 1.4, 75.3 ± 1.1 mol⁻¹ dm³ s⁻¹ for Y⁻ = N₃, Br, CN, I and SCN respectively at 298 K. The reactions with the neutral ligands proceed without an appreciable intercept with k₂ = 5.1 ± 0.3, 15.3 ± 1.8 and 195 ± 3 mol⁻¹ dm³ s⁻¹ for Y = pyridine, 4-Me-pyridine and thiourea, respectively, at 298 K. Activation parameters for MeOH, , Br⁻, CN⁻, I⁻, SCN⁻, and Tu are ΔH^≠ = 47.1 ± 1.6, 49.8 ± 0.6, 39 ± 3, 32 ± 8, 39 ± 5, 34 ± 4 and 31 ± 3 kJ mol⁻¹ and ΔS^≠ = −107 ± 5, −77 ± 2, −104 ± 9,−113 ± 28, −85 ± 18, −94 ± 14 and −97 ± 10 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹, respectively. Recalculation of k₁ to second-order units gives the following sequence of nucleophilicity: (1:13:42:57:170:200:390:840:2170) at 298 K. Variation of the leaving group in the reaction between trans-[PtXMe(SMe₂)₂] and SCN⁻ follows the same rate law as stated above with k₂ = 75.3 ± 1.1, 236 ± 4 and 442 ± 5 mol⁻¹ dm³ s⁻¹ for X⁻ = Cl, I and N₃, respectively, at 298 K. The corresponding activation parameters were determined as ΔH^≠ = 34 ± 4, 32 ± 2 and 39.3 ± 1.7 kJ mol⁻¹ and ΔS^≠ = −94 ± 14, −86 ± 8 and −68 ± 6 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹. All the kinetic measurements indicate the usual associate mode of activation for square planar substitution reactions as supported by large negative entropies of activation, a significant dependence of the reaction rate on different entering nucleophiles and a linear free energy relationship.     

Characterization of chromium-induced apoptosis in cultured mammalian cells:: A differential scanning calorimetry study

The present study examined the cytotoxic effect of increasing Cr(VI) concentrations on cultured cells by a combination of biochemical methods and DSC, a novel use of DSC in the study of cell death. The characteristics of apoptotic cells are compared with normal cells. Chromatin in human epithelial-like L-41 cells has two thermal transitions at 100 and 105 °C. The heat from these endotherms is 90.5 ± 11.0 J/g DNA. The total heat of denaturation (Q_d) is 27.5 ± 3.5 J/g dry biomass. The heat evolved (−Q) is 15.6 ± 3.0 J/g dry biomass. The treatment of cells with 20 μM Cr(VI) for 2 and 4 h has not revealed any changes in heat of denaturation and heat evolution (−Q). However increased treatment time with Cr(VI) at 20 μM resulted in significant changes to the thermal profile and a sharp linear decrease of (−Q) and Q_d values. The Q_d and (−Q) values of cells treated with 20 μM Cr(VI) for 48 h are equal to 15.5 ± 2.0 and 2.1 ± 0.4 J/g dry biomass, respectively. The changes in chromatin conformation, Bax expression and the collapse of the mitochondrial membrane permeability coincide with the time point from which the action of chromium is irreversible.     

Determination of cadmium, chromium and lead in marine sediment slurry samples by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry using permanent modifiers

A procedure for the determination of cadmium, chromium, and lead in marine sediment slurries by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry is proposed. Slurry was prepared by mixing 10 mg of ground sample with particle size smaller than 50 μm completed to the weight of 1.0 g with a 3% nitric acid and 10% hydrogen peroxide solution. The slurry was maintained homogeneous with an aquarium air pump. For cadmium, the best results were obtained using iridium permanent with optimum pyrolysis and atomization temperatures of 400 and 1300 °C, respectively, a characteristic mass, m_o (1% absorption), of 2.3 pg (recommended 1 pg). Without modifier use, zirconium, ruthenium, and rhodium m_o were 3.4, 4.1, 4.6, and 4.8 pg, respectively. For chromium, the most sensitive condition was obtained with zirconium permanent with optimum pyrolysis and atomization temperatures of 1500 and 2500 °C, m_o of 6.6 pg (recommended 5.5 pg); and without modifier use, rhodium, iridium, and ruthenium m_o were 5.3, 8.8, 8.8, and 8.9 pg, respectively. For lead, the best modifier was also zirconium, m_o of 8.3 pg for the optimum pyrolysis and atomization temperatures of 600 and 1400 °C, respectively, (recommended m_o of 9.0 pg). For iridium, ruthenium, without modifier, and rhodium, m_o were 14.7, 15.5, 16.5, and 16.5 pg, respectively. For all the modifiers selected in each case, the peaks were symmetrical with r² higher than 0.99. Being analyzed (n = 10), two marine sediment reference materials (PACS-2 and MESS-2 from NRCC), the determined values, μg l⁻¹, and certified values in brackets, were 2.17 ± 0.05 (2.11 ± 0.15) and 0.25 ± 0.03 (0.24 ± 0.01) for cadmium in PACS-2 and MESS-2, respectively. For chromium in PACS-2 and MESS-2 the values were 94.7 ± 5.6 (90.7 ± 4.6) and 102.3 ± 10.7 (106 ± 8), respectively. Finally, for lead in PACS-2 and MESS-2, the results obtained were 184 ± 7 (183 ± 8) and of 25.2 ± 0.40 (21.9 ± 1.2), respectively. For cadmium and lead in both samples and chromium in PACS-2, calibration was accomplished with aqueous calibration curves. For chromium in MESS-2, only with the standard addition technique results were in agreement with the certified ones. The limits of detection (k = 3, n = 10) obtained with the diluents were 0.1, 3.4, and 3.6 μg l⁻¹ for cadmium, chromium, and lead, respectively.