An assessment of salicylic acid-induced mucosal damage in vivo by measuring the metabolism of salicylamide in rabbit intestine.

An assessment of salicylic acid-induced mucosal damage in vivo by measuring the metabolism of salicylamide (SAM) was investigated in rabbit intestine. The intestinal first-pass metabolism of SAM was studied using in situ intestinal sacs with complete mesenteric venous blood collection. The appearance of both SAM and its metabolites into the mesenteric venous blood was measured directly by cannulating the mesenteric vein of exposed intestine and collecting all venous blood draining from the absorbing region. Following oral pretreatment with salicylic acid, the appearance of SAM glucuronide (SAMG) in the mesenteric venous blood was significantly increased compared with the control. The increased blood concentration of SAMG following intraduodenal administration of SAM in vivo was observed in rabbits pretreated with salicylic acid orally. The blood concentration of SAMG after the intravenous administration of SAM was not increased compared with the control. We suggest that the change in the intestinal first-pass metabolism of SAM may be due to the intestinal mucosal damage induced by oral pretreatment with salicylic acid. The measurement of SAM metabolites may be of value in the assessment of intestinal mucosal damage in vivo.     

An assessment of mucosal damage in vivo: effect of oral pretreatment with 5-fluorouracil on the intestinal first-pass metabolism of salicylamide in rabbits.

An assessment of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-induced mucosal damage in vivo by measuring the metabolism of salicylamide (SAM) was investigated in rabbit intestine. The mucosal damage in the intestine 48 h after oral administration of 5-FU (30 mg/kg) was examined using a scanning electron microscope. By the oral pretreatment with 5-FU, the morphological changes of jejunal and ileal mucosa were recognized compared with the control. The intestinal first-pass metabolism of SAM was studied using in situ intestinal sacs with complete mesenteric venous blood collection. The appearance of both SAM and its metabolites into the mesenteric venous blood was measured directly by cannulating the mesenteric vein of exposed intestine and collecting all venous blood draining from the absorbing region. Following oral pretreatment with 5-FU, the appearance of SAM glucuronide (SAMG) in the mesenteric venous blood was significantly increased. The increased blood concentration of SAMG following intraduodenal administration of SAM in vivo was observed in rabbits pretreated with 5-FU orally. However, the blood concentration of SAMG after intravenous administration of SAM was not increased compared with the control. These findings suggest that the change in intestinal first-pass metabolism of SAM may be due to the intestinal mucosal damage by oral pretreatment with 5-FU. The alteration of intestinal first-pass metabolism of a marker compound may be utilized for the assessment of intestinal mucosal damage in vivo.     

An improved in vivo deuterium labeling method for measuring the biosynthetic rate of cytokinins

An improved method for determining the relative biosynthetic rate of isoprenoid cytokinins has been developed. A set of 11 relevant isoprenoid cytokinins, including zeatin isomers, was separated by ultra performance liquid chromatography in less than 6 min. The iP-type cytokinins were observed to give rise to a previously-unknown fragment at m/z 69; we suggest that the diagnostic (204-69) transition can be used to monitor the biosynthetic rate of isopentenyladenine. Furthermore, we found that by treating the cytokinin nucleotides with alkaline phosphatase prior to analysis, the sensitivity of the detection process could be increased. In addition, derivatization (propionylation) improved the ESI-MS response by increasing the analytes' hydrophobicity. Indeed, the ESI-MS response of propionylated isopentenyladenosine was about 34% higher than that of its underivatized counterpart. Moreover, the response of the derivatized zeatin ribosides was about 75% higher than that of underivatized zeatin ribosides. Finally, we created a web-based calculator (IZOTOP) that facilitates MS/MS data processing and offer it freely to the research community.     

Microdialysis sampling and chemiluminescence detection for in vivo and real-time study of the lead metabolism in rabbit blood

The chemiluminescence (CL) system K₂MnO₄-luminol is shown to be useful for the determination of lead(II). The method is based on the catalytic effect of Pb(II) on the CL reaction. The linear range was 3 × 10⁻³–9 × 10⁻¹ mg L⁻¹ (r = 0.9971) and the relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) for 5 × 10⁻² mg L⁻¹ Pb(II) measurement was 0.7% (n = 11). The detection limit was 3 × 10⁻⁴ mg L⁻¹ (3σ) Pb(II). Based on this, an in vivo, on-line, real-time analytical system for monitoring the metabolism of free lead(II) in rabbit blood was developed. A microdialysis probe, implanted in the vein of a rabbit, was perfused with perfusate at a flow rate of 5 μL min⁻¹. The concentration of free lead(II) in the dialysate was determined on-line with a flow-injection CL system. This system included microdialysis sampling, on-line separation and chemiluminescence detection. The concentration-time curve of lead(II) was in accordance with the one-compartmental open model, T_1/2 (elimination half-life), T_max (peak time) and C_max (peak concentration) were 37.77 min, 85.20 min and 0.137 mg L⁻¹, respectively.     

Biochemical markers of bone metabolism in the assessment of osteoporosis.

Several biochemical markers are available for the study of bone metabolism. The characteristics of these markers are reviewed and their potential application in osteoporosis is examined. It is concluded that biochemical markers are potentially useful in identifying those at risk of developing osteoporosis, selecting appropriate treatment, monitoring therapy, and studying the pathogenesis of osteoporosis.     

Direct determination of salicylamide in serum by matrix isopotential synchronous fluorimetry

A method for the determination of salicylamide at concentrations between 25 and 350 ng ml(-1) by use of matrix isopotential synchronous fluorescence spectrometry (MISF) in combination with derivative techniques is proposed. The method allows the determination of compounds in samples with unknown background fluorescence without the need for tedious pre-separation. Synchronous scans are performed along a trajectory that connects points of identical intensity in a three-dimensional fluorescence spectrum. The unknown analytical signal of the serum is suppressed from the MISF spectrum, by calculating its first derivative at lambda(exc)=324 nm and lambda(em)=392 nm. In order to ensure maximum sensitivity and adequate selectivity, the experimental variables affecting the fluorescence intensity of the salicylamide band at lambda(exc)=328 nm and lambda(em)=418 nm were studied. Based on the results, the determination was performed in an aqueous medium at pH 12 that was adjusted with a sodium phosphate/hydrogen phosphate buffer. Calibration graphs were subjected to a comprehensive statistical analysis. The error propagation has been considered in order to calculate the detection limit by the criterium of Clayton.     

Simulation of chemical metabolism for fate and hazard assessment. V. Mammalian hazard assessment

Animals and humans are exposed to a wide array of xenobiotics and have developed complex enzymatic mechanisms to detoxify these chemicals. Detoxification pathways involve a number of biotransformations, such as oxidation, reduction, hydrolysis and conjugation reactions. The intermediate substances created during the detoxification process can be extremely toxic compared with the original toxins, hence metabolism should be accounted for when hazard effects of chemicals are assessed. Alternatively, metabolic transformations could detoxify chemicals that are toxic as parents. The aim of the present paper is to describe specificity of eukaryotic metabolism and its simulation and incorporation in models for predicting skin sensitization, mutagenicity, chromosomal aberration, micronuclei formation and estrogen receptor binding affinity implemented in the TIMES software platform. The current progress in model refinement, data used to parameterize models, logic of simulating metabolism, applicability domain and interpretation of predictions are discussed. Examples illustrating the model predictions are also provided.     

Simulation of chemical metabolism for fate and hazard assessment. V. Mammalian hazard assessment

Animals and humans are exposed to a wide array of xenobiotics and have developed complex enzymatic mechanisms to detoxify these chemicals. Detoxification pathways involve a number of biotransformations, such as oxidation, reduction, hydrolysis and conjugation reactions. The intermediate substances created during the detoxification process can be extremely toxic compared with the original toxins, hence metabolism should be accounted for when hazard effects of chemicals are assessed. Alternatively, metabolic transformations could detoxify chemicals that are toxic as parents. The aim of the present paper is to describe specificity of eukaryotic metabolism and its simulation and incorporation in models for predicting skin sensitization, mutagenicity, chromosomal aberration, micronuclei formation and estrogen receptor binding affinity implemented in the TIMES software platform. The current progress in model refinement, data used to parameterize models, logic of simulating metabolism, applicability domain and interpretation of predictions are discussed. Examples illustrating the model predictions are also provided.     

Radioactively labelled metabolic substrates: A new tool for nuclear medical assessment of myocardial metabolism in vivo

Until the beginning of the last decade, nuclear medicine failed to contribute to diagnostic information in cardiology. This was not only due to technical problems, but also to difficulties of interdisciplinar approaches. This situation now has drastically changed, particularly during the past few years. The new impetus, which greatly benefits the patient, was made possible by improved instruments and electronic data processing, as well as by new radioactive indicators, new concepts of diagnostic evaluation of data, and a broad interdisciplinary cooperation among radiochemists, synthetic chemists, physicians, physicists, mathematicans and computer specialists.     

Simulation of chemical metabolism for fate and hazard assessment. I. Approach for simulating metabolism

Information regarding the metabolism of xenobiotic chemicals plays a central role in regulatory risk assessments. In regulatory programmes where metabolism studies are required, the studies of metabolic pathways are often incomplete and the identification of activated metabolites and important degradation products are limited by analytical methods. Because so many more new chemicals are being produced than can be assessed for potential hazards, setting assessment priorities among the thousands of untested chemicals requires methods for predictive hazard identification which can be derived directly from chemical structure and their likely metabolites. In a series of papers we are sharing our experience in the computerized management of metabolic data and the development of simulators of metabolism for predicting the environmental fate and (eco)toxicity of chemicals. The first paper of the series presents a knowledge-based formalism for the computer simulation of non-intermediary metabolism for untested chemicals, with an emphasis on qualitative and quantitative aspects of modelling metabolism.     

Studies on Fe complexes produced by yeast. IV. Mechanism of Fe transport from an Fe(II)-oligosaccharide complex across the mucosal membrane of the rat intestine

The mechanism of Fe transport across the rat duodenal membrane from an Fe(II)-oligosaccharide complex (designated B1-c) produced in wine by yeast and showing high hematopoietic activity in rats was examined. The Fe uptake from B1-c by brush border membrane (BBM) vesicles isolated from the rat intestine was based mainly on the Fe binding to membrane components which were suggested to be inside the vesicles. Evidence that Fe was transported into the vesicles by a special transport system other than simple diffusion was obtained by observing saturation kinetics under conditions of isotope exchange, and temperature and pH dependence. This Fe uptake was not inhibited by any metal ions tested, including inorganic Fe(II), and the BBM vesicles from the duodenum had a higher Fe uptake than those from the other parts of the small intestine. Furthermore, the BBM vesicles isolated from rats with Fe deficiency showed a significantly increased Fe uptake. The Km value for B1-c uptake was 0.16 mM, lower than the values for FeSO4 and ferrous ascorbate. These results suggest that a special transport system selective for B1-c may be present on the mucosal membrane. B1-c was taken up by the BBM vesicles in the form of Fe-oligosaccharide complex. From the preloaded vesicles, B1-c was released temperature- and pH-dependently.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

On the assessment of melanin in human skin in vivo

Abstract— A method for estimating the amount of pigment in normal human skin in uivo is presented. This method is based on remittance spectroscopy. The spectrum of normal skin is compared to amelanotic skin and the logarithm of the ratio is fitted with a straight line in the range 620-720 nm. The parameters obtained are strongly correlated for all the volunteers in this study. therefore each spectrum determines one parameter for each individual. When similar analysis was performed on DOPA-melanin we obtained the same strong correlation among different concentrations. We are thus able to determine a relation between the coefficient obtained from the remittance spectrum from normal skin and an equivalent concentration of DOPA-melanin in aqueous solution. We can thus estimate. to a first approximation, the total melanin mass in human skin non-invasively, and can determine a parameter that is uniquely correlated to the amount of melanin pigment in the skin.