Exposure marker discovery of di-2(propylheptyl) phthalate using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and a rat model

Di-(2-propylheptyl) phthalate (DPHP) is a plasticizer and has been suggested to be a subchronic toxicant in rats. DPHP has been approved to be used in food containers and handling by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The use of DPHP is still increasing, and the risk of human exposure to DPHP via food may be high. Exposure markers measured in human samples are commonly used to monitor human exposure levels. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS) and a rat model were used to discover tentative DPHP exposure markers. DPHP and mono-(2-propylheptyl) phthalate (MPHP) were used as the precursors for calculating metabolite candidates using biotransformation mass changes of known enzymatic reactions. A rat model was designed to validate these metabolite candidates as tentative exposure markers. A total of 28 signals show dose–response relationships and these signals contain a few isomers. The chemical structures of 15 tentative exposure marker signals were speculated based on the product ion mass spectra from MS/MS analysis. These 15 signals included 7 chemical structures and some of them may be isomers. The different arrangement of the atoms in space of these isomers should be validated by standard compounds in the future studies. Among the 7 speculated chemical structures, 2 structures were novel tentative DPHP metabolites, and 5 structures have been previously reported in the literature. The results indicate that using UPLC-MS and a rat model can be used to identify tentative toxicant exposure markers.     

Arzneimittelwechselwirkungen mit Antiepileptika

Drug interactions with antiepileptic agents are based in large part on pharmacokinetic mechanisms. Most prominent are induction or inhibition of enzymes of the cytochrome P450 (CYP) system, which is of central importance for metabolic elimination of lipophilic xenobiotics. Potent inductors of CYP isoenzymes are carbamazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, and primidone, thereby decreasing not only their own plasma levels and efficacy but also that of other antiepileptics and other drugs. Felbamate, oxcarbazepine, and topiramate are weak inductors of the CYP isoenzyme 3A4, whereas they inhibit CYP2C19. Valproic acid is a potent inhibitor of several CYP isoenzymes and glucuronyltransferases, resulting in an increase in plasma concentrations and toxicity of antiepileptics and other drugs. Antiepileptics that are not involved in drug interactions include gabapentin, levetiracetam, and vigabatrine. The P-glycoprotein may mediate the exit of antiepileptics from the brain. This transport mechanism is inhibited by carbamazepine, which may explain the enhanced clinical efficacy of a combination of carbamazepin with other antiepileptics. Other possible pharmacokinetic interactions are precipitation of antiepileptics in the stomach by antacids or sucralfate and displacement from plasmaprotein binding of one antiepileptic agent by another. Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) may be helpful in assessing pharmacokinetic drug interactions. Pharmacodynamic interactions appear to be responsible for the enhanced efficacy of antiepileptic combination therapy. In prescribing drugs, their spectrum of interactions has to be known.     

C-27 and C-3 Glucosylation of Diosgenin by Cell Suspension Cultures of Costus Speciosus

Abstract

3-O-[β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1″ → 2′)-β-D-glucopyranosyl], 27-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(25R)-spirost-5-ene-3β,27-diol was isolated from cell suspension cultures of Costus speciosus, following incubation with diosgenin, and its structure was elucidated using a combination of one- and two-dimensional ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectral data, and positive and negative ion ESMS spectral data.     

Distribution and biotransformation of therapeutic antisense oligonucleotides and conjugates

Drug properties of antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) differ significantly from those of traditional small-molecule therapeutics. In this review, we focus on ASO disposition, mainly as characterized by distribution and biotransformation, of nonconjugated and conjugated ASOs. We introduce ASO chemistry to allow the following in-depth discussion on bioanalytical methods and determination of distribution and elimination kinetics at low concentrations over extended periods of time. The resulting quantitative data on the parent oligonucleotide, and the identification and quantification of formed metabolites define the disposition. Proper quantitative understanding of disposition is pivotal for nonclinical to clinical predictions, supports communication with health agencies, and increases the probability of delivering optimal ASO therapy to patients.     

Role of baicalin as a potential therapeutic agent in hepatobiliary and gastrointestinal disorders: A review

Baicalin is a natural bioactive compound derived from Scutellaria baicalensis, which is extensively used in traditional Chinese medicine. A literature survey demonstrated the broad spectrum of health benefits of baicalin such as antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, cardio-protective, hepatoprotective, renal protective, and neuroprotective properties. Baicalin is hydrolyzed to its metabolite baicalein by the action of gut microbiota, which is further reconverted to baicalin via phase 2 metabolism in the liver. Many studies have suggested that baicalin exhibits therapeutic potential against several types of hepatic disorders including hepatic fibrosis, xenobiotic-induced liver injury, fatty liver disease, viral hepatitis, cholestasis, ulcerative colitis, hepatocellular and colorectal cancer. During in vitro and in vivo examinations, it has been observed that baicalin showed a protective role against liver and gut-associated abnormalities by modifying several signaling pathways such as nuclear factor-kappa B, transforming growth factor beta 1/SMAD3, sirtuin 1, p38/mitogen-activated protein kinase/Janus kinase, and calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinaseβ/adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase/acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase pathways. Furthermore, baicalin also regulates the expression of fibrotic genes such as smooth muscle actin, connective tissue growth factor, β-catenin, and inflammatory cytokines such as interferon gamma, interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and IL-1β, and attenuates the production of apoptotic proteins such as caspase-3, caspase-9 and B-cell lymphoma 2. However, due to its low solubility and poor bioavailability, widespread therapeutic applications of baicalin still remain a challenge. This review summarized the hepatic and gastrointestinal protective attributes of baicalin with an emphasis on the molecular mechanisms that regulate the interaction of baicalin with the gut microbiota.     

Fungal transformation of androsta-1,4-diene-3,17-dione by Aspergillus brasiliensis

Background

The biotransformation of steroids by fungal biocatalysts has been recognized for many years. There are numerous fungi of the genus Aspergillus which have been shown to transform different steroid substances. The possibility of using filamentous fungi Aspergillus brasiliensis cells in the biotransformation of androsta-1,4-diene-3,17-dione, was evaluated.

Methods

The fungal strain was inoculated into the transformation medium which supplemented with androstadienedione as a substrate and fermentation continued for 5 days. The metabolites were extracted and isolated by thin layer chromatography. The structures of these metabolites were elucidated using ¹H-NMR, broadband decoupled ¹³C-NMR, EI Mass and IR spectroscopies.

Results

The fermentation yielded one reduced product: 17β-hydroxyandrost-1,4-dien-3-one and two hydroxylated metabolites: 11α-hydroxyandrost-1,4-diene-3,17-dione and 12β-hydroxyandrost-1,4-diene-3,17-dione.

Conclusions

The results obtained in this study show that A. brasiliendsis could be considered as a biocatalyst for producing important derivatives from androstadienedione.     

微生物转化在现代中药研发中的应用

Microbial transformation refers to using one or more microbial enzymes to convert a compound into another structure-related compound which has economic value under certain conditions. In recent years, microbial transformation technology has been more and more applied to the research of traditional Chinese medicine. The purpose includes improving the efficacy, reducing toxicity, removing impurities, helping the active ingredients to be metabolized in the body, and producing new active ingredients. In addition, microbial transformation has many advantages, such as a wide variety of reaction types, strong specificity, few by-products, mild and controllable reaction conditions, environmental protection and less pollution and thus it has unique advantages in the transformation of traditional Chinese medicine. This article summarizes the application and prospect of microbial transformation technology in the research of traditional Chinese medicine in recent     

Formation of harmful compounds in biotransformation of lilial by microorganisms isolated from human skin

Abstract

Context: The biotransformation of lilial results in an acid that is used in the dairy industry, in perfumery, as an intermediate in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, and as a food additive for enhancing taste.

Objective: This study investigates the biotransformation of lilial by Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis, two bacterial species isolated from human skin.

Materials and methods: Both species of Staphylococcus were isolated in samples taken from the skin of individuals living in a rural area of Iran. The pH of the culture medium was optimized, and after culturing the microorganisms, the bacteria were added to a flask containing a nutrient broth and incubated for several hours. The flasks of bacteria were combined with lilial, and various biochemical tests and diagnostics were performed, including Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry (UV–Vis), and gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS).

Results: The S. aureus produced isobutyric acid (2-methylpropanoic acid) after 72?h (71% of the total products yielded during biotransformation), whereas the S. epidermidis produced terpenoid alcoholic media after 24?h (90% of total products obtained).

Discussion and conclusion: The results obtained indicate that biotransformation of lilial by S. aureus is more desirable than by S. epidermidis due to the highly efficient production of a single product. Bourgeonal and liliol were two toxic compounds produced during biotransformation, which indicates that the use of lilial in cosmetics can be harmful to the skin.     

卵巢癌干细胞与上皮-间质转化的研究进展

近年有研究指出肿瘤可能是肿瘤干细胞性疾病。随着各种肿瘤干细胞不断被分离与鉴定出来,卵巢癌干细胞的分离与鉴定也取得了进展。卵巢癌干细胞是卵巢癌中具有自我更新和多向分化能力的细胞。越来越多的证据表明,肿瘤干细胞可能是介导肿瘤转移和耐药的关键细胞。同时,研究发现上皮-间质转化（EMT）在肿瘤转移中发挥着重要作用,且EMT可能介导肿瘤细胞获得干细胞特性。综述卵巢癌干细胞与EMT之间的关系,进一步探讨卵巢癌的潜在治疗策略。     

正电子放射性显像剂代谢及其研究方法进展

正电子放射性显像剂主要用于PET的研究,能在分子水平上反映细胞代谢、细胞受体活性、细胞核内的核酸合成以及细胞基因的改变,在临床疾病诊断和治疗中有重要的地位和作用.PET显像剂进入生物体内后会发生代谢转化,了解PET显像剂的代谢途径和转化过程,对于准确分析和解释显像结果及设计开发新型PET显像剂非常重要.该文总结了目前PET显像剂代谢研究的现状,并对PET显像剂代谢研究方法以及分析技术等进行了综述.