The evaluation of effect of selected metal ions on the efficiency of passive and active transport of imipramine. / Ocena wplywu wybranych jonów metali na efektywnosc transportu biernego i aktywnego imipraminy.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of zinc as well as magnesium or copper ions on the efficacy of passive transport of imipramine hydrochloride in in vitro model. According to results from passive transport, the next aim of the studies was to check the efficiency of active transport of imipramine hydrochloride in the presence or absence of zinc ions. METHODS: The passive transport study was conducted in specially designed capsules, while CaCo-2 cell lines were used in active transport evaluation. Zinc, magnesium and copper content was determined by F-AAS method. The analysis of imipramine hydrochloride was performed using HPLC method. RESULTS: Mean concentrations of zinc, magnesium, and copper ions obtained in this experiment were as follows: 2.98, 1.34 and 3.52 mg/L, respectively. The presence of zinc ions increased the efficiency of active transport of imipramine hydrochloride by 39%. Furthermore, the transport of zinc ions in the presence of imipramine hydrochloride was 27% greater than that of the zinc-containing solutions without imipramine hydrochloride. The extending of the time of experiment from 30 to 60 minutes resulted in an increase in transport efficiency of more than 10% in both cases. CONCLUSIONS: The efficiency of passive and active transport of imipramine hydrochloride is influenced by the presence of Mg, Zn and Cu ions. The passive transport of imipramine hydrochloride after 90 minutes of experiment was the most effective in the presence of copper and zinc ions. Further studies conducted on the CaCo-2 cell line indicated a clear positive interaction of imipramine - zinc.

Effect of selected drugs on zinc accumulation in teeth of laboratory animals.

BACKGROUND: Zinc (Zn) is a micronutrient and essential element of life and its deficiency causes severe disorders of numerous body systems, such as immune, reproductive and central nervous system. Zinc supplementation affects wound healing and sexual development. The interactions between drugs administration and Zn level in tissues are not fully understood. The aim of the study was to demonstrate differences in Zn content in teeth of laboratory animals that have undergone pharmacological tests. METHODS: The teeth were extracted from laboratory animals after chronic administration of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (8-[4-[4-(4-chlorophenyl) piperazine-1-sulfonylphenyl]]-1-propylxanthine), a steroid anti-inflammatory drug (deoxycorticosterone) and an anti-cancer drug (oxaliplatin used acutely). The method of flame atomic absorption spectrometry was used to determine the Zn content in the teeth of the laboratory animals. RESULTS: Based on the studies conducted, the administration of the anti-inflammatory drug PSB-603 and deoxycorticosterone results in an increase in Zn accumulation in the teeth of laboratory animals, which may be indicative of the effect of anti-inflammatory drugs on the metabolism of this bioelement. Oxaliplatin has the opposite effect, after which the level of the measured bioelement in the teeth of mice depended on the administered dose. This level was on average 21.0-28.1% lower than the Zn level in the teeth of the control group. Anti-cancer drugs may interfere with Zn accumulation in the teeth and cause the removal of this metal from bone tissue. CONCLUSION: It can be assumed that the Zn content in teeth can be markedly affected by the drugs that were administrated to animals.

The impact of ZnO and TiO2 on the stability of clotrimazole under UVA irradiation: Identification of photocatalytic degradation products and in vitro cytotoxicity assessment.

In order to ensure the safe and effective use of pharmaceutical products especially for topical administration photostability testing is necessary. The current paper presents an in-depth analysis of the stability of one of the most common antifungal agents, namely clotrimazole. Clotrimazole has proven to be stable under UVA irradiation in applied experimental conditions, but the presence of catalysts such as ZnO and TiO2 has contributed significantly to the degradation of this compound. The findings indicate that its photocatalytic degradation reactions followed the pseudo first-order kinetics with rate constant depending on the pH and the used solvent. Using LC-MS/MS, 14 presumable degradation products of clotrimazole were identified and the plausible transformation pathways were proposed. The in vitro cytotoxicity risk evaluation based on photostability of clotrimazole was also performed using the Human skin fibroblast cell line (BJ) ATCC™ CRL-2522. There was no statistically significant difference between cells viability in all analyzed combinations of clotrimazole, TiO2/ZnO, and UVA irradiation (p<0.05).

Remediation capacity of Cd and Pb ions by mycelia of Imleria badia, Laetiporus sulphureus, and Agaricus bisporus in vitro cultures.

The goal of this study was to evaluate cadmium and lead accumulation ability of in vitro cultures biomass containing selected edible mushroom species derived from the environment (Laetiporus sulphureus, Imleria badia) and those of commercial origin (Agaricus bisporus). Atomic absorption spectrometry was used to evaluate the content of Cd(II) and Pb(II) on the medium supplemented with Cd(II) or Pb(II), each of them at the same concentration of 5·10-5 M. The highest concentration of Cd(II) ions was determined in the biomass from L. sulphureus in vitro cultures, while the highest concentration of Pb(II) ions was found in the biomass from A. bisporus in vitro cultures. The greatest Cd(II) and Pb(II) accumulation ability in mycelium per dry weight was shown for L. sulphureus. Among the test species, biomass of A. bisporus showed the lowest ability for the bioaccumulation of Cd(II); however, comparable ability for the remediation of Pb(II) was provided by the biomasses from A. bisporus and I. badia in vitro cultures. The results confirm the possibility of using these mushroom species for remediation and indicate the relationship between bioaccumulation of heavy metals and the test species.

Determination of bifonazole and identification of its photocatalytic degradation products using UPLC-MS/MS.

The main goal of the presented work was to investigate the effect of ZnO or/and TiO2 on the stability of bifonazole in solutions under UVA irradiation. To this end, a simple and reproducible UPLC method for the determination of bifonazole in the presence of its photocatalytic degradation products was developed. Linearity was studied in the range of 0.0046-0.15 mg mL-1 with a determination coefficient of 0.9996. Bifonazole underwent a photocatalytic degradation process under the experimental conditions used. Comparative studies showed that combination of TiO2 /ZnO (1:1 w/w) was a more effective catalyst than TiO2 or ZnO with a degradation rate of up to 67.57% after 24 h of irradiation. Further, kinetic analyses indicated that the photocatalytic degradation of bifonazole in the mixture of TiO2 /ZnO can be described by a pseudo-first order reaction. Statistical comparison clearly indicated that the presence of TiO2 /ZnO also affected the stability of bifonazole from a cream preparation after 15 h of UVA exposure (p < 0.05). Ten photodegradation products of bifonazole were identified for the first time and their plausible fragmentation pathways, derived from MS/MS data, were proposed. The main pathway in the photocatalytic transformation of bifonazole in the presence of ZnO or/and TiO2 involves hydroxylation of the methanetriyl group and/or adjacent phenyl rings and cleavage of the imidazole moiety.

Zinc transporters protein level in postmortem brain of depressed subjects and suicide victims.

BACKGROUND: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a serious psychiatric illness, associated with an increasing rate of suicide. The pathogenesis of depression may be associated with the disruption of zinc (Zn) homeostasis. In the brain, several proteins that regulate Zn homeostasis are present, including Zn transporters (ZnTs) which remove Zn from the cytosol. The present study was designed to investigate whether depression and suicide are associated with alterations in the expression of the ZnTs protein. METHODS: Protein levels of ZnT1, ZnT3, ZnT4, ZnT5 and ZnT6 were measured in postmortem brain tissue from two different cohorts. Cohort A contained 10 subjects diagnosed with MDD (7 were suicide victims) and 10 psychiatrically-normal control subjects and cohort B contained 11 non-diagnosed suicide victims and 8 sudden-death control subjects. Moreover, in cohort A we measured protein level of NMDA (GluN2A subunit), AMPA (GluA1 subunit) and 5-HT1A receptors and PSD-95. Proteins were measured in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) using Western blotting. In addition, Zn concentration was measured using a voltammetric method. RESULTS: There was a significant increase in protein levels of ZnT1, ZnT4, ZnT5 in the PFC in MDD, relative to control subjects, while ZnT3 protein level was decreased in MDD. There was no significant difference in the Zn concentration in the PFC between control and MDD subjects. Similarly, in the PFC of suicide victims (non-diagnosed), an increase in protein levels of ZnT1, ZnT4, ZnT5 and ZnT6 was observed. Conversely, protein levels of ZnT3 were decreased in both suicide victims and subjects with MDD, in comparison with control subjects. There was also a significant decrease in the protein level of GluA1, GluN2A, PSD-95 and 5-HT1A in MDD. CONCLUSIONS: Our studies suggest that alterations in Zn transport proteins are associated with the pathophysiology of MDD and suicide.

Determination of itraconazole and its photodegradation products with kinetic evaluation by ultra-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry.

A simple and reproducible UPLC-MS/MS method for the determination of itraconazole (ITZ) and its photodegradation products formed during exposure to UV-A radiation was developed. Chromatographic separations were carried out using an Acquity UPLC BEH C18 column (2.1 × 100 mm, 1.7 µm particle size). The column was maintained at 40°C, and eluted under gradient conditions from 100% to 50% of eluent A over 13 min, at a flow rate of 0.3 mL min-1 . Eluent A was 0.1% (v/v) formic acid in water; eluent B was 0.1% (v/v) formic acid in acetonitrile. The linear regression analysis for the calibration curve showed a good linear correlation over the concentration range 0.0066-0.15 mg mL-1 with determination coefficient > 0.99. The activities of some photocatalysts during degradation process of ITZ were compared. It was found that indirect photodegradation of ITZ was more effective than direct photolysis. Under our experimental conditions the photodegradation rate constant depended on the applied catalysts with catalytic activity decreasing in the following pattern: FeCl3 > TiO2 /FeCl3 > TiO2 . The kinetic analysis of the photodegradation data revealed that the degradation of the ITZ follows first-order kinetics. The photodegradation products of ITZ were identified, and their fragmentation pathways, derived from MS/MS data, were proposed. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution of the new non-imidazole histamine H3 receptor antagonist 1-[3-(4-tert-butylphenoxy) propyl]piperidine in rats.

1. The aim of this study was to evaluate pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution of novel histamine H3 receptor antagonist 1-[3-(4-tert-butylphenoxy)propyl]piperidine (compound DL76). 2. Following intravenous administration of DL76 at the dose of 3 mg/kg, pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated using non-compartmental analysis. The systemic serum clearance was 10.08 L/h/kg and the estimated blood clearance was 5.64 L/h/kg. The volume of distribution at steady state was 16.1 L/kg which was greater than total body water, terminal half-life and MRT equalled 1.41 h and 1.6 h, respectively. The two-compartment pharmacokinetic model with enterohepatic circulation was also successfully fitted to the experimental data. 3. After systemic administration, DL76 was rapidly distributed into all organs studied (liver, kidney, brain, and lung). The highest AUC of DL76 was observed in lungs followed by brain, where the exposure to the investigated compound expressed as AUC was almost 30 times higher than in serum. 4. Bioavailability, calculated based on the area-under-the-concentration-time curve extrapolated to infinity after intravenous and intragastric administration of the dose 3 mg/kg, equalled 60.9%.

Binding of 1-[3-(4-tert-butyl-phenoxy)propyl]piperidine, a new non imidazole histamine H3 receptor antagonist to bovine serum albumin.

The degree of binding of a drug to plasma proteins has a significant effect on its distribution, elimination, and pharmacological effect since only the unbound fraction is available for distribution into extra-vascular space. The binding of DL76 (1-[3-(4-tert-butyl-phenoxy)propyl]piperidine) to bovine serum albumin (BSA) was studied in viitro by equilibrium dialysis at 37 degrees C and pH 7.4 over the concentration range of 0.32-317.18 microM and at a physiological protein concentration of 602 microM. Drug concentrations were determined by validated LC/MS/MS method. Nonlinear regression analyses of the data pointed to a single class of binding sites (m = 1) with a dissociation constant of DL76 equal 49.20 microM. Scatchard plot concave-down curve might indicate positive cooperativity, which was confirmed by the Hill plot with the slope higher than one.

[The different aspects of the biological role of glutathione]. / Rózne oblicza biologicznej roli glutationu.

Glutathione plays a key role in maintaining a physiological balance between prooxidants and antioxidants, crucial for the life and death of a cell. Glutathione occurs in the human body in several redox forms, of which reduced glutathione (GSH), oxidized glutathione (GSSG), S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO), and mixed disulfides of glutathione with proteins are the most important. There is a clear relationship between the levels of different redox forms of glutathione and the regulation of cellular metabolism in a broad sense. Therefore, each of these forms of glutathione can be beneficial or harmful to the organism depending on the cell type and its metabolic status. In such a situation, elevation of GSH level can constitute a very important factor aiding treatment. A rise in GSH level is beneficial in all pathological states, accompanied by lowered GSH content, while a lowering of GSH level is an indication to induce short-term immunosuppression required in organ transplantation and in tumor cells to selectively increase their sensitivity to chemo- and radiotherapy. GSH itself cannot be used as a therapeutic since it is not transported through plasma membranes. Cysteine, an amino acid which limits glutathione biosynthesis, also cannot be used in therapy due to its high neurotoxicity. For this reason, there is currently an intensive search for possibilities of modulating cellular glutathione and cysteine levels, and this problem can be the subject of interdisciplinary studies combining such scientific fields as biology, pharmacology, toxicology, and clinical medicine.

[Glutatione transferases--structure and functions. beta-lyase-dependent bioactivation of cysteine S-conjugates]. / Tranferazy glutationowe--bioaktywacja S-koniugatów glutationu z udzialem beta-liazy.

Glutathione transferases (GSTs) catalyze nucleophilic attack of glutathione on electrophilic center of the second substrate, hydrophobic in character. It leads to the formation of glutathione S-conjugates (thioethers), which are subsequently eliminated from the organism as mercapturic acids. However, in some reactions, glutathione can also fulfills the role of a cofactor, facilitating transformation of a hydrophobic substrate molecule, and released after the structure has been changed. Glutathione transferases participate in the processes of conjugation, reduction, isomerization, synthesis of sex hormones, prostaglangins and leukotrienes, degradation of aromatic compounds and signal transduction. The role of these enzymes consists principally in increasing glutathione nucleophilicity by its appropriate positioning and binding in active center, and its following activation by catalytic amino acid residues. There are also so-called ligandins, i.e. glutathione transferases which can bind hydrophobic, non-substrate ligands, thereby contributing to their sequestration. GSTs play a dominating role in detoxification of xenobiotics eliminated from the body in the form of thioethers, which however, under certain conditions, can be bioactivated in beta-liase-catalyzed reaction to form compounds capable of forming tissue adducts. Inhibition of S-transferase activity can have therapeutic significance both when thioethers are activated by beta-liase and during carcinogenesis, which is often accompanied by overexpression of GSTs.