Occupational exposure to arsenic and leukopenia risk: Toxicological alert.

Arsenic and its inorganic compounds affect numerous organs and systemic functions, such as the nervous and hematopoietic systems, liver, kidneys, and skin. Despite a large number of studies on arsenic toxicity, rare reports have investigated the leukopenia incidence in workers exposed to arsenic. In workplaces, the main source of workers' exposure is the contaminated air by the inorganic arsenic in mines, arsenic or copper smelter industries, and chemical factories. Erythropoiesis inhibition is one of the arsenic effects and it is related to regulatory factor GATA-1. This factor is necessary for the normal differentiation of early erythroid progenitors. JAK-STAT is an important intracellular signal transduction pathway responsible for the mediating normal functions of several cytokines related to cell proliferation and hematopoietic systems development and regulation. Arsenic inactivates JAK-STAT by inhibiting JAK tyrosine kinase and using the IFNγ pathway. The intravascular hemolysis starts after the absorption phase when arsenic binds to the globin of hemoglobin in erythrocytes and is transported into the body, which increases the oxidation of sulfhydryl groups in hemoglobin. So, this article intends to highlight the potential leukopenia risk via inhalation for workers exposed to arsenic and suggests a possible mechanism for this leukopenia through the JAK-signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) pathway inhibition.

Toxicological alert: Exposure to glycidyl methacrylate and cancer risk.

Glycidyl methacrylate (GMA; CAS no. 106-91-2) is a chemical monomer used in the manufacture of dental resins, can coatings and polymers. GMA has demonstrated toxicity to the ocular, digestive, respiratory and dermal systems. Human exposure occurs mainly in the workplace, but it can also happen through food. Although there were no available data on carcinogenicity of GMA, carcinogenic potential in the nasal cavity is highly expected. Further studies are needed to assess GMA exposure in humans. This study provides an alert of GMA human exposure and its genotoxic and carcinogenic potential.

Ciprofloxacin's Structure Causing Fluoride-Related Toxicity: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND: Ciprofloxacin is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic widely used in clinical practice with a fluorine atom in its chemical structure. Like other antibiotics, it can induce several adverse effects, such as tendinopathy, musculoskeletal toxicity, peripheral neuropathy, and cardiotoxicity, thereby causing relevant and irreversible health injuries. Ciprofloxacin fluoride's adverse toxicological effect associated with a urinary fluoride concentration above the reference value has not yet been reported. OBJECTIVE: This case report aimed to provide evidence of ciprofloxacin treatment intoxication, an antibiotic containing a fluorine atom in its chemical structure, associated with a fluoride urine concentration above the reference value. CASE PRESENTATION: A 32-year-old man developed tendinopathy and peripheral neuropathy on the third day's night after initiating the ciprofloxacin doses, exhibiting symptoms comparable to a low-power electrical discharge and very intense motor agitation. After following habitual laboratory exams, a urinary fluoride measurement was performed by an ion-selective electrode. The urinary fluoride concentration was above the reference values in mg/g of creatinine. CONCLUSION: This is the first study that has described an association among ciprofloxacinfluoride, tendinopathies, and peripheral neuropathy. The patient's symptomatology has suggested a toxic effect related to fluoride. We consider the documented finding of a fluorine atom at the ciprofloxacin structure and its toxic potential neuropathies and tendinopathies as an issue of alert.

Low Doses Naltrexone: The Potential Benefit Effects for its Use in Patients with Cancer.

Naltrexone (NTX) is an opioid antagonist that inhibits cell proliferation in vivo when administered in low doses. Naltrexone in low doses can reduce tumor growth by interfering with cell signalling as well as by modifying the immune system. It acts as an Opioid Growth Factor receptor (OGFr) antagonist and the OGF-OGFr axis is an inhibitory biological pathway present in human cancer cells and tissues, being a target for the treatment with naltrexone low-dose (LDN). Clinical trials have proposed a unique mechanism(s) allowing LDN to affect tumors. LDN shows promising results for people with primary cancer of the bladder, breast, liver, lung, lymph nodes, colon and rectum. This short review provides further evidence to support the role of LDN as an anticancer agent.

Influence of glomerular filtration rate on the pharmacokinetics of cyclophosphamide enantiomers in patients with lupus nephritis.

The pharmacokinetics of cyclophosphamide (CYC) enantiomers were evaluated in patients with lupus nephritis distributed in 2 groups according to creatinine clearance: group 1 (90.6-144.6 mL/min/1.73 m(2)) and group 2 (42.8-76.4 mL/min/1.73 m(2)). All patients were treated with 0.75 to 1.3 g of racemic CYC as a 2-hour infusion and with 1 mg intravenous midazolam as a drug-metabolizing marker. CYC enantiomers and midazolam concentrations in plasma were measured by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS). The following differences (Wilcoxon test, P < or = .05) were observed between the (S)-(-) and (R)-(+) enantiomers: AUC(0-infinity) 152.41 vs 129.25 microg.h/mL, CL 3.28 vs 3.89 L/h, Vd 31.38 vs 29.74 L, and t((1/2)) 6.79 vs 5.56 h for group 1 and AUC(0-infinity) 167.20 vs 139.08 microg.h/mL, CL 2.99 vs 3.59 L/h, and t((1/2)) 6.15 vs 4.99 h for group 2. No differences (Mann test, P < or = .05) were observed between groups 1 and 2 in the pharmacokinetic parameters of both enantiomers. No significant relationship was observed between midazolam clearance (2.92-16.40 mL/min.kg) and clearance of each CYC enantiomer. In conclusion, CYC kinetic disposition is enantioselective, resulting in higher exposures of the (S)-(-) enantiomer in lupus nephritis patients, and the pharmacokinetic parameters of both enantiomers are not altered by the worsening of renal condition.

Simultaneous determination of albendazole metabolites, praziquantel and its metabolite in plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray mass spectrometry.

The analysis of albendazole sulfoxide, albendazole sulfone, praziquantel and trans-4-hydroxypraziquantel in plasma was carried out by high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry ((LC-MS-MS). The plasma samples were prepared by liquid-liquid extraction using dichloromethane as extracting solvent. The partial HPLC resolution of drug and metabolites was obtained using a cyanopropyl column and a mobile phase consisting of methanol:water (3:7, v/v) plus 0.5% of acetic acid, at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. Multi reaction monitoring detection was performed by electrospray ionization in the positive ion mode, conferring additional selectivity to the method. Method validation showed relative standard deviation (precision) and relative errors (accuracy) lower than 15% for all analytes evaluated. The quantification limit was 5 ng/mL and the linear range was 5-2500 ng/mL for all analytes. The method was used for the determination of drug and metabolites in swine plasma samples and proved to be suitable for pharmacokinetic studies.

Pharmacokinetics of cyclophosphamide enantiomers in patients with breast cancer.

PURPOSE: Adjuvant chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide (CYC) is used for the treatment of breast cancer. CYC is used as a racemic mixture, although preclinical data have demonstrated differences in the efficacy and toxicity of its enantiomers, with (S)-(-)-CYC exhibiting a higher therapeutic index. The present study investigated the enantioselectivity and influence of CYP2B6, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, and CYP3A on the kinetic disposition of CYC in patients with breast cancer. METHODS: Fifteen patients previously submitted to removal of the tumor and treated with racemic CYC (900 or 1,000 mg/m(2)) and epirubicin were included in the study. The in vivo activity of CYP3A was evaluated using midazolam as a marker drug. Serial blood samples were collected up to 24 h after administration of the first cycle of CYC. RESULTS: The kinetic disposition of CYC was enantioselective in patients with breast cancer, with plasma accumulation of the (S)-(-)-CYC enantiomer (AUC 195.0 vs. 174.8 µg h/mL) due to the preferential clearance of the (R)-(+)CYC enantiomer (5.1 vs. 5.7 L/h). Clearance of either CYC enantiomer did not differ between the CYP2B6, CYP2C9, and CYP2C19 genotypes or as a function of the in vivo activity of CYP3A evaluated by midazolam clearance. CONCLUSIONS: The pharmacokinetics of CYC is enantioselective in patients with breast cancer concomitantly treated with epirubicin and ondansetron. Genotyping or phenotyping did not contribute to adjustment of the CYC dose regimen in patients included in this study.