Application of the quantitative detection of a change in concentration of magnesium stearate in a feeder tube of tableting manufacture by real-time near-infrared spectroscopy.

Process analytical technology is important for the analysis and control of manufacturing processes. Near-infrared spectroscopy is widely used in various process analytical technologies for the analysis of the chemical componentsof solid dosage forms. Lubrication is an important process carried out before a tablet is produced. In this process, the concentration of lubricant, such as magnesium stearate (StMg), might change for one of many reasons during powder transport, which would be a critical problem such as variation in tablet compressibility and dissolution failure of compressed tablets. Our group investigated the feasibility of the quantitative monitoring of a change in the concentration of StMg in the feeder tube of tableting equipment employing real-time near-infrared spectroscopy.

Strategic development of a multivariate calibration model for the uniformity testing of tablets by transmission NIR analysis.

The use of transmission near infrared spectroscopy (TNIRS) is of particular interest in the pharmaceutical industry. This is because TNIRS does not require sample preparation and can analyze several tens of tablet samples in an hour. It has the capability to measure all relevant information from a tablet, while still on the production line. However, TNIRS has a narrow spectrum range and overtone vibrations often overlap. To perform content uniformity testing in tablets by TNIRS, various properties in the tableting process need to be analyzed by a multivariate prediction model, such as a Partial Least Square Regression modeling. One issue is that typical approaches require several hundred reference samples to act as the basis of the method rather than a strategically designed method. This means that many batches are needed to prepare the reference samples; this requires time and is not cost effective. Our group investigated the concentration dependence of the calibration model with a strategic design. Consequently, we developed a more effective approach to the TNIRS calibration model than the existing methodology.

Monitoring of fluconazole in serum of patients undergoing hemodiafiltration by solid-phase extraction and high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection.

A high-performance liquid chromatographic assay for monitoring the antifungal drug fluconazole in human serum was developed using a C18 reversed-phase column with isocratic elution. The method involved sample clean-up by solid-phase column extraction, and subsequent analysis required only 14 min per sample for separation and quantitation. The assay was precise, with intra- and inter-assay relative standard deviations of < or = 1.5% and < or = 3.1%. The minimum detectable concentration of fluconazole was 0.3 nmol/ml. This assay has the advantage of minimizing the risk of interference from co-administered drugs to critically ill patients undergoing hemodiafiltration.

Monitoring of methylergometrine in human breast milk by solid-phase extraction and high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorimetric detection.

A high-performance liquid chromatographic assay has been developed for the detection and quantification of the conventional postnatal uterotonic drug, methylergometrine, in human breast milk using a C-18 reversed-phase column by isocratic elution. The analytical method consisted of sample clean-up by solid-phase extraction, and the fluorescence detection required only 8.5 min per sample for separation and quantitation. This assay gave intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variation of less than 7.9% and 7.7%, respectively, and the detection limit was approximately 50 pg/ml. This method was applied for drug level monitoring in the breast milk of patients given methylergometrine.

Involvement of the protein kinase Cgamma isoform in development of tolerance to nitrous oxide-induced antinociception in mice.

Prolonged exposure to nitrous oxide (N2O) results in development of acute tolerance to its antinociceptive effect. Cross-tolerance to N2O-induced antinociception is also observed in morphine-tolerant animals. Despite increasing evidence of tolerance development to N2O-induced antinociception, the details of the mechanisms that underlie this tolerance remain unknown. The present study was conducted to investigate the involvement of brain protein kinase C (PKC) isoform in these two types of tolerance to N2O-induced antinociception in mice. Prolonged exposure (41 min in total, including 30 min pre-exposure and 11 min of antinociceptive testing) to 70% N2O produced a reduction in N2O-induced antinociception, indicating development of acute tolerance. The prolonged exposure to 70% N2O caused an activation of PKCgamma isoform in the brain, but not the PKCepsilon isoform. Pretreatment with a PKCgamma-antisense oligonucleotide but not the corresponding mismatch oligonucleotide (i.c.v.) prevented the development of acute tolerance to N2O-induced antinociception. Chronic morphine treatment (10 mg/kg, s.c., b.i.d. for 5 days) resulted in development of tolerance to morphine-induced antinociception and cross-tolerance to N2O-induced antinociception. The development of tolerance to morphine and cross-tolerance to N2O were both inhibited by pretreatment with PKC inhibitor, chelerythrine (1 nmol, i.c.v.). Morphine-tolerant mice showed an activation of PKC within the brain, which was suppressed by pretreatment with chelerythrine (1 nmol, i.c.v.). Thus, activation of brain PKC, in particular, the PKCgamma isoform, appears to play an important role in the development of both acute tolerance and cross-tolerance to N2O-induced antinociception in mice.

Anterograde axonal transport of Boc-Arg-Val-Arg-Arg-MCA hydrolyzing enzyme in rat sciatic nerves: cleavage occurs between basic residues.

Axonal transport of Boc-Arg-Val-Arg-Arg-MCA hydrolyzing enzyme activity was studied in rat sciatic nerves from 12 to 120 h after double ligations. The anterograde axonal transport increased and peaked 72 h after ligation. The optimum pH for Boc-Arg-Val-Arg-Arg-MCA hydrolyzing enzyme activity was 6.5 to 6.9 and did not require Ca(2+) for the activity. Two molecular forms with enzyme activity were identified by size-exclusion chromatography and the molecular masses of the two enzymes were estimated to be 98 and 52 kDa. Two enzyme activities were strongly inhibited by Hg(2+), Cu(2+) and trypsin inhibitors such as TLCK, antipain and leupeptin. It cleaved the substrate, Boc-Arg-Val-Arg-Arg-MCA, between the dibasic sequence Arg-Arg, and needed a support of aminopeptidase B-like enzyme activity for the liberation of 7-amino-4-methylcoumarin. These results suggest that the enzyme is transported in rat sciatic nerves and involved in the post-translational processing of precursor proteins under the anterograde axonal transport. But there is absolutely no evidence for a role in precursor processing and such a putative role is purely speculative.

Effect of memantine on the levels of glial cells, neuropeptides, and peptide-degrading enzymes in rat brain regions of ibotenic acid-treated alzheimer's disease model.

It has been implicated that glia activation plays a critical role in the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the precise mechanism of glia activation is not clearly understood yet. In our present studies, we confirmed our previous results where change the levels of neuropeptides and peptidases in ibotenic acid (IBO) infusion into the rat nucleus basalis magnocellularis, an animal model of AD. Furthermore, we extended our study to investigate a possible protection effect of co-administration on the changes of neuropeptides, and neuronal and glial cells in IBO-infused rat brain by memantine treatment. The levels of substance P and somatostatin were decreased in the striatum and frontal cortex 1 week after IBO infusion, and recovered to the control level by memantine treatment, indicating the involvement of neuropeptides in AD pathology. Furthermore, the immunohistochemical and enzymatic studies of GFAP and CD 11b, and peptidylarginine deiminase, markers of glia, in the striatum and frontal cortex showed the increase in IBO-treated rat brain as compared with controls, while co-administration of memantine and IBO no increase of astrocytes and microglia activation was observed. The present biochemical and immunohistochemical results suggest that glia activation might play an important role to the pathology of AD, and correlate with the changes of neuropeptide levels in AD brain that is recovered by memantine treatment.

Effect of chlorpromazine on PZ-peptidase and several other peptidase activities in cloned osteoblastic cells (MC3T3-E1).

The effect of chlorpromazine (CPZ) on the degradation of collagen and non-collagenous peptides in clonal osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells was investigated by measuring the activities of PZ-peptidase, collagenase-like peptidase (CL-peptidase), dipeptidyl-aminopeptidase (DAP), leucine aminopeptidase (LAP) (EC 3.4.11.1), and post-proline cleaving enzyme (PPCE) (EC 3.4.21.26). CPZ increased PZ-peptidase and CL-peptidase activities in a dose-related fashion, but it had no effect on LAP and PPCE activities in the cells. CPZ (10 micrograms/ml) enhanced the specific activities of PZ-peptidase, CL-peptidase, and DAP for 72 hr after the start of CPZ stimulation; in particular, about a 3.3-fold increase of PZ-peptidase activity was observed at 12 hr of culture. Furthermore, other phenothiazine derivatives specifically enhanced the PZ-peptidase, CL-peptidase, and DAP activities as well as CPZ. Since PZ-peptidase, CL-peptidase, and DAP, involved in the degradation of collagen peptides, were induced significantly by CPZ (and/or other phenothiazine derivatives) in comparison with LAP and PPCE, involved in the degradation of non-collagenous peptides, these results show that CPZ specifically stimulated collagen catabolism by inducing the collagen-catabolizing enzymes. In addition, CPZ specifically inhibited collagen synthesis in clonal osteoblasts.

Effect of epidermal growth factor on dipeptidyl-aminopeptidase and collagenase-like peptidase activities in cloned osteoblastic cells.

The effect of epidermal growth factor (EGF) on collagen degradation in clonal osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells was investigated by measuring the activities of dipeptidyl-aminopeptidase (DAP) and collagenase-like peptidase (CL-peptidase). EGF at concentrations of 2 to 50 ng/ml markedly increased DAP and CL-peptidase activities in the cells. The same concentrations of this factor significantly decreased the cellular hydroxyproline content. Since DAP and CL-peptidase are thought to be enzymes involved in collagen degradation, these results suggest that a physiological concentration of EGF stimulates collagen catabolism in osteoblasts.

Effect of prostaglandin E2 on PZ-peptidase and several other peptidase activities in a clonal osteoblast-like cell line derived from newborn mouse calvaria.

The effects of prostaglandin E2(PGE2) on the degradation of collagen and non-collagenous peptides in clonal osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells were investigated by using highly sensitive assay methods for PZ-peptidase, collagenase-like peptidase (CL-peptidase), dipeptidyl-aminopeptidase (DAP), leucine aminopeptidase (LAP), and post-proline cleaving enzyme (PPCE). PGE2, at concentrations of 0.1 to 4.0 micrograms/ml, doubled the PZ-peptidase and CL-peptidase activities in the cells on 24 h culturing in a dose-dependent manner. PGE2, at a concentration of 2.0 micrograms/ml, enhanced the specific activities of PZ-peptidase, CL-peptidase, DAP, LAP, and PPCE for 75 h after the start of PGE2 stimulation. The time dependent changes in PZ-peptidase and CL-peptidase activities showed similar patterns, and 3- and 2-fold increases were seen after 48 h, respectively. The protein and DNA contents gradually increased after addition of PGE2. Since the PZ-peptidase and CL-peptidase, involved in degradation of collagen peptides, were significantly induced by PGE2 in comparison with LAP and PPCE, involved in the degradation of non-collagenous peptides, these results show that PGE2 specifically stimulates induction of collagen catabolizing enzymes in clonal osteoblasts.

Isolation and characterization of PZ-peptidase in developing rat brain.

Changes in the activity of a collagen peptidase, PZ-peptidase, acting on a synthetic substrate [4-Phenylazobenzyloxycarbonyl(PZ)-l-Pro-l-Leu-Gly-l-Pro-l-Arg] for bacterial collagenase were examined in developing rat brain regions. The hypothalamus, pons-medulla, colliculi, cerebellum, ceerbrum, midbrain and pituitary gland were studied in rats ranging in age from 1 week to adult; PZ-peptidase activity continuously decreased with maturation in all of the brain regions examined except the hypothalamus. The pituitary gland showed the highest activity in all of the brain regions. PZ-peptidase activity in crude mitochondrial and supernatant fractions from rat whole brain had an optimum pH between 7.5-8.0. It was strongly inhibited by p-chloromercuribenzoic acid, N-ethylmaleimide or EDTA. whereas iodoacetic acid did not affect the enzyme activity. Among various metal ions, the enzyme activity was inhibited by Zn(+2) or Cu(+2) but not by Mn(+2), Ca(+2), Mg(+2) or Na(+). There is no inhibition of the activity by serine protease inhibitors, including diisopropylfluorophosphate and phenylmethylsulphonyl fluoride. An approximate molecular weight of this enzyme was estimated to be 68,000 by gel filtration. Since these properties of rat brain PZ-peptidase were similar to those of other peripheral PZ-peptidases, we suppose that PZ-peptidase in the brain may be the same molecule as the enzyme which hydrolyses collagen peptides in peripheral tissues, but it may have some different physiological roles.

Distribution and processing of peptidylglycine alpha-amidating monooxygenase activity in rat dorsal root ganglia and sciatic nerves.

Since peptidylglycine alpha-amidating monooxygenase (PAM) and carboxypeptidase H (CPH) are transported by a rapid anterograde axonal flow in rat sciatic nerves, different properties of those enzymes were examined in the cell body (dorsal root ganglia) and axon (sciatic nerves) of rat. The relative enzyme activities of soluble to membrane-associated forms in the sciatic nerves were higher than those in the ganglia. On a gel permeation chromatogram, 3 peaks (100, 70 and 30 kDa) of PAM activity appeared in both tissues. There are main peaks at 70 kDa in the ganglia and at 30 kDa in the sciatic nerves. From these data, we suppose that PAM in rat sciatic nerves is proteolytically processed during the axonal transport of secretion granules.

Characterization of peptidylglycine alpha-amidating monooxygenase in bovine hypothalamus.

In many peptide hormones and neuropeptides, the carboxyl-terminal alpha-amide structure is essential in eliciting their biological activity. In the present study, an enzymatic activity capable of converting 4-dimethylaminoazobenzene-4'-sulfonyl-Gly-L-Phe-Gly(Dabsyl-Gly-Phe -Gly) to 4-dimethylaminoazo-benzene-4'-sulfonyl-Gly-L-Phe-NH2(Dabsyl- Gly-Phe-NH2) was investigated in bovine hypothalamus. The concentrations of copper ion and ascorbic acid required for maximal enzyme activity were 16 microM and 2 mM, respectively. Amidating activity showed a pH profile with two pH optima at acidic pH (around 6.0) and neutral pH (around 7.5). Kinetic studies with the enzyme obtained from bovine hypothalamus demonstrated two distinct Km and Vmax values. The first Km and Vmax values were 142.9 microM and 22.2 pmol/microgram/h and the second Km and Vmax values were 22.7 microM and 4.44 pmol/microgram/h, respectively. Two molecular forms of amidating activity were identified by size-exclusion chromatography and the molecular weight of the two enzymes were estimated to be 49 kDa and 69 kDa.

Secretion of peptidylglycine alpha-amidating monooxygenase (PAM) from rat salivary glands.

Peptidylglycine alpha-amidating monooxygenase (PAM) is a regulating enzyme to synthesize the biologically active hormones having carboxy-terminal amide. In the present study we investigated secretion of the enzyme from rat saliva. Property of PAM in the saliva was similar to that in the submandibular gland. Both enzymes showed similar pH optimum at 5.0 and optimal ascorbic acid concentration at 2.5 mM. But molecular size of PAM in the saliva was 75 kDa in the gel permeation chromatography on Superose 12 column, while the size in the submandibular gland was 25 kDa. After the treatment with trypsin, PAM in the saliva was converted to a small size molecule, which is similar to the size in rat submandibular gland. These and other data indicate that a native molecular size of PAM is secreted into saliva and plays some physiological roles.

Axonal transports of Boc-Gly-Arg-Arg-MCA hydrolysing enzyme in rat sciatic nerves.

Study on neural axon transport is a very useful method to find a neuron-specific protease. In the present study, the enzyme activity (release of 7-amino-4-methyl-coumarin from t-butyloxycarbonyl-glycyl-L-arginyl-L-arginine-4-methylcoumaryl-7-amide) was measured in the proximal, middle, and distal segments between 12 and 120 h after double ligations of rat sciatic nerves to find precursor processing enzyme specific for pair of basic amino acid residue. The enzyme activity was significantly increased not only in the proximal but also in the distal segments 12-120 h after the ligation, and the maximal enzyme activity was found in both segments at 72 h. The enzyme activity eluted by anion exchange chromatography of the proximal segment showed at least three peaks, and was slightly higher than the activity of the distal one. The activity in the middle segment was very low in comparison with the activity in the proximal and distal segments. These data indicate that some of the enzymes specific for pair of basic amino acid residue are transported by both anterograde and retrograde axonal flow, and may undergo a neuron-specific processing.

Effect of pentylenetetrazol treatment on cholecystokinin mRNA and peptide levels in rat hippocampus and cortex.

After treatment with pentylenetetrazol (PTZ), cholecystokinin (CCK) mRNA and CCK-like immunoreactivity (CCK-LI) levels were determined in rat hippocampus and cortex at different time points. In the temporal cortex treatment with 60 mg/kg PTZ, i.p., induced increases of CCK mRNA and CCK-LI levels at 2 days after the injection. In the hippocampus, a similar increase of CCK mRNA level was observed on the second day. By contrast, in the frontal cortex, CCK-LI level was increased at 10 days after the treatment with PTZ. These data show that PTZ increases both CCK mRNA and CCK-LI levels in these rat brain regions at different time.

The effect of methamphetamine on the release of acetylcholine in the rat striatum.

We examined the effect of methamphetamine on the release of acetylcholine in the striatum of freely moving rats, using an in vivo microdialysis method. The basal level of acetylcholine was 3.67+/-0.47 pmol/30 microl per 15 min in the presence of neostigmine (10 microM). Tetrodotoxin (1 microM), a selective blocker of voltage-dependent Na+ channels, markedly inhibited the release of acetylcholine in the striatal perfusates. Apomorphine (1.0 mg/kg, i.p.), a dopamine receptor agonist, also significantly attenuated acetylcholine release. Methamphetamine (0.1 and 0.5 mg/kg, i.p.) did not immediately affect acetylcholine release in the striatum, but a dose of 1.0 mg/kg (i.p.) induced an increase of acetylcholine release in the striatum at 15-60 min. Striatal infusion of methamphetamine (5 and 10 microM) did not influence acetylcholine release. The increase following intraperitoneal administration of methamphetamine was slightly diminished by haloperidol (0.5 mg/kg). After microinjection of the neurotoxin, 6-hydroxydopamine (6 microg/3 microl), in the substantia nigra 7 days before, the increase of acetylcholine induced by the administration of methamphetamine (1.0 mg/kg) was slightly attenuated, whereas the administration of reserpine (2 mg/kg, i.p.) 24 h before, combined with alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine (300 mg/kg, i.p.) 2.5 h before, completely blocked the increase in release of acetylcholine. These findings suggest that methamphetamine exerts an excitatory influence on striatal acetylcholine release in freely moving rats, and that this excitatory effect involves the dopaminergic system and the catecholaminergic system.

Prenatal processing of pro-opiomelanocortin in the brain and pituitary of mouse embryos.

The processing of pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) to ACTH- (adrenocorticotropin), MSH- (melanotropin) and endorphin-related peptides was studied in mouse embryos with the ultimate aim of determining the role of the POMC-related peptides in early development especially in the CNS. Mouse embryos at gestational days 10.5, 11.5, 12.5 and 14.5 were analyzed for POMC-derived peptides by SDS-PAGE, HPLC and radioimmunoassay using antisera specific for various regions of the prohormone. At embryonic day 10.5 (E 10.5) the prohormone was the major product detected. At E 11.5, POMC was processed to ACTH(1-39), des-acetyl alpha-MSH and beta-endorphin(1-31) and beta-endorphin(1-27). The amounts of these peptides increased at E 12.5, and at E 14.5. At E 14.5, there was a major increase in ACTH(1-39) and beta-endorphin(1-31) peptides. This was attributed to the large increase of corticotrophs in anterior pituitary at this stage. Des-acetyl alpha-MSH levels, however, were similar at E 12.5 and E 14.5 and the peptide was confined mainly to the central nervous system. gamma-MSH was not detected until E 16.5 in the brain. No alpha-MSH or acetylated beta-endorphin was detected between E 11.5 and E 14.5. Thus in early embryonic development, POMC is processed to des-acetyl alpha-MSH, beta-endorphin(1-31), beta-endorphin(1-27) and gamma-MSH in the brain, and primarily to ACTH(1-39) and beta-endorphin(1-31) in the anterior pituitary. Some differences exist in the forms of POMC-derived peptides found in embryonic versus adult brain and pituitary. The embryonic forms of the peptides may be significant in playing a role during development.

Chemical kindling induced by pentylenetetrazol changes cholecystokinin mRNA and peptide levels in rat frontal cortex.

Kindling model is useful to study the mechanism of learning and memory. Cholecystokinin (CCK) mRNA and CCK-like immunoreactivity (CCK-LI) levels in the hippocampus and frontal cortex of chemically kindled rats were determined at different time points. In the frontal cortex, chronic treatment with pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) (40 mg/kg per day for 8 days) increased CCK mRNA level at 7 days, and decreased CCK-LI level at 2 and 7 days after the last injection. However, neither CCK mRNA nor CCK-LI levels in the hippocampus changed. These results suggest that PTZ-induced kindling increases CCK mRNA expression and CCK-LI release in the frontal cortex.

[Promotion of home medical care and ways to provide medicines to patients at home].

The Medicare Security Law and Fee Schedule for Medical Services have undergone revisions in accordance with the changes in society, and these were introduced on the premise that home medical care be promoted. If home medical care is promoted, it is expected that a considerable proportion of persons who are now hospitalized and depend heavily on medicare will be transferred home, partly because of the shortening of the maximum insured hospitalization time. Thus, it will become necessary to provide medicines including injectables such as TPN to patients at home. Generally speaking, medicines for patients at home are provided by nearby pharmacists based on prescriptions written by the physician in charge of a patient. However, with regard to injectables such as TPN that require aseptic environments for preparation, such requirements can not yet be met satisfactorily owing to a shortage of sufficient provisions at pharmacies and of sufficient technical skills on the part of pharmacists. Currently, there are only 27 pharmacies which are officially recognized as being sufficiently equipped to prepare injectables in aseptic environments, and pharmacists who actually prepare TPN drugs in aseptic environments account for about one third of this number. The current number of pharmacists will obviously not meet the demand for medicines from patients at home, which will undergo a sharp rise in the near future. Accordingly, it is essential to increase the number of pharmacists nationwide who are sufficiently equipped to manage injectables such as TPN in aseptic conditions.