[Evaluation of Payne's formula for the correction of calcium: comparison with improved calcium and albumin measurement methods].

The ionized or free fraction of serum calcium is physiologically important for cellular function, but we most often measure total serum calcium. There are a number of correction formulas that can be used to estimate whether low total serum calcium can be attributed simply to low albumin or serum protein. In Japan, Payne's formula has been widely used to correct calcium concentration. However, there are some problems in the measurement methods of total calcium and serum albumin which were used to establish Payne's formula with respect to specificity, calibration curve and stability. Recently, improved measurement methods of calcium and albumin have been adopted at clinical laboratories. Here we evaluated Payne's formula by comparing it with improved measurement methods of total calcium and serum albumin. For the total calcium measurement, o-CPC (o-cresolphthaleincomplexone), CPZ(chlorophosphonazo) III, and enzymatic methods were used. For the serum albumin measurement, BCG (bromocresol green) and improved BCP(bromocresol purple) methods were used. The results of this comparison study suggest that the calcium correction equation is not affected by changes in total calcium concentration, but the assay used for albumin may affect the calcium correction equation. Using multiple linear regression, the following equations were derived: BCG between CPZ III [corrected Ca(mg/dL) = total Ca-0.76ALB + 3.2], and improved BCP between CPZ III [corrected Ca = total Ca-0.7ALB + 2.6]. These formulas are simplified respectively as [corrected Ca = total Ca + 0.8(4-ALB], and [corrected Ca = total Ca + 0.7 (4-ALB)]. We conclude that Payne's formula is valid with the BCG method, but with the improved BCP method, our formula is more suitable for correcting calcium.

Application of high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry to measure microsomal membrane transport of glucuronides.

A primary reason for poor characterization of microsomal transport to date is the limitations of the measurement techniques used. Radiodetection provides sufficient sensitivity, but it can be applied only when labeled analogue is available. In this article, we report the novel application of high-performance liquid chromatography and electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) in "rapid filtration" transport assays. The method was developed using glucuronides, but it is adaptable to any compound that can be measured with LC-MS/MS. Because of the high sensitivity and accuracy of this detection technique, the substrates can be used at their physiological concentration in the experiments. The new methodology does not require radiolabeling, so it remarkably widens the range of possible substrates to investigate and allows simultaneous detection as well as monitoring of substrate stability during the experiments.

Determination of phenolphthalein and methylene blue by first derivative spectrophotometry and potassium nitrate by direct spectrophotometry in a pharmaceutical formulation.

A rapid first derivative visible spectrophotometric determination is described for the simultaneous determination of phenolphthalein (PHP) and methylene blue (MB) in the presence of potassium nitrate (KNO3). Potassium nitrate is also determined by direct visible spectrophotometric method in the presence of phenolphthalein and methylene blue without any interference. The methods have been applied to the determination of the three compounds in a commercial dosage form. The calibration graphs were linear in the range of 0.30-3.20 mg mL-1 for MB and 0.80-3.18 micrograms mL-1 for PHP and 0.80-8.10 micrograms mL1 for KNO3. The specificity, accuracy and precision of the methods have been assessed.

Studies towards a disposable screen-printed amperometric biosensor for progesterone.

A screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE) has been investigated as the base transducer for a disposable amperometric progesterone biosensor. The biorecognition element was a monoclonal sheep anti-progesterone antibody (mAb). This was immobilized onto the transducer by interaction with a layer of rabbit IgG which had been previously coated onto the SPCE; optimum conditions for these loadings were deduced experimentally. The device was employed in a competitive assay using alkaline phosphatase-labelled progester-one. Three possible substrates for the enzyme were considered, namely, phenyl phosphate, phenolphthalein phosphate and 4-aminophenol phosphate. Cyclic voltammetry and amperometry were carried out on the corresponding aromatic phenols and phenol itself was found to give the best electrochemical characteristics; consequently, phenyl phosphate was employed as the substrate. Chronoamperometry was used to measure the phenol produced by the reaction of bound enzyme-labelled progesterone and substrate. The chronoamperometric response was dependent on unlabelled progesterone over at least three orders of magnitude with a detection limit of about 1 x 10(-9) mol/dm3. This suggests that the device may have applications for the analysis of biological fluids.

Comparison of reversed-phase liquid chromatography with colorimetry for analysis of phenolphthalein preparations.

The high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method of the United States Pharmacopeia has been compared with the colorimetric method of the British Pharmacopoeia for the assay of phenolphthalein in various preparations. Results are presented for the linearity, sensitivity and reproducibility of the two methods. The HPLC method was considered to be more convenient for routine analysis of the preparations of phenolphthalein.

A rapid high-performance thin-layer chromatographic urine screen for laxative abuse.

Laxative abuse, if unrecognized, can lead to unnecessary and costly investigations. The stimulants and cathartics are the most commonly abused laxatives and have the potential for causing the most long-term damage. We have optimized a solid-phase extraction coupled with high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) to provide rapid, simple, and sensitive detection of phenolphthalein, danthron, rhein, aloin, and bisacodyl and its metabolites in urine. Positive screens have revealed laxative abuse in 3 of 42 samples from patients presenting with diarrhea of unknown origin.

Determination of excretion of inulin, creatinine, sodium sulfanilate, and phenolsulfonphthalein to assess renal function in goats.

Excretion of creatinine, sodium sulfanilate (SS), and phenolsulfonphthalein (PSP) was studied in healthy goats. In conscious goats, mean (+/- SEM) inulin clearance was 2.26 +/- 0.08 ml/min/kg of body weight. Endogenous creatinine clearance, 1.97 +/- 0.09 ml/min/kg, underestimated inulin clearance (P less than 0.01), probably because of the presence of noncreatinine chromogens in caprine plasma. The estimated renal clearance of PSP was 6.88 +/- 0.39 ml/min/kg, whereas the estimated renal clearance of SS was 3.71 +/- 0.39 ml/min/kg. Both exceeded inulin clearance (P less than 0.01), confirming renal tubular secretion of both compounds. In 6 anesthetized goats, exogenous creatinine clearance and SS clearance exceeded inulin clearance (P less than 0.05). Results of stop-flow experiments documented secretion of creatinine and SS by the proximal portion of the caprine nephron. Plasma half-life of PSP in uninephrectomized goats exceeded that in intact goats (20.2 +/- 1.5 min vs 11.9 +/- 0.7 min; P less than 0.01). Similarly, plasma half-life of SS was greater in goats after uninephrectomy (58.2 +/- 6.2 min vs 30.4 +/- 1.2 min; P less than 0.01).

Bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)[2-(phenoxysulfonyl)phenyl]methane: isolation and structure elucidation of a novel estrogen from commercial preparations of phenol red (phenolsulfonphthalein)

Commercial preparations of phenolsulfonphthalein (Phenol Red), a pH indicator dye widely added to cell culture media, have weak estrogenic activity that can be accounted for by a minor lipophilic impurity (ca. 0.002%). We have isolated this impurity, determined its structure to be bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)[2-(phenoxysulfonyl)phenyl]methane, and synthesized it from phenolsulfonphthalein. This compound binds to the estrogen receptor with an affinity 50% that of estradiol; it stimulates the proliferation and increases the progesterone receptor content of estrogen-responsive breast cancer cells in vitro, and it stimulates uterine weight gain in rats in vivo, but shows a potency in these assays only 0.1-0.2% that of estradiol. We suggest how this novel estrogen may be generated during the preparation of phenolsulfonphthalein.

Enhanced membrane permeability to phenol red by medium-chain glycerides: studies on the membrane permeability and microviscosity.

To clarify the mechanism of the drug absorption enhancement by medium-chain glycerides (MCG), the changes in membrane permeability provoked by MCG were investigated with liposomal uptake experiments. Uptake of phenol red (PR) into liposomes increased with an increase in MCG content in the liposomal membrane, suggesting that PR absorption was enhanced in the "transcellular route." However, the apparent membranous microviscosity obtained in fluorescence depolarization studies tended to increase with the addition of MCG in both the hydrophobic core and the polar head regions of the liposomal membrane. Thus, an enhancement in membrane permeability caused by MCG was not accompanied by a decrease in the apparent membranous microviscosity.

A highly sensitive photometric method for proton release or uptake: difference protometry.

A highly sensitive quantitative method was developed to detect protons released or taken up upon ligand binding. A small change in pH due to proton release or uptake was detected by measuring the difference in the absorbance of a pH indicator upon ligand addition. Owing to the difference detection of protons, the uncertainty of pH due to CO2 dissolution and unknown buffering capacities of sample solutes could be compensated with easy manipulations. Precise calibration of the absolute amount of protons could also be made very easily. The amount of protons measurable by the method is as small as 0.5 nmol that is 10 to 30 times more sensitive than the pH-stat method. We measured the Mg2+ ion-induced proton releases of ADP to confirm the accuracy and reliability of the method and of Escherichia coli ribosomes to show the improvement in sensitivity. The method is useful for protometric studies of biomolecules that are difficult to obtain in large amount.

Polle syndrome: chronic diarrhea in Munchausen's child.

A child with a complex history of chronic diarrhea and a seizure disorder, with multiple nondiagnostic previous evaluations, is presented. Under careful observation and with minimal diagnostic studies, the source of this child's chronic disorder was confirmed to be exogenous drug administration by the mother. Polle syndrome, a child-abuse variant of Munchausen syndrome, must be considered as part of an aberrant family social setting by adult or pediatric physicians who uncover a chronic factitious disease. More attention to psychosocial history gathering may preclude well-meaning, but unwarranted, multiple diagnostic endeavors.

Spectrophotometric and liquid-chromatographic studies of thymolphthalein monophosphate. Specifications for high-quality substrate for the measurement of prostatic acid phosphatase activity.

Fourteen lots of thymolphthalein monophosphate (TMP), disodium salt, obtained from 10 commercial suppliers were compared spectrophotometrically at 445 and 595 nm, liquid-chromatographically with monitoring at 254 nm, and enzymically by measurements of activity of prostatic acid phosphatase in human serum. Eight lots were classified as "unacceptable," six as "acceptable." Spectrophotometric testing revealed four lots with excessive thymolphthalein and three lots with grossly deficient amounts of TMP. In general, the chromatographic results paralleled those obtained by spectrophotometry, and both results correlated well with enzymic activity. Changing water content in this hygroscopic salt was a major problem, which resulted in great uncertainty as to the formula weight and therefore as to the moles of TMP actually taken. From these studies, specifications for high-quality TMP were determined. The critical importance of simultaneous enzymic activity measurements in comparisons with other "acceptable" lots in defining an adequate TMP substrate is stressed. Use of these specifications for selecting TMP for acid phosphatase activity measurements should improve intra- and inter-laboratory analytical performance.