UV filters analyzed by isotope diluted TurboFlow-LC-MS/MS in urine from Danish children and adolescents.

INTRODUCTION: Experimental studies indicate that some chemicals with UV blocking properties (known as UV filters) can act as endocrine disruptors. UV filters are used in sunscreens and other cosmetic- and personal care products, as well as in other consumer products such as food packaging, clothing and furniture textiles to protect the products against UV radiation. Here we present the urinary excretion of suspected endocrine active UV filters in Danish children and adolescents recruited from the general population. METHODS: The content of benzophenone (BP), benzophenone-1 (BP-1), benzophenone-2 (BP-2), benzophenone-3 (BP-3), 5-chloro-2- hydroxybenzophenone (BP-7), 4-hydroxybenzophenone (4-HBP), 4-methyl-benzophenone (4-MBP), 3-(4- methylbenzylidene)-camphor (4-MBC) and 3-benzylidene camphor (3-BC) were monitored in 24h urine and two consecutive first morning samples from 129 healthy Danish children and adolescents (6-21 yrs). All 387 samples were collected during the autumn (Nov. 2007) and were analyzed by a new on-line TurboFlow-LC-MS/MS method developed for simultaneous biomonitoring of these nine UV filters in urine. RESULTS: BP-3 and BP-1 were detected in more than 80% of the 24h samples and were significantly correlated (R2=0.815). BP, 4-HBP and BP-2 were found in 43, 15 and 5% of the samples, respectively. The median (range) concentrations of the UV-filters in 24-h urine were as follows: BP-3, 0.92 (LOD-115); BP-1, 0.54 (LOD-44.6); BP,

Molecularly imprinted polymer-based bulk optode for the determination of itopride hydrochloride in physiological fluids.

We report here for the first time on the use of Molecularly Imprinted Polymers as modifiers in bulk optodes, Miptode, for the determination of a pharmaceutical compound, itopride hydrochloride as an example in a concentration range of 1×10(-1)-1×10(-4)molL(-1). In comparison to the optode containing the ion exchanger only (Miptode 3), the optode containing the ion exchanger and the MIP particles (Miptode 2) showed improved selectivity over the most lipophilic species, Na(+) and K(+), by more than two orders of magnitude. For instance, the optical selectivity coefficients using Miptode 2, [Formula: see text] , were as follow: NH4(+)˂-6; Na(+)=-4.0, which were greatly enhanced in comparison with that obtained by Miptode 3. This work opens a new avenue for using miptodes for the determination of all the pharmaceutical preparations without the need for the development of new ionophores.

Abuse of nutmeg (Myristica fragrans Houtt.): studies on the metabolism and the toxicologic detection of its ingredients elemicin, myristicin, and safrole in rat and human urine using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry.

Seeds of nutmeg are used as spice, but they are also abused because of psychotropic effects described after ingestion of large doses. It was postulated that these effects could be attributable to metabolic formation of amphetamine derivatives from the main nutmeg ingredients elemicin (EL), myristicin (MY), and safrole (SA). In a case of a suspected nutmeg abuse, neither such amphetamine derivatives nor the main nutmeg ingredients could be detected in urine. The metabolites of EL, MY, and SA were identified using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in rat urine and their presence in human urine of the nutmeg abuser was confirmed. The identified metabolites indicated that EL, MY, and SA were once and twice hydroxylated at the side chain. In addition, EL was O-demethylated at 2 positions followed by side chain hydroxylation. MY and SA were demethylenated and subsequently methylated. In the human urine sample, the following metabolites could be identified: O-demethyl elemicin, O-demethyl dihydroxy elemicin, demethylenyl myristicin, dihydroxy myristicin, and demethylenyl safrole. As in the human urine sample, neither amphetamine derivatives nor the main nutmeg ingredients could be detected in the rat urine samples. Finally, toxicologic detection of nutmeg abuse was possible by identification of the described metabolites of the EL, MY, and SA in urine applying the authors' systematic toxicologic analysis procedure using full-scan gas chromatography-mass spectrometry after acid hydrolysis, liquid-liquid extraction of analytes, and microwave-assisted acetylation of extracted analytes.

Metabolic pathways of 4-[(3-methoxyphenyl)methyl]-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-oxa-4-aza-2,6- disilacyclohexane (MPSC) hydrochloride, a silicon-containing xenobiotic, in rat, dog, and man.

1. The metabolic pathways of Sandoz compound 58-112, 4-[(3-methyoxyphenyl)-methyl]-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-oxa-4-aza-2,6- disilacyclohexane (MPSC) hydrochloride were evaluated in rat, dog, and man after a single oral dose. 2. In rat, dog and man the major route of elimination was renal. In the dog, renal excretion of unchanged MPSC represented a substantial portion of the dose whereas in rat and man MPSC was completely metabolized prior to excretion. 3. In rat and man, the major end-product metabolite was 3'-[((hydroxydimethylsilyl)-methylamino)methyl]-phenol glucuronide; 4-[(3-hydroxyphenyl)-methyl]-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-oxa-4-aza-2,6- disilacyclohexane and 4-[(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-methyl]-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-oxa-4-aza-2 ,6- disilacyclohexane and their conjugates were also present. In dog, the major end-product metabolites were the hippurate of 3-methoxybenzoic acid and 3-hydroxybenzoic acid.

In vivo percutaneous absorption of fragrance ingredients in rhesus monkeys and humans.

The percutaneous absorption of the fragrance diethyl maleate was measured in vivo in human and monkey studies. With the application sites occluded, 54% of the applied dose of the volatile fragrance penetrated human skin in 24 hr compared with 69% absorption in the monkey skin. It was concluded that the monkey is a good model for human skin with regard to the penetration of this fragrance material since no significant difference in the absorption of diethyl maleate was observed. The percutaneous absorption of the fragrances benzyl acetate and five other benzyl derivatives (benzyl alcohol, benzyl benzoate, benzamide, benzoin and benzophenone) was determined in vivo in monkeys. Absorption through occluded skin was high for all compounds (approximately 70% of the applied dose in 24 hr) and no significant differences between the values for the different compounds were observed. No correlations were seen between skin penetration of these compounds and their octanol-water partition coefficients. Under unoccluded conditions skin penetration of the fragrances was reduced and there was great variability between compounds, presumably because of variations in the rates of evaporation from the site of application. The data suggest that humans may have significant systemic exposure to these fragrance materials.

Studies on benzyl acetate. III. The percutaneous absorption and disposition of [methylene-14C]benzyl acetate in the rat.

[methylene-14C]Benzyl acetate was applied over an area of 6.25, 12 or 18 cm2 to the shaved backs of male Fischer 344 rats under an occlusive dressing at dose levels of 100, 250 and 500 mg/kg. The compound was administered either as the neat substance or as a 50% (v/v) solution in ethanol. After 6 hr the dressing was removed, the shaven area was washed with ethanol and the dressing and washings were counted for 14C. Urine and faeces were collected for 72 hr from the start of treatment and urinary metabolites were assayed by radio-TLC and HPLC. Following administration of the neat compound, a significant proportion of the dose was recovered from the application site (28-48%) and a similar proportion (28-46%) was absorbed and excreted in the 0-24-hr urine. Excretion of 14C in the urine over 0-24 hr accounted for c. 95% of absorbed 14C in all cases, and total recovery of radioactivity was 79-84% with less than 2% of the dose present in the carcass at the end of the experiments. The extent of absorption of benzyl acetate per unit area of skin, as assessed by the recovery of its metabolites in urine, rose with increasing concentration (mg/cm2) of the test compound on the skin. The absorption of topically applied benzyl acetate was essentially the same when the dose was administered in a 50% ethanolic solution. In all cases, the major urinary metabolite was hippuric acid (c. 95% of urinary 14C), together with much smaller amounts of benzoyl glucuronide, benzoic acid and benzylmercapturic acid. The distribution of 14C in the tissues was examined 6 and 24 hr after the topical application of 5 mg [methylene-14C]benzyl acetate/kg as a 1% (v/v) solution in ethanol to rats. Radioactivity in all carcasses was less than 4% of the administered dose and levels in all the organs examined were lower at 24 than at 6 hr.

Studies on benzyl acetate. II. Use of specific metabolic inhibitors to define the pathway leading to the formation of benzylmercapturic acid in the rat.

Specific metabolic inhibitors were used to define the route of metabolism of benzyl acetate leading to the formation of benzylmercapturic acid. Male Fischer 344 rats were dosed by gavage with [methylene-14C]benzyl acetate (500 mg/kg) alone or together with pyrazole (200 mg/kg), pentachlorophenol (10 mg/kg) or both pentachlorophenol (10 mg/kg) and pyrazole (200 mg/kg), given in each case ip. Urine and faeces were collected and urinary metabolites were assayed by radio-TLC and HPLC. The excretion of 14C was rapid in all cases, with most of the dose excreted in the urine within 24 hr. Co-administration of pyrazole (an inhibitor of alcohol dehydrogenase) with benzyl acetate caused an 11-fold increase in the excretion of benzylmercapturic acid and halved the percentage of the dose excreted as benzoyl glucuronide. Pretreatment with pentachlorophenol, an inhibitor of sulphotransferase activity in vivo, abolished the excretion of benzylmercapturic acid, while excretion of the mercapturate following treatment with both pyrazole and pentachlorophenol was higher than in control or pentachlorophenol-treated rats, but much lower than in the animals given pyrazole alone. Taken together, these results suggest very strongly that the formation of benzylmercapturic acid involves the sulphate ester of benzyl alcohol as an obligatory intermediate and does not appear to involve a metabolic intermediate with sufficient reactivity to have toxicological relevance.

In vivo metabolism and whole-blood clearance of n-nitrosomethylbenzylamine in the rat.

The pharmacokinetics and metabolism of N-nitrosomethyl-benzylamine, N-nitroso[methyl-14C]benzylamine, and N-nitrosomethyl[benzyl-7-14C]amine were studied in male Sprague-Dawley rats, and a major urinary metabolite was identified. N-Nitrosomethylbenzylamine (4.7 mg/kg body weight i.p.) was distributed throughout extracellular water and cleared from the whole blood by metabolism with a half-life of 66 min. Less than 1% of the administered dose of N-nitrosomethylbenzylamine (4.7 mg/kg i.p. or 3.3 mg/kg intragastric intubation) was excreted and expired as the parent compound. In the 24-hr period following injection of N-nitroso[methyl-14C1benzylamine (3.4 mg, 1 mCi/kg i.p.), 46% of the radioactivity administered was expired with a half-life of 2.1 hr. In contrast, 81% of the radioactivity from a dose of N-nitrosomethyl[benzyl-7-14C1amine (2.4 mg, 1 mCi/kg i.p.) was excreted in the urine with a half-life of 4.2 hr. Hippuric acid accounted for 80% of the radioactivity recovered in the urine.

Metabolic fate of N6-benzyladenosine and N6-benzyladenosine-5'-phosphate in rats.

The radiolabeled antitumor nucleoside (14C-8)-N6-benzyladenosine and its (14C-8)-5'-phosphate were administered to rats intravenously, and their metabolic fate was studied. Twenty-nine percent of the radioactivity was recovered in the 48-hr urine collection after (14C-8)-N6-benzyladenosine administration. The following metabolites were isolated: unchanged N6-benzyladenosine (20%), adenine (12%), uric acid (5%), and N6-benzyladenine (0.3%). In the case of (14C-8)-N6-benzyladenosine-5'-phosphate, a total of 28% of the radioactivity was recovered in the 48-hr urine collection and the following metabolites were isolated: N6-benzyladenosine (40%), uric acid (12%), adenine (trace), and unidentified urea derivatives (30%). Metabolism of N6-benzyladenosine appears to involve N-debenzylation to some extent, followed by conversion to adenine and uric acid. N6-Benzyladenosine and its 5'-phosphate differ from other adenosine analogs in being retained in significant amounts by the animals.

Absorption of cumene through the respiratory tract and excretion of dimethylphenylcarbinol in urine.

Experiments on the absorption of cumene and the excretion of dimethylphenylcarbinol were made on 10 healthy volunteers, five men and five women aged between 20 and 35 years. They were exposed to cumene vapours 240, 480, 720 mg/m3 under controlled conditions. It was found that the average retention of cumene vapours was about 50% which tended to diminish at the end of each exposure. Based on these results, an exposure test that allows one to calculate the absorbed cumene dose during eight hours' work with a precision of about +/- 13.5% was achieved.

The metabolism of the local anaesthetic fomocaine (1-morpholino-3-[p-phenoxymethylphenyl]propane) in the rat and dog after oral application.

1. The metabolism of fomocaine following its oral administration to male and female Wistar rats and male beagle dogs has been qualitatively investigated. 2. The drug is metabolized in both species by aromatic hydroxylation, N-oxidation, splitting of the ether link and, in the dog, by removal of the morpholine group. 3. The rat and dog excrete some unchanged fomocaine in the urine together with p-hydroxyfomocaine (free and conjugated), fomocaine-N-oxide, p-hydroxyfomocaine-N-oxide and p-(gamma-morpholinopropyl)benzoic acid. In addition, the dog excretes morpholine in the urine.

Data on the metabolism of benzylisoquinoline derivatives. The metabolism of drotaverin.

Studying the metabolism of drotaverin (No-Spa¿), we have elaborated a method for the isolation, purification and separation of metabolites and of drotaverin excreted in unchanged form in the urine and feces. The structure of the chief metabolites was cleared by t.l.c., polarography, UV spectrophotometry, and mass spectrometry. It was stated that beside drotaverin excreted in unchanged form, the biotransformation of the molecule results in the formation of oxidation and desalkylation products.