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An efficient molecularly imprinted solid-phase extraction protocol was developed for the separation of dopamine (DA) from human urine. After successful validation of the analytical method using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with fluorescence detection, a new strategy for the selective determination of DA in the presence of norepinephrine and epinephrine in human urine was presented. In the proposed protocol, the LODs and quantification for DA were 166 ± 36 and 500 ± 110 nmol/L, respectively, and the total recoveries of DA in the range of 1-15 μmol/L varied between 98.3 and 101.1%. DA was detected in the real urine samples at the level of 47-167 μg/L (0.250-0.895 μmol/L). The superiority of the novel analytical strategy was shown by comparison with the results obtained for a commercially available imprinted sorbent.

Ethyl glucuronide (EtG) is a direct ethanol metabolite. The presence of EtG in urine can be used as a laboratory test to detect recent alcohol consumption. Several earlier studies in humans and in rats revealed that the same amount of ethanol ingested at different concentrations results in different blood ethanol concen- trations. The effect of different concentrations of ingested ethanol on the resulting EtG levels in urine was tested in WHP rats. The EtG concentration was also measured in rat hair. A significant (p0.05) decrease in the total amount of urine EtG after administration of the higher concentration (50%) ethanol solution as compared to 30% ethanol at the same dose of ethanol (3 g/kg) was observed. Median EtG concentration in rat hair of 1.5 ng/mg (range: 0.7-2.3 ng/mg) was observed. Our results demonstrate that EtG production and excretion in WHP rats is dependent on alcohol concentration administered orally. EtG levels in hair closely reflect the fate of EtG in the rat.

This study has investigated domperidone (DOM) and quinidine (QD) interaction in the Wistar rat experimental model of repeated administration. We used nonconventional administration model consistent with occasional administration method. Difference in administration was related to sequence of domperidone alone or with quinidine dosage. Expected domperidone-quinidine interactions could have its origin both in the ability of quinidine to inhibit P-glycoprotein (P-gp) activity as well as cytochrome P450-mediated metabolism of both compounds. There also were examined kinetics of acetaminophen (PAM) administered (30 mg/kg) with domperidone as an indicator of gastric emptying, showing domperidone prokinetic activity, as well as quinidine anticholinergic activity. Domperidone (30 mg/kg) with PAM and with/without quinidine (25 mg/kg) was administered orally according to the disposition regiment different for six examined rat groups. DOM and PAM concentrations in plasma were assayed by HPLC method. Following changes were observed: domperidone did not modify the duration of the uptake phase of acetaminophen; quinidine prolongs gastric emptying time (as a result of anticholinergic action); quinidine given as the fourth or fifth dose with domperidone promotes growth of its concentration in plasma; analysis of changes in the value of AUC(0-2) at the initial three weeks of experiment suggests intensity of domperidone absorption processes, the following week increase in the value AUC(4-6) suggests inhibition of domperidone hepatic biotransformation and the mechanism of induction of absorption during domperidone administration is different from the absorption - inducing effects of quinidine. Both effects are superimposed and produce large, 2, 3-fold change in domperidone's AUC(0-6).

Background Ethanol and caffeine are the most widely used psychoactive substances in the world, with an observed steady increase in the combined consumption of alcohol and caffeine. Specific signs of ethanol-caffeine interactions have been reported both in humans and in animals. The metabolic effects of these interactions have not been fully elucidated. There are no published reports on the influence of caffeine on ethyl glucuronide (EtG) formation. EtG is a direct metabolite of ethanol and is very often used as a biomarker of alcohol consumption. Here, we investigated the influence of caffeine on the formation of EtG in rat plasma and EtG incorporation into the hair. Methods Studies were conducted on three male Wistar rat groups, each receiving either ethanol at 3 g/kg/day, ethanol (at the same dose) with caffeine at 3 mg/kg/day, or caffeine at 3 mg/kg/day for four weeks. EtG and caffeine levels were evaluated in hair and in blood after the last administration. Results Blood EtG levels after the administration of ethanol together with caffeine were significantly higher than after the administration of ethanol alone. EtG levels in rat hair in the ethanol-and-caffeine group were also higher than in the ethanol-only group, but the difference was not statistically significant. Conclusion This study shows the possible effect of ethanol and caffeine co-administration on EtG formation. Caffeine stimulates EtG synthesis resulting in increased blood and, possibly, hair levels of this metabolite. However, the role of these changes in estimating alcohol consumption requires further studies.

Higenamine (Norcoclaurine) is a very popular substance in Chinese medicine and is present in many plants. The substance may be also found in supplements or nutrients, consumption of which may result in violation of anti-doping rules. Higenamine is prohibited in sport at all times and included in Class S3 (β-2-agonists) of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) 2017 Prohibited List. The presence of higenamine in urine samples at concentrations greater than or equal to 10 ng/mL constitutes an adverse analytical finding (AAF). This work presents a new metabolite of higenamine in urine sample which was identified by means of ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). Samples were prepared according to 2 protocols - a Dilute and Shoot (DaS) approach and a method involving acid hydrolysis and double liquid-liquid extraction (LLE). To meet the requirements typical for a confirmatory analysis, the screening procedure was further developed. In samples prepared by the DaS method, 2 peaks were observed; the earlier one was specific for higenamine and the later one unknown. MS scan analysis showed mass about 80 Da higher than that of higenamine. In turn, in samples prepared in accordance with the protocol involving hydrolysis, an increase in the area under peak for higenamine was observed, while the second peak was absent. It seems that the described strategy of detection of higenamine in urine avoids false negative results.

Truffles are prized and nutrition-rich edible hypogeous fungi. The aim of this study was a comprehensive investigation of chemical composition of Burgundy truffle (Tuber aestivum Vittad.). We tried to answer the question: what is the impact of the environment on the truffle quality. To know the nutritional value of Burgundy truffle we compared lipids, proteins, saccharides, polyphenolics, flavonoids, total sterols, ergosterol, volatile flavour and aroma compounds content in fruit bodies of the fungus collected in three different geographical regions, i.e., Poland, Slovakia, and Italy. A comparison of the above mentioned compounds is especially interesting due to environmental and climatic differences among the studied geographical regions. Results revealed that fruit bodies of T. aestivum from Poland and Slovakia possessed nearly similar content of proteins, total sterols, and saccharides. The fruiting bodies from Italy contained significantly larger amounts of most of the investigated compounds. In turn, Polish specimens had higher content of lipids and polyphenolics than Slovak and Italian ones. We have found higher similarity of volatile compounds composition between Polish and Italian specimens than those of Polish and Slovak origin.

Modeling, mutagenesis, and kinetic studies have demonstrated that the substrate-binding site of cytochrome P450 is composed of multiple interactive regions that are capable of simultaneously binding two or more xenobiotics. Substrate molecules can interact with each other after docking. Thus, substrates can compete for the activated oxygen–ferrous complex or alter the spatial orientation of other molecules. Cytochrome P450 is a unique enzyme that produces n-heptane metabolites of different oxidation states. Metabolism of n-heptane was investigated with rat liver microsomes and a reconstituted rat liver system. Ethanol, n-propanol, and n-butanol molecules interacted with the n-heptane molecule and resulted in cytochrome P450 spectral changes as well as alterations in the n-heptane metabolic profile. The observed modifications in the biotransformation of n-heptane indicated that there are three distinct pathways for oxidation of n-heptane to heptanols, heptanones, and one-side oxygen-oriented heptanediones. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biochem Mol Toxicol 23:287–294, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/jbt.20291

A dopamine-imprinted polymer (MIP) was prepared in aqueous methanol solution at 60(o)C by free-radical cross-linking polymerization of methacrylic acid in the presence of ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as the cross-linker and dopamine hydrochloride as the template molecule. Its ability to isolate dopamine was evaluated as the basis of a solid phase extraction procedure and compared with that of a non-imprinted polymer(NIP). The binding of dopamine was 84.1% and 29.1% for MIP and NIP, respectively. Various reported post-polymerization treatments to reduce template bleeding were examined. In our case the lowest bleeding was achieved after applying a combined procedure: continuous extraction in a Soxhlet apparatus (CE), followed by microwave-assisted extraction (ME) to a level of 0.061 microg/mL. A simplified model of the template-monomer complexes allowed rationalization of monomer choice based on the heats of complex formation at a PM3 level of theory.

An efficient molecularly imprinted solid-phase extraction protocol was developed for the separation of dopamine (DA) from human urine. After successful validation of the analytical method using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with fluorescence detection, a new strategy for the selective determination of DA in the presence of norepinephrine and epinephrine in human urine was presented. In the proposed protocol, the LODs and quantification for DA were 166 ± 36 and 500 ± 110 nmol/L, respectively, and the total recoveries of DA in the range of 1-15 μmol/L varied between 98.3 and 101.1%. DA was detected in the real urine samples at the level of 47-167 μg/L (0.250-0.895 μmol/L). The superiority of the novel analytical strategy was shown by comparison with the results obtained for a commercially available imprinted sorbent.

The effect of quinidine (QD) and grapefruit juice (GFJ) extract, P-glycoprotein inhibitors, on the domperidone (DOM) concentration in rat plasma was investigated. DOM, a dopamine D(2)-receptor antagonist is a substrate for P-glycoprotein. DOM(10 mg/kg) was administered orally 2 h after GFJ extract (0.2 ml/kg) or QD (25 mg/kg). DOM concentration in plasma samples was determined by HPLC with fluorescence detection. The GFJ extract and QD administration significantly increased c(max) of DOM by 19% and 36%, respectively, and the AUC(0-0.25) (area under the concentration-time curve from time zero to 15 min) by 29% and 44%, respectively. In addition, QD significantly increased the DOM AUC(0-2) (32%), whereas 19% increase was observed after GFJ extract administration. In conclusion, GFJ and QD significantly influenced DOM rat plasma concentration during the first two hours after DOM administration indicating that interaction takes place during absorption phase.

A new easy approach to separation of dopamine hydrochloride is reported. The molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) was used as the adsorbent material. The MIP was prepared employing dopamine hydrochloride as a template and methacrylic acid (MAA) with ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EDMA) in co-polymerization process. Non-covalent prearrangement between dopamine hydrochloride and methacrylic acid in organic porogen prior to bulk polymerization was utilized. Preliminary chromatographic results showed that dopamine hydrochloride could be retained by the polymer and then eluted using optimized elution protocol. The interactions between template and monomers were proposed of the basis of semiempirical PM3 theoretical calculation.

Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)-induced changes in synaptic transmission are one of the effects of their neurotoxicity but the mechanism remains unknown. We assessed the in vivo effects of the PCBs mixture, Aroclor 1254 on the expression of neuronal proteins that are involved in the synaptic function and/or are associated with neurodegeneration. Wistar rats were treated orally with repeated doses of Aroclor 1254 and the levels of soluble alpha-synuclein, parkin, synaptophysin and amyloid precursor protein (APP) in the brain were determined by Western blotting. The results showed that Aroclor did not cause changes in the expression and processing of APP but at a dose 100 microg/g/day repeated for 6 days caused a decrease in the expression of alpha-synuclein in the cerebellum, cortex, hippocampus and hypothalamus of the animals sacrificed 2 days after treatment. The decrease in alpha-synuclein was accompanied by a transient increase in parkin and synaptophysin levels. Interestingly, in the hypothalamus the levels of alpha-synuclein remained decreased after 21 days post treatment perhaps due to regional differences in the PCBs elimination or perhaps a more specific interaction with the dopaminergic cells that are present in the hypothalamus that needs to be investigated further.

Pyrethroids, widely used insecticides, are biologically active in neurons. Whether they act on the non-neuronal brain cells remains an open question. Thus, the aim of this study was to examine whether Cypermethrin intoxication affects astroglial cells in the rat brain. The levels of Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein (GFAP) in different brain regions were measured by ELISA following oral treatment with 5 or 10% of LD(50) of Cypermethrin per day for 6 days. A significant decrease of GFAP was observed in different brain regions of treated animals. The cerebral cortex showed the most pronounced effect with GFAP levels reduced to 81% of the controls 2 days after treatment and 77% 21 days after treatment. Although we did not find profound changes in the morphology of astrocytes in Cypermethrin treated animals, the decrease in GFAP suggests that astrocytes were affected by low doses of pyrethroids. The possible consequences were discussed.

Several forms of cytochrome P-450 (CYP) metabolize R,S-warfarin in a regio- and enantioselective manner, therefore R,S-warfarin can be recognized as a metabolic probe for a number of CYP isoforms. We have applied a warfarin model in vivo in order to estimate the inhibitory properties of 5- and 8-methoxypsoralens on the activity of rat CYP isoforms. The area under the serum concentration versus time curve (AUC) values from time zero to 5 h for R- and S-warfarin and their metabolites were calculated. R,S-Warfarin kinetics measurements were made three times on each rat: a week before the 7-days inhibitor treatment, 3 h after the last dose of inhibitor and 3–7 days after the inhibitor was withdrawn. The inhibitory effect of cimetidine on CYP 2C11 and CYP 2C6 activities was confirmed in this approach and can be recognized as a positive control in validation of the in vivo experiment. Both 5- and 8-methoxypsoralen inhibited CYP 2C6 activity as the respective AUC for metabolite/warfarin enantiomer ratio decreased significantly. The activity of CYP 2C6 in 5- and 8-methoxypsoralen-treated rats increased over control values after the inhibitor was withdrawn. It was also observed that cimetidine additionally inhibits the absorption of R,S-warfarin and a decrease in the sum of AUC for R- and S-enantiomers became evident in spite of inhibition of the activity of both CYPs. 5-Methoxypsoralen modified the serum R-warfarin/S-warfarin ratio and a selective increase in AUCS−warfarin was observed, the most pronounced being after the inhibitor was withdrawn. This effect is not likely to be mediated by P-glycoprotein (P-gp) because quinidine—, a P-gp inhibitor at a dose of 15 mg kg−1 body wt.—did not influence the AUC for either enantiomer. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Background This study investigated the relationship between ethanol intake in rats and the resulting level of ethyl glucuronide (EtG) in rat hair. Methods Rats (n = 50) consumed a 10% ethanol solution for 4 weeks, then EtG was extracted from samples of their hair using a novel extraction procedure involving freezing and thawing. The EtG concentration was measured using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. The animals voluntarily drank ethanol, with daily consumption in most rats exceeding 5 g/kg b.w. The silylated EtG was stable for at least 28 h. The limit of detection was 0.03 ng/mg, and the limit of quantification was 0.1 ng/mg. Results Hair samples from rats that consumed ethanol had EtG levels ranging from 0.17–20.72 ng/mg in female rats and 0.15–13.72 ng/mg in males. There was a correlation between the amount of alcohol consumed and the EtG levels in hair from female (p Conclusion The method presented allows detection and quantification of EtG in rat hair. We also observed differences in EtG deposition in male and female rats.