Safety assessment of allylalkoxybenzene derivatives used as flavouring substances - methyl eugenol and estragole

This publication is the seventh in a series of safety evaluations performed by the Expert Panel of the Flavor and Extract Manufacturers' Association (FEMA). In 1993, the Panel initiated a comprehensive program to re-evaluate the safety of more than 1700 GRAS flavouring substances under conditions of intended use. In this review, scientific data relevant to the safety evaluation of the allylalkoxybenzene derivatives methyl eugenol and estragole is critically evaluated by the FEMA Expert Panel. The hazard determination uses a mechanism-based approach in which production of the hepatotoxic sulfate conjugate of the 1'-hydroxy metabolite is used to interpret the pathological changes observed in different species of laboratory rodents in chronic and subchronic studies. In the risk evaluation, the effect of dose and metabolic activation on the production of the 1'-hydroxy metabolite in humans and laboratory animals is compared to assess the risk to humans from use of methyl eugenol and estragole as naturally occurring components of a traditional diet and as added flavouring substances. Both the qualitative and quantitative aspects of the molecular disposition of methyl eugenol and estragole and their associated toxicological sequelae have been relatively well defined from mammalian studies. Several studies have clearly established that the profiles of metabolism, metabolic activation, and covalent binding are dose dependent and that the relative importance diminishes markedly at low levels of exposure (i.e. these events are not linear with respect to dose). In particular, rodent studies show that these events are minimal probably in the dose range of 1-10 mg/kg body weight, which is approximately 100-1000 times the anticipated human exposure to these substances. For these reasons it is concluded that present exposure to methyl eugenol and estragole resulting from consumption of food, mainly spices and added as such, does not pose a significant cancer risk. Nevertheless, further studies are needed to define both the nature and implications of the dose-response curve in rats at low levels of exposure to methyl eugenol and estragole.

The subchronic oral toxicity of ethane, 1,2-bis(pentabromophenyl) (Saytex 8010) in rats

Ethane, 1,2-bis(pentabromophenyl) (EBP; CAS no. 8452-53-9) dose levels of 0, 100, 320 and 1000 mg/kg/day administered to rats by gavage in corn oil for 90 consecutive days produced no compound-related clinical signs of systemic toxicity, ocular lesions, or alterations in urinalysis, clinical chemistry, and hematology values in the treated or recovery groups. No biologically or toxicologically significant differences were observed in body weights, body weight gains, and food consumption. Statistically significant differences were found between control and high-dose animals in mean absolute or relative liver weights. Histomorphological evaluation showed in male rats low-grade liver changes consisting of minimal to slight hepatocellular vacuolation (high-dose males) and minimal to slight centrilobular hepatocytomegaly (high- and possibly mid-dose males). These changes had resolved by the end of the 28-day recovery period. No treatment-related changes were found in the livers of female rats. No treatment-related histomorphologic changes were present in any of the other tissues examined in either sex, except for evidence of aspirated test article in individual rats. The 90-day EBP no-adverse-effect level in the rat was > or = 1000 mg/kg/day, and was consistent with that of the preceding 28-day study (no-effect level > or = 1250 mg/kg/day). EBP's lack of toxicity is likely related to poor bioavailability due to its high molecular weight and low solubility.

Migratory pulmonary infiltrates in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis

The case history is described of an elderly man with rheumatoid arthritis receiving treatment with sulfasalazine and the cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor celecoxib who presented with severe shortness of breath, cough, and decreased exercise tolerance. The chest radiograph showed unilateral alveolo-interstitial infiltrates and a biopsy specimen of the lung parenchyma showed changes consistent with acute eosinophilic pneumonia. Antibiotic treatment was unsuccessful, but treatment with steroids and discontinuation of sulfasalazine and celecoxib resulted in a marked clinical improvement confirmed by arterial blood gas analysis. The condition may have developed as an adverse reaction either to sulfasalazine or to celecoxib, although hypersensitivity to the latter has not previously been reported.

The FEMA GRAS assessment of pyrazine derivatives used as flavor ingredients. Flavor and Extract Manufacturers Association

This is the fifth in a series of safety evaluations performed by the Expert Panel of the Flavor and Extract Manufacturers Association (FEMA). In 1993, the Panel initiated a comprehensive program to re-evaluate the safety of more than 1700 GRAS flavoring substances under conditions of intended use. Elements that are fundamental to the safety evaluation of flavor ingredients include exposure, structural analogy, metabolism, pharmacokinetics and toxicology. Flavor ingredients are evaluated individually taking into account the available scientific information on the group of structurally related substances. Scientific data relevant to the safety evaluation of the use of pyrazine derivatives as flavoring ingredients is evaluated.

Promoter strength in adenovirus transducing vectors: down-regulation of the adenovirus E1A promoter in 293 cells facilitates vector construction

Most adenovirus transducing vectors have the cytomegalovirus major immediate-early (CMV) or the Rous sarcoma virus long terminal repeat (RSV) promoter driving expression of the transgene. Both of these promoters are highly active in transfection and transduction assays in 293 cells, in which transducing vectors are constructed and grown, and in HeLa cells. The CMV promoter exhibits rapid activation while the RSV promoter exhibits a lag prior to the onset of viral DNA replication in transduction assays. While the use of very strong promoters facilitates expression of the transgene, high-level expression of certain gene products hinders virus construction and growth. For such genes, the use of the adenovirus type 5 E1A promoter offers advantages. The E1A promoter exhibits modest activity in HeLa cells after transfection or transduction, but very little activity in 293 cells, suggesting that the E1A promoter would permit construction and growth of vectors encoding deleterious gene products that could not be constructed with the CMV and RSV promoters. This idea was tested through attempts to construct viruses encoding the immunoglobulin loop 6 and transmembrane regions of the prostaglandin F2alpha receptor regulatory protein (FPRP), a product that inhibits adenovirus vector construction for reasons that are not clear. Only the E1A promoter permitted construction and growth of the transducing vector encoding the fragment of FPRP.

Control of methanol oxidation by ionic behavior in supercritical water

In supercritical water the rate of methanol oxidation was controlled by ionic behavior as follows: the oxidation rate of methanol decreased with increasing proton and hydroxide ion concentration, possibly due to stabilization of the reactant, while that of CO was suppressed by added protons and enhanced by added hydroxide ions.

Pharmacokinetics and absolute bioavailability of sitafloxacin, a new fluoroquinolone antibiotic, in healthy male and female Caucasian subjects

1. The aim was to compare the pharmacokinetics of sitafloxacin from a capsule formulation (dose of 500 mg sitafloxacin) and an intravenous (i.v.) formulation infused over 1 h (dose of 400 mg sitafloxacin) in healthy male and female subjects and to estimate the absolute bioavailability of sitafloxacin from the capsule formulation. 2. Following oral administration, sitafloxacin was rapidly absorbed, with a mean maximum concentration in plasma of 4.65 microgml(-1) occuring at median tmax = 1.25 h giving a mean AUC(0-infinity) = 28.1 microg h ml(-1). For the i.v. administration, a mean Cmax = 5.53 microm(-1) occurred at the end of the 1-h infusion with a mean AUC(0-infinity) = 25.4 microg h ml(-1). The mean terminal elimination half-life was 7.0 h (oral) and 6.6 h (i.v.). For the oral and i.v. formulations, the mean total plasma clearance was 296 and 263 mlmin(-1), respectively and the mean volume of distribution was 180 and 150 litres, respectively. 3. Within 48 h post-dose, approximately 61% (range 22-86%) of the administered dose was excreted unchanged in urine following capsule administration, compared with approximately 75% (range 42-101%) following the i.v. formulation. For both formulations, the renal clearance of sitafloxacin (means of 181 and 198 ml min(-1) for the capsule and i.v. doses, respectively) implies active tubular secretion of the drug. 4. The absolute bioavailability of sitafloxacin from the capsule formulation was high at 89%, with a 95% CI of 84-94%. The intersubject variability (CV%) in the sitafloxacin AUC(0-infinity) for the capsule was low at 18.6%. 5. Gender differences in the pharmacokinetics of sitafloxacin were small and would not warrant dose adjustment. 6. The findings show that the capsule formulation offers good oral bioavailability and merits further clinical evaluation of sitafloxacin as an orally effective fluoroquinolone antibacterial.

The effect of the choline head group on phospholipid hydration

The hydration behavior of three naturally occurring sphingomyelins (SM) has been studied. Adsorption isotherms for these SM, singly and in combination with other lipids, were obtained and the isotherms analyzed by the application of BET theory. The results are compared with those found previously by us for the phosphatidylcholines (PC). We find that, depending on the SM studied, both "weak" and "strong" water adsorption can be observed and thus, the presence of choline in the phospholipid head group, does not guarantee "strong" water adsorption. When the head group is removed from SM, the resulting ceramides are found to be very weak, water adsorbers. Cholesterol, when present in a mixture with SM, has a rather dramatic effect on the hydration of the SM. A mixed system of PC and SM exhibits water adsorption characteristics very similar to those exhibited by PC itself. We speculate that these hydration results may well play a role in the cell signaling action of SM and, moreover, may be closely associated with the hypothesized formation of lipid "rafts."

Lack of effect of treatment with penciclovir or acyclovir on the establishment of latent HSV-1 in primary sensory neurons in culture

Recent studies suggest reductions in establishment of herpes simplex virus, type 1 (HSV-1) latency using the nucleoside analog penciclovir compared with acyclovir in the murine model. These observations raise the possibility that the new analogs may have novel activities that directly interfere with the establishment of the latent infection, suggesting a mechanism other than simply blocking the productive infection. To determine if penciclovir has a direct action on the establishment of latency, we compared the effects of penciclovir versus acyclovir in an in vitro model of HSV-1 latency in rat dorsal root ganglia neurons in culture. In neurons in culture, both penciclovir and acyclovir were highly effective in blocking the productive infection. However, neither penciclovir nor acyclovir blocked establishment of latency as demonstrated by similar percentages of neurons expressing the latency-associated transcript (LAT). Following removal of the respective nucleoside analog, latency was maintained until reactivation was induced by nerve growth factor deprivation. Similar virus titers were recovered after induction of reactivation of latent infections, which were established in the presence of either penciclovir or acyclovir. These results indicate that neither penciclovir nor acyclovir treatment directly prevents the establishment of latent HSV-1 infections in primary sensory neurons in culture.

An evaluation of the clinical performance of newly qualified nurses: a competency based assessment

The clinical performance of newly qualified staff nurses, or their 'fitness for purpose' has become a central professional and corporate issue and highlighted as a central causes for the reforms recommended by the Peach report (Peach 1999). However the ability to gauge the performance of newly qualified nurses remains a largely subjective exercise relying upon anecdotal evidence or general statements of newly qualified nurses' feelings of inadequacy on qualification. This article seeks to address this issue by reporting the findings of project that sought to compare the expectations of senior nurses regarding the level of competence of newly qualified nurses with that of the actual level of competency as assessed by the preceptors after 8 weeks in post. Using a specifically designed instrument to assess clinical competency a comparison has been made between 139 senior nurses' expectations of the competency of newly qualified nurses and the actual competence as assessed by preceptors of 36 newly qualified nurses after 8 weeks in post. The findings indicate that the senior nurses have clear subjective expectations of the competence level of newly qualified nurses. However these expectations are consistently lower than the actual level of competency demonstrated by the newly qualified nurses as assessed by their preceptors. This research demonstrates that through the use of a validated tool newly qualified nurses consistently perform at a higher level of competency than that expected by senior nurses. The ability to estimate competency levels by objective means should be developed. Further research is needed involving a larger sample of Trusts and Schools of Nursing to replicate the results of this study and to compare methods of the assessment of performance in terms of competency in practice on qualification. It is through developments based upon research such as this that a systematic evaluation of the contribution of Schools of Nursing to the competence of newly qualified nurses can be addressed.

Long-lasting rebound cue effects following single doses of nicotine and amphetamine: implications for understanding tolerance

RATIONALE

Previous drug-discrimination studies have, with the exception of nicotine (NIC), demonstrated tolerance to the cue effects of a broad range of drugs of abuse. Barrett et al. have shown that tolerance to a drug's cue properties reflects drug-induced rebound shifts in the discrimination baseline and not a weakened or less salient cue.

OBJECTIVES

The objective of the present study was to use a discrimination task sensitive to bidirectional cue changes to characterize the interoceptive cues associated with both the primary and rebound cues produced by nicotine in an attempt to understand why a recent study by Shoaib et al. failed to observe tolerance to the nicotine cue.

METHODS

Since dopamine (DA) has been implicated in mediating the NIC cue, rats were trained to discriminate between 0.25 mg/kg amphetamine (AMPH), an indirect DA agonist, and 0.033 mg/kg haloperidol (HAL), a DA antagonist at the D2 receptor site. Training doses were chosen so that rats responded about equally on both levers when tested on saline (SAL) following acquisition. This procedure provided a behavioral baseline to assess NIC-related changes along a presumed continuum of DA-mediated cues. Following acquisition of the discrimination: (i) NIC substitution tests were conducted, (ii) rats were tested for lever choice at intervals from 2 h to 48 h following treatment with single doses of 0.25 mg/kg and 0.50 mg/kg NIC, and (iii) rats were challenged with test doses of NIC during a period of NIC rebound.

RESULTS

(i) NIC substituted for AMPH in a dose- dependent manner. (ii) At short intervals after treatment with 0.25 mg/kg and 0.50 mg/kg NIC, rats responded primarily on the AMPH lever followed by a shift to predominant responding on the HAL lever 16-24 h post-treatment, before returning to predrug levels. (iii) No evidence was observed for acute tolerance to NIC.

CONCLUSIONS

The robust and long-lasting rebound cues associated with training level doses of NIC suggest that maximal tolerance would likely develop to the NIC cue during the acquisition phase of the conventional NIC-saline discrimination study.

Carbon dioxide transport by proteic and facilitated transport membranes

Membrane separation of gases is governed by the permeability of each species across the membrane. The ratio of permeabilities yields the selectivity. Use of certain organic carriers in facilitated transport membranes and the CO2 converting enzyme carbonic anhydrase (CA) in proteic and facilitated transport membranes allows a dramatic increase in CO2 selectivity over other gases. CA has a low Km (9 mM), which we predicted would allow it to scavenge CO2 to very low partial pressures. Our goal was to determine if CA could remove CO2 from an environment at levels of 0.1% or less. Prior measurements of CO2 transport across thin supported liquid membranes showed that addition of CA enhanced CO2 flux by 3- to 100-fold. Proteic films use bifunctional reagents (e.g., glutaraldehyde) to cross-link the enzyme forming a gel. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) is often added for structural stability. Using such a preparation we examined the ability of proteic films to improve CO2 selectivity and to scavenge CO2 from a mixed gas stream. Proof-of-concept results, measured by mass spectrometry, showed a fivefold improvement in CO2 capture rate with maximal improvement at CO2 values of 1% partial pressure difference in the presence of 0 atm absolute difference. At 0.1% CO2 the membrane exhibited a 76% improvement over controls. At 0.3% CO2 the improvement is about threefold. CA proteic membranes exhibit selectivity for CO2 over oxygen and nitrogen in excess of three orders of magnitude. A CA-based proteic or facilitated transport membrane should readily achieve CO2 partial pressures of 0.05% under CELSS conditions. In addition to proteic membranes we are exploring direct immobilization of engineered CA to ultra-high-permeability teflon membranes. Site-directed mutagenesis was used to add functional groups while retaining full enzymatic activity. These results provide a basis for development of far more efficient CO2 capture proteic and facilitated transport membranes with increased selectivity to values closer to 100-fold at 1% CO2. The result will be CO2 selectivity at 0.1% on the order of 400-fold. These results exceed those obtained with other technologies.

Fibroblast expression of C-C chemokines in response to orthopaedic biomaterial particle challenge in vitro

C-C chemokines are soluble mediators that occur in a periprosthetic granuloma and influence recruitment, localization and activation of inflammatory cells. This study tested effects of titanium and polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) particles on expression of selected C-C chemokines in cultured human fibroblasts. The C-C chemokines analyzed included monocyte chemoattractant protein-1. 2 (MCP-1. 2), monocyte inflammatory protein-1 alpha (MIP-1 alpha), and regulated on activation, normal T-cell expressed and secreted protein (RANTES). Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) served as a known stimulator of chemokine release while interleukin-6 (IL-6) expression served as a marker for fibroblast activation. Protein and mRNA signal levels were determined by ELISA and RT-PCR, respectively. The results demonstrated that exposure of fibroblasts to titanium and PMMA particles resulted in increased release of MCP-1 in a dose- and time-dependent manner. After 24 h, titanium particles maximally upregulated MCP-1 release 7-fold while PMMA particles increased MCP-1 levels 2-fold, when compared to unchallenged fibroblasts. MCP-2, MIP-1 alpha and RANTES levels remained unchanged following exposure of fibroblasts to titanium or PMMA particles at any concentration or time point tested. However, IL-1 beta stimulated release of MCP-1, MCP-2, and RANTES, but not MIP-1 alpha from the fibroblasts. IL-1 beta, not particles, exhibited the most prominent effect on MCP-1 mRNA levels. Increased release of MCP-1 from fibroblasts exposed to titanium and PMMA particles coincided with increased release of IL-6. This study suggests that release of chemoattractant factors from fibroblasts localized in periprosthetic membranes enhances the chronic inflammatory process leading to bone resorption and implant loosening.

Predicting evaporation rates and times for spills of chemical mixtures

Spreadsheet and short-cut methods have been developed for predicting evaporation rates and evaporation times for spills and constrained baths of chemical mixtures. Steady-state and time-varying predictions of evaporation rates can be made for six-component mixtures, including liquid-phase non-idealities as expressed through the UNIFAC method for activity coefficients. A group-contribution method is also used to estimate vapor-phase diffusion coefficients, which makes the method completely predictive. The predictions are estimates that require professional judgement in their application. One application that the evaporation time calculations suggest is a method for labeling chemical containers that allows one to quickly assess the time for complete evaporation of spills of both pure components and mixtures. The labeling would take the form of an evaporation time that depends on the local environment. For instance, evaporation time depends on indoor or outdoor conditions and the amount of each chemical among other parameters. This labeling would provide rapid information and an opportunity to premeditate a response before a spill occurs.

Interleukin-10 inhibits polymethylmethacrylate particle induced interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha release by human monocyte/macrophages in vitro

Periprosthetic membranes commonly observed at sites of total joint implant loosening exhibit abundant macrophages and particulate debris. Macrophages phagocytose orthopedic debris and release the pro-inflammatory mediators interleukin-1, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and prostaglandin E2. Populations of activated lymphocytes are often seen in periprosthetic membranes. These lymphocytes may modulate the monocyte/macrophage response to particulate debris and influence aseptic loosening. In addition, other immunologic agents, such as interleukin-10, are present in tissues harvested from the bone-implant interface of failed total joint arthroplasties. The present study examined the effects of interleukin-10 on polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) particle challenged human monocyte/macrophages in vitro. Human monocyte/macrophages isolated from buffy coats of five healthy individuals were exposed to 1-10 microm PMMA particles. Interleukin-10 was added to the monocyte/macrophages with and without the addition of PMMA particles. Interleukin-10-induced alterations in monocyte/macrophage metabolism were determined measuring interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha release by the cells following exposure to PMMA particles. Exposure of the monocyte/macrophages to PMMA particles resulted in a dose-dependent release of interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha at 48 h. Interleukin-10 reduced the levels of interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha release by macrophages in response to PMMA particles in a dose-dependent manner. At 48 h, particle-induced interleukin-6 release was inhibited by 60 and 90% with 1.0 and 10.0 ng/ml treatments of interleukin-10, respectively. At 48 h, particle-induced tumor necrosis factor-alpha release was inhibited by 58 and 88% with 1.0 and 10.0 ng/ml treatments of interleukin-10, respectively. Interleukin-10 challenge alone did not significantly alter basal interleukin-6 or tumor necrosis factor-alpha release relative to control cultures. The data presented in this study demonstrate that the anti-inflammatory cytokine, interleukin-10, inhibits monocyte/macrophage release of the pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in response to PMMA particle challenge in vitro.

Ceruminolytic efficacy in adults versus children

OBJECTIVES

An inexpensive, nontoxic ceruminolytic with reasonable efficacy that can be used by the patient or their caregivers at home could represent significant financial saving for patients and health care systems. The purpose of this study was to compare two simple ceruminolytics for in vitro efficacy.

STUDY DESIGN

Randomized controlled trial.

METHODS

Thirty-six children and 33 adults presenting to a community family practice clinic who had cerumen occluding at least one external auditory canal were randomly assigned to compare use of 10% aqueous sodium bicarbonate and 2.5% aqueous acetic acid as ceruminolytics in occlusive cerumen.

RESULTS

We were unable to demonstrate a difference between in vivo efficacy of these two ceruminolytic solutions, but both solutions were significantly more efficacious in children than adults.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a role for these ceruminolytics in children with occlusive cerumen, but adults would be better treated in another way.

Central nervous control of gill filament muscles in channel catfish

The gills of fish are innervated by cranial nerves IX and X. There have been a number of studies on the characteristics of sensory activity carried by these nerves but remarkably little is known about motor control of the gills. Efferent, motor activity to the first gill arch was recorded from the glossopharyngeal nerve in spontaneously breathing channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus. This study addressed two objectives. The first objective was to characterize efferent branchial nerve activity in spontaneously breathing fish. Nerve recordings show bursts of activity firing in synchrony with ventilation. These bursts occurred once during either abduction or adduction of the operculum with each breath. The observed patterns of neural activity indicate that it represents motor control of gill filament abductor and adductor muscles. The data show that rhythmic output from a central pattern generator controls filament musculature during the ventilatory cycle. The second objective was to use this efferent branchial nerve activity as an index of ventilation (fictive ventilation) in fish before and after paralysis to determine if feedback from phasic mechanoreceptors affects ventilatory timing. Breath-to-breath intervals measured before and after paralysis with gallamine were not significantly different, demonstrating that rhythmic feedback from phasic mechanoreceptors in the gills and/or ventilatory musculature is not involved in the breath-to-breath timing of the normal ventilatory cycle. During the course of these experiments many fish exhibited coughing. Coughs were characterized by a distinctive pattern of nerve activity that was not altered by paralysis. Overall, the data indicate that phasic mechanoreceptor feedback during normal breathing has no effect on the pattern of central motor control of gill filament muscles.

Trimethylaminuria: the fish malodor syndrome

The fish malodor syndrome (also known as the fish odor syndrome and trimethylaminuria) is a metabolic disorder characterized by the presence of abnormal amounts of the dietary-derived tertiary amine, trimethylamine, in the urine, sweat, expired air, and other bodily secretions. Trimethylamine itself has the powerful aroma of rotting fish, and this confers upon the sufferer a highly objectionable body odor, which can be destructive to the personal, social, and work life of the affected individual. In recent years, much progress has been made at all levels-clinical, epidemiological, biochemical, and genetic-in our understanding of this unfortunate condition. The present article summarizes this progress, draws attention to the different types of fish malodor syndrome, and highlights the current needs in the treatment of such patients.

Ontogeny of CLCN3 chloride channel gene expression in human pulmonary epithelium

Human fetal bronchopulmonary epithelia secrete liquid, and this chloride (Cl)-dependent process is important for normal lung growth. At the time of birth there is a maturational transition from a secretory to an absorptive phenotype. The pathways for Cl exit from the apical membrane which are required for fetal lung liquid secretion are unknown but are thought to be independent of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator. We determined the ontogeny of expression of the CLCN family of voltage-dependent Cl channel genes (CLCN2 through 6, K(a) and K(b)) in the human lung to identify potential pathways for pulmonary liquid secretion. Only CLCN3 and CLCN6 messenger RNA were detected by Northern analysis of fetal whole lung tissue. Ribonuclease protection assays confirmed the expression of CLCN3 and also revealed expression of CLCN2. The ontogeny of expression of these two channels was similar, peaking in midgestation and declining postnatally. In situ hybridization localized the CLCN2 and CLCN3 messages to airway and distal pulmonary epithelia and to pulmonary blood vessels. We conclude that CLCN3 is expressed in human airway epithelia and expression is developmentally regulated. The contribution of these channels to pulmonary epithelial liquid transport and lung development remains to be determined.