Condensation of delta-1-piperideine-6-carboxylate with ortho-aminobenzaldehyde allows its simple, fast, and inexpensive quantification in the urine of patients with antiquitin deficiency

Antiquitin (ATQ) deficiency leads to tissue, plasma, and urinary accumulation of alpha-aminoadipic semialdehyde (AASA) and its Schiff base delta-1-piperideine-6-carboxylate (P6C). Although genetic testing of ALDH7A1 is the most definitive diagnostic method, quantifications of pathognomonic metabolites are important for the diagnosis and evaluation of therapeutic and dietary interventions. Current metabolite quantification methods use laborious, technically highly complex, and expensive liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectro-metry, which is available only in selected laboratories worldwide. Incubation of ortho-aminobenzaldehyde (oABA) with P6C leads to the formation of a triple aromatic ring structure with characteristic absorption and fluorescence properties. The mean concentration of P6C in nine urine samples from seven ATQ-deficient patients under standard treatment protocols was statistically highly significantly different (P < .001) compared to the mean of 74 healthy controls aged between 2 months and 57 years. Using this limited data set the specificity and sensitivity is 100% for all tested age groups using a P6C cut-off of 2.11 μmol/mmol creatinine, which represents the 99% prediction interval of the P6C concentrations in 17 control urine samples from children below 6 years of age. Plasma P6C concentrations were only elevated in one ATQ subject, possibly because P6C is trapped by pyridoxal-5-phosphate (PLP) blocking fusing with oABA. Nevertheless, both urine and plasma samples were amenable to the quantification of exogenous P6C with high response rates. The P6C quantification method using fusion of oABA with P6C is fast, simple, and inexpensive and might be readily implemented into routine clinical diagnostic laboratories for the early diagnosis of neonatal pyridoxine-dependent epilepsy.

Multiporous Terbium Phosphonate Coordination Polymer Microspheres as Fluorescent Probes for Trace Anthrax Biomarker Detection

Lanthanide coordination polymers have been recently regarded as attractive sensing materials because of their selectivity, high sensitivity, and rapid response ability. In this research, the multiporous terbium phosphonate coordination polymer microspheres (TbP-CPs) were prepared as a novel fluorescent probe, which showed a fluorescence turn-on response capability for the detection of the trace anthrax biomarker dipicolinate acid (DPA). The morphology and chemical composition of as-prepared TbP-CPs were characterized in detail. The TbP-CPs have the vegetable-flower-like structure and microporous surface. In addition, the as-prepared TbP-CPs not only possess the merits of convenience and simple preparation with high yield but also have the excellent characters as fluorescent probes, such as high stability, good selectivity, and rapid detection ability within 30 s. This proposed sensor could detect DPA with a linear relationship in concentrations ranging from 0 to 8.0 μM and a high detection sensitivity of 5.0 nM. Furthermore, the successful applications of DPA detection in urine and bovine serum were demonstrated. As a result, the recovery ranged from 93.93-101.6%, and the relative standard deviations (RSD) were less than 5%.

A novel method for simultaneous quantification of alpha-aminoadipic semialdehyde/piperideine-6-carboxylate and pipecolic acid in plasma and urine

OBJECTIVES

Elevated levels of pipecolic acid (PA), α-aminoadipic semialdehyde (AASA) and its cyclic form Δ1-piperideine-6-carboxylate (P6C) are characteristic of pyridoxine dependent epilepsy (PDE), a rare disorder of inborn error of metabolism. Recent studies showed the effectiveness of dietary therapy in PDE patients and emphasized the importance of the assessment of these metabolites for monitoring treatment efficacy. The objective of this study was to develop a robust and sensitive method for simultaneous quantification of AASA-P6C and PA in plasma and urine.

DESIGN AND METHODS

Plasma and urine samples were derivatized with 3N HCl in n-butanol (v/v) and injected onto ACQUITY BEH-C18 column. A gradient of water/methanol containing 0.1% formic acid was used for the chromatographic separation of AASA, P6C and PA. The analytes' concentrations were calculated using their calibration curves and the sum of AASA and P6C (AASA-P6C) was calculated. To evaluate the clinical utility of this test, samples from unaffected controls and patients with confirmed PDE were analyzed.

RESULTS

The performance characteristics of the assay as well as sample stability and interferences were determined. The intra- and inter- assay CVs were ≤2.9% and ≤10.9% for AASA-P6C, and ≤3.3% and ≤12.6% for PA, respectively. Reference ranges for AASA-P6C and PA in plasma and urine were established. Comparison of values obtained from unaffected controls and PDE patients showed high clinical sensitivity and specificity of the assay.

CONCLUSIONS

This novel method for the simultaneous quantification of AASA-P6C and PA in plasma and urine can be used in a clinical laboratory setting for the diagnosis and monitoring of patients with PDE.

The measurement of urinary Δ¹-piperideine-6-carboxylate, the alter ego of α-aminoadipic semialdehyde, in Antiquitin deficiency

The assessment of urinary α-aminoadipic semialdehyde (α-AASA) has become the diagnostic laboratory test for pyridoxine dependent seizures (PDS). α-AASA is in spontaneous equilibrium with its cyclic form Δ(1)-piperideine-6-carboxylate (P6C); a molecule with a heterocyclic ring structure. Ongoing diagnostic screening and monitoring revealed that in some individuals with milder ALDH7A1 variants, and patients co-treated with a lysine restricted diet, α-AASA was only modestly increased. This prompted us to investigate the diagnostic power and added value of the assessment of urinary P6C compared to α-AASA. Urine samples were diluted to a creatinine content of 0.1 mmol/L, followed by the addition of 0.01 nmol [(2)H(9)]pipecolic acid as internal standard (IS) and 5 μL was injected onto a Waters C(18) T3 HPLC column. Chromatography was performed using water/methanol 97/3 (v/v) including 0.03 % formic acid by volume with a flow rate of 150 μL/min and detection was accomplished in the multiple reaction monitoring mode: P6C m/z 128.1 > 82.1; [(2)H(9)]pipecolic acid m/z 139.1 > 93.1. Due to the dualistic nature of α-AASA/P6C, and the lack of a proper internal standard, the method is semi quantitative. The intra-assay CVs (n = 10) for two urine samples of proven PDS patients with only modest P6C increases were 4.7% and 8.1%, whereas their inter-assay CVs (n = 10) were 16 and 18% respectively. In all 40 urine samples from 35 individuals with proven PDS, we detected increased levels of P6C. Therefore, we conclude that the diagnostic power of the assessments of urinary P6C and α-AASA is comparable.

Chromium picolinate supplementation in women: effects on body weight, composition, and iron status

OBJECTIVE

This study tested the hypothesis that supplementation of chromium picolinate (CrPic), 200 microg Cr/d, compared with an equivalent amount of picolinic acid (1720 microg) in CrPic and placebo, decreases body weight, alters body composition, and reduces iron status of women fed diets of constant energy and nutrients.

METHODS

We fed 83 women nutritionally balanced diets, used anthropometry and dual x-ray absorptiometry to assess body composition, and measured serum and urinary Cr and biochemical indicators of iron status before and serially every 4 wk for 12 wk in a double-blind, randomized trial.

RESULTS

CrPic supplementation increased (P < 0.0001) serum Cr concentration and urinary Cr excretion compared with picolinic acid and placebo. CrPic did not affect body weight or fat, although all groups lost (P < 0.05) weight and fat; it did not affect fat-free, mineral-free mass or measurements of iron status.

CONCLUSION

Under conditions of controlled energy intake, CrPic supplementation of women did not independently influence body weight or composition or iron status. Thus, claims that supplementation of 200 microg of Cr as CrPic promotes weight loss and body composition changes are not supported.

Resistive Training and Chromium Picolinate: Effects on Inositols and Liver and Kidney Functions in Older Adults

This study assessed the effects of resistive training (RT) with or without chromium picolinate (Cr-pic) supplementation on the 24-h urinary excretions of myo-inositol, D-chiro-inositol, and pinitol, as well as clinical indices of kidney and liver functions. Thirty-two nondiabetic subjects, age 62 ± 4 y, performed RT twice weekly for 12 wk and consumed either 924 μg Cr/d as Cr-pic (n = 17) or a placebo (n = 15). Whole-body strength increased in all subjects by 20% and urinary chromium excretion increased 47-fold in the Cr-pic group. Urinary myo-inositol, D-chiro-inositol, and pinitol were not changed with RT or influenced by Cr-pic. Serum indices of kidney and liver functions were within clinically normal ranges at baseline and the end of the study. These results suggest that RT did not influence the urinary excretions of inositols. High dose Cr-pic did not influence the urinary excretion of inositols and the selected indices of kidney and liver functions in conjunction with RT

Effects of resistive training and chromium picolinate on body composition and skeletal muscle size in older women

This study assessed the effect of resistive training (RT), with or without highdose chromium picolinate (Cr-pic) supplementation, on body composition and skeletal muscle size of older women. Seventeen sedentary women, age range 54-71 years, BMI 28.8 +/- 2.4 kg/m2, were randomly assigned (double-blind) to groups (Cr-pic, n = 9; Placebo, n = 8) that consumed either 924 micrograms Cr/d as Cr-pic or a low-Cr placebo (< 0.2 microgram Cr/d) during a 12-week RT program (2 day/week, 3 sets.exercise-1.d-1, 80% of 1 repetition maximum). Urinary chromium excretion was 60-fold higher in the Cr-pic group, compared to the Placebo group (p < .001), during the intervention. Resistive training increased maximal strength of the muscle groups trained by 8 to 34% (p < .001), and these responses were not influenced by Cr-pic supplementation. Percent body fat and fat-free mass were unchanged with RT in these weight-stable women, independent of Cr-pic supplementation. Type I and type II muscle fiber areas of the m. vastus lateralis were not changed over time and were not influenced by Cr-pic supplementation. These data demonstrate that high-dose Cr-pic supplementation did not increase maximal strength above that of resistive training alone in older women. Further, these data show that, under these experimental conditions, whole body composition and skeletal muscle size were not significantly changed due to resistive training and were not influenced by supplemental chromium picolinate.

The effect of chromium picolinate on muscular strength and body composition in women athletes

Fifteen women softball athletes were randomly divided into 2 groups, the chromium treatment group (n = 8) and the placebo control group (n = 7) to examine the effect of chromium, in the form of chromium picolinate (CrPic) supplementation, on muscular strength, body composition (body weight, percent body fat, and lean body mass), and urinary excretion. The CrPic supplementation consisted of a 500 ug dosage taken once per day. All participants trained 3 times per week with 2-3 sets of 8-12 repetitions at 80% of 1 repetition maximum (1RM) using variable resistance machines and free weights. No significant (p < 0.05) differences in muscular strength or body composition were found after 6 weeks of resistance training. In addition, chromium excretion (microg per 24 every hours) was examined and increased significantly with the treatment group after the 6-week period.

Effect of supplementation with chromium picolinate on antibody titers to 5-hydroxymethyl uracil

Recent in vitro studies have shown that chromium (III) compounds such as chromium picolinate, a popular dietary supplement among people trying to lose weight, produce chromosome damage. We monitored levels of DNA damage in a chromium picolinate supplement trial by measuring antibodies titers to an oxidized DNA base, 5-hydroxymethyl-2'-deoxyuridine (HMdU), by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Ten obese volunteer women completed a 8-week course of 400 micrograms chromium picolinate per day. In either absolute titers or percent of the baseline value, there were no changes in antibody titers at 4 or 8 weeks. The titers were very stable within individuals and those of one individual rarely crossed over others, which was reflected in an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.99 (95% confidence interval: 0.96-1.00). There were no effects on glucose and lipid metabolism in this period. The results of this trial suggest that chromium (III) picolinate in a dose typically used for nutrient supplementation dose not increase oxidative DNA damage, as measured by anti-HMdU antibody levels.

Determination of Ro 19-6327 (Lazabemide) in human plasma and urine by gas chromatography-negative chemical ionization mass spectrometry

A sensitive and specific analytical method was developed for determination of Ro 19-6327 (Lazabemide) in human plasma and urine samples to provide pharmacokinetic data from clinical trials. The new method employs a simple liquid-liquid extraction to isolate the drug from biological samples. The extract is reacted to form the trifluoroacetyl derivative of Ro 19-6327 and then analyzed by gas chromatography-negative chemical ionization mass spectrometry (GC-NCIMS). The lower limit of quantitation of the assay is 0.05 ng/ml for plasma and 5.0 ng/ml for urine, based on 1-ml aliquots. No interferences from anticoagulants, collection devices, or endogenous constituents of plasma and urine were observed. Recovery (64.3%), inter-assay precision (< 8% R.S.D.), and accuracy (> 85%) of the method were considered acceptable. The assay proved reliable enough to be automated for unattended sample analysis of approximately 50 samples daily. In an additional series of tests, Ro 19-6327 was shown to be stable under conditions that might be encountered during the analysis of samples from clinical trials.

Urinary excretion of chromium by humans following ingestion of chromium picolinate. Implications for biomonitoring

This study investigated the variability in urinary chromium (Cr) excretion following the ingestion of Cr picolinate by human volunteers. A pharmacokinetic model was used to estimate the bioavailability of Cr from ingested Cr picolinate using known distribution patterns and elimination rates of Cr by humans. The possible advantages of using sequential, individual spot, or 24-hr urine sample collection for biomonitoring of Cr exposure were examined. Background concentrations of urinary Cr determined from the spot samples in this study compared well with values reported by others. The variability in urinary excretion of Cr in untreated volunteers indicated that it is virtually impossible to distinguish exposures to most occupational and virtually all environmental exposures to Cr. Sequential urine sampling was found superior to both 24-hr and spot urine collection for indicating exposure to Cr picolinate. The extent of absorption of Cr from the picolinate matrix in the gastrointestinal tract was 2.80 +/- 1.14% (SD). It was estimated that 10 mg of soil containing between 7,400 and 52,000 mg Cr(III)/kg would have to be ingested by an adult to result in urinary excretion of Cr clearly above the upper bound of Cr in urine from background populations (1.8 microgram Cr/liter), depending on certain assumptions regarding bioavailability. This study supports the results of other recent work that demonstrated urinary excretion of Cr resulting from low-level environmental exposure is unlikely to be distinguished from that resulting from dietary uptake.

Piromidic acid, a new antibacterial agent: absorption, distribution, excretion, and metabolism

Nineteen of 39 multiresistant strains of Serratia marcescens isolated from clinical sources transferred antibiotic resistance to Escherichia coli or Klebsiella pneumoniae recipients. Marcesins and/or phage prevented effective resistance transfer to E. coli and attempts to select marcescin-resistant mutants of the E. coli recipient strain were unsuccessful. Transfer of resistance was demonstrated for all drugs tested except nalidixic acid. Approximately 90% of donors resistant to tobramycin, ampicillin, or carbenicillin transferred resistance to these drugs. High levels of transferred resistance (minimal inhibitory concentration, >2,500 μg/ml) were demonstrated particularly for ampicillin, carbenicillin, and kanamycin. Transmissibility of Serratia R factors was greatest between isogeneic strains of E. coli K-12. Comparative rates of spontaneous loss of R factor-mediated resistance indicated that Serratia R factors are less stable in E. coli and K. pneumoniae transcipients than in the indigenous hosts.

A novel metabolic pathway in the metabolism of 5-(4'-chloro-n-butyl)picolinic acid

The metabolism of 5-(4'-chloro-n-butyl)picolinic acid, which inhibits dopamine beta-hydroxylase and exhibits an antihypertensive effect, has been studied by gas chromatography mass spectrometry, utilising characteristic reaction products after derivatization. In rat urine five metabolities were identified by mass spectral analysis. It is found that four were elongated by a C2 unit in the carboxyl group at the 2-position on the pyridine ring and accounted for approximately 50% of the radioactivity in the 24 hour urine. The facts show that the metabolic pathway corresponding to the chain elongation of fatty acids is the major route of metabolism for this drug in the rat. Furthermore, this pathway would be confirmed in man, rabbit, guinea pig and mouse.