Predictive Performance of Vancomycin Trough Concentrations in Patients With Diabetes With Microalbuminuria.

Background: The performance of a population pharmacokinetic model in predicting trough concentrations after the initial vancomycin dose was evaluated in patients with albuminuria compared with patients who did not have albuminuria.

Methods: Data were collected from 52 patients infected with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (excluding patients undergoing dialysis and acute kidney injury) and treated with vancomycin. The data included urinary albumin concentration.

Command Surface of Self-Organizing Structures by Radical Polymers with Cooperative Redox Reactivity.

Robust radical-substituted polymers with ideal redox capability were used as "command surfaces" for liquid crystal orientation. The alignment of the smectic liquid crystal electrolytes with low-dimensional ion conduction pathways was reversible and readily switched in response to the redox states of the polymers. In one example, a charge storage device with a cooperative redox effect was fabricated.

The polymorphisms in the thyroid peroxidase gene were associated with the development of autoimmune thyroid disease and the serum levels of anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody.

Graves' disease (GD) and Hashimoto's disease (HD) are well known autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITDs), and the severity and intractability of AITDs varies among patients. Thyroid peroxidase (TPO) is a thyroid-specific antigen. The levels of anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb) were higher in patients with HD and may be associated with thyroid destruction.

Association of the polymorphisms in the gene encoding thyroglobulin with the development and prognosis of autoimmune thyroid disease.

Graves' disease (GD) and Hashimoto's disease (HD) are autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITDs), and the prognosis of AITDs is different for each patient. We examined the association of polymorphisms in the Thyroglobulin (TG) gene with the pathogenesis of AITD. We genotyped TG rs180195G/A, rs853326G/A, rs2076740C/T, rs2703013G/T, rs2958692C/T and rs733735A/G polymorphisms in 137 HD patients, 131 GD patients and 89 healthy controls and also examined the levels of TG mRNA expression and serum TG.

Synthesis of Dimethyl-Substituted Polyviologen and Control of Charge Transport in Electrodes for High-Resolution Electrochromic Displays.

Electrochromic (EC) polymers such as polyviologens have been attracting considerable attention as wet-processable electrodes for EC displays, thanks to their brilliant color change accompanied with reversible redox reactions. To establish wider usage, achieving multicolor and high-resolution characteristics is indispensable. In this paper, we demonstrated that the introduction of substituents such as methyl groups into bipyridine units changed the stereostructure of the cation radicals, and thus shifted the color (e.

A toxicity risk index, an index for warning idiosyncratic drug toxicity.

Drug toxicity impedes drug development and its clinical use. In the present study, a toxicity risk index (TRI), which is an index for warning idiosyncratic drug toxicity (IDT), was proposed. The TRI of drugs was defined as a function of dose, pharmacokinetic parameters, and toxicokinetic data from covalent binding experiment.

Kinetic assessment of luminal degradation of orally effective prodrugs for rational drug development.

Although prodrugging (prodrug derivatization) is a powerful technique for improving the pharmacokinetic characteristics of drugs, the intestinal pharmacokinetics of prodrugs has yet to be elucidated fully. A previous article reported the kinetic requirement of prodrugs to overcome membrane barriers. In the present article, the luminal degradation of prodrugs was kinetically assessed to understand crucial factors in the intestinal absorption of prodrugs and to show a rational development procedure.

Intestinal glucuronidation metabolism may have a greater impact on oral bioavailability than hepatic glucuronidation metabolism in humans: a study with raloxifene, substrate for UGT1A1, 1A8, 1A9, and 1A10.

The kinetic impact of intestinal glucuronidation metabolism on oral bioavailability (F) was assessed using reported human data of raloxifene, of which oral bioavailability was only 2%. Kinetic analysis showed that presystemic intestinal availability (Fpg) was 5.4%, whereas fraction absorbed (Ff) and hepatic availability (Fh) were 63% and 59.

Water absorption characteristics and structural properties of rice for sake brewing.

This study investigated the water absorption curve characteristics and structural properties of rice used for sake brewing. The parameter values in the water absorption rate equation were calculated using experimental data. Differences between sample parameters for rice used for sake brewing and typical rice were confirmed.

Assessment of presystemic and systemic intestinal availability of orally administered drugs using in vitro and in vivo data in humans: intestinal sulfation metabolism impacts presystemic availability much more than systemic availability of salbutamol, SULT1A3 substrate.

Although hepatic availability has been extensively studied to assess the oral bioavailability of drugs, intestinal availability has not, especially that related to conjugative metabolism (phase II metabolism). The present study assessed intestinal presystemic availability by integrating the reported metabolism data in vitro and in vivo of salbutamol, SULT1A3 substrate, in humans. Intrinsic clearance from each organ was calculated with the reported kinetic parameters for salbutamol sulfation metabolism in vitro.

Water-absorption rate equation of rice for brewing sake.

This study was undertaken to analyze the kinetics of water absorption and to derive an equation for the rate at which water is absorbed by rice for brewing sake. We used two rice varieties: Gin-oumi, commonly used as a staple food, and Gohyakumangoku, a variety used particularly for brewing sake. The water-absorption rate equations of Gin-oumi and Gohyakumangoku were postulated based on the following equations.

Distribution of storage proteins in low-glutelin rice seed determined using a fluorescent antibody.

To compare the distribution of storage proteins in low-glutelin rice seed with that in other cultivars having normal protein compositions, immunofluorescence labeling with specific antibodies was applied to visualize the distribution of storage proteins in endosperm tissues. The endosperm tissues from five cultivars were reacted with anti-prolamin and anti-glutelin antibodies, and then observed by light microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). In low-glutelin rice, using microscopic analysis, a large proportion of storage proteins was observed in the endosperm tissue of 70% polished rice.

Kinetic characterization of glycosidase activity from disaccharide conjugate to monosaccharide conjugate in Caco-2 cells.

Glycosidase activity influences the intestinal absorption of glycosides. Our previous study in rats suggested that disaccharide conjugates might be prototypes for pre-prodrugs aiming at the Na(+)/glucose co-transporter-mediated transport of prodrugs (drug glucoside) as a novel absorption pathway. One of the crucial factors is the formation of a glucoside drug from the disaccharide conjugate.

Intestinal SGLT1-mediated absorption and metabolism of benzyl beta-glucoside contained in Prunus mume: carrier-mediated transport increases intestinal availability.

The intestinal absorption of benzyl beta-glucoside (BNZ beta glc) contained in the fruit of Prunus mume SIEB. et ZUCC. (Rosaceae), which is traditionally used as a medicinal food in Japan, was studied in rat intestines.

Differentiation of organ availability by sequential and simultaneous analyses: intestinal conjugative metabolism impacts on intestinal availability in humans.

The impact of intestinal conjugative metabolism on oral bioavailability was assessed by sequential and simultaneous analyses of the reported data in humans. The data were retrieved from reports on drugs that are metabolized by sulfate conjugation, and the organ availabilities affecting oral bioavailability were differentiated. Sequential analysis gave the following results.

Kinetic impact of presystemic intestinal metabolism on drug absorption: experiment and data analysis for the prediction of in vivo absorption from in vitro data.

Orally administered drugs suffer from attack by metabolic enzymes not only in the liver, but also in the gastrointestine during the absorption process across the intestinal tissue. Although kinetic study on hepatic metabolism has been done well, the intestinal metabolism has not been well focused on compared with hepatic metabolism. In order to emphasize the role of intestinal metabolism in drug absorption and bioavailability, I have reviewed the experimental methods for intestinal absorption and metabolism, and the data analysis.

Does the well-stirred model assess the intestinal first-pass effect well?

The pre-systemic intestinal extraction ratio (E(g)) has been estimated by an equation based on the well-stirred model, which does not have a term of membrane transport. In this report, we have identified the application limitations of the well-stirred model equation to assess the pre-systemic intestinal extraction ratio. The E(g) of metoprolol (CYP2D6 substrate) was assessed by three methods.

Factors affecting glucuronidation activity in Caco-2 cells.

Presystemic intestinal metabolism reduces the intestinal absorption and bioavailability of orally administered drugs. The factors affecting glucuronidation activity in Caco-2 cells seeded in Transwell (4.7 cm(2)) require clarification to establish an in-vitro system to assess intestinal glucuronidation metabolism for novel drug development.

Dietary polyphenols (-)-epicatechin and chrysin inhibit intestinal glucuronidation metabolism to increase drug absorption.

The effect of dietary polyphenols on the intestinal glucuronidation and absorption of a model phenolic drug, alpha-naphthol (alpha-NA), was studied in isolated rat small intestine. (-)-Epicatechin significantly inhibited the glucuronidation of alpha-NA. Chrysin, (-)-epigallocatechin galleate (EGCG), and quercetin decreased the rate of glucuronidation, although not significantly.

Concentration-dependent preferences of absorptive and excretive transport cause atypical intestinal absorption of cyclic phenylalanylserine: small intestine acts as an interface between the body and ingested compounds.

Intestinal absorption of cyclic phenylalanylserine (cyclo(Phe-Ser)), a precursor of gliotoxin, was studied in isolated rat small intestine as a model cyclic dipeptide. Absorption clearance (CLabs) decreased in the presence of glycylsarcosine, cephalexin or cephradine, substrates for H+/oligopeptide cotransporter (PEPT1). CLabs of cyclo(Phe-Ser) also decreased at 4 degrees C.

Concentration-dependent atypical intestinal absorption of cyclic phenylalanylserine: small intestine acts as an interface between the body and ingested compounds.

Intestinal absorption of peptides in linear form has been studied extensively, but there is little knowledge of peptides in a cyclic form. In this report, intestinal absorption of cyclic phenylalanylserine (cyclo(Phe-Ser)), a precursor of gliotoxin, was studied in isolated rat small intestine as a model cyclic dipeptide. Absorption clearance (CLabs) decreased in the presence of glycylsarcosine, cephalexin or cephradine, substrates for H+/oligopeptide cotransporter (PEPT1).

The Metabolic Inhibition Model Which Predicts the Intestinal Absorbability and Metabolizability of Drug: Theory and Experiment.

The intestinal absorption of analgesic peptides (leucine enkephalin and kyotorphin) and modified peptides in rat were studied. Although these peptides were not absorbed, the absorbability (absorption clearance) of these peptides were increased in the presence of peptidase inhibitors. In order to kinetically analyze these phenomena, we proposed the metabolic inhibition model, which incorporated the metabolic clearance (metabolizability) with the absorption clearance.

Uptake of cyclic dipeptide by PEPT1 in Caco-2 cells: phenolic hydroxyl group of substrate enhances affinity for PEPT1.

Uptake of cyclic dipeptides by H+/oligopeptide cotransporter (PEPT1) was studied in monolayers of the human intestinal cell line, Caco-2. The cyclic dipeptides studied were cyclic glycylphenylalanine (cyclo(Gly-Phe)), cyclic phenylalanylserine (cyclo(Phe-Ser)), cyclic seryltyrosine (cyclo(Ser-Tyr)) and cyclic glycyltyrosine (cyclo(Gly-Tyr)). These molecules have both peptide bonds and aromatic rings, and are similar in structure to cephalexin and cephadroxil, which are transported by PEPT1.

Intestinal transport and metabolism of glucose-conjugated kyotorphin and cyclic kyotorphin: metabolic degradation is crucial to intestinal absorption of peptide drugs.

Intestinal transport and metabolism of modified kyotorphin (KTP) were studied in rats. Modified KTPs studied were C-terminally modified KTP with p-aminophenyl-beta-D-glucoside (KTP-pAPbeta glc), N-terminally modified KTP-pAPbeta glc with t-butyloxycarbonyl group (Boc-KTP-pAPbeta glc) and the N- and C-terminally modified KTP by cyclization (cyclic KTP). KTP-pAPbeta glc was metabolized at a similar rate to that of KTP, and did not appear on the serosal side.