A novel way to monitor urine concentration: fluorescent concentration matrices.

PubMed

Dubayova, Katarina; Luckova, Iveta; Sabo, Jan; Karabinos, Anton

2015-01-01

The amount of water found in urine is important diagnostic information; nevertheless it is not yet directly determined. Indirectly, the water content in urine is expressed by its density (specific gravity). However, without the diuresis value it is not possible to determine whether the increase in density of urine is due to a decrease in water secretion or an increase in the concentration of secreted substances. This problem can be solved by the use of fluorescent concentration 3D-matrices which characterise urine concentration through the pφ (or -logφ) value of the first fluorescence centre. The urine fluorescent concentration 3D-matrix was created by the alignment of the synchronous spectra of the dilution series of urine starting from undiluted (pφ = 0) to 1000-fold diluted urine (pφ = 3). Using the fluorescence concentration 3D-matrix analysis of the urine samples from healthy individuals, a reference range was established for the value pφ, determining the normal, concentrated or diluted type of urine. The diagnostic potential of this approach was tested on urine samples from two patients with a chronic glomerulonephritis. The pφ value of the urine fluorescence concentration 3D-matrix analysis determines whether the urine sample falls within the normal, concentrated or diluted type of urine. This parameter can be directly utilised in sportsmen's hydration state monitoring, as well as in the diagnosis and treatment of serious diseases. An important advantage of this novel diagnostic approach is that a 12/24 h urine collection is not required, which predetermines it for use especially within paediatrics.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Urine Protein/Creatinine Ratio Is Influenced by Urine Concentration

PubMed Central

Yang, Chih-Yu; Chen, Fu-An; Chen, Chun-Fan; Liu, Wen-Sheng; Shih, Chia-Jen; Ou, Shuo-Ming; Yang, Wu-Chang; Lin, Chih-Ching; Yang, An-Hang

2015-01-01

Background The usage of urine protein/creatinine ratio to estimate daily urine protein excretion is prevalent, but relatively little attention has been paid to the influence of urine concentration and its impact on test accuracy. We took advantage of 24-hour urine collection to examine both urine protein/creatinine ratio (UPCR) and daily urine protein excretion, with the latter as the reference standard. Specific gravity from a concomitant urinalysis of the same urine sample was used to indicate the urine concentration. Methods During 2010 to 2014, there were 540 adequately collected 24h urine samples with protein concentration, creatinine concentration, total volume, and a concomitant urinalysis of the same sample. Variables associated with an accurate UPCR estimation were determined by multivariate linear regression analysis. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were generated to determine the discriminant cut-off values of urine creatinine concentration for predicting an accurate UPCR estimation in either dilute or concentrated urine samples. Results Our findings indicated that for dilute urine, as indicated by a low urine specific gravity, UPCR is more likely to overestimate the actual daily urine protein excretion. On the contrary, UPCR of concentrated urine is more likely to result in an underestimation. By ROC curve analysis, the best cut-off value of urine creatinine concentration for predicting overestimation by UPCR of dilute urine (specific gravity ≦ 1.005) was ≦ 38.8 mg/dL, whereas the best cut-off values of urine creatinine for predicting underestimation by UPCR of thick urine were ≧ 63.6 mg/dL (specific gravity ≧ 1.015), ≧ 62.1 mg/dL (specific gravity ≧ 1.020), ≧ 61.5 mg/dL (specific gravity ≧ 1.025), respectively. We also compared distribution patterns of urine creatinine concentration of 24h urine cohort with a concurrent spot urine cohort and found that the underestimation might be more profound in single voided samples. Conclusions The UPCR in samples with low or high specific gravity is more likely to overestimate or underestimate actual daily urine protein amount, respectively, especially in a dilute urine sample with its creatinine below 38.8 mg/dL or a concentrated sample with its creatinine above 61.5 mg/dL. In particular, UPCR results should be interpreted with caution in cases that involve dilute urine samples because its overestimation may lead to an erroneous diagnosis of proteinuric renal disease or an incorrect staging of chronic kidney disease. PMID:26353117

Diagnostic Accuracy of Urine Protein/Creatinine Ratio Is Influenced by Urine Concentration.

PubMed

Yang, Chih-Yu; Chen, Fu-An; Chen, Chun-Fan; Liu, Wen-Sheng; Shih, Chia-Jen; Ou, Shuo-Ming; Yang, Wu-Chang; Lin, Chih-Ching; Yang, An-Hang

2015-01-01

The usage of urine protein/creatinine ratio to estimate daily urine protein excretion is prevalent, but relatively little attention has been paid to the influence of urine concentration and its impact on test accuracy. We took advantage of 24-hour urine collection to examine both urine protein/creatinine ratio (UPCR) and daily urine protein excretion, with the latter as the reference standard. Specific gravity from a concomitant urinalysis of the same urine sample was used to indicate the urine concentration. During 2010 to 2014, there were 540 adequately collected 24h urine samples with protein concentration, creatinine concentration, total volume, and a concomitant urinalysis of the same sample. Variables associated with an accurate UPCR estimation were determined by multivariate linear regression analysis. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were generated to determine the discriminant cut-off values of urine creatinine concentration for predicting an accurate UPCR estimation in either dilute or concentrated urine samples. Our findings indicated that for dilute urine, as indicated by a low urine specific gravity, UPCR is more likely to overestimate the actual daily urine protein excretion. On the contrary, UPCR of concentrated urine is more likely to result in an underestimation. By ROC curve analysis, the best cut-off value of urine creatinine concentration for predicting overestimation by UPCR of dilute urine (specific gravity ≦ 1.005) was ≦ 38.8 mg/dL, whereas the best cut-off values of urine creatinine for predicting underestimation by UPCR of thick urine were ≧ 63.6 mg/dL (specific gravity ≧ 1.015), ≧ 62.1 mg/dL (specific gravity ≧ 1.020), ≧ 61.5 mg/dL (specific gravity ≧ 1.025), respectively. We also compared distribution patterns of urine creatinine concentration of 24h urine cohort with a concurrent spot urine cohort and found that the underestimation might be more profound in single voided samples. The UPCR in samples with low or high specific gravity is more likely to overestimate or underestimate actual daily urine protein amount, respectively, especially in a dilute urine sample with its creatinine below 38.8 mg/dL or a concentrated sample with its creatinine above 61.5 mg/dL. In particular, UPCR results should be interpreted with caution in cases that involve dilute urine samples because its overestimation may lead to an erroneous diagnosis of proteinuric renal disease or an incorrect staging of chronic kidney disease.

Hereditary xanthinuria and urolithiasis in a domestic shorthair cat

PubMed Central

Furman, E.; Hooijberg, E.H.; Leidinger, E.; Zedinger, C.; Giger, U.; Leidinger, J.

2015-01-01

A 2-year-old domestic shorthair cat was presented with a history of hematuria, stranguria and intermittent urethral obstruction. Urine sediment showed hematuria, pyuria, and yellow-brown, amorphous and spherical crystals. Upon surgical correction of the obstructed urethra by perineal urethrostomy, many dark yellow to grey, irregular, gravel-like to millet grain-sized uroliths, consisting of 100% xanthine by crystallography were found. The urinary xanthine concentration was high. The cat subsequently developed bilateral nephroliths, recurrent urinary tract infection, and chronic kidney failure. Dietary management with a low-purine diet failed in part due to poor compliance, and the cat was euthanized at 6 years of age. Xanthinuria is rare inborn error of metabolism in cats and other species but should be considered as a differential diagnosis in cases of feline urolithiasis. No associated molecular genetic defect has been elucidated, and management of these cases is difficult. In the absence of calculi for analysis, measuring urinary xanthine concentration can help in diagnosing this metabolic defect. PMID:26478726

Serum and urine inorganic fluoride concentrations and urine oxalate concentrations following methoxyflurane anesthesia in the dog.

PubMed

Brunson, D B; Stowe, C M; McGrath, C J

1979-02-01

Plasma fluoride, urine fluoride and urine oxalate concentrations were measured before administering an anesthetic to 8 dogs, and at 0, 3, 9, 24, 48, and 72 hours following 1.5 hours of anesthesia with 1% methoxyflurane. Plasma and urine osmolalities were measured and compared with fluoride and oxalate values. Fluoride concentration increased in both plasma and urine following anesthesia when compared with the preanesthetic concentrations. Maximum mean plasma inorganic fluoride was 106.71 mumoles per liter (+/- 25.44 SE) at 9 hours after exposure to methoxyflurane was completed. By 72 hours after exposure to methoxyflurane the plasma fluoride concentration was 23.47 microM/L (+/- 5.74 SE). Mean urine inorganic fluoride concentration was highest at 9 hours after exposure to methoxyflurane and reached 6047.03 microM/L (+/- 1378.46 SE) as compared to the mean preanesthetic base-line concentration of 542.68 microM/L (+/- 132.93 SE), and the 72 hour mean urine fluoride concentration which was 1593.78 microM/L (+/- 579.46 SE). Urine oxalate concentrations, when compared with urine osmolality (mg/mOsm), increased throughout the study. The 72-hour concentration after exposure to methoxyflurane was 2.5 times the preanesthetic (mg/mOsm) oxalate concentration. Plasma osmolality did not change markedly during the study. Urine osmolalities varied between animals and collection times, but a consistent pattern did not occur. Clinical and laboratory signs of renal dysfunction were not observed in any animal during the study.

Urine Concentration and Pyuria for Identifying UTI in Infants.

PubMed

Chaudhari, Pradip P; Monuteaux, Michael C; Bachur, Richard G

2016-11-01

Varying urine white blood cell (WBC) thresholds have been recommended for the presumptive diagnosis of urinary tract infection (UTI) among young infants. These thresholds have not been studied with newer automated urinalysis systems that analyze uncentrifuged urine that might be influenced by urine concentration. Our objective was to determine the optimal urine WBC threshold for UTI in young infants by using an automated urinalysis system, stratified by urine concentration. Retrospective cross-sectional study of infants aged <3 months evaluated for UTI in the emergency department with paired urinalysis and urine culture. UTI was defined as ≥50 000 colony-forming units/mL from catheterized specimens. Test characteristics were calculated across a range of WBC and leukocyte esterase (LE) cut-points, dichotomized into specific gravity groups (dilute <1.015; concentrated ≥1.015). Twenty-seven thousand infants with a median age of 1.7 months were studied. UTI prevalence was 7.8%. Optimal WBC cut-points were 3 WBC/high-power field (HPF) in dilute urine (likelihood ratio positive [LR+] 9.9, likelihood ratio negative [LR‒] 0.15) and 6 WBC/HPF (LR+ 10.1, LR‒ 0.17) in concentrated urine. For dipstick analysis, positive LE has excellent test characteristics regardless of urine concentration (LR+ 22.1, LR‒ 0.12 in dilute urine; LR+ 31.6, LR‒ 0.22 in concentrated urine). Urine concentration should be incorporated into the interpretation of automated microscopic urinalysis in young infants. Pyuria thresholds of 3 WBC/HPF in dilute urine and 6 WBC/HPF in concentrated urine are recommended for the presumptive diagnosis of UTI. Without correction of specific gravity, positive LE by automated dipstick is a reliably strong indicator of UTI. Copyright © 2016 by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Oxidative DNA damage and repair in children exposed to low levels of arsenic in utero and during early childhood: application of salivary and urinary biomarkers.

PubMed

Hinhumpatch, Pantip; Navasumrit, Panida; Chaisatra, Krittinee; Promvijit, Jeerawan; Mahidol, Chulabhorn; Ruchirawat, Mathuros

2013-12-15

The present study aimed to assess arsenic exposure and its effect on oxidative DNA damage and repair in young children exposed in utero and continued to live in arsenic-contaminated areas. To address the need for biological specimens that can be acquired with minimal discomfort to children, we used non-invasive urinary and salivary-based assays for assessing arsenic exposure and early biological effects that have potentially serious health implications. Levels of arsenic in nails showed the greatest magnitude of difference between exposed and control groups, followed by arsenic concentrations in saliva and urine. Arsenic levels in saliva showed significant positive correlations with other biomarkers of arsenic exposure, including arsenic accumulation in nails (r=0.56, P<0.001) and arsenic concentration in urine (r=0.50, P<0.05). Exposed children had a significant reduction in arsenic methylation capacity indicated by decreased primary methylation index and secondary methylation index in both urine and saliva samples. Levels of salivary 8-OHdG in exposed children were significantly higher (~4-fold, P<0.01), whereas levels of urinary 8-OHdG excretion and salivary hOGG1 expression were significantly lower in exposed children (~3-fold, P<0.05), suggesting a defect in hOGG1 that resulted in ineffective cleavage of 8-OHdG. Multiple regression analysis results showed that levels of inorganic arsenic (iAs) in saliva and urine had a significant positive association with salivary 8-OHdG and a significant negative association with salivary hOGG1 expression. © 2013.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Weaver, Virginia M., E-mail: vweaver@jhsph.edu; Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD; Welch Center for Prevention, Epidemiology, and Clinical Research, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD

Positive associations between urine toxicant levels and measures of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) have been reported recently in a range of populations. The explanation for these associations, in a direction opposite that of traditional nephrotoxicity, is uncertain. Variation in associations by urine concentration adjustment approach has also been observed. Associations of urine cadmium, thallium and uranium in models of serum creatinine- and cystatin-C-based estimated GFR (eGFR) were examined using multiple linear regression in a cross-sectional study of adolescents residing near a lead smelter complex. Urine concentration adjustment approaches compared included urine creatinine, urine osmolality and no adjustment. Median age, bloodmore » lead and urine cadmium, thallium and uranium were 13.9 years, 4.0 μg/dL, 0.22, 0.27 and 0.04 g/g creatinine, respectively, in 512 adolescents. Urine cadmium and thallium were positively associated with serum creatinine-based eGFR only when urine creatinine was used to adjust for urine concentration (β coefficient=3.1 mL/min/1.73 m{sup 2}; 95% confidence interval=1.4, 4.8 per each doubling of urine cadmium). Weaker positive associations, also only with urine creatinine adjustment, were observed between these metals and serum cystatin-C-based eGFR and between urine uranium and serum creatinine-based eGFR. Additional research using non-creatinine-based methods of adjustment for urine concentration is necessary. - Highlights: • Positive associations between urine metals and creatinine-based eGFR are unexpected. • Optimal approach to urine concentration adjustment for urine biomarkers uncertain. • We compared urine concentration adjustment methods. • Positive associations observed only with urine creatinine adjustment. • Additional research using non-creatinine-based methods of adjustment needed.« less

Genital and Urinary Tract Defects

MedlinePlus

... wrong place. The clitoris is a female external sex organ. For boys and girls, bladder control problems Some babies need ... to sit down to urinate. And in some boys, the testicles don’t fully drop down ... problems with sex or urinating later in life. Hypospadias usually is ...

Urine concentration test

MedlinePlus

... this page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003608.htm Urine concentration test To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript. A urine concentration test measures the ability of the kidneys ...

Genetic forms of nephrogenic diabetes insipidus (NDI): Vasopressin receptor defect (X-linked) and aquaporin defect (autosomal recessive and dominant).

PubMed

Bichet, Daniel G; Bockenhauer, Detlef

2016-03-01

Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus (NDI), which can be inherited or acquired, is characterized by an inability to concentrate urine despite normal or elevated plasma concentrations of the antidiuretic hormone, arginine vasopressin (AVP). Polyuria with hyposthenuria and polydipsia are the cardinal clinical manifestations of the disease. About 90% of patients with congenital NDI are males with X-linked NDI who have mutations in the vasopressin V2 receptor (AVPR2) gene encoding the vasopressin V2 receptor. In less than 10% of the families studied, congenital NDI has an autosomal recessive or autosomal dominant mode of inheritance with mutations in the aquaporin-2 (AQP2) gene. When studied in vitro, most AVPR2 and AQP2 mutations lead to proteins trapped in the endoplasmic reticulum and are unable to reach the plasma membrane. Prior knowledge of AVPR2 or AQP2 mutations in NDI families and perinatal mutation testing is of direct clinical value and can avert the physical and mental retardation associated with repeated episodes of dehydration. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Osmolality urine test

MedlinePlus

... balance and urine concentration. Osmolality is a more exact measurement of urine concentration than the urine specific ... must be authorized in writing by ADAM Health Solutions. About MedlinePlus Site Map FAQs Customer Support Get ...

Urine osmolality in the US population: Implications for environmental biomonitoring

PubMed Central

Yeh, Hung-Chieh; Lin, Yu-Sheng; Kuo, Chin-Chi; Weidemann, Darcy; Weaver, Virginia; Fadrowski, Jeffrey; Neu, Alicia; Navas-Acien, Ana

2018-01-01

Background For many environmental chemicals, concentrations in spot urine samples are considered valid surrogates of exposure and internal dose. To correct for urine dilution, spot urine concentrations are commonly adjusted for urinary creatinine. There are, however, several concerns about the use of urine creatinine. While urine osmolality is an attractive alternative; its characteristics and determinants in the general population remain unknown. Our objective was to describe the determinants of urine osmolality and to contrast the difference between osmolality and creatinine in urine. Methods From the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2009–2012, 10,769 participants aged 16 years or older with measured urine osmolality and creatinine were used in the analysis. Very dilute and very concentrated urine was defined as urine creatinine lower than 0.3 g/l and higher than 3 g/l, respectively. Linear and logistic regression analyses were performed to investigate the associations of interest. Results Urine osmolality and creatinine were highly correlated (Pearson correlation coefficient = 0.75) and their respective median values were 648 mOsm/kg and 1.07 g/l. The prevalence of very dilute and very concentrated urine samples was 8.1% and 3.1%, respectively. Factors associated in the same direction with both urine osmolality and urine creatinine included age, sex, race, body mass index (BMI), hypertension, water intake, and blood osmolality. The magnitude of associations expressed as percent change was significantly stronger with creatinine than osmolality. Compared to urine creatinine, urine osmolality did not vary by diabetes status but was affected by daily total protein intake. Participants with chronic kidney disease (CKD) had significantly higher urine creatinine concentrations but lower urine osmolality. Both very dilute and concentrated urine were associated with a diverse array of sociodemographic, medical conditions, and dietary factors. For instance, females were approximately 3.3 times more likely to have urine over-dilution than male [the adjusted odds ratios (95% CI) = 3.27 (2.10–5.10)]. Conclusion Although the determinants of urine osmolality were generally similar to those of urine creatinine, the relative influence of socio-demographic and medical conditions was less on urine osmolality than on urine creatinine. Protocols for spot urine sample collection could recommend avoiding excessive and insufficient water intake before urine sampling to improve urine adequacy. The feasibility of adopting urine osmolality adjustment and water intake recommendations before providing spot urine samples for environmental biomonitoring merits further investigation. PMID:25460670

The void in using urine concentration to assess population fluid intake adequacy or hydration status.

PubMed

Cheuvront, Samuel N; Muñoz, Colleen X; Kenefick, Robert W

2016-09-01

Urine concentration can be used to assess fluid intake adequacy or to diagnose dehydration. However, too often urine concentration is used inappropriately to draw dubious conclusions that could have harmful health and economic consequences. Inappropriate uses of urine concentration relate primarily to convenience sampling (timing) and problems related to convenience sampling (misapplication of thresholds), but a conceptual problem also exists with using urine concentration in isolation. The purpose of this Perspective article is to briefly explain the problematic nature of current practices and to offer a possible solution to improve practice with minimal added complication. When urine is used exclusively to assess fluid intake adequacy and hydration status in adults, we propose that only when urine concentration is high (>850 mmol/kg) and urine excretion rate is low (<850 mL/24 h) should suspicion of inadequate drinking or impending dehydration be considered. Prospective tests of the 850 × 850 thresholds will provide supporting evidence and/or help refine the best thresholds for men and women, young and old. © 2016 American Society for Nutrition.

Urinalysis and associated laboratory procedures.

PubMed

Brobst, D

1989-09-01

Macroscopic examination of urine is an integral part of urinalysis, and blood and bile pigments are a common cause of abnormal coloration. Urine SG is a convenient index of urine concentration and should be correlated with the patient's hydration status to determine the ability of the kidneys to concentrate and dilute urine. The pH of urine of dogs and cats normally is dietary dependent, but alkaline urine may suggest that the urinary tract is infected with a urea splitting organism. The dipstick test for proteinuria is convenient but less reliable than the sulfosalicylic acid method. The dipstick test for blood should not be used as a substitute for microscopic examination of urine but is of value in detecting hemoglobinuria and myoglobinuria, when red cells may be absent in the sediment. The finding of glucose, ketones, and bilirubin in urine, when interpreted properly, may indicate the presence of disease processes not associated with the urogenital tract. Microscopic examination of urine sediment must be interpreted in combination with the physical and chemical composition of urine, but excessive numbers of cells, casts, crystals, and bacteria may provide evidence of disease. The absence of these structures in the sediment, however, does not eliminate the possibility of disease. The ability of the kidneys to concentrate urine is dependent on normal kidney function and the production and release of ADH. A urine SG greater than 1.030 in dogs and 1.035 in cats indicates that the functions associated with concentrating urine are adequate. In the evaluation of the patient's ability to form concentrated urine, the status of hydration must be considered; this may require water deprivation tests or administration of ADH. The estimation of blood urea nitrogen concentration, with the use of test strips, may provide a convenient but not specific measure of renal function.

Cleaved Form of Osteopontin in Urine as a Clinical Marker of Lupus Nephritis

PubMed Central

Kitagori, Koji; Yoshifuji, Hajime; Oku, Takuma; Sasaki, Chiyomi; Miyata, Hitomi; Mori, Keita P.; Nakajima, Toshiki; Ohmura, Koichiro; Kawabata, Daisuke; Yukawa, Naoichiro; Imura, Yoshitaka; Murakami, Kosaku; Nakashima, Ran; Usui, Takashi; Fujii, Takao; Sakai, Kaoru; Yanagita, Motoko; Hirayama, Yoshitaka; Mimori, Tsuneyo

2016-01-01

We assessed the utility of two forms of osteopontin (OPN), OPN full and its cleaved form (OPN N-half), in plasma and urine as markers of disease activity in lupus nephritis (LN). Samples were collected from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) (LN: N = 29, non-LN: N = 27), IgA nephropathy (IgAN) (N = 14), minimal change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS) (N = 5), diabetic nephropathy (DN) (N = 14) and healthy volunteers (HC) (N = 17). While there was no significant difference in urine OPN full concentration between groups, urine OPN N-half concentration was significantly higher in patients with LN than HC (p < 0.05). Moreover, urine OPN N-half was higher in LN patients with overt proteinuria (urine protein/creatinine ratio: P/C > 0.5) than LN patients with minimal proteinuria (P/C < 0.5, p < 0.0001), and also higher than in DN patients with overt proteinuria (P/C > 0.5, p < 0.01). Urine thrombin activity correlated with urine OPN N-half concentration (p < 0.0001), but not with urine OPN full concentration. These results suggest that urine OPN N-half concentration reflects renal inflammation. Thus, urine OPN N-half may be a novel disease activity marker for LN. PMID:27992535

[Effect of tobacco smoking on albumin concentration and β-glucuronidase activity in urine of smelters].

PubMed

Bizonń, Anna; Witt, Katarzyna; Milnerowicz, Malgorzata; Milnerowicz, Halina

2014-01-01

The aim of present study was to estimate the nephrotoxicity of occupational exposure to heavy metals on albumin concentration and β-glucuronidase activity in the urine of smoking and non-smoking smelters. The study was performed in urine of 101 smoking and non-smoking smelters as well as 65 smoking and non-smoking male subjects unexposed to heavy metals. Section into smoking and non-smoking groups was made on basis on direct personal interview and by determination of serum cotinine concentration. The concentration of albumin in urine was measured with commercial test (Micro-Albumin ELISA Cat. No 5MA 74212, ORGENTEC Diagnostika Gmbh, Germany). The activity of β-glucuronidase in urine were determined in urine using 4-nitrophenyl β D-glucuronide (Cat. No 73677, Sigma Aldrich, Germany) as a substrate. We have observed higher albumin concentration and β-glucuronidase activity in urine of smoking and non-smoking smelters when compared to control groups. We have also found the influence of tobacco smoke as well as amount of cigarettes smoked on albumin concentration in urine of smoking smelters. A statistically significant difference was detected between activity of β-glucuronidase in urine of smoking and non-smoking smelters, which suggest as additional negative factor of exposure to tobacco smoke. Analyzing the impact of smoking intensity we have found higher albumin concentration and β-glucuronidase activity in urine of smelters smoking ≥20 cigarettes per day when compared to smelters smoking <20 cigarettes per day. The elevation of albumin concentration and β-glucuronidase activity in urine of workers occupational exposure to heavy metals and tobacco smoke indicated, that environmental exposure on these factors can disorders kidney functions.

Photonic crystal based biosensor for the detection of glucose concentration in urine

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Robinson, Savarimuthu; Dhanlaksmi, Nagaraj

2017-03-01

Photonic sensing technology is a new and accurate measurement technology for bio-sensing applications. In this paper, a two-dimensional photonic crystal ring resonator based sensor is proposed and designed to detect the glucose concentration in urine over the range of 0 gm/dl-15 gm/dl. The proposed sensor is consisted of two inverted "L" waveguides and a ring resonator. If the glucose concentration in urine is varied, the refractive index of the urine is varied, which in turn the output response of sensor will be varied. By having the aforementioned principle, the glucose concentration in urine, glucose concentration in blood, albumin, urea, and bilirubin concentration in urine are predicted. The size of the proposed sensor is about 11.4 µm×11.4 µm, and the sensor can predict the result very accurately without any delay, hence, this attempt could be implemented for medical applications.

Comparison of sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, zinc, copper and iron concentrations of elements in 24-h urine and spot urine in hypertensive patients with healthy renal function.

PubMed

Zhang, Tianjing; Chang, Xiaoyu; Liu, Wanlu; Li, Xiaoxia; Wang, Faxuan; Huang, Liping; Liao, Sha; Liu, Xiuying; Zhang, Yuhong; Zhao, Yi

2017-12-01

Sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, zinc, copper and iron are associated with the sequela of hypertension. The most reliable method for testing those elements is by collecting 24-h urine samples. However, this is cumbersome and collection of spot urine is more convenient in some circumstance. The aim of this study was to compare the concentrations of different elements in 24-h urine and spot urine. Data was collected from a sub-study of China Salt Substitute and Stroke Study. 240 participants were recruited randomly from 12 villages in two counties in Ningxia, China. Both spot and 24-h urine specimens were collected from each patient. Routine urine test was conducted, and concentration of elements was measured using microwave digestion and Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrometry. Partial correlation analysis and Spearman correlation analysis were used to investigate the concentration of different elements and the relationship between 24- h urine and spot urine. A partial correlation in sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium and iron was found between paired 24-h urine and spot urine samples except copper and zinc: 0.430, 0.426, 0.550, 0.221 and 0.191 respectively. Spot urine can replace 24-h urine for estimating some of the elements in hypertensive patients with normal renal function. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Vasopressin, cortisol, and catecholamine concentrations in dogs with dilated cardiomyopathy.

PubMed

Tidholm, Anna; Häggström, Jens; Hansson, Kerstin

2005-10-01

To evaluate plasma concentrations and urinary excretion of vasopressin and cortisol and urinary excretion of catecholamines in dogs with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). 15 dogs with clinical signs of DCM, 15 dogs with preclinical DCM, and 15 control dogs. Physical examinations, thoracic radiography, ECG, and echocardiography were performed on all dogs. Blood and urine samples were collected. Plasma concentration of vasopressin and the urine cortisol-to-urine creatinine ratio were significantly increased in dogs with clinical signs of DCM and dogs with preclinical DCM, compared with control dogs. Plasma vasopressin concentration was significantly higher in dogs with clinical signs of DCM, compared with dogs with preclinical DCM. Urine vasopressin-to-urine creatinine ratio was significantly increased in dogs with clinical signs of DCM, compared with dogs with preclinical DCM and control dogs. Urine epinephrine-to-urine creatinine ratio and urine norepinephrine-to-urine creatinine ratio were significantly increased in dogs with clinical signs of DCM, compared with control dogs. Plasma concentration of cortisol and urine dopamine-to-urine creatinine ratio did not differ significantly among groups. According to this study, the neuroendocrine pattern is changed in dogs with preclinical DCM. These changes are even more pronounced in dogs with clinical signs of DCM. Analysis of concentrations of vasopressin, cortisol, and catecholamines may aid in identification of the clinical stages of DCM. These findings may also provide a basis for additional studies of the possible beneficial effects of vasopressin antagonists and beta-adrenergic receptor antagonists in the treatment of dogs with congestive heart failure and DCM.

Stabilization of source-separated human urine by chemical oxidation.

PubMed

Zhang, Yang; Li, Zifu; Zhao, Yuan; Chen, Shuangling; Mahmood, Ibrahim Babatunde

2013-01-01

The inhibitory effect of ozone and hydrogen peroxide (HP) on urea hydrolysis in stored urine was investigated and compared. Ozone showed less effect on urea hydrolysis due to the complicated composition of urine (including a large amount of urease-producing bacteria) and bacteria regeneration. Ozone concentration and total heterotrophic bacteria analysis demonstrated that residual ozone concentration decreased by 43% within 15 hr from 13.50 to 7.72 mg/L in the one-time ozonation urine test, and finally completely decomposed within 4 days. In addition, bacteria regenerated quickly after ozone completely decomposed. However, HP showed a significant effect on inhibiting urea hydrolysis not only in stored urine but also in fecal-contaminated urine. The suitable doses of applied HP to inhibit urea hydrolysis in stored urine, concentrations of 0.5 and 1.0 g feces per liter of fecal-contaminated urine, were 0.03, 0.16 and 0.23 mol/L, respectively. The urea concentrations after 2 months stored were 7,145, 7,109 and 7,234 mg/L, respectively.

Stress-induced changes in corticosteroid metabolism. [plasma and urine concentrations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tacker, M. M.

1975-01-01

Because plasma and urine corticosteroid concentrations are influenced by several factors in addition to adrenal cortex secretion, the effect of stress on all of these factors was determined in order to interpret the plasma and urine concentrations. Progress on the investigation is reported.

Impact of pH on Urine Chemistry Assayed on Roche Analyzers.

PubMed

Cohen, R; Alkouri, R; Tostivint, I; Djiavoudine, S; Mestari, F; Dever, S; Atlan, G; Devilliers, C; Imbert-Bismut, F; Bonnefont-Rousselot, D; Monneret, D

2017-10-01

The pH may impact the concentration of certain urinary parameters, making urine pre-treatment questionable. 1) Determining the impact of pH in vitro on the urinary concentration of chemistry parameters assayed on Roche Modular analyzers. 2) Evaluating whether concentrations depended on pH in non-pretreated urines from patients. 1) The optimal urinary pH values for each measurement were: 6.3 ± 0.8 (amylase), < 5.5 (calcium and magnesium), < 6.5 (phosphorus), > 6.5 (uric acid). Urinary creatinine, sodium and urea concentrations were not pH-dependent. 2) In urines from patients, the pH was negatively associated with the concentration of some urinary parameters. However, concentrations of all the parameters were strongly and positively correlated with urinary creatinine, and relationships with pH were no longer evidenced after creatinine-normalization. The need for urine pH adjustment does not seem necessary when considering renal function. However, from an analytical and accreditation standpoint, the relationship between urine pH and several parameters justifies its measurement.

The Silicon Concentration in Cat Urine and Its Relationship with Other Elements

PubMed Central

TAKAHASHI, Fumihito; MOCHIZUKI, Mariko; YOGO, Takuya; ISHIOKA, Katsumi; YUMOTO, Norio; SAKO, Toshinori; UEDA, Fukiko; TAGAWA, Masahiro; TAZAKI, Hiroyuki

2013-01-01

ABSTRACT To understand the effects of silicon (Si) in the urine with respect to the formation of urinary stones, the distribution of Si in urine was observed. Urine samples from cats with urolithiasis (n=10) and healthy cats (n=15) were used. The concentration of Si in the cats with urolithiasis was significantly higher (P<0.001). A significant correlation (P<0.05) was observed between the concentration of Si and those of other elements, such as calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium and iron, only in the urine of the healthy cats. The distribution of elements in the urine differed between the cats with urolithiasis and the healthy cats. The Si concentration and its relationship with other elements were suggested to be useful biomarkers for urolithiasis in cats. PMID:24334829

What is the clinical significance of 5-oxoproline (pyroglutamic acid) in high anion gap metabolic acidosis following paracetamol (acetaminophen) exposure?

PubMed

Liss, D B; Paden, M S; Schwarz, E S; Mullins, M E

2013-11-01

Paracetamol (acetaminophen) ingestion is the most frequent pharmaceutical overdose in the developed world. Metabolic acidosis sometimes occurs, but the acidosis is infrequently persistent or severe. A growing number of case reports and case series describe high anion gap metabolic acidosis (HAGMA) following paracetamol exposure with subsequent detection or measurement of 5-oxoproline (also called pyroglutamic acid) in blood, urine, or both. Typically 5-oxoprolinuria or 5-oxoprolinemia occurs in the setting of inborn genetic errors in glutathione metabolism. It is unknown whether 5-oxoprolinemia in the setting of paracetamol exposure reflects an acquired or transient derangement of glutathione metabolism or previously unrecognized genetic defects. We reviewed the published cases of 5-oxoprolinemia or 5-oxoprolinuria among patients with HAGMA in the setting of paracetamol exposure. Our goal was to identify any consistent features that might increase our understanding of the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of similar cases. We searched the medical literature using PUBMED and EMBASE from inception to 28 August 2013 applying search terms ("oxoproline" OR "pyroglutamic acid" AND "paracetamol" OR "acetaminophen"). The intersection of these two searches returned 77 articles, of which 64 involved human subjects and were in English. Two articles, one each in Spanish and Dutch, were reviewed. An additional Google Scholar search was done with the same terms. We manually searched the reference lists of retrieved articles to identify additional four relevant articles. We focused on articles including measured 5-oxoproline concentrations in urine or blood. Twenty-two articles included quantified 5-oxoproline concentrations. Several additional articles mentioned only qualitative detection of 5-oxoproline in urine or blood without concentrations being reported. Our manual reference search yielded four additional articles for a total of 24 articles describing 43 patients with quantified 5-oxoproline concentrations. The cases varied widely in paracetamol dose, duration and circumstances of paracetamol exposure, presence, and degree of elevation in transaminase activities, and when reported observed blood, serum, or urine 5-oxoproline concentrations. Concomitant use of flucloxacillin, another medication associated with oxoprolinemia or oxoprolinuria, confounded several of the cases. No clear dose-response relationship existed between the quantity of paracetamol ingested and the observed concentrations of 5-oxoproline. Clinical outcomes, including mortality, varied with no clear relationship to 5-oxoproline concentrations. In rare cases, HAGMA in the setting of paracetamol exposure is attributable to 5-oxoprolinemia. Clinicians should first exclude commoner and treatable causes of HAGMA, such as lactic acidosis, co-ingested drug administration, and ketoacidosis. It is likely that the propensity for HAGMA following paracetamol exposure may be genetically determined. The effects of acetylcysteine on 5-oxoproline concentrations or clinical outcome are unknown. When HAGMA is diagnosed, the 5-oxoproline concentration and the glutathione synthetase activity should be measured.

ER stress and basement membrane defects combine to cause glomerular and tubular renal disease resulting from Col4a1 mutations in mice

PubMed Central

Jones, Frances E.; Bailey, Matthew A.; Murray, Lydia S.; Lu, Yinhui; McNeilly, Sarah; Schlötzer-Schrehardt, Ursula; Lennon, Rachel; Sado, Yoshikazu; Brownstein, David G.; Mullins, John J.; Kadler, Karl E.; Van Agtmael, Tom

2016-01-01

ABSTRACT Collagen IV is a major component of basement membranes, and mutations in COL4A1, which encodes collagen IV alpha chain 1, cause a multisystemic disease encompassing cerebrovascular, eye and kidney defects. However, COL4A1 renal disease remains poorly characterized and its pathomolecular mechanisms are unknown. We show that Col4a1 mutations in mice cause hypotension and renal disease, including proteinuria and defects in Bowman's capsule and the glomerular basement membrane, indicating a role for Col4a1 in glomerular filtration. Impaired sodium reabsorption in the loop of Henle and distal nephron despite elevated aldosterone levels indicates that tubular defects contribute to the hypotension, highlighting a novel role for the basement membrane in vascular homeostasis by modulation of the tubular response to aldosterone. Col4a1 mutations also cause diabetes insipidus, whereby the tubular defects lead to polyuria associated with medullary atrophy and a subsequent reduction in the ability to upregulate aquaporin 2 and concentrate urine. Moreover, haematuria, haemorrhage and vascular basement membrane defects confirm an important vascular component. Interestingly, although structural and compositional basement membrane defects occurred in the glomerulus and Bowman's capsule, no tubular basement membrane defects were detected. By contrast, medullary atrophy was associated with chronic ER stress, providing evidence for cell-type-dependent molecular mechanisms of Col4a1 mutations. These data show that both basement membrane defects and ER stress contribute to Col4a1 renal disease, which has important implications for the development of treatment strategies for collagenopathies. PMID:26839400

Serum and urine concentrations of trypsinogen-activation peptide as markers for acute pancreatitis in cats

PubMed Central

Allen, Heidi S.; Steiner, Jörg; Broussard, John; Mansfield, Caroline; Williams, David A.; Jones, Boyd

2006-01-01

The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical utility of the serum concentration of feline trypsin-like immunoreactivity (fTLI), the plasma and urine concentrations of trypsinogen-activation peptide (TAP), and the ratio of the urine TAP and creatinine concentrations (TAP:Cr) in the diagnosis of feline acute pancreatitis. We used 13 healthy cats and 10 cats with a diagnosis of acute pancreatitis. The mean serum fTLI and plasma TAP concentrations were significantly higher in the cats with acute pancreatitis than in the healthy cats (P < 0.05); the mean urine TAP concentrations and the median urine TAP:Cr ratios were not significantly different. Among the cats examined in this study, there was no benefit of plasma TAP over serum fTLI in the evaluation of suspected acute pancreatitis. PMID:17042387

History of Diabetes Insipidus.

PubMed

Valenti, Giovanna; Tamma, Grazia

2016-02-01

Under physiological conditions, fluid and electrolyte homoeostasis is maintained by the kidney adjusting urine volume and composition according to body needs. Diabetes Insipidus is a complex and heterogeneous clinical syndrome affecting water balance and characterized by constant diuresis, resulting in large volumes of dilute urine. With respect to the similarly named Diabetes Mellitus, a disease already known in ancient Egypt, Greece and Asia, Diabetes Insipidus has been described several thousand years later. In 1670s Thomas Willis, noted the difference in taste of urine from polyuric subjects compared with healthy individuals and started the differentiation of Diabetes Mellitus from the more rare entity of Diabetes Insipidus. In 1794, Johann Peter Frank described polyuric patients excreting nonsaccharine urine and introduced the term of Diabetes Insipidus. An hystorical milestone was the in 1913, when Farini successfully used posterior pituitary extracts to treat Diabetes Insipidus. Until 1920s the available evidence indicated Diabetes Insipidus as a disorder of the pituitary gland. In the early 1928, De Lange first observed that some patients with Diabetes Insipidus did not respond to posterior pituitary extracts and subsequently Forssman and Waring in 1945 established that the kidney had a critical role for these forms of Diabetes Insipidus resistant to this treatment. In 1947 Williams and Henry introduced the term Nephrogenic Diabetes Insipidus for the congenital syndrome characterized by polyuria and renal concentrating defect resistant to vasopressin. In 1955, du Vigneaud received the 1955 Nobel Prize in chemistry for the first synthesis of the hormone vasopressin representing a milestone for the treatment of Central Diabetes Insipidus.

Hypodipsic hypernatraemia in a miniature schnauzer.

PubMed

Van Heerden, J; Geel, J; Moore, D J

1992-03-01

Normovolaemic hypernatraemia as a result of a suspected congenital primary hypodipsia was diagnosed in a young male Miniature Schnauzer. Despite an elevated serum sodium concentration, the dog did not appear dehydrated on physical examination and the urine osmolality: plasma osmolality ratio was greater than 4; antidiuretic hormone deficiency was therefore not suspected. Basal serum cortisol and thyroxine concentrations were normal. Plasma aldosterone concentration and plasma renin activity (37 pmol l-1 and 1.55 ng dl-1 h-1 respectively) were within normal range. A defective central thirst regulation mechanism was suspected as the dog was totally disinterested in drinking water despite the chronically elevated serum sodium concentration. Excessive ingestion of water mixed with food, and milk resulted in hyponatraemia and associated cerebral oedema. On stabilisation of the dog's condition, a calculated fluid intake based on daily maintenance fluid requirements was prescribed to prevent recurrence of hypernatraemia and hyponatraemia, and associated signs of central nervous system disease. The dog was in apparent good health with controlled fluid intake when examined 230 d later.

Renal Failure in Mice with Gsα Deletion in Juxtaglomerular Cells

PubMed Central

Chen, Limeng; Faulhaber-Walter, Robert; Wen, Yubing; Huang, Yuning; Mizel, Diane; Chen, Min; Sequeira Lopez, Maria Luisa; Weinstein, Lee S.; Gomez, R. Ariel; Briggs, Josephine P.; Schnermann, Jurgen

2010-01-01

Background Mice with deletion of Gsα in renin-producing cells (RC/FF mice) have been shown to have greatly reduced renin production and lack of responsiveness of renin secretion to acute stimuli. In addition, young RC/FF mice are hypotensive and have a vasopressin-resistant concentrating defect. In the present study we have determined the long-term effect on renal function, blood pressure, and renal pathology in this low renin and diuretic mouse model. Methods and Results Urine osmolarity of RC/FF mice was decreased in all age groups. GFR measured at 7, 14 and 20 weeks of age declined progressively. Single nephron GFR similarly declined while fractional proximal fluid absorption was maintained. Expression levels of extracellular matrix proteins (collagen I, IV and fibronectin) and α-smooth muscle actin were increased in kidneys of RC/FF mice at 20 weeks, and this was accompanied by focal segmental glomerulosclerosis and periglomerular interstitial fibrosis. RC/FF mice showed a progressive reduction of body weight, an increase in urine albumin excretion, and an increase of blood pressure with aging. Conclusion A chronic reduction of renin production in mice may be a risk factor in its own right, and does not protect renal function against the profibrotic influence of a chronically elevated urine flow. PMID:20551626

[A study of urine concentrating mechanism--a molecular biological approach].

PubMed

Marumo, F

1994-07-01

Human urine can be concentrated up to four times higher than that of the plasma. Urine concentrating mechanism has attracted for a long time. However, studies in the field are now picking up momentum due to recent breakthrough discoveries using molecular biology techniques. Vasopressin-regulated water channel in the apical membrane of the collecting duct and water channel in the basolateral side of the membrane were cloned. cloned. Osmolality-dependent chloride channel in the thin ascending limb of Henle was also cloned. In addition, vasopressin-regulated urea transporter was found in the collecting duct. These newly discovered channels and transporter should be playing important physiological roles in urine concentrating mechanism. Furthermore, recent findings on osmolytes and their transporters also add to the list of urine concentrating mechanisms.

Highly sensitive radioimmunoassay for chorionic gonadotropin in human urine. [/sup 125/I tracer technique

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ayala, A.R.; Nisula, B.C.; Chen, H.C.

1978-10-01

The value of RIAs that measure hCG levels in human urine has been limited principally because of cross-reactivity with human LH. Recently, antisera generated to antigenic determinants on the intact hCG..beta.. subunit and its carboxyl-terminal peptide have been shown to exhibit substantially reduced human LH cross-reactivity. To take maximal advantage of these antisera and to minimize interference by nonspecific substances in urine, a procedure for extracting and concentrating hCG from 24-h urine samples was developed. The procedure involves preparation of a standard kaolin-acetone urine concentrate and adsorption of the hCG in the concentrate to Concanavalin A covalently linked to agarosemore » for purification and subsequent RIA. In urine samples obtained from patients with gestational trophoblastic disease, there was a direct correlation between hCG levels measured by RIA and those estimated by mouse uterine weight bioassy. In individual subjects, hCG levels were determined in serum and urine obtained the same day. When hCG was clearly detectable in the serum at levels greater than 1 ng/ml, the quantity of hCG measured in the urine concentrate exceeded 500 ng/24 h. The concentrates prepared from the urine of normal persons contained an hCG-like glycoprotein substance with antigenic determinants similar to those of the carboxyl-terminal peptide of hCG..beta... As the range of hCG immunoreactivity measured in the urine concentrates of normal subjects was 6 to 52 ng/24 h, specific and sensitive detection of urinary hCG could be accomplished in patients whose sera contained hCG undetectable by conventional RIA. Partial purification and concentration of urinary hCG by this procedure with subsequent RIA provides a sensitive and reliable method for detecting hCG in urine.« less

Uranium Associations with Kidney Outcomes Vary by Urine Concentration Adjustment Method

PubMed Central

Shelley, Rebecca; Kim, Nam-Soo; Parsons, Patrick J.; Lee, Byung-Kook; Agnew, Jacqueline; Jaar, Bernard G.; Steuerwald, Amy J.; Matanoski, Genevieve; Fadrowski, Jeffrey; Schwartz, Brian S.; Todd, Andrew C.; Simon, David; Weaver, Virginia M.

2017-01-01

Uranium is a ubiquitous metal that is nephrotoxic at high doses. Few epidemiologic studies have examined the kidney filtration impact of chronic environmental exposure. In 684 lead workers environmentally exposed to uranium, multiple linear regression was used to examine associations of uranium measured in a four-hour urine collection with measured creatinine clearance, serum creatinine- and cystatin-C-based estimated glomerular filtration rates, and N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAG). Three methods were utilized, in separate models, to adjust uranium levels for urine concentration - μg uranium/g creatinine; μg uranium/L and urine creatinine as separate covariates; and μg uranium/4 hr. Median urine uranium levels were 0.07 μg/g creatinine and 0.02 μg/4 hr and were highly correlated (rs =0.95). After adjustment, higher ln-urine uranium was associated with lower measured creatinine clearance and higher NAG in models that used urine creatinine to adjust for urine concentration but not in models that used total uranium excreted (μg/4 hr). These results suggest that, in some instances, associations between urine toxicants and kidney outcomes may be statistical, due to the use of urine creatinine in both exposure and outcome metrics, rather than nephrotoxic. These findings support consideration of non-creatinine-based methods of adjustment for urine concentration in nephrotoxicant research. PMID:23591699

Urine methanol concentration and alcohol hangover severity.

PubMed

Mackus, M; Van de Loo, A J A E; Korte-Bouws, G A H; Van Neer, R H P; Wang, X; Nguyen, T T; Brookhuis, K A; Garssen, J; Verster, J C

2017-03-01

Congeners are substances, other than ethanol, that are produced during fermentation. Previous research found that the consumption of congener-rich drinks contributes to the severity of alcohol hangover. Methanol is such a congener that has been related to alcohol hangover. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the relationship between urine methanol concentration and alcohol hangover severity. N = 36 healthy social drinkers (22 females, 14 males), aged 18-30 years old, participated in a naturalistic study, comprising a hangover day and a control day (no alcohol consumed the previous day). N = 18 of them had regular hangovers (the hangover group), while the other N = 18 claimed to be hangover-immune (hangover-immune group). Overall hangover severity was assessed, and that of 23 individual hangover symptoms. Urine methanol concentrations on the hangover and control days were compared, and correlated to hangover (symptom) severity. Urine methanol concentration was significantly higher on hangover days compared to control days (p = 0.0001). No significant differences in urine methanol concentration were found between the hangover group and hangover-immune group. However, urine methanol concentration did not significantly correlate with overall hangover severity (r = -0.011, p = 0.948), nor with any of the individual hangover symptoms. These findings were observed also when analyzing the data separately for the hangover-immune group. In the hangover group, a significant correlation with urine methanol concentration was found only with vomiting (r = 0.489, p = 0.037). No significant correlation was observed between urine methanol concentration and hangover severity, nor with individual core hangover symptoms. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Prevalence of caffeine use in elite athletes following its removal from the World Anti-Doping Agency list of banned substances.

PubMed

Del Coso, Juan; Muñoz, Gloria; Muñoz-Guerra, Jesús

2011-08-01

The aim of this investigation was to determine the use of caffeine by athletes after its removal from the World Anti-Doping Agency list. For this purpose, we measured the caffeine concentration in 20 686 urine samples obtained for doping control from 2004 to 2008. We utilized only urine samples obtained after official national and international competitions. Urine caffeine concentration was determined using alkaline extraction followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The limit of detection (LOD) was set at 0.1 µg·mL(-1). The percentage of urine samples below the LOD was 26.2%; the remaining 73.8% of the urine samples contained caffeine. Most urine samples (67.3%) had urinary caffeine concentrations below 5 µg·mL(-1). Only 0.6% of urine samples exceeded the former threshold for caffeine doping (12 µg·mL(-1)). Triathlon (3.3 ± 2.2 µg·mL(-1)), cycling (2.6 ± 2.0 µg·mL(-1)), and rowing (1.9 ± 1.4 µg·mL(-1)) were the sports with the highest levels of urine caffeine concentration; gymnastics was the sport with the lowest urine caffeine concentration (0.5 ± 0.4 µg·mL(-1)). Older competitors (>30 y) had higher levels of caffeine in their urine than younger competitors (<20 y; p < 0.05); there were no differences between males and females. In conclusion, 3 out of 4 athletes had consumed caffeine before or during sports competition. Nevertheless, only a small proportion of these competitors (0.6%) had a urine caffeine concentration higher than 12 µg·mL(-1). Endurance sports were the disciplines showing the highest urine caffeine excretion after competition.

Clinical and biochemical findings in Mexican patients with distal renal tubular acidosis.

PubMed

Guerra-Hernández, Norma; Matos-Martínez, Mario; Ordaz-López, Karen Verónica; Camargo-Muñiz, María Dolores; Medeiros, Mara; Escobar-Pérez, Laura

2014-01-01

Renal tubular acidosis (RTA) is a rare disease characterized by a normal serum anion gap, sustained metabolic acidosis, low concentration of plasma bicarbonate, variable hyperchloremia and hypokalemia and conserved glomerular filtration rate. RTA is developed during the first year of life and produces failure to thrive and anorexia. Primary distal RTA (type 1) is a renal syndrome with a reduced ability to excrete the acid load through the collecting ducts and impairment to concentrate the urine causing polyuria and dehydration. Evaluate the current health status and describe the clinical findings and progress of Mexican patients with distal RTA. Demonstrate the distal urinary acidification defect by measuring the urinary pCO2 tension in alkaline urines. We looked for infants in tertiary care hospitals with a clinical history of normal serum anion gap, metabolic acidosis, hypokalemia, hyperchloremia, nephrocalcinosis, sensorineural hearing loss and inability for urine acidification under systemic metabolic acidosis. Biochemical analysis were performed periodically. Alkali medication was not suspended in one patient to assess urinary acidification with oral administration of sodium bicarbonate (2 mEq/Kg) and acetazolamide (500 mg/1.73 m2 body surface). Urinary pCO2 levels were determined at 60 and 90 min. Three children, one adolescent and one adult with distal RTA were found. They had an infant history of dehydration, failure to thrive, anorexia, vomiting, muscle paralysis, hypercalciuria, urinary infections, polyuria, polydipsia and polyhidramnios during pregnancy. Severe nephrocalcinosis was detected in all patients whereas sensorineural hearing loss was developed in four cases. Under the alkali medication all cases but one were normocalciuric. A patient developed kidney failure. The urinary acidification test confirmed the innability to eliminate the acid load. Early diagnosis in infancy and continuos alkali medication were of great benefit for most of the patients. Urinary pCO2 levels in alkaline urine provided an index for collecting duct hydrogen-ion secretion. To our knowledge this is the first report of mexican patients with distal RTA.

Urine ethanol concentration and alcohol hangover severity.

PubMed

Van de Loo, Aurora; Mackus, Marlou; Korte-Bouws, Gerdien; Brookhuis, Karel; Garssen, Johan; Verster, Joris

2017-01-01

The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between urine ethanol concentration and alcohol hangover severity. N = 36 healthy social drinkers participated in a naturalistic study, comprising a hangover day and a control day. N = 18 of them have regular hangovers (the hangover group), while the other N = 18 claim to be hangover immune (hangover-immune group). On each test day at 9.30 am, urine samples were collected. Participants rated their overall hangover severity on a scale from 0 (absent) to 10 (extreme), as well as 18 individual hangover symptoms. Urine ethanol concentration was significantly higher on the hangover day when compared to the control day (p = 0.006). On the hangover day, urine ethanol concentration was significantly lower in the hangover-immune group when compared to the hangover group (p = 0.027). In the hangover-immune group, none of the correlations of urine ethanol concentration with individual hangover symptoms was significant. In contrast, in the hangover group, significant correlations were found with a variety of hangover symptoms, including nausea, concentration problems, sleepiness, weakness, apathy, sweating, stomach pain, thirst, heart racing, anxiety, and sleep problems. Urine ethanol levels are significantly associated with the presence and severity of several hangover symptoms.

SELDI-TOF-MS proteomic profiling of serum, urine, and amniotic fluid in neural tube defects.

PubMed

Liu, Zhenjiang; Yuan, Zhengwei; Zhao, Qun

2014-01-01

Neural tube defects (NTDs) are common birth defects, whose specific biomarkers are needed. The purpose of this pilot study is to determine whether protein profiling in NTD-mothers differ from normal controls using SELDI-TOF-MS. ProteinChip Biomarker System was used to evaluate 82 maternal serum samples, 78 urine samples and 76 amniotic fluid samples. The validity of classification tree was then challenged with a blind test set including another 20 NTD-mothers and 18 controls in serum samples, and another 19 NTD-mothers and 17 controls in urine samples, and another 20 NTD-mothers and 17 controls in amniotic fluid samples. Eight proteins detected in serum samples were up-regulated and four proteins were down-regulated in the NTD group. Four proteins detected in urine samples were up-regulated and one protein was down-regulated in the NTD group. Six proteins detected in amniotic fluid samples were up-regulated and one protein was down-regulated in the NTD group. The classification tree for serum samples separated NTDs from healthy individuals, achieving a sensitivity of 91% and a specificity of 97% in the training set, and achieving a sensitivity of 90% and a specificity of 97% and a positive predictive value of 95% in the test set. The classification tree for urine samples separated NTDs from controls, achieving a sensitivity of 95% and a specificity of 94% in the training set, and achieving a sensitivity of 89% and a specificity of 82% and a positive predictive value of 85% in the test set. The classification tree for amniotic fluid samples separated NTDs from controls, achieving a sensitivity of 93% and a specificity of 89% in the training set, and achieving a sensitivity of 90% and a specificity of 88% and a positive predictive value of 90% in the test set. These suggest that SELDI-TOF-MS is an additional method for NTDs pregnancies detection.

Diagnosis and effects of urine contamination in cooled-extended stallion semen.

PubMed

Ellerbrock, R; Canisso, I; Feijo, L; Lima, F; Shipley, C; Kline, K

2016-04-15

Urospermia is known to affect semen quality in many mammals, including stallions. Determinations of semen pH and creatinine and urea concentrations have been used to diagnose urine contamination in raw stallion semen. Unfortunately, practitioners suspecting urine contamination in cooled-shipped samples have no proven means to confirm the presence of urine. Therefore, the objectives of this study were (1) to assess the effects of urine contamination on sperm motility of extended fresh and cooled-stored stallion semen, (2) to evaluate the usefulness of semen color, odor, pH, and creatinine and urea concentrations for urospermia diagnosis, and (3) to evaluate the accuracy of a commercial blood urea nitrogen test strip in diagnosing urine contamination in extended-cooled stallion semen. Thirty-seven ejaculates were obtained from 11 stallions with no history of urospermia before division into 5 mL aliquots, and contamination with stallion urine. Each resulting sample was assessed for sperm motility, color, odor, pH, creatinine, and urea nitrogen concentration using both a semiquantitative test strip (Azostix), and a quantitative automated analyzer before and after cooling for 24 hour. Sperm motility parameters, pH, and creatinine and urea concentrations were analyzed using mixed models. Urine contamination decreased total and progressive motility in all samples before and after cooling (P < 0.05). Mean control total motility was 80% at 0 hour and 67% at 24 hours, whereas urine-contaminated samples ranged from 30% to 71% at 0 hour and 27% to 61% at 24 hours. Control mean urea (29 mg/dL) and creatinine (0.6 mg/dL) concentrations were significantly different (P < 0.05) from all urine-contaminated samples (158 mg/dL and 11.6 mg/dL, respectively) at 0 hour. Similarly, control mean urea (8 mg/dL) and creatinine (0.9 mg/dL) concentrations were significantly different than all urine-contaminated samples at 24 hours. Odor assessment presented moderate sensitivity (65%) and high specificity (100%), while color assessment presented low sensitivity (47%) and moderate specificity (79%) for urine in extended semen. Azostix strips were highly sensitive (95%) and specific (97%). Assessment of color, odor, and pH are not reliable methods to diagnose urine in experimentally contaminated cooled-stored stallion semen. Sperm motility parameters (in raw and cooled semen) are significantly reduced by the presence of urine in a concentration dependent. The results of the present study indicated that determination of urea and creatinine concentrations can be used to diagnose urospermia and that Azostix can be used as a point care method for diagnosing urine contamination in extended cooled stallion semen. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The effects of intracrystalline and surface-bound proteins on the attachment of calcium oxalate monohydrate crystals to renal cells in undiluted human urine

PubMed Central

Grover, Phulwinder K.; Thurgood, Lauren A.; Wang, Tingting; Ryall, Rosemary L.

2010-01-01

Objective To compare the binding to Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK)-II cells of: (i) inorganic calcium oxalate monohydrate (iCOM) crystals and COM crystals precipitated from urine containing different concentrations of protein; and (ii) urinary COM crystals containing intracrystalline and intracrystalline + surface-bound protein. Materials and methods Urinary COM crystals were generated in sieved (sCOM), centrifuged and filtered (cfCOM), and ultrafiltered (ufCOM) portions of a pooled human urine and their adhesion to MDCK-II cells was compared using six different ultrafiltered urine samples as the binding medium. Crystal matrix extract (CME) was prepared by demineralizing calcium oxalate crystals precipitated from human urine and used to prepare COM crystals with intracrystalline, and intracrystalline + surface-bound CME at protein concentrations of 0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.5 and 5.0 mg/L. The amount of protein associated with the crystals was qualitatively assessed by sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Western blotting, using prothrombin fragment 1 (PTF1) as a marker. Protein concentration was determined in sieved, centrifuged and filtered, and ultrafiltered fractions of 10 additional urine samples. Results The median crystal attachment in the six urine types decreased in the order iCOM > ufCOM > cfCOM = sCOM, in inverse proportion to the concentration of protein in the solution or urine from which they were precipitated. sCOM and cfCOM crystals bound ≈□ 23% less than iCOM crystals. The attachment of COM crystals generated in the presence of increasing concentrations of CME proteins was unaffected up to a concentration of 5 mg/L, but binding of crystals containing the same concentrations of intracrystalline + surface-bound proteins decreased proportionally at protein concentrations from 0 to 5.0 mg/L. Conclusion Inorganic COM crystals bind significantly more strongly to MDCK-II cells than urinary crystals precipitated from sieved, centrifuged and filtered, and ultrafiltered urine, and binding affinity is inversely related to the concentration of protein in the urine in which they are formed. While both intracrystalline and superficial CME proteins reduce the attachment of COM crystals to MDCK-II cells, those located on the crystal surface have a greater influence than those incarcerated within the mineral bulk. Future cell–crystal interaction studies should use urinary crystals and be performed in human urine. PMID:19694711

Effects of Hydration and Calcium Supplementation on Urine Calcium Concentration in Healthy Postmenopausal Women.

PubMed

Harris, Susan S; Dawson-Hughes, Bess

2015-01-01

The aim of this study was to determine whether calcium supplementation, compared with placebo, increases urine calcium concentrations to levels indicative of increased renal stone risk, and the role that fluid intake, as indicated by urine volume, may play in mitigating this risk. This is a secondary analysis of data from a randomized placebo-controlled trial of 500 mg/d calcium supplementation to prevent bone loss. Subjects were 240 white postmenopausal women age 40 to 70 years in good general health. Effects of supplementation on 1-year changes in 24h urine calcium concentration and urine volume were examined. Both treatment group and urine volume were strong independent predictors of urine calcium concentration (p < 0.001). Among subjects with urine volume under 2 L/24 h, more than half of placebo subjects were at lowest risk for renal stones compared with less than 35% of calcium-supplemented subjects. Among those with higher urine volumes, all placebo subjects and more than 80% of calcium supplemented subjects were at lowest risk. The increased risk of renal stones with calcium supplement use may be largely eliminated with adequate fluid intake, but older adults may not spontaneously consume adequate fluids to minimize this risk and should be counseled to do so.

The effects of urine concentration, and cushion centrifugation to remove urine, on the quality of cool-stored stallion sperm.

PubMed

Voge, Jared; Varner, Dickson D; Blanchard, Terry L; Meschini, Marika; Turner, Carly; Teague, Sheila R; Brinsko, Steven P; Love, Charles C

2016-09-15

Urine-contaminated stallion semen is a clinical problem due to a variety of causes. The effect of the level of urine contamination on the longevity of sperm quality has not been evaluated. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of urine concentration level (0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, and 40%) and cushioned centrifugation and resuspension of the sperm pellet in fresh extender, on measures of sperm quality, immediately after semen collection (T0), after 1 hour of storage at room temperature (T1), and after 24 hours of cooled storage (T24). In general, most sperm quality measures declined with increasing urine concentration starting at T0. Cushioned centrifugation (CC), but not simple dilution, generally maintained sperm quality at T24 as compared with T1. At T24, total sperm motility was higher in all urine-contaminated CC samples compared with uncentrifuged samples (P < 0.05); sperm viability was lower in CC than uncentrifuged at a urine concentration of 20%, but higher at 30% and 40% (P < 0.05); and DNA quality was decreased (higher % cells outside the main population) in all urine concentrations (P < 0.05). Immediate extension in semen extender, followed by cushioned centrifugation and resuspension of the sperm pellet in fresh extender, provided the best option for preserving sperm quality of urospermic semen. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Defective renal water handling in transgenic mice over-expressing human CD39/NTPDase1

PubMed Central

Zhang, Yue; Morris, Kaiya L.; Sparrow, Shannon K.; Dwyer, Karen M.; Enjyoji, Keiichi; Robson, Simon C.

2012-01-01

Ectonucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolase-1 hydrolyzes extracellular ATP and ADP to AMP. Previously, we showed that CD39 is expressed at several sites within the kidney and thus may impact the availability of type 2 purinergic receptor (P2-R) ligands. Because P2-Rs appear to regulate urinary concentrating ability, we have evaluated renal water handling in transgenic mice (TG) globally overexpressing hCD39. Under basal conditions, TG mice exhibited significantly impaired urinary concentration and decreased protein abundance of AQP2 in the kidney compared with wild-type (WT) mice. Urinary excretion of total nitrates/nitrites was significantly higher in TG mice, but the excretion of AVP or PGE2 was equivalent to control WT mice. There were no significant differences in electrolyte-free water clearance or fractional excretion of sodium. Under stable hydrated conditions (gelled diet feeding), the differences between the WT and TG mice were negated, but the decrease in urine osmolality persisted. When water deprived, TG mice failed to adequately concentrate urine and exhibited impaired AVP responses. However, the increases in urinary osmolalities in response to subacute dDAVP or chronic AVP treatment were similar in TG and WT mice. These observations suggest that TG mice have impaired urinary concentrating ability despite normal AVP levels. We also note impaired AVP release in response to water deprivation but that TG kidneys are responsive to exogenous dDAVP or AVP. We infer that heightened nucleotide scavenging by increased levels of CD39 altered the release of endogenous AVP in response to dehydration. We propose that ectonucleotidases and modulated purinergic signaling impact urinary concentration and indicate potential utility of targeted therapy for the treatment of water balance disorders. PMID:22622462

Predictors and correlations of phthalate metabolite concentrations in urine and seminal plasma among reproductive-aged men.

PubMed

Wang, Yi-Xin; Liu, Chong; Chen, Ying-Jun; Chen, Heng-Gui; Yang, Pan; Wang, Peng; Huang, Li-Li; Ai, Song-Hua; Duan, Peng; Pan, An; Zeng, Qiang; Lu, Wen-Qing

2018-02-01

Certain phthalates are suspected to be endocrine disruptors that are adversely associated with male reproductive health. However, the predictors and correlations of phthalate metabolite concentrations in urine and seminal plasma among reproductive-aged men have not been thoroughly studied. To investigate the predictors and correlations of phthalate metabolite concentrations in urine and seminal plasma among adult Chinese males. We measured mono-n-butyl phthalate (MBP), monobenzyl phthalate (MBzP), monomethyl phthalate (MMP), monoethyl phthalate (MEP), mono-n-octyl phthalate (MOP), mono(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP), mono(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate (MEHHP) and mono(2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl) phthalate (MEOHP) concentrations in seminal plasma and repeated spot-urine samples from 687 men who visited a reproductive center. Mixed-effect models were used to examine the associations of sociodemographic, lifestyle and medical factors with urinary metabolite concentrations. Linear regression models were used to identify predictors of metabolite concentrations in seminal plasma and correlations between metabolite concentrations in spot urine samples and seminal plasma. Measurements taken from spot urine samples poorly predicted same-day seminal plasma concentrations (all R 2 <0.10). Inverse associations were observed between education level and urinary MBP and MEOHP and between household income and urinary MMP; receiving intravenous infusion therapy was associated with increased urinary MBP, MEHHP and MEOHP, use of facial cleanser/cream was associated with increased MEP, and smoking was associated with increased MEHP. The predictors of metabolite concentrations in seminal plasma differed from those in urine, except for the association of intravenous infusion therapy with MBP. BMI was associated with increased seminal plasma MBP, MEHP and MEOHP, smoking was associated with increased MEP, and contact with plastics was associated with increased MEOHP. Phthalate metabolite concentrations in adult men varied in accordance with sociodemographic variables, lifestyle factors and intravenous therapy. Measures of metabolite levels in urine may not directly reflect the exposure status of the male reproductive system. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Development and validation of a rapid turboflow LC-MS/MS method for the quantification of LSD and 2-oxo-3-hydroxy LSD in serum and urine samples of emergency toxicological cases.

PubMed

Dolder, Patrick C; Liechti, Matthias E; Rentsch, Katharina M

2015-02-01

Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) is a widely used recreational drug. The aim of the present study is to develop a quantitative turboflow LC-MS/MS method that can be used for rapid quantification of LSD and its main metabolite 2-oxo-3-hydroxy LSD (O-H-LSD) in serum and urine in emergency toxicological cases without time-consuming extraction steps. The method was developed on an ion-trap LC-MS/MS instrument coupled to a turbulent-flow extraction system. The validation data showed no significant matrix effects and no ion suppression has been observed in serum and urine. Mean intraday accuracy and precision for LSD were 101 and 6.84%, in urine samples and 97.40 and 5.89% in serum, respectively. For O-H-LSD, the respective values were 97.50 and 4.99% in urine and 107 and 4.70% in serum. Mean interday accuracy and precision for LSD were 100 and 8.26% in urine and 101 and 6.56% in serum, respectively. For O-H-LSD, the respective values were 101 and 8.11% in urine and 99.8 and 8.35% in serum, respectively. The lower limit of quantification for LSD was determined to be 0.1 ng/ml. LSD concentrations in serum were expected to be up to 8 ng/ml. 2-Oxo-3-hydroxy LSD concentrations in urine up to 250 ng/ml. The new method was accurate and precise in the range of expected serum and urine concentrations in patients with a suspected LSD intoxication. Until now, the method has been applied in five cases with suspected LSD intoxication where the intake of the drug has been verified four times with LSD concentrations in serum in the range of 1.80-14.70 ng/ml and once with a LSD concentration of 1.25 ng/ml in urine. In serum of two patients, the O-H-LSD concentration was determined to be 0.99 and 0.45 ng/ml. In the urine of a third patient, the O-H-LSD concentration was 9.70 ng/ml.

[Determination of cadmium in urine of tobacco smoking pregnant women].

PubMed

Florek, Ewa; Piekoszewski, Wojciech; Kornacka, Maria K; Koroniak, Henryk; Wolna, Malgorzata; Król, Anna

2004-01-01

Tobacco smoke contain few thousands of chemical compounds, among them heavy metals. From toxicological point of view most important are lead, cadmium and radioactive polonium 210. The aim of the study was determination of cadmium in urine of tobacco smoking pregnant woman and checking if there is a correlation between the concentration of cadmium and cotinine, the most frequently used tobacco smoke biomarker. The study showed that concentration of cotinine in urine of smoking women was 702.5 +/- 1131.4 ng/mg creatinine and ranged from 50 to more than 6000 ng/mg creatinine. Cadmium concentration in smokers was 1.6 +/- 2.6 ng/ml and ranged from 0 to 11.5 ng/ml. In urine of woman who do not smoke and are not exposure to ETS was 1.1 +/- 2.2 ng/ml in the range 0-2.5 ng/ml and was not statistically different from concentration of cadmium in urine of smoking pregnant woman. In any one non-smoking woman, concentration of cadmium was not higher than 5 ng/ml, but in 11.8% of smoking women this level was exceeded. Calculations showed a weak correlation between concentration of cadmium and cotinine in urine of smoking pregnant women.

Comparative physiology and architecture associated with the mammalian urine concentrating mechanism: role of inner medullary water and urea transport pathways in the rodent medulla.

PubMed

Pannabecker, Thomas L

2013-04-01

Comparative studies of renal structure and function have potential to provide insights into the urine-concentrating mechanism of the mammalian kidney. This review focuses on the tubular transport pathways for water and urea that play key roles in fluid and solute movements between various compartments of the rodent renal inner medulla. Information on aquaporin water channel and urea transporter expression has increased our understanding of functional segmentation of medullary thin limbs of Henle's loops, collecting ducts, and vasa recta. A more complete understanding of membrane transporters and medullary architecture has identified new and potentially significant interactions between these structures and the interstitium. These interactions are now being introduced into our concept of how the inner medullary urine-concentrating mechanism works. A variety of regulatory pathways lead directly or indirectly to variable patterns of fluid and solute movements among the interstitial and tissue compartments. Animals with the ability to produce highly concentrated urine, such as desert species, are considered to exemplify tubular structure and function that optimize urine concentration. These species may provide unique insights into the urine-concentrating process.(1)

Comparative physiology and architecture associated with the mammalian urine concentrating mechanism: role of inner medullary water and urea transport pathways in the rodent medulla

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Comparative studies of renal structure and function have potential to provide insights into the urine-concentrating mechanism of the mammalian kidney. This review focuses on the tubular transport pathways for water and urea that play key roles in fluid and solute movements between various compartments of the rodent renal inner medulla. Information on aquaporin water channel and urea transporter expression has increased our understanding of functional segmentation of medullary thin limbs of Henle's loops, collecting ducts, and vasa recta. A more complete understanding of membrane transporters and medullary architecture has identified new and potentially significant interactions between these structures and the interstitium. These interactions are now being introduced into our concept of how the inner medullary urine-concentrating mechanism works. A variety of regulatory pathways lead directly or indirectly to variable patterns of fluid and solute movements among the interstitial and tissue compartments. Animals with the ability to produce highly concentrated urine, such as desert species, are considered to exemplify tubular structure and function that optimize urine concentration. These species may provide unique insights into the urine-concentrating process.1 PMID:23364530

Prediction of Cortical Defect Using C-Reactive Protein and Urine Sodium to Potassium Ratio in Infants with Febrile Urinary Tract Infection

PubMed Central

Jung, Su Jin

2016-01-01

Purpose We investigated whether C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, urine protein-creatinine ratio (uProt/Cr), and urine electrolytes can be useful for discriminating acute pyelonephritis (APN) from other febrile illnesses or the presence of a cortical defect on 99mTc dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) scanning (true APN) from its absence in infants with febrile urinary tract infection (UTI). Materials and Methods We examined 150 infants experiencing their first febrile UTI and 100 controls with other febrile illnesses consecutively admitted to our hospital from January 2010 to December 2012. Blood (CRP, electrolytes, Cr) and urine tests [uProt/Cr, electrolytes, and sodium-potassium ratio (uNa/K)] were performed upon admission. All infants with UTI underwent DMSA scans during admission. All data were compared between infants with UTI and controls and between infants with or without a cortical defect on DMSA scans. Using multiple logistic regression analysis, the ability of the parameters to predict true APN was analyzed. Results CRP levels and uProt/Cr were significantly higher in infants with true APN than in controls. uNa levels and uNa/K were significantly lower in infants with true APN than in controls. CRP levels and uNa/K were relevant factors for predicting true APN. The method using CRP levels, u-Prot/Cr, u-Na levels, and uNa/K had a sensitivity of 94%, specificity of 65%, positive predictive value of 60%, and negative predictive value of 95% for predicting true APN. Conclusion We conclude that these parameters are useful for discriminating APN from other febrile illnesses or discriminating true APN in infants with febrile UTI. PMID:26632389

Water recovery by catalytic treatment of urine vapor

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Budininkas, P.; Quattrone, P. D.; Leban, M. I.

1980-01-01

The objective of this investigation was to demonstrate the feasibility of water recovery on a man-rated scale by the catalytic processing of untreated urine vapor. For this purpose, two catalytic systems, one capable of processing an air stream containing low urine vapor concentrations and another to process streams with high urine vapor concentrations, were designed, constructed, and tested to establish the quality of the recovered water.

The urine metabolome differs between lean and overweight Labrador Retriever dogs during a feed-challenge.

PubMed

Söder, Josefin; Hagman, Ragnvi; Dicksved, Johan; Lindåse, Sanna; Malmlöf, Kjell; Agback, Peter; Moazzami, Ali; Höglund, Katja; Wernersson, Sara

2017-01-01

Obesity in dogs is an increasing problem and better knowledge of the metabolism of overweight dogs is needed. Identification of molecular changes related to overweight may lead to new methods to improve obesity prevention and treatment. The aim of the study was firstly to investigate whether Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) based metabolomics could be used to differentiate postprandial from fasting urine in dogs, and secondly to investigate whether metabolite profiles differ between lean and overweight dogs in fasting and postprandial urine, respectively. Twenty-eight healthy intact male Labrador Retrievers were included, 12 of which were classified as lean (body condition score (BCS) 4-5 on a 9-point scale) and 16 as overweight (BCS 6-8). After overnight fasting, a voided morning urine sample was collected. Dogs were then fed a high-fat mixed meal and postprandial urine was collected after 3 hours. Metabolic profiles were generated using NMR and 45 metabolites identified from the spectral data were evaluated using multivariate data analysis. The results revealed that fasting and postprandial urine differed in relative metabolite concentration (partial least-squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) 1 comp: R2Y = 0.4, Q2Y = 0.32; cross-validated ANOVA: P = 0.00006). Univariate analyses of discriminant metabolites showed that taurine and citrate concentrations were elevated in postprandial urine, while allantoin concentration had decreased. Interestingly, lean and overweight dogs differed in terms of relative metabolite concentrations in postprandial urine (PLS-DA 1 comp: R2Y = 0.5, Q2Y = 0.36, cross-validated ANOVA: P = 0.005) but not in fasting urine. Overweight dogs had lower postprandial taurine and a trend of higher allantoin concentrations compared with lean dogs. These findings demonstrate that metabolomics can differentiate 3-hour postprandial urine from fasting urine in dogs, and that postprandial urine metabolites may be more useful than fasting metabolites for identification of metabolic alterations linked to overweight. The lowered urinary taurine concentration in overweight dogs could indicate alterations in lipid metabolism and merits further investigation.

The urine metabolome differs between lean and overweight Labrador Retriever dogs during a feed-challenge

PubMed Central

Söder, Josefin; Hagman, Ragnvi; Dicksved, Johan; Lindåse, Sanna; Malmlöf, Kjell; Agback, Peter; Moazzami, Ali; Höglund, Katja; Wernersson, Sara

2017-01-01

Obesity in dogs is an increasing problem and better knowledge of the metabolism of overweight dogs is needed. Identification of molecular changes related to overweight may lead to new methods to improve obesity prevention and treatment. The aim of the study was firstly to investigate whether Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) based metabolomics could be used to differentiate postprandial from fasting urine in dogs, and secondly to investigate whether metabolite profiles differ between lean and overweight dogs in fasting and postprandial urine, respectively. Twenty-eight healthy intact male Labrador Retrievers were included, 12 of which were classified as lean (body condition score (BCS) 4–5 on a 9-point scale) and 16 as overweight (BCS 6–8). After overnight fasting, a voided morning urine sample was collected. Dogs were then fed a high-fat mixed meal and postprandial urine was collected after 3 hours. Metabolic profiles were generated using NMR and 45 metabolites identified from the spectral data were evaluated using multivariate data analysis. The results revealed that fasting and postprandial urine differed in relative metabolite concentration (partial least-squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) 1 comp: R2Y = 0.4, Q2Y = 0.32; cross-validated ANOVA: P = 0.00006). Univariate analyses of discriminant metabolites showed that taurine and citrate concentrations were elevated in postprandial urine, while allantoin concentration had decreased. Interestingly, lean and overweight dogs differed in terms of relative metabolite concentrations in postprandial urine (PLS-DA 1 comp: R2Y = 0.5, Q2Y = 0.36, cross-validated ANOVA: P = 0.005) but not in fasting urine. Overweight dogs had lower postprandial taurine and a trend of higher allantoin concentrations compared with lean dogs. These findings demonstrate that metabolomics can differentiate 3-hour postprandial urine from fasting urine in dogs, and that postprandial urine metabolites may be more useful than fasting metabolites for identification of metabolic alterations linked to overweight. The lowered urinary taurine concentration in overweight dogs could indicate alterations in lipid metabolism and merits further investigation. PMID:28662207

Detection of depleted uranium in urine of veterans from the 1991 Gulf War.

PubMed

Gwiazda, R H; Squibb, K; McDiarmid, M; Smith, D

2004-01-01

American soldiers involved in "friendly fire" accidents during the 1991 Gulf War were injured with depleted-uranium-containing fragments or possibly exposed to depleted uranium via other routes such as inhalation, ingestion, and/or wound contamination. To evaluate the presence of depleted uranium in these soldiers eight years later, the uranium concentration and depleted uranium content of urine samples were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry in (a) depleted uranium exposed soldiers with embedded shrapnel, (b) depleted uranium exposed soldiers with no shrapnel, and (c) a reference group of deployed soldiers not involved in the friendly fire incidents. Uranium isotopic ratios measured in many urine samples injected directly into the inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer and analyzed at a mass resolution m/delta m of 300 appeared enriched in 235U with respect to natural abundance (0.72%) due to the presence of an interference of a polyatomic molecule of mass 234.81 amu that was resolved at a mass resolution m/delta m of 4,000. The 235U abundance measured on uranium separated from these urines by anion exchange chromatography was clearly natural or depleted. Urine uranium concentrations of soldiers with shrapnel were higher than those of the two other groups, and 16 out of 17 soldiers with shrapnel had detectable depleted uranium in their urine. In depleted uranium exposed soldiers with no shrapnel, depleted uranium was detected in urine samples of 10 out of 28 soldiers. The median uranium concentration of urines with depleted uranium from soldiers without shrapnel was significantly higher than in urines with no depleted uranium, though substantial overlap in urine uranium concentrations existed between the two groups. Accordingly, assessment of depleted uranium exposure using urine must rely on uranium isotopic analyses, since urine uranium concentration is not an unequivocal indicator of depleted uranium presence in soldiers with no embedded shrapnel.

Mice lacking mPGES-1 are resistant to lithium-induced polyuria

PubMed Central

Jia, Zhanjun; Wang, Haiping

2009-01-01

Cyclooxygenase-2 activity is required for the development of lithium-induced polyuria. However, the involvement of a specific, terminal prostaglandin (PG) isomerase has not been evaluated. The present study was undertaken to assess lithium-induced polyuria in mice deficient in microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1 (mPGES-1). A 2-wk administration of LiCl (4 mmol·kg−1·day−1 ip) in mPGES-1 +/+ mice led to a marked polyuria with hyposmotic urine. This was associated with elevated renal mPGES-1 protein expression and increased urine PGE2 excretion. In contrast, mPGES-1 −/− mice were largely resistant to lithium-induced polyuria and a urine concentrating defect, accompanied by nearly complete blockade of high urine PGE2 and cAMP output. Immunoblotting, immunohistochemistry, and quantitative (q) RT-PCR consistently detected a significant decrease in aquaporin-2 (AQP2) protein expression in both the renal cortex and medulla of lithium-treated +/+ mice. This decrease was significantly attenuated in the −/− mice. qRT-PCR detected similar patterns of changes in AQP2 mRNA in the medulla but not in the cortex. Similarly, the total protein abundance of the Na-K-2Cl cotransporter (NKCC2) in the medulla but not in the cortex of the +/+ mice was significantly reduced by lithium treatment. In contrast, the dowregulation of renal medullary NKCC2 expression was significantly attenuated in the −/− mice. We conclude that mPGES-1-derived PGE2 mediates lithium-induced polyuria likely via inhibition of AQP2 and NKCC2 expression. PMID:19692487

Mice lacking mPGES-1 are resistant to lithium-induced polyuria.

PubMed

Jia, Zhanjun; Wang, Haiping; Yang, Tianxin

2009-12-01

Cyclooxygenase-2 activity is required for the development of lithium-induced polyuria. However, the involvement of a specific, terminal prostaglandin (PG) isomerase has not been evaluated. The present study was undertaken to assess lithium-induced polyuria in mice deficient in microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1 (mPGES-1). A 2-wk administration of LiCl (4 mmol.kg(-1).day(-1) ip) in mPGES-1 +/+ mice led to a marked polyuria with hyposmotic urine. This was associated with elevated renal mPGES-1 protein expression and increased urine PGE(2) excretion. In contrast, mPGES-1 -/- mice were largely resistant to lithium-induced polyuria and a urine concentrating defect, accompanied by nearly complete blockade of high urine PGE(2) and cAMP output. Immunoblotting, immunohistochemistry, and quantitative (q) RT-PCR consistently detected a significant decrease in aquaporin-2 (AQP2) protein expression in both the renal cortex and medulla of lithium-treated +/+ mice. This decrease was significantly attenuated in the -/- mice. qRT-PCR detected similar patterns of changes in AQP2 mRNA in the medulla but not in the cortex. Similarly, the total protein abundance of the Na-K-2Cl cotransporter (NKCC2) in the medulla but not in the cortex of the +/+ mice was significantly reduced by lithium treatment. In contrast, the dowregulation of renal medullary NKCC2 expression was significantly attenuated in the -/- mice. We conclude that mPGES-1-derived PGE(2) mediates lithium-induced polyuria likely via inhibition of AQP2 and NKCC2 expression.

Reagent- and separation-free measurements of urine creatinine concentration using stamping surface enhanced Raman scattering (S-SERS)

PubMed Central

Li, Ming; Du, Yong; Zhao, Fusheng; Zeng, Jianbo; Mohan, Chandra; Shih, Wei-Chuan

2015-01-01

We report a novel reagent- and separation-free method for urine creatinine concentration measurement using stamping surface enhanced Raman scattering (S-SERS) technique with nanoporous gold disk (NPGD) plasmonic substrates, a label-free, multiplexed molecular sensing and imaging technique recently developed by us. The performance of this new technology is evaluated by the detection and quantification of creatinine spiked in three different liquids: creatinine in water, mixture of creatinine and urea in water, and creatinine in artificial urine within physiologically relevant concentration ranges. Moreover, the potential application of our method is demonstrated by creatinine concentration measurements in urine samples collected from a mouse model of nephritis. The limit of detection of creatinine was 13.2 nM (0.15 µg/dl) and 0.68 mg/dl in water and urine, respectively. Our method would provide an alternative tool for rapid, cost-effective, and reliable urine analysis for non-invasive diagnosis and monitoring of renal function. PMID:25798309

Relationship Not Found Between Blood and Urine Concentrations and Body Mass Index in Humans With Apparently Adequate Boron Status.

PubMed

Koc, Fulya; Aysan, Erhan; Hasbahceci, Mustafa; Arpaci, Beyza; Gecer, Salih; Demirci, Selami; Sahin, Fikrettin

2016-06-01

The impact of boron on the development of obesity remains controversial in the analysis of experimental and clinical data. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between blood and urine boron concentrations and obesity in normal, overweight, obese, and morbidly obese subjects in different age groups. A total of 105 subjects were categorized into 12 groups based on body mass index and three different age levels: as young adult (18 to 34 years old), adult (35 to 54 years old), and older adult (greater than 55 years old). Age, gender, body mass index, and blood and urine boron concentrations were recorded for each subject. There were 50 women and 55 men, with a mean age of 44.63 ± 17.9 years. Blood and urine boron concentrations were similar among the groups (p = 0.510 and p = 0.228, respectively). However, a positive correlation between age and blood boron concentration (p = 0.001) was detected in contrast to the presence of a negative correlation between age and urine boron concentration (p = 0.027). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that there was no significant relationship between gender, age, and quantitative values of body mass index for each subject, and blood and urine boron concentrations. Although the relationship between boron and obesity has not been confirmed, changes of blood and urine boron concentrations with age may have some physiologic sequences to cause obesity.

Evaluation of take-home organophosphorus pesticide exposure among agricultural workers and their children.

PubMed Central

Curl, Cynthia L; Fenske, Richard A; Kissel, John C; Shirai, Jeffry H; Moate, Thomas F; Griffith, William; Coronado, Gloria; Thompson, Beti

2002-01-01

We analyzed organophosphorus pesticide exposure in 218 farm worker households in agricultural communities in Washington State to investigate the take-home pathway of pesticide exposure and to establish baseline exposure levels for a community intervention project. House dust samples (n = 156) were collected from within the homes, and vehicle dust samples (n = 190) were collected from the vehicles used by the farm workers to commute to and from work. Urine samples were obtained from a farm worker (n = 213) and a young child (n = 211) in each household. Dust samples were analyzed for six pesticides, and urine samples were analyzed for five dialkylphosphate (DAP) metabolites. Azinphosmethyl was detected in higher concentrations (p < 0.0001) than the other pesticides: geometric mean concentrations of azinphosmethyl were 0.53 micro g/g in house dust and 0.75 micro g/g in vehicle dust. Dimethyl DAP metabolite concentrations were higher than diethyl DAP metabolite concentrations in both child and adult urine (p < 0.0001). Geometric mean dimethyl DAP concentrations were 0.13 micro mol/L in adult urine and 0.09 micro mol/L in child urine. Creatinine-adjusted geometric mean dimethyl DAP concentrations were 0.09 micro mol/g in adult urine and 0.14 micro mol/g in child urine. Azinphosmethyl concentrations in house dust and vehicle dust from the same household were significantly associated (r2 = 0.41, p < 0.0001). Dimethyl DAP levels in child and adult urine from the same household were also significantly associated (r2 = 0.18, p < 0.0001), and this association remained when the values were creatinine adjusted. The results of this work support the hypothesis that the take-home exposure pathway contributes to residential pesticide contamination in agricultural homes where young children are present. PMID:12460819

Validation of Surrogates of Urine Osmolality in Population Studies.

PubMed

Youhanna, Sonia; Bankir, Lise; Jungers, Paul; Porteous, David; Polasek, Ozren; Bochud, Murielle; Hayward, Caroline; Devuyst, Olivier

2017-01-01

The importance of vasopressin and/or urine concentration in various kidney, cardiovascular, and metabolic diseases has been emphasized recently. Due to technical constraints, urine osmolality (Uosm), a direct reflect of urinary concentrating activity, is rarely measured in epidemiologic studies. We analyzed 2 possible surrogates of Uosm in 4 large population-based cohorts (total n = 4,247) and in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD, n = 146). An estimated Uosm (eUosm) based on the concentrations of sodium, potassium, and urea, and a urine concentrating index (UCI) based on the ratio of creatinine concentrations in urine and plasma were compared to the measured Uosm (mUosm). eUosm is an excellent surrogate of mUosm, with a highly significant linear relationship and values within 5% of mUosm (r = 0.99 or 0.98 in each population cohort). Bland-Altman plots show a good agreement between eUosm and mUosm with mean differences between the 2 variables within ±24 mmol/L. This was verified in men and women, in day and night urine samples, and in CKD patients. The relationship of UCI with mUosm is also significant but is not linear and exhibits more dispersed values. Moreover, the latter index is no longer representative of mUosm in patients with CKD as it declines much more quickly with declining glomerular filtration rate than mUosm. The eUosm is a valid marker of urine concentration in population-based and CKD cohorts. The UCI can provide an estimate of urine concentration when no other measurement is available, but should be used only in subjects with normal renal function. © 2017 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Hydration status affects urea transport across rat urothelia.

PubMed

Spector, David A; Deng, Jie; Stewart, Kerry J

2011-12-01

Although mammalian urinary tract epithelium (urothelium) is generally considered impermeable to water and solutes, recent data suggest that urine constituents may be reabsorbed during urinary tract transit and storage. To study water and solute transport across the urothelium in an in vivo rat model, we instilled urine (obtained during various rat hydration conditions) into isolated in situ rat bladders and, after a 1-h dwell, retrieved the urine and measured the differences in urine volume and concentration and total quantity of urine urea nitrogen and creatinine between instilled and retrieved urine in rat groups differing by hydration status. Although urine volume did not change >1.9% in any group, concentration (and quantity) of urine urea nitrogen in retrieved urine fell significantly (indicating reabsorption of urea across bladder urothelia), by a mean of 18% (489 mg/dl, from an instilled 2,658 mg/dl) in rats receiving ad libitum water and by a mean of 39% (2,544 mg/dl, from an instilled 6,204 mg/dl) in water-deprived rats, but did not change (an increase of 15 mg/dl, P = not significant, from an instilled 300 mg/dl) in a water-loaded rat group. Two separate factors affected urea nitrogen reabsorption rates, a urinary factor related to hydration status, likely the concentration of urea nitrogen in the instilled urine, and a bladder factor(s), also dependent on the animal's state of hydration. Urine creatinine was also absorbed during the bladder dwell, and hydration group effects on the concentration and quantity of creatinine reabsorbed were qualitatively similar to the hydration group effect on urea transport. These findings support the notion(s) that urinary constituents may undergo transport across urinary tract epithelia, that such transport may be physiologically regulated, and that urine is modified during transit and storage through the urinary tract.

Urine matrix metalloproteinases and their extracellular inducer EMMPRIN in children with chronic kidney disease.

PubMed

Musiał, Kinga; Bargenda, Agnieszka; Zwolińska, Danuta

2015-07-01

Transforming growth factor (TGF)beta1 and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play an essential role in CKD-related tissue remodeling. However, there are no data on urine MMPs and their extracellular inducer EMMPRIN in CKD patients. The aim of study was to assess the concentrations of MMP-2, MMP-7, MMP-9, EMMPRIN and TGFbeta1 in serum and urine of CKD children and to analyze the potential relations between those parameters. Forty-one pre-dialysis CKD children and 23 age-matched controls were enrolled in the study. The concentrations of analyzed parameters were assessed by ELISA. Serum and urine values of MMP-2, MMP-7, MMP-9, EMMPRIN and TGFbeta1 were significantly elevated in CKD patients versus controls. The MMP-2 and MMP-9 levels in urine correlated significantly with the corresponding values in serum, whereas MMP-7, EMMPRIN and TGFbeta1 urine concentrations did not. There were also significant correlations between urine values of all parameters. The increased urine levels of MMPs, EMMPRIN and TGFbeta1 indicate enhanced proteolysis and renal tissue remodeling. In the case of MMP-7, EMMPRIN and TGFbeta1 those disturbances seem independent of enhanced serum activity of the corresponding enzymes. The urine MMP-7 and EMMPRIN concentrations may serve as new independent indices of tissue remodeling and renal interstitial fibrosis in children with CKD.

Dietary fat subgroups, zinc and vegetable components are related to urine F2a-isoprostane concentration, a measure of oxidative stress, in midlife women1

PubMed Central

Tomey, Kristin M.; Sowers, MaryFran R.; Li, Xizhao; McConnell, Daniel S.; Crawford, Sybil; Gold, Ellen B.; Lasley, Bill; Randolph, John F.

2009-01-01

Smoking, diet and physical activity may impact chronic diseases, in part, by promoting or attenuating oxidative stress. We evaluated associations between lifestyle factors and urine F2a-isoprostanes, a marker of oxidative stress among 1610 participants of Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation (SWAN). Dietary intake and physical activity were assessed at baseline and year 05 (Y05). These data were related to Y05 urinary F2a-isoprostane concentration with regression analyses. Median urine F2a-isoprostane concentration was 433 ng/L overall, 917 ng/L in smokers (inter-quartile range: 467, 1832 ng/L) and 403 ng/L in non-smokers (inter-quartile range: 228, 709 ng/L; P<0.0001 for difference). Higher trans fat intake was associated with higher urine F2a-isoprostane concentration; partial Spearman correlations (ρx|y) between Y05 urine F2a-isoprostane concentration and trans fatty acids were 0.19 (P=0.03) and 0.13 (P <0.0001) in smokers and non-smokers, respectively. Increased log trans fat intake from baseline to Y05 was associated with higher concentration of logurine F2a-isoprostanes in non-smokers (β=0.131, SE=0.04, P =0.0003). In non-smokers, the partial correlation (ρx|y) between lutein and urine F2a-isoprostane concentration was −0.13 (P <0.0001). Increased intake of log lutein from baseline to Y05 was also associated with lower log urine F2a-isoprostane concentration (β= −0.096, SE=0.03, P =0.0005) in non-smokers. Increased zinc intake from baseline to Y05 was associated with lower log urine F2a-isoprostane concentration in smokers and non-smokers (β= −0.346, SE=0.14, P =0.01), and −0.117, 0.04 (P =0.001), respectively]. In conclusion, diet (fat subtypes, zinc, vegetable components) and smoking were associated with urine F2a-isoprostanes, a marker of oxidative stress. PMID:17951478

Concentrations of Phthalate Metabolites in Milk, Urine, Saliva, and Serum of Lactating North Carolina Women

PubMed Central

Hines, Erin P.; Calafat, Antonia M.; Silva, Manori J.; Mendola, Pauline; Fenton, Suzanne E.

2009-01-01

Background Phthalates are ubiquitous in the environment, but concentrations in multiple media from breast-feeding U.S. women have not been evaluated. Objectives The objective of this study was to accurately measure and compare the concentrations of oxidative monoester phthalate metabolites in milk and surrogate fluids (serum, saliva, and urine) of 33 lactating North Carolina women. Methods We analyzed serum, saliva, urine, and milk for the oxidative phthalate metabolites mono(3-carboxypropyl) phthalate, mono(2-ethyl-5-carboxypentyl) phthalate (MECPP), mono(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate, and mono(2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl) phthalate using isotope-dilution high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectroscopy. Because only urine lacks esterases, we analyzed it for the hydrolytic phthalate monoesters. Results We detected phthalate metabolites in few milk (< 10%) and saliva samples. MECPP was detected in > 80% of serum samples, but other metabolites were less common (3–22%). Seven of the 10 urinary metabolites were detectable in ≥ 85% of samples. Monoethyl phthalate had the highest mean concentration in urine. Metabolite concentrations differed by body fluid (urine > serum > milk and saliva). Questionnaire data suggest that frequent nail polish use, immunoglobulin A, and fasting serum glucose and triglyceride levels were increased among women with higher concentrations of urinary and/or serum phthalate metabolites; motor vehicle age was inversely correlated with certain urinary phthalate concentrations. Conclusions Our data suggest that phthalate metabolites are most frequently detected in urine of lactating women and are less often detected in serum, milk, or saliva. Urinary phthalate concentrations reflect maternal exposure and do not represent the concentrations of oxidative metabolites in other body fluids, especially milk. PMID:19165392

Kidney function in the Spinifex hopping mouse, Notomys alexis.

PubMed

Gordge, L; Roberts, J R

2008-06-01

Notomys alexis (Spinifex hopping mouse) is found in the arid zone of Australia. The structure and function of the kidneys allow this species to conserve water. This study investigated the rate at which N. alexis can reduce urine volume and increase the concentration of electrolytes and solutes when water deprived. It also looked at the response to rehydration, following a period of water deprivation. The laboratory mouse, Mus musculus domesticus, was used for comparison. N. alexis is able to reduce urine volume and increase urine concentration more rapidly than M. m. domesticus when water deprived. This appears to occur prior to any measurable changes in plasma electrolyte concentrations and is not due to reductions in glomerular filtration rate. Gradual water deprivation over a period of 10 days allowed N. alexis to adjust so that urine composition was similar in many ways to animals that had ad libitum access to water, whereas M. m. domesticus required significant water supplementation to maintain body weight at 85% of initial body weight. Ability to concentrate urine rapidly is characteristic of a well-insulated renal medulla [Bankir, L., DeRouffignac, C., 1985. Urinary concentrating ability: insights from comparative anatomy. Am. J. Physiol. 249, R643-666]. However, a well-insulated medulla is normally associated with slow dilution of urine when animals are rehydrated. N. alexis was able to produce dilute urine very rapidly following rehydration of water deprived animals. Physiological control of renal function appears to be complex. Although M. m. domesticus is able to produce concentrated urine, it is unable to survive without free water and responds more slowly to water deprivation.

Biomonitoring of arsenic, cadmium, lead, manganese and mercury in urine and hair of children living near mining and industrial areas.

PubMed

Molina-Villalba, Isabel; Lacasaña, Marina; Rodríguez-Barranco, Miguel; Hernández, Antonio F; Gonzalez-Alzaga, Beatriz; Aguilar-Garduño, Clemente; Gil, Fernando

2015-04-01

Huelva (South West Spain) and its surrounding municipalities represent one of the most polluted estuaries in the world owing to the discharge of mining and industrial related pollutants in their proximity. A biomonitoring study was conducted to assess exposure to arsenic and some trace metals (cadmium, mercury, manganese and lead) in urine and scalp hair from a representative sample of children aged 6-9 years (n=261). This is the only study simultaneously analyzing those five metal elements in children urine and hair. The potential contribution of gender, water consumption, residence area and body mass index on urinary and hair metal concentrations was also studied. Urine levels of cadmium and total mercury in a proportion (25-50%) of our children population living near industrial/mining areas might have an impact on health, likely due to environmental exposure to metal pollution. The only significant correlation between urine and hair levels was found for mercury. Children living near agriculture areas showed increased levels of cadmium and manganese (in urine) and arsenic (in hair). In contrast, decreased urine Hg concentrations were observed in children living near mining areas. Girls exhibited significantly higher trace metal concentrations in hair than boys. The greatest urine arsenic concentrations were found in children drinking well/spring water. Although human hair can be a useful tool for biomonitoring temporal changes in metal concentrations, levels are not correlated with those found in urine except for total mercury, thus providing additional information. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The relationship of blood- and urine-boron to boron exposure in borax-workers and usefulness of urine-boron as an exposure marker.

PubMed Central

Culver, B D; Shen, P T; Taylor, T H; Lee-Feldstein, A; Anton-Culver, H; Strong, P L

1994-01-01

Daily dietary-boron intake and on-the-job inspired boron were compared with blood- and urine-boron concentrations in workers engaged in packaging and shipping borax. Fourteen workers handling borax at jobs of low, medium, and high dust exposures were sampled throughout full shifts for 5 consecutive days each. Airborne borax concentrations ranged from means of 3.3 mg/m3 to 18 mg/m3, measured gravimetrically. End-of-shift mean blood-boron concentrations ranged from 0.11 to 0.26 microgram/g; end-of-shift mean urine concentrations ranged from 3.16 to 10.72 micrograms/mg creatinine. Creatinine measures were used to adjust for differences in urine-specific gravity such that 1 ml of urine contains approximately 1 mg creatinine. There was no progressive increase in end-of-shift blood- or urine-boron concentrations across the days of the week. Urine testing done at the end of the work shift gave a somewhat better estimate of borate exposure than did blood testing, was sampled more easily, and was analytically less difficult to perform. Personal air samplers of two types were used: one, the 37-mm closed-face, two-piece cassette to estimate total dust and the other, the Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM) sampler to estimate inspirable particulate mass. Under the conditions of this study, the IOM air sampler more nearly estimated human exposure as measured by blood- and urine-boron levels than did the sampler that measured total dust.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) PMID:7889874

Nicotine concentrations in urine and saliva of smokers and non-smokers.

PubMed Central

Feyerabend, C; Higenbottam, T; Russell, M A

1982-01-01

Nicotine concentrations were measured in saliva and urine samples collected from 82 smokers and 56 non-smokers after a morning at work. Each subject answered a series of questions related to their recent intentional or passive exposure to tobacco smoke. All non-smokers had measurable amounts of nicotine in both saliva and urine. Those non-smokers who reported recent exposure to tobacco smoke had significantly higher nicotine concentrations (p less than 0.001) than those who had not been exposed; their concentrations overlapped those of smokers who had smoked up to three cigarettes before sampling had the greatest influence on nicotine concentrations (r=0.62 for saliva and r=0.51 for urine). Neither the nicotine for yield of cigarettes nor the self-reported degree of inhalation had any significant effect on nicotine concentrations. PMID:6802384

Determination of Lead in Urine by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry1

PubMed Central

Selander, Stig; Cramé, Kim

1968-01-01

A method for the determination of lead in urine by means of atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS) is described. A combination of wet ashing and extraction with ammonium pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate into isobutylmethylketone was used. The sensitivity was about 0·02 μg./ml. for 1% absorption, and the detection limit was about 0·02 μg./ml. with an instrumental setting convenient for routine analyses of urines. Using the scale expansion technique, the detection limit was below 0·01 μg./ml., but it was found easier to determine urinary lead concentrations below 0·05 μg./ml. by concentrating the lead in the organic solvent by increasing the volume of urine or decreasing that of the solvent. The method was applied to fresh urines, stored urines, and to urines, obtained during treatment with chelating agents, of patients with lead poisoning. Urines with added inorganic lead were not used. The results agreed well with those obtained with a colorimetric dithizone extraction method (r = 0·989). The AAS method is somewhat more simple and allows the determination of smaller lead concentrations. PMID:5647975

Stamping SERS for creatinine sensing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Ming; Du, Yong; Zhao, Fusheng; Zeng, Jianbo; Santos, Greggy M.; Mohan, Chandra; Shih, Wei-Chuan

2015-03-01

Urine can be obtained easily, readily and non-invasively. The analysis of urine can provide metabolic information of the body and the condition of renal function. Creatinine is one of the major components of human urine associated with muscle metabolism. Since the content of creatinine excreted into urine is relatively constant, it is used as an internal standard to normalize water variations. Moreover, the detection of creatinine concentration in urine is important for the renal clearance test, which can monitor the filtration function of kidney and health status. In more details, kidney failure can be imminent when the creatinine concentration in urine is high. A simple device and protocol for creatinine sensing in urine samples can be valuable for point-of-care applications. We reported quantitative analysis of creatinine in urine samples by using stamping surface enhanced Raman scattering (S-SERS) technique with nanoporous gold disk (NPGD) based SERS substrate. S-SERS technique enables label-free and multiplexed molecular sensing under dry condition, while NPGD provides a robust, controllable, and high-sensitivity SERS substrate. The performance of S-SERS with NGPDs is evaluated by the detection and quantification of pure creatinine and creatinine in artificial urine within physiologically relevant concentration ranges.

Fluoride concentration in urine after silver diamine fluoride application on tooth enamel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sari, D. L.; Bahar, A.; Gunawan, H. A.; Adiatman, M.; Rahardjo, A.; Maharani, D. A.; Toptanci, I. R.; Yavuz, I.

2017-08-01

Silver Diammine Fluoride (SDF), which contains fluoride, is known to inhibit tooth enamel demineralization and increase fluoride concentrations in saliva and urine. The aim of this study is to analyze the fluoride concentration in urine after application of SDF on tooth enamel. Urine from four subjects was collected prior to, 30 minutes after, and two and three hours after the application of SDF, and an ion-selective electrode was used to measure the fluoride concentrations. There was no significant difference between time 1 and time 2, time 1 and time 3, time 1 and time 4, time 2 and 3 (p > 0.05), and there was a significant difference between time 2 and time 4 as well as time 3 and time 4 (p < 0.05). There was a decrease in the concentration of fluoride ions in urine from the baseline to 30 minutes after application, and an increase from baseline to two and three hours after the application of SDF.

Mucopolysaccharidosis type III

MedlinePlus

... the enzymes needed to break down the heparan sulfate sugar chain are missing or defective. There are ... a large amount of a mucopolysaccharide called heparan sulfate in the urine. Other tests may include: Blood ...

Human Urine Derived Stem Cells in Combination with β-TCP Can Be Applied for Bone Regeneration.

PubMed

Guan, Junjie; Zhang, Jieyuan; Li, Haiyan; Zhu, Zhenzhong; Guo, Shangchun; Niu, Xin; Wang, Yang; Zhang, Changqing

2015-01-01

Bone tissue engineering requires highly proliferative stem cells that are easy to isolate. Human urine stem cells (USCs) are abundant and can be easily harvested without using an invasive procedure. In addition, in our previous studies, USCs have been proved to be able to differentiate into osteoblasts, chondrocytes, and adipocytes. Therefore, USCs may have great potential and advantages to be applied as a cell source for tissue engineering. However, there are no published studies that describe the interactions between USCs and biomaterials and applications of USCs for bone tissue engineering. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to evaluate the interactions between USCs with a typical bone tissue engineering scaffold, beta-Tricalcium Phosphate (β-TCP), and to determine whether the USCs seeded onto β-TCP scaffold can promote bone regeneration in a segmental femoral defect of rats. Primary USCs were isolated from urine and seeded on β-TCP scaffolds. Results showed that USCs remained viable and proliferated within β-TCP. The osteogenic differentiation of USCs within the scaffolds was demonstrated by increased alkaline phosphatase activity and calcium content. Furthermore, β-TCP with adherent USCs (USCs/β-TCP) were implanted in a 6-mm critical size femoral defect of rats for 12 weeks. Bone regeneration was determined using X-ray, micro-CT, and histologic analyses. Results further demonstrated that USCs in the scaffolds could enhance new bone formation, which spanned bone defects in 5 out of 11 rats while β-TCP scaffold alone induced modest bone formation. The current study indicated that the USCs can be used as a cell source for bone tissue engineering as they are compatible with bone tissue engineering scaffolds and can stimulate the regeneration of bone in a critical size bone defect.

Elimination kinetics of metals after an accidental exposure to welding fumes.

PubMed

Schaller, Karl H; Csanady, György; Filser, Johannes; Jüngert, Barbara; Drexler, Hans

2007-07-01

We had the opportunity to study the kinetics of metals in blood and urine samples of a flame-sprayer exposed to high accident-prone workplace exposure. We measured over 1 year, the nickel, aluminium, and chromium concentrations in blood and urine specimens after exposure. On this basis, we evaluated the corresponding half-lives. Blood and urine sampling were carried out five times after accidental exposure over a period of 1 year. The metals were analysed by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry and Zeeman compensation with reliable methods. Either a mono-exponential or a bi-exponential function was fitted to the concentration-time courses of selected metals using weighted least squares non-linear regression analysis. The amount excreted in urine was calculated integrating the urinary decay curve and multiplying with the daily creatinine excretion. The first examination was carried out 15 days after exposure. The mean aluminium concentration in plasma was 8.2 microg/l and in urine, 58.4 microg/g creatinine. The mean nickel concentration in blood was 59.6 microg/l and the excretion in urine 700 microg/g creatinine. The mean chromium level in blood was 1.4 microg/l in urine, 7.4 microg/g creatinine. For the three elements, the metal concentrations in blood and urine exceeded the reference values at least in the initial phase. For nickel, the German biological threshold limit values (EKA) were exceeded. Aluminium showed a mono-exponential decay, whereas the elimination of chromium and nickel was biphasic in biological fluids of the accidentally exposed welder. The half-lives were as follows: for aluminium 140 days (urine) and 160 days (plasma); for chromium 40 and 730 days (urine); for nickel 25 and 610 days (urine) as well as 30 and 240 days (blood). The renal clearance of aluminium and nickel was about 2 l/h estimated for the last monitoring day.

Cytotoxic drug residues in urine of dogs receiving anticancer chemotherapy.

PubMed

Knobloch, A; Mohring, S A I; Eberle, N; Nolte, I; Hamscher, G; Simon, D

2010-01-01

The presence of cytotoxic drug residues in urine of dogs may represent an exposure risk for pet owners and other people as well as a potential environmental contaminant. However, studies on cytotoxic drug residues in excretions of clinical patients are lacking in veterinary oncology. Variable concentrations of cytotoxic residues are present in urine samples, depending on sampling time and substance. Client-owned dogs with lymphoma or mast cell tumors treated with standard chemotherapy protocols. Urine samples were collected before, directly after, and on days after administration of chemotherapy. Measurement of vincristine, vinblastine, cyclophosphamide, and doxorubicin residues in canine urine was performed by a quantitative liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) method. Median cyclophosphamide residue concentration was 398.2 microg/L directly after treatment (d0) and was below the level of detection on days 1-3 (d1, d2, d3). Median vincristine residue concentration was 53.8 microg/L directly after treatment and was 20.2, 11.4, and 6.6 microg/L on days 1, 2, and 3. Median vinblastine residues were 144.9 (d0), 70.8 (d1), 35.6 (d2), and 18.7 microg/L (d3) with low concentrations detectable for 7 days after treatment. Median urine doxorubicin concentrations were 354.0 (d0), 165.6 (d1), 156.9 (d2), and 158.2 microg/L (d3). Low concentrations of doxorubicin were measurable up to 21 days after administration. Variable concentrations of chemotherapeutics were measured in urine samples, depending on sampling time point and drug. Findings may inform current chemoprotection guidelines and help minimize exposure risks.

Urine Creatinine Concentrations in Drug Monitoring Participants and Hospitalized Patients.

PubMed

Love, Sara A; Seegmiller, Jesse C; Kloss, Julie; Apple, Fred S

2016-10-01

Urine drug testing is commonly performed in both clinical and forensic arenas for screening, monitoring and compliance purposes. We sought to determine if urine creatinine concentrations in monitoring program participants were significantly different from hospital in-patients and out-patients undergoing urine drug testing. We retrospectively reviewed urine creatinine submitted in June through December 2015 for all specimens undergoing urine drug testing. The 20,479 creatinine results were categorized as hospitalized patients (H) and monitoring/compliance groups for pain management (P), legal (L) or recovery (R). Median creatinine concentrations (interquartile range, mg/dL) were significantly different (P < 0.001) between groups: H 126 (122-136); P 138 (137-143); L 147 (144-154); R 95 (92-97). In the two groups subject to on-demand sampling time pressures, median creatinine concentrations were significantly lower in the R vs. L group (P<0.001). In conclusion, recovery (R) participants have more dilute specimens, reflected by significantly lower creatinine concentration and may indicate participants' attempts to tamper with their drug test results through dilution means. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Effect of injected rotenone on the production and composition of urine from the rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri)

USGS Publications Warehouse

Erickson, D.A.; Gingerich, W.H.

1986-01-01

Renal function was evaluated in adult rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) dosed i.a. with rotenone at 225 and 275 μg/kg. The chemical composition of urine samples and urine flow rates collected over a 5-h pretreatment period were compared with hourly urine samples collected over a 5-h posttreatment period. Significant increases in osmolality and in concentrations of sodium, potassium, chloride, glucose, and total protein were observed in the urine of treated fish. Urine solute concentrations reached maximum values within 1 to 3 h after treatment and decreased thereafter, indicating that the effects were reversible. Concentrations of sodium and chloride were highly correlated in 2-h posttreatment urine samples at the low (r = 0.922) and high (r = 0.981) rotenone treatments. Urine flow rates were reduced in trout at each dose of rotenone but the decrease in volume of urine voided was not dose-dependent. In a separate study, [14C]polyethylene glycol was used as a filtration marker to determine the effect of rotenone treatment (225 &mu:g/kg) on urine flow rate, glomerular filtration rate, and renal water reabsorption. We showed that posttreatment urine flow rates were reduced partly by reduced glomerular filtration and partly by increased water reabsorption. Transient increases in plasma osmolality and hematocrit also were observed 0.5 h after rotenone treatment.

Feasibility of semen collection in red-winged tinamou (Rhynchotus rufescens) by manual stimulation and sazonality implications.

PubMed

Paranzini, Cristiane Sella; Correia, Luiz Eduardo Cruz Dos Santos; de Camargo, Laiza Sartori; Silva, Kelry Mayara; de França, Tatyana Mendes; Silva, Josineudson Augusto de Vasconcelos; Veiga, Nabor; de Souza, Fabiana Ferreira

2018-02-01

This study aimed to report in detail, the technique and challenges of cloacal massage, to collect and evaluate semen from red-winged tinamou (Rhynchotus rufescens) keep in captivity, performed by only one technician. Sixty-four semen collection attempts, from 16 adult males, during breeding season and 16 attempts form these same 16 males in non-breeding season, were performed. Prior to collection, all animals were conditioned to cloacal massage for 6 weeks and the ejaculates were succeed with viable spermatozoa and then, evaluated for feces, urine and mucus contamination, volume, concentration, sperm vigor, motility, morphological defects and acrosome integrity. Semen collection success rate was 63% in breeding season and 2 (5%) samples were discarded by grade 5 contamination. Only 3 ejaculates from 16 tinamou were obtained in non-breeding season. Sperm concentration and acrosome integrity was higher (p = 0.00) in breeding season, and the percentage of total sperm morphological defects, were high in both in breeding and out breeding season. Overall, we concluded that the red-winged tinamou breeding season, is linked to photoperiod (spring and summer), and at this period time, semen can be obtained by cloacal massage collection satisfactorily, allowing its use in reproduction biotechnologies and sperm cryopreservation. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Measurement of Phenolic Environmental Estrogens in Women with Uterine Leiomyoma

PubMed Central

Shen, Yang; Xu, Qian; Ren, Mulan; Feng, Xu; Cai, Yunlang; Gao, Yongxing

2013-01-01

Objectives To investigate the effect of phenolic environmental estrogens on uterine leiomyoma from the perspective of clinical epidemiology. Methods Urine and blood samples were collected from Han women with uterine leiomyoma and women without uterine leiomyoma, living in Nanjing, China, between September 2011 and February 2013. A total of 156 urine samples and 214 blood samples were collected from the uterine leiomyoma group and 106 urine samples and 126 blood plasma samples from the control group. Bisphenol A (BPA), nonylphenol (NP) and octylphenol (OP) concentrations were determined by solid-phase extraction (SPE) coupled with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). Results Phenolic environmental estrogens in the uterine leiomyoma and control groups were compared based on: gravida>3 and gravida ≤ 3. In participants with gravida>3, urine OP concentration was significantly (P<0.05) higher in the uterine leiomyoma group than in the control group. In participants with gravida ≤ 3, urine NP concentration was significantly (P<0.05) higher in the uterine leiomyoma group compared to controls. Despite obstetric history, urine BPA mean exposure concentration was significantly (P<0.05) different between uterine leiomyoma group and control group. The urine BPA concentration was not significantly (P>0.05) different between gravida>3 and gravida ≤ 3 patients. There was no significant (P>0.05) difference in plasma concentrations of BPA, OP and NP between the leiomyoma group and control group. Mean exposure concentration and range of distribution of BPA, OP and NP plasma concentration differed between the uterine leiomyoma and control group. Conclusion Exposure level of phenolic environmental estrogens in human was related with leiomyoma tumorigenesis. PMID:24255718

V2R structure and diabetes insipidus.

PubMed

Birnbaumer, Mariel

2002-01-01

For most audiences, the term "diabetes" conjures thoughts of high levels of blood glucose and of the symptoms that characterize diabetes mellitus. In the last few years, a spirited campaign spear-headed by the families of affected individuals has made progress in educating nonprofessional and medical communities about diabetes insipidus (DI), the other disease characterized by polyuria (i.e., diabetes). Much work lies ahead to find better treatments for this affliction, but the progress in molecular biology over the last years made possible the identification of the genetic defects underlying the inherited forms of the disease. Numerous cases of adult-onset DI are triggered by toxic damage to the kidneys that impairs the concentrating capacity of the nephrons by a nonspecific mechanism. In these pages I shall deal mostly with the inherited forms of the disease. Diabetes insipidus is characterized by the inability of the kidneys of affected individuals to produce concentrated urine (Morello and Bichet 2001). The elimination of large volumes of diluted urine (polyuria) and excessive thirst (polydipsia) are the chief symptoms of the disease. Although this condition and the hints that it was a hereditary disease were described at the end of the 19th century, it took almost 100 years to gain molecular knowledge about its etiology. A brief review of the important role played by vasopressin in the maintenance of body fluids will help the reader understand the severity of this disease.

Maple syrup urine disease

MedlinePlus

... Kliegman RM, Stanton BF, St. Geme JW, Schor NF. Defects in metabolism of amino acids. In: Kliegman RM, Stanton BF, St. Geme JW, Schor NF, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 20th ed. Philadelphia, ...

Comparative study of CTX-II, Zn2+, and Ca2+ from the urine for knee osteoarthritis patients and healthy individuals

PubMed Central

Xin, Linwei; Wu, Zhihai; Qu, Quanli; Wang, Ruiying; Tang, Jichun; Chen, Lei

2017-01-01

Abstract The aim of the study was to explore the relationship between the concentration of C-telopeptide fragments of type II collagen (CTX-II), Zn2+, and Ca2+ in urine and knee osteoarthritis (KOA). Eighty-two patients with KOA and 20 healthy volunteers were enrolled. Anteroposterior and lateral position x-rays of knee joints were collected. The images were classified according to Kellgren-Lawrence radiographic grading criterion. The patients were divided into group grade I, group grade II, group grade III, and grade IV. The concentration of CTX-II in the urine was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The concentration of Zn2+ and Ca2+ in urine was detected by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry. Compared with the healthy individuals, the concentration of CTX-II was significantly higher in KOA patients. The concentration of CTX-II in KOA patients from high to low was as follows: group IV, group III, group II, and group I. There was no significant difference between group I and healthy individuals. The concentration of Zn2+ and Ca2+ in urine of KOA patients was higher than that in healthy individuals. There was no difference in each KOA group. The concentration of CTX-II is instrumental to diagnose the progress of KOA. The concentration of Zn2+ and Ca2+ in urine is helpful for early diagnosis of KOA. PMID:28796042

Maximum urine concentrating capability in a mathematical model of the inner medulla of the rat kidney.

PubMed

Marcano, Mariano; Layton, Anita T; Layton, Harold E

2010-02-01

In a mathematical model of the urine concentrating mechanism of the inner medulla of the rat kidney, a nonlinear optimization technique was used to estimate parameter sets that maximize the urine-to-plasma osmolality ratio (U/P) while maintaining the urine flow rate within a plausible physiologic range. The model, which used a central core formulation, represented loops of Henle turning at all levels of the inner medulla and a composite collecting duct (CD). The parameters varied were: water flow and urea concentration in tubular fluid entering the descending thin limbs and the composite CD at the outer-inner medullary boundary; scaling factors for the number of loops of Henle and CDs as a function of medullary depth; location and increase rate of the urea permeability profile along the CD; and a scaling factor for the maximum rate of NaCl transport from the CD. The optimization algorithm sought to maximize a quantity E that equaled U/P minus a penalty function for insufficient urine flow. Maxima of E were sought by changing parameter values in the direction in parameter space in which E increased. The algorithm attained a maximum E that increased urine osmolality and inner medullary concentrating capability by 37.5% and 80.2%, respectively, above base-case values; the corresponding urine flow rate and the concentrations of NaCl and urea were all within or near reported experimental ranges. Our results predict that urine osmolality is particularly sensitive to three parameters: the urea concentration in tubular fluid entering the CD at the outer-inner medullary boundary, the location and increase rate of the urea permeability profile along the CD, and the rate of decrease of the CD population (and thus of CD surface area) along the cortico-medullary axis.

Parabens and Their Metabolites in Pet Food and Urine from New York State, United States.

PubMed

Karthikraj, Rajendiran; Borkar, Sonali; Lee, Sunmi; Kannan, Kurunthachalam

2018-03-20

The exposure of pets, such as dogs and cats, to a wide range of chemicals present in the indoor environment and the concomitant increase in noninfectious diseases in these companion animals are a concern. Nevertheless, little is known about the sources and pathways of exposure to chemicals in pets. In this study, we determined the concentrations of parabens in commercially available cat and dog foods as well as in urine samples from these pets collected from the Albany area of the state of New York in the United States. Parabens, especially methyl paraben (MeP), and their metabolites were found in all pet food and urine samples. The mean concentrations of total parabens (i.e., sum of parabens and their metabolites) in dog ( n = 23) and cat ( n = 35) food were 1350 and 1550 ng/g fresh wt, respectively. Dry food contained higher concentrations of parabens and their metabolites than did wet food, and cat food contained higher concentrations of target chemicals than did dog food. The mean concentrations of total parabens found in dog ( n = 30) and cat ( n = 30) urine were 7230 and 1040 ng/mL, respectively. In both pet food and urine, MeP (among parabens) and 4-hydroxy benzoic acid (4-HB) (among metabolites) were the dominant compounds. The metabolites of parabens accounted for ∼99% (∼99.1% in food and ∼98.9% in urine) of the total concentrations in both food and urine. The profiles of parabens and their metabolites in the urine of dogs and cats varied. In addition to diet, other sources of paraben exposures were found for dogs, whereas, for cats, the majority of exposures was identified as related to diet.

Effects of processing delay, temperature, and transport tube type on results of quantitative bacterial culture of canine urine.

PubMed

Patterson, Carly A; Bishop, Micah A; Pack, Julie D; Cook, Audrey K; Lawhon, Sara D

2016-01-15

To determine the impact of processing delay, temperature, and transport tube type on results of quantitative bacterial culture (QBC) of canine urine. Diagnostic test evaluation. 60 mL of pooled urine from 4 dogs, divided into six 10-mL aliquots. Urine aliquots were spiked with bacteria from 1 of 6 independent Escherichia coli cultures to achieve a target bacterial concentration of 10(5) CFUs/mL. One milliliter from each aliquot was transferred into 5 silicone-coated clot tubes (SCTs) and 5 urine transport tubes (UTTs). Samples were stored at 4°C (39°F) and 25°C (77°F) for 0, 8, and 24 hours, and then standard QBCs were performed. Median bacterial concentration for urine samples stored in a UTT for 24 hours at 4°C was lower than that for samples stored in an SCT under the same conditions. Conversely, a substantial decrease in median bacterial concentration was identified for samples stored for 24 hours in an SCT at 25°C, compared with the median concentration for samples stored in a UTT under the same conditions. Median bacterial concentration in samples stored in an SCT at 25°C for 24 hours (275 CFUs/mL) was less than the cutoff typically used to define clinically important bacteriuria by use of urine samples obtained via cystocentesis (ie, > 1,000 CFUs/mL). Canine urine samples submitted for immediate QBC should be transported in plain sterile tubes such as SCTs. When prolonged (24-hour) storage at room temperature is anticipated, urine samples should be transported in UTTs.

Identification of the inactivating factors and mechanisms exerted on MS2 coliphage in concentrated synthetic urine.

PubMed

Oishi, Wakana; Sano, Daisuke; Decrey, Loic; Kadoya, Syunsuke; Kohn, Tamar; Funamizu, Naoyuki

2017-11-15

Volume reduction (condensation) is a key for the practical usage of human urine as a fertilizer because it enables the saving of storage space and the reduction of transportation cost. However, concentrated urine may carry infectious disease risks resulting from human pathogens frequently present in excreta, though the survival of pathogens in concentrated urine is not well understood. In this study, the inactivation of MS2 coliphage, a surrogate for single-stranded RNA human enteric viruses, in concentrated synthetic urine was investigated. The infectious titer reduction of MS2 coliphage in synthetic urine samples was measured by plaque assay, and the reduction of genome copy number was monitored by reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RTqPCR). Among chemical-physical conditions such as pH and osmotic pressure, uncharged ammonia was shown to be the predominant factor responsible for MS2 inactivation, independently of urine concentration level. The reduction rate of the viral genome number varied among genome regions, but the comprehensive reduction rate of six genome regions was well correlated with that of the infectious titer of MS2 coliphage. This indicates that genome degradation is the main mechanism driving loss of infectivity, and that RT-qPCR targeting the six genome regions can be used as a culture-independent assay for monitoring infectivity loss of the coliphage in urine. MS2 inactivation rate constants were well predicted by a model using ion composition and speciation in synthetic urine samples, which suggests that MS2 infectivity loss can be estimated solely based on the solution composition, temperature and pH, without explicitly accounting for effects of osmotic pressure. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Albumin adsorption onto surfaces of urine collection and analysis containers☆

PubMed Central

Robinson, Mary K.; Caudill, Samuel P.; Koch, David D.; Ritchie, James; Hortin, Glen; Eckfeldt, John H.; Sandberg, Sverre; Williams, Desmond; Myers, Gary; Miller, W. Greg

2017-01-01

Background Adsorption of albumin onto urine collection and analysis containers may cause falsely low concentrations. Methods We added 125I-labeled human serum albumin to urine and to phosphate buffered solutions, incubated them with 22 plastic container materials and measured adsorption by liquid scintillation counting. Results Adsorption of urine albumin (UA) at 5–6 mg/l was <0.9%; and at 90 mg/l was <0.4%. Adsorption was generally less at pH 8 than pH 5 but only 3 cases had p <0.05. Adsorption from 11 unaltered urine samples with albumin 5–333 mg/l was <0.8%. Albumin adsorption for the material with greatest binding was extrapolated to the surface areas of 100 ml and 2 l collection containers, and to instrument sample cups and showed <1% change in concentration at 5 mg/l and <0.5% change at 20 mg/l or higher concentrations. Adsorption of albumin from phosphate buffered solutions (2–28%) was larger than that from urine. Conclusions Albumin adsorption differed among urine samples and plastic materials, but the total influence of adsorption was <1% for all materials and urine samples tested. Adsorption of albumin from phosphate buffered solutions was larger than that from urine and could be a limitation for preparations used as calibrators. PMID:24513540

Albumin adsorption onto surfaces of urine collection and analysis containers.

PubMed

Robinson, Mary K; Caudill, Samuel P; Koch, David D; Ritchie, James; Hortin, Glen; Eckfeldt, John H; Sandberg, Sverre; Williams, Desmond; Myers, Gary; Miller, W Greg

2014-04-20

Adsorption of albumin onto urine collection and analysis containers may cause falsely low concentrations. We added (125)I-labeled human serum albumin to urine and to phosphate buffered solutions, incubated them with 22 plastic container materials and measured adsorption by liquid scintillation counting. Adsorption of urine albumin (UA) at 5-6 mg/l was <0.9%; and at 90 mg/l was <0.4%. Adsorption was generally less at pH8 than pH5 but only 3 cases had p<0.05. Adsorption from 11 unaltered urine samples with albumin 5-333 mg/l was <0.8%. Albumin adsorption for the material with greatest binding was extrapolated to the surface areas of 100 ml and 2l collection containers, and to instrument sample cups and showed <1% change in concentration at 5 mg/l and <0.5% change at 20 mg/l or higher concentrations. Adsorption of albumin from phosphate buffered solutions (2-28%) was larger than that from urine. Albumin adsorption differed among urine samples and plastic materials, but the total influence of adsorption was <1% for all materials and urine samples tested. Adsorption of albumin from phosphate buffered solutions was larger than that from urine and could be a limitation for preparations used as calibrators. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A method for estimating radioactive cesium concentrations in cattle blood using urine samples.

PubMed

Sato, Itaru; Yamagishi, Ryoma; Sasaki, Jun; Satoh, Hiroshi; Miura, Kiyoshi; Kikuchi, Kaoru; Otani, Kumiko; Okada, Keiji

2017-12-01

In the region contaminated by the Fukushima nuclear accident, radioactive contamination of live cattle should be checked before slaughter. In this study, we establish a precise method for estimating radioactive cesium concentrations in cattle blood using urine samples. Blood and urine samples were collected from a total of 71 cattle on two farms in the 'difficult-to-return zone'. Urine 137 Cs, specific gravity, electrical conductivity, pH, sodium, potassium, calcium, and creatinine were measured and various estimation methods for blood 137 Cs were tested. The average error rate of the estimation was 54.2% without correction. Correcting for urine creatinine, specific gravity, electrical conductivity, or potassium improved the precision of the estimation. Correcting for specific gravity using the following formula gave the most precise estimate (average error rate = 16.9%): [blood 137 Cs] = [urinary 137 Cs]/([specific gravity] - 1)/329. Urine samples are faster to measure than blood samples because urine can be obtained in larger quantities and has a higher 137 Cs concentration than blood. These advantages of urine and the estimation precision demonstrated in our study, indicate that estimation of blood 137 Cs using urine samples is a practical means of monitoring radioactive contamination in live cattle. © 2017 Japanese Society of Animal Science.

Evaluation of the BinaxNOW® Streptococcus pneumoniae antigen test on fresh, frozen and concentrated urine samples in elderly patients with and without community-acquired pneumonia.

PubMed

Saukkoriipi, Annika; Pascal, Thierry; Palmu, Arto A

2016-02-01

We evaluated the BinaxNOW® urine antigen test in elderly. For fresh un-concentrated urine samples, the sensitivity for pneumococcal pneumonia was 63% and specificity 97%. After freezing and concentration, the results comparable to positive control line in intensity at 60 min gave high sensitivity (81%) with no loss in specificity (96%). Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Measurements of C-reactive protein (CRP) and nerve-growth-factor (NGF) concentrations in serum and urine samples of dogs with neurologic disorders.

PubMed

Kordass, Ulrike; Carlson, Regina; Stein, Veronika Maria; Tipold, Andrea

2016-01-08

The purpose of this study was to prove the hypothesis that C-reactive protein (CRP) and nerve growth factor (NGF) may be potential biomarkers for lower urinary tract disorders and may be able to distinguish between micturition dysfunctions of different origin in dogs with spinal cord diseases. NGF- and CRP- concentrations were measured in serum and urine samples using specific ELISA-Kits. Results in urine were standardized by urine-creatinine levels. CRP in serum was detectable in 32/76 and in urine samples in 40/76 patients. NGF could be measured in all serum and in 70/76 urine samples. Urinary CRP concentrations were significantly higher in dogs with micturition dysfunction (p = 0.0009) and in dogs with different neurological diseases (p = 0.0020) compared to the control group. However, comparing dogs with spinal cord disorders with and without associated micturition dysfunction no significant difference could be detected for NGF and CRP values in urine or serum samples. Additionally, levels did not decrease significantly, when measured at the time when the dogs regained the ability to urinate properly (urinary NGF p = 0.7962; urinary CRP p = 0.078). Urine samples with bacteria and/or leukocytes had no significant increase in urinary NGF (p = 0.1112) or CRP (p = 0.0534) concentrations, but higher CRP-levels in urine from dogs with cystitis were found compared to dogs without signs of cystitis. From these data we conclude that neither CRP nor NGF in urine or serum can be considered as reliable biomarkers for micturition disorders in dogs with spinal cord disorders in a clinical setting, but their production might be part of the pathogenesis of such disorders. Significantly higher levels of CRP could be found in the urine of dogs with micturition dysfunctions compared to control dogs. This phenomenon could potentially be explained by unspecific extrahepatic CRP production by smooth muscle cells in the dilated bladder.

Noninvasive and Painless Urine Glucose Detection by Using Computer-based Polarimeter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sutrisno; Laksono, Y. A.; Hidayat, N.

2017-05-01

Diabetes kills millions of people worldwide each year. It challenges us as researchers to give contribution in early diagnosis to ensure a healthy life. As a matter of fact, common glucose testing devices that have been widely used so far are, at least, glucose meter and urine glucose test strip. The glucose meter ordinarily requires blood taken from patient’s finger. The glucose test strip uses patient’s urine but records unspecific urine glucose level, since the strip only provides the glucose level in some particular ranges. Instead of detecting the glucose level in blood and using the non-specific technique, a noninvasive and painless technique that can detect glucose level accurately will provide a more feasible approach for diabetes diagnosis. The noninvasive and painless urine glucose level monitoring by means of computer-based polarimeter is presented in this paper. The instrument consisted of a power source, a sample box, a light sensor, a polarizer, an analyzer, an analog to digital converter (ADC), and a computer. The concentration of urine glucose concentration was evaluated from the curve of the change in detected optical rotation angle and output potential by the computer-based polarimeter. Statistical analyses by means of Gaussian fitting and linear regression were applied to investigate the rotation angle and urine glucose concentration, respectively. From our experiment, the urine glucose level, measured by glucose test strips, of the normal patient was 100 mg/dl, and the diabetic patient was 500 mg/dl. Our polarimeter even read more precise values for the urine glucose concentrations of those normal and diabetic of the same patients, i.e. 50.61 mg/dl and 502.41 mg/dl, respectively. In other words, the results showed that our polarimeter was able to quantitatively measure the urine glucose level more accurate than urine glucose test strips. Hence, this computer-based polarimeter could be used as an alternative for early detection of urine glucose with noninvasive and painless characteristics.

Preventing Precipitation in the ISS Urine Processor

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Muirhead, Dean; Carter, Layne; Williamson, Jill; Chambers, Antja

2017-01-01

The ISS Urine Processor Assembly (UPA) was initially designed to achieve 85% recovery of water from pretreated urine on ISS. Pretreated urine is comprised of crew urine treated with flush water, an oxidant (chromium trioxide), and an inorganic acid (sulfuric acid) to control microbial growth and inhibit precipitation. Unfortunately, initial operation of the UPA on ISS resulted in the precipitation of calcium sulfate at 85% recovery. This occurred because the calcium concentration in the crew urine was elevated in microgravity due to bone loss. The higher calcium concentration precipitated with sulfate from the pretreatment acid, resulting in a failure of the UPA due to the accumulation of solids in the Distillation Assembly. Since this failure, the UPA has been limited to a reduced recovery of water from urine to prevent calcium sulfate from reaching the solubility limit. NASA personnel have worked to identify a solution that would allow the UPA to return to a nominal recovery rate of 85%. This effort has culminated with the development of a pretreatment based on phosphoric acid instead of sulfuric acid. By eliminating the sulfate associated with the pretreatment, the brine can be concentrated to a much higher concentration before calcium sulfate reach the solubility limit. This paper summarizes the development of this pretreatment and the testing performed to verify its implementation on ISS.

Assessment of sodium status in large ruminants by measuring the sodium-to-potassium ratio in muzzle secretions.

PubMed

Singh, S P; Rani, D

1999-09-01

To develop a simple diagnostic test to assess sodium status in large ruminants on the basis of the sodium-to-potassium ratio (Na:K) and to determine its relevance. 7 buffalo heifers and 21 lactating, pregnant, and nonpregnant dairy cows and heifers. Buffalo heifers were subjected in 2 experiments to variable dietary sodium intake or sodium depletion and changes in sodium and potassium concentrations; Na:K was simultaneously monitored in various body fluids to study its value for indicating sodium status. Validity of the muzzle secretion test was assessed. Muzzle secretion and urinary Na:K and sodium concentration, but not serum electrolyte concentrations, reflected the sodium status of buffalo heifers in response to the widely variable intake of sodium (0.03 to 0.16% of dry matter [DM]). Progressive sodium depletion during an 11-day period, using saliva deprivation caused reciprocal changes in sodium and potassium concentrations in saliva and muzzle secretion, but not in urine. Decreasing urine sodium concentration was associated with decreasing urine potassium concentration. Saliva, urine, and muzzle secretion Na:K closely reflected the degree of sodium deficit. Buffaloes or dairy cows maintained on optimal sodium intake had muzzle secretion and urine Na:K > 0.30. Muzzle secretion or urine Na:K < 0.20 or < 0.10, respectively, was indicative of sodium deficiency. Analysis of muzzle secretion Na:K, and to a large extent urine Na:K, may be used as a convenient diagnostic tool to assess sodium status in large ruminants. It has accuracy similar to that of saliva Na:K.

Effects of Fatty Liver Induced by Excess Orotic Acid on B-Group Vitamin Concentrations of Liver, Blood, and Urine in Rats.

PubMed

Shibata, Katsumi; Morita, Nobuya; Kawamura, Tomoyo; Tsuji, Ai; Fukuwatari, Tsutomu

2015-01-01

Fatty liver is caused when rats are given orotic acid of the pyrimidine base in large quantities. The lack of B-group vitamins suppresses the biosynthesis of fatty acids. We investigated how orotic acid-induced fatty liver affects the concentrations of liver, blood, and urine B-group vitamins in rats. The vitamin B6 and B12 concentrations of liver, blood, and urine were not affected by orotic acid-induced fatty liver. Vitamin B2 was measured only in the urine, but was unchanged. The liver, blood, and urine concentrations of niacin and its metabolites fell dramatically. Niacin and its metabolites in the liver, blood, and urine were affected as expected. Although the concentrations of vitamin B1, pantothenic acid, folate, and biotin in liver and blood were decreased by orotic acid-induced fatty liver, these urinary excretion amounts showed a specific pattern toward increase. Generally, as for the typical urinary excretion of B-group vitamins, these are excreted when the body is saturated. However, the ability to sustain vitamin B1, pantothenic acid, folate, and biotin decreased in fatty liver, which is hypothesized as a specific phenomenon. This metabolic response might occur to prevent an abnormally increased biosynthesis of fatty acids by orotic acid.

Urinary biomarkers of oxidative damage in Maple syrup urine disease: the L-carnitine role.

PubMed

Guerreiro, Gilian; Mescka, Caroline Paula; Sitta, Angela; Donida, Bruna; Marchetti, Desirèe; Hammerschmidt, Tatiane; Faverzani, Jessica; Coelho, Daniella de Moura; Wajner, Moacir; Dutra-Filho, Carlos Severo; Vargas, Carmen Regla

2015-05-01

Maple syrup urine disease (MSUD) is a disorder of branched-chain amino acids (BCAA). The defect in the branched-chain α-keto acid dehydrogenase complex activity leads to an accumulation of these compounds and their corresponding α-keto-acids and α-hydroxy-acids. Studies have shown that oxidative stress may be involved in neuropathology of MSUD. L-carnitine (L-car), which has demonstrated an important role as antioxidant by reducing and scavenging free radicals formation and by enhancing the activity of antioxidant enzymes, have been used in the treatment of some metabolic rare disorders. This study evaluated the oxidative stress parameters, di-tyrosine, isoprostanes and antioxidant capacity, in urine of MSUD patients under protein-restricted diet supplemented or not with L-car capsules at a dose of 50 mg kg(-1) day(-1). It was also determined urinary α-keto isocaproic acid levels as well as blood free L-car concentrations in blood. It was found a deficiency of carnitine in patients before the L-car supplementation. Significant increases of di-tyrosine and isoprostanes, as well as reduced antioxidant capacity, were observed before the treatment with L-car. The L-car supplementation induced beneficial effects on these parameters reducing the di-tyrosine and isoprostanes levels and increasing the antioxidant capacity. It was also showed a significant increase in urinary of α-ketoisocaproic acid after 2 months of L-car treatment, compared to control group. In conclusion, our results suggest that L-car may have beneficial effects in the treatment of MSUD by preventing oxidative damage to the cells and that urine can be used to monitorize oxidative damage in patients affected by this disease. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Oxidative DNA damage and repair in children exposed to low levels of arsenic in utero and during early childhood: Application of salivary and urinary biomarkers

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hinhumpatch, Pantip; Navasumrit, Panida; Chulabhorn Graduate Institute, Laksi, Bangkok

The present study aimed to assess arsenic exposure and its effect on oxidative DNA damage and repair in young children exposed in utero and continued to live in arsenic-contaminated areas. To address the need for biological specimens that can be acquired with minimal discomfort to children, we used non-invasive urinary and salivary-based assays for assessing arsenic exposure and early biological effects that have potentially serious health implications. Levels of arsenic in nails showed the greatest magnitude of difference between exposed and control groups, followed by arsenic concentrations in saliva and urine. Arsenic levels in saliva showed significant positive correlations withmore » other biomarkers of arsenic exposure, including arsenic accumulation in nails (r = 0.56, P < 0.001) and arsenic concentration in urine (r = 0.50, P < 0.05). Exposed children had a significant reduction in arsenic methylation capacity indicated by decreased primary methylation index and secondary methylation index in both urine and saliva samples. Levels of salivary 8-OHdG in exposed children were significantly higher (∼ 4-fold, P < 0.01), whereas levels of urinary 8-OHdG excretion and salivary hOGG1 expression were significantly lower in exposed children (∼ 3-fold, P < 0.05), suggesting a defect in hOGG1 that resulted in ineffective cleavage of 8-OHdG. Multiple regression analysis results showed that levels of inorganic arsenic (iAs) in saliva and urine had a significant positive association with salivary 8-OHdG and a significant negative association with salivary hOGG1 expression. - Highlights: • The effects of arsenic exposure in utero and through early childhood were studied. • Arsenic-exposed children had a reduction in arsenic methylation capacity. • Exposed children had more DNA damage, observed as elevated salivary 8-OHdG. • Lower salivary hOGG1 in exposed children indicated impairment of 8-OHdG repair. • Salivary and urinary 8-OHdG levels were discordant.« less

Association between urine fluoride and dental fluorosis as a toxicity factor in a rural community in the state of San Luis Potosi.

PubMed

Jarquín-Yañez, Lizet; de Jesús Mejía-Saavedra, José; Molina-Frechero, Nelly; Gaona, Enrique; Rocha-Amador, Diana Olivia; López-Guzmán, Olga Dania; Bologna-Molina, Ronell

2015-01-01

The aim of this study is to investigate urine fluoride concentration as a toxicity factor in a rural community in the state of San Luis Potosi, Mexico. A sample of 111 children exposed to high concentrations of fluoride in drinking water (4.13 mg/L) was evaluated. Fluoride exposure was determined by measuring urine fluoride concentration using the potentiometric method with an ion selective electrode. The diagnosis of dental fluorosis was performed by clinical examination, and the severity of damage was determined using Dean's index and the Thylstrup-Fejerskov (TF) index. The range of exposure in the study population, evaluated through the fluoride content in urine, was 1.1 to 5.9 mg/L, with a mean of 3.14±1.09 mg/L. Dental fluorosis was present in all subjects, of which 95% had severe cases. Higher urine fluoride levels and greater degrees of severity occurred in older children. The results show that dental fluorosis was determined by the presence of fluoride exposure finding a high positive correlation between the severity of fluorosis and urine fluoride concentration and the years of exposure suggested a cumulative effect.

Source Separation of Urine as an Alternative Solution to Nutrient Management in Biological Nutrient Removal Treatment Plants.

PubMed

Jimenez, Jose; Bott, Charles; Love, Nancy; Bratby, John

2015-12-01

Municipal wastewater contains a mixture of brown (feces and toilet paper), yellow (urine), and gray (kitchen, bathroom and wash) waters. Urine contributes approximately 70-80% of the nitrogen (N), 50-70% of the phosphorus (P) load and 60-70% of the pharmaceutical residues in normal domestic sewage. This study evaluated the impact of different levels of source separation of urine on an existing biological nutrient removal (BNR) process. A process model of an existing biological nutrient removal (BNR) plant was used. Increasing the amount of urine diverted from the water reclamation facilities, has little impact on effluent ammonia (NH₃-N) concentration, but effluent nitrate (NO₃-N) concentration decreases. If nitrification is necessary then no reduction in the sludge age can be realized. However, a point is reached where the remaining influent nitrogen load matches the nitrogen requirements for biomass growth, and no residual nitrogen needs to be nitrified. That allows a significant reduction in sludge age, implying reduced process volume requirements. In situations where nitrification is required, lower effluent nitrate (NO₃-N) concentrations were realized due to both the lower influent nitrogen content in the wastewater and a more favorable nitrogen-to-carbon ratio for denitrification. The external carbon requirement for denitrification decreases as the urine separation efficiency increases due to the lower influent nitrogen content in the wastewater and a more favorable nitrogen-to-carbon ratio for denitrification. The effluent phosphorus concentration decreases when the amount of urine sent to water reclamation facilities is decreased due to lower influent phosphorus concentrations. In the case of chemical phosphate removal, urine separation reduces the amount of chemicals required.

An investigation of normal urine with a creatinine concentration under the cutoff of 20 mg/dL for specimen validity testing in a toxicology laboratory.

PubMed

Holden, Brad; Guice, Erica A

2014-05-01

In clinical and forensic toxicology laboratories, one commonly used method for urine specimen validity testing is creatinine concentration. In this study, workplace guidelines are examined to determine their relevance to forensic and clinical toxicology samples. Specifically, it investigates the occurrence of urine creatinine concentrations under 20 mg/dL and notes potential issues with factors influencing creatinine concentration by utilizing a simple, novel method consisting of cation-paring high-pressure liquid chromatography in tandem with ultraviolet detection to determine the creatinine concentration in 3019 donors. Of the 4227 sample population in this study, 209 (4.94%) were below the cutoff value of 20 mg/dL for dilute urine. Because there are many factors that can influence the urinary creatinine concentration, samples that have creatinine under the 20 mg/dL cutoff do not always implicate sample adulteration. © 2014 American Academy of Forensic Sciences.

Urine creatinine in treatment-naïve HIV subjects in eastern Nigeria

PubMed Central

Anyabolu, Ernest Ndukaife

2016-01-01

Introduction Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is a global healthcare problem. Some diseases and physiological states may be altered in HIV-infected individuals. Our objective was to evaluate urine creatinine and factors that influence urine creatinine in treatment-naïve HIV subjects in Nigeria. Methods This was a cross-sectional study involving treatment-naïve HIV subjects in a tertiary hospital in Nigeria. Creatinine in spot and 24-hour urine samples and other relevant investigations were performed. Low urine creatinine or dilute urine was defined as 24-hour urine creatinine (24HUCr) <300mg, normal urine creatinine as 24HUCr 300-3000mg and high urine creatinine or concentrated urine as 24HUCr>3000mg.Theassociation of low urine creatinine and high urine creatinine with potential risk factors was determined. Results The mean spot urine creatinine (SUCr) of the treatment-naïve HIV subjects was 137.21± 98.47(mg/dl), minimum value 13.3mg/dl, maximum value 533.3mg/dl and range of values 520.0mg/dl. The mean 24HUCr was 1507±781mg, minimum value 206mg, maximum value 4849mg and range of values 4643mg. Twenty four-hour urine creatinine<300mg was observed in 2(0.5%) subjects, normal 24HUCr 300-3000mgin 349(93.1%) subjects and 24HUCr>3000mg in 24(6.4%) subjects. There was significant association between 24HUCr and serum low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL),serum high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL). There was high correlation between 24HUCr>3000mg and 24-hour urine osmolality (24HUOsm) (r=0.95), body mass index (BMI) (r=0.74), CD4 cells count (r=-0.71), serum HDL (r=-0.73). Conclusion The prevalence of dilute urine and concentrated urine was low. Twenty-four hour urine osmolality. BMI, CD4 cells count and HDL were strong correlates of high urine creatinine. Lipid abnormalities were common in treatment-naïve HIV subjects with high urine creatinine. There is need for clinicians to routinely conduct urine creatinine and further search for abnormalities of serum lipids, weight changes, depressed immunity and anemia in HIV subjects with dilute or concentrated urine in the early stages of the infection. PMID:28292101

Urine creatinine in treatment-naïve HIV subjects in eastern Nigeria.

PubMed

Anyabolu, Ernest Ndukaife

2016-01-01

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is a global healthcare problem. Some diseases and physiological states may be altered in HIV-infected individuals. Our objective was to evaluate urine creatinine and factors that influence urine creatinine in treatment-naïve HIV subjects in Nigeria. This was a cross-sectional study involving treatment-naïve HIV subjects in a tertiary hospital in Nigeria. Creatinine in spot and 24-hour urine samples and other relevant investigations were performed. Low urine creatinine or dilute urine was defined as 24-hour urine creatinine (24HUCr) <300mg, normal urine creatinine as 24HUCr 300-3000mg and high urine creatinine or concentrated urine as 24HUCr>3000mg.Theassociation of low urine creatinine and high urine creatinine with potential risk factors was determined. The mean spot urine creatinine (SUCr) of the treatment-naïve HIV subjects was 137.21± 98.47(mg/dl), minimum value 13.3mg/dl, maximum value 533.3mg/dl and range of values 520.0mg/dl. The mean 24HUCr was 1507±781mg, minimum value 206mg, maximum value 4849mg and range of values 4643mg. Twenty four-hour urine creatinine<300mg was observed in 2(0.5%) subjects, normal 24HUCr 300-3000mgin 349(93.1%) subjects and 24HUCr>3000mg in 24(6.4%) subjects. There was significant association between 24HUCr and serum low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL),serum high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL). There was high correlation between 24HUCr>3000mg and 24-hour urine osmolality (24HUOsm) (r=0.95), body mass index (BMI) (r=0.74), CD4 cells count (r=-0.71), serum HDL (r=-0.73). The prevalence of dilute urine and concentrated urine was low. Twenty-four hour urine osmolality. BMI, CD4 cells count and HDL were strong correlates of high urine creatinine. Lipid abnormalities were common in treatment-naïve HIV subjects with high urine creatinine. There is need for clinicians to routinely conduct urine creatinine and further search for abnormalities of serum lipids, weight changes, depressed immunity and anemia in HIV subjects with dilute or concentrated urine in the early stages of the infection.

Determination of urine-derived odorous compounds in a source separation sanitation system.

PubMed

Liu, Bianxia; Giannis, Apostolos; Chen, Ailu; Zhang, Jiefeng; Chang, Victor W C; Wang, Jing-Yuan

2017-02-01

Source separation sanitation systems have attracted more and more attention recently. However, separate urine collection and treatment could induce odor issues, especially in large scale application. In order to avoid such issues, it is necessary to monitor the odor related compounds that might be generated during urine storage. This study investigated the odorous compounds that emitted from source-separated human urine under different hydrolysis conditions. Batch experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of temperature, stale/fresh urine ratio and urine dilution on odor emissions. It was found that ammonia, dimethyl disulfide, allyl methyl sulfide and 4-heptanone were the main odorous compounds generated from human urine, with headspace concentrations hundreds of times higher than their respective odor thresholds. Furthermore, the high temperature accelerated urine hydrolysis and liquid-gas mass transfer, resulting a remarkable increase of odor emissions from the urine solution. The addition of stale urine enhanced urine hydrolysis and expedited odor emissions. On the contrary, diluted urine emitted less odorous compounds ascribed to reduced concentrations of odorant precursors. In addition, this study quantified the odor emissions and revealed the constraints of urine source separation in real-world applications. To address the odor issue, several control strategies are recommended for odor mitigation or elimination from an engineering perspective. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Salt as a mitigation option for decreasing nitrogen leaching losses from grazed pastures.

PubMed

Ledgard, Stewart F; Welten, Brendon; Betteridge, Keith

2015-12-01

The main source of nitrogen (N) leaching from grazed pastures is animal urine with a high N deposition rate (i.e. per urine patch), particularly between late summer and early winter. Salt is a potential mitigation option as a diuretic to induce greater drinking-water intake, increase urination frequency, decrease urine N concentration and urine N deposition rate, and thereby potentially decrease N leaching. This hypothesis was tested in three phases: a cattle metabolism stall study to examine effects of salt supplementation rate on water consumption, urination frequency and urine N concentration; a grazing trial to assess effects of salt (150 g per heifer per day) on urination frequency; and a lysimeter study on effects of urine N rate on N leaching. Salt supplementation increased cattle water intake. Urination frequency increased by up to 69%, with a similar decrease in urine N deposition rate and no change in individual urination volume. Under field grazing, sensors showed increased urination frequency by 17%. Lysimeter studies showed a proportionally greater decrease in N leaching with decreased urine N rate. Modelling revealed that this could decrease per-hectare N leaching by 10-22%. Salt supplementation increases cattle water intake and urination frequency, resulting in a lower urine N deposition rate and proportionally greater decrease in urine N leaching. Strategic salt supplementation in autumn/early winter with feed is a practical mitigation option to decrease N leaching in grazed pastures. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry.

Crowdsourcing Disease Biomarker Discovery Research: The IP4IC Study.

PubMed

Chancellor, Michael B; Bartolone, Sarah N; Veerecke, Andrew; Lamb, Laura E

2018-05-01

Biomarker discovery is limited by readily assessable, cost efficient human samples available in large numbers that represent the entire heterogeneity of the disease. We developed a novel, active participation crowdsourcing method to determine BP-RS (Bladder Permeability Defect Risk Score). It is based on noninvasive urinary cytokines to discriminate patients with interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome who had Hunner lesions from controls and patients with interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome but without Hunner lesions. We performed a national crowdsourcing study in cooperation with the Interstitial Cystitis Association. Patients answered demographic, symptom severity and urinary frequency questionnaires on a HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) compliant website. Urine samples were collected at home, stabilized with a preservative and sent to Beaumont Hospital for analysis. The expression of 3 urinary cytokines was used in a machine learning algorithm to develop BP-RS. The IP4IC study collected a total of 448 urine samples, representing 153 patients (147 females and 6 males) with interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome, of whom 54 (50 females and 4 males) had Hunner lesions. A total of 159 female and 136 male controls also participated, who were age matched. A defined BP-RS was calculated to predict interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome with Hunner lesions or a bladder permeability defect etiology with 89% validity. In this novel participation crowdsourcing study we obtained a large number of urine samples from 46 states, which were collected at home, shipped and stored at room temperature. Using a machine learning algorithm we developed BP-RS to quantify the risk of interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome with Hunner lesions, which is indicative of a bladder permeability defect etiology. To our knowledge BP-RS is the first validated urine biomarker assay for interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome and one of the first biomarker assays to be developed using crowdsourcing. Copyright © 2018 American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

1-Hydroxypyrene concentrations in first morning voids and 24-h composite urine: intra- and inter-individual comparisons.

PubMed

Han, In-Kyu; Duan, Xiaoli; Zhang, Lin; Yang, Hongbiao; Rhoads, George G; Wei, Fusheng; Zhang, Junfeng

2008-09-01

Urinary 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP) has been suggested as an exposure biomarker for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). However, it remains unknown whether a first morning urine sample can be used to reflect average exposure. In this paper, we examine intra-individual differences and inter-individual associations between first morning voids and 24-h composite urine samples. The analysis was performed using data collected from 100 adults who had a wide range of PAH exposure due to differences in their occupation, e.g., coke oven workers vs. non-coke oven workers. For each subject, all the urine voids within each of two 24-h measurement periods were collected. Results showed a significant (40% to 62%) intra-individual difference between first morning voids and 24-h urinary 1-OHP concentrations (in ng/ml urine). Creatinine adjustments of 1-OHP concentrations (in micromol/mol urinary creatinine) reduced the intra-individual difference by approximately 10%. Across all the subjects, a high overall correlation (r=0.76) was observed between first morning and 24-h average 1-OHP concentrations. Work environment and sampling season were found to significantly affect the relationship between first morning and 24-h 1-OHP concentrations. An increase of 1 ng/ml of first morning urinary 1-OHP predicted an increase of 0.5 and 0.25 ng/ml of 24-h urinary 1-OHP for coke oven workers and non-coke oven workers, respectively. Data collected in a winter season showed a higher correlation between first morning and 24-h concentrations than data collected in a fall season. Creatinine adjustments did not significantly improve overall correlations between first morning void and 24-h measurements, but increased total variances for 24-h urines explained by first morning urines in coke workers.

Variability of Organophosphorous Pesticide Metabolite Levels in Spot and 24-hr Urine Samples Collected from Young Children during 1 Week

PubMed Central

Kogut, Katherine; Eisen, Ellen A.; Jewell, Nicholas P.; Quirós-Alcalá, Lesliam; Castorina, Rosemary; Chevrier, Jonathan; Holland, Nina T.; Barr, Dana Boyd; Kavanagh-Baird, Geri; Eskenazi, Brenda

2012-01-01

Background: Dialkyl phosphate (DAP) metabolites in spot urine samples are frequently used to characterize children’s exposures to organophosphorous (OP) pesticides. However, variable exposure and short biological half-lives of OP pesticides could result in highly variable measurements, leading to exposure misclassification. Objective: We examined within- and between-child variability in DAP metabolites in urine samples collected during 1 week. Methods: We collected spot urine samples over 7 consecutive days from 25 children (3–6 years of age). On two of the days, we collected 24-hr voids. We assessed the reproducibility of urinary DAP metabolite concentrations and evaluated the sensitivity and specificity of spot urine samples as predictors of high (top 20%) or elevated (top 40%) weekly average DAP metabolite concentrations. Results: Within-child variance exceeded between-child variance by a factor of two to eight, depending on metabolite grouping. Although total DAP concentrations in single spot urine samples were moderately to strongly associated with concentrations in same-day 24-hr samples (r ≈ 0.6–0.8, p < 0.01), concentrations in spot samples collected > 1 day apart and in 24-hr samples collected 3 days apart were weakly correlated (r ≈ –0.21 to 0.38). Single spot samples predicted high (top 20%) and elevated (top 40%) full-week average total DAP excretion with only moderate sensitivity (≈ 0.52 and ≈ 0.67, respectively) but relatively high specificity (≈ 0.88 and ≈ 0.78, respectively). Conclusions: The high variability we observed in children’s DAP metabolite concentrations suggests that single-day urine samples provide only a brief snapshot of exposure. Sensitivity analyses suggest that classification of cumulative OP exposure based on spot samples is prone to type 2 classification errors. PMID:23052012

A population study of urine glycerol concentrations in elite athletes competing in North America.

PubMed

Kelly, Brian N; Madsen, Myke; Sharpe, Ken; Nair, Vinod; Eichner, Daniel

2013-01-01

Glycerol is an endogenous substance that is on the World Anti-Doping Agency's list of prohibited threshold substances due to its potential use as a plasma volume expansion agent. The WADA has set the threshold for urine glycerol, including measurement uncertainty, at 1.3 mg/mL. Glycerol in circulation largely comes from metabolism of triglycerides in order to meet energy requirements and when the renal threshold is eclipsed, glycerol is excreted into urine. In part due to ethnic differences in postprandial triglyceride concentrations, we investigated urine glycerol concentrations in a population of elite athletes competing in North America and compared the results to those of athletes competing in Europe. 959 urine samples from elite athletes competing in North America collected for anti-doping purposes were analyzed for urine glycerol concentrations by a gas chromatography mass-spectrometry method. Samples were divided into groups according to: Timing (in- or out-of-competition), Class (strength, game, or endurance sports) and Gender. 333 (34.7%) samples had undetectable amounts of glycerol (<1 μg/mL). 861 (89.8%) of the samples had glycerol concentrations ≤20 μg/mL. The highest glycerol concentration observed was 652 μg/mL. Analysis of the data finds the effects of each category to be statistically significant. The largest estimate of the 99.9(th) percentile, from the in-competition, female, strength athlete samples, was 1813 μg/mL with a 95% confidence range from 774 to 4251 μg/mL. This suggests a conservative threshold of 4.3 mg/mL, which would result in a reasonable detection window for urine samples collected in-competition for all genders and sport classes. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Creatinine concentrations of accumulated intrauterine fluid to confirm the clinical diagnosis of urometra in mares.

PubMed

Schnobrich, M R; Gordon, D L; Scoggin, C F; Bradecamp, E A; Canisso, I F

2017-03-25

Urine pooling, as a persistent condition, is a cause of infertility in mares due to endometrial inflammation and sperm toxicity. Identification of urometra can be challenging in mares presenting with the condition intermittently, or when urine flows into the uterus but is undetectable in the vagina. Currently, there are no reported objective methods to confirm the clinical diagnosis of urine contamination in intrauterine-fluid accumulations. Since creatinine is present in high concentrations in urine and does not diffuse across cell membranes, creatinine concentration should be increased in mares with urometra, but negligible in normal and mares with intrauterine fluid accumulation (non-urometra cases). To test this hypothesis, creatinine concentrations of intrauterine fluid were measured in mares with a clinical diagnosis of urine accumulation (n=9) or intrauterine fluid containing no urine (n=10). Results showed that creatinine concentrations (mg/dl) were significantly higher in mares that had a clinical diagnosis of urometra (42.8±12.6, range 4.1-109.2) compared with those that did not (0.38±0.1, range 0-0.9). Also, two mares after urethral extension surgery demonstrated a remarkable reduction in creatinine concentrations. This study highlights an undocumented approach to confirm a clinical diagnosis of urometra in mares; the authors anticipate that testing for creatinine in the uterine fluid of mares may become a standard tool for identifying urometra in mares and confirming the success of urogenital surgeries. British Veterinary Association.

Evaluation of a tunable bandpass reaction cell inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer for the determination of selenium in serum and urine

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nixon, David E.; Neubauer, Kenneth R.; Eckdahl, Steven J.; Butz, John A.; Burritt, Mary F.

2003-01-01

A Dynamic Reaction Cell™ inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (DRC-ICP-MS) was evaluated for the determination of selenium in serum and urine. Reaction cell conditions were evaluated for the suppression of Ar 2+ dimer at m/ z 78 and 80 using methane as the reaction gas. A diluent containing 10% ethanol, 1% nitric acid, 0.5% Triton X-100 with gallium and yttrium internal standards was used to dilute urine and serum samples. Instrument response calibration was achieved by using aqueous acidic standards spiked into a urine matrix. Slopes for aqueous inorganic selenium, seleno- DL-cystine, seleno- DL-methionine and trimethylselenonium iodide spiked into urine and serum matrices were nearly identical. In general, reagent blank readings and detection limits were significantly lower in the DRC mode (reaction cell pressurized) than the standard mode (cell vented). Average results for the analysis of National Institute of Standards and Technology Standard Reference Material (NIST SRM) 1598 bovine serum (attained over 13 days) are: 43.8±3.6 μg Se/l. Reference concentration is 43.6±3.6 μg Se/l. For NIST SRM 2670 Normal Urine the DRC-ICP-MS results are 30.7±4.6 μg Se/l with a certified concentration of 30±8 μg Se/l. For NIST SRM 2670 Elevated Urine the DRC-ICP-MS results are 463±35 μg Se/l with a certified concentration of 460±30 μg Se/l. The DRC-ICP-MS results for selenium determinations in urine and serum survey samples from the Institut National de Sante Publique du Quebec were compared with the reference concentrations and results produced by conventional ICP-MS. While conventional ICP-MS gave acceptable results for survey samples, DRC-ICP-MS gave excellent results for both urine and sera. Closer correlation was observed for DRC-ICP-MS results with target concentrations than with conventional ICP-MS.

Establishment of a Method for Measuring Antioxidant Capacity in Urine, Based on Oxidation Reduction Potential and Redox Couple I2/KI

PubMed Central

Cao, Tinghui; He, Min; Bai, Tianyu

2016-01-01

Objectives. To establish a new method for determination of antioxidant capacity of human urine based on the redox couple I2/KI and to evaluate the redox status of healthy and diseased individuals. Methods. The method was based on the linear relationship between oxidation reduction potential (ORP) and logarithm of concentration ratio of I2/KI. ORP of a solution with a known concentration ratio of I2/KI will change when reacted with urine. To determine the accuracy of the method, both vitamin C and urine were reacted separately with I2/KI solution. The new method was compared with the traditional method of iodine titration and then used to measure the antioxidant capacity of urine samples from 30 diabetic patients and 30 healthy subjects. Results. A linear relationship was found between logarithm of concentration ratio of I2/KI and ORP (R 2 = 0.998). Both vitamin C and urine concentration showed a linear relationship with ORP (R 2 = 0.994 and 0.986, resp.). The precision of the method was in the acceptable range and results of two methods had a linear correlation (R 2 = 0.987). Differences in ORP values between diabetic group and control group were statistically significant (P < 0.05). Conclusions. A new method for measuring the antioxidant capacity of clinical urine has been established. PMID:28115919

Urine chromium as an estimator of air exposure to stainless steel welding fumes.

PubMed

Sjögren, B; Hedström, L; Ulfvarson, U

1983-01-01

Welding stainless steel with covered electrodes, also called manual metal arc welding, generates hexavalent airborne chromium. Chromium concentrations in air and post-shift urine samples, collected the same arbitrarily chosen working day, showed a linear relationship. Since post-shift urine samples reflect chromium concentrations of both current and previous stainless steel welding fume exposure, individual urine measurements are suggested as approximate although not exact estimators of current exposure. This study evaluates the practical importance of such measurements by means of confidence limits and tests of validity.

Innovative and cost-effective management of large omphalocele.

PubMed

Gupta, Parthapratim

2007-06-01

The aim of this study was to develop a method of management of large omphalocele, with easily available inexpensive materials. The efficacy of using the plastic of urine collection bag and paper stapler, in creating the "silo" for the management of 3 newborns with such defects, were assessed. All operations were done within 36 hours of birth. A silo was created with the plastic of a sterile urine collection bag, which was stapled with a paper stapler at its free margin. The omphalocele was gradually reduced every 24 to 48 hours, using the stapler, until the contents were reduced, when the abdominal wall was repaired. The mean time taken to close the abdominal defect was 34 days. All patients could be breast-fed from 48 hours after the first stage is done. Rooming in was done by day 7. None of the babies required assisted ventilation. This method is simple and cost-effective, using minimally expensive, easily available materials.

Sample preparation and storage can change arsenic speciation in human urine.

PubMed

Feldmann, J; Lai, V W; Cullen, W R; Ma, M; Lu, X; Le, X C

1999-11-01

Stability of chemical speciation during sample handling and storage is a prerequisite to obtaining reliable results of trace element speciation analysis. There is no comprehensive information on the stability of common arsenic species, such as inorganic arsenite [As(III)], arsenate [As(V)], monomethylarsonic acid, dimethylarsinic acid, and arsenobetaine, in human urine. We compared the effects of the following storage conditions on the stability of these arsenic species: temperature (25, 4, and -20 degrees C), storage time (1, 2, 4, and 8 months), and the use of additives (HCl, sodium azide, benzoic acid, benzyltrimethylammonium chloride, and cetylpyridinium chloride). HPLC with both inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and hydride generation atomic fluorescence detection techniques were used for the speciation of arsenic. We found that all five of the arsenic species were stable for up to 2 months when urine samples were stored at 4 and -20 degrees C without any additives. For longer period of storage (4 and 8 months), the stability of arsenic species was dependent on urine matrices. Whereas the arsenic speciation in some urine samples was stable for the entire 8 months at both 4 and -20 degrees C, other urine samples stored under identical conditions showed substantial changes in the concentration of As(III), As(V), monomethylarsonic acid, and dimethylarsinic acid. The use of additives did not improve the stability of arsenic speciation in urine. The addition of 0.1 mol/L HCl (final concentration) to urine samples produced relative changes in inorganic As(III) and As(V) concentrations. Low temperature (4 and -20 degrees C) conditions are suitable for the storage of urine samples for up to 2 months. Untreated samples maintain their concentration of arsenic species, and additives have no particular benefit. Strong acidification is not appropriate for speciation analysis.

Urine phenobarbital drug screening: potential use for compliance assessment in neonates.

PubMed

Guillet, Ronnie; Kwon, Jennifer M; Chen, Sixaio; McDermott, Michael P

2012-02-01

This study was done to determine if urine phenobarbital measurements provide a reliable indicator of presence of the drug in neonates. Urine was collected from neonates treated with phenobarbital for clinical indications within 4 to 6 hours of clinically indicated collection of serum phenobarbital levels. Urine samples were also collected from control neonates not treated with phenobarbital. One aliquot was assayed fresh, another frozen at -30°C and assayed 1 to 3 months later. Phenobarbital was assayed using the ONLINE TDM Roche/Hitachi automated clinical chemistry analyzer. Serum and urine concentrations were compared as were fresh and frozen urine measurements. Serum phenobarbital ranged from 5.6 to 52.7 μg/mL. Matched urine samples were 56.6 ± 12.5% of the serum level. Frozen samples were 98.3 ± 8.0% of the fresh samples. Urine phenobarbital concentrations, either fresh or frozen, can be used in neonates as a noninvasive estimate of drug levels.

Metabolic Acidosis or Respiratory Alkalosis? Evaluation of a Low Plasma Bicarbonate Using the Urine Anion Gap.

PubMed

Batlle, Daniel; Chin-Theodorou, Jamie; Tucker, Bryan M

2017-09-01

Hypobicarbonatemia, or a reduced bicarbonate concentration in plasma, is a finding seen in 3 acid-base disorders: metabolic acidosis, chronic respiratory alkalosis and mixed metabolic acidosis and chronic respiratory alkalosis. Hypobicarbonatemia due to chronic respiratory alkalosis is often misdiagnosed as a metabolic acidosis and mistreated with the administration of alkali therapy. Proper diagnosis of the cause of hypobicarbonatemia requires integration of the laboratory values, arterial blood gas, and clinical history. The information derived from the urinary response to the prevailing acid-base disorder is useful to arrive at the correct diagnosis. We discuss the use of urine anion gap, as a surrogate marker of urine ammonium excretion, in the evaluation of a patient with low plasma bicarbonate concentration to differentiate between metabolic acidosis and chronic respiratory alkalosis. The interpretation and limitations of urine acid-base indexes at bedside (urine pH, urine bicarbonate, and urine anion gap) to evaluate urine acidification are discussed. Copyright © 2017 National Kidney Foundation, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Adsorptive removal of sulfonamide antibiotics in livestock urine using the high-silica zeolite HSZ-385.

PubMed

Fukahori, S; Fujiwara, T; Funamizu, N; Matsukawa, K; Ito, R

2013-01-01

The adsorptive removal of seven sulfonamide antibiotics using the high-silica zeolite HSZ-385 from distilled water, synthetic urine and real porcine urine was investigated. The pH greatly affected the adsorption efficiency, and the amounts of all sulfonamide antibiotics adsorbed on HSZ-385 decreased at alkaline conditions compared with that at neutral conditions. During storage, the pH and ammonium-ion concentration increased with urea hydrolysis for porcine urine. We clarified that the adsorption efficiency of sulfonamides in synthetic urine was equivalent to that in distilled water, suggesting that adsorption behavior was not affected by coexistent ions. HSZ-385 could adsorb sulfonamide antibiotics in real porcine urine even though the non-purgeable organic carbon concentration of porcine urine was 4-7 g/L and was two orders of magnitude higher than those of sulfonamides (10 mg/L each). Moreover, the adsorption of sulfonamides reached equilibrium within 15 min, suggesting that HSZ-385 is a promising adsorbent for removing sulfonamides from porcine urine.

Fluoride in drinking water and human urine in Southern Haryana, India.

PubMed

Singh, Bhupinder; Gaur, Shalini; Garg, V K

2007-06-01

The objective of this study was to determine the fluoride content in drinking water and urine samples of adolescent males aged 11-16 years living in Southern Haryana, India. A total of 30 drinking water sources in the studied habitations were assessed for fluoride contamination. Fluoride was estimated in the urine of 400 male children randomly selected from these habitations. The fluoride concentration in drinking water and urine samples was determined using USEPA fluoride ion selective electrode method. The mean fluoride concentration in drinking water samples of Pataudi, Haily Mandi and Harsaru villages was 1.68+/-0.35, 3.22+/-1.18 and 1.78+/-0.12 mg/l, respectively. The mean urinary fluoride concentration was 2.26+/-0.024 mg/l at Pataudi, 2.48+/-0.77 mg/l at Haily Mandi and 2.43+/-0.84 mg/l at Harsaru village. The higher fluoride levels in the urine of children may be associated to higher fluoride levels in drinking water. The accuracy of measurements was assessed with known addition method in water and urine. Mean fluoride recovery was 98.0 and 99.1% in water and urine. The levels obtained were reproducible with in +/-3% error limit.

Urine specific gravity test

MedlinePlus

... medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003587.htm Urine specific gravity test To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript. Urine specific gravity is a laboratory test that shows the concentration ...

Arsenic, cadmium, lead, and chromium in well water, rice, and human urine in Sri Lanka in relation to chronic kidney disease of unknown etiology.

PubMed

S Herath, H M Ayala; Kawakami, Tomonori; Nagasawa, Shiori; Serikawa, Yuka; Motoyama, Ayuri; Chaminda, G G Tushara; Weragoda, S K; Yatigammana, S K; Amarasooriya, A A G D

2018-04-01

Chronic kidney disease of unknown etiology (CKDu) is spreading gradually in Sri Lanka. In the current research, 1,435 well water samples from all 25 districts of Sri Lanka, 91 rice samples, and 84 human urine samples from both CKDu-endemic and non-endemic areas in Sri Lanka were analyzed for arsenic, cadmium, lead, and chromium to detect whether toxic elements could be a cause of CKDu. The liver-type fatty acid binding protein (L-FABP) concentration and arsenic, cadmium, lead, and chromium concentrations of the urine samples were analyzed to determine the relation of L-FABP with arsenic, cadmium, lead, and chromium. High concentrations of arsenic, cadmium, lead, and chromium were not detected in the well water samples from CKDu-endemic areas. Arsenic, cadmium, and lead contents in the rice samples from both CKDu-endemic and non-endemic areas were well below the Codex standard. There were no relationships between the L-FABP concentration and concentrations of arsenic, cadmium, lead, and chromium in urine. In addition, arsenic, cadmium, lead, and chromium concentrations in human urine samples from CKDu-endemic areas were not significantly different from those from non-endemic areas. These findings indicated that arsenic, cadmium, lead, and chromium could not cause CKDu.

Association between urine phthalate levels and poor attentional performance in children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder with evidence of dopamine gene-phthalate interaction.

PubMed

Park, Subin; Kim, Bung-Nyun; Cho, Soo-Churl; Kim, Yeni; Kim, Jae-Won; Lee, Ju-Young; Hong, Soon-Beom; Shin, Min-Sup; Yoo, Hee Jeong; Im, Hosub; Cheong, Jae Hoon; Han, Doug Hyun

2014-06-27

Although there is some evidence supporting the existence of an association between prenatal maternal or postnatal child's urine phthalate metabolite concentrations and poor attentional performances, the interaction between urine phthalate metabolite levels and genetic variation for neuropsychological deficit of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has not been examined. The aim of this study was to determine whether phthalate metabolites in urine are associated with poor neuropsychological performance in children with ADHD, and whether such association is affected by genotype-phthalate interaction. A cross-sectional examination of urine phthalate metabolite concentrations and the continuous performance test (CPT) were performed in 179 Korean children with ADHD recruited from department of psychiatry of university hospital. Correlations between urine phthalate metabolite concentrations and the CPT scores were investigated, and the interaction of phthalate metabolite levels with the selected polymorphisms at major candidate genes for ADHD, namely dopamine receptor D4 (DRD4), dopamine transporter, α-2A-adrenergic receptor, and norepinephrine transporter genes. For the subjects with the DRD4 4/4 genotype, there were significant associations of the urine phthalate metabolite concentrations with the number of omission errors, the number of commission errors, and the response time variability scores on the CPT. However, for the subjects without the DRD4 4/4 genotype, no significant associations were found. The results of this study suggest a possible association between phthalate metabolite concentrations and poor attentional performances of ADHD as well as a genetic influence on this association. Further prospective and epigenetic studies are needed to investigate causality and pathophysiological mechanisms.

Assessment of urinary inhibitor or promoter activity in uric acid nephrolithiasis

PubMed Central

Doizi, Steeve; Rodgers, Kathy; Poindexter, John; Sakhaee, Khashayar; Maalouf, Naim M.

2017-01-01

Purpose To assess the presence of a reduced inhibitor activity or an increased promoter activity in urine of idiopathic uric acid stone formers (IUASF) compared to non-stone formers (NSF) independent of urinary pH. Methods 30 IUASF, 9 obese NSF and 12 lean NSF collected 24-hour urine under metabolic diet. Three urine aliquots per subject were used to assess spontaneous nucleation (SN, de novo crystal formation), crystal growth (CG) using a 0.1 mg/mL seed of anhydrous uric acid (UA) and steady state (SS) of UA solubility using a 5 mg/mL seed of UA (assessing maximum amount of UA dissolvable in urine). All experiments were conducted for 6 hours at a constant pH of 5.0. UA concentration was measured in filtered aliquots at 0, 3 and 6 hours. Results At baseline, 24-hour urinary pH was significantly lower and UA saturation significantly higher in IUASF. No significant SN occurred and a similar SS UA concentration was reached in the three groups. IUASF and lean NSF displayed a similar decrease in UA concentration during CG, while obese NSF started with higher UA concentration and consequently displayed higher magnitude of decrease in UA concentration for CG. Conclusions This study suggests that there is no significant difference between IUASF and NSF in terms of promoter or inhibitor activity in whole urine against UA stone formation when urine pH is maintained constant. The findings suggest that UA stone formation is dictated by a high urinary saturation with respect to UA, driven primarily by a low urine pH. PMID:26723865

[Measurement of bronchoconstrictive eicosanoids in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease].

PubMed

Gross-Sondej, Iwona; Soja, Jerzy; Sładek, Krzysztof; Pulka, Grażyna; Skucha, Wojciech; Niżankowska-Mogilnicka, Ewa

2012-01-01

The aim of the study was the evaluation of the concentration of 9α11β prostaglandin F(2) - a stable metabolite of prostaglandin D(2) (PGD(2)) and leukotriene E(4) (LTE(4)) in stable and exacerbated COPD patients. 29 COPD patients aged 73 ± 8.34, mean FEV1 = 48.64 ± 15.75% of predictive value and 29 healthy controls aged 57.48 ± 10.86, mean FEV1 = 97.17 ± 13.81% of predictive value participated in this study. Samples of urine and blood were taken from COPD patients during exacerbation and in stable state of the disease; LTE(4) was determined in urine using commercial enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and 9α11β prostaglandin F(2) (9α11βPGF(2)) - stable metabolite of PGD(2) was evaluated in blood and urine using GC/MS. LTE(4) concentration in urine (677.15 vs. 436.4 pg/mg of creatinine; p = 0.035) and 9α11βPGF(2) in blood serum (5.35 vs. 3.07 pg/ml; p = 0.007) were significantly higher in exacerbated COPD patients than in control group. There was no difference in LTE(4) level in urine and 9α11βPGF2 in blood serum between exacerbated and stable COPD. The urinary 9α11βPGF(2) concentration did not differ between all studied groups. We found a positive correlation between smoking history and the urine LTE(4) level (r = 0.395; p = 0.002) as well as blood 9α11βPGF(2) concentration (r = 0.603; p = 0.001) in COPD patients. 9α11βPGF(2) and LTE(4) level in urine did not differ between the stable COPD group and the control group. We also did not find any difference between LTE4 level in urine and 9α11βPGF(2) in blood and urine between exacerbated and stable COPD. Finally, LTE(4) concentration in urine and 9α11βPGF(2) in blood occurred to be significantly higher in exacerbated COPD patients than in control group.

[Drug residues in untreated swine].

PubMed

Kietzmann, M; Markus, W; Chavez, J; Bollwahn, W

1995-11-01

The concentration of sulfadimidine was measured in the urine of pigs which were housed (over five days) in boxes where other pigs have been treated orally with sulfadimidine before. Sulfadimidine was measured in the urine of the unmedicated pigs in a concentration of up to 4 micrograms/ml. Considering these urine concentrations, violative sulfadimidine tissue residues would be expectable in the carcass after slaughter. The practice of fixing withdrawal times must be considered again to ensure that drug residues in tissues are below the MRL before slaughter also in unmedicated animals.

Short term effects of increasing dietary salt concentrations on urine composition in healthy cats.

PubMed

Paßlack, N; Burmeier, H; Brenten, T; Neumann, K; Zentek, J

2014-09-01

High dietary salt (NaCl) concentrations are assumed to be beneficial in preventing the formation of calcium oxalate (CaOx) uroliths in cats, since increased water intake and urine volume have been observed subsequent to intake. In human beings, dietary NaCl restriction is recommended for the prevention of CaOx urolith formation, since high NaCl intake is associated with increased urinary Ca excretion. The aim of the present study was to clarify the role of dietary NaCl in the formation of CaOx uroliths in cats. Eight cats received four diets that differed in Na and Cl concentrations (0.38-1.43% Na and 0.56-2.52% Cl dry matter, DM). Each feeding period consisted of a 21 day adaptation period, followed by a 7 day sampling period for urine collection. Higher dietary NaCl concentrations were associated with increased urine volume and renal Na excretion. Urinary Ca concentration was constant, but renal Ca excretion increased from 0.62 to 1.05 mg/kg bodyweight (BW)/day with higher dietary NaCl concentrations (P ≤ 0.05). Urinary oxalate (Ox), citrate, P and K concentrations decreased when NaCl intake was high (P ≤ 0.05), and urinary pH was low in all groups (6.33-6.45; P > 0.05). Relative supersaturation of CaOx in the urine was unaffected by dietary NaCl concentrations. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated several beneficial effects of high dietary NaCl intake over a relatively short time period. In particular, urinary Ca concentration remained unchanged because of increased urine volume. Decreased urinary Ox concentrations might help to prevent the formation of CaOx uroliths, but this should be verified in future studies in diseased or predisposed cats. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Impedimetric method for measuring ultra-low E. coli concentrations in human urine.

PubMed

Settu, Kalpana; Chen, Ching-Jung; Liu, Jen-Tsai; Chen, Chien-Lung; Tsai, Jang-Zern

2015-04-15

In this study, we developed an interdigitated gold microelectrode-based impedance sensor to detect Escherichia coli (E. coli) in human urine samples for urinary tract infection (UTI) diagnosis. E. coli growth in human urine samples was successfully monitored during a 12-h culture, and the results showed that the maximum relative changes could be measured at 10Hz. An equivalent electrical circuit model was used for evaluating the variations in impedance characteristics of bacterial growth. The equivalent circuit analysis indicated that the change in impedance values at low frequencies was caused by double layer capacitance due to bacterial attachment and formation of biofilm on electrode surface in urine. A linear relationship between the impedance change and initial E. coli concentration was obtained with the coefficient of determination R(2)>0.90 at various growth times of 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 12h in urine. Thus our sensor is capable of detecting a wide range of E. coli concentration, 7×10(0) to 7×10(8) cells/ml, in urine samples with high sensitivity. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Association between Urine Fluoride and Dental Fluorosis as a Toxicity Factor in a Rural Community in the State of San Luis Potosi

PubMed Central

Jarquín-Yañez, Lizet; Mejía-Saavedra, José de Jesús; Molina-Frechero, Nelly; Gaona, Enrique; Rocha-Amador, Diana Olivia; López-Guzmán, Olga Dania; Bologna-Molina, Ronell

2015-01-01

Objective. The aim of this study is to investigate urine fluoride concentration as a toxicity factor in a rural community in the state of San Luis Potosi, Mexico. Materials and Methods. A sample of 111 children exposed to high concentrations of fluoride in drinking water (4.13 mg/L) was evaluated. Fluoride exposure was determined by measuring urine fluoride concentration using the potentiometric method with an ion selective electrode. The diagnosis of dental fluorosis was performed by clinical examination, and the severity of damage was determined using Dean's index and the Thylstrup-Fejerskov (TF) index. Results. The range of exposure in the study population, evaluated through the fluoride content in urine, was 1.1 to 5.9 mg/L, with a mean of 3.14 ± 1.09 mg/L. Dental fluorosis was present in all subjects, of which 95% had severe cases. Higher urine fluoride levels and greater degrees of severity occurred in older children. Conclusions. The results show that dental fluorosis was determined by the presence of fluoride exposure finding a high positive correlation between the severity of fluorosis and urine fluoride concentration and the years of exposure suggested a cumulative effect. PMID:25789336

Optimization of fertilization characteristics of urine by addition of Nitrosomonas europaea bio-seed.

PubMed

Hashemi, Shervin; Han, Mooyoung; Kim, Tschungil

2016-10-01

Because of the high concentration of nutrients in human urine, its utilization as an organic fertilizer has been notable throughout history. However, the nitrogen compounds in urine are not stable. Therefore, to convert urine into a suitable fertilizer, it is important to stabilize and adjust unstable nitrogen compounds such as ammonia. Because nitrification can influence the nitrogen profile, the use of nitrifying microorganisms can be useful for stabilizing the nitrogen profile of urine. This study investigated the changes in nitrogen compounds in pure urine and examined the effect of adding Nitrosomonas europaea bio-seed solution on these changes. It was found that the addition of bio-seed could reduce nitrogen loss as well as the time required to stabilize the nitrogen profile. Furthermore, the optimum concentration of bio-seed (6 × 10(5) N. europaea cells L(-1) ) that not only leads to the least nutrient loss but also results in an adequate nitrate/ammonium ratio and regulates the amount of nitrate produced, thereby preventing over-fertilization, was determined. At this concentration, no dilution or dewatering is required, thus minimizing water and energy consumption. Usage of the optimum of concentration of bio-seed will also eliminate the need for inorganic chemical additives. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.

Interferences of homogentisic acid (HGA) on routine clinical chemistry assays in serum and urine and the implications for biochemical monitoring of patients with alkaptonuria.

PubMed

Curtis, S L; Roberts, N B; Ranganath, L R

2014-05-01

We have assessed the effect of elevated concentrations of homogentisic acid (HGA) as in alkaptonuria (AKU), on a range of routine chemistry tests in serum and urine. HGA was added to pooled serum and a range of assays was analysed with Roche Modular chemistries. Effects on urine were assessed by diluting normal urine with urine from a patient with AKU, adding HGA to urine and after lowering output of urinary HGA with nitisinone treatment. Serum enzymatic creatinine showed 30% negative interference with 100μmol/L HGA and >50% at 400μmol/L. Serum urate 100 to 480μmol/L was reduced up to 20% at 100 and to 50% with 400μmol/L HGA. Serum cholesterol between 3 and 11mmol/L was reduced by 0.5mmol/L with 400μmol/L HGA. Urine enzymatic creatinine and urate with >2mmol/L HGA showed concentration dependent negative interference up to 80%. A positive interference in urine total protein by benzethonium turbidometric assay was observed, with 10mmol/L HGA equivalent to 1g/L protein. Jaffe creatinine, Na, K, Cl, Mg, Ca, phosphate, ALT, GGT, ALP activities and urea in serum and or urine were not affected by increases in HGA. To avoid interferences by HGA in alkaptonuria concentration of HGA should be established before samples are assayed with peroxidase assays and benzethonium urine protein. Copyright © 2013 The Canadian Society of Clinical Chemists. All rights reserved.

Lipoic acid synthetase deficiency causes neonatal-onset epilepsy, defective mitochondrial energy metabolism, and glycine elevation.

PubMed

Mayr, Johannes A; Zimmermann, Franz A; Fauth, Christine; Bergheim, Christa; Meierhofer, David; Radmayr, Doris; Zschocke, Johannes; Koch, Johannes; Sperl, Wolfgang

2011-12-09

Lipoic acid is an essential prosthetic group of four mitochondrial enzymes involved in the oxidative decarboxylation of pyruvate, α-ketoglutarate, and branched chain amino acids and in the glycine cleavage. Lipoic acid is synthesized stepwise within mitochondria through a process that includes lipoic acid synthetase. We identified the homozygous mutation c.746G>A (p.Arg249His) in LIAS in an individual with neonatal-onset epilepsy, muscular hypotonia, lactic acidosis, and elevated glycine concentration in plasma and urine. Investigation of the mitochondrial energy metabolism showed reduced oxidation of pyruvate and decreased pyruvate dehydrogenase complex activity. A pronounced reduction of the prosthetic group lipoamide was found in lipoylated proteins. Copyright © 2011 The American Society of Human Genetics. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Effect of urine creatinine level during pregnancy on dipstick test.

PubMed

Baba, Yosuke; Furuta, Itsuko; Zhai, Tianyue; Ohkuchi, Akihide; Yamada, Takahiro; Takahashi, Kayo; Matsubara, Shigeki; Minakami, Hisanori

2017-06-01

Dipstick results for proteinuria are affected by urine concentration, and thus urine creatinine concentration ([Cr]). This study was performed to determine whether spot urine [Cr] changes significantly during pregnancy, leading to a significantly different false-negative rate (FNR) on dipstick test between trimester. The [Cr] and protein concentrations ([P]) were analyzed in 631 spot urine samples with negative/equivocal dipstick from 425 pregnant women. False-negative dipstick was defined as [P] : [Cr] ratio (P/Cr) > 0.27 mg/mg. Median [Cr] was 117 mg/dL (range, 6.5-326 mg/dL), 72 mg/dL (range, 4.3-477 mg/dL), and 73 mg/dL (range, 8.4-396 mg/dL) in the first (n = 96), second (n = 344), and third (n = 191) trimester urine samples, respectively (P = 0.000, Kruskal-Wallis). Both [P] and P/Cr increased significantly with advancing gestation. FNR 9.4% (18/191) in the third trimester was significantly higher than that of 0.0% (0/96) in the second trimester and that of 0.5% (2/344) in the third trimester. In the 20 urine samples with false-negative dipstick, median [Cr] was 47.0 mg/dL (range, 11.0-358 mg/dL) and the proportion of samples with dilute urine, that is, [Cr] <47 mg/dL, was significantly higher than in the remaining 611 urine samples (50%, 10/20 vs 28%, 174/611, respectively, P = 0.046). Urine samples in the second and third trimesters were more likely to be diluted compared with the first trimester. This was associated with high FNR in third trimester urine samples. © 2017 Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Evaluation of 1,5-anhydro-d-glucitol in clinical and forensic urine samples.

PubMed

Sydow, Konrad; Wiedfeld, Christopher; Musshoff, Frank; Madea, Burkhard; Tschoepe, Diethelm; Stratmann, Bernd; Hess, Cornelius

2018-06-01

Because of the lack of characteristic morphological findings post mortem diagnosis of diabetes mellitus and identification of diabetic coma can be complicated. 1,5-Anhydroglucitol (1,5-AG), the 1-deoxy form of glucose, competes with glucose for renal reabsorption. Therefore low serum concentrations of 1,5-AG, reflect hyperglycemic excursions over the prior 1-2 weeks in diabetic patients. Next to clinical applications determination of 1,5-AG can also be used in forensic analysis. To investigate the elimination of 1,5-AG, a liquid chromatographic-mass spectrometric method for the determination of 1,5-AG and creatinine in urine was developed and validated according to international guidelines. To evaluate ante mortem concentrations of 1,5-AG spot urine samples of 30 healthy subjects, 46 type 1 and 46 type 2 diabetic patients were analyzed. 1,5-AG urine concentrations of diabetic patients were significantly (p<0.001) lower (mean: 1.54μg/ml, n=92) compared to concentrations of healthy subjects (mean: 4.76μg/ml, n=30) which led to the idea that 1,5-AG urine concentrations post mortem might help in the interpretation of a diabetic coma post mortem. Urine of 47 deceased non-diabetics, 37 deceased diabetic and 9 cases of diabetic coma were measured. Comparison of blood and urine 1,5-AG concentrations in clinic samples (linear, R 2 =0.13) and forensic samples (linear, R 2 =0.02) showed no correlation. Urinary levels of 1,5-AG in deceased diabetic (mean 6.9μg/ml) and in non-diabetic patients (mean 6.3μg/ml) did not show a significant difference (p=0.752). However, urinary 1,5-AG concentrations in deceased due to diabetic coma (mean: 1.7μg/ml) were significantly lower than in non-diabetic (mean: 6.3μg/ml, p=0.039) and lower than in diabetic cases (mean: 4.7μg/ml, p=0.058). The determination of a reliable cut-off for the differentiation of diabetic to diabetic coma cases was not possible. Normalization of urinary 1,5-AG concentrations with the respective creatinine concentrations did not show any gain of information. In clinical (serum) and forensic blood samples a significant difference between all groups could be detected (p<0.05). Comparison of blood and urine 1,5-AG concentrations in clinical samples (linear, R 2 =0.13) and forensic samples (linear, R 2 =0.02) showed no correlation. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Biochemically Silent Abdominal Paragangliomas in Patients with Mutations in the Succinate Dehydrogenase Subunit B Gene

PubMed Central

Timmers, Henri J. L. M.; Pacak, Karel; Huynh, Thanh T.; Abu-Asab, Mones; Tsokos, Maria; Merino, Maria J.; Baysal, Bora E.; Adams, Karen T.; Eisenhofer, Graeme

2008-01-01

Context: Patients with adrenal and extra-adrenal abdominal paraganglioma (PGL) almost invariably have increased plasma and urine concentrations of metanephrines, the O-methylated metabolites of catecholamines. We report four cases of biochemically silent abdominal PGL, in which metanephrines were normal despite extensive disease. Objective: Our objective was to identify the mechanism underlying the lack of catecholamine hypersecretion and metabolism to metanephrines in biochemically silent PGL. Design: This is a descriptive study. Setting: The study was performed at a referral center. Patients: One index case and three additional patients with large abdominal PGL and metastases but with the lack of evidence of catecholamine production, six patients with metastatic catecholamine-producing PGL and a mutation of the succinate dehydrogenase subunit B (SDHB) gene, and 136 random patients with catecholamine-producing PGL were included in the study. Main Outcome Measures: Plasma, urine, and tumor tissue concentrations of catecholamines and metabolites were calculated with electron microscopy and tyrosine hydroxylase immunohistochemistry. Results: All four patients with biochemically silent PGL had an underlying SDHB mutation. In the index case, the tumor tissue concentration of catecholamines (1.8 nmol/g) was less than 0.01% that of the median (20,410 nmol/g) for the 136 patients with catecholamine-producing tumors. Electron microscopy showed the presence of normal secretory granules in all four biochemically silent PGLs. Tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactivity was negligible in the four biochemically silent PGLs but abundant in catecholamine-producing PGLs. Conclusions: Patients with SDHB mutations may present with biochemically silent abdominal PGLs due to defective catecholamine synthesis resulting from the absence of tyrosine hydroxylase. Screening for tumors in patients with SDHB mutations should not be limited to biochemical tests of catecholamine excess. PMID:18840642

Requirement for specific gravity and creatinine adjustments for urinary steroids and luteinizing hormone concentrations in adolescents.

PubMed

Singh, Gurmeet K S; Balzer, Ben W R; Desai, Reena; Jimenez, Mark; Steinbeck, Katharine S; Handelsman, David J

2015-11-01

Urinary hormone concentrations are often adjusted to correct for hydration status. We aimed to determine whether first morning void urine hormones in growing adolescents require adjustments and, if so, whether urinary creatinine or specific gravity are better adjustments. The study population was adolescents aged 10.1 to 14.3 years initially who provided fasting morning blood samples at 0 and 12 months (n = 343) and first morning urine every three months (n = 644). Unadjusted, creatinine and specific gravity-adjusted hormonal concentrations were compared by Deming regression and Bland-Altman analysis and grouped according to self-rated Tanner stage or chronological age. F-ratios for self-rated Tanner stages and age groups were used to compare unadjusted and adjusted hormonal changes in growing young adolescents. Correlations of paired serum and urinary hormonal concentration of unadjusted and creatinine and specific gravity-adjusted were also compared. Fasting first morning void hormone concentrations correlated well and were unbiased between unadjusted or adjusted by either creatinine or specific gravity. Urine creatinine concentration increases with Tanner stages, age and male gender whereas urine specific gravity was not influenced by Tanner stage, age or gender. Adjustment by creatinine or specific gravity of urinary luteinizing hormone, estradiol, testosterone, dihydrotestosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone concentrations did not improve correlation with paired serum concentrations. Urine steroid and luteinizing hormone concentrations in first morning void samples of adolescents are not significantly influenced by hydration status and may not require adjustments; however, if desired, both creatinine and specific gravity adjustments are equally suitable. © The Author(s) 2015.

Consumption of blood, renal function and utilization of free water by the vampire bat, Desmodus rotundus.

PubMed

Busch, C

1988-01-01

1. Captive vampires consume blood to an average of 59.5% of their body weight in a period no longer than 30 min. 2. Fluid consumption by the vampire is mainly dependent on the presence of plasma in fluid. 3. Ingestion of blood is accompanied and followed by diuresis, urine flow attained a peak 20-25 min after feeding. 4. Urine osmolality increased with time after feeding. Vampires concentrate urea in urine to 2630 mmol/l but cannot concentrate electrolytes beyond 453 mmol/l. 5. Inorganic salts other than sodium chloride never contribute more than 9% to the total osmotic activity. 6. Na to Cl ratio and concentration of non-nitrogenous organic acids increase with urine osmolality. 7. Vampires drink free water if available.

Validation of uranium determination in urine by ICP-MS.

PubMed

Bouvier-Capely, C; Baglan, N; Montègue, A; Ritt, J; Cossonnet, C

2003-08-01

A rapid procedure--dilution of urine+ICP-MS measurement--for the determination of uranium in urine was validated. Large ranges of concentration and isotopic composition were studied on urine samples excreted by occupationally exposed workers. The results were consistent with those obtained by fluorimetry and by alpha spectrometry after a purification procedure, two currently used techniques. However, the proposed procedure is limited for determination of the minor isotope 234U. Thus for worker monitoring, the conversion of 234U mass concentration into activity concentration can lead to an erroneous value of the effective dose, in particular for a contamination at very low level with highly enriched uranium. A solution to avoid this hazard is to perform a chemical purification prior to ICP-MS measurement to lower uncertainty and detection limit for 234U.

Intermittent bolus injection versus continuous infusion of furosemide in normal adult greyhound dogs.

PubMed

Adin, Darcy B; Taylor, Aaron W; Hill, Richard C; Scott, Karen C; Martin, Frank G

2003-01-01

Several studies in human subjects have demonstrated greater diuresis with constant rate infusion (CRI) furosemide than intermittent bolus (IB) furosemide. This study was conducted to compare the diuretic efficacy of the same total dose of IB furosemide and CRI furosemide in 6 healthy, adult Greyhound dogs in a randomized crossover design with a 2-week washout period between treatments. For IB administration, dogs received 3 mg/kg at 0 and 4 hours. For CRI administration, dogs received a 0.66 mg/kg loading dose followed by 0.66 mg/kg/h over 8 hours. The same volume of fluid was administered for both methods. Urine output was quantified hourly. Urine electrolyte concentrations, urine specific gravity (USG), packed cell volume (PCV), total protein (TP), serum electrolyte concentrations, total carbon dioxide (TCO2), serum creatinine (sCr), and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) were determined every 2 hours. Urine production and water intake were greater (P < or = 0.05) for CRI than IB. Urine sodium and calcium losses were greater (P < 0.05) and urine potassium loss was less (P = 0.03) for CRI than IB, but there was no evidence of a difference between methods for urine magnesium and chloride losses. Serum chloride concentration was less (P < 0.001), sCr concentration greater (P = 0.04). TP greater (P = 0.01), and PCV greater (P = 0.003) for CRI than IB. No differences in USG, TCO2, BUN, or serum potassium, sodium, and magnesium concentrations were detected between methods. The same total dose of CRI furosemide resulted in more diuresis, natriuresis, and calciuresis and less kaliuresis than IB furosemide in these normal Greyhound dogs over 8 hours, suggesting that furosemide is a more effective diuretic when administered by CRI than by IB.

An assessment of contemporary atomic spectroscopic techniques for the determination of lead in blood and urine matrices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Parsons, Patrick J.; Geraghty, Ciaran; Verostek, Mary Frances

2001-09-01

The preparation and validation of a number of clinical reference materials for the determination of lead in blood and urine is described. Four candidate blood lead reference materials (Lots, 047-050), and four candidate urine lead reference materials (Lots, 034, 035, 037 and 038), containing physiologically-bound lead at clinically relevant concentrations, were circulated to up to 21 selected laboratories specializing in this analysis. Results from two interlaboratory studies were used to establish certified values and uncertainty estimates for these reference materials. These data also provided an assessment of current laboratory techniques for the measurement of lead in blood and urine. For the blood lead measurements, four laboratories used electrothermal atomization AAS, three used anodic stripping voltammetry and one used both ETAAS and ICP-MS. For the urine lead measurements, 11 laboratories used ETAAS (most with Zeeman background correction) and 10 used ICP-MS. Certified blood lead concentrations, ±S.D., ranged from 5.9±0.4 μg/dl (0.28±0.02 μmol/l) to 76.0±2.2 μg/dl (3.67±0.11 μmol/l) and urine lead concentrations ranged from 98±5 μg/l (0.47±0.02 μmol/l) to 641±36 μg/l (3.09±0.17 μmol/l). The highest concentration blood lead material was subjected to multiple analyses using ETAAS over an extended time period. The data indicate that more stringent internal quality control practices are necessary to improve long-term precision. While the certification of blood lead materials was accomplished in a manner consistent with established practices, the urine lead materials proved more troublesome, particularly at concentrations above 600 μg/l (2.90 μmol/l).

Association between Urine Phthalate Levels and Poor Attentional Performance in Children with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder with Evidence of Dopamine Gene-Phthalate Interaction

PubMed Central

Park, Subin; Kim, Bung-Nyun; Cho, Soo-Churl; Kim, Yeni; Kim, Jae-Won; Lee, Ju-Young; Hong, Soon-Beom; Shin, Min-Sup; Yoo, Hee Jeong; Im, Hosub; Cheong, Jae Hoon; Han, Doug Hyun

2014-01-01

Although there is some evidence supporting the existence of an association between prenatal maternal or postnatal child’s urine phthalate metabolite concentrations and poor attentional performances, the interaction between urine phthalate metabolite levels and genetic variation for neuropsychological deficit of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has not been examined. The aim of this study was to determine whether phthalate metabolites in urine are associated with poor neuropsychological performance in children with ADHD, and whether such association is affected by genotype-phthalate interaction. A cross-sectional examination of urine phthalate metabolite concentrations and the continuous performance test (CPT) were performed in 179 Korean children with ADHD recruited from department of psychiatry of university hospital. Correlations between urine phthalate metabolite concentrations and the CPT scores were investigated, and the interaction of phthalate metabolite levels with the selected polymorphisms at major candidate genes for ADHD, namely dopamine receptor D4 (DRD4), dopamine transporter, α-2A-adrenergic receptor, and norepinephrine transporter genes. For the subjects with the DRD4 4/4 genotype, there were significant associations of the urine phthalate metabolite concentrations with the number of omission errors, the number of commission errors, and the response time variability scores on the CPT. However, for the subjects without the DRD4 4/4 genotype, no significant associations were found. The results of this study suggest a possible association between phthalate metabolite concentrations and poor attentional performances of ADHD as well as a genetic influence on this association. Further prospective and epigenetic studies are needed to investigate causality and pathophysiological mechanisms. PMID:24978879

Glycogen synthase kinase 3α regulates urine concentrating mechanism in mice

PubMed Central

Nørregaard, Rikke; Tao, Shixin; Nilsson, Line; Woodgett, James R.; Kakade, Vijayakumar; Yu, Alan S. L.; Howard, Christiana

2015-01-01

In mammals, glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)3 comprises GSK3α and GSK3β isoforms. GSK3β has been shown to play a role in the ability of kidneys to concentrate urine by regulating vasopressin-mediated water permeability of collecting ducts, whereas the role of GSK3α has yet to be discerned. To investigate the role of GSK3α in urine concentration, we compared GSK3α knockout (GSK3αKO) mice with wild-type (WT) littermates. Under normal conditions, GSK3αKO mice had higher water intake and urine output. GSK3αKO mice also showed reduced urine osmolality and aquaporin-2 levels but higher urinary vasopressin. When water deprived, they failed to concentrate their urine to the same level as WT littermates. The addition of 1-desamino-8-d-arginine vasopressin to isolated inner medullary collecting ducts increased the cAMP response in WT mice, but this response was reduced in GSK3αKO mice, suggesting reduced responsiveness to vasopressin. Gene silencing of GSK3α in mpkCCD cells also reduced forskolin-induced aquaporin-2 expression. When treated with LiCl, an isoform nonselective inhibitor of GSK3 and known inducer of polyuria, WT mice developed significant polyuria within 6 days. However, in GSK3αKO mice, the polyuric response was markedly reduced. This study demonstrates, for the first time, that GSK3α could play a crucial role in renal urine concentration and suggest that GSK3α might be one of the initial targets of Li+ in LiCl-induced nephrogenic diabetes insipidus. PMID:25608967

An optical spot test for the detection of dopamine in human urine using stabilized in air lipid films.

PubMed

Nikolelis, Dimitrios P; Drivelos, Dimitrios A; Simantiraki, Maria G; Koinis, Spyros

2004-04-15

The present technique describes a simple, sensitive spot test for the rapid one-shot detection of dopamine in human urine using lipid films with incorporated resorcin[4]arene receptor that are synthesized by a chemical reaction with a methacrylate polymer on a glass fiber filter. The lipid films without the receptor provided fluorescence under a UV lamp. The use of the receptor in these films quenched this fluorescence, and the color became similar to that of the filters without the lipid films. A drop of dopamine or urine containing this stimulant provided a "switching on" of the fluorescence, which allows the rapid detection of this stimulant in human urine at 10(-8) M concentrations. The novelty of the present work is that it opens new routes in the field of biosensing, i.e., development of sensitive, rapid, and simple methods for detecting species based on the fluorescence of the lipid membranes on a polymer film, and provides a spot test technique for the rapid detection of dopamine. The effect of potent interferences including a wide range of compounds usually found in human urine (i.e., ascorbic aid, glucose, leucine, glycine, tartrate, citrate, bicarbonate, and caffeine) was examined using an aqueous buffered solution that contained the potent interference and dopamine at two lower concentration levels (i.e., 3 x 10(-8)-10(-8) M). The effect of proteins and lipids was also investigated at these two lower dopamine concentration levels in aqueous buffered solution. The results showed no interferences from all these constituents at concentrations usually found in human urine samples; for example, albumin up to 3.22 g/L concentration levels did not provide any interference (i.e., no fluorescence). A drop of urine containing this stimulant provided similar results, i.e., a "switching on" of the fluorescence that allows a technique for the rapid detection of this stimulant in human urine at 10(-8) M concentrations. The technique is not based on a calibration graph but is a semiquantitative method for the detection of dopamine in real samples of urine that can be complimentary to HPLC methods. The difference in color between the samples containing dopamine at concentration levels of 10(-8)-10(-7) M can be easily distinguished by naked eye and a digital camera. An increase of dopamine concentration from 10(-8) to 10(-7) M makes the color more blue whereas the color of the filters remains purple in the blank test (i.e., addition of a urine sample without dopamine or dopamine at concentration levels of 10(-9) M to the filters that contain the lipid membranes with incorporated receptor). The reproducibility of the method was checked in approximately 100 samples, and all of them were found to provide similar results. Note that it was also found that the colors remain stable in the samples containing dopamine for periods of more than two months.

Accumulation and Depletion of Cadmium in the Blood, Milk, Hair, Feces, and Urine of Cows During and After Treatment.

PubMed

Su, Chuanyou; Zhang, Junmin; Li, Zhentian; Zhao, Qingyu; Liu, Kaidong; Sun, Youde; Wang, Jianhua

2017-01-01

The objective of this study was to assess the accumulation and depletion of cadmium in the blood, milk, hair, feces, and urine of Holstein cows during and after treatment. Three Holstein cows received daily oral cadmium administrations (as cadmium chloride) of 0.182 mg/kg body weight/day for 21 days followed by a 63-day withdrawal period. Blood, milk, hair, feces, and urine were collected during treatment and withdrawal periods. Cadmium concentrations were measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Cadmium concentrations in blood (0.61-1.12 μg/L), milk (0.39-1.04 μg/L), and urine (0.41-2.05 μg/L) were low. Comparatively, cadmium concentrations in feces were higher, especially on treatment day 14 (20.11 mg/kg dry matter). Fecal cadmium concentrations decreased to baseline levels (0.12 mg/kg dry matter) on withdrawal day 21. Hair cadmium concentrations increased with treatment, reaching the highest levels on withdrawal day 7 (24.33 μg/kg). Most of the cadmium was excreted via the feces and very little was present in urine or milk. Cadmium residues were detected in blood and milk more than 63 days after cadmium withdrawal. Hair cadmium concentrations may reflect exposure to the metal.

Antagonistic effects of atipamezole and yohimbine on medetomidine-induced diuresis in healthy dogs

PubMed Central

Talukder, Md. Hasanuzzaman; Hikasa, Yoshiaki; Takahashi, Hajime; Sato, Kanako; Matsuu, Aya

2009-01-01

This study aimed to investigate and compare the antagonistic effects of atipamezole and yohimbine on medetomidine-induced diuresis in healthy dogs. Five dogs were used repeatedly in each of 8 groups. One group was not medicated. Dogs in the other groups received 20 μg/kg of medetomidine intramuscularly and, 0.5 h later, saline (as the control injection), 50, 100, or 300 μg/kg of atipamezole, or 50, 100, or 300 μg/kg of yohimbine intramuscularly. Urine and blood samples were taken 11 times over 24 h for measurement of the following: urine volume, specific gravity, and creatinine concentration; urine and plasma osmolality; urine and plasma concentrations of electrolytes and arginine vasopressin (AVP); and the plasma concentration of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP). Both atipamezole and yohimbine antagonized the diuretic effect of medetomidine, inhibiting medetomidine-induced decreases in urine specific gravity, osmolality, and concentrations of creatinine, sodium, potassium, chloride, and AVP and reversing both the medetomidine-induced increase in plasma concentrations of sodium, potassium, and chloride and the medetomidine-induced decrease in the plasma AVP concentration. Atipamezole significantly stimulated ANP release. The antidiuretic action of yohimbine was more potent than that of atipamezole but was not dose-dependent, in contrast to the action of atipamezole. The effects of these drugs may not be due only to actions mediated by α2-adrenoceptors. PMID:20046627

Hydrophobic Sand Is a Non-Toxic Method of Urine Collection, Appropriate for Urinary Metal Analysis in the Rat

PubMed Central

Hoffman, Jessica F.; Vergara, Vernieda B.; Mog, Steven R.; Kalinich, John F.

2017-01-01

Hydrophobic sand is a relatively new method of urine collection in the rodent, comparable to the established method using a metabolic cage. Urine samples are often used in rodent research, especially for biomarkers of health changes after internal contamination from embedded metals, such as in a model of a military shrapnel wound. However, little research has been done on the potential interference of hydrophobic sand with urine metal concentrations either by contamination from the sand particulate, or adsorption of metals from the urine. We compare urine collected from rats using the metabolic cage method and the hydrophobic sand method for differences in metal concentration of common urinary metals, and examine physical properties of the sand material for potential sources of contamination. We found minimal risk of internal contamination of the rat by hydrophobic sand, and no interference of the sand with several common metals of interest (cobalt, strontium, copper, and manganese), although we advise caution in studies of aluminum in urine. PMID:29051457

S-phenyl-N-acetylcysteine in urine of rats and workers after exposure to benzene

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Jongeneelen, F.J.; Dirven, H.A.; Leijdekkers, C.M.

1987-05-01

An HPLC method for the determination of S-phenyl-N-acetylcysteine in urine is described. The sensitivity is 6 mumol/L (CV = 9%) urine. Exposure of rats to six different concentrations of benzene, ranging from 0-30 ppm, was highly associated with urinary excretion of S-phenyl-N-acetylcysteine (r = 0.86) and with total phenol (r = 0.81). A background level of phenol was found in urine of both non-exposed rats and of non-exposed referents. However, no background excretion of S-phenyl-N-acetylcysteine was found, either in rats or in humans. In urine of exposed rats, the level of S-phenyl-N-acetylcysteine was approximately five times lower than the phenolmore » level. Workers occupationally exposed to benzene, showing high levels of urinary phenol, revealed low concentrations of urinary S-phenyl-N-acetylcysteine. The biological monitoring of industrial exposure to benzene by determination of S-phenyl-N-acetylcysteine in urine is not better than the determination of phenol in urine.« less

The impact of tabalumab on the kidney in systemic lupus erythematosus: results from two phase 3 randomized, clinical trials.

PubMed

Rovin, B H; Dooley, M A; Radhakrishnan, J; Ginzler, E M; Forrester, T D; Anderson, P W

2016-12-01

Tabalumab is a monoclonal antibody that neutralizes membrane and soluble B-cell activating factor. Two 52-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled phase 3 trials evaluated the safety and efficacy of tabalumab in systemic lupus erythematosus. Patients with moderate to severe active systemic lupus erythematosus (without severe active lupus nephritis) were randomly assigned 1:1:1 to receive tabalumab (120 mg subcutaneously every 2 or 4 weeks) or placebo for 52 weeks. Serum creatinine concentration, estimated glomerular filtration rate, urine protein/creatinine ratio, renal flares and renal adverse events were determined monthly. Data were analyzed for the intent-to-treat population and for intent-to-treat patients with baseline urine protein/creatinine ratio >20 mg/mmol (intent-to-treat plus urine protein/creatinine ratio). The trials enrolled 2262 patients. At baseline, demographics, systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity, serum creatinine concentration, estimated glomerular filtration rate and urine protein/creatinine ratio were similar among the treatment arms (with the exception of disease duration). In the intent-to-treat and intent-to-treat plus urine protein/creatinine ratio populations, there were no differences between the arms in the baseline-to-endpoint change in serum creatinine concentration, glomerular filtration rate, urine protein/creatinine ratio, or renal flare rates. Tabalumab resulted in a significant B-cell reduction and decreased immunoglobulin G levels at both doses. Compared to placebo, tabalumab did not significantly affect the serum creatinine concentration, glomerular filtration rate, urine protein/creatinine ratio, or renal flare rates over 1 year in intent-to-treat or intent-to-treat plus urine protein/creatinine ratio patients. There were no significant renal safety signals.ClinicalTrials.gov identifiers: NCT01205438 and NCT01196091 Lupus (2016) 25, 1597-1601. © The Author(s) 2016.

[Estimation of mercury in the urine of cigarette smokers].

PubMed

Kulikowska-Karpińska, Elżbieta; Zdanowicz, Magdalena; Gałażyn-Sidorczuk, Małgorzata

Cigarette smoking is one of the most common habits of the modern world. According to a NATPOL PLU study, every third adult Pole is dependent on nicotine. Tobacco smoke contains about 5,000 components, of which over 1,000 are very toxic chemical substances (3,4-benzopyrene, heavy metals, free radicals, hydrogen cyanide, nitrogen oxides and N-nitrosamines). Exposure to tobacco smoke is an example of a complex, with a significant number of interactions. To assess the concentration of copper in the urine of smokers. Based on the results, an attempt was made to determine whether smoking can affect the level of copper in the body. The study involved 170 healthy volunteers, 99 smokers and 71 non-smokers (control group). The age of patients in both groups were in the range of 20-60 years. The mean age for men and women was 41 years. The average length of cigarette smoking was 18 years for women and 21 years for men, and the number of cigarettes smoked 1-40 ⁄ 24. The urine concentrations of Cu were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) and serum creatinine kinetic method using a set of BIOLAB. Cu concentration in urine was expressed in mg / g creatinine. Smokers were found to have reduced levels of copper in the urine, depending on sex, age and brand of cigarettes. In male smokers, copper concentration in the urine was dependent on age and time of smoking, whereas among women this relationship was not observed. Cigarette smoking significantly influences the level of copper in the urine. Both female and male smokers showed reduced levels of copper in the urine, which may indicate its increased accumulation in the body. Excessive accumulation of copper is very dangerous since it may exhibit toxic effects towards many organs and systems.

Human urine as test material in 1H NMR-based metabonomics: recommendations for sample preparation and storage.

PubMed

Lauridsen, Michael; Hansen, Steen H; Jaroszewski, Jerzy W; Cornett, Claus

2007-02-01

Metabonomic approaches are believed to have the capability of revolutionizing diagnosis of diseases and assessment of patient conditions after medical interventions. In order to ensure comparability of metabonomic 1H NMR data from different studies, we suggest validated sample preparation guidelines for human urine based on a stability study that evaluates effects of storage time and temperature, freeze-drying, and the presence of preservatives. The results indicated that human urine samples should be stored at or below -25 degrees C, as no changes in the 1H NMR fingerprints have been observed during storage at this temperature for 26 weeks. Formation of acetate, presumably due to microbial contamination, was occasionally observed in samples stored at 4 degrees C without addition of a preservative. Addition of a preserving agent is not mandatory provided that the samples are stored at -25 degrees C. Thus, no differences were observed between 1H NMR spectra of nonpreserved urines and urines with added sodium azide and stored at -25 degrees C, whereas the presence of sodium fluoride caused a shift of especially citrate resonances. Freeze-drying of urine and reconstitution in D2O at pH 7.4 resulted in the disappearance of the creatinine CH2 signal at delta 4.06 due to deuteration. A study evaluating the effects of phosphate buffer concentration on signal variability and assessment of the probability of citrate or creatinine resonances crossing bucket border (a boundary between adjacent integrated regions) led to the conclusion that a minimum buffer concentration of 0.3 M is adequate for normal urines used in this study. However, final buffer concentration of 1 M will be required for very concentrated urines.

Urinary Concentrations and Antibacterial Activities of Nitroxoline at 250 Milligrams versus Trimethoprim at 200 Milligrams against Uropathogens in Healthy Volunteers

PubMed Central

Münch, Fabian; Pilatz, Adrian; Bärmann, Birte; Weidner, Wolfgang; Wagenlehner, Christine M.; Straubinger, Marion; Blenk, Holger; Pfister, Wolfgang; Kresken, Michael; Naber, Kurt G.

2014-01-01

Because of the increasing bacterial resistance of uropathogens against standard antibiotics, such as trimethoprim (TMP), older antimicrobial drugs, such as nitroxoline (NTX), should be reevaluated. This randomized crossover study investigated the urinary concentrations of parent drugs and their metabolites and their antibacterial activities (urinary inhibitory titers [UITs] and urinary bactericidal titers [UBTs]) against uropathogens at three different urinary pH values within 24 h in six healthy volunteers after a single oral dose of NTX at 250 mg versus TMP at 200 mg. In three additional volunteers, urinary bactericidal kinetics (UBK) were studied after oral administration of NTX at 250 mg three times a day. The mean urinary concentrations of NTX and NTX sulfate in 24 h were 0.012 to 0.507 mg/liter and 0.28 to 27.83 mg/liter, respectively. The mean urinary concentrations of TMP were 18.79 to 41.59 mg/liter. The antibacterial activity of NTX was higher in acidic urine than in alkaline urine, and that of TMP was higher in alkaline urine than in acidic urine. The UITs and UBTs of NTX were generally lower than those of TMP except for a TMP-resistant Escherichia coli strain, for which NTX showed higher UITs/UBTs than did TMP. UBK showed mainly bacteriostatic activity of NTX in urine. NTX exhibits mainly bacteriostatic activity and TMP also shows bactericidal activity in urine against susceptible strains. NTX is a more active antibacterial in acidic urine, and TMP is more active in alkaline urine. The cumulative effects of multiple doses or inhibition of bacterial adherence could not be evaluated. (This study has been registered at EudraCT under registration no. 2009-015631-32.) PMID:24217699

Correlation between some parameters of lead absorption and lead intoxication

PubMed Central

Waldron, H. A.

1971-01-01

Waldron, H. A. (1971).Brit. J. industr. Med.,28, 195-199. Correlation between some parameters of lead absorption and lead intoxication. Use has been made of data collected over a number of years from workers exposed to a lead hazard in a motor-car factory. The correlations between various parameters of lead absorption and lead intoxication were computed, including blood and urine lead concentrations, urinary coproporphyrin, ALA and PBG concentrations, and haemoglobin concentration. In all, 15 correlation coefficients were calculated, of which only six showed a statistically significant result (i.e., P<0·05). These six were blood lead and urine lead (r = 0·38, P<0·001), urine lead and coproporphyrin (r = 0·42, P<0·001), urine lead and ALA (r = 0·43, P<0·001), coproporphyrin and ALA (r = 0·75, P<0·001), ALA and PBG (r = 0·49, P<0·001), and urine lead and PBG (r = 0·19, P<0·05). PMID:5572689

Comparison of Four Strong Acids on the Precipitation Potential of Gypsum in Brines During Distillation of Pretreated, Augmented Urine

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Muirhead, Dean

2011-01-01

Two batches of nominally pretreated and augmented urine were prepared with the baseline pretreatment formulation of sulfuric acid and chromium trioxide. The urine was augmented with inorganic salts and organic compounds in order to simulate a urinary ionic concentrations representing the upper 95 percentile on orbit. Three strong mineral acids: phosphoric, hydrochloric, and nitric acid, were substituted for the sulfuric acid for comparison to the baseline sulfuric acid pretreatment formulation. Three concentrations of oxidizer in the pretreatment formulation were also tested. Pretreated urine was distilled to 85% water recovery to determine the effect of each acid and its conjugate base on the precipitation of minerals during distillation. The brines were analyzed for calcium and sulfate ion, total, volatile, and fixed suspended solids. Test results verified that substitution of phosphoric, hydrochloric, or nitric acids for sulfuric acid would prevent the precipitation of gypsum up to 85% recovery from pretreated urine representing the upper 95 percentile calcium concentration on orbit.

Urinary excretion of unmetabolized benzene as an indicator of benzene exposure

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ghittori, S.; Fiorentino, M.L.; Maestri, L.

1993-03-01

Benzene concentrations in urine samples (Cu, ng/L) from 110 workers exposed to benzene in chemical plants and gasoline pumps were determined by injecting urine supernate into a gas chromatograph. The urine was saturated with anhydrous N2SO4 to facilitate the passage of benzene in the air over the urine. The solvent was stripped from the urine surface and concentrated on an adsorbent substrate (Carbotrap tube) by means of a suction pump (flow rate 150 ml/m). Wash-up of the head space was achieved by simultaneous intake of filtered air through charcoal. Benzene was thermically desorbed and injected in a column (thermal tubemore » disorder, Supelco; 370 degrees C thermal flash; borosilicate capillary glass column SPB-1, 60 m length, 0.75 mm ID, 1 microns film thickness; GC Dani 8580-FID). Benzene concentrations in the urine from 40 non-exposed subjects (20 smokers > 20 cigarette/d and 20 nonsmokers) were also determined [median value of 790 ng/L (10.17 nmol/L) and 131 ng/L (1.70 nmol/L), respectively]. The 8-h time-weighted exposure intensity (Cl, micrograms/m3) of individual workers was monitored by means of charcoal tubes. The median value for exposure to benzene was 736 micrograms/m3 (9.42 mumol/m3) [geometric standard deviation (GSD) = 2.99; range 64 micrograms/m3 (0.82 mumol/m3) to 13,387 micrograms/m3 (171.30 mumol/m3)]. The following linear correlation was found between benzene concentrations in urine (Cu, ng/L) and benzene concentrations in the breathing zone (Cl, micrograms/m3): log(Cu) = 0.645 x log(Cl) + 1.399 r = .559, n = 110, p < .0001 With exclusion of workers who smoked from the study, the correlation between air benzene concentration and benzene measured in urine was: log(Cu) = 0.872 x log(Cl) + 0.6 r = .763, n = 63, p < .0001 The study results indicate that the urinary level of benzene is an indicator of occupational exposure to benzene.« less

Comparison of Plasma and Urine Biomarker Performance in Acute Kidney Injury

PubMed Central

Schley, Gunnar; Köberle, Carmen; Manuilova, Ekaterina; Rutz, Sandra; Forster, Christian; Weyand, Michael; Formentini, Ivan; Kientsch-Engel, Rosemarie; Eckardt, Kai-Uwe; Willam, Carsten

2015-01-01

Background New renal biomarkers measured in urine promise to increase specificity for risk stratification and early diagnosis of acute kidney injury (AKI) but concomitantly may be altered by urine concentration effects and chronic renal insufficiency. This study therefore directly compared the performance of AKI biomarkers in urine and plasma. Methods This single-center, prospective cohort study included 110 unselected adults undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass between 2009 and 2010. Plasma and/or urine concentrations of creatinine, cystatin C, neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), liver fatty acid-binding protein (L-FABP), kidney injury molecule 1 (KIM1), and albumin as well as 15 additional biomarkers in plasma and urine were measured during the perioperative period. The primary outcome was AKI defined by AKIN serum creatinine criteria within 72 hours after surgery. Results Biomarkers in plasma showed markedly better discriminative performance for preoperative risk stratification and early postoperative (within 24h after surgery) detection of AKI than urine biomarkers. Discriminative power of urine biomarkers improved when concentrations were normalized to urinary creatinine, but urine biomarkers had still lower AUC values than plasma biomarkers. Best diagnostic performance 4h after surgery had plasma NGAL (AUC 0.83), cystatin C (0.76), MIG (0.74), and L-FAPB (0.73). Combinations of multiple biomarkers did not improve their diagnostic power. Preoperative clinical scoring systems (EuroSCORE and Cleveland Clinic Foundation Score) predicted the risk for AKI (AUC 0.76 and 0.71) and were not inferior to biomarkers. Preexisting chronic kidney disease limited the diagnostic performance of both plasma and urine biomarkers. Conclusions In our cohort plasma biomarkers had higher discriminative power for risk stratification and early diagnosis of AKI than urine biomarkers. For preoperative risk stratification of AKI clinical models showed similar discriminative performance to biomarkers. The discriminative performance of both plasma and urine biomarkers was reduced by preexisting chronic kidney disease. PMID:26669323

V2R mutations and nephrogenic diabetes insipidus.

PubMed

Bichet, Daniel G

2009-01-01

Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus (NDI), which can be inherited or acquired, is characterized by an inability to concentrate urine despite normal or elevated plasma concentrations of the antidiuretic hormone, arginine vasopressin (AVP). Polyuria, with hyposthenuria, and polydipsia are the cardinal clinical manifestations of the disease. Nephrogenic failure to concentrate urine maximally may be due to a defect in vasopressin-induced water permeability of the distal tubules and collecting ducts, to insufficient buildup of the corticopapillary interstitial osmotic gradient, or to a combination of these two factors. Thus, the broadest definition of the term NDI embraces any antidiuretic hormone-resistant urinary-concentrating defect, including medullary disease with low interstitial osmolality, renal failure, and osmotic diuresis. About 90% of patients with congenital NDI are males with X-linked recessive NDI (OMIM 304800)(1) and have mutations in the AVP receptor 2 (AVPR2) gene that codes for the vasopressin V(2) receptor; the gene is located in chromosome region Xq28. In about 10% of the families studied, congenital NDI has an autosomal recessive or autosomal dominant mode of inheritance (OMIM 222000 and 125800)(1). Mutations have been identified in the aquaporin-2 gene (AQP2, OMIM 107777)(1), which is located in chromosome region 12q13 and codes for the vasopressin-sensitive water channel. NDI is clinically distinguishable from neurohypophyseal diabetes insipidus (OMIM 125700(1); also referred to as central or neurogenic diabetes insipidus) by a lack of response to exogenous AVP and by plasma levels of AVP that rise normally with increase in plasma osmolality. Hereditary neurohypophyseal diabetes insipidus is secondary to mutations in the gene encoding AVP (OMIM 192340)(1). Neurohypophyseal diabetes insipidus is also a component of autosomal recessive Wolfram syndrome 1 or DIDMOAD syndrome (diabetes insipidus, diabetes mellitus, optic atrophy, and deafness) (OMIM 222300)(1), an autosomal recessive disorder. Other inherited disorders with complex polyuro-polydipsic syndrome with loss of water, sodium, chloride, calcium, magnesium, and potassium include Bartter syndrome (OMIM 601678)(1) and cystinosis (OMIM 219800)(1), while long-term lithium administration is the main cause of acquired NDI. Here, we use the gene symbols approved by the HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (http://www.gene.ucl.ac.uk/nomenclature) and provide OMIM entry numbers [OMIM (Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man)(1); McKusick-Nathans Institute for Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore, MD) and National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine (Bethesda, MD), 2000; World Wide Web URL: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/omim/]. Copyright © 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Bisphenol A concentrations in maternal breast milk and infant urine

PubMed Central

Mendonca, K.; Hauser, R.; Calafat, A.M.; Arbuckle, T.E.; Duty, S.M.

2013-01-01

Purpose The present report describes the distribution of breast milk and urinary free and total bisphenol A (BPA) concentrations, from 27 post-partum women and their 31 infants, and explores the influence of age, sex, and nutritional source on infant BPA urinary concentration. Methods Both free (unconjugated) and total (free plus conjugated) BPA concentrations from women’s breast milk samples and infants’ urine samples were measured by online solid-phase extraction coupled to high-performance liquid chromatography–isotope dilution tandem mass spectrometry. Descriptive statistics and non-parametric tests of group comparisons were conducted. Results Total BPA was detected in 93% of urine samples in this healthy infant population aged 3–15 months who were without known environmental exposure to BPA (interquartile range [IQR]=1.2 – 4.4 μg/L). Similarly, 75% of the mothers’ breast milk samples had detectable concentrations of total BPA (IQR=0.4 – 1.4 μg/L). The magnitude and frequency of detection of free BPA in the children’s urine and the mothers’ breast milk were much lower than the total concentrations. Conclusions Total BPA was detected in 93% of this healthy infant population aged 3–15 months who are without known environmental exposure to BPA. Neither free nor total BPA urinary concentrations differed significantly by infant’s sex or by nutritional source (breast milk and/or formula) while age group was of borderline significance. There were no significant correlations between free or total BPA concentrations in mothers’ breast milk and their infants’ urine. PMID:23212895

The examination of urine samples for pathogenic microbes by the luciferase assay for ATP. 1: The effect of the presence of fungi, fungal like bacteria and kidney cells in urine samples

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bush, V. N.

1973-01-01

A method for accurately determining urinary tract infections in man is introduced. The method is based on adenosine triphosphate (ATP) concentration in urine samples after removing nonbacterial ATP. Adenosine triphosphate concentration is measured from the bioluminescent reaction of luciferase when mixed with ATP. An examination was also made of the effectiveness of rupturing agents on monkey kidney cells Candia albicans, a Rhodotorula species, and a Streptomyces species in determining whether these cells could contribute ATP to the bacterial ATP value of a urine sample.

Increased dietary long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids alter serum fatty acid concentrations and lower risk of urine stone formation in cats.

PubMed

Hall, Jean A; Brockman, Jeff A; Davidson, Stephen J; MacLeay, Jen M; Jewell, Dennis E

2017-01-01

The lifespan of cats with non-obstructive kidney stones is shortened compared with healthy cats indicating a need to reduce stone formation and minimize chronic kidney disease. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of increasing dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) on urine characteristics. Domestic-short-hair cats (n = 12; mean age 5.6 years) were randomized into two groups and fed one of two dry-cat foods in a cross-over study design. For one week before study initiation, all cats consumed control food that contained 0.07% arachidonic acid (AA), but no eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) or docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Group 1 continued eating control food for 56 days. Group 2 was fed test food for 56 days, which was control food plus fish oil and high-AA oil. Test food contained 0.17% AA, 0.09% EPA and 0.18% DHA. After 56 days, cats were fed the opposite food for another 56 days. At baseline and after each feeding period, serum was analyzed for fatty acid concentrations, and urine for specific gravity, calcium concentration, relative-super-saturation for struvite crystals, and a calcium-oxalate-titrimetric test was performed. After consuming test food, cats had increased (all P<0.001) serum concentrations of EPA (173%), DHA (61%), and AA (35%); decreased urine specific gravity (P = 0.02); decreased urine calcium concentration (P = 0.06); decreased relative-super-saturation for struvite crystals (P = 0.03); and increased resistance to oxalate crystal formation (P = 0.06) compared with cats consuming control food. Oxalate crystal formation was correlated with serum calcium concentration (r = 0.41; P<0.01). These data show benefits for reducing urine stone formation in cats by increasing dietary PUFA.

Speciation of arsenic in exfoliated urinary bladder epithelial cells from individuals exposed to arsenic in drinking water.

PubMed

Hernández-Zavala, Araceli; Valenzuela, Olga L; Matousek, Tomás; Drobná, Zuzana; Dĕdina, Jirí; García-Vargas, Gonzalo G; Thomas, David J; Del Razo, Luz M; Stýblo, Miroslav

2008-12-01

The concentration of arsenic in urine has been used as a marker of exposure to inorganic As (iAs). Relative proportions of urinary metabolites of iAs have been identified as potential biomarkers of susceptibility to iAs toxicity. However, the adverse effects of iAs exposure are ultimately determined by the concentrations of iAs metabolites in target tissues. In this study we examined the feasibility of analyzing As species in cells that originate in the urinary bladder, a target organ for As-induced cancer in humans. Exfoliated bladder epithelial cells (BECs) were collected from urine of 21 residents of Zimapan, Mexico, who were exposed to iAs in drinking water. We determined concentrations of iAs, methyl-As (MAs), and dimethyl-As (DMAs) in urine using conventional hydride generation-cryotrapping-atomic absorption spectrometry (HG-CT-AAS). We used an optimized HG-CT-AAS technique with detection limits of 12-17 pg As for analysis of As species in BECs. All urine samples and 20 of 21 BEC samples contained detectable concentrations of iAs, MAs, and DMAs. Sums of concentrations of these As species in BECs ranged from 0.18 to 11.4 ng As/mg protein and in urine from 4.8 to 1,947 ng As/mL. We found no correlations between the concentrations or ratios of As species in BECs and in urine. These results suggest that urinary levels of iAs metabolites do not necessarily reflect levels of these metabolites in the bladder epithelium. Thus, analysis of As species in BECs may provide a more effective tool for risk assessment of bladder cancer and other urothelial diseases associated with exposures to iAs.

Increased dietary long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids alter serum fatty acid concentrations and lower risk of urine stone formation in cats

PubMed Central

Brockman, Jeff A.; Davidson, Stephen J.; MacLeay, Jen M.; Jewell, Dennis E.

2017-01-01

The lifespan of cats with non-obstructive kidney stones is shortened compared with healthy cats indicating a need to reduce stone formation and minimize chronic kidney disease. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of increasing dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) on urine characteristics. Domestic-short-hair cats (n = 12; mean age 5.6 years) were randomized into two groups and fed one of two dry-cat foods in a cross-over study design. For one week before study initiation, all cats consumed control food that contained 0.07% arachidonic acid (AA), but no eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) or docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Group 1 continued eating control food for 56 days. Group 2 was fed test food for 56 days, which was control food plus fish oil and high-AA oil. Test food contained 0.17% AA, 0.09% EPA and 0.18% DHA. After 56 days, cats were fed the opposite food for another 56 days. At baseline and after each feeding period, serum was analyzed for fatty acid concentrations, and urine for specific gravity, calcium concentration, relative-super-saturation for struvite crystals, and a calcium-oxalate-titrimetric test was performed. After consuming test food, cats had increased (all P<0.001) serum concentrations of EPA (173%), DHA (61%), and AA (35%); decreased urine specific gravity (P = 0.02); decreased urine calcium concentration (P = 0.06); decreased relative-super-saturation for struvite crystals (P = 0.03); and increased resistance to oxalate crystal formation (P = 0.06) compared with cats consuming control food. Oxalate crystal formation was correlated with serum calcium concentration (r = 0.41; P<0.01). These data show benefits for reducing urine stone formation in cats by increasing dietary PUFA. PMID:29073223

Concentrations of delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol and 11-nor-9-carboxytetrahydrocannabinol in blood and urine after passive exposure to Cannabis smoke in a coffee shop.

PubMed

Röhrich, J; Schimmel, I; Zörntlein, S; Becker, J; Drobnik, S; Kaufmann, T; Kuntz, V; Urban, R

2010-05-01

Cannabinoid concentrations in blood and urine after passive exposure to cannabis smoke under real-life conditions were investigated in this study. Eight healthy volunteers were exposed to cannabis smoke for 3 h in a well-attended coffee shop in Maastricht, Netherlands. An initial blood and urine sample was taken from each volunteer before exposure. Blood samples were taken 1.5, 3.5, 6, and 14 h after start of initial exposure, and urine samples were taken after 3.5, 6, 14, 36, 60, and 84 h. The samples were subjected to immunoassay screening for cannabinoids and analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) for Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), 11-nor-hydroxy-Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC-OH), and 11-nor-9-carboxy-Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC-COOH). It could be demonstrated that all volunteers absorbed THC. However, the detected concentrations were rather small. None of the urine samples produced immunoassay results above the cutoff concentration of 25 ng/mL. THC-COOH concentrations up to 5.0 and 7.8 ng/mL before and after hydrolysis, respectively, were found in the quantitative GC-MS analysis of urine. THC could be detected in trace amounts close to the detection limit of the used method in the first two blood samples after initial exposure (1.5 and 3.5 h). In the 6 h blood samples, THC was not detectable anymore. THC-COOH could be detected after 1.5 h and was still found in 3 out of 8 blood samples after 14 h in concentrations between 0.5 and 1.0 ng/mL.

Plasma concentration-dependent suppression of endogenous hydrocortisone in the horse after intramuscular administration of dexamethasone-21-isonicotinate.

PubMed

Ekstrand, C; Bondesson, U; Gabrielsson, J; Hedeland, M; Kallings, P; Olsén, L; Ingvast-Larsson, C

2015-06-01

Detection times and screening limits (SL) are methods used to ensure that the performance of horses in equestrian sports is not altered by drugs. Drug concentration-response relationship and knowledge of concentration-time profiles in both plasma and urine are required. In this study, dexamethasone plasma and urine concentration-time profiles were investigated. Endogenous hydrocortisone plasma concentrations and their relationship to dexamethasone plasma concentrations were also explored. A single dose of dexamethasone-21-isonicotinate suspension (0.03 mg/kg) was administered intramuscularly to six horses. Plasma was analysed for dexamethasone and hydrocortisone and urine for dexamethasone, using UPLC-MS/MS. Dexamethasone was quantifiable in plasma for 8.3 ± 2.9 days (LLOQ: 0.025 μg/L) and in urine for 9.8 ± 3.1 days (LLOQ: 0.15 μg/L). Maximum observed dexamethasone concentration in plasma was 0.61 ± 0.12 μg/L and in urine 4.2 ± 0.9 μg/L. Terminal plasma half-life was 38.7 ± 19 h. Hydrocortisone was significantly suppressed for 140 h. The plasma half-life of hydrocortisone was 2.7 ± 1.3 h. Dexamethasone potency, efficacy and sigmoidicity factor for hydrocortisone suppression were 0.06 ± 0.04 μg/L, 0.95 ± 0.04 and 6.2 ± 4.6, respectively. Hydrocortisone suppression relates to the plasma concentration of dexamethasone. Thus, determination of irrelevant plasma concentrations and SL is possible. Future research will determine whether hydrocortisone suppression can be used as a biomarker of the clinical effect of dexamethasone. © 2014 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Guanidinoacetate and creatine plus creatinine assessment in physiologic fluids: an effective diagnostic tool for the biochemical diagnosis of arginine:glycine amidinotransferase and guanidinoacetate methyltransferase deficiencies.

PubMed

Carducci, Claudia; Birarelli, Maurizio; Leuzzi, Vincenzo; Carducci, Carla; Battini, Roberta; Cioni, Giovanni; Antonozzi, Italo

2002-10-01

Disorders of creatine metabolism arise from genetic alterations of arginine:glycine amidinotransferase (AGAT), guanidinoacetate methyltransferase (GAMT), and the creatine transporter. We developed a strategy for the detection of AGAT and GAMT defects by measurement of guanidinoacetate (GAA) and creatine plus creatinine (Cr+Crn) in biological fluids. Three patients with AGAT deficiency from the same pedigree and their eight relatives, as well as a patient affected by a GAMT defect and his parents were analyzed by a new HPLC procedure in comparison with 90 controls. The method, which uses precolumn derivatization with benzoin, separation with a reversed-phase column, and fluorescence detection, has shown good precision and sensitivity and requires minimal sample handling. In the three AGAT patients, plasma GAA was 0.01-0.04 micro mol/L [mean (SD) for neurologically normal controls was 1.16 (0.59) micromol/L], Cr+Crn was 15-29 micro mol/L [reference limit in our laboratory, 79 (38) micromol/L]. Urinary GAA was 2.4-5.8 micro mol/L [reference, 311 (191) micromol/L], and Cr+Crn was 2.1-3.3 mmol/L [reference, 9.9 (4.1) mmol/L]. We found a smaller decrease in GAA and Cr+Crn in some carriers of an AGAT defect. In the patient with GAMT deficiency, plasma and urine GAA was increased (18.6 and 1783 micromol/L, respectively), and Cr+Crn was decreased in plasma (10.7 micromol/L) and urine (2.1 mmol/L). GAA was increased in the parents' plasmas and in the mother's urine. The assessment of GAA is a new tool for the detection of both GAMT and AGAT deficiencies.

Renal calcinosis and stone formation in mice lacking osteopontin, Tamm-Horsfall protein, or both.

PubMed

Mo, Lan; Liaw, Lucy; Evan, Andrew P; Sommer, Andre J; Lieske, John C; Wu, Xue-Ru

2007-12-01

Although often supersaturated with mineral salts such as calcium phosphate and calcium oxalate, normal urine possesses an innate ability to keep them from forming harmful crystals. This inhibitory activity has been attributed to the presence of urinary macromolecules, although controversies abound regarding their role, or lack thereof, in preventing renal mineralization. Here, we show that 10% of the mice lacking osteopontin (OPN) and 14.3% of the mice lacking Tamm-Horsfall protein (THP) spontaneously form interstitial deposits of calcium phosphate within the renal papillae, events never seen in wild-type mice. Lack of both proteins causes renal crystallization in 39.3% of the double-null mice. Urinalysis revealed elevated concentrations of urine phosphorus and brushite (calcium phosphate) supersaturation in THP-null and OPN/THP-double null mice, suggesting that impaired phosphorus handling may be linked to interstitial papillary calcinosis in THP- but not in OPN-null mice. In contrast, experimentally induced hyperoxaluria provokes widespread intratubular calcium oxalate crystallization and stone formation in OPN/THP-double null mice, while completely sparing the wild-type controls. Whole urine from OPN-, THP-, or double-null mice all possessed a dramatically reduced ability to inhibit the adhesion of calcium oxalate monohydrate crystals to renal epithelial cells. These data establish OPN and THP as powerful and functionally synergistic inhibitors of calcium phosphate and calcium oxalate crystallization in vivo and suggest that defects in either molecule may contribute to renal calcinosis and stone formation, an exceedingly common condition that afflicts up to 12% males and 5% females.

Concentrations of Environmental Phenols and Parabens in Milk, Urine and Serum of Lactating North Carolina Women

PubMed Central

Hines, Erin P.; Mendola, Pauline; vonEhrenstein, Ondine S.; Ye, Xiaoyun; Calafat, Antonia M.; Fenton, Suzanne E.

2015-01-01

Phenols and parabens show some evidence for endocrine disruption in laboratory animals. The goal of the Methods Advancement for Milk Analysis (MAMA) Study was to develop or adapt methods to measure parabens (methyl, ethyl, butyl, propyl) and phenols (bisphenol A (BPA), 2,4- and 2,5-dichlorophenol, benzophenone-3, triclosan) in urine, milk and serum twice during lactation, to compare concentrations across matrices and with endogenous biomarkers among 34 North Carolina women. These non-persistent chemicals were detected in most urine samples (53-100%) and less frequently in milk or serum; concentrations differed by matrix. Although urinary parabens, triclosan and dichlorophenols concentrations correlated significantly at two time points, those of BPA and benzophenone-3 did not, suggesting considerable variability in those exposures. These pilot data suggest that nursing mothers are exposed to phenols and parabens; urine is the best measurement matrix; and correlations between chemical and endogenous immune-related biomarkers merit further investigation. PMID:25463527

Regulation of renal urea transport by vasopressin.

PubMed

Sands, Jeff M; Blount, Mitsi A; Klein, Janet D

2011-01-01

Terrestrial life would be miserable without the ability to concentrate urine. Production of concentrated urine requires complex interactions among the nephron segments and vasculature in the kidney medulla. In addition to water channels (aquaporins) and sodium transporters, urea transporters are critically important to the theories proposed to explain the physiologic processes occurring when urine is concentrated. Vasopressin (anti-diuretic hormone) is the key hormone regulating the production of concentrated urine. Vasopressin rapidly increases water and urea transport in the terminal inner medullary collecting duct (IMCD). Vasopressin rapidly increases urea permeability in the IMCD through increases in phosphorylation and apical plasma-membrane accumulation of the urea transporter A1 (UT-A1). Vasopressin acts through two cAMP-dependent signaling pathways in the IMCD: protein kinase A and exchange protein activated by cAMP Epac. Protein kinase A phosphorylates UT-A1 at serines 486 and 499. In summary, vasopressin regulates urea transport acutely by increasing UT-A1 phosphorylation and the apical plasma-membrane accumulation of UT-A1 through two cAMP-dependent pathways.

An analysis of workers' tritium concentration in urine samples as a function of time after intake at Korean pressurised heavy water reactors.

PubMed

Kim, Hee Geun; Kong, Tae Young

2012-12-01

In general, internal exposure from tritium at pressurised heavy water reactors (PHWRs) accounts for ∼20-40 % of the total radiation dose. Tritium usually reaches the equilibrium concentration after a few hours inside the body and is then excreted from the body with an effective half-life in the order of 10 d. In this study, tritium metabolism was reviewed using its excretion rate in urine samples of workers at Korean PHWRs. The tritium concentration in workers' urine samples was also measured as a function of time after intake. On the basis of the monitoring results, changes in the tritium concentration inside the body were then analysed.

A magnetic bead-based method for concentrating DNA from human urine for downstream detection.

PubMed

Bordelon, Hali; Russ, Patricia K; Wright, David W; Haselton, Frederick R

2013-01-01

Due to the presence of PCR inhibitors, PCR cannot be used directly on most clinical samples, including human urine, without pre-treatment. A magnetic bead-based strategy is one potential method to collect biomarkers from urine samples and separate the biomarkers from PCR inhibitors. In this report, a 1 mL urine sample was mixed within the bulb of a transfer pipette containing lyophilized nucleic acid-silica adsorption buffer and silica-coated magnetic beads. After mixing, the sample was transferred from the pipette bulb to a small diameter tube, and captured biomarkers were concentrated using magnetic entrainment of beads through pre-arrayed wash solutions separated by small air gaps. Feasibility was tested using synthetic segments of the 140 bp tuberculosis IS6110 DNA sequence spiked into pooled human urine samples. DNA recovery was evaluated by qPCR. Despite the presence of spiked DNA, no DNA was detectable in unextracted urine samples, presumably due to the presence of PCR inhibitors. However, following extraction with the magnetic bead-based method, we found that ∼50% of spiked TB DNA was recovered from human urine containing roughly 5×10(3) to 5×10(8) copies of IS6110 DNA. In addition, the DNA was concentrated approximately ten-fold into water. The final concentration of DNA in the eluate was 5×10(6), 14×10(6), and 8×10(6) copies/µL for 1, 3, and 5 mL urine samples, respectively. Lyophilized and freshly prepared reagents within the transfer pipette produced similar results, suggesting that long-term storage without refrigeration is possible. DNA recovery increased with the length of the spiked DNA segments from 10±0.9% for a 75 bp DNA sequence to 42±4% for a 100 bp segment and 58±9% for a 140 bp segment. The estimated LOD was 77 copies of DNA/µL of urine. The strategy presented here provides a simple means to achieve high nucleic acid recovery from easily obtained urine samples, which does not contain inhibitors of PCR.

A Magnetic Bead-Based Method for Concentrating DNA from Human Urine for Downstream Detection

PubMed Central

Bordelon, Hali; Russ, Patricia K.; Wright, David W.; Haselton, Frederick R.

2013-01-01

Due to the presence of PCR inhibitors, PCR cannot be used directly on most clinical samples, including human urine, without pre-treatment. A magnetic bead-based strategy is one potential method to collect biomarkers from urine samples and separate the biomarkers from PCR inhibitors. In this report, a 1 mL urine sample was mixed within the bulb of a transfer pipette containing lyophilized nucleic acid-silica adsorption buffer and silica-coated magnetic beads. After mixing, the sample was transferred from the pipette bulb to a small diameter tube, and captured biomarkers were concentrated using magnetic entrainment of beads through pre-arrayed wash solutions separated by small air gaps. Feasibility was tested using synthetic segments of the 140 bp tuberculosis IS6110 DNA sequence spiked into pooled human urine samples. DNA recovery was evaluated by qPCR. Despite the presence of spiked DNA, no DNA was detectable in unextracted urine samples, presumably due to the presence of PCR inhibitors. However, following extraction with the magnetic bead-based method, we found that ∼50% of spiked TB DNA was recovered from human urine containing roughly 5×103 to 5×108 copies of IS6110 DNA. In addition, the DNA was concentrated approximately ten-fold into water. The final concentration of DNA in the eluate was 5×106, 14×106, and 8×106 copies/µL for 1, 3, and 5 mL urine samples, respectively. Lyophilized and freshly prepared reagents within the transfer pipette produced similar results, suggesting that long-term storage without refrigeration is possible. DNA recovery increased with the length of the spiked DNA segments from 10±0.9% for a 75 bp DNA sequence to 42±4% for a 100 bp segment and 58±9% for a 140 bp segment. The estimated LOD was 77 copies of DNA/µL of urine. The strategy presented here provides a simple means to achieve high nucleic acid recovery from easily obtained urine samples, which does not contain inhibitors of PCR. PMID:23861895

High Throughput Method of Extracting and Counting Strontium-90 in Urine

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Shkrob, I.; Kaminski, M.; Mertz, C.

2016-03-01

A method has been developed for the rapid extraction of Sr-90 from the urine of individuals exposed to radiation in a terrorist attack. The method employs two chromatographic ion-exchange materials: Diphonix resin and Sr resin, both of which are commercially available. The Diphonix resin reduces the alkali ion concentrations below 10 mM, and the Sr resin concentrates and decontaminates strontium-90. Experimental and calculational data are given for a variety of test conditions. On the basis of these results, a flowsheet has been developed for the rapid concentration and extraction of Sr-90 from human urine samples for subsequent beta-counting.

Arsenic-induced health crisis in peri-urban Moyna and Ardebok villages, West Bengal, India: an exposure assessment study.

PubMed

Maity, Jyoti Prakash; Nath, Bibhash; Kar, Sandeep; Chen, Chien-Yen; Banerjee, Satabdi; Jean, Jiin-Shuh; Liu, Ming-Yie; Centeno, José A; Bhattacharya, Prosun; Chang, Christina L; Santra, Subhas Chandra

2012-10-01

Drinking of arsenic (As)-contaminated groundwater has adverse effects on health of millions of people worldwide. This study aimed to determine the degree of severity of As exposure from drinking water in peri-urban Moyna and Ardebok villages, West Bengal, India. Arsenic concentrations in hair, nail and urine samp les of the individuals were determined. Arsenical dermatosis, keratosis and melanosis were investigated through medical evaluation. We have evaluated the association between As exposure from drinking water, and keratosis and melanosis outcomes. The results showed that 82.7 % of the sampled tube wells contain As concentrations above 10 μg/L, while 57.7 % contain As concentrations above 50 μg/L. The hair, nail and urine As concentrations were positively correlated with As concentrations in drinking water. In our study population, we observed a strong association between As concentrations ranging 51-99 μg/L and keratosis and melanosis outcomes, although the probability decreases at higher concentration ranges perhaps due to switching away from the use of As-contaminated tube wells for drinking and cooking purposes. High As concentrations in hair, nail and urine were observed to be associated with the age of the study population. The level of As concentrations in hair, nail and urine samples of the study population indicated the degree of severity of As exposure in the study region.

Analysis of 26 amino acids in human plasma by HPLC using AQC as derivatizing agent and its application in metabolic laboratory.

PubMed

Sharma, Gaurav; Attri, Savita Verma; Behra, Bijaylaxmi; Bhisikar, Swapnil; Kumar, Praveen; Tageja, Minni; Sharda, Sheetal; Singhi, Pratibha; Singhi, Sunit

2014-05-01

The present study reports the simultaneous analysis of 26 physiological amino acids in plasma along with total cysteine and homocysteine by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) employing 6-aminoquinolyl-N-hydroxysuccinimidyl carbamate (AQC) as precolumn derivatizing reagent. Separations were carried out using Lichrospher 100 RP-18e (5 μm) 250 × 4.0 mm column connected to 100 CN 4.0 × 4.0 mm guard column on a quaternary HPLC system and run time was 53 min. Linearity of the peak areas for different concentrations ranging from 2.5 to 100 pmol/μL of individual amino acids was determined. A good linearity (R (2) > 0.998) was achieved in the standard mixture for each amino acid. Recovery of amino acids incorporated at the time of derivatization ranged from 95 to 106 %. Using this method we have established the normative data of amino acids in plasma, the profile being comparable to the range reported in literature and identified cases of classical homocystinuria, cobalamin defect/deficiency, non-ketotic hyperglycinemia, hyperprolinemia, ketotic hyperglycinemia, urea cycle defect and maple syrup urine disease.

Influence of hypernatraemia and urea excretion on the ability to excrete a maximally hypertonic urine in the rat

PubMed Central

Cheema-Dhadli, Surinder; Halperin, Mitchell L

2002-01-01

Rats normally excrete 20-25 mmol of sodium (Na+) + potassium (K+) per kilogram per day. To minimize the need for a large water intake, they must excrete urine with a very high electrolyte concentration (tonicity). Our objective was to evaluate two potential factors that could influence the maximum urine tonicity, hypernatraemia and the rate of urea excretion. Balance studies were carried out in vasopressin-treated rats fed a low-electrolyte diet. In the first series, the drinking solution contained an equivalent sodium chloride (NaCl) load at 150 or 600 mmol l−1. In the second series, the maximum urine tonicity was evaluated in rats consuming 600 mmol l−1 NaCl with an 8-fold range of urea excretion. Hypernatraemia (148 ± 1 mmol l−1) developed in all rats that drank 600 mmol l−1 saline. Although the rate of Na+ + K+ excretion was similar in both saline groups, the maximum urine total cation concentration was significantly higher in the hypernatraemic group (731 ± 31 vs. 412 ± 37 mmol l−1). Only when the rate of excretion of urea was very low, was there a further increase in the maximum urine total cation concentration (1099 ± 118 mmol l−1). Thus hypernatraemia was the most important factor associated with a higher urine tonicity. PMID:12068051

Plasma and urine levels of electrolytes, urea and steroid hormones involved in osmoregulation of cetaceans.

PubMed

Birukawa, Naoko; Ando, Hironori; Goto, Mutsuo; Kanda, Naohisa; Pastene, Luis A; Nakatsuji, Hiroki; Hata, Hiroshi; Urano, Akihisa

2005-11-01

Cetaceans are well adapted to their hyperosmotic environment by properly developed osmoregulatory ability. A question here is how they regulate water and mineral balances in marine habitats. In the present study, we determined blood and urine levels of various chemicals involved in osmoregulation, compared them with those in artiodactyls, and characterized the values in the whales. Blood and urine samples obtained from baleen whales of common minke (Balaenoptera acutorostrata), sei (B. borealis), and Bryde's whales (B. brydei), and toothed whales of sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) were analyzed for osmolality, major electrolytes, urea, steroid hormones and glucose. The urine osmolality and Na(+) concentrations in the cetaceans were much higher than those in the cattle. Furthermore, the cetaceans had 5 to 11-fold urea in plasma than the cattle, and 2 to 4-fold urea in urine. There were no significant difference in the plasma concentrations of corticosteroids between the cetaceans and the cattle. The present results indicate that the osmoregulatory parameters seem to be not affected by the reproductive stage and sex steroid hormones. The concentrations of urea in plasma and urine of the baleen whales were higher than those of the sperm whales, indicating a possibility that their osmoregulatory mechanisms may be correlated to their feeding habits. The present results suggest that cetaceans have unique osmoregulatory mechanisms by which they excrete strongly hypertonic urine to maintain fluid homeostasis in marine habitats.

Angiotensinogen and interleukin-18 as markers of chronic kidney damage in children with a history of hemolytic uremic syndrome.

PubMed

Lipiec, K; Adamczyk, P; Świętochowska, E; Ziora, K; Szczepańska, M

2017-05-04

Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is a type of thrombotic microangiopathy, in the course of which some patients may develop chronic kidney disease (CKD). It is clinically important to investigate the markers of a poor prognosis. The levels of angiotensinogen (AGT) and interleukin-18 (IL-18) in serum and urine were evaluated. Study was conducted in 29 children with a history of HUS. Serum and urine AGT concentration was significantly higher in children after HUS as compared to the control group. No differences depending on the type of HUS and gender were noted. The serum concentration of IL-18 in children after HUS was significantly lower, whereas in urine did not differ significantly between the sick and healthy children. A negative correlation between the concentration of AGT in serum and albuminuria in patients after HUS was detected. The results indicate that the concentration of AGT in serum and urine in children after HUS increases, which may indicate the activation of the intrarenal renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. The statement, that AGT may be a good biomarker of CKD after acute kidney injury due to HUS requires prospective studies with follow-up from the acute phase of the disease on a larger group of patients. Reduced IL-18 serum concentration in children after HUS with no difference in its urine concentration may indicate a loss of the protective effects of this cytokine on renal function due to previously occurred HUS.

A reassessment of soluble urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor in glomerular disease

PubMed Central

Spinale, Joann M.; Mariani, Laura H.; Kapoor, Shiv; Zhang, Jidong; Weyant, Robert; Song, Peter X.; Wong, Hetty N.; Troost, Jonathan P.; Gadegbeku, Crystal A.; Gipson, Debbie S.; Kretzler, Matthias; Nihalani, Deepak; Holzman, Lawrence B.

2014-01-01

It has been suggested that soluble urokinase receptor (suPAR) is a causative circulating factor for and a biomarker of focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). Here we undertook validation of these assumptions in both mouse and human models. Injection of recombinant suPAR in wild-type mice did not induce proteinuria within 24 hours. Moreover, a disease phenotype was not seen in an inducible transgenic mouse model that maintained elevated suPAR concentrations for 6 weeks. Plasma and urine suPAR concentrations were evaluated as clinical biomarkers in 241 patients with glomerular disease from the prospective, longitudinal multi-center observational NEPTUNE cohort. The serum suPAR concentration at baseline inversely correlated with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and the urine suPAR/creatinine ratio positively correlated with the urine protein/creatinine ratio. After adjusting for eGFR and urine protein, neither the serum nor urine suPAR level was an independent predictor of FSGS histopathology. A multivariable mixed-effects model of longitudinal data evaluated the association between the change in serum suPAR concentration from baseline with eGFR. After adjusting for baseline suPAR concentration, age, gender, proteinuria and time, the change in suPAR from baseline was associated with eGFR, but this association was not different for patients with FSGS as compared to other diagnoses. Thus, these results do not support a pathological role for suPAR in FSGS. PMID:25354239

A reassessment of soluble urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor in glomerular disease.

PubMed

Spinale, Joann M; Mariani, Laura H; Kapoor, Shiv; Zhang, Jidong; Weyant, Robert; Song, Peter X; Wong, Hetty N; Troost, Jonathan P; Gadegbeku, Crystal A; Gipson, Debbie S; Kretzler, Matthias; Nihalani, Deepak; Holzman, Lawrence B

2015-03-01

It has been suggested that soluble urokinase receptor (suPAR) is a causative circulating factor for and a biomarker of focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). Here we undertook validation of these assumptions in both mouse and human models. Injection of recombinant suPAR in wild-type mice did not induce proteinuria within 24 h. Moreover, a disease phenotype was not seen in an inducible transgenic mouse model that maintained elevated suPAR concentrations for 6 weeks. Plasma and urine suPAR concentrations were evaluated as clinical biomarkers in 241 patients with glomerular disease from the prospective, longitudinal multicenter observational NEPTUNE cohort. The serum suPAR concentration at baseline inversely correlated with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and the urine suPAR/creatinine ratio positively correlated with the urine protein/creatinine ratio. After adjusting for eGFR and urine protein, neither the serum nor urine suPAR level was an independent predictor of FSGS histopathology. A multivariable mixed-effects model of longitudinal data evaluated the association between the change in serum suPAR concentration from baseline with eGFR. After adjusting for baseline suPAR concentration, age, gender, proteinuria, and time, the change in suPAR from baseline was associated with eGFR, but this association was not different for patients with FSGS as compared with other diagnoses. Thus these results do not support a pathological role for suPAR in FSGS.

Evaluation of ames Multistix-SG for urine specific gravity versus refractometer specific gravity.

PubMed

Adams, L J

1983-12-01

A comparison of urine specific gravity by a commercially available multiple reagent strip (Multistix-SG; Ames Division, Miles Laboratory) versus refractometer specific gravity (TS Meter; American Optical Corporation) was performed on 214 routine urine specimens. Agreement to +/- 0.005 was found in 72% of the specimens (r = 0.80). Urine specific gravity by the Multistix-SG showed a significant positive bias at urine pHs less than or equal to 6.0 and a negative bias at urine pHs greater than 7.0 in comparison to refractometer specific gravity. At concentrated (specific gravity greater than or equal to 1.020) specific gravities, up to 25% of urine specimens were misclassified as not concentrated by Multistix-SG specific gravity in comparison to refractometer specific gravity. The additional cost of the specific gravity reagent to a multiple reagent test strip in addition to the poor performance relative to refractometer specific gravity leads to the conclusion that including this specific gravity methodology on a multiple reagent strip is neither cost effective nor clinically useful.

Albuminuria is associated with an increased prostasin in urine while aldosterone has no direct effect on urine and kidney tissue abundance of prostasin.

PubMed

Oxlund, Christina; Kurt, Birgül; Schwarzensteiner, Ilona; Hansen, Mie R; Stæhr, Mette; Svenningsen, Per; Jacobsen, Ib A; Hansen, Pernille B; Thuesen, Anne D; Toft, Anja; Hinrichs, Gitte R; Bistrup, Claus; Jensen, Boye L

2017-06-01

The proteinase prostasin is a candidate mediator for aldosterone-driven proteolytic activation of the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC). It was hypothesized that the aldosterone-mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) pathway stimulates prostasin abundance in kidney and urine. Prostasin was measured in plasma and urine from type 2 diabetic patients with resistant hypertension (n = 112) randomized to spironolactone/placebo in a clinical trial. Prostasin protein level was assessed by immunoblotting in (1) human and rat urines with/without nephrotic syndrome, (2) human nephrectomy tissue, (3) urine and kidney from aldosterone synthase-deficient (AS -/- ) mice and ANGII- and aldosterone-infused mice, and in (4) kidney from adrenalectomized rats. Serum aldosterone concentration related to prostasin concentration in urine but not in plasma. Plasma prostasin concentration increased significantly after spironolactone compared to control. Urinary prostasin and albumin related directly and were reduced by spironolactone. In patients with nephrotic syndrome, urinary prostasin protein was elevated compared to controls. In rat nephrosis, proteinuria coincided with increased urinary prostasin, unchanged kidney tissue prostasin, and decreased plasma prostasin while plasma aldosterone was suppressed. Prostasin protein abundance in human nephrectomy tissue was similar across gender and ANGII inhibition regimens. Prostasin urine abundance was not different in AS -/- and aldosterone-infused mice. Prostasin kidney level was not different from control in adrenalectomized rats and AS -/- mice. We found no evidence for a direct relationship between mineralocorticoid receptor signaling and kidney and urine prostasin abundance. The reduction of urinary prostasin in spironolactone-treated patients is most likely the result of an improved glomerular filtration barrier function and generally reduced proteinuria.

Quantitative urine confirmatory testing for synthetic cannabinoids in randomly collected urine specimens

PubMed Central

Castaneto, Marisol S.; Scheidweiler, Karl B.; Gandhi, Adarsh; Wohlfarth, Ariane; Klette, Kevin L.; Martin, Thomas M.; Huestis, Marilyn A.

2014-01-01

Synthetic cannabinoid intake is an ongoing health issue worldwide, with new compounds continually emerging, making drug testing complex. Parent synthetic cannabinoids are rarely detected in urine, the most common matrix employed in workplace drug testing. Optimal identification of synthetic cannabinoid markers in authentic urine specimens and correlation of metabolite concentrations and toxicities would improve synthetic cannabinoid result interpretation. We screened 20,017 randomly collected US military urine specimens between July 2011 and June 2012 with a synthetic cannabinoid immunoassay yielding 1,432 presumptive positive specimens. We analyzed all presumptive positive and 1,069 negative specimens with our qualitative synthetic cannabinoid LC-MS/MS method, which confirmed 290 positive specimens. All 290 positive and 487 randomly-selected negative specimens were quantified with the most comprehensive urine quantitative LC-MS/MS method published to date. 290 specimens confirmed positive for 22 metabolites from 11 parent synthetic cannabinoids. The five most predominant metabolites were JWH-018 pentanoic acid (93%), JWH-018 N-hydroxypentyl (84%), AM2201 N-hydroxypentyl (69%), JWH-073 butanoic acid (69%), and JWH-122 N-hydroxypentyl (45%) with 11.1 (0.1–2434), 5.1 (0.1–1239), 2.0 (0.1–321), 1.1 (0.1–48.6), and 1.1 (0.1–250) μg/L median (range) concentrations, respectively. Alkyl hydroxy and carboxy metabolites provided suitable biomarkers for 11 parent synthetic cannabinoids; although, hydroxyindoles also were observed. This is by far the largest data set of synthetic cannabinoid metabolites urine concentrations from randomly collected workplace drug testing specimens rather than acute intoxications or driving under the influence of drugs. These data improve the interpretation of synthetic cannabinoid urine test results and suggest suitable urine markers of synthetic cannabinoid intake. PMID:25231213

Using human urine as food for cyanobacteria in LSS

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kalacheva, Galina; Gribovskaya, Iliada; Kolmakova, Angela

In biological LSS: human, higher plants, algae, united by common cycle of matter, native human urine is the most problematic substance for using in inter-link exchange. It contains urea, ammonium compounds and up to 10 g/l of NaCl. Each of the mentioned components is toxic for growing higher plants. As for inferior plants, experiments showed that cyanobacteria of genus Spirulina platensis and similar genus Oscillatoria deflexa can grow at NaCl concentrations up to 20 g/l and NH4Cl concentrations up to 800 mg/l. These cyanobacteria can be used in LSS as a photosynthesizing link. Besides, S. platensis is edible for humans and fish. To use urine as food for algae, it is necessary to remove urea and organics. All previously used methods for urine treatment aimed at urea destruction: heating to 300oC, ultraviolet exposure, freezing, oxidation on reactor with hydrogen peroxide, had no effect. We used the following method of urine treatment: urine evaporation till dry residue, subsequent combustion in muffle furnace at 450-500oC and creation of ash water extract of the same volume as the initial urine. Comparison of standard Zarrouk's solution for S. platensis and O. deflexa with the water extract of urine ash showed that the concentrations of K, Ca, Mg, P, S were similar. Successful experiments were made with O. deflexa that were grown on nutrient solution made of the water extract of urine ash with 10 g/l of NaHCO3 and 2 g/l of NaNO3. The sources of intersystem production of HCO3 and NO3 were shown, and the biochemical composition of the investigated algae species, including mineral composition, protein, carbohydrate, amino acid, lipid and vitamin content were studied.

Elimination of 7-aminoclonazepam in urine after a single dose of clonazepam.

PubMed

Negrusz, Adam; Bowen, Andrew M; Moore, Christine M; Dowd, Sheila M; Strong, Mary Jane; Janicak, Philip G

2003-08-01

The objective of this paper was to determine how long after administration of benzodiazepine clonazepam (CLO), its major metabolite 7-aminoclonazepam (7-ACLO) could be detected in urine collected from 10 healthy volunteers who received a single 3-mg dose of Klonopin (clonazepam). Such data would be of great importance to law enforcement agencies trying to determine the best time interval for urine collection from a victim of drug-facilitated sexual assault in order to reveal drug use. A highly sensitive NCI-GC-MS method for the simultaneous quantitation of CLO and its major metabolite 7-ACLO in urine was developed and validated. The following urine samples were collected from each volunteer: one before CLO administration, and 6 h, and 1, 3, 5, 8, 10, 14, 21 and 28 days after. All urine samples (1 mL) were extracted following addition of the internal standard (D(5)-diazepam) and enzymatic hydrolysis ( beta-glucuronidase) using solid-phase extraction columns. Standard curves for CLO (500-4000 pg x mL(-1)) and 7-ACLO (50-2000 pg x mL(-1)) were prepared by spiking aliquots of negative urine. The urine from every subject was still positive for 7-ACLO 14 days after administration of the drug. Eight of the ten volunteers had measurable amounts of the metabolite 21 days after administration. One volunteer was still positive 28 days after administration. Six of the volunteers had urine concentrations of 7-ACLO that peaked at 1 day after administration. One volunteer had the highest concentration of 7-ACLO at 3 days, two volunteers at 5 days, and one at 8 days. The range of concentrations detected was from 73.0 pg x mL(-1) to 183.2 ng x mL(-1). CLO was not detected in any of the samples.

LC-MS/MS determination of alectinib and its major human metabolite M4 in human urine: prevention of nonspecific binding.

PubMed

Heinig, Katja; Herzog, Denis; Ferrari, Luca; Fraier, Daniela; Miya, Kazuhiro; Morcos, Peter N

2017-03-01

Alectinib (Alecensa ® ) is an anaplastic lymphoma kinase inhibitor for the treatment of anaplastic lymphoma kinase positive non-small-cell lung cancer, and M4 is its major pharmacologically active metabolite. To characterize the pharmacokinetics and excretion of alectinib and M4 in human urine, a bioanalytical method was required. An LC-MS/MS method using supported liquid extraction was developed for the determination of alectinib and M4 in human urine over the concentration range 0.5-500 ng/ml. Accuracy ranged from 92.0 to 112.2% and precision (CV) was below 9.6%. The method was successfully employed to determine alectinib and M4 concentrations in urine samples from a clinical mass balance study. Addition of the surfactant Tween-20 to urine prevented nonspecific binding of the analytes.

Influence of storage conditions on aluminum concentrations in serum, dialysis fluid, urine, and tap water.

PubMed

Wilhelm, M; Ohnesorge, F K

1990-01-01

The influence of storage temperature, vessel type, and treatment on alterations of aluminum (Al) concentrations in serum, urine, and dialysis fluid samples was studied at three different concentrations for each sample over an 18-month period. Furthermore, the influence of acidification on Al levels in tap water, urine, and dialysis fluid samples was studied over a four-month period. Al was measured by atomic absorption spectrometry. Sample storage in glass vessels was unsuitable, whereas only minor alterations of Al levels were observed with storage in polypropylene tubes, polystyrene tubes, and Monovettes. By using appropriate plastic containers, acid washing of the vessels showed no improvement. Frozen storage was superior compared with 4 degrees C, whereas storage at -80 degrees C offered no advantage compared with storage at -20 degrees C. Acidification of tap water samples was necessary to stabilize Al levels during storage. No striking effect of acidification on Al levels in urine and dialysis fluid samples was found. It is concluded that longterm storage of serum, urine, tap water, and dialysis fluid samples is possible if appropriate conditions are used.

Isolation of infectious Zika virus from a urine sample cultured in SIRC cells from a patient suspected of having rubella virus.

PubMed

Oliveira, Maria Isabel de; Namiyama, Gislene Mitsue; Cabral, Gabriela Bastos; Ferreira, João Leandro; Taniwaki, Noemi; Afonso, Ana Maria Sardinha; Lima, Isabella Rillo; Brigido, Luís Fernando Macedo de

2018-01-01

A great variety of viruses which cause exanthema share other clinical manifestations, making the etiologic identification a very difficult task, relying exclusively on the clinical examination. Rubella virus (RV) infection during the early stages of pregnancy can lead to serious birth defects, known as congenital rubella syndrome (CRS). In the present report, we described the presence of Zika virus (ZIKV) particles in urine samples and also ZIKV isolation in SIRC cells from the urine of a patient in acute phase of suspected rubella disease. The 50-year-old unvaccinated woman living in Sao Paulo, Brazil, was admitted to the emergency room with fever, headache, rash, arthralgia and prostration. Urine samples were collected for virus isolation and RT-qPCR. SIRC and Vero cells were inoculated with urine samples during 7 days. RT-qPCR was performed using measles virus (MV) and RV primers and both were found to be negative. After this result, RT-qPCR was performed for parvovirus B19, herpes virus 6 and ZIKV. The urine sample and the isolate were positive by Real Time PCR for ZIKV and negative for all other viruses tested. The sequences isolated are from the Asiatic lineage.

Permeation of macromolecules into the renal glomerular basement membrane and capture by the tubules

PubMed Central

Lawrence, Marlon G.; Altenburg, Michael K.; Sanford, Ryan; Willett, Julian D.; Bleasdale, Benjamin; Ballou, Byron; Wilder, Jennifer; Li, Feng; Miner, Jeffrey H.; Berg, Ulla B.; Smithies, Oliver

2017-01-01

How the kidney prevents urinary excretion of plasma proteins continues to be debated. Here, using unfixed whole-mount mouse kidneys, we show that fluorescent-tagged proteins and neutral dextrans permeate into the glomerular basement membrane (GBM), in general agreement with Ogston's 1958 equation describing how permeation into gels is related to molecular size. Electron-microscopic analyses of kidneys fixed seconds to hours after injecting gold-tagged albumin, negatively charged gold nanoparticles, and stable oligoclusters of gold nanoparticles show that permeation into the lamina densa of the GBM is size-sensitive. Nanoparticles comparable in size with IgG dimers do not permeate into it. IgG monomer-sized particles permeate to some extent. Albumin-sized particles permeate extensively into the lamina densa. Particles traversing the lamina densa tend to accumulate upstream of the podocyte glycocalyx that spans the slit, but none are observed upstream of the slit diaphragm. At low concentrations, ovalbumin-sized nanoparticles reach the primary filtrate, are captured by proximal tubule cells, and are endocytosed. At higher concentrations, tubular capture is saturated, and they reach the urine. In mouse models of Pierson’s or Alport’s proteinuric syndromes resulting from defects in GBM structural proteins (laminin β2 or collagen α3 IV), the GBM is irregularly swollen, the lamina densa is absent, and permeation is increased. Our observations indicate that size-dependent permeation into the lamina densa of the GBM and the podocyte glycocalyx, together with saturable tubular capture, determines which macromolecules reach the urine without the need to invoke direct size selection by the slit diaphragm. PMID:28246329

Role of protein kinase C-α in hypertonicity-stimulated urea permeability in mouse inner medullary collecting ducts.

PubMed

Wang, Yanhua; Klein, Janet D; Froehlich, Otto; Sands, Jeff M

2013-01-15

The kidney's ability to concentrate urine is vitally important to our quality of life. In the hypertonic environment of the kidney, urea transporters must be regulated to optimize function. We previously showed that hypertonicity increases urea permeability and that the protein kinase C (PKC) blockers chelerythrine and rottlerin decreased hypertonicity-stimulated urea permeability in rat inner medullary collecting ducts (IMCDs). Because PKCα knockout (PKCα(-/-)) mice have a urine-concentrating defect, we tested the effect of hypertonicity on urea permeability in isolated perfused mouse IMCDs. Increasing the osmolality of perfusate and bath from 290 to 690 mosmol/kgH(2)O did not change urea permeability in PKCα(-/-) mice but significantly increased urea permeability in wild-type mice. To determine whether the response to protein kinase A was also missing in IMCDs of PKCα(-/-) mice, tubules were treated with vasopressin and subsequently with the PKC stimulator phorbol dibutyrate (PDBu). Vasopressin stimulated urea permeability in PKCα(-/-) mice. Like vasopressin, forskolin stimulated urea permeability in PKCα(-/-) mice. We previously showed that, in rats, vasopressin and PDBu have additive stimulatory effects on urea permeability. In contrast, in PKCα(-/-) mice, PDBu did not further increase vasopressin-stimulated urea permeability. Western blot analysis showed that expression of the UT-A1 urea transporter in IMCDs was increased in response to vasopressin in wild-type mice as well as PKCα(-/-) mice. Hypertonicity increased UT-A1 phosphorylation in wild-type mice but not in PKCα(-/-) mice. We conclude that PKCα mediates hypertonicity-stimulated urea transport but is not necessary for vasopressin stimulation of urea permeability in mouse IMCDs.

Changes in urine composition after trauma facilitate bacterial growth

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Background Critically ill patients including trauma patients are at high risk of urinary tract infection (UTI). The composition of urine in trauma patients may be modified due to inflammation, systemic stress, rhabdomyolysis, life support treatment and/or urinary catheter insertion. Methods Prospective, single-centre, observational study conducted in patients with severe trauma and without a history of UTIs or recent antibiotic treatment. The 24-hour urine samples were collected on the first and the fifth days and the growth of Escherichia coli in urine from patients and healthy volunteers was compared. Biochemical and hormonal modifications in urine that could potentially influence bacterial growth were explored. Results Growth of E. coli in urine from trauma patients was significantly higher on days 1 and 5 than in urine of healthy volunteers. Several significant modifications of urine composition could explain these findings. On days 1 and 5, trauma patients had an increase in glycosuria, in urine iron concentration, and in the concentrations of several amino acids compared to healthy volunteers. On day 1, the urinary osmotic pressure was significantly lower than for healthy volunteers. Conclusion We showed that urine of trauma patients facilitated growth of E. coli when compared to urine from healthy volunteers. This effect was present in the first 24 hours and until at least the fifth day after trauma. This phenomenon may be involved in the pathophysiology of UTIs in trauma patients. Further studies are required to define the exact causes of such modifications. PMID:23194649

Pharmacokinetic Modeling of Intranasal Scopolamine in Plasma Saliva and Urine

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wu, L.; Tam, V. H.; Chow, D. S. L.; Putcha, L.

2015-01-01

An intranasal gel dosage formulation of scopolamine (INSCOP) was developed for the treatment of Space Motion Sickness (SMS). The bioavailability and pharmacokinetics (PK) were evaluated under IND (Investigational New Drug) guidelines. The aim of the project was to develop a PK model that can predict the relationships among plasma, saliva and urinary scopolamine concentrations using data collected from the IND clinical trial protocol with INSCOP. Twelve healthy human subjects were administered at three dose levels (0.1, 0.2 and 0.4 mg) of INSCOP. Serial blood, saliva and urine samples were collected between 5 min to 24 h after dosing and scopolamine concentrations were measured by using a validated LC-MS-MS assay. PK compartmental models, using actual dosing and sampling time, were established using Phoenix (version 1.2). Model selection was based on a likelihood ratio test on the difference of criteria (-2LL (i.e. log-likelihood ratio test)) and comparison of the quality of fit plots. The results: Predictable correlations among scopolamine concentrations in compartments of plasma, saliva and urine were established, and for the first time the model satisfactorily predicted the population and individual PK of INSCOP in plasma, saliva and urine. The model can be utilized to predict the INSCOP plasma concentration by saliva and urine data, and it will be useful for monitoring the PK of scopolamine in space and other remote environments using non-invasive sampling of saliva and/or urine.

Compatibility Testing of Non-Metallic Materials for the Urine Processor Assembly (UPA) of International Space Station (ISS)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wingard, Charles Doug; Munafo, Paul M. (Technical Monitor)

2001-01-01

In the International Space Station (ISS), astronauts will convert urine into potable water with the Urine Processor Assembly (UPA). The urine is distilled, with the concentrated form containing about 15% brine solids, and the dilute form as a blend of pre-treated urine/wastewater. Eighteen candidate non-metallic materials for use with the UPA were tested in 2000 for compatibility with the concentrated and dilute urine solutions for continuous times of at least 30 days, and at conditions of 0.5 psia pressure and 100 F, to simulate the working UPA environment. A primary screening test for each material (virgin and conditioned) was dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) in the stress relaxation mode, with the test data used to predict material performance for a 10-year use in space. Data showed that most of the candidate materials passed the compatibility testing, although a few significant changes in stress relaxation modulus were observed.

Isolation of glycine betaine and proline betaine from human urine. Assessment of their role as osmoprotective agents for bacteria and the kidney.

PubMed Central

Chambers, S T; Kunin, C M

1987-01-01

Human urine is osmoprotective for enteric bacteria, permitting E. coli to grow with high concentrations of NaCl and other salts and even higher concentrations of sucrose and mannitol but not urea. The active material in urine is soluble in methanol and is precipitated by ammonium reineckate at acid pH. Using gel filtration and high-pressure liquid chromatography, we have identified two major osmoprotective compounds in urine. One is glycine betaine; the other is proline betaine as demonstrated by nuclear magnetic resonance, mass spectrum scanning, and chemical synthesis. Proline betaine has not been described previously to our knowledge in vertebrate tissues. It is known to be a cell volume-regulating agent for marine red algae and the euryhaline mollusk Elysia chloritica. We suggest that the presence of glycine and proline betaines in human urine may reflect an osmoprotective role for the kidney and that they protect bacteria in the urine only fortuitously. PMID:3546377

Adulteration of urine by "Urine Luck".

PubMed

Wu, A H; Bristol, B; Sexton, K; Cassella-McLane, G; Holtman, V; Hill, D W

1999-07-01

In vitro adulterants are used to invalidate assays for urine drugs of abuse. The present study examined the effect of pyridinium chlorochromate (PCC) found in the product "Urine Luck". PCC was prepared and added to positive urine controls at concentrations of 0, 10, 50, and 100 g/L. The controls were assayed for methamphetamine, benzoylecgonine (BE), codeine and morphine, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and phencyclidine (PCP) with the Emit II (Syva) and Abuscreen Online (Roche) immunoassays, and by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Two tests were also developed to detect PCC in urine: a spot test to detect chromate ions using 10 g/L 1,5-diphenylcarbazide as the indicator, and a GC/MS assay for pyridine. We tested 150 samples submitted for routine urinalysis, compliance, and workplace drug testing for PCC, using these assays. Response rates decreased at 100 g/L PCC for all Emit II drug assays and for the Abuscreen morphine and THC assays. In contrast, the Abuscreen amphetamine assay produced apparently higher results, and no effect was seen on the results for BE or PCP. The PCC did not affect the GC/MS recovery of methamphetamine, BE, PCP, or their deuterated internal standards, but decreased GC/MS recovery of the opiates at both intermediate (50 g/L) and high (100 g/L) PCC concentrations and apparent concentrations of THC and THC-d3 at all PCC concentrations. Two of 50 samples submitted for workplace drug testing under chain-of-custody conditions were positive for PCC, whereas none of the remaining 100 specimens submitted for routine urinalysis or compliance drug testing were positive. PCC is an effective adulterant for urine drug testing of THC and opiates. Identification of PCC use can be accomplished with use of a spot test for the oxidant.

A study examining the bias of albumin and albumin/creatinine ratio measurements in urine.

PubMed

Jacobson, Beryl E; Seccombe, David W; Katayev, Alex; Levin, Adeera

2015-10-01

The objective of the study was to examine the bias of albumin and albumin/creatinine (ACR) measurements in urine. Pools of normal human urine were augmented with purified human serum albumin to generate a series of 12 samples covering the clinical range of interest for the measurement of ACR. Albumin and creatinine concentrations in these samples were analyzed three times on each of 3 days by 24 accredited laboratories in Canada and the USA. Reference values (RV) for albumin measurements were assigned by a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) comparative method and gravimetrically. Ten random urine samples (check samples) were analyzed as singlets and albumin and ACR values reported according to the routine practices of each laboratory. Augmented urine pools were shown to be commutable. Gravimetrically assigned target values were corrected for the presence of endogenous albumin using the LC-MS/MS comparative method. There was excellent agreement between the RVs as assigned by these two methods. All laboratory medians demonstrated a negative bias for the measurement of albumin in urine over the concentration range examined. The magnitude of this bias tended to decrease with increasing albumin concentrations. At baseline, only 10% of the patient ACR values met a performance limit of RV ± 15%. This increased to 84% and 86% following post-analytical correction for albumin and creatinine calibration bias, respectively. International organizations should take a leading role in the standardization of albumin measurements in urine. In the interim, accuracy based urine quality control samples may be used by clinical laboratories for monitoring the accuracy of their urinary albumin measurements.

Comparison of Sofia Legionella FIA and BinaxNOW® Legionella urinary antigen card in two national reference centers.

PubMed

Beraud, L; Gervasoni, K; Freydiere, A M; Descours, G; Ranc, A G; Vandenesch, F; Lina, G; Gaia, V; Jarraud, S

2015-09-01

The Sofia Legionella Fluorescence Immunoassay (FIA; Quidel) is a recently introduced rapid immunochromatographic diagnostic test for Legionnaires' disease using immunofluorescence technology designed to enhance its sensitivity. The aim of this study was to evaluate its performance for the detection of urinary antigens for Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 in two National Reference Centers for Legionella. The sensitivity and specificity of the Sofia Legionella FIA test were determined in concentrated and nonconcentrated urine samples, before and after boiling, in comparison with the BinaxNOW® Legionella Urinary Antigen Card (UAC; Alere). Compared with BinaxNOW® Legionella UAC, the sensitivity of the Sofia Legionella test was slightly higher in nonconcentrated urine samples and was identical in concentrated urine samples. The specificity of the Sofia Legionella FIA test was highly reduced by the concentration of urine samples. In nonconcentrated samples, a lack of specificity was observed in 2.3 % of samples, all of them resolved by heat treatment. The Sofia Legionella FIA is a sensitive test for detecting Legionella urinary antigens with no previous urine concentration. However, all positive samples have to be re-tested after boiling to reach a high specificity. The reading is automatized on the Sofia analyzer, which can be connected to laboratory information systems, facilitating accurate and rapid reporting of results.

The excretion of theobromine in Thoroughbred racehorses after feeding compounded cubes containing cocoa husk--establishment of a threshold value in horse urine.

PubMed

Haywood, P E; Teale, P; Moss, M S

1990-07-01

Thoroughbred geldings were fed racehorse cubes containing a predetermined concentration of theobromine in the form of cocoa husk. They were offered 7 kg of cubes per day, divided between morning and evening feed, and food consumption was monitored. Urinary concentrations of theobromine were determined following the consumption of cubes containing 11.5, 6.6, 2.0 and 1.2 mg per kg of theobromine, to verify whether or not such concentrations would produce positive urine tests. Pre-dose urine samples were collected to verify the absence of theobromine before each experiment. It became apparent from the results of the first three administrations that the limit of detection of theobromine, using such procedures, would be reached at a feed level of about 1 mg per kg theobromine. Therefore the final administration, using cubes containing 1.2 mg per kg theobromine, was singled out for additional analytical work and quantitative procedures were developed to measure urinary concentrations of theobromine. It was anticipated that the results would form a basis for discussions relating to the establishment of a threshold value for theobromine in horse urine. The Stewards of the Jockey Club subsequently gave notice that they had established a threshold level for theobromine in urine of 2 micrograms/ml.

Residual veterinary antibiotics in pig excreta after oral administration of sulfonamides.

PubMed

Qiu, Jinrong; Zhao, Tao; Liu, Qingyun; He, Jinhua; He, Dechun; Wu, Genyi; Li, Yongtao; Jiang, Chengai; Xu, Zhencheng

2016-04-01

Sulfonamides (SAs) are applied widely as feed additives in the farming of livestock and poultry. It can lead to the excretion of large amounts of SAs in manure and result in persistent environmental pollution. We evaluated the fate of four SAs, sulfamerazine (SM1), sulfachloropyridazine (SCP), sulfadimoxine (SDM') and sulfaquinoxaline (SQ), from oral administration to excretion in urine and feces in pigs. The four SAs were added to homemade feed to make them reach the required concentration gradient, which were 0, 50 and 100 mg/kg (low, normal and high concentrations, respectively). In different treatments, excretions of the four SAs were 35.68-86.88 %. With regard to total excretion, the order was SQ > SCP > SM1 > SDM' for all treatments. The concentration of SAs in the feed had significant effects on the amount of the four SAs excreted every day. The concentration of SAs in feces and in the urine for different treatments was 15.03-26.55 and 14.54-69.22 %, respectively. In each treatment, excretions of SCP, SDM' and SQ in feces were lower than that in urine. The four SAs remained longer in urine than in feces. Excretions in urine and feces were lower if SAs were administered orally rather than by injection.

Relative density of urine: methods and clinical significance.

PubMed

Pradella, M; Dorizzi, R M; Rigolin, F

1988-01-01

The physical properties and chemical composition of urine are highly variable and are determined in large measure by the quantity and the type of food consumed. The specific gravity is the ratio of the density to that of water, and it is dependent on the number and weight of solute particles and on the temperature of the sample. The weight of solute particles is constituted mainly of urea (73%), chloride (5.4%), sodium (5.1%), potassium (2.4%), phosphate (2.0%), uric acid (1.7%), and sulfate (1.3%). Nevertheless, urine osmolality depends only on the number of solute particles. The renal production of maximally concentrated urine and formation of dilute urine may be reduced to two basic elements: (1) generation and maintenance of a renal medullary solute concentration hypertonic to plasma and (2) a mechanism for osmotic equilibration between the inner medulla and the collecting duct fluid. The interaction of the renal medullary countercurrent system, circulating levels of antidiuretic hormone, and thirst regulates water metabolism. Renin, aldosterone, prostaglandins, and kinins also play a role. Clinical estimation of the concentrating and diluting capacity can be performed by relatively simple provocative tests. However, urinary specific gravity after taking no fluids for 12 h overnight should be 1.025 or more, so that the second urine in the morning is a useful sample for screening purposes. Many preservation procedures affect specific gravity measurements. The concentration of solids (or water) in urine can be measured by weighing, hydrometer, refractometry, surface tension, osmolality, a reagent strip, or oscillations of a capillary tube. These measurements are interrelated, not identical. Urinary density measurement is useful to assess the disorders of water balance and to discriminate between prerenal azotemia and acute tubular necrosis. The water balance regulates the serum sodium concentration, therefore disorders are revealed by hypo- and hypernatremia. The disturbances are due to renal and nonrenal diseases, mainly liver, cardiovascular, intestinal, endocrine, and iatrogenic. Fluid management is an important topic of intensive care medicine. Moreover, the usefulness of specific gravity measurement of urine lies in interpreting other findings of urinalysis, both chemical and microscopical.

The Importance of Urine Concentration on the Diagnostic Performance of the Urinalysis for Pediatric Urinary Tract Infection.

PubMed

Chaudhari, Pradip P; Monuteaux, Michael C; Shah, Pinkey; Bachur, Richard G

2017-07-01

The presence of leukocyte esterase by urine dipstick and microscopic pyuria are both indicators of possible urinary tract infection. The effect of urine concentration on the diagnostic performance of the urinalysis for pediatric urinary tract infection has not been studied. Our objective is to determine whether the urinalysis performance for detecting urinary tract infection varies by urine concentration as measured by specific gravity. This was a retrospective cross-sectional study of the urine laboratory results of children younger than 13 years who presented to the emergency department during 68 months and had a paired urinalysis and urine culture obtained. Urinary tract infection was defined as pure growth of a uropathogen at standard culture thresholds. Test characteristics were calculated across 4 specific gravity groups (1.000 to 1.010, 1.011 to 1.020, 1.021 to 1.030, and >1.030). In total, 14,971 cases were studied. Median age was 1.5 years (interquartile range 0.4 to 5.5 years) and 60% were female patients. Prevalence of urinary tract infection was 7.7%. For the presence of leukocyte esterase and a range of pyuria cut points, the positive likelihood ratios decreased with increasing specific gravity. From most dilute to most concentrated urine, the positive likelihood ratio decreased from 12.1 (95% confidence interval [CI] 10.7 to 13.7) to 4.2 (95% CI 3.0 to 5.8) and 9.5 (95% CI 8.6 to 10.6) to 5.5 (95% CI 3.3 to 9.1) at a threshold of greater than or equal to 5 WBCs per high-power field and presence of leukocyte esterase, respectively. The negative likelihood ratios increased with increasing specific gravity for leukocyte esterase and microscopic pyuria. For the detection of pediatric urinary tract infection, the diagnostic performance of both dipstick leukocyte esterase and microscopic pyuria varies by urine concentration, and therefore the specific gravity should be considered when the urinalysis is interpreted. Copyright © 2016 American College of Emergency Physicians. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Phthalate metabolites in Norwegian mothers and children: Levels, diurnal variation and use of personal care products.

PubMed

Sakhi, Amrit Kaur; Sabaredzovic, Azemira; Cequier, Enrique; Thomsen, Cathrine

2017-12-01

Exposure to phthalates has been associated with reproductive and developmental toxicity. Data on levels of these compounds in the Norwegian population is limited. In this study, urine samples were collected from 48 mothers and their children in two counties in Norway. Eleven different phthalate metabolites originating from six commonly used phthalates in consumer products were determined. Concentrations of phthalate metabolites were significantly higher in children compared to mothers except for mono-ethyl phthalate (MEP). The mothers provided several urine samples during 24hours (h) and diurnal variation showed that the concentrations in the morning urine samples (24-8h) were significantly higher than at other time-periods for most of the phthalate metabolites. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) for 24-hour time-period were in the range of 0.49-0.81. These moderate to high ICCs indicate that one spot urine sample can be used to estimate the exposure to phthalates. Since a significant effect of time of day was observed, it is still advisable to standardize the collection time point to reduce the variation. For the mothers, the use of personal care products (PCPs) were less associated with morning urine samples than early day (8-12h) and evening (16-24h) urine samples. The use of perfume and hair products were positively associated with the urinary concentrations of low molecular weight phthalates. Use of shower soap and shampoo were positively associated with urinary concentration of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) metabolites. For children, face cream use was positively associated with phthalate metabolites in the morning samples, and hand soap use was negatively associated with concentration of urinary DEHP metabolites in afternoon/evening samples. Since different PCPs were associated with the urinary phthalate metabolites in different time-periods during a day, more than one spot urine sample might be required to study associations between urinary phthalate metabolites and the use of PCPs. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Associations between IVF outcomes and essential trace elements measured in follicular fluid and urine: a pilot study.

PubMed

Ingle, Mary E; Bloom, Michael S; Parsons, Patrick J; Steuerwald, Amy J; Kruger, Pamela; Fujimoto, Victor Y

2017-02-01

A hypothesis-generating pilot study exploring associations between essential trace elements measured in follicular fluid (FF) and urine and in vitro fertilization (IVF) endpoints. We recruited 58 women undergoing IVF between 2007 and 2008, and measured cobalt, chromium, copper, manganese, molybdenum, and zinc in FF (n = 46) and urine (n = 45) by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). We used multivariable regression models to assess the impact of FF and urine trace elements on IVF outcomes, adjusted for age, body mass index, race, and cigarette smoking. Trace elements were mostly present at lower concentrations in FF than in urine. The average number of oocytes retrieved was positively associated with higher urine cobalt, chromium, copper, and molybdenum concentrations. FF chromium and manganese were negatively associated with the proportion of mature oocytes, yet urine manganese had a positive association. FF zinc was inversely associated with average oocyte fertilization. Urine trace elements were significant positive predictors for the total number of embryos generated. FF copper predicted lower embryo fragmentation while urine copper was associated with higher embryo cell number and urine manganese with higher embryo fragmentation. No associations were detected for implantation, pregnancy, or live birth. Our results suggest the importance of trace elements in both FF and urine for intermediate, although not necessarily clinical, IVF endpoints. The results differed using FF or urine biomarkers of exposure, which may have implications for the design of clinical and epidemiologic investigations. These initial findings will form the basis of a more definitive future study.

Role of urea in the postprandial urine concentration cycle of the insectivorous bat Antrozous pallidus.

PubMed

Bassett, John E

2004-02-01

Insectivorous bats, which feed once daily, produce maximally concentrated urine only after feeding. The role of urea as an osmolyte in this process was investigated in pallid bats (Antrozous pallidus) in the laboratory. Following a 24-h fast, plasma and urine were sampled before and 2 h after feeding in postprandial (PP) animals and before and 2 h after similar treatment without feeding in nonfed (NF) animals. Food consumption by PP animals and handling of NF animals had no effect on blood water content as measured by hematocrit and plasma oncotic pressure. Food consumption increased both plasma osmolality (P(osm)) and plasma urea (P(urea)) by as much as 15%. Food consumption also increased urine osmolality (U(osm)) and urine urea (U(urea)) by 50-100%. Feeding increased U(osm) regardless of changes in P(osm), and elevation of U(osm) resulted primarily from increased U(urea). In NF bats, P(osm) and P(urea) were unchanged, while U(osm) and U(urea) increased by as much as 25%. Again, increased U(osm) resulted primarily from increased U(urea). The PP urine concentration cycle of pallid bats resulted from increased urea excretion in response to apparent rapid urea synthesis. Bats rapidly metabolized protein and excreted urea following feeding when body water was most plentiful.

Spectrophotometric determination of pyrrole-like substances in urine of rat and man: an assay for the evaluation of 2,5-hexanedione formed from n-hexane.

PubMed

Kessler, W; Heilmaier, H; Kreuzer, P; Shen, J H; Filser, M; Filser, J G

1990-01-01

Male Wistar rats exposed to atmospheric n-hexane excreted in their urine substances which gave rise to absorption spectra like those of pyrroles after the reaction with Ehrlich's reagent. A simple spectrophotometric assay was developed to determine these "pyrrole-like substances" in urine. Their excretion kinetics were evaluated by exposing rats for 8 h to atmospheric n-hexane concentrations between 50 and 3000 ppm. The dose-response curve revealed saturation kinetics according to Michaelis-Menten, Vmax being 1.12 [delta E526.ml urine/8 h n-hexane exposure] and "Km", the atmospheric n-hexane concentration at Vmax/2, being 250 ppm. The excretion of pyrrole-like substances closely correlated with that of 2,5-hexanedione measured by Fedtke and Bolt (1987). Pyrrole-like substances were also found in the urine of a male volunteer. When exposing the person for 3 h to atmospheric n-hexane at a concentration of 146 ppm (equivalent to 55 ppm/8 h) the excreted amount was twice the background value. Due to the sensitivity of this assay it is possible to determine pyrrole-like substances in urine according to the present German MAK or US TLV conditions for n-hexane (50 ppm/8 h).

Spatial and Temporal Variations in Arsenic Exposure via Drinking-water in Northern Argentina

PubMed Central

Concha, Gabriela; Nermell, Barbro

2006-01-01

This study evaluated the spatial, temporal and inter-individual variations in exposure to arsenic via drinking-water in Northern Argentina, based on measurements of arsenic in water, urine, and hair. Arsenic concentrations in drinking-water varied markedly among locations, from <1 to about 200 μg/L. Over a 10-year period, water from the same source in San Antonio de los Cobres fluctuated within 140 and 220 μg/L, with no trend of decreasing concentration. Arsenic concentrations in women's urine (3–900 μg/L, specific weight 1.018 g/mL) highly correlated with concentrations in water on a group level, but showed marked variations between individuals. Arsenic concentrations in hair (range 20–1,500 μg/kg) rather poorly correlated with urinary arsenic, possibly due to external contamination. Thus, arsenic concentration in urine seems to be a better marker of individual arsenic exposure than concentrations in drinking-water and hair. PMID:17366773

RBC deformability and amino acid concentrations after hypo-osmotic challenge may reflect chronic cell hydration status in healthy young men

PubMed Central

Stookey, Jodi D; Klein, Alexis; Hamer, Janice; Chi, Christine; Higa, Annie; Ng, Vivian; Arieff, Allen; Kuypers, Frans A; Larkin, Sandra; Perrier, Erica; Lang, Florian

2013-01-01

Biomarkers of chronic cell hydration status are needed to determine whether chronic hyperosmotic stress increases chronic disease risk in population-representative samples. In vitro, cells adapt to chronic hyperosmotic stress by upregulating protein breakdown to counter the osmotic gradient with higher intracellular amino acid concentrations. If cells are subsequently exposed to hypo-osmotic conditions, the adaptation results in excess cell swelling and/or efflux of free amino acids. This study explored whether increased red blood cell (RBC) swelling and/or plasma or urine amino acid concentrations after hypo-osmotic challenge might be informative about relative chronic hyperosmotic stress in free-living men. Five healthy men (20–25 years) with baseline total water intake below 2 L/day participated in an 8-week clinical study: four 2-week periods in a U-shaped A-B-C-A design. Intake of drinking water was increased by +0.8 ± 0.3 L/day in period 2, and +1.5 ± 0.3 L/day in period 3, and returned to baseline intake (0.4 ± 0.2 L/day) in period 4. Each week, fasting blood and urine were collected after a 750 mL bolus of drinking water, following overnight water restriction. The periods of higher water intake were associated with significant decreases in RBC deformability (index of cell swelling), plasma histidine, urine arginine, and urine glutamic acid. After 4 weeks of higher water intake, four out of five participants had ½ maximal RBC deformability below 400 mmol/kg; plasma histidine below 100 μmol/L; and/or undetectable urine arginine and urine glutamic acid concentrations. Work is warranted to pursue RBC deformability and amino acid concentrations after hypo-osmotic challenge as possible biomarkers of chronic cell hydration. PMID:24303184

Possible effects of glyphosate on Mucorales abundance in the rumen of dairy cows in Germany.

PubMed

Schrödl, Wieland; Krüger, Susanne; Konstantinova-Müller, Theodora; Shehata, Awad A; Rulff, Ramon; Krüger, Monika

2014-12-01

Glyphosate (N-phosphonomethyl glycine) is registered as a herbicide for many food and non-food crops, as well as non-crop areas where total vegetation control is desired. Glyphosate influences the soil mycobiota; however, the possible effect of glyphosate residues in animal feed (soybean, corn, etc.) on animal mycobiota is almost unknown. Accordingly, the present study was initiated to investigate the mycological characteristics of dairy cows in relationship to glyphosate concentrations in urine. A total of 258 dairy cows on 14 dairy farms in Germany were examined. Glyphosate was detected in urine using ELISA. The fungal profile was analyzed in rumen fluid samples using conventional microbiological culture techniques and differentiated by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. LPS-binding protein (LBP) and antibodies (IgG1, IgG2, IgA, and IgM) against fungi were determined in blood using ELISA. Different populations of Lichtheimia corymbifera, Lichtheimia ramosa, Mucor, and Rhizopus were detected. L. corymbifera and L. ramosa were significantly more abundant in animals containing high glyphosate (>40 ng/ml) concentrations in urine. There were no significant changes in IgG1 and IgG2 antibodies toward isolated fungi that were related to glyphosate concentration in urine; however, IgA antibodies against L. corymbifera and L. ramosa were significantly lower in the higher glyphosate groups. Moreover, a negative correlation between IgM antibodies against L. corymbifera, L. ramosa, and Rhizopus relative to glyphosate concentration in urine was observed. LBP also was significantly decreased in animals with higher concentrations of glyphosate in their urine. In conclusion, glyphosate appears to modulate the fungal community. The reduction of IgM antibodies and LBP indicates an influence on the innate immune system of animals.

Responses of metabolic pathways to polycyclic aromatic compounds in flounder following oil spill in the Baltic Sea near the Estonian coast.

PubMed

Kreitsberg, Randel; Zemit, Irina; Freiberg, Rene; Tambets, Meelis; Tuvikene, Arvo

2010-09-15

In January 2006 an oil spill that involved approximately 40tons of heavy fuel oil affected more than 30km of the north-west coast of Estonia. The aquatic pollution of the coastal area of the Baltic Sea was monitored by measuring the content of selected polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs and PAH metabolites) in flounder (Platichthys flesus trachurus Duncker). One hundred and thirty-one fish were collected: muscle and liver tissues were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC); bile and urine samples were analyzed using fixed wavelengths fluorescence. Fifteen different types of PAHs were analyzed in liver and muscle, and four types of PAH metabolites were analyzed in bile and urine (2-, 3-, 4- and 5-ringed PAH metabolites represented by naphthalene, phenanthrene, pyrene and benzo(a)pyrene). Fluorescence analyses were carried out using excitation/emission wavelength pairs: 290/380, 256/380, 341/383 and 380/430nm, respectively. There was a time-dependent decrease of PAH concentrations in liver (83%), bile (82%) and urine (113%). HPLC analysis of muscle tissues demonstrated low concentrations of single PAHs, but a decrease of concentrations during the study period was not observed. During the analyses concentrations of PAH metabolites in bile and urine were compared. Liver metabolic transformation activity is believed to exceed that of the kidney but the analyses demonstrated high metabolite concentration in fish urine, particularly of 4- and 5-ring PAH metabolites. The results indicate remarkable buffer capacity of hydrodynamically active sea as well as considerable importance of kidney-urine metabolic pathways in flounder physiology. 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Higher urine 1-hydroxy pyrene glucuronide (1-OHPG) is associated with tobacco smoke exposure and drinking maté in healthy subjects from Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

PubMed Central

Fagundes, Renato B; Abnet, Christian C; Strickland, Paul T; Kamangar, Farin; Roth, Mark J; Taylor, Philip R; Dawsey, Sanford M

2006-01-01

Background The highest rates of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) in Brazil occur in Rio Grande do Sul, the most southern state, which has incidence rates of 20.4/100,000/year for men and 6.5/100,000/year for women. Exposure to carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) through tobacco smoke and other sources may increase the risk of ESCC. The aims of the current study were to investigate the degree and sources of PAH exposure of the inhabitants of this region of southern Brazil. Methods Two hundred healthy adults (half smokers, half non smokers, half male and half female) were recruited, given a standardized questionnaire, and asked to provide a urine sample for measurement of 1-hydroxypyrene glucuronide (1-OHPG), a PAH metabolite). Urine 1-OHPG concentrations were measured using immunoaffinity chromatography and synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy and urine cotinine was measured using a dipstick test. We examined factors associated with 1-OHPG concentration using Wilcoxon tests and multiple linear regression. Results Urine 1-hydroxypyrene glucuronide (1-OHPG) was successfully measured on 199 subjects. The median (interquartile range) of urine 1-OHPG in the 199 participants was 2.09 pmol/mL (0.51, 5.84). Tobacco smoke exposure and maté drinking were statistically significantly associated with higher urine 1-OHPG concentrations in the multivariate linear regression model. Conclusion Tobacco smoke and maté both contribute to high levels of benzo[a]pyrene exposure in the people of southern Brazil. This high PAH exposure may contribute to the high rates of ESCC observed in this population. The increased urine 1-OHPG concentrations associated with maté suggest that contaminants, not just thermal injury, may help explain the increased risk of ESCC previously reported for maté consumption. PMID:16729889

Intercomparison of analytical methods for arsenic speciation in human urine.

PubMed

Crecelius, E; Yager, J

1997-06-01

An intercomparison exercise was conducted for the quantification of arsenic species in spiked human urine. The primary objective of the exercise was to determine the variance among laboratories in the analysis of arsenic species such as inorganic As (As+3 and As+5), monomethylarsonic acid (MMA), and dimethylarsinic acid (DMA). Laboratories that participated had previous experience with arsenic speciation analysis. The results of this interlaboratory comparison are encouraging. There is relatively good agreement on the concentrations of these arsenic species in urine at concentrations that are relevant to research on the metabolism of arsenic in humans and other mammals. Both the accuracy and precision are relatively poor for arsenic concentrations of less than about 5 micrograms/l.

Morphine and codeine concentrations in human urine following controlled poppy seeds administration of known opiate content.

PubMed

Smith, Michael L; Nichols, Daniel C; Underwood, Paula; Fuller, Zachary; Moser, Matthew A; LoDico, Charles; Gorelick, David A; Newmeyer, Matthew N; Concheiro, Marta; Huestis, Marilyn A

2014-08-01

Opiates are an important component for drug testing due to their high abuse potential. Proper urine opiate interpretation includes ruling out poppy seed ingestion; however, detailed elimination studies after controlled poppy seed administration with known morphine and codeine doses are not available. Therefore, we investigated urine opiate pharmacokinetics after controlled oral administration of uncooked poppy seeds with known morphine and codeine content. Participants were administered two 45 g oral poppy seed doses 8 h apart, each containing 15.7 mg morphine and 3mg codeine. Urine was collected ad libitum up to 32 h after the first dose. Specimens were analyzed with the Roche Opiates II immunoassay at 2000 and 300 μg/L cutoffs, and the ThermoFisher CEDIA(®) heroin metabolite (6-acetylmorphine, 6-AM) and Lin-Zhi 6-AM immunoassays with 10 μg/L cutoffs to determine if poppy seed ingestion could produce positive results in these heroin marker assays. In addition, all specimens were quantified for morphine and codeine by GC/MS. Participants (N=22) provided 391 urine specimens over 32 h following dosing; 26.6% and 83.4% were positive for morphine at 2000 and 300 μg/L GC/MS cutoffs, respectively. For the 19 subjects who completed the study, morphine concentrations ranged from <300 to 7522 μg/L with a median peak concentration of 5239 μg/L. The median first morphine-positive urine sample at 2000 μg/L cutoff concentration occurred at 6.6 h (1.2-12.1), with the last positive from 2.6 to 18 h after the second dose. No specimens were positive for codeine at a cutoff concentration of 2000 μg/L, but 20.2% exceeded 300 μg/L, with peak concentrations of 658 μg/L (284-1540). The Roche Opiates II immunoassay had efficiencies greater than 96% for the 2000 and 300 μg/L cutoffs. The CEDIA 6-AM immunoassay had a specificity of 91%, while the Lin-Zhi assay had no false positive results. These data provide valuable information for interpreting urine opiate results. Copyright © 2014. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.

Morphine and Codeine Concentrations in Human Urine following Controlled Poppy Seeds Administration of Known Opiate Content

PubMed Central

Smith, Michael L.; Nichols, Daniel C.; Underwood, Paula; Fuller, Zachary; Moser, Matthew A.; LoDico, Charles; Gorelick, David A.; Newmeyer, Matthew N.; Concheiro, Marta; Huestis, Marilyn A.

2014-01-01

Opiates are an important component for drug testing due to their high abuse potential. Proper urine opiate interpretation includes ruling out poppy seed ingestion; however, detailed elimination studies after controlled poppy seed administration with known morphine and codeine doses are not available. Therefore, we investigated urine opiate pharmacokinetics after controlled oral administration of uncooked poppy seeds with known morphine and codeine content. Participants were administered two 45g oral poppy seed doses 8h apart, each containing 15.7mg morphine and 3mg codeine. Urine was collected ad libitum up to 32h after the first dose. Specimens were analyzed with the Roche Opiates II immunoassay at 2,000 and 300μg/L cutoffs, and the ThermoFisher CEDIA® Heroin Metabolite (6-acetylmorphine, 6AM) and Lin-Zhi 6AM immunoassays with 10μg/L cutoffs to determine if poppy seed ingestion could produce positive results in these heroin marker assays. In addition, all specimens were quantified for morphine and codeine by GC/MS. Participants (N=22) provided 391 urine specimens over 32h following dosing; 26.6% and 83.4% were positive for morphine at 2,000 and 300μg/L GC/MS cutoffs, respectively. For the 19 subjects who completed the study, morphine concentrations ranged from <300 to 7,522μg/L with a median peak concentration of 5,239μg/L. The median first morphine-positive urine sample at 2,000μg/L cutoff concentration occurred at 6.6h (1.2-12.1), with the last positive from 2.6 to 18h after the second dose. No specimens were positive for codeine at a cutoff concentration of 2,000μg/L, but 20.2% exceeded 300μg/L, with peak concentrations of 658 μg/L (284-1540). The Roche Opiates II immunoassay had efficiencies greater than 96% for the 2000 and 300μg/L cutoffs. The CEDIA 6AM immunoassay had a specificity of 91%, while the Lin-Zhi assay had no false positive results. These data provide valuable information for interpreting urine opiate results. PMID:24887324

Urinary creatinine concentrations in an industrial workforce and comparison with reference values of the general population.

PubMed

Bader, Michael; Messerer, Peter; Will, Wolfgang

2013-08-01

Urinary creatinine is an important parameter for the adjustment of metabolite concentrations in differently diluted urine specimens, as a reference dimension for biological limit or guidance values and as a selection criterion for spot urine samples in human biomonitoring. While the creatinine output of the general population has been well described in environmental surveys, this study focused specifically on creatinine concentrations in a large industrial workforce in order to compare these data with the general population and to provide a database for the calculation of a reasonable conversion factor between volume-related and creatinine-adjusted data and vice versa. Urinary creatinine was analysed in 6,438 spot urine samples by a photometric assay in the time period between 1989 and 2009. Basic demographic data (age, sex, body weight, body height) and job category (apprentices, skilled craftsmen, skilled chemical workers, foremen, laboratory staff and executives) were considered in a statistical analysis. The median concentration of urinary creatinine in all urine samples was 1.36 g/L with male employees showing significantly higher values (1.37 g/L, n = 6,148 samples) than female employees (1.00 g/L, n = 290) and concentrations ranging from 0.01 up to 9.76 g/L. Age, body mass index and job category were significant influence factors on urinary creatinine. About 92 % of all samples showed creatinine concentrations between 0.3 and 3.0 g/L, a range recommended by the World Health Organization as a criterion for valid spot urine samples. The results of this study correspond well with data from environmental surveys and with recent data from an active workforce in industry with similar sampling strategies. Therefore, a median of 1.4 g creatinine per litre urine seems to be a reasonable value for general calculations and adjustments. The study data also support the validity of the current recommendations by the WHO and several scientific committees and institutions with respect to creatinine limits in spot urine samples for occupational-medical biomonitoring.

L-FABP and IL-6 as markers of chronic kidney damage in children after hemolytic uremic syndrome.

PubMed

Lipiec, Katarzyna; Adamczyk, Piotr; Świętochowska, Elżbieta; Ziora, Katarzyna; Szczepańska, Maria

2018-06-13

Hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS) is a form of thrombotic microangiopathy, in the course of which some patients may develop chronic kidney disease (CKD). From a clinical point of view, it is important to search for markers that allow for early identification of patients at risk of a poor prognosis. The study evaluated the serum and urine levels of liver-type fatty acid binding protein (L-FABP) and interleukin 6 (IL-6). The study was conducted in 29 children with a history of HUS. The relationship between L-FABP and IL-6 and anthropometric measurements, the value of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and albuminuria were additionally evaluated. In children after HUS, L-FABP and IL-6 concentration in both serum and urine was significantly higher in comparison to the control group. No differences in L-FABP and IL-6 concentration in serum and urine depending on the type of HUS and gender were noted. Correlation between L-FABP and IL-6 in serum and urine with eGFR and urine albumin-creatinine ratio (ACR) in the total group of patients after HUS was not detected. In the group of children after 6 month observation after HUS, a negative correlation of L-FABP concentration with eGFR was found. The results indicate that the higher concentration of L-FABP in serum and urine of children with a history of HUS can be the result of protracted injury initiated during the acute phase of the disease. Lack of correlation of L-FABP concentration with the ACR may be associated with a short (less than 6 months) observation after acute renal failure or merely temporary renal tubular damage in the acute phase of the disease. In contrast, higher levels of IL-6 in serum and urine in children after HUS compared to healthy children and the negative correlation of L-FABP concentration and eGFR in children after 6 month observation after HUS may confirm their participation in CKD. Thus, L-FABP and IL-6 seem to be good biomarkers of chronic kidney damage in survivors of the acute phase of HUS.

Availability of arsenic in human milk in women and its correlation with arsenic in urine of breastfed children living in arsenic contaminated areas in Bangladesh.

PubMed

Islam, Md Rafiqul; Attia, John; Alauddin, Mohammad; McEvoy, Mark; McElduff, Patrick; Slater, Christine; Islam, Md Monirul; Akhter, Ayesha; d'Este, Catherine; Peel, Roseanne; Akter, Shahnaz; Smith, Wayne; Begg, Stephen; Milton, Abul Hasnat

2014-12-04

Early life exposure to inorganic arsenic may be related to adverse health effects in later life. However, there are few data on postnatal arsenic exposure via human milk. In this study, we aimed to determine arsenic levels in human milk and the correlation between arsenic in human milk and arsenic in mothers and infants urine. Between March 2011 and March 2012, this prospective study identified a total of 120 new mother-baby pairs from Kashiani (subdistrict), Bangladesh. Of these, 30 mothers were randomly selected for human milk samples at 1, 6 and 9 months post-natally; the same mother baby pairs were selected for urine sampling at 1 and 6 months. Twelve urine samples from these 30 mother baby pairs were randomly selected for arsenic speciation. Arsenic concentration in human milk was low and non-normally distributed. The median arsenic concentration in human milk at all three time points remained at 0.5 μg/L. In the mixed model estimates, arsenic concentration in human milk was non-significantly reduced by -0.035 μg/L (95% CI: -0.09 to 0.02) between 1 and 6 months and between 6 and 9 months. With the progression of time, arsenic concentration in infant's urine increased non-significantly by 0.13 μg/L (95% CI: -1.27 to 1.53). Arsenic in human milk at 1 and 6 months was not correlated with arsenic in the infant's urine at the same time points (r = -0.13 at 1 month and r = -0.09 at 6 month). Arsenite (AsIII), arsenate (AsV), monomethyl arsonic acid (MMA), dimethyl arsinic acid (DMA) and arsenobetaine (AsB) were the constituents of total urinary arsenic; DMA was the predominant arsenic metabolite in infant urine. We observed a low arsenic concentration in human milk. The concentration was lower than the World Health Organization's maximum permissible limit (WHO Permissible Limit 15 μg/kg-bw/week). Our findings support the safety of breastfeeding even in arsenic contaminated areas.

The effect of diet enriched with rapeseed meal on endogenous thiouracil contents in urine and milk of cattle.

PubMed

Wozniak, Barbara; Matraszek-Zuchowska, Iwona; Witek, Sebastian; Zmudzki, Jan; Posyniak, Andrzej

2018-01-15

Thyreostatic compounds, such as thiouracil, are orally active drugs that can be used to increase the weight of cattle before slaughter. Due to potentially teratogenic and carcinogenic effects of their residues on public health, the use of thyreostats in animal production has been banned in the European Union since 1981. Systematic detection of low concentrations of thiouracil in the urine of livestock in many countries is believed to be of endogenous origin due to the use of Brassicaceae plants in the animal diet. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to determine the effects of diets rich in rapeseed meal on formation of thiouracil in urine and milk of dairy cows. For two weeks three cows were subjected to a diet supplemented with rapeseed at 30%, compared to the control cattle diet which contained up to 11% rapeseed. During the experiment, samples of urine and milk were collected and analysed by LC-MS/MS. The increase and decrease of thiouracil concentration in urine samples in different animals was individual and cyclic. The highest concentration of natural thiouracil determined in urine was 3.61 μg l -1 . It has been found that endogenous thiouracil exists in two tautomeric forms. A few days of storage of frozen urine samples affected the stability of natural thiouracil, whereas an acidic medium improved the stability of the compound and its isomer, which remained stable even after two months of storage at temperatures below -18°C. Due to the instability of thiouracil, urine samples upon sampling should be delivered to the laboratory as soon as possible or properly preserved. In milk samples, thiouracil was not found above the decision limit of the applied method of 0.63 μg l -1 . Preliminary studies have shown that faecal examination for banned thiouracil can be a complementary test for urine samples, and may be helpful in determining the origin of the compound present in urine.

Evaluation of Equations for Predicting 24-Hour Urinary Sodium Excretion from Casual Urine Samples in Asian Adults.

PubMed

Whitton, Clare; Gay, Gibson Ming Wei; Lim, Raymond Boon Tar; Tan, Linda Wei Lin; Lim, Wei-Yen; van Dam, Rob M

2016-08-01

The collection of 24-h urine samples for the estimation of sodium intake is burdensome, and the utility of spot urine samples in Southeast Asian populations is unclear. We aimed to assess the validity of prediction equations with the use of spot urine concentrations. A sample of 144 Singapore residents of Chinese, Malay, and Indian ethnicity aged 18-79 y were recruited from the Singapore Health 2 Study conducted in 2014. Participants collected urine for 24 h in multiple small bottles on a single day. To determine the optimal collection time for a spot urine sample, a 1-mL sample was taken from a random bottle collected in the morning, afternoon, and evening. Published equations and a newly derived equation were used to predict 24-h sodium excretion from spot urine samples. The mean ± SD concentration of sodium from the 24-h urine sample was 125 ± 53.4 mmol/d, which is equivalent to 7.2 ± 3.1 g salt. Bland-Altman plots showed good agreement at the group level between estimated and actual 24-h sodium excretion, with biases for the morning period of -3.5 mmol (95% CI: -14.8, 7.8 mmol; new equation) and 1.46 mmol (95% CI: -10.0, 13.0 mmol; Intersalt equation). A larger bias of 25.7 mmol (95% CI: 12.2, 39.3 mmol) was observed for the Tanaka equation in the morning period. The prediction accuracy did not differ significantly for spot urine samples collected at different times of the day or at a random time of day (P = 0.11-0.76). This study suggests that the application of both our own newly derived equation and the Intersalt equation to spot urine concentrations may be useful in predicting group means for 24-h sodium excretion in urban Asian populations. © 2016 American Society for Nutrition.

An investigation of the stability of free and glucuronidated 11-nor-delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol-9-carboxylic acid in authentic urine samples.

PubMed

Skopp, Gisela; Pötsch, Lucia

2004-01-01

Preanalytical stability of a drug and its major metabolites is an important consideration in pharmacokinetic studies or whenever the analyte pattern is used to estimate drug habits. Firstly, the stability of free and glucuronidated 11-nor-delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol-9-carboxylic acid (THCCOOH, THCCOOglu) in authentic urine samples was investigated. Random urine samples of cannabis users (n = 38) were stored at -20, 4, and 20 degrees C up to 15 days and up to 5 days at 40 degrees C, and alterations of the analyte pattern during storage were followed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Secondly, the influence of pH (range 5.0-8.0) on the stability of the analytes was studied using spiked urine to elucidate the results obtained from authentic samples. In authentic urine samples, the initial pH ranged from 5.1 to 8.8. The glucuronide was found to be highly labile at a storage temperature of 4 degrees C and above. Initially, 18 urine samples tested positive for THCCOOH. After 2 days storage at 20 degrees C, THCCOOH was detectable in a further 4 samples, and 7 more samples tested positive for THCCOOH (5-81 ng/mL) after 15 days. Depending on time and temperature, the glucuronide concentration decreased, resulting in an increase of THCCOOH concentration. However, a loss in mean total THCCOOH concentration was found, which was significantly higher in deteriorated samples than in samples without signs of deterioration after 15 days of storage at 20 degrees C. In the drug-free urine sample separately spiked with THCCOOglu or THCCOOH, the investigations on the stability of the target analytes at various pH values revealed that THCCOOH was stable at pH 5.0. At higher pH values, its concentration slightly decreased with time, and about 69% of the initial THCCOOH concentration was still present at pH 8.0 on day 5. THCCOOglu concentrations rapidly decreased with increasing pH value. For example, only 72% of the initial THCCOOglu concentration could be detected at pH 5.0 on day 1. Degradation of the glucuronide resulted in formation of THCCOOH, which was observed even at pH 5.0. In light of the present findings, advanced forensic interpretations based on the presence of THCCOOH or the pattern of THCCOOH and THCCOOglu in stored urine samples seems questionable.

Accelerated podocyte detachment and progressive podocyte loss from glomeruli with age in Alport Syndrome.

PubMed

Ding, Fangrui; Wickman, Larysa; Wang, Su Q; Zhang, Yanqin; Wang, Fang; Afshinnia, Farsad; Hodgin, Jeffrey; Ding, Jie; Wiggins, Roger C

2017-12-01

Podocyte depletion is a common mechanism driving progression in glomerular diseases. Alport Syndrome glomerulopathy, caused by defective α3α4α5 (IV) collagen heterotrimer production by podocytes, is associated with an increased rate of podocyte detachment detectable in urine and reduced glomerular podocyte number suggesting that defective podocyte adherence to the glomerular basement membrane might play a role in driving progression. Here a genetically phenotyped Alport Syndrome cohort of 95 individuals [urine study] and 41 archived biopsies [biopsy study] were used to test this hypothesis. Podocyte detachment rate (measured by podocin mRNA in urine pellets expressed either per creatinine or 24-hour excretion) was significantly increased 11-fold above control, and prior to a detectably increased proteinuria or microalbuminuria. In parallel, Alport Syndrome glomeruli lose an average 26 podocytes per year versus control glomeruli that lose 2.3 podocytes per year, an 11-fold difference corresponding to the increased urine podocyte detachment rate. Podocyte number per glomerulus in Alport Syndrome biopsies is projected to be normal at birth (558/glomerulus) but accelerated podocyte loss was projected to cause end-stage kidney disease by about 22 years. Biopsy data from two independent cohorts showed a similar estimated glomerular podocyte loss rate comparable to the measured 11-fold increase in podocyte detachment rate. Reduction in podocyte number and density in biopsies correlated with proteinuria, glomerulosclerosis, and reduced renal function. Thus, the podocyte detachment rate appears to be increased from birth in Alport Syndrome, drives the progression process, and could potentially help predict time to end-stage kidney disease and response to treatment. Copyright © 2017 International Society of Nephrology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Defect in dermatan sulfate in urine of patients with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome caused by a CHST14/D4ST1 deficiency.

PubMed

Mizumoto, Shuji; Kosho, Tomoki; Hatamochi, Atsushi; Honda, Tomoko; Yamaguchi, Tomomi; Okamoto, Nobuhiko; Miyake, Noriko; Yamada, Shuhei; Sugahara, Kazuyuki

2017-08-01

Dermatan sulfate (DS) plays a number of roles in a wide range of biological activities such as cell signaling and tissue morphogenesis through interactions with various extracellular matrix proteins including collagen. Mutations in the carbohydrate sulfotransferase 14 gene (CHST14) encoding CHST14/dermatan 4-O-sulfotransferase-1 (D4ST1), which is responsible for the biosynthesis of DS, cause a recently delineated form of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS, musculocontractural type 1), an autosomal recessive connective tissue disorder characterized by congenital malformations (specific craniofacial features, and congenital multiple contractures) and progressive fragility-related complications (skin hyperextensibility, bruisability, and fragility with atrophic scars; recurrent dislocations; progressive talipes or spinal deformities; and large subcutaneous hematomas). In an attempt to develop a diagnostic screening method for this type of EDS, the amount of DS in the urine of patients was analyzed. Urinary DS was quantified by an anion-exchange chromatography after treatment with DS-specific degrading enzyme. DS was not detected in the urine of patients with homo- or compound heterozygous mutations in CHST14. These results suggest that the quantification of DS in urine is applicable to an initial diagnosis of DS-defective EDS. This is the first study to perform a urinary disaccharide compositional analysis of chondroitin sulfate (CS)/DS chains in patients with EDS caused by a CHST14/D4ST1 deficiency, and demonstrated the absence of DS chains. This result suggests systemic DS depletion in this disorder, and also proposes the usefulness of a urinary disaccharide compositional analysis of CS/DS chains as a non-invasive screening method for this disorder. Copyright © 2017 The Canadian Society of Clinical Chemists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

A simple high performance liquid chromatography method for determination of rebamipide in rat urine.

PubMed

Cooper, Dustin L; Harirforoosh, Sam

2014-01-01

Rebamipide is a mucoprotective agent commonly used to prevent nonsteriodal anti-inflammatory drug-induced gastrointenstinal side effects [1]. Human plasma and urine analysis of rebamipide utilizing high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) have been reported [2]. Recently, we reported on the plasma levels of rebamipide in presense or absence of celecoxib or diclofenac in rats [3] using a modified HPLC method of detection developed by Jeoung et al. [4]. To tailor the method towards use in urinary rebamipide extraction and analysis, the following modifications were made:•To compensate for high concentrations of rebamipide found in urine, a new rebamipide stock solution was prepared with a final concentration of 50,000 ng/mL.•Rat urine calibration standards were obtained within the range of 50-1000 ng/mL and 1000-50,000 ng/mL.•Plasma samples were replaced with urine samples.

Personal Care Product Use in Men and Urinary Concentrations of Select Phthalate Metabolites and Parabens: Results from the Environment And Reproductive Health (EARTH) Study.

PubMed

Nassan, Feiby L; Coull, Brent A; Gaskins, Audrey J; Williams, Michelle A; Skakkebaek, Niels E; Ford, Jennifer B; Ye, Xiaoyun; Calafat, Antonia M; Braun, Joseph M; Hauser, Russ

2017-08-18

Personal care products (PCPs) are exposure sources to phthalates and parabens; however, their contribution to men's exposure is understudied. We examined the association between PCP use and urinary concentrations of phthalate metabolites and parabens in men. In a prospective cohort, at multiple study visits, men self-reported their use of 14 PCPs and provided a urine sample (2004-2015, Boston, MA). We measured urinary concentrations of 9 phthalate metabolites and methylparaben, propylparaben, and butylparaben. We estimated the covariate-adjusted percent change in urinary concentrations associated with PCP use using linear mixed and Tobit mixed regressions. We also estimated weights for each PCP in a weighted binary score regression and modeled the resulting composite weighted PCP use. Four hundred men contributed 1,037 urine samples (mean of 3/man). The largest percent increase in monoethyl phthalate (MEP) was associated with use of cologne/perfume (83%, p -value<0.01) and deodorant (74%, p -value<0.01). In contrast, the largest percent increase for parabens was associated with the use of suntan/sunblock lotion (66-156%) and hand/body lotion (79-147%). Increases in MEP and parabens were generally greater with PCP use within 6 h of urine collection. A subset of 10 PCPs that were used within 6 h of urine collection contributed to at least 70% of the weighted score and predicted a 254-1,333% increase in MEP and parabens concentrations. Associations between PCP use and concentrations of the other phthalate metabolites were not statistically significant. We identified 10 PCPs of relevance and demonstrated that their use within 6 h of urine collection strongly predicted MEP and paraben urinary concentrations. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP1374.

Subsurface cadmium loss from a stony soil-effect of cow urine application.

PubMed

Gray, Colin William; Chrystal, Jane Marie; Monaghan, Ross Martin; Cavanagh, Jo-Anne

2017-05-01

Cadmium (Cd) losses in subsurface flow from stony soils that have received cow urine are potentially important, but poorly understood. This study investigated Cd loss from a soil under a winter dairy-grazed forage crop that was grazed either conventionally (24 h) or with restricted grazing (6 h). This provided an opportunity to test the hypothesis that urine inputs could increase Cd concentrations in drainage. It was thought this would be a result of cow urine either (i) enhancing dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations via an increase in soil pH, resulting in the formation of soluble Cd-organic carbon complexes and, or (ii) greater inputs of chloride (Cl) via cow urine, promoting the formation of soluble Cd-Cl complexes. Cadmium concentrations in subsurface flow were generally low, with a spike above the water quality guidelines for a month after the 24-h grazing. Cadmium fluxes were on average 0.30 g Cd ha -1  year -1 (0.27-0.32 g Cd ha -1  year -1 ), in line with previous estimates for agricultural soils. The mean Cd concentration in drainage from the 24-h grazed plots was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than 6-h plots. No increase in DOC concentrations between the treatments was found. However, Cl concentrations in drainage were significantly higher (P < 0.001) from the 24-h than the 6-h grazed treatment plots, and positively correlated with Cd concentrations, and therefore, a possible mechanism increasing Cd mobility in soil. Further study is warranted to confirm the mechanisms involved and quantities of Cd lost from other systems.

Comparison of Four Strong Acids on the Precipitation Potential of Gypsum in Brines During Distillation of Pretreated, Augmented Urine

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Muirhead, Dean; Carrier, Christopher

2012-01-01

In this study, three different mineral acids were substituted for sulfuric acid (H2SO4) in the urine stabilizer solution to eliminate the excess of sulfate ions in pretreated urine and assess the impact on maximum water recovery to avoid precipitation of minerals during distillation. The study evaluated replacing 98% sulfuric acid with 85% phosphoric acid (H3PO4), 37% hydrochloric acid (HCl), or 70% nitric acid (HNO3). The effect of lowering the oxidizer concentration in the pretreatment formulation also was studied. This paper summarizes the test results, defines candidate formulations for further study, and specifies the injection masses required to stabilize urine and minimize the risk of mineral precipitation during distillation. In the first test with a brine ersatz acidified with different acids, the solubility of calcium in gypsum saturated solutions was measured. The solubility of gypsum was doubled in the brines acidified with the alternative acids compared to sulfuric acid. In a second series of tests, the alternative acid pretreatment concentrations were effective at preventing precipitation of gypsum and other minerals up to 85% water recovery from 95th-percentile pretreated, augmented urine. Based on test results, phosphoric acid is recommended as the safest alternative to sulfuric acid. It also is recommended that the injected mass concentration of chromium trioxide solution be reduced by 75% to minimize liquid resupply mass by about 50%, reduce toxicity of brines, and reduce the concentration of organic acids in distillate. The new stabilizer solution formulations and required doses to stabilize urine and prevent precipitation of minerals up to 85% water recovery are given. The formulations in this study were tested on a limited number of artificially augmented urine batches collected from employees at the Johnson Space Center (JSC). This study successfully demonstrated that the desired physical and chemical stability of pretreated urine and brines can be achieved using alternate pretreatment formulations under laboratory conditions. Additional testing and hazard assessments will be required to determine the feasibility of utilizing the proposed urine pretreatment formulations on ISS.

Regulation of Renal Urea Transport by Vasopressin

PubMed Central

Sands, Jeff M.; Blount, Mitsi A.; Klein, Janet D.

2011-01-01

Terrestrial life would be miserable without the ability to concentrate urine. Production of concentrated urine requires complex interactions among the nephron segments and vasculature in the kidney medulla. In addition to water channels (aquaporins) and sodium transporters, urea transporters are critically important to the theories proposed to explain the physiologic processes occurring when urine is concentrated. Vasopressin (anti-diuretic hormone) is the key hormone regulating the production of concentrated urine. Vasopressin rapidly increases water and urea transport in the terminal inner medullary collecting duct (IMCD). Vasopressin rapidly increases urea permeability in the IMCD through increases in phosphorylation and apical plasma-membrane accumulation of the urea transporter A1 (UT-A1). Vasopressin acts through two cAMP-dependent signaling pathways in the IMCD: protein kinase A and exchange protein activated by cAMP Epac. Protein kinase A phosphorylates UT-A1 at serines 486 and 499. In summary, vasopressin regulates urea transport acutely by increasing UT-A1 phosphorylation and the apical plasma-membrane accumulation of UT-A1 through two cAMP-dependent pathways. PMID:21686211

Immobile defects in ferroelastic walls: Wall nucleation at defect sites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

He, X.; Salje, E. K. H.; Ding, X.; Sun, J.

2018-02-01

Randomly distributed, static defects are enriched in ferroelastic domain walls. The relative concentration of defects in walls, Nd, follows a power law distribution as a function of the total defect concentration C: N d ˜ C α with α = 0.4 . The enrichment Nd/C ranges from ˜50 times when C = 10 ppm to ˜3 times when C = 1000 ppm. The resulting enrichment is due to nucleation at defect sites as observed in large scale MD simulations. The dynamics of domain nucleation and switching is dependent on the defect concentration. Their energy distribution follows the power law with exponents during yield between ɛ ˜ 1.82 and 2.0 when the defect concentration increases. The power law exponent is ɛ ≈ 2.7 in the plastic regime, independent of the defect concentration.

Monitoring of occupational exposure to methylene chloride: sampling protocol and stability of urine samples.

PubMed

Hoffer, Erica; Tabak, Arek; Shcherb, Inna; Wiener, Avi; Bentur, Yedidia

2005-01-01

A sampling protocol for biomonitoring of the volatile solvent methylene chloride (MeCl(2)) by analysis of urine from exposed workers was established. Storage temperature, sample volume in headspace vial (HSV), and time to sealing HSV on determination of MeCl(2) in urine were evaluated. MeCl(2) was analyzed by a solid-phase microextraction technique combined with gas chromatography. Volume of urine in HSV has no effect on MeCl(2) analysis. Delays of 30 and 60 min from collection of urine until sealing the HSV caused 14.47 +/- 6.98% and 26.17 +/- 9.57% decreases from baseline concentration, respectively. MeCl(2) concentration in spiked urine samples stored in sealed HSVs decreased on day 2 and then remained stable for 2 weeks. Refrigeration did not improve recovery although it seems to be associated with less variability. MeCl(2) in urine samples of seven exposed workers was in the range of 0.02-0.06 mg/L. Sampling of MeCl(2)-containing urine should include collection of urine in closed plastic bottles, transfer to HSV within 15 min, sealing and clamping of HSV within 15 s, and storage of HSV in refrigeration until analysis, but no longer than 2 weeks. Standard samples should be prepared on the day of test sample collection and handled under the same conditions.

The relationship between sodium concentrations in spot urine and blood pressure increases: a prospective study of Japanese general population: the Circulatory Risk in Communities Study (CIRCS).

PubMed

Umesawa, Mitsumasa; Yamagishi, Kazumasa; Noda, Hiroyuki; Ikeda, Ai; Sawachi, Shinobu; Muraki, Isao; Chei, Choy-Lye; Cui, Renzhe; Nagao, Masanori; Ohira, Tetsuya; Sankai, Tomoko; Tanigawa, Takeshi; Kitamura, Akihiko; Kiyama, Masahiko; Iso, Hiroyasu

2016-03-05

Although several cross-sectional and intervention studies showed that sodium intake or excretion was associated with blood pressure levels, no prospective study has examined the long-term association between sodium excretion in spot urine and blood pressure changes. We conducted a prospective study of 889 normotensive subjects (295 men and 594 women, mean age 57.3 years) who underwent the baseline survey including spot urine test in 2005 and the follow-up survey in 2009 to 2011 (mean follow-up period: 5.8 years). We examined the association between sodium concentration in spot urine, a validated index of sodium excretion occurring over 24-h, and blood pressure changes between baseline and follow-up survey in all, non-overweight (body mass index(BMI) ≤ 25 kg/m(2)) and overweight normotensives. For all subjects, sodium concentrations in spot urine were not associated with either systolic or diastolic blood pressure changes. When stratified by BMI at baseline survey, sodium concentrations were positively associated with systolic blood pressure changes in non-overweight subjects, but not in overweight subjects. After adjustment for age, sex, BMI, alcohol intake status, current smoking and estimated glomerular filtration rate, the multivariable-adjusted mean values of the systolic blood pressure change among non-overweight subjects was +7.3 mmHg in the highest quartiles of sodium concentrations, while it was +3.9 mmHg in the lowest quartile (P for difference = 0.021, P for trend = 0.040). After further adjustment of baseline blood pressure levels, the association was slightly weakened; the multivariable-adjusted mean values of the systolic blood pressure changes were +7.0 mmHg and +4.2 mmHg (P for difference = 0.047, P for trend = 0.071). High sodium concentrations in spot urine were associated with subsequent systolic blood pressure increases among non-overweight normotensive individuals. (272 words).

Determination of total concentration of chemically labeled metabolites as a means of metabolome sample normalization and sample loading optimization in mass spectrometry-based metabolomics.

PubMed

Wu, Yiman; Li, Liang

2012-12-18

For mass spectrometry (MS)-based metabolomics, it is important to use the same amount of starting materials from each sample to compare the metabolome changes in two or more comparative samples. Unfortunately, for biological samples, the total amount or concentration of metabolites is difficult to determine. In this work, we report a general approach of determining the total concentration of metabolites based on the use of chemical labeling to attach a UV absorbent to the metabolites to be analyzed, followed by rapid step-gradient liquid chromatography (LC) UV detection of the labeled metabolites. It is shown that quantification of the total labeled analytes in a biological sample facilitates the preparation of an appropriate amount of starting materials for MS analysis as well as the optimization of the sample loading amount to a mass spectrometer for achieving optimal detectability. As an example, dansylation chemistry was used to label the amine- and phenol-containing metabolites in human urine samples. LC-UV quantification of the labeled metabolites could be optimally performed at the detection wavelength of 338 nm. A calibration curve established from the analysis of a mixture of 17 labeled amino acid standards was found to have the same slope as that from the analysis of the labeled urinary metabolites, suggesting that the labeled amino acid standard calibration curve could be used to determine the total concentration of the labeled urinary metabolites. A workflow incorporating this LC-UV metabolite quantification strategy was then developed in which all individual urine samples were first labeled with (12)C-dansylation and the concentration of each sample was determined by LC-UV. The volumes of urine samples taken for producing the pooled urine standard were adjusted to ensure an equal amount of labeled urine metabolites from each sample was used for the pooling. The pooled urine standard was then labeled with (13)C-dansylation. Equal amounts of the (12)C-labeled individual sample and the (13)C-labeled pooled urine standard were mixed for LC-MS analysis. This way of concentration normalization among different samples with varying concentrations of total metabolites was found to be critical for generating reliable metabolome profiles for comparison.

Central diabetes insipidus associated with impaired renal aquaporin-1 expression in mice lacking liver X receptor β.

PubMed

Gabbi, Chiara; Kong, Xiaomu; Suzuki, Hitoshi; Kim, Hyun-Jin; Gao, Min; Jia, Xiao; Ohnishi, Hideo; Ueta, Yoichi; Warner, Margaret; Guan, Youfei; Gustafsson, Jan-Åke

2012-02-21

The present study demonstrates a key role for the oxysterol receptor liver X receptor β (LXRβ) in the etiology of diabetes insipidus (DI). Given free access to water, LXRβ(-/-) but not LXRα(-/-) mice exhibited polyuria (abnormal daily excretion of highly diluted urine) and polydipsia (increased water intake), both features of diabetes insipidus. LXRβ(-/-) mice responded to 24-h dehydration with a decreased urine volume and increased urine osmolality. To determine whether the DI was of central or nephrogenic origin, we examined the responsiveness of the kidney to arginine vasopressin (AVP). An i.p. injection of AVP to LXRβ(-/-) mice revealed a partial kidney response: There was no effect on urine volume, but there was a significant increase of urine osmolality, suggesting that DI may be caused by a defect in central production of AVP. In the brain of WT mice LXRβ was expressed in the nuclei of magnocellular neurons in the supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei of the hypothalamus. In LXRβ(-/-) mice the expression of AVP was markedly decreased in the magnocellular neurons as well as in urine collected over a 24-h period. The persistent high urine volume after AVP administration was traced to a reduction in aquaporin-1 expression in the kidney of LXRβ(-/-) mice. The LXR agonist (GW3965) in WT mice elicited an increase in urine osmolality, suggesting that LXRβ is a key receptor in controlling water balance with targets in both the brain and kidney, and it could be a therapeutic target in disorders of water balance.

Stability of drugs of abuse in urine samples stored at -20 degrees C.

PubMed

Dugan, S; Bogema, S; Schwartz, R W; Lappas, N T

1994-01-01

Isolated studies of the stability of individual drugs of abuse have been reported. However, few have evaluated stability in frozen urine samples stored for 12 months. We have determined the stability of 11-nor-9-carboxy-delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (9-COOH-THC), amphetamine, methamphetamine, morphine, codeine, cocaine, benzoylecgonine, and phencyclidine in 236 physiological urine samples. Following the initial quantitative analysis, the samples were stored at -20 degrees C for 12 months and then reanalyzed. All drug concentrations were determined by gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric methods with cutoff concentrations of 5 ng/mL for 9-COOH-THC and phencyclidine and 100 ng/mL for each of the other drugs. The average change in the concentrations of these drugs following this long-term storage was not extensive except for an average change of -37% in cocaine concentrations.

Confirmation of the Department of Transportation criteria for a substituted urine specimen.

PubMed

Barbanel, Cheryl S; Winkelman, James W; Fischer, George A; King, Andrew J

2002-05-01

The purpose of this study was to determine whether people could naturally produce urine sufficiently dilute to meet the federal criteria for a "substituted" specimen. The United States Department of Transportation Regulations (49 Code of Federal Regulations Part 40) defines a urine specimen as substituted if it has a creatinine concentration of < or = 5 mg/dL and a specific gravity of < or = 1.001 or > or = 1.020. These criteria have been criticized based on the contention that an insufficient number of specimens had been tested from the same urine sample for both creatinine and specific gravity measurements. We reviewed the results of 803,130 random urine specimens measured for creatinine and/or specific gravity in a hospital-based laboratory. In this database, 13,467 urine specimens had both creatinine and specific gravity measurements. None of these 13,467 paired urine specimens met the lower limit of specific gravity (< or = 1.001) and creatinine (< or = 5 mg/dL) criteria for a Department of Transportation substituted specimen. We also examined the medical records of those patients meeting even one of the two criteria; creatinine concentration < or = 5 mg/dL or specific gravity < or = 1.001. These patients were neonatal, moribund, or so severely ill that essentially none could have been among the working population. These data in patients with various pathologic states support our belief that normal individuals do not produce urine dilute enough to meet the lower limit of the specific gravity (< or = 1.001) and creatinine (< or = 5 mg/dL) required for meeting substituted specimen criteria. Eleven patients met the criteria for a substituted specimen, with elevated specific gravity of > or = 1.020 and creatinine concentration of < or = 5 mg/dL; however, these patients were seriously ill or terminally ill.

Interlaboratory trial for the measurement of total cobalt in equine urine and plasma by ICP-MS.

PubMed

Popot, Marie-Agnes; Ho, Emmie N M; Stojiljkovic, Natali; Bagilet, Florian; Remy, Pierre; Maciejewski, Pascal; Loup, Benoit; Chan, George H M; Hargrave, Sabine; Arthur, Rick M; Russo, Charlie; White, James; Hincks, Pamela; Pearce, Clive; Ganio, George; Zahra, Paul; Batty, David; Jarrett, Mark; Brooks, Lydia; Prescott, Lise-Anne; Bailly-Chouriberry, Ludovic; Bonnaire, Yves; Wan, Terence S M

2017-09-01

Cobalt is an essential mineral micronutrient and is regularly present in equine nutritional and feed supplements. Therefore, cobalt is naturally present at low concentrations in biological samples. The administration of cobalt chloride is considered to be blood doping and is thus prohibited. To control the misuse of cobalt, it was mandatory to establish an international threshold for cobalt in plasma and/or in urine. To achieve this goal, an international collaboration, consisting of an interlaboratory comparison between 5 laboratories for the urine study and 8 laboratories for the plasma study, has been undertaken. Quantification of cobalt in the biological samples was performed by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Ring tests were based on the analysis of 5 urine samples supplemented at concentrations ranging from 5 up to 500 ng/mL and 5 plasma samples spiked at concentrations ranging from 0.5 up to 25 ng/mL. The results obtained from the different laboratories were collected, compiled, and compared to assess the reproducibility and robustness of cobalt quantification measurements. The statistical approach for the ring test for total cobalt in urine was based on the determination of percentage deviations from the calculated means, while robust statistics based on the calculated median were applied to the ring test for total cobalt in plasma. The inter-laboratory comparisons in urine and in plasma were successful so that 97.6% of the urine samples and 97.5% of the plasma samples gave satisfactory results. Threshold values for cobalt in plasma and urine were established from data only obtained by laboratories involved in the ring test. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Behavioral, semiochemical and androgen responses by male giant pandas to the olfactory sexual receptivity cues of females.

PubMed

Wilson, Abbey E; Sparks, Darrell L; Knott, Katrina K; Kouba, Andrew J; Willard, Scott; Brown, Ashli

2018-07-01

Male giant pandas identify female sexual receptivity through the detection of olfactory cues in estrous urine. However, it is yet unknown which specific days of the female estrous cycle may provoke male sexual-social responses and a physiological readiness to mate. We hypothesized that female urine from specific days of the estrous cycle will be positively associated with specific changes in male behaviors, urinary semiochemical production, and steroidogenic activity. Experimental simultaneous choice trials were conducted in captivity with four male giant pandas during the spring breeding season and during fall. Male interest was determined by a behavioral preference toward peri-estrual urine collected from a specific day of the estrous cycle encompassing proestrus (Day -13, Day -6, Day -3, Day -2), estrus (Day -1 and Day 0), and metestrus (Day four and Day nine) over that of anestrous urine. Provocation of male sexual motivation was examined by changes in urinary semiochemical composition and urinary androgen concentrations. During the spring, male investigative behaviors indicated a preference for Day -13, Day -3 and Day 0 urine over anestrous urine, while no significant preferences for estrous urine could be detected during fall. The relative abundance of only three compounds in male urine were significantly higher above baseline values after males were exposed to peri-estrual urine during spring; whereas 34 compounds significantly increased in the fall. Similarly, androgen concentrations increased above baseline in only two out of four males during spring, while all males had elevated androgen concentrations after exposure to Day -3 urine during the fall. Our results suggest that peri-estrual urine from Day -13, Day -3, and Day 0 elicited the greatest duration of male investigation, changes in the semiochemical profile, and elevations in androgen levels. These data suggest that managers should incorporate a combination of behavioral, semiochemical, and endocrinological assessment of males in the reproductive management of giant pandas to determine impending ovulation and pinpoint the best time for male-female introductions and artificial inseminations. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Physiological Adaptations of Arctic Mammals.

DTIC Science & Technology

1975-01-01

photometry for sodium and potassium concentration. Data for the first 30 minute period of severe cold exposure is summarized in Table 1. All the urine...exception of the slope of potassium concentration of unacclimated brown lemmings (which increased), slopes of ion concentrations were not different from...between 5:00 AN and 9:00 AM. Interpretation of the sodium and potassium excretion ..n the urine is difficult as long as there are no specific data on

Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin in dogs with chronic kidney disease, carcinoma, lymphoma and endotoxaemia.

PubMed

Cobrin, A R; Blois, S L; Abrams-Ogg, A C G; Kruth, S A; Dewey, C; Holowaychuk, M K; Gauthier, V

2016-06-01

To measure serum and urine neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) concentrations in healthy dogs and dogs with chronic kidney disease, neoplasia and endotoxaemia. Serum and urine NGAL concentrations were measured in 42 healthy dogs, 11 dogs with chronic kidney disease, 12 dogs with carcinoma, 20 dogs with lymphoma and 15 dogs with lipopolysaccharide-induced endotoxaemia. In dogs with chronic kidney disease, NGAL was measured 3 and 6 months later. Compared with healthy controls, dogs with chronic kidney disease (PÄ0·0008), carcinoma (PÄ0·0072) and lymphoma (PÄ0·0008) had elevated serum and urine NGAL and urine NGAL-to-creatinine ratio. Serum and urine NGAL was not significantly different between dogs with chronic kidney disease, carcinoma or lymphoma (Pê0·12). In dogs with non-progressive chronic kidney disease, NGAL concentrations did not change significantly over the 6-month study period. NGAL can be elevated by chronic kidney disease and neoplasia, compared with healthy controls. Further research is needed to determine if uNGAL or uNGAL-to-creatinine ratio is more specific than serum levels to detect chronic kidney disease. © 2016 British Small Animal Veterinary Association.

Quantifying creatinine and urea in human urine through Raman spectroscopy aiming at diagnosis of kidney disease

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Saatkamp, Cassiano Junior; de Almeida, Maurício Liberal; Bispo, Jeyse Aliana Martins; Pinheiro, Antonio Luiz Barbosa; Fernandes, Adriana Barrinha; Silveira, Landulfo, Jr.

2016-03-01

Due to their importance in the regulation of metabolites, the kidneys need continuous monitoring to check for correct functioning, mainly by urea and creatinine urinalysis. This study aimed to develop a model to estimate the concentrations of urea and creatinine in urine by means of Raman spectroscopy (RS) that could be used to diagnose kidney disease. Midstream urine samples were obtained from 54 volunteers with no kidney complaints. Samples were subjected to a standard colorimetric assay of urea and creatinine and submitted to spectroscopic analysis by means of a dispersive Raman spectrometer (830 nm, 350 mW, 30 s). The Raman spectra of urine showed peaks related mainly to urea and creatinine. Partial least squares models were developed using selected Raman bands related to urea and creatinine and the biochemical concentrations in urine measured by the colorimetric method, resulting in r=0.90 and 0.91 for urea and creatinine, respectively, with root mean square error of cross-validation (RMSEcv) of 312 and 25.2 mg/dL, respectively. RS may become a technique for rapid urinalysis, with concentration errors suitable for population screening aimed at the prevention of renal diseases.

Selenium metabolites in urine of cancer patients receiving L-selenomethionine at high doses

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kuehnelt, Doris; Juresa, Dijana; Francesconi, Kevin A.

2007-04-15

We investigated, with quantitative HPLC/mass spectrometry, the selenium metabolites in urine from five cancer patients receiving high doses of L-selenomethionine over an extended period (2 x 4000 {mu}g Se/day for 7 days, then 4000 {mu}g Se/day for 21 days) as an adjunct to their normal cancer chemotherapy. Urine samples were collected at day 0 (all 5 patients), and at 2-3 additional collection times ranging from 1 to 33 days. The background selenium concentrations ranged from 12 to 55 {mu}g Se/L and increased to 870 to 4420 {mu}g Se/L for the five patients during the study. All five patients had appreciablemore » levels of selenosugars in their background urine sample, and the concentrations increased dramatically after selenium intake. Trimethylselenonium ion (TMSe), on the other hand, was generally present as only a trace metabolite in background urine, and, although the concentration of TMSe increased following selenium exposure, it became a less significant proportion relative to selenosugars. These data refute the currently accepted role of TMSe as the preferred excretion metabolite when selenium exposure is high.« less

Primary hyperparathyroidism and proximal renal tubular acidosis: Report of two cases

PubMed Central

Siddiqui, Abdullah A.; Wilson, Douglas R.

1972-01-01

Two cases of primary hyperparathyroidism due to single parathyroid adenomas presented with the additional feature of hyperchloremic acidosis. The defect in urinary acidification responsible was not of the distal or gradient-limited type since both patients could lower urine pH adequately. However, there was a defect of bicarbonate reabsorption, an abnormality referred to as the proximal or rate-limited type of renal tubular acidosis. It is suggested that this defect represents an exaggeration of the physiological effect of parathormone on bicarbonate reabsorption and may be responsible for the frequent finding of hyperchloremia in association with primary hyperparathyroidism as well as for the urinary bicarbonate-wasting associated with a variety of causes of secondary hyperparathyroidism. PMID:5012229

Contemporary biological markers of exposure to fluoride.

PubMed

Rugg-Gunn, Andrew John; Villa, Alberto Enrique; Buzalaf, Marília Rabelo Afonso

2011-01-01

Contemporary biological markers assess present, or very recent, exposure to fluoride: fluoride concentrations in blood, bone surface, saliva, milk, sweat and urine have been considered. A number of studies relating fluoride concentration in plasma to fluoride dose have been published, but at present there are insufficient data on plasma fluoride concentrations across various age groups to determine the 'usual' concentrations. Although bone contains 99% of the body burden of fluoride, attention has focused on the bone surface as a potential marker of contemporary fluoride exposure. From rather limited data, the ratio surface-to-interior concentration of fluoride may be preferred to whole bone fluoride concentration. Fluoride concentrations in the parotid and submandibular/sublingual ductal saliva follow the plasma fluoride concentration, although at a lower concentration. At present, there are insufficient data to establish a normal range of fluoride concentrations in ductal saliva as a basis for recommending saliva as a marker of fluoride exposure. Sweat and human milk are unsuitable as markers of fluoride exposure. A proportion of ingested fluoride is excreted in urine. Plots of daily urinary fluoride excretion against total daily fluoride intake suggest that daily urinary fluoride excretion is suitable for predicting fluoride intake for groups of people, but not for individuals. While fluoride concentrations in plasma, saliva and urine have some ability to predict fluoride exposure, present data are insufficient to recommend utilizing fluoride concentrations in these body fluids as biomarkers of contemporary fluoride exposure for individuals. Daily fluoride excretion in urine can be considered a useful biomarker of contemporary fluoride exposure for groups of people, and normal values have been published. Copyright © 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Intercomparison of analytical methods for arsenic speciation in human urine.

PubMed Central

Crecelius, E; Yager, J

1997-01-01

An intercomparison exercise was conducted for the quantification of arsenic species in spiked human urine. The primary objective of the exercise was to determine the variance among laboratories in the analysis of arsenic species such as inorganic As (As+3 and As+5), monomethylarsonic acid (MMA), and dimethylarsinic acid (DMA). Laboratories that participated had previous experience with arsenic speciation analysis. The results of this interlaboratory comparison are encouraging. There is relatively good agreement on the concentrations of these arsenic species in urine at concentrations that are relevant to research on the metabolism of arsenic in humans and other mammals. Both the accuracy and precision are relatively poor for arsenic concentrations of less than about 5 micrograms/l. PMID:9288500

Metabolomic analysis of urine samples by UHPLC-QTOF-MS: Impact of normalization strategies.

PubMed

Gagnebin, Yoric; Tonoli, David; Lescuyer, Pierre; Ponte, Belen; de Seigneux, Sophie; Martin, Pierre-Yves; Schappler, Julie; Boccard, Julien; Rudaz, Serge

2017-02-22

Among the various biological matrices used in metabolomics, urine is a biofluid of major interest because of its non-invasive collection and its availability in large quantities. However, significant sources of variability in urine metabolomics based on UHPLC-MS are related to the analytical drift and variation of the sample concentration, thus requiring normalization. A sequential normalization strategy was developed to remove these detrimental effects, including: (i) pre-acquisition sample normalization by individual dilution factors to narrow the concentration range and to standardize the analytical conditions, (ii) post-acquisition data normalization by quality control-based robust LOESS signal correction (QC-RLSC) to correct for potential analytical drift, and (iii) post-acquisition data normalization by MS total useful signal (MSTUS) or probabilistic quotient normalization (PQN) to prevent the impact of concentration variability. This generic strategy was performed with urine samples from healthy individuals and was further implemented in the context of a clinical study to detect alterations in urine metabolomic profiles due to kidney failure. In the case of kidney failure, the relation between creatinine/osmolality and the sample concentration is modified, and relying only on these measurements for normalization could be highly detrimental. The sequential normalization strategy was demonstrated to significantly improve patient stratification by decreasing the unwanted variability and thus enhancing data quality. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Determination of bisphenol A, triclosan and their metabolites in human urine using isotope-dilution liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

PubMed

Provencher, Gilles; Bérubé, René; Dumas, Pierre; Bienvenu, Jean-François; Gaudreau, Eric; Bélanger, Patrick; Ayotte, Pierre

2014-06-27

Bisphenol A (BPA) and triclosan (TCS) are ubiquitous environmental phenols exhibiting endocrine disrupting activities that may be involved in various health disorders in humans. There is a need to measure separately free forms and conjugated metabolites because only the former are biologically active. We have developed sensitive methods using isotope-dilution liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry for individual measurements of free BPA and TCS as well as their metabolites, BPA glucuronide (BPAG), BPA monosulfate (BPAS), BPA disulfate (BPADS), TCS glucuronide (TCSG) and TCS sulfate (TCSS) in urine. Comparative analyses of urine samples from 46 volunteers living in the Quebec City area using the new methods and a GC-MS/MS method previously used in our laboratory revealed very strong correlations for total BPA (Spearman's rs=0.862, p<0.0001) and total TCS concentrations (rs=0.942, p<0.0001). Glucuronide metabolites were the most abundant BPA and TCS species in urine samples (>94% of total urinary concentrations). Unconjugated TCS concentrations represented a small proportion of total TCS species (median=1.6%) but its concentration was likely underestimated due to losses by adsorption to the surface of polypropylene tubes used for sample storage. To our knowledge, we are the first to report levels of free, sulfated and glucuronidated TCS levels in human urine. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Positive Association between Urinary Concentration of Phthalate Metabolites and Oxidation of DNA and Lipid in Adolescents and Young Adults

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lin, Chien-Yu; Chen, Pau-Chung; Hsieh, Chia-Jung; Chen, Chao-Yu; Hu, Anren; Sung, Fung-Chang; Lee, Hui-Ling; Su, Ta-Chen

2017-03-01

Phthalate has been used worldwide in various products for years. Little is known about the association between phthalate exposure and biomarkers of oxidative stress in adolescents and young adults. Among 886 subjects recruited from a population-based cohort during 2006 to 2008, 751 subjects (12-30 years) with complete phthalate metabolites and oxidation stress measurement were enrolled in this study. Nine urine phthalate metabolites, 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), and 8-iso prostaglandin F2α (8-isoPGF2α) were measured in urine to assess exposure and oxidative stress to DNA and lipid, respectively. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that an ln-unit increase in mono-methyl phthalate (MMP) concentration in urine was positively associated with an increase in urine biomarkers of oxidative stress (in μg/g creatinine of 0.098 ± 0.028 in 8-OHdG; and 0.253 ± 0.051 in 8-isoPGF2α). There was no association between other eight phthalate metabolite concentrations and oxidative stress. In conclusion, a higher MMP concentration in urine was associated with an increase in markers of oxidative stress to DNA and lipid in this cohort of adolescents and young adults. Further studies are warranted to clarify the causal relationship between exposure to phthalate and oxidative stress.

SERS quantitative urine creatinine measurement of human subject

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Tsuei Lian; Chiang, Hui-hua K.; Lu, Hui-hsin; Hung, Yung-da

2005-03-01

SERS method for biomolecular analysis has several potentials and advantages over traditional biochemical approaches, including less specimen contact, non-destructive to specimen, and multiple components analysis. Urine is an easily available body fluid for monitoring the metabolites and renal function of human body. We developed surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) technique using 50nm size gold colloidal particles for quantitative human urine creatinine measurements. This paper shows that SERS shifts of creatinine (104mg/dl) in artificial urine is from 1400cm-1 to 1500cm-1 which was analyzed for quantitative creatinine measurement. Ten human urine samples were obtained from ten healthy persons and analyzed by the SERS technique. Partial least square cross-validation (PLSCV) method was utilized to obtain the estimated creatinine concentration in clinically relevant (55.9mg/dl to 208mg/dl) concentration range. The root-mean square error of cross validation (RMSECV) is 26.1mg/dl. This research demonstrates the feasibility of using SERS for human subject urine creatinine detection, and establishes the SERS platform technique for bodily fluids measurement.

Calcium EDTA toxicity: renal excretion of endogenous trace metals and the effect of repletion on collagen degradation in the rat.

PubMed

Braide, V B

1984-01-01

Studies on total hydroxyproline concentrations in urine of rats infused with toxic doses of CaEDTA at 6 mmol/kg per 24 hr for 48 hr or injected i.p. with the chelate at 4.8 mmol/kg/day for 10 days, indicate a two- to six-fold increase in urine excretion of the imino acid. This is due to increased degradation of collagen induced by CaEDTA. CaEDTA infusion was also shown to enhance urine excretion of some trace metals (Zn, Mn, Cu and Fe). Rats infused with CaEDTA for 36 hr showed a gradual fall in concentration of hydroxyproline in the urine, following cessation of chelate infusion. The decline in hydroxyproline concentrations was faster in rats receiving trace metal (Zn, Co, Mn or Ni) treatment during the post-CaEDTA infusion period; suggesting that the metals may affect collage, making the protein less susceptible to degradation in the body.

Quantitative electrochemical metalloimmunoassay for TFF3 in urine using a paper analytical device.

PubMed

DeGregory, Paul R; Tsai, Yi-Ju; Scida, Karen; Richards, Ian; Crooks, Richard M

2016-03-07

We report a paper-based assay platform for the detection of the kidney disease marker Trefoil Factor 3 (TFF3) in human urine. The sensor is based on a quantitative metalloimmunoassay that can determine TFF3 concentrations via electrochemical detection of environmentally stable silver nanoparticle (AgNP) labels attached to magnetic microbeads via a TFF3 immunosandwich. The paper electroanalytical device incorporates two preconcentration steps that make it possible to detect concentrations of TFF3 in human urine at the low end of the target TFF3 concentration range (0.03-7.0 μg mL(-1)). Importantly, the paper device provides a level of accuracy for TFF3 determination in human urine equivalent to that of a commercial kit. The paper sensor has a dynamic range of ∼2.5 orders of magnitude, only requires a simple, one-step incubation protocol, and is fast, requiring only 10 min to complete. The cost of the materials at the prototypic laboratory scale, excluding reagents, is just US$0.42.

Variability of Urinary Phthalate Metabolite and Bisphenol A Concentrations before and during Pregnancy

PubMed Central

Braun, Joe M.; Smith, Kristen W.; Williams, Paige L.; Calafat, Antonia M.; Berry, Katharine; Ehrlich, Shelley

2012-01-01

Background: Gestational phthalate and bisphenol A (BPA) exposure may increase the risk of adverse maternal/child health outcomes, but there are few data on the variability of urinary biomarkers before and during pregnancy. Objective: We characterized the variability of urinary phthalate metabolite and BPA concentrations before and during pregnancy and the ability of a single spot urine sample to classify average gestational exposure. Methods: We collected 1,001 urine samples before and during pregnancy from 137 women who were partners in couples attending a Boston fertility clinic and who had a live birth. Women provided spot urine samples before (n ≥ 2) and during (n ≥ 2) pregnancy. We measured urinary concentrations of monoethyl phthalate (MEP), mono-n-butyl phthalate (MBP), mono-iso-butyl phthalate, monobenzyl phthalate (MBzP), four metabolites of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), and BPA. After adjusting for specific gravity, we characterized biomarker variability using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) and conducted several surrogate category analyses to determine whether a single spot urine sample could adequately classify average gestational exposure. Results: Absolute concentrations of phthalate metabolites and BPA were similar before and during pregnancy. Variability was higher during pregnancy than before pregnancy for BPA and MBzP, but similar during and before pregnancy for MBP, MEP, and ΣDEHP. During pregnancy, MEP (ICC = 0.50) and MBP (ICC = 0.45) were less variable than BPA (ICC = 0.12), MBzP (ICC = 0.25), and ΣDEHP metabolites (ICC = 0.08). Surrogate analyses suggested that a single spot urine sample may reasonably classify MEP and MBP concentrations during pregnancy, but more than one sample may be necessary for MBzP, DEHP, and BPA. Conclusions: Urinary phthalate metabolites and BPA concentrations were variable before and during pregnancy, but the magnitude of variability was biomarker specific. A single spot urine sample adequately classified MBP and MEP concentrations during pregnancy. The present results may be related to unique features of the women studied, and replication in other pregnancy cohorts is recommended. PMID:22262702

Laboratory studies with the systemic trichononacide, metronidazole

PubMed Central

Jennison, R. F.; Stenton, P.; Watt, Leslie

1961-01-01

Laboratory studies with the trichomonacidal agent, metronidazole, show that 66 strains of T. vaginalis were killed in three days by concentrations of 0·0625 μg./ml. to 1 μg./ml. Estimations of serum and urine levels in nine volunteers, the serum levels in 31 women, and the urine levels in 33 women show that metronidazole is rapidly absorbed and excreted in high concentration in the urine. Development of resistance to metronidazole by T. vaginalis has not been demonstrated either in vivo or in vitro. No toxic effect was demonstrated in the blood, liver, or kidney. PMID:13789871

Energy efficient reconcentration of diluted human urine using ion exchange membranes in bioelectrochemical systems.

PubMed

Tice, Ryan C; Kim, Younggy

2014-11-01

Nutrients can be recovered from source separated human urine; however, nutrient reconcentration (i.e., volume reduction of collected urine) requires energy-intensive treatment processes, making it practically difficult to utilize human urine. In this study, energy-efficient nutrient reconcentration was demonstrated using ion exchange membranes (IEMs) in a microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) where substrate oxidation at the MEC anode provides energy for the separation of nutrient ions (e.g., NH4(+), HPO4(2-)). The rate of nutrient separation was magnified with increasing number of IEM pairs and electric voltage application (Eap). Ammonia and phosphate were reconcentrated from diluted human urine by a factor of up to 4.5 and 3.0, respectively (Eap = 1.2 V; 3-IEM pairs). The concentrating factor increased with increasing degrees of volume reduction, but it remained stationary when the volume ratio between the diluate (urine solution that is diluted in the IEM stack) and concentrate (urine solution that is reconcentrated) was 6 or greater. The energy requirement normalized by the mass of nutrient reconcentrated was 6.48 MJ/kg-N (1.80 kWh/kg-N) and 117.6 MJ/kg-P (32.7 kWh/kg-P). In addition to nutrient separation, the examined MEC reactor with three IEM pairs showed 54% removal of COD (chemical oxygen demand) in 47-hr batch operation. The high sulfate concentration in human urine resulted in substantial growth of both of acetate-oxidizing and H2-oxidizing sulfate reducing bacteria, greatly diminishing the energy recovery and Coulombic efficiency. However, the high microbial activity of sulfate reducing bacteria hardly affected the rate of nutrient reconcentration. With the capability to reconcentrate nutrients at a minimal energy consumption and simultaneous COD removal, the examined bioelectrochemical treatment method with an IEM application has a potential for practical nutrient recovery and sustainable treatment of source-separated human urine. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Quantitative urine confirmatory testing for synthetic cannabinoids in randomly collected urine specimens.

PubMed

Castaneto, Marisol S; Scheidweiler, Karl B; Gandhi, Adarsh; Wohlfarth, Ariane; Klette, Kevin L; Martin, Thomas M; Huestis, Marilyn A

2015-06-01

Synthetic cannabinoid intake is an ongoing health issue worldwide, with new compounds continually emerging, making drug testing complex. Parent synthetic cannabinoids are rarely detected in urine, the most common matrix employed in workplace drug testing. Optimal identification of synthetic cannabinoid markers in authentic urine specimens and correlation of metabolite concentrations and toxicities would improve synthetic cannabinoid result interpretation. We screened 20 017 randomly collected US military urine specimens between July 2011 and June 2012 with a synthetic cannabinoid immunoassay yielding 1432 presumptive positive specimens. We analyzed all presumptive positive and 1069 negative specimens with our qualitative synthetic cannabinoid liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method, which confirmed 290 positive specimens. All 290 positive and 487 randomly selected negative specimens were quantified with the most comprehensive urine quantitative LC-MS/MS method published to date; 290 specimens confirmed positive for 22 metabolites from 11 parent synthetic cannabinoids. The five most predominant metabolites were JWH-018 pentanoic acid (93%), JWH-N-hydroxypentyl (84%), AM2201 N-hydroxypentyl (69%), JWH-073 butanoic acid (69%), and JWH-122 N-hydroxypentyl (45%) with 11.1 (0.1-2,434), 5.1 (0.1-1,239), 2.0 (0.1-321), 1.1 (0.1-48.6), and 1.1 (0.1-250) µg/L median (range) concentrations, respectively. Alkyl hydroxy and carboxy metabolites provided suitable biomarkers for 11 parent synthetic cannabinoids; although hydroxyindoles were also observed. This is by far the largest data set of synthetic cannabinoid metabolites urine concentrations from randomly collected workplace drug testing specimens rather than acute intoxications or driving under the influence of drugs. These data improve the interpretation of synthetic cannabinoid urine test results and suggest suitable urine markers of synthetic cannabinoid intake. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.

Maple syrup urine disease: mechanisms and management.

PubMed

Blackburn, Patrick R; Gass, Jennifer M; Vairo, Filippo Pinto E; Farnham, Kristen M; Atwal, Herjot K; Macklin, Sarah; Klee, Eric W; Atwal, Paldeep S

2017-01-01

Maple syrup urine disease (MSUD) is an inborn error of metabolism caused by defects in the branched-chain α-ketoacid dehydrogenase complex, which results in elevations of the branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) in plasma, α-ketoacids in urine, and production of the pathognomonic disease marker, alloisoleucine. The disorder varies in severity and the clinical spectrum is quite broad with five recognized clinical variants that have no known association with genotype. The classic presentation occurs in the neonatal period with developmental delay, failure to thrive, feeding difficulties, and maple syrup odor in the cerumen and urine, and can lead to irreversible neurological complications, including stereotypical movements, metabolic decompensation, and death if left untreated. Treatment consists of dietary restriction of BCAAs and close metabolic monitoring. Clinical outcomes are generally good in patients where treatment is initiated early. Newborn screening for MSUD is now commonplace in the United States and is included on the Recommended Uniform Screening Panel (RUSP). We review this disorder including its presentation, screening and clinical diagnosis, treatment, and other relevant aspects pertaining to the care of patients.

Maple syrup urine disease: mechanisms and management

PubMed Central

Farnham, Kristen M; Atwal, Herjot K; Macklin, Sarah; Klee, Eric W; Atwal, Paldeep S

2017-01-01

Maple syrup urine disease (MSUD) is an inborn error of metabolism caused by defects in the branched-chain α-ketoacid dehydrogenase complex, which results in elevations of the branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) in plasma, α-ketoacids in urine, and production of the pathognomonic disease marker, alloisoleucine. The disorder varies in severity and the clinical spectrum is quite broad with five recognized clinical variants that have no known association with genotype. The classic presentation occurs in the neonatal period with developmental delay, failure to thrive, feeding difficulties, and maple syrup odor in the cerumen and urine, and can lead to irreversible neurological complications, including stereotypical movements, metabolic decompensation, and death if left untreated. Treatment consists of dietary restriction of BCAAs and close metabolic monitoring. Clinical outcomes are generally good in patients where treatment is initiated early. Newborn screening for MSUD is now commonplace in the United States and is included on the Recommended Uniform Screening Panel (RUSP). We review this disorder including its presentation, screening and clinical diagnosis, treatment, and other relevant aspects pertaining to the care of patients. PMID:28919799

Antioxidant capacity of human blood plasma and human urine: simultaneous evaluation of the ORAC index and ascorbic acid concentration employing pyrogallol red as probe.

PubMed

Torres, P; Galleguillos, P; Lissi, E; López-Alarcón, C

2008-10-15

The oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) methodology has been employed to estimate the antioxidant capacity of human blood plasma and human urine using pyrogallol red (ORAC-PGR) as target molecule. Uric acid, reduced glutathione, human serum albumin, and ascorbic acid (ASC) inhibited the consumption of pyrogallol red, but only ASC generated an induction time. Human blood plasma and human urine protected efficiently pyrogallol red. In these assays, both biological fluids generated neat induction times that were removed by ascorbate oxidase. From these results, ORAC-PGR method could be proposed as a simple alternative to evaluate an ORAC index and, simultaneously, to estimate the concentration of ascorbic acid in human blood plasma or human urine.

Mutagenic activity and metabolites in the urine of workers exposed to trinitrotoluene (TNT).

PubMed Central

Ahlborg, G; Einistö, P; Sorsa, M

1988-01-01

Urine samples taken after work and after a free weekend from 50 workers employed in various activities in a chemical plant manufacturing explosives were analysed. On the basis of hygienic surveys, the subjects were divided into three categories of exposure to trinitrotoluene (TNT). The urine analyses consisted of gas chromatographic identification of TNT and its two metabolites, 4-ADNT and 2-ADNT, and a determination of the mutagenic activity. Two frame shift detector strains of Salmonella typhimurium were used, TA 98 and TA 98 NR, the latter being deficient in endogenous nitroreductase activity. On the basis of previous results on TNT mutagenicity, no exogeneous metabolic system was used to test the urine concentrates. Both tester strains showed that the mean urinary mutagenic activity was higher in the after work samples than in post weekend samples from the same subjects, showing that bacterial nitroreductase activity was not significantly responsible for the mutagenicity, although the response was higher with strain TA 98 than with TA 98 NR. The interindividual variation in urine mutagenicity was high, however, and the difference between the two sampling times was statistically significant (p less than 0.05) only for the high exposed group (workers in trotyl foundry and sieve house). Correlation between urinary mutagenicity and concentration of TNT in urine was poor; correlation was significant only with the urinary concentration of 4-ADNT. The correlation between urinary TNT and both metabolites was good (p less than 0.001). These results suggest that analysis of 4-ADNT in urine would be a sufficient biological measure for controlling exposure to TNT. PMID:3378017

Unmetabolized VOCs in urine as biomarkers of low level occupational exposure.

PubMed

Janasik, Beata; Jakubowski, Marek; Wesołowski, Wiktor; Kucharska, Małgorzata

2010-01-01

To compare the usefulness of determining unchanged forms of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), namely toluene (TOL), ethylbenzene (EB) and xylene (XYL), in urine with the effectiveness of the already used biomarkers of occupational exposure. Surveys were conducted in two workplaces (paint factory and footwear factory). In total, 65 subjects participated in the study. Air samples were collected using individual samplers during work shift. Urine and blood samples were collected at the end of work shift. Urine samples were analyzed for unchanged compounds and selected metabolites, while blood samples were tested for unchanged compounds. VOCs in blood and urine were determined by solid phase microextraction gas chromatography (SPME-GC-MS). In the paint factory, the geometric mean (GM) concentrations of VOCs in the air ranged as follows: 0.2-4.7 mg/m(3) for TOL, 0.4-40.9 mg/m(3) for EB and 0.1-122.6 mg/m(3) for XYL. In the footwear factory, the GM concentration of TOL in the air amounted to 105.4 mg/m(3). A significant correlation (p < 0.05) was observed between VOCs in blood, urine and air. The regression analyses performed for paint factory workers showed that TOL-U and TOL-B were better biomarkers of exposure (r = 0.72 and r = 0.81) than benzoic acid (r = 0.12) or o-cresol (r = 0.55). The findings of the study point out that the concentration of unchanged VOCs in urine can be a reliable biological indicator of low level occupational exposure to these compounds.

Quantitative analysis of zopiclone, N-desmethylzopiclone, zopiclone N-oxide and 2-amino-5-chloropyridine in urine using LC-MS-MS.

PubMed

Nilsson, Gunnel H; Kugelberg, Fredrik C; Ahlner, Johan; Kronstrand, Robert

2014-01-01

A simple liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method was validated to allow determination of zopiclone (ZOP), N-desmethylzopiclone (NDZOP), zopiclone N-oxide (ZOPNO) and 2-amino-5-chloropyridine (ACP) in urine at concentrations up to 3,000 ng/mL within 3.5 min. This method was used for quantitative analysis of the analytes in authentic urine samples obtained 10 h after oral administration of zopiclone (Imovane(®)) and in aliquots of the same urine samples after different storage conditions. In addition, pH of each studied urine sample was measured over time. The results showed that formation of ACP occurred at elevated pH and/or temperature by degradation of ZOP, NDZOP and ZOPNO. This method was also applied to samples obtained from two female victims of drug-facilitated assault. One sample had been exposed to long-term storage conditions at different temperatures and at pH >8.2, which resulted in high concentrations of ACP. The other sample, which was exposed to pH <6.5, showed no formation of ACP. ACP is formed both from ZOP and from its metabolites NDZOP and ZOPNO depending on the pH of the urine, time of storage and/or the temperature conditions. For correct interpretation in forensic cases, ZOP, its major metabolites and ACP should be analyzed. When ACP is identified in urine, the concentrations of ZOP, NDZOP and ZOPNO should be interpreted with great caution. © The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Evaluation of abalone β-glucuronidase substitution in current urine hydrolysis procedures.

PubMed

Malik-Wolf, Brittany; Vorce, Shawn; Holler, Justin; Bosy, Thomas

2014-04-01

This study examined the potential of abalone β-glucuronidase as a viable and cost effective alternative to current hydrolysis procedures using acid, Helix pomatia β-glucuronidase and Escherichia coli β-glucuronidase. Abalone β-glucuronidase successfully hydrolyzed oxazepam-glucuronide and lorazepam-glucuronide within 5% of the spiked control concentration. Benzodiazepines present in authentic urine specimens were within 20% of the concentrations obtained with the current hydrolysis procedure using H. pomatia β-glucuronidase. JWH 018 N-(5-hydroxypentyl) β-d-glucuronide was hydrolyzed within 10% of the control concentration. Authentic urine specimens showed improved glucuronide cleavage using abalone β-glucuronidase with up to an 85% increase of drug concentration, compared with the results obtained using E. coli β-glucuronidase. The JWH 018 and JWH 073 carboxylic acid metabolites also showed increased drug concentrations of up to 24%. Abalone β-glucuronidase was able to completely hydrolyze a morphine-3-glucuronide control, but only 82% of total morphine was hydrolyzed in authentic urine specimens compared with acid hydrolysis results. Hydrolysis of codeine and hydromorphone varied between specimens, suggesting that abalone β-glucuronidase may not be as efficient in hydrolyzing the glucuronide linkages in opioid compounds compared with acid hydrolysis. Abalone β-glucuronidase demonstrates effectiveness as a low cost option for enzyme hydrolysis of benzodiazepines and synthetic cannabinoids.

Normalization of urinary drug concentrations with specific gravity and creatinine.

PubMed

Cone, Edward J; Caplan, Yale H; Moser, Frank; Robert, Tim; Shelby, Melinda K; Black, David L

2009-01-01

Excessive fluid intake can substantially dilute urinary drug concentrations and result in false-negative reports for drug users. Methods for correction ("normalization") of drug/metabolite concentrations in urine have been utilized by anti-doping laboratories, pain monitoring programs, and in environmental monitoring programs to compensate for excessive hydration, but such procedures have not been used routinely in workplace, legal, and treatment settings. We evaluated two drug normalization procedures based on specific gravity and creatinine. These corrections were applied to urine specimens collected from three distinct groups (pain patients, heroin users, and marijuana/ cocaine users). Each group was unique in characteristics, study design, and dosing conditions. The results of the two normalization procedures were highly correlated (r=0.94; range, 0.78-0.99). Increases in percent positives by specific gravity and creatinine normalization were small (0.3% and -1.0%, respectively) for heroin users (normally hydrated subjects), modest (4.2-9.8%) for pain patients (unknown hydration state), and substantial (2- to 38-fold increases) for marijuana/cocaine users (excessively hydrated subjects). Despite some limitations, these normalization procedures provide alternative means of dealing with highly dilute, dilute, and concentrated urine specimens. Drug/metabolite concentration normalization by these procedures is recommended for urine testing programs, especially as a means of coping with dilute specimens.

[Concentration of cysteine proteinase inhibitors in urine, amniotic fluid and serum from women in pregnancy complicated by EPH-gestosis].

PubMed

Karmowski, A; Sobiech, K A; Kertyńska, I; Terpiłowski, L; Słowińska-Lisowska, M; Pałczyński, B; Malik, B

2000-10-01

Cysteine proteinase inhibitors (IPC) concentration was measured by the modified Barrett method using papaine in urine, amniotic fluid and serum obtained from the healthy labored women and from labored women in pregnancy complicated by EPH-gestosis. It was noticed the statistically significant increase in the IPC concentration in the material from the pregnant women with EPH-gestosis comparing to the women, which pregnancy had the physiologically normal course.

Urinary levoglucosan as a biomarker for woodsmoke exposure in wildland firefighters.

PubMed

Naeher, Luke P; Barr, Dana Boyd; Adetona, Olorunfemi; Simpson, Christopher D

2013-01-01

Levoglucosan, a sugar anhydride and a combustion breakdown product of cellulose is a dominant organic constituent of particles in woodsmoke. After exposure, levoglucosan is excreted unmetabolized in urine. Urinary levoglucosan was assessed as a biomarker of occupational woodsmoke exposure among wildland firefighters. Urine samples were collected from wildland firefighters before and after their work-shifts on days when they worked at prescribed burns. A total of 97 pairs of pre- and post-shift urine samples were collected from 19 firefighters over 10 prescribed burn shifts. The urine samples were analyzed to determine whether there was an increase in the concentration of levoglucosan from pre- to post-shift after the firefighters had worked at the prescribed burns. Overall, there was an increase in both the urinary volume-based and creatinine corrected levoglucosan concentrations from pre- to post-shift (P < 0.05). However, the direction of change in the concentrations was not consistent. There were increases in urinary levoglucosan concentration from pre- to post-shift in 63% of the person-day samples, and in only 58% of the person-day samples for the creatinine corrected concentrations. Although there was an overall increase in urinary concentrations of levoglucosan, results suggest that other sources apart from woodsmoke affected the urinary levels of this biomarker in wildland firefighters. Therefore, urinary levoglucosan may not be effective as a biomarker of woodsmoke exposure in this setting.

Assessment of 1H NMR-based metabolomics analysis for normalization of urinary metals against creatinine.

PubMed

Cassiède, Marc; Nair, Sindhu; Dueck, Meghan; Mino, James; McKay, Ryan; Mercier, Pascal; Quémerais, Bernadette; Lacy, Paige

2017-01-01

Proton nuclear magnetic resonance ( 1 H NMR, or NMR) spectroscopy and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) are commonly used for metabolomics and metal analysis in urine samples. However, creatinine quantification by NMR for the purpose of normalization of urinary metals has not been validated. We assessed the validity of using NMR analysis for creatinine quantification in human urine samples in order to allow normalization of urinary metal concentrations. NMR and ICP-MS techniques were used to measure metabolite and metal concentrations in urine samples from 10 healthy subjects. For metabolite analysis, two magnetic field strengths (600 and 700MHz) were utilized. In addition, creatinine concentrations were determined by using the Jaffe method. Creatinine levels were strongly correlated (R 2 =0.99) between NMR and Jaffe methods. The NMR spectra were deconvoluted with a target database containing 151 metabolites that are present in urine. A total of 50 metabolites showed good correlation (R 2 =0.7-1.0) at 600 and 700MHz. Metal concentrations determined after NMR-measured creatinine normalization were comparable to previous reports. NMR analysis provided robust urinary creatinine quantification, and was sufficient for normalization of urinary metal concentrations. We found that NMR-measured creatinine-normalized urinary metal concentrations in our control subjects were similar to general population levels in Canada and the United Kingdom. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Effects of Urine Matrix and pH on the Potency of Delafloxacin and Ciprofloxacin against Urogenic Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae.

PubMed

So, Wonhee; Crandon, Jared L; Nicolau, David P

2015-08-01

We assessed the effects of the urine matrix and its varying pH on the potency of the novel broad-spectrum fluoroquinolone delafloxacin and of ciprofloxacin against 16 urogenic Enterobacteriaceae in the urine of patients with suspected urinary tract infection. We determined minimum inhibitory concentrations in broth and urine using microdilution in 9 Escherichia coli and 7 Klebsiella pneumoniae specimens. The change in potency between broth and urine was calculated. Against 16 highly ciprofloxacin resistant Enterobacteriaceae with a broth minimum inhibitory concentration of 32 mg/l or greater the minimum inhibitory concentration in delafloxacin in broth was 2 mg/l (1 and 0 isolates of E. coli and K. pneumoniae, respectively), 4 mg/l (3 and 0), 8 mg/l (3 and 1), 16 mg/l (2 and 4) and 32 mg/l (0 and 2). Across the 143 collected urines pH ranged from 4.7 to 9.0 with 71% at pH 6.5 or less. The delafloxacin minimum inhibitory concentration measured in 80% urine from 100 unique patient samples (pH 5.0 to 8.3) was 2 mg/l or less (18% and 0.8% for E. coli and K. pneumoniae, respectively), 4 mg/l (23% and 6%), 8 mg/l (21% and 18%), 16 mg/l (23% and 33%) and 32 mg/l or greater (15% and 42%). For E. coli and K. pneumoniae combined the median changes in the delafloxacin minimum inhibitory concentration were a 1 doubling dilution decrease at pH 6.0 or less, no change at pH 6.1 to 7.0 and a 1 doubling dilution increase at pH 7.1 or greater. Unlike delafloxacin, ciprofloxacin showed a 1 doubling dilution increase for E. coli and no change for K. pneumoniae at pH 7.0 or less with no change observed at pH 7.1 or greater. Most urines collected from patients with urinary tract infection had a pH of 6.5 or less. Delafloxacin broth minimum inhibitory concentrations were twofold to fivefold doubling dilutions lower than those of ciprofloxacin. In contrast to ciprofloxacin, the potency of delafloxacin was further enhanced in the acidic environment commonly observed in the setting of urinary tract infection. Copyright © 2015 American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

High Resolution Size Analysis of Fetal DNA in the Urine of Pregnant Women by Paired-End Massively Parallel Sequencing

PubMed Central

Tsui, Nancy B. Y.; Jiang, Peiyong; Chow, Katherine C. K.; Su, Xiaoxi; Leung, Tak Y.; Sun, Hao; Chan, K. C. Allen; Chiu, Rossa W. K.; Lo, Y. M. Dennis

2012-01-01

Background Fetal DNA in maternal urine, if present, would be a valuable source of fetal genetic material for noninvasive prenatal diagnosis. However, the existence of fetal DNA in maternal urine has remained controversial. The issue is due to the lack of appropriate technology to robustly detect the potentially highly degraded fetal DNA in maternal urine. Methodology We have used massively parallel paired-end sequencing to investigate cell-free DNA molecules in maternal urine. Catheterized urine samples were collected from seven pregnant women during the third trimester of pregnancies. We detected fetal DNA by identifying sequenced reads that contained fetal-specific alleles of the single nucleotide polymorphisms. The sizes of individual urinary DNA fragments were deduced from the alignment positions of the paired reads. We measured the fractional fetal DNA concentration as well as the size distributions of fetal and maternal DNA in maternal urine. Principal Findings Cell-free fetal DNA was detected in five of the seven maternal urine samples, with the fractional fetal DNA concentrations ranged from 1.92% to 4.73%. Fetal DNA became undetectable in maternal urine after delivery. The total urinary cell-free DNA molecules were less intact when compared with plasma DNA. Urinary fetal DNA fragments were very short, and the most dominant fetal sequences were between 29 bp and 45 bp in length. Conclusions With the use of massively parallel sequencing, we have confirmed the existence of transrenal fetal DNA in maternal urine, and have shown that urinary fetal DNA was heavily degraded. PMID:23118982

Homozygosity for aquaporin 7 G264V in three unrelated children with hyperglyceroluria and a mild platelet secretion defect.

PubMed

Goubau, Christophe; Jaeken, Jaak; Levtchenko, Elena N; Thys, Chantal; Di Michele, Michela; Martens, Geert A; Gerlo, Erik; De Vos, Rita; Buyse, Gunnar M; Goemans, Nathalie; Van Geet, Chris; Freson, Kathleen

2013-01-01

Aquaporin 7 (AQP7) belongs to the aquaglyceroporin family, which transports glycerol and water. AQP7-deficient mice develop obesity, insulin resistance, and hyperglyceroluria. However, AQP7's pathophysiologic role in humans is not yet known. Three children with psychomotor retardation and hyperglyceroluria were screened for AQP7 mutations. The children were from unrelated families. Urine and plasma glycerol levels were measured using a three-step enzymatic approach. Platelet morphology and function were studied using electron microscopy, aggregations, and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) secretion tests. The index patients were homozygous for AQP7 G264V, which has previously been shown to inhibit transport of glycerol in Xenopus oocytes. We also detected a subclinical platelet secretion defect with reduced ATP secretion, and the absence of a secondary aggregation wave after epinephrine stimulation. Electron microscopy revealed round platelets with centrally located granules. Immunostaining showed AQP7 colocalization, with dense granules that seemed to be released after strong platelet activation. Healthy relatives of these patients, who were homozygous (not heterozygous) for G264V, also had hyperglyceroluria and platelet granule abnormalities. The discovery of an association between urine glycerol loss and a platelet secretion defect is a novel one, and our findings imply the involvement of AQPs in platelet secretion. Additional studies are needed to define whether AQP7 G264V is also a risk factor for mental disability.

A simple LC-MS/MS method using HILIC chromatography for the determination of fosfomycin in plasma and urine: application to a pilot pharmacokinetic study in humans.

PubMed

Parker, Suzanne L; Lipman, Jeffrey; Roberts, Jason A; Wallis, Steven C

2015-02-01

A high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method, using hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) chromatography for the analysis of fosfomycin in human plasma and urine, has been developed and validated. The plasma method uses a simple protein precipitation using a low volume sample (10 μL) and is suitable for the concentration range of 1 to 2000 μg/mL. The urine method involves a simple dilution of 10 μL of sample and is suitable for a concentration range of 0.1 to 10 mg/mL. The plasma and urine results, reported, respectively, are for recovery (68, 72%), inter-assay precision (≤9.1%, ≤8.1%) and accuracy (range -7.2 to 3.3%, -1.9 to 1.6%), LLOQ precision (4.7%, 3.1%) and accuracy (1.7% and 1.2%), and includes investigations into the linearity, stability and matrix effects. The method was used in a pilot pharmacokinetic study of a critically ill patient receiving i.v. fosfomycin, which measured a maximum and minimum plasma concentration of 222 μg/mL and 172 μg/mL, respectively, after the initial dose, and a maximum and minimum plasma concentration of 868 μg/mL and 591μg/mL, respectively, after the fifth dose. The urine concentration was 2.03 mg/mL after the initial dose and 0.29 mg/mL after the fifth dose. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Hereditary Nephrogenic Diabetes Insipidus: Pathophysiology and Possible Treatment. An Update

PubMed Central

Milano, Serena; Carmosino, Monica; Gerbino, Andrea; Svelto, Maria

2017-01-01

Under physiological conditions, excessive loss of water through the urine is prevented by the release of the antidiuretic hormone arginine-vasopressin (AVP) from the posterior pituitary. In the kidney, AVP elicits a number of cellular responses, which converge on increasing the osmotic reabsorption of water in the collecting duct. One of the key events triggered by the binding of AVP to its type-2 receptor (AVPR2) is the exocytosis of the water channel aquaporin 2 (AQP2) at the apical membrane the principal cells of the collecting duct. Mutations of either AVPR2 or AQP2 result in a genetic disease known as nephrogenic diabetes insipidus, which is characterized by the lack of responsiveness of the collecting duct to the antidiuretic action of AVP. The affected subject, being incapable of concentrating the urine, presents marked polyuria and compensatory polydipsia and is constantly at risk of severe dehydration. The molecular bases of the disease are fully uncovered, as well as the genetic or clinical tests for a prompt diagnosis of the disease in newborns. A real cure for nephrogenic diabetes insipidus (NDI) is still missing, and the main symptoms of the disease are handled with s continuous supply of water, a restrictive diet, and nonspecific drugs. Unfortunately, the current therapeutic options are limited and only partially beneficial. Further investigation in vitro or using the available animal models of the disease, combined with clinical trials, will eventually lead to the identification of one or more targeted strategies that will improve or replace the current conventional therapy and grant NDI patients a better quality of life. Here we provide an updated overview of the genetic defects causing NDI, the most recent strategies under investigation for rescuing the activity of mutated AVPR2 or AQP2, or for bypassing defective AVPR2 signaling and restoring AQP2 plasma membrane expression. PMID:29125546

Fully automated methods for the determination of hydrochlorothiazide in human plasma and urine.

PubMed

Hsieh, J Y; Lin, C; Matuszewski, B K; Dobrinska, M R

1994-12-01

LC assays utilizing fully automated sample preparation procedures on Zymark PyTechnology Robot and BenchMate Workstation for the quantification of hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) in human plasma and urine have been developed. After aliquoting plasma and urine samples, and adding internal standard (IS) manually, the robot executed buffer and organic solvent addition, liquid-liquid extraction, solvent evaporation and on-line LC injection steps for plasma samples, whereas, BenchMate performed buffer and organic solvent addition, liquid-liquid and solid-phase extractions, and on-line LC injection steps for urine samples. Chromatographic separations were carried out on Beckman Octyl Ultrasphere column using the mobile phase composed of 12% (v/v) acetonitrile and 88% of either an ion-pairing reagent (plasma) or 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid (urine). The eluent from the column was monitored with UV detector (271 nm). Peak heights for HCTZ and IS were automatically processed using a PE-Nelson ACCESS*CHROM laboratory automation system. The assays have been validated in the concentration range of 2-100 ng ml-1 in plasma and 0.1-20 micrograms ml-1 in urine. Both plasma and urine assays have the sensitivity and specificity necessary to determine plasma and urine concentrations of HCTZ from low dose (6.25/12.5 mg) administration of HCTZ to human subjects in the presence or absence of losartan.

Combined quantification of paclitaxel, docetaxel and ritonavir in human feces and urine using LC-MS/MS.

PubMed

Hendrikx, Jeroen J M A; Rosing, Hilde; Schinkel, Alfred H; Schellens, Jan H M; Beijnen, Jos H

2014-02-01

A combined assay for the determination of paclitaxel, docetaxel and ritonavir in human feces and urine is described. The drugs were extracted from 200 μL urine or 50 mg feces followed by high-performance liquid chromatography analysis coupled with positive ionization electrospray tandem mass spectrometry. The validation program included calibration model, accuracy and precision, carry-over, dilution test, specificity and selectivity, matrix effect, recovery and stability. Acceptance criteria were according to US Food and Drug Administration guidelines on bioanalytical method validation. The validated range was 0.5-500 ng/mL for paclitaxel and docetaxel, 2-2000 ng/mL for ritonavir in urine, 2-2000 ng/mg for paclitaxel and docetaxel, and 8-8000 ng/mg for ritonavir in feces. Inter-assay accuracy and precision were tested for all analytes at four concentration levels and were within 8.5% and <10.2%, respectively, in both matrices. Recovery at three concentration levels was between 77 and 94% in feces samples and between 69 and 85% in urine samples. Method development, including feces homogenization and spiking blank urine samples, are discussed. We demonstrated that each of the applied drugs could be quantified successfully in urine and feces using the described assay. The method was successfully applied for quantification of the analytes in feces and urine samples of patients. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Determination of Cefalothin and Cefazolin in Human Plasma, Urine and Peritoneal Dialysate by UHPLC-MS/MS: application to a pilot pharmacokinetic study in humans.

PubMed

Parker, Suzanne L; Guerra Valero, Yarmarly C; Roberts, Darren M; Lipman, Jeffrey; Roberts, Jason A; Wallis, Steven C

2016-06-01

An ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) method for the analysis of cefazolin and cefalothin in human plasma (total and unbound), urine and peritoneal dialysate has been developed and validated. Total plasma concentrations are measured following protein precipitation and are suitable for the concentration range of 1-500 µg/mL. Unbound concentrations are measured from ultra-filtered plasma acquired using Centrifree(®) devices and are suitable for the concentration range of 0.1-500 µg/mL for cefazolin and 1-500 µg/mL for cefalothin. The urine method is suitable for a concentration range of 0.1-20 mg/mL for cefazolin and 0.2-20 mg/mL for cefalothin. Peritoneal dialysate concentrations are measured using direct injection, and are suitable for the concentration range of 0.2-100 µg/mL for both cefazolin and cefalothin. The cefazolin and cefalothin plasma (total and unbound), urine and peritoneal dialysate results are reported for recovery, inter-assay precision and accuracy, and the lower limit of quantification, linearity, stability and matrix effects, with all results meeting acceptance criteria. The method was used successfully in a pilot pharmacokinetic study with patients with peritoneal dialysis-associated peritonitis, receiving either intraperitoneal cefazolin or cefalothin. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Occupational exposure to airborne mercury during gold mining operations near El Callao, Venezuela.

PubMed

Drake, P L; Rojas, M; Reh, C M; Mueller, C A; Jenkins, F M

2001-04-01

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recently conducted a cross-sectional study during gold mining operations near El Callao, Venezuela. The purpose of the study was to assess mercury exposures and mercury-related microdamage to the kidneys. The study consisted of concurrent occupational hygiene and biological monitoring, and an examination of the processing techniques employed at the different mining facilities. Mercury was used in these facilities to remove gold by forming a mercury-gold amalgam. The gold was purified either by heating the amalgam in the open with a propane torch or by using a small retort. Thirty-eight workers participated in this study. Some participants were employed by a large mining company, while others were considered "informal miners" (self-employed). Mercury exposure was monitored by sampling air from the workers' breathing zones. These full-shift air samples were used to calculate time-weighted average (TWA) mercury exposure concentrations. A questionnaire was administered and a spot urine sample was collected. Each urine sample was analyzed for mercury, creatinine, and N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG). The range for the 8-h TWA airborne mercury exposure concentrations was 0.1 to 6,315 micrograms/m3, with a mean of 183 micrograms/m3. Twenty percent of the TWA airborne mercury exposure measurements were above the NIOSH recommended exposure limit (REL) of 50 micrograms/m3, and 26% exceeded the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) threshold limit value (TLV) of 25 micrograms/m3. The mean urine mercury concentration was 101 micrograms/g creatinine (microgram/g-Cr), and the data ranged from 2.5 to 912 micrograms/g-Cr. Forty-two percent of the study participants had urine mercury concentrations that exceeded the ACGIH biological exposure index (BEI) of 35 micrograms/g-Cr. Urinary NAG excretion is considered a biological marker of preclinical, nonspecific microdamage to the kidney's proximal tubule cells. The mean urine NAG concentration was 3.6 International Units/g-Cr (IU/g-Cr) with a range of 0.5 to 11.5 IU/g-Cr. Three workers had urine NAG levels in excess of the reference values. Correlation analyses found statistically significant correlations between airborne mercury exposure and urine mercury level (P = 0.01), and between urine mercury level and urine NAG excretion (P = 0.01). In addition, the airborne mercury exposure data and urine mercury data were segregated by job tasks. A Wilcoxon rank sum test revealed significant correlations between tasks and mercury exposure (P = 0.03), and between tasks and urine mercury level (P = 0.02). The tasks with the highest mean airborne mercury exposures were "burning the mercury-gold amalgam" and "gold refining/smelting". Recommendations were provided for improving the retort design to better contain mercury, for ventilation in the gold shops, and for medical surveillance and educational programs.

Determination of urine oxalate level in rats with renal calcium oxalate calculus by high-performance liquid chromatography.

PubMed

Cao, Qiu-shi; Ba, Yuan-ming; Luo, Jun-hua; Dai, Qi

2015-02-01

To establish a method of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for determining the urine oxalate levle in rats with renal calcium oxalate calculus. Totally 24 SPF Wistar healthy male rats were randomly divided into control group(n=12)and ethylene glycol (EG) group (n=12). Rats in EG group were administered intragastrically with 2% ammonium chloride (AC)2 ml/rat per day+1% ethylene glycol (EG), along with free access to drinking water.The control group was fed with deionized water, along with the intragastric administration of normal saline (1 ml per day). Twenty-eight days after modelling, the 24-hour urine samples were collected, and the urine oxalic acid levels were determined using HPLC and the results were compared with those of catalytic spectrophotometry using oxidation of methyl. During the HPLC, the samples were separated on Aglient 5TC-C18 (250×4.6 mm,5 Μm), eluted with mixture of methanol (0.1 mol/L) and ammonium acetate (15:85) at 1.2 ml/min, and detected at 314 nm, with the column temperature being 20 ℃. The standard curves of high and low concentrations of oxalic acid were y=5909.1x+378730, R² =0.9984 and y=7810.5x-16635, R² =0.9967,respectively. The lowest detectable concentration in this method was 5 Μg/ml. The linear high concentration range of oxalate stood at 62.50-2000.00 Μg/ml, and the linear low concentration range of oxalate stood at 6.25-100.00 Μg/ml. Its average recovery was 95.1%, and its within-day and day-to-day precisions were 3.4%-10.8% and 3.8%-9.4%. Both HPLC and catalytic spectrophotometry showed significantly higher urinary oxalic acid concentration and 24 h urine oxalate level in EG group compared with the control group [urinary oxalic acid concentration: (736.35 ± 254.52) Μg/ml vs.(51.56 ± 36.34) Μg/ml,(687.35 ± 234.53) Μg/ml vs.(50.24 ± 42.34) Μg/ml;24 h urine oxalate level: (11.23 ± 4.12)mg vs.(0.87 ± 0.45)mg,(9.89 ± 3.55)mg vs. (0.77 ± 0.65)mg; all P<0.01]. No statistically significant difference was observed in the results of urinary oxalate concentration and 24 h urine oxalate level between HPLC and potassium chromate oxidation of methyl red spectrophotometry (all P>0.05). HPLC is a simple, rapid, and precise method in detecting urine oxalate level in rats with renal calcium oxalate calculus, with high recovery rate.

Operating a pilot-scale nitrification/distillation plant for complete nutrient recovery from urine.

PubMed

Fumasoli, Alexandra; Etter, Bastian; Sterkele, Bettina; Morgenroth, Eberhard; Udert, Kai M

2016-01-01

Source-separated urine contains most of the excreted nutrients, which can be recovered by using nitrification to stabilize the urine before concentrating the nutrient solution with distillation. The aim of this study was to test this process combination at pilot scale. The nitrification process was efficient in a moving bed biofilm reactor with maximal rates of 930 mg N L(-1) d(-1). Rates decreased to 120 mg N L(-1) d(-1) after switching to more concentrated urine. At high nitrification rates (640 mg N L(-1) d(-1)) and low total ammonia concentrations (1,790 mg NH4-N L(-1) in influent) distillation caused the main primary energy demand of 71 W cap(-1) (nitrification: 13 W cap(-1)) assuming a nitrogen production of 8.8 g N cap(-1) d(-1). Possible process failures include the accumulation of the nitrification intermediate nitrite and the selection of acid-tolerant ammonia-oxidizing bacteria. Especially during reactor start-up, the process must therefore be carefully supervised. The concentrate produced by the nitrification/distillation process is low in heavy metals, but high in nutrients, suggesting a good suitability as an integral fertilizer.

Primer and short-range releaser pheromone properties of premolt female urine from the shore crab Carcinus maenas.

PubMed

Ekerholm, Mattias; Hallberg, Eric

2005-08-01

The European shore crab Carcinus maenas is considered to rely on a female pheromone when mating. Evidence, however, is scarce on how the urine pheromone in itself affects males. We investigated male primer and releaser responses to female pheromones with methods that minimized effects from females, delivering female urine either as a pump-generated plume or deposited on a polyurethane sponge. We delivered the pheromone at different concentrations in far, near, and close/contact range to get a picture of how distance affects behavioral response. Our results show that substances in premolt female urine (PMU) function as primer and potent short-range releaser pheromones. Based on the olfactometer and sponge tests, we conclude that PMU stimulus in itself is sufficient to elicit increased search and mating-specific behaviors such as posing, posing search, cradle carrying, and stroking. Pheromone concentrations do not seem to be important for attenuating search and posing as long as the level is above a certain threshold concentration. Instead, pheromone levels seem to play a role in male acceptance of females, recruiting more males to respond, and generating better responses with increasing concentration.

Determination of 238u/235u, 236u/238u and uranium concentration in urine using sf-icp-ms and mc-icp-ms: an interlaboratory comparison.

PubMed

Parrish, Randall R; Thirlwall, Matthew F; Pickford, Chris; Horstwood, Matthew; Gerdes, Axel; Anderson, James; Coggon, David

2006-02-01

Accidental exposure to depleted or enriched uranium may occur in a variety of circumstances. There is a need to quantify such exposure, with the possibility that the testing may post-date exposure by months or years. Therefore, it is important to develop a very sensitive test to measure precisely the isotopic composition of uranium in urine at low levels of concentration. The results of an interlaboratory comparison using sector field (SF)-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and multiple collector (MC)-ICP-MS for the measurement of uranium concentration and U/U and U/U isotopic ratios of human urine samples are presented. Three urine samples were verified to contain uranium at 1-5 ng L and shown to have natural uranium isotopic composition. Portions of these urine batches were doped with depleted uranium (DU) containing small quantities of U, and the solutions were split into 100 mL and 400 mL aliquots that were subsequently measured blind by three laboratories. All methods investigated were able to measure accurately U/U with precisions of approximately 0.5% to approximately 4%, but only selected MC-ICP-MS methods were capable of consistently analyzing U/U to reasonable precision at the approximately 20 fg L level of U abundance. Isotope dilution using a U tracer demonstrates the ability to measure concentrations to better than +/-4% with the MC-ICP-MS method, though sample heterogeneity in urine samples was shown to be problematic in some cases. MC-ICP-MS outperformed SF-ICP-MS methods, as was expected. The MC-ICP-MS methodology described is capable of measuring to approximately 1% precision the U/U of any sample of human urine over the entire range of uranium abundance down to <1 ng L, and detecting very small amounts of DU contained therein.

Characterization and modelling of the boron-oxygen defect activation in compensated n-type silicon

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Schön, J.; Niewelt, T.; Broisch, J.

2015-12-28

A study of the activation of the light-induced degradation in compensated n-type Czochralski grown silicon is presented. A kinetic model is established that verifies the existence of both the fast and the slow components known from p-type and proves the quadratic dependence of the defect generation rates of both defects on the hole concentration. The model allows for the description of lifetime degradation kinetics in compensated n-type silicon under various intensities and is in accordance with the findings for p-type silicon. We found that the final concentrations of the slow defect component in compensated n-type silicon only depend on themore » interstitial oxygen concentration and on neither the boron concentration nor the equilibrium electron concentration n{sub 0}. The final concentrations of the fast defect component slightly increase with increasing boron concentration. The results on n-type silicon give new insight to the origin of the BO defect and question the existing models for the defect composition.« less

The potential of at-home prediction of the formation of urolithiasis by simple multi-frequency electrical conductivity of the urine and the comparison of its performance with urine ion-related indices, color and specific gravity.

PubMed

Silverio, Angelito A; Chung, Wen-Yaw; Cheng, Cheanyeh; Wang, Hai-Lung; Kung, Chien-Min; Chen, Jun; Tsai, Vincent F S

2016-04-01

It is important to control daily diet, water intake and life style as well as monitor the quality of urine for urolithiasis prevention. For decades, many ion-related indices have been developed for predicting the formation of urinary stones or urolithiasis, such as EQUILs, relative supersaturation (RSS), Tiselius indices (TI), Robertson risk factor algorithms (RRFA) and more recently, the Bonn risk index. However, they mostly demand robust laboratory analysis, are work-intensive, and even require complex computational programs to get the concentration patterns of several urine analytes. A simple and fast platform for measuring multi-frequency electrical conductivity (MFEC) of morning spot urine (random urine) to predict the onset of urolithiasis was implemented in this study. The performance thereof was compared to ion-related indices, urine color and specific gravity. The concentrations of relevant ions, color, specific gravity (SG) and MFEC (MFEC tested at 1, 10, 100, 5001 KHz and 1 MHz) of 80 random urine samples were examined after collection. Then, the urine samples were stored at 4 °C for 24 h to determine whether sedimentation would occur or not. Ion-activity product index of calcium oxalate (AP(CaOx) EQ2) was calculated. The correlation between AP(CaOx) EQ2, urine color, SG and MFEC were analyzed. AP(CaOx) EQ2, urine color and MFEC (at 5 frequencies) all demonstrated good prediction (p = 0.01, 0.01, 0.01, respectively) for stone formation. The positive correlation between AP(CaOx) EQ2 and MFEC is also significant (p = 0.01). MFEC provides a good metric for predicting the onset of urolithiasis, which is comparable to conventional ion-related indices and urine color. This technology can be implemented with much ease for objectively monitoring the quality of urine at points-of-care or at home.

The preservation of urine samples for determination of renal stone risk factors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nicar, M. J.; Hsu, M. C.; Johnson, T.; Pak, C. Y.

1987-01-01

A preservation technique for urine specimens before determination of stone risk factors was evaluated. The purpose of these experiments was to prove the effectiveness of the preservatives used to prevent changes in the concentrations of those constituents measured. Measured concentrations in fresh specimens were compared with those in the same specimens after storage with the preservatives. Refrigeration at 4 degrees C up to five days was appropriate in a laboratory setting, as no significant changes in urinary concentrations occurred. Refrigeration, however, did not offer a convenient method for shipping. Chemical preservation was found to be an effective alternative to refrigeration. Thymol prevented changes in concentration of pH, citrate, uric acid, sulfate, sodium, potassium, and cyclic AMP, while a mixture of hydrochloric (HCl) acid and boric acid prevented changes in calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, oxalate, ammonium, and creatinine. Thus, the addition of thymol or HCl/boric acid to urine specimens will prevent significant changes in the concentrations of stone risk factors.

Evaluation of some heavy metals concentration in body fluids of metal workers in Kano metropolis, Nigeria.

PubMed

Sani, Ali; Abdullahi, Ibrahim Lawal

2017-01-01

Metal workers in urban Kano constitute a major workforce with a considerable population. The present work was aimed at obtaining baseline data on the extent of metal ion concentration in body fluids (urine and blood) of sampled population in the area. The investigation involves interaction with sampled population as well as blood and urine sample collection for heavy metals analysis. The health problems associated with the practice identified by respondents include: metal fume fever; eye and skin irritation; dizziness and respiratory problems; lack of or inadequate protective devices during activity were also reported. Laboratory investigation of urine samples by Atomic absorption spectrophotometry indicated higher concentrations for Manganese (Mn), Lead (Pb) and Nickel (Ni); in blood samples, there were higher concentrations of Manganese (Mn), Lead (Pb), Chromium (Cr) and Nickel (Ni). Metal workers of urban Kano are at risk because of the concentration of Mn and Pb in particular. There is the need to monitor occupational activities that are responsible for pollution and with serious health risk.

Poultry Consumption and Arsenic Exposure in the U.S. Population

PubMed Central

Nigra, Anne E.; Nachman, Keeve E.; Love, David C.; Grau-Perez, Maria; Navas-Acien, Ana

2016-01-01

Background: Arsenicals (roxarsone and nitarsone) used in poultry production likely increase inorganic arsenic (iAs), monomethylarsonic acid (MMA), dimethylarsinic acid (DMA), and roxarsone or nitarsone concentrations in poultry meat. However, the association between poultry intake and exposure to these arsenic species, as reflected in elevated urinary arsenic concentrations, is unknown. Objectives: Our aim was to evaluate the association between 24-hr dietary recall of poultry consumption and arsenic exposure in the U.S. population. We hypothesized first, that poultry intake would be associated with higher urine arsenic concentrations and second, that the association between turkey intake and increased urine arsenic concentrations would be modified by season, reflecting seasonal use of nitarsone. Methods: We evaluated 3,329 participants ≥ 6 years old from the 2003–2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) with urine arsenic available and undetectable urine arsenobetaine levels. Geometric mean ratios (GMR) of urine total arsenic and DMA were compared across increasing levels of poultry intake. Results: After adjustment, participants in the highest quartile of poultry consumption had urine total arsenic 1.12 (95% CI: 1.04, 1.22) and DMA 1.13 (95% CI: 1.06, 1.20) times higher than nonconsumers. During the fall/winter, participants in the highest quartile of turkey intake had urine total arsenic and DMA 1.17 (95% CI: 0.99, 1.39; p-trend = 0.02) and 1.13 (95% CI: 0.99, 1.30; p-trend = 0.03) times higher, respectively, than nonconsumers. Consumption of turkey during the past 24 hr was not associated with total arsenic or DMA during the spring/summer. Conclusions: Poultry intake was associated with increased urine total arsenic and DMA in NHANES 2003–2010, reflecting arsenic exposure. Seasonally stratified analyses by poultry type provide strong suggestive evidence that the historical use of arsenic-based poultry drugs contributed to arsenic exposure in the U.S. population. Citation: Nigra AE, Nachman KE, Love DC, Grau-Perez M, Navas-Acien A. 2017. Poultry consumption and arsenic exposure in the U.S. population. Environ Health Perspect 125:370–377; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/EHP351 PMID:27735790

Poultry Consumption and Arsenic Exposure in the U.S. Population.

PubMed

Nigra, Anne E; Nachman, Keeve E; Love, David C; Grau-Perez, Maria; Navas-Acien, Ana

2017-03-01

Arsenicals (roxarsone and nitarsone) used in poultry production likely increase inorganic arsenic (iAs), monomethylarsonic acid (MMA), dimethylarsinic acid (DMA), and roxarsone or nitarsone concentrations in poultry meat. However, the association between poultry intake and exposure to these arsenic species, as reflected in elevated urinary arsenic concentrations, is unknown. Our aim was to evaluate the association between 24-hr dietary recall of poultry consumption and arsenic exposure in the U.S. population. We hypothesized first, that poultry intake would be associated with higher urine arsenic concentrations and second, that the association between turkey intake and increased urine arsenic concentrations would be modified by season, reflecting seasonal use of nitarsone. We evaluated 3,329 participants ≥ 6 years old from the 2003-2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) with urine arsenic available and undetectable urine arsenobetaine levels. Geometric mean ratios (GMR) of urine total arsenic and DMA were compared across increasing levels of poultry intake. After adjustment, participants in the highest quartile of poultry consumption had urine total arsenic 1.12 (95% CI: 1.04, 1.22) and DMA 1.13 (95% CI: 1.06, 1.20) times higher than nonconsumers. During the fall/winter, participants in the highest quartile of turkey intake had urine total arsenic and DMA 1.17 (95% CI: 0.99, 1.39; p -trend = 0.02) and 1.13 (95% CI: 0.99, 1.30; p -trend = 0.03) times higher, respectively, than nonconsumers. Consumption of turkey during the past 24 hr was not associated with total arsenic or DMA during the spring/summer. Poultry intake was associated with increased urine total arsenic and DMA in NHANES 2003-2010, reflecting arsenic exposure. Seasonally stratified analyses by poultry type provide strong suggestive evidence that the historical use of arsenic-based poultry drugs contributed to arsenic exposure in the U.S. Nigra AE, Nachman KE, Love DC, Grau-Perez M, Navas-Acien A. 2017. Poultry consumption and arsenic exposure in the U.S. Environ Health Perspect 125:370-377; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/EHP351.

Development of an Advanced Recycle Filter Tank Assembly for the ISS Urine Processor Assembly

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Link, Dwight E., Jr.; Carter, Donald Layne; Higbie, Scott

2010-01-01

Recovering water from urine is a process that is critical to supporting larger crews for extended missions aboard the International Space Station. Urine is collected, preserved, and stored for processing into water and a concentrated brine solution that is highly toxic and must be contained to avoid exposure to the crew. The brine solution is collected in an accumulator tank, called a Recycle Filter Tank Assembly (RFTA) that must be replaced monthly and disposed in order to continue urine processing operations. In order to reduce resupply requirements, a new accumulator tank is being developed that can be emptied on orbit into existing ISS waste tanks. The new tank, called the Advanced Recycle Filter Tank Assembly (ARFTA) is a metal bellows tank that is designed to collect concentrated brine solution and empty by applying pressure to the bellows. This paper discusses the requirements and design of the ARFTA as well as integration into the urine processor assembly.

Size-exclusion chromatography-based enrichment of extracellular vesicles from urine samples

PubMed Central

Lozano-Ramos, Inés; Bancu, Ioana; Oliveira-Tercero, Anna; Armengol, María Pilar; Menezes-Neto, Armando; Del Portillo, Hernando A.; Lauzurica-Valdemoros, Ricardo; Borràs, Francesc E.

2015-01-01

Renal biopsy is the gold-standard procedure to diagnose most of renal pathologies. However, this invasive method is of limited repeatability and often describes an irreversible renal damage. Urine is an easily accessible fluid and urinary extracellular vesicles (EVs) may be ideal to describe new biomarkers associated with renal pathologies. Several methods to enrich EVs have been described. Most of them contain a mixture of proteins, lipoproteins and cell debris that may be masking relevant biomarkers. Here, we evaluated size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) as a suitable method to isolate urinary EVs. Following a conventional centrifugation to eliminate cell debris and apoptotic bodies, urine samples were concentrated using ultrafiltration and loaded on a SEC column. Collected fractions were analysed by protein content and flow cytometry to determine the presence of tetraspanin markers (CD63 and CD9). The highest tetraspanin content was routinely detected in fractions well before the bulk of proteins eluted. These tetraspanin-peak fractions were analysed by cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) and nanoparticle tracking analysis revealing the presence of EVs. When analysed by sodium dodecyl sulphate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, tetraspanin-peak fractions from urine concentrated samples contained multiple bands but the main urine proteins (such as Tamm–Horsfall protein) were absent. Furthermore, a preliminary proteomic study of these fractions revealed the presence of EV-related proteins, suggesting their enrichment in concentrated samples. In addition, RNA profiling also showed the presence of vesicular small RNA species. To summarize, our results demonstrated that concentrated urine followed by SEC is a suitable option to isolate EVs with low presence of soluble contaminants. This methodology could permit more accurate analyses of EV-related biomarkers when further characterized by -omics technologies compared with other approaches. PMID:26025625

Arsenic drinking water exposure and urinary excretion among adults in the Yaqui Valley, Sonora, Mexico.

PubMed

Meza, Maria Mercedes; Kopplin, Michael J; Burgess, Jefferey L; Gandolfi, A Jay

2004-10-01

The objective of this study was to determine arsenic exposure via drinking water and to characterize urinary arsenic excretion among adults in the Yaqui Valley, Sonora, Mexico. A cross-sectional study was conducted from July 2001 to May 2002. Study subjects were from the Yaqui Valley, Sonora, Mexico, residents of four towns with different arsenic concentrations in their drinking water. Arsenic exposure was estimated through water intake over 24 h. Arsenic excretion was assessed in the first morning void urine. Total arsenic concentrations and their species arsenate (As V), arsenite (As III), monomethyl arsenic (MMA), and dimethyl arsenic (DMA) were determined by HPLC/ICP-MS. The town of Esperanza with the highest arsenic concentration in water had the highest daily mean intake of arsenic through drinking water, the mean value was 65.5 microg/day. Positive correlation between total arsenic intake by drinking water/day and the total arsenic concentration in urine (r = 0.50, P < 0.001) was found. Arsenic excreted in urine ranged from 18.9 to 93.8 microg/L. The people from Esperanza had the highest geometric mean value of arsenic in urine, 65.1 microg/L, and it was statistically significantly different from those of the other towns (P < 0.005). DMA was the major arsenic species in urine (47.7-67.1%), followed by inorganic arsenic (16.4-25.4%), and MMA (7.5-15%). In comparison with other reports the DMA and MMA distribution was low, 47.7-55.6% and 7.5-9.7%, respectively, in the urine from the Yaqui Valley population (except the town of Cocorit). The difference in the proportion of urinary arsenic metabolites in those towns may be due to genetic polymorphisms in the As methylating enzymes of these populations.

Development of a Physiologically Based Computational Kidney Model to Describe the Renal Excretion of Hydrophilic Agents in Rats

PubMed Central

Niederalt, Christoph; Wendl, Thomas; Kuepfer, Lars; Claassen, Karina; Loosen, Roland; Willmann, Stefan; Lippert, Joerg; Schultze-Mosgau, Marcus; Winkler, Julia; Burghaus, Rolf; Bräutigam, Matthias; Pietsch, Hubertus; Lengsfeld, Philipp

2013-01-01

A physiologically based kidney model was developed to analyze the renal excretion and kidney exposure of hydrophilic agents, in particular contrast media, in rats. In order to study the influence of osmolality and viscosity changes, the model mechanistically represents urine concentration by water reabsorption in different segments of kidney tubules and viscosity dependent tubular fluid flow. The model was established using experimental data on the physiological steady state without administration of any contrast media or drugs. These data included the sodium and urea concentration gradient along the cortico-medullary axis, water reabsorption, urine flow, and sodium as well as urea urine concentrations for a normal hydration state. The model was evaluated by predicting the effects of mannitol and contrast media administration and comparing to experimental data on cortico-medullary concentration gradients, urine flow, urine viscosity, hydrostatic tubular pressures and single nephron glomerular filtration rate. Finally the model was used to analyze and compare typical examples of ionic and non-ionic monomeric as well as non-ionic dimeric contrast media with respect to their osmolality and viscosity. With the computational kidney model, urine flow depended mainly on osmolality, while osmolality and viscosity were important determinants for tubular hydrostatic pressure and kidney exposure. The low diuretic effect of dimeric contrast media in combination with their high intrinsic viscosity resulted in a high viscosity within the tubular fluid. In comparison to monomeric contrast media, this led to a higher increase in tubular pressure, to a reduction in glomerular filtration rate and tubular flow and to an increase in kidney exposure. The presented kidney model can be implemented into whole body physiologically based pharmacokinetic models and extended in order to simulate the renal excretion of lipophilic drugs which may also undergo active secretion and reabsorption. PMID:23355822

Biological and behavioral factors modify urinary arsenic metabolic profiles in a U.S. population.

PubMed

Hudgens, Edward E; Drobna, Zuzana; He, Bin; Le, X C; Styblo, Miroslav; Rogers, John; Thomas, David J

2016-05-26

Because some adverse health effects associated with chronic arsenic exposure may be mediated by methylated arsenicals, interindividual variation in capacity to convert inorganic arsenic into mono- and di-methylated metabolites may be an important determinant of risk associated with exposure to this metalloid. Hence, identifying biological and behavioral factors that modify an individual's capacity to methylate inorganic arsenic could provide insights into critical dose-response relations underlying adverse health effects. A total of 904 older adults (≥45 years old) in Churchill County, Nevada, who chronically used home tap water supplies containing up to 1850 μg of arsenic per liter provided urine and toenail samples for determination of total and speciated arsenic levels. Effects of biological factors (gender, age, body mass index) and behavioral factors (smoking, recent fish or shellfish consumption) on patterns of arsenicals in urine were evaluated with bivariate analyses and multivariate regression models. Relative contributions of inorganic, mono-, and di-methylated arsenic to total speciated arsenic in urine were unchanged over the range of concentrations of arsenic in home tap water supplies used by study participants. Gender predicted both absolute and relative amounts of arsenicals in urine. Age predicted levels of inorganic arsenic in urine and body mass index predicted relative levels of mono- and di-methylated arsenic in urine. Smoking predicted both absolute and relative levels of arsenicals in urine. Multivariate regression models were developed for both absolute and relative levels of arsenicals in urine. Concentration of arsenic in home tap water and estimated water consumption were strongly predictive of levels of arsenicals in urine as were smoking, body mass index, and gender. Relative contributions of arsenicals to urinary arsenic were not consistently predicted by concentrations of arsenic in drinking water supplies but were more consistently predicted by gender, body mass index, age, and smoking. These findings suggest that analyses of dose-response relations in arsenic-exposed populations should account for biological and behavioral factors that modify levels of inorganic and methylated arsenicals in urine. Evidence of significant effects of these factors on arsenic metabolism may also support mode of action studies in appropriate experimental models.

Role of protein kinase C-α in hypertonicity-stimulated urea permeability in mouse inner medullary collecting ducts

PubMed Central

Klein, Janet D.; Froehlich, Otto; Sands, Jeff M.

2013-01-01

The kidney's ability to concentrate urine is vitally important to our quality of life. In the hypertonic environment of the kidney, urea transporters must be regulated to optimize function. We previously showed that hypertonicity increases urea permeability and that the protein kinase C (PKC) blockers chelerythrine and rottlerin decreased hypertonicity-stimulated urea permeability in rat inner medullary collecting ducts (IMCDs). Because PKCα knockout (PKCα−/−) mice have a urine-concentrating defect, we tested the effect of hypertonicity on urea permeability in isolated perfused mouse IMCDs. Increasing the osmolality of perfusate and bath from 290 to 690 mosmol/kgH2O did not change urea permeability in PKCα−/− mice but significantly increased urea permeability in wild-type mice. To determine whether the response to protein kinase A was also missing in IMCDs of PKCα−/− mice, tubules were treated with vasopressin and subsequently with the PKC stimulator phorbol dibutyrate (PDBu). Vasopressin stimulated urea permeability in PKCα−/− mice. Like vasopressin, forskolin stimulated urea permeability in PKCα−/− mice. We previously showed that, in rats, vasopressin and PDBu have additive stimulatory effects on urea permeability. In contrast, in PKCα−/− mice, PDBu did not further increase vasopressin-stimulated urea permeability. Western blot analysis showed that expression of the UT-A1 urea transporter in IMCDs was increased in response to vasopressin in wild-type mice as well as PKCα−/− mice. Hypertonicity increased UT-A1 phosphorylation in wild-type mice but not in PKCα−/− mice. We conclude that PKCα mediates hypertonicity-stimulated urea transport but is not necessary for vasopressin stimulation of urea permeability in mouse IMCDs. PMID:23097465

Comparison of Cannabinoid Concentrations in Plasma, Oral Fluid and Urine in Occasional Cannabis Smokers After Smoking Cannabis Cigarette.

PubMed

Marsot, Amélie; Audebert, Christine; Attolini, Laurence; Lacarelle, Bruno; Micallef, Joelle; Blin, Olivier

A randomized cross-over, double blind placebo controlled study of smoked cannabis was carried out on occasional cannabis smokers. The objective of this research was to describe the pharmacokinetic parameters of THC and its metabolites in plasma, oral fluid and urine, from samples obtained simultaneously to provide estimations of THC and metabolites concentrations after smoking a cannabis cigarette. Blood, oral fluid and urine samples were collected until up to 72 h after smoking the cannabis cigarette (4% of delta-9-tetrathydrocannabinol (THC)). THC, 11-OH-THC and THC-COOH were analyzed by gas-chromatography-mass spectrometry. Pharmacokinetic parameters were estimated from these data. Eighteen male healthy adults participated in the study. In total, 560 plasma, 288 oral fluid and 448 urine samples were quantified for cannabinoids. Plasma, oral fluid and urine pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated. A wide range of median THC Cmax (1.6-160.0 µg/L and 55.4-123120.0 µg/L in plasma and oral fluid, respectively), 11-OH-THC Cmax (0-11.1 µg/L in plasma) and THC-COOH Cmax (1.0-56.3 µg/L in plasma) was observed. When expressed as a percentage of the total available THC dose, and corrected for molar equivalents, mean percentage of total THC dose excreted was 1.9 +/-2.5 % with range of 0.2-7.5%. This high inter-individual variability was also observed on other calculated pharmacokinetic parameters. Prediction of plasma THC concentration from THC oral fluid concentration or from THC-COOH urinary concentrations is not feasible due to the large variations observed. The results from this study support the assumption that a positive oral fluid THC result or a positive urine fluid result are indicative of a recent cannabis exposure. This article is open to POST-PUBLICATION REVIEW. Registered readers (see "For Readers") may comment by clicking on ABSTRACT on the issue's contents page.

An Evaluation of the Relationship among Urine, Air, and Hand Measures of Exposure to Bisphenol A (BPA) in US Manufacturing Workers.

PubMed

Hines, Cynthia J; Christianson, Annette L; Jackson, Matthew V; Ye, Xiaoyun; Pretty, Jack R; Arnold, James E; Calafat, Antonia M

2018-06-13

Exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) can be assessed using external and internal exposure measures. We examined the relationship between two measures of external BPA exposure (air and hand-wipe samples) and one of internal exposure (total BPA in urine) for a group of US manufacturing workers. During 2013-2014, we recruited 78 workers from six US companies that made BPA or made products with BPA. We quantified BPA in seven urine samples, two full-shift air samples and in pre- and end-shift hand-wipe samples collected from workers over 2 consecutive days. We examined correlations between creatinine-corrected urinary concentrations of total BPA (total BPACR) and BPA levels in air and hand wipes using Pearson's correlation coefficient. We also applied mixed-effects regression models to examine the relationship between total BPACR with BPA in air (urine~air model) and with BPA in end-shift hand wipes (urine~hand model), separately and together (urine~air+hand model), after adjusting for covariates. End-shift total BPACR strongly correlated with BPA in air (rp = 0.79, P < 0.0001) and nearly as strongly with BPA in end-shift hand wipes (rp = 0.75, P < 0.0001). In mixed-effect models, BPA air concentration and end-shift hand-wipe BPA level were significantly and positively associated with end-shift total BPACR (P < 0.0001 each). We found a significant effect of the Day 1 BPA air concentration on Day 2 total BPACR (P = 0.0104). When BPA air concentration and end-shift hand-wipe BPA level were in the same model, the air concentration (P < 0.0001) was more significant than the hand-wipe level (P = 0.0106). BPA levels in air and end-shift hand wipes strongly correlated with total BPACR, suggesting that both inhalation and dermal contract were likely exposure routes; however, inhalation, on average, appeared to be a more dominant exposure route than dermal contact for these manufacturing workers.

Central diabetes insipidus associated with impaired renal aquaporin-1 expression in mice lacking liver X receptor β

PubMed Central

Gabbi, Chiara; Kong, Xiaomu; Suzuki, Hitoshi; Kim, Hyun-Jin; Gao, Min; Jia, Xiao; Ohnishi, Hideo; Ueta, Yoichi; Warner, Margaret; Guan, Youfei; Gustafsson, Jan-Åke

2012-01-01

The present study demonstrates a key role for the oxysterol receptor liver X receptor β (LXRβ) in the etiology of diabetes insipidus (DI). Given free access to water, LXRβ−/− but not LXRα−/− mice exhibited polyuria (abnormal daily excretion of highly diluted urine) and polydipsia (increased water intake), both features of diabetes insipidus. LXRβ−/− mice responded to 24-h dehydration with a decreased urine volume and increased urine osmolality. To determine whether the DI was of central or nephrogenic origin, we examined the responsiveness of the kidney to arginine vasopressin (AVP). An i.p. injection of AVP to LXRβ−/− mice revealed a partial kidney response: There was no effect on urine volume, but there was a significant increase of urine osmolality, suggesting that DI may be caused by a defect in central production of AVP. In the brain of WT mice LXRβ was expressed in the nuclei of magnocellular neurons in the supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei of the hypothalamus. In LXRβ−/− mice the expression of AVP was markedly decreased in the magnocellular neurons as well as in urine collected over a 24-h period. The persistent high urine volume after AVP administration was traced to a reduction in aquaporin-1 expression in the kidney of LXRβ−/− mice. The LXR agonist (GW3965) in WT mice elicited an increase in urine osmolality, suggesting that LXRβ is a key receptor in controlling water balance with targets in both the brain and kidney, and it could be a therapeutic target in disorders of water balance. PMID:22323586

A multifamily study on the relationship between CYP2C19 genotype and s-mephenytoin oxidation phenotype.

PubMed

Brøsen, K; de Morais, S M; Meyer, U A; Goldstein, J A

1995-10-01

It has recently been shown that the most common mutation (named m1) in both Caucasian and Japanese poor metabolizers (PM) of S-mephenytoin is a single base pair mutation (G-->A) in exon 5 of the CYP2C19 gene. In Japanese, a second defective allele of CYP2C19 named m2 consists of a G-->A mutation in exon 4. In the present study, we have investigated the inheritance of the CYP2C19 wild type allele (wt) and the two defective alleles (m1 and m2) in families of 11 Danish PM probands. The study was carried out for two principal reasons. First, we wanted to confirm the autosomal recessive inheritance of the defective alleles, and second, we wanted to examine the specificity and sensitivity of the CYP2C19 genotyping test. Individuals were phenotyped by measuring the ratio of S/R mephenytoin excreted in the urine after administration of mephenytoin, and genotyping was carried out by a PCR-based DNA amplification procedure. The genotypes of nine of the 11 probands were consistent with their phenotypes. Eight were homozygous m1/m1, and one was heterozygous m1/m2. The genotypes of two putative PM probands (wt/m1) were not consistent with their phenotypes. On the basis of extended phenotyping (additional late urine collections (24-36 h) and acidification of urine), one of these could probably be reclassified as an extensive metabolizer (EM) while the other was considered to be a true PM. This suggests the presence of an additional unknown mutant allele in the latter. Seven of the 41 phenotyped relatives in the 11 families were phenotyped as PMs, and with the exception of the father of family 10, their genotypes (m1/m1) were consistent with their phenotypes. Extended phenotyping (acidification of urine) suggested that the father of family 10 in fact is an EM and hence that his genotype (wt/m1) is concordant with his phenotype. Thus, the specificity of genotyping tests for PM was 100%, while the sensitivity was 15/16 or 94%. Our study provides unequivocal evidence for autosomal recessive inheritance of the PM trait.

Urinary excretion of glycosaminoglycans in the various forms of gargoylism

PubMed Central

Manley, G.; Williams, U.

1969-01-01

The urinary excretion of glycosaminoglycans in 28 cases of gargoylism, embracing the Hurler, Hunter, Sanfilippo, Morquio, and Scheie syndromes (McKusick, 1966), has been examined using the cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) turbidity test, the uronic acid/creatinine ratio, and the electrophoretic pattern of urine concentrates, as routine procedures. Ion-exchange column chromatographic techniques were also employed for the fractionation of glycosaminoglycans and aminosugars. Molecular weights were investigated by gel filtration and ultracentrifugation. The CPC turbidity test was positive in every case. The uronic acid/creatinine ratio provided a sensitive index of increased glycosaminoglycan excretion. Cases of the Hurler syndrome showed the highest, and cases of the Morquio and Scheie syndromes the lowest, ratios. A correlation was observed between the uronic acid/creatinine ratio and the clinical severity of the disease. Cellulose acetate electrophoresis differentiated clearly between the two major forms of gargoylism, the Hurler and Sanfilippo syndromes, but differentiation between the Hurler, Hunter, and Scheie syndromes was more difficult on electrophoretic data alone. Results obtained with cases diagnosed as the Morquio syndrome were disappointing. The existence of formes frustes of the Sanfilippo syndrome among the mentally subnormal is predicted. Errors caused by bacterial contamination of urine samples are emphasized. The atypical behaviour of urinary glycosaminoglycans in analytical procedures is discussed. Molecular weight studies suggested heterogeneity. The nature of the basic defect in gargoylism is discussed. Images PMID:4239429

Vitreous Fluid and/or Urine Glucose Concentrations in 1,335 Civil Aviation Accident Pilot Fatalities

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-05-01

glucose, and in those cases wherein glucose levels are elevated, blood hemoglobin A1c ( HbA1c ) is measured. These analyses are conducted to monitor...diabetes. In this study, the prevalence of elevated glucose concentrations in fatally injured civilian pilots is evaluated. Glucose and HbA1c are measured...whom samples were received during 1998–2005 and whose vitreous fluid and/or urine glucose concentrations were measured. HbA1c levels and information

Tracer techniques for urine volume determination and urine collection and sampling back-up system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ramirez, R. V.

1971-01-01

The feasibility, functionality, and overall accuracy of the use of lithium were investigated as a chemical tracer in urine for providing a means of indirect determination of total urine volume by the atomic absorption spectrophotometry method. Experiments were conducted to investigate the parameters of instrumentation, tracer concentration, mixing times, and methods for incorporating the tracer material in the urine collection bag, and to refine and optimize the urine tracer technique to comply with the Skylab scheme and operational parameters of + or - 2% of volume error and + or - 1% accuracy of amount of tracer added to each container. In addition, a back-up method for urine collection and sampling system was developed and evaluated. This back-up method incorporates the tracer technique for volume determination in event of failure of the primary urine collection and preservation system. One chemical preservative was selected and evaluated as a contingency chemical preservative for the storage of urine in event of failure of the urine cooling system.

Trace Chemical Analysis Methodology

DTIC Science & Technology

1980-04-01

oxidation of nitrite-containing species. Calibration studies were then made in preparation for the analysis of unknown samples of nitrate in urine and...the procedure for nitrate determination was made on two types of samples : human urine , and drinking water from a city water supply. Five samples of...AND URINE Concentration Standard Sample type of NO3, ppm deviation Drinking water 1.29 ±0 04 1.20 ±0.09 1.29 ±0.14 1.15 ±0.08 0.88 ±0.07 Human urine

Determination of glucose in human urine by cyclic voltammetry method using gold electrode

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Riyanto; Supwatul Hakim, Muh.

2018-01-01

This study has been the determination of glucose in human urine by cyclic voltammetry method using gold electrode. The gold electrode was prepared using gold wire with purity 99.99%, size 1.0 mm by length and wide respectively, connected with silver wire using silver conductive paint. The effect of electrolyte, pH and glucose concentration has been determined to produce the optimum method. The research showed the KNO3 is a good electrolyte for determination of glucose in human urine using gold electrode. The effect of glucose concentration have the coefficient correlation is R2 = 0.994. The results of the recovery using addition method showed at range95-105%. As a conclusion isa gold electrode is a good electrode for electrochemical sensors to the determination of glucose in human urine.

Urine and toenail cadmium levels in pregnant women: A reliability study.

PubMed

White, Alexandra J; O'Brien, Katie M; Jackson, Brian P; Karagas, Margaret R

2018-05-29

Cadmium, as measured in human tissue, has been associated with numerous health outcomes. However, few studies have evaluated the reliability of cadmium measurements across different biologic samples. We evaluated toenail cadmium levels over time and compared toenail cadmium to urinary cadmium. We also evaluated the relationship between biomarker concentrations and cigarette smoking, a known source of cadmium exposure. Cadmium was assessed in urine and toenail samples collected from 1338 pregnant women participating in the New Hampshire Birth Cohort Study. Each participant was asked to provide a urine and a toenail sample at enrollment (between 24 and 28 weeks gestation) and another toenail sample 2-8 weeks postpartum. Cadmium concentrations were determined using inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Spearman correlations were assessed for cadmium in the toenails across the two-time points and comparing toenail and urine levels. Smoking status was evaluated as a predictor of cadmium levels. Toenail cadmium assessed during pregnancy and postpartum were modestly correlated (R = 0.3, p < 0.0001). However, urine and toenail cadmium levels were unrelated (R = -0.03, p = 0.46). Both toenail and urinary cadmium levels were associated with women's smoking status. Our findings suggest that both toenail and urinary cadmium concentrations reflect the major source of exposure - cigarette smoking. Toenail cadmium concentrations are modestly reproducible pre- and postpartum; but do not appear to be related to urinary cadmium and thus likely represent different windows and chronicity of exposure among pregnant women. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Effect of Ramadan fasting on urinary risk factors for calculus formation.

PubMed

Miladipour, Amir Hossein; Shakhssalim, Nasser; Parvin, Mahmoud; Azadvari, Mohaddeseh

2012-01-01

Even though dehydration could aggravate formation of urinary calculi, the effects of fluid and food restriction on calculus formation is not thoroughly defined. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of fluid and food restriction in Ramadan fasting on urinary factors in kidney and urinary calculus formation. Fifty-seven men aged 30 to 55 years old, including 37 recurrent calcium calculus formers and 20 with no history of kidney calculi were evaluated for blood tests, ultrasonography investigations, urinalysis, urine culture, and also 24-hour urine collection test. Metabolites including calcium, oxalate, citrate, uric acid, magnesium, phosphate, potassium, sodium, and creatinine were measured before and during Ramadan fasting. The values of calculus-precipitating solutes as well as inhibitory factors were documented thoroughly. Total excretion of calcium, phosphate, and magnesium in 24-hour urine and also urine volume during fasting were significantly lower than those in the nonfasting period. Urine concentration of calcium during fasting was significantly lower than nonfasting (P < .001). Urine concentrations of uric acid, citrate, phosphate, sodium, and potassium during fasting were significantly higher than nonfasting. Uric acid supersaturation was accentuated, and calcium phosphate supersaturation was decreased significantly during fasting. There was no significant increase in calcium oxalate supersaturation during the fasting period. Fasting during Ramadan has different effects on total excretion and concentrations of urinary precipitate and inhibitory factors contributing to calculus formation. We did not find enough evidence in favor of increased risks of calculus formation during Ramadan fasting.

Early Detection of Pressure Ulcer Development Following Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury Using Inflammatory Mediators.

PubMed

Krishnan, Shilpa; Karg, Patricia E; Boninger, Michael L; Vodovotz, Yoram; Constantine, Greg; Sowa, Gwendolyn A; Brienza, David M

2016-10-01

To identify changes in concentrations of inflammatory mediators in plasma and urine after traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) and before the occurrence of a first pressure ulcer. Retrospective; secondary analysis of existing data. Acute hospitalization and inpatient rehabilitation sites at a university medical center. Individuals with a pressure ulcer and plasma samples (n=17) and individuals with a pressure ulcer and urine samples (n=15) were matched by age and plasma/urine sample days to individuals with SCI and no pressure ulcer (N=35). Not applicable. Plasma and urine samples were assayed in patients with SCI, capturing samples within 4 days after the SCI to a week before the formation of the first pressure ulcer. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was performed to identify changes in the inflammatory mediators between the 2 time points. An increase in concentration of the chemokine interferon-γ-induced protein of 10kd/CXCL10 in plasma (P<.01) and a decrease in concentration of the cytokine interferon-α in urine (P=.01) were observed before occurrence of a first pressure ulcer (∼4d) compared with matched controls. Altered levels of inflammatory mediators in plasma and urine may be associated with pressure ulcer development after traumatic SCI. These inflammatory mediators should be explored as possible biomarkers for identifying individuals at risk for pressure ulcer formation. Copyright © 2016 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Estimation of daily protein intake based on spot urine urea nitrogen concentration in chronic kidney disease patients.

PubMed

Kanno, Hiroko; Kanda, Eiichiro; Sato, Asako; Sakamoto, Kaori; Kanno, Yoshihiko

2016-04-01

Determination of daily protein intake in the management of chronic kidney disease (CKD) requires precision. Inaccuracies in recording dietary intake occur, and estimation from total urea excretion presents hurdles owing to the difficulty of collecting whole urine for 24 h. Spot urine has been used for measuring daily sodium intake and urinary protein excretion. In this cross-sectional study, we investigated whether urea nitrogen (UN) concentration in spot urine can be used to predict daily protein intake instead of the 24-h urine collection in 193 Japanese CKD patients (Stages G1-G5). After patient randomization into 2 datasets for the development and validation of models, bootstrapping was used to develop protein intake estimation models. The parameters for the candidate multivariate regression models were male gender, age, body mass index (BMI), diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, proteinuria, estimated glomerular filtration rate, serum albumin level, spot urinary UN and creatinine level, and spot urinary UN/creatinine levels. The final model contained BMI and spot urinary UN level. The final model was selected because of the higher correlation between the predicted and measured protein intakes r = 0.558 (95 % confidence interval 0.400, 0.683), and the smaller distribution of the difference between the measured and predicted protein intakes than those of the other models. The results suggest that UN concentration in spot urine may be used to estimate daily protein intake and that a prediction formula would be useful for nutritional control in CKD patients.

Impact of dose on the bioavailability of coffee chlorogenic acids in humans.

PubMed

Stalmach, Angélique; Williamson, Gary; Crozier, Alan

2014-08-01

Single servings of coffee beverage containing low (412 μmol), medium (635 μmol) and high (795 μmol) amounts of chlorogenic acids were administered to eleven healthy volunteers in a double-blind randomised controlled trial. Analysis of plasma and urine collected for 24 h revealed the presence of 12 metabolites in plasma and 16 metabolites in urine, principally in the form of sulphates, and to a lesser extent glucuronides of caffeic, ferulic, dihydrocaffeic and dihydroferulic acids, as well as intact feruloylquinic and caffeoylquinic acids, and sulphated caffeoylquinic acid lactones. Median values of peak plasma concentrations after increasing doses of chlorogenic acids were 1088, 1526 and 1352 nM. In urine the median amounts of metabolites excreted after 24 h following consumption of the three coffees were 101, 160 and 125 μmol, accounting for 24%, 25% and 16% of the doses ingested. Peak plasma concentration and urinary excretion values showed trends towards a reduced bioavailability of chlorogenic acids associated with the highest dose ingested, when expressed as percentages of intake. Potential biomarkers of coffee intake were identified as feruloylquinic acids and sulphated caffeoylquinic acid lactones in plasma and urine with positive moderate to strong coefficients of determination for peak plasma concentrations (0.60-0.81) and amounts excreted in urine (0.36-0.73) (P < 0.05).

Evaluation of the Coat-A-Count sup 125 I fentanyl RIA: Comparison of sup 12 5I RIA and GC/MS-SIM for quantification of fentanyl in case urine specimens

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Watts, V.W.; Caplan, Y.H.

The Coat-A-Count solid phase {sup 125}I Fentanyl Radioimmunoassay was evaluated with respect to linearity and precision using equine urine fortified with fentanyl and then compared with a gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric method for quantification of fentanyl in urine. The RIA assay was found to be linear over the urine fentanyl concentration range of 0.25 to 7.5 ng/mL and precise with coefficients of variation (CV) ranging from 9.6 to 19.3%. The RIA calibrators, ranging in fentanyl concentrations from 0.25 to 7.5 ng/mL, and controls, at mean fentanyl concentrations of 0.46 and 1.32 ng/mL, were compared by both the RIA and GC/MS methods.more » The cross-reactivity with the {sup 125}I RIA test was determined for the fentanyl metabolites, norfentanyl and hydroxyfentanyl, and found to be 5% and 35%, respectively. The illicit fentanyl analogs were found to show significant cross-reactivity, ranging from 20 to 100%. The {sup 125}I RIA was compared to GC/MS quantifications of fentanyl in 35 positive and 20 negative case urine specimens.« less

[The dose-effect relationship of water fluoride levels and renal damage in children].

PubMed

Liu, Jun-Ling; Xia, Tao; Yu, Yao-Yong; Sun, Xian-Zhong; Zhu, Qilong; He, Weihong; Zhang, Ming; Wang, Aiguo

2005-05-01

To explore the dose-effect relationship of water fluoride levels and renal damage in children and observe the difference of renal function between high-loaded fluoride people and dental fluorosis people in the same water fluoride level region. 210 children were divided into seven groups in term of drinking water fluoride levels and whether they suffered from dental fluorosis. Fluoride concentrations in urine and serum and activities of urine NAG and gamma-GT were determined. The urine and serum fluoride of high-loaded fluoride people and dental fluorosis people increased compared with control, moreover fluoride contents in urine and serum increased gradually with the increase of fluoride level in drinking water. Urine NAG and gamma-GT activities significantly increased in dental fluorosis people from area of 2.58 mg/L fluoride in drinking water and in those two groups from area of 4.51 mg/L fluoride in drinking water. Moreover, there existed an obvious dose-effect relationship between the drinking water fluoride concentration and NAG and gamma-GT activity. Over 2.0 mg/L fluoride in drinking water can cause renal damage in children, and the damage degree increases with the drinking water fluoride content. Renal damage degree is not related to whether the children suffered from dental fluorosis and mainly due to water fluoride concentration.

Manganese in exhaled breath condensate: a new marker of exposure to welding fumes.

PubMed

Hulo, Sébastien; Chérot-Kornobis, Nathalie; Howsam, Mike; Crucq, Sébastien; de Broucker, Virginie; Sobaszek, Annie; Edme, Jean-Louis

2014-04-07

To evaluate manganese in exhaled breath condensate (Mn-EBC) as an indicator of exposure to fumes from metal inert gas welding process. We collected EBC and urine from 17 welders and 16 unexposed control subjects after 5 days exposure. Concentrations of manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), iron (Fe) and chromium (Cr) were measured in EBC and urine samples and correlated with cumulative exposure indices for the working week (CIW) and for the total welding years (WY), based on duration of welding activity and atmospheric metal measurements. Concentrations of Mn and Ni in EBC were significantly higher among welders than controls whereas this difference was not significant for Mn in urine. Levels of Mn and Ni in EBC were not correlated with their respective levels in urine. The linear regressions found significant positive coefficients between Mn-EBC, Ni-EBC, Ni-U and Cr-U concentrations and the cumulative exposure indices. Taking into account tobacco use, statistical analysis showed the same trends except for the relationship between Mn-U and CIW. This pilot study showed that Mn-EBC, as well as Ni-EBC, can serve as reliable indices of occupational exposure to welding fumes and provide complimentary toxicokinetic information to that provided by urine analyses. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Personal Care Product Use in Men and Urinary Concentrations of Select Phthalate Metabolites and Parabens: Results from the Environment And Reproductive Health (EARTH) Study

PubMed Central

Coull, Brent A.; Gaskins, Audrey J.; Williams, Michelle A.; Skakkebaek, Niels E.; Ford, Jennifer B.; Ye, Xiaoyun; Calafat, Antonia M.; Braun, Joseph M.; Hauser, Russ

2017-01-01

Background: Personal care products (PCPs) are exposure sources to phthalates and parabens; however, their contribution to men’s exposure is understudied. Objectives: We examined the association between PCP use and urinary concentrations of phthalate metabolites and parabens in men. Methods: In a prospective cohort, at multiple study visits, men self-reported their use of 14 PCPs and provided a urine sample (2004–2015, Boston, MA). We measured urinary concentrations of 9 phthalate metabolites and methylparaben, propylparaben, and butylparaben. We estimated the covariate-adjusted percent change in urinary concentrations associated with PCP use using linear mixed and Tobit mixed regressions. We also estimated weights for each PCP in a weighted binary score regression and modeled the resulting composite weighted PCP use. Results: Four hundred men contributed 1,037 urine samples (mean of 3/man). The largest percent increase in monoethyl phthalate (MEP) was associated with use of cologne/perfume (83%, p-value<0.01) and deodorant (74%, p-value<0.01). In contrast, the largest percent increase for parabens was associated with the use of suntan/sunblock lotion (66–156%) and hand/body lotion (79–147%). Increases in MEP and parabens were generally greater with PCP use within 6 h of urine collection. A subset of 10 PCPs that were used within 6 h of urine collection contributed to at least 70% of the weighted score and predicted a 254–1,333% increase in MEP and parabens concentrations. Associations between PCP use and concentrations of the other phthalate metabolites were not statistically significant. Conclusions: We identified 10 PCPs of relevance and demonstrated that their use within 6 h of urine collection strongly predicted MEP and paraben urinary concentrations. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP1374 PMID:28886595

Chemistry and kinetics of I2 loss in urine distillate and humidity condensate

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Atwater, James E.; Wheeler, Richard R., Jr.; Olivadoti, J. T.; Sauer, Richard L.

1992-01-01

Time-resolved molecular absorption spectrophotometry of iodinated ersatz humidity condensates and iodinated ersatz urine distillates across the UV and visible spectral regions are used to investigate the chemistry and kinetics of I2 loss in urine distillate and humidity condensate. Single contaminant systems at equivalent concentrations are also employed to study rates of iodine. Pseudo-first order rate constants are identified for ersatz contaminant model mixtures and for individual reactive constituents. The second order bimolecular reaction of elemental iodine with formic acid, producing carbon dioxide and iodine anion, is identified as the primary mechanism underlying the decay of residual I2 in ersatz humidity concentrate.

Recommended oral sodium bicarbonate administration for urine alkalinization did not affect the concentration of mitomycin-C in non-muscle invasive bladder cancer patients.

PubMed

Seo, Ho Kyung; Kim, Sung Han; Ahn, Kyung-Ohk; Lee, Sang-Jin; Park, Weon Seo; Kim, Sohee; Hwang, Sang-Hyun; Lee, Do Hoon; Joung, Jae Young; Chung, Jinsoo; Joo, Jungnam; Jeong, Kyung-Chae

2017-11-10

Sodium bicarbonate has been reported to maximize the efficacy of intravesical instillation of mitomycin-C (IVI-MMC) therapy by urine alkalinization in non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). This study aimed to analyze the changes in MMC concentration according to urinary pH and evaluate the efficacy of sodium bicarbonate to maintain the concentration of active form of MMC during IVI-MMC. We prospectively enrolled 26 patients with NMIBC after transurethral resection of bladder tumor. Patients with very high-risk and low-risk NMIBC were excluded. Urinary creatinine, volume, pH, and concentrations of MMC and its degraded form were measured immediately before and after IVI-MMC. The patients were administered 1.5 g of oral sodium bicarbonate during the preceding evening, in the morning, and immediately before the fourth cycle of the six-cycle IVI-MMC. The correlation between MMC concentration and urinary pH changes was explored with or without oral bicarbonate therapy. Recurrence without progression to muscle-invasive disease was noted in 4 of 26 patients in a 23.7-month follow-up. The mean urinary pH before and after the therapy increased from 6.03 to 6.50, and 6.46 to 7.24, without or with oral SB therapy, respectively. Despite this increase, the concentration of active form of MMC did not change significantly. No correlation was found between urinary pH and MMC concentration. Urine alkalinization by SB administration did not maintain the high concentration of urinary MMC. Urine alkalinization by sodium bicarbonate administration for IVI-MMC did not maintain the high concentration of active urinary MMC in NMIBC.

Behavior of lead and zinc in plasma, erythrocytes, and urine and ALAD in erythrocytes following intravenous infusion of CaEDTA in lead workers.

PubMed

Araki, S; Aono, H; Fukahori, M; Tabuki, K

1984-01-01

To evaluate the effect of calcium disodium ethylenediamine tetraacetate (CaEDTA) on concentrations of lead and zinc in plasma, erythrocytes, whole blood, and urine, we administered CaEDTA by intravenous infusion for 1 hr to seven lead workers with blood lead concentrations of 46-67 micrograms/100 g (mean 54 micrograms/100 g). The plasma lead concentration (PPb) and the mobilization yield of lead in urine by CaEDTA were highest during the period between 1 and 2 hr after the infusion was started. In contrast, the lead concentration in erythrocytes (EPb) and in whole blood (BPb) remained unchanged during the 24 hr following infusion. Plasma zinc concentration (PZn) also fell rapidly following CaEDTA infusion; the decline was followed by a gradual rise in the zinc concentration in erythrocytes (EZn) without alteration in the zinc in whole blood. The mobilization yield of zinc in urine by CaEDTA (MZn) reached its highest level within 1 hr after the start of the infusion. Delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) activity in erythrocytes gradually increased for 5 hr following CaEDTA infusion. These observations suggest that (1) PPb concentration is a more sensitive indicator of the body burden of chelatable lead than is either BPb or EPb; (2) MZn is mobilized mostly from plasma during the first several hours following the start of CaEDTA infusion, and the fall in PZn concentration following infusion is compensated first by a rise in EZn concentration and then by an immediate redistribution of zinc in other organs to the blood; and (3) Pb-inhibited ALAD activity is reactivated by the increased EZn during and shortly after CaEDTA infusion.

[Urine levels of fenethylline and amphetamine after administration of Captagon].

PubMed

Iffland, R

1982-01-01

The limit for detecting fenethylline and its metabolite amphetamine in GLC with N-FID is in the range of nanograms. The elimination of these substances in urine was measured after giving different quantities of Captagon to six volunteers. The concentrations of fenethylline and amphetamine in urine allow to estimate with some limitations time and amount of consuming Captagon for forensic purposes.

Determination of thiopental in urine sample with high-performance liquid chromatography using iodine-azide reaction as a postcolumn detection system.

PubMed

Zakrzewski, Robert; Ciesielski, Witold

2005-09-25

The reaction between iodine and azide ions induced by thiopental was utilized as a postcolumn reaction for chromatographic determination of thiopental. The method is based on the separation of thiopental on an Nova-Pak CN HP column with an acetonitrile-aqueous solution of sodium azide as a mobile phase, followed by spectrophotometric measurement of the residual iodine (lambda=350 nm) from the postcolumn iodine-azide reaction induced by thiopental after mixing an iodine solution containing iodide ions with the column effluent containing azide ions and thiopental. Chromatograms obtained for thiopental showed negative peaks as a result of the decrease in background absorbance. The detection limit (defined as S/N=3) was 20 nM (0.4 pmol injected amount) for thiopental. Calibration graphs, plotted as peak area versus concentrations, were linear from 40 nM. The elaborated method was applied to determine thiopental in urine samples. The detection limit (defined as S/N=3) was 0.025 nmol/ml urine. Calibration graphs, plotted as peak area versus concentrations, were linear from 0.05 nmol/ml urine. Authentic urine samples were analyzed, thiopental was determined at nmol/ml urine level.

Detection and quantification of rituximab in the human urine.

PubMed

Jacobs, Roland; Langer-Jacobus, Thais; Duong, Michelle; Stahl, Klaus; Haller, Hermann; Schmidt, Reinhold E; Schiffer, Mario

2017-12-01

B cell depletion by rituximab treatment might be inefficient in patients suffering from nephrotic syndrome. Due to the impaired glomerular filtration barrier a significant portion of the therapeutic antibody might be lost into the urinary space. In order to determine the amount of rituximab in the urine of such patients, CD20+ Daudi cells were stained with the patients' urine followed by a fluorochrome-labeled secondary antibody. Mean fluorescence intensity of that way labeled Daudi cells was determined by flow cytometry. Control samples with defined rituximab concentrations were used to create standard curves. The analyses revealed that all nephelometric IgG+ urine samples tested also manifested rituximab at concentrations between 100 and 46,707μg/L. The flow cytometry-based approach is an easy and reliable method to assess rituximab in patients' urine samples for monitoring individual rituximab treatment courses in all patients co-presenting impaired renal filtration. Presence of such antibodies in the urine could be considered as criteria to modify the formulation or modality of rituximab delivery in order to prevent the loss of the therapeutic antibodies and thereby ensuring efficacy of the therapy. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Design and use of mouse control DNA for DNA biomarker extraction and PCR detection from urine: application for transrenal Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA detection

PubMed Central

Bordelon, Hali; Ricks, Keersten M.; Pask, Megan E.; Russ, Patricia K.; Solinas, Francesca; Baglia, Mark L.; Short, Philip A.; Nel, Andrew; Blackburn, Jonathan; Dheda, Keertan; Zamudio, Carlos; Cáceres, Tatiana; Wright, David W.; Haselton, Frederick R.; Pettit, April C.

2017-01-01

Urine samples are increasingly used for diagnosing infections including Escherichia coli, Ebola virus, and Zika virus. However, extraction and concentration of nucleic acid biomarkers from urine is necessary for many molecular detection strategies such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Since urine samples typically have large volumes with dilute biomarker concentrations making them prone to false negatives, another impediment for urine-based diagnostics is the establishment of appropriate controls particularly to rule out false negatives. In this study, a mouse glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) DNA target was added to retrospectively collected urine samples from tuberculosis (TB)-infected and TB-uninfected patients to indicate extraction of intact DNA and removal of PCR inhibitors from urine samples. We tested this design on surrogate urine samples, retrospective 1 milliliter (mL) urine samples from patients in Lima, Peru and retrospective 5 mL urine samples from patients in Cape Town, South Africa. Extraction/PCR control DNA was detectable in 97% of clinical samples with no statistically significant differences among groups. Despite the inclusion of this control, there was no difference in the amount of TB IS6110 Tr-DNA detected between TB-infected and TB-uninfected groups except for samples from known HIV-infected patients. We found a increase in TB IS6110 Tr-DNA between TB/HIV co-infected patients compared to TB-uninfected/HIV-infected patients (N=18, p=0.037). The inclusion of an extraction/PCR control DNA to indicate successful DNA extraction and removal of PCR inhibitors should be easily adaptable as a sample preparation control for other acellular sample types. PMID:28285168

Design and use of mouse control DNA for DNA biomarker extraction and PCR detection from urine: Application for transrenal Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA detection.

PubMed

Bordelon, Hali; Ricks, Keersten M; Pask, Megan E; Russ, Patricia K; Solinas, Francesca; Baglia, Mark L; Short, Philip A; Nel, Andrew; Blackburn, Jonathan; Dheda, Keertan; Zamudio, Carlos; Cáceres, Tatiana; Wright, David W; Haselton, Frederick R; Pettit, April C

2017-05-01

Urine samples are increasingly used for diagnosing infections including Escherichia coli, Ebola virus, and Zika virus. However, extraction and concentration of nucleic acid biomarkers from urine is necessary for many molecular detection strategies such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Since urine samples typically have large volumes with dilute biomarker concentrations making them prone to false negatives, another impediment for urine-based diagnostics is the establishment of appropriate controls particularly to rule out false negatives. In this study, a mouse glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) DNA target was added to retrospectively collected urine samples from tuberculosis (TB)-infected and TB-uninfected patients to indicate extraction of intact DNA and removal of PCR inhibitors from urine samples. We tested this design on surrogate urine samples, retrospective 1milliliter (mL) urine samples from patients in Lima, Peru and retrospective 5mL urine samples from patients in Cape Town, South Africa. Extraction/PCR control DNA was detectable in 97% of clinical samples with no statistically significant differences among groups. Despite the inclusion of this control, there was no difference in the amount of TB IS6110 Tr-DNA detected between TB-infected and TB-uninfected groups except for samples from known HIV-infected patients. We found an increase in TB IS6110 Tr-DNA between TB/HIV co-infected patients compared to TB-uninfected/HIV-infected patients (N=18, p=0.037). The inclusion of an extraction/PCR control DNA to indicate successful DNA extraction and removal of PCR inhibitors should be easily adaptable as a sample preparation control for other acellular sample types. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Quantification of chromatographic effects of vitamin B supplementation in urine and implications for hydration assessment.

PubMed

Kenefick, Robert W; Heavens, K R; Dennis, W E; Caruso, E M; Guerriere, K I; Charkoudian, N; Cheuvront, S N

2015-07-15

Changes in body water elicit reflex adjustments at the kidney, thus maintaining fluid volume homeostasis. These renal adjustments change the concentration and color of urine, variables that can, in turn, be used as biomarkers of hydration status. It has been suggested that vitamin supplementation alters urine color; it is unclear whether any such alteration would confound hydration assessment via colorimetric evaluation. We tested the hypothesis that overnight vitamin B2 and/or B12 supplementation alters urine color as a marker of hydration status. Thirty healthy volunteers were monitored during a 3-day euhydrated baseline, confirmed via first morning nude body mass, urine specific gravity, and urine osmolality. Volunteers then randomly received B2 (n = 10), B12 (n = 10), or B2 + B12 (n = 10) at ∼200 × recommended dietary allowance. Euhydration was verified on trial days (two of the following: body mass ± 1.0% of the mean of visits 1-3, urine specific gravity < 1.02, urine osmolality < 700 mmol/kg). Vitamin purity and urinary B2 concentration ([B2]) and [B12] were quantified via ultraperformance liquid chromatography. Two independent observers assessed urine color using an eight-point standardized color chart. Following supplementation, urinary [B2] was elevated; however, urine color was not different between nonsupplemented and supplemented trials. For example, in the B2 trial, urinary [B2] increased from 8.6 × 10(4) ± 7.7 × 10(4) to 5.7 × 10(6) ± 5.3 × 10(6) nmol/l (P < 0.05), and urine color went from 4 ± 1 to 5 ± 1 (P > 0.05). Both conditions met the euhydrated color classification. We conclude that a large overnight dose of vitamins B2 and B12 does not confound assessment of euhydrated status via urine color. Copyright © 2015 the American Physiological Society.

Stability studies of amphetamine and ephedrine derivatives in urine.

PubMed

Jiménez, C; de la Torre, R; Ventura, M; Segura, J; Ventura, R

2006-10-20

Knowledge of the stability of drugs in biological specimens is a critical consideration for the interpretation of analytical results. Identification of proper storage conditions has been a matter of concern for most toxicology laboratories (both clinical and forensic), and the stability of drugs of abuse has been extensively studied. This concern should be extended to other areas of analytical chemistry like antidoping control. In this work, the stability of ephedrine derivatives (ephedrine, norephedrine, methylephedrine, pseudoephedrine, and norpseudoephedrine), and amphetamine derivatives (amphetamine, methamphetamine, 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA), and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)) in urine has been studied. Spiked urine samples were prepared for stability testing. Urine samples were quantified by GC/NPD or GC/MS. The homogeneity of each batch of sample was verified before starting the stability study. The stability of analytes was evaluated in sterilized and non-sterilized urine samples at different storage conditions. For long-term stability testing, analyte concentration in urine stored at 4 degrees C and -20 degrees C was determined at different time intervals for 24 months for sterile urine samples, and for 6 months for non-sterile samples. For short-term stability testing, analyte concentration was evaluated in liquid urine stored at 37 degrees C for 7 days. The effect of repeated freezing (at -20 degrees C) and thawing (at room temperature) was also studied in sterile urine for up to three cycles. No significant loss of the analytes under study was observed at any of the investigated conditions. These results show the feasibility of preparing reference materials containing ephedrine and amphetamine derivatives to be used for quality control purposes.

Exposure of pharmacy personnel to mutagenic antineoplastic drugs

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Nguyen, T.V.; Theiss, J.C.; Matney, T.S.

1981-01-01

The Salmonella reversion test was used to measure the mutagenic activities of urine concentrates from individuals preparing cancer chemotherapy agents for intravenous administration. Longitudinal studies were performed in which the total urine produced in 24 hour periods was collected, starting on a Sunday at 7:00 p.m. after a duty-free weekend and extending over an eight day period. There was no detectable increase in mutagenic activity in the urine concentrates of three pharmacy administrators who had no contact with these drugs. All six individuals admixing drugs in open-faced, horizontal laminar flow hoods displayed a two-fold increase in mutagenesis by the fourthmore » day with peak values of 2.7 to 24-fold occurring on days five and six, reduced values by day seven with a return to the spontaneous level by day eight. When four of the six positive individuals in the preceding experiment admixed comparable amounts of chemotherapeutic drugs in a closed-faced, vertical laminar flow hood, no increase in mutagenic activity was detected in their urine concentrates over the eight day period.« less

Microdetermination of urea in urine using p-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde /PDAB/

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Geiger, P. J.

1969-01-01

Adaptation of the p-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde method for determining urea concentration in urine is an improved micromechanical method. Accuracy and precision are satisfactory. This method avoids extra steps of deproteinizing or removing normal urinary chromogens.

Urine benzodiazepines screening of involuntarily drugged and robbed or raped patients.

PubMed

Boussairi, A; Dupeyron, J P; Hernandez, B; Delaitre, D; Beugnet, L; Espinoza, P; Diamant-Berger, O

1996-01-01

This study involved 35 patients who claimed to have been drugged before being robbed or raped, despite urine negative toxicologic screening by immunoenzymatic methods. The urines were frozen for further investigations, including enzymatic hydrolysis of urinary conjugates, liquid-solid extraction and, finally, immunoenzymatic screening of concentrated urine extract. Urine benzodiazepines were analyzed by immunoenzymatic assay before and after enzymatic hydrolysis combined with extraction. On direct immunoenzymatic screening, 17 of the 35 urine samples were benzodiazepine positive. Enrichment of preserved specimens improved the detection threshold from 200 ng/mL to 50 ng/mL and 10 of the 18 negative urines became positive. This method allowed us to demonstrate the benzodiazepines in half of previously negative urine samples. Benzodiazepine screening is particularly problematic because of low dosage, rapid elimination, failure to detect conjugated metabolites by immunoenzymatic reagents and high threshold of sensitivity for certain substances.

Preliminary Study on J-Resolved NMR Method Usability for Toxic Kidney's Injury Assessment.

PubMed

Doskocz, Marek; Marchewka, Zofia; Jeż, Magdalena; Passowicz-Muszyńska, Ewa; Długosz, Anna

2015-01-01

Nowadays, the Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) techniques are tested for metabolomic urine profile in order to detect early damage of kidney. The purpose of this investigation was the initial assessment of two-dimensional J-resolved NMR urine spectra analysis usability for early kidney injuries detection. The amino acids (AA) and acids profile change after the exposure to nephrotoxic agent (the cisplatin infusion) was examined. The material was the urine of patients with non-small-cell lung cancer, treated with cisplatin in Pulmonology and Lung Cancers Clinic in Wrocław. The urine of healthy volunteers was also examined. The identification of metabolites in urine was based on two-dimensional JRES signals in spectra, described in Human Metabolites Database (HMD). The molar concentration of metabolites was calculated from the volume under the signals. The analysis was focused on amino acids and organic acids (lactid acid and pyruvic acid) profiles. Any specific amino acids were identified after cisplatin infusion in comparison to the state before infusion. However, the differences in concentration were observed over 2-fold increase in valine, isoleucine and leucine, over 3-fold in alanine. Also, the concentration of pyruvic and lactic acids increased significantly (p≤0.05, p≤0.01). There were no specific amino acids identified in response to the infusion of cisplatin; however, some changes in the concentrations of amino acids and other small molecules were found. The analysis of two-dimensional JRES spectra showed an increase of alanine, leucine, isoleucine and valine concentration after the application of cisplatin. It seems that it is worth developing the JRES method based on special computer program.

Phenolic acid concentrations in plasma and urine from men consuming green or black tea and potential chemopreventive properties for colon cancer

PubMed Central

Henning, Susanne M.; Wang, Piwen; Abgaryan, Narine; Vicinanza, Roberto; de Oliveira, Daniela Moura; Zhang, Yanjun; Lee, Ru-Po; Carpenter, Catherine L.; Aronson, William J.; Heber, David

2013-01-01

Scope Tea polyphenols are metabolized by the colonic microflora yielding phenolic metabolites, which may contribute to the health benefits of tea. We determined the serum and urine concentrations of phenolic acids, hippuric acid and polyhydroxyphenyl-γ-valerolactones during green tea (GT) and black tea (BT) administration. The effects of (−)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (3,4-DHPAA) alone and in combination on bioavailability, intracellular metabolism, and antiproliferative activity was determined in HCT-116 colon cancer cells. Methods and Results The concentration of phenolic metabolites was quantified by HPLC with electrochemical detection and MS. Urine concentrations of 4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid (4-HPAA), 3-hydroxyphenylacetic acid (3-HPAA) and polyhydroxy-γ-valerolactones were increased significantly in men drinking GT compared to control. Urine concentration of 3-O-methylgallic acid (3OMGA) was significantly increased in men drinking BT compared to control. Serum 3,4-DHPAA was significantly increased after consumption of GT and BT and 4-HPAA after GT consumption. In vitro treatment of HCT-116 colon cancer cells with 3,4-DHPAA and EGCG exhibited an additive antiproliferative effect, while methylation of 3,4-DHPAA was significantly decreased. 3OMGA exhibited the strongest antiproliferative activity among the phenolic acids. Conclusions The consumption of both, GT and BT, was associated with a significant increase in urinary and serum phenolic acids. PMID:23319439

Impact of Prolonged Fasting on the Risk of Calcium Phosphate Precipitation in the Urine: Calcium Phosphate Lithogenesis during Prolonged Fasting in a Healthy Cohort.

PubMed

Shafiee, Mohammad A; Aarabi, Mehdi; Shaker, Pouyan; Ghafarian, Amir M; Chamanian, Pouyan; Halperin, Mitchell L

2018-03-02

Intermittent fasting and curtailing water intake for extended periods were likely common in Paleolithic times. Today it occurs for religious and dietary reasons. This restriction in intake should cause a decrease in the urine flow rate while raising the concentration of certain substances in urine to the point of precipitation. In this study we measured the risk of CaHPO 4 precipitation following 18 hours of food and water deprivation. Urine samples were periodically collected from 15 healthy subjects who fasted and abstained from drinking any liquid for 18 hours. The urine constituents Ca 2+ , HPO 4 2- and pH involved in CaHPO 4 formation were measured at various times throughout the fasting day. A comparison was made with control data, which consisted of diurnal urine collections taken throughout a separate nonfasting day prior to the fasting day. The mean ± SEM urine flow rate decreased significantly from 0.93 ± 0.1 ml per minute in the control group to 0.37 ± 0.05 ml per minute in the fasting group (p <0.05). Mean Na + and Ca 2+ excretion rates decreased significantly from 127 ± 12 to 54 ± 13 μmol per minute and from 3.2 ± 0.4 to 0.80 ± 0.21, respectively. Mean urinary Na + and Ca 2+ concentrations also decreased from 161 ± 11.6 to 122 ± 16.0 mmol/l and from 3.7 ± 0.5 to 2.0 ± 0.55, respectively. Urinary pH and the concentration of phosphate, citrate and magnesium were not significantly affected. Although the steady decrease in the urine flow rate was statistically significant during 18 hours of food and water deprivation, there was no evidence that the calculated risk of CaHPO 4 precipitation in the healthy subjects had increased. Copyright © 2018 American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Optimizing Urine Processing Protocols for Protein and Metabolite Detection.

PubMed

Siddiqui, Nazema Y; DuBois, Laura G; St John-Williams, Lisa; Will, Thompson J; Grenier, Carole; Burke, Emily; Fraser, Matthew O; Amundsen, Cindy L; Murphy, Susan K

In urine, factors such as timing of voids, and duration at room temperature (RT) may affect the quality of recovered protein and metabolite data. Additives may aid with detection, but can add more complexity in sample collection or analysis. We aimed to identify the optimal urine processing protocol for clinically-obtained urine samples that allows for the highest protein and metabolite yields with minimal degradation. Healthy women provided multiple urine samples during the same day. Women collected their first morning (1 st AM) void and another "random void". Random voids were aliquotted with: 1) no additive; 2) boric acid (BA); 3) protease inhibitor (PI); or 4) both BA + PI. Of these aliquots, some were immediately stored at 4°C, and some were left at RT for 4 hours. Proteins and individual metabolites were quantified, normalized to creatinine concentrations, and compared across processing conditions. Sample pools corresponding to each processing condition were analyzed using mass spectrometry to assess protein degradation. Ten Caucasian women between 35-65 years of age provided paired 1 st morning and random voided urine samples. Normalized protein concentrations were slightly higher in 1 st AM compared to random "spot" voids. The addition of BA did not significantly change proteins, while PI significantly improved normalized protein concentrations, regardless of whether samples were immediately cooled or left at RT for 4 hours. In pooled samples, there were minimal differences in protein degradation under the various conditions we tested. In metabolite analyses, there were significant differences in individual amino acids based on the timing of the void. For comparative translational research using urine, information about void timing should be collected and standardized. For urine samples processed in the same day, BA does not appear to be necessary while the addition of PI enhances protein yields, regardless of 4°C or RT storage temperature.

Quantitative determination of metformin, glyburide and its metabolites in plasma and urine of pregnant patients by LC-MS/MS.

PubMed

Zhang, Xing; Wang, Xiaoming; Vernikovskaya, Daria I; Fokina, Valentina M; Nanovskaya, Tatiana N; Hankins, Gary D V; Ahmed, Mahmoud S

2015-04-01

This report describes the development and validation of an LC-MS/MS method for the quantitative determination of glyburide (GLB), its five metabolites (M1, M2a, M2b, M3 and M4) and metformin (MET) in plasma and urine of pregnant patients under treatment with a combination of the two medications. The extraction recovery of the analytes from plasma samples was 87-99%, and that from urine samples was 85-95%. The differences in retention times among the analytes and the wide range of the concentrations of the medications and their metabolites in plasma and urine patient samples required the development of three LC methods. The lower limit of quantitation (LLOQ) of the analytes in plasma samples was as follows: GLB, 1.02 ng/mL; its five metabolites, 0.100-0.113 ng/mL; and MET, 4.95 ng/mL. The LLOQ in urine samples was 0.0594 ng/mL for GLB, 0.984-1.02 ng/mL for its five metabolites and 30.0 µg/mL for MET. The relative deviation of this method was <14% for intra-day and inter-day assays in plasma and urine samples, and the accuracy was 86-114% in plasma, and 94-105% in urine. The method described in this report was successfully utilized for determining the concentrations of the two medications in patient plasma and urine. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Quantitative determination of metformin, glyburide and its metabolites in plasma and urine of pregnant patients by LC-MS/MS

PubMed Central

Zhang, Xing; Wang, Xiaoming; Vernikovskaya, Daria I.; Fokina, Valentina M.; Nanovskaya, Tatiana N.; Hankins, Gary D.V.; Ahmed, Mahmoud S.

2014-01-01

This report describes the development and validation of an LC-MS/MS method for the quantitative determination of glyburide (GLB), its five metabolites (M1, M2a, M2b, M3, and M4) and metformin (MET) in plasma and urine of pregnant patients under treatment with a combination of the two medications. The extraction recovery of the analytes from plasma samples ranged between 87% and 99%, and 85%–95% for urine samples. The differences in retention times among the analytes, and the wide range of the concentrations of the medications and their metabolites in plasma and urine patient samples required the development of three LC methods. The lower limit of quantitation (LLOQ) of the analytes in plasma samples was as follows: GLB, 1.02 ng/mL; its five metabolites, 0.100–0.113 ng/mL and 4.95 ng/mL for MET. LLOQ in urine samples was 0.0594 ng/mL for GLB, 0.984–1.02 ng/mL for its five metabolites and 30.0 μg/mL for MET. The relative deviation of this method was < 14% for intra-day and inter-day assays in plasma and urine samples, and the accuracy ranged between 86% and 114% in plasma, and 94% to 105% in urine. The method described in this report was successfully utilized for determining the concentrations of the two medications in patient plasma and urine. PMID:25164921

Excretion profile of boldenone in urine of veal calves fed two different milk replacers.

PubMed

Draisci, R; Merlanti, R; Ferretti, G; Fantozzi, L; Ferranti, C; Capolongo, F; Segato, S; Montesissa, C

2007-03-14

The residue profiles of 17alpha-/17beta-boldenone conjugated (17alpha/beta-Bol) and ADD were investigated by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) in urine of male veal calves fed two commercial milk replacers, with different content of cholesterol and phytosterols. The urine samples were collected within 4 h after feeding and further from all the animals. Detectable amounts of 17alpha-Bol conjugated were measured in urine collected from all calves, but the concentrations of 17alpha-Bol were higher in urine from calves receiving the milk replacer with the greater amount of phytosterols. During the whole experiment, 17beta-Bol and ADD were never detected in urine samples collected.

Urine stability and steroid profile: towards a screening index of urine sample degradation for anti-doping purpose.

PubMed

Mazzarino, Monica; Abate, Maria Gabriella; Alocci, Roberto; Rossi, Francesca; Stinchelli, Raffaella; Molaioni, Francesco; de la Torre, Xavier; Botrè, Francesco

2011-01-10

The presence of microorganisms in urine samples, under favourable conditions of storage and transportation, may alter the concentration of steroid hormones, thus altering the correct evaluation of the urinary steroid profile in doping control analysis. According to the rules of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA technical document TD2004 EAAS), a testosterone deconjugation higher than 5% and the presence of 5α-androstane-3,17-dione and 5β-androstane-3,17-dione in the deconjugated fraction, are reliable indicators of urine degradation. The determination of these markers would require an additional quantitative analysis since the steroids screening analysis, in anti-doping laboratories, is performed in the total (free+conjugated) fraction. The aim of this work is therefore to establish reliable threshold values for some representative compounds (namely 5α-androstane-3,17-dione and 5β-androstane-3,17-dione) in the total fraction in order to predict directly at the screening stage the potential microbial degradation of the urine samples. Preliminary evidence on the most suitable degradation indexes has been obtained by measuring the urinary concentration of testosterone, epitestosterone, 5α-androstane-3,17-dione and 5β-androstane-3,17-dione by gas chromatography-mass spectrometric every day for 15 days in the deconjugated, glucuronide and total fraction of 10 pools of urines from 60 healthy subjects, stored under different pH and temperature conditions, and isolating the samples with one or more markers of degradation according to the WADA technical document TD2004EAAS. The threshold values for 5α-androstane-3,17-dione and 5β-androstane-3,17-dione were therefore obtained correlating the testosterone deconjugation rate with the urinary concentrations of 5α-androstane-3,17-dione and 5β-androstane-3,17-dione in the total fraction. The threshold values suggested as indexes of urine degradation in the total fraction were: 10 ng mL(-1) for 5α-androstane-3,17-dione and 20 ng mL(-1) for 5β-androstane-3,17-dione. The validity of this approach was confirmed by the analysis of routine samples for more than five months (i.e. on a total of more than 4000 urine samples): samples with a concentration of total 5α-androstane-3,17-dione and 5β-androstane-3,17-dione higher than the threshold values showed a percentage of free testosterone higher than 5 of its total amount; whereas free testosterone in a percentage higher than 5 of its total amount was not detected in urines with a concentration of total 5α-androstane-3,17-dione and 5β-androstane-3,17-dione lower than the threshold values. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Changes in concentrations of lysergol in urine and prolactin in plasma, rectal temperature and respiration rate in sheep selected for resistance or susceptibility to ryegrass staggers and fed ergovaline.

PubMed

Gooneratne, S R; Scannell, M; Wellby, M; Fletcher, L

2011-09-01

To determine the effects of feeding ryegrass seed containing ergovaline to sheep selected for resistance or susceptibility to ryegrass staggers on concentration of lysergol (a metabolite of ergovaline) in urine, prolactin in plasma, rectal temperature and respiration rate. Two experiments were carried out using 12 Romney crossbred ewe lambs aged 9 months, comprising animals resistant (n=4), susceptible (n=4) or outcross (n=4) to ryegrass staggers. In Experiment 1, sheep were given either a single (Part A) or six (Part B) feed (s) of endophyte-infected seed containing ergovaline at 30 mg/kg dry matter (DM), at 42 μg ergovaline/kg bodyweight (BW), to simulate acute and chronic exposure to ergovaline, respectively. The concentration and excretion of lysergol in urine and concentration of prolactin in plasma were measured over 3 and 12 days, for Parts A and B respectively. In Experiment 2, after a recovery period of 7 days, the same sheep were fed with ergovaline at 67 μg/kg of BW for 7 days. Soon after the seventh feed the sheep were moved to a hothouse at 36.5°C and 60% humidity, and 3 h later their rectal temperatures and respiration rates were measured. The concentration of lysergol and excretion in urine increased to a peak between 6 and 9 h after exposure to ergovaline whereas the concentration of prolactin in plasma was markedly reduced. Differences in concentration and rate of excretion of lysergol in urine between animals resistant, outcross and susceptible to ryegrass staggers were not significant (p>0.1). The animals resistant to ryegrass staggers had a lower rectal temperature (p<0.05) and a faster respiration rate than the outcross and susceptible groups when exposed to high ambient temperature and high humidity. This study showed that excretion of lysergol in urine increased with each exposure of sheep to ergovaline. Animals genetically resistant to ryegrass staggers exhibited a lower rectal temperature and a faster respiration rate than those susceptible, demonstrating the possible cross resistance of sheep to ergovaline in a population originally selected for resistance to ryegrass staggers. Hence potential exists to select animals resistant to ryegrass staggers that are also resistant to ergovaline.

NEW COLUMN SEPARATION METHOD FOR EMERGENCY URINE SAMPLES

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Maxwell, S; Brian Culligan, B

2007-08-28

The Savannah River Site Environmental Bioassay Lab participated in the 2007 NRIP Emergency Response program administered by the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) in May, 2007. A new rapid column separation method was applied directly to the NRIP 2007 emergency urine samples, with only minimal sample preparation to reduce preparation time. Calcium phosphate precipitation, previously used to pre-concentrate actinides and Sr-90 in NRIP 2006 urine and water samples, was not used for the NRIP 2007 urine samples. Instead, the raw urine was acidified and passed directly through the stacked resin columns (TEVA+TRU+SR Resins) to separate the actinides andmore » strontium from the NRIP urine samples more quickly. This improvement reduced sample preparation time for the NRIP 2007 emergency urine analyses significantly. This approach works well for small volume urine samples expected during an emergency response event. Based on initial feedback from NIST, the SRS Environmental Bioassay Lab had the most rapid analysis times for actinides and strontium-90 analyses for NRIP 2007 urine samples.« less

Direct measurement of the glucuronide conjugate of 1-hydroxypyrene in human urine by using liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry.

PubMed

Kakimoto, Kensaku; Toriba, Akira; Ohno, Takanori; Ueno, Mariko; Kameda, Takayuki; Tang, Ning; Hayakawa, Kazuichi

2008-05-15

To evaluate human exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), we developed a rapid, simple and sensitive method for determining 1-hydroxypyrene-glucuronide (1-OHP-G) in human urine. To improve precision, a deuterated glucuronide was used as an internal standard. The method requires only 1 mL of urine. The urine was treated with a mixed-mode anion-exchange and reversed-phase solid-phase extraction cartridge (Oasis MAX). The analytes were analyzed with a C(18) reversed-phase column with a gradient elution, followed by tandem mass spectrometry with electrospray ionization in negative ion mode. The detection limit of 1-OHP-G (corresponding to a signal-to-noise ratio of 3) was 0.13 fmol/injection. Urinary concentrations of 1-OHP-G determined by this method were strongly correlated (r(2)=0.961) with concentrations of 1-hydroxypyrene by conventional HPLC with fluorescence detection.

Flow-injection chemiluminescence determination of melamine in urine and plasma.

PubMed

Tang, Xiaoshuang; Shi, Xiyan; Tang, Yuhai; Yue, Zhongjin; He, Qiqi

2012-01-01

A novel flow-injection chemiluminescence method for the determination of melamine in urine and plasma was developed. It was found that melamine can remarkably enhance chemiluminescence emission from the luminol-K(3) Fe(CN)(6) system in an alkaline medium. Under the optimum conditions, chemiluminescence intensity had a good linear relationship with the concentration of melamine in the range 9.0 × 10(-9) -7.0 × 10(-6) g/mL, with a correlation coefficient of 0.9992. The detection limit (3σ) was 3.5 ng/mL. The method has been applied to determine the concentration of melamine in samples using liquid-liquid extraction. Average recoveries of melamine were 102.6% in urine samples and 95.1% in plasma samples. The method provided a reproducible and stable approach for the sensitive detection of melamine in urine and plasma samples. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Evaluation of High-Throughput Chemical Exposure Models ...

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

The U.S. EPA, under its ExpoCast program, is developing high-throughput near-field modeling methods to estimate human chemical exposure and to provide real-world context to high-throughput screening (HTS) hazard data. These novel modeling methods include reverse methods to infer parent chemical exposures from biomonitoring measurements and forward models to predict multi-pathway exposures from chemical use information and/or residential media concentrations. Here, both forward and reverse modeling methods are used to characterize the relationship between matched near-field environmental (air and dust) and biomarker measurements. Indoor air, house dust, and urine samples from a sample of 120 females (aged 60 to 80 years) were analyzed. In the measured data, 78% of the residential media measurements (across 80 chemicals) and 54% of the urine measurements (across 21 chemicals) were censored, i.e. below the limit of quantification (LOQ). Because of the degree of censoring, we applied a Bayesian approach to impute censored values for 69 chemicals having at least 15% of measurements above LOQ. This resulted in 10 chemicals (5 phthalates, 5 pesticides) with matched air, dust, and urine metabolite measurements. The population medians of indoor air and dust concentrations were compared to population median exposures inferred from urine metabolites concentrations using a high-throughput reverse-dosimetry approach. Median air and dust concentrations were found to be correl

Multi-trace element levels and arsenic speciation in urine of e-waste recycling workers from Agbogbloshie, Accra in Ghana.

PubMed

Asante, Kwadwo Ansong; Agusa, Tetsuro; Biney, Charles Augustus; Agyekum, William Atuobi; Bello, Mohammed; Otsuka, Masanari; Itai, Takaaki; Takahashi, Shin; Tanabe, Shinsuke

2012-05-01

To understand human contamination by multi-trace elements (TEs) in electrical and electronic waste (e-waste) recycling site at Agbogbloshie, Accra in Ghana, this study analyzed TEs and As speciation in urine of e-waste recycling workers. Concentrations of Fe, Sb, and Pb in urine of e-waste recycling workers were significantly higher than those of reference sites after consideration of interaction by age, indicating that the recycling workers are exposed to these TEs through the recycling activity. Urinary As concentration was relatively high, although the level in drinking water was quite low. Speciation analysis of As in human urine revealed that arsenobetaine and dimethylarsinic acid were the predominant As species and concentrations of both species were positively correlated with total As concentration as well as between each other. These results suggest that such compounds may be derived from the same source, probably fish and shellfish and greatly influence As exposure levels. To our knowledge, this is the first study on human contamination resulting from the primitive recycling of e-waste in Ghana. This study will contribute to the knowledge about human exposure to trace elements from an e-waste site in a less industrialized region so far scantly covered in the literature. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Muzzle secretion electrolytes as a possible indicator of sodium status in buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) calves: effects of sodium depletion and aldosterone administration.

PubMed

Kumar, S; Singh, S P

1981-01-01

In two separate experiments, the effects of sodium depletion and aldosterone administration on sodium and potassium concentrations in muzzle secretion, saliva and urine were studied in buffalo calves. Sodium deficiency in the animals was experimentally produced by unilateral parotid saliva deprivation for 18 days. During sodium depletion, the sodium levels in saliva and muzzle secretion gradually fell while the potassium level gradually rose. The concentrations of both of these cations in urine gradually fell during the course of sodium depletion. Aldosterone administration in normal (sodium-replete) animals simulated the effects of sodium depletion as far as cationic changes in saliva were concerned. However, aldosterone did not affect sodium and potassium concentration in the urine and in muzzle secretion in a manner similar to that caused by sodium depletion. Though the hormone decreased urinary sodium without affecting urinary potassium, it did not affect the muzzle sodium or potassium. Results suggest that aldosterone affects the composition of saliva and urine in buffaloes as it does in sheep and other ruminants. Similar changes in composition of muzzle secretion and saliva during sodium depletion indicate that the concentration of sodium in muzzle secretion could possibly be used to evaluate the sodium status of animals.

Ion Exchange Technology Development in Support of the Urine Processor Assembly

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mitchell, Julie; Broyan, James; Pickering, Karen

2013-01-01

The urine processor assembly (UPA) on the International Space Station (ISS) recovers water from urine via a vacuum distillation process. The distillation occurs in a rotating distillation assembly (DA) where the urine is heated and subjected to sub-ambient pressure. As water is removed, the original organics, salts, and minerals in the urine become more concentrated and result in urine brine. Eventually, water removal will concentrate the urine brine to super saturation of individual constituents, and precipitation occurs. Under typical UPA DA operating conditions, calcium sulfate or gypsum is the first chemical to precipitate in substantial quantity. During preflight testing with ground urine, the UPA achieved 85% water recovery without precipitation. However, on ISS, it is possible that crewmember urine can be significantly more concentrated relative to urine from ground donors. As a result, gypsum precipitated in the DA when operating at water recovery rates at or near 85%, causing the failure and subsequent re14 NASA Tech Briefs, September 2013 placement of the DA. Later investigations have demonstrated that an excess of calcium and sulfate will cause precipitation at water recovery rates greater than 70%. The source of the excess calcium is likely physiological in nature, via crewmembers' bone loss, while the excess sulfate is primarily due to the sulfuric acid component of the urine pretreatment. To prevent gypsum precipitation in the UPA, the Precipitation Prevention Project (PPP) team has focused on removing the calcium ion from pretreated urine, using ion exchange resins as calcium removal agents. The selectivity and effectiveness of ion exchange resins are determined by such factors as the mobility of the liquid phase through the polymer matrix, the density of functional groups, type of functional groups bound to the matrix, and the chemical characteristics of the liquid phase (pH, oxidation potential, and ionic strength). Previous experience with ion exchange resins has demonstrated that the most effective implementation for an ion exchange resin is a cartridge, or column, in which the resin is contained. Based on the results of equilibrium and sub-scale dynamic column testing, a possible solution for mitigating the calcium precipitation issue on the ISS has been identified. From an original pool of 13 ion exchange resins, two candidates have been identified that demonstrate substantial calcium removal on the sub-scale. The dramatic reduction in resin performance from published calcium uptake demonstrates the need for thorough evaluation of resins at the low pH and strong oxidizing environment present in the UPA. Chemical variations in the influent (calcium concentrations and pretreatment dosing) appear to have a noticeable impact on the calcium capacity of the resin. Low calcium concentrations and high pretreatment dosing will likely result in a decrease in calcium capacity. Conversely, low pre trea t - ment dosing will likely result in an increase in calcium capacity. In contrast, investigations at a variety of flow rates, length-to-diameter ratios, resin volumes, and flow regimes (continuous versus pulsed) show that changes in physical parameters do not have substantial impacts on resin performance in the very low specific velocity ranges of interest. This result is particularly useful because most commercial applications at higher specific velocities do show a relatively strong relationship between flow and capacity. The lack of a strong relationship will allow more flexibility in the implementation of an ion exchange bed for flight. Verification of subscale tests with flight-scale resin beds is recommended prior to implementation in the on-orbit UPA.

Urine separating sewage systems--environmental effects and resource usage.

PubMed

Jönsson, H

2002-01-01

Effects of urine separation on the environment and resource usage were estimated using the simulation package ORWARE. Measurements on the urine-separating system in the housing district Palsternackan in Stockholm and on the fertilising effect of the urine were used in the simulations. The tenants were at home 65% of the time and separated 65% of the urine. Under these conditions, urine separation decreased the waterborne emissions of nitrogen and phosphorus by 55% and 33% respectively. Compared to the conventional system, urine separation increased the flow from the wastewater system to agriculture of plant-available nitrogen by a factor of 28, phosphorus by a factor of 1.35 and potassium by a factor of 23. Urine is a well-balanced complete fertiliser with very low concentrations of heavy metals. Urine separation conserved energy as long as the urine was transported distances shorter than 221 km to the field with a truck and trailer. If all the urine had been separated and transported only 1 km, the energy saving would have been 36%. In this and in previous studies, urine separation proved to be an improvement over the conventional system as regards environmental effects and resource usage.

A first principles calculation and statistical mechanics modeling of defects in Al-H system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ji, Min; Wang, Cai-Zhuang; Ho, Kai-Ming

2007-03-01

The behavior of defects and hydrogen in Al was investigated by first principles calculations and statistical mechanics modeling. The formation energy of different defects in Al+H system such as Al vacancy, H in institution and multiple H in Al vacancy were calculated by first principles method. Defect concentration in thermodynamical equilibrium was studied by total free energy calculation including configuration entropy and defect-defect interaction from low concentration limit to hydride limit. In our grand canonical ensemble model, hydrogen chemical potential under different environment plays an important role in determing the defect concentration and properties in Al-H system.

[Postmortem distribution of tetrodotoxin in tissues and body fluids of guinea pigs].

PubMed

Liu, Wei; Da, Qing; Shen, Min

2012-06-01

To investigate the postmortem distribution of tetrodotoxin in tissues and body fluids of guinea pig, and to provide method and evidence for forensic identification and clinical diagnosis and treatment. Guinea pigs were intragastric administrated with 100, 50, 15 microg/kg tetrodotoxin, respectively. The poisoning symptoms were observed. The samples of heart, liver, spleen, lung, kidney, brain, stomach, intestines, bile, heart blood and urine were collected. The concentrations of tetrodotoxin in tissues and body fluids were measured with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). After administrated with tetrodotoxin, all guinea pigs came out poisoning signs including tachypnea, weary and dead finally. Tetrodotoxin concentrations in lung, stomach, intestines and urine were higher, followed by blood, heart and brain. The concentration in bile was the lowest. Postmortem distribution of tetrodotoxin in guinea pig is uneven. The concentration in the lung, stomach, intestines, urine and heart blood are higher, those tissues could be used for diagnosis of tetrodotoxin poisoning.

Prenatal Exposure to Environmental Phenols: Concentrations in Amniotic Fluid and Variability in Urinary Concentrations during Pregnancy

PubMed Central

Wolff, Mary S.; Calafat, Antonia M.; Ye, Xiaoyun; Bausell, Rebecca; Meadows, Molly; Stone, Joanne; Slama, Rémy; Engel, Stephanie M.

2013-01-01

Background: Maternal urinary biomarkers are often used to assess fetal exposure to phenols and their precursors. Their effectiveness as a measure of exposure in epidemiological studies depends on their variability during pregnancy and their ability to accurately predict fetal exposure. Objectives: We assessed the relationship between urinary and amniotic fluid concentrations of nine environmental phenols, and the reproducibility of urinary concentrations, among pregnant women. Methods: Seventy-one women referred for amniocentesis were included. Maternal urine was collected at the time of the amniocentesis appointment and on two subsequent occasions. Urine and amniotic fluid were analyzed for 2,4- and 2,5-dichlorophenols, bisphenol A, benzophenone-3, triclosan, and methyl-, ethyl-, propyl-, and butylparabens using online solid phase extraction–high performance liquid chromatography–isotope dilution tandem mass spectrometry. Results: Only benzophenone-3 and propylparaben were detectable in more than half of the amniotic fluid samples; for these phenols, concentrations in amniotic fluid and maternal urine collected on the same day were positively correlated (ρ = 0.53 and 0.32, respectively). Other phenols were detected infrequently in amniotic fluid (e.g., bisphenol A was detected in only two samples). The intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) of urinary concentrations in samples from individual women ranged from 0.48 and 0.62 for all phenols except bisphenol A (ICC = 0.11). Conclusion: Amniotic fluid detection frequencies for most phenols were low. The reproducibility of urine measures was poor for bisphenol A, but good for the other phenols. Although a single sample may provide a reasonable estimate of exposure for some phenols, collecting multiple urine samples during pregnancy is an option to reduce exposure measurement error in studies regarding the effects of phenol prenatal exposure on health. Citation: Philippat C, Wolff MS, Calafat AM, Ye X, Bausell R, Meadows M, Stone J, Slama R, Engel SM. 2013. Prenatal exposure to environmental phenols: concentrations in amniotic fluid and variability in urinary concentrations during pregnancy. Environ Health Perspect 121:1225–1231; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1206335 PMID:23942273

Occupational exposure to diisocyanates in polyurethane foam factory workers.

PubMed

Świerczyńska-Machura, Dominika; Brzeźnicki, Sławomir; Nowakowska-Świrta, Ewa; Walusiak-Skorupa, Jolanta; Wittczak, Tomasz; Dudek, Wojciech; Bonczarowska, Marzena; Wesolowski, Wiktor; Czerczak, Sławomir; Pałczyński, Cezary

2015-01-01

The aim of the study was to evaluate health effects of occupational exposure to diisocyanates (DIC) among polyurethane foam products factory workers. Thirty workers had a physical examination, skin prick tests with common allergens, allergen-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies to diisocyanates and pulmonary function tests. Concentrations of selected isocyanates in the workplace air samples as well as concentration of their metabolites in the urine samples collected from the workers of the plant were determined. The most frequent work-related symptoms reported by the examined subjects were rhinitis and skin symptoms. Sensitization to at least 1 common allergen was noted in 26.7% of the subjects. Spirometry changes of bronchial obstruction of a mild degree was observed in 5 workers. The specific IgE antibodies to toluene diisocyanate (TDI) and 4,4'-methylenebis(phenyl isocyanate) (MDI) were not detected in any of the patients' serum. Cellular profiles of the collected induced sputum (ISP) did not reveal any abnormalities. Air concentrations of TDI isomers ranged 0.2-58.9 μg/m3 and in 7 cases they exceeded the Combined Exposure Index (CEI) value for those compounds. Concentrations of TDI metabolites in post-shift urine samples were significantly higher than in the case of pre-shift urine samples and in 6 cases they exceeded the British Biological Monitoring Guidance Value (BMGV - 1 μmol amine/mol creatinine). We didn't find a correlation between urinary concentrations of TDI, concentrations in the air and concentrations of toluenediamine (TDA) in the post shift urine samples. Lack of such a correlation may be an effect of the respiratory protective equipment use. Determination of specific IgE in serum is not sensitive enough to serve as a biomarker. Estimation of concentrations of diisocyanate metabolites in urine samples and the presence of work-related allergic symptoms seem to be an adequate method for occupational exposure monitoring of DIC, which may help to determine workers at risk as well as to recognize hazardous workplaces. This work is available in Open Access model and licensed under a CC BY-NC 3.0 PL license.

Implementation of ICP-MS protocols for uranium urinary measurements in worker monitoring.

PubMed

Baglan, N; Cossonnet, C; Trompier, F; Ritt, J; Bérard, P

1999-10-01

The uranium concentration in human urine spiked with natural uranium and rat urine containing metabolized depleted uranium was determined by ICP-MS. The use of ICP-MS was investigated without any chemical treatment or after the different stages of a purification protocol currently carried out for routine monitoring. In the case of spiked urine, the measured uranium concentrations were consistent with those certified by an intercomparison network in radiotoxicological analysis (PROCORAD) and with those obtained by alpha spectrometry in the case of the urine containing metabolized uranium. The quantitative information which could be obtained in the different protocols investigated shows the extent to which ICP-MS provides greater flexibility for setting up appropriate monitoring approaches in radiation protection routines and accidental situations. This is due to the combination of high sensitivity and the accuracy with which traces of uranium in urine can be determined in a shorter time period. Moreover, it has been shown that ICP-MS measurement can be used to quantify the 235U isotope, which is useful for characterizing the nature of the uranium compound, but difficult to perform using alpha spectrometry.

On the function of the mammalian renal papilla and the peristalsis of the surrounding pelvis.

PubMed

Schmidt-Nielsen, Bodil; Schmidt-Nielsen, Bent

2011-07-01

This is an informal personal review of the development over time of my ideas about the concentrating mechanism of the mammalian renal papilla. It had been observed that animals with a need to produce a concentrated urine have a long renal papilla. I saw the function of the long papilla in desert rodents as an elongation of the counter-current concentrating mechanism of the inner medulla. This model led me to overlook contrary evidence. For example, in many experiments, the final urine has a higher osmolality than that of the tissue at the tip of the papilla. In addition, we had observations of the peristalsis of the renal pelvis surrounding the papilla. The urine concentration falls if the peristalsis is stopped. I was wrong; together, these lines of evidence show that the renal papilla is not just an elongation of the inner medulla. We are left without a full explanation of the concentrating mechanism of the mammalian renal papilla. It is hoped that other researchers will tackle this interesting problem. © 2011 The Authors. Acta Physiologica © 2011 Scandinavian Physiological Society.

Studies on Mono- and Diiodohistidine. II. CONGENITAL GOITROUS HYPOTHYROIDISM WITH THYROGLOBULIN DEFECT AND IODOHISTIDINE-RICH IODOALBUMIN PRODUCTION

PubMed Central

Savoie, J. C.; Massin, J. P.; Savoie, F.

1973-01-01

Butanol-insoluble iodinated compounds in the urine of patients with congenital goiters have been generally regarded as iodopeptides. Monoiodohistidine (MIH) and diiodohistidine (DIH) were identified from the urine of four patients with congenital goitrous hypothyroidism. From radioiodine studies, 40-70% of the urinary radioactivity was in the iodide-free fraction from which about 40% was identified as MIH and DIH by crystallizations to a constant specific activity. Iodotyrosines were simultaneously identified in the urine. However the presence of an iodotyrosine-deiodinase activity was demonstrated in the two removed goiters with a normal Km for MIT. In vivo iodotyrosine deiodination was normal for hypothyroid subjects. No thyroglobulin was identified in the thyroids from these patients. The major iodoprotein was iodoalbumin which, after in vivo labeling, contained 84-89% of the total soluble protein radioactivity. The thyroxine content of the goiter iodoalbumins and other iodoproteins was extremely low. Iodohistidines were identified in comparable proportions in the iodoalbumin and in the other iodoproteins isolated from each goiter. The average iodohistidine content of these proteins as crystallizable MIH and DIH was in the individual cases 15 and 4% of the in vivo incorporated radioiodine. DIH was identified in all iodoprotein fractions. The mean DIH/MIH ratios from the individual cases were 1.16 and 0.35. The corresponding DIT/MIT ratios were 3.19 and 1.45, respectively. The major consequence of this thyroglobulin defect is the iodination of inappropriate proteins (mainly albumin) resulting in low yields of thyroxine and high yields of iodohistidines. Iodohistidines from the goiter iodoproteins were not deiodinated and, at least for MIH, were quantitatively excreted in the urine of these patients. From the MIH iodoalbumin content and the MIH urinary excretion, goiter iodoalbumin turnover estimates were made and, although elevated, could not maintain a normal thyroxine secretion. The urinary excretion of iodohistidines easily demonstrated by column chromatography is offered as a test for detecting this variety of congenital goiter. Images PMID:4629905

Urine Fibrosis Markers and Risk of Allograft Failure in Kidney Transplant Recipients: A Case-Cohort Ancillary Study of the FAVORIT Trial.

PubMed

Ix, Joachim H; Katz, Ronit; Bansal, Nisha; Foster, Meredith; Weiner, Daniel E; Tracy, Russell; Jotwani, Vasantha; Hughes-Austin, Jan; McKay, Dianne; Gabbai, Francis; Hsu, Chi-Yuan; Bostom, Andrew; Levey, Andrew S; Shlipak, Michael G

2017-03-01

Kidney tubulointerstitial fibrosis marks risk for allograft failure in kidney transplant recipients, but is poorly captured by estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) or urine albumin-creatinine ratio (ACR). Whether urinary markers of tubulointerstitial fibrosis can noninvasively identify risk for allograft failure above and beyond eGFR and ACR is unknown. Case-cohort study. The FAVORIT (Folic Acid for Vascular Outcome Reduction in Transplantation) Trial was a randomized double-blind trial testing vitamin therapy to lower homocysteine levels in stable kidney transplant recipients. We selected a subset of participants at random (n=491) and all individuals with allograft failure during follow-up (cases; n=257). Using spot urine specimens from the baseline visit, we measured 4 urinary proteins known to correlate with tubulointerstitial fibrosis on biopsy (urine α 1 -microglobulin [A1M], monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 [MCP-1], and procollagen type III and type I amino-terminal amino pro-peptide). Death-censored allograft failure. In models adjusted for demographics, chronic kidney disease risk factors, eGFR, and ACR, higher concentrations of urine A1M (HR per doubling, 1.73; 95% CI, 1.43-2.08) and MCP-1 (HR per doubling, 1.60; 95% CI, 1.32-1.93) were strongly associated with allograft failure. When additionally adjusted for concentrations of other urine fibrosis and several urine injury markers, urine A1M (HR per doubling, 1.76; 95% CI, 1.27-2.44]) and MCP-1 levels (HR per doubling, 1.49; 95% CI, 1.17-1.89) remained associated with allograft failure. Urine procollagen type III and type I levels were not associated with allograft failure. We lack kidney biopsy data, BK titers, and HLA antibody status. Urine measurement of tubulointerstitial fibrosis may provide a noninvasive method to identify kidney transplant recipients at higher risk for future allograft failure, above and beyond eGFR and urine ACR. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Estimation of nitrite in source-separated nitrified urine with UV spectrophotometry.

PubMed

Mašić, Alma; Santos, Ana T L; Etter, Bastian; Udert, Kai M; Villez, Kris

2015-11-15

Monitoring of nitrite is essential for an immediate response and prevention of irreversible failure of decentralized biological urine nitrification reactors. Although a few sensors are available for nitrite measurement, none of them are suitable for applications in which both nitrite and nitrate are present in very high concentrations. Such is the case in collected source-separated urine, stabilized by nitrification for long-term storage. Ultraviolet (UV) spectrophotometry in combination with chemometrics is a promising option for monitoring of nitrite. In this study, an immersible in situ UV sensor is investigated for the first time so to establish a relationship between UV absorbance spectra and nitrite concentrations in nitrified urine. The study focuses on the effects of suspended particles and saturation on the absorbance spectra and the chemometric model performance. Detailed analysis indicates that suspended particles in nitrified urine have a negligible effect on nitrite estimation, concluding that sample filtration is not necessary as pretreatment. In contrast, saturation due to very high concentrations affects the model performance severely, suggesting dilution as an essential sample preparation step. However, this can also be mitigated by simple removal of the saturated, lower end of the UV absorbance spectra, and extraction of information from the secondary, weaker nitrite absorbance peak. This approach allows for estimation of nitrite with a simple chemometric model and without sample dilution. These results are promising for a practical application of the UV sensor as an in situ nitrite measurement in a urine nitrification reactor given the exceptional quality of the nitrite estimates in comparison to previous studies. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Essential and toxic element concentrations in blood and urine and their associations with diet: results from a Norwegian population study including high-consumers of seafood and game.

PubMed

Birgisdottir, B E; Knutsen, H K; Haugen, M; Gjelstad, I M; Jenssen, M T S; Ellingsen, D G; Thomassen, Y; Alexander, J; Meltzer, H M; Brantsæter, A L

2013-10-01

The first aim of the study was to evaluate calculated dietary intake and concentrations measured in blood or urine of essential and toxic elements in relation to nutritional and toxicological reference values. The second aim was to identify patterns of the element concentrations in blood and urine and to identify possible dietary determinants of the concentrations of these elements. Adults with a known high consumption of environmental contaminants (n=111), and a random sample of controls (n=76) answered a validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Complete data on biological measures were available for 179 individuals. Blood and urine samples were analyzed for selenium, iodine, arsenic, mercury, cadmium and lead. Principal component analysis was used to identify underlying patterns of correlated blood and urine concentrations. The calculated intakes of selenium, iodine, inorganic arsenic and mercury were within guideline levels. For cadmium 24% of the high consumer group and 8% of the control group had intakes above the tolerable weekly intake. Concentrations of lead in blood exceeded the bench-mark dose lower confidence limits for some participants. However, overall, the examined exposures did not give rise to nutritional or toxicological concerns. Game consumption was associated with lead in blood (B(ln) 0.021; 95%CI:0.010, 0.031) and wine consumption. Seafood consumption was associated with urinary cadmium in non-smokers (B(ln) 0.009; 95%CI:0.003, 0.015). A novel finding was a distinct pattern of positively associated biological markers, comprising iodine, selenium, arsenic and mercury (eigenvalue 3.8), reflecting seafood intake (B 0.007; 95%CI:0.004, 0.010). The study clearly demonstrates the significance of seafood as a source of both essential nutrients and toxic elements simultaneously and shows that exposure to various essential and toxic elements can be intertwined. © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Human exposure to arsenic from drinking water in Vietnam.

PubMed

Agusa, Tetsuro; Trang, Pham Thi Kim; Lan, Vi Mai; Anh, Duong Hong; Tanabe, Shinsuke; Viet, Pham Hung; Berg, Michael

2014-08-01

Vietnam is an agricultural country with a population of about 88 million, with some 18 million inhabitants living in the Red River Delta in Northern Vietnam. The present study reports the chemical analyses of 68 water and 213 biological (human hair and urine) samples conducted to investigate arsenic contamination in tube well water and human arsenic exposure in four districts (Tu Liem, Dan Phuong, Ly Nhan, and Hoai Duc) in the Red River Delta. Arsenic concentrations in groundwater in these areas were in the range of <1 to 632 μg/L, with severe contamination found in the communities Ly Nhan, Hoai Duc, and Dan Phuong. Arsenic concentrations were markedly lowered in water treated with sand filters, except for groundwater from Hoai Duc. Human hair samples had arsenic levels in the range of 0.07-7.51 μg/g, and among residents exposed to arsenic levels ≥50 μg/L, 64% of them had hair arsenic concentrations higher than 1 μg/g, which is a level that can cause skin lesions. Urinary arsenic concentrations were 4-435 μg/g creatinine. Concentrations of arsenic in hair and urine increased significantly with increasing arsenic content in drinking water, indicating that drinking water is a significant source of arsenic exposure for these residents. The percentage of inorganic arsenic (IA) in urine decreased with age, whereas the opposite trend was observed for monomethylarsonic acid (MMA) in urine. Significant co-interactions of age and arsenic exposure status were also detected for concentrations of arsenic in hair and the sum of IA, MMA, and dimethylarsinic acid (DMA) in urine and %MMA. In summary, this study demonstrates that a considerable proportion of the Vietnamese population is exposed to arsenic levels of chronic toxicity, even if sand filters reduce exposure in many households. Health problems caused by arsenic ingestion through drinking water are increasingly reported in Vietnam. © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Utility of check dams in dilution of fluoride concentration in ground water and the resultant analysis of blood serum and urine of villagers, Anantapur District, Andhra Pradesh, India.

PubMed

Bhagavan, S V B K; Raghu, V

2005-02-01

High levels of fluoride (beyond 1.5 ppm) in ground water as source of drinking water are common in many parts of Andhra Pradesh, India, causing fluorosis. The study carried out in endemic Nalgonda District, Andhra Pradesh, has indicated that the fluoride-rich ground water present in the wells located down stream and close to the surface water bodies is getting diluted by the low-fluoride surface water. Encouraged by this result, check dams were constructed upstream of the identified marginally high fluoride bearing ground water zones in Anantapur District to reduce fluoride levels as an alternate solution for safe drinking water. In this paper, an attempt is made to study the utility and effect of these check dams in dilution of fluoride concentration in drinking water and its resultant impact on the health aspects of certain villagers of Anantapur District through the analysis of their blood serum and urine. Ground water samples from three fluoride-affected villages, blood and urine of males and females from the same villages were collected and analyzed for fluoride using ion selective electrode method. The results indicated that the fluoride levels in blood serum and urine of males in the age group of 5-11 years are found to be the highest. The concentration of fluoride in ground water is directly proportional to the concentration of fluoride in blood serum and urine. The concentration of fluoride in ground water with depth of the aquifer is a function of lithology, amount and duration of rainfall, rate of infiltration, level of ground water exploitation in the area etc. The construction of check dams upstream of the identified marginally high fluoride waters will not only cause additional recharge of ground water but also reduces the fluoride concentration eventually improving the health of the villagers.

Creatinine, diet, micronutrients, and arsenic methylation in West Bengal, India.

PubMed

Basu, Arin; Mitra, Soma; Chung, Joyce; Guha Mazumder, D N; Ghosh, Nilima; Kalman, David; von Ehrenstein, Ondine S; Steinmaus, Craig; Liaw, Jane; Smith, Allan H

2011-09-01

Ingested inorganic arsenic (InAs) is methylated to monomethylated (MMA) and dimethylated metabolites (DMA). Methylation may have an important role in arsenic toxicity, because the monomethylated trivalent metabolite [MMA(III)] is highly toxic. We assessed the relationship of creatinine and nutrition--using dietary intake and blood concentrations of micronutrients--with arsenic metabolism, as reflected in the proportions of InAS, MMA, and DMA in urine, in the first study that incorporated both dietary and micronutrient data. We studied methylation patterns and nutritional factors in 405 persons who were selected from a cross-sectional survey of 7,638 people in an arsenic-exposed population in West Bengal, India. We assessed associations of urine creatinine and nutritional factors (19 dietary intake variables and 16 blood micronutrients) with arsenic metabolites in urine. Urinary creatinine had the strongest relationship with overall arsenic methylation to DMA. Those with the highest urinary creatinine concentrations had 7.2% more arsenic as DMA compared with those with low creatinine (p < 0.001). Animal fat intake had the strongest relationship with MMA% (highest tertile animal fat intake had 2.3% more arsenic as MMA, p < 0.001). Low serum selenium and low folate were also associated with increased MMA%. Urine creatinine concentration was the strongest biological marker of arsenic methylation efficiency, and therefore should not be used to adjust for urine concentration in arsenic studies. The new finding that animal fat intake has a positive relationship with MMA% warrants further assessment in other studies. Increased MMA% was also associated, to a lesser extent, with low serum selenium and folate.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Agusa, Tetsuro; Department of Legal Medicine, Shimane University Faculty of Medicine, Enya 89-1, Izumo 693-8501; Iwata, Hisato

To elucidate the role of genetic factors in arsenic (As) metabolism, we studied associations of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in As (+ 3 oxidation state) methyltransferase (AS3MT) with the As concentrations in hair and urine, and urinary As profile in residents in the Red River Delta, Vietnam. Concentrations of total As in groundwater were 0.7-502 {mu}g/l. Total As levels in groundwater drastically decreased by using sand filter, indicating that the filter could be effective to remove As from raw groundwater. Concentrations of inorganic As (IAs) in urine and total As in hair of males were higher than those of females.more » A significant positive correlation between monomethylarsonic acid (MMA)/IAs and age in females indicates that older females have higher methylation capacity from IAs to MMA. Body mass index negatively correlated with urinary As concentrations in males. Homozygote for SNPs 4602AA, 35991GG, and 37853GG, which showed strong linkage disequilibrium (LD), had higher percentage (%) of dimethylarsinic acid (DMA) in urine. SNPs 4740 and 12590 had strong LD and associated with urinary %DMA. Although SNPs 6144, 12390, 14215, and 35587 comprised LD cluster, homozygotes in SNPs 12390GG and 35587CC had lower DMA/MMA in urine, suggesting low methylation capacity from MMA to DMA in homo types for these SNPs. SNPs 5913 and 8973 correlated with %MMA and %DMA, respectively. Heterozygote for SNP 14458TC had higher MMA/IAs in urine than TT homozygote, indicating that the heterozygote may have stronger methylation ability of IAs. To our knowledge, this is the first study on the association of genetic factors with As metabolism in Vietnamese.« less

Selected Organochlorines in Human Blood and Urine in the South of the Russian Far East.

PubMed

Tsygankov, Vasiliy Yu; Khristoforova, Nadezhda K; Lukyanova, Olga N; Boyarova, Margarita D; Kiku, Pavel F; Yarygina, Marina V

2017-10-01

The trace OCP concentrations, such as α-, β-, and γ-HCH, DDT and its metabolites (DDD and DDE) in blood and urine of residents from the south of the Russian Far East was revealed. A large range of OCPs was found in the urine: α- and γ-isomers of HCH, DDT and DDE. The only β-HCH was detected in the blood; this indicates its persistence and the difficulty of excretion this substance from the organism. The total trace OCP concentration, found in the biological fluids of residents of the south of the Russian Far East, providing further evidence that these organic contaminants persist in the environment.

Ex vivo spontaneous generation of 19-norandrostenedione and nandrolone detected in equine plasma and urine.

PubMed

Guan, Fuyu; Uboh, Cornelius E; Soma, Lawrence R; You, Youwen; Li, Xiaoqing; McDonnell, Sue

2012-01-01

19-Norandrostenedione (NAED) and nandrolone are anabolic-androgenic steroids (AASs). Nandrolone was regarded solely as a synthetic AAS until the 1980s when trace concentrations of apparently endogenous nandrolone were detected in urine samples obtained from intact male horses (stallions). Since then, its endogenous origin has been reported in boars and bulls; endogenous NAED and nandrolone have been identified in plasma and urine samples collected from stallions. More recently, however, it was suggested that NAED and nandrolone detected in urine samples from stallions are primarily artifacts due to the analytical procedure. The present study was undertaken to determine whether NAED and nandrolone detected in plasma and urine samples collected from stallions are truly endogenous or artifacts from sample processing. To answer this question, fresh plasma and urine samples from ≥8 stallions were analyzed for the two AASs, soon after collection, by liquid chromatography hyphenated to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). NAED and nandrolone were not detected in fresh plasma samples but detected in the same samples post storage. Concentrations of both AASs increased with storage time, and the increases were greater at a higher storage temperature (37°C versus 4°C, and ambient temperature versus 4°C). Although NAED was detected in some fresh stallion urine samples, its concentration (<407 pg/mL) was far lower (<0.4%) than that in the same samples post storage (at ambient temperature for 15 days). Nandrolone was not detected in most of fresh urine samples but detected in the same samples post storage. Based on these results, it is concluded that all NAED and nandrolone detected in stored plasma samples of stallions and most of them in the stored urine samples are not from endogenous origins but spontaneously generated during sample storage, most likely from spontaneous decarboxylation of androstenedione-19-oic acid and testosterone-19-oic acid. To our knowledge, it is the first time that all NAED and nandrolone detected in plasma of stallions and most of them detected in the urine have been shown to be spontaneously generated in vitro during sample storage. This finding would have significant implications with regard to the regulation of the two steroids in horse racing. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Hypoglycin A Content in Blood and Urine Discriminates Horses with Atypical Myopathy from Clinically Normal Horses Grazing on the Same Pasture

PubMed Central

Bochnia, M.; Ziegler, J.; Sander, J.; Uhlig, A.; Schaefer, S.; Vollstedt, S.; Glatter, M.; Abel, S.; Recknagel, S.; Schusser, G. F.; Wensch-Dorendorf, M.; Zeyner, A.

2015-01-01

Hypoglycin A (HGA) in seeds of Acer spp. is suspected to cause seasonal pasture myopathy in North America and equine atypical myopathy (AM) in Europe, fatal diseases in horses on pasture. In previous studies, this suspicion was substantiated by the correlation of seed HGA content with the concentrations of toxic metabolites in urine and serum (MCPA-conjugates) of affected horses. However, seed sampling was conducted after rather than during an outbreak of the disease. The aim of this study was to further confirm the causality between HGA occurrence and disease outbreak by seed sampling during an outbreak and the determination of i) HGA in seeds and of ii) HGA and MCPA-conjugates in urine and serum of diseased horses. Furthermore, cograzing healthy horses, which were present on AM affected pastures, were also investigated. AM-pastures in Germany were visited to identify seeds of Acer pseudoplatanus and serum (n = 8) as well as urine (n = 6) from a total of 16 diseased horses were analyzed for amino acid composition by LC-ESI-MS/MS, with a special focus on the content of HGA. Additionally, the content of its toxic metabolite was measured in its conjugated form in body fluids (UPLC-MS/MS). The seeds contained 1.7–319.8 μg HGA/g seed. The content of HGA in serum of affected horses ranged from 387.8–8493.8 μg/L (controls < 10 μg/L), and in urine from 143.8–926.4 μg/L (controls < 10 μg/L), respectively. Healthy cograzing horses on AM-pastures showed higher serum (108.8 ± 83.76 μg/L) and urine concentrations (26.9 ± 7.39 μg/L) compared to control horses, but lower concentrations compared to diseased horses. The range of MCPA-carnitine and creatinine concentrations found in diseased horses in serum and urine were 0.17–0.65 mmol/L (controls < 0.01), and 0.34–2.05 μmol/mmoL (controls < 0.001), respectively. MCPA-glycine levels in urine of cograzing horses were higher compared to controls. Thus, the causal link between HGA intoxication and disease outbreak could be further substantiated, and the early detection of HGA in cograzing horses, which are clinically normal, might be a promising step in prophylaxis. PMID:26378918

Diet effects on urine composition of cattle and N2O emissions.

PubMed

Dijkstra, J; Oenema, O; van Groenigen, J W; Spek, J W; van Vuuren, A M; Bannink, A

2013-06-01

Ruminant production contributes to emissions of nitrogen (N) to the environment, principally ammonia (NH3), nitrous oxide (N2O) and di-nitrogen (N2) to air, nitrate (NO3 -) to groundwater and particulate N to surface waters. Variation in dietary N intake will particularly affect excretion of urinary N, which is much more vulnerable to losses than is faecal N. Our objective is to review dietary effects on the level and form of N excreted in cattle urine, as well as its consequences for emissions of N2O. The quantity of N excreted in urine varies widely. Urinary N excretion, in particular that of urea N, is decreased upon reduction of dietary N intake or an increase in the supply of energy to the rumen microorganisms and to the host animal itself. Most of the N in urine (from 50% to well over 90%) is present in the form of urea. Other nitrogenous components include purine derivatives (PD), hippuric acid, creatine and creatinine. Excretion of PD is related to rumen microbial protein synthesis, and that of hippuric acid to dietary concentration of degradable phenolic acids. The N concentration of cattle urine ranges from 3 to 20 g/l. High-dietary mineral levels increase urine volume and lead to reduced urinary N concentration as well as reduced urea concentration in plasma and milk. In lactating dairy cattle, variation in urine volume affects the relationship between milk urea and urinary N excretion, which hampers the use of milk urea as an accurate indicator of urinary N excretion. Following its deposition in pastures or in animal houses, ubiquitous microorganisms in soil and waters transform urinary N components into ammonium (NH4 +), and thereafter into NO3 - and ultimately in N2 accompanied with the release of N2O. Urinary hippuric acid, creatine and creatinine decompose more slowly than urea. Hippuric acid may act as a natural inhibitor of N2O emissions, but inhibition conditions have not been defined properly yet. Environmental and soil conditions at the site of urine deposition or manure application strongly influence N2O release. Major dietary strategies to mitigating N2O emission from cattle operations include reducing dietary N content or increasing energy content, and increasing dietary mineral content to increase urine volume. For further reduction of N2O emission, an integrated animal nutrition and excreta management approach is required.

Effect of a commercial anion dietary supplement on acid-base balance, urine volume, and urinary ion excretion in male goats fed oat or grass hay diets.

PubMed

Stratton-Phelps, Meri; House, John K

2004-10-01

To determine whether feeding a commercial anionic dietary supplement as a urinary acidifier to male goats may be useful for management of urolithiasis. 8 adult sexually intact male Toggenburg, Saanen, and Nubian goats. Goats were randomly assigned by age-, breed-, and weight-matched pairs to an oat or grass hay diet that was fed for 12 days. On days 13 to 14 (early sample collection time before supplementation), measurements were made of blood and urine sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, chloride, phosphorus, and sulfur concentrations; blood and urine pH; urine production; and water consumption. During the next 28 days, the anionic dietary supplement was added to the oat and grass hay diets to achieve a dietary cation-anion difference of 0 mEq/100g of dry matter. Blood and urine samples were analyzed during dietary supplementation on days 12 to 13 (middle sample collection time) and 27 to 28 (late sample collection time). Blood bicarbonate, pH, and urine pH of goats fed grass hay and goats fed oat hay were significantly decreased during the middle and late sample collection times, compared with the early sample collection time. Water consumption and urine production in all goats increased significantly during the late sample collection time, compared with the early sample collection time. The anionic dietary supplement used in our study increases urine volume, alters urine ion concentrations, and is an efficacious urinary acidifier in goats. Goats treated with prolonged anionic dietary supplementation should be monitored for secondary osteoporosis from chronic urinary calcium loss.

DNA typing for personal identification of urine after long-term preservation for testing in doping control.

PubMed

Aoki, Kimiko; Tanaka, Hiroyuki; Ueki, Makoto

2017-08-01

When the tampering of a urine sample is suspected in doping control, personal identification of the sample needs to be determined by short tandem repeat (STR) analysis using DNA. We established a method for extracting DNA from urine samples stored at -20 °C without using any additives or procedures, which is consistent with how samples are required to be managed for doping control. The method, using the Puregene® Blood Core kit followed by NucleoSpin® gDNA Clean-up or NucleoSpin® gDNA Clean-up XS kit, does not need any special instrument and can provide a purified extract with high-quality DNA from up to 40 mL of urine suitable for STR analysis using an AmpFlSTR® Identifiler® PCR amplification kit. Storing urine at -20 °C is detrimental to the stability of DNA. The DNA concentration of preserved urine could not be predicted by specific gravity or creatinine level at the time of urine collection. The DNA concentration of a purified extract (10 μL) was required to be >0.06 ng/μL to ensure a successful STR analysis. Thus, the required extraction volumes of urine preserved for 3-7 years at -20 °C were estimated to be 30 mL and 20 mL to succeed in at least 86% of men and 91% of women, respectively. Considering the long half-life of DNA during long-term preservation, our extraction method is applicable to urine samples stored even for 10 years, which is currently the storage duration allowed (increased from 8 years) before re-examination in doping control. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Lead and cadmium excretion in feces and urine of children from polluted townships near a lead-zinc mine in Kabwe, Zambia.

PubMed

Yabe, John; Nakayama, Shouta M M; Ikenaka, Yoshinori; Yohannes, Yared B; Bortey-Sam, Nesta; Kabalo, Abel Nketani; Ntapisha, John; Mizukawa, Hazuki; Umemura, Takashi; Ishizuka, Mayumi

2018-07-01

Lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) are toxic metals that exist ubiquitously in the environment. Children in polluted areas are particularly vulnerable to metal exposure, where clinical signs and symptoms could be nonspecific. Absorbed metals are excreted primarily in urine and reflect exposure from all sources. We analyzed Pb and Cd concentrations in blood, feces and urine of children from polluted townships near a lead-zinc mine in Kabwe, Zambia, to determine concurrent childhood exposure to the metals. Moreover, the study determined the Pb and Cd relationships among urine, feces and blood as well as accessed the potential of urine and fecal analysis for biomonitoring of Pb and Cd exposure in children. Fecal Pb (up to 2252 mg/kg, dry weight) and urine Pb (up to 2914 μg/L) were extremely high. Concentrations of Cd in blood (Cd-B) of up to 7.7 μg/L, fecal (up to 4.49 mg/kg, dry weight) and urine (up to 18.1 μg/L) samples were elevated. metal levels were higher in younger children (0-3 years old) than older children (4-7). Positive correlations were recorded for Pb and Cd among blood, urine and fecal samples whereas negative correlations were recorded with age. These findings indicate children are exposed to both metals at their current home environment. Moreover, urine and feces could be useful for biomonitoring of metals due to their strong relationships with blood levels. There is need to conduct a clinical evaluation of the affected children to fully appreciate the health impact of these metal exposure. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

A surrogate analyte-based LC-MS/MS method for the determination of γ-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) in human urine and variation of endogenous urinary concentrations of GHB.

PubMed

Kang, Soyoung; Oh, Seung Min; Chung, Kyu Hyuck; Lee, Sooyeun

2014-09-01

γ-Hydroxybutyrate (GHB) is a drug of abuse with a strong anesthetic effect; however, proving its ingestion through the quantification of GHB in biological specimens is not straightforward due to the endogenous presence of GHB in human blood, urine, saliva, etc. In the present study, a surrogate analyte approach was applied to accurate quantitative determination of GHB in human urine using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) in order to overcome this issue. For this, (2)H6-GHB and (13)C2-dl-3-hydroxybutyrate were used as a surrogate standard and as an internal standard, respectively, and parallelism between the surrogate analyte approach and standard addition was investigated at the initial step. The validation results proved the method to be selective, accurate, and precise, with acceptable linearity within calibration ranges (0.1-1μg/ml). The limit of detection and the limit of quantification of (2)H6-GHB were 0.05 and 0.1μg/ml, respectively. No significant variations were observed among urine matrices from different sources. The stability of (2)H6-GHB was satisfactory under sample storage and in-process conditions. However, in vitro production of endogenous GHB was observed when the urine sample was kept under the in-process condition for 4h and under the storage conditions of 4 and -20°C. In order to facilitate the practical interpretation of urinary GHB, endogenous GHB was accurately measured in urine samples from 79 healthy volunteers using the surrogate analyte-based LC-MS/MS method developed in the present study. The unadjusted and creatinine-adjusted GHB concentrations in 74 urine samples with quantitative results ranged from 0.09 to 1.8μg/ml and from 4.5 to 530μg/mmol creatinine, respectively. No significant correlation was observed between the unadjusted and creatinine-adjusted GHB concentrations. The urinary endogenous GHB concentrations were affected by gender and age while they were not significantly influenced by habitual smoking, alcohol drinking, or caffeine-containing beverage drinking. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Integrated strategy based on high-resolution mass spectrometry coupled with multiple data mining techniques for the metabolic profiling of Xanthoceras sorbifolia Bunge husks in rat plasma, urine, and feces.

PubMed

Rong, Weiwei; Guo, Sirui; Ding, Kewen; Yuan, Ziyue; Li, Qing; Bi, Kaishun

2018-04-25

An integrated strategy based on high-resolution mass spectrometry coupled with multiple data mining techniques was developed to screen the metabolites in rat biological fluids after the oral administration of Xanthoceras sorbifolia Bunge husks. Mass defect filtering, product ion filtering, and neutral loss filtering were applied to detect metabolites from the complex matrix. As a result, 55 metabolites were tentatively identified, among which 45 barrigenol-type triterpenoid metabolites were detected in the feces, and six flavonoids and four coumarins metabolites were in the urine. Moreover, eight prototype constituents in plasma, 36 in urine and 23 in feces were also discovered. Due to the poor bioavailability of barrigenol type triterpenoids, most of them were metabolized by intestinal flora. Phase I metabolic reactions such as deglycosylation, oxidation, demethylation, dehydrogenation, and internal hydrolysis were supposed to be their principal metabolic pathways. Coumarins were found in all the biosamples, whereas flavonoids were mainly in the urine. Unlike the saponins, they were mainly metabolized through phase II metabolic reactions like glucuronidation and sulfonation, which made them eliminated more easily by urine. This work suggested the metabolic profile of X. sorbifolia husks for the first time, which will be very valuable for its further development. © 2018 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Soy isoflavone metabolism in cats compared with other species: Urinary metabolite concentrations and glucuronidation by liver microsomes

PubMed Central

Redmon, Joanna M.; Shrestha, Binu; Cerundolo, Rosario; Court, Michael H.

2016-01-01

Soybean is a common source of protein in many pet foods. Slow glucuronidation of soy-derived isoflavones in cats has been hypothesized to result in accumulation with adverse health consequences. Here we evaluated species’ differences in soy isoflavone glucuronidation using urine samples from cats and dogs fed a soy-based diet and liver microsomes from cats compared with microsomes from 12 other species.Significant concentrations of conjugated (but not unconjugated) genistein, daidzein, and glycitein, and the gut microbiome metabolites, dihydrogenistein and dihydrodaidzein were found in cat and dog urine samples. Substantial amounts of conjugated equol were also found in cat urine but not in dog urine.β-glucuronidase treatment showed that all these compounds were significantly glucuronidated in dog urine while only daidzein (11%) and glycitein (37%) showed any glucuronidation in cat urine suggesting that alternate metabolic pathways including sulfation predominate in cats.Glucuronidation rates of genistein, daidzein, and equol by cat livers were consistently ranked within the lowest three out of 13 species’ livers evaluated. Ferret and mongoose livers were also ranked in the lowest four species.Our results demonstrate that glucuronidation is a minor pathway for soy isoflavone metabolism in cats compared with most other species. PMID:26366946

Soy isoflavone metabolism in cats compared with other species: urinary metabolite concentrations and glucuronidation by liver microsomes.

PubMed

Redmon, Joanna M; Shrestha, Binu; Cerundolo, Rosario; Court, Michael H

2016-01-01

1. Soybean is a common source of protein in many pet foods. Slow glucuronidation of soy-derived isoflavones in cats has been hypothesized to result in accumulation with adverse health consequences. Here, we evaluated species' differences in soy isoflavone glucuronidation using urine samples from cats and dogs fed a soy-based diet and liver microsomes from cats compared with microsomes from 12 other species. 2. Significant concentrations of conjugated (but not unconjugated) genistein, daidzein and glycitein, and the gut microbiome metabolites, dihydrogenistein and dihydrodaidzein, were found in cat and dog urine samples. Substantial amounts of conjugated equol were also found in cat urine but not in dog urine. 3. β-Glucuronidase treatment showed that all these compounds were significantly glucuronidated in dog urine while only daidzein (11%) and glycitein (37%) showed any glucuronidation in cat urine suggesting that alternate metabolic pathways including sulfation predominate in cats. 4. Glucuronidation rates of genistein, daidzein and equol by cat livers were consistently ranked within the lowest 3 out of 13 species' livers evaluated. Ferret and mongoose livers were also ranked in the lowest four species. 5. Our results demonstrate that glucuronidation is a minor pathway for soy isoflavone metabolism in cats compared with most other species.

Plasma free metanephrines are superior to urine and plasma catecholamines and urine catecholamine metabolites for the investigation of phaeochromocytoma.

PubMed

Hickman, Peter E; Leong, Michelle; Chang, Julia; Wilson, Susan R; McWhinney, Brett

2009-02-01

To compare the relative diagnostic efficacy of several different tests used to establish a diagnosis of phaeochromocytoma, in patients with a proven diagnosis of phaeochromocytoma, and in hospital patients with significant disease of other types. We prospectively compared biochemical markers of catecholamine output and metabolism in plasma and urine in 22 patients with histologically proven phaeochromocytoma, 15 intensive care unit (ICU) patients, 30 patients on chronic haemodialysis and both hypertensive (n = 10) and normotensive (n = 16) controls. Receiver operating characteristic curves were plotted. At the point of maximum efficiency, plasma free metanephrines showed 100% sensitivity and 97.6% specificity, compared with plasma catecholamines (78.6% and 70.7%), urine catecholamines (78.6% and 87.8%), urine metanephrines (85.7% and 95.1%), and urine hydroxymethoxymandelic acid (HMMA or VMA) (93.0% and 75.8%). All patients with phaeochromocytoma had plasma free metanephrine concentrations at least 27% above the upper limit of the reference range. Only three other patients (two on haemodialysis and one in ICU) had PFM concentrations more than 50% above the upper limit of the reference range. In patients with phaeochromocytoma, plasma free metanephrines displayed superior diagnostic sensitivity and specificity compared with other biochemical markers of catecholamine output and metabolism.

Aquaporins in desert rodent physiology.

PubMed

Pannabecker, Thomas L

2015-08-01

Desert rodents face a sizeable challenge in maintaining salt and water homeostasis due to their life in an arid environment. A number of their organ systems exhibit functional characteristics that limit water loss above that which occurs in non-desert species under similar conditions. These systems include renal, pulmonary, gastrointestinal, nasal, and skin epithelia. The desert rodent kidney preserves body water by producing a highly concentrated urine that reaches a maximum osmolality nearly three times that of the common laboratory rat. The precise mechanism by which urine is concentrated in any mammal is unknown. Insights into the process may be more apparent in species that produce highly concentrated urine. Aquaporin water channels play a fundamental role in water transport in several desert rodent organ systems. The role of aquaporins in facilitating highly effective water preservation in desert rodents is only beginning to be explored. The organ systems of desert rodents and their associated AQPs are described. © 2015 Marine Biological Laboratory.

The effect of anesthetization and urinary bladder catheterization on renal function of rainbow trout

USGS Publications Warehouse

Hunn, J.B.; Willford, W.A.

1970-01-01

1. Rainbow trout were anesthetized with MS-222 (Sandoz) or methylpentynol and catheterized. Urine was collected at selected intervals up to 48 hr. 2. Effects of MS-222 anesthesia on urine flow and composition were isolated from the stress of catheterization by re-anesthetizing the fish 18 to 20 hr post catheterization. 3. Urine output patterns were similar following MS-222 or methylpentynol anesthesia and catheterization. Highest urine flows were measured 4 to 8 hr post treatment. The highest urine output after re-anesthetization with MS-222 was observed 2 to 4 hr post-anesthesia. 4. Highest concentrations of Na2+, K+, Ca2+, Cl- and inorganic PO4 in the urine were measured in the first 2 hr after anesthesia and catheterization. 5. Flow rates and chemical composition of urine indicate that "normal" renal function is re-established 12 to 24 hr post-treatment.

Coca tea consumption causes positive urine cocaine assay.

PubMed

Mazor, Suzan S; Mycyk, Mark B; Wills, Brandon K; Brace, Larry D; Gussow, Leon; Erickson, Timothy

2006-12-01

Coca tea, derived from the same plant that is used to synthesize cocaine, is commonly consumed in South America and easily obtained in the United States. To determine whether consumption of coca tea would result in a positive urine toxicology screen for cocaine metabolites. Five healthy adult volunteers consumed coca tea and underwent serial quantitative urine testing for cocaine metabolites by fluorescence polarization immunoassay. The cutoff for a positive assay was chosen at 300 ng/ml, the National Institute on Drug Abuse standard. Each participant's urine cocaine assay was positive (level exceeding 300 ng/ml) by 2 h after ingestion. Three out of five participants' samples remained positive at 36 h. Mean urine benzoylecgonine concentrations in all postconsumption samples was 1777 ng/ml (95% confidence interval: 1060-2495). Coca tea ingestion resulted in a positive urine assay for cocaine metabolite. Healthcare professionals should consider a history of coca tea ingestion when interpreting urine toxicology results.

Bioadhesive drug delivery system using glyceryl monooleate for the intravesical administration of paclitaxel.

PubMed

Lee, Seung-Ju; Kim, Sae Woong; Chung, Hesson; Park, Yeong Taek; Choi, Young Wook; Cho, Yong-Hyun; Yoon, Moon Soo

2005-10-01

Many reports have shown that the efficacy of intravesical therapy for bladder cancer is in part limited by the poor penetration of drugs into the urothelium. The present study evaluated the effect of glyceryl monooleate (GMO) on the absorption of intravesically administered paclitaxel in a rabbit model of bladder cancer. Urine, plasma, and tissue pharmacokinetics were determined in rabbits treated for 120 min with paclitaxel (500 microg/20 ml) by intravesical instillation. Two formulations of GMO/paclitaxel were evaluated using different proportions of water, 15 and 30%, and Taxol was used as a control. Animals were observed for clinical signs of toxicity and necropsy was performed. 120 min after instillation, the bladder was emptied and excised. In the urine, paclitaxel concentration was decreased by 39.6 and 41.2% in the two experimental groups and by 25.2% in the control group. The paclitaxel concentrations in the urothelium were 53 and 56% of the urine concentration in both experimental groups, but 11% in the control group. The concentration then declined exponentially in the underlying capillary-perfused tissues, reaching equilibrium at a depth of 1,400-1,700 microm. The plasma concentrations were extremely low compared with concentrations in urine and bladder tissues and were not associated with clinical toxicity. We conclude that GMO has a significantly increased bioadhesiveness to bladder mucosa. Therefore, intravesical administration of GMO/paclitaxel/water provides a significant advantage for drugs targeting the bladder tissue, and paclitaxel represents a viable option for intravesical bladder cancer therapy. Copyright 2005 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Estimation of Cutoff Values of Cotinine in Urine and Saliva for Pregnant Women in Poland

PubMed Central

Polańska, Kinga

2013-01-01

Setting appropriate cutoff values and the use of a highly sensitive analytical method allow for correct classification of the smoking status. Urine-saliva pairs samples of pregnant women in the second and third trimester, and saliva only in the first trimester were collected. Offline SPE and LC-ESI-MS/MS method was developed in the broad concentration range (saliva 0.4–1000 ng/mL, urine 0.8–4000 ng/mL). The mean recoveries were 3.7 ± 7.6% for urine and 99.1 ± 2.6% for saliva. LOD for saliva was 0.12 ng/mL and for urine 0.05 ng/mL; LOQ was 0.4 ng/mL and 0.8 ng/mL, respectively. Intraday and interday precision equaled, respectively, 1.2% and 3.4% for urine, and 2.3% and 6.4% for saliva. There was a strong correlation between salivary cotinine and the uncorrected cotinine concentration in urine in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. The cutoff values were established for saliva 12.9 ng/mL and urine 42.3 ng/mL or 53.1 μg/g creatinine with the ROC curve analysis. The developed analytical method was successfully applied to quantify cotinine, and a significant correlation between the urinary and salivary cotinine levels was found. The presented cut-off values for salivary and urinary cotinine ensure a categorization of the smoking status among pregnant women that is more accurate than self-reporting. PMID:24228246

Urine pretreatment for waste water processing systems. [for space station

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Winkler, H. E.; Verostko, C. E.; Dehner, G. F.

1983-01-01

Recovery of high quality water from urine is an essential part of life support on a Space Station to avoid costly launch and resupply penalties. Water can be effectively recovered from urine by distillation following pretreatment by a chemical agent to inhibit microorganism contamination and fix volatile ammonia constituents. This paper presents the results of laboratory investigations of several pretreatment chemicals which were tested at several concentration levels in combination with sulfuric acid in urine. The optimum pretreatment formulation was then evaluated with urine in the Hamilton Standard Thermoelectric Integrated Membrane Evaporation Subsystem (TIMES). Over 2600 hours of test time was accumulated. Results of these laboratory and system tests are presented in this paper.

Assessment of potential damage to DNA in urine of coke oven workers: an assay of unscheduled DNA synthesis.

PubMed Central

Roos, F; Renier, A; Ettlinger, J; Iwatsubo, Y; Letourneux, M; Haguenoer, J M; Jaurand, M C; Pairon, J C

1997-01-01

OBJECTIVES: A study was conducted in coke oven workers to evaluate the biological consequences of the exposure of these workers, particularly production of potential genotoxic factors. METHODS: 60 coke oven workers and 40 controls were recruited in the same iron and steel works. Exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) was assessed by job and measurement of 1-hydroxypyrene (1OHP) in urine samples. An unscheduled DNA synthesis assay was performed on rat pleural mesothelial cells used as a test system to evaluate the effect of the workers' filtered urine on the DNA repair capacity of rat cells to determine whether DNA damaging agents are present in the urine of these workers. RESULTS: Urinary concentrations of 1OHP ranged from 0.06 to 24.2 (mean (SD) 2.1 (3.6)) mumol/mol creatinine in exposed coke oven workers, and from 0.01 to 0.9 in controls (0.12 (0.15)). These high concentrations in coke oven workers reflected recent exposure to PAHs and were in agreement with the assessment of exposure by job. No significant difference was found between coke oven workers and controls in the DNA repair level of rat cells treated with urine samples. However, the rat cell repair capacity decreased with increasing 1OHP concentrations in the exposed population (r = -0.28, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: As high concentrations of 1OHP were found in the urine of some workers, a more stringent control of exposures to PAHs in the workplace is required. Exposure to PAHs was not associated with a clear cut modification of the urinary excretion of DNA damaging factors in this test, as shown by the absence of increased unscheduled DNA synthesis in rat cells. However, impairment of some repair mechanisms by urinary constituents is suspected. PMID:9470892

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in human serum and urine samples from a residentially exposed community.

PubMed

Worley, Rachel Rogers; Moore, Susan McAfee; Tierney, Bruce C; Ye, Xiaoyun; Calafat, Antonia M; Campbell, Sean; Woudneh, Million B; Fisher, Jeffrey

2017-09-01

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are considered chemicals of emerging concern, in part due to their environmental and biological persistence and the potential for widespread human exposure. In 2007, a PFAS manufacturer near Decatur, Alabama notified the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) it had discharged PFAS into a wastewater treatment plant, resulting in environmental contamination and potential exposures to the local community. To characterize PFAS exposure over time, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) collected blood and urine samples from local residents. Eight PFAS were measured in serum in 2010 (n=153). Eleven PFAS were measured in serum, and five PFAS were measured in urine (n=45) from some of the same residents in 2016. Serum concentrations were compared to nationally representative data and change in serum concentration over time was evaluated. Biological half-lives were estimated for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), and perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS) using a one-compartment pharmacokinetic model. In 2010 and 2016, geometric mean PFOA and PFOS serum concentrations were elevated in participants compared to the general U.S. In 2016, the geometric mean PFHxS serum concentration was elevated compared to the general U.S. Geometric mean serum concentrations of PFOA, PFOS, and perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) were significantly (p≤0.0001) lower (49%, 53%, and 58%, respectively) in 2016 compared to 2010. Half-lives for PFOA, PFOS, and PFHxS were estimated to be 3.9, 3.3, and 15.5years, respectively. Concentrations of PFOA in serum and urine were highly correlated (r=0.75) in males. Serum concentrations of some PFAS are decreasing in this residentially exposed community, but remain elevated compared to the U.S. general population. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Urinary and Milk Iodine Status in Neonates and Their Mothers during Congenital Hypothyroidism Screening Program in Eastern Azerbaijan: A Pilot Study

PubMed Central

MOBASSERI, Majid; ROSHANRAVAN, Neda; MESRI ALAMDARI, Naimeh; OSTADRAHIMI, Alireza; ASGHARI JAFARABADI, Mohammad; ANARI, Farideh; HEDAYATI, Mehdi

2014-01-01

Abstract Background Iodine is essential element in thyroid hormones synthesis and normal growth and development of the brain. Milk and iodine concentrations can be appropriate indicator of body iodine status; in this study, we evaluated the concentrations of urine and milk iodine in newborns and their mothers. Methods In a cross-sectional study conducted in 2013, urine and milk iodine in 106 neonates and their mothers referred to healthcare center in Shabestar, Eastern Azerbaijan for congenital hypothyroidism screening program were determined. Median urinary iodine < 100 µg/L and milk iodine < 50 µg/L was considered as iodine deficiency. Results The median urine iodine concentrations (UIC) in mothers and infants were 142.31 µg/L (.0 - 1260) and 306.76 µg/L (23.56-1020) respectively. Urine iodine concentrations were < 100 µg/L in 33.9% of mothers and 14.2% of neonates. The median milk iodine concentration (MIC) was 58.23 µg/L (20.31- 425) and in 41.9% of mothers was <50 µg/L. A positive significant correlation was found between milk iodine and maternal urinary iodine concentration (r=0.533, P= 0.000). There was significant correlation between neonatal UIC and maternal UIC (r=0.462, P= 0.000), neonatal UIC and MIC (r=0.414, P= 0.000). Conclusions Urinary and milk iodine concentrations in mothers and infants were within acceptable range, which indicates adequate iodine intake. However, there were moderate and marginal iodine deficiencies in about half percentage of participants. Insufficient amount of milk iodine in about half of the mothers can result in iodine deficiency in breast-fed infants. PMID:26060700

Environmental and occupational exposures to mercury among indigenous people in Dunkwa-On-Offin, a small scale gold mining area in the South-West of Ghana.

PubMed

Kwaansa-Ansah, E E; Basu, N; Nriagu, J O

2010-11-01

Total mercury concentrations in human hair and urine samples were determined to ascertain the extent of environmental and occupational mercury exposure in Dunkwa-On-Offin, a small scale gold mining area of the central-west region of Ghana. In all ninety-four (94) hair and urine samples comprising of forty (40) small scale miners and fifty-four (54) farmers were collected and analyzed for their total mercury levels using the cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry. The hair total mercury concentrations ranged from 0.63 to 7.19 ug/g with a mean of 2.35 ± 1.58 ug/g for the farmers and 0.57-6.07 ug/g with a mean of 2.14 ± 1.53 ug/g for the small scale gold miners. There was no significant correlation between the total mercury concentration and the average weekly fish diet. The total mercury concentrations in urine of the miners were higher than those of the farmers and ranged from 0.32 to 3.62 ug/L with a mean of 1.23 ± 0.86 ug/L. The urine concentrations of farmers ranged from 0.075 to 2.31 ug/L with a mean of 0.69 ± 0.39 ug/L. Although the results indicate elevated internal dose of mercury the current levels of exposures do not appear to pose a significant health threat to the people.

Impact of ethnicity, gender, and dehydration on the urinary excretion of inhaled salbutamol with respect to doping control.

PubMed

Dickinson, John; Hu, Jie; Chester, Neil; Loosemore, Mike; Whyte, Greg

2014-11-01

To examine the impact of dehydration, ethnicity, and gender on urinary concentrations of salbutamol in relation to the threshold stipulated by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Repeated measures open-label. Eighteen male and 14 female athletes (9 white males, 9 white females, 2 Afro-Caribbean males, 2 Afro-Caribbean females, 6 Asian [Indian subcontinent] males, and 4 Asian females) were recruited. All participants were nonasthmatic. After inhalation of 800 μg or 1600 μg of salbutamol, athletes exercised in a hot controlled environment (35°C, 40% relative humidity) at a self-selected pace until a target weight loss (2% or 5%) was achieved. Urine concentration of free salbutamol. After inhalation of 1600 μg salbutamol, 20 participants presented with a urine salbutamol concentrations above the current WADA limit (1000 ng/mL) and decision limit (1200 ng/mL) resulting in an adverse analytical finding. There were no differences according to gender or ethnic origin. Dehydration equivalent to a body mass loss greater than 2% concomitant to the acute inhalation of 1600 μg of salbutamol may result in a urine concentration above the current WADA limit and decision limit leading to a positive test finding independent of gender or ethnic origin. Asthmatic athletes using salbutamol should receive clear dosing advise and education to minimize the risk of inhaling doses of salbutamol that may produce urine concentrations of salbutamol above 1200 ng/mL.

Influence of respiratory tract disease and mode of inhalation on detectability of budesonide in equine urine and plasma.

PubMed

Barton, Ann Kristin; Heinemann, Henrike; Schenk, Ina; Machnik, Marc; Gehlen, Heidrun

2017-02-01

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the influence of respiratory tract disease (ie, recurrent airway obstruction [RAO]) and mode of inhalation on detectability of inhaled budesonide in equine plasma and urine samples. ANIMALS 16 horses (8 healthy control horses and 8 horses affected by RAO, as determined by results of clinical examination, blood gas analysis, bronchoscopy, and cytologic examination of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid). PROCEDURES 4 horses of each group inhaled budesonide (3 μg/kg) twice daily for 10 days while at rest, and the remaining 4 horses of each group inhaled budesonide during lunging exercise. Plasma and urine samples were obtained 4 to 96 hours after inhalation and evaluated for budesonide and, in urine samples, the metabolites 6β-hydroxybudesonide and 16α-hydroxyprednisolone. RESULTS Detected concentrations of budesonide were significantly higher at all time points for RAO-affected horses, compared with concentrations for the control horses. All samples of RAO-affected horses contained budesonide concentrations above the limit of detection at 96 hours after inhalation, whereas this was found for only 2 control horses. Detected concentrations of budesonide were higher, but not significantly so, at all time points in horses that inhaled budesonide during exercise, compared with concentrations for inhalation at rest. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results of this study indicated that the time interval between inhalation of a glucocorticoid and participation in sporting events should be increased when inhalation treatment is administered during exercise to horses affected by respiratory tract disease.

An exploratory analysis of the relationship between ambient ...

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Background: Associations between ozone (O3) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations and birth outcomes have been previously demonstrated. We perform an exploratory analysis of O3 and PM2.5 concentrations during early pregnancy and multiple types of birth defects. Methods: Data on births were obtained from the Texas Birth Defects Registry and the National Birth Defects Prevention Study (NBDPS) in Texas. Air pollution concentrations were determined using a Bayesian hierarchical model that combined modeled air pollution concentrations with air monitoring data to create bias-corrected concentrations and matched to residential address at birth. Average air pollution concentrations during the first trimester were calculated. Results: The analysis generated hypotheses for future, confirmatory studies; although many of the observed associations between the air pollutants and birth defects were null. The hypotheses are provided by an observed association between O3 and craniosynostosis [adjusted OR 1.28 (95% CI 1.04, 1.58) per 13.3 ppb increase) and observed inverse associations between PM2.5 concentrations and septal heart defects and obstructive heart defects [adjusted ORs 0.79 (95% CI 0.75, 0.82) and 0.88 (95% CI 0.79, 0.97) per 5.0 µg/m3 increase, respectively] in the Texas Birth Defects Registry study. Septal heart defects and ventricular outflow tract obstructions were also examined using the NBDPS but the associations with PM2.5 were null [adj

Microcephaly caused by congenital Zika virus infection and viral detection in maternal urine during pregnancy.

PubMed

Regadas, Vanessa Couras; Silva, Márcio de Castro E; Abud, Lucas Giansante; Labadessa, Luiz Mario Pereira Lopes; Oliveira, Rafael Gouvêa Gomes de; Miyake, Cecília Hissae; Queiroz, Rodolfo Mendes

2018-01-01

Currently Latin America is undergoing a major epidemic of Zika virus, which is transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes. Concern for Zika virus infection has been increasing as it is suspected of causing brain defects in newborns such as microcephaly and, more recently, potential neurological and autoimmune complications including Guillian-Barré syndrome and acute disseminated encephalomyelitis. We describe a case of virus infection in a 25-year-old woman during the first trimester of her pregnancy, confirmed by laboratory tests only for the detection of viral particles in maternal urine, with imaging studies demonstrating the progression of cranial and encephalic changes in the fetus and later in the newborn, such as head circumference reduction, cerebral calcifications and ventriculomegaly.

Molecular characterization of maple syrup urine disease patients from Tunisia.

PubMed

Jaafar, N; Moleirinho, A; Kerkeni, E; Monastiri, K; Seboui, H; Amorim, A; Prata, M J; Quental, S

2013-03-15

Maple syrup urine disease (MSUD) is a rare disorder of branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) metabolism caused by the defective function of branched-chain α-ketoacid dehydrogenase complex (BCKD). The disease causal mutations can occur either in BCKDHA, BCKDHB or DBT genes encoding respectively the E1α, E1β and E2 subunits of the complex. In this study we report the molecular characterization of 3 Tunisian patients with the classic form of MSUD. Two novel putative mutations have been identified: the alteration c.716A>G (p.Glu239Gly) in BCKDHB and a small deletion (c.1333_1336delAATG; p.Asn445X) detected in DBT gene. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Defect studies of thin ZnO films prepared by pulsed laser deposition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vlček, M.; Čížek, J.; Procházka, I.; Novotný, M.; Bulíř, J.; Lančok, J.; Anwand, W.; Brauer, G.; Mosnier, J.-P.

2014-04-01

Thin ZnO films were grown by pulsed laser deposition on four different substrates: sapphire (0 0 0 1), MgO (1 0 0), fused silica and nanocrystalline synthetic diamond. Defect studies by slow positron implantation spectroscopy (SPIS) revealed significantly higher concentration of defects in the studied films when compared to a bulk ZnO single crystal. The concentration of defects in the films deposited on single crystal sapphire and MgO substrates is higher than in the films deposited on amorphous fused silica substrate and nanocrystalline synthetic diamond. Furthermore, the effect of deposition temperature on film quality was investigated in ZnO films deposited on synthetic diamond substrates. Defect studies performed by SPIS revealed that the concentration of defects firstly decreases with increasing deposition temperature, but at too high deposition temperatures it increases again. The lowest concentration of defects was found in the film deposited at 450° C.

The Diagnostic Accuracy of Urine-Based Xpert MTB/RIF in HIV-Infected Hospitalized Patients Who Are Smear-Negative or Sputum Scarce

PubMed Central

Peter, Jonathan G.; Theron, Grant; Muchinga, Tapuwa E.; Govender, Ureshnie; Dheda, Keertan

2012-01-01

Background Hospitals in sub-Saharan Africa are inundated with HIV-infected patients and tuberculosis (TB) is the commonest opportunistic infection in this sub-group. Up to one third of TB-HIV co-infected patients fail to produce a sputum sample (sputum scarce) and diagnosis is thus often delayed or missed. We investigated the sensitivity of urine-based methods (Xpert MTB/RIF, LAM strip test and LAM ELISA) in such patients. Methodology/Principal Findings 281 HIV-infected hospitalised patients with clinically suspected TB provided a spot urine sample. The reference standard was culture positivity for Mycobacterium tuberculosis on ≥1 sputum or extra-pulmonary sample. MTB/RIF was performed using 1 ml of both unprocessed and, when possible, concentrated urine. Each unconcentrated urine sample was also tested using the Clearview LAM ELISA and Alere LAM strip test. 42% (116/242) of patients had culture-proven TB. 18% (20/54) were sputum scarce. In sputum-scarce patients, the sensitivity of urine MTB/RIF and LAM ELISA was 40% (95%CI: 22–61) and 60% (95%CI: 39–78), respectively. Urine MTB/RIF specificity was 98% (95%CI: 95–100). Combined sensitivity of urine LAM ELISA and MTB/RIF was better than MTB/RIF alone [MTB/RIF and LAM: 70% (95%CI: 48–85) vs. MTB/RIF: 40% (95%CI: 22–61), p = 0.03]. Significant predictors of urine MTB/RIF positivity were CD4<50 cells/ml (p = 0.001), elevated protein-to-creatinine ratio (p<0.001) and LAM ELISA positivity (p<0.001). Urine centrifugation and pelleting significantly increased the sensitivity of MTB/RIF over unprocessed urine in paired samples [42% (95%CI: 26–58) vs. 8% (95%CI: 0–16), p<0.001]. Urine MTB/RIF-generated CT values correlated poorly with markers of bacillary burden (smear grade and time-to-positivity). Conclusions/Significance This preliminary study indicates that urine-based MTB/RIF, alone or in combination with LAM antigen detection, may potentially aid the diagnosis of TB in HIV-infected patients with advanced immunosuppression when sputum-based diagnosis is not possible. Concentration of urine prior to MTB/RIF-testing significantly improves sensitivity. PMID:22815718

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy of urine by an ingenious near-infrared Raman spectrometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Feng, Shangyuan; Chen, Weiwei; Li, Yongzeng; Chen, Guannan; Huang, Zufang; Liao, Xiaohua; Xie, Zhiming; Chen, Rong

2007-11-01

This paper demonstrates the potential of an elaborately devised near-infrared Raman system in analysis of urine. The broad band in the long-wavelength region of the electronic absorption spectra of the sol with added adsorbent at certain concentrations has been explained in terms of the aggregation of the colloidal silver particles. We have reported the surface-enhanced Raman (SERS) spectra of urine, and studied the silver solution enhanced effects on the urine Raman scattering. The Raman bands of human's urine was assigned to certain molecule vibrations. We have found that different donators have dissimilar SERS of urine in different physiological condition. Comparatively few studies have explored the ability of Raman spectroscopy for the analysis of urine acid. In the present report, we investigated the ability of surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy to measure uric acid in the human urine. The results suggested that the present Raman system holds considerable promise for practical use. Practical applications such as the quantitative medical examination of urine metabolites may also be feasible in the near future.

Lead Quantification in Urine Samples of Athletes by Coupling DLLME with UV-Vis Spectrophotometry.

PubMed

Faraji, Hakim; Helalizadeh, Masoumeh

2017-04-01

Urine lead level is one of the most employed measures of lead exposure and risk. The urine samples used in this study were obtained from ten healthy male cyclists. Dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction combined with ultraviolet and visible spectrophotometry was utilized for preconcentration, extraction, and determination of lead in urine samples. Optimization of the independent variables was carried out based on chemometric methods in three steps. According to the screening and optimization study, 133 μL of CCl 4 (extracting solvent), 1.34 mL ethanol (dispersing solvent), pH 2.0, 0.00 % of salt, and 0.1 % O,O-diethyl dithiophosphoric (chelating agent) were used as the optimum independent variables for microextraction and determination of lead. Under the optimized conditions, R 2 was 0.9991, and linearity range was 0.01-100 μg L -1 . Precision was evaluated in terms of repeatability and intermediate precision, with relative standard deviations being <9.1 and <15.3 %, respectively. The accuracy was estimated using urine samples of cyclists as real samples and it was confirmed. The relative error of ≤5 % was considered significant in the method specificity study. The lead concentration mean for the cyclists was 3.79 μg L -1 in urine samples. As a result, the proposed method is a robust technique to quantify lead concentrations higher than 11.6 ng L -1 in urine samples.

Water Treatment Systems for Long Spaceflights

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

FLynn, Michael T.

2012-01-01

Space exploration will require new life support systems to support the crew on journeys lasting from a few days to several weeks, or longer. These systems should also be designed to reduce the mass required to keep humans alive in space. Water accounts for about 80 percent of the daily mass intake required to keep a person alive. As a result, recycling water offers a high return on investment for space life support. Water recycling can also increase mission safety by providing an emergency supply of drinking water, where another supply is exhausted or contaminated. These technologies also increase safety by providing a lightweight backup to stored supplies, and they allow astronauts to meet daily drinking water requirements by recycling the water contained in their own urine. They also convert urine into concentrated brine that is biologically stable and nonthreatening, and can be safely stored onboard. This approach eliminates the need to have a dedicated vent to dump urine overboard. These needs are met by a system that provides a contaminant treatment pouch, referred to as a urine cell or contaminant cell, that converts urine or another liquid containing contaminants into a fortified drink, engineered to meet human hydration, electrolyte, and caloric requirements, using a variant of forward osmosis (FO) to draw water from a urine container into the concentrated fortified drink as part of a recycling stage. An activated carbon pretreatment removes most organic molecules. Salinity of the initial liquid mix (urine plus other) is synergistically used to enhance the precipitation of organic molecules so that activated carbon can remove most of the organics. A functional osmotic bag is then used to remove inorganic contaminants. If a contaminant is processed for which the saline content is different than optimal for precipitating organic molecules, the saline content of the liquid should be adjusted toward the optimal value for that contaminant. A first urine treatment method converts urine into a fortified sports drink, resembling Gatorade, using a first urine cell.

Extended testing of compression distillation.

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bambenek, R. A.; Nuccio, P. P.

1972-01-01

During the past eight years, the NASA Manned Spacecraft Center has supported the development of an integrated water and waste management system which includes the compression distillation process for recovering useable water from urine, urinal flush water, humidity condensate, commode flush water, and concentrated wash water. This paper describes the design of the compression distillation unit, developed for this system, and the testing performed to demonstrate its reliability and performance. In addition, this paper summarizes the work performed on pretreatment and post-treatment processes, to assure the recovery of sterile potable water from urine and treated urinal flush water.

Solid phase extraction of 2,4-D from human urine.

PubMed

Thompson, T S; Treble, R G

1996-10-01

A method for determining urinary concentrations of 2,4-D in samples collected from non-occupationally, environmentally exposed individuals was developed. The 2,4-D was extracted from fortified human urine samples using octadecylsilane solid phase extraction cartridges. The average percent recovery for urine samples spiked at 2 and 20 ng/mL was 100% and 93%, respectively. The method detection limit was estimated to be 0.75 ng of 2,4-D per mL of urine based on a 10 mL sample size. The potential use of 2,4-dichlorophenylacetic acid as a surrogate standard was also investigated.

Plasma chemistry and urine analysis in Salmonella-induced polyuria in racing pigeons (Columba livia).

PubMed

Gevaert, D; Nelis, J; Verhaeghe, B

1991-09-01

Polyuria-polydipsia is a frequent observation in pigeons with salmonellosis. These are accompanied by a decreased albumin/globulin ratio, increased creatinine and haptoglobin concentrations, and decrease in the chloride concentration in the blood plasma. The urine was found to have a low density with red and white blood cells frequently present in the sediment. A water deprivation test was conducted on three animals: polyuria disappeared and plasma urea increased significantly.

Urinary Concentrations of Bisphenols and Their Association with Biomarkers of Oxidative Stress in People Living Near E-Waste Recycling Facilities in China.

PubMed

Zhang, Tao; Xue, Jingchuan; Gao, Chuan-zi; Qiu, Rong-liang; Li, Yan-xi; Li, Xiao; Huang, Ming-zhi; Kannan, Kurunthachalam

2016-04-05

In this study, concentrations of bisphenol A (BPA) and seven other bisphenols (BPs) were measured in urine samples collected from people living in and around e-waste dismantling facilities, and in matched reference population from rural and urban areas in China. BPA, bisphenol S (BPS), and bisphenol F (BPF) were frequently detected (detection frequencies: > 90%) in urine samples collected from individuals who live near e-waste facilities, with geometric mean (GM) concentrations of 2.99 (or 3.75), 0.361 (or 0.469), and 0.349 (or 0.435) ng/mL (or μg/g Cre), respectively; the other five BPs were rarely found in urine samples, regardless of the sampling location. The urinary concentrations of BPA and BPF, but not BPS, were significantly higher in individuals from e-waste recycling locations than did individuals from a rural reference location. Our findings indicated that e-waste dismantling activities contribute to human exposure to BPA and BPF. 8-Hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) was measured in urine as a marker of oxidative stress. In the e-waste dismantling location, urinary 8-OHdG was significantly and positively correlated (p < 0.001) with urinary BPA and BPS, but not BPF; a similar correlation was also observed in reference sites. These findings suggest that BPA and BPS exposures are associated with elevated oxidative stress.

Urinary orotic acid-to-creatinine ratios in cats with hepatic lipidosis.

PubMed

VanSteenhouse, J L; Dimski, D S; Swenson, D H; Taboada, J

1999-06-01

To determine urinary orotic acid (OA) concentration and evaluate the urinary OA-to-creatinine ratio (OACR) in cats with hepatic lipidosis (HL). 20 cats with HL and 20 clinically normal cats. Hepatic lipidosis was diagnosed on the basis of clinical signs, results of serum biochemical analyses, exclusion of other concurrent illness, and cytologic or histologic evaluation of liver biopsy specimens. Urine samples were collected from each cat and frozen at -20 C until assayed. Urine creatinine concentrations were determined, using an alkaline picrate method followed by spectrophotometric assay. Urine OA concentration was determined, using high-performance liquid chromatography. Minimum amount of detectable OA in feline urine was 1 microg/ml. Because of small interfering peaks near the base of the OA peak, the minimum quantifiable concentration of OA was determined to be 5 microg/ml. Urinary OACR was compared in both groups of cats. Differences in urinary OACR were not detected between clinically normal cats and cats with HL. Peaks were not detected for urinary OA in any of the 20 clinically normal cats. Of the 20 HL cats, 14 did not have detectable peaks for urinary OA. Of the 6 HL cats that had detectable urinary OA peaks, 3 had values of <5 microg/ml. Apparently, OACR does not increase significantly in cats with HL. Urinary OACR is not a useful diagnostic test for HL in cats.

Determination of 232Th in urine by ICP-MS for individual monitoring purposes.

PubMed

Baglan, N; Cossonnet, C; Ritt, J

2001-07-01

Thorium is naturally occurring in various ores used for industrial purposes and has numerous applications. This paper sets out to investigate urine analysis as a suitable monitoring approach for workers potentially exposed to thorium. Due to its biokinetic behavior and its low solubility, urinary concentrations are generally very low, requiring therefore high sensitivity analytical methods. An analytical procedure has been developed for detecting 232Th concentrations of below 1 mBq L(-1) quickly and easily. Due to the long half-life (1.41 x 10(10) y) of 232Th, the potential of a procedure based on urine sample dilution and ICP-MS (inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry) measurement was investigated first. Two dilution factors were chosen: 100, which is more suitable for long-term measurement trials, and 20, which increases sensitivity. It has been shown that a 100-fold dilution can be used to measure concentrations of below 1 mBq L(-1), whereas a 20-fold one can be used to reach concentrations of below 0.06 mBq L(-1). Then, on the basis of the limitation of the procedure based on urine dilution, the suitable field of application for the different procedures (100-fold and 20-fold dilution and also a chemical purification followed by an ICP-MS measurement) was determined in relation to monitoring objectives.

Architecture of vasa recta in the renal inner medulla of the desert rodent Dipodomys merriami: potential impact on the urine concentrating mechanism.

PubMed

Issaian, Tadeh; Urity, Vinoo B; Dantzler, William H; Pannabecker, Thomas L

2012-10-01

We hypothesize that the inner medulla of the kangaroo rat Dipodomys merriami, a desert rodent that concentrates its urine to over 6,000 mosmol/kg H(2)O, provides unique examples of architectural features necessary for production of highly concentrated urine. To investigate this architecture, inner medullary vascular segments in the outer inner medulla were assessed with immunofluorescence and digital reconstructions from tissue sections. Descending vasa recta (DVR) expressing the urea transporter UT-B and the water channel aquaporin 1 lie at the periphery of groups of collecting ducts (CDs) that coalesce in their descent through the inner medulla. Ascending vasa recta (AVR) lie inside and outside groups of CDs. DVR peel away from vascular bundles at a uniform rate as they descend the inner medulla, and feed into networks of AVR that are associated with organized clusters of CDs. These AVR form interstitial nodal spaces, with each space composed of a single CD, two AVR, and one or more ascending thin limbs or prebend segments, an architecture that may lead to solute compartmentation and fluid fluxes essential to the urine concentrating mechanism. Although we have identified several apparent differences, the tubulovascular architecture of the kangaroo rat inner medulla is remarkably similar to that of the Munich Wistar rat at the level of our analyses. More detailed studies are required for identifying interspecies functional differences.

Accelerator mass spectrometry analysis of 14C-oxaliplatin concentrations in biological samples and 14C contents in biological samples and antineoplastic agents

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Toyoguchi, Teiko; Kobayashi, Takeshi; Konno, Noboru; Shiraishi, Tadashi; Kato, Kazuhiro; Tokanai, Fuyuki

2015-10-01

Accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) is expected to play an important role in microdose trials. In this study, we measured the 14C concentration in 14C-oxaliplatin-spiked serum, urine and supernatant of fecal homogenate samples in our Yamagata University (YU) - AMS system. The calibration curves of 14C concentration in serum, urine and supernatant of fecal homogenate were linear (the correlation coefficients were ⩾0.9893), and the precision and accuracy was within the acceptance criteria. To examine a 14C content of water in three vacuum blood collection tubes and a syringe were measured. 14C was not detected from water in these devices. The mean 14C content in urine samples of 6 healthy Japanese volunteers was 0.144 dpm/mL, and the intra-day fluctuation of 14C content in urine from a volunteer was little. The antineoplastic agents are administered to the patients in combination. Then, 14C contents of the antineoplastic agents were quantitated. 14C contents were different among 10 antineoplastic agents; 14C contents of paclitaxel injection and docetaxel hydrate injection were higher than those of the other injections. These results indicate that our quantitation method using YU-AMS system is suited for microdosing studies and that measurement of baseline and co-administered drugs might be necessary for the studies in low concentrations.

4-PBA improves lithium-induced nephrogenic diabetes insipidus by attenuating ER stress.

PubMed

Zheng, Peili; Lin, Yu; Wang, Feifei; Luo, Renfei; Zhang, Tiezheng; Hu, Shan; Feng, Pinning; Liang, Xinling; Li, Chunling; Wang, Weidong

2016-10-01

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress has been implicated in some types of glomerular and tubular disorders. The objectives of this study were to elucidate the role of ER stress in lithium-induced nephrogenic diabetes insipidus (NDI) and to investigate whether attenuation of ER stress by 4-phenylbutyric acid (4-PBA) improves urinary concentrating defect in lithium-treated rats. Wistar rats received lithium (40 mmol/kg food), 4-PBA (320 mg/kg body wt by gavage every day), or no treatment (control) for 2 wk, and they were dehydrated for 24 h before euthanasia. Lithium treatment resulted in increased urine output and decreased urinary osmolality, which was significantly improved by 4-PBA. 4-PBA also prevented reduced protein expression of aquaporin-2 (AQP2), pS256-AQP2, and pS261-AQP2 in the inner medulla of kidneys from lithium-treated rats after 24-h dehydration. Lithium treatment resulted in increased expression of ER stress markers in the inner medulla, which was associated with dilated cisternae and expansion of ER in the inner medullary collecting duct (IMCD) principal cells. Confocal immunofluorescence studies showed colocalization of a molecular chaperone, binding IgG protein (BiP), with AQP2 in principal cells. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated increased intracellular expression of BiP and decreased AQP2 expression in IMCD principal cells of kidneys from lithium-treated rats. 4-PBA attenuated expression of ER stress markers and recovered ER morphology. In IMCD suspensions isolated from lithium-treated rats, 4-PBA incubation was also associated with increased AQP2 expression and ameliorated ER stress. In conclusion, in experimental lithium-induced NDI, 4-PBA improved the urinary concentrating defect and increased AQP2 expression, likely via attenuating ER stress in IMCD principal cells. Copyright © 2016 the American Physiological Society.

Study of dung, urine, and milk of selected grazing animals as bioindicators in environmental geoscience--a case study from Mangampeta barite mining area, Kadapa District, Andhra Pradesh, India.

PubMed

Raghu, V

2015-01-01

The ancient scientific Sanskrit texts of Ayurveda (science of longevity) deal with waters, plants, and animals in relation to human health. Based on the studies mentioned in Ayurveda and modern literature, biological responses of grazing animals in Mangampeta barite mining area in Kadapa District, Andhra Pradesh, were studied. A non-mineralized Tirupati area in Chittoor District, Andhra Pradesh, was selected for the purpose of comparison. In these areas, certain animal products of selected grazing animals were studied if they could be used as tools in mineral exploration. Samples of dung, urine, and milk from cow, bullock, she-buffalo, he-buffalo, sheep, and goat were collected from these two areas during winter and summer seasons. Goat dung was found to have lowest moisture content and highest organic matter while goat urine contained highest amounts of organic matter and ash content. All these animal products were analyzed for 11 trace elements. The concentration of trace elements released through dung, urine, and milk widely varied in different animal species with seasonal variations. The elemental concentration was higher in dung and lower in urine, when compared to that of milk. The concentration of all elements in dung, urine, and milk of all animals, in both the areas, was higher in winter than that in summer. Dung represents the metabolic process of the whole animal and reflects the dietary conditions whether fed on natural or inorganic supplement. It can be inferred that dung, urine, and milk of any animal can be used as tools in mineral exploration during winter, while during summer, only dung can be useful. The dung of goat when compared to that of the other cattle serves as a better tool in environmental studies as goat depends almost entirely on natural vegetation without human interference.

Renal function in sheep during infusion of alkali metal ions into the renal artery.

PubMed Central

Beal, A M; Harrison, F A

1975-01-01

1. The effect on renal function of 1 M solutions of LiCl, NaCl, KCl, RbCl and CsCl and 3 M-NaCl infused close-arterially to the kidney for 10 min at 0-7ml./min has been studied in nine experiments on four unilaterally nephrectomized sheep. The levels of flow, electrolyte concentration and electrolyte excretion in the urine were measured before, during and for 50 min after the infusions. 2. The infusion of 1-M-NaCl produced little change in urine flow and composition whereas 3 M-NaCl resulted in relatively small increases in urine flow and sodium excretion. 3. The infusion of lithium, potassium, rubidium and caesium resulted in marked increases in urine flow, urinary sodium concentration and excretion, urinary potassium excretion and osmolal clearance while the urinary potassium concentration decreased. 4. Changes in urine flow and urinary pH during the infusions of all the alkali ions except sodium were consistent with increased urinary bicarbonate excretion. 5. The osmolal clearance was increased by the infusion of lithium, potassium, rubidium and caesium, but equivalent increases in the rate of solutefree water reabsorption did not occur. 6. The infusion of caesium resulted in a depression of the glomerular filtration rate (G.F.R.) which was not observed when the other alkali ions were infused. 7. The effects of lithium, potassium and rubidium on urine flow and composition were rapid in onset and the residual effects on these ions, on cessation of infusion, were relatively short. The effects on caesium were slow in onset and prolonged in duration. 8. It was concluded that lithium, potassium, rubidium, and caesium altered urine flow and electrolyte excretion by acting upon common mechanisms which were predominantly intra-renal and located in the proximal segment of the nephron. PMID:236381

Monitoring Body Water Balance in Pregnant and Nursing Women: The Validity of Urine Color.

PubMed

McKenzie, Amy L; Armstrong, Lawrence E

2017-01-01

Urine osmolality (UOSM) reflects the renal regulation of excess fluid or deficit fluid, and therefore, serves as a marker of hydration status. Little is known about monitoring hydration in pregnant and lactating women despite significant physiological challenges to body water balance during that time. Therefore, we designed a study to assess if urine color (UCOL), an inexpensive and practical method, was a valid means of assessing urine concentration. Twenty-four hour UCOL was significantly correlated with 24 h UOSM in all women: pregnant, lactating, and control (r = 0.61-0.84, all p < 0.001). Utilizing a receiver operating characteristic statistical analysis, we found that 24 h and single sample UCOL had excellent diagnostic accuracy for identifying UOSM ≥500 mOsm·kg-1 in all women (area under the curve = 0.68-0.95, p < 0.001-0.46), and the UCOL that reflected this cut off was ≥4 on the UCOL chart. Therefore, UCOL is a valid marker of urine concentration and ultimately hydration status in pregnant, lactating, and non-pregnant, non-lactating women. For pregnant, lactating, and control women, the UCOL chart is a valid tool that can be used to monitor urine concentration in a single sample or over the course of the day via a 24 h sample. Key Message: Women who present with a UCOL of 4 or more likely have a UOSM ≥500 mOsm·kg-1. Given the positive health benefits associated with UOSM <500 mOsm·kg-1, women should aim for a 1, 2, or 3 on the UCOL chart. If a UCOL of ≥4 is observed, women should consider increasing fluid consumption to improve hydration status. © 2017 The Author(s) Published by S. Karger AG, Basel.

Monitoring cocaine use in substance-abuse-treatment patients by sweat and urine testing.

PubMed

Preston, K L; Huestis, M A; Wong, C J; Umbricht, A; Goldberger, B A; Cone, E J

1999-09-01

Sweat and urine specimens were collected from 44 methadone-maintenance patients to evaluate the use of sweat testing to monitor cocaine use. Paired sweat patches that were applied and removed weekly (on Tuesdays) were compared with 3-5 consecutive urine specimens collected Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. All patches (N = 930) were extracted in 2.5 mL of solvent and analyzed by ELISA immunoassay (cutoff concentration 10 ng/mL); a subset of patches (N = 591) was also analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) for cocaine, benzoylecgonine (BZE), and ecgonine methyl ester (EME) (cutoff concentration 5 ng/mL). Urine specimens were subjected to qualitative analysis by EMIT (cutoff 300 ng/mL) and subsets were analyzed by TDx (semiquantitative, LOD 30 ng/mL) and by GC-MS for cocaine (LOD 5 ng/mL). Results were evaluated to (1) determine the relative amounts of cocaine and its metabolites in sweat; (2) assess replicability in duplicate patches; (3) compare ELISA and GC-MS results for cocaine in sweat; and (4) compare the detection of cocaine use by sweat and urine testing. Cocaine was detected by GC-MS in 99% of ELISA-positive sweat patches; median concentrations of cocaine, BZE, and EME were 378, 78.7, and 74 ng/mL, respectively. Agreement in duplicate patches was approximately 90% by ELISA analysis. The sensitivity, specificity, and efficiency of sweat ELISA cocaine results as compared with sweat GC-MS results were 93.6%, 91.3%, and 93.2%, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, and efficiency between ELISA sweat patch and EMIT urine results were 97.6%, 60.5%, and 77.7%, respectively. These results support the use of sweat patches for monitoring cocaine use, though further evaluation is needed.

Chemical communication in tilapia: a comparison of Oreochromis mossambicus with O. niloticus.

PubMed

Hubbard, Peter C; Mota, Vasco C; Keller-Costa, Tina; da Silva, José Paulo; Canário, Adelino V M

2014-10-01

In allopatric speciation species differentiation generally results from different selective pressures in different environments, and identifying the traits responsible helps to understand the isolation mechanism(s) involved. Male Mozambique tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) use urine to signal dominance; furthermore, 5β-pregnane-3α,17,20β-triol-3α-glucuronide (and its α-epimer, 5β-pregnane-3α,17,20α-triol-3α-glucuronide), in their urine is a potent pheromone, the concentration of which is correlated with social status. The Nile tilapia (Oreochromisniloticus) is a close relative; species divergence probably resulted from geographical separation around 6 million years ago. This raises the question of whether the two species use similar urinary chemical cues during reproduction. The olfactory potency of urine, and crude extracts, from either species was assessed by the electro-olfactogram and the presence of the steroid glucuronides in urine from the Nile tilapia by liquid-chromatography/mass-spectrometry. Both species showed similar olfactory sensitivity to urine and respective extracts from either species, and similar sensitivity to the steroid glucuronides. 5β-Pregnan-3α,17α,20β-triol-3α-glucuronide was present at high concentrations (approaching 0.5mM) in urine from Nile tilapia, with 5β-pregnan-3α,17α,20α-triol-3α-glucuronide present at lower concentrations, similar to the Mozambique tilapia. Both species also had similar olfactory sensitivity to estradiol-3-glucuronide, a putative urinary cue from females. Together, these results support the idea that reproductive chemical cues have not been subjected to differing selective pressure. Whether these chemical cues have the same physiological and behavioural roles in O. niloticus as O. mossambicus remains to be investigated. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Increased intestinal macromolecular permeability and urine nitrite excretion associated with liver cirrhosis with ascites.

PubMed

Lee, Soong; Son, Seung-Cheol; Han, Moon-Jong; Kim, Woo-Jin; Kim, Soo-Hyun; Kim, Hye-Ran; Jeon, Woo-Kyu; Park, Ki-Hong; Shin, Myung-Geun

2008-06-28

To determine intestinal permeability, the serum tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha level and urine nitric oxide (NO) metabolites are altered in liver cirrhosis (LC) with or without ascites. Fifty-three patients with LC and 26 healthy control subjects were enrolled in the study. The intestinal permeability value is expressed as the percentage of polyethylene glycol (PEG) 400 and 3350 retrieval in 8-h urine samples as determined by high performance liquid chromatography. Serum TNF-alpha concentrations and urine NO metabolites were determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Greiss reaction method, respectively. The intestinal permeability index was significantly higher in patients with LC with ascites than in healthy control subjects or patients with LC without ascites (0.88 +/- 0.12 vs 0.52 +/- 0.05 or 0.53 +/- 0.03, P < 0.05) and correlated with urine nitrite excretion (r = 0.98). Interestingly, the serum TNF-alpha concentration was significantly higher in LC without ascites than in control subjects or in LC with ascites (198.9 +/- 55.8 pg/mL vs 40.9 +/- 12.3 pg/mL or 32.1 +/- 13.3 pg/mL, P < 0.05). Urine nitrite excretion was significantly higher in LC with ascites than in the control subjects or in LC without ascites (1170.9 +/- 28.7 micromol/L vs 903.1 +/- 55.1 micromol/L or 956.7 +/- 47.7 micromol/L, P < 0.05). Increased intestinal macromolecular permeability and NO is probably of importance in the pathophysiology and progression of LC with ascites, but the serum TNF-alpha concentration was not related to LC with ascites.

A novel method for the quantitation of gingerol glucuronides in human plasma or urine based on stable isotope dilution assays.

PubMed

Schoenknecht, Carola; Andersen, Gaby; Schieberle, Peter

2016-11-15

The bio-active compounds of ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe), the gingerols, are gaining considerable attention due to their numerous beneficial health effects. In order to elucidate the physiological relevance of the ascribed effects their bioavailability has to be determined taking their metabolization into account. To quantitate in vivo generated [6]-, [8]- and [10]-gingerol glucuronides in human plasma and urine after ginger tea consumption, a simultaneous and direct liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method based on stable isotope dilution assays was established and validated. The respective references as well as the isotopically labeled substances were synthesized and characterized by mass spectrometry and NMR. Selective isolation of gingerol glucuronides from human plasma and urine by a mixed-phase anion-exchange SPE method led to recovery rates between 80.8 and 98.2%. LC-MS/MS analyses in selected reaction monitoring modus enabled a highly sensitive quantitation of gingerol glucuronides with LoQs between 3.9-9.8nmol/L in plasma and 39.3-161.1nmol/L in urine. The method precision in plasma and urine varied in the range±15%, whereas the intra-day accuracy in plasma and urine showed values between 78 and 122%. The developed method was then applied to a pilot study in which two volunteers consumed one liter ginger tea. Pharmacokinetic parameters like the maximum concentration (c max ), the time to reach c max (t max ), area under the curve (AUC), elimination rate constant (k el ) and elimination half-life (t 1/2 ) were calculated from the concentration-time curve of each gingerol glucuronide. The obtained results will enable more detailed investigation of gingerol glucuronides as bioactives in their physiologically relevant concentrations. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Quantification of vosaroxin and its metabolites N-desmethylvosaroxin and O-desmethylvosaroxin in human plasma and urine using high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

PubMed

Nijenhuis, C M; Lucas, L; Rosing, H; Jamieson, G; Fox, J A; Schellens, J H M; Beijnen, J H

2016-08-01

Vosaroxin is a first-in-class anticancer quinolone derivative topoisomerase II inhibitor that is currently in development in combination with cytarabine for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). To investigate vosaroxin pharmacokinetics (PK) in patients, liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) assays to quantify vosaroxin and the two metabolites N-desmethylvosaroxin and O-desmethylvosaroxin in human plasma and urine were developed and validated. Immediately after collection the samples were stored at -80°C. Prior to analysis, the plasma samples were subjected to protein precipitation and the urine samples were diluted. For both assays the reconstituted extracts were injected on a Symmetry Shield RP8 column and gradient elution was applied using 0.1% formic acid in water and acetonitrile-methanol (50:50, v/v). Analyses were performed with a triple quadruple mass spectrometer in positive-ion mode. A deuterated isotope of vosaroxin was used as internal standard for the quantification. The validated assays quantify vosaroxin and N-desmethylvosaroxin in the concentration range of 2-500ng/mL in plasma and urine. For O-desmethylvosaroxin the concentration range of 4-500ng/mL in plasma and urine was validated. Dilution integrity experiments show that samples can be diluted 25 fold in control matrix prior to analysis. The expanded concentration range for plasma and urine for vosaroxin and N-desmethylvosaroxin is therefore from 2 to 15,000ng/mL and in plasma for O-desmethylvosaroxin from 4 to 15,000ng/mL. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Concentrations of gatifloxacin in plasma and urine and penetration into prostatic and seminal fluid, ejaculate, and sperm cells after single oral administrations of 400 milligrams to volunteers.

PubMed

Naber, C K; Steghafner, M; Kinzig-Schippers, M; Sauber, C; Sörgel, F; Stahlberg, H J; Naber, K G

2001-01-01

Gatifloxacin (GTX), a new fluoroquinolone with extended antibacterial activity, is an interesting candidate for the treatment of chronic bacterial prostatitis (CBP). Besides the antibacterial spectrum, the concentrations in the target tissues and fluids are crucial for the treatment of CBP. Thus, it was of interest to investigate its penetration into prostatic and seminal fluid. GTX concentrations in plasma, urine, ejaculate, prostatic and seminal fluid, and sperm cells were determined by a high-performance liquid chromatography method after oral intake of a single 400-mg dose in 10 male Caucasian volunteers in the fasting state. Simultaneous application of the renal contrast agent iohexol was used to estimate the maximal possible contamination of ejaculate and prostatic and seminal fluid by urine. GTX was well tolerated. The means (standard deviations) for the following parameters were as indicated: time to maximum concentration of drug in serum, 1.66 (0. 91) h; maximum concentration of drug in serum, 2.90 (0.39) microg/ml; area under the concentration-time curve from 0 to 24 h, 25.65 microg. h/ml; and half life, 7.2 (0.90) h. Within 12 h about 50% of the drug was excreted unchanged into the urine. The mean renal clearance was 169 ml/min. The gatifloxacin concentrations in ejaculate, seminal fluid, and prostatic fluid were in the range of the corresponding plasma concentrations which were 1.92 (0.27) microg/ml at approximately the same time point (4 h after drug intake). The concentrations in sperm cells (0.195, 0.076, and 0.011 microg/ml) could be determined in three subjects. The good penetration into prostatic and seminal fluid, the good tolerance, and the previously reported broad antibacterial spectrum suggest that GTX may be a good alternative for the treatment of chronic bacterial prostatitis. Clinical studies should be performed to confirm this assumption.

Concentrations of Gatifloxacin in Plasma and Urine and Penetration into Prostatic and Seminal Fluid, Ejaculate, and Sperm Cells after Single Oral Administrations of 400 Milligrams to Volunteers

PubMed Central

Naber, Christoph K.; Steghafner, Michaela; Kinzig-Schippers, Martina; Sauber, Christian; Sörgel, Fritz; Stahlberg, Hans-Jürgen; Naber, Kurt G.

2001-01-01

Gatifloxacin (GTX), a new fluoroquinolone with extended antibacterial activity, is an interesting candidate for the treatment of chronic bacterial prostatitis (CBP). Besides the antibacterial spectrum, the concentrations in the target tissues and fluids are crucial for the treatment of CBP. Thus, it was of interest to investigate its penetration into prostatic and seminal fluid. GTX concentrations in plasma, urine, ejaculate, prostatic and seminal fluid, and sperm cells were determined by a high-performance liquid chromatography method after oral intake of a single 400-mg dose in 10 male Caucasian volunteers in the fasting state. Simultaneous application of the renal contrast agent iohexol was used to estimate the maximal possible contamination of ejaculate and prostatic and seminal fluid by urine. GTX was well tolerated. The means (standard deviations) for the following parameters were as indicated: time to maximum concentration of drug in serum, 1.66 (0.91) h; maximum concentration of drug in serum, 2.90 (0.39) μg/ml; area under the concentration-time curve from 0 to 24 h, 25.65 μg · h/ml; and half life, 7.2 (0.90) h. Within 12 h about 50% of the drug was excreted unchanged into the urine. The mean renal clearance was 169 ml/min. The gatifloxacin concentrations in ejaculate, seminal fluid, and prostatic fluid were in the range of the corresponding plasma concentrations which were 1.92 (0.27) μg/ml at approximately the same time point (4 h after drug intake). The concentrations in sperm cells (0.195, 0.076, and 0.011 μg/ml) could be determined in three subjects. The good penetration into prostatic and seminal fluid, the good tolerance, and the previously reported broad antibacterial spectrum suggest that GTX may be a good alternative for the treatment of chronic bacterial prostatitis. Clinical studies should be performed to confirm this assumption. PMID:11120980

Quantification of acetylcholine, choline, betaine, and dimethylglycine in human plasma and urine using stable-isotope dilution ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

PubMed

Kirsch, Susanne H; Herrmann, Wolfgang; Rabagny, Yannick; Obeid, Rima

2010-12-15

Disorders in choline metabolism are related to disease conditions. We developed a stable-isotope dilution ultra performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method for the simultaneous quantification of acetylcholine (ACh), betaine, choline, and dimethylglycine (DMG). We used this method to measure concentrations of the analytes in plasma and urine in addition to other biological fluids after a protein precipitation by acetonitrile. The detection limits were between 0.35 nmol/L (for ACh in urine) and 0.34 μmol/L (for betaine in urine). ACh concentrations were not detectable in plasma. Intraassay and interassay coefficient of variation (CVs) were all <10.0% in biological fluids, except for DMG in cerebrospinal fluid (CV=12.44%). Mean recoveries in urine pool samples were between 99.2% and 103.9%. The urinary excretion of betaine, choline, and DMG was low, with approximately 50.0% higher excretion of choline in females compared to males. Median urinary excretion of ACh were 3.44 and 3.92 μmol/mol creatinine in males and females, respectively (p=0.689). Plasma betaine concentrations correlated significantly with urinary excretions of betaine (r=0.495, p=0.027) and choline (r=0.502, p=0.024) in females. Plasma choline concentrations correlated significantly with urinary excretion of ACh in males (r=0.419, p=0.041) and females (r=0.621, p=0.003). The new method for the simultaneous determination of ACh, betaine, choline, and DMG is sensitive, precise, and fast enough to be used in clinical investigations related to the methylation pathway. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Nephrotoxic contaminants in drinking water and urine, and chronic kidney disease in rural Sri Lanka.

PubMed

Rango, Tewodros; Jeuland, Marc; Manthrithilake, Herath; McCornick, Peter

2015-06-15

Chronic kidney disease of unknown ("u") cause (CKDu) is a growing public health concern in Sri Lanka. Prior research has hypothesized a link with drinking water quality, but rigorous studies are lacking. This study assesses the relationship between nephrotoxic elements (namely arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and uranium (U)) in drinking water, and urine samples collected from individuals with and/or without CKDu in endemic areas, and from individuals without CKDu in nonendemic areas. All water samples - from a variety of source types (i.e. shallow and deep wells, springs, piped and surface water) - contained extremely low concentrations of nephrotoxic elements, and all were well below drinking water guideline values. Concentrations in individual urine samples were higher than, and uncorrelated with, those measured in drinking water, suggesting potential exposure from other sources. Mean urinary concentrations of these elements for individuals with clinically diagnosed CKDu were consistently lower than individuals without CKDu both in endemic and nonendemic areas. This likely stems from the inability of the kidney to excrete these toxic elements via urine in CKDu patients. Urinary concentrations of individuals were also found to be within the range of reference values measured in urine of healthy unexposed individuals from international biomonitoring studies, though these reference levels may not be safe for the Sri Lankan population. The results suggest that CKDu cannot be clearly linked with the presence of these contaminants in drinking water. There remains a need to investigate potential interactions of low doses of these elements (particularly Cd and As) with other risk factors that appear linked to CKDu, prior to developing public health strategies to address this illness. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Development of biomonitoring equivalents for barium in urine and plasma for interpreting human biomonitoring data.

PubMed

Poddalgoda, Devika; Macey, Kristin; Assad, Henry; Krishnan, Kannan

2017-06-01

The objectives of the present work were: (1) to assemble population-level biomonitoring data to identify the concentrations of urinary and plasma barium across the general population; and (2) to derive biomonitoring equivalents (BEs) for barium in urine and plasma in order to facilitate the interpretation of barium concentrations in the biological matrices. In population level biomonitoring studies, barium has been measured in urine in the U.S. (NHANES study), but no such data on plasma barium levels were identified. The BE values for plasma and urine were derived from U.S. EPA's reference dose (RfD) of 0.2 mg/kg bw/d, based on a lower confidence limit on the benchmark dose (BMDL 05 ) of 63 mg/kg bw/d. The plasma BE (9 μg Ba/L) was derived by regression analysis of the near-steady-state plasma concentrations associated with the administered doses in animals exposed to barium chloride dihydrate in drinking water for 2-years in a NTP study. Using a human urinary excretion fraction of 0.023, a BE for urinary barium (0.19 mg/L or 0.25 mg/g creatinine) was derived for US EPA's RfD. The median and the 95 th percentile barium urine concentrations of the general population in U.S. are below the BE determined in this study, indicating that the population exposure to inorganic barium is expected to be below the exposure guidance value of 0.2 mg/kg bw/d. Copyright © 2017 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Simultaneous determination of LSD and 2-oxo-3-hydroxy LSD in hair and urine by LC-MS/MS and its application to forensic cases.

PubMed

Jang, Moonhee; Kim, Jihyun; Han, Inhoi; Yang, Wonkyung

2015-11-10

Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) is administered in low dosages, which makes its detection in biological matrices a major challenge in forensic toxicology. In this study, two sensitive and reliable methods based on liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) were established and validated for the simultaneous determination of LSD and its metabolite, 2-oxo-3-hydroxy-LSD (O-H-LSD), in hair and urine. Target analytes in hair were extracted using methanol at 38°C for 15h and analyzed by LC-MS/MS. For urine sample preparation, liquid-liquid extraction was performed. Limits of detection (LODs) in hair were 0.25pg/mg for LSD and 0.5pg/mg for O-H-LSD. In urine, LODs were 0.01 and 0.025ng/ml for LSD and O-H-LSD, respectively. Method validation results showed good linearity and acceptable precision and accuracy. The developed methods were applied to authentic specimens from two legal cases of LSD ingestion, and allowed identification and quantification of LSD and O-H-LSD in the specimens. In the two cases, LSD concentrations in hair were 1.27 and 0.95pg/mg; O-H-LSD was detected in one case, but its concentration was below the limit of quantification. In urine samples collected from the two suspects 8 and 3h after ingestion, LSD concentrations were 0.48 and 2.70ng/ml, respectively, while O-H-LSD concentrations were 4.19 and 25.2ng/ml, respectively. These methods can be used for documenting LSD intake in clinical and forensic settings. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Ethyl glucuronide, ethyl sulfate, and ethanol in urine after sustained exposure to an ethanol-based hand sanitizer.

PubMed

Reisfield, Gary M; Goldberger, Bruce A; Crews, Bridgit O; Pesce, Amadeo J; Wilson, George R; Teitelbaum, Scott A; Bertholf, Roger L

2011-03-01

To assess the degree of ethanol absorption and subsequent formation of urinary ethyl glucuronide (EtG) and ethyl sulfate (EtS) following sustained application of hand sanitizer, 11 volunteers cleansed their hands with Purell(™) hand sanitizer (62% ethanol) every 5 min for 10 h on three consecutive days. Urine specimens were obtained at the beginning and end of each day of the study, and on the morning of the fourth day. Urinary creatinine, ethanol, EtG, and EtS concentrations were measured. EtG was undetectable in all pre-study urine specimens, but two pre-study specimens had detectable EtS (73 and 37 ng/mL). None of the pre-study specimens had detectable ethanol. The maximum EtG and EtS concentrations over the course of the study were 2001 and 84 ng/mL, respectively, and nearly all EtG- and EtS-positive urine specimens were collected at the conclusion of the individual study days. Only two specimens had detectable EtG at the beginning of any study day (96 and 139 ng/mL), and only one specimen had detectable EtS at the beginning of a study day (64 ng/mL), in addition to the two with detectable EtS prior to the study. Creatinine-adjusted maximum EtG and EtS concentrations were 1998 and 94 μg/g creatinine, respectively. In patients being monitored for ethanol use by urinary EtG concentrations, currently accepted EtG cutoffs do not distinguish between ethanol consumption and incidental exposures, particularly when urine specimens are obtained shortly after sustained use of ethanolcontaining hand sanitizer. Our data suggest that EtS may be an important complementary biomarker in distinguishing ethanol consumption from dermal exposure.

Monitoring cocaine use and abstinence among cocaine users for contingency management interventions.

PubMed

Holtyn, August F; Knealing, Todd W; Jarvis, Brantley P; Subramaniam, Shrinidhi; Silverman, Kenneth

2017-06-01

During contingency management interventions, reinforcement of cocaine abstinence is arranged by delivering an incentive when a urine sample tests cocaine-negative. The use of qualitative versus quantitative urinalysis testing may have important implications for effects on cocaine abstinence. Qualitative testing (i.e., testing that solely identifies whether a particular substance is present or absent) may not detect short-term cocaine abstinence because a single instance of cocaine use can result in cocaine-positive urine over many days. Quantitative testing (i.e., testing that identifies how much of a substance is present) may be more sensitive to short-term cocaine abstinence; however, the selection of a criterion for distinguishing new use versus carryover from previous use is an important consideration. The present study examined benzoylecgonine concentrations, the primary metabolite of cocaine, in urine samples collected three times per week for 30 weeks from 28 cocaine users who were exposed to a cocaine abstinence contingency. Of the positive urine samples (benzoylecgonine concentration >300 ng/ml), 29%, 21%, 14%, and 5% of the samples decreased in benzoylecgonine concentration by more than 20%, 40%, 60%, and 80% per day, respectively. As the size of the decrease increased, the likelihood of that sample occurring during a period leading to a cocaine-negative urine sample (benzoylecgonine concentration ≤300 ng/ml) also increased. The number of days required to produce a cocaine-negative sample following a positive sample ranged from 1 to 10 days and was significantly correlated with the starting benzoylecgonine level ( r = 0.43, p < 0.001). The present analyses may aid in the development of procedures that allow for the precise reinforcement of recent cocaine abstinence during contingency management interventions.

An approach to standardization of urine sediment analysis via suggestion of a common manual protocol.

PubMed

Ko, Dae-Hyun; Ji, Misuk; Kim, Sollip; Cho, Eun-Jung; Lee, Woochang; Yun, Yeo-Min; Chun, Sail; Min, Won-Ki

2016-01-01

The results of urine sediment analysis have been reported semiquantitatively. However, as recent guidelines recommend quantitative reporting of urine sediment, and with the development of automated urine sediment analyzers, there is an increasing need for quantitative analysis of urine sediment. Here, we developed a protocol for urine sediment analysis and quantified the results. Based on questionnaires, various reports, guidelines, and experimental results, we developed a protocol for urine sediment analysis. The results of this new protocol were compared with those obtained with a standardized chamber and an automated sediment analyzer. Reference intervals were also estimated using new protocol. We developed a protocol with centrifugation at 400 g for 5 min, with the average concentration factor of 30. The correlation between quantitative results of urine sediment analysis, the standardized chamber, and the automated sediment analyzer were generally good. The conversion factor derived from the new protocol showed a better fit with the results of manual count than the default conversion factor in the automated sediment analyzer. We developed a protocol for manual urine sediment analysis to quantitatively report the results. This protocol may provide a mean for standardization of urine sediment analysis.

Identification of Sulfated Metabolites of 4-Chlorobiphenyl (PCB3) in the Serum and Urine of Male Rats

PubMed Central

Dhakal, Kiran; He, Xianran; Lehmler, Hans-Joachim; Teesch, Lynn M.; Duffel, Michael W.; Robertson, Larry W.

2012-01-01

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are legacy pollutants that exert toxicities through various mechanisms. In the recent years exposure to PCBs via inhalation has been recognized as a hazard. Those PCBs with lower numbers of chlorine atoms (LC-PCBs) are semi-volatile, and have been reported in the urban air, as well as in the indoor air of older buildings. LC-PCBs are bioactivated to phenols and further to quinone electrophiles with genotoxic/carcinogenic potential. We hypothesized that phenolic LC-PCBs are subject to conjugation and excretion in the urine. PCB3, often present in high concentrations in air, is a prototypical congener for the study of the metabolism and toxicity of LC-PCBs. Our objective was to identify metabolites of PCB3 in urine that could be potentially employed in the estimation of exposure to LC-PCBs. Male Sprague Dawley rats (150–175 g) were housed in metabolism cages and received a single intraperitoneal injection of 600 µmol/kg body weight of PCB3. Urine was collected every four hours; rats were euthanized at 36 h and serum was collected. LC-MS analysis of urine before and after incubation with β-glucuronidase and sulfatase showed that sulfate conjugates were in higher concentrations than glucuronide conjugates and free phenolic forms. At least two major metabolites, and two minor metabolites were identified in urine that could be attributed to mercapturic acid metabolites of PCB3. Quantitation by authentic standards confirmed that approximately 3% of the dose was excreted in the urine as sulfates over 36 hours; with peak excretion occurring at 10–20 h after exposure. The major metabolites were 4’PCB3 sulfate, 3’PCB3 sulfate, 2’PCB3 sulfate, and presumably a catechol sulfate. The serum concentration of 4’PCB3 sulfate was 6.18±2.16 µg/mL. This is the first report that sulfated metabolites of PCBs are formed in vivo. These findings suggest a prospective approach for exposure assessment of LC- PCBs by analysis of phase II metabolites in urine. PMID:23137097

Improved sensitivity of the urine CAA lateral-flow assay for diagnosing active Schistosoma infections by using larger sample volumes.

PubMed

Corstjens, Paul L A M; Nyakundi, Ruth K; de Dood, Claudia J; Kariuki, Thomas M; Ochola, Elizabeth A; Karanja, Diana M S; Mwinzi, Pauline N M; van Dam, Govert J

2015-04-22

Accurate determination of Schistosoma infection rates in low endemic regions to examine progress towards interruption of transmission and elimination requires highly sensitive diagnostic tools. An existing lateral flow (LF) based test demonstrating ongoing infections through detection of worm circulating anodic antigen (CAA), was improved for sensitivity through implementation of a protocol allowing increased sample input. Urine is the preferred sample as collection is non-invasive and sample volume is generally not a restriction. Centrifugal filtration devices provided a method to concentrate supernatant of urine samples extracted with trichloroacetic acid (TCA). For field trials a practical sample volume of 2 mL urine allowed detection of CAA down to 0.3 pg/mL. The method was evaluated on a set of urine samples (n = 113) from an S. mansoni endemic region (Kisumu, Kenya) and compared to stool microscopy (Kato Katz, KK). In this analysis true positivity was defined as a sample with either a positive KK or UCAA test. Implementation of the concentration method increased clinical sensitivity (Sn) from 44 to 98% when moving from the standard 10 μL (UCAA10 assay) to 2000 μL (UCAA2000 assay) urine sample input. Sn for KK varied between 23 and 35% for a duplicate KK (single stool, two slides) to 52% for a six-fold KK (three consecutive day stools, two slides). The UCAA2000 assay indicated 47 positive samples with CAA concentration above 0.3 pg/mL. The six-fold KK detected 25 egg positives; 1 sample with 2 eggs detected in the 6-fold KK was not identified with the UCAA2000 assay. Larger sample input increased Sn of the UCAA assay to a level indicating 'true' infection. Only a single 2 mL urine sample is needed, but analysing larger sample volumes could still increase test accuracy. The UCAA2000 test is an appropriate candidate for accurate identification of all infected individuals in low-endemic regions. Assay materials do not require refrigeration and collected urine samples may be stored and transported to central test laboratories without the need to be frozen.

Membrane Protein Stability Analyses by Means of Protein Energy Profiles in Case of Nephrogenic Diabetes Insipidus

PubMed Central

Heinke, Florian; Labudde, Dirk

2012-01-01

Diabetes insipidus (DI) is a rare endocrine, inheritable disorder with low incidences in an estimated one per 25,000–30,000 live births. This disease is characterized by polyuria and compensatory polydypsia. The diverse underlying causes of DI can be central defects, in which no functional arginine vasopressin (AVP) is released from the pituitary or can be a result of defects in the kidney (nephrogenic DI, NDI). NDI is a disorder in which patients are unable to concentrate their urine despite the presence of AVP. This antidiuretic hormone regulates the process of water reabsorption from the prourine that is formed in the kidney. It binds to its type-2 receptor (V2R) in the kidney induces a cAMP-driven cascade, which leads to the insertion of aquaporin-2 water channels into the apical membrane. Mutations in the genes of V2R and aquaporin-2 often lead to NDI. We investigated a structure model of V2R in its bound and unbound state regarding protein stability using a novel protein energy profile approach. Furthermore, these techniques were applied to the wild-type and selected mutations of aquaporin-2. We show that our results correspond well to experimental water ux analysis, which confirms the applicability of our theoretical approach to equivalent problems. PMID:22474537

Characterizing ammonia emissions from horses fed different crude protein concentrations.

PubMed

Weir, J; Li, H; Warren, L K; Macon, E; Wickens, C

2017-08-01

Evaluating impact of animal agriculture on air quality has been the focus of recent research. Ammonia (NH) volatilization occurs when undigested protein in feces and urea in urine is broken down by bacteria and enzymes. Information regarding NH emission from equine facilities is limited, and effects of CP intake on NH emissions have not been investigated. Nine mature geldings were used in a 3 × 3 replicated Latin square design study to determine effects of dietary CP on potential NH losses from feces and urine. We hypothesized feeding horses above the CP requirement would result in an increase in NH emissions from urine and feces and different bedding materials would affect NH emissions from urine. Diets were formulated using different ratios of bahiagrass () and Tifton-85 bermudagrass () hays, and a commercial vitamin mineral supplement to provide 3 different CP concentrations and labeled in relation to each other: LOW-CP, MED-CP, and HIGH-CP (10.6%, 11.5%, and 12%, respectively). Each study period consisted of an 11-d diet adaptation phase, followed by a 3-d total collection of urine and feces. To determine total nitrogen (TN) and urea-N concentrations, samples were pooled by period ( = 9). For in vitro determination of NH concentrations, urine and fecal samples were pooled within period by diet ( = 3) and mixed with either wheat straw or wood shavings. Ammonia emission of these samples was measured using a vessel system with an airflow rate (2.5 L/min) at 20°C over a 7-d period. Concentration of NH in each vessel was measured using a photoacoustic multigas analyzer. Temperature, airflow rate, and NH concentration in each vessel were used to calculate NH emission rate (ER). Data were analyzed using a mixed model ANOVA with repeated measures. Urinary TN and urea-N excretion increased as CP intake increased ( < 0.0001). Vessel urinary NH concentrations were not different across diets ( = 0.1225), ranging from 55.48 ppm (LOW-CP) to 101.14 ppm (HIGH-CP); however, they differed between bedding types ( < 0.0001), with straw higher than shavings (97 vs. 73.5 ppm, respectively). Cumulative urinary NH ER tended to be different across diets ( = 0.0550) ranging from 5.87 g/m to 9.97 g/m and bedding types ( = 0.0129), with straw being higher than shavings (11.1 vs. 6.9 g/m, respectively). Overfeeding CP to horses can lead to increased urinary TN and urea-N excretion, which could lead to greater of NH in the atmosphere.

Occupational tellurium exposure and garlic odour.

PubMed

Berriault, C J; Lightfoot, N E

2011-03-01

Few studies have considered garlic odour as a socially important outcome of occupational tellurium (Te) exposure or concurrent exposures, and most known guidelines focus on other signs and symptoms (e.g. weight loss and somnolence). This study considers workers exposed to tellurium and selenium (Se) at an Ontario, Canada silver refinery. To establish the relation of urinary tellurium concentrations to reporting garlic odour, while considering other work-related factors such as concurrent urinary selenium concentrations. Historical surveillance records of urinary analyses for tellurium and selenium concentrations (μmol Te or Se/mol creatinine in urine) and symptom self-reports were used. Records were available from December 1986 to June 2002. Logistic regression models were fitted using age at sampling, tellurium and selenium urine concentration and duration of employment. Individual main effects were age adjusted and the final model was fitted for tellurium and selenium urine concentration and duration of employment. Urinary tellurium concentration was significantly associated with garlic odour reporting (odds ratio = 1.74, 95% confidence interval 1.01-2.97, P < 0.05). Furthermore, the likelihood of reporting garlic odour rose as workers reached urinary tellurium concentrations >1 μmol/mol creatinine. Tellurium urinary concentrations of <1 μmol/mol creatinine appear to limit, but not eliminate, the likelihood of reporting garlic odour. Future studies should consider the effect of concurrent selenium exposure as well as other workplace factors and hygiene.

Measurement of natural carbon isotopic composition of acetone in human urine.

PubMed

Yamada, Keita; Ohishi, Kazuki; Gilbert, Alexis; Akasaka, Mai; Yoshida, Naohiro; Yoshimura, Ryoko

2016-02-01

The natural carbon isotopic composition of acetone in urine was measured in healthy subjects using gas chromatography-combustion-isotope ratio mass spectrometry combined with headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME-GC-C-IRMS). Before applying the technique to a urine sample, we optimized the measurement conditions of HS-SPME-GC-C-IRMS using aqueous solutions of commercial acetone reagents. The optimization enabled us to determine the carbon isotopic compositions within ±0.2 ‰ of precision and ±0.3‰ of error using 0.05 or 0.2 mL of aqueous solutions with acetone concentrations of 0.3-121 mg/L. For several days, we monitored the carbon isotopic compositions and concentrations of acetone in urine from three subjects who lived a daily life with no restrictions. We also monitored one subject for 3 days including a fasting period of 24 h. These results suggest that changes in the availability of glucose in the liver are reflected in changes in the carbon isotopic compositions of urine acetone. Results demonstrate that carbon isotopic measurement of metabolites in human biological samples at natural abundance levels has great potential as a tool for detecting metabolic changes caused by changes in physiological states and disease.

Biomonitoring of trace elements in urine samples of children from a coal-mining region.

PubMed

Santos, Marina Dos; Flores Soares, Maria Cristina; Martins Baisch, Paulo Roberto; Muccillo Baisch, Ana Luíza; Rodrigues da Silva Júnior, Flavio Manoel

2018-04-01

Biomonitoring through urine samples is important for evaluating environmental exposure, since urine is the main form of excretion for most chemical elements. Children are considered more vulnerable to adverse environmental conditions, especially children in developing countries. This study aimed to biomonitor trace elements in urine samples in children from a coal-mining region in the extreme south of Brazil. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 96 children between 6 and 11 years of age. Socioeconomic data and urine samples were collected to estimate the concentration of iron, zinc, selenium, lead, and cadmium. The prevalence of metals above the reference values was 52.0% for Se, followed by 15.6% for Zn. The data point toward a vulnerability to adverse environmental conditions in these children. Although the concentrations of the elements did not reveal intoxication cases, biomonitoring should be carried out continuously in order to assess exposure to metals and ensure the health of the population. This article provides data that help determine natural levels of metallic elements in children, specifically in South America, which have not yet been established. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The measurement of radiation exposure of astronauts by radiochemical techniques

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Brodzinski, R. L.

1972-01-01

Cosmic radiation doses to the crews of the Apollo 14, 15, and 16 missions of 142 + or - 80, 340 + or - 80, and 210 + or - 130 mR respectively were calculated from the specific activities of Na-22 and Na-24 in the postflight urine specimens of the astronauts. The specific activity of Fe-59 was higher in the urine than in the feces of the Apollo 14 and 15 astronauts, and a possible explanation is given. The concentrations of K-40, K-42, Cr-51, Co-60, and Cs-137 in the urine are also reported for these astronauts. The radiation doses received by pilots and navigators flying high altitude missions during the solar flare of March 27 to 30, 1972 were calculated from the specific activity of Na-24 in their urine. These values are compared with the expected radiation dose calculated from the known shape and intensity of the proton spectrum and demonstrate the magnitude of atmospheric shielding. The concentrations of Na, K, Rb, Cs, Fe, Co, Ag, Zn, Hg, As, Sb, Se, and Br were measured in the urine specimens from the Apollo 14 and 15 astronauts by neutron activation analysis. The mercury and arsenic levels were much higher than expected.

Monitoring of PAEMs and beta-agonists in urine for a small group of experimental subjects and PAEs and beta-agonists in drinking water consumed by the same subjects.

PubMed

Liou, Saou-Hsing; Yang, Gordon C C; Wang, Chih-Lung; Chiu, Yu-Han

2014-07-30

This 5-month study contains two parts: (1) to monitor the concentrations of 11 phthalate esters metabolites (PAEMs) and two beta-agonists in human urine samples collected from a small group of consented participants including 16 females and five males; and (2) to analyze the residues of phthalate esters (PAEs) and beta-agonists in various categories of drinking water consumed by the same group of subjects. Each category of human urine and drinking water had 183 samples of its own. The analytical results showed that nine PAEMs were detected in human urine and eight PAEs were detected in drinking water samples. It was found that average concentrations of PAEMs increased as the age increased, but no significant difference between sexes. Further, using the principal component analysis, the loadings of age effect were found to be two times greater than that of gender effect in terms of four DEHP metabolites. Regarding beta-agonists of concern (i.e., ractopamine and salbutamol), they were neither detected in human urine nor drinking water samples in this study. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

S-Adenosylhomocysteine Assay in the Urine by Capillary Electrophoresis.

PubMed

Luzyanin, B P; Ivanov, A V; Viryus, E D; Kubatiev, A A

2015-08-01

We present a simple and effective method for measuring urine S-adenosylhomocysteine by capillary electrophoresis without using modifiers. The detection threshold of the method is 0.1 μM S-adenosylhomocysteine, the time of analysis 13 min, reproducibility at physiological concentrations within 4%.

Improvement of the uric acid determination by the carbonate method for serum and urine

PubMed Central

Eichhorn, F.; Zelmanowski, S.; Lew, E.; Rutenberg, A.; Fanias, B.

1961-01-01

An improved colorimetric procedure for determining uric acid by the carbonate method in serum and urine is described, using a 20% sodium carbonate solution with urea. Reliable results are also obtained in high concentrations of uric acid. PMID:13726059

Water Consumption as Source of Arsenic, Chromium, and Mercury in Children Living in Rural Yucatan, Mexico: Blood and Urine Levels.

PubMed

Arcega-Cabrera, F; Fargher, L F; Oceguera-Vargas, I; Noreña-Barroso, E; Yánez-Estrada, L; Alvarado, J; González, L; Moo-Puc, R; Pérez-Herrera, N; Quesadas-Rojas, M; Pérez-Medina, S

2017-10-01

Studies investigating the correlation between metal content in water and metal levels in children are scarce worldwide, but especially in developing nations. Therefore, this study investigates the correlation between arsenic, chromium, and mercury concentrations in drinking and cooking water and in blood and urine samples collected from healthy and supposedly non-exposed children from a rural area in Yucatan, Mexico. Mercury in water shows concentrations above the recommended World Health Organization (WHO) value for drinking and cooking water. Also, 25% of the children show mercury in urine above the WHO recommended value. Multivariate analyses show a significant role for drinking and cooking water as a vector of exposure in children. Also, the factor analysis shows chronic exposure in the case of arsenic, as well as an ongoing detoxification process through urine in the case of mercury. Further studies should be done in order to determine other potential metal exposure pathways among children.

Using dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction and liquid chromatography for determination of guaifenesin enantiomers in human urine.

PubMed

Hatami, Mehdi; Farhadi, Khalil; Abdollahpour, Assem

2011-11-01

A simple, rapid, and efficient method, dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME) coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography-fluorescence detector, has been developed for the determination of guaifenesin (GUA) enantiomers in human urine samples after an oral dose administration of its syrup formulation. Urine samples were collected during the time intervals 0-2, 2-4, and 4-6 h and concentration and ratio of two enantiomers was determined. The ratio of R-(-) to S-(+) enantiomer concentrations in urine showed an increase with time, with R/S ratios of 0.66 at 2 h and 2.23 at 6 h. For microextraction process, a mixture of extraction solvent (dichloromethane, 100 μL) and dispersive solvent (THF, 1 mL) was rapidly injected into 5.0 mL diluted urine sample for the formation of cloudy solution and extraction of enantiomers into the fine droplets of CH(2)Cl(2). After optimization of HPLC enantioselective conditions, some important parameters, such as the kind and volume of extraction and dispersive solvents, extraction time, temperature, pH, and salt effect were optimized for dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction process. Under the optimum extraction condition, the method yields a linear calibration curve in the concentration range from 10 to 2000 ng/mL for target analytes. LOD was 3.00 ng/mL for both of the enantiomers. Copyright © 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Dynamics of L-Carnitine in Plasma and Urine in Patients Undergoing Cisplatin Chemotherapy.

PubMed

Gomi, Daisuke; Tanaka, Aika; Fukushima, Toshirou; Kobayashi, Takashi; Matsushita, Hirohide; Sekiguchi, Nodoka; Sakamoto, Akiyuki; Sasaki, Shigeru; Mamiya, Keiko; Koizumi, Tomonobu

2017-01-01

Several studies have indicated that cisplatin (cis-diamminedichloroplatinum II; CDDP) causes urinary excretion of L-carnitine (LC). However, the underlying cofactors affecting the increased urinary excretion remain unclear. The present study was performed to evaluate the dynamics of LC in plasma and urine after CDDP chemotherapy and to examine the relations with clinical parameters, such as gender, body mass index (BMI), and renal function. Twenty-two patients treated with CDDP therapy were selected. Blood and urine samples were taken from patients before starting CDDP treatment (day 0), on the next day (day 1), and on the seventh day (day 7). We measured plasma and urine concentrations of total, free, and acyl-LC, and examined the relationships with gender, age, treatment cycle, skeletal muscle mass, BMI, glomerular filtration rate, and change in creatinine concentration after CDDP administration. Both urinary and plasma concentrations of 3 types of LC increased markedly on day 1 and subsequently reverted to the pre-CDDP level on day 7. There was a positive correlation between the % changes in plasma and urine LC (correlation coefficient 0.59, p = 0.003) on day 1, but no significant relations were seen in other clinical parameters. CDDP transiently increased plasma LC levels. The mechanism seemed to involve recruitment for marked urinary loss of LC. However, these changes in plasma and urinary LC levels were not related to clinical factors, suggesting that the dynamics of LC were independent of preexisting physical parameters. © 2017 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Metformin improves urine concentration in rodents with nephrogenic diabetes insipidus

PubMed Central

Efe, Orhan; Klein, Janet D.; LaRocque, Lauren M.; Ren, Huiwen; Sands, Jeff M.

2016-01-01

Urine concentration is regulated by vasopressin. Congenital nephrogenic diabetes insipidus (NDI) is caused by vasopressin type 2 receptor (V2R) mutations. We studied whether metformin could improve urine concentration in rodent models of congenital NDI by stimulating AMPK. To block the V2R in rats, tolvaptan (10 mg/kg/d) was given by oral gavage with or without metformin (800 mg/kg/d). Control rats received vehicle with or without metformin. Tamoxifen-induced V2R KO mice were given metformin (600 mg/kg) or vehicle twice daily. Urine osmolality in tolvaptan-treated rats (1,303 ± 126 mOsM) was restored to control levels by metformin (2,335 ± 273 mOsM) within 3 days and was sustained for up to 10 days. Metformin increased protein abundance of inner medullary urea transporter UT-A1 by 61% and aquaporin 2 (AQP2) by 44% in tolvaptan-treated rats, and immunohistochemistry showed increased membrane accumulation of AQP2 with acute and chronic AMPK stimulation. Outer medullary Na+-K+-2Cl– cotransporter 2 (NKCC2) abundance increased (117%) with AMPK stimulation in control rats but not in V2R-blocked rats. Metformin increased V2R KO mouse urine osmolality within 3 hours, and the increase persisted for up to 12 hours. Metformin increased AQP2 in the V2R KO mice similar to the tolvaptan-treated rats. These results indicate that AMPK activators, such as metformin, might provide a promising treatment for congenital NDI. PMID:27478876

Pharmacokinetics of furagin, a new nitrofurantoin congener, on human volunteers.

PubMed

Männistö, P; Karttunen, P

1979-06-01

The human pharmacokinetics of a nitrofurantoin congener furagin was studied after a single oral dose of 200 mg and during a 9-day continuous treatment with a dose of 100 mg t.i.d. The same dose of nitrofurantoin served as a reference medication. In the acute cross-over phase food greatly speeded up and atropine somewhat retarded the absorption of furagin, but the total absorption remained virtually unchanged as judged from the unchanged AUC values. The furagin concentrations in serum remain several hours above the MIC concentrations of many pathogenic bacteria. Despite the high concentrations in serum, the urine levels of furagin were generally lower than those of nitrofurantoin. The 24 hr recoveries in urine were 8--13% for furagin and about 36% for nitrofurantoin. In the prolonged trial furagin was absorbed and excreted in the same way as in the acute trial. On the 9th day the concentrations in serum and urine were higher than on the first day. The urinary concentrations of both furagin and nitrofurantoin always remained well above the MIC values of the most susceptible bacteria. Several volunteers complained of nightly cramps in their calves after taking furagin for some days, otherwise the side effects were minimal.

The Concentration Of Tritium In Urine And Internal Radiation Dose Estimation Of PTNBR Radiation Workers

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Tjahaja, Poppy Intan; Sukmabuana, Putu; Aisyah, Neneng Nur

2010-12-23

The operation of Triga 2000 reactor in Nuclear Technology Center for Materials and Radiometry (PTNBR BATAN) normally produce tritium radionuclide which is the activation product of deuterium atom in reactor primary cooling water. According to previous monitoring, tritium was detected with the concentration of 8.236{+-}0.677 kBq/L and 1.704{+-}0.046 Bq/L in the primary cooling water and in reactor hall air, respectively. The tritium in reactor hall air chronically can be inhaled by the workers. In this research, tritium content in radiation workers' urine was determined to estimate the internal radiation doses received by the workers. About 50-100 mL of urine samplesmore » were collected from 48 PTNBR workers that is classified as 24 radiation workers and 24 administration staffs as a control. Urine samples of 25 mL were then prepared by active charcoal and KMnO{sub 4} addition and followed with complete distillation. The 2 mL of distillate was added with 13 mL scintillator, shaked vigorously and remained in cool and dark condition for about 24 hours. The tritium in the samples was then measured using liquid scintillation counter (LSC) for 1 hour. From the measurement results it was obtained that the tritium concentration in the urine of radiation workers were in the range of not detected and 5.191 Bq/mL, whereas in the administration staffs the concentration were between not detected and 4.607 Bq/mL. Internally radiation doses were calculated using the tritium concentration data, and it was found the averages about 0.602 {mu}Sv/year and 0.532 {mu}Sv/year for radiation workers and administration staffs, respectively. The doses received by the workers were lower than that of the permissible doses from tritium, i.e. 40 {mu}Sv/year.« less

[Interaction between fluorine and zinc after long-term oral administration into the digestive system of rats].

PubMed

Mazurek-Mochol, Małgorzata

2002-01-01

Drug interactions are the side effect of administration of two or more drugs or a drug-food combination. Although some drug interactions are intentional and beneficial to the patient, the majority are unintentional and associated with a potentially harmful effect. The aim of this study was to search for interactions in rats between fluoride and zinc administered orally for 12 weeks and to elucidate any potential toxicological and therapeutic consequences. 60 male Wistar rats were divided into six groups of ten rats each and exposed to: 1. controls (distilled water); 2. sodium fluoride (NaF); 3. low-dose zinc (Zn); 4. high-dose zinc; 5. NaF + low-dose Zn; 6. NaF + high-dose Zn. At the end of the experiment the content of F- and Zn+ in serum, urine, incisors, femur and mandible was measured and densitometry of femoral bones was performed. Serum alkaline phosphatase, alanine and aspartate aminotransferase activities, as well as bilirubin and creatinine concentrations were determined to confirm non-toxicity of fluoride dose. Animals receiving NaF only demonstrated higher content of fluorine in serum, urine bones and teeth. Zinc concentrations in serum, urine, bones and teeth were elevated in rats receiving zinc with or without NaF. Fluorine accumulation in bones and teeth was reduced by Zn, but in general the effect lacked statistical significance. Zinc slightly reduced the concentrations of fluorine in serum and urine. Sodium fluoride slightly reduced the concentration of zinc in serum and urine. Bone mineral content (BMC) was significantly increased by NaF and was not further increased by co-administration of zinc. No changes in serum alkaline phosphatase, alanine and aspartate aminotransferase activities, bilirubin and creatinine concentrations were detected. In conclusion, simultaneous administration of fluorine and zinc may be beneficial for prevention and treatment of pathologic conditions in bones and teeth and is not accompanied by an increase in fluorine levels which could be responsible for toxicological symptoms.

Hair analysis for the biomonitoring of pesticide exposure: comparison with blood and urine in a rat model.

PubMed

Appenzeller, Brice M R; Hardy, Emilie M; Grova, Nathalie; Chata, Caroline; Faÿs, François; Briand, Olivier; Schroeder, Henri; Duca, Radu-Corneliu

2017-08-01

Urine and plasma have been used to date for the biomonitoring of exposure to pollutants and are still the preferred fluids for this purpose; however, these fluids mainly provide information on the short term and may present a high level of variability regarding pesticide concentrations, especially for nonpersistent compounds. Hair analysis may provide information about chronic exposure that is averaged over several months; therefore, this method has been proposed as an alternative to solely relying on these fluids. Although the possibility of detecting pesticides in hair has been demonstrated over the past few years, the unknown linkage between exposure and pesticides concentration in hair has limited the recognition of this matrix as a relevant tool for assessing human exposure. Based on a rat model in which there was controlled exposure to a mixture of pesticides composed of lindane, β-hexachlorocyclohexane, β-endosulfan, p,p'-DDT, p,p'-DDE, dieldrin, pentachlorophenol, diazinon, chlorpyrifos, cyhalothrin, permethrin, cypermethrin, propiconazole, fipronil, oxadiazon, diflufenican, trifluralin, carbofuran, and propoxur, the current work demonstrates the association between exposure intensity and resulting pesticide concentration in hair. We also compared the results obtained from a hair analysis to urine and plasma collected from the same rats. Hair, blood, and urine were collected from rats submitted to 90-day exposure by gavage to the aforementioned mixture of common pesticides at different levels. We observed a linear relationship between exposure intensity and the concentration of pesticides in the rats' hair (R Pearson 0.453-0.978, p < 0.01). A comparison with results from urine and plasma samples demonstrated the relevance of hair analysis and, for many chemicals, its superiority over using fluids for differentiating animals from different groups and for re-attributing animals to their correct groups of exposure based on pesticide concentrations in the matrix. Therefore, this study strongly supports hair analysis as a reliable tool to be used during epidemiological studies to investigate exposure-associated adverse health effects.

An Acute Ocfentanil Fatality: A Case Report with Postmortem Concentrations.

PubMed

Dussy, F E; Hangartner, S; Hamberg, C; Berchtold, C; Scherer, U; Schlotterbeck, G; Wyler, D; Briellmann, T A

2016-11-01

A 24-year-old man known to consume illegal drugs was found dead in his apartment. A reclosable plastic zipper bag containing several hundred milligrams of a brown powder was found close to the dead body and the first assumption of the investigators was death due to heroin intoxication. Therefore, a legal autopsy was ordered. The following toxicological analysis revealed ocfentanil in urine and in the brown powder. Four different approaches for the determination of the ocfentanil concentrations in peripheral whole blood are described. Enrichment of ocfentanil from the powder was realized. With this reference, it was possible to determine the ocfentanil concentration in the seized powder to be 0.91%. Concentrations of ocfentanil were also determined in the sampled body fluids using the standard addition procedure. In peripheral blood 9.1 µg/L, in heart blood 27.9 µg/L and in urine 480 µg/L were measured. In addition, the antidepressant citalopram, the neuroleptic quetiapine and cannabinoids were found in urine and subsequently quantified in peripheral blood. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Lipid peroxidation in workers exposed to hexavalent chromium.

PubMed

Huang, Y L; Chen, C Y; Sheu, J Y; Chuang, I C; Pan, J H; Lin, T H

1999-02-26

The aim of this study was to investigate whether exposure to hexavalent chromium induces lipid peroxidation in human. This study involved 25 chrome-plating factory workers and a reference group of 28 control subjects. The whole-blood and urinary chromium concentrations were determined by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Malondialdehyde (MDA), the product of lipid peroxidation, was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography, and the activities of protective enzymes were measured by ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry. In the chrome-plating workers, the mean concentrations of chromium in blood and urine were 5.98 microg/L and 5.25 microg/g creatinine, respectively; the mean concentrations of MDA in blood and urine were 1.7 micromol/L and 2.24 micromol/g creatinine. The concentrations of both chromium and MDA in blood and urine were significantly higher in the chromium-exposed workers. The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), and catalase (CAT) were not markedly different between control and exposed workers. Data suggest that MDA may be used as a biomarker for occupational chromium exposure. Antioxidant enzymic activities are not a suitable marker for chromium exposure.

Leukocyte counts in urine reflect the risk of concomitant sepsis in bacteriuric infants: a retrospective cohort study.

PubMed

Bonsu, Bema K; Harper, Marvin B

2007-06-13

When urine infections are missed in febrile young infants with normal urinalysis, clinicians may worry about the risk--hitherto unverified--of concomitant invasion of blood and cerebrospinal fluid by uropathogens. In this study, we determine the extent of this risk. In a retrospective cohort study of febrile 0-89 day old infants evaluated for sepsis in an urban academic pediatric emergency department (1993-1999), we estimated rates of bacteriuric sepsis (urinary tract infections complicated by sepsis) after stratifying infants by urine leukocyte counts higher, or lower than 10 cells/hpf. We compared the global accuracy of leukocytes in urine, leukocytes in peripheral blood, body temperature, and age for predicting bacteruric sepsis. The global accuracy of each test was estimated by calculating the area under its receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Chi-square and Fisher exact tests compared count data. Medians for data not normally distributed were compared by the Kruskal-Wallis test. Two thousand two hundred forty-nine young infants had a normal screening dipstick. None of these developed bacteremia or meningitis despite positive urine culture in 41 (1.8%). Of 1516 additional urine specimens sent for formal urinalysis, 1279 had 0-9 leukocytes/hpf. Urine pathogens were isolated less commonly (6% vs. 76%) and at lower concentrations in infants with few, compared to many urine leukocytes. Urine leukocytes (AUC: 0.94) were the most accurate predictors of bacteruric sepsis. Infants with urinary leukocytes < 10 cells/hpf were significantly less likely (0%; CI:0-0.3%) than those with higher leukocyte counts (5%; CI:2.6-8.7%) to have urinary tract infections complicated by bacteremia (N = 11) or bacterial meningitis (N = 1)--relative risk, 0 (CI:0-0.06) [RR, 0 (CI: 0-0.02), when including infants with negative dipstick]. Bands in peripheral blood had modest value for detecting bacteriuric sepsis (AUC: 0.78). Cases of sepsis without concomitant bacteriuria were comparatively rare (0.8%) and equally common in febrile young infants with low and high concentrations of urine leukocytes. In young infants evaluated for fever, leukocytes in urine reflect the likelihood of bacteriuric sepsis. Infants with urinary tract infections missed because of few leukocytes in urine are at relatively low risk of invasive bacterial sepsis by pathogens isolated from urine.

Stability of Zika virus in urine: Specimen processing considerations and implications for the detection of RNA targets in urine.

PubMed

Tan, Susanna K; Sahoo, Malaya K; Milligan, Stephen B; Taylor, Nathaniel; Pinsky, Benjamin A

2017-10-01

Detection of Zika virus (ZIKV) RNA in urine is of increasing interest for the diagnosis of ZIKV infection. Pre-analytical variables can significantly impact the stability of RNA in urine. To determine optimal specimen processing protocols that would maximize detection of ZIKV RNA in urine by real-time, reverse transcriptase PCR, we investigated the effect of temperature, initial ZIKV concentration, use of nucleic acid stabilizers, and time on ZIKV RNA levels. Urine samples from healthy donors were spiked with ZIKV using the Exact Diagnostics ® ZIKV Verification Panel, a commercially available panel composed of heat-inactivated ZIKV, at concentrations of 5.0 log 10 copies/mL (ZIKV-high) and 4.0 log 10 copies/mL (ZIKV-low). Samples were stored at room temperature, 4°C, or -80°C and frozen aliquots were exposed to no stabilizer (urine), Buffer ATL (Qiagen, Germantown, MD), or DNA/RNA Shield (Zymo Research, Irvine, CA). ZIKV RNA levels in urine declined steadily at room temperature, though was not significant by 48h (ZIKV-high, p=0.09; ZIKV-low, p=0.20). ZIKV RNA titers were consistently higher when stored at 4°C, suggesting that storage at 4°C can slow the progression of RNA degradation. Freezing urine samples at -80°C resulted in a significant loss of detectable ZIKV RNA in the ZIKV-low group. ZIKV RNA was detected in 5/6 replicates at 3days, 1/6 replicates at 10days, and 1/3 replicates at 30days, with findings reproducible on repeat testing. Presence of either nucleic acid stabilizer in urine corrected this effect, and resulted in recovery of ZIKV RNA in all replicates. Use of a nucleic acid stabilizer in the ZIKV-high group did not add incremental benefit for the detection or quantitation of ZIKV RNA. ZIKV RNA is prone to degradation in urine with loss of detectable virus even when specimens are frozen at -80°C for 10days. Detection of ZIKV-positive urine samples, particularly those containing low ZIKV titers may be aided with the addition of a nucleic acid stabilizer during urine specimen processing. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Spondylocostal dysostosis associated with right-sided polythelia, right-sided rib deformity and meningocoele: Case report with review of literature.

PubMed

Rai, Narendra; Thakur, Neha; Khan, Naheed Zin; Dwivedi, Akhilesh Dutt

2015-01-01

Spondylocostal dysostosis (SCD) is a rare anomaly of axial skeleton due to flawed embryological development. A newborn baby boy with right-sided polythelia, meningocoele, fan-like configuration of third and fourth rib, fused fifth and sixth rib and third thoracic hemivertebra was delivered to a second gravid mother by elective caesarean section. Baby was active, cried immediately after birth, had normal muscle tone and reflexes. He passed urine and meconium within 24 h of birth. Based on clinical examination and radiological picture, a diagnosis of SCD with meningocele with right-sided polythelia was made. Our case is the first SCD with polythelia and meningocele in newborn. SCD with right-sided polythelia and rib deformity with neural tube defect (NTD) may be due to a genetic defect with the culprit genes missing. Further genetic and embryological studies might find a link between right-sided rib defects, polythelia and NTD.

Barth syndrome: clinical observations and genetic linkage studies.

PubMed

Christodoulou, J; McInnes, R R; Jay, V; Wilson, G; Becker, L E; Lehotay, D C; Platt, B A; Bridge, P J; Robinson, B H; Clarke, J T

1994-04-15

Barth syndrome is an X-linked recessive condition characterized by skeletal myopathy, cardiomyopathy, proportionate short stature, and recurrent neutropenia, but with normal cognitive function. Some, but not all patients, exhibit carnitine deficiency and/or the presence of 3-methylglutaconic and ethylhydracylic acids in urine. Recently the mutation causing Barth syndrome was localised to the Xq28 region by linkage analysis. We report 6 cases of Barth syndrome from 4 families and highlight the fact that neuromuscular and cardiovascular symptoms and the severity of infections tend to improve with age, while short stature persists. Also previously unreported was myopathic facies and nasal quality to speech in our cases. The urinary organic acid abnormalities and plasma carnitine deficiency were inconsistent findings. We propose that they may be epiphenomena rather than indicators of the primary metabolic defect, and that the primary defect or defects in this disorder may lie in the mitochondrial electron transport chain.

The effect of plum juice on the prevention of struvite calculus formation in vitro.

PubMed

Zhu, Huaijun; Sun, Xizhao; Lu, Jianlin; Wang, Meihua; Fang, Yun; Ge, Weihong

2012-10-01

To evaluate the effect of plum juice on struvite calculus formation in vitro and to explore the effect of plum juice on urease-producing bacteria and urease activity. The compliance of available drugs is low for struvite calculus after surgical treatment and functional food may represent a good choice as an alternative therapy. Antibacterial activity was assessed using a microdilution antimicrobial susceptibility test. Urease activity was determined by measuring ammonia production. Struvite crystals were induced by Proteus mirabilis in artificial urine with natural and pH-adjusted plum juice. The optical density (OD)(600) and pH of artificial urine were examined, as well the shape and weights of crystals. Natural plum juice showed an antibacterial effect on urease-producing bacteria, whereas the pH-adjusted juice did not. A concentration-dependent inhibition on urease activity was found for both natural and pH-adjusted juice. Natural plum juice at a high concentration of 0.5% showed an obvious inhibition on the increase of OD(600) and pH of the artificial urine, and crystal formation was prevented by up to or more than 8 h, depending on the concentration of juice. Crystal weight in the natural plum juice groups was decreased in a concentration-dependent manner. The pH-adjusted plum juice did not show any effect on OD(600) and pH, although the presence of juice changed the crystal habit, indicating that the juice slowed the growth rate of crystals. Natural plum juice at high and moderate concentrations prevented the formation of P. mirabilis-induced crystals for up to 8 h in artificial urine. Although pH-adjusted and low-concentration natural juice did not prevent the occurrence of crystals, both types of juice slowed their growth rate.

Quantitative analysis of urinary glycine conjugates by high performance liquid chromatography: excretion of hippuric acid and methylhippuric acids in the urine of subjects exposed to vapours of toluene and xylenes.

PubMed

Ogata, M; Taguchi, T

1986-01-01

A new method for the direct determination of hippuric acid (HA) and o-, m- and p-methylhippuric acids (MHAs) in the urine, metabolites of toluene and o-, m- and p-xylenes by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is described. A stainless-steel column packed with silica gel having dinitrophenyl residue and a mixed solution of methanol/water/acetic acid (80/20/0.2) containing tetra-n-butylammonium bromide (0.2% w/v) as mobile phase was used. Concentrations of HA and MHAs were estimated from their peak height at a wave length of 225 nm. Urine can be analyzed directly without solvent extraction or pretreatment to obtain complete separation of HA and o-, m- and p-MHAs. Urine samples from male workers exposed to toluene or xylenes were analyzed for HA or MHAs. The urinary levels of HA and MHAs increased by exposure to toluene and xylenes in proportion to the environmental concentrations of the solvents, although there is a considerable variation in metabolite concentrations. The slope of regression line between toluene and HA and that between m-xylene and m-MHA were similar. The urinary concentrations of HA and MHAs corresponding to 100 ppm (TLV) of toluene was 2.35 g/g creatinine and that of m-MHA corresponding to 100 ppm (TLV) of m-xylene was 2.05 g/g creatinine. The warning levels of the urinary metabolite concentrations of a group of workers and that of an individual worker corresponding to TLV of organic solvent concentration is discussed.

Metabolism study of boldenone in human urine by gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

PubMed

Wu, Xinchen; Gao, Feng; Zhang, Wenxin; Ni, Jian

2015-11-10

Boldenone (BOLD), an anabolic steroid, is likely to be abused in livestock breeding and in sports. Although some of BOLD metabolites in human urine, such as 5β-adrost-1-en-17β-ol-3-one (BM1), have been detected, investigations on their excretion patterns for both genders are insufficient. Moreover, little research on 17α-BOLD glucuronide as a metabolite in human urine has been reported. The aim of this study is to make a contribution to the knowledge of 17β-BOLD metabolism in humans. Three male and three female volunteers were orally administrated with 30mg 17β-BOLD. Urine samples were collected and analyzed with gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The data proved that 17β-BOLD, BM1, and 17α-BOLD were excreted in urine in both free and glucuronic conjugated forms after administration of 17β-BOLD. For most subjects, the urinary concentrations of BM1 were higher than that of 17β-BOLD. 17α-BOLD was excreted in small amounts. 17α-BOLD, 17β-BOLD, and BM1 were present naturally in urine with low concentrations. Administration of 30mg 17β-BOLD could not influence the excretion profiles of urinary androsterone, etiocholanolone, and testosterone/epitestosterone ratio. There were no differences in BOLD metabolic patterns between man and woman. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Simultaneous measurement of proguanil and its metabolites in human plasma and urine by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography, and its preliminary application in relation to genetically determined S-mephenytoin 4'-hydroxylation status.

PubMed

Kusaka, M; Setiabudy, R; Chiba, K; Ishizaki, T

1996-02-01

A simple high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) assay method was developed for the measurement of proguanil (PG) and its major metabolites, cycloguanil (CG) and 4-chlorophenyl-biguanide (CPB), in human plasma and urine. The assay allowed the simultaneous determination of all analytes in 1 ml of plasma or 0.1 ml of urine. The detection limits of PG, CG, and CPB, defined as the signal-to-noise ratio of 3, were 1 and 5 ng/ml for plasma and urine samples, respectively. Recoveries of the analytes and the internal standard (pyrimethamine) were > 62% from plasma and > 77% from urine. Intra-assay and interassay coefficients of variation for all analytes in plasma and urine were < 10% except for the values of CG and CPB, which ranged from 10% to 15% at one or two concentrations among 4-5 concentrations studied. The clinical applicability of the method was assessed by the preliminary pharmacokinetic study of PG, CG, and CPB in six healthy volunteers with the individually known phenotypes (extensive and poor metabolizers) of S-mephenytoin 4'-hydroxylation, suggesting that individuals with a poor metabolizer phenotype of S-mephenytoin have a much lower capacity to bioactivate PG to CG compared with the extensive metabolizers.

Integrated forward osmosis-membrane distillation process for human urine treatment.

PubMed

Liu, Qianliang; Liu, Caihong; Zhao, Lei; Ma, Weichao; Liu, Huiling; Ma, Jun

2016-03-15

This study demonstrated a forward osmosis-membrane distillation (FO-MD) hybrid system for real human urine treatment. A series of NaCl solutions at different concentrations were adopted for draw solutions in FO process, which were also the feed solutions of MD process. To establish a stable and continuous integrated FO-MD system, individual FO process with different NaCl concentrations and individual direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD) process with different feed temperatures were firstly investigated separately. Four stable equilibrium conditions were obtained from matching the water transfer rates of individual FO and MD processes. It was found that the integrated system is stable and sustainable when the water transfer rate of FO subsystem is equal to that of MD subsystem. The rejections to main contaminants in human urine were also investigated. Although individual FO process had relatively high rejection to Total Organic Carbon (TOC), Total Nitrogen (TN) and Ammonium Nitrogen (NH4(+)-N) in human urine, these contaminants could also accumulate in draw solution after long term performance. The MD process provided an effective rejection to contaminants in draw solution after FO process and the integrated system revealed nearly complete rejection to TOC, TN and NH4(+)-N. This work provided a potential treatment process for human urine in some fields such as water regeneration in space station and water or nutrient recovery from source-separated urine. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Gamma hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) concentrations in humans and factors affecting endogenous production.

PubMed

Elliott, Simon P

2003-04-23

The endogenous nature of the drug of abuse gamma hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) has caused various interpretative problems for toxicologists. In order to obtain data for the presence of endogenous GHB in humans and to investigate any factors that may affect this, a volunteer study was undertaken. The GHB concentrations in 119 urine specimens from GHB-free subjects and 25 urine specimens submitted for toxicological analysis showed maximal urinary GHB concentrations of 3mg/l. Analysis of 15 plasma specimens submitted for toxicological analysis detected no measurable GHB (less than 2.5mg/l). Studies in a male and female volunteer in which different dietary food groups were ingested at weekly intervals, showed significant creatinine-independent intra-individual fluctuation with overall urine GHB concentrations between 0 and 2.55, and 0 and 2.74mg/l, respectively. Urinary concentrations did not appear to be affected by the particular dietary groups studied. The concentrations measured by gas chromatography with flame ionisation detection (GC-FID) and gas chromatography with mass spectrometry (GC-MS) lend further support to the proposed urinary and plasma interpretative cut-offs of 10 and 4mg/l, respectively, where below this it is not possible to determine whether any GHB detected is endogenous or exogenous in nature.

Lung function, biological monitoring, and biological effect monitoring of gemstone cutters exposed to beryls

PubMed Central

Wegner, R.; Heinrich-Ramm, R.; Nowak, D.; Olma, K.; Poschadel, B.; Szadkowski, D.

2000-01-01

OBJECTIVES—Gemstone cutters are potentially exposed to various carcinogenic and fibrogenic metals such as chromium, nickel, aluminium, and beryllium, as well as to lead. Increased beryllium concentrations had been reported in the air of workplaces of beryl cutters in Idar-Oberstein, Germany. The aim of the survey was to study the excretion of beryllium in cutters and grinders with occupational exposure to beryls—for example, aquamarines and emeralds—to examine the prevalence of beryllium sensitisation with the beryllium lymphocyte transformation test (BeLT), to examine the prevalence of lung disease induced by beryllium, to describe the internal load of the respective metals relative to work process, and to screen for genotoxic effects in this particular profession.
METHODS—In a cross sectional investigation, 57 out of 100 gemstone cutters working in 12 factories in Idar-Oberstein with occupational exposure to beryls underwent medical examinations, a chest radiograph, lung function testing (spirometry, airway resistance with the interrupter technique), and biological monitoring, including measurements of aluminium, chromium, and nickel in urine as well as lead in blood. Beryllium in urine was measured with a newly developed direct electrothermal atomic absorption spectroscopy technique with a measurement limit of 0.06 µg/l. Also, cytogenetic tests (rates of micronuclei and sister chromatid exchange), and a BeLT were performed. Airborne concentrations of beryllium were measured in three factories. As no adequate local control group was available, the cutters were categorised into those with an exposure to beryls of >4 hours/week (group A) and ⩽4 hours/week (group B).
RESULTS—Clinical, radiological, or spirometric abnormalities indicating pneumoconiosis were detected in none of the gemstone cutters. Metal concentrations in biological material were far below the respective biological limit values, and beryllium in urine was only measurable in subjects of group A. Cytogenetic investigations showed normal values which were independent of the duration of beryllium exposure. In one subject, the BeLT was positive. Beryllium stimulation indices were significantly higher in subjects with detectable beryllium in the urine than in those with beryllium concentrations below the detection limit (p<0.05). In one factory, two out of four measurements of airborne beryllium concentrations were well above the German threshold limit value of 2 µg/m3 (twofold and 10-fold), and all gemstone cutters working in this factory had measurable beryllium concentrations in urine.
CONCLUSION—No adverse clinical health effects were found in this cross sectional investigation of gemstone cutters working with beryls. However, an improvement in workplace hygiene is recommended, accompanied by biological monitoring of beryllium in urine.


Keywords: gemstone cutter; beryllium in urine; lymphocyte transformation test PMID:10711282

Simple sampling strategy for measuring inulin renal clearance.

PubMed

Horio, Masaru; Imai, Enyu; Yasuda, Yoshinari; Hishida, Akira; Matsuo, Seiichi

2009-02-01

In the standard method of inulin clearance (Cin), three sets of serum and urine samples are collected during a 2-hour clearance period. For a practical use of this method, sampling should be the minimal number allowable while still providing enough accuracy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the validity of inulin renal clearance with assumed single urine collection with a period such as 30, 60 or 90 minutes. Inulin clearance data collected by the standard method from 737 individuals were used. Changes of serum inulin concentrations between 45 and 105 minutes after the start of the infusion were analyzed. We used first urine collection to calculate the inulin clearance with single urine collection (Cin-30 min). We assumed single urine collection for 60 or 90 minutes by combining the urine data of the consecutive 30-minute periods. Inulin clearances (Cin-60 min, Cin-90 min) were calculated from the assumed single urine collections, respectively. Serum inulin concentration did not reach equilibrium during the clearance period. It increased in subjects with low glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and decreased in subjects with normal GFR. The amount of the change was small and -0.5 +/- 12.6% in subjects with GFR over 30 ml/min per 1.73 m(2). Cin-30 min, Cin-60 min and Cin-90 min showed high correlation coefficients against Cin-ST (0.962, 0.988 and 0.998, respectively). Systemic biases in these clearances were negligible (under 1 ml/min per 1.73 m(2)). Root mean square error (RMSE) were 10.4, 5.3 and 2.3 ml/min per 1.73 m(2) for Cin-30 min, Cin-60 min and Cin-90 min, respectively. These data indicated that accuracy of inulin clearance depends on the duration of the urine collection period. Inulin clearance with a single urine collection is a convenient method. We showed that single urine collection for 30 minutes or a longer period has reasonable accuracy in calculation of inulin clearance. We propose a method of inulin clearance with single urine collection for 60 minutes.

Olive ingestion causing a false suspicion of relapsed neuroblastoma: A case of "oliveblastoma?"

PubMed

Flynn, Nick; LeFebvre, Amanda; Messahel, Boo; Hogg, Sarah L

2018-06-19

Measurement of the urine catecholamine metabolites homovanillic acid (HVA) and vanillylmandelic acid (VMA) are the standard method for detecting disease recurrence in neuroblastoma. We present a case of abnormal concentrations of catecholamine metabolites that prompted investigations for relapsed neuroblastoma. However, further study revealed that the abnormal biochemistry was likely due to ingestion of olives. Olive ingestion should be considered when interpreting urine HVA and VMA results, and excluded if concentrations are unexpectedly abnormal. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Diuretic effects of medetomidine compared with xylazine in healthy dogs.

PubMed

Talukder, Md Hasanuzzaman; Hikasa, Yoshiaki

2009-07-01

This study aimed to investigate and compare the effects of medetomidine and xylazine on diuretic and hormonal variables in healthy dogs. Five dogs, used in each of 11 groups, were injected intramuscularly with physiological saline solution (control), 5, 10, 20, 40, and 80 microg/kg of medetomidine, and 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 mg/kg of xylazine. Urine and blood samples were taken 11 times over 24 h. Both medetomidine and xylazine increased urine production in a dose-dependent manner up to 4 h after injection, but the increase was much less with medetomidine than with xylazine at the tested doses. Urine specific gravity, pH, osmolality, and concentrations of creatinine, sodium, potassium, chloride, and arginine vasopressin (AVP) were decreased in a dose-dependent manner with both medetomidine and xylazine. Plasma osmolality and concentrations of sodium, potassium, and chloride were increased significantly with both drugs. Total amounts of urine AVP excreted and plasma AVP concentrations were significantly decreased by higher doses of medetomidine but were not significantly decreased by xylazine. Higher doses of both drugs significantly increased the plasma concentration of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), but the effect was greater with medetomidine than with xylazine. The results revealed that both drugs induce a profound diuresis, but medetomidine's effect is less dose-dependent than xylazine's effect. Although changes in plasma concentrations of AVP and ANP may partially influence the diuresis induced by medetomidine, other factors may be involved in the mechanism of the diuretic response to both drugs. Thus, both agents can be used clinically for transient but effective diuresis accompanied by sedation.

Analysis of ketamine and norketamine in urine by automatic solid-phase extraction (SPE) and positive ion chemical ionization-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (PCI-GC-MS).

PubMed

Kim, Eun-mi; Lee, Ju-seon; Choi, Sang-kil; Lim, Mi-ae; Chung, Hee-sun

2008-01-30

Ketamine (KT) is widely abused for hallucination and also misused as a "date-rape" drug in recent years. An analytical method using positive ion chemical ionization-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (PCI-GC-MS) with an automatic solid-phase extraction (SPE) apparatus was studied for the determination of KT and its major metabolite, norketamine (NK), in urine. Six ketamine suspected urine samples were provided by the police. For the research of KT metabolism, KT was administered to SD rats by i.p. at a single dose of 5, 10 and 20mg/kg, respectively, and urine samples were collected 24, 48 and 72 h after administration. For the detection of KT and NK, urine samples were extracted on an automatic SPE apparatus (RapidTrace, Zymark) with mixed mode type cartridge, Drug-Clean (200 mg, Alltech). The identification of KT and NK was by PCI-GC-MS. m/z238 (M+1), 220 for KT, m/z 224 (M+1), 207 for NK and m/z307 (M+1) for Cocaine-D(3) as internal standard were extracted from the full-scan mass spectrum and the underlined ions were used for quantitation. Extracted calibration curves were linear from 50 to 1000 ng/mL for KT and NK with correlation coefficients exceeding 0.99. The limit of detection (LOD) was 25 ng/mL for KT and NK. The limit of quantitation (LOQ) was 50 ng/mL for KT and NK. The recoveries of KT and NK at three different concentrations (86, 430 and 860 ng/mL) were 53.1 to 79.7% and 45.7 to 83.0%, respectively. The intra- and inter-day run precisions (CV) for KT and NK were less than 15.0%, and the accuracies (bias) for KT and NK were also less than 15% at the three different concentration levels (86, 430 and 860 ng/mL). The analytical method was also applied to real six KT suspected urine specimens and KT administered rat urines, and the concentrations of KT and NK were determined. Dehydronorketamine (DHNK) was also confirmed in these urine samples, however the concentration of DHNK was not calculated. SPE is simple, and needs less organic solvent than liquid-liquid extraction (LLE), and PCI-GC-MS can offer both qualitative and quantitative information for urinalysis of KT in forensic analysis.

Temporal variability of pyrethroid metabolite levels in bedtime, morning, and 24-h urine samples for 50 adults in North Carolina.

PubMed

Morgan, Marsha K; Sobus, Jon R; Barr, Dana Boyd; Croghan, Carry W; Chen, Fu-Lin; Walker, Richard; Alston, Lillian; Andersen, Erik; Clifton, Matthew S

2016-01-01

Pyrethroid insecticides are widely used to control insects in both agricultural and residential settings worldwide. Few data are available on the temporal variability of pyrethroid metabolites in the urine of non-occupationally exposed adults. In this work, we describe the study design and sampling methodology for the Pilot Study to Estimate Human Exposures to Pyrethroids using an Exposure Reconstruction Approach (Ex-R study). Two major objectives were to quantify the concentrations of several pyrethroid metabolites in bedtime, first morning void (FMV), and 24-h urine samples as concentration (wet weight), specific-gravity (SG) corrected, creatinine (CR) corrected, and excretion rate values for 50 Ex-R adults over a six-week monitoring period and to determine if these correction approaches for urine dilution reduced the variability of the biomarker levels. The Ex-R study was conducted at the United States Environmental Protection Agency's Human Studies Facility in Chapel Hill, North Carolina USA and at participants' homes within a 40-mile radius of this facility. Recruitment of participants and field activities occurred between October 2009 and May 2011. Participants, ages 19-50 years old, provided daily food, activity, and pesticide-use diaries and collected their own urine samples (bedtime, FMV, and 24-h) during weeks 1, 2, and 6 of a six-week monitoring period. A total of 2503 urine samples were collected from the study participants. These samples were analyzed for the pyrethroid metabolites 3-phenoxybenzoic acid (3-PBA), cis/trans-3-(2,2-dichlorovinyl)-2,2-dimethyl-cyclopropane carboxylic acid (cis/trans-DCCA), and 2-methyl-3-phenylbenzoic acid (MPA) using high performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry. Only 3-PBA was frequently detected (>50%) in the adult urine samples. Median urinary 3-PBA levels were 0.88 ng/mL, 0.96 ng/mL-SG, 1.04 ng/mg, and 1.04 ng/min for concentration, SG-corrected, CR-corrected, and excretion rate values, respectively, across all urine samples. The results showed that median urinary 3-PBA concentrations were consistently the lowest in FMV samples (0.77 ng/mL, 0.68 ng/mL-SG, 0.68 ng/mg, and 0.58 ng/min) and the highest in 24-h samples (0.92 ng/mL, 1.06 ng/mL-SG, 1.18 ng/mg, and 1.19 ng/min) across all four methods. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) estimates for 3-PBA indicated poor reproducibility (<0.22) for all urine sample types and methods over a day, week, and six weeks. Correcting for urine sample dilution, based on either SG, CR or urine output, introduced additional measurement variability both between- and within-individuals. These results indicate that a single measure of urinary 3-PBA was not sufficient to characterize average exposure regardless of sample type, correction method, and time frame of collection. In addition, the study results can be used to inform the design of exposure characterization strategies in relevant environmental epidemiology studies in the future. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Clinical evaluation of cats with nonobstructive urinary tract diseases.

PubMed

Buffington, C A; Chew, D J; Kendall, M S; Scrivani, P V; Thompson, S B; Blaisdell, J L; Woodworth, B E

1997-01-01

To identify the underlying cause of clinical signs in cats with nonobstructive diseases of the bladder and urethra. Prospective case series. 109 cats examined by the urology service of The Ohio State University's veterinary teaching hospital because of stranguria, hematuria, pollakiuria, or urination in inappropriate locations. History was obtained and a CBC, serum biochemical analyses, serologic tests for FeLV and feline immunodeficiency virus, urinalysis, bacterial culture of urine, and contrast radiography or urethrocystoscopy (females only) were performed. 16 cats had cystic calculi: 8 had struvite uroliths, 7 had calcium oxalate uroliths, and 1 had a urolith of unknown composition in conjunction with an anatomic defect. Anatomic defects, including diverticulae, urethral strictures, and a malpositioned urethra, were identified in 12 cats. A urinary tract infection was identified in 1 cat, and neoplasia was diagnosed in 2. One of the cats with neoplasia also had a struvite urolith. The remaining 80 cats did not have an anatomic defect, urolith, or tumor. Ten of these cats also did not have radiographic or cystoscopic abnormalities and were presumed to have a behavioral disorder. The remaining 70 cats had radiographic or cystoscopic abnormalities, and idiopathic cystitis was diagnosed. In 14 of the cats with idiopathic cystitis, results of a urinalysis were normal. Cats with idiopathic cystitis were significantly more likely to eat dry food exclusively (59%) than were cats in the general population (19%). Results suggest that idiopathic cystitis occurs commonly in cats with stranguria, hematuria, pollakiuria, or inappropriate elimination and is associated with consumption of dry foods. Contrast radiography or cystoscopy is necessary for differentiating idiopathic cystitis from behavioral disorders in some cats.

8-Oxo-7,8-dihydroguanine and 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine concentrations in various human body fluids: implications for their measurement and interpretation.

PubMed

Hu, Chiung-Wen; Cooke, Marcus S; Tsai, Yi-Hung; Chao, Mu-Rong

2015-02-01

8-Oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-oxodGuo) is the most investigated product of oxidatively damaged DNA lesion that has been associated with the development of aging, cancer and some degenerative diseases. Here, we present the first liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method that enables the simultaneous measurement of its repair products in plasma and saliva, namely 8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanine (8-oxoGua) and 8-oxodGuo. Using this method, we investigated the underlying transport mechanism of the repair products of oxidatively damaged DNA between cellular compartments and biological matrices. Plasma, saliva and urine samples were collected concurrently from 57 healthy subjects. Various deproteinization methods were evaluated, and the precipitants acetonitrile and sodium hydroxide-methanol were, respectively, selected for plasma and saliva samples due to their effect on recovery efficiencies and chromatography. The mean baseline concentrations of 8-oxoGua and 8-oxodGuo in plasma were demonstrated to be 0.21 and 0.016 ng/mL, respectively, while in saliva they were 0.85 and 0.010 ng/mL, respectively. A relatively high concentration of 8-oxoGua was found in saliva with a concentration factor (CF, concentration ratio of saliva to plasma) of 4 as compared to that of 8-oxodGuo (CF: 0.6), implying that 8-oxoGua in plasma may be actively transported to saliva, whereas 8-oxodGuo was most dependent on a passive diffusion. Good correlations between urine and plasma concentrations were observed for 8-oxoGua and 8-oxodGuo, suggesting that blood was a suitable matrix in addition to urine. Significant correlation between 8-oxoGua and 8-oxodGuo in urine was only observed when the concentrations were not corrected for urinary creatinine, raising the issue of applicability of urinary creatinine to adjust 8-oxoGua concentrations.

Sulfadiazine-Induced Obstructive Nephropathy Presenting with Upper Urinary Tract Extravasation.

PubMed

Kabha, Maharan; Dekalo, Snir; Barnes, Sophie; Mintz, Ishay; Matzkin, Haim; Sofer, Mario

2016-01-01

Background: Obstructive nephropathy is an uncommon side effect of sulfadiazine, which is used for the treatment of toxoplasmosis. We present a case of acute renal colic and urine extravasation of a patient shortly after she was started on this medication. Case Presentation: A 31-year-old female presented with acute renal colic 2 weeks after starting treatment with sulfadiazine and pyrimethamine for ocular toxoplasmosis. Results: A noncontrast computed tomography revealed left hydronephrosis and fluid located around the kidney and in the left gutter. There were no urinary stones. Administration of intravenous contrast revealed significant urine extravasation at the level of the ureteropelvic junction. Intravenous contrast injection confirmed that the extravasation consisted of urine leakage at the ureteropelvic junction. Her clinical condition improved with the insertion of an internal stent, which was left in place for 4 weeks. A retrograde pyelography performed at the time of the internal stent removal ruled out persistent extravasation and filling defects in the left upper urinary tract. Considering the clinical circumstances and the imaging results, it appears that this is a first reported case of sulfadiazine-induced obstructive uropathy associated with urine extravasation. Conclusion: Although rare, obstructive uropathy related to sulfadiazine medication should be promptly suspected, diagnosed, and treated. Patients should be instructed to substantially increase their liquid intake while on that medication.

Urinary concentrating defect in mice with selective deletion of phloretin-sensitive urea transporters in the renal collecting duct

PubMed Central

Fenton, Robert A.; Chou, Chung-Lin; Stewart, Gavin S.; Smith, Craig P.; Knepper, Mark A.

2004-01-01

To investigate the role of inner medullary collecting duct (IMCD) urea transporters in the renal concentrating mechanism, we deleted 3 kb of the UT-A urea transporter gene containing a single 140-bp exon (exon 10). Deletion of this segment selectively disrupted expression of the two known IMCD isoforms of UT-A, namely UT-A1 and UT-A3, producing UT-A1/3-/- mice. In isolated perfused IMCDs from UT-A1/3-/- mice, there was a complete absence of phloretin-sensitive or vasopressin-stimulated urea transport. On a normal protein intake (20% protein diet), UT-A1/3-/- mice had significantly greater fluid consumption and urine flow and a reduced maximal urinary osmolality relative to wild-type controls. These differences in urinary concentrating capacity were nearly eliminated when urea excretion was decreased by dietary protein restriction (4% by weight), consistent with the 1958 Berliner hypothesis stating that the chief role of IMCD urea transport in the concentrating mechanism is the prevention of urea-induced osmotic diuresis. Analysis of inner medullary tissue after water restriction revealed marked depletion of urea in UT-A1/3-/- mice, confirming the concept that phloretin-sensitive IMCD urea transporters play a central role in medullary urea accumulation. However, there were no significant differences in mean inner medullary Na+ or Cl- concentrations between UT-A1/3-/- mice and wild-type controls, indicating that the processes that concentrate NaCl were intact. Thus, these results do not corroborate the predictions of passive medullary concentrating models stating that NaCl accumulation in the inner medulla depends on rapid vasopressin-regulated urea transport across the IMCD epithelium. PMID:15123796

Tuning the relative concentration ratio of bulk defects to surface defects in TiO2 nanocrystals leads to high photocatalytic efficiency.

PubMed

Kong, Ming; Li, Yuanzhi; Chen, Xiong; Tian, Tingting; Fang, Pengfei; Zheng, Feng; Zhao, Xiujian

2011-10-19

TiO(2) nanocrystals with tunable bulk/surface defects were synthesized and characterized with TEM, XRD, BET, positron annihilation, and photocurrent measurements. The effect of defects on photocatalytic activity was studied. It was found for the first time that decreasing the relative concentration ratio of bulk defects to surface defects in TiO(2) nanocrystals could significantly improve the separation efficiency of photogenerated electrons and holes, thus significantly enhancing the photocatalytic efficiency.

Inorganic mercury poisoning associated with skin-lightening cosmetic products.

PubMed

Chan, Thomas Y K

2011-12-01

Mercury and mercury salts, including mercurous chloride and mercurous oxide, are prohibited for use in cosmetic products as skin-lightening agents because of their high toxicity. Yet, the public continue to have access to these products. Reports of skin-lightening cosmetic products containing mercury and cases of mercury poisoning following the use of such products were identified using Medline (1950 - 28 March 2011) with mercury, mercury compounds, mercury poisoning, cosmetics and skin absorption as the subject headings. These searches identified 118 citations of which 31 were relevant. The rate of dermal absorption increases with the concentration of mercury and prior hydration of the skin. The degree of dermal absorption varies with the skin integrity and lipid solubility of the vehicle in the cosmetic products. Ingestion may occur after topical application around the mouth and hand-to-mouth contact. After absorption, inorganic mercury is distributed widely and elimination occurs primarily through the urine and feces. With long-term exposure, urinary excretion is the major route of elimination. The half-life is approximately 1-2 months. The kidneys are the major site of inorganic mercury deposition; renal damage includes reversible proteinuria, acute tubular necrosis and nephrotic syndrome. Gastrointestinal symptoms include a metallic taste, gingivostomatitis, nausea and hypersalivation. Although penetration of the blood-brain barrier by inorganic mercury is poor, prolonged exposure can result in central nervous system (CNS) accumulation and neurotoxicity. Inorganic mercury poisoning following the use of skin-lightening creams has been reported from Africa, Europe, USA, Mexico, Australia and Hong Kong. Nephrotic syndrome (mainly due to minimal change or membranous nephropathy) and neurotoxicity were the most common presenting features. As mercury-containing cosmetic products can contaminate the home, some close household contacts were also reported to have elevated urine mercury concentrations. Prevention from further exposure is the first step. Cream users and their close contacts should be evaluated for evidence of mercury exposure, the presence of target organ damage and the need for chelation treatment. Laboratory evaluation of affected subjects should include a complete blood count, serum electrolytes, liver and renal function tests, urinalysis, urine and blood mercury concentrations. Since blood mercury concentrations tend to return to normal within days of exposure, blood samples are useful primarily in short-term, higher-level exposures. Estimation of the urine mercury concentration is the best marker of exposure to inorganic mercury and indicator of body burden. A 24-hour urine for measurement of mercury excretion is preferred; a spot urine mercury concentration should be corrected for creatinine output. Chelation therapy is indicated in patients with features of mercury poisoning and elevated blood and/or urine mercury concentrations. Unithiol (2,3-dimercapto-1-propanesulfonic acid, DMPS) is the preferred antidote though succimer (dimercaptosuccinic acid, DMSA) has also been employed. The use of mercury in cosmetic products should be strictly prohibited. The public should be warned not to use such products as their use can result in systemic absorption and accumulation of mercury causing renal, gastrointestinal and CNS toxicity.

Towards a method of rapid extraction of strontium-90 from urine: urine pretreatment and alkali metal removal

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hawkins, C.; Dietz, M.; Kaminski, M.

2016-03-01

A technical program to support the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention is being developed to provide an analytical method for rapid extraction of Sr-90 from urine, with the intent of assessing the general population’s exposure during an emergency response to a radiological terrorist event. Results are presented on the progress in urine sample preparation and chemical separation steps that provide an accurate and quantitative detection of Sr-90 based upon an automated column separation sequence and a liquid scintillation assay. Batch extractions were used to evaluate the urine pretreatment and the column separation efficiency and loading capacity based upon commercial,more » extractant-loaded resins. An efficient pretreatment process for decolorizing and removing organics from urine without measurable loss of radiostrontium from the sample was demonstrated. In addition, the Diphonix® resin shows promise for the removal of high concentrations of common strontium interferents in urine as a first separation step for Sr-90 analysis.« less

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hinwood, A.L., E-mail: a.hinwood@ecu.edu.au; Callan, A.C.; Ramalingam, M.

Recent literature suggests that exposure to low concentrations of heavy metals may affect both maternal and child health. This study aimed to determine the biological heavy metals concentrations of pregnant women as well as environmental and dietary factors that may influence exposure concentrations. One hundred and seventy three pregnant women were recruited from Western Australia, each providing a sample of blood, first morning void urine, residential soil, dust and drinking water samples. Participants also completed a questionnaire which included a food frequency component. All biological and environmental samples were analysed for heavy metals using ICP-MS. Biological and environmental concentrations ofmore » lead and mercury were generally low (Median Pb Drinking Water (DW) 0.04 µg/L; Pb soil <3.0 µg/g; Pb dust 16.5 µg/g; Pb blood 3.67 µg/L; Pb urine 0.55; µg/L Hg DW <0.03; Hg soil <1.0 µg/g; Hg dust <1.0 µg/g; Hg blood 0.46 µg/L; Hg urine <0.40 µg/L). Cadmium concentrations were low in environmental samples (Median CdDW 0.02 µg/L; Cdsoil <0.30 ug/g; Cddust <0.30) but elevated in urine samples (Median 0.55 µg/L, creatinine corrected 0.70 µg/g (range <0.2–7.06 µg/g creatinine) compared with other studies of pregnant women. Predictors of increased biological metals concentrations in regression models for blood cadmium were residing in the Great Southern region of Western Australia and not using iron/folic acid supplements and for urinary cadmium was having lower household annual income. However, these factors explained little of the variation in respective biological metals concentrations. The importance of establishing factors that influence low human exposure concentrations is becoming critical in efforts to reduce exposures and hence the potential for adverse health effects. -- Highlights: • Biological heavy metals concentrations in women in their 3rd trimester of pregnancy. • Exposure assessment including environmental, lifestyle and activity data. • Urinary cadmium concentrations were elevated in this group of pregnant women. • Blood lead and mercury concentrations were below recommended biological guideline values.« less

Blue Diaper Syndrome and PCSK1 Mutations.

PubMed

Distelmaier, Felix; Herebian, Diran; Atasever, Claudia; Beck-Woedl, Stefanie; Mayatepek, Ertan; Strom, Tim M; Haack, Tobias B

2018-04-01

Blue diaper syndrome (BDS) (Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man number 211000) is an extremely rare disorder that was first described in 1964. The characteristic finding is a bluish discoloration of urine spots in the diapers of affected infants. Additional clinical features of the first described patients included diarrhea, inadequate weight gain, hypercalcemia, and nephrocalcinosis. An intestinal defect of tryptophan absorption was postulated as the underlying pathology. However, functional evidence for this theory is lacking. No genetic cause has been identified so far. Here, we report on a boy who presented with neonatal-onset diarrhea, metabolic acidosis, transient hepatopathy, recurrent hypoglycemia, and blue-stained urine spots in his diapers. An ultra-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry analysis of urine samples at different time points demonstrated the constant presence of indigo derivatives, thereby confirming the diagnosis of BDS. Of note, the visibility of indigo derivatives in the urine was highly dependent on the urine's pH. To identify the underlying genetic cause of the disease, whole-exome sequencing was performed, leading to the identification of a homozygous frameshift mutation in proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 1 ( PCSK1 ; NM_000439.4: c.679del, p.[Val227Leufs*12]). PCSK1 encodes prohormone convertase 1/3, and mutations within this gene have been reported as a rare cause of early-onset malabsorptive diarrhea and multiple endocrine dysfunction. In our report, we suggest that BDS can be caused by PCSK1 mutations. Copyright © 2018 by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Urea and urine are a viable and cost-effective nitrogen source for Yarrowia lipolytica biomass and lipid accumulation.

PubMed

Brabender, Matthew; Hussain, Murtaza Shabbir; Rodriguez, Gabriel; Blenner, Mark A

2018-03-01

Yarrowia lipolytica is an industrial yeast that has been used in the sustainable production of fatty acid-derived and lipid compounds due to its high growth capacity, genetic tractability, and oleaginous properties. This investigation examines the possibility of utilizing urea or urine as an alternative to ammonium sulfate as a nitrogen source to culture Y. lipolytica. The use of a stoichiometrically equivalent concentration of urea in lieu of ammonium sulfate significantly increased cell growth when glucose was used as the carbon source. Furthermore, Y. lipolytica growth was equally improved when grown with synthetic urine and real human urine. Equivalent or better lipid production was achieved when cells are grown on urea or urine. The successful use of urea and urine as nitrogen sources for Y. lipolytica growth highlights the potential of using cheaper media components as well as exploiting and recycling non-treated human waste streams for biotechnology processes.

Paired Serum and Urine Concentrations of Biomarkers of Diethyl Phthalate, Methyl Paraben, and Triclosan in Rats

PubMed Central

Teitelbaum, Susan L.; Li, Qian; Lambertini, Luca; Belpoggi, Fiorella; Manservisi, Fabiana; Falcioni, Laura; Bua, Luciano; Silva, Manori J.; Ye, Xiaoyun; Calafat, Antonia M.; Chen, Jia

2015-01-01

Background Exposure to environmental chemicals, including phthalates and phenols such as parabens and triclosan, is ubiquitous within the U.S. general population. Objective This proof-of-concept rodent study examined the relationship between oral doses of three widely used personal care product ingredients [diethyl phthalate (DEP), methyl paraben (MPB), and triclosan] and urine and serum concentrations of their respective biomarkers. Methods Using female Sprague-Dawley rats, we carried out two rounds of experiments with oral gavage doses selected in accordance with no observed adverse effect levels (NOAELs) derived from previous studies: 1,735 (DEP), 1,050 (MPB), 50 (triclosan) mg/kg/day. Administered doses ranged from 0.005 to 173 mg/kg/day, 10–100,000 times below the NOAEL for each chemical. Controls for the MPB and triclosan experiments were animals treated with olive oil (vehicle) only; controls for the DEP serum experiments were animals treated with the lowest doses of MPB and triclosan. Doses were administered for 5 days with five rats in each treatment group. Urine and blood serum, collected on the last day of exposure, were analyzed for biomarkers. Relationships between oral dose and biomarker concentrations were assessed using linear regression. Results Biomarkers were detected in all control urine samples at parts-per-billion levels, suggesting a low endemic environmental exposure to the three chemicals that could not be controlled even with all of the precautionary measures undertaken. Among the exposed animals, urinary concentrations of all three biomarkers were orders of magnitude higher than those in serum. A consistently positive linear relationship between oral dose and urinary concentration was observed (R2 > 0.80); this relationship was inconsistent in serum. Conclusions Our study highlights the importance of carefully considering the oral dose used in animal experiments and provides useful information in selecting doses for future studies. Citation Teitelbaum SL, Li Q, Lambertini L, Belpoggi F, Manservisi F, Falcioni L, Bua L, Silva MJ, Ye X, Calafat AM, Chen J. 2016. Paired serum and urine concentrations of biomarkers of diethyl phthalate, methyl paraben, and triclosan in rats. Environ Health Perspect 124:39–45; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1409586 PMID:26047088

Barium determination in gastric contents, blood and urine by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry in the case of oral barium chloride poisoning.

PubMed

Łukasik-Głębocka, Magdalena; Sommerfeld, Karina; Hanć, Anetta; Grzegorowski, Adam; Barałkiewicz, Danuta; Gaca, Michał; Zielińska-Psuja, Barbara

2014-01-01

A serious case of barium intoxication from suicidal ingestion is reported. Oral barium chloride poisoning with hypokalemia, neuromuscular and cardiac toxicity, treated with intravenous potassium supplementation and hemodialysis, was confirmed by the determination of barium concentrations in gastric contents, blood, serum and urine using the inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry method. Barium concentrations in the analyzed specimens were 20.45 µg/L in serum, 150 µg/L in blood, 10,500 µg/L in urine and 63,500 µg/L in gastric contents. Results were compared with barium levels obtained from a non-intoxicated person. © The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Biomarkers of oral exposure to 3-nitro-1,2,4-triazol-5-one (NTO) and 2,4-dinitroanisole (DNAN) in blood and urine of rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta).

PubMed

Hoyt, Nathan; Brunell, Marla; Kroeck, Karl; Hable, Mike; Crouse, Lee; O'Neill, Art; Bannon, Desmond I

2013-11-01

The U.S. Department of Defense is using the chemicals 2,4-dinitroanisole (DNAN) and 3-nitro-1, 2,4-triazol-5-one (NTO) in new munitions development. In a screen for biomarkers of exposure, these compounds were measured in urine and blood of male rhesus monkeys after oral doses. NTO peaked at 4 h, with urinary concentrations at least 100-fold higher than that of blood or serum while 4-dinitrophenol (DNP), a metabolite of DNAN, appeared in blood at concentrations 10- to 20-fold higher than the parent compound. For human exposure monitoring, urine is optimal for NTO while the metabolite DNP in blood is best for DNAN.

Chemical composition of rainbow trout urine following acute hypoxic stress

USGS Publications Warehouse

Hunn, Joseph B.

1969-01-01

Rainbow trout (Salmo gairdnerii) were anesthetized with MS-222, catheterized, and introduced into urine collecting chambers. Twenty-four hours after introduction, a 4-hour accumulation of urine was collected to serve as the control. Water flow to the chambers was then discontinued for 30 minutes during which the oxygen content of the water exiting in the chamber dropped from 4.9 to 2.8 mg/l. Following this hypoxic stress fresh water was restored and accumulated urine samples were taken for analysis at 1, 4, and 20 hours post-hypoxic stress. Rainbow trout excrete abnormally high concentrations of Na, K, Mg, Cl, and inorganic PO4 following hypoxia.

Neonicotinoid concentrations in urine from chronic kidney disease patients in the North Central Region of Sri Lanka.

PubMed

Kabata, Risako; Nanayakkara, Shanika; Senevirathna, Stmld; Harada, Kouji H; Chandrajith, Rohana; Hitomi, Toshiaki; Abeysekera, Tilak; Takasuga, Takumi; Koizumi, Akio

2016-01-01

Neonicotinoid insecticides have been widely used around the world since the 1990s. Reports have been made since the 1990s of rice paddy farmers in the North Central Region (NCR) of Sri Lanka suffering from chronic kidney disease with unknown etiology (CKDu). A preliminary evaluation of the exposure of local farmers in the NCR of Sri Lanka to neonicotinoids was performed. We analyzed neonicotinoid and neonicotinoid metabolite concentrations in spot urine samples. We selected 40 samples, 10 from farmers with CKDu and 10 from controls from each of two areas, Medawachchiya and Girandurukotte. Imidacloprid and desmethyl-acetamiprid were found at significantly higher concentrations in the control samples (with medians of 51 ng/l and 340 ng/l, respectively) than in the CKDu samples (medians of 15 ng/l and 150 ng/l, respectively) when the results were not adjusted for the creatinine contents. None of the six compounds that were measured in the urine samples were found at significantly higher concentrations in the CKDu samples than in the control samples. None of the neonicotinoid concentrations in the samples analyzed in this study exceeded the concentrations that have been found in samples from the general population of Japan. Farmers (both with and without CKDu) living in CKDu-endemic areas in the NCR of Sri Lanka are exposed to lower neonicotinoid concentrations than non-occupationally exposed residents of Japan.

Utility of ELISA screening for the monitoring of abstinence from illegal and legal drugs in hair and urine.

PubMed

Agius, Ronald; Nadulski, Thomas

2014-06-01

Amphetamines, cannabinoids, cocaine, opiates, methadone, and benzodiazepines in authentic hair samples with drug concentrations around the medical and psychological assessment (MPA) guidelines cut-offs were screened by LUCIO-direct ELISA kits. Following confirmation of all positive and a significant number of negatively screened samples with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) or liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) methods accredited for forensic purposes. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) were plotted and the area under the curve (AUC) and overall misclassification rate (OMR) were calculated and compared to those obtained for the same drug classes in urine. While fulfilling the validation criteria of the German forensic guidelines, for almost all screening tests in hair and urine the AUC were greater than 0.8, indicating good to excellent performance. Moreover the AUC calculated for the detection of drugs in hair did not differ significantly to the AUC calculated for the detection of the same drug classes in urine, thus showing a comparable screening performance to the well accepted, previously published application of the same ELISAs for the detection of drugs at unconventionally low cut-offs in urine. For the first time, the validation of the immunoassay tests for the complete 6-drug panel MPA profile in hair and urine using a large population of authentic hair and urine samples with drug concentrations around MPA cut-offs, lower than conventional clinical or workplace drug testing guidelines cut-offs as well as those suggested by the Society of hair testing (SoHT) is presented. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Impact of urine preservation methods and duration of storage on measured levels of environmental contaminants.

PubMed

Hoppin, Jane A; Ulmer, Ross; Calafat, Antonia M; Barr, Dana B; Baker, Susan V; Meltzer, Helle M; Rønningen, Kjersti S

2006-01-01

Collection of urine samples in human studies involves choices regarding shipping, sample preservation, and storage that may ultimately influence future analysis. As more studies collect and archive urine samples to evaluate environmental exposures in the future, we were interested in assessing the impact of urine preservative, storage temperature, and time since collection on nonpersistent contaminants in urine samples. In spiked urine samples stored in three types of urine vacutainers (no preservative, boric acid, and chlorhexidine), we measured five groups of contaminants to assess the levels of these analytes at five time points (0, 24, 48, and 72 h, and 1 week) and at two temperatures (room temperature and 4 degrees C). The target chemicals were bisphenol A (BPA), metabolites of organophosphate (OP), carbamate, and pyrethroid insecticides, chlorinated phenols, and phthalate monoesters, and were measured using five different mass spectrometry-based methods. Three samples were analyzed at each time point, with the exception of BPA. Repeated measures analysis of variance was used to evaluate effects of storage time, temperature, and preservative. Stability was summarized with percent change in mean concentration from time 0. In general, most analytes were stable under all conditions with changes in mean concentration over time, temperature, and preservative being generally less than 20%, with the exception of the OP metabolites in the presence of boric acid. The effect of storage temperature was less important than time since collection. The precision of the laboratory measurements was high allowing us to observe small differences, which may not be important when categorizing individuals into broader exposure groups.

Prednisolone and prednisone neo-formation in bovine urine after sampling.

PubMed

Arioli, F; Casati, A; Fidani, M; Silvestri, M; Pompa, G

2012-06-01

The rise in the frequency of detecting prednisolone in bovine urine from northern Italy has come into focus of attention in recent years. The possibility that neo-formation of prednisolone or that prednisone may occur in urine after collection of samples was therefore investigated. Cow urine collected for official routine controls in Lombardy containing more than 80 ng/ml cortisol, and prednisolone and prednisone below the decision limit (CCα) of the method (0.4 and 0.5 ng/ml, respectively) was used. The C1-2 dehydrogenation of naturally present cortisol and cortisone was checked by incubating urine, both contaminated and uncontaminated with faeces, at 37°C and by collecting samples at 0, 1, 2, 4, 6 and 24 h. The influence of Helix pomatia juice was also investigated in order to determine whether deconjugation could influence the reliability of the results. All samples were analysed by HPLC-MS3 for the presence of cortisol, cortisone, prednisolone and prednisone in negative electrospray ionisation mode, utilising the consecutive reaction monitoring of product ions derived from the formate molecular adduct ([M+HCOO]-). The observed neo-formation of prednisolone shows that inappropriate temperatures in sample storage and processing can result in an incorrect accusation of non-compliance. The faecal contamination of urine, performed with the aim to mimic a collection conducted without the necessary care, moreover, evoked a high increase in prednisolone concentration in two out of seven animals. Moreover, H. pomatia juice had no significant effect on the prednisolone concentration, indicating that this corticosteroid is present in its free form in cow urine.

Effect of a protein-rich meal on urinary and salivary free amino acid concentrations in human subjects.

PubMed

Brand, H S; Jörning, G G; Chamuleau, R A; Abraham-Inpijn, L

1997-08-08

The aim of the present study was to investigate whether in healthy volunteers acute changes in plasma free amino acid composition after a protein-rich test meal are reflected in the urinary and salivary concentrations of the corresponding amino acids. The ingestion of a protein-rich meal elicited a significant increase of plasma and urine amino acid concentrations. The postprandial salivary amino acid excretion showed only minor changes. For several amino acids (alanine, arginine, asparagine, glycine, threonine and valine) significant relations were observed between the increase in concentration of these amino acids in venous plasma and urine. In whole saliva, only threonine and valine showed a significant relationship with the corresponding plasma concentration. Our data suggest that the urinary amino acid excretion of several amino acids has the potential for estimating short-term changes in plasma concentrations. Determination of salivary amino acid concentrations seems less appropriate for this purpose.

Identifying occupational and nonoccupational exposure to mercury in dental personnel.

PubMed

Shirkhanloo, Hamid; Fallah Mehrjerdi, Mohammad Ali; Hassani, Hamid

2017-03-04

The objective of this study was to investigate the occupational and nonoccupational exposure to mercury (Hg) vapor in dental personnel by examining the relationships between blood mercury, urine mercury, and their ratio with air mercury. The method was performed on 50 occupational exposed and 50 unexposed controls (25 men and 25 women). The mercury concentrations in air and human biological samples were determined based on the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) method and standard method (SM) by a new mode of liquid-phase microextraction, respectively. The mean mercury concentrations in urine (μg Hg 0 /g creatinine) and blood were significantly higher than control group, respectively (19.41 ± 5.18 vs 2.15 ± 0.07 μg/g and 16.40 ± 4.97 vs 2.50 ± 0.02 μg/L) (p <.001). The relationships between mercury concentration in blood/urine ratio (r = .380) with dental office air are new indicators for assessing occupational exposure in dental personnel.

Urinary elimination of molybdenum by healthy subjects as determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.

PubMed

Allain, P; Berre, S; Prémel-Cabic, A; Mauras, Y; Cledes, A; Cournot, A

The concentration of molybdenum was measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS) in the urines of two groups of healthy people living in two areas of France, Brest and Paris, about 500 km away. The concentration of Mo in the 24-hour urines of 10 healthy subjects from the Brest region was 25 +/- 10 micrograms/l, 38 +/- 20 micrograms/24 h and 21 +/- 9 micrograms/g creatinine. The concentration of Mo in the morning urines of 23 healthy men of the Paris region was 41 +/- 34 micrograms/l and 21 +/- 15 micrograms/g creatinine. Thus the mean elimination of Mo per gram of creatinine was the same in the two groups (21 +/- 9 and 21 +/- 15). Since the three main isotopes of Mo m/z = 95, 96 and 98, corresponding to an abundance percentage of 16, 17 and 24.5, respectively, were simultaneously analyzed in each sample and led to similar results, the ICPMS method seems reliable.

The relationship between 63days of 24-h urinary free cortisol and hair cortisol levels in 10 healthy individuals.

PubMed

van Ockenburg, S L; Schenk, H M; van der Veen, A; van Rossum, E F C; Kema, I P; Rosmalen, J G M

2016-11-01

Interest in measuring cortisol in scalp hair is increasing because of its assumed ability to provide a historical timeline of previous systemic levels of cortisol. Yet, it remains uncertain how well hair cortisol represents the total systemic secretion of cortisol over time. Ten healthy individuals collected 24-h urine samples for 63 consecutive days and provided a hair sample at the end of the study period. 24-h urinary creatinine levels in every urine sample were determined to assess completeness of the samples. Cortisol levels in 24-h urine samples and in hair were measured with liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. The correlations between urinary cortisol and hair cortisol were calculated using Kendall's tau. We found a nonsignificant moderate correlation between average urinary cortisol secretion and average hair cortisol concentration r т =0.422, p=0.089. Hair cortisol concentration correlates low to moderately with 24-h urinary cortisol concentration over a period of 63days. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Understanding arsenic metabolism through a comparative study of arsenic levels in the urine, hair and fingernails of healthy volunteers from three unexposed ethnic groups in the United Kingdom

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Brima, Eid I.; Haris, Parvez I.; Jenkins, Richard O.

2006-10-01

Very little is known about arsenic (As) metabolism in healthy populations that are not exposed to high concentrations of As in their food or water. Here we present a study with healthy volunteers from three different ethnic groups, residing in Leicester, UK, which reveals statistically significant differences in the levels of total As in urine and fingernail samples. Urine (n = 63), hair (n = 36) and fingernail (n = 36) samples from Asians, Somali Black-Africans and Whites were analysed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy (GF-AAS). The results clearly show that themore » total concentrations of As in urine and fingernail samples of a Somali Black-African population (urine 7.2 {mu}g/g creatinine; fingernails 723.1 {mu}g/kg) are significantly (P < 0.05) different from the Asian (urine 24.5 {mu}g/g creatinine; fingernails 153.9 {mu}g/kg) and White groups (urine 20.9 {mu}g/g creatinine; fingernails 177.0 {mu}g/kg). The chemical speciation of As in the urine of the three groups was also measured using high performance liquid chromatography coupled to ICP-MS. This showed that the proportion of the total urinary As present as dimethylarsenate (DMA) was higher for the Somali Black-African group (50%) compared to the Asians (16%) and Whites (22%). However, there was no significant difference (P > 0.05) in the level of As in the hair samples from these three groups; Somali Black-Africans (116.0 {mu}g/kg), Asians (117.4 {mu}g/kg) and Whites (141.2 {mu}g/kg). Significantly different levels of total As in fingernail and urine and a higher percentage of urinary DMA in the Somali Black-Africans are suggestive of a different pattern of As metabolism in this ethnic group.« less

Performance evaluation of three on-site adulterant detection devices for urine specimens.

PubMed

Peace, Michelle R; Tarnai, Lisa D

2002-10-01

The performance of three on-site adulterant detection devices that assess the integrity of urine specimens collected for drug-of-abuse testing was evaluated: the Intect 7, MASK Ultra Screen, and Adultacheck 4. Intect 7 simultaneously tests creatinine, nitrite, glutaraldehyde, pH, specific gravity, and the presence of bleach and pyridinium chlorochromate (PCC). Mask Ultra Screen tests creatinine, nitrite, pH, specific gravity, and oxidants, and Adultacheck 4 tests creatinine, nitrite, glutaraldehyde, and pH. Urine specimens were prepared with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration regulated analytes at 50% above the cut-off concentrations. Stealth, Urine Luck, Instant Clean ADD-IT-ive, and KLEAR were added individually to the drug-added urine specimens so that their concentrations reflected the "optimum" usage reported in their package inserts and 25% above and below that optimum. Stealth is reported to be peroxidase; Urine Luck is believed to be PCC; Instant Clean ADD-it-ive reportedly contains glutaraldehyde, and Klear is a nitrite. The following diluents/adulterants were added at 25%, 33%, and 50% of the volume of drug-added urine: distilled water, bleach, ammonia, and vinegar. Of the devices tested, Intect 7 proved to be the most sensitive, and it correctly indicated the presence of adulterant or diluent in all samples tested. In order to do so, all indication pads had to be assessed in concert. Adultacheck 4 specifically assesses four characteristics of urine integrity and is therefore very limited in detecting the use of several popular adulterants that are commercially available. Although it correctly assessed the four characteristics, it did not detect the use of Stealth, Urine Luck, or Instant Clean ADD-it-ive. Mask Ultra Screen can potentially detect a broader range of adulterants than Adultacheck 4. However, in practice, it only detected them at levels well above their optimum usage, making it less efficacious than Intect 7. Clearly, the specific identification of an adulterant is a trade-off for sensitive detection of several adulterants.

Assessment of fluoride in groundwater and urine, and prevalence of fluorosis among school children in Haryana, India

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Haritash, A. K.; Aggarwal, Ankur; Soni, Jigyasa; Sharma, Khyati; Sapra, Mohnish; Singh, Bhupinder

2018-05-01

Considering the health effects of fluoride, the present study was undertaken to assess the concentration of fluoride in groundwater, and urine of school children in Bass region of Haryana state. Fluoride in groundwater was observed to vary from 0.5 to 2.4 mg/l with an average concentration of 0.46 mg/l. On the other hand, F- in urine ranged from below the detection limit to 1.8 mg/l among girls and 0.17-1.2 mg/l among the boys. Higher average concentration of fluoride in urine (0.65 mg/l for boys and 0.34 mg/l for girls) may be ascribed to exposure to bioavailable fluoride through food, milk, tea, toothpaste, etc., in addition to intake through groundwater. Relatively more intake of water and food by the boys might be the reason for more cases of severe dental fluorosis (44%) among boys compared to girls (29% cases of moderate to severe dental fluorosis). The groundwater quality for drinking was compromised with respect to dissolved solids, hardness, magnesium ions, and dissolved iron. Hydro-geochemical investigation revealed that rock-water interaction, in terms of direct cation exchange, dominantly regulates groundwater chemistry, and groundwater is of Ca-Na-HCO3 type.

Identification and quantification of ciprofloxacin in urine through excitation-emission fluorescence and three-way PARAFAC calibration.

PubMed

Ortiz, M C; Sarabia, L A; Sánchez, M S; Giménez, D

2009-05-29

Due to the second-order advantage, calibration models based on parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) decomposition of three-way data are becoming important in routine analysis. This work studies the possibility of fitting PARAFAC models with excitation-emission fluorescence data for the determination of ciprofloxacin in human urine. The finally chosen PARAFAC decomposition is built with calibration samples spiked with ciprofloxacin, and with other series of urine samples that were also spiked. One of the series of samples has also another drug because the patient was taking mesalazine. The mesalazine is a fluorescent substance that interferes with the ciprofloxacin. Finally, the procedure is applied to samples of a patient who was being treated with ciprofloxacin. The trueness has been established by the regression "predicted concentration versus added concentration". The recovery factor is 88.3% for ciprofloxacin in urine, and the mean of the absolute value of the relative errors is 4.2% for 46 test samples. The multivariate sensitivity of the fit calibration model is evaluated by a regression between the loadings of PARAFAC linked to ciprofloxacin versus the true concentration in spiked samples. The multivariate capability of discrimination is near 8 microg L(-1) when the probabilities of false non-compliance and false compliance are fixed at 5%.

High salt intake reprioritizes osmolyte and energy metabolism for body fluid conservation.

PubMed

Kitada, Kento; Daub, Steffen; Zhang, Yahua; Klein, Janet D; Nakano, Daisuke; Pedchenko, Tetyana; Lantier, Louise; LaRocque, Lauren M; Marton, Adriana; Neubert, Patrick; Schröder, Agnes; Rakova, Natalia; Jantsch, Jonathan; Dikalova, Anna E; Dikalov, Sergey I; Harrison, David G; Müller, Dominik N; Nishiyama, Akira; Rauh, Manfred; Harris, Raymond C; Luft, Friedrich C; Wassermann, David H; Sands, Jeff M; Titze, Jens

2017-05-01

Natriuretic regulation of extracellular fluid volume homeostasis includes suppression of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, pressure natriuresis, and reduced renal nerve activity, actions that concomitantly increase urinary Na+ excretion and lead to increased urine volume. The resulting natriuresis-driven diuretic water loss is assumed to control the extracellular volume. Here, we have demonstrated that urine concentration, and therefore regulation of water conservation, is an important control system for urine formation and extracellular volume homeostasis in mice and humans across various levels of salt intake. We observed that the renal concentration mechanism couples natriuresis with correspondent renal water reabsorption, limits natriuretic osmotic diuresis, and results in concurrent extracellular volume conservation and concentration of salt excreted into urine. This water-conserving mechanism of dietary salt excretion relies on urea transporter-driven urea recycling by the kidneys and on urea production by liver and skeletal muscle. The energy-intense nature of hepatic and extrahepatic urea osmolyte production for renal water conservation requires reprioritization of energy and substrate metabolism in liver and skeletal muscle, resulting in hepatic ketogenesis and glucocorticoid-driven muscle catabolism, which are prevented by increasing food intake. This natriuretic-ureotelic, water-conserving principle relies on metabolism-driven extracellular volume control and is regulated by concerted liver, muscle, and renal actions.

High salt intake reprioritizes osmolyte and energy metabolism for body fluid conservation

PubMed Central

Kitada, Kento; Daub, Steffen; Zhang, Yahua; Klein, Janet D.; Nakano, Daisuke; Pedchenko, Tetyana; Lantier, Louise; LaRocque, Lauren M.; Marton, Adriana; Neubert, Patrick; Schröder, Agnes; Rakova, Natalia; Jantsch, Jonathan; Dikalova, Anna E.; Dikalov, Sergey I.; Harrison, David G.; Müller, Dominik N.; Nishiyama, Akira; Rauh, Manfred; Harris, Raymond C.; Luft, Friedrich C.; Wasserman, David H.; Sands, Jeff M.

2017-01-01

Natriuretic regulation of extracellular fluid volume homeostasis includes suppression of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, pressure natriuresis, and reduced renal nerve activity, actions that concomitantly increase urinary Na+ excretion and lead to increased urine volume. The resulting natriuresis-driven diuretic water loss is assumed to control the extracellular volume. Here, we have demonstrated that urine concentration, and therefore regulation of water conservation, is an important control system for urine formation and extracellular volume homeostasis in mice and humans across various levels of salt intake. We observed that the renal concentration mechanism couples natriuresis with correspondent renal water reabsorption, limits natriuretic osmotic diuresis, and results in concurrent extracellular volume conservation and concentration of salt excreted into urine. This water-conserving mechanism of dietary salt excretion relies on urea transporter–driven urea recycling by the kidneys and on urea production by liver and skeletal muscle. The energy-intense nature of hepatic and extrahepatic urea osmolyte production for renal water conservation requires reprioritization of energy and substrate metabolism in liver and skeletal muscle, resulting in hepatic ketogenesis and glucocorticoid-driven muscle catabolism, which are prevented by increasing food intake. This natriuretic-ureotelic, water-conserving principle relies on metabolism-driven extracellular volume control and is regulated by concerted liver, muscle, and renal actions. PMID:28414295

Simultaneous LC/MS/MS determination of thiols and disulfides in urine samples based on differential labeling with ferrocene-based maleimides.

PubMed

Seiwert, Bettina; Karst, Uwe

2007-09-15

A method for the simultaneous determination of a series of thiols and disulfides in urine samples has been developed based on the sequential labeling of free and bound thiol functionalities with two ferrocene-based maleimide reagents. The sample is first exposed to N-(2-ferroceneethyl)maleimide, thus leading to the derivatization of free thiol groups in the sample. After quantitative reaction and subsequent reduction of the disulfide-bound thiols by tris(2-carboxyethyl)phosphine, the newly formed thiol functionalities are reacted with ferrocenecarboxylic acid-(2-maleimidoyl)ethylamide. The reaction products are determined by LC/MS/MS in the multiple reaction mode, and precursor ion scan as well as neutral loss scan is applied to detect unknown further thiols. The method was successfully applied to the analysis of free and disulfide-bound thiols in urine samples. Limits of detection are 30 to 110 nM, and the linear range comprises two decades of concentration, thus covering the relevant concentration range of thiols in urine samples. The thiol and disulfide concentrations were referred to the creatinine content to compensate for different sample volumes. As some calibration standards for the disulfides are not commercially available, they were synthesized in an electrochemical flow-through cell. This allowed the synthesis of hetero- and homodimeric disulfides.

Diagnosis of Exposure to Chemical Warfare Agents: A Comprehensive Literature Survey 1990-2005

DTIC Science & Technology

2006-01-01

incubated for I h with glucuronidase with sulphatase activity to hydrolyse any conjugates present. The urine was then adjusted to pH 3-4, concentrated...isomer, whereas the slower phase is from the active P(-) isomer. The alkyl MPAs were also detected in blood, isopropyl (iPrMPA) up to 14 h post...urine of a Matsumoto casualty rendered unconscious and with low blood AChE activity (Nakajima et al., 1998). Urine was collected over a 7 day period

Pilot-Plant Demonstration of Wet Oxidation for Treatment of Shipboard Wastewaters.

DTIC Science & Technology

1975-11-01

minus mg of COD removed in prior sampling )] Table I indicates that, when the reactor was last sampled after six injections Pf concentrated feces and urine ...oxidation of feces and urine is of an inorganic nature. The pH of most of the samples taken in thes tests was measured using indi- cator papers. All...BATCH EXPERIMENTS ON FECES AND URINE IN rRESENCE OF BARBER-COLMAN CO. CATALYST 10,480 ............. . E.1 lest Procedure ......... . E-3 E.2 Test

Analytical sensitivity of four commonly used hCG point of care devices.

PubMed

Kamer, Sandy M; Foley, Kevin F; Schmidt, Robert L; Greene, Dina N

2015-04-01

Point of care (POC) hCG assays are often used to rule-out pregnancy and therefore diagnostic sensitivity, especially at low concentrations of hCG, is important. There are very few studies in the literature that seek to verify the claimed analytical sensitivity of hCG POC devices. The analytical sensitivity of four commonly used hCG POC devices (Alere hCG Combo Cassette, ICON 20 hCG, OSOM hCG Combo Test, and Sure-Vue Serum/Urine hCG-STAT) was challenged using urine samples (n=50) selected based on quantitative hCG concentrations. The majority of these specimens (n=40) had an hCG concentration between 20 and 200 U/L. Each specimen/device combination was reviewed by three individuals. Statistical calculations were performed using Stata 12. The analytical sensitivity of the OSOM was significantly lower inferior than that of the other POC devices. There was no significant difference in the sensitivity of the Alere, ICON 20 and Sure-Vue devices. There was no significant difference in the individual interpretation of the hCG POC results. All hCG POC devices evaluated in this study were susceptible to false negative results at low concentrations of urine hCG. Laboratorians and clinicians should be aware that there are limitations when using urine hCG POC devices to rule out early pregnancy. Copyright © 2014 The Canadian Society of Clinical Chemists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Prevalence of isolated non-albumin proteinuria in the US population tested for both, urine total protein and urine albumin: An unexpected discovery.

PubMed

Katayev, Alexander; Zebelman, Arthur M; Sharp, Thomas M; Samantha Flynn; Bernstein, Richard K

2017-04-01

Isolated non-albumin proteinuria (NAP) is a condition when urine total protein concentrations are elevated without elevation of urine albumin. The prevalence of NAP in the US population tested for both, urine total protein and albumin was assessed in this study. The database of a US nationwide laboratory network was queried for test results when random urine albumin was ordered together with urine total protein and also when timed 24-hour urine albumin was ordered together with urine total protein. The total prevalence of NAP in the US population tested for both, urine total protein and albumin was calculated for patient groups having normal and low-normal urine albumin (random and timed) with elevated and severely increased urine total protein (random and timed). Also, the prevalence of NAP was calculated for patients with normal urine albumin to assess the probability of missing proteinuria if only urine albumin is measured. The prevalence of NAP in the random samples group was 10.1% (15.2% for females and 4.7% for males). Among patients with normal random albumin, there were 20.0% (27.3% of females and 10.7% of males) patients with NAP. The prevalence of NAP in the timed samples group was 24.6% (29.8% for females and 18.5% for males). Among patients with normal timed urine albumin, there were 36.2% (40.0% of females and 30.8% of males) patients with NAP. There was a strong positive association with female gender and NAP in most patients groups. Testing for only urine (micro)albumin can miss up to 40% of females and 30.8% of males with gross proteinuria. Copyright © 2016 The Canadian Society of Clinical Chemists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Characterization of ultrafiltration of undiluted and diluted stored urine.

PubMed

Ouma, J; Septien, S; Velkushanova, K; Pocock, J; Buckley, C

2016-11-01

Urine ultrafiltration (UF) was studied in terms of flux, permeability, resistance and fouling. Two types of samples were used: stored urine representing the feedstock obtained from urine diversion dry toilets; and diluted stored urine representing the feedstock obtained from urinals. Three different filtration experiment sets were adopted in this study. For the first case, pressure was set in an ascending order, i.e. from 10 to 60 kPa during filtration of stored urine. For the second case, pressure was set in a descending order, i.e. from 60 to 10 kPa for the same feed stream. The third case involved filtration of diluted urine with pressure in ascending order, i.e. from 10 to 60 kPa. The results indicated that diluted urine had higher flux than undiluted urine with maximum values of 43 and 26 L·m -2 ·h -1 respectively. Cake formation was the dominating fouling mechanism during urine filtration with a contribution of about 90% to the total hydraulic resistance. The contribution of chemically irreversible fouling was low (-2%), unless operating from high to low pressures. Indeed, irreversible fouling appeared to be greater during the experiments starting at higher pressure. Although undiluted urine had a higher fouling potential compared to diluted urine, the specific cake resistance was higher for diluted urine, probably due to a denser cake caused by lower particle sizes in that sample. The permeate obtained after urine filtration had much lower suspended solids content compared to the feedstock, with rejections up to 99%. The concentration of the ionic species remained unchanged, and 75% of the organic compounds and dissolved solids remained in the permeate. Urine UF could then be used as pre-treatment to remove suspended solids.

Influence of anisotropy on percolation and jamming of linear k-mers on square lattice with defects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tarasevich, Yu Yu; Laptev, V. V.; Burmistrov, A. S.; Shinyaeva, T. S.

2015-09-01

By means of the Monte Carlo simulation, we study the layers produced by the random sequential adsorption of the linear rigid objects (k-mers also known as rigid or stiff rods, sticks, needles) onto the square lattice with defects in the presence of an external field. The value of k varies from 2 to 32. The point defects randomly and uniformly placed on the substrate hinder adsorption of the elongated objects. The external field affects isotropic deposition of the particles, consequently the deposited layers are anisotropic. We study the influence of the defect concentration, the length of the objects, and the external field on the percolation threshold and the jamming concentration. Our main findings are (i) the critical defect concentration at which the percolation never occurs even at jammed state decreases for short k-mers (k < 16) and increases for long k-mers (k > 16) as anisotropy increases, (ii) the corresponding critical k-mer concentration decreases with anisotropy growth, (iii) the jamming concentration decreases drastically with growth of k-mer length for any anisotropy, (iv) for short k-mers, the percolation threshold is almost insensitive to the defect concentration for any anisotropy.

Advances in the Diagnosis of Human Opisthorchiasis: Development of Opisthorchis viverrini Antigen Detection in Urine

PubMed Central

Duenngai, Kunyarat; Wangboon, Chompunoot; Sithithaworn, Jiraporn; Watwiengkam, Nattaya; Namwat, Nisana; Techasen, Anchalee; Loilome, Watcharin; Yongvanit, Puangrat; Loukas, Alex; Sithithaworn, Paiboon; Bethony, Jeffrey M.

2015-01-01

Background Many strategies to control opisthorchiasis have been employed in Thailand, but not in the other neighbouring countries. Specific control methods include mass drug administration (MDA) and health education to reduce raw fish consumption. These control efforts have greatly shifted the epidemiology of Opisthorchis viverrini (OV) infection over the last decade from presenting as densely concentrated "heavy" infections in single villages to widespread "light" OV infections distributed over wide geographical areas. Currently, the "gold standard" detection method for OV infection is formalin ethyl-acetate concentration technique (FECT), which has limited diagnostic sensitivity and diagnostic specificity for light OV infections, with OV eggs often confused with eggs of minute intestinal flukes (MIFs) in feces. In this study, we developed and evaluated the diagnostic performance of a monoclonal antibody-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the measurement of OV excretory-secretory (ES) antigens in urine (urine OV-ES assay) for the diagnosis of opisthorchiasis compared to the gold standard detection FECT method. Methodology We tested several methods for pre-treating urine samples prior to testing the diagnostic performance of the urine OV-ES assay. Using trichloroacetic acid (TCA) pre-treated urine, we compared detection and quantification of OV infection using the urine OV-ES assay versus FECT in OV-endemic areas in Northeastern Thailand. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to determine the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of the urine OV-ES assay using TCA pre-treated urine, and to establish diagnostic positivity thresholds. The Positive Predictive Value as well as the likelihood of obtaining a positive test result (LR+) or a negative test result (LR-) were calculated for the established diagnostic positivity threshold. Diagnostic risks (Odds Ratios) were estimated using logistic regression. Results When urine samples were pre-treated with TCA prior to use in the urine OV-ES assay, the analytical sensitivity was significantly improved. Using TCA pre-treatment of urine, the urine OV-ES assay had a limit of detection (LoD) of 39 ng/ml compared to the LoD of 52 ng/mL reported for coprological antigen detection methods. Similarly, the urine OV-ES assay correlated significantly with intensity of OV infection as measured by FECT. The urine OV-ES assay was also able to detect 28 individuals as positive from the 63 (44.4%) individuals previously determined to be negative using FECT. The likelihood of a positive diagnosis of OV infection by urine OV-ES assay increased significantly with the intensity of OV infection as determined by FECT. With reference to FECT, the sensitivity and specificity of the urine OV-ES assay was 81% and 70%, respectively. Conclusion The detection of OV-infection by the urine OV-ES assay showed much greater diagnostic sensitivity and diagnostic specificity than the current "gold standard" FECT method for the detection and quantification of OV infection. Due to its ease-of-use, and noninvasive sample collection (urine), the urine OV-ES assay offers the potential to revolutionize the diagnosis of liver fluke infection and provide an effective tool for control and elimination of these tumorigenic parasites. PMID:26485024

Dental Aspect of Distal Tubular Renal Acidosis with Genu Valgum Secondary to Rickets: A Case Report

PubMed Central

Bahadure, Rakesh N.; Thosar, Nilima; Kriplani, Ritika; Baliga, Sudhindra; Fulzele, Punit

2012-01-01

Distal renal tubular acidosis is a disease that occurs when the kidneys do not remove acid properly into the urine, leaving the blood too acidic (called acidosis). Distal renal tubular acidosis (type I RTA) is caused by a defect in the kidney tubes that causes acid to build up in the bloodstream. It ultimately results rickets which include chronic skeletal pain, in skeletal deformities, skeletal fractures. Rickets is among the most frequent childhood diseases in many developing countries. Dental problems in rickets include delayed eruption of permanent teeth, premature fall of deciduous teeth, defects in structure of teeth, enamel defects in permanent teeth (hypoplastic), pulp defects, intraglobular dentine, and caries tooth. Herewith, reported a case of distal tubular renal acidosis with genu valgum secondary to rickets, with pain and extraoral swelling associated with right and left mandibular 1st permanent molars. Teeth were infected with pulp without being involved with caries. Radiographically cracks in enamel and dentin were observed. Pulp revascularization with 46 and root canal treatment was done for 36 with followup of 1 year. PMID:22567455

GC-MS Quantification Method for Mephedrone in Plasma and Urine: Application to Human Pharmacokinetics.

PubMed

Olesti, Eulàlia; Pujadas, Mitona; Papaseit, Esther; Pérez-Mañá, Clara; Pozo, Óscar J; Farré, Magí; de la Torre, Rafael

2017-03-01

Increasing consumption has been observed among young people of new psychoactive substances, including synthetic cathinone derivatives. The most well known of these is mephedrone whose use has been related to acute intoxication and fatality. Several methods able to detect mephedrone have been reported, although to date, none have been applied to human pharmacokinetic studies in a controlled setting. We developed a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry technique for mephedrone quantification in human plasma and urine. Plasma after deproteinization and urine were submitted to a liquid-liquid extraction and derivatization of the extract with MSTFA prior to analysis. Calibration curves covered concentration ranges in plasma between 5 and 300 ng/mL and in urine between 20 and 1,500 ng/mL. The method has been successfully applied to biological samples obtained from a pilot clinical trial intended to evaluate the human pharmacology of mephedrone and its relative bioavailability and pharmacokinetics. Six healthy males were administered 150 mg of mephedrone by the oral route in a randomized, double-blind, cross-over controlled trial. Peak plasma concentration (Cmax = 122.6 ± 32.9 ng/mL) was reached at 1 hour (0.5-2 h) post-drug administration. Mephedrone showed a rapid elimination half-life (t1/2 = 2.2 h) compared to other psychostimulants. Less than 15% of the dose was excreted in urine as a free-form. Mephedrone concentrations displayed a relevant inter-subject variability. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Ammonia Inactivation of Ascaris Ova in Ecological Compost by Using Urine and Ash

PubMed Central

Parzen, Rebecca E.; Mercado Guzmán, Álvaro

2012-01-01

Viable ova of Ascaris lumbricoides, an indicator organism for pathogens, are frequently found in feces-derived compost produced from ecological toilets, demonstrating that threshold levels of time, temperature, pH, and moisture content for pathogen inactivation are not routinely met. Previous studies have determined that NH3 has ovicidal properties for pathogens, including Ascaris ova. This research attempted to achieve Ascaris inactivation via NH3 under environmental conditions commonly found in ecological toilets and using materials universally available in an ecological sanitation setting, including compost (feces and sawdust), urine, and ash. Compost mixed with stored urine and ash produced the most rapid inactivation, with significant inactivation observed after 2 weeks and with a time to 99% ovum inactivation (T99) of 8 weeks. Compost mixed with fresh urine and ash achieved a T99 of 15 weeks, after a 4-week lag phase. Both matrices had relatively high total-ammonia concentrations and pH values of >9.24 (pKa of ammonia). In compost mixed with ash only, and in compost mixed with fresh urine only, inactivation was observed after an 11-week lag phase. These matrices contained NH3 concentrations of 164 to 173 and 102 to 277 mg/liter, respectively, when inactivation occurred, which was below the previously hypothesized threshold for inactivation (280 mg/liter), suggesting that a lower threshold NH3 concentration may be possible with a longer contact time. Other significant results include the hydrolysis of urea to ammonia between pH values of 10.4 and 11.6, above the literature threshold pH of 10. PMID:22582051

Ammonia inactivation of Ascaris ova in ecological compost by using urine and ash.

PubMed

McKinley, James W; Parzen, Rebecca E; Mercado Guzmán, Álvaro

2012-08-01

Viable ova of Ascaris lumbricoides, an indicator organism for pathogens, are frequently found in feces-derived compost produced from ecological toilets, demonstrating that threshold levels of time, temperature, pH, and moisture content for pathogen inactivation are not routinely met. Previous studies have determined that NH(3) has ovicidal properties for pathogens, including Ascaris ova. This research attempted to achieve Ascaris inactivation via NH(3) under environmental conditions commonly found in ecological toilets and using materials universally available in an ecological sanitation setting, including compost (feces and sawdust), urine, and ash. Compost mixed with stored urine and ash produced the most rapid inactivation, with significant inactivation observed after 2 weeks and with a time to 99% ovum inactivation (T(99)) of 8 weeks. Compost mixed with fresh urine and ash achieved a T(99) of 15 weeks, after a 4-week lag phase. Both matrices had relatively high total-ammonia concentrations and pH values of >9.24 (pK(a) of ammonia). In compost mixed with ash only, and in compost mixed with fresh urine only, inactivation was observed after an 11-week lag phase. These matrices contained NH(3) concentrations of 164 to 173 and 102 to 277 mg/liter, respectively, when inactivation occurred, which was below the previously hypothesized threshold for inactivation (280 mg/liter), suggesting that a lower threshold NH(3) concentration may be possible with a longer contact time. Other significant results include the hydrolysis of urea to ammonia between pH values of 10.4 and 11.6, above the literature threshold pH of 10.