Association between Phthalate Exposure and the Use of Plastic Containers in Shanghai Adults.

OBJECTIVE: Consuming phthalates may be due to the presence of food contact materials, such as plastic containers. In this study, we investigated the association between plastic container use and phthalate exposure in 2,140 Shanghai adults. METHODS: Participants completed a questionnaire on the frequency of using plastic containers in different scenarios in the previous year (e.g., daily, weekly) and on the consumption of plastic-packaged foods in the previous three days (yes or no). Urinary phthalate metabolites were used to assess the association between phthalate exposure and the use of plastic containers. RESULTS: The metabolites of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) were the most frequently detected in urine. The results revealed that phthalate exposure was associated with consumption of plastic-packaged breakfast or processed food items in the previous three days. The consumption of these two food items had strong synergistic effects on increasing urinary concentrations of most phthalate metabolites. CONCLUSION: Our results of plastic-packaged breakfast and processed food may be explained by the use of flexible plastic containers, indicating the importance of risk assessment for the application of flexible plastic containers.

The Development of a Chinese Healthy Eating Index and Its Application in the General Population.

The objective of this study was to develop a Chinese Healthy Eating Index (CHEI) based on the updated Dietary Guidelines for Chinese (DGC-2016) and to apply it in the 2011 China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS-2011) to assess diet quality and its association with typical sociodemographic/economic factors. Data from 14,584 participants (≥2 years) from the CHNS-2011, including three 24-h dietary recalls and additional variables, were used to develop the CHEI. The standard portion size was applied to quantify food consumption. The CHEI was designed as a continuous scoring system, comprising 17 components; the maximum total score is 100. The mean, 1st and 99th percentiles of the CHEI score were 52.4, 27.6 and 78.3, respectively. Young and middle-aged adults scored better than the elderly. Diet insufficiency was chiefly manifested in fruits, dairy, whole grains and poultry; diet excess was mainly reflected in red meat, cooking oils and sodium. The CHEI was positively associated with education and urbanization levels; current smokers and unmarried people obtained relative low CHEI scores. Occupation and body mass index (BMI) were also related to the CHEI. Our findings indicate that the CHEI is capable of recognizing differences in diet quality among the Chinese, and it is sensitive to typical sociodemographic/economic factors.

In situ precise electrospinning of medical glue fibers as nonsuture dural repair with high sealing capability and flexibility.

PURPOSE: In this work, we propose an in situ precise electrospinning of medical glue fibers onto dural wound for improving sealing capability, avoiding tissue adhesion, and saving time in dural repair. METHODS: N-octyl-2-cyanoacrylate, a commercial tissue adhesive (medical glue), can be electrospun into ultrathin fibrous film with precise and homogeneous deposition by a gas-assisted electrospinning device. RESULTS: The self-assembled N-octyl-2-cyanoacrylate film shows high compactness and flexibility owing to its fibrous structure. Simulation experiments on egg membranes and goat meninges demonstrated that this technology can repair small membrane defects quickly and efficiently. CONCLUSION: This method may have potential application in dural repair, for example, working as an effective supplementary technique for conventional dura suture.

In situ deposition of a personalized nanofibrous dressing via a handy electrospinning device for skin wound care.

Current strategies for wound care provide limited relief to millions of patients who suffer from burns, chronic skin ulcers or surgical-related wounds. The goal of this work is to develop an in situ deposition of a personalized nanofibrous dressing via a handy electrospinning (e-spinning) device and evaluate its properties related to skin wound care. MCM-41 type mesoporous silica nanoparticles decorated with silver nanoparticles (Ag-MSNs) were prepared by a facile and environmentally friendly approach, which possessed long-term antibacterial activity and low cytotoxicity. Poly-ε-caprolactone (PCL) incorporated with Ag-MSNs was successfully electrospun (e-spun) into nanofibrous membranes. These in situ e-spun nanofibrous membranes allowed the continuous release of Ag ions and showed broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against two common types of pathogens, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. In addition, the in vivo studies revealed that these antibacterial nanofibrous membranes could reduce the inflammatory response and accelerate wound healing in Wistar rats. The above results strongly demonstrate that such patient-specific dressings could be broadly applied in emergency medical transport, hospitals, clinics and at the patients' home in the near future.

A portable electrospinning apparatus based on a small solar cell and a hand generator: design, performance and application.

Electrospinning (e-spinning) devices and electrospun (e-spun) ultrathin fibers have shown promising applications in various fields. However, the poor portability of conventional e-spinning devices limits some potential applications especially in the case without a plug (electricity supply). Consequently, great efforts have been made to modify e-spinning setups with good portability. In this article, a solar cell and a hand generator-powered portable e-spinning (SHPE) setup with good flexibility is introduced, which can be used outdoors without a plug. The SHPE device shows good spinning efficacy both in solution and melt e-spinning processes for a wide range of polymers. Moreover, the designed SHPE apparatus demonstrates potential application in wound dressing by in situ e-spinning fibers onto human skin directly.

Melt electrospinning of poly(lactic acid) and polycaprolactone microfibers by using a hand-operated Wimshurst generator.

A conventional melt electrospinning setup usually needs a large, heavy high-voltage power supply and cannot work without a plug (electricity supply). In this article, we report a new melt electrospinning setup based on a small hand-operated Wimshurst generator, which can avoid electrical interference between the high-voltage spinning system and the heating system, and make the setup very portable and safe. Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and polycaprolactone (PCL) fibers with diameters of 15-45 µm were fabricated successfully by using this apparatus. Experimental parameters such as the rotational speed of the generator handle (a half turn to two turns per second) and the spinning distance (2-14 cm) were investigated. In addition, PLA and PCL fibers were directly melt-electrospun onto a pork liver, and the temperature and adhesiveness of the deposited fibers were studied. The results indicate that the apparatus and melt-electrospun polymer microfibers may be used in dressing for wound healing.

A battery-operated portable handheld electrospinning apparatus.

Electrospinning (e-spinning) still has certain limitations in flexible practicability because its conventional setup is usually quite bulky and excessively dependent on a plug (electric supply). In this article, we report on a battery-operated e-spinning apparatus (BOEA) based on miniaturization and integration. The new device gets liberated from the conventional heavy power supply, achieves the tight integration of functional parts and can be operated by a single hand due to its small volume (10.5 × 5 × 3 cm(3)) and light weight (about 120 g). Different polymers such as polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), polycaprolactone (PCL), polystyrene (PS), poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) were electrospun into fibers successfully, which confirms the stable performance and good real-time control capability of the apparatus. These results demonstrate that the BOEA could be potentially applied in many fields, especially in biomedical fields such as skin damage, wound healing, rapid hemostasis, etc.

Pharmacokinetics of oxycodone hydrochloride and three of its metabolites after intravenous administration in Chinese patients with pain.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to evaluate the pharmacokinetic profile of oxycodone and three of its metabolites, noroxycodone, oxymorphone and noroxymorphone after intravenous administration in Chinese patients with pain. METHODS: Forty-two subjects were assigned to receive intravenous administration of oxycodone hydrochloride of 2.5, 5 or 10 mg. Plasma and urine samples were collected for up to 24 h after intravenous administration of oxycodone hydrochloride. RESULTS: Pharmacokinetic parameters showed that mean values of C(max), AUC(0-t) and AUC(0-∞) of oxycodone were dose dependent, whereas Tmax and t(1/2) were not. The mean AUC(0-t) ratio of noroxycodone to oxycodone ranged from 0.35 to 0.42 over three doses, and those of noroxymorphone, or oxymorphone, to oxycodone were ranging of 0.06-0.08 and 0.007-0.008, respectively. Oxycodone and its three metabolites were excreted from urine. Approximately 10% of unchanged oxycodone was recovered in 24 h. Most adverse events (AEs) reported were mild to moderate. The frequently occurred AEs were dizziness, nausea, vomiting, drowsiness and fatigue. No dose-related AEs were found. CONCLUSION: Our pharmacokinetics of oxycodone injection in Chinese patients with pain strongly support continued development of oxycodone as an effective analgesic drug in China.

[Effect of oligosaccharide esters and polygalaxanthone Ill from Polygala tenuifolia willd towards cytochrome P450].

Five compounds (tenuifoliside C, tenuifoliside D, telephiose A, telephiose C and polygalaxanthone III) from polygala tenuifolia wild were incubated together with CYP probe substrate in human liver microsomes to investigate the inhibitory effect towards CYP450 enzyme. Phenacetin (CYP1A2), coumarin (CYP2A6), paclitaxel (CYP2C8), diclofenac (CYP2C9), S-mepheriytoin (CYP2C19), dextromethorphan (CYP2D6), chlorzoxazone (CYP2E1), midazolam (CYP3A) were selected as the isoforfn specific substrate. And the formation of paracetamol, 7-hydroxycoumarin, 6alpha-hydroxy paclitaxel, 4'-hydroxydiclofenac, dextrorphan, 6-hydroxychlorzoxazone, 1'-hydroxymidazolam, 4'-hydroxymephenytoin were detected respectively to measure the effect towards CYP450 by high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). The result shows that five compounds from polygala tenuifolia willd significantly inhibit chlorzoxazone 6-hydroxylation catalyzed by CYP2E1, while showed no effect towards CYP1A2, CYP2A6, CYP2C8, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP2D6, CYP3A. And IC50 value was 38.73, 54.14, 61.77, 62.22, 50.56 micromol x L(-1), respectively.

Deep understanding of the interaction between thienorphine and UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) isoforms.

Thienorphine has been demonstrated to be a potent, long-acting partial opioid agonist. It is being developed as a good candidate to treat opioid dependence. The thienorphine's glucuronide was detected after thienorphine was incubated with human liver microsomes (HLMs). Recombinant UGT isoforms screening experiment and enzyme kinetic study showed that UGT1A1 completely contributed to the glucuronidation of thienorphine. Among the tested UGT isoforms, UGT1A3 and UGT2B7 were inhibited by thienorphine, with other UGT isoforms negligibly influenced. The inhibition type is competitive, and inhibition kinetic parameters (K(i)) were 1.65 and 5.27 µM for UGT1A3 and UGT2B7, respectively. However, due to low plasma concentration of thienorphine, in vivo drug-drug interaction might not occur.

Identification of UDP-glucuronosyltransferase isoforms involved in hepatic and intestinal glucuronidation of phytochemical carvacrol.

1. Carvacrol (2-methyl-5-(1-methylethyl)-phenol), one of the main components occurring in many essential oils of the family Labiatae, has been widely used in food, spice and pharmaceutical industries. 2. The carvacrol glucuronidation was characterized by human liver microsomes (HLMs), human intestinal microsomes (HIMs) and 12 recombinant UGT (rUGT) isoforms. 3. One metabolite was identified as a mono-glucuronide by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry with HLMs, HIMs, rUGT1A3, rUGT1A6, rUGT1A7, rUGT1A9 and rUGT2B7. 4. The study with a chemical inhibition, rUGT, and kinetics study demonstrated that rUGT1A9 was the major isozyme responsible for glucuronidation in HLMs, and rUGT1A7 played a major role for glucuronidation in HIMs.

Investigation of UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs) inhibitory properties of carvacrol.

UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs), the most important phase II drug metabolizing enzymes (DMEs), could metabolize many drugs and various endogenous substances including bilirubin, steroid hormones, thyroid hormones, bile acids and fat-soluble vitamins. Evaluation of the inhibitory effects of compounds on UGTs is clinically important because inhibition of UGT isoforms could not only result in serious drug-drug interactions (DDIs), but also induce metabolic disorders of endogenous substances. The aim of the present study was to investigate the inhibitory effects of carvacrol on major UGT isoforms. The results showed that carvacrol could inhibit the activity of UGT1A9 with negligible effects on other UGT isoforms. When 4-methylumbelliferone (4-MU) was used as a nonspecific probe substrate and recombinant UGT enzymes were utilized as an enzyme resource, the inhibition of UGT1A9 was best fit to the competitive type and the inhibition kinetic parameter (K(i)) was calculated to be 5.7 µM. Furthermore, another specific probe substrate, propofol, was employed to determine the inhibitory kinetics of UGT1A9, and the results demonstrated that the inhibitory type was noncompetitive. The inhibition kinetic parameter (K(i)) was determined to be 25.0 µM. Because this substrate-dependent inhibition of UGT1A9 might confuse the in vitro-in vivo extrapolation, these in vitro inhibition kinetic parameters should be interpreted with special caution.

Identification of CYP isoforms involved in the metabolism of thymol and carvacrol in human liver microsomes (HLMs).

Carvacrol and thymol are phenolic compounds with similar structures isolated from many aromatic plants, and have been demonstrated to exert multiple pharmacological effects. The metabolic and pharmacokinetic behaviour of thymol and carvacrol has received much attention. Carvacrol and thymol have been demonstrated to undergo phase I metabolism such as hydroxylation reaction. However, drug-metabolizing enzymes involved in this process remain unclear. Given that cytochrome P450s (CYPs) are involved in most phase I metabolism, the aim of the present study was to investigate the role of CYPs in the metabolism of thymol and carvacrol. After incubation with human liver microsomes (HLMs) in the presence of NADPH, a new metabolite and two metabolites were detected for thymol and carvacrol, respectively. A combination of chemical inhibition studies and assays with recombinant CYP isoforms demonstrated that CYP2A6 was the predominant drug-metabolizing enzyme involved in the metabolism of thymol and carvacrol. All these results remind the researchers that special attention should be paid on pharmacokinetic and clinical outcomes when thymol or carvacrol was co-administrated with other compounds mainly undergoing CYP2A6-mediated metabolism.

ARK5 is associated with the invasive and metastatic potential of human breast cancer cells.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of Akt/ARK5 pathways on the metastatic potential of human breast cancer cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The human ARK5 gene was transfected into MDA-MB-231 cells. Effects of ARK5 on MDA-MB-231 cells were investigated in vitro. The tumorigenicity and spontaneously metastatic capability regulated by ARK5 were determined using an orthotopic xenograft tumor model. RESULTS: ARK5 enhanced the invasive and metastatic potential of MDA-MB-231 cells under regulation by Akt. The enhancement was associated with increasing MMP-2, MMP-9, and MT1-MMP expression. The results were further demonstrated by RNA interference experiment. In an in vivo study, we also demonstrated that ARK5-transfected breast cancer cells grew faster and had more pulmonary metastases than its parental counterparts. CONCLUSION: ARK5 led to a more invasive phenotype and metastatic potential in human breast cancer dependent on Akt.