Comparison of Particle-Associated Bacteria from a Drinking Water Treatment Plant and Distribution Reservoirs with Different Water Sources.

This study assessed the characteristics of and changes in the suspended particles and the associated bacteria in an unchlorinated drinking water distribution system and its reservoirs with different water sources. The results show that particle-associated bacteria (PAB) were present at a level of 0.8-4.5 × 10(3) cells ml(-1) with a biological activity of 0.01-0.04 ng l(-1) ATP. Different PAB communities in the waters produced from different sources were revealed by a 16S rRNA-based pyrosequencing analysis. The quantified biomass underestimation due to the multiple cells attached per particle was ≥ 85%. The distribution of the biologically stable water increased the number of cells per particle (from 48 to 90) but had minor effects on the PAB community. Significant changes were observed at the mixing reservoir. Our results show the characteristics of and changes in suspended PAB during distribution, and highlight the significance of suspended PAB in the distribution system, because suspended PAB can lead to a considerable underestimation of biomass, and because they exist as biofilm, which has a greater mobility than pipe-wall biofilm and therefore presents a greater risk, given the higher probability that it will reach the customers' taps and be ingested.

Flow cytometry total cell counts: a field study assessing microbiological water quality and growth in unchlorinated drinking water distribution systems.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the application of flow cytometry total cell counts (TCCs) as a parameter to assess microbial growth in drinking water distribution systems and to determine the relationships between different parameters describing the biostability of treated water. A one-year sampling program was carried out in two distribution systems in The Netherlands. Results demonstrated that, in both systems, the biomass differences measured by ATP were not significant. TCC differences were also not significant in treatment plant 1, but decreased slightly in treatment plant 2. TCC values were found to be higher at temperatures above 15°C than at temperatures below 15°C. The correlation study of parameters describing biostability found no relationship among TCC, heterotrophic plate counts, and Aeromonas. Also no relationship was found between TCC and ATP. Some correlation was found between the subgroup of high nucleic acid content bacteria and ATP (R (2) = 0.63). Overall, the results demonstrated that TCC is a valuable parameter to assess the drinking water biological quality and regrowth; it can directly and sensitively quantify biomass, detect small changes, and can be used to determine the subgroup of active HNA bacteria that are related to ATP.

Inhibition of the oxidative metabolism of theophylline in isolated rat hepatocytes by the quinolone antibiotic enoxacin and its metabolite oxoenoxacin, but not by ofloxacin.

Isolated rat hepatocytes obtained from Aroclor-pretreated rats were incubated with theophylline in the presence or absence of the quinolone antibiotics enoxacin, its metabolite oxoenoxacin, or ofloxacin. The hepatocytes converted theophylline by cytochrome P-450 activity mainly to two metabolites: 1,3-dimethyluric acid and 3-methylxanthine. Enoxacin inhibited the formation of 1,3-dimethyluric acid by 67% at 1.0 mM. Oxoenoxacin or ofloxacin had no inhibitory effect. The oxidation of theophylline to 3-methylxanthine was not inhibited by any of the three compounds. The quinolones had no effect on cell viability. These results show that the inhibition by enoxacin is not due to the formation of its oxoenoxacin metabolite.

Liquid chromatographic determination of diastereomeric glutathione conjugates and further derivatives of alpha-bromoisovalerylurea in rat bile and urine by electrochemically generated bromine.

To study the glutathione conjugation of alpha-bromoisovalerylurea in the rat in vivo, a reversed-phase liquid chromatographic assay of the thioether metabolites in bile and urine was developed. Since alpha-bromoisovalerylurea has a chiral centre, two diastereomeric glutathione conjugates (in bile) and two diastereomeric mercapturates (in urine) can be expected. The separation characteristics of these metabolites and the corresponding cysteine conjugates were investigated. Whereas all thioether metabolites could be separated in one run, optimal separation of the diastereomers required different mobile phases for the glutathione conjugates (in bile) and the mercapturates (in urine). The glutathione conjugates were analysed with the ion-pairing agent sodium decanesulphonate in the mobile phase, but the mercapturates were analysed without an ion-pair-forming agent. For detection, on-line generation of a constant bromine level (100%) was used; bromine-reactive compounds result in a decrease of the amperometric response from the 100% baseline. This technique could be used in continuous automated operation and required little clean-up of the sample. Thus, the diastereomeric glutathione conjugates and mercapturates were quantified in rat bile and urine samples, respectively, by direct injection of the (centrifuged and diluted) samples on the column. The limit of determination of the respective metabolites was 9 and 2.6 ng in bile and urine, respectively. Incubation mixtures of alpha-bromoisovalerylurea with a rat liver cytosolic fraction or with isolated rat hepatocytes were chromatographed after deproteinization with a double volume of methanol. The limit of determination of the diastereomeric glutathione conjugates in the deproteinized incubation samples was 2.0 ng.

alpha-Bromoisovalerylurea as model substrate for studies on pharmacokinetics of glutathione conjugation in the rat. I. (Bio-) synthesis, analysis and identification of diastereomeric glutathione conjugates and mercapturates.

In order to find a model substrate for kinetic characterization of glutathione conjugation in vivo alpha-bromoisovalerylurea (BIU) was studied. After administration of racemic [14C]urea BIU to rats, two radioactive metabolites were found in bile by high-performance liquid chromatography. The identity of these metabolites was established by various methods. Based on the hydrolytic activity of gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (presence of the gamma-glutamyl moiety), high resolution nuclear magnetic resonance (isovaleryl and glutathionyl moieties) and fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry (molecular weight and fragmentation pattern), they were identified as glutathione conjugates of BIU. Because both conjugates in bile had these characteristics in common they must be diastereomers. Incubation of BIU with glutathione in the presence of rat liver cytosol resulted in formation of the same diastereomeric glutathione conjugates. Chemical synthesis of the diastereomers confirmed their identity. The major urinary excretion products of [14C]urea BIU in the rat were identified as diastereomeric mercapturates. A convenient chromatographic separation of the diastereomeric glutathione conjugates and the mercapturic acids is described. Electrochemical detection was used to determine the presence of the thioethers in both urine and bile. Pharmacokinetic results on BIU conjugation are described in the accompanying paper.

Nitroprusside, antihypertensive drug and analytical reagent. Review of (photo)stability, pharmacology and analytical properties.

A review of physical, chemical, analytical and pharmacological properties of nitroprusside is presented. In view of the pharmaceutical applications of nitroprusside special attention is given to the discussion of the (photo)degradation, the stability of the pharmaceutical formulations, the application as a reagent in pharmaceutical analysis and the redox behaviour.