Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

R D Farrant

Publications and source records attributed to R D Farrant.

36 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Internal temperature calibration for 1H NMR spectroscopy studies of blood plasma and other biofluids.

A method for temperature calibration of human blood plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples inside a high resolution NMR spectrometer is presented. This calibration is based on the temperature dependence of the chemical shift difference between the water signal and that from the H-1 proton of endogenous alpha-glucose or, in some circumstances, beta-glucose. This dependence can be fitted using a second-order polynomial equation and functions for both human blood plasma and human CSF are given. Similar graphs could easily be generated for other fluids. The blood plasma calibration appears to be accurate to +/- 0.9 K in test samples. The use of the blood plasma calibration graph has also been evaluated using the 1H NMR spectra of CSF and shown to overestimate the CSF internal temperature by ca 1.3 K. This approach should have a general applicability to blood plasma and CSF samples from normal and pathological situations or from other species, because there are unlikely to be large changes in ionic strength or pH even in disease states. Knowledge of the exact internal temperature of plasma samples is likely to be of particular importance in the investigation of lipid and lipoprotein interactions because of the significant temperature dependence of lipid and lipoprotein NMR linewidths in such samples.

Body Fluids↗

Evaluation of liquid chromatography coupled with high-field 1H NMR spectroscopy for drug metabolite detection and characterization: the identification of paracetamol metabolites in urine and bile.

The applicability of coupled reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-NMR spectroscopy for the detection and identification of paracetamol (N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)acetamide) and its sulfate, glucuronide and N-acetylcysteinyl metabolites in the unprocessed biological fluids, human urine, rat urine and rat bile, is investigated. Analysis of these samples was performed by gradient HPLC elution and directly coupled 500 MHz 1H NMR spectroscopy detection using a combination of one- and two-dimensional NMR methods in stopped-flow mode. The stopped-flow approach is demonstrated to be an efficient technique for identification of drug metabolites which have, for example, a UV-chromophore. Stopped-flow HPLC analysis with NMR detection is a viable technique and halting the chromatographic process several times during a run has a negligible effect on the separation and NMR characterization. The post-acquisition data processing method of 'quantified maximum entropy' is shown to provide a means of improving the quality of spectra for minor components, thus aiding NMR resonance assignments.

Acetaminophen↗

High-field deuterium nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic monitoring of the pharmacokinetics of selectively deuterated benzoic acid in man.

The stable isotope tracer technique using 13C labeling of substrates followed by NMR spectroscopy of biofluids has been widely used in metabolic investigations, whereas the use of 2H labeling and 2H NMR spectroscopy has been extremely limited. The applicability of the high-field 2H NMR spectroscopy (14.1 T, 92 MHz 2H frequency) in a simple pharmacokinetic problem has now been investigated using selectively deuterated benzoic acid (BA) as a model. [7-13C,2,6-2H2]BA was synthesized for use as a tracer to compare the efficiency and sensitivity of 2H and 13C labeling. The urinary excretion of [7-13C,2,6-2H2]hippuric acid (HA) formed from orally administered [7-13C,2,6-2H2]BA (250 mg) was followed by 92-MHz 2H and 150-MHz 13C NMR spectroscopy (only 10 min accumulation time) following concentration of urine by a factor of 10, using a standard for quantitation. The heights of resonances for 13C7 and 2H2,6 were used to calculate the [7-13C,2,6-2H2]HA concentration. The lower limit of detection using this 2H NMR approach was approximately 60 nmol/ml and was found to be comparable with that of the 13C NMR approach where the quaternary carbon (C7) was labeled. The administered [7-13C,2,6-2H2]BA was found to be quantitatively biotransformed to HA and excreted in urine within 4 h by both NMR approaches. The 2H NMR approach using a high-field NMR spectrometer is potentially useful and practical for pharmacokinetic research on small molecules whose 2H resonances are relatively sharp since the procedures are very simple and convenient.

Benzoates↗

Automatic reduction of NMR spectroscopic data for statistical and pattern recognition classification of samples.

A general method of automatically reducing NMR spectra to provide numerical descriptors of samples has been developed and investigated. These descriptors can be used as input to pattern recognition or multivariate algorithms for sample classification. The methods have been tested using 600 MHz one-dimensional 1H NMR spectra of biofluids which are complex mixtures. The approach is, in principle, applicable to multidimensional and heteronuclear NMR spectra and to other types of liquid samples such as oils and foodstuffs as well as to situations such as 1H or 31P NMR in vivo and solid state NMR in drug formulation analysis. The method relies upon apportioning the information in the spectra to individual contiguous segments and allowing specified regions of the spectra to be omitted. Three approaches, based on the number of peaks, the summed peak heights and the summed peak areas respectively in each segment, have been tested. The effect of segment width and overlap and the effects of manipulation of the NMR spectra have been evaluated in terms of the classification of the samples using principal components analysis. A simple method of generating NMR based spectral descriptors for object classification is thus proposed.

Algorithms↗

600 MHz 1H-NMR spectroscopy of human cerebrospinal fluid: effects of sample manipulation and assignment of resonances.

Extensive assignments of resonances in the 600 MHz 1H-NMR spectra of cerebrospinal fluid are reported. These have been achieved by the measurement of a combination of two-dimensional experiments comprising homonuclear J-resolved, COSY45, and double-quantum filtered COSY (DQCOSY) spectra. By these means the previous total of 18 endogenous metabolites, of which in general only selected resonances have been assigned, has been augmented to 46 molecules including all of the resonances of both alpha- and beta-anomers of glucose. With only a few exceptions all resonances have been assigned for all of the metabolites. In addition, the effect of freeze-drying on the 600 MHz 1H-NMR spectrum of human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is presented using both lyophilization with reconstitution into either H2O or D2O. Freeze-drying and reconstitution into H2O causes a significant sharpening of many small molecule resonances, including notably those of glutamate and glutamine as well as other amino acids and in addition causes the loss of volatile components, principally acetone. Further exchange of the H2O solvent by D2O causes no additional changes in the spectra.

Alcohols↗

Deuterium NMR spectroscopy of biofluids for the identification of drug metabolites: application to N,N-dimethylformamide.

The metabolism of N,N-dimethylformamide in the Sprague-Dawley rat has been reinvestigated using NMR spectroscopy of urine. In particular, through the use of N,N-dimethylformamide-d7 (DMF-d7) and 2H-NMR spectroscopy, the principal metabolites of this compound have been confirmed in a direct manner. The use of inverse-detected two-dimensional 2H-13C correlation with 13C decoupling aided metabolite identification through the provision of 13C chemical shifts.

Animals↗

The conformational behaviour of the cardiac glycoside digoxin as indicated by NMR spectroscopy and molecular dynamics calculations.

The 1H- and 13C-NMR spectra of digoxin in solution in Me2SO-d6 have been assigned completely. Measurement of the 3JC,H values has enabled estimation of the torsional angles involving the bonds linking the digitoxose residues, between the inner digitoxose and the genin unit, and for the unsaturated gamma-lactone ring. These values have been supplemented by 1H-1H NOE data. In general, there is good agreement between the conformations in solution (NMR data) and the solid state (X-ray data), and that derived from theoretical modelling which shows evidence of conformational flexibility. The major difference occurs for the torsion between the genin and the innermost digitoxose residue where molecular dynamics predict the presence of two conformations, one similar to that seen by NMR and the other similar to the X-ray structure.

Carbohydrate Conformation↗

Lipid characterization in an animal model of atherosclerosis using NMR spectroscopy and imaging.

High resolution 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopic measurements including 1H/13C 2D correlation and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies, have been carried out on intact rabbit aortic tissues ex vivo using animals fed both normal and high cholesterol diets. The results show that 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy can distinguish mobile lipids and can differentiate between normal triglyceride content and cholesterol-enriched lipids, in intact tissue, There were considerable differences in the level of deposition of cholesteryl esters in animals all fed on the same diet. Confirmation is presented of temperature-dependent differences in mobility and organization between the triglycerides found in control tissue and the cholesteryl esters found in aortas from high lipid diet animals. Water-suppressed MRI showed evidence of lipid accumulation in the aortas of high cholesterol diet rabbits. It is concluded that the hypercholesterolaemic rabbit model of atherosclerosis, coupled with such NMR methods, may offer a noninvasive method of monitoring disease development, allowing the evaluation of the effect of therapeutic agents on the progress of atherosclerosis.

Animals↗

16 alpha-Iodo-testosterone: chemical synthesis and evaluation as a potential radiopharmaceutical.

The chemical synthesis and characterization, including 1H NMR, of 16 alpha-iodo-androstenedione and 16 alpha-iodo-testosterone are described. Each has been synthesized with 125I and tested in rats in vivo for accumulation in androgen dependent tissues over a 24 hr time course. Neither compound was accumulated in prostate against the blood gradient of normal or 24 hr castrate animals. The metabolism, subcellular distribution and binding of 16 alpha-[125I]iodo-testosterone to protein in prostate has also been examined. By comparison with data obtained after the administration of [3H]testosterone we conclude that the failure of this iodinated androgen to accumulate in androgen dependent tissues arises because of its low binding affinity for receptor protein.

Animals↗

18-Substituted steroids: synthesis of 18-hydroxycortisol (11 beta,17 alpha,18,21-tetrahydroxy-4-pregnene-3,20-dione) and 18-hydroxycortisone (17 alpha,18,21-trihydroxy-4-pregnene-3,11,20-trione).

The isolation of 18-hydroxycortisol from the urine of patients with primary aldosteronism was recently described and no synthetic procedure was available for its preparation. The C-13 angular methyl group of prednisolone-17 alpha,21-acetonide-11 beta-nitrite was functionalized by photolysis in the presence of oxygen to give the product 18-hydroxy-prednisolone-17 alpha,21-acetonide-18-nitrate. The 18-nitrate was reduced with zinc and ammonium acetate to the corresponding 18-hydroxy compound, 18-hydroxy-prednisolone-17 alpha,21-acetonide. Homogeneous hydrogenation with Tris(triphenyl-phosphine)rhodium (I) chloride as catalyst resulted in the formation of 18-hydroxy-cortisol-17 alpha,21-acetonide. Acid hydrolysis of the latter compound gave 18-hydroxycortisol. Oxidation of 18-hydroxycortisol-17 alpha,21-acetonide with pyridinium dichromate followed by acid hydrolysis gave 18-hydroxycortisone. The 18-hydroxylated steroids exist as the 18,21-hemiacetals. Catalytic reduction with tritium gas with Tris(triphenyl-phosphine)rhodium (I) chloride of 18-hydroxyprednisolone-17 alpha,21-acetonide and acid hydrolysis gave [1,2(3)H]18-hydroxycortisol.

Chemical Phenomena↗

Recent applications of N.M.R. to the investigation of steroid structures.

A detailed and clear understanding of the solution state structure and conformation of steroids is now possible. This is achieved using high field super conducting magnets and sophisticated computer control systems in nuclear magnetic resonance (n.m.r.) spectroscopy. The combination of greater signal dispersion and sensitivity obtained at high magnetic fields (cf. greater than 9.4 T--1H resonant frequency 400 MHz) has increased the utility of traditional assignment techniques such as nuclear Overhauser enhancement (nOe) and spin decoupling measurements. It has also permitted the application of various two dimensional (2D) n.m.r. experiments and resulted in complete unambiguous analysis of the proton spectra of various steroids [1-3]. The power of the various methods is illustrated by their application to the solution conformation of 17 alpha-acetoxy-6 alpha-methylpregn-4-en-3,20-dione (Medroxyprogesterone acetate, MPA).

Contraceptive Agents, Female↗

The definitive identification of the lignans trans-2,3-bis(3-hydroxybenzyl)-gamma-butyrolactone and 2,3-bis(3-hydroxybenzyl)butane-1,4-diol in human and animal urine.

The definitive identification of the first lignans to be found in humans and animals is described. Gas chromatography--mass spectrometry, n.m.r. spectroscopy, i.r. spectroscopy and chemical techniques were employed to establish the structures of two lignans as trans-2,3-bis(3-hydroxybenzyl)-gamma-butyrolactone and 2,3-bis(3-hydroxybenzyl)butane-1,4-diol. Both compounds are essetially racemic. Evidence was also found for several methoxy analogues of these lignans in the vervet monkey.

4-Butyrolactone↗

750 MHz 1H-NMR spectroscopy of human blood plasma.

The application of high-resolution 750 MHz 1H-NMR spectroscopy to a biological fluid is demonstrated for the first time and its advantages over 600 MHz 1H observation shown by reference to studies on human blood plasma. Improvements in signal dispersion were observed which facilitated improved signal assignments. Differences in lipid/lipoprotein signal line-widths between 600 and 750 MHz were noted indicating that ultrahigh field measurements may help to give insight into dynamic motional phenomena of lipids in whole plasma. The two-dimensional J-resolved (JRES) technique and spin-echo spectra measured at 750 MHz have enabled new signal assignments to be made in control plasma. The application of 750 MHz JRES to the clinical chemical problem of the detection of abnormal metabolites associated with chronic renal failure is also demonstrated.

Amino Acids↗