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Enhancement in gastric mucus gel qualities with colloidal bismuth subcitrate administration.

The effects of intragastric administration of an antiulcer drug, colloidal bismuth subcitrate, on the content, composition and physical properties of the mucus component of gastric mucosal barrier were investigated. The experiments were conducted with two groups of rats in which one group received twice daily for three consecutive days a dose of 100 mg/kg colloidal bismuth subcitrate, while the control group received saline. The animals were killed 16 h after the last dose, their stomachs dissected and the mucosa subjected to physicochemical measurements. The results revealed that colloidal bismuth subcitrate elicited a 49% increase in mucus gel dimension, while sulfo- and sialomucin content of the gel increased by 64 and 112%, respectively. The changes in mucus with colloidal bismuth subcitrate were accompanied by a 28% increase in H+ retardation capacity, 2.2-fold increase in viscosity, and a 26% increase in the gel hydrophobicity. The mucus elaborated in the presence of colloidal bismuth subcitrate exhibited 16% lower protein content and 68% higher content of carbohydrate than that of the control, displayed similar levels of total lipids and covalently bound fatty acids, but its phospholipid content was 32% higher. Furthermore, the mucus of the colloidal bismuth subcitrate group showed a marked increase in the proportion of the high molecular weight form of mucin. The results suggest that colloidal bismuth subcitrate is capable of the enhancement of mucus gel qualities associated with the maintenance of gastric mucosal integrity.

Animals↗

Regulation of albumin and alpha-fetoprotein gene expression by colloid osmotic pressure in human hepatoma cells.

BACKGROUND: Colloid osmotic pressure has been thought to regulate albumin synthesis; however, the exact mechanism remains obscure. In the present study, the effect of colloid osmotic pressure on the albumin and alpha-fetoprotein gene expression in HuH-7 human hepatoma cells was analyzed. METHODS: HuH-7 cells were treated with albumin or dextran (mean mol wt, 70,000), and changes in the levels of albumin and alpha-fetoprotein messenger RNA (mRNA) were analyzed by Northern blotting. Furthermore, in transient chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) plasmid transfection experiments, effects of colloid osmotic pressure on CAT activities were studied. RESULTS: By Northern blot analysis, the levels of both albumin and alpha-fetoprotein mRNA were dose-dependently suppressed by the elevation of colloid osmotic pressure and returned to pretreatment levels 48 hours after the culture medium containing dextran was replaced with a dextran-free fresh medium. In transient CAT plasmid transfection experiments, the increased level of colloid osmotic pressure resulted in the repression of both albumin and alpha-fetoprotein promoter activities. In contrast, alpha-fetoprotein enhancer activity, which possibly regulates not only alpha-fetoprotein but also albumin gene expression, was not affected by changes in colloid osmotic pressure. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that colloid osmotic pressure regulates both albumin and alpha-fetoprotein gene transcription through the modulation of their promoter activities.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular↗

Colloidal carbon particles as a new label for rapid immunochemical test methods: quantitative computer image analysis of results.

Colloidal carbon particles can serve as label in sol particle immunoassays. The universal applicability of these particles in qualitative and (semi)quantitative immunoassays has been demonstrated. Sol particle and/or dipstick immunoassays, not yet optimized in terms of sensitivity, are discussed. The colloidal label has been used successfully in a mouse immunoglobulin isotyping kit. Human serum albumin spotted onto nitrocellulose in a concentration range of 7.8 to 1000 ng could be detected using anti-albumin antibody absorbed onto colloidal carbon particles. It was also possible to perform a competitive assay with this conjugate for a concentration range of free human serum albumin varying from 0.25 to 6.75 micrograms. The Kunitz-type trypsin inhibitor from soybean was determined by a colloidal carbon based immunoassay in a range of 2.5 to 160 ng. In this assay, free and colloidal carbon-bound inhibitor competed for binding specific antibodies spotted onto a nitrocellulose membrane. An image- and data-processing procedure has been developed that enables a rapid and simple quantification of colloidal carbon sol particle immunoassays. The average grey level of a spot is taken as a measure for quantitative purposes. This so-called Sol-particle Image Processed ImmunoAssay (SIPIA) procedure is equally well applicable to assays using other colloidal particles.

Animals↗

[Threshold values of colloid-osmotic pressure, serum albumin or protein during perioperative period].

The water flux across the capillary membrane is directly related to a gradient of hydrostatic and colloid osmotic forces. The membrane is not an absolute barrier to proteins. Any change in the capillary permeability tends to decrease the plasmatic colloid osmotic pressure. The interstitial space includes a perimicrovascular space and a compliant connective tissue space, where oedema accumulates. The lymphatics may easily drain excess filtration, but cannot clear constituted oedema. Primarily, the risk of pulmonary oedema determines the lower limit of the colloid osmotic pressure. During the perioperative period, any extrapolation of the colloid, osmotic pressure from protidaemia or albuminaemia would be approximate. Two major conclusions can be drawn from the results of Guyton and Lindsey. First, in the absence of left ventricular failure, a 50% decrease in colloid osmotic pressure does not increase extravascular lung water. Second, in the case of left ventricular failure, when the left atrial pressure exceeds 10 mmHg, a 50% decrease in colloid osmotic pressure significantly increases the risk of pulmonary oedema. In these experiments, an impairment in capillary membrane permeability is likely. As a result, the threshold at which extravascular water starts to accumulate cannot be precisely defined. However, in the perioperative period, capillary membrane permeability is frequently altered by the acute phase reaction. Finally, in most perioperative clinical situations, a 50% decrease in colloid osmotic pressure may not require any treatment.

Blood Proteins↗

Particle size of tin and phytate colloid in sentinel node identification.

BACKGROUND: Sentinel node navigation surgery (SNNS) has recently been introduced for various types of carcinoma. Numerous radioisotopes are used as tracers for SNNS. However, few reports have examined particle sizes of isotope colloids used in SNNS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Tin and phytate colloids were used in the present study. Isotonic sodium chloride and tin solutions were mixed ratios of 1:4, 1:2, 1:1, 2:1, and 4:1. Calcium solution and Tc-phytate were mixed at ratios of 1:4, 1:2, 1:1, 2:1 and 4:1. Particle size was measured using a Coulter Model N4SD Sub-micron Particle Analyzer. RESULTS: When isotonic sodium chloride and tin solutions were mixed at ratios of 1:4, 1:2, 1:1, 2:1, and 4:1, particle size was 47 +/- 9, 96 +/- 10, 712 +/- 83, 925 +/- 66 and 1079 +/- 132 nm, respectively. As the ratio of tin solution decreased, colloid particle size increased. Particle size of phytate colloid varied from 174 +/- 39 nm to 1222 +/- 283 nm, according to calcium concentration. Phytate colloid particle size became larger as the ratio of phytate solution decreased. CONCLUSIONS: We ascertained that the particle size of tin and phytate colloids is controllable by manipulating the conditions under which the colloids form. These results will offer useful information when SNNS is performed.

Calcium↗

Studies on the interaction of colloidal gold and serum albumins by spectral methods.

The interactions of colloidal gold and serum albumins, including bovine serum albumin (BSA) and human serum albumin (HSA), were studied by fluorescence and absorption spectrometry. Fluorescence quenching spectrometry was applied to study the interactions between colloidal gold and serum albumins. At pH 7.4 phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), the intensity of fluorescence emission spectrum of serum albumins decreased in the presence of colloidal gold, which indicated that colloidal gold quenched the fluorescence of serum albumins. Experimental results indicated that the combination reactions of colloidal gold and serum albumins were static quenching processes. Based on the effect of colloidal gold on fluorescence intensity, the binding constants, the numbers of binding sites and the acting forces between colloidal gold and serum albumins were found.

Animals↗

The effect of marine colloids on the growth of photosysthetic bacteria.

Marine colloids could be an important source of nitrogen for bacteria and photoplankton. But elevated concentration of colloids may stimulate algal growth and lead to red tides in coastal waters. The effects of colloidal organic carbon (COC) concentration on the growth of photosysthetic bacteria (PSB) were investigated under different colloidal treatments in the laboratory. The PSB growth was inversely proportional to COC concentration and was restricted by high-molecular-weight (HMW) colloids (>10 KDa) in treatments with non-nutrient or just inorganic nutrient with low COC concentration ( < or = 5 microMC). However, the PBS growth was enhanced in the presence of HMW colloids in the treatment with inorganic nutrient and high COC (127 and 255 microMC) or with both inorganic nutrient and low-molecular-weight organic matter. Both bacteria number and bacteria growth ratio increased significantly when the concentration of COC was > or = 5 microMC. Our results suggest that marine colloids can be utilized by bacteria and might regulate primary productivity in coastal waters.

Bacteria↗

Modeling colloid transport for performance assessment.

The natural system is expected to contribute to isolation at the proposed high-level nuclear waste (HLW) geologic repository at Yucca Mountain, NV (YM). In developing performance assessment (PA) computer models to simulate long-term behavior at YM, colloidal transport of radionuclides has been proposed as a critical factor because of the possible reduced interaction with the geologic media. Site-specific information on the chemistry and natural colloid concentration of saturated zone groundwaters in the vicinity of YM is combined with a surface complexation sorption model to evaluate the impact of natural colloids on calculated retardation factors (RF) for several radioelements of concern in PA. Inclusion of colloids into the conceptual model can reduce the calculated effective retardation significantly. Strongly sorbed radionuclides such as americium and thorium are most affected by pseudocolloid formation and transport, with a potential reduction in RF of several orders of magnitude. Radioelements that are less strongly sorbed under YM conditions, such as uranium and neptunium, are not affected significantly by colloid transport, and transport of plutonium in the valence state is only moderately enhanced. Model results showed no increase in the peak mean annual total effective dose equivalent (TEDE) within a compliance period of 10,000 years, although this is strongly dependent on container life in the base case scenario. At longer times, simulated container failures increase and the TEDE from the colloidal models increased by a factor of 60 from the base case. By using mechanistic models and sensitivity analyses to determine what parameters and transport processes affect the TEDE, colloidal transport in future versions of the TPA code can be represented more accurately.

Adsorption↗

Renal impact of fluid management with colloids: a comparative review.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Colloids such as hydroxyethyl starch (HES), gelatin, dextran and albumin are useful for maintaining renal perfusion and function. The comparative renal effects of colloids have not been previously reviewed. METHODS: Computer searches of the MEDLINE and EMBASE bibliographic databases and the Cochrane Library were conducted using the search terms: colloids; hetastarch; gelatin; dextrans; serum albumin; kidney failure; cardiac surgical procedures; and kidney transplantation. Relevant studies were also sought through hand searching and examination of reference lists. Results of identified studies were qualitatively summarized with account taken for potential confounding factors. RESULTS: The three artificial colloids HES, gelatin and dextran all exhibited troublesome renal side-effects. Randomized trials have demonstrated adverse renal effects of HES in sepsis and surgery. Undesirable renal effects are common to all available HES solutions regardless of molecular weight, substitution or C2/C6 ratio. While some of its effects may be less severe than those of HES, gelatin also can adversely affect the kidney. A negative renal impact of dextran is well-established, although this colloid is now less extensively used than formerly. As the normal endogenous colloid, albumin exhibits a wide margin of renal safety, although albumin overdose needs to be avoided. Albumin also appears to exert protective effects on the kidney such as inhibition of apoptosis and scavenging of reactive oxygen species. CONCLUSIONS: Colloids display important differences in their actions on the kidney. These contrasting renal effects should be considered in making fluid management decisions.

Clinical Trials as Topic↗

Size characterization of bentonite colloids by different methods.

The size and shape of colloids released from a natural bentonite into a low-mineralized groundwater are investigated using various colloid characterization methods. For the applied methods such as atomic force microscopy (AFM), laser-induced breakdown detection (UBD), photon correlation spectroscopy (PCS), and flow field-flow fractionation coupled to ICP-mass spectrometric detection (FFFF-ICPMS), the respective raw size data have to be corrected in order to consider chemical composition and shape of the colloids as well as instrumental artifacts. Noncontact mode AFM of the bentonite colloids shows disklike shapes of stacked smectite platelets with a mean height-to-diameter proportion (aspect ratio) of approximately 1/10. A broad particle number size distribution is determined by image processing with a mean particle diameter of 73 nm. In agreement with AFM, a broad size distribution is also found by PCS and FFFF-ICPMS. Likewise, mean particle sizes found by LIBD (67 +/- 13 nm) and FFFF-ICPMS (maximum in the number size distribution, approximately 70 nm) are in fair agreement with the AFM data. Somewhathigher values are obtained by PCS, where mean particle diameters of the intensity-weighted size distributions of larger than 200 nm are found (depending on the algorithm used for data processing). The influence of the disklike particle shape on the results of the individual methods is discussed. As a conclusion, the application of different colloid characterization methods is a prerequisite to get complementary information about colloid size and shape, which is essential for the understanding of natural colloidal systems.

Algorithms↗

Assessment of colloid formation and physical state distribution of trace polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in aqueous samples.

A tandem-cartridge system was established for studying colloid formation and physical state distribution of trace polycycic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in water. The effectiveness of the method for measuring the trace PAH colloids was demonstrated. With aqueous samples prepared by adding the PAH solutes with a small amount of organic solvent carrier, the potential of colloid formation increased with the hydrophobicity and concentration of the solute, but the incipient concentration for the colloid formation may be far lower than the aqueous solubility of the solute. After formation in water, the colloids showed remarkable stability at room temperature, and the stability was greatly reduced by elevated temperature and the presence of a small amount of inorganic electrolytes. The possible mechanism of destabilization of the colloids was discussed, and the mechanism might be of utility in providing insights into the physical state distribution of the solutes in various water samples. However, further effort to investigate the mechanism through fluorescence spectrophotometry was unsuccessful. The significance of the colloid formation in methods of preparation of aqueous samples and for measuring aqueous solubilities of PAHs and other hydrophobic compounds was illustrated. The results of this work demonstrate that it is undesirable to prepare aqueous solutions of PAHs or similarly hydrophobic compounds by vigorous mixing or the use of cosolvents, methods that are widely used in many studies for which aqueous solutions of such analytes are required.

Chromatography, Gas↗

Colloidal gold-modified optical fiber for chemical and biochemical sensing.

A novel class of fiber-optic evanescent-wave sensor was constructed on the basis of modification of the unclad portion of an optical fiber with self-assembled gold colloids. The optical properties and, hence, the attenuated total reflection spectrum of self-assembled gold colloids on the optical fiber changes with different refractive index of the environment near the colloidal gold surface. With sucrose solutions of increasing refractive index, the sensor response decreases linearly. The colloidal gold surface was also functionalized with glycine, succinic acid, or biotin to enhance the selectivity of the sensor. Results show that the sensor response decreases linearly with increasing concentration of each analyte. When the colloidal gold surface was functionalized with biotin, the detection limit of the sensor for streptavidin was 9.8 x 10(-11) M. Using this approach, we demonstrate proof-of-concept of a class of refractive index sensor that is sensitive to the refractive index of the environment near the colloidal gold surface and, hence, is suitable for label-free detection of molecular or biomolecular binding at the surface of gold colloids.

Biosensing Techniques↗

Physical and chemical determinants of colloid transport and deposition in water-unsaturated sand and Yucca Mountain tuff material.

Colloid mobility was determined in a system consisting of quartz sand or crushed Yucca Mountain tuff, simulated groundwater (J-13), and hydrophilic latex particles. Water content (theta) and ionic strength (I; DI water, 0.1x, 1x, 10x groundwater dilution) were manipulated to define limiting conditions for colloid transport atthe Yucca Mountain site. Colloid transport, measured with a centrifuge method at relatively high theta (saturation >36% for sand, >62% for crushed tuff) in DI water, was equivalent to transport at 100% saturation measured with conventional columns. When variables were isolated, increasing I and decreasing theta resulted in a greater extent of colloid deposition; I was more important at higher theta; physical properties were more important at lower theta. I and theta had an interactive effect on colloid deposition whereby synergism was generally observed, especially for simulated groundwater (1x); antagonism was observed at 10x groundwater dilution. At 19% moisture saturation on the crushed tuff, a decreasing rate of colloid deposition was observed. This corresponded to a hydrodynamic condition of 79% immobile water where solute tracers were excluded from a fraction of the pore volume. This suggests that a portion of the favorable sites for deposition were associated with the excluded or immobile water domain and were not accessible to colloids.

Chemical Phenomena↗

Evaluation and optimization of two complementary cross-flow ultrafiltration systems toward isolation of coastal surface water colloids.

While colloidal phases in natural waters are important to the speciation and bioavailability of trace metals and organic compounds, accurate isolation of these submicron entities from their lower molecular-weight counterparts has proved challenging. Here, both laboratory and field experiments have been conducted to constrain integrity aspects of two different cross-flow filtration (CFF) systems. We tested both a commonly applied 5000 cm2 CFF system (Pellicon2, Millipore; manufacturer-specified 1 and 3 kDa cutoff) and a less studied mini-CFF system with a 50 cm2 membrane area (Pellicon Lab Scale XL, Millipore; with 5, 10, 100, and 1000 kDa cutoff). A natural water matrix amended with a series of fluorescently tagged colloidal probes was employed to demonstrate that a cross-flow ratio (CFR; retentate-to-permeate flux) > 15 was required for both of these systems to obtain high recoveries of colloids. Contrary to previous calibrations of CFF, also at colloid concentrations characteristic of natural waters, the established retention profiles for the colloid probes on these systems, when operated under CFR > 15, affirmed the manufacturer-specified cutoff values (in parentheses): 2.4 kDa (1 kDa), 3.3 kDa (3 kDa), 6.1 kDa (5 kDa) and 8.7 kD (10 kDa). A concentration factor (cf) > 10 was found necessary for the reliable determination of the colloidal pool of several elements in the surface waters of the open Baltic Sea. Application of CFR > 15 and cf > 10 returned recoveries around 100% for the studied organic carbon, Ca, Mo, Fe, Cu, and Ni on both systems. Furthermore, the trend of colloid association for the transition elements in the offshore Baltic surface waters followed expectations from their Irving-Williams series of coordination chemistry.

Biological Availability↗

Mobilization of natural colloids from an iron oxide-coated sand aquifer: effect of pH and ionic strength.

Field and laboratory column experiments were performed to assess the effect of elevated pH and reduced ionic strength on the mobilization of natural colloids in a ferric oxyhydroxide-coated aquifer sediment. The field experiments were conducted as natural gradient injections of groundwater amended by sodium hydroxide additions. The laboratory experiments were conducted in columns of undisturbed, oriented sediments and disturbed, disoriented sediments. In the field, the breakthrough of released colloids coincided with the pH pulse breakthrough and lagged the bromide tracer breakthrough. The breakthrough behavior suggested that the progress of the elevated pH front controlled the transport of the mobilized colloids. In the laboratory, about twice as much colloid release occurred in the disturbed sediments as in the undisturbed sediments. The field and laboratory experiments both showed that the total mass of colloid release increased with increasing pH until the concurrent increase in ionic strength limited release. A decrease in ionic strength did not mobilize significant amounts of colloids in the field. The amount of colloids released normalized to the mass of the sediments was similar for the field and the undisturbed laboratory experiments.

Colloids↗

Trace metal levels in uncontaminated groundwater of a coastal watershed: importance of colloidal forms.

Groundwater and surface water were collected using trace metal clean techniques from the upper glacial aquifer of West Neck Bay (Shelter Island) in eastern Long Island, NY, during the late spring and summer of 1999. The collection sites on Shelter Island are located in an area that is primarily residential and believed to have uncontaminated groundwater. Ultrafiltration was used to size-fractionate the dissolved (<0.45 microm) fraction into colloidal (1 kDa - 0.45 microm) and low molecular weight (<1 kDa) size pools. These fractions were analyzed for trace metals (Al, Ag, Cd, Cu, Mn, Pb, and Zn), organic carbon, and inorganic nutrients (NH4, NO3, PO4). The levels of metals and organic carbon in the groundwater were as low as those found in the open ocean, far removed from anthropogenic inputs. These findings corroborate the need to apply trace metal clean techniques in the determination of metal levels in uncontaminated groundwater. A significant fraction of dissolved metals (22-96%) and organic carbon (approximately 40%) in the groundwater and in surface waters of the Bay was found to be associated with colloids. The significance of the metal association with the colloidal fraction decreased in the order of Al > Cu > Ag > Zn = Cd = Mn and appeared to be dependent on the affinities of these metals for humic substances. In contrast, NO3 and NH4 were found to be almost entirely (approximately 98-99%) in the low molecular weight size fraction. Metal/aluminum and metal/carbon ratios measured in the colloids were similar to those reported for humic substances and significantly different from those of soils. This suggests that colloidal particles might originate from humic materials as opposed to purely inorganic minerals. These results indicate the need to consider the colloidal fraction in the fate and mobility of metals in groundwater and that, despite the low levels of organic matter (<50 microM of DOC) measured in groundwater, some groundwater colloids appear to be organic in nature.

Colloids↗

Assessment of the geochemical role of colloids and their impact on contaminant toxicity in freshwaters: an example from the Lambro-Po system (Italy).

The role of colloids in regulating element transport, behavior, and bioavailability in aquatic systems is now well-established. It appears that further progress in this research field is being slowed by (i) a limited integration between the geochemical and the biological aspects of the research on colloids and (ii) a persistent gap between well-controlled laboratory studies and real field situations. This paper presents a simultaneous evaluation of the role of colloids in controlling element environmental fate and bioavailability at the confluence between a major river and a polluted tributary. Fractionation of trace elements among suspended particulate matter, colloids, and true solution suggests that colloids may play a role in the removal of trace elements from the water column to bed sediments during the mixing of the two rivers. Toxicity testing of water samples indicates that, in this specific system, contaminants associated with colloids can contribute to water toxicity for the rotifer Brachionus calyciflorus but not for the green alga Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata. To the best of our knowledge, the results for B. calyciflorus are the first ones pointing to the possible contribution of colloid-bound contaminants to water toxicity in environmental samples. Despite the uncertainties associated with field variability, the results of chemical analysis and toxicitytesting show several points of convergence. Following these observations, a few innovative research approaches are suggested to improve the understanding of trace element biogeochemistry in real field situations.

Animals↗

Interactions of DNA with clay minerals and soil colloidal particles and protection against degradation by DNase.

Adsorption, desorption, and degradation by nucleases of DNA on four different colloidal fractions from a Brown soil and clay minerals were studied. The adsorption of DNase I and the structures of native DNA, adsorbed and desorbed, were also investigated by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), circular dichroism (CD), and fluorescence spectroscopy, to determine the protection mechanism of DNA molecules by soil colloids and minerals against enzymatic degradation. Kaolinite exhibited the highest adsorption affinity for DNA among the examined soil colloids and clay minerals. In comparison with organomineral complexes (organic clays), DNA was tightly adsorbed by H2O2-treated clays (inorganic clays). FTIR spectra showed that the binding of DNA on kaolinite and inorganic clays changed its conformation from the B-form to the Z-form, whereas montmorillonite and organic clays retained the original B-form of DNA. A structural change from the B- to the C-form in DNA molecules desorbed from kaolinite was observed by CD spectroscopy and confirmed by fluorescence spectroscopy. The presence of soil colloids and minerals provided protection to DNA against degradation by DNase I. The higher level of protection was found with montmorillonite and organic clays compared to kaolinite and inorganic clays. The protection of DNA against nuclease degradation by soil colloids and minerals is apparently not controlled by the adsorption affinity of DNA molecules for the colloids and the conformational change of bound DNA. The higher stability of DNA seemed to be attributed mainly to the presence of organic matter in the system and the adsorption of nucleases on soil colloids and minerals. The information obtained in this study is of fundamental significance for the understanding of the behavior of extracellular DNA in soil environment.

Adsorption↗