In urine

Trichloroethanoic acid, CCI3COOH. A crystalline solid which rapidly absorbs water vapour m.p. 58°C, b.p. 196-5" C. Manufactured by the action of chlorine on ethanoic acid at 160°C in the presence of red phosphorus, sulphur or iodine. It is decomposed into chloroform and carbon dioxide by boiling water. It is a much stronger acid than either the mono- or the dichloro-acids and has been used to extract alkaloids and ascorbic acid from plant and animal tissues. It is a precipitant for proteins and may be used to test for the presence of albumin in urine. The sodium salt is used as a selective weedkiller. 

Two nucleation processes important to many people (including some surface scientists ) occur in the formation of gallstones in human bile and kidney stones in urine. Cholesterol crystallization in bile causes the formation of gallstones. Cryotransmission microscopy (Chapter VIII) studies of human bile reveal vesicles, micelles, and potential early crystallites indicating that the cholesterol crystallization in bile is not cooperative and the true nucleation time may be much shorter than that found by standard clinical analysis by light microscopy [75]. Kidney stones often form from crystals of calcium oxalates in urine. Inhibitors can prevent nucleation and influence the solid phase and intercrystallite interactions [76, 77]. Citrate, for example, is an important physiological inhibitor to the formation of calcium renal stones. Electrokinetic studies (see Section V-6) have shown the effect of various inhibitors on the surface potential and colloidal stability of micrometer-sized dispersions of calcium oxalate crystals formed in synthetic urine [78, 79]. 

Method, There are two standard methods for the estimation of urea, (i) the hypobromite method, (ii) the urease method (p. 519). The chief merit of the hypobromite method is the rapidity of the analysis the results obtained are considered sufficiently accurate for most medical requirements, e.g., for the estimation of urea in urine. For accurate metabolic work, however, the urease method should be employed. 

Aminothiazole present in urine or blood plasma forms a colored Schiff base when 5-nitrofurfural is added the colorimetric analysis of the Schiff base allows the quantitative determination of this thiazole (1571). The Schiff base may also be dosed by polarographic of spectro-photometric methods (1572). 

Benedict s quantitative reagent (sugar in urine) This solution contains 18 g copper sulfate, 100 g of anhydrous sodium carbonate, 200 g of potassium citrate, 125 g of potassium thiocyanate, and 0.25 g of potassium ferrocyanide per liter 1 mL of this solution = 0.002 g sugar. 

Obermayer s reagent (detection of indoxyl in urine) dissolved g of FeCl3 in a liter of concentrated HCl. 

Description of Method. Quinine is an alkaloid used in treating malaria (it also is found in tonic water). It is a strongly fluorescent compound in dilute solutions of H2SO4 (f = 0.55). The excitation spectrum of quinine shows two absorption bands at 250 nm and 350 nm, and the emission spectrum shows a single emission band at 450 nm. Quinine is rapidly excreted from the body in urine and is easily determined by fluorescence following its extraction from the urine sample. 

Chloride ion is known to quench the intensity of quinine s fluorescent emission. For example, the presence of 100 ppm NaCI (61 ppm Ch) gives an emission intensity that is only 83% of that without chloride, whereas the presence of 1000 ppm NaCI (610 ppm Ch) gives a fluorescent emission that is only 29% as intense. The concentration of chloride in urine typically ranges from 4600 to 6700 ppm Ch. Flow is an interference from chloride avoided in this procedure ... 

Most potentiometric electrodes are selective for only the free, uncomplexed analyte and do not respond to complexed forms of the analyte. Solution conditions, therefore, must be carefully controlled if the purpose of the analysis is to determine the analyte s total concentration. On the other hand, this selectivity provides a significant advantage over other quantitative methods of analysis when it is necessary to determine the concentration of free ions. For example, calcium is present in urine both as free Ca + ions and as protein-bound Ca + ions. If a urine sample is analyzed by atomic absorption spectroscopy, the signal is proportional to the total concentration of Ca +, since both free and bound calcium are atomized. Analysis with a Ca + ISE, however, gives a signal that is a function of only free Ca + ions since the protein-bound ions cannot interact with the electrode s membrane. 

Representative Method Although each chemical kinetic method has its own unique considerations, the determination of creatinine in urine based on the kinetics of its reaction with picrate provides an instructive example of a typical procedure. 

Description of Method. Creatine is an organic acid found in muscle tissue that supplies energy for muscle contractions. One of its metabolic products is creatinine, which is excreted in urine. Because the concentration of creatinine in urine and serum is an important indication of renal function, rapid methods for its analysis are clinically important. In this method the rate of reaction between creatinine and picrate in an alkaline medium is used to determine the concentration of creatinine in urine. Under the conditions of the analysis, the reaction is first-order in picrate, creatinine, and hydroxide. 

T. P. Kinetic Studies with Ion-Selective Electrodes Determination of Greatinine in Urine with a Picrate Ion-Selective Electrode, /. Chem. Educ. 1983, 60, 74-76. 

This experiment includes instructions for preparing a picrate ion-selective electrode. The application of the electrode in determining the concentration of creatinine in urine (which is further described in Method 13.1) also is outlined. 

The U.S. Department of Labor (OSHA) has ruled that an employee s exposure to dimethyl acetamide in any 8-h work shift of a 40-h work week shall not exceed a time-weighted average of 10 ppm DMAC vapor in air by volume or 35 mg/m in air by weight (7). If there is significant potential for skin contact with DMAC, biological monitoring should be carried out to measure the level of DMAC metaboHtes in urine specimens collected at the end of the shift. One industrial limit is 40 ppm DMAC metaboHtes, expressed as AJ-methylacetamide [79-16-3] for individuals, and 20 ppm metaboHte average for workers on the job (8). 

Histamine in the Blood. After its release, histamine diffuses rapidly into the blood stream and surrounding tissues (12). Histamine appears in blood within 2.5 min after its release, peaks at 5 min, and returns to baseline levels by 15 to 30 min. In humans, the diurnal mean of plasma histamine levels is 0.13 ng/g. In urine, elevations of histamine or metaboUtes are more prolonged than plasma elevations. Consequendy, abnormahties are more easily detected by urinary histamine assay. About one-half of the histamine in normal blood is in basophils, one-third in eosinophils, and one-seventh in neutrophils the remainder is distributed among all the other blood components. Increases in blood histamine levels occur in several pathological... 

OSHA has set a standard to keep blood levels in the occupational work force below 40 //g/dL. ACGIH has set a goal relating to a biological exposure index of 50 //g/dL for lead in blood and 150 pjgjdL creatinine for lead in urine. 

Factors controlling calcium homeostasis are calcitonin, parathyroid hormone(PTH), and a vitamin D metabolite. Calcitonin, a polypeptide of 32 amino acid residues, mol wt - SGOO, is synthesized by the thyroid gland. Release is stimulated by small increases in blood Ca " concentration. The sites of action of calcitonin are the bones and kidneys. Calcitonin increases bone calcification, thereby inhibiting resorption. In the kidney, it inhibits Ca " reabsorption and increases Ca " excretion in urine. Calcitonin operates via a cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) mechanism. 

There appears to be a chromium pool in individuals who are not chromium deficient (136). When there is an increase in level of cHculating insulin in response to a glucose load, an increase in circulating chromium occurs over a period of 0.5—2 h. This is foUowed by a decline and excretion of chromium in urine increases. Chromium deficiency is indicated when no increase or a small increase in blood chromium level or urine chromium occurs. 

Health and Safety Factors. Terephthahc acid has a low order of toxicity. Inhalation by rats for 6 h/d, 5 d/wk for 4 wk produced no fatahties at a dust exposure level of 25 mg/m. The mean acute oral toxicity for rats is over 18 g/kg (86), and for mice over 6 g/kg (87). When terephthahc acid was fed as 3% of the diet to rats, urinary calcuh formed in 90 d, some of which led to cancer. High doses of terephthahc acid lead to formation of calcium terephthalate at levels exceeding its solubihty in urine. This insoluble material leads to the calcuh and provides a threshold below which cancer is not observed (88). Normal precautions used in handling industrial chemicals should be observed with terephthahc acid. If ventilation is inadequate, a toxic-dust respirator should be used to avoid prolonged exposure. 

The dermal adsorption of DEBT in humans has been studied in the Netherlands by appHcation of DEBT as undiluted technical material or as 15% solutions in alcohol. Labeled material was recovered from the skin, and absorption of DEBT was indicated by the appearance of label in urine after two hours of skin exposure. About 5—8% of the appHed treatments was recovered as metaboHtes from urine, and excretion of metaboHtes in the urine came to an end four hours after exposure ended. DEBT did not accumulate in the skin, and only a small (less than 0.08%) amount ended up in feces. Curiously, less has been absorbed through skin from 100% DEBT appHcation (3—8%, mean of 5.6%) than from 15% alcohol appHcation (4—14%, mean of 8.4%). These results have been described as consistent with previous absorption/metaboHsm studies using guinea pigs, rats, and hairless dogs. Other pubHcations on DEBT toxicology have been cited (92). 

Although several metaboUtes of propylthiouracil have been found (36,44), it is mainly excreted in urine as the glucuronide. Its relatively short plasma half-life requires that it be adniinistered four times daily. 

The following discussion on health and safety aspects of titanium compounds is concerned only with the behavior of the titanium present in inorganic compounds and not with the effects of the compounds themselves. For example, titanium tetrachloride must be treated with care because of the effects of the hydrochloric acid and heat produced when it reacts with water, not because of the possible toxicity of titanium. Apart from very few exceptions, the inorganic compounds of titanium are generally regarded as having low toxicity. Because of the ubiquitous nature of the element and its compounds, average concentrations of titanium in blood have been determined at 130—160 Fg/L (182—184), with a typical value of 10 Fg/L in urine (185). 

The kidney is an important organ for the excretion of toxic materials and their metaboHtes, and measurement of these substances in urine may provide a convenient basis for monitoring the exposure of an individual to the parent compound in his or her immediate environment. The Hver has as one of its functions the metaboHsm of foreign compounds some pathways result in detoxification and others in metaboHc activation. Also, the Hver may serve as a route of elimination of toxic materials by excretion in bile. In addition to the Hver (bile) and kidney (urine) as routes of excretion, the lung may act as a route of elimination for volatile compounds. The excretion of materials in sweat, hair, and nails is usually insignificant. 

Chiral separations have become of significant importance because the optical isomer of an active component can be considered an impurity. Optical isomers can have potentially different therapeutic or toxicological activities. The pharmaceutical Hterature is trying to address the issues pertaining to these compounds (155). Frequendy separations can be accompHshed by glc, hplc, or ce. For example, separation of R(+) and 5 (—) pindolol was accompHshed on a reversed-phase ceUulose-based chiral column with duorescence emission (156). The limits of detection were 1.2 ng/mL of R(+) and 4.3 ng/mL of 3 (—) pindolol in semm, and 21 and 76 ng/mL in urine, respectively. 

Studies show that the main sites of uranium deposition ate the renal cortex and the Hvet (8). Uranium is also stored in bones deposition in soft tissues is almost negligible. Utanium(VI) is deposited mostly in the kidneys and eliminated with the urine whereas, tetravalent uranium is preferentially deposited in the Hvet and eliminated in the feces. The elimination of uranium absorbed into the blood occurs via the kidneys in urine, and most, - 84%, of it is cleared within 4 to 24 hours (8). 

Antibacterial activity of clindamycin is found both in urine and feces after adrninistration of clindamycin. This activity is a consequence of the presence of both clindamycin and its metaboUte, de- /V-methy1c1indamycin [22431-45-4] (6, R = R = H). Unlike de-/V-methy11incomycin, the de-Ai-methyl analogue is as active in vitro as clindamycin. The analogue has been isolated from the urine of humans who had received clindamycin, and its presence in semm has been detected (65). 

Flucytosine [2022-85-7] is well absorbed in the digestive tract, which is why oral adraiinistration is preferable. Plasma levels of 30 —40 mg/L are obtained after a dose of 30 mg/kg body weight. Approximately 90% of the pyrimidine derivative is found unaltered in urine, indicating that it is highly suitable for the treatment of renal candidosis. High concentrations were also noted in cerebrospinal fluid the average concentration is approximately 75% of the plasma concentration. 

Plasma levels of 3—5 p.g/mL are obtained two hours after adraiinistration of 200 mg ketoconazole. No accumulation in the bloodstream was noted after a 30-wk treatment with this dose. The half-life is approximately eight hours. When ketoconazole is taken with meals, higher plasma levels are obtained. Distribution studies using radioactive ketoconazole in rats show radioactivity mainly in the Hver and the connective tissue. Radioactivity is also present in the subcutaneous tissue and the sebaceous glands. After one dose of 200 mg in humans, ketoconazole is found in urine, saUva, sebum, and cenimen. Like miconazole, the mode of action is based on inhibition of the cytochrome P-450 dependent biosynthesis of ergosterol. This results in disturbed membrane permeabiUty and membrane-bound enzymes (8,10,23,25). 

EoUowing po administration moricizine is completely absorbed from the GI tract. The dmg undergoes considerable first-pass hepatic metabolism so that only 30—40% of the dose is bioavailable. Moricizine is extensively (95%) bound to plasma protein, mainly albumin and a -acid glycoprotein. The time to peak plasma concentrations is 0.42—3.90 h. Therapeutic concentrations are 0.06—3.00 ]l/niL. Using radiolabeled moricizine, more than 30 metabolites have been noted but only 12 have been identified. Eight appear in urine. The sulfoxide metabolite is equipotent to the parent compound as an antiarrhythmic. Elimination half-life is 2—6 h for the unchanged dmg and known metabolites, and 84 h for total radioactivity of the labeled dmg (1,2). 

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