Maciej Turowski

Direct Chromatographic Method for Determination of Hydrogen Cyanamide and Dicyandiamide in Aqueous Solutions

Abstract A simple high‐performance liquid chromatographic method to separate and determine hydrogen cyanamide and dicyandiamide was developed. A reversed‐phase chromatographic system consisted of 100% purified water as a mobile phase and highly hydrophobic triacontyl (C30) stationary phase used at ambient temperature with UV detection at 200 nm. The linearity was excellent (R > 0.999) for both analytes, in the range of 500 ppb to 5000 ppm for cyanamide and 100 ppb to 100 ppm for dicyandiamide. Immediate formation of dicyandiamide was observed when dissolving pure cyanamide in water. Sample solvent appeared very important for successful component separation, as its variation may cause peak deterioration and loss of the stationary phase selectivity. The chromatographic procedure can also be employed to detect urea in the presence of cyanamide and dicyandiamide.

Lipid-altering effects of different formulations of hydroxypropylmethylcellulose

BACKGROUND Hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC), a viscous, soluble dietary fiber, has been shown to be efficacious for lowering total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) concentrations. The relative effects of various dosages and viscosities of HPMC have not been fully evaluated. OBJECTIVE To examine the lipid-altering effects of several formulations of HPMC. METHODS In this randomized, double-blind pilot study, 165 men and women with primary hypercholesterolemia consumed a control product (snack bar or drink mix) or an HPMC-containing test bar or drink for 4 weeks. HPMC-containing products delivered 3, 5, or 10g of HPMC of low, moderate, moderately high, or high viscosity (9 HPMC groups, each with ∼15 subjects). RESULTS Data from drink and bar groups were combined because there was no evidence of a vehicle effect. The resulting analysis included data from the control and 6 HPMC dose and viscosity combinations. All HPMC groups showed LDL-C reductions ranging from 6.1 to 13.3% (P < .05 vs. baseline for 6 of the 7 groups), compared with a nonsignificant reduction (1.9%) in the control group. Changes in total and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol paralleled those for LDL-C. Concentrations of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, apolipoprotein B, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein were not significantly altered. CONCLUSION This pilot study provides preliminary evidence to support the efficacy of various formulations of HPMC for reducing cholesterol carried by atherogenic particles in men and women with primary hypercholesterolemia. Additional research will be required to more clearly define the roles of viscosity and dosage on the lipid-altering effects of HPMC.

Supplementation of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose into yeast leavened all-whole grain barley bread potentiates cholesterol-lowering effect.

We investigated in Syrian Golden hamsters the biological impact and its underlying mechanism of single whole grain breads supplemented with 2-3% hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), a semisynthetic viscous soluble dietary fiber (SDF) as a substitute for gluten. Hamsters were fed high-fat diets supplemented with 48-65% (w/w) differently ground, freeze-dried single grain breads including whole grain wheat, barley, barley supplemented with HPMC, debranned oat, and oat supplemented with HPMC which were compared to a diet containing microcrystalline cellulose (control). All single grain breads significantly lowered plasma LDL-cholesterol concentrations compared to the control. Enrichment with HPMC further lowered plasma and hepatic cholesterol concentrations. Despite the reduced molecular weight of naturally occurring soluble (1--->3),(1--->4)-β-d-glucan (β-glucan) caused by the bread-making process, whole grain barley breads downregulated hepatic expression of CYP7A1 and HMG-CoAR genes that are responsible for bile acid and cholesterol synthesis, suggesting a possible role of bioactive compounds such as short-chain fatty acids and phenolic compounds from barley bread. Barley bread enriched with HPMC downregulated expression of ABCG5 gene. Taken together, it appears that distinctive modulation of synthesis and excretion of hepatic cholesterol and bile acid contributes to the cholesterol-lowering properties of whole grain barley breads and breads enriched with HPMC. These data suggests that alternative whole grain breads supplemented with HPMC may provide consumers with a staple food that can assist in cholesterol management.

Dose–Response Characteristics of High-Viscosity Hydroxypropylmethylcellulose in Subjects at Risk for the Development of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

BACKGROUND Hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) is a modified cellulose fiber that creates a viscous solution in the gastrointestinal tract. The present study examined the dose-response characteristics of high-viscosity (HV)-HPMC consumption on postprandial glucose and insulin levels in men and women at increased risk for type 2 diabetes mellitus. METHODS Subjects were a subset of participants in two trials with elevated peak postprandial glucose [>or=7.8 mmol/L (>or=140 mg/dL)] and body mass index (BMI) >or=27 kg/m(2). Subjects (n = 39) consumed breakfast meals containing 75 g of carbohydrate, each of which contained 1, 2, 4, or 8 g of HV-HPMC or a cellulose control in a randomized, double-blind manner. Each subject completed tests with control and two HV-HPMC doses. RESULTS Peak glucose concentration was lower than control (all P < 0.01) following 2 g (10%), 4 g (18%), and 8 g (20%) of HV-HPMC. Peak insulin was also reduced (P < 0.01) following 2 g (32%), 4 g (35%), and 8 g (46%) of HV-HPMC doses versus control. Incremental areas for glucose from 0 to 120 min were reduced by 8-40% versus control but only reached significance for the 4-g and 8-g conditions, whereas incremental areas under the insulin curves were reduced by 14-53% (P < 0.01 for 2, 4, and 8 g of HV-HPMC). CONCLUSIONS Among subjects at risk for type 2 diabetes mellitus, 1.0-8.0 g of HV-HPMC blunted postprandial glucose and insulin responses in a dose-dependent manner. Additional research is warranted to assess whether chronic consumption might retard the development or progression of glucose intolerance.

Membrane introduction mass spectrometry for monitoring complexation equilibria of β-cyclodextrin with substituted benzenes

Membrane introduction mass spectrometry (MIMS) was used to monitor complexation reactions between beta-cyclodextrin (CD) and a series of benzene derivatives in aqueous solution. The equilibrium constants for benzene, chlorobenzene, bromobenzene, iodobenzene, toluene, cyanobenzene and nitrobenzene were determined. The suitability of MIMS for monitoring complexation reactions of organic compounds with host molecules was demonstrated. Structure-activity relationship analysis shows that the inclusion phenomena are driven by a variety of chemical forces, of which hydrophobicity is predominant for non-polar compounds, but not the only factor for more polar ones.

Effects of cationic hydroxyethyl cellulose on dyslipidemia in hamsters.

Cationic hydroxyethyl cellulose (cHEC) was supplemented in a high-fat diet to determine if this new soluble fiber had an effect on hypercholesterolemia and dyslipidemia associated with cardiovascular disease using Golden Syrian hamster as an animal model. Supplementation of 3-5% cHEC in a high-fat diet for 4 weeks led to significant weight gain reduction in hamsters. In addition, significant decreases in adipose and liver weights, concentrations of plasma total, VLDL, and LDL cholesterol, and hepatic lipids were shown. No significant improvements in glucose and insulin levels were observed with cHEC; however, a significant increase in plasma adiponectin and a decrease in leptin were observed. As compared with controls, 8% cHEC-fed hamsters had greater levels of mRNA for CYP7A1 (cytochrome P450 7A1; 2-fold of control; P < 0.05), CYP51 (lanosterol 14α-demethylase; 6-fold of control; P < 0.05), and LDLR (LDL receptor; 1.5-fold of control) in the liver. These findings suggest the possibility of the use of cHEC for cholesterol reduction and beneficial effects on the cardiovascular risk factors.

Kinetic Isotope and Collision Energy Effects in the Dissociation of Chloride and Bromide Adducts of Aliphatic Alcohols, Benzaldehyde, and 2,4-Pentanedione ∗

A tandem-in-space triple quadrupole mass spectrometer was used to measure kinetic isotopic effects (KIEs) for the dissociation of chloride and bromide adducts of several compounds that bind halide anions via either hydrogen bonds or by nucleophilic attachment. Two isotopomers of each adduct were simultaneously mass-selected in the first quadrupole and dissociated by collision with argon in the second quadrupole. The KIEs were measured by comparing the extents of dissociation of the lighter versus the heavier isotopomeric adducts. In most cases, lower collision energies and multiple collision conditions favoured larger KIE values, an expected feature of easily dissociated cluster ions considering zero-point energies (ZPEs). The larger chloride adduct of cyclohexanol gave greater KIEs compared with the smaller alcohols, a consequence of slower dissociation due to the larger number of degrees of freedom. Dissociation of the chloride adducts gave greater KIEs than the corresponding bromide adducts, a result that is also consistent with expectations based on ZPEs. Both the chloride and bromide adducts of 2,4-pentanedione, when dissociated at 6 eV collision energy under single-collision conditions, displayed normal KIEs (1.0460 ± 0.0012 and 1.0092 ± 0.0035 respectively). These and the alcohol results were correctly predicted by the ZPEs calculated using commonly applied ab initio Hartree–Fock (HF) and B3LYP density functional theory (DFT) methods with large basis sets (6–311 containing both polarization and diffuse functions). Geometry optimization calculations for the 2,4-pentanedione chloride adduct using either the Restricted Hartree–Fock (RHF) method with a 6–31G* basis set or using the more accurate 6–31++G** method showed that, in the most stable form, the chloride is bonded at multiple sites by a molecule of 2,4-pentanedione. In this structure, chloride binds weakly to both the methylene and the methyl hydrogen atoms. Collision-induced dissociation furnishes chloride and 2,4-pentanedione anion ([M – H]–) as competitive negatively charged products, which is consistent with the proposed structure. It is interesting that the intermolecular KIEs in this study tend to be normal, while intramolecular isotope effects in halides, notably of the type M1Cl+M2 are inverse, as a consequence of the lower ZPEs associated with the heavier isotopomers. The difference in the two systems is that the stronger bonds are found in the products in the case of M1Cl+M2 dissociation but in the reactants in the case of MCl– dissociation.