Takefumi Shimizu

The Uracil Breath Test in the Assessment of Dihydropyrimidine Dehydrogenase Activity: Pharmacokinetic Relationship between Expired 13CO2 and Plasma [2-13C]Dihydrouracil

Purpose: Dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) deficiency is critical in the predisposition to 5-fluorouracil dose-related toxicity. We recently characterized the phenotypic [2-13C]uracil breath test (UraBT) with 96% specificity and 100% sensitivity for identification of DPD deficiency. In the present study, we characterize the relationships among UraBT-associated breath 13CO2 metabolite formation, plasma [2-13C]dihydrouracil formation, [2-13C]uracil clearance, and DPD activity. Experimental Design: An aqueous solution of [2-13C]uracil (6 mg/kg) was orally administered to 23 healthy volunteers and 8 cancer patients. Subsequently, breath 13CO2 concentrations and plasma [2-13C]dihydrouracil and [2-13C]uracil concentrations were determined over 180 minutes using IR spectroscopy and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, respectively. Pharmacokinetic variables were determined using noncompartmental methods. Peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) DPD activity was measured using the DPD radioassay. Results: The UraBT identified 19 subjects with normal activity, 11 subjects with partial DPD deficiency, and 1 subject with profound DPD deficiency with PBMC DPD activity within the corresponding previously established ranges. UraBT breath 13CO2 DOB50 significantly correlated with PBMC DPD activity (rp = 0.78), plasma [2-13C]uracil area under the curve (rp = −0.73), [2-13C]dihydrouracil appearance rate (rp = 0.76), and proportion of [2-13C]uracil metabolized to [2-13C]dihydrouracil (rp = 0.77; all Ps < 0.05). Conclusions: UraBT breath 13CO2 pharmacokinetics parallel plasma [2-13C]uracil and [2-13C]dihydrouracil pharmacokinetics and are an accurate measure of interindividual variation in DPD activity. These pharmacokinetic data further support the future use of the UraBT as a screening test to identify DPD deficiency before 5-fluorouracil-based therapy.

Stereoselective pharmacokinetics and interconversions of flosequinan enantiomers containing chiral sulphoxide in rat

1. In order to study the pharmacokinetics of flosequinan enantiomers ((+-)-7-fluoro-1-methyl-3-methylsulphinyl-4-quinolone) containing chiral sulphur, plasma levels of (+)-(R)- and (-)-(S)-flosequinan (R-FSO and S-FSO) and two metabolites (flosequinan sulphide (FS) and flosequinan sulphone (FSO2)) were measured after oral and i.v. administration of racemic flosequinan (rac-FSO), R-FSO and S-FSO in male rat. 2. The pharmacokinetic parameters of the enantiomers were different after oral and i.v. administration of R-FSO and S-FSO. The plasma clearance of R-FSO was higher than S-FSO. 3. The major metabolites of boh R-FSO and S-FSO was FSO2. A minor metabolite, FS, was also detected in plasma. 4. Interconversions occurred after the oral and i.v. administration of R-FSO and S-FSO. The amount of interconversion from S-FSO and R-FSO was greater than that from R-FSO to S-FSO. The rate of interconversion after oral administration was higher than that after i.v. administration. 5. After i.v. administration of FS, R-FSO and S-FSO were detected in plasma, suggesting that the interconversion occurred via formation of FS. 6. The pharmacokinetic parameters of R-FSO after administration of rac-FSO differed from that after administration of R-FSO, indicating the interaction between each enantiomer.

Metabolism of a New Positive Inotropic Agent, 3,4-Dihydro-6-[4-(3,4-Dimethoxybenzoyl)-1-Piperazinyl]-2(1H)-Quinolinone (Opc-8212) in the Rat, Mouse, Dog, Monkey and Human

1. After OPC-8212 was orally given to rats, mice, dogs, monkeys and humans, its metabolites were identified by n.m.r. and mass spectrometry, and their concentrations in the plasma, urine and faeces of these species were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (h.p.l.c.). 2. Hydrolysis of the amide group, oxidation and cleavage of the piperazine ring, O-demethylation of the methoxy group, and conjugation were proposed as metabolic pathways of OPC-8212. 3. In rats, mice and monkeys given OPC-8212 orally, metabolites M-1 to M-6 were detected in the plasma, urine and faeces, while M-1, -4, -5 and M-6 were detected in dogs, and M-1, M-3, M-4, M-5 and M-6 were detected in humans. 4. Conjugates of metabolites M-6 and M-7, with glucuronic acid and sulphuric acid, were observed in the urine of rats and humans.

The Metabolism of a Bronchodilator Procaterol HCl in the Rat in vitro and in vivo

1. The metabolism of the bronchodilator, 5-(1-hydroxy-2-isopropylamino-butyl)-8-hydroxycarbostyril hydrochloride hemihydrate (procaterol HCl), has been studied in vitro and in vivo after oral and intravenous administration to rats. 2. The recovery of [14 C] procaterol HCl and its metabolites in 72 h was about 42% each in urine and faeces for an oral dose (30 mg/kg) and about 53% in urine and 33% in faeces for an intravenous dose (30 mg/kg). 3. Six metabolites in rat excreta were identified as procaterol glucuronide, 5-(2-amino-1-hydroxybutyl)-8-hydroxycarbostyril (desisopropylprocaterol), 5-formyl-8-hydroxycarbostyril (5-formyl-8-HCS), 8-hydroxycarbostyril (8-HCS), procaterol sulphate and unchanged procaterol. 4. In experiments in vitro, procaterol HCl was metabolized into desisopropylprocaterol, 5-formyl-8-HCS, and their conjugates, by rat liver 9000 g supernatant fraction, but not by preparations of kidney, lung and small intestine. Conjugation of procaterol HCl with glucuronic acid occurred in liver and small intestine preparations.

Stereospecific and simultaneous high-performance liquid chromatographic assay of flosequinan and its metabolites in human plasma.

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method was developed for the simultaneous determination of the enantiomers of flosequinan [(+/-)-7-fluoro-1-methyl-3-methylsulphinyl-4-quinolone] and its metabolites, flosequinan sulphide and sulphone, in human plasma. These compounds were extracted from plasma with chloroform. The compounds were separated on a chiral stationary phase of cellulose tris-3,5- dimethylphenylcarbamate coated on silica gel, with a mobile phase of ethanol-methanol (22:78, v/v). Flosequinan enantiomers and flosequinan sulphone were determined by UV detection at a wavelength of 320 nm. Flosequinan sulphide was determined using fluorescence detection (excitation at 370 nm, emission at 430 nm). Standard curves were linear over the concentration range 5-10,000 ng/ml for both enantiomers and flosequinan sulphide, and 20-10,000 ng/ml for flosequinan sulphone. This method is adequate for pharmacokinetic studies of the enantiomers of flosequinan and its metabolites.

Pharmacokinetic Modelling of [2-13C]Uracil Metabolism in Normal and DPD-Deficient Dogs

A physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model to simulate the plasma concentration and 13CO2 exhalation after [2-13C]uracil administration to DPD-suppressed dogs was developed. Simulation using this PBPK model should be useful in clinical situations where DPD-deficient patients at risk are to be detected with [2-13C]uracil as an in vivo probe.

The Metabolites of Procaterol HC1 in Urine and Faeces of Dog and Man

1. The metabolites of procaterol HC1 in dog urine and faeces and in human urine were qualitatively analysed by an improved g.l.c.-mass spectrometric method.2. Trimethylsilylated derivatives of procaterol metabolites were identified by mass fragmentography as procaterol glucuronide, 5-(2-amino-1-hydroxybutyl)-8-hydroxycarbostyril (desisopropylprocaterol), 5-formyl-8-hydroxycarbostyril, 8-hydroxycarbostyril and unchanged procaterol.3. The metabolic pattern of procaterol HC1 was species-independent in rats, dogs and man.

Use of a carrier for quantitation of a new dihydropyridine calcium antagonist (OPC-13340) in human plasma by highly sensitive gas chromatography with negative-ion chemical ionization mass spectrometry.

A sensitive gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric method for the quantitation of (+/-)-methyl 3-phenyl-2(E)-propenyl 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-4-(3-nitrophenyl)-3,5-pyridinedicarboxylate (OPC-13340, I), a new dihydropyridine calcium antagonist with a potent and long-acting antihypertensive and antianginal effect, was developed in order to elucidate its pharmacokinetics. Dihydropyridine calcium antagonist have been usually quantifed by this technique in the negative-ion chemical ionization mode. However, direct application of this method to quantify trace amounts of I in biological fluids completely failed, owing to its adsorption on the column and oxidation of its dihydropyridine ring. Human plasma containing I and (+/-)-[2H3]methyl 3-phenyl-2(E)-propenyl 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-4-(3-nitrophenyl)-3,5-pyridinedicarboxylate (II), the internal standard, was extracted with n-hexane-diethyl ether under weakly basic conditions (pH 8). In order to prevent adsorption of the compounds on the column, (+/-)-[2H5]ethyl 3-phenyl-2(E)-propenyl 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-4-(3-nitrophenyl)-3,5-pyridinedicarboxylate (III), an analogue of I, was added to the extracts as a carrier. In addition, this carrier was also effective in preventing the oxidation of I. The quantitation limit of I in human plasma by this method was found to be less than 30 pg/ml. Thus, the method is sufficiently sensitive to study the pharmacokinetics of I in humans.