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A Helander

Publications and source records attributed to A Helander.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Comparison of urinary 5-hydroxytryptophol, breath ethanol, and self-report for detection of recent alcohol use during outpatient treatment: a study on methadone patients.

This study compared urinary 5-hydroxytryptophol (5HTOL) with breath-ethanol testing as objective ways to disclose recent drinking by outpatients attending a methadone maintenance treatment clinic. Information about quantity and frequency of alcohol use was obtained by confidential self-reports. Random screening was performed on Mondays-Fridays in connection with routine clinic visits for methadone dosing. An observed urine sample for monitoring of illicit drug use and determination of 5HTOL, expressed as a ratio to 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid (5HIAA), was obtained from 202 patients (59 women and 143 men), 16 of whom refused to complete the self-report and/or do a breath-ethanol test. Patients taking disulfiram or calcium carbimide for alcohol detoxification were excluded. Among the 177 subjects remaining, 47 (26.6%) reported intake of any alcohol on the previous day (range, 10-230 g ethanol; median, 40). Only four of those could be identified by a positive breath-test, while 17 showed a urinary 5HTOL/5HIAA ratio above the cutoff limit. Their alcohol consumption (median, 60 g) was significantly higher compared with those showing ratios within the reference interval (median, 35 g). The sensitivity of 5HTOL/5HIAA testing for detecting self-reported drinking in excess of 50 g ethanol was 77%. An additional nine patients who claimed abstinence still showed abnormal 5HTOL/5HIAA ratios, and so did three of the patients who refused to do a breath-ethanol test and/or complete the self-report. Altogether, 59 of 190 methadone-maintained patients (31.1%) had been drinking any alcohol on the previous day (i.e. Sunday-Thursday) according to self-report and/or urinalysis data, 29 (49.2%) of whom were identified by the urinary 5HTOL/5HIAA ratio and only four (6.8%) by utilizing breathalyzer.

Alcohol Drinking↗

The urinary ratio of 5-hydroxytryptophol to 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid in surgical patients with chronic alcohol misuse.

The urinary ratio of 5-hydroxytryptophol to 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid was reported to be elevated for a period of up to 22 h following acute alcohol ingestion. Therefore, the ratio could detect continuous alcohol consumption, in what was considered to be a high-risk surgical group, on the evening prior to surgery. The aim of this study was to determine the preoperative ratio of 5-hydroxytryptophol to 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid in patients with continuous preoperative alcohol misuse. Forty-two patients participated in this institutionally approved study, once their written informed consent had been obtained. Chronic alcoholics were defined by meeting the criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders criteria and an ethanol consumption > or =60 g/day. The urine samples were taken preoperatively and determined by means of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and high performance liquid chromatography. The urinary ratio of 5-hydroxytryptophol to 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid was significantly increased in chronic alcoholics. The ICU stay of these patients was significantly prolonged due to an increased incidence of pneumonia and sepsis. Five chronic alcoholics died, whereas no deaths occurred in the nonalcoholic group (p = 0.05). As the measurement of the urinary ratio of 5-hydroxy-tryptophol to 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid could detect alcohol consumption immediately prior to operation, this marker could assist the carbohydrate-deficient transferrin in screening for patients with high-level dependency; these patients were considered to be at a high risk of developing intercurrent complications.

Adult↗

Activities of human alcohol dehydrogenases in the metabolic pathways of ethanol and serotonin.

Alcohols and aldehydes in the metabolic pathways of ethanol and serotonin are substrates for alcohol dehydrogenases (ADH) of class I and II. In addition to the reversible alcohol oxidation/aldehyde reduction, these enzymes catalyse aldehyde oxidation. Class-I gammagamma ADH catalyses the dismutation of both acetaldehyde and 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetaldehyde (5-HIAL) into their corresponding alcohols and carboxylic acids. The turnover of acetaldehyde dismutation is high (kcat = 180 min-1) but saturation is reached first at high concentrations (Km = 30 mm) while dismutation of 5-HIAL is saturated at lower concentrations and is thereby more efficient (Km = 150 microm; kcat = 40 min-1). In a system where NAD+ is regenerated, the oxidation of 5-hydroxytryptophol to 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid proceeds with concentration levels of the intermediary 5-HIAL expected for a two-step oxidation. Butanal and 5-HIAL oxidation is also observed for class-I ADH in the presence of NADH. The class-II enzyme is less efficient in aldehyde oxidation, and the ethanol-oxidation activity of this enzyme is competitively inhibited by acetate (Ki = 12 mm) and 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid (Ki = 2 mm). Reduction of 5-HIAL is efficiently catalysed by class-I gammagamma ADH (kcat = 400 min-1; Km = 33 microm) in the presence of NADH. This indicates that the increased 5-hydroxytryptophol/5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid ratio observed after ethanol intake may be due to the increased NADH/NAD+ ratio on the class-I ADH.

Alcohol Dehydrogenase↗

Storage of specimens at 4 degrees C or addition of sodium fluoride (1%) prevents formation of ethanol in urine inoculated with Candida albicans.

The microbial synthesis of ethanol was investigated in urine specimens containing 0.5% or 1.0% (w/v) glucose and inoculated with the yeast Candida albicans (100 cfu/mL). Aliquots (10 mL) of urine were dispensed into plastic tubes containing enough sodium fluoride to give final concentrations of 0.1%, 0.25%, 0.5%, 0.75%, 1%, and 2% (w/v), and C. albicans was added. The tubes were tightly stoppered and allowed to stand either at room temperature (22 degrees C) or in a refrigerator (4 degrees C) for up to 34 days before concentrations of ethanol were determined by headspace gas chromatography. Urine samples stored at 22 degrees C without sodium fluoride produced 0.25 g/L ethanol after two days, and the concentration increased to 2.10 g/L and 4.50 g/L after eight days for specimens containing 0.5% (w/v) and 1% (w/v) glucose, respectively. The ratio of the serotonin metabolites 5-hydroxytryptophol/5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5HTOL/5HIAA) in urine remained within the reference range (< 15 pmol/nmol) despite high concentrations of ethanol being produced. Urine samples kept at 4 degrees C did not produce any ethanol (< 0.01 g/L) even without sodium fluoride present as a preservative. The production of ethanol by C. albicans was stopped completely by adding 1% or 2% (w/v) sodium fluoride but not by concentrations of 0.75% (w/v) or less. The microbial synthesis of ethanol in urine samples initially stored at room temperature without sodium fluoride was slowed down considerably by moving them into a refrigerator at 4 degrees C. In conclusion, the production of ethanol in urine by C. albicans can be prevented by storage of samples in a refrigerator at 4 degrees C or by adding sodium fluoride > or = 1% (w/v). Measuring the ratio of 5HTOL/5HIAA can help to distinguish postsampling production of ethanol from metabolism and excretion processes.

Candida albicans↗

Autoantibodies against cytochromes P-4502E1 and P-4503A in alcoholics.

Autoantibodies against soluble liver enzymes have been reported among alcoholics, but the targets of self-reactivity toward membrane proteins of the liver have not been characterized. Previously, among alcoholics, we found antibodies against ethanol-derived radical protein adducts that are dependent on cytochrome P-4502E1 (CYP2E1) for their formation. To further investigate autoantibodies against cytochrome P-450s during alcohol abuse, sera of rats chronically treated with ethanol in the total enteral nutrition model and sera from alcoholics with or without alcohol liver disease and from control subjects were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western blotting for the presence of IgG against rat and human CYP2E1, rat CYP3A1, and human CYP3A4. A time-dependent appearance of IgG against rat CYP3A1 and CYP2E1 was evident during chronic ethanol feeding of rats. Anti-CYP2E1 reactivity showed positive correlation with the levels of hepatic CYP2E1 and was inhibited by the CYP2E1 transcriptional inhibitor chlormethiazole. Screening of the human sera by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay revealed reactivity against CYP3A4 and CYP2E1 in about 20 to 30% and 10 to 20% of the alcoholic sera, respectively. No difference were noted between sera from alcoholics with or without hepatitis C virus infection, and only very little reactivity was seen in sera from control subjects. Western blotting analysis revealed anti-human CYP2E1 reactivity in 8 of 85 alcoholic sera and 3 of 58 control sera, whereas anti-CYP3A4 reactivity was detected in 18 of 85 alcoholic sera and 4 of 58 control sera, which were different from the sera reactive with CYP2E1. Immunoblot reactivity of CYP3A4-positive alcoholic sera was found against glutathione-S-transferase fusion proteins containing truncated forms of CYP3A4, and such sera were also able to immunoprecipitate in vitro translated CYP3A4. Seven of eight sera showed reactivity toward domains C-terminal of position Ser281, and 1 of 8 sera recognized autoepitopes within the region Thr207-Ser281. These findings indicate that alcoholics develop autoantibodies against CYP2E1 and CYP3A4 that the CYP3A4 C-terminal domain is a target for the autoantibody reactions among a subset of alcoholics. The novel finding of CYP3A4 autoantibodies and their significant expression among alcoholics warrants further investigation. Attention should be given to immune toxicity associated with CYP3A4 autoantibodies and cases of alcohol abuse that are accompanied by exposure to drugs and substances that are CYP3A substrates.

Adult↗

Time course and reproducibility of urinary excretion profiles of ethanol, methanol, and the ratio of serotonin metabolites after intravenous infusion of ethanol.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine the time course and reproducibility of urinary excretion profiles of ethanol, methanol, and ratio of serotonin metabolites, 5-hydroxytryptophol (5HTOL) to 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5HIAA), under strictly controlled conditions. METHODS: Nine healthy volunteers (6 women and 3 men) received 0.40 g of ethanol/kg of body weight on two occasions by constant rate intravenous infusion 30 min. Urine was voided before administration of ethanol and thereafter every 60 min for a total of 8 hr. Concentrations of ethanol and methanol in urine were determined by headspace gas chromatography, and the serotonin metabolites 5HTOL and 5HIAA were measured by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and high-performance liquid chromatography, respectively. RESULTS: The peak concentration of ethanol in urine occurred at 30 or 60 min after the infusion ended. The peak concentration of methanol and the 5HTOL/5HIAA ratio developed more gradually, reaching a plateau at 213 to 220 min and 200 to 220 min postinfusion, respectively. The concentration-time profiles of ethanol and the 5HTOL/5HIAA ratio varied more between subjects than within subjects (p < 0.001), whereas the inter- and intraindividual variation in the pharmacokinetics of methanol were not significantly different (p > 0.05). The concentration of methanol and the 5HTOL/5HIAA ratio remained above the endogenous levels at 8-hr postinfusion despite the fact that urinary ethanol was no longer measurable (<0.01 g/liter) after 5 to 6 hr. CONCLUSIONS: Measuring the concentrations of methanol and the ratio of serotonin metabolites (5HTOL/5HIAA) in urine is a more sensitive way to monitor recent drinking, compared with analysis of ethanol in body fluids. Moreover, the concentration-time profiles of methanol and the 5HTOL/5HIAA ratio showed a good test-retest stability. The present intravenous infusion experiment confirms previous work on these markers when ethanol was given perorally. The urinary methanol and the 5HTOL/5HIAA ratio have applications in forensic and clinical medicine as indicators of acute alcohol consumption.

Adult↗

Changes in the concentrations of ethanol, methanol and metabolites of serotonin in two successive urinary voids from drinking drivers.

The urine-ethanol concentration (UEC), the urine-methanol concentration (UMC) and the ratio of serotonin metabolites, 5-hydroxytryptophol (5HTOL) to 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5HIAA), were determined in two successive voids from apprehended drunk drivers (n = 35). The blood-ethanol concentration (BEC) ranged from 0-3.00 g/l (mean 1.87 g/l, median 2.03 g/l) compared with 0-3.96 g/l (mean 2.48 g/l, median 2.73 g/l) in the first urinary void and 0-3.56 g/l (mean 2.24 g/l, median 2.47 g/l) in the second void. The UEC decreased significantly from 2.48 +/- 0.99 g/l to 2.24 +/- 0.95 g/l (mean +/- S.D.) between first and second voids as did the UEC/BEC ratios, changing from 1.33 +/- 0.15 to 1.20 +/- 0.10. The BEC and UEC were highly correlated; r = 0.97 +/- 0.04 (p < 0.001) for the first void and r = 0.98 +/- 0.03 (p < 0.001) for the second void. The UMC increased from 7.51 +/- 4.95 mg/l to 8.01 +/- 5.04 mg/l between the first and second voids and the mean difference of 0.50 +/- 0.78 mg/l was statistically highly significant (p < 0.001). The ratios of 5HTOL/5HIAA were 771 +/- 363 pmol/nmol and 728 +/- 377 pmol/nmol in first and second voids, respectively and the difference was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Finding raised concentrations of methanol and a high 5HTOL/5HIAA ratio in urine specimens provides additional evidence to confirm recent drinking. These biochemical markers might prove useful whenever the integrity of blood or urine specimens is questioned, for example, owing to contamination with extraneous ethanol during collection or microbial synthesis of ethanol in vitro after sampling.

Alcoholic Intoxication↗

Epidemiology and properties of heat-stable enterotoxin-producing Escherichia coli serotype O169:H41.

Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) serotype O169:H41 organisms have become the most prevalent ETEC in Japan since the first outbreak in 1991. It was assumed that the outbreaks were due to clonal spread of this new ETEC serotype. The relationship of 32 strains isolated from 6 outbreaks were examined for biotype, antibiotic susceptibility, enterotoxigenicity, protein banding pattern, lipopolysaccharide banding pattern, plasmid analysis, and ribotyping. Further, the strains were examined by haemagglutination, surface hydrophobicity, and the ability to adhere to HEp-2 cells. The present study suggests that the outbreaks were caused by multiple clones of STp-producing O169:H41 since they showed differences in ribotype and outer membrane protein banding patterns. The strains did not agglutinate human or bovine red blood cells in a mannose-resistant manner. They adhered to HEp-2 cells in a manner resembling enteroaggregative E. coli. Five strains were examined by dot-blot tests for the colonization factor antigens CFA/I, CS1, CS2, CS3, CS4, CS5, CS6, CS7, PCFO159, PCFO166 and CFA/III. Although four strains expressed CS6, no structure for CS6 was identified. A strain that the anti-CS6 MAbs did not react with could adhere to HEp-2 cells in mannose resistant manner; thus, it is unlikely that CS6 play an important role in the adhesion to the cells. Electron microscopy studies of the O169:H41 strains suggested that curly fimbriae, a possible new colonization factor, may be playing an important role in the adhesion of the bacteria to HEp-2 cells. In conclusion, outbreaks due to ETEC O169:H41 were caused by multiple clones, and the strains should be examined in detail for a possible new colonization factor.

Bacterial Adhesion↗

Antibody responses in humans against coli surface antigen 6 of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli.

Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) strains expressing only coli surface antigen 6 (CS6) have previously been isolated from patients with diarrhea, but the immunogenicity of CS6 has not been established in humans. We have detected CS6-specific immunoglobulin A responses in the feces and blood of patients convalescing from natural ETEC disease and of volunteers given an oral ETEC vaccine.

Adult↗

Monitoring relapse drinking during disulfiram therapy by assay of urinary 5-hydroxytryptophol.

Screening for recent alcohol use by testing urine for the ratio of 5-hydroxytryptophol (5HTOL) to 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid (5HIAA) was performed in 10 methadone patients on disulfiram (Antabuse) maintenance therapy in an outpatient setting. Apart from alcohol ingestion, treatment with aldehyde dehydrogenase inhibitors such as disulfiram is the only known cause of an abnormally high 5HTOL/5HIAA ratio. After introduction of drug therapy, increased ratios were observed in all patients. The new higher level reached was relatively stable over time within the same patient but variable between patients. Four patients continued to consume alcohol, as evidenced by 5HTOL/5HIAA ratios well above the new individual plateau, while still taking 400 mg disulfiram 3 times per week under strict supervision. To try to achieve sobriety in two patients who drank frequently while on therapy, the disulfiram dose was doubled. Continued testing demonstrated this to increase the 5HTOL/5HIAA steady-state level further, and the absence of extreme values above this new baseline level indicated adherence to abstinence with possibly one single relapse. When disulfiram administration was discontinued, as planned, by five of the patients, four of them returned to drinking very soon. The present results show that during disulfiram maintenance the continuous inhibition of aldehyde dehydrogenase produces a new higher and dose-related 5HTOL to 5HIAA steady state level in urine, but relapse to drinking will still lead to further increased 5HTOL/5HIAA ratios. It is also suggested that an individual dose-titration regimen, whereby the disulfiram dose is raised gradually until 5HTOL/5HIAA testing indicates sobriety, will improve therapeutic effectiveness.

Adult↗

Intra- and interindividual variability of carbohydrate-deficient transferrin, gamma-glutamyltransferase, and mean corpuscular volume in teetotalers.

Blood samples for determination of the biochemical alcohol markers carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) in serum, gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) in serum, and erythrocyte mean corpuscular volume (MCV) were collected once every 1-2 weeks over approximately 5 months from 10 female and 4 male teetotalers. Mean values for serum CDT (using the CDTect assay) ranged from 9.9 to 29.4 units/L (median, 14.2 units/L), and the highest results were obtained in the women. The mean values for serum GGT ranged from 0.15 to 0.49 microkat/L (median, 0.30 microkat/L, or 18 U/L) except for one woman with a very high mean of 3.07 microkat/L. For MCV, the mean values ranged from 79.5 to 91.5 fL. Two women showed several CDT results above the upper reference limit (mean values, 27.6 and 29.4 units/L, respectively); however, their GGT and MCV values fell within the reference intervals. One of these women exhibited an increased total transferrin concentration (mean value, 5.38 g/L), which was possibly related to the use of oral contraceptives and/or a low serum iron concentration. When the CDTect value was expressed relative to total transferrin, a ratio within the reference interval was observed for this woman but not for the other woman with increased CDTect values. The present study demonstrates a considerable variation between individuals in CDT, GGT, and MCV without drinking any alcohol. The results also show that these baseline values are fairly constant over time within the same individual.

Adult↗

Binding of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli to isolated enterocytes and intestinal mucus.

Binding of human enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) to the small intestine is a prerequisite for colonization and is mediated by colonization factor (CF) antigens. Coli surface antigen 6 (CS6) is considered a CF but binding to isolated enterocytes has not been established. In this study bacteria expressing CS6 were analysed for binding to enterocytes from human and rabbit small intestine, isolated using either an EDTA-containing buffer or a buffer devoid of EDTA. We found that the bacteria bound to enterocytes from rabbit ileum and human duodenum, but only when the cells had been isolated in the absence of EDTA. Pretreatment of rabbit enterocytes with meta-periodate resulted in a decreased proportion of cells with bound bacteria. Purified CS6, and for comparison other ETEC CFs, were also tested for binding to different human and rabbit mucus fractions. These analyses showed that purified CS6 bound to mucus from rabbit duodenum and ileum as well as from human duodenum, jejunum and ileum and that this binding was abolished by pretreatment of the mucus material with meta-periodate or Proteinase K. CFA/I, CS1 to CS5, CS7, CS17, putative CF (PCF) O159 (CS12), PCFO166 (CS14), and CFA/III (CS8) also bound to the rabbit mucus material although with different patterns; the binding of CS2 and CS5 was abolished by meta-periodate treatment. Thus, ETEC bacteria expressing CS6 might bind to carbohydrate-containing structure(s) in the apical membrane of isolated rabbit ileal and human duodenal enterocytes that could probably be released by EDTA treatment. In addition, CS6 and other ETEC CFs bind to component(s), in some instances protein-associated carbohydrate structures, in mucus fractions from small intestine.

Animals↗

Acute interaction between ethanol and serotonin metabolism in the rat.

The effect of acute ethanol on peripheral serotonin (5HT) metabolism was studied in Sprague-Dawley rats. Four hours after a single dose of ethanol (1.0 g/kg) administered into the stomach, a significant increase in the 5HT level in stomach tissue and a decrease in ileum was observed. The level of 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid (5HIAA) was increased in urine, while increased concentrations of 5-hydroxytryptophol (5HTOL) occurred in jejunum, ileum, spleen and urine. After 7-9 h when the blood ethanol concentration had returned to zero, 5HTOL levels were still higher than control values in jejunum, ileum and urine. At 4 h, an elevated ratio of 5HTOL to 5HIAA was observed in urine and ileum (by approximately 2-fold), liver (approximately 3-fold), and spleen (approximately 5-fold), whereas the ratio was reduced in stomach. In urine and spleen, this metabolic shift persisted after 7-9 h. The 5HTOL level in bile was increased by approximately 3.5-fold after 8 h. 5HIAA was not detectable in bile. The present results indicate that the rat has a much higher proportion of 5HTOL formation than man under normal conditions. The rat does not appear to be an ideal model for studying the interaction between ethanol and 5HT metabolism in man.

Animals↗

Elevated brain 5-hydroxytryptophol levels in experimental portal-systemic encephalopathy.

Brain tissue levels of the two serotonin metabolites 5-hydroxytryptophol and 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid (5-HIAA) were measured in porta-caval shunted rats, an in vivo model of portal-systemic encephalopathy. An intraperitoneal challenge of L-tryptophan (280 mg/kg body weight) to sham-operated rats was also instituted to increase the brain serotonin metabolism in these rats. The results revealed significant increases in 5-hydroxytryptophol (by 31% and 5-HIAA (by 87%) brain levels in porta-caval shunted rats as compared to sham-operated controls. The brain 5-hydroxytryptophol-to-5-HIAA ratio was lower in the porta-caval shunted rats. The 5-hydroxytryptophol levels in sham rats after the L-tryptophan challenge were intermediate between the porta-caval shunted and sham rats but not statistically significant for either group. These results suggest that increased brain 5-hydroxytryptophol levels might be associated with the pathogenesis of portal-systemic encephalopathy. Further, the elevated brain 5-hydroxytryptophol levels in experimental portal-systemic encephalopathy are probably a result of the increased brain serotonin metabolism prevailing in this condition rather than changes in the brain redox potential.

Animals↗

Detection and characterization of the coli surface antigen 6 of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli strains by using monoclonal antibodies.

We describe, for the first time, the production of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against coli surface antigen 6 (CS6) of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) and their use for characterization and diagnosis of CS6. Two MAbs, MAbs CS6-20:11:9 and CS6-2A:14, were produced by immunizing mice with purified CS6 or CS6-containing bacterial extracts. The MAb specificity was demonstrated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), immunoblotting, and immunoelectron microscopy, which showed that the MAbs bound to CS6-expressing bacteria as well as to purified CS6 and CS6 structural subunits but not to CS6-negative bacteria or other purified ETEC colonization factors. By using bacterial recombinants, i.e., strains with a complete CS6 operon or parts thereof, it was found that both MAbs were specific for CssB, one of the two structural subunits of CS6. Although the MAbs bound specifically to the entire surface of CS6-expressing bacteria, no structure of CS6 could be identified. The usefulness of the MAbs for the detection of CS6 was evaluated in an inhibition ELISA and in a dot blot test. Ninety-two ETEC strains with known colonization factors were analyzed, and all CS6-positive strains were identified by either assay with MAb CS6-2A:14, whereas MAb CS6-20:11:9 failed to identify two CS6-positive strains; in no instance was any CS6-negative strain identified by either of the MAbs. Parallel analyses of 48 strains with a gene probe specific for the other structural subunit of CS6, i.e., CssA, and the MAb-based assays gave identical results, suggesting the simultaneous presence of both subunits.

Animals↗