Biomedical subjects

U Schepers

Publications and source records attributed to U Schepers.

10 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Comparison of the recovery spread in analytical development and routine quality control--based on the ICH quality guideline Q2B.

In the present study, a simulation was performed for the ICH Q2B guideline for assessing the accuracy. By means of an experimental data set a permutation has been performed to investigate in which interval experimental mean recovery can be expected to scatter just by random effects. A good agreement has been found between the experimental intervals obtained by means of a permutation and the statistically derived confidence intervals. These findings could be confirmed with additionally generated virtual data sets with a true mean of 100% and a true standard deviation of 0.7%.

Chemistry Techniques, Analytical↗

PubMed2006

Evaluation of monolithic C18 HPLC columns for the fast analysis of pilocarpine hydrochloride in the presence of its degradation products.

Monolithic Performance C18 HPLC columns (Chromolith Performance RP-18e, Merck) were applied for the determination of pilocarpine hydrochloride in the presence of its degradation products isopilocarpine, pilocarpic acid and isopilocarpic acid. The method was validated using a set of six monolithic columns and compared to a conventional C18 column. The separation of pilocarpine from its degradation products was investigated on monolithic columns at different flow rates from 1 to 9 ml/min. Superior resolution was obtained using monolithic columns over the conventional C18 column at the same flow rate of 1 ml/min with a total run time of 9 min compared to 13.5 min for the conventional C18 column. Comparable resolution to that obtained in the C18 column (but with better peak symmetry) was obtained at a flow rate of 4 ml/min, although the total run time was reduced to 3.5 min. The precision for both retention time and peak area was investigated over a wide concentration range and found to be equal, or slightly better on Chromolith Performance compared to the conventional column. The overall RSDs% ranged from 0.5% to 1.16% for the conventional column, while for monolithic columns ranged from 0.38% to 0.87% at a flow rate of 1 ml/min and from 0.38% to 0.89% at a flow rate of 4 ml/min. Monolithic column to column reproducibility (n = 6) was measured. The RSDs% ranged from 0.34% to 0.68% for retention time and from 0.3% to 0.94% for peak areas. The detection and quantitation limits on monolithic columns at both flow rates (1 and 4 ml/min) were found to be 0.17 microg/ml and 0.5 microg/ml, compared to 0.31 microg/ml and 1 microg/ml on the conventional column. Monolithic silica rods have also shown the advantage of reducing the time to wash and to re-equilibrate the column. The method showed good linearity and recovery and was found to be suitable for the analysis of pilocarpine hydrochloride formulations.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗

PubMed2005

Application of the equivalence test for analytical method transfers: testing precision using the United States Pharmacopoeia concept (1010).

In this work, the performance of the USP (1010) concept for comparing precision has been investigated. A diagram has been constructed to relate common variance ratios, sample sizes and the corresponding powers. The choice of the upper acceptable limit of variance ratios strongly influences the power. Small upper limits, such as 2.25, are not practical. The proposed upper limit of 4 requires sample sizes of 14 or higher to achieve a power of 80%. If the precision of a method is very good, higher ratios seem to be acceptable, with a significant reduction in measurements. For example, using n = 6 is sufficient to obtain a power of 90%, if the variances are in fact the same and the acceptable variance ratio is 16.

Chemistry Techniques, Analytical↗

PubMed2005

Application of the equivalence test according to a concept for analytical method transfers from the International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE).

The performance of the equivalence test in the context of analytical method transfers was investigated by means of a simulation study. An ISPE design proposal and typical error contributions for pharmaceutical routine control have been used for the testing of accuracy. Acceptable results (probability of a correct decision) have been obtained here. For total variations above 0.4% R.S.D. the basic design was not sufficient. An overview for the number of additional series needed corresponding to higher variations has been developed based on further simulations. An alternative approach may be the choice of wider acceptance criteria, which was also evaluated.

Chemistry, Pharmaceutical↗

PubMed2004

Wide concentration range investigation of recovery, precision and error structure in liquid chromatography.

Using a typical HPLC assay, the characteristics of recovery, system precision and repeatability were investigated over a wide concentration range. In the presence of a constant amount of typical tablet excipients, the antidiabetic drug glibenclamide was analyzed in the range from 0.24 to 0.005mg/mL (18 concentration levels, 6 independent sample preparations each). On the basis of a typical concentration for an HPLC glibenclamide assay of 0.2mg/mL, this corresponds to a relative amount of 120-0.025% label claim. In the range from 120 to 0.075%, the recovery was found to be quite constant and systematically heightened mainly due to the evaporation from vials during centrifuging and the displacement of solvent volume by the added matrix. Both system precision and repeatability remain almost constant in the interval from 120 to 10% at a R.S.D.% of 0.31 and 0.70%, respectively, indicating that the sample preparation is the major error source in this range (0.63%). Between 10 and 0.25%, a linear relationship between the logarithmized concentration and the repeatability was noted. However, for lower amounts close to the limit of quantitation, the R.S.D.% of measurements increases much more distinctly. This increase is caused by a strong rise of the system precision. At this concentration range, system precision and repeatability are not significantly different any longer. This leads to the conclusion that with the injection error being constant the peak integration error becomes the dominating error source at low concentrations, e.g. at concentrations below the five-fold of the LOQ. The results obtained here agree well with earlier published data. As the quantitation limit of 0.05% can be regarded as typical for a pharmaceutical impurity control test, generalizations of these findings from this extensive data set should be possible. In this context, peak integration and improvements of the signal-to-noise ratio are the most promising measures to improve an unsatisfactory precision in LC.

Algorithms↗

PubMed2003

Long endogenous dsRNAs can induce complete gene silencing in mammalian cells and primary cultures.

Recently, double-stranded RNA (dsRNA)-mediated RNA interference (RNAi) has rapidly developed to a powerful instrument for specific silencing of gene expression in several organisms, including Caenorhabditis elegans, Drosophila melanogaster, and plants. The finding that synthetic small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) of 21 nt as well as stable, endogenously expressed, large dsRNA are suited to specifically induce gene silencing in mammalian cells offered the possibility of expanding this technique to mammalian systems. In this work, we engineered stably transfected human cells that express large dsRNAs mediating specific posttranscriptional silencing of genes. We used this technique to specifically silence genes coding for glucosylceramide synthase (GCS), the sphingolipid activator protein precursor (SAP), and glucocerebrosidase (GBA), all implicated in glycosphingolipid metabolism. From a 1600-bp inverted repeat DNA template, a dsRNA of 800 bp is expressed and predicted to mediate the specific suppression of the corresponding gene by RNAi. Remarkably, we were able to use this method to achieve complete inhibition of those genes we targeted in different cultured human cell lists. These findings testify to the generality of RNAi application in suppressing gene expression in mammalian cells.

Animals↗

PubMed2000

Characterization of regulatory elements in the 5'-flanking region of the GM2 activator gene.

Lysosomal degradation of the ganglioside GM2 by human beta-hexosaminidase A requires the presence of the GM2 activator protein as an essential cofactor. Here we demonstrate that GM2 activator mRNA is differentially expressed and mainly localized to the apical part of the epithelial cells of distal renal tubules and the collecting duct. In order to understand the mechanism underlying the regulation of the GM2 activator gene, we analyzed the genomic organization upstream exon 2 as well as the 5'-flanking region. The GM2 activator gene spans about 16.8 kb with a first intron of 6.5 kb, and the transcription start is located at position -96 upstream from the ATG. DNA elements responsible for GM2 activator expression were identified in a PCR-based method of long-distance DNA walking. Sequence analysis revealed a 2.9 kb region upstream of the ATG that contained regulatory elements like CAAT boxes, Sp1 binding sites as well as AP1, and AP2 sites. Transfection experiments in COS-1 cells with a series of chimeras of 5'-stepwise deletion mutants of the GM2 activator gene 5'-flanking region and the secretory alkaline phosphatase (SEAP)-reporter gene indicated that a genomic fragment encompassing -323 to +1 bp had significant promoter activity. EMSA experiments showed that Sp1 and other transcription factors like AP1, AP2 and CCAAT-Box binding proteins are involved in GM2 activator gene regulation.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

GM2 gangliosidosis AB variant: clinical and biochemical studies of a Japanese patient.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the clinical features and biochemical basis of the first Japanese patient with the GM2 gangliosidosis AB variant. METHODS: The clinical manifestations and laboratory findings in the patient were investigated. Cultured fibroblasts from the patient were analyzed by means of immunofluorescence staining with an anti-GM2 ganglioside monoclonal antibody and thin-layer chromatography and immunostaining. GM1 ganglioside catabolism in cultured cells was analyzed by pulse labeling, and the amount of GM2 activator in cells was determined by Western blot analysis. Gene analysis was performed according to standard protocols. RESULTS: The patient showed progressive neurologic manifestations of quite early onset. Muscular weakness and hypotonia became evident by 1 month of age, and the patient then developed a startle reaction, severe psychomotor retardation, and myoclonic seizures. Immunocytochemical analysis clearly revealed the accumulation of GM2 ganglioside in cultured fibroblasts from the patient, and thin-layer chromatography confirmed it. Western blot and metabolic studies showed a complete deficiency of GM2 activator. Gene analysis did not reveal any mutations in the protein coding region of the GM2 activator gene. CONCLUSION: The clinical features and biochemical basis of this Japanese patient with GM2 gangliosidosis AB variant were determined. Immunocytochemical analysis using cultured fibroblasts as samples is available for the diagnosis of this disease.

Anticonvulsants↗

PubMed1996

Molecular analysis of a GM2-activator deficiency in two patients with GM2-gangliosidosis AB variant.

Lysosomal degradation of ganglioside GM2 by beta-hexosaminidase A (hex A) requires the presence of the GM2 activator protein (GM2AP) as an essential cofactor. A deficiency of the GM2 activator causes the AB variant of GM2 gangliosidosis, a recessively inherited disorder characterized by excessive neuronal accumulation of GM2 and related glycolipids. Two novel mutations in the GM2 activator gene (GM2A) have been identified by the reverse-transcriptase-PCR method--a three-base deletion, AAG262-264, resulting in a deletion of Lys88, and a single-base deletion, A410, that causes a frameshift. The latter results in substitution of 33 amino acids and the loss of another 24 amino acid residues. Both patients are homoallelic for their respective mutations inherited from their parents, who are heteroallelic at the GM2A locus. Although the cultured fibroblasts of both patients produce normal levels of activator mRNA, they lack a lysosomal form of GM2AP. Pulse/chase labeling of cultured fibroblasts of the patients, in presence and absence of brefeldin A, indicates a premature degradation of both--mutant and truncated--GM2APs in the endoplasmic reticulum or Golgi. These results were supported by in vitro translation experiments and expression of the mutated proteins. When the mutated GM2APs were expressed in Escherichia coli, both mature GM2AP forms turned proved to exhibit only residual activities in an in vitro assay.

Adult↗

PubMed1993

Regional localization of the gene coding for the GM2 activator protein (GM2A) to chromosome 5q32-33 and confirmation of the assignment of GM2AP to chromosome 3.

The gene coding for the GM2 activator protein (GM2A) was previously mapped by us to chromosome 5 by an ELISA-based technique. Here we confirm this assignment using a PCR analysis of somatic cell hybrids and describe a regional localization to chromosome 5q32-33 by in situ hybridization. We also confirm the assignment of a pseudogene GM2AP to chromosome 3.

Animals↗