Local irritation/corrosion testing strategies: extending a decision support system by applying self-learning classifiers

Procedures have been established and tested for the extension of a decision support system (DSS) for the prediction of the local irritation/corrosion potential of chemicals by using self-learning classifiers. The different approaches (decision trees, distances examinations in a multidimensional space, k-nearest-neighbour method) have been implemented, tested and evaluated independently. A combination of all of the established extension approaches was also developed and tested. Self-learning classifiers are constructed "automatically" by a computer, i.e. they are not derived by a human expert, and thus they can be constructed with minimal effort. The classifiers presented here extend the existing DSS in a manner that increased significantly the predictive power of the extended system. However, automatically calculated results of self-learning classifiers are produced by a machine, and a machine is incapable of explaining the toxicological relevance of the results obtained. Thus, these results must be accepted, despite an inability to prove their reliability. Only the mathematical correctness of the method and the prediction rates for suitable test cases can lend some credibility to predictions produced by a computer calculating on a self-learning basis. This may not be adequate for regulatory hazard assessment purposes.     

Assessment of the eye irritating properties of chemicals by applying alternatives to the Draize rabbit eye test: the use of QSARs and in vitro tests for the classification of eye irritation

Huggins has reported on the current situation relating to the development of alternatives to the Draize eye irritation test with rabbits, and an ECVAM Working Group have reviewed the efforts needed in order to replace this animal test within the next 10 years by using the results of non-animal assessment methods. Our report reviews regulatory experience gained over the last 20 years with the EU chemicals notification procedure with respect to the assessment of eye lesions observed in Draize tests. The nature of eye lesions and their importance for classification and labelling of possible hazards to human eyes are evaluated and discussed, with a view to promoting the development of specific in vitro assays which are able to discriminate between eye damage, moderate eye irritation, and minor irritation effects which are completely reversible within a few days. Structural alerts for the prediction of eye irritation/corrosion hazards to be classified and labelled according to international classification criteria, are presented, which should be validated in accordance with internationally agreed (OECD) principles for (Q)SAR system validation. Physicochemical limit values for prediction of the absence of any eye irritation potential relevant for human health can make available a definition of the applicability domains of alternative methods developed for the replacement of the Draize eye irritation test.     

复合生物杀菌剂F6-11的安全性毒理学研究

目的：为研究复合生物杀菌剂F6．11毒性,采用动物实验法进行毒理学评价。方法：对复合生物杀菌剂F6-11进行小鼠急性毒性试验、小鼠骨髓嗜多染红细胞微核试验、亚急性毒性试验、家兔多次完整皮肤刺激试验、急性眼刺激试验、豚鼠皮肤变态反应试验、鱼类延长毒性14天试验。结果：复合生物杀菌剂F6—11对小鼠急性毒性LD50〉5000mg／kg．bw,属于实际无毒级物质;小鼠微核试验该杀菌剂各剂量组与阴性对照组比较,微核率无显著性差异（P〉0．05）;亚急性毒性试验动物血常规、生化指标及各脏器均未发现异常;对家兔多次完整皮肤及眼刺激反应积分均为0,均属无刺激性;对豚鼠皮肤变态反应试验组动物与阴性对照组无可见不同．试验组动物皮肤致敏反应积分为0,无致敏作用;鱼类延长毒性14天试验无异常。结论：毒理学研究表明,复合生物杀菌剂F6．11具有良好的使用安全性。     

瑞香狼毒提取物对试验动物急性毒性及活性的初步研究

采用急性经口、眼刺激、皮肤试验方法,研究了瑞香狼毒乙酸乙酯萃取物的急性毒性作用,同时以番茄晚疫病菌为供试菌,研究了瑞香狼毒提取物的抑菌活性.初步研究表明,瑞香狼毒乙酸乙酯萃取物对小白鼠经口急性毒性为低毒,对白兔的急性皮肤刺激属无刺激性,对白兔的眼刺激属轻度刺激性,对鲫鱼的毒性属于中毒级;瑞香狼毒乙酸乙酯萃取物及其分段物流分B、c、D对番茄晚疫病菌有较好的抑制活性,这为瑞香狼毒乙酸乙酯萃取物进一步开发为产品提供了毒理学依据.     

Disturbances in toxicological experiments caused by Microsporum canis

Cutaneous lesions which can lead to false positive results have been observed in several rabbits used for the determination of the cutaneous irritation capacity of a product (ITA, PII). The responsible agent was Microsporum canis. A preventive treatment by an antifungal agent did not modify toxicological experimental results.     

Utilization of data obtained in pilot acute experiments for practical hygienic assessment of a chemical substance

A large number of the chemical substances and preparations (compositions) that are incorporated into the national economy cannot be subjected to long-term and detailed testing for toxicity and safety. There are simple methods on the acute experimental level which can serve as a basis for working out the necessary prophylactic measures in introducing new substances into the industry. Determination of LD50 upon intragastric administration, intravenous administration (model of rapid penetration into the organism), static inhalatory treatment under saturated concentration, determination of the primary local effect of the skin and mucous membranes, together with careful observation of the behaviour of the experimental animals, signs of their intoxication and their death, as well as comparison of the physico-chemical properties of the substance and its already familiar structural analogues may serve as the ground for predicting the biological significance of the new substance even at longer terms of contact with the organism and making toxicological and hygienic assessments under concrete technological conditions.     

FERM – a decision support system for fermentation processes

For recombinant DNA product fermentations in the laboratory and pilot scale as well as for antibiotic fermentations at the industrial scale decision support program systems for personal computers were developed. It assists the operator to solve control and decision tasks. Applying this program the data and knowledge bases increase, which include measured and derived process data, parameters and comments of previous fermentation runs as well as algorithmic and declarative rules.     

ECVAM,ECETOC and the EU chemicals policy

ECVAM's initiatives in validation have received significant support from the European Centre for Ecotoxicology and Toxicology of Chemicals (ECETOC), especially through the provision of reference chemical data banks, which contain peer-reviewed, high-quality in vivo data on commercially available chemical substances. Chemicals have been selected from these ECETOC data banks for validation studies on alternative methods for skin corrosion and irritation and for eye irritation and, in addition, an ECETOC task force peer-reviewed the selection and classification, on the basis of in vivo data, of chemicals used in the validation of three alternative methods for developmental toxicity. More recently, ECVAM and ECETOC have been pursuing parallel initiatives on the proposed new EU chemicals policy, with the common goals of ensuring that industry and European Commission resources are used to investigate only those chemicals that pose a significant risk to human health and the environment, and that the Policy requires that any testing which is required follows the Three Rs principles of reduction, refinement and replacement.     

Hallmarks of atopic skin mimicked in vitro by means of a skin disease model based on FLG knock-down

Loss-of-function mutations in the filaggrin gene (FLG) are a strong predisposing factor for atopic dermatitis, although their relevance to the disease pathomechanism needs further elucidation. The generation of an in vitro model of atopic skin would not only permit further evaluation of the underlying pathogenetic mechanisms and the testing of new treatment options, but would also allow toxicological studies to be performed in a simple, rapid and inexpensive manner. In this study, we have knocked down FLG expression in human keratinocytes and created three-dimensional skin models, which we used to investigate the impact of FLG on epidermal maturation and on skin absorption and its response to irritation. Histopathological evaluation of the skin models showed impaired epidermal differentiation in the FLG knock-down model. In addition, skin irritation induced by an application of sodium dodecyl sulphate resulted in significantly higher lactate dehydrogenase leakage, and interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8 levels, than in the control model. To assess the effect of filaggrin deficiency on skin absorption of topically applied agents, we quantified the percutaneous absorption of lipophilic and hydrophilic model drugs, finding clinical relevance only for lipophilic drugs. This study clearly demonstrates that important clinical characteristics of atopic skin can be mimicked by using in vitro skin models. The FLG knock-down construct is the first step toward an in vitro model that allows clinical and toxicological studies of atopic-like skin.     

噻吩磺隆的毒性及致突变性

选用大鼠、豚鼠及家兔,采用经口及皮肤,粘膜染毒途径,研究其急性毒性。同时有Ames试验,小鼠骨髓嗜多染红细胞微核试验及小鼠睾丸初级精母细胞染色体畸变试验进行致突变性研究,了解噻吩磺隆的毒性及致突变性。大鼠急性经口LD50大于5000mg／kg,经皮LD50大于2000mg／kg。家兔皮肤刺激试验阴性,轻度眼刺激性和弱致敏性。Ames试验,微核试验及小鼠睾丸初级精母细胞染色体畸变试验结果均为阴性。结论 噻吩磺隆属低毒性农药,在本实验条件下无致突变作用。     

Designing an automated clinical decision support system to match clinical practice guidelines for opioid therapy for chronic pain

Background

Opioid prescribing for chronic pain is common and controversial, but recommended clinical practices are followed inconsistently in many clinical settings. Strategies for increasing adherence to clinical practice guideline recommendations are needed to increase effectiveness and reduce negative consequences of opioid prescribing in chronic pain patients.

Methods

Here we describe the process and outcomes of a project to operationalize the 2003 VA/DOD Clinical Practice Guideline for Opioid Therapy for Chronic Non-Cancer Pain into a computerized decision support system (DSS) to encourage good opioid prescribing practices during primary care visits. We based the DSS on the existing ATHENA-DSS. We used an iterative process of design, testing, and revision of the DSS by a diverse team including guideline authors, medical informatics experts, clinical content experts, and end-users to convert the written clinical practice guideline into a computable algorithm to generate patient-specific recommendations for care based upon existing information in the electronic medical record (EMR), and a set of clinical tools.

Results

The iterative revision process identified numerous and varied problems with the initially designed system despite diverse expert participation in the design process. The process of operationalizing the guideline identified areas in which the guideline was vague, left decisions to clinical judgment, or required clarification of detail to insure safe clinical implementation. The revisions led to workable solutions to problems, defined the limits of the DSS and its utility in clinical practice, improved integration into clinical workflow, and improved the clarity and accuracy of system recommendations and tools.

Conclusions

Use of this iterative process led to development of a multifunctional DSS that met the approval of the clinical practice guideline authors, content experts, and clinicians involved in testing. The process and experiences described provide a model for development of other DSSs that translate written guidelines into actionable, real-time clinical recommendations.

     

Metabolomics: a tool for early detection of toxicological effects and an opportunity for biology based grouping of chemicals-from QSAR to QBAR

BASF has developed a Metabolomics database (MetaMap(?) Tox) containing approximately 500 data rich chemicals, agrochemicals and drugs. This metabolome-database has been built based upon 28-day studies in rats (adapted to OECD 407 guideline) with blood sampling and metabolic profiling after 7, 14 and 28 days of test substance treatment. Numerous metabolome patterns have been established for different toxicological targets (liver, kidney, thyroid, testes, blood, nervous system and endocrine system) which are specific for different toxicological modes of action. With these patterns early detection of toxicological effects and the underlying mechanism can now be obtained from routine studies. Early recognition of toxicological mode of action will help to develop new compounds with a more favourable toxicological profile and will also help to reduce the number of animal studies necessary to do so. Thus this technology contributes to animal welfare by means of reduction through refinement (2R), but also has potential as a replacement method by analyzing samples from in vitro studies. With respect to the REACH legislation for which a large number of animal studies will need to be performed, one of the most promising methods to reduce the number of animal experiments is grouping of chemicals and read-across to those which are data rich. So far mostly chemical similarity or QSAR models are driving the selection process of chemical grouping. However, "omics" technologies such as metabolomics may help to optimize the chemical grouping process by providing biologically based criteria for toxicological equivalence. "From QSAR to QBAR" (quantitative biological activity relationship).     

Design,Characterization, and Evaluation of Meloxicam Gel Prepared by Suspension and Solution Polymerization Using Solubility Parameter as the Basis for Development

Meloxicam gel was designed based on the matching of the solubility parameter (δ) of the drug with that of the polymer and subsequently with skin for improved dermal delivery of meloxicam. The δ of meloxicam (11.48 (cal/cm³)^0.5) determined by solubility measurement was matched statistically to the solubility parameter of monomers, n-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), hydroxyl ethyl methacrylate, ethylene glycol methacrylate (EGMA) determined by intrinsic viscosity measurement. Consequently gels were formulated by polymerization in selected solvent blend of water/ethyl acetate (20:80) in which the drug showed maximum solubility. Thus, F1–F16 formulations designed were evaluated for physicochemical properties, textural analysis, and in vitro drug release. On the basis of optimum characteristics, F2 (PVA, δ = 16.96 (cal/cm³)^0.5) and F8 (EGMA, δ = 18.35 (cal/cm³)^0.5) formulated by suspension polymerization were selected and subjected to skin irritation and topical anti-inflammatory studies. The formulation F8 demonstrated significant (p < 0.05) of anti-inflammatory activity in comparison to marketed piroxicam gel and was free from irritation.     

Estimation of the acute inhalation hazards of chemicals based on route-to-route and local endpoint extrapolation: experience from bulk maritime transport

Data on acute lethal inhalation toxicity from animal studies are commonly required for assessing the hazards to human health of volatile, gaseous and dusty chemicals or their mixtures. The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) made the provision of acute inhalation toxicity data a mandatory requirement for the carriage of bulk liquid chemicals transported by sea in tank ships, thereby creating the need for inhalation data on many hundreds of chemicals in bulk maritime transport. Taking note of previously published proposals for estimating acute inhalation toxicity hazards for chemicals, and the paucity of measured experimental data, an extrapolation method has been developed by the Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Environmental Protection (GESAMP) to partly fulfil this need. This method should be seen as a pragmatic approach to the challenge of missing measured experimental test data, with the added benefit of reducing tests in experimental animals. The method is based on a route-to-route (i.e. between-route) extrapolation of information on acute oral and/or dermal toxicity, in combination with data on the potential for irritation and/or corrosion to skin and eyes. The validation of this method was based on the individual evaluation of inhalation toxicity studies for 330 chemicals, including mixtures and many important chemical groups, for which the IMO holds public and industry-confidential data. The authors contend that this extrapolation method offers a reliable basis for hazard evaluation in the context of bulk maritime transport, and the 'GESAMP inhalation toxicity extrapolation method' has become part of the IMO regulatory system for the carriage of bulk liquids (i.e. noxious liquid substances) on board tank ships.     

Conceival,a novel noncontraceptive vaginal vehicle for lipophilic microbicides

The objective of this study was to develop a nontoxic and noncontraceptive vaginal drug delivery vehicle for lipophilic anti-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) microbicides. Three representative poorly water-soluble novel broad-spectrum anti-HIV microbicides, PHI-113, PHI-346, and PHI-443, were evaluated in 11 different solvent systems. Based on their solubility profiles, a novel non-spermicidal self-emulsifying gel (viz Conceival) composed of pharmaceutical excipients, sorbitol, polyethylene glycol 400, polysorbate 80, microcrystalline cellulose, xanthan gum, and water was optimized. Conceival enhanced the solubility of these poorly water-soluble (<0.001 mg/mL) anti-HIV drugs by at least 150- to 270-fold. Conceival was evaluated in vivo in the New Zealand white rabbit model for the preservation of sperm function based on pregnancy outcome and the potential for vaginal irritation following single and multiple intravaginal applications, respectively. Conceival administered intravaginally immediately prior to artificial insemination with semen had no adverse effects on subsequent reproductive performance, neonatal survival, or pup development when compared with untreated control group. Histologic evaluation of vaginal tissues of rabbits exposed intravaginally to Conceival for 14 consecutive days revealed lack of epithelial, submucosal, and vascular changes at the gel application site (total irritation score <3 out of a possible 16). These findings indicate that Conceival has potential to become a clinically useful, safe noncontraceptive vaginal vehicle for lipophilic microbicides. Published: September 20, 2005     

Use of skin cell cultures for in vitro assessment of corrosion and cutaneous irritancy

Skin cell culture is one of the most promising tools for in vitro evaluation of both cutaneous irritancy and corrosion. New culture methodologies, including three-dimensional reconstruction of skin, allow the evaluation of a wide range of compounds and complex formulations. A number of tests have already been developed for the evaluation of cytotoxicity and many end-points are now currently used, including cell viability, alteration of cell growth or cell function. In recent years parameters more closely related to in vivo irritancy effects such as synthesis of inflammatory mediators and/or their release by keratinocytes after exposure to potential skin irritants have been evaluated. This paper reviews technological aspects and results of validation using skin cell culture for in vitro assessment of corrosion and skin irritancy. Advantages and limits of skin cell cultures are also presented. Current questions about the validation process of cutaneous irritation and corrosion are also considered.     

流域管理决策支持系统研究进展

流域管理决策支持系统是为帮助流域管理者实现水资源优化配置而研发的智能系统,其模拟结果直接影响流域管理的科学性和实用性.本文从水量模拟和调配系统、水质监测和评价系统、流域综合管理系统三方面总结了国内外的相关研究,并分析了现存系统的特点和存在的问题,同时简要介绍AQUA-Tool、Elbe-DSS、HD等代表性系统的模型结构和发展现状.模拟结果精确稳定、工作流程简洁、用户可视化程度高是流域管理决策支持系统的研发重点,优化方案选择模型和三维可视化工具、研发跨流域综合管理系统、提高利益相关者的参与度是未来该领域的发展方向.     

Development and prevalidation of a list of structure-activity relationship rules to be used in expert systems for prediction of the skin-sensitising properties of chemicals

The new European Union (EU) chemicals policy, as described in the White Paper entitled Strategy for a Future Chemicals Policy, has identified a need for computer-based tools suitable for predicting the hazardous properties of chemicals. Two sets of structural alerts (fragments of chemical structure) for the prediction of skin sensitisation hazard classification ("R43, may cause sensitisation by skin contact") have been drawn up, based on sensitising chemicals from a regulatory database (containing data for the EU notification of new chemicals). These alerts comprise 15 rules for chemical structures deemed to be sensitising by direct action of the chemicals with cells or proteins within the skin, and three rules for substructures that act indirectly, i.e. requiring chemical or biochemical transformation. The predictivity rates of the rules were found to be good (positive predictivity, 88%; false-positive rate, 1%; specificity, 99%; negative predictivity, 74%; false-negative rate, 80%; sensitivity, 20%). Because of the confidential nature of the regulatory database, the rules are supported by examples of sensitising chemicals taken from the "Allergenliste" now held by the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) and the DEREK for Windows expert system. The rules were prevalidated against data not used for their development. As a result of the prevalidation study, it is proposed that the two sets of structural alerts should be taken forward for formal validation, with a view to incorporating them into regulatory guidelines.