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The isotopic dilution technique was used for determining the content of myo-inositol in human urine, plasma and haemolysed erythrocyte samples. A deuterated myo-inositol, synthesized from inosose-2 by base-catalysed exchange of hydrogens by deuterium, followed by reduction of the inosose with 2H2, was added as internal standard to the samples at an early stage in the analytical procedure. After separation and derivatization to the hexa-acetate, the gas chromatographic mass spectrometric analysis was carried out. A 25 m fused silica capillary column coated with methyl silicone was used, and the ions selected for monitoring were m/z210 and m/z214, which are characteristic and abundant fragment ions from unlabelled and hexadeuterated myo-inositolhexa-acetate, respectively. Calibration curves from water, urine, plasma and haemolysed erythrocytes show parallel, linear responses in the ratio between analyte and internal standard in the area of interest (0.2–2.0).

Moderate glucose intolerance with concomitant hyperresponse of insulin production and absence of the normal suppression of growth hormone level in blood was found in two siblings with Wilson's disease. The abnormalities disappeared after one year's treatment with penicillamine at the time when liver biopsy showed normalization of the liver structure.