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Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Kamikihito (KKT) is a Kampo medicine that is prescribed in Japan for the treatment of anemia, insomnia and mental anxiety in Japan. However, its precise mechanism of action remains unclear., Aim of the Study: This study aimed to evaluate the possible antistress effect of KKT in rats with acute stress and the contribution of oxytocin to the process., Materials and Methods: Acute immobilization stress (AIS; for 90 min) was used to assess the effect of KKT on acute stress. Male Wistar rats were orally treated with KKT. Parameters of stress were evaluated, and concentrations of oxytocin in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were measured., Results: AIS-induced defecation and fecal weight were significantly decreased because of treatment with KKT. The plasma levels of stress-related hormones following AIS were investigated. The pre-administration of KKT significantly increased adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) and corticosterone (CORT) levels following AIS. Conversely, there was no significant change in the plasma oxytocin level. Microdialysis and hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HILIC-MS/MS) were used to monitor the oxytocin secretion in CSF. Oxytocin level increased during AIS following the treatment of KKT. At 30 min after AIS, the level remained higher than before AIS. Furthermore, using an open field test, the locomotion (exploratory behavior) immediately after AIS was examined. The total traveled distance decreased after AIS; however, the decrease was significantly inhibited by the treatment of KKT. However, the effect of KKT was obstructed by the pre-administration of the oxytocin receptor antagonist., Conclusions: These results suggest that KKT has antistress activity and increased oxytocin secretion may be a mechanism underlying this phenomenon., (Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Aminoglycosides are a class of broad-spectrum antibiotics with several clinical uses. Owing to the ototoxicity and nephrotoxicity of aminoglycosides, therapeutic drug monitoring is required. This study aimed to devise a high-throughput method for identification and quantitative determination of aminoglycoside antibiotics in human plasma samples using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight-mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-ToF-MS). Plasma samples (100 µL) spiked with five aminoglycosides (streptomycin, spectinomycin, amikacin, kanamycin, and gentamycin) and an internal standard (ribostamycin) were diluted and centrifuged in aqueous formic acid and acetonitrile. The clear supernatant extract was evaporated and reconstituted in the mobile phase, of which 4 µL was subjected to UPLC-Q-ToF-MS. Prominent peaks were observed for the drugs within 3 min. The recoveries of five aminoglycosides from plasma samples were 92.6-120%. The regression equations showed excellent linearity (0.9999 ≥ r 2  ≥ 0.9987) within the range of 1.0-100 µg/mL, and detection limits of 0.5-2.0 µg/mL. The coefficients of the intra- and inter-day variations for five drugs were less than 11.8%, while the accuracy of quantitation was in the range of 89-111%. In this study, a novel method was presented for identification and determination of aminoglycosides in human plasma samples using UPLC-Q-ToF-MS analysis. This method can be applied to high-throughput analysis used for clinical and environmental purposes.

Rationale: We developed a new high-throughput method to analyze tegafur (FT) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in tear and plasma samples using hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC)/tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS)., Methods: The tear samples (10 μL) spiked with FT, 5-FU, and 5-chlorouracil (internal standard) were diluted using 40 μL of 2 M ammonium acetate and 250 μL of acetonitrile with 2% formic acid; 20 μL of plasma spiked with the two drugs and internal standard was diluted with 80 μL of 2 M ammonium acetate and 500 μL of acetonitrile with 2% formic acid. After centrifugation, the clear supernatant extract (15 μL) was directly injected into the HILIC/MS/MS instrument, and each drug was separated on a Unison UK-Amino column (50 mm × 3 mm i.d., 3 μm particle size) with a linear gradient elution system composed of 10 mM ammonium acetate (pH 6.8) and acetonitrile at a flow rate of 0.7 mL/min. We performed quantification by multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) with negative-ion atmospheric-pressure chemical ionization., Results: Distinct peaks were observed for the drugs on each MRM channel within 2 min. The regression equations showed good linearity within the range 0.04-4.0 μg/mL for the tear and plasma samples with detection limits at 0.02-0.04 μg/mL. Recoveries for target analytes (FT and 5-FU) for the tear and plasma samples were in the 94-128% and 94-104% ranges, respectively. The intra- and inter-day coefficients of variation for the two drugs were lower than 10.8%. The accuracies of quantitation were 97-115% for both samples., Conclusions: We established a high-throughput, reproducible, and practical procedure for analyzing FT and 5-FU in human tear and plasma samples using HILIC/MS/MS analysis with an aminopropyl-bonded mixed-mode separation column. This method can be applied to the high-throughput routines used in clinical analyses., (© 2019 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)

Introduction: The potential utility of intravenous alendronate for the treatment of osteoporosis in hemodialysis patients was recently reported. However, the pharmacokinetics of intravenous alendronate in patients on hemodialysis is not clear., Methods: Six hemodialysis patients (mean age, 80.5 years) with osteoporosis who had received intravenous alendronate prior to the study were enrolled. The participants received a 30-min infusion of 900-μg alendronate intravenously at the beginning of the dialysis session. The blood flow rate (Qb) and dialysate flow rate (Qd) were set at 200 mL/min and 500 mL/min, respectively. All patients used the same dialyzer (1.5-m 2 polysulfone membrane). At the completion of administration, plasma and dialysate samples were collected, and alendronate concentrations were determined using metal-free high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS)., Results: The plasma arterial alendronate concentration was 150.9 ± 46.09 ng/mL. It decreased through the dialyzer to 76.1 ± 34.1 ng/mL (venous alendronate concentration). Mean alendronate clearance was 113.9 ± 25.6 mL/min. Mean alendronate removal by hemodialysis, measured by the difference in arterial-venous concentrations, was 51.8%., Conclusions: Fifty percent of intravenous alendronate was removed by hemodialysis, which is nearly equal to elimination of alendronate in patients with normal renal function. The elimination by hemodialysis would decrease the risk of excessive accumulation in bone. UMIN 000027182., (© 2019 International Society for Hemodialysis.)

A new high-throughput method was developed for analysis of valproate in human plasma samples by QuEChERS extraction and gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS). Plasma samples (0.2 ml) spiked with valproate and secobarbital-d 5 (internal standard) were diluted with 1.3 ml of distilled water. Acetonitrile (1 ml) was added followed by 0.4 g MgSO 4 and 0.1 g NaOAC. After a centrifugation step (2000 g for 10 min), 1 ml of the supernatant was transferred to a dispersive-solid phase extraction (dSPE) tube containing 150 mg MgSO 4 and 50 mg C 18 . This mixture was vortexed and centrifuged at 3000 g for 5 min, and then the upper layer was evaporated to dryness under a stream of nitrogen. The residue was dissolved in 40 μl ethyl acetate, and a 1-μl aliquot was injected into the GC-MS/MS. The GC separation of the compounds was achieved on a fused-silica capillary column Rxi-5Sil MS (30 m × 0.25 mm i.d.; 0.25-µm film thickness) and detected by MS/MS operating in electron ionization ion source mode. The regression equations showed excellent linearity (r > 0.9997) from 50 to 5000 ng/ml for plasma, with limit of detection of 10 ng/ml. The extraction efficiency of valproate for plasma ranged between 71.2%-103.5%. The coefficient of variation was <18.5%. The method was successfully applied to actual analyses of an autopsy case. This method can be useful for simple and reliable measurements of valproate in clinical and toxicological analyses; it can be integrated in screening and simultaneous determination methods for multiple drugs and poisons in the further studies., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

A highly sensitive method was developed for the analysis of alendronate in human plasma and dialysate using MonoSpin™ SAX ® extraction and metal-free high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) following methylation with trimethylsilyldiazomethane. The chromatographic separation of the derivatives for alendronate and alendronate-d 6 was achieved on an L-column2 ODS metal-free column (50 mm  ×  2 mm i.d., particle size 3 µm) with a linear gradient elution system composed of 10 mM ammonium acetate (pH 6.8) and acetonitrile at a flow rate of 0.3 ml/min. Quantification was performed by multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) with positive-ion electrospray ionization (ESI). Distinct peaks were observed for alendronate and for the internal standard on each channel within 1 min. The regression equations showed good linearity within the ranges of 2.0-100 ng/0.5 ml for the plasma and 1.0-100 ng/0.5 ml for the dialysate, with the limits of detection at 1.0 ng/0.5 ml for the plasma and 0.5 ng/0.5 ml for the dialysate. Extraction efficiencies for alendronate for the plasma and dialysate were 41.1-51.2% and 63.6-73.4%, respectively. The coefficient of variation (CV) was ≤8.5%. The method was successfully applied to the analyses of real plasma and dialysate samples derived after intravenous administration of alendronate., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

A high-throughput method was developed for the detection of 31 benzodiazepine drugs and tandospirone in human plasma by on-line column-switching ultra-fast liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Plasma samples (100μl) spiked with the 32 drugs and oxazepam-d 5 (internal standard) were diluted with 300μl of 13.3mM ammonium acetate/acetonitrile (33:67, v/v). After centrifugation and filtration, the clear supernatant was injected directly onto the extraction column (Oasis HLB cartridge column). The following procedure was fully automated. The analytes retained on the extraction column were eluted by backflushing of the extraction column and introduced into an analytical column (SUMIPAX ODS D-Swifter column, 30mm×3.0mm i.d.; particle size 2μm) by column switching. Quantification was performed by multiple reaction monitoring with positive-ion electrospray ionization. Distinct peaks appeared for each drug and the internal standard on each channel within 7min, including the extraction time. All drugs spiked into plasma showed recoveries of 83-95%. The regression equations for the 32 drugs showed excellent linearities in the range of 50-2000pg/ml of plasma and the limits of detection ranged from 20 to 50pg/ml. The lower and upper limits of quantitation were 50-100ng/ml and 2000pg/ml, respectively. Intra- and interday coefficients of variation for none of the drugs were greater than 13.6%. The accuracies of quantitation were 87-112%. The multiple reaction monitoring information-dependent acquisition of enhanced product ions method enabled the quantification and confirmation of diazepam, triazolam, and lorazepam obtained from actual plasma., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: To evaluate a new rapid and sensitive method for analyzing human tears and plasma for nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and investigate the influence of the transfer of NSAIDs in an ocular lesion., Methods: In this cross-over study, a single dose of 200 mg of ibuprofen and 60 mg of loxoprofen sodium were orally administered to six healthy Japanese subjects. Collected samples were analyzed by ultra-fast liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UFLC-MS/MS)., Results: Recoveries of the two drugs spiked in the tears and plasma were 96.0-117.0 % in the tears and 99.0-105.7 % in the plasma. Regression equations for both NSAIDs showed excellent linearity from 0.02-1.0 μg/ml for the tears and 0.1-5.0 μg/ml for the plasma, with the limits of detection at 0.02 μg/ml for tears and 0.1 μg/ml for plasma., Conclusion: This new high-throughput NSAID determination method only requires a small tear amount (10 μl) and plasma volume (20 μl) and thus will be useful in clinical and toxicological analyses. Analytical results also showed the presence of ibuprofen and loxoprofen in the actual tears and plasma, which confirms the transition of NSAIDs from the tears to the plasma.

A simple and sensitive method was developed and validated here for the analysis of thirteen nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in human plasma samples by hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC)-tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). A small volume of plasma (20μL) spiked with compounds was diluted with 80μL of 10-mM ammonium acetate followed by a simple protein precipitation with 400μL of acetonitrile. After centrifugation, the clear supernatant extract was directly injected into the HILIC-MS/MS, without any solvent evaporation and reconstitution steps. The chromatographic separation of the NSAIDs was achieved on a Unison UK-Amino HILIC column (50mm×3mm i.d., particle size 3μm) with a linear gradient elution system composed of 10mM ammonium acetate (pH 6.8) and acetonitrile at a flow rate of 0.4mL/min. The mass spectra obtained by HILIC-MS showed base peak ions due to [M+H](+) for indomethacin, oxaprozin, ketoprofen, alminoprofen, zaltoprofen, tiaprofenic acid, pranoprofen, and ketoprofen-d3 and due to [M-H](-) for etodolac, ibuprofen, diclofenac, fenoprofen, loxoprofen, naproxen, and ibuprofen-d3. Recoveries of these thirteen NSAIDs in plasma were 34.8-113% and the lower limits of quantitation were 0.125-1.25μg/mL. The intra- and interday coefficient of variations for all drugs in plasma were less than 14.6%. The data obtained from actual plasma determinations of zaltoprofen, ibuprofen, and diclofenac are also presented., (Copyright © 2013. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Dimemorfan was extracted from human plasma samples (100 μL) using MonoTip C(18) tips, which were packed with a C(18)-bonded monolithic silica gel attached to the inside of the tip. The samples, which contained dimemorfan and trimeprazine as an internal standard (IS), were mixed with 300 μL of distilled water and 50 μL of 1M glycine-sodium hydroxide buffer (pH 10). The mixture was extracted onto the C(18) phase of the tip by 20 sequential aspirating/dispensing cycles using a manual micropipettor. The analytes retained on the C(18) phase were then eluted with methanol by five sequential aspirating/dispensing cycles. The eluate was injected directly into a gas chromatograph and detected by a mass spectrometer with selected ion monitoring in positive electron ionization mode. An Equity-5 fused silica capillary column (30 m × 0.32 mm i.d., film thickness 0.25 μm) gave adequate separation of the dimemorfan, IS, and impurities. The recoveries of dimemorfan and the IS spiked into plasma were ≥83%. The regression equation for dimemorfan showed excellent linearity from 0.25 to 32.0 ng/100 μL of plasma, and the limit of detection was 0.125 ng/100 μL of plasma. The maximum intra-day and inter-day relative standard deviations were 13%, while accuracy ranged from 88% to 105%. Dimemorfan was stable for at least 12 h at 4°C, 4 weeks at -80°C, and three freeze-thaw cycles in plasma. This new method is expected to have application as a pretreatment for the rapid, simple, and quantitative determination of dimemorfan in plasma samples., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

A novel method is described for the extraction of methamphetamine, amphetamine, and methylenedioxyphenylalkylamine designer drugs, such as 3,4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine, 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine, 3,4-methylenedioxyethylamphetamine, N-methyl-1-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)-2-butanamine, and 3,4-(methylenedioxyphenyl)-2-butanamine, from human whole blood using molecularly imprinted solid-phase extraction as highly selective sample clean-up technique. Whole blood samples were diluted with 10 mmol/L ammonium acetate (pH 8.6) and applied to a SupelMIP-Amphetamine molecularly imprinted solid-phase extraction cartridge. The cartridge was then washed to eliminate interferences, and the amphetamines of interest were eluted with formic acid/methanol (1:100, v/v). After derivatization with trifluoroacetic anhydride, the analytes were quantified using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Recoveries of the seven amphetamines spiked into whole blood were 89.1-102%. The limits of quantification for each compound in 200 μL of whole blood were between 0.25 and 1.0 ng. The maximum intra- and inter-day coefficients of variation were 9.96 and 13.8%, respectively. The results show that methamphetamine, amphetamine, and methylenedioxyphenylalkyl-amine designer drugs can be efficiently extracted from crude biological samples such as whole blood by molecularly imprinted solid-phase extraction with good reproducibility. This extraction method will be useful for the pretreatment of human samples before gas chromatography-mass spectrometry., (© 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Dextromethorphan was extracted from human plasma samples (100 μL) using MonoTip C(18) tips, which are packed with C(18)-bonded monolithic silica gel that is attached to the inside of the tip. The samples, which contained dextromethorphan and trimeprazine as an internal standard (IS), were mixed with 200 μL of distilled water and 50 μL of 1 mol/L glycine-sodium hydroxide buffer (pH 10). The mixture was extracted to the C(18) phase of the tip by 20 sequential aspirating/dispensing cycles using a manual micropipettor. The analytes retained on the C(18) phase were then eluted with methanol by five sequential aspirating/dispensing cycles. The eluate was injected directly into a gas chromatograph and detected by a mass spectrometer with selected ion monitoring in positive electron ionization mode. An Equity-5 fused silica capillary column (30 m × 0.32 mm i.d., film thickness 0.5 μm) gave adequate separation of the dextromethorphan, IS, and impurities. The recoveries of dextromethorphan and the IS spiked into plasma were >87.4%. The regression equation for dextromethorphan showed excellent linearity from 2.5 to 320 ng/mL of plasma, and the limit of detection was 1.25 ng/mL of plasma. The intraday and interday coefficients of variation were less than 10.5% and 14.7%, respectively. The accuracy ranged from 91.9% to 107%. The validated method was successfully used to quantify the plasma concentration of dextromethorphan in a human subject after oral administration of the drug., (© Springer-Verlag 2011)

Solid-phase extraction (SPE) using micropipette tips is a useful technique to prepare samples prior to mass spectrometry. However, most commercial SPE tips have loading capacities that are insufficient for quantitative determination. In this paper, we describe a rapid method for quantitative microanalysis of five phenothiazine derivatives, chlorpromazine, levomepromazine, promazine, promethazine and trimeprazine, using a recently introduced C(18) monolithic silica SPE tip, the MonoTip C(18), for extraction from human plasma. The drugs could be extracted within 5 min from 0.1-mL plasma samples, eluted with methanol, and the eluate injected directly into a gas chromatograph prior to mass spectrometry analysis. Only 0.7 mL of solvent was required for each step of the extraction process. The recoveries of the five phenothiazines spiked into plasma were 91-95% and the limits of quantification for each drug were between 0.25 and 2.0 ng/0.1 mL. The maximum intra- and inter-day coefficient of variation was 11%. The validated method was successfully used to quantify the plasma concentration of levemepromazine in a human subject after oral administration of the drug. This new method is expected to have wide applications as a pretreatment for the rapid, quantitative determination of drug concentrations in plasma samples., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The use of chemically modified controlled drugs, called designer drugs, is widespread internationally. In the 1980s, the dominant drugs of abuse were modifications of fentanyl formed by methylation of both the alpha-position of its phenethyl group (alpha-methylfentanyl) and the 3-position of its piperidine ring (3-methylfentanyl). Numerous analytical methods for fentanyl and its analogues, and many studies of its metabolism and major metabolites, have been reported. However, minor metabolites that reflected injection of the original compound were not included in these studies. Recently, structures of four novel and minor metabolites that reflect alpha-methylfentanyl have been reported. This study reports excretion amounts of these compounds for 96 h following peroral injection to rats of 3mg/day and urine collection every 24h. Major metabolites were the same as for fentanyl, with approximately 24% of alpha-methylfentanyl excreted as nor-fentanyl and 15% as omega, omega-1 hydroxypropiony nor-fentanyl up to 72 h post-injection. The novel metabolites were completely excreted within 48 h of injection and composed 2-3% of the total metabolite pool. The major metabolite nor-fentanyl was detected up to 72 h after injection., (2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Chlorpromazine, levomepromazine, promazine, triflupromazine, and trimeprazine were simultaneously determined in human whole blood and plasma by combining headspace solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography with nitrogen-phosphorus detection. Extraction efficiency for the phenothiazine derivatives was 0.013-0.117% for both sample types. Regression equations were linear [correlation coefficient (r) = 0.9951-0.9999] within the range 2.5-200 ng/0.5 mL for triflupromazine and trimeprazine, and 6.3-200 ng/0.5 mL for chlorpromazine, levomepromazine, and promazine. The limit of detection for each compound was 0.2-3.9 ng/0.5 mL whole blood and plasma. Intraday and interday coefficients of variation for all phenothiazines in both human samples were commonly < 15 and 20%, respectively. We also report the determination of levomepromazine in human plasma after oral administration.

Diazepam and its major metabolites, nordazepam, temazepam and oxazepam, in human urine samples, were analyzed by liquid chromatography (LC)/tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) using a hydrophilic polymer column (MSpak GF-310 4B), which enables direct injection of crude biological samples. Matrix compounds in urine were eluted first from the column, while the target compounds were retained on the polymer stationary phase. The analytes retained on the column were then eluted into an acetonitrile-rich mobile phase using a gradient separation technique. All compounds showed base-peak ions due to [M+H]+ ions on LC/MS with positive ion electrospray ionization, and product ions were produced from each [M+H]+ ion by LC/MS/MS. Quantification was performed by selected reaction monitoring. All compounds spiked into urine showed method recoveries of 50.1-82.0%. The regression equations for all compounds showed excellent linearity in the range of 0.5-500 ng/mL of urine. The limits of detection and quantification for each compound were 0.1 and 0.5 ng/mL of urine, respectively. The intra- and inter-day coefficients of variation for all compounds in urine were not greater than 9.6%. The data obtained from actual determination of diazepam and its three metabolites, oxazepam, nordazepam and temazepam, in human urine after oral administration of diazepam, are also presented., (Copyright (c) 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)

A method for the simultaneous extraction of four tricyclic antidepressants from human plasma samples using pipette tip SPE with MonoTip C(18) tips is presented. Human plasma (0.1 mL) containing four tricyclic antidepressants (amitriptyline, amoxapine, imipramine, and trimipramine) and an internal standard (IS), protriptyline, was mixed with 0.4 mL of distilled water and 100 microL 1 M NaOH solution. After centrifugation of the mixture, the supernatant was extracted to the C(18) phase of the tip by 20 repeated aspirating/dispensing cycles using a manual micropipettor. The analytes retained in the tip were eluted with methanol by five repeated aspirating/dispensing cycles. Without evaporation and reconstitution, the eluate was directly injected into a gas chromatograph injector and detected by a mass spectrometer with SIM in the positive-ion electron impact mode. Recovery of the four antidepressants and IS spiked into human plasma was 80.2-92.1%. The regression equations for the four antidepressants showed excellent linearity in the range of 0.2-40 ng/0.1 mL. LODs and LOQs for the four drugs were 0.05-0.2 ng/0.1 mL and 0.2-0.5 ng/0.1 mL, respectively. Intra- and interday CVs for the four drugs in plasma were no greater than 9.5%.

A detailed procedure for the analysis of four beta-blockers, acebutolol, labetalol, metoprolol and propranolol, in human plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography (LC)-tandem mass spectrometry (MS-MS) using an MSpak GF column, which enables direct injection of crude plasma samples, is presented. Protein and/or macromolecule matrix compounds were eluted first from the column, while the drugs were retained on the polymer stationary phase of the MSpak GF column. The analytes retained on the column were then eluted into an acetonitrile-rich mobile phase using a gradient separation technique. All drugs showed base peak ions due to [M + H]+ ions by LC-MS with positive ion electrospray ionization, and the product ions were produced from each [M + H]+ ion by LC-MS-MS. Quantification was performed by selected reaction monitoring. The recoveries of the four beta-blockers spiked into plasma were 73.5-89.9%. The regression equations for all compounds showed excellent linearity in the range 10-1000 ng/mL of plasma, with the exception of propranolol (10-800 ng/mL). The limits of detection and quantification for each drug were 1-3 and 10 ng/mL, respectively, of plasma. The intra- and inter-day coefficients of variation for all drugs in plasma were not greater than 10.9%.

Methamphetamine and amphetamine were extracted from human whole blood samples using pipette tip solid-phase extraction (SPE) with MonoTip C(18) tips, on which C(18)-bonded monolithic silica gel was fixed. Human whole blood (0.1 mL) containing methamphetamine and amphetamine, with N-methylbenzylamine as an internal standard, was mixed with 0.4 mL of distilled water and 50 microL of 5 M sodium hydroxide solution. After centrifugation, the supernatant was extracted to the C(18) phase of the tip (pipette tip volume, 200 microL) by 25 repeated aspirating/dispensing cycles using a manual micropipettor. Analytes retained in the C(18) phase were eluted with methanol by five repeated aspirating/dispensing cycles. After derivatization with trifluoroacetic anhydride, analytes were measured by gas chromatography - mass spectrometry with selected ion monitoring in the positive-ion electron impact mode. Recoveries of methamphetamine and amphetamine spiked into whole blood were more than 87.6 and 81.7%, respectively. Regression equations for methamphetamine and amphetamine showed excellent linearity in the range of 0.5-100 ng/0.1 mL. The limits of detection for methamphetamine and amphetamine were 0.15 and 0.11 ng/0.1 mL, respectively. Intra- and interday coefficients of variation for both stimulants were not greater than 9.6 and 13.8%, respectively. The determination of methamphetamine and amphetamine in autopsy whole blood samples is presented, and was shown to validate the present methodology.

Methamphetamine and amphetamine were extracted from human urine samples using pipette tip solid-phase extraction (SPE) with MonoTip C18 tips (pipette tip volume, 200 microl), in which C18-bonded monolithic silica gel was fixed. A sample of human urine (0.5 ml) containing methamphetamine, amphetamine, and N-methylbenzylamine as internal standard (IS), was mixed with 25 microl of 1M sodium hydroxide solution. The mixture was extracted into the C18 phase of the SPE tip by 25 repeated aspirating/dispensing cycles using a manual micropipettor. Analytes retained in the C18 phase were then eluted with methanol by five repeated aspirating/dispensing cycles. After derivatization with trifluoroacetic anhydride, analytes were measured by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry with selected ion monitoring in the positive-ion electron impact mode. Recoveries of methamphetamine, amphetamine, and IS spiked into urine were more than 82.9, 82.2, and 78.2%, respectively. Regression equations for methamphetamine and amphetamine showed excellent linearity in the range of 0.25-200 ng/0.5 ml. Limit of detection was 0.04 ng/0.5 ml for methamphetamine and 0.05 ng/0.5 ml for amphetamine. Intra- and inter-day coefficients of variations for both stimulants were not greater than 10.8%. The data obtained from actual determination of methamphetamine and amphetamine in autopsy urine samples are also presented for validation of the method.

A method for the simultaneous determination of selegiline and its metabolite, desmethylselegiline, in human whole blood and urine is presented. The method, which combines a fiber-based headspace solid-phase microextraction (SPME) technique with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), required optimization of various parameters (e.g., salt additives, extraction temperatures, extraction times and the extraction properties of the SPME fiber coatings). Pargyline was used as the internal standard. Extraction efficiencies for both selegiline and desmethylselegiline were 2.0-3.4% for whole blood, and 8.0-13.2% for urine. The regression equations for selegiline and desmethylselegiline extracted from whole blood were linear (r(2)=0.996 and 0.995) within the concentration ranges 0.1-10 and 0.2-20 ng/ml, respectively. For urine, the regression equations for selegiline and desmethylselegiline were linear (r(2)=0.999 and 0.998) within the concentration ranges 0.05-5.0 and 0.1-10 ng/ml, respectively. The limit of detection for selegiline and desmethylselegiline was 0.01-0.05 ng/ml for both samples. The lower and upper limits of quantification for each compound were 0.05-0.2 and 5-20 ng/ml, respectively. Intra- and inter-day coefficients of variation for selegiline and desmethylselegiline in both samples were not greater than 8.7 and 11.7%, respectively. The determination of selegiline and desmethylselegiline concentrations in Parkinson's disease patients undergoing continuous selegiline treatment is presented and is shown to validate the present methodology.

Mequitazine has been found to be extractable from human plasma samples using MonoTip C(18) tips, inside which C(18)-bonded monolithic silica gel was fixed. Human plasma (0.1mL) containing mequitazine and cyproheptadine as an internal standard (IS) was mixed with 0.4mL of distilled water and 25muL of 1M potassium phosphate buffer (pH 8.0). After centrifugation of the mixture, the supernatant fraction was extracted to the C(18) phase of the tip by 25 repeated aspirating/dispensing cycles using a manual micropipettor. The analytes retained on the C(18) phase were then eluted with methanol by five repeated aspirating/dispensing cycles. Without evaporation and reconstitution, the eluate was injected into a gas chromatograph injector and detected by a mass spectrometer with selected ion monitoring in the positive-ion electron impact mode. The separation of mequitazine and the IS from each other and from impurities was generally satisfactory using a DB-1MS capillary column (30mx0.32mm i.d., film thickness 0.25mum). The recoveries of mequitazine and the IS spiked into plasma were more than 90.0%. The regression equation for mequitazine showed excellent linearity in the range of 0.2-200ng0.1mL(-1), and the detection limit was 0.05ng0.1mL(-1)of plasma. The intra-day and inter-day coefficients of variation for mequitazine in human plasma were not greater than 8.16 and 9.24%, respectively. Accuracy for the drug was in the range of 90.0-97.4%. The data obtained from determination of mequitazine in human plasma after oral administration of the drug are also presented.

Triazolam was analyzed from human plasma samples by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) with an MSpak GF polymer column (50 mm x 4.6 mm i.d., particle size 6 microm), which enabled direct injection of crude biological samples. Separation of triazolam, and lorazepam as the internal standard (IS) was carried out using 10mM ammonium acetate (pH 3.56)-0.1% formic acid and an acetonitrile gradient elution. Both compounds formed base peaks due to [M + H]+ ions by HPLC/ESI-MS, and product ions were produced from each [M + H]+ ion as seen by HPLC-MS/MS. Quantification of triazolam and the IS in plasma samples was made by selective reaction monitoring using each base peak of product ions of HPLC-MS/MS. The recovery range of triazolam spiked into plasma was 86.4-92.7%. The regression equation for triazolam showed excellent linearity in the range of 0.25-20 ng/mL, and the detection limit was 0.1 ng/mL. Intra- and inter-day precisions for triazolam in plasma samples were not greater than 12.4%. Accuracy for the drug was in the range of 88.0-101.4%. Data obtained after oral administration of triazolam in male and female subjects are also presented.

Ten antihistamine drugs, diphenhydramine, orphenadrine, chlorpheniramine, diphenylpyraline, triprolidine, promethazine, homochlorcyclizine, cyproheptadine, cloperastine and clemastine, have been found to be extractable from human plasma samples using MonoTip C18 tips, inside which C18- bonded monolithic silica gel was fixed. Human plasma (0.1 mL) containing the ten antihistamines was mixed with 0.4 mL of distilled water and 25 microL of a 1 M potassium phosphate buffer (pH 8.0). After centrifugation of the mixture, the supernatant fraction was extracted to the C18 phase of the tip by 25 repeated aspirating/dispensing cycles using a manual micropipettor. The analytes retained on the C18 phase were then eluted with methanol by five repeated aspirating/dispensing cycles. The eluate was injected into a gas chromatography (GC) injector without evaporation and reconstitution steps, and was detected by a mass spectrometer with selected ion monitoring in the positive-ion electron impact mode. The separation of the ten drugs from each other and from impurities was generally satisfactory using a DB-1MS column (30 m x 0.32 mm i.d., film thickness 0.25 microm). The recoveries of the ten antihistamines spiked into plasma were 73.8-105%. The regression equations for the ten antihistamines showed excellent linearity with detection limits of 0.02-5.0 ng/0.1 mL. The within-day and day-to-day coefficients of variation for plasma were not greater than 9.9%. The data obtained from determination of diphenhydramine and chlorpheniramine in human plasma after oral administration of the drugs are also presented., (Copyright 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)

Seven phenothiazine derivatives, perazine, perphenazine, prochlorperazine, propericiazine, thioproperazine, trifluoperazine, and flupentixol, have been found to be extractable from human plasma and urine samples using disk solid-phase extraction (SPE) with an Empore C18 cartridge. Human plasma and urine (1 mL each) containing the 7 phenothiazine derivatives were mixed with 2 mL of 0.1M NaOH and 7 mL distilled water and then poured into the disk SPE cartridges. The drugs were eluted with 1 mL chloroform- acetonitrile (8 + 2) and determined by liquid chromatography with ammonium formate/formic acid-acetonitrile gradient elution. The detection was performed by ultraviolet absorption at 250 nm. The separation of the 7 phenothiazine derivatives from each other and from impurities was generally satisfactory using a SymmetryShield RP8 column (150 x 2.1 mm id, 3.5 microm particle size). The recoveries of the 7 phenothiazine derivatives spiked into plasma and urine samples were 64.0-89.9% and 65.1-92.1%, respectively. Regression equations for the 7 phenothiazine derivatives showed excellent linearity, with detection limits of 0.021-0.30 microg/mL for plasma and 0.017-0.30 microg/mL for urine. The within-day and day-to-day coefficients of variation for both samples were commonly below 9.0 and 14.9%, respectively.

Paraquat (PQ) and diquat (DQ) in human whole blood and urine were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC/MS/MS) with positive ion electrospray ionization (ESI). The compounds were extracted with Sep-Pak C18 cartridges from whole blood and urine samples containing ethyl paraquat as an internal standard. The separation of PQ and DQ was carried out using ion-pair chromatography with heptafluorobutyric acid in 20 mM ammonium acetate and acetonitrile gradient elution for successful coupling with MS. Both compounds formed base peaks due to [M-H]+ ions by HPLC/ESI-MS and the product ions produced from each [M-H]+ ion by HPLC/MS/MS. Selective reaction monitoring (SRM) showed much higher sensitivity for both body fluids. Therefore, a detailed procedure for the detection of compounds by SRM with HPLC/MS/MS was established and carefully validated. The recoveries of PQ and DQ were 80.8-95.4% for whole blood and 84.2-96.7% for urine. The calibration curves for PQ and DQ showed excellent linearity in the range of 25-400 ng ml(-1) of whole blood and urine. The detection limits were 10 ng ml(-1) for PQ and 5 ng ml(-1) for DQ in both body fluids. The intra- and inter-day precision for both compounds in whole blood and urine samples were not greater than 13.0%. The data obtained from the determination of PQ and DQ in rat blood after oral administration of the compounds are also presented., (2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)

A sensitive method was developed for determination of n-hexane and cyclohexane in human body fluids by headspace capillary gas chromatography (GC) with cryogenic oven trapping. Whole blood and urine samples containing n-hexane and cyclohexane were heated in a 7.5 mL vial at 70 degrees C for 15 min, and 5 mL of the headspace vapor was drawn into a glass syringe. All vapor was introduced through an injection port of a GC instrument in the splitless mode into an Rtx-Volatiles middle-bore capillary column at an oven temperature of -40 degrees C for trapping volatile compounds. The oven temperature was programmed to 180 degrees C for GC with flame ionization detection. These conditions gave sharp peaks for both n-hexane and cyclohexane, a good separation of each peak, and low background impurities for whole blood and urine. The extraction efficiencies of n-hexane and cyclohexane were 13.2-30.3% for whole blood and 12.7-20.7% for urine. The coefficients of within-day variation in terms of extraction efficiency of both compounds were 5.0-9.5% for whole blood and 3.8-10.8% for urine; those of day-to-day variation for the compounds were not greater than 16.6%. The regression equations for n-hexane and cyclohexane showed good linearity in the range of 5-500 ng/0.5 mL for whole blood and urine. The detection limits (signal-to-noise ratio = 3) for both compounds were 1.2 and 0.5 ng/0.5 mL for whole blood and urine, respectively. The data on n-hexane or cyclohexane in rat blood after inhalation of each compound are also presented.

An improved method for extraction of thinner components in human whole blood and urine samples by headspace solid-phase microextraction (SPME) with a Carboxen/polydimethylsiloxane-coated fiber is presented. The body fluid samples, containing ethyl acetate, benzene, 1-butanol, toluene, butyl acetate, isoamyl acetate and ethylbenzene as internal standard (IS), were heated at 70 degrees C in a silicone-rubber septum-capped vial in the presence of distilled water plus NaCl; a Carboxen/polydimethylsiloxane-coated SPME fiber was then exposed to the headspace of the vial to allow adsorption of the compounds before capillary gas chromatography (GC) with flame-ionization detection. For whole blood, extraction efficiencies of 1-butanol, ethyl acetate and isoamyl acetate were 8.72-31.1%, and those of IS, butyl acetate, toluene and benzene were 42.9-74.1%. For urine, those of all compounds were 10.7-75.4%. The regression equations for six thinner components extracted from whole blood and urine were linear in the range of 3-500 ng/0.5 ml for ethyl acetate and 1-butanol, and 0.5-500 ng/0.5 ml for benzene, toluene, butyl acetate and isoamyl acetate. The detection limits for each of the components were 0.25-1.5 ng/0.5 ml for both samples. The coefficients of within-day and day-to-day variation for all components were satisfactory and not greater than 11 and 13%, respectively. The data obtained from actual determination of ethyl acetate, benzene and toluene in rat whole blood and urine after inhalation of the compounds were also presented.

Methanol and its metabolite formic acid have been found extractable from human whole blood and urine by headspace solid-phase microextraction (SPME) with a Carboxen/polydimethylsiloxane fiber. The headspace SPME for formic acid was carried out after derivatization to methyl formate under acidic conditions. The determinations of both compounds were made by using acetonitrile as internal standard (IS) and capillary gas chromatography (GC) with flame ionization detection. The headspace SPME-GC gave sharp peaks for methanol, methyl formate and I.S.; and low background noises for whole blood and urine samples. Extraction efficiencies were 0.25-1.05% of methanol and 0.38-0.84% formic acid for whole blood and urine. The calibration curves for methanol and formic acid showed excellent linearity in the range of 1.56 to 800 and 1.56 to 500 microg/0.5 ml of whole blood or urine, respectively. The detection limits were 0.1-0.5 microg/0.5 ml for methanol and 0.6 microg/0.5 ml for formic acid for both body fluids. The within-day relative standard deviations in terms of extraction efficiency for both compounds in whole blood and urine samples were not greater than 9.8%. By using the established SPME method, methanol and formic acid were successfully separated and determined in rat blood after oral administration of methanol.

A simple and sensitive method is presented for determination of solvent thinner components in human body fluids by capillary gas chromatography (GC) with a low oven temperature for trapping headspace vapor components. After heating a blood or urine sample containing ethyl acetate, benzene, butan-1-ol, toluene, butyl acetate, isoamyl acetate and ethylbenzene (internal standard) in a 7.5 ml vial at 90 degrees C for 30 min, 5 ml of headspace vapor were drawn into a glass syringe. All vapor was introduced through an injection port in the splitless mode into a DB-624 medium-bore capillary column at a 5 degrees C oven temperature for trapping the volatile compounds, and the oven temperature was programmed up to 110 degrees C for their detection by GC. These conditions gave sharp peaks, a good separation of each peak and low background noise for both whole blood and urine samples. As much as 3.58-55.1 and 3.52-57.9% of the six compounds, which had been added to vials, could be introduced to the GC instrument for whole blood and urine, respectively. The intra-day RSD values in terms of the introduction rate (net recovery) of the six compounds in whole blood and urine samples were < or = 8.1%. The calibration curves showed linearity in the range 0.78-400 ng per 0.5 ml whole blood or urine. The detection limits were 0.5-5 ng per 0.5 ml. The data on toluene in post mortem blood in an actual case are also presented.

A simple method for the extraction of four tricyclic antidepressants from whole blood by headspace solid-phase microextraction (SPME) is presented. The whole blood samples contain four drugs (amitriptyline, chlorimipramine, imipramine, and trimipramine) and are heated at 100 degrees C in a septum-capped vial in the presence of distilled water and NaOH solution; a polydimethylsiloxane-coated SPME fiber is exposed to the headspace of the vial to allow adsorption of the drugs before capillary gas chromatography (GC) with flame-ionization detection. The headspace SPME-GC produces intense peaks for each drug with very little background noise. Recoveries of the four drugs by the present method are 5.3-12.9%. The calibration curves for the drugs show linearity in the range of 31-1000 ng/0.5 mL. The detection limits of each drug are 16-25 ng/0.5 mL. Imipramine is detectable from rat blood 5 h after oral administration of imipramine (500 mg/kg body weight); the concentration is 1.44 +/- 0.209 micrograms/mL.

A simple and rapid method for the extraction of four diazine herbicides (terbacil, bromacil, norflurazon and PAC) from human whole blood, plasma and urine with use of Bond Elut C18 cartridges is presented. Whole blood, plasma and urine samples containing the herbicides, after mixing with distilled water, were loaded on Bond Elut C18 cartridges and the herbicides were eluted with chloroform/methanol (9:1). They were detected by capillary gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (FID) with splitless injection. Separation of the four diazine herbicides from each other and from impurities was generally satisfactory with the use of an intermediately polar DB-17 capillary column. The recovery of all compounds, which had been added to whole blood, plasma and urine, was > 89%. The calibration curve for the herbicides, which has been added to whole blood, plasma and urine, showed linearity in the range 1.6-100 ng on column. Their detection limits were 1.2-1.4 ng on column for whole blood and plasma, and 1.1-1.2 ng on column for urine.

A simple method for the extraction of 5 thinner components from human whole blood and urine, using the headspace solid-phase microextraction (SPME) method is presented. After heating a vial containing the samples with 5 compounds (toluene, benzene, n-butyl acetate, n-butanol and n-isoamyl acetate) at 80 degrees C, a polydimethylsiloxane-coated SPME fiber was exposed to the headspace of the vial to allow adsorption of the compounds. The fiber needle was then injected into a capillary gas chromatography (GC) port. The headspace SPME-GC gave intense peaks for each compound and a low level of background noise was seen only for whole blood. Recovery rates of the 5 compounds by use of the headspace SPME-GC were 50-70%. Reproducibility for headspace SPME-GC data were excellent for both body fluids. The calibration curves showed linearity in the range 2-100 ng/0.5 ml whole blood or urine. The detection limits of each compound were 1.1-2.4 ng/0.5 ml sample. The present results on the analysis of 5 thinner components by headspace SPME-GC suggest its applicability to a number of other volatile compounds in forensic toxicology.

An attempt was made to determine sex differences in the effects of beta-endorphin (beta-EP) on respiratory and cardiovascular systems using Wistar rats. By the intracerebroventricular administration of beta-EP (0.18 mg/kg) to normal male and female rats, respiratory rate (RR), heart rate (HR) and mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) were depressed significantly (p < 0.01 or 0.001) and CO2 in expired gas increased significantly (p < 0.01). These suppressive effects of the peptide were transiently blocked by the intravenous injection of naloxone (0.2 mg/kg). No differences in the effects of beta-EP between estrous and diestrous female rats could be detected. The effects of the peptide were significantly stronger in RR, HR and MABP for females than for males (0.001 < p < 0.05). Testectomized rats showed suppressive effects of the peptide to the same extent as intact females, but the effects in ovariectomized rats did not differ from those for intact females. In testectomized and ovariectomized rats treated with testosterone, the former showed the same results as intact males, but not the latter. The suppressive effects of beta-EP on the respiratory and cardiovascular systems are thus remarkably relieved by androgen in male rats.