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A sensitive and simple method using ultra‐liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC‐MS/MS) was developed and validated to determine the concentration of curcumin in rat plasma and tissue samples. Emodin was selected as the internal standard (IS), and biological samples were pretreated with simple one‐step acetonitrile precipitation. The calibration curves exhibited linearity within the range of 1–1000 ng/ml for both rat plasma and tissue samples. The accuracy and precision of intra‐day as well as inter‐day determinations ranged from 99.3% to 117.3% and from 98.2% to 105.1%, respectively. This method demonstrated excellent recovery rates ranging from 76.4% to 96.4% along with minimal matrix effect ranging from 86.5% to 99.6%. The effectiveness of this method was successfully demonstrated through its application in an in vivo pharmacokinetic and tissue distribution study after single administration via inhalation (100 mg/kg), oral gavage (100 mg/kg) and intravenous injection (2.5 mg/kg) of curcumin in rats. The results revealed that inhalation significantly improved the bioavailability of curcumin, with most of the drug being deposited in the lung. These findings highlight inhalation as an effective route for targeted delivery of drugs directly into lung tissues, thus suggesting potential future applications for treating pulmonary diseases utilizing inhaled curcumin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method was developed for the determination of nobiletin and tangeretin in rat plasma, and the plasma was processed by a simple liquid-liquid extraction method with ethyl acetate. The chromatographic column was UPLC HSS T3 (50 × 2.1 mm, 1.7 μm), the mobile phase was acetonitrile-water (containing 0.1% formic acid). Multiple reaction monitoring mode (MRM) was used for quantitative analysis, nobiletin m/z 403.29 → 373.14 (cone voltage 22v, collision voltage 28v), tangeretin m/z 373.28 → 343.17 (cone voltage 20v, collision voltage 28V), tangeretin m/z 373.28 → 343.17 (cone voltage 20V, collision voltage 28V) and internal standard vitexin m/z 433.14 → 313.03 (cone voltage 32v, collision voltage 26v). The pharmacokinetics of nobiletin and tangeretin were evaluated in rats. The established UPLC-MS/MS method in the range of 2–2,000 ng mL−1 was successfully applied to the pharmacokinetics, and the calculated bioavailability of nobiletin and tangeretin was 63.9 and 46.1%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Practical Application Polyphenols, as important active ingredients in edible fungi, have many beneficial functions. As rare edible fungi, Morchella spp., are highly popular due to their nutritional value and unique flavor. However, most Morchella have not yet been artificially cultivated due to their special biological characteristics, resulting in limited research on polyphenols in artificially cultivated Morchella. In this study, the extraction parameters of polyphenols from artificially cultivated Morchella sextelata were optimized using response surface methodology, the polyphenol components were analyzed via UPLC‒tandem mass spectrometry, and their antioxidant properties were determined in vitro. The optimal extraction process parameters were as follows: ethanol concentration, 43%; solid‒liquid ratio, 1:41 g mL−1; extraction temperature, 52°C; extraction time, 2 h; rotation speed, 180 r min−1; and extraction frequency, twice. The optimized extraction parameters resulted in a polyphenol yield of 4.82 mg g−1, a 69.97% increase. Fourteen phenolic compounds were identified: gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, dl‐4‐hydroxyphenyllactic acid, methyl 2,4‐dihydroxyphenylacetate, salicylic acid, 4‐hydroxybenzaldehyde, 4‐hydroxyacetophenone, eucommiol, luteolin, ethylparaben, hinokiflavone, amentoflavone, propyl 4‐hydroxybenzoate, and 2,6‐di‐tert‐butylphenol. The EC50 values of 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH)· scavenging ability, reducing power and ferrous ion chelating ability of polyphenols were 2.70, 30.98, and 72.06 µg mL−1, respectively. These findings indicated that polyphenols had a significantly stronger ability to scavenge DPPH· compared with their reducing power and ability to chelate ferrous ions. The results of this study provide a solid foundation for the subsequent study of function of M. sextelata polyphenols as well as a theoretical basis for the further development and utilization of M. sextelata, which will help promote healthy development of Morchella industry.The extraction, composition, and antioxidant properties of polyphenols from Morchella sextelata were identified, which provides a theoretical basis for better utilization of Morchella resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: An UPLC-MS/MS method was developed and validated for simultaneous determination of atracurium (ATC), dexmedetomidine (DEX), midazolam (MDZ) and 1-hydroxymidazolam (1-OH-MDZ) and the pharmacokinetics of ATC, DEX, MDZ and 1-OH-MDZ in patients undergoing aortic dissection surgery were investigated. Methods: The analytes were extracted by acetonitrile precipitation and separated on an Acquity UPLC BEH C18 column (2.1 mm × 50 mm, 1.7 μm) with a mobile phase of acetonitrile-0.1% formic acid and a gradient mode. In the positive ion mode, the following mass transition pairs were monitored by multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) for the four analytes and IS: m/z 385.1→206.2 for ATC, m/z 201.2→95.1 for DEX, m/z 326.1→291.1 for MDZ, m/z 341.9→324.0 for 1-OH-MDZ, and 284.9→153.9 for diazepam (IS). Seven male patients undergoing aortic dissection surgery received general anesthesia and intravenous administration of ATC, DEX, and MDZ during the surgery. Venous blood was collected at different time points at the end of surgery and after surgery. The concentrations of ATC, DEX, MDZ, and 1-OH-MDZ were detected, and the pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated. Results: The method showed good linearity for each analyte. The inter-batch precision ranged from 1.37% to 9.87% and the intra-batch precision ranged from 2.41% to 10.72%; the accuracy ranged from 94.33% to 104.51%. Finally, the matrix effect, extraction recovery and stability data met the FDA recommended acceptance criteria for validation of bioanalytical methods. The t1/2 of ATC, DEX, MDZ and 1-OH-MDZ was (6.74 ± 2.27) h, (9.55 ± 4.93) h, (10.17 ± 5.35) h, and (6.90 ± 2.38) h, the Cmax, of ATC, DEX, MDZ and 1-OH-MDZ was (1054.20 ± 202.37) ng/mL, (1.93 ± 1.07) ng/mL, (1256.57 ± 389.09) ng/mL, and (1034.39 ± 292.92) ng/mL in patients undergoing aortic dissection surgery, respectively. Conclusion: The developed UPLC-MS/MS method for simultaneous determination of ATC, DEX, MDZ and 1-OH-MDZ in patient plasma was accurate, reproducible, specific. After continuous administration of ATC, DEX, and MDZ to patients undergoing surgery for acute aortic dissection, the pharmacokinetics of ATC, DEX, MDZ and 1-OH-MDZ in patients undergoing aortic dissection surgery were studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We established a method based on ultra performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC‒MS/MS) to quantitatively measure tepotinib, which was validated as acceptable and used in the evaluation of food-drug interactions between tepotinib and naringenin in rats. We used pemigatinib as the internal standard (IS), and acetonitrile and 0.1% formic acid aqueous solution constituted the mobile phase. To extract the target analyte, acetonitrile was used for protein precipitation (PPT). For UPLC‒MS/MS, we performed liquid chromatography using a C18 column, and mass spectrometry was performed in positive multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode. Excellent linearity was shown in the range of 0.1–500 ng/mL, and the coefficient of correlation was > 0.99. Notably, the lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) for tepotinib was determined to be 0.1 ng/mL. The intra- and inter-day accuracy of tepotinib ranged from − 1.7 to 7.3%, while the precision was ≤ 8.4%, at three concentrations except LLOQ. The recovery of each substance was ≥ 81.2%, and the matrix effects were within 90.5-98.6%. The stabilities of all analytes under different conditions met all requirements for quantitation in plasma samples. The relevant parameters, such as LLOQ, were evaluated in accordance with the principles of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) biological verification method. Food-drug interaction study had shown that the plasma concentration of tepotinib could be significantly increased, accompanied by a decrease in clearance rate when administered with 50 mg/kg naringenin. The results showed that naringenin could increase the plasma concentration and decrease the clearance rate of tepotinib when naringenin and tepotinib were administered at the same time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study developed and validated a robust UPLC-MS/MS method for quantifying cyclic glycine–proline (cGP) in mangrove-derived Penicillium and Aspergillus strains. The method demonstrated excellent linearity, precision, and recovery, with detection limits as low as 4.8 ng/mL. Penicillium pedernalense extract achieved a cGP content of 67.45 ± 1.11 ng/mL, with a corresponding fermentation yield of 29.31 ± 0.61 mg/L. This surpassed Penicillium steckii, which reached a content of 31.71 ± 0.31 ng/mL, with a yield of 8.51 ± 0.15 mg/L. This quantitative approach for metabolite analysis provides a viable method for screening these fungal strains, highlighting their potential for sustainable production of cyclic glycine–proline (cGP). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pears are popular among consumers for their juicy and delicious taste. In this study, the sugar and organic acid compositions of pear fruits with different texture types during development were determined by ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS), and fruit texture traits were determined by a texture analyzer. The results showed that the dominant sugar in soft and crispy types of pear fruits was fructose. The main difference between pears was the second-highest sugar component; glucose content was higher in crispy-flesh pear fruits while sucrose content was higher in soft-flesh pear fruits. The composition of organic acid components in both texture types of pear fruits was similar. The turning points of changes in the content of sucrose, sorbitol, glucose and quinic acid were different between different-textured pear varieties. A Pearson correlation analysis showed that sugar and organic acid components were significantly correlated with single fruit weight and soluble solid contents (SSCs), respectively. There was a high correlation among texture traits, individual sugars and organic acids. A partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) VIP score plot showed that the differential traits with scores greater than 1 were total soluble sugars/total organic acids (TSSs/TAs), fracture and malic acid/citric acid (MA/CA), which could distinguish pear fruits of different texture types better and reflect the uneven quality differences among pear fruits adapted to different origins. The comprehensive analysis results of the flesh texture parameters and sugar and organic acid components are in line with objective reality and will provide a reference for quantitative indicators of the sensory evaluation of pear varieties as well as for molecular mechanism research on trait differences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metformin is the gold standard substrate for evaluating potential inhibitors of the organic cation transporters (OCTs). Here, we established a UPLC-MS/MS assay to quantify metformin in cell pellets with a range of 0.05–50 ng/mL using 6-deuterated metformin as an internal standard. We used an ion-pairing chromatographic approach with heptafluorobutyric acid, making use of a reverse-phase column, and overcame the associated ion-suppression via previously established post-column injection of aqueous ammonia. The assay was validated according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) recommendations for bioanalytical methods. The established extraction procedure was simple, very fast and ensured almost 100% recovery of the analyte. The exceptionally sharp peak form and retention of the ion-pairing chromatography are superior to other methods and allow us to measure as sensitively as 0.05 ng/mL. We used the herein established and validated method to develop a cellular OCT inhibition assay by using metformin as a substrate and human embryonic kidney cells (HEK) overexpressing the OCTs 1-3. The method presented may be useful for identifying new OCT inhibitors, but also for drug–drug interactions and other pharmacokinetic studies, where accurate quantification of low metformin amounts in relevant tissues is mandatory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pterocephin A is a natural triterpenoid saponin isolated from Pterocephalus hookeri, a traditional Tibetan medicine with slight toxicity, which can induce liver injury in rats. This study aimed to establish a sensitive and reliable UPLC-MS/MS method for exploring the toxicokinetics and tissue distribution of pterocephin A following single intravenous and intragastric administration. Pterocephin A and prosapogenin 1C (internal standard, IS) were extracted using a simple protein precipitation technique with methanol as the precipitant for plasma samples and methanol/acetonitrile = 1:1 (v/v) for tissue samples. UPLC separation was achieved by gradient elution with 0.3 mL/min and a mobile phase consisting of 5 mM ammonium formate (A) and acetonitrile (B) (0–2 min 30% B; 2–4 min: 30–80% B; 4–5 min: 80–98% B; 5–6.5 min: 98% B; 6.5–7 min: 98–30% B; and 7–8 min: 30% B, v/v) with a column temperature of 35 °C. MS spectrometry adopted negative ion scanning mode, primary MS spectrometry adopted full scan monitoring mode, and secondary MS spectrometry adopted targeted MS2 scan monitoring mode. The assay exhibited a linear dynamic range of 0.02–15 μg/mL for pterocephin A in biological samples, with the low limit of quantification set at 0.02 μg/mL. Non-compartmental toxicokinetic parameters indicated that pterocephin A was well absorbed into the systemic circulation and had a long residual time after intravenous (10 mg/kg) and intragastric (60 mg/kg) administration, as it could still be detected after 72 h. Tissue distribution analysis revealed detectable levels of pterocephin A in various tissues, and a high concentration was maintained in the liver after intravenous (10 mg/kg) administration, with the highest concentration being 610.95 ± 25.73 ng/mL and a specific distribution pattern of liver > lung > kidney > intestine > spleen > testes > heart > stomach. The toxicokinetic process and tissue distribution characteristics of pterocephin A were expounded in this study, which can provide relevant data support for further research and clinical application of pterocephin A with its slight toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Azodicarbonamide (ADA) is approved as a food additive in flour products due to its oxidising and bleaching properties. However, it is prohibited in Australia and Europe on account of its toxicity and the risk of causing asthma in humans. A method was developed to determine ADA in actual flour samples. This work presents an optimised methodology based on derivatisation and clean-up procedures followed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionisation tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC–ESI-MS/MS). The analytical method was successfully validated. An excellent result was obtained for the linearity of matrix-matched calibration curves (R2 > 0.99) in the concentration range of 0.10–80 mg/kg. The recovery rate varied from 81.7% to 102.3%. The relative standard deviations (RSDs) of repeatability (n = 6) were 1.3–4.1%, and inter-day RSDs (n = 6) were 2.2–4.8%. The limit of detection and the limit of quantification were 0.014 and 0.042 mg/kg, which were significantly lower than the requirement of 45 mg/kg stipulated in the Chinese National Food Safety Standard (GB 2760-2014). The detection rate of ADA in 26 flour samples was 23.1%, with the concentration ranging from 0.023 to 23.2 mg/kg. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Huperzine A is a reversible and selective cholinesterase inhibitor and has been approved for the treatment of Alzheimer's diseases. In this study, we developed a highly sensitive and specific ulta‐high‐performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method for the determination of Huperzine A in rat plasma. An aliquot of 50 μL of rat plasma sample was pretreated with 200 μL of acetonitrile‐methanol (v/v; 1:1) containing 0.2% formic acid followed by solid phase extraction. The resulting sample was separated on a Waters ACQUITY BEH C18 column using acetonitrile and water containing 0.2% formic acid as mobile phase, at a flow rate of 0.3 mL/min. Multiple‐reaction monitoring (MRM) mode was used for quantitative analysis of Huperzine A in positive electrospray ionization. In the concentration range of 0.01–10 ng/mL, Huperzine A showed excellent linearity with correlation coefficient > 0.998. The intra‐ and inter‐day RSD% were less than 9.7%, while the RE% ranged from −6.7% to 10.0%. The mean recovery was >84.5%. The validated method was demonstrated to be selective, sensitive, and reliable, which has been successfully applied to pharmacokinetic study of Huperzine A in rat plasma. Huperzine A displayed a long half‐life in rat plasma and high oral bioavailability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yigong San (YGS) is a traditional Chinese medicine formula used for pediatric anorexia, chronic atrophic gastritis, and irritable bowel syndrome. In this study, the excretion of eight main compounds, including liquiritin; isoliquiritin; hesperidin; ginsenosides Rb1, Re, and Rg1; and atractylenolides I and II, in rat urine, feces, and bile, was investigated by ultra‐high performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. The results showed that the cumulative excretion rates of the compounds in rat urine, feces, and bile were 0.018–1.15%, 0.024–19.89%, and 0.0025–0.72%, respectively. Among the eight compounds detected, liquiritin was the richest in urine, and ginsenosides Re and Rg1 and atractylenolide I were mainly found in feces and bile. In summary, the main components of YGS are excreted via multiple approaches. Liquiritin is mainly through urine, whereas isoliquiritin; hesperidin; ginsenosides Rb1, Re, and Rg1; and atractylenolides I and II are mainly through feces. The excretion of these compounds in bile is usually positively correlated with that in feces. This study lays a foundation for further pharmacological research and application of YGS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The limited data on the systematic evaluation and composition of metabolic compounds in different sorghum varieties makes their distinction difficult. Here, we employed untargeted metabolomic and multivariate statistical analyses on 129 sorghum samples collected from various regions across China using ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC–MS/MS). This approach enabled us to differentiate between two specific varieties of sorghum: Guizhou glutinous sorghum (GZGS), used in the production of soy sauce-flavoured baijiu in the Zunyi baijiu production area, and Guizhou Hongyingzi sorghum (GZ-HYZ), used in the production of Maotai-flavoured baijiu. The metabolic compounds in GZGS, mixed sorghum from other production areas, GZ-HYZ, and other glutinous sorghum varieties in Guizhou (GZ-others) were analysed, and key differential metabolites were identified. Differences were observed between the composition of GZ-HYZ and GZ-others. The phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway produced large amounts of flavonoids and lignins with antioxidant activity and phenols, which partially explained the formation of the Maotai liquor aroma. UPLC–MS/MS-based untargeted metabolomics can effectively reveal the differences in metabolites among sorghum varieties, thereby facilitating the authentication of GZGS and GZ-HYZ for brewing purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

UPLC-MS/MS analytical conditions for the analysis of aflatoxins in spices were optimized and validated in this study. Liquid-liquid partition-based protocols for the cleaning up of extracts using common organic solvents such as acetonitrile, hexane, and ethyl acetate were developed and validated. The developed liquid-liquid partition methods were compared with immuno-affinity column and QuEChERS clean-up methods for the UPLC-MS/MS analysis of aflatoxins in 8 spices. The reduction of lipophilic components using the partition with hexane is particularly useful in spices like red pepper that have higher levels of fatty acids, carotenoids, sterols, triterpenoids, etc. The subsequent partitioning with ethyl acetate considerably reduced the matrix interference from the polar components and increased the sensitivity. The cleaning up of spice extracts using liquid-liquid partition techniques resulted in limits of quantification (LOQ) of 2–5 µgL−1 in UPLC-MS/MS analysis. Trueness, repeatability, and reproducibility of the methods were in acceptable ranges. The accuracy of the developed methods was further verified by analyzing aflatoxins in naturally incurred samples of spices and comparing the results with those obtained from the immuno-affinity column cleanup-HPLC-FD method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the effectiveness, measurability, and traceability of the quality marker (Q‐marker) theory of traditional Chinese medicine, the Q‐marker of Lycii Cortex (LC) was preliminarily predicted and analyzed. A UPLC–Q‐TOF‐MS qualitative analysis method for LC samples was established. A total of 44 LC chemical components, 16 plasma prototype components, 25 urine prototype components, and 27 fecal prototype components were identified. At the same time, the "component–target–disease" network diagram was constructed by network pharmacology to predict the potential active components of LC. A UPLC–MS/MS quantitative analysis method was established to determine the contents of 11 components such as kukoamine A in 35 batches of LC from seven producing areas. Principal component analysis, orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis, and other mathematical analysis methods were used to screen the differential components. Based on the comprehensive consideration of the Q‐marker traceability, transitivity, specificity, effectiveness, and measurability, kukoamine A and kukoamine B were preliminarily predicted as LC potential Q‐markers, and the high‐quality producing area was determined to be Chengcheng County, Weinan City, Shaanxi Province. The prediction analysis of the LC Q‐marker provides a reference for the comprehensive control of the quality of LC medicinal materials and also lays a foundation for the research and exploration of the substance basis and mechanism of action of LC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study was to establish a simple and reliable ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) method and apply it for the determination of pharmacokinetics of moxidectin-loaded microspheres (MOX-MS) in rats. Plasma samples were processed using a simplified liquid–liquid extraction method and were separated using an Agilent Zorbax Eclipse Plus C18 column (50 mm × 2.1 mm, 1.8 μm) with a mobile phase consisting of a 10 mM ammonium formate solution with 0.1% formic acid (A) and acetonitrile (B) at a flow rate of 0.4 mL/min for 5 min. Avermectin B1a was used as an internal standard (IS). The sample was injected at a volume of 10 μL with a column temperature of 35 °C and detected in a positive ion mode. A good linear response across the concentration range of 1.00–200 ng/mL (r2 > 0.99) and a lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) of 1.00 ng/mL were achieved. The extraction recovery of moxidectin exceeded 94.1%, the matrix effect was between 91.2% and 96.2%, the accuracy ranged from 100.1 to 103.6%, and the relative standard deviation (RSD) did not exceed 15% for the intra- and inter-day accuracy and precision. The pharmacokinetic results showed that MOX-MS significantly decreased Cmax, prolonged T1/2, and improved bioavailability. The developed method significantly reduced the assay volume, shortened detection time, simplified sample processing methods and saved assay costs, which may contribute to the development of the new antiparasitic drug. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ectoine (ECT) has recently gained considerable interest in the healthcare sector due to its promising therapeutic benefits in a variety of human disorders. This research aimed to quantify the ECT plasma level in rats by creating and optimizing a sensitive and validated UPLC-MS/MS method. Prior to analysis, ECT extraction from the plasma samples was conducted via a protein precipitation procedure, using hydroxyectoine as an internal standard (IS). A 1.7 μm UPLC C8 column (100 mm × 2.1 mm) was selected for the chromatographic separation, using a gradient mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile and 0.05% formic acid. The electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) was used to detect ECT in the positive ion mode. To determine the specific precursor and the product ions of ECT, multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) methods were carried out. The selected ion pair of ECT was 143.1 > 97 and 159.1 > 113.13 for the IS. The ECT's linearity range in rat plasma was found to be 1-1000 ng/mL, with a recovery rate of 96.48–97.37%. Consistent with FDA guidelines for bio-analytical method validation, the suggested method was validated. The method was efficiently employed to quantify the studied drug in spiked rat plasma with good accuracy and precision with no significant matrix effects. Furthermore, it was effectively used to investigate the pharmacokinetic behavior of ECT in rats after a single oral dose of 30 mg/kg. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

KPT-335 (Verdinexor) is a novel SINE that potently inhibits the nucleoprotein Exportin 1 (XPO1/CRM1) of tumor cell lines and reduces the replication level of the influenza virus. KPT-335 is mainly used for the treatment of canine tumors. Drugs for the effective treatment of feline tumors are currently unavailable in China. KPT-335 may have potential in the treatment of cat tumors. However, the effects of KPT-335 in cats are unreported, and no relevant methodology has been established for pharmacokinetic studies. In this study, a UPLC-MS/MS method was developed to determine KPT-335 concentrations in cat plasma, followed by pharmacokinetic studies. Briefly, plasma proteins are precipitated with acetonitrile, and the supernatant was collected for detection after centrifugation. The linearity for KPT-335 in cat plasma was in the range of 5-1,000 ng/mL. Satisfactory accuracy and precision were obtained. The intra-day accuracy was between -4.10% and 10.48%, the precision was ≤4.65%; the inter-day accuracy was between -0.11% and 8.09%, and the precision was ≤5.85%. Intra-day and inter-day accuracy and precision were within regulatory limits. The results of preliminary pharmacokinetic studies were as follows: Tmax was 1.46 ± 0.51 h; Cmax was 239.54 ± 190.60 ng·mL-1; T1/2 was 5.16 ± 2.30 h; AUC0-t was 1439.85 ± 964.64 ng·mL-1·h. The AUC0-∞ was 1589.82 ± 1003.75 ng·mL-1·h. The purpose of this study was to develop a rapid and simple UPLC-MS/MS method to detect KPT-335 concentration in cat plasma and to conduct preliminary pharmacokinetic studies to support the future application of KPT-335 in felines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Advanced glycation end products (AGEs), a group of food processing byproducts, have been implicated in the development of various diseases. However, the relationship between circulating AGEs and sleep disorders remains uncertain. Methods: This cross-sectional study elucidated the association of plasma AGEs with sleep disorders among 1732 Chinese adults who participated in the initial visit (2019–2020) of the Tongji–Shenzhen Cohort (TJSZC). Sleep behavior was assessed using self-reported questionnaires and precise accelerometers. Plasma levels of AGEs, including Nε-(Carboxymethyl)lysine (CML), Nε-(Carboxyethyl)lysine (CEL), and Nδ-(5-hydro-5-methyl-4-imidazolone-2-yl)-ornithine (MG-H1), were quantified by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). Results: In logistic regression, per IQR increment in individual AGEs was associated with an increased odds ratio of short sleep duration (CML: 1.11 [1.00, 1.23]; CEL: 1.16, [1.04, 1.30]), poor sleep quality (CML: 1.33 [1.10, 1.60]; CEL: 1.53, [1.17, 2.00]; MG-H1: 1.61 [1.25, 2.07]), excessive daytime sleepiness (CML: 1.33 [1.11, 1.60]; MG-H1: 1.39 [1.09, 1.77]), and insomnia (CML: 1.29 [1.05, 1.59]). Furthermore, in weighted quantile sum regression and Bayesian kernel machine regression analyses, elevated overall exposure levels of plasma AGEs were associated with an increased risk of sleep disorders, including short sleep duration, poor sleep quality, excessive daytime sleepiness, and insomnia, with CML being identified as the leading contributor. Insufficient vegetable intake and higher dietary fat intake was associated with an increase in plasma CEL. Conclusions: These findings support a significant association between plasma AGEs and sleep disorders, indicating that AGEs may adversely influence sleep health and reducing the intake of AGEs may facilitate preventing and ameliorating sleep disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Riociguat, an orally soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC)-promoting drug, is mainly used in the clinical treatment of pulmonary hypertension (PH). In this study, a novel ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method was developed to quantify the concentrations of riociguat and its metabolite (M1) in plasma. The precision, stability, accuracy, matrix effect, and recovery of the methodology were satisfactory. Quercetin, a well-recognized compound, functions as a novel anticancer agent with the potential to alleviate symptoms of PH. Therefore, the potential interaction between quercetin and riociguat was investigated in this study. The levels of riociguat and M1 in rat plasma were measured using the method developed in this study to evaluate the interactions between riociguat and quercetin in rats. The results revealed that quercetin significantly inhibited riociguat and M1 metabolism with increased systemic exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context Almonertinib is primarily metabolized by CYP3A4, so it could interact with a variety of drugs metabolized by CYP3A4, leading to the changes of systemic exposure.Objective For the purpose of this experiment, an ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) assay with accuracy and simplicity was optimized and fully validated for the simultaneous quantitative determination of almonertinib and its metabolite HAS-719, and drug-drug interactions (DDI) between almonertinib and nicardipine in vivo and in vitro was researched.Materials and methods Detection of analytes was achieved by UPLC-MS/MS coupled with multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) in the positive ion mode with ion transitions of m/z 526.01 → 72.04 for almonertinib, m/z 512.18 → 455.08 for HAS-719 and m/z 447.16 → 128.11 for IS, respectively.Results There was favourable linearity in the 0.5–200 ng/mL calibration range for almonertinib and 0.5–100 ng/mL for HAS-719. The lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) for both analytes was 0.5 ng/mL. The precision, accuracy, stability, matrix effect and extraction recovery required for methodological validation were consistent with the requirements of FDA guideline. Then, the UPLC-MS/MS assay was employed successfully on the interactions of almonertinib and nicardipine in vivo and in vitro. The half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) was 1.19 μM in rat liver microsomes (RLM), where nicardipine inhibited the metabolism of almonertinib with a mixed inhibitory mechanism. In pharmacokinetic experiments of rats, it was observed that nicardipine could significantly alter the pharmacokinetic profiles of almonertinib, including AUC(0-∞), AUC(0-t) and Cmax, but had no effect on the metabolism of HAS-719.Conclusion According to the findings, it was indicated that nicardipine could inhibit the metabolism of almonertinib in vitro and in vivo.

Abstract We established a method based on ultra performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC‒MS/MS) to quantitatively measure tepotinib, which was validated as acceptable and used in the evaluation of food-drug interactions between tepotinib and naringenin in rats. We used pemigatinib as the internal standard (IS), and acetonitrile and 0.1% formic acid aqueous solution constituted the mobile phase. To extract the target analyte, acetonitrile was used for protein precipitation (PPT). For UPLC‒MS/MS, we performed liquid chromatography using a C18 column, and mass spectrometry was performed in positive multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode. Excellent linearity was shown in the range of 0.1–500 ng/mL, and the coefficient of correlation was > 0.99. Notably, the lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) for tepotinib was determined to be 0.1 ng/mL. The intra- and inter-day accuracy of tepotinib ranged from − 1.7 to 7.3%, while the precision was ≤ 8.4%, at three concentrations except LLOQ. The recovery of each substance was ≥ 81.2%, and the matrix effects were within 90.5-98.6%. The stabilities of all analytes under different conditions met all requirements for quantitation in plasma samples. The relevant parameters, such as LLOQ, were evaluated in accordance with the principles of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) biological verification method. Food-drug interaction study had shown that the plasma concentration of tepotinib could be significantly increased, accompanied by a decrease in clearance rate when administered with 50 mg/kg naringenin. The results showed that naringenin could increase the plasma concentration and decrease the clearance rate of tepotinib when naringenin and tepotinib were administered at the same time.

Abstract Ectoine (ECT) has recently gained considerable interest in the healthcare sector due to its promising therapeutic benefits in a variety of human disorders. This research aimed to quantify the ECT plasma level in rats by creating and optimizing a sensitive and validated UPLC-MS/MS method. Prior to analysis, ECT extraction from the plasma samples was conducted via a protein precipitation procedure, using hydroxyectoine as an internal standard (IS). A 1.7 μm UPLC C8 column (100 mm × 2.1 mm) was selected for the chromatographic separation, using a gradient mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile and 0.05% formic acid. The electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) was used to detect ECT in the positive ion mode. To determine the specific precursor and the product ions of ECT, multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) methods were carried out. The selected ion pair of ECT was 143.1 > 97 and 159.1 > 113.13 for the IS. The ECT’s linearity range in rat plasma was found to be 1-1000 ng/mL, with a recovery rate of 96.48–97.37%. Consistent with FDA guidelines for bio-analytical method validation, the suggested method was validated. The method was efficiently employed to quantify the studied drug in spiked rat plasma with good accuracy and precision with no significant matrix effects. Furthermore, it was effectively used to investigate the pharmacokinetic behavior of ECT in rats after a single oral dose of 30 mg/kg.

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic has escalated into a severe global public health crisis, with persistent sequelae observed in some patients post-discharge. However, metabolomic characterization of the reconvalescent remains unclear. Methods In this study, serum and urine samples from COVID-19 survivors (n = 16) and healthy subjects (n = 16) underwent testing via the non-targeted metabolomics approach using UPLC-MS/MS. Univariate and multivariate statistical analyses were conducted to delineate the separation between the two sample groups and identify differentially expressed metabolites. By integrating random forest and cluster analysis, potential biomarkers were screened, and the differential metabolites were subsequently subjected to KEGG pathway enrichment analysis. Results Significant differences were observed in the serum and urine metabolic profiles between the two groups. In serum samples, 1187 metabolites were detected, with 874 identified as significant (457 up-regulated, 417 down-regulated); in urine samples, 960 metabolites were detected, with 39 deemed significant (12 up-regulated, 27 down-regulated). Eight potential biomarkers were identified, with KEGG analysis revealing significant enrichment in several metabolic pathways, including arginine biosynthesis. Conclusions This study offers an overview of the metabolic profiles in serum and urine of COVID-19 survivors, providing a reference for post-discharge monitoring and the prognosis of COVID-19 patients.

A one-step QuEChERS automated detection technology for 22 pesticides in cowpeas and mangoes was established based on ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). The sample was extracted by acetonitrile containing 1% acetic acid, added with EN extraction salt (anhydrous Mg2SO4, sodium chloride, trisodium citrate dihydrate, disodium hydrogen citrate sesquihydrate) to remove water, and then purified with C18 and graphitized carbon black (GCB). The target analytes were separated by ACQUITY UPLC BEH C18 chromatography column, using 0.01% formic acid aqueous solution (containing 2 mmol/L ammonium formate)-0.01% formic acid methanol as the mobile phase, and determined in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM). The results showed that the 22 pesticides had good linearity in the range of 0.01~25.00 µg/L, with coefficient of determination (R2) higher than 0.994. The limits of detection (LOD, S/N=3) were 0.05~2 µg/kg, and the limits of quantification (LOQ, S/N=10) were 0.1~5 µg/kg. At the spiked levels of 1×LOQ, 2×LOQ, and 10×LOQ, the average recoveries for cowpeas were 70.9%~116.6%, 71.9%~118.3%, and 73.7%~113.7%, respectively, and for mangoes were 70.2%~114.6%, 71.2%~113.7%, and 74.3%~118.5%, respectively. The relative standard deviations for them were all within 20%. The method was successfully applied to the detection of 42 actual samples, and 33 samples detected pesticide residues. This method has high sensitivity and a satisfactory level of automation, effectively reducing human operation steps. It is suitable for the simultaneous detection and accurate quantification of 22 pesticides and their metabolites.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has escalated into a severe global public health crisis, with persistent sequelae observed in some patients post-discharge. However, metabolomic characterization of the reconvalescent remains unclear. Methods: In this study, serum and urine samples from COVID-19 survivors (n = 16) and healthy subjects (n = 16) underwent testing via the non-targeted metabolomics approach using UPLC-MS/MS. Univariate and multivariate statistical analyses were conducted to delineate the separation between the two sample groups and identify differentially expressed metabolites. By integrating random forest and cluster analysis, potential biomarkers were screened, and the differential metabolites were subsequently subjected to KEGG pathway enrichment analysis. Results: Significant differences were observed in the serum and urine metabolic profiles between the two groups. In serum samples, 1187 metabolites were detected, with 874 identified as significant (457 up-regulated, 417 down-regulated); in urine samples, 960 metabolites were detected, with 39 deemed significant (12 up-regulated, 27 down-regulated). Eight potential biomarkers were identified, with KEGG analysis revealing significant enrichment in several metabolic pathways, including arginine biosynthesis. Conclusions: This study offers an overview of the metabolic profiles in serum and urine of COVID-19 survivors, providing a reference for post-discharge monitoring and the prognosis of COVID-19 patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lupus nephritis (LN) is an immunoinflammatory glomerulonephritis associated with renal involvement in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Given the close relationship between plasma amino acids (AAs) and renal function, this study aimed to elucidate the plasma AA profiles in LN patients and identify key AAs and diagnostic patterns that distinguish LN patients from those with SLE and healthy controls. Participants were categorized into three groups: normal controls (NC), SLE, and LN. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) was employed to quantify AA levels in human plasma. Principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) were utilized to identify key AAs. The diagnostic capacity of the models was assessed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis and area under the ROC curve (AUC) values. Significant alterations in plasma AA profiles were observed in LN patients compared to the SLE and NC groups. The OPLS-DA model effectively separated LN patients from the SLE and NC groups. A joint model using histidine (His), lysine (Lys), and tryptophan (Trp) demonstrated exceptional diagnostic performance, achieving an AUC of 1.0 with 100% sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy in predicting LN. Another joint model comprising arginine (Arg), valine (Val), and Trp also exhibited robust predictive performance, with an AUC of 0.998, sensitivity of 93.80%, specificity of 100%, and accuracy of 95.78% in distinguishing between SLE and LN. The joint forecasting models showed excellent predictive capabilities in identifying LN and categorizing lupus disease status. This approach provides a novel perspective for the early identification, prevention, treatment, and management of LN based on variations in plasma AA levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phenylpyrazoles are widely used pesticides in the food industry. It is highly desirable to develop efficient pre‐treatment and analysis methods to extract and detect phenylpyrazoles in complex food matrices. Herein, the study reports novel squaraine‐linked zwitterionic core‐shell magnetic covalent organic frameworks (MCOFs),  which are found to be excellent pretreatment materials for the detection of trace phenylpyrazoles in samples. By coupling MCOFs to magnetic solid‐phase extraction (MSPE) with Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography‐Tandem Mass Spectrometry (UPLC‐MS/MS) analysis, the detection of phenylpyrazoles (fipronil, fipronil sulfone, fipronil sulfide, fipronil de‐sulfoxide, fipronil desulfinyl, ethiprole, and flufiprole) is achieved and shows good linearity at concentrations of 1–800 µg L−1 (R2 ≥ 0.9930). The limit of detection (LOD), limit of quantification (LOQ), and recovery rates are 0.01–0.50 µg kg−1, 0.04‐1.72 µg kg−1, and 70.96–115.32%, respectively. More importantly, this method is successfully applied to determine the phenylpyrazoles in commercial egg, poultry, milk, jujube, cabbage, tea, and rice with a detection rate of ≈0.04%. Therefore, the developed method may contribute to a new strategy for the purification and multi‐target extraction of complex food matrices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The experiment aims to establish an ultra-high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method for the determination of three isothiazolinone drugs in additive premixed feed. After extracting feed samples with acetonitrile, they were purified using Prime HLB columns and treated with SB-C18 (100 mm x 3.0 mm, 1.8 µm). As an analytical column, methanol and water are used as mobile phases for gradient elution. In the positive ion mode of electric spray, the detection is carried out. Use matrix matching external standard method to determine the content of three isothiazolinone drugs, and examine the linear relationship, detection limit, quantification limit, recovery rate, accuracy, precision, and other indicators of the established method. The results showed a good linear relationship within the range of 0.25~500.00 µg/L, with correlation coefficients (R²) > 0.990 0. The detection limit is 10 µg/kg, quantification limit of 30 µg/kg. The recovery rates of the three isothiazolone drugs range from 69.8% to 99.9%, with relative standard deviations (RSD) ranging from 4.2% to 10.0%. Research has shown that the method used in the experiment is simple to operate, highly sensitive, and quantitatively accurate. It is suitable for measuring the content of three isothiazolidone drugs in additive premixed feed. It can provide an accurate and efficient technical means for screening the contamination of three isothiazolidone drugs in input products in the breeding process, and ensure the safety of animal-derived products from the source. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phellodendron amurense Rupr. is a precious medicinal tree species in northeast China. However, P. amurense resources have been severely destroyed due to uncontrolled overharvest and the limited innovation of new germplasms by traditional cross-breeding. In this study, polyploid breeding was introduced to the improvement program of P. amurense. Fifty-four tetraploid plants of P. amurense were first produced by colchicine-induced adventitious bud chromosome doubling in stem segment explants. The induction frequency reached 36.16% (1.0 g L−1 colchicine solution for 48 h treatment) and 50.00% (2.0 g L−1 colchicine solution for 24 h treatment), respectively, showing the high efficiency of the somatic chromosome doubling based on the organogenesis system. Tetraploidization resulted in significant phenotypic variation, such as larger and thicker leaves, thicker stems, and bigger stomata. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (UPLC–MS/MS) analysis identified 59 differentially accumulated alkaloids (DAAs) between the leaf and stem samples of tetraploids, including 32 upregulated and 27 downregulated in stems. For both leaf and stem samples, 18 DAAs were identified between diploids and tetraploids, with 16 DAAs upregulated in tetraploid leaves and 8 upregulated in tetraploid stems, suggesting that polyploidization caused significant alterations in alkaloid contents in leaves and stems of P. amurense. The contents of the main medicinal compounds, such as berberine, jatrorrhizine, phellodendrine, and palmatine, increased significantly in the leaf and/or stem samples after polyploidization. This finding implied that polyploid breeding might be an effective approach for improving P. amurense, beneficial to preserving and exploiting natural resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite a higher safety profile compared to vitamin K antagonists, rivaroxaban therapy is still connected with multiple adverse effects, such as a high risk of bleeding. Thus, therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) of rivaroxaban concentrations is suggested. An alternative to plasma samples can be dried blood spots (DBS), which minimize the cost of sample storage and transport. In this study, we developed a UPLC-MS/MS method for the analysis of rivaroxaban in DBS and plasma samples. Chromatographic separation was achieved on a Zorbax Eclipse Plus C18 column (2.1 × 100 mm; 3.5 µm, Agilent Technologies Inc., Santa Clara, CA, USA) with a mobile phase consisting of water and acetonitrile, both containing 0.1% formic acid. The analytes were detected using a positive ionization mode by multiple reaction monitoring. We validated the method according to ICH guidelines. The precision and accuracy were satisfactory. Extraction recovery was approximately 57% and 66% for DBS and plasma samples, respectively. A high correlation between rivaroxaban concentrations in plasma and DBS samples collected from patients was confirmed with Deming regression. The suitability of both sampling techniques for the rivaroxaban TDM was also verified by Bland–Altman plots based on DBS-predicted and observed plasma concentrations. In addition, we found a significant relationship between rivaroxaban concentrations and coagulation parameters, including prothrombin time (PT) and international normalized ratio (INR). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dissipative behavior and final residue levels of difenoconazole, prochloraz, propiconazole, and pyraclostrobin in figs were investigated using field trials and laboratory assays. A three‐factor, three‐level orthogonal test was designed to optimize the pretreatment conditions of the method. A method was established using high‐performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry for the determination of difenoconazole, prochloraz, propiconazole, and pyraclostrobin residues in figs. The limit of quantification for all four targets in figs was 0.002 mg/kg. Difenoconazole, prochloraz, propiconazole, and pyraclostrobin are readily digestible pesticides in figs with half‐lives of 6.4, 6.2, 4.8, and 7.9 days, respectively. Residues of difenoconazole, prochloraz, propiconazole, and pyraclostrobin in figs were below the European Union established residue levels of 0.1, 0.03, 0.01, and 0.02 mg/kg, respectively, at day 7 after application. Pyraclostrobin, propiconazole, difenoconazole, and prochloraz were applied twice at doses of 75, 125, 150, and 200 mg a.i./kg at 7‐day intervals, and the residues of the four fungicides in figs were acceptable 7 days after the last application. Therefore, the safety interval can be set at 7 days for 70% difenoconazole‐prochloraz wettable powder and 40% pyraclostrobin‐propiconazole aqueous emulsion according to the protocol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method was developed for the determination of monocrotaline and usaramine in rat plasma, to study the plasma drug concentration and pharmacokinetics, and to calculate the absolute bioavailability. The plasma was treated with acetonitrile and methanol (9:1, v/v) protein precipitation method. The chromatographic column was UPLC HSS T3 (50 mm × 2.1 mm, 1.7 μm), the mobile phase was methanol-water (containing 0.1% formic acid with 10 mM ammonium acetate in water), and the elution time was 4 min at a flow rate of 0.4 mL min−1. Electrospray ionization (ESI) positive ion mode was used for detection and multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode was used for quantitative analysis. Monocrotaline and usaramine were administered sublingual intravenously (iv) 1 mg kg−1 and orally (po) 5 mg kg−1, respectively, with 6 rats in each group, for a total of 24 rats. Then the pharmacokinetic differences in rats were evaluated. For the UPLC-MS/MS method, the calibration curve showed good linearity in the range of 2–2,000 ng mL−1, where r was greater than 0.99. The precision, accuracy, recovery, matrix effect and stability results were all consistent with the requirements of biological sample detection methods. to provide scientific experimental basis for the basic research The bioavailability of monocrotaline and usaramine in rat plasma was calculated, which was 43.5 and 19.5%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a UPLC-MS/MS assay was established for the determination of morphine, codeine, thebaine, papaverine and noscapine in rat plasma. ACQUITY UPLC BEH C18 column was employed for chromatographic separation with the mobile phase comprised acetonitrile-10 mmol L−1 ammonium acetate aqueous solution (0.05% aqueous ammonia) using gradient elution. Midazolam was used as internal standard (IS). Electrospray ionization (ESI) in positive-ion mode with reaction monitoring (MRM) was used for quantitative analysis. The calibration curves for morphine, codeine, thebaine, papaverine and noscapine demonstrated good linearity (r > 0.995) in the range of 5–500 ng mL−1 for morphine and codeine, and 1–100 ng mL−1 for thebaine, papaverine and noscapine. The intra-day and inter-day precisions of morphine, codeine, thebaine, papaverine and noscapine were within 15%, the intra-day and inter-day accuracies were 89–114%, the recovery was better than 65%, and the matrix effects were 96–112%. The developed UPLC-MS/MS assay was successfully applied in the pharmacokinetics of papaverine and noscapine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: The goal of this study was to develop and validate a UPLC-MS/MS method for simultaneous measurement of 13 AEDs, including carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, lamotrigine, levetiracetam, topiramate, primidone, zonisamide, gabapentin, lacosamide, perampanel, pregabalin, rufinamide, and vigabatrin, in whole blood samples. Methods: A UPLC-MS/MS method for simultaneous determination of 13 AEDs in whole blood was developed, and validation was conducted for accuracy, precision, limit of quantification (LOQ), matrix effect, and stability. Our method was compared to two different hospitals using UPLC-MS/MS. Results: All AEDs exhibited linearity across the AMR (analytical measurement range), with R² values ranging from 0.994 to 1.000. The imprecision and inaccuracy for low and high quality control (QC) levels were within an acceptable range, with the coefficient of variation (CV) < 15%. The LOQ was 0.62 μg/mL for carbamazepine, 1.61 μg/mL for oxcarbazepine, 1.30 μg/mL for lamotrigine, 13.20 μg/mL for levetiracetam, 1.26 μg/mL for topiramate, 1.01 μg/mL for primidone, 1.59 μg/mL for zonisamide, 1.09 μg/mL for lacosamide, 1.61 μg/mL for gabapentin, 0.50 μg/mL for pregabalin, 0.07 ng/mL for perampanel, 3.00 μg/mL for rufinamide, and 2.06 μg/mL for vigabatrin. All AEDs demonstrated acceptable assay parameters for carryover, stability, and matrix effects. Moreover, the assay showed satisfactory results compared to two different hospitals with a bias of less than 15%. Conclusions: We successfully developed and validated a fast and robust UPLC-MS/MS method for routine therapeutic drug monitoring of thirteen antiepileptic drugs simultaneously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To establish an UPLC-MS/MS method for determinating content of three paclitaxel fatty acid esters such as paclitaxel myristate (PTX-MA), paclitaxel palmitate (PTX-PA) and paclitaxel myristate (PTX-SA) in mouse plasma, and preliminarily investigate the pharmacokinetic characteristics of their liposomes in mice. Methods Eclipse Plus C8 chromatography column (2.1 mm×50 mm, 1.8 μm) was used with different proportions of 0.2% formic acid aqueous solution (A) and methanol (B) mixture as mobile phase for gradient elution at a flow rate of 0.3 ml/min. The collum temperature was 30℃. The sample injection volume was 10 μl. The triple quadrupole mass series spectrometer was used as multi-reaction monitoring (MRM) . Results PTXMA, PTX-PA and PTX-SA all exhibited a good linear relationship in the range of 5.0～500.0 ng/ml (r>0.9950) . Their RSD of precision, stability, extraction recovery rate and matrix effect test results was all less than 10%. The half-lives (t1/2) for liposomes of three paclitaxel fatty acid esters PTX-MA-L、PTX-PA-L and PTX-SA-L in mice were 14.78 h, 44.49 h and 69.32 h individually, and their clearance rates (CL) were 29.06 L·kg/h, 24.94 L·kg/h and 13.74 L·kg/h, respectively. Conclusion This method had high specificity, sensitivity, easy operation and good stability, which could be used for the determination of paclitaxel fatty acid esters in mouse plasma. The results of pharmacokinetic studies in mice showed that t1/2 for paclitaxel fatty acid esters were significantly prolonged, and the clearance rate were significantly reduced with the length of fatty acid carbon chains increasement, which indicated that esterification of paclitaxel with different chain length saturated fatty acids could obviously alter its in vivo pharmacokinetic properties, which provided scientific basis for the research and development of nano formulations of paclitaxel fatty acid ester prodrug. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of individuals consuming health supplements is to attain a robust state through nutritional regulation. However, some unscrupulous manufacturers, motivated by profit, fraudulently incorporate drugs or unauthorized components with therapeutic effects into the product for instant product performance enhancement. The long-term use of these products may inadvertently inflict harm on human health and fail to promote nutritive healthcare. The illegal inclusion of these substances is prevalent in kidney-tonifying and sexuality-enhancing products. Developing effective analytical methods to identify these products and screen for illegal added ingredients can effectively prevent such products from reaching and remaining on the market. A target screening method for the detection and quantification of 90 phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE-5is) in 5 kinds of health products was developed and validated. The type of dietary supplements varied from tablets, capsules, and protein powder to wine and beverages. Sample preparation was completed with a one-step liquid phase extraction. The screening process of 90 PDE-5is was done efficiently within 25 min by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) using the dynamic multiple reaction monitoring (dMRM) technique. The LODs of 90 PDE-5is were detected at levels ranging from 25 to 85 ng/g or ng/mL. This novel targeting methodology was effective and can be applied to routine market supervision. Among 286 batches of samples, 8 batches were found to be positive. Three kinds of PDE-5is were first detected in healthy products. The screening method demonstrated herein will be a promising and powerful tool for rapid screening of PDE-5is. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study examined the pharmacokinetics of IMM‐H012 in rat plasma, utilizing ultra‐performance liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC‐MS/MS). Internal standard cilostazol was employed, and plasma samples were processed using acetonitrile precipitation. A mobile phase (acetonitrile–0.1% formic acid in water) with gradient elution was used to achieve chromatographic separation using a UPLC BEH C18 column. In multiple reaction monitoring mode, electrospray ionization MS/MS was utilized in positive ionization mode. Based on findings, the lower limit of quantification was 2 ng/mL, and the linearity of IMM‐H012 in rat plasma was found to be acceptable within the range of 2–2000 ng/mL (R2 > 0.995). The intra‐day and inter‐day precision relative standard deviation was less than 14% of IMM‐H012 in rat plasma. The matrix effect was within the range of 102%–107%, and the accuracy ranged from 92% to 113%. Pharmacokinetics of IMM‐H012 in rats after oral administration were successfully studied using UPLC‐MS/MS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the disruption of synaptic communication among millions of neurons. Recent research has highlighted the potential therapeutic effectiveness of natural polyphenolic compounds in addressing AD. Soybeans are abundant in polyphenols, and their polyphenolic composition undergoes significant alteration through fermentation by Eurotium cristatum. Through comprehensive database searches, we identified active components within fermented soybean polyphenols and genes associated with AD. Subsequently, we utilized Venn diagrams to analyze the overlap between AD‐related genes and these components. Furthermore, we visualized the network between intersecting targets and proteins using Cytoscape software. The anti‐AD effects of soybeans were further explored through comprehensive analysis, including protein–protein interaction analysis, pathway enrichment analysis, and molecular docking studies. Our investigation unveiled 6‐hydroxydaidzein as a major component of fermented soybean polyphenols, shedding light on its potential therapeutic significance in combating AD. The intersection between target proteins of fermented soybeans and disease‐related targets in AD comprised 34 genes. Protein–protein interaction analysis highlighted key potential targets, including glyceraldehyde‐3‐phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (GSK3B), amyloid precursor protein (APP), cyclin‐dependent kinase 5 (CDK5), and beta‐site APP cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1). Molecular docking results demonstrated a robust binding effect between major components from fermented soybeans and the aforesaid key targets implicated in AD treatment. These findings suggest that fermented soybeans demonstrate a degree of efficacy and present promising prospects in the prevention of AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Bile acids (BAs), products of gut microbiota metabolism, have long been implicated in atherosclerotic disease pathogenesis. Characterizing the serum bile acid profile and exploring its potential role in carotid atherosclerosis (CAS) development are crucial tasks. Methods: In this study, we recruited 73 patients with CAS as the disease group and 77 healthy individuals as the control group. We systematically measured the serum concentrations of 15 bile acids using ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). Multivariate logistic regression and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression were applied to analyze the impact of bile acids on the disease and select the key BAs. The possible molecular mechanism was elucidated by network pharmacology. Results: (1) The BA profile of patients with CAS significantly differed. (2) Multifactorial logistic regression analysis identified elevated levels of GCDCA (OR: 1.01, P < 0.001), DCA (OR: 1.01, P = 0.005), and TDCA (OR: 1.05, P = 0.002) as independent risk factors for CAS development. Conversely, GCA (OR: 0.99, P = 0.020), LCA (OR: 0.83, P = 0.002), and GUDCA (OR: 0.99, P = 0.003) were associated with protective effects against the disease. GCA, DCA, LCA, and TDCA were identified as the four key BAs. (3) TNF, FXR, GPBAR1, ESR1 and ACE were predicted to be targets of BAs against AS. These four BAs potentially impact AS progression by triggering signaling pathways, including cAMP, PPAR, and PI3K-AKT pathways, via their targets. Conclusion: This study offers valuable insights into potential therapeutic strategies for atherosclerosis that target bile acids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The experiment aims to establish a convenient and rapid universal quick purification column as a pre-treatment method, shortening the pre-treatment time by optimizing steps such as extraction and purification, and conducting rapid quantitative analysis of common mycotoxins in feed. The experiment has established an UPLC-MS/MS method for the rapid determination of seven mycotoxins in feed based on the Myco purification column filled with MOFS materials. The feed sample is extracted with acetonitrile-water, vortexed, loaded and purified through the Myco purification column, with 5 mmol/L ammonium formate-methanol as the mobile phase, and quantified by the external standard method using UPLC-MS/MS. The results show that the seven mycotoxins have a good linear relationship in the range of 0.5~500 μg/L, with a correlation coefficient (R2) > 0.99. The method detection limit is 0.5~2.0 μg/kg, and the quantification limit is 2.0~ 5.0 μg/kg. The recovery rates of the seven toxins at low, medium, and high levels of spiking in blank samples are 82.3%~ 96.8%, with relative standard deviations of 2.1%~9.3%. The results indicate that the UPLC-MS/MS method established based on the Myco purification column for the rapid determination of mycotoxins in feed is simple to handle and reliable, suitable for the quantitative determination of the seven mycotoxins in most feeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Pycnogenol (PYC), a standardized extract from French maritime pine, has traditionally been used to treat inflammation. However, its primary active components and their mechanisms of action have not yet been determined. Methods: This study employed UPLC-MS/MS (Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry) and network pharmacology to identify the potential active components of PYC and elucidate their anti inflammatory mechanisms by cell experiments. Results: 768 PYC compounds were identified and 19 anti-inflammatory compounds were screened with 85 target proteins directly involved in the inflammation. PPI (protein-protein interaction) analysis identified IL6, TNF, MMP9, IL1B, AKT1, IFNG, CXCL8, NFKB1, CCL2, IL10, and PTGS2 as core targets. KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) enrichment analysis suggested that the compound in PYC might exert anti-inflammatory effects through the IL17 and TNF signal pathways. Cell experiments determined that PYC treatment can reduce the expression of IL6 and IL1β to relieve inflammation in LPS (lipopolysaccharide)-induced BV2 cells. Conclusion: PYC could affect inflammation via multi-components, -targets, and -mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ketamine (KET) and its analogs consumed by humans are becoming emerging contaminants (ECs), as they at present in surface waters after being carried through wastewater systems. Drugs in wastewater can be analyzed using the direct-injection method, a simple wastewater analysis (WWA) method that can provide objective, continuous and nearly to real-time findings. This article describes an ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC–MS/MS) method for the simultaneous quantification and confirmation of seven KET-based ECs in wastewater by direct injection. After optimization of the UPLC–MS/MS and sample pretreatment conditions, the method was validated and applied to samples (n = 157) collected from several wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in southern China in which KET had the highest detection rate. The established direct-injection method was not only simple to perform but also had better sensitivity, shorter detection times, and analyzed more KET-based ECs than currently published methods, meeting the requirements for the monitoring and high-throughput analysis of common KET-based ECs. We also analyzed the fragmentation pathway of KET-based ECs to obtain product ion information on other unknown substances. Additional studies are needed to establish a comprehensive direct-injection screening method of ECs in wastewater on model-based assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neonicotinoids (NEOs), highly selective toward insect nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, are extensively used due to their effectiveness against pests and relative non‐toxicity to vertebrates. However, their prolonged persistence in soil and water has led to frequent detection in food and environmental samples, posing significant environmental and health concerns. Recent research indicates these pesticides infiltrate aquatic ecosystems, threatening aquatic life and human health. Here, we improved the ultra‐performance liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry method for detecting NEOs in water samples, increasing its sensitivity to fulfill forthcoming detection needs. This approach enables the simultaneous quantification of eight NEOs and five NEO metabolites in diverse water sources, including tap, surface, groundwater, sewage, and seawater. Our method achieves remarkably low detection limits for direct injection (0.78–1.7 ng/L) and solid‐phase extraction methods (0.13–0.25 ng/L). Critically, our findings reveal that boiling domestic drinking water doesn't degrade NEOs; instead, it increases their concentration due to water evaporation. A 6‐min boiling period can amplify pesticide concentration by 4–5 times, presenting a significant hazard in culinary practices of specific regions where prolonged cooking could lead to alarmingly high levels of these insecticides. This research underscores the importance of monitoring and mitigating NEO contamination in water sources to safeguard environmental and public health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: What are the main findings? The validated method was robust, reliable, and sensitive for quantifying ABZ, ABZ-OX, ABZ-ON, and PR simultaneously from the plasma and dried blood spots. The method is well suited for therapeutic drug monitoring due to its high sensitivity, minimal sample volume requirement, and the ability for remote collection. What is the implication of the main finding? Dried blood spot (DBS) analysis represents an alternative sampling technique over conventional blood-sampling methods, particularly for sample collection, enabling a non-clinical setup without requiring special equipment or trained healthcare personnel. Additionally, it minimizes the solvent volume and analysis time and reduces transportation and storage needs. Millions of individuals throughout the world suffer from lymphatic filariasis (LF), which is a morbid disease caused by Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia malayi, and Brugia timori. These infections belong to tissue-invading nematodes and are one of the major neglected tropical diseases that often result in permanent and enduring disability among individuals in endemic regions. Due to combination therapy, LF eradication has drastically decreased infections globally. The development of blood micro-sampling techniques allowing precise quantitation of drugs in blood would facilitate pharmacokinetic (PK) studies in remote populations. Therefore, an LC-MS/MS bioanalytical method was utilized to analyze albendazole (ABZ), albendazole sulfone (ABZ-ON), albendazole sulfoxide (ABZ-OX), and probenecid (PR) in plasma and dried blood spots. Solid-phase extraction was utilized to extract the analyte from both plasma and blood-spiked DBS. Analytes of interest were eluted with a gradient mobile system using 0.05% formic acid in water (A) and 0.05% formic acid in methanol (B) and separated using a reversed-phase Acquity ®BEH C18 UPLC column (100 × 2.1 mm, 1.7 µm). Precision and accuracy at each QC level were within the acceptable limit, i.e., ±15% for all analytes in both the matrices. Tests for stability under laboratory and storage conditions indicated that no notable changes were observed for plasma and DBS. The LC-MS/MS method demonstrated its capability to consistently identify all target analytes (ABZ, ABZ-ON, ABZ-OX, and PR) at low concentrations, even at the small specimen volumes obtained from DBS cards. This confirms the efficacy and durability of DBS cards as a micro-sampling technique. Moreover, it enhances collection efforts for therapeutic drug monitoring in remote locations for patients infected with lymphatic filariasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mycotoxins, natural toxins produced by fungi, contaminate nearly 80% of global food crops. Alternaria mycotoxins, including alternariol (AOH), alternariol monomethylether (AME), and tenuazonic acid (TeA), present a health concern due to their prevalence in various plants and fruits. Exposure to these toxins exceeds the threshold of toxicological concern in some European populations, especially infants and toddlers. Despite this, regulatory standards for Alternaria toxins remain absent. The lack of toxicokinetic parameters, reference levels, and sensitive detection methods complicates risk assessment and highlights the necessity for advanced biomonitoring (HBM) techniques. This study addresses these challenges by developing and validating ultra-high performance liquid chromatography method coupled with tandem mass spectrometry to quantify AOH, AME, TeA, and their conjugates in multiple biological matrices. The validated method demonstrates robust linearity, precision, recovery (94–111%), and sensitivity across urine (LOD < 0.053 ng/mL), capillary blood (LOD < 0.029 ng/mL), and feces (LOD < 0.424 ng/g), with significantly lower LOD for TeA compared to existing methodologies. The application of minimally invasive microsampling techniques for the blood collection enhances the potential for large-scale HBM studies. These advancements represent a step toward comprehensive HBM and exposure risk assessments for Alternaria toxins, facilitating the generation of data for regulatory authorities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A total of 769 wheat kernels collected from six provinces in China were analyzed for beauvericin (BEA) and four enniatins (ENNs), namely, ENA, ENA1, ENB and ENB1, using a solid phase extraction (SPE) technique with ultra-high performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). The results show that the predominant toxin was BEA, which had a maximum of 387.67 μg/kg and an average of 37.69 μg/kg. With regard to ENNs, the prevalence and average concentrations of ENB and ENB1 were higher than those of ENA and ENA1. The geographical distribution of BEA and ENNs varied. Hubei and Shandong exhibited the highest and lowest positive rates of BEA and ENNs (13.46% and 87.5%, respectively). However, no significant difference was observed among these six provinces. There was a co-occurrence of BEA and ENNs, and 42.26% of samples were simultaneously detected with two or more toxins. Moreover, a significant linear correlation in concentrations was observed between the four ENN analogs (r range: 0.75~0.96, p < 0.05). This survey reveals that the contamination and co-contamination of BEA and ENNs in Chinese wheat kernels were very common. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

VX‐548 is an orally active and highly selective NaV 1.8 inhibitor that is undergoing development for the treatment of acute pain. The aim of this study was to develop a liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometric (LC–MS/MS) method for the measurement of VX‐548 in monkey plasma. VX‐548 was extracted from the plasma using acetonitrile‐mediated protein precipitation. The quantitative analysis was performed on a Thermo Vantage TSQ mass spectrometer with ibrutinib as an internal standard. Chromatography was performed on a Waters ACQUITY UPLC BEH C18 column with 0.1% aqueous formic acid and acetonitrile as mobile phase. The precursor‐to‐product ion transitions were m/z 474.2 > 165.0 and m/z 441.2 > 138.1 for VX‐548 and internal standard, respectively. This developed method was successfully validated in the concentration range of 1–1000 ng/mL. The calibration curve showed excellent linearity with a correlation coefficient of >0.999. The precision expressed as relative standard deviation (RSD) was <8.4%, whereas the accuracy denoted as relative error (RE) ranged from −5.0% to 9.1%. The mean recovery was >84%. VX‐548 was stable in monkey plasma after storage under certain conditions. The validated method was successfully applied to the pharmacokinetic study of VX‐548 in monkey plasma after single oral (2 mg/kg) and intravenous (1 mg/kg) administrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]