The determination of low d5-phenylalanine enrichment (0.002-0.09 atom percent excess), after conversion to phenylethylamine, in relation to protein turnover studies by gas chromatography/electron ionization mass spectrometry.

A gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) method for measuring very low levels of enrichment of d5-phenylalanine (0.002-0.09 atom percent excess) is described. This method makes it possible to determine the enrichment of amino acid incorporated into tissue protein during studies of protein synthesis in man. Phenylalanine is enzymatically converted to phenylethylamine and the d5-enrichment is measured in the heptafluorobutyryl derivative by selective-ion recording under electron ionization conditions. The coefficients of variation for muscle-protein hydrolysate samples enriched with d5-phenylalanine at the 0.005 and 0.05 atom percent excess levels were 6.0 and 1.2%, respectively. This precision at low enrichment and the small amount of protein needed (about 1 mg) provide real advantages for clinical studies of tissue protein synthesis. Moreover, in contrast to the conventional approach which uses GC/MS for plasma amino acids (typically 2-20 atom percent excess) but gas isotope-ratio mass spectrometry for protein-bound amino acids, the enrichment of both plasma-free and protein-bound d5-phenylalanine can be measured with a single instrument.     

Quantitation of N epsilon-(dichloroacetyl)-L-lysine in proteins after perchloroethene exposure by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry using chemical ionization and negative ion detection followingimmunoaffinity chromatography.

An antibody specific to N epsilon-(dichloroacetyl)-L-lysine (DCA-Lys) was immobilized to immunoaffinity columns for the use in selective enrichment of dichloroacetylated proteins. These result from the reaction with dichlorothioketene the beta-lyase cleavage product of the perchloroethene metabolite S-(trichlorovinyl)-L-cysteine. Dichloroacetylated proteins from rat kidney mitochondria, rat plasma and human blood plasma were isolated after exposure to 40 ppm tetrachloroethene (PER) for 6 h. After acid hydrolysis of the protein fraction, DCA-Lys was derivatized with 1,3-dichloro-1,1,3,3-tetrafluoroacetone using N epsilon-(trifluoroacetyl)-L-lysine as internal standard. Recovery of dichloroacetylated reference proteins from immunoaffinity columns was about 73%. Samples were analyzed by GC-MS with chemical ionization and negative ion (NCI) detection showing DCA-Lys in proteins with 2.26 (+/- 0.02) pmol/mg protein in male rat kidney mitochondria and 1.92 (+/- 0.05) pmol/mg total mitochondrial protein in female rats. In rat plasma 0.47 (+/- 0.006) pmol DCA-Lys/mg protein in male and 0.34 (+/- 0.02) in female animals were found. DCA-Lys could not be detected in blood plasma of human volunteers exposed to PER with a detection limit of 20 fmol for the DCA-Lys derivative 2,2-bis(chlorodifluoromethyl)-4-(1-dichloroacetamido)-butyl- 1,3-oxazolidine-5-one. Immunoaffinity chromatography with specific antibodies provides a powerful tool for the enrichment of minor quantities of dichloroacetyled proteins in biological samples for GC-NCI-MS analysis of the modified amino acid lysine having broad utility in the biomonitoring of PER exposure.     

Rapid analysis of sorbitol, galactitol, mannitol and myoinositol mixtures from biological sources

The three commonly found hexitols mannitol, sorbitol and galactitol are well separated from each other and from myoinositol by gas chromatography as their butylboronate derivative on Dexsil-400, on a 1:1 mixture of OV-1 and OV-17, or on a DB-17 fused-silica capillary column. The method allows all four substances to be measured by autosampling electron ionization gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) in small tissue samples at organ concentrations as small as 5 mumol/kg wet mass in less than 4 min. Comparisons were made to determine the relative sensitivity of GC-MS and other detection methods. The order of sensitivity was electron ionization GC-MS greater than chemical ionization GC-MS greater than flame photometric detection using a boron-selective filter greater than hydrogen flame ionization detection.     

Highly sensitive method for the determination of 5-fluorouracil in biological samples in the presence of 2'-deoxy-5-fluorouridine by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

A highly sensitive and convenient gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric (GC-MS) method is described for the determination of 5-fluorouracil in the presence of 2'-deoxy-5-fluorouridine (which breaks down into 5-fluorouracil during ordinary GC derivatization) in biological samples such as plasma and urine. After extraction with ethyl acetate, 5-fluorouracil and 5-chlorouracil, the latter being used as an internal standard, were converted into their tert.-butyldimethylsilyl derivatives by allowing the mixture to stand for 30 min at room temperature and were assayed by electron-impact ionization GC-MS. Under these conditions, 2'-deoxy-5-fluorouridine did not decompose or interfere with the determination of 5-fluorouracil. The assay method, including the extraction and tert.-butyldimethylsilyl derivatization of 5-fluorouracil, showed good linearity in the range 0-100 ng/ml for 5-fluorouracil in plasma (detection limit 0.5 ng/ml) and urine (detection limit 1 ng/ml). The usefulness of this method was demonstrated by determining plasma concentrations of 5-fluorouracil in rats treated intravenously with 5-fluorouracil and 2'-deoxy-5-fluorouridine.     

High performance liquid chromatographic determination of methyl ethyl ketone in urine as its 3-methyl-2-benzothiazolinone hydrazone derivative

Summary A HPLC method for the determination of methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) in urine after derivatization with 3-methyl-2-benzothiazolinone hydrazone is proposed. The calibration curve for the ketone was linear, ranging between 0.23–10 mg/L, with a detection limit of 0.025 mg/L. The results were compared to those obtained by GC-MS, coupled to the headspace technique. MEK derivatization and the derivative purification processes were verified with respect to the main variables such as reaction temperature, reagent concentration, probable interferences and enrichment phase. The method is simple and reliable and shows a good sensitivity.     

Quantification of 5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine in plasma by gas chromatography and negative-ion chemical ionization mass spectrometry.

A sensitive and specific method using gas chromatography and negative-ion chemical ionization mass spectrometry is described for the determination of 5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine (FdUrd) in plasma. The method is based on the formation of the pentafluoropropionyl derivative of FdUrd and of its stable isotope as internal standard after sample clean-up by solid-phase extraction and purification by high-performance liquid chromatography. Quantification in plasma was possible down to 300 pg/ml. The method was applied to the analysis of plasma levels of FdUrd in mice and dogs.     

Comparison of electron and chemical ionization modes by validation of a quantitative gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric assay of new generation antidepressants and their active metabolites in plasma

A gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric method (GC-MS) for the simultaneous determination of the 'new' antidepressants (mirtazapine, viloxazine, venlafaxine, trazodone, citalopram, mianserin, reboxetine, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, sertraline, maprotiline, melitracen, paroxetine) and their active metabolites (desmethylmirtazapine, O-desmethylvenlafaxine, m-chlorophenylpiperazine, desmethylcitalopram, didesmethylcitalopram, desmethylmianserin, desmethylfluoxetine, desmethylsertraline, desmethylmaprotiline) in plasma using different ionization modes was developed and validated. Sample preparation consisted of a strong cation exchange mechanism and derivatisation with heptafluorobutyrylimidazole. The GC separation was performed in 24.8 min. Identification and quantification were based on selected ion monitoring in electron (EI) and chemical ionization (CI) modes. Calibration by linear and quadratic regression for electron and chemical ionization, respectively, utilized deuterated internal standards and a weighing factor 1/x(2). Limits of quantitation were established between 5 and 12.5 ng/ml in EI and positive ionization CI (PICI), and 1 and 6.25 ng/ml in negative ionization CI (NICI). During validation stability, sensitivity, precision, accuracy, recovery, and selectivity were evaluated for each ionization mode and were demonstrated to be acceptable for most compounds. While it is clear that not all compounds can be quantitated either due to chromatographic (trazodone) or derivatisation problems (O-desmethylvenlafaxine), this method can quantitate most new antidepressants (ADs) in the therapeutic range using EI. PICI and NICI lead to higher selectivity. Moreover, NICI is of interest for small sample volumes and high sensitivity requirements. This paper draws the attention to the pros and cons of the different ionization modes in the GC-MS analysis of these antidepressants in plasma.     

Determination of [(13)C]galactose enrichment in human plasma by gas chromatography/positive chemical ionization tandem mass spectrometry

Galactosemia is a potentially fatal disease resulting from a deficiency of galactose-1-phosphate uridyl transferase. In order to perform mechanistic studies designed to elucidate further the etiology of the disease, we required a method to monitor (13)C enrichment in plasma galactose following a single oral dose or intravenous infusion of [1-(13)C]galactose. Determinations of plasma [(13)C]galactose enrichment requires methodology with extremely high specificity because of potential interference from other low molecular mass plasma constituents and from glucose, an isomer which is present in much higher concentrations. We have developed a method based on gas chromatography/positive chemical ionization tandem mass spectrometry (GC/PCI-MS/MS) for the precise and accurate determination of plasma [(13)C]galactose enrichment. The method employed a pentaacetylaldononitrile derivative of galactose in order to improve its GC and MS characteristics. Peak areas resulting from the transitions m/z 328 --> 106 and m/z 329 --> 107 were used to quantify the relative abundance of labeled and unlabeled galactose. Validation of the method was performed by determination of the precision and accuracy over a wide range of galactose concentrations and (13)C enrichments. The GC/PCI-MS/MS method was able to determine accurately enrichments at galactose concentrations down to 0.8 microM in the presence of 4 mM glucose, making it both highly selective and the most sensitive method currently available.     

气相色谱-质谱法测定血浆中双氯芬酸钠的含量

提出了应用气相色谱-质谱法测定血浆中双氯芬酸钠含量。血浆样品中双氯芬酸钠经盐酸提取,并加入三甲基硅烷衍生化试剂进行衍生化,所得衍生化产物经萃取、净化后供气相色谱分离及质谱测定。采用选择离子质谱扫描方式,供试品双氯芬酸钠-三甲基硅烷衍生物定量选择离子检测质荷比为m/z367,内标物布洛芬-三甲基硅烷衍生物定量选择离子检测质荷比为m/z263。双氯芬酸钠的线性范围为0.005～5.0mg·mL-1,检出限(3S/N)为0.5μg.L-1。方法回收率在94.6%～97.4%之间,日内、日间相对标准偏差(n=6)均小于5%。     

Carbon nanotubes (2,5-dihydroxybenzoyl hydrazine) derivative as pH adjustable enriching reagent and matrix for MALDI analysis of trace peptides

A functionalized carbon nanotube (CNT), CNT 2,5-dihydroxybenzoyl hydrazine derivative, was synthesized and used as both pH adjustable enriching reagent and matrix in matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) analysis of trace peptides. The derivative reagent, 2,5-dihydroxybenzoyl hydrazine, introduced phenolic hydroxyl and phenyl groups to the surface of the CNT. The former group can provide adjustable surface charge and a source of protons for chemical ionization, and the latter helps to keep strong ultraviolet absorption for enhancing pulsed laser desorption and ionization. It was found that the functionalized CNT was less twisted in a basic condition (pH 10.5), which afforded an increased surface area to volume ratio for adsorption towards trace peptides. However, functionalized CNT becomes deposited in an acidic condition (pH 5) and can be isolated readily from the sample solutions once the nanoparticles have trapped the target analytes, thus providing a novel and convenient alternative method for quick isolation. Compared with the previously reported method on enriching analytes using the pristine CNT, it is observed that the detection limit for analytes can be greatly improved due to enhancing adsorption capacity of the functionalized CNT. Moreover, peptide mixture at concentration as low as 0.01 pg/microL still can be detected after enrichment mediated by the functionalized CNT, while it is difficult to be detected without enrichment at concentration 0.1 pg/microL using alpha-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid (CHCA) as matrix. Therefore, high efficiency of adsorption and enrichment towards trace peptides can be achieved by adjusting pH value of the functionalized CNT dispersion.     

Determination of iphosphamide and seven metabolites in blood plasma,as stable trifluoroacetyl derivatives,by electron capture chemical ionization GC-MS

A method is described for the determination of the antitumor agent iphosphamide and seven of its metabolites in the plasma of cancer patients by multiple ion monitoring (MIM) GC-MS, mainly using the electron capture chemical ionization mode, of stable methyl and/or trifluoroacetyl derivatives. The metabolites determined were 2- and 3-dechloroethyliphosphamide, 4-ketoiphosphamide, carboxyiphosphamide, iphosphamide mustard, and two previously undetected metabolites, chloroethylamine and 1,3-oxazolidine-2-one. The isolation of the acidic and neutral metabolites was performed by solid phase extraction on to C₁₈ adsorbent at pH 4. The weakly acidic iphosphamide mustard, isolated under these conditions with a yield of ca 50%, was measured as a stable methyltrifluoroacetyl derivative, in contrast to the corresponding phosphoramide mustard of the isomer cyclophosphamide which decomposes during derivatization. Chloroethylamine and 1,3-oxazolidine-2-one were isolated with high yield by liquid extraction with ethyl acetate at pH 10. Selective measurement of several metabolite derivatives with similar retention times was performed by multiple ion monitoring MS of specific ion masses, using a methyl phenyl siloxane capillary column previously employed in the study of cyclophosphamide metabolites. Quantitation of metabolites in patient plasma samples could be performed in the concentration range 3 ng to 20 μg per ml of original plasma.     

N-methyl-N-alkylsilyltrifluoroacetamide-I2 as a new derivatization reagent for anabolic steroid control.

Analytical methods for the control of growth promoters have to be specific and sensitive. At low concentration levels, it is difficult to identify some molecules unambiguously even with the improved performance of analytical methods. GC-MS analysis of 17 beta-trenbolone and its major metabolite, 17 alpha-trenbolone, is a good example. A new derivatization agent has been developed which is based on silylation of the 3- and 17-oxygenated functions and nucleophilic substitution in the 4-position. The structure of the derivatized products was demonstrated using a simple model, cyclohex-2-en-1-one, by NMR and MS spectrometry. In contrast to data found in the literature, this derivative permitted specific mass spectra for trenbolone, sensitive signals for high mass ions and reproducible gas chromatograms to be obtained. The addition of an N(CH3)COCF3 radical to the steroid nucles allowed highly specific detection in GC-high resolution MS even following extraction from complex matrices; sensitive responses were also observed in the negative chemical ionization mode. Moreover, there are significant differences in the electron ionization mass spectra of the two stereoisomers, 17 alpha- and 17 beta-trenbolone. These preliminary results and those obtained for androsta-1,4-dien-3-one and pregna-4,6-dien-3-one indicate useful advances for the determination of steroids and potential applications for metabolism studies on such compounds.     

Determination of plasma [6,6-2H2]glucose enrichment by a simple and accurate gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric method.

An improved method for the evaluation of glucose turnover rate in humans, using a prime-continuous infusion of [6,6-2H2]glucose, was developed. Deproteinization of plasma and conversion of glucose into the aldononitrile pentaacetate derivative are the only sample manipulations required prior to the gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric analysis. In six normal adults (prime = 5 mg kg-1; continuous infusion = 0.05 mg kg-1 min-1) the hepatic glucose output calculated at steady state by the procedure described here was 2.1 +/- 0.2 mg kg-1 min-1, the isotopic enrichment being determined with a coefficient of variation of ca. 2%. In six additional subjects, with half of the above-mentioned doses of labelled glucose, the mean hepatic glucose output was exactly the same (3.2% coefficient of variation for the isotopic enrichment measurement). The method described allows the hepatic glucose output to be precisely determined with savings both of time and of labelled glucose.     

Determination of brominated alkylbenzenes in nickel industry sludge by capillary gas chromatography

Summary Capillary gas chromatography coupled to both mass spectrometry (GCMS) and atomic emission spectroscopy (GC-AED) was studied for the analysis of bromine-containing alkylbenzenes present in sludge from a nickel refinery. Owing to the high abundance of chlorinated compounds, location of the brominated species was difficult based on GC-MS with electron ionization. In contrast, GC-MS with negative chemical ionization (GC-NCIMS) and GC-AED enabled bromine-selective detection and were utilized for an effective location of the brominated compounds. Bromine-selective detection by GC-NCIMS relied on the monitoring of Br⁻ (m/z 79/81) with CH₄ as ionization gas, while atomic emission (827.2 nm) from a helium plasma was utilized in the case of GC-AED. While GC-NCIMS was 30–500 times more sensitive than GC-AED, the latter technique was superior for quantitative purposes. Because the bromine response of the AED was independent of molecular structure, quantification was possible without reference material.     

Use of high-performance liquid chromatography-thermospray mass spectrometry and gas chromatography-electron-impact mass spectrometry in the identification of the metabolites of alpha-methylacetohydroxamic acids, potential anti-asthmatic agents

Two potential anti-asthmatic alpha-methylacetohydroxamic acids, compound 1 and compound II were metabolised to two major products (metabolite 1 and metabolite 2) after oral dosing to rabbits. Metabolite 1, extracted under acid conditions from the plasma and urine of dosed animals, was identified as a glucuronide by incubation with beta-glucuronidase and subsequent high-performance liquid chromatographic-mass spectrometric (HPLC-MS) analysis of the aglycone. HPLC-MS analysis of metabolite 2 suggested that it was the acetamide, however, unequivocal identification was obtained by further analysis using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) of its trimethylsilyl derivative and by comparison with the mass spectra of the authentic acetamides. This study shows the advantages of combining HPLC-MS with other techniques such as GC-MS for the identification of metabolites.     

Determination of 4,4'-methylenebis(2-chloroaniline) in urine using capillary gas chromatography and negative ion chemical ionization mass spectrometry.

A highly sensitive and specific gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric (GC-MS) assay for the determination of 4,4'-methylenebis(2-chloroaniline) (MBOCA) in urine is reported. It is based on the solvent extraction of the hydrolysed MBOCA conjugates, together with deuterium-labelled benzidine-d8 added as an internal standard, and a two-phase derivatization procedure involving use of pentafluoropropionic anhydride in the presence of ammonia as the phase-transfer catalyst. The reaction is complete within 2 min at room temperature. The pentafluoropropyl derivatives are determined by use of capillary column GC-MS with selected-ion monitoring in the negative ion chemical ionization mode. The lower limit of detection for MBOCA was 1 microgram dm-3 and the calibration graph showed linearity between 10 and 250 micrograms dm-3. The recovery of the analyte added to pooled urine was above 86%. Thirty urine specimens from workers employed in a polyurethane-producing plant were analysed for MBOCA by this method.     

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with supersonic molecular beams

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) with supersonic molecular beams (SMBs) (also named Supersonic GC-MS) is based on GC and MS interface with SMBs and on the electron ionization (EI) of vibrationally cold analytes in the SMBs (cold EI) in a fly-through ion source. This ion source is inherently inert and further characterized by fast response and vacuum background filtration capability. The same ion source offers three modes of ionization including cold EI, classical EI and cluster chemical ionization (CI). Cold EI, as a main mode, provides enhanced molecular ions combined with an effective library sample identification, which is supplemented and complemented by a powerful isotope abundance analysis method and software. The range of low-volatility and thermally labile compounds amenable for analysis is significantly increased owing to the use of the contact-free, fly-through ion source and the ability to lower sample elution temperatures through the use of high column carrier gas flow rates. Effective, fast GC-MS is enabled particularly owing to the possible use of high column flow rates and improved system selectivity in view of the enhancement of the molecular ion. This fast GC-MS with SMB can be further improved via the added selectivity of MS-MS, which by itself benefits from the enhancement of the molecular ion, the most suitable parent ion for MS-MS. Supersonic GC-MS is characterized by low limits of detection (LOD), and its sensitivity is superior to that of standard GC-MS, particularly for samples that are hard for analysis. The GC separation of the Supersonic GC-MS can be improved with pulsed flow modulation (PFM) GC x GC-MS. Electron ionization LC-MS with SMB can also be combined with the Supersonic GC-MS, with fast and easy switching between these two modes of operation.     

Diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection with the (13)C-urea breath test by means of GC-MS analysis

The diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection by GC-MS detection of the (13)CO(2) enrichment in (13)C-urea breath test ((13)C-UBT) samples is reported. This study aimed to optimize the (13)C-UBT with regards to the diagnostic cut-off value, sampling time, and frequency. The H. pylori status of 103 dyspeptic patients was obtained by histological examination, the rapid urease test as well as with the GC-MS (13)C-UBT. Analytical and diagnostic accuracies were determined by comparison of the GC-MS (13)C-UBT results with that of the analytical and diagnostic gold standards, namely GC-isotope ratio MS (IRMS) and histology. The (13)CO(2) enrichment values obtained with GC-MS analysis, correlated favorably (r(2) = 0.993) with those obtained by GC-IRMS analysis. When compared to histology, the GC-MS (13)C-UBT had a diagnostic sensitivity of 92% and a specificity of 93%. The positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and accuracy were 95, 89, and 92%, respectively. It was concluded that SIM GC-MS is capable of analyzing nonradioactive (13)C-UBT samples, with a precision and accuracy sufficient to distinguish between H. pylori positive and negative patients.     

Automated gas chromatography with cryogenic/sorbent trap for the measurement of volatile organic compounds in the atmosphere

An automated gas chromatographic system was constructed to easily adapt either the cryogenic trap or chemical sorbent trap for preconcentrating ambient levels of volatile organic compounds. Remarkable similarity in chromatograms from C3 to C10 was found between these two enrichment methods, except that the sorbent trap did not quantitatively trap the C2-hydrocarbons. In contrast to cryogenic trapping, the chromatographic conditions for more volatile compounds were substantially improved using the sorbent trap. Water interference on the porous-layer open tubular column was also better managed using the sorbent trap for the continuous analysis of humid room air. The similarity in peak profiles between the GC-flame ionization detection (FID) and a commercial GC-MS system, regardless of concentration levels, facilitated compound identification on the FID chromatograms based on a field mission involving analysis of 106 air samples.     

Features of a micro-gas chromatograph equipped with enrichment device and microchip plasma emission detection (muPED) for air monitoring

A field portable gas chromatograph (GC) was constructed allowing the enrichment of organic solutes from air samples on a miniaturized chemical trap and the subsequent gas chromatographic analysis on a resistively heated capillary column. The heart of the system is an integrated chip-based plasma emission detector (muPED). As a non-selective detector, the sensitivity is similar to that of a flame ionization detector (FID). The detector shows good selectivity for phosphorus, sulfur and chlorine-containing compounds with relative selectivities of ca. 5 x 10(5) gP gC(-1), 50 gS gC(-1) and 10(2) gCl gC(-1). The lifetime of the plasma chip under air monitoring conditions exceeded 3000 analyses.