Headspace solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for the quantitative determination of the characteristic flavouring agent eugenol in serum samples after enzymatic cleavage to validate post-offence alcohol drinking claims

A rapid headspace solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS) method has been developed for the determination of eugenol in serum samples after enzymatic cleavage. Eugenol is a characteristic marker for the consumption of certain alcoholic beverages including some digestif bitters and herbal liqueurs as well as wood-cask-aged spirits. This method enables the detection of eugenol with a limit of detection (LOD) of 3.2 ng/ml and a limit of quantification (LOQ) of 4.8 ng/ml in serum samples with excellent precision (5.3% intraday, 6.9% interday) and linearity (correlation coefficient R2=0.992). Our findings confirm that eugenol undergoes a rapid phase II metabolism as it occurs completely conjugated as eugenol glucuronide in serum. Free eugenol was not detectable in any of our samples, which necessitated enzymatic cleavage with beta-glucuronidase prior to HS-SPME sampling. In vivo experiments were conducted with a volunteer, who consumed a digestif bitter beverage on three different days under controlled conditions. At defined intervals, blood samples were taken from the subject. Using these blood samples, concentration/time profiles for serum eugenol glucuronide were determined. A rapid resorption leads to a peak eugenol glucuronide concentration directly after drinking (up to 1742 ng/ml if 78 mg of eugenol are ingested) followed by a decrease during the next 3h. Blood samples were also taken from 20 drivers claiming to have consumed drinks containing eugenol. In five of the samples, eugenol glucuronide was detected at serum concentrations ranging from 12.1 to 172.3 ng/ml. These test results, in particular, confirm that the analysis of volatile compounds can be useful in forensic toxicology for the verification of post-offence alcohol consumption claims.     

Simple SPE–GC method for anethole determination in human serum

Recently, much attention has been given to congener analysis, which can be used to check the possibility of postoffence drinking claims in forensic toxicology. In this type of analysis, the information given by the defendant regarding the type, quantity, and time of consumption of a specific alcoholic beverage is used to calculate theoretically expected congener concentration in the blood and this is compared with the analytically determined concentrations in the blood sample. Many alcoholic drinks aromatized with essential oils of plants and fruits contain a specific congener, for example, anethole in aniseed drinks. The present study describes the GC procedure of anethole analysis in human plasma using SPE as the sample preparation method. The procedure involves the protein precipitation process, which generally degrades the protein–analyte complex, and SPE isolation of anethole from the examined materials. This analytical approach is proposed as a method of choice for the estimation of anethole concentration in human fluids after the consumption of alcoholic beverages and other foods containing the substance. The described method is characterized by a low LOD (8.33 ng/g) and a very high recovery (average recovery 98.37%) of the analyte.     

HPLC Determination of Ochratoxin A in a Low Volume of Human Blood Serum

Abstract

A high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method has been developed for the determination of ochratoxin A (OTA) in human blood serum. Samples were purified on a C18 solid phase extraction column. The developed method required a relatively low serum volume (0.5 ml). Significant correlation (r of 0.998) was found over the range from 0.10 to 8 ng/ml, with a detection limit of 0.1 ng/ml and better performance in terms of precision and accuracy. Mean recoveries at 0.5 and 2 ng/ml were respectively 69.7±1.2 and 71.9±2.8%. This method was used as a rapid and noninvasive tool to assess human exposure to OTA. Among 40 analyzed serum samples, 27.5% were found to contain OTA with levels going from 0.1 to 11.98 ng/ml with a mean concentration of 0.73±2.35 ng/ml.     

Sensitive method for the determination of the antiarrhythmic drug detajmium in serum by solid-phase extraction and high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorimetric detection.

The objective of this study was to develop a very sensitive and selective method for the determination of detajmium (4-3-diethylamino-2-hydroxypropyl-ajmaline), a sodium-channel-blocking drug with antiarrhythmic properties, in serum. A high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method with solid-phase extraction and fluorimetric detection has been applied. Serum samples were diluted with phosphate buffer (pH 3.5) and the extraction of detajmium and ajmaline, which was used as an internal standard, was carried out with Oasis cartridges (Waters). The chromatographic separation was performed on a RP18 column. The limit of quantification for serum samples of detajmium was 1 ng/ml with good reproducibility (R.S.D. < 15%) and a linear response from 1 to 200 ng/ml. The described method is highly sensitive and specific for the determination of detajmium in serum of patients and volunteers.     

Quantitative determination of tramadol in human serum by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

A gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric method for the quantitative determination of tramadol in human serum, plasma or whole blood samples is described. The method involves the use of [2H2, 15N]tramadol hydrochloride as an internal standard and chemical ionization with isobutane, employing single-ion monitoring for quantification. It is specific, sensitive and precise, and has high accuracy. The within-run coefficient of variation is about 1% between 25 and 200 ng/ml and 1.8-2.9% at the lowest concentrations tested (6.25 and 12.5 ng/ml). The between-run coefficient of variation increases from 1.6% to 5.2% with decreasing concentration from 200 to 12.5 ng/ml. The calibration graphs were linear in the tested concentration range, and the accuracy of the assay was not dependent on the sample volume used. The detection limit was about 4 ng/ml for serum samples of 1 ml. The method proved suitable for pharmacokinetic studies. Its high sensitivity allows measurements of serum concentrations for at least 30 h after the single administration of therapeutic doses of tramadol hydrochloride.     

Simple and sensitive determination of diacetyl and acetoin in biological samples and alcoholic drinks by gas chromatography with electron-capture detection.

Acetoin was quantitatively oxidized into diacetyl by Fe3+ in 1 M perchloric acid. The reaction of diacetyl with 4,5-dichloro-1,2-diaminobenzene afforded 6,7-dichloro-2,3-dimethylquinoxaline (DCDMQ), which was extracted by benzene containing aldrin (25 ng/ml) as an internal standard, and determined by gas chromatography with electron-capture detection. The method is very simple and sensitive. The detection limit of DCDMQ (either diacetyl or acetoin) was 10 fmol/microliters of the benzene extract, and the determination limit of DCDMQ (either diacetyl or acetoin) was 50 fmol/microliters of the extract. Both acetoin and diacetyl could be determined in 0.1 ml of normal human urine or blood, and both were found in rat liver, kidney and brain. The method was also applied to the determination of acetoin and diacetyl in alcoholic drinks.     

Determination of delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol in human blood and saliva by high-performance liquid chromatography with amperometric detection

A rapid, sensitive and selective determination of delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in human plasma, serum and saliva was developed with high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. Initially, samples were deproteinized, followed by a one step liquid-liquid extraction. Samples were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection with 4-dodecylresorcinol as the internal standard. The minimal detectable limit for THC in biological samples was ca. 1 ng/ml with a signal-to-noise ratio greater than 3, corresponding to an on-column sensitivity for THC of ca. 0.5 ng. The detector was operated at + 0.90 V vs. Ag/AgCl and exhibited linearity over a concentration range of 1-150 ng/ml with correlation coefficients of the standard curves greater than 0.99.     

Simultaneous determination of centbutindole and its hydroxy metabolite in serum by high-performance liquid chromatography.

A high-performance liquid chromatographic assay has been developed and validated for the determination of centbutindole and its hydroxy metabolite in serum. The method involves extraction of serum samples with diethyl ether at pH greater than 8, back-extraction into 0.5 M hydrochloric acid and finally again with diethyl ether after addition of 2 M potassium hydroxide. Separation was accomplished by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography on a cyano column with an acetonitrile-phosphate buffer system. The recovery of centbutindole and its metabolite was always greater than 80%. Calibration curves were linear over the concentration range 0.25-5 ng/ml for centbutindole and 0.05-1 ng/ml for the hydroxy metabolite. Although the lower limit of detection was 0.1 ng/ml for centbuntindole and 0.02 ng/ml for the hydroxy metabolite, the reliable limits of quantitation were 0.25 and 0.05 ng/ml, respectively, using 4 ml of serum.     

Rapid and simple method for the determination of nimustine hydrochloride in human blood and brain by high-performance liquid chromatography

A simple method for the determination of nimustine hydrochloride in blood and brain by high-performance liquid chromatography was developed. A pH 4.52 buffer was used in the extraction from blood and a pH 5.0 buffer was used for brain. A pre-packed Extrelut column was used to make the extraction procedure uncomplicated. At room temperature light-resistant test-tubes were unnecessary. The lower limit of detection was 50 ng/ml for blood and 100 ng/g for brain. This method may be useful for the determination of nimustine hydrochloride in blood and brain samples from patients.     

The Determination of a New Trifluorinated Quinolone,Fleroxacin, Its N-Demethyl,and N-Oxide Metabolites in Plasma and Urine by High Performance Liquid Chromatography with Fluorescence Detection

Abstract

A liquid chromatographic method is described for the determination of the new fluoroquinolone Ro 23–6240 and its N-demethyl and N-oxide metabolites in plasma and urine. The three substances were extracted from aqueous solution with dichloromethane/isopropanol containing sodium dodecyl sulphate. After evaporation and reconstitution, samples were analysed on a reversed-phase column using ion pair chromatography and fluorescence detection. The limit of quantification was 10–20 ng/ml (RSD 4%) using a 0.5 ml plasma sample, and the inter assay precision was 3–10% over the concentration range 50 ng/ml to 20 μg/ml. Recovery from plasma was 81% (RSD 10%) over the range 10 ng/ml to 5 μg/ml. The method has been applied successfully to the analysis of several thousand samples from human pharmacokinetic studies. Care has to be taken to avoid exposure of samples to direct sunlight, and the use of opaque vessels for sample storage and handling is recommended.     

Determination of tacrolimus (FK 506) in whole blood using liquid chromatography and fluorescence detection

Summary A sensitive and selective liquid chromatographic method, using precolumn derivatization with dansylhydrazine followed by fluorescence detection, has been developed for the determination of tacrolimus (FK 506) in whole blood. After haemolysis, whole blood samples are extracted with diethyl ether and derivatized. After on-line removal of excess dansylhydrazine on a C₁₈ precolumn, the derivative is loaded on to a C₁₈ clean-up column, and a heart cut is subsequently transferred to a graphitized carbon column, where the final separation takes place. The method requires 1 ml of sample and has a limit of quantitation of 3 ng/ml. At the 15 ng/ml level the precision isca 10%, and the response is linear from the limit of quantitation toca 200 ng/ml of FK 506 in whole blood. The capacity of the method is 50 samples/day and about 1000 1-ml samples can be analyzed without changing either clean-up or separation column. Finally, the applicability of the method for therapeutic drug monitoring is shown.     

Atom cell for use in hydride-generation atomic fluorescence spectrometry

An electrically-heated silica tube atom cell is described for the determination of selenium in blood serum. The detection limit was 1.4 ng in 10 ml of aqueous solution. The r.s.d. at 10, 50 and 200 ng of selenium was 6.8% (n = 5), 4.3% (n = 6) and 4.7% (n = 10) respectively. Calibration was linear up to 600 ng.     

Improved method for the determination of trimethadione and its demethylated metabolite, dimethadione, in human serum by gas chromatography.

An improved gas chromatographic method, involving the use of a wide-bore capillary column, for the determination of trimethadione and its only demethylated metabolite, dimethadione, in human serum is described. The results indicate that both substances and the internal standard (maleinimide) were well separated with no tailing peak. The detection limit was 10 ng/ml for trimethadione and 50 ng/ml for dimethadione. This improved method is reliable in terms of sensitivity, selectivity and reproducibility for the simultaneous determination of both compounds in human serum.     

Determination of cobalt by pyrogallol chemiluminescence

The chemiluminescence reaction involving pyrogallol in alkaline hydrogen peroxide solution is described. With reaction conditions selected for the determination of Co(II), the detection limit for Co(II) was at least two orders of magnitude below the detection limit of all other species tested. The results suggest that Ca, Mg, Mn, and Fe are the most likely interferents for environmental and biological samples. The log-log calibration graph for Co(II) is linear from a detection limit of 0.5 ng/ml up to 10 microg/ml.     

Resonance double light scattering method for the determination of proteins with morin-CTMAB

A new determination method of proteins with the limit of determination at nanogram levels is proposed by using a common spectrofluorimeter to detect intensity of resonance double line scattering (RDLS). Proteins including bovine serum albumin (BSA), human serum albumin (HSA) can combine with morin and cetyltrimethylammonium briomide (CTMAB) in the pH range 7.0-8.0 and produce enhanced RDLS signal at lambda(ex)/lambda(em) 305.0/610.0 nm. Optimization conditions for the morin-protein-CTMAB interaction were tested. In the studied system, BSA/CTMAB/morin = 1:2:3. The association constant of morin with BSA is 5.2 x 10(4). Under the optimum conditions, the linear range is 7.5 x 10(-8)-1.0 x 10(-5) g/ml for BSA, 2.5 x 10(-8)-5.0 x 10(-6) g/ml for HSA. The detection limits (S/N = 3) are 66.0 ng/ml for BSA and 23.0 ng/ml for HSA, respectively. Four synthetic samples were analyzed satisfactorily.     

Determination of luxabendazole in biological fluids by high-performance liquid chromatography.

Luxabendazole, a new benzimidazole, is a highly potent broad-spectrum anthelmintic. A high-performance liquid chromatographic method has been developed for its determination in serum and urine samples. In order to optimize the clean-up of samples we compared two procedures: C18 Sep-Pak cartridges and ultrafiltration through a cellulose membrane with a 30,000 relative molecular mass cut-off. In order to obtain the most suitable mobile phase, we studied the influence of pH and acetonitrile content on the capacity factor (k'). Chromatographic separation and quantification were performed on a reversed-phase column packed with 5-microns Nucleosil C18. The mobile phase was acetonitrile-0.05 M phosphate buffer (pH 7.0), (40:60, v/v). The column effluent was monitored by ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry at 290 nm. The method shows good recovery, precision and accuracy. The lower limit of detection for luxabendazole is 15 ng/ml in serum samples and 25 ng/ml in urine samples.     

Determination of bromazepam in plasma and of its main metabolites in urine by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the determination of bromazepam in plasma and of its main metabolites in urine is described. The unchanged drug is extracted from plasma with dichloromethane, using Extrelut 1 extraction tubes. The residue from this extract is subsequently analysed by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection (230 nm). The limit of detection is 6 ng/ml of plasma, using a 1-ml specimen. For the determination of the metabolites, the urine samples are incubated to effect enzymatic deconjugation and are then extracted with dichloromethane. Following two clean-up steps (back extractions), the final residue is analysed on the same reversed-phase system as the plasma samples. The limit of detection for the two metabolites is 200 ng/ml.     

Determination of zinc by flow injection with fluorimetric detection in a micellar medium

A room-temperature flow injection spectrofluorimetric method is presented for the determination of Zn(II), based on the use of salicylaldehyde thiocarbohydrazone in the presence of Triton X-100 and sodium acetate-acetic acid buffer. Various physical and chemical variables affecting the reaction in the flow system were evaluated. The proposed method is very selective. The calibration graph is linear over the range 10-1000 ng/ml, with a detection limit of 5 ng/ml and a relative standard deviation at the 50 ng/ml level of 1.8 %. The method was successfully applied to the determination of Zn(II) in drinking waters and biological samples.     

Hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry with insitu graphite tube trapping for the determination of Se (IV) and Se (VI) in baltic sea water samples

This paper reports the results of an optimisation study for a procedure to determine the total selenium and its inorganic species, Se(IV) and Se(VI) using atomic absorption spectrometry combined with hydride generation and in-situ trapping of the analyte on the inner walls of the graphite tube. With the use of the proposed modification, a detection limit (3σ) of 0.018 ng/ml is achieved. This paper presents exemplary results, according to the proposed procedure, for selenium determination in samples of marine water. The concentrations of selenium in the samples ranged from <0.02 ng/ml to 0.16ng/ml of Se(IV) and from <0.02 ng/ml to 0.10 ng/ml of Se(VI).     

Direct determination of benzamides in serum by column-switching high-performance liquid chromatography.

A column-switching high-performance liquid chromatographic method with fluorescence detection was developed for the simultaneous determination of four benzamide-type anti-psychotic drugs: sulpiride, tiapride, sultopride and metoclopramide in human serum. In this method, a TSKgel Super-ODS column was used as an analytical column, and a TSKgel G 2000SW was prepared as a pretreatment column. Under the optimized analytical conditions, four benzamide-type anti-psychotic drugs were eluted within 18 min. The detection limits (S/N = 3) for sulpiride, tiapride, sultopride and metoclopramide are 1 ng/ml, 4 ng/ml, 2 ng/ml and 0.5 ng/ml, respectively. Finally, the method was applied to the determination of sulpiride in human serum samples obtained after a single oral dose of sulpiride.