Development of a bioanalytical method for the quantification of sinococuline in human plasma and its application in phase I clinical pharmacokinetic study

A selective, highly sensitive, precise, and novel bioanalytical method has been developed and validated to quantify sinococuline, an active constituent present in the phytopharmaceutical drug product containing Cocculus hirsutus plant extract, in vivo. Chromatographic separation was achieved on a Luna Omega Polar-C18 bonded analytical column maintained at 45°C. The isocratic mobile phase consisted of methanol and ammonium formate buffer (60:40, v/v) at acidic pH with a low flow rate of 0.250 mL/min. Detection was performed on an API 4000 mass spectrometer using electrospray ionization in positive polarity and multiple reaction monitoring mode to achieve a lower limit of quantification of 1.50 ng/mL. Excellent accuracy and precision were obtained after extracting the analyte from plasma samples using a chemical analogue as an internal standard in the absence of an isotope-labeled compound. The extraction efficacy was evidenced from recovery study, and the analyte was found to be stable in plasma. Validation study demonstrated linearity with coefficient of correlation, r ≥ 0.99, and minimal matrix effect. This bioanalytical method was successfully applied to evaluate pharmacokinetic parameters of sinococuline from a phase I clinical trial of an aqueous extract of C. hirsutus in healthy human volunteers.     

Unraveling the mechanism of catalytic reactions through combined kinetic and thermodynamic analyses: Application to the condensation of ethanol

The combination of kinetic and thermodynamic analyses can provide an in-depth knowledge of the crucial steps of catalyzed reactions. Earlier examples are recalled to stress how a reaction mechanism can be supported or rejected based on trivial reactant and product concentration analyses. The method is then applied to the important reaction of alcohol condensation, the so-called Guerbet reaction, which enables converting ethanol, a renewable feedstock, into higher alcohols. Important conclusions regarding the design of ethanol condensation processes can be drawn, as the main reaction mechanism occurring at high temperatures (ca. 350–420 °C) appears to be different from that proposed at low temperatures (< 250 °C). In the former case, the pathway involving acetaldehyde is negligible, and therefore a multi-step process based on ethanol dehydrogenation followed by acetaldehyde self-aldolization would be irrelevant.     

A dried blood spot assay with HPLC–MS/MS for the determination of larotrectinib in mouse blood and its application to a pharmacokinetic study

Larotrectinib is a first-generation tropomyosin kinase inhibitor, approved for the treatment of solid tumors. In this paper, we present a validated dried blood spot (DBS) method for the quantitation of larotrectinib from mouse blood using HPLC–MS/MS, which was operated under multiple reaction monitoring mode. To the DBS disc cards, acidified methanol enriched with internal standard (IS; enasidenib) was added and extracted using tert-butyl methyl ether as an extraction solvent with sonication. Chromatographic separation of larotrectinib and the IS was achieved on an Atlantis dC₁₈ column using 10 mm ammonium formate–acetonitrile (30:70, v/v) delivered at a flow-rate of 0.80 ml/min. Under these optimized conditions, the retention times of larotrectinib and the IS were ~0.93 and 1.37 min, respectively. The total run time was 2.50 min. Larotrectinib and the IS were analyzed using positive ion scan mode and parent–daughter mass to charge ion (m/z) transitions of 429.1 → 342.1 and 474.1 → 267.1, respectively, were used for the quantitation. The calibration range was 1.06–5,080 ng/ml. No matrix effect or carryover was observed. Hematocrit did not influence DBS larotrectinib concentrations. All of the validation parameters met the acceptance criteria. The applicability of the validated method was shown in a mouse pharmacokinetic study.     

HPLC with fluorescence detection assay of perampanel,a novel AMPA receptor antagonist,in human plasma for clinical pharmacokinetic studies

Perampanel (Fycompa®), a novel α‐amino‐3‐hydroxy‐5‐methyl‐4‐isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptor antagonist, is registered for the adjunctive treatment of patients (aged ≥12 years) with refractory partial‐onset seizures. To support therapeutic drug monitoring, a simple high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) assay with fluorescence detection was developed to determine perampanel concentrations in human plasma and validated to support clinical trials. Human plasma samples (1.0 mL) were processed by liquid extraction using diethyl ether, followed by chromatographic separation on a YMC Pack Pro C₁₈ column (150 × 4.6 mm i.d., 5 µm) with isocratic elution of acetonitrile–water–acetic acid–sodium acetate (840:560:3:1.8, v/v/v/w) at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. Column eluent was monitored at excitation and emission wavelengths of 290 and 430 nm, respectively. The assay was linear (range 1.0–500 ng/mL) and this could be extended to 25 µg/mL by 50‐fold dilution integrity. No endogenous peaks were detected in the elution of analytes in drug‐free blank human plasma from six individuals and no interference was observed with co‐medications tested. Intra‐ and inter‐batch reproducibility studies demonstrated accuracy and precision within the acceptance criteria of bioanalytical guidelines. Validation data demonstrated that our assay is simple, selective, reproducible and suitable for therapeutic drug monitoring of perampanel. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The mechanism of ethylene polymerization by nickel salicylaldiminato catalysts - Agostic interactions and their kinetic isotope effects

The ethylene polymerization reaction of a neutral nickel catalyst was studied by DFT calculations at the Becke3LYP/6-31G(d) level of theory. As in related cases a β-agostic bond stabilizes the nickel alkyl ground states. Transition states for the insertion of the olefin show a distinct α-agostic interaction, which has not been observed for late metal polymerization catalysts before. An ethylene-alkyl complex was identified as the resting state of the reaction. The overall barrier height of the reaction amounts to 17.54 kcal/mol, which slightly increases to 17.60 kcal/mol for the polymerization of deuterated ethylene. Therefore, a small positive kinetic isotope effect (k_H/k_D = 1.09) can be calculated, which is caused by the α-agostic interaction in the transition state. A comparison to other late metal based polymerization systems reveals that the ethylene coordination step of highly active catalysts is significantly lower in energy compared to catalysts which are only moderately active.     

地源热泵的运行特性模拟研究

依据圆柱源理论,建立起了耦合地面热泵机组和地下埋管换热器特性的模拟模型,该模型可用于长期运行的地源热泵系统的短时间步长运行特性模拟。探讨了模拟过程中有关参数的确定方法,并运用所建模型对地源热泵的冬季和夏季运行特性进行了模拟。运行特性模拟与实验数据的验证结果表明,所建模型可以对地源热泵的运行特性做出符合实际的预测。     

表面活性剂对均相沉淀法制备单晶Ce2O(CO3)2￠H2O微粉形貌及 形成机理的影响

在尿素及硝酸铈的混合溶液中分别加入表面活性剂CTAB、 PEG19000、OP-10,利用均相沉淀法合成了不同形貌的CeO2超细前驱体Ce2O(COa)2·H2O,采用X射线衍射及透射电子显微镜等测试手段,对产品的物相和形貌进行了表征．实验结果表明,所得产品均为斜方晶系的单晶Ce2O(CO3)2·H2O,且表面活性剂的加入使晶体的晶化程度明显提高;添加不同的表面活性剂得到不同形貌尺寸的产物: 阳离子型表面活性剂CTAB对Ce2O(CO3)2·H2O晶体的形貌影响不大,所得产物尺寸变小,且分散性得到一定的改善;非离子型表面活性剂对所得产物的形貌影响显著．加入PEG19000和OP-10分别得到了形状排列有序的、尺寸较均匀的、较规则无团聚的微米棒及具有紧密结合中心的发散状的花样微粒．不同形貌前驱体的形成与晶粒形成生长机理的改变有关．     

On the validity and utility of queueing models of human service systems

Based on observations made during an extensive study of police patrol operations in New York City, we examine the issues of the validity and utility of queueing models of service systems in which adaptive behavior by the (human) customers or servers is likely. We find that in addition to depending on the technical accuracy of its assumptions, the accuracy of such a model will also depend upon the level of managerial control of the system and adequacy of resources. We recommend that queueing models of human service systems be used in a normative fashion and incorporated in the management feedback loop.     

大孔膦酸树脂吸附镧的研究

本文测定了大孔膦酸树脂对La3 的吸附容量，介质pH、温度、吸附时间等因素对吸附的影响。测得吸附速率常数K298＝7．64×10－5S－1，树脂功能基与La3 的络合比为3：1，用化学及红外光谱等方法，得到大孔磷酸树脂吸附La3 的基本参数及其机理。     

Investigation of a liquid-liquid extraction system based on non-ionic surfactant-salt-H2O and mechanism of drug extraction

Based on the investigation of a non-ionic surfactant-salt-H₂O liquid-liquid extraction system, general rules concerning salt selection are concluded and the mechanism of phase separation is explained. The extraction behavior of chlorpromazine hydrochloride (CPZ) and procaine hydrochloride (PCN) in such a system is studied. Research shows that the extraction efficiency of CPZ can amount to 96% by twice extraction, which means that quantitative extraction is realized, while that of PCN is 77%. This system produces distribution coefficients (K_D) of 12.3 and 2.6, respectively, for CPZ and PCN. Extraction mechanism is deduced according to ultraviolet absorbance; and molecular fluorescence spectra change of the drugs in the system studied.