An UPLC-MS detection method for the quantification of five antibiotics in human plasma.

Background: An UPLC-MS detection method for the quantification of amikacin, flucloxacillin, meropenem, penicillin G and vancomycin was developed and validated.

Results: The calibration curves were found to be linear from 0.47 to 50 mg/l for amikacin, 1.

Haematocrit corrected analysis of creatinine in dried blood spots through potassium measurement.

We developed a method for the analysis of creatinine in dried blood spot (DBS) samples to facilitate monitoring of renal function in combination with TDM of immunosuppressive drugs for transplant patients outside the hospital. An 8-mm disc of the DBS was punched, extracted and followed by LC-MS/MS analysis. The haematocrit proved to have a significant influence on the analysis of creatinine in DBS samples.

Rapid quantification of gabapentin, pregabalin, and vigabatrin in human serum by ultraperformance liquid chromatography with mass-spectrometric detection.

Background: Gabapentin (GBP), pregabalin (PRG), and vigabatrin (VIG) are used for the prevention and treatment of epileptic seizures. The developed method was applied to samples from subjects participating in a pharmacokinetic study of GBP.

Methods: Sample pretreatment consisted of adding 20 μL of trichloroacetic acid (30%; vol/vol) and 200 μL of GBP-d4 in acetonitrile as an internal standard to 20 μL of serum.

Analysis of cyclosporin A, tacrolimus, sirolimus, and everolimus in dried blood spot samples using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry.

In the last few years, an increasing number of dried blood spot (DBS) sampling assays have been developed. With this increase, more insight is gained in the factors that possibly influence the performance of DBS assays. We have developed an assay for four commonly used immunosuppressants; some of them are possibly concomitantly prescribed: cyclosporin A (CsA), tacrolimus (TcR), sirolimus (SiR), and everolimus (EvE).

Inhibition of mammalian target of rapamycin reduces epileptogenesis and blood-brain barrier leakage but not microglia activation.

Purpose: Previous studies have shown that inhibition of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway with rapamycin prevents epileptogenesis after pharmacologically induced status epilepticus (SE) in rat models of temporal lobe epilepsy. Because rapamycin is also known for its immunosuppressant properties we hypothesized that one of the mechanisms by which it exerts this effect could be via suppression of brain inflammation, a process that has been suggested to play a major role in the development and progression of epilepsy.

Methods: Rats were treated with rapamycin or vehicle once daily for 7 days (6 mg/kg/day, i.