Diffusion tensor imaging of cingulum fibers in mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer disease.

Background: Neuroimaging in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer disease (AD) generally shows medial temporal lobe atrophy and diminished glucose metabolism and cerebral blood flow in the posterior cingulate gyrus. However, it is unclear whether these abnormalities also impact the cingulum fibers, which connect the medial temporal lobe and the posterior cingulate regions.

Objective: To use diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), by measuring fractional anisotropy (FA), to test 1) if MCI and AD are associated with DTI abnormalities in the parahippocampal and posterior cingulate regions of the cingulum fibers; 2) if white matter abnormalities extend to the neocortical fiber connections in the corpus callosum (CC); 3) if DTI improves accuracy to separate AD and MCI from healthy aging vs structural MRI.

Determination of pilocarpic acid in human plasma by capillary gas chromatography with mass-selective detection.

A novel, highly sensitive method for the determination of pilocarpic acid (PA) in human plasma is described. In addition, the method provides for the conversion of the lactone, pilocarpine (P), to PA so that a total drug presence can be determined. Using novel high-performance liquid chromatographic conditions capable of separating P, isopilocarpine (I-P), PA and isopilocarpic acid (I-PA) from each other and from endogenous plasma impurities, it was confirmed that P exclusively and quantitatively converts to PA in heparinized human plasma during storage.

In vivo evaluation of controlled-release products.

A theoretical investigation has been conducted to understand the deconvolution method used for evaluating the in vivo release rate of an oral controlled-release product from the plasma drug concentration versus time profile. The theory is based on well-accepted pharmacokinetic compartmental models. The cumulative amount of drug released from a dosage form can be partitioned into two parts: the amount already absorbed and the amount released but still remaining at the absorption site in the gastrointestinal tract.

Determination of the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors simvastatin, lovastatin, and pravastatin in plasma by gas chromatography/chemical ionization mass spectrometry.

A general method for the assay of the 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors lovastatin, pravastatin, and simvastatin in plasma has been developed and validated. The analytes are isolated from plasma by a solid-phase extraction procedure which separates the lactone and acid forms of the drugs. The lactone is converted to the acid form, which is subsequently derivatized by pentafluorobenzylation of the carboxyl group, and trimethylsilylation of the hydroxyl functions.

High-performance liquid chromatographic method for the determination of finasteride in human plasma at therapeutic doses.

A high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method with ultraviolet detection for the determination of a novel 4-aza-steroidal inhibitor of 5 alpha-reductase in human plasma has been developed. The assay is based on a single solid-phase extraction and an efficient HPLC separation on two analytical columns in series. The assay has been fully validated and used to support Phase II and III clinical pharmacokinetic studies.

Quantification of imipenem's primary metabolite in plasma by postcolumn chemical rearrangement and UV detection.

Imipenem (thienamycin formamidine) is an antibiotic active against a broad spectrum of bacteria. Its primary metabolite arises from cleavage of the lactam ring. The metabolite can be formed in-vitro by acid-catalyzed or enzymatic hydrolysis.

Simultaneous high-performance liquid chromatographic analysis of carbidopa, levodopa and 3-O-methyldopa in plasma and carbidopa, levodopa and dopamine in urine using electrochemical detection.

Two assay procedures are described for the analysis of levodopa, carbidopa and 3-O-methyldopa in plasma and levodopa, carbidopa and dopamine in urine. The methods are suitable for quantifying the analytes following therapeutic administration of levodopa and carbidopa. Both were based on reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with electrochemical detection and with methyldopa as the internal standard.

Determination of 4-amino-1-hydroxybutane-1,1-bisphosphonic acid in urine by automated pre-column derivatization with 2,3-naphthalene dicarboxyaldehyde and high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection.

A sensitive (5 ng/ml) method for the determination of 4-amino-1-hydroxybutane-1,1-bisphosphonic acid in human urine is described. The procedure includes (1) the isolation of the drug from urine by co-precipitation of its calcium salt with endogenous phosphates in the presence of base, (2) a solid-phase anion-exchange sample clean-up and (3) automated pre-column derivatization of the primary amino group with 2,3-naphthalene dicarboxyaldehyde-cyanide reagent followed by fluorescence detection of the N-substituted cyanobenz[f]isoindole derivative. The derivative of the drug was synthesized and its spectral and fluorescence properties were evaluated.

Development of direct stereoselective and non-stereoselective assays in biological fluids for the enantiomers of a thieno[2,3-b]thiopyran-2-sulfonamide, a topically effective carbonic anhydrase inhibitor.

A stereoselective assay for the optical isomers [(S) and (R)] of 5,6-dihydro-4-[(2-methylpropyl)amino]-4H-thieno[2,3-b]thiopyran-2- sulfonamide-7,7-dioxide in human whole blood has been developed. The assay is based on direct enantiomer separation on a chiral stationary phase column of bovine serum albumin attached to silica. The effect of pH, ionic strength, column length and organic modifier on chiral separation has been studied.

A sensitive method for assay of a novel tricyclic compound using coulometric electrochemical detection.

A reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic method using coulometric electrochemical detection in the oxidative mode has been developed for the analysis of 3-(9-chloro-5,6-dihydro-11-H-pyrrolo[2,1-b][3]benzazepine-11-ylidene- N,N-dimethyl-1-propanamine(E)-Z-butenedioate hydrogen maleate (1) in plasma of patients dosed with 2-8 mg/kg/d of the drug. Concentrations as little as 0.1 ng/mL of 1 in plasma can be estimated with a mean coefficient of variation of 7.

The physiological disposition of lovastatin.

Lovastatin is a pro-drug lactone whose open chain beta-hydroxy-acid (HA) is a potent inhibitor of hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA-reductase and thus of cholesterol synthesis. Because the liver is the major site of cholesterolgenesis, it is the principal target organ for agents of this class. In animals, lovastatin is not as well absorbed as HA given per se, but that fraction that is absorbed reaches the portal circulation largely unchanged and is more efficiently extracted by the liver, after which it is reversibly biotransformed to HA and irreversibly to other enzymatically active products.

Stereoselective disposition of the geometric isomers of a novel lipoxygenase cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor in dog and photochemical interconversion of its isomers.

A sensitive (10 ng/mL) and specific high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) assay, with electrochemical (EC) detection, for the geometric isomers of 3-hydroxy-N-(2-phenyl-2-(2-thienyl)ethenyl-5-(trifluoromethyl)benzo(b) thiophene-2-carboxamide in dog and human plasma has been developed. Both isomers strongly absorb light, leading to an efficient E in equilibrium Z photoisomerization. After iv administration of a single isomer (Z) to a dog, only the Zisomer was detected in plasma; no in vivo conversion to the E isomer was observed.

A sensitive gas chromatographic mass spectrometric assay for a novel dopamine agonist (+)-trans-3,4,4A,5,6,10B-hexahydro-4-propyl-2H-naphth(1,2-B)(1,4) oxazin-9-ol in human plasma.

(+)-trans-3,4,4A,5,6,10B-Hexahydro-4-propyl-2H-naphth(1,2-B)(1,4) oxazine-9-ol is a novel potent dopamine agonist. A sensitive and specific gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric assay procedure has been developed for the determination of the dopamine agonist at low picogram per millilitre levels in human plasma. The method comprises an extraction of the agonist from human plasma and subsequent derivatization of the phenolic functionality with pentafluoropropionic anhydride.

Determination of 2,3-dihydro-6-[3-(2-hydroxymethyl)phenyl-2-propenyl]-5-benzofuranol in plasma using liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection.

A reversed-phase column liquid chromatographic (LC) method with electrochemical detection (ED) is described for the quantification of 2,3-dihydro-6-[3-(2-hydroxymethyl)phenyl-2-propenyl]-5-benzofuranol (compound 1), a new locally active dual inhibitor of leukotriene and prostaglandin synthesis, in plasma. After a single liquid-liquid extraction of the biological specimen, the extract was analyzed using a liquid chromatograph with an amperometric detector set at an oxidation potential of +0.55 V.

A sensitive analytical method for the determination of a novel lipoxygenase inhibitor, 4-bromo-2,7-dimethoxy-3H-phenothiazin-3-one, in plasma using reductive electrochemical detection.

A reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic assay using electrochemical detection in the reductive mode has been developed for the analysis of 4-bromo-2,7-dimethoxy-3H-phenothiazin-3-one (1) in plasma to determine drug absorption. Free drug in plasma in concentrations as little as 0.25 ng/mL can be estimated with a mean coefficient of variation (CV) of 6.

Simultaneous quantification of cycloserine and its prodrug acetylacetonylcycloserine in plasma and urine by high-performance liquid chromatography using ultraviolet absorbance and fluorescence after post-column derivatization.

D-Cycloserine is a broad-spectrum antibiotic used with other antibiotics to treat various forms of tuberculosis. Its prodrug sodium (R)-4-[(1-methyl-3-oxo-1-butenyl)amino]-3-isoxazolidinone hemihydrate, developed for better aqueous stability and solubility, is combined with another broad-spectrum antibiotic, fludalanine. An ion-pair, reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic assay has been developed to simultaneously detect cycloserine and its prodrug in plasma and urine.

Stereoselective determination of (beta S,gamma R and beta R,gamma S)-4-[3-(4-acetyl-3-hydroxy-2-propylphenoxy) propylthio]-gamma-hydroxy-beta-methylbenzenebutanoic acid in human and rat plasma by normal-phase high-performance liquid chromatography.

A stereoselective high-performance liquid chromatographic method was developed for the determination of the enantiomeric composition comprising (beta S,gamma R and beta R,gamma S)-4-[3-(4-acetyl-3-hydroxy-2-propylphenoxy) propylthio]-gamma-hydroxy-beta-methylbenzenebutanoic acid in human and rat plasma. Both enantiomers, (beta S,gamma R)- and (beta R,gamma S)-1, were isolated from the plasma by liquid-liquid extraction, the organic phase was evaporated to dryness, and the residue was lactonized with p-toluenesulfonic acid followed by derivatization with R(+)-alpha-methylbenzylamine to form diastereomeric Schiff base adducts. Separation was performed on a silica column (Supelcosil) with a mobile phase composed of 97.