Publications by authors named "Kendon Graham"

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has developed methods for the analysis of steroid hormones in water, soil, sediment, and municipal biosolids by HRGC/HRMS (EPA Method 1698).

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Background: Catecholamines and their metabolites, metanephrines, are produced excessively in pheochromocytoma tumors of the chromaffin cells. Increased concentrations of these compounds produce symptoms and allow for clinical evaluation of disease. Historically, screening for such tumors by determination of catecholamines and metabolites in urine yielded false negative results in individuals with a genetic predisposition for the disease and those with paroxysmal hypertension.

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Background: Since the early 1960s, quantitative amino acid analysis (AAA) has traditionally been performed using ion-exchange chromatography with post-column ninhydrin derivatization. This established technology has many advantages, including relatively low cost of operation and ease of use. However, analysis times of 120+ min and high maintenance requirements make this technology unsuitable for the modern clinical laboratories with a requirement for rapid turnaround times.

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Background: Plasma free metanephrines have proved a highly sensitive biochemical test for the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma. We have developed and validated a simple, LC-MS/MS method to determine plasma metanephrines and compared the diagnostic efficacy of the method with an enzyme immunoassay procedure in 151 patients, 38 with histologically confirmed pheochromocytoma.

Methods: Off-line solid phase extraction in a 96-well plate format was used to isolate metanephrines from 100-microL of plasma, followed by rapid separation with hydrophilic interaction chromatography.

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Quantification of 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid (5-HIAA) in urine is useful for diagnosis and follow-up of patients with carcinoid tumors and for monitoring serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine) metabolism in various disorders. We describe an automated method (XLC-MS/MS) that incorporates on-line solid-phase extraction (SPE), high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and tandem mass spectrometric (MS/MS) detection to measure urinary 5-HIAA. Automated pre-purification of urine was carried out with HySphere-Resin GP SPE cartridges containing strong hydrophobic polystyrene resin.

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Background: Quantification of plasma free metanephrine (MN) and normetanephrine (NMN) is considered to be the most accurate test for the clinical chemical diagnosis of pheochromocytoma and follow-up of pheochromocytoma patients. Current methods involve laborious, time-consuming, offline sample preparation, coupled with relatively nonspecific detection. Our aim was to develop a rapid, sensitive, and highly selective automated method for plasma free MNs in the nanomole per liter range.

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We report here the validation of an HPLC-electrospray-tandem mass spectrometry method for the quantification of everolimus, an immunosuppressant drug. Whole blood samples (100 microl) were extracted by protein precipitation which involved sample pre-treatment with zinc sulphate followed by acetonitrile (containing internal standard, 40-O-(3'-hydroxy)propyl-rapamycin). HPLC was performed using a step-gradient at a flow rate of 0.

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