Characterization and solubilization of testosterone 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in human hyperplastic prostate.

17 beta-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase is a membrane-bound enzyme in human prostate. Solubilization of this enzyme can only be obtained in the presence of detergents. The optimal solubilization mixture contained 50 mM Tris-HCl buffer pH 9.

[The value of antibiotic prophylaxis in transurethral resection of bladder tumors. Apropos of 61 cases].

In order to define the value of antibiotic prophylaxis, we conducted a prospective, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in 61 patients undergoing transurethral resection (TUR) of a bladder lesion suspected to be neoplastic. 32 patients received a single dose of 800 mg of pefloxacin at the time of anaesthetic induction and 29 patients received placebo. All patients had sterile preoperative urine and none had received any antibiotics during the fortnight preceding the operation.

Nonfatal prolonged overdosage of pyrimethamine in an infant: measurement of plasma and urine levels using HPLC with diode-array detection.

A nonfatal case of accidental prolonged overdosage of pyrimethamine (10 times the usual dose for 10 days) in a seven-week-old infant treated for congenital toxoplasmosis is presented. The drug was identified and quantitated in plasma and urine using an HPLC technique with diode-array detection. Initial plasma concentration of pyrimethamine was 6.

Abbott propoxyphene assay: evaluation and comparison of TDx FPIA and GC/MS methods.

This study evaluated the capability of the Abbott TDx assay to test for propoxyphene in urine and various biological samples, including tissues obtained from three fatal overdoses, by comparison to gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). First, within-run and between-run precision were determined using three control samples (200, 400, and 900 ng/mL) tested over a two-week period. Within-run coefficients of variation (CV) for the three controls were 1.

Determination of gestational opiate, nicotine, benzodiazepine, cocaine and amphetamine exposure by hair analysis.

Hair samples were collected at time of delivery from 57 neonates whose mothers were known users of heroin (9 cases), nicotine (34 cases), benzodiazepines (11 cases), cocaine (2 cases) and amphetamine (1 case). In all cases, the corresponding drug was found in neonatal hair from the infants, with concentrations in the range 0.61-3.

High-performance liquid chromatographic assay with diode-array detection for toxicological screening of zopiclone, zolpidem, suriclone and alpidem in human plasma.

A high-performance liquid chromatographic assay with diode-array detection has been developed for the toxicological screening of the newly developed non-benzodiazepine hypnotics and anxiolytics zopiclone, zolpidem, suriclone and alpidem. After single-step liquid-liquid extraction of plasma at pH 9.5 using chloroform-2-propanol-n-heptane (60:14:26, v/v), the substances are separated on a Nova-Pak C18 4-microns column (300 mm x 3.

DNA fingerprinting from tissues after variable postmortem periods.

DNA typing is a useful tool in forensic cases for determining the identity of remains of humans who have been dead for various periods of time. DNA fingerprinting can be achieved only if high molecular weight DNA (HMWDNA) is extracted from the tissue samples of the bodies even after a long postmortem delay. Analyses were performed on various tissues collected during forensic autopsies of 24 bodies known postmortem ages.

Opiate concentrations in human head, axillary, and pubic hair.

The concentrations of morphine and codeine were investigated in hair from the head, axillary and pubic regions obtained from 12 fatal heroin cases. Hair preparation involves a decontamination procedure in dichloromethane at 37 degrees C for 15 min, solubilization in sodium hydroxyde at 100 degrees C for 5 min, neutralization with hydrochloric acid and centrifugation. After extraction in chloroform-isopropanol-n-heptane (50:17:33; v/v) at pH 9.

GC-MS procedure for the analysis of zipeprol.

A sensitive and specific quantitative method for the determination of zipeprol, a newly abused antitussive, in human fluids is described. Zipeprol and an internal standard, levallorphan, are isolated by a basic extraction and back-extraction process. The final extract is derivatizated with BSTFA + 1% TMCS and separated on a 12-m HP-1 capillary column.

Pharmacological studies on meprobamate incorporation in human beard hair.

The time course of appearance of meprobamate in beard hair after single oral administration (400, 800, or 1200 mg) was monitored in 3 groups of 4 subjects by GC/MS. Meprobamate appeared in beard hair approximately 4-5 days after administration and peaked during the 7-9th day. Drug levels in beard hair appeared to be dose-related.

Sex determination of forensic samples: co-amplification and simultaneous detection of a Y-specific and an X-specific DNA sequence.

The detection of restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLP) (1) in DNA extracted from forensic samples remains impossible in a significant number of cases due to deterioration and contamination of the biological material and the extremely low quantities of DNA isolated. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a recent and particularly convenient method for analysing and typing very small amounts (10-20 ng) of degraded human DNA. DNA analysis at the level of a few cells present in forensic samples such as bloodstains, semen stains, vaginal swabs and head hair bulbs now appears possible using DNA amplification.

Nicotine analysis in neonates' hair for measuring gestational exposure to tobacco.

Hair samples were collected at time of delivery from 40 neonates whose mothers were known to be smokers during the prenatal period. Hair was decontaminated in dichloromethane, homogenized in NaOH, and nicotine was extracted in diethyl ether. After separation on a BP-5 capillary column, nicotine was identified and quantified by GC/MS using selected ion monitoring.

[Tobacco, drug and narcotic abuse during pregnancy. Evaluation of in utero exposure by analysis of hair of the neonate].

Hair samples were collected at the time of delivery from 63 neonates whose mothers were known to be heroin (9 cases), nicotine (40 cases), benzodiazepines (11 cases), cocaine (2 cases) and amphetamine (1 case) users. In all cases, the corresponding drug was found in neonatal hair from the infants, with concentrations in the range 0.61-3.

Toxicological findings in a death involving dextromethorphan and terfenadine.

A case of fatal self-poisoning with dextromethorphan, an antitussive, and terfanadine, an antihistamine H1, is reported. Both drugs were quantified in several postmortem tissues and fluids using capillary gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Results are discussed in the light of the existing literature.

Toxicological findings in a fatal case of acebutolol self-poisoning.

A fatal case of acebutolol self-poisoning is presented. After single-step liquid-liquid alkaline extraction, acebutolol was identified by using an HPLC/DAD screening procedure. By means of a specific HPLC method, acebutolol was then quantified in a large range of postmortem samples.

Oestrogen secreting Leydig cell tumour and GnRH agonist in-vivo and in-vitro studies.

Objective: The purposes of our study concerning two patients with oestrogen secreting Leydig cell tumour were to determine whether endogenous LH levels are involved in testicular tumour steroidogenesis and whether aromatase activity of oestrogen secreting Leydig cell tumours is directly or indirectly dependent on LH levels.

Measurements: E2 and T were evaluated after hCG injection (5000 IU) during 96 hours. Bio and immuno LH, T, E2, were determined at the basal state and after administration of D-Trp-6-GnRH agonist (3.

Determination of amitriptyline in the hair of psychiatric patients.

A study was conducted on 60 psychiatric patients to evaluate the reliability of a drug-exposure screening test based on gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis of hair samples for amitriptyline, and the possibility of using the hair concentrations of amitriptyline to monitor patients' therapeutic compliance. The qualitative test was found to be very reliable (sensitivity 93.3%; specificity 100%; positive and negative predictive values 100 and 93.

Determination of nalbuphine using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to photodiode-array detection and gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry.

A procedure involving capillary column gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry and a method involving liquid chromatography coupled to a diode-array detector have been developed for the analysis of nalbuphine. The extraction step is the same for both techniques and involves extraction under alkaline conditions in chloroform-2-propanol-n-heptane (50:17:33, v/v/v) with levallorphan as the internal standard. After purification by acidic extraction and back alkaline extraction, drugs are derivatized with N,O-bis-(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide with 1% trimethylchlorosilane for gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and directly injected for high-performance liquid chromatography-diode-array detection.

A high endrin concentration in a fatal case.

Gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry was employed to quantify endrin in biological fluids in a death attributed to endrin overdose. The blood concentration of endrin was 544.9 mg/l.

[Fatal poisoning involving amitriptyline: toxicologic data].

A fatality involving amitriptyline is described. The drug and its metabolite nortriptyline were separately quantified in various post-mortem samples, including hair. Results are discussed in the light of the existing literature.