Determination of famprofazone, amphetamine and methamphetamine in liver samples using enzymatic cell dispersion and SPE-LC-ESI-MS.

The use of small amounts of sample presents advantages in chromatographic analyses that have made this a current trend following the development of increasingly sensitive analytical techniques. Biological sample preparation methods, especially for rigid or semi-rigid matrices, are also under constant development, focusing on a more efficient extraction and in obtaining cleaner residues for analysis. In this context, the aim of this study was to present a validated a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) method for the quantification of famprofazone and its metabolites, methamphetamine and amphetamine in liver, using enzymatic cell dispersion promoted by collagenase, followed by protein precipitation and solid phase extraction (SPE) for sample extraction, concentration and clean-up.

High-resolution inhibition profiling and ligand fishing for screening of nucleoside hydrolase ligands in Moringa oleifera Lamarck.

In Leishmania donovani, the causative protozoan of visceral leishmaniasis, nucleoside hydrolase enzyme (NH) is fundamental for the biosynthesis of its DNA and RNA. Therefore, LdNH is considered a potential target for the development of new leishmaniasis chemotherapy. Moringa oleifera Lamarck is a medicinal plant native to northeastern India with numerous pharmacological properties, including antileishmanial activity.

Data collection instrument for hematological diseases in na outpatient setting: a validation study.

Objectives: to build and validate a data collection instrument for onco-hematological patients undergoing outpatient chemotherapy.

Methods: methodological study that aimed to build a scientifically consistent data collection instrument to evaluate hematological patients. There were five stages: identification of empirical indicators, evaluation of empirical indicators by focus group, construction of the instrument, content validation by judges and clinical validation.

Simultaneous measurement of perillyl alcohol and its metabolite perillic acid in plasma and lung after inhalational administration in Wistar rats.

The inhalational administration of drugs is a practical and non-invasive approach with the potential to reduce side effects and with a quick onset of therapeutic activity. Perillyl alcohol (POH) is a monoterpene with antitumor activity that currently is undergoing clinical evaluation as an inhalational anticancer agent. A detection method was developed that will be applicable to pharmacokinetic studies of not only POH, but also its longer-lived main metabolite, perillic acid (PA), in lung tissue and plasma after inhalational delivery.

Postmortem analysis of famprofazone and its metabolites, methamphetamine and amphetamine, in porcine bone marrow.

Forensic toxicologists typically work with body fluids, such as blood and urine, or visceral tissues. The analysis of alternative samples, such as bone marrow, can be requested when the commonly used samples are unavailable due to an extended time lapse between the time of death and collection of the material to be analysed. In this study, a method for the analysis of the lipophilic drug famprofazone (FA) and its metabolites, methamphetamine (MA) and amphetamine (AM), in bone marrow was developed, validated and applied to bone marrow from pigs given controlled doses of famprofazone.

Inclusion complexes of yellow bell pepper pigments with β-cyclodextrin: preparation, characterisation and application as food natural colorant.

Background: This work aimed to prepare inclusion complexes using yellow bell pepper pigments and β-cyclodextrin by two different procedures (method A, ultrasonic homogenisation; method B, kneading), to characterise them and evaluate their colour stability in an isotonic beverage model. The extract/β-cyclodextrin ratio was 1:2 for both inclusion methodologies evaluated. The formed extract-β-cyclodextrin complexes and a physical mixture of extract and β-cyclodextrin were evaluated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR).

Particle-size distribution (PSD) of pulverized hair: A quantitative approach of milling efficiency and its correlation with drug extraction efficiency.

Different types of hair were submitted to different milling procedures and their resulting powders were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and laser diffraction (LD). SEM results were qualitative whereas LD results were quantitative and accurately characterized the hair powders through their particle size distribution (PSD). Different types of hair were submitted to an optimized milling conditions and their PSD was quite similar.

Validation of a SPE-LC-MS/MS method for the determination of ketamine and norketamine in micropulverized hair after a single IV dose.

A SPE-LC-MS/MS method for the determination of ketamine (KET) and norketamine (NKET) was developed and validated. Extensive pulverization (25min at 25Hz) of previously cooled samples (5min in liquid nitrogen) allowed for extraction in a phosphate buffer (pH 6) solution after 10min vortex agitation at room temperature, simplifying the coupling of the extraction to an effective mixed-mode SPE (solid phase extraction) clean-up procedure. The extraction optimization was performed with samples fortified by drug incorporation according to a published procedure involving incubation of blank matrices for 16days.

Fast and sensitive collagen quantification by alkaline hydrolysis/hydroxyproline assay.

A preparative protein alkaline hydrolysis procedure, as part of a spectrophotometric collagen quantification method, is presented. The procedure is suitable for small amounts of fresh solid or liquid samples. Various aspects of the procedure, such as the NaOH concentration, time needed to hydrolyse different collagen contents, buffer strength of the reagent solution, pH control of the hydrolysate and spectrophotometric conditions, were evaluated.

TRANSPORT AND DEFENSIVE ROLE OF ELATOL AT THE SURFACE OF THE RED SEAWEED LAURENCIA OBTUSA (CERAMIALES, RHODOPHYTA)(1).

Natural within-thallus concentrations of elatol produced by Laurencia obtusa (Huds.) J. V.

Quantitative GC-ECD analysis of halogenated metabolites: determination of surface and within-thallus elatol of Laurencia obtusa.

Information on natural concentrations or variability of secondary metabolites in marine organisms may be important both to ecological/evolutionary and applied approaches. A gas chromatographic procedure with an electron capture detector (GC-ECD) was developed to quantify the sesquiterpenoid elatol at the surface and within-thalli of 70 specimens of the red seaweed Laurencia obtusa. The concentration of elatol was highest within-thalli [9.

Satellite cells and myonuclei in neonatally denervated rat muscle.

While it is well know that the percentage of stellite cells in relation to myonuclei rapidly decreases in aneurally regenerating adult muscle, the fate of satellite cells in neonatally denervated muscles has received little attention so far. In the present study, rat tibialis anterior muscles were denervated at birth and analysed after 5, 7 and 10 weeks. At least 400 myonuclei in each muscle were assessed by electron microscopy and the percentage of satellite cell nuclei in relation to the number of myonuclei was calculated.

Incomplete degradation of linear alkylbenzene sulfonate surfactants in Brazilian surface waters and pursuit of their polar metabolites in drinking waters.

In Brazil more than 90% of the population are not connected to municipal wastewater treatment plants. As a consequence, surface waters receive continuously considerable amounts of untreated domestic sewage containing surfactants as a major constituent. Such polluted waters gave rise to special interest if they are used as a source for the production of drinking water.