Combined in vivo metabolic effects of quetiapine and methadone in brain and blood of rats

Changes in pharmacokinetics and endogenous metabolites may underlie additive biological effects of concomitant use of antipsychotics and opioids. In this study, we employed untargeted metabolomics analysis and targeted analysis to examine the changes in drug metabolites and endogenous metabolites in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), midbrain, and blood of rats following acute co-administration of quetiapine and methadone. Rats were divided into four groups and received cumulative increasing doses of quetiapine (QTP), methadone (MTD), quetiapine + methadone (QTP + MTD), or vehicle (control). All samples were analyzed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Our findings revealed increased levels of the quetiapine metabolites: Norquetiapine, O-dealkylquetiapine, 7-hydroxyquetiapine, and quetiapine sulfoxide, in the blood and brain when methadone was present. Our study also demonstrated a decrease in methadone and its metabolite 2-ethylidene-1,5-dimethyl-3,3-diphenylpyrrolidine (EDDP) in the rat brain when quetiapine was present. Despite these findings, there were only small differences in the levels of 225-296 measured endogenous metabolites due to co-administration compared to single administrations. For example, N-methylglutamic acid, glutaric acid, p-hydroxyphenyllactic acid, and corticosterone levels were significantly decreased in the brain of rats treated with both compounds. Accumulation of serotonin in the midbrain was additionally observed in the MTD group, but not in the QTP + MTD group. In conclusion, this study in rats suggests a few but important additive metabolic effects when quetiapine and methadone are co-administered.

ReactELISA method for quantifying methylglyoxal levels in plasma and cell cultures

Methylglyoxal (MG) is a toxic glycolytic by-product associated with increased levels of inflammation and oxidative stress and has been linked to ageing-related diseases, such as diabetes and Alzheimer's disease. As MG is a highly reactive dicarbonyl compound, forming both reversible and irreversible adducts with a range of endogenous nucleophiles, measuring endogenous levels of MG are quite troublesome. Furthermore, as MG is a small metabolite it is not very immunogenic, excluding conventional ELISA for detection purposes, thus only more instrumentally demanding LC-MS/MS-based methods have demonstrated convincing quantitative data. In the present work we develop a novel bifunctional MG capture probe as well as a high specificity monoclonal antibody to finally setup a robust reaction-based ELISA (ReactELISA) method for detecting the highly reactive and low-level (nM) metabolite MG in human biological specimens. The assay is tested and validated against the current golden standard LC-MS/MS method in human blood plasma and cell-culture media. Furthermore, we demonstrate the assays ability to measure small perturbations of MG levels in growth media caused by a small molecule drug buthionine sulfoximine (BSO) of current clinical relevance. Finally, the assay is converted into a homogenous (no-wash) AlphaLISA version (ReactAlphaLISA), which offers the potential for operationally simple screening of further small molecules capable of perturbing cellular MG. Such compounds could be of relevance as probes to gain insight into MG metabolism as well as drug-leads to alleviate ageing-related diseases.

•

MG is challenging to quantify, here we present a simple and specific ReactELISA based approach and validate against LC-MS/MS.

•

Sensitivity at low (nM) endogenous concentration in both human blood plasma and cell culture media.

•

Impact of BSO treatment of HEK293 cells can be profiled in culture media.

•

Potential use in cell-based phenotypic screen for small molecules modulating MG metabolism.

Determination of mycotoxins in bovine milk by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry

Liquid chromatographic/tandem mass spectrometric methods using pneumatically assisted electrospray ionisation (LC-ESI-MS/MS) was developed for determination of 18 mycotoxins and metabolites-ochratoxin A, zearalenone, alpha-zearalenol, beta-zearalenol, alpha-zearalanol (zeranol), beta-zearalanol (taleranol), fumonisin B1, fumonisin B2, T-2 toxin, HT-2 toxin, T-2 triol, diacetoxyscirpenol (DAS), 15-monoacetoxyscirpenol (MAS), deoxynivalenol (DON), 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol (3-AcDON), 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol (15-AcDON), deepoxy-deoxynivalenol (DOM-1) and aflatoxin M1--in milk. The mycotoxins were extracted and cleaned up simultaneously. Extraction and removal of lipophilic compounds was performed at pH 2 using a two-phase mixture of acetonitrile and hexane. The acetonitrile concentration of the aqueous phase was reduced and the pH was adjusted to 8.5 before clean up by solid phase extraction (SPE) on Oasis HLB. The toxins DON, DOM-1, 3-AcDON, 15-AcDON, ochratoxin A, zearalenone, alpha-zearalenol, beta-zearalenol, alpha-zearalanol and beta-zearalanol were detected in negative ion mode after separation on a Hypersil ENV analytical column, while the toxins T-2 toxin, HT-2 toxin, T-2 triol, DAS, MAS, fumonisin B1, fumonisin B2 and aflatoxin M1 were detected in positive ion mode after separation on a Luna C18 column. Two transition products were monitored for each compound. The extraction and SPE conditions were optimised to obtain maximum recovery and minimum signal suppression/enhancement. The detection capabilities related to the transition products of lowest abundance were in the range 0.020-0.15 microg/l. The mean true recoveries were in the range 76-108% at levels of 0.2-10 microg/l.

TNF and LT binding capacities in the plasma of arthritis patients: effect of etanercept treatment in juvenile idiopathic arthritis

BACKGROUND

Etanercept (Enbrel) induces a rapid and sustained decline in disease activity in the majority of patients with refractory juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). For unknown reasons, however, a number of JIA patients fail to respond to this therapy. During this treatment neutralisation of tumour necrosis factor (TNF, previously termed TNF alpha) and lymphotoxin (LT, previously termed TNF beta) may be mediated by etanercept itself as well as by naturally occurring soluble TNF receptors. In light of this, it was of interest to study the total TNF neutralizing capacity in plasma before and during treatment with etanercept.

RESULTS

In initial experiments plasma samples from healthy individuals were incubated with etanercept, and spiked with TNF or LT to a final concentration of 1000 pg/mL. Detection of TNF and LT by ELISA was found to be reduced by approximately 50% and 80% respectively, at a concentration of etanercept of 5-500 ng/mL, which is close to the pharmacological plasma concentrations. Plasma samples (n = 80) were then collected from 12 JIA patients (5 with pauciarticular, 5 with polyarticular and 2 with the systemic onset type) during treatment with etanercept (0.4 mg/kg twice weekly) for a period of 20.8 (15.6-23.9) months (median, range). The plasma samples were spiked with LT, and the inhibition of LT detection in ELISA was measured. In samples obtained 3 months after the start of etanercept, the inhibition of LT detection was augmented [72% (60-85)] compared with pre-treatment samples [16% (0.32)] (p = 0.0039). These findings were confirmed in binding assays using radiolabelled TNF. Among patients who responded insufficiently to therapy, reduced LT binding capacity, coinciding with flares of disease activity, was observed.

CONCLUSION

We have developed an assay by which LT binding capacity, reflecting the level of free, pharmacologically active etanercept, may be monitored in the blood of patients treated with etanercept. This assay may prove to be useful in guiding dose adjustments in patients with an incomplete response to etanercept.

Determination of marker constituents in radix Glycyrrhizae and radix Notoginseng by near infrared spectroscopy

High-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) methods were developed for the determination of glycyrrhizin in radix Glycyrrhizae and ginsenosides Rb1, Rb2, Rc, Rd, Re, Rf and Rg, in radix Notoginseng. These methods were used as reference methods for near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy. Spectroscopic calibrations were developed for the determination of glycyrrhizin, the total content of ginsenosides and the individual major ginsenosides Rb1, Rd, Re and Rg1. Standard errors of cross validation (SECV) were 1.22 mg g(-1) for glycyrrhizin (concentration range 21.3-34.1 mg g(-1)) and 0.99 mg g(-1) for the sum of ginsenosides (concentration range 55.3-71.1 mg g(-1)). The corresponding coefficients of determination (R2) were 0.94 and 0.98, respectively. The SECVs were generally less than a factor of 2.5 of the repeatability standard deviation of the HPLC methods.

Determination of cephalosporins in raw bovine milk by high-performance liquid chromatography

A high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method based on solid-phase extraction was developed for the determination of cefazolin, cefoperazone, cefquinome and ceftiofur in raw bovine milk. The milk fat was removed by centrifugation and the cephalosporins were extracted in acetonitrile. The extract was cleaned up by solid-phase extraction on an octadecyl sorbent. The compounds were separated by ion-paired gradient HPLC on a phenyl column with ultraviolet detection at 270 nm. The limits of detection estimated by a conservative model were 11 microg/kg for cefazolin and cefoperazone and 7 microg/kg for cequinome and ceftiofur. The mean recoveries were 86-88% for cefazolin, 91-93% for cefoperazone, 69-72% for cefquinome and 84-88% for ceftiofur in the concentration range 20-200 microg/kg.

Determination of metronidazole and hydroxymetronidazole in trout by a high-performance liquid chromatographic method

A high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method based on solid phase extraction was developed for determination of metronidazole (MNZ) and its metabolite hydroxymetronidazole (MNZ-OH) in muscle and skin tissues of rainbow trout. Tinidazole (TNZ) was used as internal standard. The compounds were extracted with acetonitrile and the extract was evaporated and redissolved in a mixture of ethyl acetate and hexane (1:2). The extract was cleaned up by solid phase extraction on a silica cartridge. The extract was analysed by reverse phase gradient HPLC on a C18 column followed by ultraviolet detection at 325 nm. The limit of detection was 2.8 micrograms/kg for both compounds in muscle. The estimated limits of detection in skin tissue were 3 micrograms/kg for MNZ and 5 micrograms/kg for MNZ-OH. The mean recoveries of MNZ in muscle calculated without use of internal standard were 93% and 81% at levels of 10 micrograms/kg and 25-100 micrograms/kg respectively. The mean recovery of MNZ-OH in muscle was 79% at a level of 10-100 micrograms/kg. The mean relative repeatability standard deviations on spiked muscle tissue were 3.3% for MNZ and 3.2% for MNZ-OH at a level of 10-100 micrograms/kg. The method was applied to trout given feed containing MNZ in an aquaculture pilot plant. Residues of MNZ and MNZ-OH were detected in muscle and skin tissues shortly after the administration period but not 3 weeks later.

Simultaneous determination of seven penicillins in muscle, liver and kidney tissues from cattle and pigs by a multiresidue high-performance liquid chromatographic method

A high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method based on solid-phase extraction (SPE) was developed for determination of amoxicillin, penicillin G (benzylpenicillin), ampicillin, oxacillin, cloxacillin, nafcillin and dicloxacillin in muscle, liver and kidney tissues of pigs and cattle. The compounds were extracted in aqueous solution by precipitation of organic materials with a mixture of sulphuric acid and sodium tungstate. The extract was cleaned up by SPE on a divinylbenzene-co-N-vinylpyrrolidone polymeric sorbent. Further clean-up was performed by liquid-liquid partition with diethyl ether. The extract was derivatised with benzoic anhydride and 1,2,4-triazole mercury (II) reagent. Chromatography was performed by reversed-phase gradient HPLC on a C18 column with ultraviolet detection at 323 nm. The limits of detection estimated by a conservative model were in the range 8.9-11.1 microg/kg for amoxicillin, penicillin G, ampicillin, oxacillin, cloxacillin and nafcillin and 18.3-20.9 microg/kg for dicloxacillin. The mean recovery range was 66-77% for amoxicillin, 73-75% for penicillin G, 81-82% for ampicillin, 73-76% for oxacillin, 74-75% for cloxacillin, 66-72% for nafcillin and 58-65% for dicloxacillin.

Determination of amoxicillin in trout by liquid chromatography with UV detection after derivatization

A liquid chromatographic (LC) method based on solid-phase extraction was developed for determination of amoxicillin in muscle tissue of rainbow trout. The compound was extracted in an aqueous solution by precipitation of organic material with a mixture of sulfuric acid and sodium tungstate. The extract was processed by solid-phase extraction on an end-capped phenyl sorbent, and concentrated on a divinylbenzene-co-N-vinylpyrrolidone polymeric sorbent. The extract was derivatized and analyzed by reversed-phase gradient LC on a C18 column with UV detection at 323 nm. The method detection limit was 2.9 micrograms/kg. Mean recovery in muscle was 80.5% (range 10-200 micrograms/kg). The method was applied to fillets from trout offered feed containing amoxicillin in an aquaculture pilot plant. Amoxicillin was detected in muscle tissue shortly after administration but not 3 weeks later. The relative repeatability standard deviation for incurred residues in muscle tissue was 6.4% (range 11-143 micrograms/kg).

Determination of fenbendazole and its metabolites in trout by a high-performance liquid chromatographic method

A high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method based on solid phase extraction was developed for the simultaneous determination of fenbendazole (FBZ), fenbendazole sulfoxide (FBZ-SO) and fenbendazole sulfone (FBZ-SO2) in trout muscle and skin tissues. The compounds were extracted with acetonitrile and the extract was concentrated and cleaned up by solid phase extraction on C18 and CN cartridges. The extract was analysed by reversed-phase gradient HPLC on a C18 column followed by ultraviolet detection at 290 nm. The method's detection limits were 4.0 micrograms kg-1 for FBZ, 4.5 micrograms kg-1 for FBZ-SO and 3.8 micrograms kg-1 for FBZ-SO2. The mean recovery in muscle was 88% for FBZ, 94% for FBZ-SO and 92% for FBZ-SO2 at a level of 5-150 micrograms kg-1. The corresponding mean recoveries in skin tissue were 88, 81 and 86% at a level of 10-100 micrograms kg-1. The mean relative repeatability standard deviation was 9.2% at a level of 5 micrograms kg-1, 5.9% at a level of 10-100 micrograms kg-1 and 2.3% at a level of 150 micrograms kg-1. The method was applied to trout given feed containing FBZ in an aquaculture pilot plant. The three compounds FBZ, FBZ-SO and FBZ-SO2 were all detected in muscle and skin tissues shortly after administration. The concentrations were generally highest in skin tissue.

Simultaneous determination of six penicillins in cows' raw milk by a multiresidue high-performance liquid chromatographic method

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method based on C18 solid-phase extraction and ultraviolet detection at 323 nm of analytes derivatized with benzoic anhydride and 1,2,4-triazole mercuric chloride solution was developed for the simultaneous determination of amoxicillin, penicillin G (benzylpenicillin), ampicillin, oxacillin, cloxacillin and dicloxacillin residues in raw milk. The detection limit of the method was 1.3 microg/l for penicillin G; 1.4 microg/l for amoxicillin, oxacillin and cloxacillin, 1.5 microg/l for ampicillin and 2.7 microg/l for dicloxacillin. The mean recovery was 95-102% for amoxicillin, penicillin G and ampicillin, 92-98% for oxacillin and cloxacillin and 87-94% for dicloxacillin, measured by using an internal standard. The relative repeatability standard deviation was 4-9% on level 4-15 micro/l, respectively, 2-7% on level 30-40 microg/l.