Metabolites In Human Urine Research Articles

Metabolism and bioactivation of the tricyclic antidepressant amitriptyline in human liver microsomes and human urine.

Amitriptyline is a widely used tricyclic antidepressant, but the metabolic studies were conducted almost 20 years ago using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with ultraviolet detector or radiolabeled methods. First, multiple ion monitoring (MIM)- enhanced product ion (EPI) scan was used to obtain the diagnostic ions or neutral losses in human liver microsome incubations with amitriptyline. Subsequently, predicted multiple reaction monitoring (MRM)-EPI scan was used to identify the metabolites in human urine with the diagnostic ions or neutral losses. Finally, product ion filtering and neutral loss filtering were used as the data mining tools to screen metabolites. Consequently, a total of 28 metabolites were identified in human urine after an oral administration using LC-MS/MS. An integrated workflow using LC-MS/MS was developed to comprehensively profile the metabolites of amitriptyline in human urine, in which five N-acetyl-l-cysteine conjugates were characterized as tentative biomarkers for idiosyncratic toxicity.

Room temperature fluorescence spectroscopy of benzo[a]pyrene metabolites on octadecyl extraction membranes

Benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) is a prototypic carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH), which requires metabolic activation to produce its detrimental effects. Measurement of B[a]P metabolites in human urine could provide a direct way to assess individual differences in susceptibility to PAH-related cancer. This article focuses on the development of screening methodology for the routine analysis of B[a]P metabolites in urine samples. It explores the solid-surface room-temperature fluorescence (RTF) properties of 3-hydroxy-benzo[a]pyrene, benzo[a]pyrene-trans-9,10-dihydrodiol, benzo[a]pyrene-r-7,t-8,c-9-tetrahydrotriol and benzo[a]pyrene-r-7,t-8,c-9,c-10-tetrahydrotetrol previously extracted from urine samples with octadecyl-silica membranes. Relative standard deviations varying from 2.1% (benzo[a]pyrene-r-7,t-8,c-9-tetrahydrotriol) to 8.6% (3-hydroxy-benzo[a]pyrene) are obtained with the aid of fiber optic probe that eliminates the need for manual optimization of signal intensities. Analytical recoveries from human urine samples varied from 87.5±3.1% (3-hydroxy-benzo[a]pyrene) to 99.8±2.5% (benzo[a]pyrene-r-7,t-8,c-9,c-10-tetrahydrotetrol). The excellent analytical figures of merit and the simplicity of the experimental procedure demonstrate the potential of this approach for screening biomarkers of PAH exposure in numerous urine samples.

Evaluating long-term cellular effects of the arsenic species thio-DMAV: qPCR-based gene expression as screening tool

Thio-dimethylarsinic acid (thio-DMAV) is a human urinary metabolite of the class 1 human carcinogen inorganic arsenic as well as of arsenosugars. Thio-DMAV exerts strong cellular toxicity, whereas its toxic modes of action are not fully understood. For the first time, this study characterises the impact of a long-term (21days) in vitro incubation of thio-DMAV on the expression of selected genes related to cell death, stress response, epigenetics and DNA repair. The observed upregulation of DNMT1 might be a cellular compensation to counterregulate the in a very recent study observed massive global DNA hypomethylation after chronic thio-DMAV incubation. Moreover, our data suggest that chronic exposure towards subcytotoxic, pico- to nanomolar concentrations of thio-DMAV causes a stress response in human urothelial cells. The upregulation of genes encoding for proteins of DNA repair (Apex1, Lig1, XRCC1, DDB2, XPG, ATR) as well as damage response (GADD45A, GADD45G, Trp53) indicate a potential genotoxic risk emanating from thio-DMAV after long-term incubation.

Development, validation and application of a comprehensive stereoselective LC/MS–MS assay for bupropion and oxidative, reductive, and glucuronide metabolites in human urine

A stereoselective assay was developed for the quantification of bupropion and oxidative, reductive, and glucuronide metabolites (16 analytes total) in human urine. Initially, authentic glucuronide standards obtained from commercial sources were found to be incorrectly labeled with regard to stereochemistry; the correct stereochemistry was unequivocally reassigned. A trifurcated urine sample preparation and analysis procedure was employed for the stereoselective analysis of bupropion, hydroxybupropion, erythrohydrobupropion, and threohydrobupropion enantiomers, and hydroxybupropion, erythrohydrobupropion and threohydrobupropion β-d-glucuronide diastereomers in urine. Method 1 stereoselectively analyzed bupropion (R and S), and unconjugated free hydroxybupropion (R,R and S,S), erythrohydrobupropion (1R,2S and 1S,2R), and threohydrobupropion (1R,2R and 1S,2S) using chiral chromatography with an α1-acid glycoprotein column. Because no hydroxybupropion β-d-glucuronide standards were commercially available, method 2 stereoselectively analyzed total hydroxybupropion aglycones (R,R and S,S-hydroxybupropion) after urine hydrolysis by β-glucuronidase. Hydroxybupropion β-d-glucuronide (R,R and S,S) urine concentrations were calculated as the difference between total and free hydroxybupropion (R,R and S,S) concentrations. Due to incomplete β-glucuronidase hydrolysis of erythrohydrobupropion and threohydrobupropion β-d-glucuronide diastereomers, method 3 stereoselectively analyzed intact erythrohydrobupropion and threohydrobupropion β-d-glucuronide diastereomers using C18 column chromatography. All analytes were quantified by positive ion electrospray tandem mass spectrometry. The assay was fully validated over analyte-specific concentrations. Intra- and inter assay precision were within 15% for each analyte. The limits of quantification for bupropion (R and S), hydroxybupropion (R,R and S,S), threohydrobupropion (1S,2S and 1R,2R), erythrohydrobupropion (1R,2S and 1S,2R) were 10, 50, 100, and 100ng/mL, respectively. The limits of quantification for (1R,2R)-threohydrobupropion β-d-glucuronide, (1S,2S)-threohydrobupropion β-d-glucuronide, and (1R,2R)-erythrohydrobupropion β-d-glucuronide were each 50ng/mL. Due to the abundance of bupropion and metabolites in human urine, no efforts were made to optimize sensitivity. All analytes were stable following freeze thaw cycles at -80°C. This assay was applicable to clinical pharmacokinetic investigations of bupropion in patients and to in vitro metabolism of the primary bupropion metabolites to their glucuronides.

Analysis of polar urinary metabolites for metabolic phenotyping using supercritical fluid chromatography and mass spectrometry

Supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) is frequently used for the analysis and separation of non-polar metabolites, but remains relatively underutilised for the study of polar molecules, even those which pose difficulties with established reversed-phase (RP) or hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatographic (HILIC) methodologies. Here, we present a fast SFC-MS method for the analysis of medium and high-polarity (−7≤cLogP≤2) compounds, designed for implementation in a high-throughput metabonomics setting. Sixty polar analytes were first screened to identify those most suitable for inclusion in chromatographic test mixtures; then, a multi-dimensional method development study was conducted to determine the optimal choice of stationary phase, modifier additive and temperature for the separation of such analytes using SFC. The test mixtures were separated on a total of twelve different column chemistries at three different temperatures, using CO2-methanol-based mobile phases containing a variety of polar additives. Chromatographic performance was evaluated with a particular emphasis on peak capacity, overall resolution, peak distribution and repeatability. The results suggest that a new generation of stationary phases, specifically designed for improved robustness in mixed CO2-methanol mobile phases, can improve peak shape, peak capacity and resolution for all classes of polar analytes. A significant enhancement in chromatographic performance was observed for these urinary metabolites on the majority of the stationary phases when polar additives such as ammonium salts (formate, acetate and hydroxide) were included in the organic modifier, and the use of water or alkylamine additives was found to be beneficial for specific subsets of polar analytes. The utility of these findings was confirmed by the separation of a mixture of polar metabolites in human urine using an optimised 7min gradient SFC method, where the use of the recommended column and co-solvent combination resulted in a significant improvement in chromatographic performance.

Identification of main human urinary metabolites of the designer nitrobenzodiazepines clonazolam, meclonazepam, and nifoxipam by nano-liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry for drug testing purposes.

Among the new psychoactive substances (NPS), so-called designer benzodiazepines have become of particular importance over the last 2 years, due to their increasing availability on the internet drug market. Therapeutically used nitrobenzodiazepines such as flunitrazepam are known to be extensively metabolized via N-dealkylation to active metabolites and via nitro reduction to the 7-amino compounds. The aim of the present work was to tentatively identify phase I and II metabolites of the latest members of this class appearing on the NPS market, clonazolam, meclonazepam, and nifoxipam, in human urine samples. Nano-liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry was used to provide data about their detectability in urine. Data revealed that clonazolam and meclonazepam were extensively metabolized and mainly excreted as their amino and acetamino metabolites. Nifoxipam was also extensively metabolized, but instead mainly excreted as the acetamino metabolite and a glucuronic acid conjugate of the parent. Based on analysis of human urine samples collected in cases of acute intoxication within the Swedish STRIDA project, and samples submitted for routine drug testing, the most abundant metabolites and good targets for urine drug testing were 7-aminoclonazolam for clonazolam, 7-acetaminomeclonazepam for meclonazepam, and 7-acetaminonifoxipam for nifoxipam.

Salting-out assisted extraction method coupled with hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography for determination of selected β-blockers and their metabolites in human urine.

In this study, a new analytical method was developed and validated for the simultaneous analysis of β-blockers (metoprolol, propranolol, carvedilol) and their metabolites (5'-hydroxycarvedilol, O-desmethylcarvedilol, α-hydroxymetoprolol, O-desmethylmetoprolol, 5-hydroxypropranolol) in human urine. A salting-out assisted liquid-liquid extraction (SALLE) procedure was used for sample preparation. Several parameters affecting the extraction efficiency and method sensitivity including the type and volume of the extraction solvent, the type and quantity of the inorganic salt, extraction time and sample pH were investigated. Hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography-ultraviolet detection (HILIC-UV) was used for the determination of all analytes. During method development, the effects of mobile phase components (type, pH, concentration of salt, organic modifier type and content, flow rate, column temperature) on the retention and separation of β-blockers and metabolites on the five different HILIC columns were examined. The method was linear for concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 8.0μg/mL, with determination coefficients higher than 0.993 for all analytes. The limits of quantification were in the range from 0.1 to 0.2μg/mL. Intra- and inter-day precision ranged from 0.1 to 8.9%, and accuracy was within±13% interval for all analytes. Under the optimized conditions, extraction efficiency was greater than 83.4% for determined compounds. The validated method was then applied to the measurement of β-blockers and their metabolites in human urine samples.

Metabolic transformations of dietary polyphenols: comparison between in vitro colonic and hepatic models and in vivo urinary metabolites

Studies on metabolism of polyphenols have revealed extensive transformations in the carbon backbone by colonic microbiota; however, the influence of microbial and hepatic transformations on human urinary metabolites has not been explored. Therefore, the aims of this study were (1) to compare the in vitro microbial phenolic metabolite profile of foods and beverages with that excreted in urine of subjects consuming the same foodstuff and (2) to explore the role of liver on postcolonic metabolism of polyphenols by using in vitro hepatic models. A 24-h urinary phenolic metabolite profile was evaluated in 72 subjects participating in an 8-week clinical trial during which they were randomly assigned to diets differing for polyphenol content. Polyphenol-rich foods and beverages used in the clinical trial were subjected to human fecal microbiota in the in vitro colon model. Metabolites from green tea, one of the main components of the polyphenol-rich diet, were incubated with primary hepatocytes to highlight hepatic conversion of polyphenols. The analyses were performed using targeted gas chromatography with mass spectrometer (GCxGC-TOFMS:colon model; GC-MS: urine and hepatocytes). A significant correlation was found between urinary and colonic metabolites with C1-C3 side chain (P=.040). However, considerably higher amounts of hippuric acid, 3-hydroxybenzoic acid and ferulic acid were detected in urine than in the colon model. The hepatic conversion showed additional amounts of these metabolites complementing the gap between in vitro colon model and the in vivo urinary excretion. Therefore, combining in vitro colon and hepatic models may better elucidate the metabolism of polyphenols from dietary exposure to urinary metabolites.

Analytical challenges and solutions in doping control: a perspective from the Swedish Doping Control Laboratory.

BioanalysisVol. 8, No. 8 CommentaryAnalytical challenges and solutions in doping control: a perspective from the Swedish Doping Control LaboratoryMagnus EricssonMagnus Ericsson*Author for correspondence: E-mail Address: dopinglab@karolinska.se Doping Control Laboratory, Clinical Pharmacology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, SE 141 86, SwedenSearch for more papers by this authorPublished Online:23 Mar 2016https://doi.org/10.4155/bio-2016-0037AboutSectionsView ArticleView Full TextPDF/EPUB ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInReddit View articleKeywords: GC–MS/MSLC-HRMSOlympic GamesReferences1 World Anti-Doping Agency. The Prohibited List 2016. www.wada-ama.org.Google Scholar2 World Anti-Doping Agency. International Standard for Laboratories (ISL). www.wada-ama.org.Google Scholar3 Badoud F, Grataa E, Perrenoud L et al. 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Endogenous steroid profiling in the athlete biological passport. Endocrinol. Metab. Clin. North Am. 39, 59 (2011).Crossref, Google Scholar9 Boscha J, Such-Sanmartína G, Seguraa J, Gutiérrez-Gallego B R. Tracking growth hormone abuse in sport: performance of marker proteins in a controlled setting. Anal. Chim. Acta 745, 118–123 (2012).Crossref, Medline, Google Scholar10 Van Renterghem P, Van Eenoo P, Sottas PE, Saugy M, Delbeke F. A pilot study on subject-based comprehensive steroid profiling: novel biomarkers to detect testosterone misuse in sports. Clin. Endocrinol. (Oxf.) 75(1), 134–140 (2011).Crossref, Medline, CAS, Google Scholar11 Schänzer W, Guddat S, Thomas A, Opfermann G, Geyer H, Thevis M. Expanding analytical possibilities concerning the detection of stanozolol misuse by means of high resolution/high accuracy mass spectrometric detection of stanozolol glucuronides in human sports drug testing. Drug Test. 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Detection of autologous blood transfusion by proteomics: screening to find unique biomarkers. www.wada-ama.org/en/resources/science-medicine/detection-of-autologous-blood-transfusion-by-proteomicsscreening-to-find.Google ScholarFiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsCited ByCubosomic Supramolecular Solvents: Synthesis, Characterization, and Potential for High-Throughput Multiclass Testing of Banned Substances in Urine22 February 2022 | Analytical Chemistry, Vol. 94, No. 9Interest of HRMS systems in analytical toxicology: Focus on doping productsToxicologie Analytique et Clinique, Vol. 8A comprehensive study on the performance of different retention mechanisms in sport drug testing by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometryJournal of Chromatography B, Vol. 1178Supramolecular solvents in microextraction techniquesTwenty years of supramolecular solvents in sample preparation for chromatography: achievements and challenges ahead23 March 2020 | Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, Vol. 412, No. 24Development and validation of a UHPLC-HRMS method for the simultaneous determination of the endogenous anabolic androgenic steroids in human serumJournal of Chromatography A, Vol. 1613Comprehensive analysis by liquid chromatography Q-Orbitrap mass spectrometry: Fast screening of peptides and organic molecules18 April 2018 | Journal of Mass Spectrometry, Vol. 53, No. 6 Vol. 8, No. 8 Follow us on social media for the latest updates Metrics Downloaded 162 times History Published online 23 March 2016 Published in print April 2016 Information© Future Science LtdKeywordsGC–MS/MSLC-HRMSOlympic GamesFinancial & competing interests disclosureThe author has no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.PDF download

Environmentally Benign CO2-Based Copolymers: Degradable Polycarbonates Derived from Dihydroxybutyric Acid and Their Platinum-Polymer Conjugates.

(S)-3,4-Dihydroxybutyric acid ((S)-3,4-DHBA), an endogenous straight chain fatty acid, is a normal human urinary metabolite and can be obtained as a valuable chiral biomass for synthesizing statin-class drugs. Hence, its epoxide derivatives should serve as promising monomers for producing biocompatible polymers via alternating copolymerization with carbon dioxide. In this report, we demonstrate the production of poly(tert-butyl 3,4-dihydroxybutanoate carbonate) from racemic-tert-butyl 3,4-epoxybutanoate (rac-(t)Bu 3,4-EB) and CO2 using bifunctional cobalt(III) salen catalysts. The copolymer exhibited greater than 99% carbonate linkages, 100% head-to-tail regioselectivity, and a glass-transition temperature (Tg) of 37 °C. By way of comparison, the similarly derived polycarbonate from the sterically less congested monomer, methyl 3,4-epoxybutanoate, displayed 91.8% head-to-tail content and a lower Tg of 18 °C. The tert-butyl protecting group of the pendant carboxylate group was removed using trifluoroacetic acid to afford poly(3,4-dihydroxybutyric acid carbonate). Depolymerization of poly(tert-butyl 3,4-dihydroxybutanoate carbonate) in the presence of strong base results in a stepwise unzipping of the polymer chain to yield the corresponding cyclic carbonate. Furthermore, the full degradation of the acetyl-capped poly(potassium 3,4-dihydroxybutyrate carbonate) resulted in formation of the biomasses, β-hydroxy-γ-butyrolacetone and 3,4-dihydroxybutyrate, in water (pH = 8) at 37 °C. In addition, water-soluble platinum-polymer conjugates were synthesized with platinum loading of 21.3-29.5%, suggesting poly(3,4-dihydroxybutyric acid carbonate) and related derivatives may serve as platinum drug delivery carriers.

Profiling of urinary amino-carboxylic metabolites by in-situ heptafluorobutyl chloroformate mediated sample preparation and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

A novel 1,1,1,2,2,3,3-heptafluorobutyl chloroformate reagent (HFBCF) was examined for in-situ derivatization of amino-carboxylic metabolites in human urine. The arising reaction products exhibit greatly reduced polarity which facilitates combining the derivatization and liquid-liquid microextraction (LLME) from an aqueous urine into an isooctane phase and immediate gas chromatographic–mas spectrometric analysis (GC–MS). The sample preparation protocol is simple, proceeds without an alcohol excess and provides cleaner extracts than other urinary GC–MS based methods. Moreover, thiol metabolites bound in disulfide bonds can be released by reduction with tris(3-hydroxypropyl)phosphine (THP) prior to the developed derivatization and LLME step. In order to evaluate potential of the novel method for GC–MS metabolomics, reaction products of 153 urinary metabolites with HFBCF, particularly those possessing amino and carboxyl groups (56 amino acids and their conjugates, 84 organic acids, 9 biogenic amines, 4 other polar analytes) and two internal standards were investigated in detail by GC–MS and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC–MS). One hundred and twenty metabolites (78%) yielded a single product, 25 (16%) and 2 metabolites (2-methylcitrate, citrate) generated two and more derivatives. From the examined set, analytically applicable products of 5 metabolites were not detected; the derivatives of 3 metabolites were only suitable for LC–MS analysis. Electron ionization (EI) of the examined analytes contained characteristic, diagnostic ions enabling to distinguish related and isomeric structures. The new method was validated for 132 metabolites using two internal standards in artificial urine and with special attention to potential disease biomarker candidates. The developed sample preparation protocol was finally evaluated by means of a certified organic acid standard mixture in urine and by GC–MS analysis of 100 morning urines obtained from healthy patients (50 males and 50 females), where 112 physiological metabolites were quantified in a 25μL sample aliquot. The quantification data for the set were satisfactory, most metabolites were found within the range reported in the reference human metabolome (HMDB) database and literature. The reported results suggest that the described method has been a novel promising tool for targeted GC–MS based metabolomic analysis in urine.

Environmental exposure to pharmaceuticals: A new technique for trace analysis of carbamazepine and its metabolites in human urine

Pharmaceutically active compounds are taken up and accumulate in crops irrigated with treated wastewater. This raises the concern of chronic human exposure to pharmaceuticals via food consumption. Thus, there is a need to develop a reliable technique to detect and quantify pharmaceuticals at environmentally relevant concentrations in human biological matrices, particularly urine. In this study, we focus on carbamazepine, an antiepileptic drug and recalcitrant compound that is taken up by crops—making it an excellent model compound for this study. This paper presents a new analytical technique enabling quantification of trace concentrations of carbamazepine and its metabolites in the urine of individuals who have been environmentally exposed. Sample preparation included extraction with acetonitrile followed by clean-up through mixed-mode ion-exchange cartridges and analysis using LC/MS/MS. This technique, which was validated for a wide range of concentrations (5–2000 ng L−1), exhibits low limits of quantification (3.0–7.2 ng L−1), acceptable recovery levels (70–120%), and low relative standard deviation (<20%). Unlike currently available methods for the analysis of water or treated wastewater that require large volumes (up to 1 L), the new method uses only 10 mL of urine. Moreover, relative to available methods for carbamazepine detection in the urine of individuals who are chronically treated with this drug, the limit of quantification values with our method are six orders of magnitude lower. The newly developed method has been successfully applied for the quantification of carbamazepine and its metabolites in the urine of healthy people exposed to this pharmaceutical through their diet. Our analytical protocol can provide the scientific community and stakeholders with real data for risk assessments and the design of policies ensuring safe use of wastewater for crop irrigation.

Determination of glucuronide conjugates of hydroxyl triphenyl phosphate (OH-TPHP) metabolites in human urine and its use as a biomarker of TPHP exposure

In vitro studies using avian hepatocytes or human liver microsomes suggest that hydroxylation is an important pathway in the metabolism of triphenyl phosphate (TPHP), a chemical used as a flame retardant and plasticizer. TPHP metabolism can lead to the formation of para(p)- and meta(m)-hydroxyl-(OH-)TPHP products as well as their glucuronide conjugates. To determine whether the TPHP hydroxylation and depuration pathway also occurs in vivo in humans, the present study developed a sensitive method for quantification of p- and m-OH-TPHP glucuronides in human urine samples. In n = 1 pooled urine sample and n = 12 individual urine samples collected from four human volunteers from Ottawa (ON, Canada), p- and m-OH-TPHP glucuronides were detectable in 13 and 9 of the 13 analyzed samples and at concentrations ranging from <MLOQ-25 pg/mL and nd-4 pg/mL, respectively. A strong, positive correlation (p = 0.02, r = 0.6569) was observed between p-OH-TPHP glucuronide and diphenyl phosphate concentrations (DPHP, a known dealkylated metabolite of TPHP). To our knowledge, this is the first report demonstrating that TPHP hydroxylation and conjugation occurs in vivo in humans, and further suggests that p-OH-TPHP glucuronide can be used as a specific biomarker of TPHP exposure in humans.

New drostanolone metabolites in human urine by liquid chromatography time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry and their application for doping control

Drostanolone is one of the most frequently detected anabolic androgenic steroids in doping control analysis. Here, we studied drostanolone urinary metabolic profiles using liquid chromatography quadruple time of flight mass spectrometry (LC–QTOF-MS) in full scan and targeted MS/MS modes with accurate mass measurement. The drug was administered to one healthy male volunteer and liquid–liquid extraction along with direct-injection were used to analyze urine samples. Chromatographic peaks for potential metabolites were identified with the theoretical [M−H]− as a target ion in a full scan experiment and actual deprotonated ions were analyzed in targeted MS/MS mode. Eleven metabolites including five new sulfates, five glucuronide conjugates, and one free metabolite were confirmed for drostanolone. Due to the absence of useful fragment ions to illustrate the steroid ring structure of drostanolone phase II metabolites, gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC–MS) was used to obtain structural details of the trimethylsilylated phase I metabolite released after enzymatic hydrolysis and a potential structure was proposed using a combined MS approach. Metabolite detection times were recorded and S4 (2α-methyl-5α-androstan-17-one-6β-ol-3α-sulfate) and G1 (2α-methyl-5α-androstan-17-one-3α-glucuronide) were thought to be new potential biomarkers for drostanolone misuse which can be detected up to 24days by liquid–liquid extraction and 7days by direct-injection analysis after intramuscular injection. S4 and G1 were also detected in two drostanolone-positive routine urine samples.

Optimization of a NH4PF6-enhanced, non-organic solvent, dual microextraction method for determination of phthalate metabolites in urine by high performance liquid chromatography.

In conventional ionic liquid-based dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (IL-DLLME) procedures, most of the IL disperser remains in the aqueous phase resulting in low recovery for moderately and weakly polar analytes due to the "carry-over effect". Herein, we successfully developed a "NH4PF6-enhanced, non-organic solvent, dual microextraction" method (ANSDM) for pretreatment of phthalate (PAE) metabolites with weak to moderate polarity. This method utilized in situ reaction of NH4PF6 as an ion-exchange reagent and disperser to realize two microextractions after using [C8MIM]PF6 as an extraction solvent and [C4MIM]BF4 as a disperser for conventional DLLME. Single-factor experiments, a two-level full factorial experimental design and central composite design were applied for optimizing operational parameters using 3D response surfaces and contour lines. Under optimized conditions, the newly developed method provided high extraction recoveries (93.8-99.1%) and low LODs (ca. 0.3μgL(-1)) for three phthalate metabolites in human urine. The primary advantages of the ANSDM method include: (1) integration of in situ reaction and conventional DLLME techniques to effectively extract both weak and moderately polar pollutants simultaneously; (2) non-organic solvent use in the microextraction procedure making the process safer and more environmental friendly; and (3) a time-saving, simple operation that is fully compatibility with HPLC analysis. To the best of our knowledge, our group is the first to develop the "non-organic solvent, dual microextraction" method and it has great potential as a sample pre-treatment technique for organic pollutants with weak to moderate polarity in biological and environmental matrices.

Analysis of tolvaptan and its metabolites in sports drug testing by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry.

Tolvaptan is prohibited by the World Anti-doping Agency (WADA) under class S5 - Diuretics and masking agents. Less than 1% of the administrated dose is excreted by humans in urine. Knowledge concerning the metabolism in humans, and especially the excretion of metabolites in human urine, is limited. An analysis method based on the dilute-and-shoot approach using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) for detection was developed and validated. Ion transitions, which are part of this method, can easily be included in already existing screening methods used in routine doping analysis for the detection of diuretics. After administration of a single dose of tolvaptan to one male subject, low concentrations of the drug itself could be detected in urine samples over a time period of 24 h. In addition, hydroxyl metabolites of tolvaptan and one carboxyl metabolite with a cleaved benzazepine ring system were identified. These metabolites showed detection times of up to 150 h. An inclusion of these metabolites in the methods used in doping control analysis seems therefore to be of value. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Determination of Morphine and Its Metabolites in Human Urine by Capillary Electrophoresis with Laser Induced Fluorescence Detection Employing On-Column Labeling with a New Boronic Acid Functionalized Squarylium Cyanine Dye

A novel method for the labeling and rapid separation of morphine, morphine-3-beta-d-glucuronide (M3G) and morphine-6-beta-d-glucuronide (M6G) in human urine employing a new boronic acid functionalized squarylium dye (SQ-BA3) and capillary electrophoresis with laser induced fluorescence detection (CE-LIF) is described. The spectrochemical properties, solution stability, pH range, and mechanisms for interactions with morphine and its metabolites were first established for SQ-BA3, followed by optimization of an on-column labeling procedure and CE-LIF method. SQ-BA3 itself was shown to be unstable and weakly fluorescent in aqueous buffers due to aggregate formation. However, SQ-BA3 showed a relative stability and dramatic increase in fluorescence intensity upon the addition of morphine, M3G, and M6G. Because of the low background fluorescence of this dye, on-column labeling was feasible, leading to a simple and rapid analytical method with the potential for clinical applications.

Simultaneous determination of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene metabolites in human urine using electromembrane extraction combined with liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry.

For the first time, electromembrane extraction combined with liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry was applied for the determination of urinary benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene metabolites. S-Phenylmercapturic acid, hippuric acid, phenylglyoxylic acid, and methylhippuric acid isomers were extracted from human urine through a supported liquid membrane consisting of 1-octanol into an alkaline acceptor solution filling the inside of a hollow fiber by application of an electric field. Various extraction factors were investigated and optimized using response surface methodology, the statistical method. The optimum conditions were established to be 300 V applied voltage, 15 min extraction time, 1500 rpm stirring speed, and 5 mM ammonium acetate (pH 10.2) acceptor solution. The method was validated with respect to selectivity, linearity, accuracy, precision, limit of detection, limit of quantification, recovery, and reproducibility. The results showed good linearity (r(2) > 0.995), precision, and accuracy. The extract recoveries were 52.8-79.0%. Finally, we applied this method to real samples and successfully measured benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene metabolites.

Occurrence and Profile Characteristics of the Pesticide Imidacloprid, Preservative Parabens, and Their Metabolites in Human Urine from Rural and Urban China.

Knowledge of human exposure to imidacloprid, the most extensively used insecticide, and para-hydroxybenzoic acid esters (parabens), the most extensively used preservative, is insufficient. In this study, 295 urine samples collected from subjects in rural and urban areas in China were analyzed for imidacloprid and four parabens (namely, methyl paraben, ethyl paraben, propyl paraben, and butyl paraben) as well as their major metabolites (namely, 6-chloronicotinic acid (6-ClNA) and para-hydroxybenzoic acid (p-HB)). Imidacloprid was detected in 100% of the urine samples from rural Chinese subjects and 95% of the urine samples from urban Chinese subjects. Concentrations of urinary imidacloprid detected in rural Chinese subjects (geometric mean (GM) = 0.18 ng/mL) were slightly higher than those detected in urban Chinese subjects (GM = 0.15 ng/mL) when the effect of pesticide spraying was excluded. However, concentrations of urinary imidacloprid detected in rural adults increased significantly in the subsequent days of pesticide spraying (GM = 0.62 ng/mL), which could return to the normal levels within 3 days. In contrast, concentrations of urinary parabens detected in rural Chinese subjects (GM = 6.90 ng/mL) were lower than that in urban Chinese subjects (GM = 30.5 ng/mL). In addition, the metabolism characteristics of imidacloprid to 6-ClNA and parabens to p-HB were discussed preliminarily.

New long term metabolite in human urine for metenolone misuse by liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry

In this study, metenolone metabolic profiles were investigated. Metenolone was administered to one healthy male volunteer. Liquid–liquid extraction and direct-injection were applied to processing urine samples. Urinary extracts were analyzed by liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC–QTOFMS) using full scan and product ion scan with accurate mass measurement for the first time. Due to the lack of useful fragment ion for structural elucidation, GC–MS instrumentation was employed to obtain structural details of the trimethylsilylated phase I metabolite released after hydrolysis, and the EI mass spectrum was always informative in steroidal structure studies owing to more useful fragment ions than the ESI mass spectrum. 16 metabolites including 6 glucuronide and 9 unreported sulfate conjugates were characterized and tentatively identified. All the metabolites were evaluated in terms of how long they could be detected. The sulfate conjugate S6 (1-methylen-5α-androst-3,17-dione-2ξ-sulfate) was considered to be a new long term metabolite for metenolone misuse that could be detected 40days by liquid–liquid extraction and up to 30days by direct-injection analysis after oral administration.