Asami Miyamoto, Masato Okano, Masanori Ota, Mitsuhiko Sato
{"title":"Analysis of Methyltestosterone and Testosterone Propionate in Dried Blood Spots After Transdermal Application.","authors":"Asami Miyamoto, Masato Okano, Masanori Ota, Mitsuhiko Sato","doi":"10.1002/dta.3914","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/dta.3914","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In the past few years, doping tests have been performed with dried blood spots (DBS) as test samples; this sampling method is minimally invasive and requires minimal storage space. Steroid esters are stable in dried blood, allowing the direct analysis of testosterone esters. In Japan, the cream-based formulation containing 17α-methyltestosterone (MeT) and testosterone propionate (TP) is available as an over-the-counter drug for hair growth. Here, we investigated whether the transdermal uptake of this formulation could be detected using the existing method for steroid ester analysis in DBS. A method that was previously validated to detect and identify TP could also detect MeT. We developed a high throughput liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method to identify MeT in DBS. The limits of detection and identification of MeT were 0.1 ng/mL and 0.6 ng/mL, respectively. Five male human subjects received the cream-based formulation of MeT and TP transdermally. We then collected blood samples by finger pricking and made DBS on cellulose paper. Using this method, MeT was detected and identified up to 97 h after the final application. TP was also detected up to 97 h and identified up to 49 h after the final application. The developed method provides a direct confirmation of the presence of the drug. Moreover, using cream preparations could lead to contamination from MeT and TP remaining on the fingertip skin during fingertip puncture sampling.</p>","PeriodicalId":160,"journal":{"name":"Drug Testing and Analysis","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-06-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144232782","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Marjaana Viljanto, Charlotte Cutler, Jocelyn Habershon-Butcher, Pamela Hincks, James Scarth
{"title":"Detection of Transdermal Application of Testosterone to Racehorses by Analysis of Urine and Plasma.","authors":"Marjaana Viljanto, Charlotte Cutler, Jocelyn Habershon-Butcher, Pamela Hincks, James Scarth","doi":"10.1002/dta.3905","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/dta.3905","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The use of testosterone in racehorses is predominantly monitored using international urine and plasma concentration-based thresholds and complementary steroid ratios. To date, there has been no published pharmacokinetic study on transdermally applied testosterone products in horses and whether their use could result in adverse analytical findings. Therefore, quantitative analysis of testosterone and epitestosterone in urine and testosterone in plasma samples was performed following a pilot multi-dose transdermal Testogel administration (1 mg/kg once a day for 7 days on clipped skin) to one gelding and one mare. The peak concentrations (C<sub>max</sub>) of free testosterone were 1060 and 1800 pg/mL in gelding and mare plasma, respectively. Testosterone concentrations exceeded the international plasma threshold of 100 pg/mL consistently for up to 4 h post-administration, after which detection above the threshold was sporadic up to 127 h. In urine, C<sub>max</sub> of free and conjugated (sulfate and glucuronide) testosterone were 700 and 323 ng/mL in gelding and mare urine, respectively. In the gelding, testosterone concentrations exceeded the international urine threshold of 20 ng/mL consistently for up to 47 h post-administration, but sporadically up to 143 h. In all samples, testosterone: epitestosterone ratios were greater than 5, another requirement for adverse analytical findings in geldings. In the mare, testosterone concentrations exceeded the urine threshold of 55 ng/mL consistently for up to 71 h post-administration, but sporadically up to 167 h. Therefore, these limited results for one gelding and one mare demonstrate that doping control following transdermal applications of testosterone to racehorses is possible using existing approaches.</p>","PeriodicalId":160,"journal":{"name":"Drug Testing and Analysis","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-06-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144214492","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A \"Pheraplex\" Capsule Labeled as Desoxymethyltestosterone From the Market Turned Out to Be 17,17-Dimethyl-18-nor-5α-androst-13-en-3β-ol.","authors":"Sisi Zhu, Shan Wang, Xin Liu, Lisi Zhang","doi":"10.1002/dta.3912","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/dta.3912","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In an effort to conduct a desoxymethyltestosterone (DMT) administration study to replenish excretion urine inventory of Beijing Anti-Doping Laboratory for quality assurance purpose, a product labeled as \"Pheraplex\" was purchased from the internet. The product's label indicated that each capsule contained 10 mg of 17α-methyl-etioallocholan-2-ene-17β-ol (DMT), along with medicinal corn starch and gelatin. To verify the product's contents, gas chromatography tandem quadrupole mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) was employed to analyze the active ingredient and compare it with the reference materials of DMT. Surprisingly, the results revealed that the product did not contain DMT or any other steroids monitored in the initial testing procedure of our laboratory. Subsequently, nuclear magnetic resonance was utilized to identify the compound's structure, which was determined to be 17,17-dimethyl-18-nor-5α-androst-13-en-3β-ol. This compound was referred to as M10 of 17α-methyltestosterone in a literature. This finding highlights the potential discrepancies between product labeling and actual contents in the supplement market, which deserves attention from the anti-doping community.</p>","PeriodicalId":160,"journal":{"name":"Drug Testing and Analysis","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-05-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144126116","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Evaluation of Diagnostic Sensitivity and Specificity of a New Automatized Assay for Indirect Synthetic Urine Identification.","authors":"Laura Franke, Christian Fuczik, Dirk K Wissenbach","doi":"10.1002/dta.3908","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/dta.3908","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Synthetic urine mimicking normal urine is difficult detectable by standard specimen validity testing. In this study, the VDx True Urine LD Test and True Urine SD Test, analysing 'long duration' (LD) and 'short duration' (SD) markers, were evaluated for their ability to detect synthetic urine. Two synthetic urines from the US market and 1188 real-life urine specimens were analysed for LD markers, SD markers, uric acid and temperature. Forty-seven specimens (set 1) showed uric acid and/or temperature suspicious results and were analysed by LC-MS/MS for 10 endogenous biomolecules. Diagnostic sensitivities and specificities were calculated for LD and SD markers based on uric acid and LC-MS/MS results of set 1. The false-positive rate of the SD marker was further evaluated with uric acid results of the other 1141 specimens (set 2). Additionally, direct synthetic urine markers were analysed by LC-(HR)MS. Uric acid and LC-MS/MS could identify synthetic urine. In one US synthetic urine, low concentrations of uric acid were found. Specimens of the Austrian/German region were reliably classified congruently by both methods. The LD and the SD markers detected both synthetic urines. For set 1, the LD had 100% sensitivity and 88.9% specificity, and the SD had 84.2% sensitivity and 44.4% specificity for authentic/synthetic specimens. In set 2, the SD marker specificity depended on the upper limit of the acceptance criteria. In one US synthetic urine, carbendazim was identified. Overall, several tests should be applied to confirm authentic or synthetic urine. Especially, simultaneous analysis of indirect and direct synthetic urine markers should be considered.</p>","PeriodicalId":160,"journal":{"name":"Drug Testing and Analysis","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-05-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144126121","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Donata Favretto, Antonello Cirnelli, Roberto Pertile, Raffaella Stimamiglio, Clara Cestonaro, Oriana Cuman, Anna Pagliaro, Fabio Mattiazzi, Cristina Basso, Maddalena Galeazzi
{"title":"Infant Death due to Cannabis Ingestion.","authors":"Donata Favretto, Antonello Cirnelli, Roberto Pertile, Raffaella Stimamiglio, Clara Cestonaro, Oriana Cuman, Anna Pagliaro, Fabio Mattiazzi, Cristina Basso, Maddalena Galeazzi","doi":"10.1002/dta.3904","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/dta.3904","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>A child died in the emergency room of a local hospital a few hours after ingesting a substance the color of cork and the consistency of earth. At home, a modest amount of resinous substance was found. At the hospital, the child exhibited alterations in walking, balance, and consciousness. Intubation was needed for the onset of dyspnea, so fentanyl and ketamine were administered during the procedure. A sample of blood was also collected for clinical investigation. During the autopsy, cadaveric samples were collected. Autopsy evaluation revealed multiorgan congestion in the brain, lung, liver, and kidney. Histological investigations were inconclusive. A thorough toxicological investigation was undertaken by immunochemical technique, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) on samples of blood, bile, urine, organs, gastric content, and head hair. Toxicological analysis detected cannabinoids, ketamine, norketamine, and fentanyl in blood drawn from the emergency room. Cannabinoids were also observed in postmortem central blood, peripheral blood, urine, bile, brain, lung, and liver samples. Hair analysis showed tetrahydrocannabinol, cannabidiol, cannabinol, methadone and metabolites, cocaine and metabolites, ketamine, morphine, 6-monoacetylmorphine, and fentanyl. Gastric content revealed traces of cannabis products. Acute cannabis intoxication in the context of chronic exposure to numerous drugs has been considered responsible for the death. An increasing number of intoxication cases are being reported worldwide due to the legalization of cannabis. In most cases, these are adults suffering from preexisting conditions, whereas data on younger individuals are still scarce. In this paper, the case of a child who died from acute intoxication due to ingestion of hashish is presented.</p>","PeriodicalId":160,"journal":{"name":"Drug Testing and Analysis","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-05-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144118465","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Helen S M Ho, James X Mizzi, Emmie N M Ho, Wing-Tak Wong
{"title":"Doping Control of Ranitidine in Horses.","authors":"Helen S M Ho, James X Mizzi, Emmie N M Ho, Wing-Tak Wong","doi":"10.1002/dta.3909","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/dta.3909","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Ranitidine is a histamine H<sub>2</sub>-receptor antagonist commonly used to treat gastric ulceration in horses. The author's laboratory conducted a study some years ago in the early 2000s on its metabolism as well as its urinary elimination profile in two geldings. With the technology advancement as well as popularity of blood for doping control testing, the laboratory has recently conducted another administration trials of the substance in six horses to study the in vivo metabolism of ranitidine, aiming to identify and reinvestigate the appropriate target(s) for controlling misuse of ranitidine in horses as well as to study its elimination in blood. To study the elimination and biotransformation of ranitidine, administration experiments were performed by giving six castrated horses (geldings) each 25 mL of Ulcerguard oral paste (equivalent to 9.8 g of ranitidine) in the morning and 20 mL of oral paste (equivalent to 7.9 g of ranitidine) in the afternoon daily for eight consecutive days. The postulated in vivo metabolites included ranitidine-S-oxide (M1), ranitidine-N-oxide (M2), desmethylranitidine (M3a/b) and furoic acid analogue of ranitidine (M4), resulting from oxidation, demethylation and oxidative deamination of ranitidine. To control the misuse of ranitidine in horses, elimination profiles of urinary and plasma ranitidine were established. Free ranitidine was detectable for at most 8 days and 72 h in urine and plasma, respectively. Both metabolites ranitidine-S-oxide and ranitidine-N-oxide were detected for 8 days, and therefore, they could be monitored alongside the parent drug as evidence that the substance has gone through the horse's body.</p>","PeriodicalId":160,"journal":{"name":"Drug Testing and Analysis","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-05-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144109279","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Blake Curtis, Douglas J Lawes, David Caldicott, Malcolm D McLeod
{"title":"Identification of the Novel Synthetic Opioid N-Pyrrolidino Isotonitazene at an Australian Drug Checking Service.","authors":"Blake Curtis, Douglas J Lawes, David Caldicott, Malcolm D McLeod","doi":"10.1002/dta.3910","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/dta.3910","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>2-Benzylbenzimidazole opioids and related derivatives, also known as 'nitazenes', present a growing threat to public health. Emerging in Europe in 2019, the nitazene group of drugs is a recent addition to the novel synthetic opioid class and has been associated internationally with adverse effects in drug users, overdose clusters and significant mortality. The high potency of many nitazene derivatives, which can in many cases exceed that of fentanyl, poses a significant challenge to the public health and early warning systems used to detect and respond to the emergence of new high-risk substances. This report describes close collaboration between an Australian drug checking service and a nearby university laboratory to identify and characterise the novel synthetic opioid N-pyrrolidino isotonitazene in an expected oxycodone sample presented by a member of the public. Though no prior publications are available describing the presence of this nitazene in the drug market, previously reported in vitro evaluation of this compound reveals it to be among the most potent nitazene opioid agonists known. The study highlights the rapid response possible though engaging drug users with drug checking services as a market monitor and early warning system to alert health services and the broader community to the presence of unexpected, high-risk substances. Integration of well-resourced and supported drug checking services provides a powerful approach to tackle the public health threats associated with novel synthetic opioids and other drugs of concern.</p>","PeriodicalId":160,"journal":{"name":"Drug Testing and Analysis","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-05-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144092377","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Metabolic Identification Based on Proposed Mass Fragmentation Pathways of the Anabolic Steroid Bolasterone by Gas Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry.","authors":"Anca Raluca Muresan, Khandoker Asiqur Rahaman, Farzana Binte Rafique, Junghyun Son, Min-Jung Kang, Oh-Seung Kwon","doi":"10.1002/dta.3903","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/dta.3903","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Bolasterone (7α,17α-dimethyl-androsta-4-en-17β-ol-3-one) was registered on the World Anti-Doping Agency's Prohibited list of substances. This study was aimed at evaluating the metabolism of bolasterone through in vitro (liver microsomes) and in vivo (rat urine) experiments to propose mass fragmentation pathways of the metabolites by gas chromatography-quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry (GC-EI-MS/MS). Their plausible chemical structures were suggested based on their fragmentation pathways to overcome the lack of available authentic standards. A total of 12 metabolites (5 mono-hydroxylated M1 to M5 and 7 di-hydroxylated M6 to M12) after trimethylsilylation were observed. Key diagnostic ions included m/z 403 (mono-hydroxylated) and m/z 491 (di-hydroxylated) with m/z 143, indicating an intact D ring (M1 to M5, M7, M9, M10, M11). Hydroxylation at the D ring (M6, M12) was characterized by ions m/z 231 or 219. Hydroxylation at the A (M5, M7) or B (M2/M3, M10) rings corresponded to m/z 281 and hydroxylation at C12 of the C ring (M4, M10) was indicated by m/z 285. Based on the comparison with bolasterone analogues such as testosterone and methyltestosterone and the interpretation of fragmentation pathways, the mono-hydroxylation metabolites M1 (at C11), M2/M3 (at C6), M4 (at C12), M5 (at C2), and di-hydroxylation metabolites M6 (at C11 and C16), M7 (at C2 and C11), M10 (at C6 and C12), and M12 (at C12 and C16) were proposed. The hydroxylation sites of M8, M9, and M11 could not be determined. This data can be useful for identifying hydroxylated metabolites by interpreting mass spectra of anabolic steroids with no standards available.</p>","PeriodicalId":160,"journal":{"name":"Drug Testing and Analysis","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-05-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144092380","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abhisheak Sharma, Kirsten E Smith, Michelle A Kuntz, Erin C Berthold, Omar I Elashkar, Nicholas Guadagnoli, Siva Rama Raju Kanumuri, Sushobhan Mukhopadhyay, Leigh V Panlilio, David H Epstein, Christopher R McCurdy
{"title":"Chemical Analysis and Alkaloid Intake for Kratom Products Available in the United States.","authors":"Abhisheak Sharma, Kirsten E Smith, Michelle A Kuntz, Erin C Berthold, Omar I Elashkar, Nicholas Guadagnoli, Siva Rama Raju Kanumuri, Sushobhan Mukhopadhyay, Leigh V Panlilio, David H Epstein, Christopher R McCurdy","doi":"10.1002/dta.3906","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/dta.3906","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Previously, we used ecological momentary assessment (EMA) to evaluate motivations and temporal patterns of kratom use for 15 days among US adult kratom consumers (N = 357). Here we present the content analyses of the products used during that nationwide study, with quantification of 10 kratom alkaloids. The samples (N = 341) were primarily whole-leaf products, not extracts, and were similar to each other in their alkaloid composition, closely matching the chromatographic-mass spectrometry fingerprint expected for Mitragyna speciosa leaf material. We found no evidence of adulteration with illicit or prescription drugs. With participants' self-reported data on kratom amount per use, we calculated mitragynine intake per use: mean 31.3 mg and median 25.4 mg (range 2.0-205.9 mg). With self-reported data on frequency, we calculated mitragynine intake per day, it ranged from 78.3 to 134.6 mg (mean) or 50.8 to 101.6 mg (median). This is the most comprehensive analysis of US whole-leaf kratom products to date. The coupling of self-report and product sample-analysis data to quantify daily alkaloid intake is foundational for designing controlled clinical trials of kratom in healthy volunteers. These findings on kratom products' chemical composition and daily kratom alkaloid consumption can also inform clinicians, policymakers, and consumers, particularly for whole-leaf material.</p>","PeriodicalId":160,"journal":{"name":"Drug Testing and Analysis","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-05-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144074886","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Growing Trend of Novel or Experimental Substances Not Approved for Human Use Sold as Consumer Products Poses Threat to Athletes, Service Members, and Public Health.","authors":"Amy Eichner, Andrea T Lindsey, Jon Coyles","doi":"10.1002/dta.3907","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/dta.3907","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":160,"journal":{"name":"Drug Testing and Analysis","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-05-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144074906","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}