Katja Walpurgis, Aileen Gäde, Andreas Thomas, Soizic Gochard, Philippe Delahaut, Mario Thevis
{"title":"Detection of extracellular hemoglobin from Arenicola marina in doping control serum samples by means of liquid chromatography and high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry","authors":"Katja Walpurgis, Aileen Gäde, Andreas Thomas, Soizic Gochard, Philippe Delahaut, Mario Thevis","doi":"10.1002/dta.3591","DOIUrl":"10.1002/dta.3591","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The manipulation of blood and blood components in sports is prohibited at all times, and besides blood transfusions, also hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers (HBOCs) can be employed to artificially improve the oxygen transport capacity of the blood. But while most drug candidates based on stabilized hemoglobin (Hb) were found to be characterized by serious side effects, the natural giant extracellular Hb from the marine invertebrate <i>Arenicola marina</i> (lugworm) could be another candidate for transfusion medicine and cheating athletes, as it was found to be well tolerated in preclinical animal studies. Within this research project, lugworm Hb was implemented into the existing doping control detection method for bovine HBOCs based on ultrafiltration, tryptic digestion, and liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS/MS). For the mass spectrometric identification of lugworm Hb, two precursor–product ion pairs for a total of four tryptic peptides originating from subunits hbA2 (T<sub>6</sub>), hbB1 (T<sub>3</sub> and T<sub>6</sub>), and the linker chain (T<sub>16</sub>) were employed. The modified approach was comprehensively characterized and found to allow for the specific and sensitive detection of lugworm Hb down to concentrations of 10 μg/mL from 50 μL of serum/plasma. Therefore, it can serve as confirmation procedure for lugworm Hb following visual or electrophoretic screening. Moreover, a proof-of-concept rat administration study was conducted, and the observed detection windows of at least 4 (dose: 200 mg/kg) and 8 h (dose: 600 mg/kg) suggest that the approach can be readily employed to efficiently test in-competition doping control samples for the presence of the drug candidate.</p>","PeriodicalId":160,"journal":{"name":"Drug Testing and Analysis","volume":"15 11-12","pages":"1430-1438"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2023-11-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://analyticalsciencejournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/dta.3591","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"71418910","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Marie H. Deventer, Mattias Persson, Caitlyn Norman, Huiling Liu, Matthew J. Connolly, Niamh Nic Daéid, Craig McKenzie, Henrik Gréen, Christophe P. Stove
{"title":"In vitro cannabinoid activity profiling of generic ban-evading brominated synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists and their analogs","authors":"Marie H. Deventer, Mattias Persson, Caitlyn Norman, Huiling Liu, Matthew J. Connolly, Niamh Nic Daéid, Craig McKenzie, Henrik Gréen, Christophe P. Stove","doi":"10.1002/dta.3592","DOIUrl":"10.1002/dta.3592","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Following the enactment of a generic ban in China in 2021, the synthetic cannabinoid market has been evolving, now encompassing even wider structural diversity. Compounds carrying a brominated core such as ADB-5′Br-BUTINACA (ADMB-B-5Br-INACA) and tail-less analogs, such as ADB-5′Br-INACA (ADMB-5Br-INACA), MDMB-5′Br-INACA, and ADB-INACA (ADMB-INACA), have been detected since late 2021. This study investigated the cannabinoid receptor (CB) activation potential of synthesized (<i>S</i>)-enantiomers of these substances, as well as of two predicted analogs MDMB-5′Br-BUTINACA (MDMB-B-5Br-INACA) and ADB-5′F-BUTINACA (ADMB-B-5F-INACA), using CB<sub>1</sub> and CB<sub>2</sub> β-arrestin 2 recruitment assays and a CB<sub>1</sub> intracellular calcium release assay. Surprisingly, the tail-less (<i>S</i>)-ADB-5′Br-INACA and (<i>S</i>)-MDMB-5′Br-INACA retained CB activity, albeit with a decreased potency compared to their tailed counterparts (<i>S</i>)-ADB-5′Br-BUTINACA and (<i>S</i>)-MDMB-5′Br-BUTINACA, respectively, which were potent and efficacious CB<sub>1</sub> agonists. Also, at CB<sub>2</sub>, tail-less analogs showed a lower potency but increased efficacy. Removing the bromine substitution ((<i>S</i>)-ADB-INACA) resulted in a reduced activity at CB<sub>1</sub>; however, this effect was less prominent at CB<sub>2</sub>. Looking at tailed analogs, replacing the bromine with a fluorine substitution ((<i>S</i>)-ADB-5′F-BUTINACA) resulted in an increased potency and efficacy at both receptors. Furthermore, as ADB-5′Br-INACA and MDMB-5′Br-INACA have been frequently detected together in Scottish prisons, this study also evaluated the CB<sub>1</sub> receptor activation potential of different mixtures of their respective reference standards, showing no unexpected cannabimimetic effect of combining both substances. Lastly, two powders seized by Belgian Customs and confirmed to contain ADB-5′Br-INACA and MDMB-5′Br-INACA, respectively, were assessed for CB activity. Based on the comparison with their reference standards, varying degrees of purity were suspected.</p>","PeriodicalId":160,"journal":{"name":"Drug Testing and Analysis","volume":"16 6","pages":"616-628"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2023-10-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"71409986","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":"The science behind vaping","authors":"Sophie Turfus, Sarah Cooney","doi":"10.1002/dta.3587","DOIUrl":"10.1002/dta.3587","url":null,"abstract":"<p>This special issue examines the science behind electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), also called electronic cigarettes, e-cigarettes, vapour products or vapes. These products have emerged in the last 10–15 years as a potentially less risky alternative to cigarette smoking for those smokers who are struggling to quit smoking. Even though the serious health risks of smoking cigarettes are well understood, smoking remains common around the world. It is well accepted that the health risks from smoking are caused by inhaling toxicants created when tobacco is burned, and, although nicotine is addictive, it does not cause disease. The best way to avoid the health risks of smoking is to never start or to quit.</p><p>Tobacco harm reduction (THR) is a pragmatic public health approach that aims to reduce the negative health impacts of tobacco use, by moving smokers from the most dangerous way to consume nicotine (combustible cigarettes) to alternative, less harmful (non-combustible) nicotine delivery products with vastly lower levels of toxicants. These alternative products include e-cigarettes, smokeless tobacco products such as snus or nicotine pouches, heated tobacco products, or nicotine replacement therapy products (NRTs) such as nicotine gums and patches (although these do not work for all smokers). The underlying philosophy of THR is that while complete cessation is ideal, harm reduction measures can significantly improve health outcomes for those who would otherwise continue to smoke.</p><p>The concept of harm reduction, however, is controversial and polarised. Those who support it emphasise saved lives and reduced costs on society, while opponents emphasise concerns about ethical principles and potential unintended consequences. In the context of tobacco, some health advocates believe abstinence from nicotine is the only option. Increasingly, the controversy around e-cigarettes is about getting the balance right—these products are clearly reduced risk with respect to cigarettes in terms of chemistry and toxicology and can help some adult smokers to switch from smoking cigarettes, but there are potential risks about attracting nicotine non-users, in particular young people. <i>Drug Testing and Analysis</i> has long been interested in covering controversial topics, to help stimulate robust debate amongst stakeholders, hence the journal's interest in covering this topic.</p><p>In our search for articles, we have broadened the scope to include studies that do not focus only on nicotine, but also studies that address detection of other substances such as THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). We have taken a holistic approach to ‘drug testing and analysis’ to include drug delivery and pharmacokinetics of novel products, biomarkers associated with vaping, in vitro and in vivo studies, and the human experience relating to perceptions, behaviour and intentions, which are important when considering population-level effect of these products. In a section dedi","PeriodicalId":160,"journal":{"name":"Drug Testing and Analysis","volume":"15 10","pages":"1054-1057"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2023-10-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49672044","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":"Effectiveness of blood steroidal passport markers for detecting testosterone abuse in Asians","authors":"Masato Okano, Sho Shiomura","doi":"10.1002/dta.3588","DOIUrl":"10.1002/dta.3588","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has introduced an Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) with a steroidal module, which is intended for the monitoring of longitudinal profiles of an athlete's steroid variables in urine to identify endogenous anabolic androgenic steroids that are administered exogenously. It has been in use since 2014. The prevalence of <i>UGT2B17</i> gene deletion with relatively low levels of testosterone (T) glucuronide in urine is high in the Asian region. There are cases in which urinary T is below the detection limit in specific urine samples, for example, diluted urine, urine collected from females, or urine collected from <i>UGT2B17</i> deletion individuals. Additional steroid markers T, 4-androstenedione (A4), and the T/A4 ratio in serum were newly added to the ABP steroidal module by WADA in 2023 to compensate for the urine steroid profile. In this study, populations of blood steroid markers in Asians (<i>n</i> = 510) were investigated and classified according to <i>UGT2B17</i> polymorphism to confirm the effectiveness of blood steroid markers in monitoring Asian athletes. No significant difference in the T/A4 ratio was observed between the genotypes. Furthermore, an administration study of T enanthate in females (<i>n</i> = 10) who were classified according to <i>UGT2B17</i> genotypes was performed. The concentration of T and the T/A4 ratio were found to be significantly increased in all post-administration samples until 15 days after administration (<i>p</i> < 0.01). The overall results supported the high effectiveness of subject-based monitoring for serum T and T/A4 ratio for recently identified shortcomings in the detection of T abuse in Asians.</p>","PeriodicalId":160,"journal":{"name":"Drug Testing and Analysis","volume":"16 6","pages":"595-603"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2023-10-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41230831","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":"Structural analysis of an lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) analogue N-methyl-N-isopropyllysergamide (MiPLA): Insights from Rotamers in NMR spectra","authors":"Takuji Shoda, Genichiro Tsuji, Maiko Kawamura, Takashi Kurohara, Takashi Misawa, Ruri Kikura-Hanajiri, Yosuke Demizu","doi":"10.1002/dta.3586","DOIUrl":"10.1002/dta.3586","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) is a hallucinogenic compound that binds to and activates the serotonin 2A receptor and is classified as a controlled narcotic in Japan. Recently, MiPLA, an <i>N</i>-methyl-<i>N</i>-isopropyl derivative of LSD, has been detected in paper-sheet products in several countries. This study focuses on the synthesis of MiPLA and includes a comprehensive analysis involving structural and liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Particularly, MiPLA was synthesized in three-steps starting from ergometrine maleate, which resulted in the formation of (8<i>S</i>)-isomer, iso-MiPLA, as a by-product. The LC-MS results showed that LSD, MiPLA, and iso-MiPLA exhibited different retention times. Their chemical structures were determined using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, which revealed the presence of rotamers involving the <i>N</i>-methyl-<i>N</i>-isopropyl groups of tertiary amides in MiPLA and iso-MiPLA.</p>","PeriodicalId":160,"journal":{"name":"Drug Testing and Analysis","volume":"16 6","pages":"588-594"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2023-10-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41186565","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":"Brief history of the alcohol biomarkers CDT, EtG, EtS, 5-HTOL, and PEth","authors":"Alan Wayne Jones","doi":"10.1002/dta.3584","DOIUrl":"10.1002/dta.3584","url":null,"abstract":"<p>This article traces the historical development of various biomarkers of acute and/or chronic alcohol consumption. Much of the research in this domain of clinical and laboratory medicine arose from clinics and laboratories in Sweden, as exemplified by carbohydrate deficient transferrin (CDT) and phosphatidylethanol (PEth). Extensive studies of other alcohol biomarkers, such as ethyl glucuronide (EtG), ethyl sulfate (EtS), and 5-hydroxytryptophol (5-HTOL), also derive from Sweden. The most obvious test of recent drinking is identification of ethanol in a sample of the person's blood, breath, or urine. However, because of continuous metabolism in the liver, ethanol is eliminated from the blood at a rate of 0.15 g/L/h (range 0.1–0.3 g/L/h), so obtaining positive results is not always possible. The widow of detection is increased by analysis of ethanol's non-oxidative metabolites (EtG and EtS), which are more slowly eliminated from the bloodstream. Likewise, an elevated ratio of serotonin metabolites in urine (5-HTOL/5-HIAA) can help to disclose recent drinking after ethanol is no longer measurable in body fluids. A highly specific biomarker of hazardous drinking is CDT, a serum glycoprotein (transferrin), with a deficiency in its N-linked glycosylation. Another widely acclaimed biomarker is PEth, an abnormal phospholipid synthesized in cell membranes when people drink excessively, having a long elimination half-life (median ~6 days) during abstinence. Research on the subject of alcohol biomarkers has increased appreciably and is now an important area of drug testing and analysis.</p>","PeriodicalId":160,"journal":{"name":"Drug Testing and Analysis","volume":"16 6","pages":"570-587"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2023-10-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41099180","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}
Camille Richeval, Alexandr Gish, Victoire Cottereau, Alexandre Peyre, Eric Pleignet, Sabrina Cherki, Delphine Allorge, Jean-Michel Gaulier, Damien A. Devault
{"title":"A current overview of the pharmacological composition of “La Chimique” consumed in Mayotte: Preliminary results of the CHASSE-MAREE protocol","authors":"Camille Richeval, Alexandr Gish, Victoire Cottereau, Alexandre Peyre, Eric Pleignet, Sabrina Cherki, Delphine Allorge, Jean-Michel Gaulier, Damien A. Devault","doi":"10.1002/dta.3585","DOIUrl":"10.1002/dta.3585","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Mayotte Island, a French department located in the Mozambique Channel, has for several years been faced with the consumption of “La Chimique” (LC), reputed (but extremely poorly documented) to be a mixture of tobacco and synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists (SCRAs). One of the objectives of the CHASSE-MAREE protocol is to assess the composition and heterogeneity of LC products through successive LC sample collection campaigns among users. Currently underway, we present here the first analytical results (samples collected in 2022). Between September and December 2022, 80 samples were collected throughout the island over three periods: 70 in the usual form of LC (small folded papers containing a plant-like sample, mostly tobacco), 6 powders, and 4 cigarettes. Analysis was performed using liquid chromatography with high-resolution mass spectrometry. The detected substances (number of detections) included SCRAs (MDMB-4en-PINACA [35], ADB-FUBIATA [25], MDMB-INACA [16], ADB-BUTINACA [15], AFUBIATA [11], 4F-MDMD-BICA [7], CH-PIATA [14], 5C-APINACA [3], BZO-HEXOXIZID [2], and 4F-ABINACA [1]), nicotine (68), tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabinol (CBN), and cannabidiol (CBD) (2), medications (amantadine [11], cyamemazine [6], and acetaminophen [3]), and a designer benzodiazepine (bromazolam [4]). The SCRAs currently in use are varied, and the market for “cooks” (those who prepare LC) is dispersed according to where and when samples are collected. These preliminary results will be supplemented by analysis of samples collected in the first half of 2023 and by an improved description of the current panorama of consumption of LC in Mayotte (mapping, effects felt and dependence, etc.).</p>","PeriodicalId":160,"journal":{"name":"Drug Testing and Analysis","volume":"16 6","pages":"558-569"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2023-10-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41091574","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}
Céline Duchateau, Caroline Stévigny, Kris De Braekeleer, Eric Deconinck
{"title":"Characterization of CBD oils, seized on the Belgian market, using infrared spectroscopy: Matrix identification and CBD determination, a proof of concept","authors":"Céline Duchateau, Caroline Stévigny, Kris De Braekeleer, Eric Deconinck","doi":"10.1002/dta.3583","DOIUrl":"10.1002/dta.3583","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The availability of cannabidiol (CBD) oil products has increased in recent years. No analytical controls are mandatory for these products leading to uncertainties about composition and quality. In this paper, a methodology was developed to identify the oil matrix and to estimate the CBD content in such samples, using mid-infrared and near-infrared spectroscopy. Different oils were selected based on the information labeled on products and were bought in food stores in order to create a sample set with a variety of matrices. These oils were spiked with CBD to obtain samples with CBD levels from 0% to 20%. The first part of the study was focused on the qualitative analysis of the oil matrix. A classification model, based on Soft Independent Modeling of Class Analogy, was build using the spiked oils to distinguish between the different oil matrices. For both spectroscopic techniques, the sensitivity, the specificity, the accuracy and the precision were equal to 100%. These models were applied to determine the oil matrix of seized samples. The second part of the study was focused on the quantitative estimation of CBD. After determination of CBD in seized samples using gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, partial least square regression (PLS-R) models were built, one for each matrix in the sample set. Both techniques were able to classify unknown oily samples according to their matrix, and although only few samples were available to evaluate the PLS-R models, the approach clearly showed promising results for the estimation of the CBD content in oil samples.</p>","PeriodicalId":160,"journal":{"name":"Drug Testing and Analysis","volume":"16 5","pages":"537-551"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2023-10-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41091308","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":"Investigations into the human metabolism of ecdysterone","authors":"Thomas Piper, Mario Thevis","doi":"10.1002/dta.3582","DOIUrl":"10.1002/dta.3582","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The possible performance-enhancing effects and medical benefits of ecdysterone (ECDY) have been discussed several times throughout the last decades. In 2020, the World Anti-Doping Agency include ECDY in their monitoring programme and continued this prevalence study until now. Only little is known about the human metabolism of ECDY besides the first study performed on human subjects in the field of sports drug testing that was already conducted in 2001. Aim of this study was the in-depth investigation on human ECDY metabolism to improve its detectability and to support the decision-making processes as to how ECDY can be implemented most effectively into sports drug testing regulations. In a first trial, one male volunteer was administered with threefold deuterated ECDY to enable the detection and potential identification of all urinary metabolites still comprising the deuterium label by employing hydrogen isotope ratio mass spectrometry and high-resolution/high-accuracy mass spectrometry. Samples were collected for up to 14 days, and metabolites excreted unconjugated, glucuronidated, and sulphated were investigated. The detected deuterated metabolites were confirmed in a second administration trial encompassing two male and one female volunteers. After the administration of 50 mg of unlabelled ECDY, urine samples were collected for up to 7 days. Besides the already described urinary metabolites of ECDY, more than 20 new metabolites were detected encompassing all expected metabolic conversions including side chain cleavage at C21. A large interindividual variation in the amounts of excreted metabolites was visible, and considerable differences in abundances of early- and late-excretion phase metabolites were observed.</p>","PeriodicalId":160,"journal":{"name":"Drug Testing and Analysis","volume":"15 11-12","pages":"1503-1520"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2023-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://analyticalsciencejournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/dta.3582","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41097534","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}