Application of a validated high-performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry assay to the analysis of - and -hydroxybenzoylecgonine in meconium

Cocaine Hydroxy Metabolites in Hair: Indicators for Cocaine Use Versus External Contamination☆

Given that external contamination must be considered in hair analysis, there is still a demand for reliable tools to differentiate between incorporation of drugs into the hair as a result of drug consumption and of the hair shaft by external contamination. With the aim of establishing alternative discrimination parameters, some of the hydroxy metabolites of cocaine i.e., para- and meta-hydroxycocaine and para- and meta-hydroxybenzoylecgonine were measured together with cocaine, benzoylecgonine, cocaethylene, and norcocaine in five seized street cocaine samples and in hair samples from different cohorts: cohort 1 (in vivo external contamination study, n = 28), cohort 2 (individuals with self-reported cocaine use, n = 92), and cohort 3 (individuals with suspected cocaine use or contamination, n = 198). Statistical evaluation of the data of cohort 1 and 2 using ROC curves yielded metabolic ratios indicating cocaine use. Based on these results, a decision workflow was established for the discrimination between cocaine use and external contamination. The power of this approach was finally statistically validated across the different cohorts.

Prenatal ethanol exposure and placental hCG and IGF2 expression

INTRODUCTION

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is the main cause of preventable non-genetic mental retardation. Diagnosis of prenatal exposure to ethanol (PEE) is based on questionnaires and biomarkers in perinatal matrices. Early diagnosis of FASD is important to mitigate secondary disabilities that will arise later in life. It is important to identify biomarkers related to cellular damage caused by PEE. The main objective was to identify novel candidate biomarkers from placental tissue using an in vitro model of exposure to ethanol and to support it in placental tissue obtained from pregnancies with PEE assessed by fatty acid esters in meconium samples.

METHODS

First, hormone production was examined using two different human trophoblast cell lines, JEG3 and BeWo. Viable cell count by exclusion method was analyzed and human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) and insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) were quantified by Western blot and ELISA. Second, these techniques were used in protein lysates from human placentas from pregnancies with and without exposure to ethanol.

RESULTS

Both trophoblast cell lines showed a decrease in cell viability accompanied with apoptosis activation after a chronic ethanol treatment. Moreover, we showed an increase in the secretion of hCG and IGF2 in a dose-dependent manner. Interestingly, this increase was also observed in a set of human placenta tissue from fetuses exposed prenatally to ethanol.

DISCUSSION

Ethanol exposure during pregnancy causes placenta cell damage, so altering its normal function. The specific hCG and IGF2 release pattern is a candidate surrogated biomarker of the damage due to PEE.

Bioanalytical methods for the determination of cocaine and metabolites in human biological samples

Determination of cocaine and its metabolites in biological specimens is of great importance, not only in clinical and forensic toxicology, but also in workplace drug testing. These compounds are normally screened for using sensitive immunological methods. However, screening methods are unspecific and, therefore, the posterior confirmation of presumably positive samples by a specific technique is mandatory. Although GC-MS-based techniques are still the most commonly used for confirmation purposes of cocaine and its metabolites in biological specimens, the advent of LC-MS and LC-MS/MS has enabled the detection of even lower amounts of these drugs, which assumes particular importance when sample volume available is small, as frequently occurs with oral fluid. This paper will review recently-published papers that describe procedures for detection of cocaine and metabolites, not only in the most commonly used specimens, such as blood and urine, but also in other 'alternative' matrices (e.g., oral fluid and hair) with a special focus on sample preparation and chromatographic analysis.

[Prenatal exposure to drugs of abuse using meconium analysis in a low socioeconomic population in Barcelona]

INTRODUCTION

For the first time in Europe, the <<Meconium Project>> aimed to estimate the prevalence of drug use by pregnant women and the subsequent foetal exposure to illicit drugs.

PATIENTS AND METHOD

Between October 2002 and February 2004, 1209 mother-infant dyads from the Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, Spain met eligibility criteria and agreed to participate in the study. Data on socio-economic and demographic characteristics and on drug habits during pregnancy were collected using a structured questionnaire. Neonatal meconium was collected within 24h after birth and analyzed by standardized chromatographic techniques for the presence of opiates, cocaine, cannabinoids and amphetamines.

RESULTS

Meconium analysis showed an overall 10.9% positivity for drugs of abuse, with a specific prevalence of heroin, cocaine and cannabis with foetal exposure of 4.7, 2.6 and 5.3%, respectively. Structured interviews also revealed that 0.3, 1.2 and 1.5% of mothers used heroin, cocaine and cannabis, respectively, while only one mother declared ecstasy consumption, confirmed by meconium analysis. Parental ethnicity and working class was not associated with drug use. Drug consuming mothers were shown to have a higher number of previous abortions when compared to non-consumer mothers, which was probably due to a lack of family planning. Significantly lower birth weight and length was found in newborns from mothers exposed to cocaine alone or in combination with other drugs.

CONCLUSIONS

This study, although developed in a low socio-economic-status cohort, may serve as an eye opener for any hidden non-negligible drug consumption during pregnancy. In this sense, meconium analysis can be important to identify neonates with a high suspicion of exposure to drugs of abuse in utero, and provides the basis for appropriate treatment and adequate medical and social follow-up.

Development and validation of a liquid chromatography-atmospheric pressure chemical ionization-tandem mass spectrometry method for simultaneous analysis of 10 amphetamine-, methamphetamine- and 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine-related (MDMA) analytes in human meconium

A liquid chromatography-atmospheric pressure chemical ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-APCI-MS/MS) method for quantification of 10 amphetamine-related analytes in 1g meconium is presented. Specimen preparation included homogenization and solid-phase extraction. Two multiple reaction monitoring transitions were monitored per analyte. Ten and 1 microL injection volumes permitted quantification up to 10,000 ng/g, with sufficient sensitivity to quantify minor metabolites. Lower limits of quantification ranged from 1.25 to 40 ng/g. Precision was less than 14.2%, with accuracy between 79 and 115%. Meconium from a methamphetamine-exposed neonate was analyzed. Metabolites p-hydroxymethamphetamine, norephedrine and 4-hydroxy-3-methoxymethamphetamine were identified in meconium for the first time.

Determination of cocaine and heroin with their respective metabolites in meconium by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

The analysis of meconium specimens is a relatively accurate method for the detection of fetal exposure to drugs. The purpose of this study was to develop and validate a method for meconium sample preparation for a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) confirmation of meconium extracts for cocaine, benzoylecgonine, codeine, morphine and 6-monoacetylmorphine. The analytes were initially extracted from the matrix by methanol. Subsequently a solid-phase extraction with Waters Oasis HLB cartridges was applied. Analytes were determined in GC-MS single monitoring mode. The method was validated in the range 40-2000 ng g(-1) using 0.5 g of meconium per assay. The detector response was linear over the studied range, and limits of quantitation and detection were found to be acceptable. Intra- and inter-batch coefficients of variation oscillated between 2.54% and 20.5%, and mean relative errors were in the range 0.79%-19.9%. The recoveries were higher than 42.1% in all cases. Finally the method was applied to analysis of meconium in newborns to assess fetal exposure to cocaine and opiates.

Quantification of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol and its Major Metabolites in Meconium by Gas Chromatographic-mass Spectrometric Assay: Assay Validation and Preliminary Results of the “Meconium Project”

A rapid and simple procedure based on gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) is described for determination of Delta-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), 11-hydroxy-Delta-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC-OH) and 11-nor-Delta-tetrahydrocannabinol-9-carboxylic acid (THC-COOH) in meconium using Delta-tetrahydrocannabinol (Delta-THC) and deuterated THC-COOH as internal standards. The biological matrix was subjected to liquid-liquid extraction after enzyme hydrolysis for conjugated analytes.Chromatography was performed on a fused silica capillary column and analytes were determined in the selected-ion-monitoring (SIM) mode. The method was validated in the range 20 to 500 microg/g using 1g of meconium per assay. The method was applied to the analysis of meconium in a cohort of newborns to assess eventual fetal exposure to cannabis. Within positive samples, THC-COOH and THC-OH (range: 33.7 to 182.1 and 20.7 to 493.3 microg/g, respectively) were both present in the majority of cases with only 1 specimen with THC-OH as the most abundant metabolite and 2 with THC only.