Development and Validation of Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry Methods for the Quantification of Cefquinome, Ceftiofur, and Desfuroylceftiofuracetamide in Porcine Feces with Emphasis on Analyte Stability.

Cefquinome and ceftiofur are ß-lactam antibiotics used for the treatment of bacterial infections in swine. Although these antimicrobials are administered intramuscularly, the exposure of the gut microbiota to these cephalosporins is not well described. This exposure can contribute to the emergence and spread of antimicrobials in the environment and to the possible spread of antimicrobial resistance genes. To assess the impact of drug administration on the intestinal excretion of these antimicrobials it is essential to measure the amounts of native compound and metabolites in feces. Two (ultra)-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry ((U)HPLC-MS/MS) methods were developed and validated, one for the determination of cefquinome and ceftiofur and the other for the determination of ceftiofur residues, measured as desfuroylceftiofuracetamide, in porcine feces. The matrix-based calibration curve was linear from 5 ng g-1 to 1000 ng g-1 for cefquinome (correlation coefficient (r) = 0.9990 ± 0.0007; goodness of fit (gof) = 3.70 ± 1.43) and ceftiofur (r = 0.9979 ± 0.0009; gof = 5.51 ± 1.14) and quadratic from 30 ng g-1 to 2000 ng g-1 for desfuroylceftiofuracetamide (r = 0.9960 ± 0.0020; gof = 7.31 ± 1.76). The within-day and between-day precision and accuracy fell within the specified ranges. Since ß-lactam antibiotics are known to be unstable in feces, additional experiments were conducted to adjust the sampling protocol in order to minimize the impact of the matrix constituents on the stability of the analytes. Immediately after sampling, 500 µL of an 8 µg mL-1 tazobactam solution in water was added to 0.5 g feces, to reduce the degradation in matrix.

Effect of phenylacetamide isolated from lepidium apetalum on myocardial injury in spontaneously hypertensive rats and its possible mechanism.

Context: In the antihypertensive study of phenylacetamide (PA) on spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), it was occasionally found that PA prevents myocardial injury.Objective: Clarify the protective mechanism of PA on myocardial injury in SHR rats.Materials and methods: In vivo, SHR rats were treated with or without PA (15, 30, 45 mg/kg) for 3 weeks (12 per group). In vitro, H9c2 cells were treated with PA (1, 5, 10 µM) for 24 h, and then stimulated with H2O2 (300 µM) for 4 h. Molecular mechanisms were explored through cardiac pathology, cardiac function and biochemical markers.Results: In vivo, PA (15, 30, 45 mg/kg) reduced CVF from 14.8 ± 1.62 to 9.94 ± 1.56, 8.6 ± 1.33, 8.14 ± 1.45%; increased the LVEF relative level from 0.8 ± 0.06 to 0.83 ± 0.04, 0.86 ± 0.05, 0.9 ± 0.04. All three doses can improve the cardiac pathological structure and function (LVEDD, LVESD, LVFS, heart index, NT-proBNP, CKMB, SBP); however, 45 mg/kg works best. But different doses show different molecular mechanisms. PA (15 mg/kg) improves RAAS system (REN, ACE), inflammation (ET-1, IL-1ß) and MAPK pathway (p-ERK/ERK, p-JNK/JNK) better. PA (45 mg/kg) improves oxidative stress (SOD, NOX1) and TGF-ß pathway (Smad3) better. In vitro, PA improved cell viability, oxidative stress (SOD, NOX1) and Smad3 protein expression.Discussion and conclusions: PA regulates different mechanisms at different concentrations to improve myocardial injury, and high dose is the best. This experiment provides a theoretical basis for the development of new clinical drugs for cardiovascular disease.

Metabolite profiling and isolation of biologically active compounds from Scadoxus puniceus, a highly traded South African medicinal plant.

Scadoxus puniceus (Amaryllidaceae), a medicinal plant of high value in South Africa, is used as a component of a traditional herbal tonic prescribed to treat several ailments. Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry quantified the phenolic compounds in different organs of S. puniceus. Gravity column chromatography was used to separate fractions and active compounds. The structure of these compounds was determined using 1D and 2D nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectroscopic techniques. A microplate technique was used to determine the acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity of the pure compounds. Metabolite profiling revealed a greater profusion of hydroxycinnamic acids (69.5%), as opposed to hydroxybenzoic acids (30.5%). Chlorogenic acid was the most abundant (49.6% of hydroxycinnamic acids) compound. In addition to chlorogenic acid, the study is the first to report the presence of sinapic, gallic, and m-hydroxybenzoic acids in the Amaryllidaceae. Chromatographic separation of S. puniceus led to the isolation of haemanthamine (1), haemanthidine (2), and a rare chlorinated amide, metolachlor (3), the natural occurrence of which is described for the first time. Haemanthamine, haemanthidine, and metolachlor displayed strong acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity (IC50 ; 23.1, 23.7, and 11.5 µM, respectively). These results substantiate the frequent use of S. puniceus as a medicinal plant and hold much promise for further pharmaceutical development.

[A new phenylacetamide from the seeds of Lepidium apetalum Willd].

The chemical constituents of the seeds of Lepidium apetalum Willd. were investigated using chromatographic methods, including Diaion HP-20, Toyopearl HW-40, MCI Gel CHP-20, ODS, silica gel chromatography and semi-preparative-HPLC. Three compounds were isolated and their structures were elucidated by spectral data and physicochemical properties, which were identified as lepidiumamide A (1), cis-desulfoglucotropaeolin(2), trans-desulfoglucotropaeolin (3). Among those, compound 1 is a new phenylacetamide, compound 2 and 3 were isolated from this plant for the first time, and their configurations were also identified for the first time.

Enhanced detection for determination of enantiomeric purity of novel agomelatine analogs by EKC using single and dual cyclodextrin systems.

Performing CD-EKC, baseline separation of five agomelatine analogs, potential antidepressant compounds, was achieved. A method for the enantioresolution and determination of enantiomeric purity of these naphthalene derivatives was developed using capillaries dynamically coated with polyethylene oxide and anionic cyclodextrins (highly sulfated CD) as chiral selectors. Operational parameters such as the nature and concentration of the cyclodextrins were investigated. In a second step the implementation of a dual cyclodextrin system was found to strongly enhance the LOD of the analytes. After optimization, best conditions were a 25 mM phosphate buffer at pH 2.5 containing 5% w/v (i.e. 19.7 mM) of highly sulfated-γ-CD and 10 mM of 6-monodeoxy-6-monoamino-ß-CD dual system, leading to resolution of, at least, 3.6 in 35 min. A preliminary validation of the developed method was undertaken: linearity, precision, and LOD and LOQ were evaluated. The latest ones were found equal to 0.25 and 0.82 µM and to 0.31 and 0.96 µM respectively for the first and the second enantiomer of compound 1.

Quantification of linezolid in serum by LC-MS/MS using semi-automated sample preparation and isotope dilution internal standardization.

BACKGROUND: Linezolid serum concentrations have been shown to be highly variable in critically ill patients with often sub-therapeutic drug levels regarding minimal inhibitory concentrations for relevant pathogens. Consequently, therapeutic drug monitoring of linezolid must be considered, requiring a reliable and convenient analytical method. We therefore developed and validated an LC-MS/MS method applying isotope dilution internal standardization and on-line solid phase extraction for serum linezolid quantification. METHODS: Sample preparation was based on protein precipitation and on-line solid phase extraction with two-dimensional liquid chromatography and column switching. Three-fold deuterated linezolid was used as the internal standard. The method was validated involving two separate LC-MS/MS systems covering the concentration range of 0.13-32 mg/L. The run time was 4 min. RESULTS: Validation revealed good analytical performance, with inaccuracy <6% and imprecision of <7.3% (CV) for six quality control samples (0.38-16.0 mg/L). The method was found to be robust during the validation process and during a pharmacokinetic study so far involving 600 samples. Comparative measurements on two LC-MS/MS systems revealed close agreement. CONCLUSIONS: This LC-MS/MS assay described herein is a convenient, robust and reliable method for linezolid quantification in serum which can be routinely applied using different LC-MS/MS systems. The method can be used for clinical studies and subsequent TDM of linezolid.

Development of an SPE method for the determination of zaleplon and zopiclone in hemolyzed blood using fast GC with negative-ion chemical ionization MS.

An SPE procedure for the determination of zaleplon and zopiclone in low-volume human hemolyzed blood using fast GC with negative-ion chemical ionization MS has been developed and validated. Both analytes were well retained on Oasis MCX and HLB columns, and sufficient extraction efficiency was achieved at pH 9.0. For further study a hydrophilic-lipophilic sorbent Oasis HLB was selected due to the polarity of sorbent surface and its large surface area in order to achieve efficient extraction of both analytes in a single step. Special attention has been paid to choosing washing and eluting solvents, resulting in a particularly/extremely clean and moisture-free extract. The mean extraction efficiency was higher than 90.1% for zaleplon and 82.9% for zopiclone. The precision for zaleplon and zopiclone was between 3.04-10.58% and 4.08-9.52%, respectively. Whereas the accuracy was in the range from -5.73 to 6.00%, and from -7.00 to 6.32% for zaleplon and zopiclone, respectively. The results show that the developed method is accurate, selective, precise, and very fast with excellent recovery and low LOD and LOQ.

Application of dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction based on solidification of floating organic drop for simultaneous determination of alachlor and atrazine in aqueous samples.

Dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction based on solidification of floating organic drop coupled with HPLC-UV detection as a fast and inexpensive technique was applied to the simultaneous extraction and determination of traces of two common herbicides, alachlor and atrazine, in aqueous samples. The critical experimental parameters, including type of the extraction and disperser solvents as well as their volumes, sample pH, salt addition, and extraction time were investigated and optimized. Under the optimum conditions, the calibration graphs found to be linear in the range of 0.1-200 µg/L with LOD in the range of 0.02-0.05 µg/L. The RSDs were in the range of 4.2-5.3% (n = 5). The relative recoveries of well, tap, and river water samples which have been spiked with different levels of herbicides were 94.0-106.0, 99.0-105.0, and 88.5-97.0%, respectively.

JBIR-107, a new metabolite from the marine-sponge-derived actinomycete, Streptomyces tateyamensis NBRC 105047.

As part of our chemical screening program for new microbial secondary metabolites, we discovered a new compound, JBIR-107 (1), from the culture of Streptomyces tateyamensis NBRC 105047 isolated from a marine sponge sample. Extensive NMR and MS spectroscopic data enabled the structure of 1 to be determined as 5-acetamido-6-(4-(methyl(2-oxo-3-phenylpropyl)amino)phenyl)-4-oxohexanoic acid.

Determination of alachlor residues in pepper and pepper leaf using gas chromatography and confirmed via mass spectrometry with matrix protection.

Alachlor residues were determined in pepper and pepper leaf, after 49 days of manufacturer-recommended single- and double-dose application to the soil and plant. The samples were extracted with acetonitrile, partitioned with n-hexane, and purified through solid-phase extraction, and finally detected with a gas chromatography-microelectron capture detector. The linearity of the analytical response across the studied range of concentrations (0.05-4.0 µg/mL) was excellent, obtaining coefficients of determination (r(2) ) of 0.999. Recovery studies were carried out on spiked pepper and pepper leaf samples, at two concentrations levels (0.2 and 1.0 mg/kg), with three replicates performed at each level. Mean recoveries of 73.1-109.0% with relative standard deviations of 1.3-2.3% were obtained. The method was successfully applied to field samples, and alachlor residue was found in pepper (0.02 mg/kg) and pepper leaf (0.03 mg/kg), at levels lower than the maximum residue limits (0.2 mg/kg) set by the Korea Food and Drug Administration. The field-detected residues were further confirmed with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with the help of pepper leaf matrix protection.

Development of novel molecularly imprinted solid-phase microextraction fibers and their application for the determination of antibiotic drugs in biological samples by SPME-LC/MS(n).

Novel molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP)-coated fibers for solid-phase microextraction (SPME) fibers were prepared by using linezolid as the template molecule. The characteristics and application of these fibers were investigated. The polypyrrole, polythiophene, and poly(3-methylthiophene) coatings were prepared in the electrochemical polymerization way. The molecularly imprinted SPME coatings display a high selectivity toward linezolid. Molecularly imprinted coatings showed a stable and reproducible response without any influence of interferents commonly existing in biological samples. High-performance liquid chromatography with spectroscopic UV and mass spectrometry (MS) detectors were used for the determination of selected antibiotic drugs (linezolid, daptomycin, amoxicillin). The isolation and preconcentration of selected antibiotic drugs from new types of biological samples (acellular and protein-free simulated body fluid) and human plasma samples were performed. The SPME MIP-coated fibers are suitable for the selective extraction of antibiotic drugs in biological samples.

Simultaneous preconcentration and determination of 2,4-D, alachlor and atrazine in aqueous samples using dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction followed by high-performance liquid chromatography ultraviolet detection.

Dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet detection as a fast and inexpensive technique was applied to the simultaneous extraction and determination of traces of three common herbicides, 2,4-D, alachlor and atrazine, in aqueous samples. The critical experimental parameters, including type of the extraction and disperser solvents as well as their volumes, sample pH, salt addition, extraction time and centrifuging time, and speed were investigated and optimized. Under the optimum conditions, the calibration graphs found to be linear in the range of 0.3-200 µg/L with limits of detection in the range of 0.05-0.1 µg/L. The relative standard deviations were in the range of 4.5-6.2% (n = 7). The relative recoveries of well, tap, and river water samples which have been spiked with different levels of herbicides were 92.0-107.0, 82.0-104.0, and 82.0-86.0%, respectively.

Simultaneous determination of acetochlor and propisochlor residues in corn and soil by solid phase extraction and gas chromatography with electron capture detection.

A sensitive and simple method for simultaneous analysis of acetochlor and propisochlor in corn and soil has been developed. Two herbicides were extracted from soil and corn matrices with methanol/water and acetone, respectively, followed by solid phase extraction (SPE) to remove co extractives, prior to analysis by gas chromatography with electron capture detection (GC-ECD). Primary secondary amine (PSA) SPE cartridges (500 mg, 3 mL) were used for sample preparation. The analytes from corn and soil matrices were eluted with 5 mL petroleum ether-acetic ether (95/5, v/v) and 3 mL petroleum ether-acetic ether (95/5, v/v), respectively. The recoveries of two pesticides ranged from 73.8% to 115.5% with relative standard deviations (RSD) less than 11.1% and sensitivity of 0.01 mg/kg, in agreement with directives for method validation in residue analysis. The method was successfully applied to determine the fate of acetochlor and propisochlor in real corn and soil samples. For acetochlor and propisochlor, the half-life times (t1/2) in soil was 5.541 and 6.074 days, respectively. No acetochlor and propisochlor residues (<0.01 mg/kg) were detected in corn at harvest time withholding period of 2.5 months after treatments of the pesticides. Direct confirmation of the analytes in samples was achieved by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS).

Bioactive metabolites from the sponge Suberea sp.

Two new brominated compounds, subereaphenol K (2) and 2-(3,5-dibromo-1-ethoxy-4-oxocyclohexa-2,5-dien-1-yl)acetamide (3), together with subereaphenol B (methyl 2-(2,4-dibromo-3,6-dihydroxyphenyl)acetate; 1) with a revised structure, and five dibromotyrosine-derived metabolites, 4-8, were isolated from the sponge Suberea sp. and characterized by 1D- and 2D-NMR spectroscopic and HR-MS spectrometric data. Compounds 1, 2, 6, and 8 exhibited various weak or moderate bioactivities, including antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities. Furthermore, compounds 1 and 2 inhibited human recombinant phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) with IC50 values of 2 µM, whereas compounds 6 and 8 were less active.

Determination of 10 Haloacetamides in drinking water by gas chromatography with automated solid phase extraction.

Drinking water disinfection may result in the formation of different classes of toxic disinfection by-products (DBPs). Haloacetamides (HAcAms) are an emerging class of nitrogenous DBPs (N-DBPs), which are generally more prevalent at lower concentrations in disinfected water than carbonaceous DBPs. Herein a fast, convenient, and effective method of analyzing 10 HAcAms in drinking water samples was demonstrated. This method was developed using gas chromatography /electron capture detection (GC/ECD) supplemented with automated solid phase extraction (auto-SPE). The variables for automated SPE procedures were further optimized, including the selection of SPE sorbents, types and volumes of extraction solvents, SPE washing solvents and wash times. Under optimized conditions, the instrumental linearity range was 0.5-150 µg L-1 with correlation coefficients>0.9975. The limits of detection and quantification of this method were 0.002-0.003 µg L-1 and 0.005-0.010 µg L-1, respectively. The recovery values ranged from 72.4% to 108.5%, and the relative standard deviations ranged from 3.3% to 9.1%. Therefore, the auto-SPE-GC-ECD method showed acceptable linearity and repeatability and was subsequently validated and applied to analyze 10 HAcAms in drinking water.

Antiproliferative bistramides from Trididemnum cyclops from Madagascar (1).

Bioassay-guided fractionation of a marine extract from Trididemnum cyclops afforded the new lipopeptide 39-oxobistramide K (1) and the known bistramides A (2) and D (3). Structure elucidation of 1 was carried out by analysis of one- and two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy and HRMS data. Bistramides have been reported to exhibit antiproliferative activity in the nanomolar range against a number of tumor cell lines in vitro and in vivo. The isolate 1 was tested for antiproliferative activity against the A2780 cell line and exhibited an IC(50) value of 0.34 microM.

Remediation of alachlor and atrazine contaminated water with zero-valent iron nanoparticles.

Zero-valent iron nanoparticles (nZVI, diameter < 90 nm, specific surface area = 25 m(2) g(-1)) have been used under anoxic conditions for the remediation of pesticides alachlor and atrazine in water. While alachlor (10, 20, 40 mg L(-1)) was reduced by 92-96% within 72 h, no degradation of atrazine was observed. The alachlor degradation reaction was found to obey first-order kinetics very closely. The reaction rate (35.5 x 10(-3)-43.0 x 10(-3) h(-1)) increased with increasing alachlor concentration. The results are in conformity with other researchers who worked on these pesticides but mostly with micro ZVI and iron filings. This is for the first time that alachlor has been degraded under reductive environment using nZVI. The authors contend that nZVI may prove to be a simple method for on-site treatment of high concentration pesticide rinse water (100 mg L(-1)) and for use in flooring materials in pesticide filling and storage stations.

Determination of enantiomeric impurity of linezolid by capillary electrophoresis using heptakis-(2,3-diacetyl-6-sulfato)-beta-cyclodextrin.

A method for the enantioseparation of linezolid, the first compound of a truly new class of antibiotics-the oxazolidinones, was developed. The elaborated method of linezolid enantiomers separation was successfully performed using an anionic single-isomer cyclodextrin-heptakis-(2,3-diacetyl-6-sulfato)-beta-cyclodextrin (HDAS-beta-CD) as a resolving agent with the help of the charged resolving agent migration model (CHARM model). The best results were obtained with 27.5mM HDAS-beta-CD dissolved in 50mM borate buffer, pH 9.0, 15 degrees C, normal polarity. The facile strategies for the reversal of the enantiomers elution order are also described. Afterwards, the optimized method was validated in terms of sensitivity, linearity, accuracy and precision.

NMR and molecular modeling study, as complementary techniques to capillary electrophoresis method to elucidate the separation mechanism of linezolid enantiomers.

NMR study and molecular modeling were performed to improve the level of understanding of the chiral recognition process occurring between linezolid and anionic single-isomer cyclodextrin-heptakis-(2,3-diacetyl-6-sulfato)-beta-cyclodextrin (HDAS-beta-CD). NMR spectrometry allowed to estimate the stoichiometry of the complexes between HDAS-beta-CD and S- or R-linezolid and to determine the binding constants. The 1:1 complex stoichiometry was detected in millimolar concentrations and the mode of binding was proposed. The binding constants Ka of the complexes were of the order of 30-80 M(-1). Molecular dynamic simulations of 40ns for four complexes and calculations of binding free energies were performed. These calculations allowed determining the mode of binding of linezolid to HDAS-beta-CD and explaining the binding enantioselectivity.

Neutral degradates of chloroacetamide herbicides: occurrence in drinking water and removal during conventional water treatment.

Treated drinking water samples from 12 water utilities in the Midwestern United States were collected during Fall 2003 and Spring 2004 and were analyzed for selected neutral degradates of chloroacetamide herbicides, along with related compounds. Target analytes included 20 neutral chloroacetamide degradates, six ionic chloroacetamide degradates, four parent chloroacetamide herbicides, three triazine herbicides, and two neutral triazine degradates. In the fall samples, 17 of 20 neutral chloroacetamide degradates were detected in the finished drinking water, while 19 of 20 neutral chloroacetamide degradates were detected in the spring. Median concentrations for the neutral chloroacetamide degradates were approximately 2-60ng/L during both sampling periods. Concentrations measured in the fall samples of treated water were nearly the same as those measured in source waters, despite the variety of treatment trains employed. Significant removals (average of 40% for all compounds) were only found in the spring samples at those utilities that employed activated carbon.