The endocannabinoid system has been shown to modulate key cell-signaling pathways involved in can... more The endocannabinoid system has been shown to modulate key cell-signaling pathways involved in cancer cell growth. In this study, we show that cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1) antagonist Rimonabant (SR141716) inhibited human breast cancer cell proliferation, being more effective in highly invasive metastatic MDA-MB-231 cells than in less-invasive T47D and MCF-7 cells. The SR141716 antiproliferative effect was not accompanied by apoptosis or necrosis and was characterized by a G1/S-phase cell cycle arrest, decreased expression of cyclin D and E, and increased levels of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27KIP1. We have also shown that SR141716 exerted a significant antiproliferative action, in vivo, by reducing the volume of xenograft tumors induced by MDA-MB-231 injection in mice. On the other hand, at the concentration range in which we observed the antiproliferative effect in tumor cells, we did not observe evidence of any genotoxic effect on normal cells. Our data also indicate t...
OBJECTIVE. Methamphetamine use among pregnant women is an increasing problem in the United States... more OBJECTIVE. Methamphetamine use among pregnant women is an increasing problem in the United States. Effects of methamphetamine use during pregnancy on fetal growth have not been reported in large, prospective studies. We examined the neonatal growth effects of prenatal methamphetamine exposure in the multicenter, longitudinal Infant Development, Environment and Lifestyle study.
Previous studies suggest prenatal methamphetamine (MA) exposure inhibits fetal growth. We examine... more Previous studies suggest prenatal methamphetamine (MA) exposure inhibits fetal growth. We examined neonatal growth effects of prenatal MA exposure in a prospective cohort study. After adjusting for covariates, exposed neonates had a higher incidence of being small for gestational age (SGA) than unexposed neonates.
A fully validated, highly sensitive and specific method for the extraction and quantification of ... more A fully validated, highly sensitive and specific method for the extraction and quantification of 9 -tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), 11-hydroxy-9 -tetrahydrocannabinol (11-OH-THC) and 11-nor-9-carboxy-9 -tetrahydrocannabinol (THCCOOH) in plasma is presented. This method incorporates Escherichia coli -glucuronidase hydrolysis to cleave glucuronic acid moieties to capture total analyte concentrations, and simultaneous solid phase extraction (SPE) of the three analytes in a single eluant with separation and quantification on a bench-top positive chemical ionization (PCI) gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) in the selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode. Quantitation was achieved by the addition of deuterated analogues for each analyte as internal standards (IS). Limits of quantitation (LOQ) were 0.5, 0.5 and 1.0 for THC, 11-OH-THC and THCCOOH, respectively, with linearity ranging up to 50 ng/ml for THC and 11-OH-THC, and 100 ng/ml for THCCOOH. Absolute recoveries ranged from 67.3 to 83.5% for all three analytes. Intra-assay accuracy and precision ranged from 1.2 to 12.2 and 1.4 to 4.7%, respectively. Inter-assay accuracy and precision ranged from 1.4 to 12.2 and 3.1 to 7.3%, respectively. This method was used to analyze plasma samples collected from individuals participating in a controlled oral THC administration study. Statistically significant (P ≤ 0.05) increases of 40% for 11-OH-THC and 42% for THCCOOH concentrations were found between hydrolyzed and non-hydrolyzed results. This method will be utilized in ongoing controlled cannabinoid administration studies and may be a useful analytical procedure for the fields of forensic toxicology and cannabinoid pharmacology.
Nicotine is rapidly and extensively metabolized in humans. We present an analytical method to sim... more Nicotine is rapidly and extensively metabolized in humans. We present an analytical method to simultaneously quantify nicotine, cotinine, norcotinine, and trans-3'-hydroxycotinine in human oral fluid. Solid phase extraction (SPE) and GC/MS/EI with selected ion monitoring (SIM) were utilized. Linearity ranged from 5 to 1000 ng/mL of oral fluid; correlation coefficients for calibration curves were >0.99. Recoveries were 90-115% nicotine, 76-117% cotinine, 88-101% norcotinine, and 67-77% trans-3'-hydroxycotinine. Intra-assay precision and accuracy ranged from 1.6 to 5.7% and 1.6 to 17.8%, respectively. Inter-assay precision and accuracy ranged from 4.3 to 10.2% and 0 to 12.8%, respectively. Suitable precision and accuracy were achieved for the simultaneous determination of nicotine and three metabolites in the oral fluid of smokers. This assay is applicable to pharmacokinetic studies of nicotine, cotinine, and trans-3'-hydroxycotinine from tobacco smokers and can be utilized for routine monitoring of tobacco smoke exposure. 3-Hydroxycotinine requires additional investigation to determine its usefulness as a biomarker for tobacco smoke exposure.
This paper details a validated liquid chromatography atmospheric pressure chemical ionization tan... more This paper details a validated liquid chromatography atmospheric pressure chemical ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC-APCI-MS/MS) method for the quantification of methadone, and its metabolites 2-ethylidene-1,5-dimethyl-3,3-diphenylpyrrolidine (EDDP), 2ethyl-5-methyl-3,3-diphenylpyraline (EMDP) and methadol in human meconium. Limits of detection (LOD) were determined to be 1.0 ng/g for methadone, EDDP and EMDP and 2.5 ng/g for methadol. The limits of quantitation (LOQ) for methadone, EDDP, EMDP were 5 and 25 ng/g for methadol. Linearity ranged from 5.0 to 500 ng/g. Following solid-phase extraction, no matrix effect was observed. This method proved to be suitable for the quantification of methadone, EDDP and EMDP and the semi-quantitation of methadol in meconium. Literature review revealed no other published LC-APCI-MS/MS method for the detection of methadone and its three main metabolites in meconium specimens. Published by Elsevier B.V.
Based on animal data, there is speculation that (؎)-3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is n... more Based on animal data, there is speculation that (؎)-3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is neurotoxic to humans. Extrapolation of MDMA findings from animals to humans requires assessment of pharmacokinetics in various species, and low-dose administration data from rats are lacking. In this study, we examine MDMA pharmacokinetics in rats given low (2 mg/kg) and high (10 mg/kg) doses of racemic MDMA via intraperitoneal, subcutaneous, and oral routes. Repeated blood specimens were collected from venous catheters, and plasma was assayed for MDMA and its metabolites, 4-hydroxy-3-methoxymethamphetamine (HMMA) and 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA), by gas chromatographymass spectrometry. After 2 mg/kg, maximum MDMA concentrations (C max ) were ϳ200 ng/ml for intraperitoneal and subcutaneous routes, but less for the oral route. MDMA plasma half-lives were <1 h for low-dose groups, whereas HMMA and MDA half-lives were >2 h. After 10 mg/kg, MDMA areas under the curve (AUCs) were 21-fold (intraperitoneal), 10-fold (subcutaneous), and 36-fold (oral) greater than those at 2 mg/kg. In contrast, HMMA AUC values in high-dose groups were <3-fold above those at 2 mg/kg. Several new findings emerge from this report of low-dose MDMA pharmacokinetics in rats. First, 2 mg/kg MDMA in rats can produce MDMA C max values similar to those in humans, perhaps explaining why both species discriminate 1.5 mg/kg MDMA in laboratory paradigms. Second, our data provide additional support for nonlinear kinetics of MDMA in rats, and, analogous to humans, this phenomenon appears to involve impaired drug metabolism. Finally, given key similarities between MDMA pharmacokinetics in rats and humans, data from rats may be clinically relevant when appropriate dosing conditions are used.
The endocannabinoid system has been shown to modulate key cell-signaling pathways involved in can... more The endocannabinoid system has been shown to modulate key cell-signaling pathways involved in cancer cell growth. In this study, we show that cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1) antagonist Rimonabant (SR141716) inhibited human breast cancer cell proliferation, being more effective in highly invasive metastatic MDA-MB-231 cells than in less-invasive T47D and MCF-7 cells. The SR141716 antiproliferative effect was not accompanied by apoptosis or necrosis and was characterized by a G1/S-phase cell cycle arrest, decreased expression of cyclin D and E, and increased levels of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27KIP1. We have also shown that SR141716 exerted a significant antiproliferative action, in vivo, by reducing the volume of xenograft tumors induced by MDA-MB-231 injection in mice. On the other hand, at the concentration range in which we observed the antiproliferative effect in tumor cells, we did not observe evidence of any genotoxic effect on normal cells. Our data also indicate t...
OBJECTIVE. Methamphetamine use among pregnant women is an increasing problem in the United States... more OBJECTIVE. Methamphetamine use among pregnant women is an increasing problem in the United States. Effects of methamphetamine use during pregnancy on fetal growth have not been reported in large, prospective studies. We examined the neonatal growth effects of prenatal methamphetamine exposure in the multicenter, longitudinal Infant Development, Environment and Lifestyle study.
Previous studies suggest prenatal methamphetamine (MA) exposure inhibits fetal growth. We examine... more Previous studies suggest prenatal methamphetamine (MA) exposure inhibits fetal growth. We examined neonatal growth effects of prenatal MA exposure in a prospective cohort study. After adjusting for covariates, exposed neonates had a higher incidence of being small for gestational age (SGA) than unexposed neonates.
A fully validated, highly sensitive and specific method for the extraction and quantification of ... more A fully validated, highly sensitive and specific method for the extraction and quantification of 9 -tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), 11-hydroxy-9 -tetrahydrocannabinol (11-OH-THC) and 11-nor-9-carboxy-9 -tetrahydrocannabinol (THCCOOH) in plasma is presented. This method incorporates Escherichia coli -glucuronidase hydrolysis to cleave glucuronic acid moieties to capture total analyte concentrations, and simultaneous solid phase extraction (SPE) of the three analytes in a single eluant with separation and quantification on a bench-top positive chemical ionization (PCI) gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) in the selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode. Quantitation was achieved by the addition of deuterated analogues for each analyte as internal standards (IS). Limits of quantitation (LOQ) were 0.5, 0.5 and 1.0 for THC, 11-OH-THC and THCCOOH, respectively, with linearity ranging up to 50 ng/ml for THC and 11-OH-THC, and 100 ng/ml for THCCOOH. Absolute recoveries ranged from 67.3 to 83.5% for all three analytes. Intra-assay accuracy and precision ranged from 1.2 to 12.2 and 1.4 to 4.7%, respectively. Inter-assay accuracy and precision ranged from 1.4 to 12.2 and 3.1 to 7.3%, respectively. This method was used to analyze plasma samples collected from individuals participating in a controlled oral THC administration study. Statistically significant (P ≤ 0.05) increases of 40% for 11-OH-THC and 42% for THCCOOH concentrations were found between hydrolyzed and non-hydrolyzed results. This method will be utilized in ongoing controlled cannabinoid administration studies and may be a useful analytical procedure for the fields of forensic toxicology and cannabinoid pharmacology.
Nicotine is rapidly and extensively metabolized in humans. We present an analytical method to sim... more Nicotine is rapidly and extensively metabolized in humans. We present an analytical method to simultaneously quantify nicotine, cotinine, norcotinine, and trans-3&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;-hydroxycotinine in human oral fluid. Solid phase extraction (SPE) and GC/MS/EI with selected ion monitoring (SIM) were utilized. Linearity ranged from 5 to 1000 ng/mL of oral fluid; correlation coefficients for calibration curves were &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;0.99. Recoveries were 90-115% nicotine, 76-117% cotinine, 88-101% norcotinine, and 67-77% trans-3&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;-hydroxycotinine. Intra-assay precision and accuracy ranged from 1.6 to 5.7% and 1.6 to 17.8%, respectively. Inter-assay precision and accuracy ranged from 4.3 to 10.2% and 0 to 12.8%, respectively. Suitable precision and accuracy were achieved for the simultaneous determination of nicotine and three metabolites in the oral fluid of smokers. This assay is applicable to pharmacokinetic studies of nicotine, cotinine, and trans-3&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;-hydroxycotinine from tobacco smokers and can be utilized for routine monitoring of tobacco smoke exposure. 3-Hydroxycotinine requires additional investigation to determine its usefulness as a biomarker for tobacco smoke exposure.
This paper details a validated liquid chromatography atmospheric pressure chemical ionization tan... more This paper details a validated liquid chromatography atmospheric pressure chemical ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC-APCI-MS/MS) method for the quantification of methadone, and its metabolites 2-ethylidene-1,5-dimethyl-3,3-diphenylpyrrolidine (EDDP), 2ethyl-5-methyl-3,3-diphenylpyraline (EMDP) and methadol in human meconium. Limits of detection (LOD) were determined to be 1.0 ng/g for methadone, EDDP and EMDP and 2.5 ng/g for methadol. The limits of quantitation (LOQ) for methadone, EDDP, EMDP were 5 and 25 ng/g for methadol. Linearity ranged from 5.0 to 500 ng/g. Following solid-phase extraction, no matrix effect was observed. This method proved to be suitable for the quantification of methadone, EDDP and EMDP and the semi-quantitation of methadol in meconium. Literature review revealed no other published LC-APCI-MS/MS method for the detection of methadone and its three main metabolites in meconium specimens. Published by Elsevier B.V.
Based on animal data, there is speculation that (؎)-3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is n... more Based on animal data, there is speculation that (؎)-3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is neurotoxic to humans. Extrapolation of MDMA findings from animals to humans requires assessment of pharmacokinetics in various species, and low-dose administration data from rats are lacking. In this study, we examine MDMA pharmacokinetics in rats given low (2 mg/kg) and high (10 mg/kg) doses of racemic MDMA via intraperitoneal, subcutaneous, and oral routes. Repeated blood specimens were collected from venous catheters, and plasma was assayed for MDMA and its metabolites, 4-hydroxy-3-methoxymethamphetamine (HMMA) and 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA), by gas chromatographymass spectrometry. After 2 mg/kg, maximum MDMA concentrations (C max ) were ϳ200 ng/ml for intraperitoneal and subcutaneous routes, but less for the oral route. MDMA plasma half-lives were <1 h for low-dose groups, whereas HMMA and MDA half-lives were >2 h. After 10 mg/kg, MDMA areas under the curve (AUCs) were 21-fold (intraperitoneal), 10-fold (subcutaneous), and 36-fold (oral) greater than those at 2 mg/kg. In contrast, HMMA AUC values in high-dose groups were <3-fold above those at 2 mg/kg. Several new findings emerge from this report of low-dose MDMA pharmacokinetics in rats. First, 2 mg/kg MDMA in rats can produce MDMA C max values similar to those in humans, perhaps explaining why both species discriminate 1.5 mg/kg MDMA in laboratory paradigms. Second, our data provide additional support for nonlinear kinetics of MDMA in rats, and, analogous to humans, this phenomenon appears to involve impaired drug metabolism. Finally, given key similarities between MDMA pharmacokinetics in rats and humans, data from rats may be clinically relevant when appropriate dosing conditions are used.
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Papers by M. Huestis