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- Skov-Skov Bergh, Marianne, et al.
(author)
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Distinguishing Between Cyclopropylfentanyl and Crotonylfentanyl by Methods Commonly Available in the Forensic Laboratory
- 2019
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In: Therapeutic Drug Monitoring. - : LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS. - 0163-4356 .- 1536-3694. ; 41:4, s. 519-527
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: The opioid analgesic fentanyl and its analogues pose a major health concern due to its high potency and the increasing number of overdose deaths worldwide. The analogues of fentanyl may differ in potency, toxicity, and legal status, and it is therefore important to develop analytical methods for their correct identification. This can be challenging since many fentanyl analogues are structural isomers. Two fentanyl isomers that have been in the spotlight lately due to difficulties regarding separation and identification are cyclopropylfentanyl and crotonylfentanyl, which have been reported to display nearly identical fragmentation patterns and chromatographic behavior. Methods: Chromatographic separation of cyclopropylfentanyl and crotonylfentanyl by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography was investigated using 3 different stationary phases (high strength silica T3, ethylsiloxane/silica hybrid C-18, and Kinetex biphenyl) using gradient elution with a mobile phase consisting of 10 mM ammonium formate pH 3.1 and MeOH. Detection was performed by tandem mass spectrometry. In addition, the major metabolites of the 2 compounds formed on incubation with human liver microsomes were identified by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry analysis. Results: Baseline separation of cyclopropylfentanyl and crotonylfentanyl was achieved on the ethylsiloxane/silica hybrid C-18 column with retention times of 6.79 and 7.35 minutes, respectively. The major metabolites of the 2 analogues formed by human liver microsomes differed, with the main biotransformation being N-dealkylation and carboxylation for cyclopropylfentanyl and crotonylfentanyl, respectively. We demonstrated the usefulness of the 2 approaches by unambiguously identifying cyclopropylfentanyl, as well as its metabolites, in 2 authentic postmortem blood samples. Conclusions: In this study, we successfully demonstrated that cyclopropylfentanyl and crotonylfentanyl can be distinguished by methods commonly available in forensic laboratories.
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2. |
- Viluksela, Matti, et al.
(author)
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Toxicological profile of ultrapure 2,2',3,4,4',5,5'-heptachlorbiphenyl (PCB 180) in adult rats.
- 2014
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In: PloS one. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 9:8, s. e104639-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- PCB 180 is a persistent non-dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyl (NDL-PCB) abundantly present in food and the environment. Risk characterization of NDL-PCBs is confounded by the presence of highly potent dioxin-like impurities. We used ultrapure PCB 180 to characterize its toxicity profile in a 28-day repeat dose toxicity study in young adult rats extended to cover endocrine and behavioral effects. Using a loading dose/maintenance dose regimen, groups of 5 males and 5 females were given total doses of 0, 3, 10, 30, 100, 300, 1000 or 1700 mg PCB 180/kg body weight by gavage. Dose-responses were analyzed using benchmark dose modeling based on dose and adipose tissue PCB concentrations. Body weight gain was retarded at 1700 mg/kg during loading dosing, but recovered thereafter. The most sensitive endpoint of toxicity that was used for risk characterization was altered open field behavior in females; i.e. increased activity and distance moved in the inner zone of an open field suggesting altered emotional responses to unfamiliar environment and impaired behavioral inhibition. Other dose-dependent changes included decreased serum thyroid hormones with associated histopathological changes, altered tissue retinoid levels, decreased hematocrit and hemoglobin, decreased follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone levels in males and increased expression of DNA damage markers in liver of females. Dose-dependent hypertrophy of zona fasciculata cells was observed in adrenals suggesting activation of cortex. There were gender differences in sensitivity and toxicity profiles were partly different in males and females. PCB 180 adipose tissue concentrations were clearly above the general human population levels, but close to the levels in highly exposed populations. The results demonstrate a distinct toxicological profile of PCB 180 with lack of dioxin-like properties required for assignment of WHO toxic equivalency factor. However, PCB 180 shares several toxicological targets with dioxin-like compounds emphasizing the potential for interactions.
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3. |
- Wendt, Anna, et al.
(author)
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Synapsins I and II Are Not Required for Insulin Secretion from Mouse Pancreatic beta-cells
- 2012
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In: Endocrinology. - : The Endocrine Society. - 0013-7227 .- 1945-7170. ; 153:5, s. 2112-2119
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Synapsins are a family of phosphoproteins that modulate the release of neurotransmitters from synaptic vesicles. The release of insulin from pancreatic beta-cells has also been suggested to be regulated by synapsins. In this study, we have utilized a knock out mouse model with general disruptions of the synapsin I and II genes [synapsin double knockout (DKO)]. Stimulation with 20 mM glucose increased insulin secretion 9-fold in both wild-type (WT) and synapsin DKO islets, whereas secretion in the presence of 70 mM K+ and 1mM glucose was significantly enhanced in the synapsin DKO mice compared to WT. Exocytosis in single beta-cells was investigated using patch clamp. The exocytotic response, measured by capacitance measurements and elicited by a depolarization protocol designed to visualize exocytosis of vesicles from the readily releasable pool and from the reserve pool, was of the same size in synapsin DKO and WT beta-cells. The increase in membrane capacitance corresponding to readily releasable pool was approximately 50fF in both genotypes. We next investigated the voltage-dependent Ca2+ influx. In both WT and synapsin DKO beta-cells the Ca2+ current peaked at 0 mV and measured peak current (I-p) and net charge (Q) were of similar magnitude. Finally, ultrastructural data showed no variation in total number of granules (N-v) or number of docked granules (N-s) between the beta-cells from synapsin DKO mice and WT control. We conclude that neither synapsin I nor synapsin II are directly involved in the regulation of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion and Ca-2-dependent exocytosis in mouse pancreatic beta-cells. (Endocrinology 153: 2112-2119, 2012)
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