ABSTRACT
We report determination of metabolites of popular drugs of abuse, including nimetazepam and nitrazepam, in urine by using liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. Nimetazepam and its metabolites, 7-aminonimetazepam and nitrazepam, were extracted by solid-phase extraction using a DAU cartridge. An ammonium acetate buffer solution (pH 4) and a Luna polar-RP column were selected as the mobile and stationary phase, respectively, for liquid chromatography. Mass spectrometry was used for analysis and was optimized for operation in the positive mode for all analytes. The urine specimens were screened for the presence of nimetazepam and its metabolites nitrazepam and 7-aminonimetazepam at a concentration of 0.1ng/mL. Presence of 7-aminonimetazepam in the urine was an indicator of the subject being a probable abuser of nimetazepam.
Subject(s)
Hypnotics and Sedatives/urine , Nitrazepam/analogs & derivatives , Chromatography, Liquid , Forensic Toxicology , Humans , Hypnotics and Sedatives/chemistry , Molecular Structure , Nitrazepam/chemistry , Nitrazepam/urine , Substance-Related Disorders/diagnosis , Tandem Mass SpectrometryABSTRACT
Vacuum metal deposition (VMD) utilizing sequential Au and Zn depositions has been an effective technique to develop latent fingerprint on plastic surfaces. A simplified vacuum deposition process was conducted to develop fingerprint in this study. While pure ZnO was thermally evaporated in a vacuum system, ZnO could condense on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) surface. Direct deposition of ZnO, without applying Au seeding, yielded normal development of latent fingerprint. The development of aged fingerprint by ZnO deposition was more effective than that by Au/Zn VMD.
Subject(s)
Dermatoglyphics , Zinc Oxide , Gold , Humans , Polyethylene Terephthalates , Vacuum , ZincABSTRACT
We report the simultaneous screening of highly polar, water-soluble, and less-volatile herbicides, including glyphosate, glufosinate, paraquat, and diquat, in serum using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The herbicides were separated by solid-phase extraction using a Strata-XC cartridge. A heptafluorobutyric acid solution was chosen as the mobile phase for ion-pair liquid chromatography. Mass spectrometry was used for analysis and was optimized for operation in the positive mode for all analytes. The serum specimens were screened for the presence of the herbicides at the following concentrations: 5 ng/mL for glyphosate, 2 ng/mL for glufosinate, 1 ng/mL for diquat, and 5 ng/mL for paraquat. This is the first report on the simultaneous detection of these compounds.
