Beetles of the Genus Lewisister (Coleoptera, Histeridae), with Description of a New Species from Taiwan.

The genus Lewisister Bickhardt, 1912 was previously only known to contain a single species, L. excellens Bickhardt, 1912, and had only been recorded from Southeast Asia. In this study, a new species found in Taiwan, L. masumotoi sp. nov., is described and the male genitalia are illustrated. Additional morphological characters are presented for L. excellens Bickhardt, 1912 and an illustration of its male genitalia is provided. The pairwise genetic distance of COI sequences of Lewisister are also provided to support the delimitation of both species. Both species are distributed in Taiwan, and the distribution records from Taiwan are discussed.

Ultramorphological Characteristics of Falsogastrallus sauteri Pic (Coleoptera: Ptinidae) and a New Species of Cephalonomia Westwood (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae): A Book-Boring Beetle and Its Natural Enemy in Taiwan.

Libraries are invaluable resources, documenting significant events that have shaped human history. However, the preservation of old books is severely threatened by insects commonly referred to as bookworms. In this study, a sample of infested books in a historic library in Taiwan was randomly selected and examined. An anobiid book-boring beetle, Falsogastrallus sauteri Pic, 1914 (Coleoptera: Ptinidae) was identified as the major bookworm species present. To facilitate its identification, both adults and larvae of F. sauteri are redescribed, with emphasis on its ultramorphological characteristics as revealed by scanning electronic microscopy. Furthermore, an undescribed parasitoid wasp in the Bethylidae was discovered in the frass, holes and tunnels created by F. sauteri. The new species, Cephalonomia formosiensis sp. nov. is described, and we suggest that it probably uses F. sauteri as host.

Analysis of ten abused drugs in urine by large volume sample stacking-sweeping capillary electrophoresis with an experimental design strategy.

A statistical tool equipped with Plackett-Burman design (PBD) and central composite design (CCD) was used for fast stacking analysis of ten frequently consumed drugs, namely codeine, morphine, methamphetamine, ketamine, alprazolam, clonazepam, diazepam, flunitrazepam, nitrazepam and oxazepam, by capillary electrophoresis (CE). This statistical design is expected to help quick analysis with few procedures, avoiding tedious work required because of the large number of variables or parameters. A large volume sample stacking (LVSS)-sweeping CE is developed for concentrating and analyzing the 10 abused drugs. First, phosphate buffer (50 mM, pH 2.3) containing methanol was filled into a capillary and then the extracted urine sample was loaded (1 psi, 200 s) to enhance sensitivity. The sweeping and separating steps were completed simultaneously by phosphate buffer (50 mM, pH 2.3) containing methanol and sodium dodecyl sulfate, within 15 min. Better resolution was obtained by the experimental design than the "one factor at a time" (OFAT) approach. During method validation, calibration plots were linear (r>0.998), over a range of 25-1500 ng/mL for the six benzodiazepines, methamphetamine and ketamine, and 50-3000 ng/mL for codeine and morphine. The RSD of precision and absolute RE of accuracy in intra-day and inter-day assays were below 14.54% and 16.61%, respectively. The minimum limits for detection (S/N=3) of analytes were in the range of 7.5-30 ng/mL. This stacking method increased sensitivity more than 200-fold and can be applied for detection of the presence of methamphetamine in an abuser's urine (3600 ng/mL), which was confirmed by GC-MS. The method is considered feasible for fast screening of abused drugs in urine.

Analysis of carbamazepine and its five metabolites in serum by large-volume sample stacking-sweeping capillary electrophoresis.

This study establishes a method, using different buffer conductivities and large-volume sample stacking (LVSS)-sweeping capillary electrophoresis, for analysis of carbamazepine (CBZ) and its five metabolites in serum. The capillary (50/60 cm) was filled with a high concentration of background electrolyte (150 mM phosphate, pH 3.5, containing 15 % methanol), followed by a large volume of samples (10 psi, 20 s) with low-concentration buffers (5 mM phosphate, pH 3.5, with 5 % methanol). When high voltage was applied (-20 kV), the sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) started to sweep the analytes to an outlet. Meanwhile, the analytes decelerated at the boundary between low- and high-conductivity buffers. Finally, a narrow sample zone was formed. The procedure of sweeping and separation was simultaneously carried out by a sweeping buffer (150 mM phosphate, pH 3.5) with 15% methanol and 50 mM SDS added, and the detection was performed by UV at 214 nm. The method was validated for linearity (r >/= 0.997), precision, and accuracy. The calibration curves were established for CBZ and its five metabolites between 0.03-25 and 0.03-3 µg/mL. The limits of detection (S/N = 3) were 0.01 µg/mL for each analyte. Compared with simple MEKC (0.5 psi, 5 s), this system can improve the sensitivity about 300-fold. Finally, this method was successfully applied to five patients, who had taken 200 mg CBZ daily, and CBZ levels were found to be from 3.72 to 5.82 µg/mL.

Micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatographic method for the separation and quantitation of multiple amino acids as naphthoxy derivatives in pharmaceutical formulations.

The MEKC method is described for the quantitative analysis of 17 amino acids (AA) in pharmaceutical products. The method is based on simply derivatizing the AA with (2-naphthoxy)acetyl chloride under mild conditions. The resulting derivatives were separated by MEKC with borate buffer (35 mM; pH 9.50) including 150 mM SDS at the applied voltage of 25 kV in an uncoated capillary (effective length, 40 cm) and monitored by UV at 230 nm. The detection limits of the amino acid derivatives were in the range of 3.0-8.0 microM (S/N = 3, injection 5.0 s, 6 895 Pa). The precision (RSD) and accuracy (relative error) of the method for intra- and interday analyses of the analytes are all below 5.2%. The amino acid derivatives are stable at room temperature for 33 h studied and the molar absorptivity of the alanine derivative (used as a model) is stable over a wide pH range of 3.00-12.00. This is favorable for monitoring the derivatives in various pH by CE or LC. Application of the method to the analysis of multiple AA in a liquid injection formulation proved satisfactory.

Field-amplified sample stacking in capillary electrophoresis for the determination of clozapine, clozapine N-oxide, and desmethylclozapine in schizophrenics' plasma.

A method of field-amplified sample stacking in capillary electrophoresis is described for the simultaneous determination of clozapine (CZP) and its metabolites, clozapine N-oxide (CNO), and desmethylclozapine (DMC), in human plasma. Plasma (0.2 mL) was extracted with organic solvents (ethyl acetate/n-hexane/isopropyl alcohol, 8/1/1 by volume) and centrifuged. An aliquot of supernatant was evaporated and suitably reconstituted with water for CE analysis. An untreated fused-silica capillary was used (31.2 cm; effective length, 20 cm; 50 microm i.d.) for the analysis. The background buffer was phosphate buffer (400 mM, pH 3.0) containing 50% ethylene glycol. The separation voltage was 25 kV with a detection wavelength of 214 nm. In the method validation, the calibration curves were linear (r > or = 0.98) over a range of 50-800 ng/mL for CZP, 30-180 ng/mL for CNO, and 25-600 ng/mL for DMC. The relative standard deviation (R.S.D.) and relative error (R.E.) were all less than 11% for the intra- and inter-day assays. The limits of detection (S/N = 3, electric-driven injection, 99.9s) of CZP, DMC, and CNO were 5, 5, and 10 ng/mL, respectively. After continuing treatment with the CZP tablets, a blood sample from one male schizophrenic patient (41-year-old, 62 kg) who had been receiving ongoing treatment with the CZP tablets was prepared and analyzed. The levels of CZP, DMC, and CNO were determined and the feasibility of the method's application in clinical treatment was proven.

Quantitative enantiomeric analysis of chlorcyclizine, hydroxyzine, and meclizine by capillary electrophoresis.

A simple capillary zone electrophoresis method was developed for the quantitative enantiomeric analysis of piperazine antihistamines with teratogenic suspicion in animals. Enantioseparation of chlorcyclizine, hydroxyzine, and meclizine was performed in glycine buffer (0.6 mol L(-1); pH 3.00) with sulfated beta-cyclodextrin (5 mg mL(-1)) as a chiral selector; and the separated drugs were monitored by ultra-violet detector. The lower quantitation of the individual enantiomer is attainable at 10 micro mol L(-1), using an achiral piperazine drug (cyclizine) as internal standard. The method is simple and rapid with a short run time (<5 min) for the analysis of chlorcyclizine, hydroxyzine or meclizine enantiomers.