Drug Testing and Analysis最新文献

Hair testing is a very effective method for drug use investigation. The finding of drugs of abuse in children hair may reflect environmental exposure, accidental ingestion, passive inhalation, intentional administration, and, in case of neonates and infants, in-utero and breast exposure. Despite its increasing use, interpretation of children hair analysis remains difficult, cut-off values used in adults cannot be applied, and no reference ranges for different age groups currently exist. To contribute to the identification of a reference framework for hair analysis in children and adolescents, a comparison of data gathered from different geographical areas could be useful. With this view, this study shows the results of hair analysis of children and adolescents who underwent testing for clinical purposes in a hospital setting in north-east Italy. Cocaine represents the most frequently detected drug in all age groups (overall, 94 positives). The highest number and ratio of cocaine positivity was found among children aged 1–3 years (21 out of 32 children; 65.6%) and the highest concentration among infants within 1 year. The results suggest that exposure to drugs of abuse represents a nonnegligible problem particularly in infants and toddlers, which requires special attention in clinical and social setting. In view of the multiple possible ways of exposure, it is essential to perform a case-by-case evaluation and to collect as much information as possible to frame the case and to implement the most effective child protection measures.

This study provides data on the prevalence of animal growth promoter residues through a comprehensive US surveillance approach targeting multiple species via retail purchases. Over a year, residue levels were analyzed in beef, pork, and poultry samples from eight US cities, screening for a panel of anabolic steroids, other anabolic agents, selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs), and non-prohibited controls using sensitive high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry. Thirteen of the 53 beef samples tested positive for ractopamine, with a peak concentration of 14 ng/g in liver—well below CODEX and FDA maximum residue limits (MRLs). Trenbolone-17β and estradiol were also found in beef but remained within MRLs, indicating no health risk. In addition, pork samples showed minimal contamination, with just one pork kidney testing positive for nandrolone (0.08 ng/g) under the limit of detection and estradiol (0.5 ng/g), likely from endogenous hormone production in intact male pigs. Pork muscle and liver samples were residue-free. Chicken samples showed limited residues, with estradiol detected in three out of 35 muscle samples at 0.01 ng/g. These findings highlight the effectiveness of regulatory practices in limiting growth promoter residues in commercial meat, affirming that residue levels in meat products remain within regulatory limits and reinforces consumer safety and confidence.

All anti-doping programmes face financial constraints and monitoring trends in medication use or abuse in a population of racehorses can be difficult and expensive. Obtaining biological samples is the primary method of anti-doping control in individual horses or stables of horses but can be invasive and expensive. Another important practice of anti-doping control has been the confiscation of used and filled syringes by regulators for individual forensic analysis. Pooled samples testing involves the testing of multiple individual samples together as one composite sample. This pooled sample approach has been employed to gather information concerning populations' exposure to substances and infectious agents including the analysis of samples of wastewater (a large, pooled sample) that have been used during the pandemic to monitor the presence of new COVID variants. Moreover, pooled samples of urine and wastewater have been used to monitor for recreational drug use and for the presence of new psychoactive substances in cities and large events. This approach has been credited with providing timely insight in the trends of illicit drugs use. To be effective, an anti-doping programme should not be predictable to avoid being defeated by countermeasures; therefore, the implementation of new methods is considered essential. A new pooled sampling technique using confiscated groups of used syringes and needles including biomedical sharps containers obtained from veterinarians and other horse racing industry participants has been employed over several years in Ontario, Canada. These containers held needles used to administer substances to racehorses along with syringes and other debris. The analysis of the wash provided a timely insight of medications being administered in horses, and substances present at racetracks and training centres including substances predominantly of human use and abuse. Sharp containers confiscated from veterinarians and trainers provided insight into injectable medications administered at numerous stables and to hundreds of horses.

Erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) continue to be a significant threat to the integrity of human and equine sports. Besides conventional direct testing, monitoring the biomarkers associated with the effects of ESAs may provide a complementary approach via indirect detection to enhance doping control. In this study, we applied RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) to discover blood RNA biomarkers in Thoroughbred horses after administration with a long-acting form of recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO), methoxy polyethylene glycol epoetin beta, Mircera®. A single subcutaneous administration of Mircera® at ~ 4.2 μg/kg was effective in elevating haematocrit, haemoglobin and erythrocyte levels to varying extents in as early as 4 days post-administration in all three horses, which persisted for 40 days post-administration (the last sample collected). RNA-seq was applied to analyse blood transcriptomic changes. Differential gene expression analysis has allowed the identification of 46 genes that showed dramatic and temporary upregulation at 4–11 days after Mircera® administration. STRING analysis has identified the functional enrichment of 15 genes important for erythropoiesis and erythrocyte function, supporting the idea of an increased release into the peripheral circulation of residual RNA-containing reticulocytes after rhEPO exposure, which would otherwise mature normally inside the bone marrow in horses. Machine learning of blood transcriptomes has enabled the discrimination of samples with or without Mircera administration. Therefore, our study has provided new insights into the biological mechanism of erythropoiesis caused by rhEPO administration in horses and has provided evidence supporting the control of misuse of ESAs by monitoring the equine blood transcriptome.

Hydrocortisone acetate, a synthetic acetate ester of hydrocortisone, was detected in horse blood samples collected from Thoroughbreds. Hydrocortisone acetate is generally considered an indicator for exogenous administration in horses. As hydrocortisone acetate has been previously reported to be endogenous in selected mammals, a proof-of-concept study was performed to evaluate the possible endogenous nature of hydrocortisone acetate in horses by in vitro incubation experiments using homogenized horse brain tissue.

Pharmacological potential of Hypoxen, previously registered as Olifen is evaluated herein. Hypoxen is categorized as antihypoxic agent. The active substance is polydihydroxyphenylene thiosulfonate sodium. Human studies are limited and no clinical trials following international standards is available. There is however a developed body of knowledge emerging from original studies conducted by the Russian Military Medical Academy in 1980s and 1990s despite limited online access. Hypoxen is promoted to improve oxygen supply or reduce oxygen consumption under hypoxic conditions and physical load. It is thought to support faster recovery, and can be used in complex treatments of diseases accompanied by hypoxia like myocardial ischemia. From clinical perspective, it may enhance cellular respiration by improving coupling in the respiratory chain/accelerating oxidative phosphorylation, but also inhibit succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), and activate mitochondrial ATP-sensitive potassium channels (mitoK_ATP) in skeletal muscles and myocardium. In 2023, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) added Hypoxen to the Monitoring Program as there had been documented evidence of its use by athletes. On in vitro experiments compared the influence of Hypoxen on oxidative phosphorylation with mitochondrial uncoupling agent 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP) a unique metabolic modulator that strongly accelerates the metabolism rate, prohibited since 2024 by WADA. Most studies focus on exercise performance, and may provide some evidence that Hypoxen has the potential to enhance performance, the first criteria considered for addition of substance to the WADA Prohibited List. Pharmacodynamics and ergogenic effects of Hypoxen suggests potential as metabolic modulator.

In collaboration with various Anti-Doping Organisations and the Paris WADA-accredited laboratory, the International Testing Agency spearheaded the implementation of the Endocrine Module ahead of the Olympic Games Paris 2024. This article presents a data-driven evaluation of its early integration within Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) programs. The assessment of endocrine profile testing follows the complete ABP sample lifecycle, from collection to the submission of reports by the Athlete Passport Management Unit. The article identifies both challenges and opportunities by integrating testing, analytical and ABP perspectives and offers recommendations for the future development of the Endocrine Module. Furthermore, it explores the Endocrine Module's synergy with the Haematological and Steroidal Modules emphasising on key areas for the enhancement of ABP programs as a whole.