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To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2009.12.035 Byline: L. Morini (a), E. Marchei (b), F. Vagnarelli (c), O. Garcia Algar (d), A. Groppi (a), L. Mastrobattista (b), S. Pichini (b) Keywords: Fatty acid ethyl esters; Ethyl glucuronide; Ethyl sulfate; Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders Abstract: This study investigated ethyl glucuronide (EtG) and ethyl sulfate (EtS) concentration in meconium and in maternal and neonatal hair (HEtG and HFAEEs, respectively) as potential markers of intrauterine exposure to ethanol together with meconium fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEEs) in a cohort of 99 mother-infant dyads, 49 coming from the Arcispedale of Reggio Emilia (Italy) and 50 from the Hospital del Mar of Barcelona (Spain). FAEEs, EtG and EtS were measured in meconium samples using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. A head space-solid phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was used to test HEtG and HFAEEs in hair samples from mothers and their newborns. Eighty-two meconium samples (82.8%) tested positive for EtG, 19 (19.2%) for EtS while 22 (22.2%) showed FAEEs levels higher than 2nmol/g, the cut-off used to differentiate daily maternal ethanol consumption during pregnancy from occasional or no use. Although EtG and EtS in meconium did not correlate with total FAEEs concentration, a good correlation between EtG, EtS and ethyl stearate was observed. Moreover, EtG correlated well with ethyl palmitoleate, while EtS with ethyl laurate, myristate and linolenate. Neither maternal nor neonatal hair appears as good predictors of gestational ethanol consumption and subsequent fetal exposure in these mother-infant dyads. In conclusion, these data show that meconium is so far the best matrix in evaluating intrauterine exposure to ethanol, with EtG and EtS being potentially good alternative biomarkers to FAEEs. Author Affiliation: (a) Department of Legal Medicine and Public Health, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy (b) Department of Therapeutic Research and Medicine Evaluation, Istituto Superiore di Sanita, Roma, Italy (c) Arcispedale Santa Maria Nuova, Reggio Emilia, Italy (d) Unitat de Recerca Infancia i Entorn (URIE), Paediatric Service, IMIM-Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, Spain Article History: Received 17 June 2009; Accepted 17 August 2009

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2009.12.038 Byline: E. Marchei (a), M. Farre (b), M. Pellegrini (a), A. Garcia-Algar (c), O. Vall (c), R. Pacifici (a), S. Pichini (a) Keywords: Methylphenidate pediatrics oral fluid; Sweat Abstract: Methylphenidate (MPH) is a stimulant medication widely used for treating attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children and adolescents. Therapeutic monitoring for this drug is essentially lacking and alternative biological matrices, such as oral fluid and sweat, should be investigated for noninvasive assessment of short- and long-term history of drug use. We report the excretion profile of MHP and its metabolite ritalinic acid (RA) in oral fluid and sweat from a 12-year-old boy treated with the extended release drug formulation. Concentrations of MPH and RA in oral fluid, sweat and plasma were measured by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Oral fluid-to-plasma ratio at each time interval was calculated at the start of the treatment and correlated with salivary pH. Excretion of MPH in sweat patches, collected up to 24h with PharmChek patches was also investigated. MPH and RA were both detected in oral fluid with a pharmacokinetic profile similar to that in plasma. Oral fluid peak concentrations of MPH ranged between 13.5 and 30.9ng/mL at 3.0h after drug intake. Oral fluid-to-plasma MPH ratio between 13.1 and 3.2 demonstrated an accumulation of the drug in oral fluid. Conversely, RA was found in oral fluid at peak concentration (23.4-62.9ng/mL) equivalent to one-tenth of those found in plasma. Concentration profiles of MPH and RA in oral fluid were quite constant during the four weeks of drug administration. In sweat, MPH was detected for the first time at 5h after drug administration (range: 9.3-11.2ng/patch) up to 24h (range: 29.8-38.7ng/patch). RA was not detected in the sweat patches during the 24h time of collection. The results suggest that measurement of MPH in oral fluid can be used as a potential alternative to drug monitoring in plasma. Moreover, MPH measurement in sweat patches can be used for noninvasive monitoring of MPH consumption and misuse in situations where detection of recent abuse is of interest. Author Affiliation: (a) Department of Therapeutic Research and Medicines Evaluation, Istituto Superiore di Sanita, V. le Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy (b) Bioanalysis and Analytical Services Research Group, Neuropsychopharmacology Program, Institut Municipal d'Investigacio Medica IMIM-Hospital del Mar and Universitat AutA[sup.2]noma, Barcelona, Spain (c) Unitat de Recerca Infancia i Entorn (URIE), Paediatric Service, IMIM-Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, Spain Article History: Received 17 June 2009; Accepted 19 July 2009