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In this study, a novel LC-MS/MS (Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry) method was designed using a simple extraction procedure that was scientifically developed to capture the most relevant stimulants, methamphetamine, MDA (3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine), MDMA (3,4-Methylenedioxy-methamphetamine), and MDEA (Methyl diethanolamine). The LC-MS/MS method was validated using US FDA (United States Food and Drug Administration) guidelines, and all validation requirements were satisfactory. This protein precipitation method was specifically developed for handling large numbers of samples with minimum cost and volume of sample. The developed method was accurate, precise, and reproducible for quantification of stimulant from human plasma. This pilot study enrolled 100 drug addicts to evaluate stimulant testing from plasma. Our findings found 47 cases with positive methamphetamine. This method may be valuable for stimulant blood screening for a large and varied population because of its efficiency and economical aspects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) have rapidly increased in popularity within the last 2 years in Malaysia. The study aims to understand the association between e-cigarette use behaviors and salivary cotinine (a CYP2AA metabolite of nicotine) concentration to inform the development of future e-cigarette control policies. A convenience sample of saliva from144 e-cigarette users was obtained between November and December 2015. The study participants used refill liquid containing between 0 and 12 mg/ml of nicotine. The overall median cotinine concentration of the study participants was 81.1 ng/ml (interquartile range = 8.5-195.8). Among the zero-nicotine and single e-cigarette users, the median cotinine level was 51.1 (interquartile range = 8.20-125.35) ng/ml. Factors significantly associated with a higher salivary cotinine concentration were dual use of e-cigarettes and tobacco cigarettes, regular and daily e-cigarette use, a longer duration of e-cigarette use, using a higher amount of e-liquid, and a shorter duration to finish a refill. Multivariate analysis revealed that e-cigarette use of 1-6 and 6-12 months (but not 1 month and below) was significantly associated with a higher cotinine concentration. Cotinine found in zero-nicotine e-liquids implies the importance of stringent regulatory governance for the consistency of labeled nicotine content of e-cigarette liquid in the market. Zero-nicotine e-cigarette users should also be informed of the likelihood of environmental exposure to tobacco smoke. Future studies conducted on larger samples are warranted to validate the association between duration of e-cigarette use and salivary cotinine concentration as well as to investigate underlying mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of endocrine disruptors in source water is of great concern because of their suspected adverse effects on humans, even when present at very low levels. As the main source of potable water supply, rivers in Malaysia are highly susceptible to contamination by various endocrine disruptors originating from anthropogenic activities. In this study, the contamination levels of 1,1,1- trichloro-2,2-bis (4-chlorophenyl) ethane (DDT) and its metabolites and di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) in rivers of Selangor were examined using gas chromatography--mass spectrometry. Samples were collected from sites representing source water for 18 drinking water treatment plants in Selangor between July 2008 and July 2009. DDT and its metabolites were detected in only 14% of the 192 samples analysed at levels ranging from 0.6 to 14.6 ng/L. Meanwhile DEHP was detected in 96.8% of the samples at levels ranging from below quantitation level (18 ng/L) to 970 ng/L. The detected levels of DDTs and DEHP were lower than the WHO and Malaysian Guidelines for Drinking Water Quality. Data obtained from this study should also serve as a reference point for future surveillance on these endocrine disruptors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Seeds of Centratherum anthelminticum (Asteraceae) have been popularly used in Ayurvedic medicine to treat diabetes and skin disorders. Folk medicine from Rayalaseema (Andhra Pradesh, India) reported wide spread usage in diabetes., Aim of the Study: To investigate the hypoglycemic properties and mechanism of the methanolic fraction of C. anthelminticum seeds (CAMFs) on mouse β-TC6 pancreatic cell line and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rat models., Materials and Methods: We investigated the crude methanolic fraction of C. anthelminticum seeds (CAMFs) on β-TC6 cell line and confirmed its effects on type 1 and type 2 diabetic rats to understand its mechanism in managing diabetes mellitus. CAMFs were initially tested on β-TC6 cells for cytotoxicity, 2-NBDG glucose uptake, insulin secretion and glucose transporter (GLUT-1, 2 and 4) protein expression. Furthermore, streptozotocin (STZ)-induced type 1 diabetic and STZ-nicotinamide-induced type 2 diabetic rats were intraperitoneally (i.p) injected or administered orally with CAMFs daily for 28 days. The effect of CAMFs on blood glucose and insulin levels was subsequently evaluated., Results: In cell line studies, CAMFs showed non-cytotoxic effect on β-TC6 cell proliferation compared to untreated control cells at 50 μg/ml. CAMFs increased glucose uptake and insulin secretion dose-dependently by up-regulating GLUT-2 and GLUT-4 expression in these cells. Further in vivo studies on streptozotocin induced diabetic rat models revealed that CAMFs significantly reduced hyperglycemia by augmenting insulin secretion in type 2 diabetic rats. However, CAMFs displayed less significant effects on type 1 diabetic rats., Conclusions: CAMFs demonstrated anti-diabetic potential on β-TC6 cells and type 2 diabetic rat model, plausibly through enhancing glucose uptake and insulin secretion., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

We investigated the antioxidant potential, cytotoxic effect, and TNF-α inhibition activity with NF-κB activation response in a chloroform fraction of Centratherum anthelminticum seeds (CACF). The antioxidant property of CACF was evaluated with DPPH, ORAC, and FRAP assays, which demonstrated significant antioxidant activity. The cytotoxicity of CACF was tested using the MTT assay; CACF effective inhibitory concentrations (IC(50)) for A549, PC-3, MCF-7, and WRL-68 cells were 31.42 ± 5.4, 22.61 ± 1.7, 8.1 ± 0.9, and 54.93 ± 8.3 μg/mL, respectively. CACF effectively and dose-dependently inhibited TNF-α release, in vitro and in vivo. CACF inhibited TNF-α secretion in stimulated RAW264.7 macrophage supernatants with an IC(50) of 0.012 μg/mL, without affecting their viability; the highest dose tested reduced serum TNF-α by 61%. Acute toxicity testing in rats revealed that CACF was non-toxic at all doses tested. Matching the cytotoxic activity towards a mechanistic approach, CACF dose-dependently exhibited in vitro inhibitory effects against the activation of NF-κB translocation in MCF-7 cells. Preliminary phytochemical screening with GC/MS analysis detected 22 compounds in CACF, of which morpholinoethyl isothiocyanate was the most abundant (29.04%). The study reveals the potential of CACF in the treatment of breast cancer and in oxidative stress conditions with associated inflammatory responses.