Anti-Methaqualone 5 polyclonal antibody

Two methods for determining the central-acting muscle relaxant afloqualone in human plasma were developed and compared using API2000 and API4000 liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) systems. In the API2000 LC/MS/MS system, afloqualone and the internal standard methaqualone were extracted from plasma using a methyl-tertiary ether. After drying the organic layer, the residue was reconstituted in a mobile phase (0.1 % formic acid-acetonitrile:0.1 % formic acid buffer, 80:20 v/v) and injected onto a reversed-phase C-18 column. The isocratic mobile phase was eluted at 0.2 ml/min. The ion transitions monitored in multiple reaction-monitoring mode were m/z 284 -> 146 and 251 -> 117 for afloqualone and methaqualone, respectively. Sample preparation for the API4000 LC/MS/MS. system involved simple protein precipitation with an organic mixture (methanol:10% ZnSO4 = 8:2). The ion transitions monitored in multiple reaction-monitoring mode were m/z 284 -> 146 and 251 -> 131 for afloqualone and methaqualone, respectively. In both assays, the coefficient of variation of the precision was less than 11.8%, the accuracy exceeded 91.5%, the limit of quantification was 0.5 ng/ml, and the limit of detection was 0.1 ng/ml for afloqualone. Two methods were used to measure the plasma afloqualone concentration in healthy subjects after a single oral 20-mg dose of afloqualone. During subsequent application of the methods, we observed that high-concentration plasma samples (> 7 ng/ml) prepared using the protein precipitation method resulted in about 20% higher afloqualone concentrations than with plasma samples prepared using the liquid-liquid extraction method. We believe that this phenomenon was related to the cleanness of the sample and its chemical nature. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Objectives Sexual and physical trauma and substance use are intersecting risks for HIV among young women. This study assesses the feasibility, acceptability and preliminary effects of a novel trauma-informed substance use and sexual risk reduction intervention for young South African women. Design A single arm feasibility test and qualitative interviews of participants. Participants Sixty women, between 18 and 25 years of age, who reported trauma exposure, substance use and recent condom-less sex were recruited. Twenty participants were randomly selected for qualitative interviews. Intervention A six-session group-based intervention. Main outcome measures We examined the proportion of women who provided consent, completed counselling and were retained in the study. Qualitative interviews explored intervention acceptability. Preliminary effects of the intervention on substance use, mental health (depression, psychological distress and trauma symptoms) and sexual risk outcomes (STI symptoms, number of partners and condomless sex) were explored. Results Of the 66 eligible women, 91% were enrolled. Intervention completion rates were low; 35% attended all sessions. On average, participants attended four sessions (M=3.8, SD=1.3). A 93% follow-up rate was achieved at the 3-month endpoint. In this single group design, reductions in the proportion of participants who tested positive for methamphetamine, cannabis and methaqualone were observed at the 3-month endpoint. Symptoms of depression, psychological distress and trauma; number of STI symptoms; and number of sexual partners also decreased. Outcomes were similar for participants who completed up to four and those who completed five or more sessions. Participants thought the intervention was highly beneficial and proposed modifications to enhance acceptability. Conclusions This novel intervention seems acceptable and holds potential benefits for trauma-exposed women who use substances. Truncating the intervention may enhance the likelihood of its implementation. The efficacy of the intervention for improving substance use, sexual risk and mental health outcomes requires testing in a controlled design.