Due to skewed X-chromosome inactivation, elderly women in populations with prevalent G6PD mutations are at risk of G6PD deficiency.

A method for simultaneous enantiomeric separation of ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, and methamphetamine (MA) in a single run by simple capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) with β-cyclodextrin as a chiral selector is described. The effects of the buffer pH, phosphate concentration, β-cyclodextrin concentration, voltage and temperature on the peak resolution were examined. Good enantiomeric resolution was attained for each analyte under our optimized conditions: 15 mM β-cyclodextrin, 300 mM NaH2PO4 at pH 2.5 with an uncoated capillary (64.5 cm × 50 m), applied potential at 20 kV and temperature at 30°C. Ultraviolet (UV) detection at a fixed wavelength (200 nm) was employed using a diode array detector. Using phentermine as an internal standard, migration times for all analytes are reproducible within 0.1% for intra-day and 0.6% for inter-day runs. Application of this method to the analysis of confiscated drugs is discussed.

The South China Sea (SCS), situated to the north of the Indo-Pacific Warm Pool (IPWP), is under the strong influence of the Asian monsoon system. However, coastal sea surface temperature (SST) records from the SCS, which are of vital importance to exploring ocean-atmosphere-land interactions behind the Asian monsoon system, remain scarce. Here, we use a sediment core collected at the coast of northern SCS to investigate alkenone-SST variations over the past two millennia. On multi-centennial timescale, SST changes in our record exhibit an opposite pattern to that of Northern Hemisphere temperature and solar irradiance, for example, relatively cool SST during the Medieval Warm Period (MWP) and warm conditions during the Little Ice Age (LIA). Together with alkenone content and existing records, we suggest that the regional SST changes result from a strengthening (weakening) of wind-driven coastal upwelling, associated with variability of the Asian summer monsoon intensity during the MWP (LIA).

This manuscript reported a fast and rapid qualitative screening method for abuse drugs in urine by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The scope of the abuse drugs under investigation included methamphetamine (MA), amphetamine (AMP), methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA), paramethoxymethamphetamine (PMMA), ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, ketamine (KET), deschloroketamine (DCK), 2-fluorodeschloroketamine (2-F-DCK) and deschloro-N-ethylketamine (2-oxo-PCE). The method employed a dual mode extraction (DME) column as a novel clean up method for the urine matrix. To an aliquot of 0.2 mL urine, internal standards (ISTDs) and 0.4 mL of acidified methanol were added. After vortex and centrifugation, the supernatant was passed through a dual mode extraction (DME) column before LC-MS/MS analysis. Chromatographic separation was achieved with a C18 column by gradient elution. The limits of detection (LODs) for MA, AMP, MDMA, MDA and PMMA were 3 ng/mL; whereas those for ephedrine and pseudoephedrine were 10 ng/mL and those for KET, DCK, 2-F-DCK and 2-oxo-PCE were 1 ng/mL. The matrix effects ranged from -12% to 7% (%CV from 4% to 19%). This method is fit for the intended purpose for forensic toxicology, as well as for forensic analysis of drugs facilitating sexual assault (DFSA) and other criminal acts.