Earticle

Cannabis is strictly regulated under the Narcotics Control Act in Korea. Urine and hair samples are commonly used as biological samples to prove cannabis abuse. In general, to determine whether cannabis has been abused, 11-nor-9-carboxy -tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC-COOH), a major metabolite of cannabis, is analyzed to rule out the possibility of external contamination. Recently, 11-nor-8-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ8-THC), an isomer of 11-nor-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) synthesized with cannabidiol (CBD), has also been abused in the form of electronic cigarettes, and its metabolite is 11-nor-8-carboxytetrahydrocannabinol (Δ8-THC-COOH). We attempted to analyze these cannabis metabolites in the nails to determine whether the subjects smoked cannabis. Method validation was performed using a Sciex 6500 LC/MS/MS for Δ8-THC-COOH and Δ 9-THC-COOH (THC-COOHs) in nails. The instrument conditions for THC-COOHs analysis were the same as those used for hair analysis, a column switching LC–ESI-MS 3 method. THC-COOHs were extracted by liquid-liquid extraction from digested nails with 1 N NaOH. The quantification of THC-COOHs and the identification of THC-COOH-d3 were performed using multistage fragmentation (MS3) with two transitions for THC-COOHs (m/z 343.1→299.1→245.2 and m/z 343.1→299.1→191.1) and one transition for THC-COOH- d3 (m/z 346.1→302.2→248.1). The quantifier ions are m/z 245.2 and 248.1. The calibration curve ranged from 0.05 to 20 pg/mg, R2 exceeded 0.999, and the LOD and LOQ of both components were 0.05 and 0.1 pg/mg, respectively. The accuracy and precision, matrix effect, recovery, and process efficiency were all within 15% of the CV values. Method validation results for THC-COOHs analysis for nails were not significantly different from those of hair, including the LOD and LOQ results. (Table 4.) Only one of the three authentic nail samples showed a positive result for Δ9-THC-COOH at a concentration of 12.29 pg/mg. These results indicate that since nails and hair can be analyzed under similar conditions, they may be useful alternatives to each other when collecting evidence of cannabis abuse.

The accurate determination of bisphosphonate levels in bone and biological fluids is important in both clinical and pharmacological/toxicological studies; however, the quantitative analysis of the bisphosphonate is difficult because its concentration is quite low in most of biological sample. A novel fluorescent chemosensor (FCS)-based measurement method of bisphosphaonate levels using Naphta-diDPA-$2Zn^{2+}$ (NadDPA-$2Zn^{2+}$, DPA = dipycolylamine), an excellent FCS previously used for detecting PPi, was developed. By the FCS method, the concentration of bisphosphonates having no fluorophores can be determined analyzed with sufficient sensitivity. The results of this study indicate that the FCS-based measurement can be a useful method to analyze bisphosphonates in biological samples.

Objectives: This study aimed to develop and implement a hospital-based Biobank Information Management System (Version1.0) within a structured data governance framework, and to evaluate its effectiveness in improving standardized biospecimenmanagement, operational efficiency, and research support capacity in real-world clinical settings. Methods: A Biobank InformationManagement System (Version 1.0) was independently developed and deployed at Foshan Fosun Chancheng Hospital. The system incorporated data governance principles across the entire biospecimen lifecycle, including donor informationmanagement, sample collection, processing, storage, retrieval, and utilization. It successfully obtained national software copyrightregistration and was fully integrated into routine clinical and research workflows. Results: Post-implementation evaluationdemonstrated a 67% reduction in manual operational workload, a 4.2-minute decrease in average sample retrieval time,and a data standardization rate of 90%. In addition, the system implemented role-based access control, standardized datadictionaries, audit trails, and full lifecycle traceability, thereby strengthening compliance with regulatory and ethical requirements. Collectively, these quantitative and functional outcomes indicate substantial improvements in workflow efficiency,data consistency, accuracy, and management transparency compared with traditional manual or semi-digital biobank operations. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that embedding data governance principles into the design and constructionof a hospital-based biobank information system provides a sustainable, secure, and standardized approach to biospecimenmanagement. The proposed system offers a practical and replicable reference for healthcare institutions seeking to modernizebiobank infrastructure and strengthen biomedical research support.

생체시료에서 미지 의약품의 검출을 위하여, 민감하고 선택적인 박층크로마토그래피인 자동화 점적기 및 자외선 스펙트럼 검출기를 장착한 고성능박층크로마토그라피(HPTLC)를 시도하였다. 205종의 의약품에 대한 Rf값과 자외선흡수스펙트럼(scan 200-360 nm)을 이용하여 HPTLC 데이터베이스를 구축하였으며, 또한 96종의 의약품에 대하여는 리도카인에 대한 상대적 머무름시간(relative retention time; RRT) 및 질량스펙트럼을 이용하여 GC/MS 데이터베이스를 구축하였다. 생체시료중 의약품성분은 고상추출법(Clean Screen ZSDAU020)으로 추출한 후, 이들 시료들을 HPTLC 및 GC/MS 데이터베이스에 적용시켜 검색한 결과 90% 이상의 매우 양호한 일치율로 검색할 수 있었으며, 이들 의약품들을 GC/MS로 확인하였다. 결론적으로, 우리가 구축한 HPTLC 및 GC/MS 데이터베이스체계는 생체시료에서 미지의 의약품성분을 검색하는데 매우 유용한 방법으로 사료된다.

For the identification of unknown drugs in biological samples, we attempted rapid high performance thin layer chromatographic method which is sensitive and selective chromatographic analysis of high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) with automated TLC sampler and ultra-violet (UV) scanner. We constructed HPTLC database (DB) on two hundred five drugs by using the data of Rf values and UV spectra (scan 200-360 nm) as well as gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) DB on ninety six drugs by using the data of relative retention time (RRT) on lidocain and mass spectra. After extracting drugs in biological sample by solid phase extraction (Clean Screen ZSDAU020), we applied them to HPTLC and GC/MS DB. Drugs, especially extracted from biological samples, showed good matching ratio to HPTLC DB and these drugs were confirmed by GC/MS. In conclusion, this DB system is thought to be very useful method for the screening of unknown drugs in biological samples.

Simultaneous monitoring of catecholamines and serotonin with their appropriate extraction from the biological samples is required in order to understand thoroughly the regulation of the central and peripheral nervous system. In the present research the segmented gradient elution with the solid phase extraction using a C18 cartridge rather than the previous isocratic elution with alumina extraction is successfully employed to determine norepinephrine (NE), epinephrine (E), dopamine (DA), serotonin (5HT), 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5HIAA) simultaneously within 20 minutes using 3,4-dihydroxyhydrocinnamic aicd as the internal standard (IS). Linearities were obtained in the concentration range between $5{\times}10^{-6}M$ and $1{\times}10^{-4}M$ for all 7 compounds with detection limits of 0.6~1.9 ${\mu}M$. The present HPLC/ECD method yielded reasonable accuracy (relative error; -1.4~1.1%) and precision (relative standard deviation; 0.4~1.9%) for 9 measurements of the standard solution consisting of NE, E, DA, 5HT, DOPAC and 5HIAA compounds. Recoveries of catecholamines, serotonin and their metabolites from human serum were in the range of 57%~86%. While the concentrations of NE and 5HT in the serum of normal Sprague-Dawley rat were found as $1.4{\times}10^{-6}M$ and $2.6{\times}10^{-6}M$, respectively, the contents of NE and 5HT in the serum of the stressed rat were increased 5.6 times and 1.4 times more, respectively.

아미노산의 광학 이성질체를 분리하는 방법을 확립하고 식품이나 생체에 있는 광학이성질체를 분리 정량하여 영양학이나 생화학적 관계를 연구한다. 필수아미노산 20종을 포함하여 총 38종의 d, l-from 아미노산을 검색 대상으로 삼았다. 단백질은 한국산 콩, 된장, 고추장, 간장, 분유 및 환자의 백내장을 시료로 하여 산 가수분해 후 esterification과 acylation으로 TFA-IPA 유도체를 만들어 chirasil val GLC column을 사용하여 분리하였다. 이성질화가 일어나는 아미노산은 alanine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, phenyl alanine으로 식물성 시료인 된장에서는 d-alanine이 검출되었으나 동물성 시료인 백내장과 분유에서는 검출되지 않았다. 연령추정 등 생리적으로 이용이 가장 적적한 것은 분리능과 함량을 비교했을 때 aspartic acid였다. d-from 아미노산의 분율은 가정용 된장이 3~6, 시판용 된장이 약 3%, 간장이 2~4%, 콩이 약 1%, 백내장 시료에서 1~2%, 분유에서 1.0~1.5%로 검출되었으며, 숙성 발효시 광학이성질체의 변환이 현저함을 알 수 있다.

After establishment of methodology for the separation and quantitation of optical isomer existed in food or biomaterial, the relationship between isomer and nutrient or biological sample was investigated. The optical isomers of standard amino acids and free amino acids were quantitized and the protein was assayed from the Korean bean, pasted bean, soy sauce, gochujang, powderd milk and cataract followed by hydrolysis and dervatization with TFA-IPA for GLC analysis with chirasil val column. Amino acids showing the racemization were alanine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid and phenyl alanine. The most convenient amino acid deducing age and biological activity was aspartic acid. Glutamic acid and phenyl alanine have shown poor resolution with less racemization. The ratio of d-form amino acids was 3~6% for home made pasted bean, about 3% for commerical pasted bean, 2~4% for soy sauce, about 1% for bean, 1~2% for cataract, 1.0~1.5% for powdered milk. The racemization during fermentation process was significant.