Urinary gamma-hydroxybutyrate concentrations in 1126 female subjects.
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gamma-Hydroxybutyrate (GHB) and its metabolic precursor gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) are often implicated in cases of drug-facilitated sexual assault (DFSA), although definitive confirmation of GHB/GBL ingestion is complicated by GHB's endogenous nature and rapid elimination following ingestion. Multiple studies have attempted to establish a discriminant limit (generally 10 mg/L) above which urinary GHB concentrations can be considered consistent with GHB/GBL consumption. To supplement the currently available data, a rapid gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method was developed and validated for the analysis of GHB (following acidic conversion to GBL) and used to analyze urine samples collected from 1126 women (mean = 0.84 mg/L, median = 0.68 mg/L, range = 0.00-5.5 mg/L). GHB concentrations were shown to be independent of urinary pH (within the range 4.6-9.3), age (within the range 18-35 years), body mass index (within the range 13.8-36.3), and race. Adjusting GHB concentrations with respect to urinary specific gravity had little effect on the mean value (0.91 mg/L) and range (0.0-7.76 mg/L), although a statistically significant trend of increasing GHB concentration with specific gravity could be observed. Our results can be taken to offer further support for the 10 mg/L discriminant limit for GHB administration in antemortem urine samples. (+info)
Calculation of local water densities in biological systems: a comparison of molecular dynamics simulations and the 3D-RISM-KH molecular theory of solvation.
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Development of correction formulas for canine and feline urine specific gravity measured using a Japanese refractometer.
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One of the most important functions of the kidney is to concentrate urine through the reabsorption of water. Urine specific gravity (USG) is used in routine tests of urine concentration and can be estimated using a refractometer. However, as the scale of Japanese refractometer is based on experimental data from healthy Japanese people, and human USG obtained by Japanese refractometers show higher values than that by refractometer produced in Europe or the U.S.A. The purpose of this study was to establish correction formulas for the USG of dogs and cats measured using Japanese refractometers. In this study, we found that Japanese refractometers overestimated USG in both dogs and cats. This study shows that the correlation formulas described in this study are useful for the accurate evaluation of USG. (+info)