| Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) | | | | =========== |
| medication abuse, frequently by teens & young | | | | Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) |
| adults, has resulted in an increase in emergency room | | | | medication abuse, frequently by teens & young |
| visits. A January 2006 Food and Drug Administration | | | | adults, has resulted in an increase in emergency room |
| advisory panel recommended that ADHD medication | | | | visits. A January 2006 Food and Drug Administration |
| carry a warning of increased potential for cardiac | | | | advisory panel recommended that ADHD medication |
| problems, such as hypertension, cardiac arrest and | | | | carry a warning of increased potential for cardiac |
| stroke. The possibility of experiencing medical problems | | | | problems, such as hypertension, cardiac arrest and |
| may be exacerbated by using ADHD medications | | | | stroke. The possibility of experiencing medical problems |
| improperly, or in combination with other drugs. | | | | may be exacerbated by using ADHD medications |
| Ritalin is the ADHD prescription drug that is most | | | | improperly, or in combination with other drugs. |
| frequently abused. It is a CNS stimulant that is | | | | Ritalin is the ADHD <a href=" drug</a> that is |
| chemically known as methylphenidate, which when | | | | most frequently abused. It is a CNS stimulant that is |
| metabolized by the liver, forms ritalinic acid (RA) i.e. | | | | chemically known as methylphenidate, which when |
| when someone pops in a pill of Ritalin, within the liver | | | | metabolized by the liver, forms ritalinic acid (RA) i.e. |
| this methylphenidate is converted or metabolized into | | | | when someone pops in a pill of <a href=" within the |
| ritalinic acid as a primary metabolite. Now, both | | | | liver this methylphenidate is converted or metabolized |
| methylphenidate & its metabolite ritalinic acid can | | | | into ritalinic acid as a primary metabolite. Now, both |
| be used for diagnostic purposes. Various diagnostic | | | | methylphenidate & its metabolite ritalinic acid can |
| techniques have been developed over last few | | | | be used for diagnostic purposes. Various diagnostic |
| decades for drug identification & quantification | | | | techniques have been developed over last few |
| purposes; some of the most common have been | | | | decades for drug identification & quantification |
| briefly mentioned below: | | | | purposes; some of the most common have been |
| - Liquid/Gas Chromatography | | | | briefly mentioned below: |
| - Mass Spectrometry | | | | - Liquid/Gas Chromatography |
| - Enzyme Linked Immunoassays | | | | - Mass Spectrometry |
| Liquid/Gas Chromatography: Chromatography is a | | | | - Enzyme Linked Immunoassays |
| process used for separating mixtures by virtue of | | | | Liquid/Gas Chromatography: Chromatography is a |
| differences in their absorbency. Most frequently | | | | process used for separating mixtures by virtue of |
| employed methods for chemical compound separation | | | | differences in their absorbency. Most frequently |
| & subsequent identification include gas | | | | employed methods for chemical compound separation |
| chromatography (GC) and high-performance liquid | | | | & subsequent identification include gas |
| chromatography (HPLC). HPLC employs | | | | chromatography (GC) and high-performance liquid |
| incompressible silica or alumina µ-beads as the | | | | chromatography (HPLC). HPLC employs |
| stationary phase and pressures of up to a few | | | | incompressible silica or alumina µ-beads as the |
| thousand psi over the sample which most frequently is | | | | stationary phase and pressures of up to a few |
| urine. | | | | thousand psi over the sample which most frequently is |
| Mass Spectrometry: Developments of technology and | | | | urine. |
| methodology in the field of mass spectrometry have | | | | Mass Spectrometry: Developments of technology and |
| been rapid over the last seven years and are providing | | | | methodology in the field of mass spectrometry have |
| highly sensitive and accurate strategies for drug | | | | been rapid over the last seven years and are providing |
| detection purposes. In this, a spectroscope is used for | | | | highly sensitive and accurate strategies for <a href=" |
| obtaining a mass spectrum by deflecting ions into a thin | | | | detection</a> purposes. In this, a spectroscope is |
| slit and measuring the ion current with an electrometer. | | | | used for obtaining a mass spectrum by deflecting ions |
| Usually, selected reaction monitoring (SRM) as well as | | | | into a thin slit and measuring the ion current with an |
| an electro-spray ionization source (EIS) are used to | | | | electrometer. Usually, selected reaction monitoring |
| detect both urinary methylphenidate and the more | | | | (SRM) as well as an electro-spray ionization source |
| prevalent metabolite which is ritalinic acid in this case. | | | | (EIS) are used to detect both urinary methylphenidate |
| The major advantage of MS analysis is that this | | | | and the more prevalent metabolite which is ritalinic acid |
| ionization technique tolerates a reasonable amount of | | | | in this case. The major advantage of MS analysis is |
| impurities in the sample to be analyzed & many | | | | that this ionization technique tolerates a reasonable |
| different samples can be processed rapidly in an | | | | amount of impurities in the sample to be analyzed |
| automated manner and these can be kept on the | | | | & many different samples can be processed |
| target for several days without compromising the | | | | rapidly in an automated manner and these can be kept |
| quality of the analysis, allowing easy re-analysis when | | | | on the target for several days without compromising |
| required. | | | | the quality of the analysis, allowing easy re-analysis |
| Enzyme linked immunoassays: ELISA uses antibodies | | | | when required. |
| that are covalently linked to a "reporter enzyme" such | | | | Enzyme linked immunoassays: ELISA uses antibodies |
| as alkaline phosphatase or horseradish peroxidase, | | | | that are covalently linked to a "reporter enzyme" such |
| enzymes whose products are readily detected, often | | | | as alkaline phosphatase or horseradish peroxidase, |
| just by a color change. The serum or urine to be | | | | enzymes whose products are readily detected, often |
| tested is placed along with a solution of antibodies | | | | just by a color change. The serum or urine to be |
| covalently linked to a reporter enzyme. If | | | | tested is placed along with a solution of antibodies |
| methylphenidate or ritalinic acid is present, the specific | | | | covalently linked to a reporter enzyme. If |
| antibodies will adhere to them. The presence and | | | | methylphenidate or ritalinic acid is present, the specific |
| quantity of bound antibody are then determined by | | | | antibodies will adhere to them. The presence and |
| adding the substrate for reporter enzyme & | | | | quantity of bound antibody are then determined by |
| quantitative analysis can be done on the basis of | | | | adding the substrate for reporter enzyme & |
| intensity of the developed color. | | | | quantitative analysis can be done on the basis of |
| BODY:HTML: | | | | intensity of the developed color. |