• Journal of the Korea Institute of Military Science and Technology
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.689-698
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• 2010

Fatigue has been a common symptom of warfighters who were participated in the early morning hours, late night hours, and sustained operations. Continuous operations may disrupt circadian rhythm, resulting in impaired combat capability. It is important to enhance alertness and sleep quality of warfighters for maintaining combat capability. A number of anti-fatigue strategies are available including medications. Here in, the pharmacological countermeasures of combat fatigue have reviewed, and the direction of research in the pharmacological countermeasures against combat fatigue are proposed.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.79-85
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• 2015

A preliminary experiment was performed to develop a fast, convenient, and economical semi-quantitative method of analyzing amphetamine-like amines from images of derivatives. These were generated from the reaction (in situ, co-spot) of three amphetamine-like compounds with three derivatization reagents on a TLC plate. The attempt was made to optimize the reaction conditions for an efficient derivatization reaction, and TLC images taken by a digital camera were analyzed using two types of image analysis program (CP Atlas 2.0 and ImageJ) for repeatability (RSD, %) and linearity (R²). Then, their results were compared. For efficient derivatization, the reaction conditions needed to be modified. The results of image analysis of each of the samples at two different concentrations (0.5 mg/mL and 0.01 mg/mL) showed that the RSD values for reaction repeatability were in the range of 0.69-5.50%. From the calibration curves between the area of the derivative and the concentration of amines, the R² values (R² > 0.9906) for good linear correlation were found to be high, in a concentration range of 0.1-0.005 mg/mL of amines. In addition, the two programs demonstrated little difference in the analysis of repeatability and linearity of the derivatization, so that the current method has the potential to be used for the semi-quantitative analysis of amines.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.210-218
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• 2009

A gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) method was developed and validated for simultaneous determination of amphetamine derivatives and norketamine in human hair. Preparation of hair involves external decontamination, mechanical pulverization, incubation and extraction prior to instrumental analysis. The samples were derivatized using heptafluorobutyric anhydride, and analyzed by GC-MS/MS. The linear ranges were 0.05-20.0 ng/mg for the analytes except for 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine, with good coefficients of determination ($r^2$ >0.998). The intra-day and inter-day precisions were within 10.7% and 8.5%, respectively. The intra-day and inter-day accuracies were between -1.6 and 17.0% and -2.6 and 10.5%, respectively. The limits of detections for each analyte were lower than 0.007 ng/mg, while recoveries were 75.9-100.9%. When the method was applied to hair samples obtained from suspected drug abusers, the concentrations in hair samples were 0.97-19.30 ng/mg for methamphetamine and 0.14-2.56 ng/mg for amphetamine.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.277-282
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• 1997

Methamphetamine, which is the most commonly abused drug in Korea, exists in terms of d-, l- isomers and a racemate(dl). d-Methamphetamine is a potent central nervous system stimulant, whereas l-Methamphetamine is sold freely as a nasal decongestant. In addition, methamphetamine appears in different ratios of optical isomers by the clandestine synthesis applied. In this study, enetiomeric separation of methamphetamines was estabilished to distinguish the chirality of methamphetamines trafficked and abused in Korea. A gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer(GC/MS) system equipped with an achiral capillary column is used to isolate the isomers of methamphetamine after (S)-N-(trifluoroacetyl)-l-prolyl(TFP) deravatization.After analyzing 10 illicit methamphetamine powders and 10 positive urine samples, following findings were found: d-Methamphetamine was well resolved from l-Methamphetamine by chromatographic separation of TFP derivatibes on DB-5 with retention time of 11.80 and 11.35 min respectively. The detection of d-Methamphetamine in all 10 powders and 10 urine samples proves that all methamphetamines abused in Korea are illegally manyfactured and administred.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.627-633
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• 1998

Impurity profiling analysis of methamphetamine seized in Korea was investigated for the evidential and intelligent purpose. Samples were extracted with ethylacetate which contai ns internal standard of dioctylsebacate under basic condition and extracts were analyzed by GC-FID. Ephedrine, chloroephedrine & 1,2-dimethyl-3-phenylaziridine were identified impurities in illicit methamphetamine by GC-MS. These impurities revealed that most of abused methamphetamine in Korea were synthesized from ephedrine as a starting material. For the classification of samples. firstly, 24 impurity peaks were selected after inspection of every peak in 50 samples as the specific markers of impurities. Secondly, corresponding peak retention time and area ratio to the internal standard were calculated and database was created with values of 24 peaks by in-house program. Finally, cluster analysis was attempted with the resultant profiles using the STAR plot, which was based on the Euclidian distance for evaluating similarity among samples. A total of 76 samples were divided into 8 different groups within 90% statistical similarity and inter-batch samples showed similar impurity patterns by this procedure. In conclusion, the analysis of impurities is a suitable index for estimation the common or different origin of methamphetamine sample.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.698-703
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• 1997

Recently, l-deprenyl (selegiline), a relative new antiparkinson`s drug, has been marketed in Korea. As its metabolites, l-methamphetamine and l-amphetamine, are the enantiomers of illicit drugs,d-methamphetamine and d-amphetamine, a method for analysis of enantiomers of methamphetamine and amphetamine in rat urine was investigated. The optical isomers of methamphetamine and amphetamine were analyzed with the chiral derivatizing reagent (S)-(-)-N-(trifluoroacetyl)-prolyl chloride (l-TFP), which was used to form the diastereomers of methamphetamine and amphetamine. And all diastereomers (l-TFP -l-AM, lTFP-d-AM, l-TFP-l-MA & l-TFP-d-MA) were well resolved by capillary gas chromatography. After administration of 10mg/kg l-deprenyl to rat, l-methamphetamine and l-amphetamine were detected without autoracemization to the d form in all urine samples collected during 24hrs, and the ratios of l-amphetamine/l-methamphetamine were 1.1~3.3. l-Amphetamine was detected in only 3 out of 8 urine samples collected during 24~48hrs where as no l-methamphetamine was detected in all cases.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.88-95
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• 2001

(+)-Methamphetamine (METH) is a psychostimulant, which has been the most popular abused drug in Korea. The rewarding mechanism in METH abuse has been reported to be mediated by dopaminergic system. Recently, it has been reported that dopamine releaser (phentermine) plays a dominant role in the discriminative stimulus effects of METH, whereas 5-HT releaser (fenfluramine) can strongly modify METH self-administration. The present study is designed to assess the behavioral changes and the changes of the serotonin receptors in the brains of rats administered repeated of self-administered METH. The repeated administration of 1.0 mg/kg/day METH for 12 days increased locomotor activities, and there was no difference between i.v. and i.p. treatment. Rats had actively acquired METH self-administration for 3 weeks at 0.1 or 0.2 mg/kg/injection. Whereas, it was taken few days to acquire sucrose pellet self-administration. The binding of [$^3$H]-8-hydroxy-DPAT (5-H $T_{1A}$ receptors) and [$^3$H]-5-carboxytryptamine (5-H $T_{1B}$ receptors) to brain sections was examined. Both passive administration and self-administration of METH did not change significantly the serotonin receptors levels in hippocampus, striatum and nucleus accumbens. These results suggest that serotonin receptors may not change in the acquisition period of METH self-administration, and we are trying to investigate the serotonin receptors levels of brain in rats maintained of METH self-administration.n.n.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.176-180
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• 2018

Drug abuse and its related problems are increasing continuously in Korea. One of the most frequently abused drugs is methamphetamine, but there are few medical report in Korea. This is the first report of the identification of methamphetamine in the blood of a patient who had a return of spontaneous circulation after cardiac arrest and survived discharge. A 33-year-old male arrived at the emergency department presenting with chest pain and dyspnea. He had ingested methamphetamine and alcohol approximately 7 hours before arrival. One hour after arrival, he had seizure followed by cardiac arrest. Spontaneous circulation was recovered after 4 minutes of CPR. An analysis of the National Forensic Service identified plasma methamphetamine with an estimated average concentration of plasma methamphetamine at the time of arrival of 0.6 mg/L, a lethal dose. He had rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney injury but survived after continuous renal replacement therapy. Since then, he has suffered chronic kidney disease, and he is being followed up at the out-patient department. In Korea, although drug abuse is still uncommon, it is on the increase. Therefore, emergency physicians should be aware of the clinical characteristics of methamphetamine poisoning.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.39-47
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• 2009

Objectives : The mesolimbic dopamine system is believed to play a major role in the reinforcing effect and behavioral hyperactivity of abused drugs including methamphetamine. In the present study, the effect of acupuncture on methamphetamine-induced locomotor activity and c-Fos expression in the striatum and nucleus accumbens of rats were examined. Methods : Male Sprague-Dawley rats received acupuncture at bilateral Yanggu($SI_5$) point for 30seconds immediately before the subcutaneous injection of saline or methamphetamine(0.5mg/kg). The total amount of locomotor activity for 90min were measured just before brain samples were taken for immunohistochemistry. Results : Results showed that acupuncture at the specific point $SI_5$, but not control point(Kunlun, $BL_{60}$) significantly reduced locomotor activity and c-Fos expression in the striatum and nucleus accumbens induced by acute administration of methamphetamine. Conclusions : These results suggest that acupuncture may be effective in suppressing the reinforcing effect of methamphetamine by regulating neuronal activity.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.105-112
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• 2014

Background and objective: Methamphetamine (Meth) is a widely abused psychostimulant that produces hyperlocomotion in rodents. Radix of Glycyrrhizae uralensis comprises a variety of bioactive components that have neuroprotective effects. In a previous study, we have demonstrated methanol extracts from radix of Glycyrrhizae uralensis (MEGR) suppress acute cocaine-induced extracellular dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens. In the present study, we investigated the effect of MEGR on acute Meth-induced hyperlocomotion. Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were orally administered with MEGR (60 mg/kg and 180 mg/kg) 60 min prior to an intraperitoneal injection of Meth (1.0 mg/kg). Results: Behavioral analysis showed acute Meth greatly increased locomotor activities, while pretreatment with MEGR dose dependently inhibited the hyperlocomotion. In parallel, there were markedly increased levels of dopamine and its metabolite 3, 4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid in the nucleus accumbens tissues in Meth-treated rats, which were also almost completely reversed by 180 mg/kg MEGR. Conclusions: These results showed that radix of Glycyrrhizae uralensis attenuates Meth-induced hyperlocomotion by inhibiting dopamine synthesis and utilization, suggesting that radix of Glycyrrhizae uralensis might be effective in blocking the rewarding effect of Meth.