Projets de recherche

Project Cancelled

Code: 23A03JP

Sulfated phase II metabolites have gained great interest as long term metabolites of many anabolic steroids. The direct analysis of those sulfates using LC/MSMS has been extensively used as the research tool to finding new long-term metabolites. However, sulfates are known to be potentially unstable, and very particularly at acidic pH where catalysis occurs. Urine samples normally have acidic pH and the stability of those precious long-term metabolites in the biological matrix needs to be investigated. The preparation of reference urine samples to be used within the EQAS quality Assessment scheme has led us to obtaining shocking evidence on the instability of some of the analytes of interest in routine doping control. In particular, some long-term sulfated phase II steroid metabolites. As a good example, results obtained when assaying the stability of a excretion study of danazol, 7 days at different temperatures showed a huge increase in the concentration of the two metabolites (ethisterone and 2-OH-methyl-ethisterone). This increase is attributed to the hydrolysis of their sulfated phase II counterparts. The aim of the present project is the study of the stability of sulfated phase II metabolites using available excretion studies of danazol, mesterolone, clostebol and drostanolone, all having known sulfated long-term metabolites, as proof of concept. The idea is developing conditions to keep those sulfates stable for sample preparation and/or establish the conditions for a complete hydrolysis in order to target the analysis of the resulting compounds.

Code: DBS23SP06CB

Over the ten past years, more and more strategies based on dried blood spot sampling for antidoping have been developed for different classes of substances. Among the ones focusing on small peptides detection (<2kDA), few allow the simultaneous analysis of a large panel of peptides such as GHRP, GHS or GnRH as indicated in the list of prohibited substances from the World Anti-doping Agency (WADA), and the most complete one has been proposed by Lange et al. 2020. The main objective of this present project is first to implement a multi-peptides analysis strategy for the extraction and detection of small peptides and evaluate the impact of the device used for spotting. Performances between cellulose and polymeric devices will be assessed. The influence of the size of the spot will be also assessed to determine if a larger volume of the spot can help to improve LODs. The instrumentation used for such application will also be evaluated to determine which technology is fit for purposes between LC-HRMS instruments and triple quadrupole.

Code: DBS23HIF01MO

Recombinant protein regents of the erythroid growth factor erythropoietin (EPO) have been widely used for anemia treatment, but they have been frequently employed for hematopoietic doping to improve endurance performance. In addition to EPO reagents, five types of small compounds activating hypoxia-inducible transcription factors (HIFs), which induce endogenous EPO production, have been launched in Japan as anemia medications since 2019. Given that HIF-activating agents (HIF-AAs) are administered orally, there is concern that they are used more easily for hematopoietic doping than EPO reagents, which are administered as injections. Although doping detection systems of EPO reagents have already been established, reliable detection methods of HIF-AAs should be urgently established. The applicants at Tohoku University are in charge of the genetic analysis for WADA and have demonstrated the molecular mechanisms by which HIF-AAs induce EPO production, whereas those at LSI Medience Corporation (LSIM) have experience managing anti-doping control tests in Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games with a WADA-accredited highly sensitive LC-MS/MS analyzer. Additionally, the applicants at LSIM recently found differences in the detection efficiency of trimetazidine between dried blood spot (DBS) samples from fingertips and brachial capillaries. Furthermore, the applicants previously optimized detection methods of HIF-AAs in the blood and urine of mice and found that each HIF-AA exhibits specific pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics after oral administration. Notably, HIF-AAs were commonly cleared within 48 hours after administration in mice. These data obtained by the applicants suggest that highly sensitive detection methods of the doping use of HIF-AAs should be established to detect them in small amounts of matrix for a long time after administration. Therefore, in this project, the applicants at Tohoku University and LSIM collaboratively aim to develop methods for highly sensitive and efficient detection of HIF-AAs in DBS and urine samples from humans. To elucidate the pharmacokinetics of various HIF-AAs in humans, the applicants will measure the concentrations of five types of HIF-AAs (daprodustat, enarodustat, molidustat, roxadustat, and vadadustat) in DBS and urine samples from healthy volunteers administered HIF-AAs. DBS samples will be obtained from fingertips and brachial capillaries to identify the differences in the detection efficiencies of HIF-AAs between the sampling sites. Additionally, DBS and urine samples from a total of 100 renal anemia patients treated with HIF-AAs will be analyzed. The stability of HIF-AAs in DBS and urine samples for up to six months will also be evaluated as well as the minimum required performance levels (MRPL) of HIF-AAs. The anticipated outcomes of studying the pharmacokinetics of five types of HIF-AAs in human samples are directly applicable for the development of anti-doping tests of HIF-AAs.

Code: 23C05MT

The two carbonic anhydrase inhibitors brinzolamide (BA) and dorzolamide (DA) are prohibited in sports after systemic administration (ophthalmic permitted) only, thus, the analytical evidence for the administration route represents a desirable tool in doping controls. The diuretic effects of BA and DA are responsible for the classification as masking agent, which are prohibited at all times (in- and out-of-competition). Preliminary results showed that the metabolism of BA and DA differs for the different application routes. Additionally, it is well known that these substances (together with their metabolites) are enriched in the red blood cells, with a resulting half-life of several weeks after administration. In the present study the in-vivo metabolism of BA and DA after ophthalmic (eye drop) and systemic (oral) administration to pigs will be evaluated with special focus on the characteristic application route derived metabolism. The metabolite pattern of BA and DA will be evaluated and compared to samples obtained from patients that therapeutically apply either BA or DA as ophthalmic preparations. The analysis of the parent drug as well as their metabolites are planned by means of liquid chromatography coupled to high resolution mass spectrometry.

Code: 23A17GM

While most anti-doping testing is conducted in urine, several analytes are better monitored in serum, including human growth hormone (hGH), certain erythropoiesis stimulating agents (ESAs), insulin-growth factor 1 (IGF1) and procollagen type-III N-terminal peptide (PIIINP). Additionally, more attention has recently been given to the longitudinal monitoring of the steroids testosterone (T) and androstenedione (A4) in serum. However, several factors currently make collecting anti-doping serum samples difficult and expensive, including the need for trained phlebotomists, the cold chain monitored shipping requirements, and the discomfort and difficulty of venipuncture blood draws, which may be uncomfortable and inconvenient for frequently tested athletes. In the last 5-10 years, there has been a push for increased testing using dried blood spots (DBS), obtainable using finger prick collections or specialized capillary draw devices. While innovative, not all analytes are easily measured in DBS, mainly due to sensitivity issues and lack of a controlled collection volumes. Recently, the Tasso+ capillary collection device has been adjusted and improved to now allow collection of whole blood instead of just DBS. Although this may not overcome all of the cold-chain shipping issues, collection of whole blood from a capillary device removes the phlebotomy requirement which can decrease collection costs, open up testing to more remote areas (more easily), and improve the athlete experience of providing blood samples. In 2022, our team highlighted the benefits of collecting whole blood using microcapillary Tasso+ K2EDTA devices, and how this method could serve as a replacement for Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) analysis from venous, whole blood samples. Now, the possibility exists to use this technology to also collect serum samples. We propose to use the newly designed Tasso+ SST devices to collect capillary serum from volunteers and compare analytical results to serum collected from a standard venipuncture method. Here, we will compare the capillary and venous serum for EPO detection following a single dose administration of recombinant EPO (identification and detection window), and measurement of the serum steroids T and A4 before and after a transdermal testosterone application. Additionally, we will compare the measurement of recombinant and pituitary HGH in matched capillary and venous samples, and finally assess the longitudinal stability of IGF-1 and P3NP in both types of serum.

Code: 23A15GG

Dried blood spot (DBS) applications get increasing attention in the field of anti-doping as indicated by the increasing number of scientific publications. The current comprehensive study is designed to investigate capabilities of DBS as complementary matrix to detect testosterone doping after oral, intramuscular and transdermal administration of testosterone undecanoate (TU) and/or testosterone gel in female and male populations. Analytical targets in DBS are consequently testosterone undecanoate itself as well as a panel of endogenous steroids, including testosterone, androstenedione and 5α-dihydrotestosterone. A sensitive, robust and already validated liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS) methods will be applied, including derivatization with Girard P and hydroxylamine to significantly improve sensitivity and limits of detection. The results obtained are anticipated to provide a more detailed insight into the window of detection for TU and changes in endogenous steroid concentrations to uncover testosterone doping. The correlation between factors such as route of administration, gender and inter-individual variability as well as the detection of the TU as prodrug and endogenous steroid concentration changes will be established. The results of this study may provide important evidence for its suitability to be used for the steroid blood passport based on DBS as matrix.

Code: 23A08VN

Three commonly used stimulants (amphetamine, methylphenidate and modafinil) will be evaluated in the study. Therapeutic doses of each drug will be administered once a day to ten healthy participants (five males and five females) for five days. Paired collections of urine, dried blood spots and serum will be collected from each participant, once a day. Collections will be performed during the administration phase and for seven days after cessation of use. Concentrations of the primary target compound will be measured by LC/MS to determine the matrix that best reflects circulating levels. A time course of elimination will be determined and the possibility of compound specific thresholds will also be evaluated.

Code: DBS23SP02SR

Doping testing of small peptides (SPs) is mostly performed in urine using mixed-mode weak cation sorbents prior to LC-MS/MS. Complementary information can be obtained in a cost-effective way using dried blood spot (DBS) samples. However, many issues still need to be addressed before considering it reliable for routine use. A major issue is the demand for simpler and faster sample processing, which is mainly based on DBS treatment with boiling water or methanol followed by sample cleanup and eluate evaporation. On the other hand, there is the need for higher SP recoveries (e.g. most of them are below 30%), and lower LODs (e.g. although no MRPLs have been set for SPs in DBS, achieved LODs are above the requested MRPLs established for SPs in urine, i.e. 1-2 ng/mL). Other issues include the demand for more thorough studies about hematocrit effects, SP shipping and storage stability, and the timing and procedure for addition of internal standards. This project aims to develop an efficient and high throughput analytical platform for reliable testing and confirmation of SPs in DBS samples. The approach will be based on the combination of the capability of supramolecular solvents (SUPRASs) to integrate efficient compound extraction and sample clean-up with the power of liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-QTOF and LC-QQQ) for SP detection.

The analytical platform will be applied to the detection of 58 peptidic drugs and metabolites, most of them routinely analysed by the WADA accredited laboratory of the Health Institute Carlos III (ISCIII, Madrid) within the ITP for urinary SPs. They will include growth hormone releasing peptides and secretagogues, growth hormone fragments, antidiuretic hormones, gonadorelin releasing peptides and growth factor modulators) Some of the selected SPs such as GHRP-1, GHRP-2, GHRP-6, hexarelin, alexamorelin, triptorelin AOD9604, desmopressin, TB-500 are unstable in urine. The capability of SUPRASs for simultaneous SP extraction from DBS and sample cleanup will be investigated using SUPRASs made up of very different nanostructures (e.g. hexagonal inverted or ribbon-shaped aggregates, sponges, cubosomes, etc.) that offer mixed-interaction mechanisms, including dispersion, ionic, hydrogen bonding, dipole-dipole, CH-π and/or polar hydrophobicity. Five marketed collection devices based on cellulose and hydrophilic porous materials will be comparatively evaluated in terms of SP recoveries and matrix effects. Addition of internal standards on DBS and SUPRAS (before extraction) will be compared. Robustness will be evaluated in terms of hematocrit effect. The optimized SUPRAS-LC-MS platforms for SP detection will be validated according to WADA guidelines and an analytical workflow that includes the proposed MRPLs will be delivered. The proposed method will be validated by the ISCIII lab using LC-QTRAP-MS/MS. As a proof of concept, the SUPRAS-based method will be applied to the analysis of DBS samples obtained from the subcutaneous administration of a single dose of GHRP-2 and Ipamorelin to two intervention groups, each consisting of 10 elite athletes.

This research consists of two phases, firstly, the content development for the positive education intervention development and secondly, the preparatory phase. Expected outcomes will be able to enhance athletes’ attitudes towards clean sports behaviors through positive education intervention.

A cross-sectional analytical survey designed to help sport federations and ADAK in organizing anti-doping seminars and workshops where coaches. Focus will be on actions, motivational climate, doping confrontation efficacy and attitudes towards doping.