No description available.

The purpose of this study was to examine the policies and practices of school districts with random drug testing policies in Pennsylvania. Specifically, this study intended to help administrators understand the phenomenon of drug testing as one available means of substance use prevention. In response to the rising drug use in our schools, random drug testing has increasingly become one of the many possible solutions being used to prevent student drug use. Currently, drug testing programs have been examined in the workplace and in intercollegiate athletics. However, very little evaluative research has been conducted on whether school districts are satisfied with their random drug testing policies and practices. The researcher anticipates making a significant contribution for school administrators as they strive to generate drug-free schools. The literature review presented in this research study examined the historical perspective of drug use in our nation and the events and perceptions that led up to the job-related drug testing that began in the military and workplace. The role values play in the policymaking process is discussed as well as any conflicts that arise due to diversity in those values. The costs and benefits of a random drug testing policy are also presented. For this study, random drug testing was examined in the context of a range of school districts within Pennsylvania that have implemented similar policies. Statistical data was utilized in order to collect and analyze superintendents' perspectives and satisfaction with random drug testing programs in order to increase the overall understanding of drug testing as a strategy for prevention. Parents, teachers, coaches, administrators and communities may benefit from this detailed study by way of the recommendations that will be provided for future school leaders and various stakeholders considering the adoption of a random drug testing policy. / Educational Administration

Currently, many methods are available for the analysis of drugs of abuse in urine but they all have their drawbacks. Thus, the purpose of this research was to overcome some of these drawbacks by developing multi-analyte detection systems based on sequential or spatial techniques and immunoassays. The first system was based on a spatial technique and involved a simple indirect competitive ELISA format. This produced relatively rapid multi-analyte dip-strip ELISAs for benzoylecgonine (BE), methadone (MET) and morphine (MOR). Various enzyme-labelled antibodies, substrates and filters were investigated. A multi-analyte dip-strip assay was developed based on cellulose nitrate filters, alkaline phosphatase labelled anti-mouse second antibody and nitro blue tetrazolium / 5-bromo-4-chloro-3- indoyl phosphate (NBT /BCIP) substrate. The resulting assays gave a simple 'yes/no' result when drug was present or absent from a sample at concentrations of 1.45 f,lg ml-I , 1.55 f,lg ml-I and 1.43 f,lg ml-I for BE, MET and MOR respectively. Limitations however were encountered that caused the concentrations to be above the accepted cutoff levels for these three drugs of abuse. The second system was based on a sequential technique and involved a flow-injection nnmunoassay (FIlA). Various monoclonal antibodies, fluorotracers and immobilisation methods were investigated. For morphine, a novel simple FIlA was developed which is based on competition between a mixture of a fluorescein derivative of the drug and morphine in flow over low affinity monoclonal morphine antibodies immobilised on a N-hydroxysuccinimidyl chloroformate activated agarose immunoreactor. With this system, a split peak profile (unbound and retarded fractions) was observed under isocratic conditions with the retarded peak disappearing and the unbound peak increasing in peak height/area as the concentration of morphine increased. Using a flow-rate of 0.5 ml min-I and a fluorescein derivative dilution of 1: 100, this assay had a sample throughput of 4 samples h-I and a detection limit of 14.1 f,lg ml- I . For a flow-rate of 1.6 ml min-I and a fluorescein derivative dilution of 1: 1 00,the assay had a sample throughput of 6 samples h-I and a detection limit of 10.9 J.!g mri. The origin of the phenomenon was investigated and revealed to be due to the low association rate of the drug tracer with the morphine antibody used and the near equivalence of the monoclonal antibody affinity for its respective tracer and drug. It was found that when these values are exceeded, the "split peak" phenomenon was not observed but the reagents could be used in conventional displacement flow injection fluoroimmunoassays as was demonstrated for benzoylecgonine and methadone.

No description available.

The investigations have given rise to the following findings: 1. CsA is an effective immunosuppressant of both the induction and elicitation phases of tuberculin-like and contact delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) and of the induction phase of Jones-Mote hypersensitivity. 2. The effective suppression of tuberculin-like DTH responses in the guinea pig is not dependent upon cyclophosphamide-sensitive suppressor cells. 3. Topically applied CsA inhibits the elicitation of contact dermatitis in experimental animals. 4. The kinetics of percutaneous CsA absorption have been determined, as has the extent to which this mode of drug delivery obviates systemic toxicity. 5. The investigation of CsA-induced DTH enhancement indicates that the phenomenon is restricted to cellular as opposed to humoral responses, develops some days after drug withdrawal and can be reversed by the administration of putative suppressor cells from immunised but untreated animals. 6. CsA is able to effectively inhibit T cell dependent hyper-eosinophilia. It would appear that the effects of CsA on DTH responses and on T dependent eosinophilia occur primarily by the inhibition of T helper cell function. Enhancement phenomena seem to arise from drug impaired development of antigen-specific suppressor cells which, following drug withdrawal, fail to develop, in contrast to the maturation of T effector cells. Although the phenomenon of enhancement may limit the potential of CsA in the control of diseases in which DTH responses are a component, topical application is effective and may well be suitable for use over a prolonged period without systemic toxicity.

No description available.

States that management faces a dilemma when it rightly desires to create and maintain a drug-free work environment. Addresses the need to test employees to ensure a safe and productive workplace while ensuring that the testing procedures are neither demeaning to employees or viewed as an invasion of privacy. Recommends the establishment of a five-step process. States that asking and answering the right questions before setting policy in this sensitive human resources area is essential. The framework presented is designed to assist management in planning for the development of a drug testing programme, responsive to the needs of the organization and its employees.

A new method is described for the quantitative analysis of urinary benzodiazepines by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Development work was aimed at satisfying federal requirements for methods used in forensic urine drug testing which have become the standard in the laboratory industry. Trimethylsilyl (TMS), tert-butyl-dimethylsilyl (TBDMS) and benzophenone derivatives were tested in the development of the new assay. TBDMS derivatives were found to be the most suitable for the analysis of six common benzodiazepine metabolites. Precision for all metabolites tested, as measured by the within run coefficient of variation, was less than 7% at 100 ng/ml (n = 15). Assay sensitivity varied with the specific analyte in the range of 5 to 10 ng/ml. Validation of the procedure included the reanalysis of benzodiazepine positive urine specimens obtained from a forensic drug testing laboratory and comparison of the results from the independent assays. These specimens were tested first by radioimmunoassay using a 100 ng/ml cutoff and then confirmed by GC/MS. Sensitivity was sufficient to confirm the presence of benzodiazepine metabolites in all specimens tested.

A total of 22 non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and derivatives were added to microsomes to study the denaturation of cytochrome P-450 to cytochrome P-420 in the absence of an NADPH-generating system. There was a highly significant correlation among the different compounds between the extent of denaturation of cytochrome P-450 and their surfactant potency. Endotoxin administration to rats caused a maximum decrease in hepatic microsomal enzymes after 24 hours. Significant decreases in cytochrome P-450 (40%), cytochrome b5 levels (22%), aminopyrine N-demethylase (31%) and biphenyl 4-hydroxylase (54%) activities were obtained. Concomitant intravenous injection of 16,16-DMPG F2 and 16,16-DMPG E2 prevented some of the endotoxin-induced changes in hepatic microsomal enzymes. Three days treatment with cocaine was required to obtain hepatic damage in mice. Decreases in cytochrome P-450 content (41%), aminopyrine N-demethylase (31%) and FAD-monooxygenase (35%) activities were obtained, when compared to saline treated mice. The serum enzyme activities were markedly increased (SGOT 13-fold and SOCT 44-fold). Histological changes in form of centrilobular necrosis and fatty changes were present. Repeated subcutaneous administration of iloprost or synthetic prostaglandins just before cocaine prevented some of the hepatic lesions. Iloprost was found to be a better hepatoprotective agent than synthetic prostaglandins against the cocaine mediated liver toxicity. Carbon tetrachloride administration to mice produced similar lesions to those obtained with cocaine. Administration of iloprost prevented some of the lesions caused by carbon tetrachloride, giving a partial protection to the carbon tetrachloride-induced decrease in cytochrome P-450 and the increase in SGOT. Iloprost also partially prevented the carbon tetrachloride mediated centrilobular necrosis.

Thesis (M.S. in Leadership and Human Resource Development)--Naval Postgraduate School, June 2003. / Thesis advisor(s): Walter E. Owen, Armando X. Estrada. Includes bibliographical references (p. 75). Also available online.