An efficient two step procedure has been developed using CI GC/MS for analyzing amphetamines and related compounds. The first step allows the analysis of underivatized amphetamines with the necessary sensitivity and specificity to give spectral identification, including differentiation between methamphetamine and phentermine. The second step involves preparing a chiral derivative of the extract to identify d and 1-isomeric composition.

Sudden Infant Death (SIDS) has been associated with medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (MCAD) deficiency, an inborn error of fatty acid oxidation. Blood and tissue samples from a large cohort of SIDS victims were analyzed for the presence of dodecanoic acid (C₁₂) by gas chromatography. A subgroup of these cases had a significantly higher blood concentration than age-matched controls, suggesting MCAD deficiency. An animal study using Sprague-Dawley rats was done to mimic the effects of MCAD deficiency. Significantly increased blood concentrations of dodecanoic acid were observed. Decreased values in heart and liver were puzzling findings. The data indicate that dodecanoic acid is a blood marker for MCAD deficiency.

Cardiovascular and hormonal responses to +700 head-up tilt (HUT: orthostatic challenge) were compared between six endurance exercise trained (ET) and six untrained (UT) subjects prior to and immediately following 4 hours of -60 head-down rest (HDR). The ET subjects showed a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in orthostatic tolerance time (pre syncopal symptoms) during post-HDR HUT, while no difference was observed between ET and UT groups in pre-HDR HUT. The volume regulatory hormonal responses were similar between ET and UT groups whether during HUT or HDR. The pre-syncopal subjects had a greater increase in plasma arginine vasopressin and less increase in plasma renin activity and plasma aldosterone during HUT than was observed in non syncopal subjects. These data suggest that HDR deconditioning was more effective in the ET subjects.