Disclosed is a method for simultaneous analysis of neurotransmitters and/or their metabolites. The method includes (a) separating analytes including a plurality of neurotransmitters and/or their metabolites from a sample selected from body tissues, body fluids, secretions, and excretions, (b) derivatizing the analytes with ethyl chloroformate to obtain derivatives of the plurality of neurotransmitters and/or their metabolites, (c) separating the derivatives of the plurality of neurotransmitters and/or their metabolites by liquid chromatography, and (d) subjecting the separated derivatives of the neurotransmitters or their metabolites to multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) using a mass spectrometer. According to the method, a plurality of neurotransmitters in a very small amount of sample can be simultaneously analyzed in an accurate and rapid manner based on derivatization to increase the stability and ionization efficiency of the substances.

Provided herein are methods for selecting a subject with a disease or disorder for treatment, as well as methods of treating the subject, determining the efficacy of the treatment, and adjusting the treatment dosage and frequency.

The present invention provides a use of a GABA(A)R, GABA(A)R fragment, or homolog thereof or a cell expressing the GABA(A)R, GABA(A)R fragment, or homolog thereof for the prognosis, diagnosis or treatment of an autoimmune disease in a subject, methods of prognosticating, diagnosing or treating an autoimmune disease, an autoantibody binding to a GABA(A)R, GABA(A)R fragment, or homolog thereof, a method for isolating an antibody binding to a GABA(A)R, GABA(A)R fragment, or homolog thereof, and a test kit, pharmaceutical composition and medical or diagnostic device comprising a GABA(A)R, GABA(A)R fragment, or homolog thereof.

The present invention relates to methods for identifying patients a subject at risk of developing an autoimmune or inflammatory disorder, as well as methods of prevention of development of an autoimmune or inflammatory disorder, comprising administering GABA, or a GABA receptor agonist, to a subject so identified. The invention furthermore relates to methods for assessing a subject's susceptibility to treatment with gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) or a GABA receptor agonist, as well as biomarkers to be used in the assessment of the response of a GABA treatment.

The present invention provides a rapid method for forensic drug testing in a post-mortem individual using muscle tissue and fluid associated with the muscle tissue obtained from remains of the post-mortem individual. The method comprises obtaining muscle tissue and associated fluid from a post-mortem individual, collecting the fluid associated with the muscle tissue, analyzing the fluid associated with the muscle tissue to detect and quantify one or more non-naturally occurring drugs in the post-mortem individual, and identifying the one or more non-naturally occurring drugs in the post-mortem individual. The detection and quantification of non-naturally occurring drugs in muscle tissue and associated fluid is surprisingly faster than detection and quantification of the non-naturally occurring drugs in muscle tissue obtained from the same post-mortem individual and prepared as muscle tissue homogenates using the LC-MS/MS method, with results obtained in as soon as three hours.

Provided herein are screening methods and systems for the identification and evaluation of candidate GABAergic modulators. These candidate agents or compounds are useful for treating or preventing CNS-related disorders.

The present invention relates to a GABA.sub.A receptor-binding peptide comprising an amino acid sequence X.sub.1-X.sub.2-X.sub.3-X.sub.4-X.sub.5, wherein the amino acid residue X.sub.1 is histidine, arginine, threonine, L-cyclohexyl-alanine, 2-flouro-L-phenylalanine or 3-methyl-L-histidine; X.sub.2 is threonine, N-methyl-threonine, proline, leucine, isoleucine or phenylalanine; X.sub.3 is tryptophan, N-methyl-tryptophan, serine, threonine or proline; X.sub.4 is glutamine, proline, lysine, tyrosine, alanine, glycine or absent; and X.sub.5 is lysine, glutamic acid, aspartic acid, threonine, alanine, glycine or absent. In particular, the GABA.sub.A receptor-binding peptides of the present invention have amino acid sequences selected from SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 15. These peptides were tested and validated using electrophysiological recordings on the human GABA.sub.A receptor comprising of the following subunits .sub.1.sub.3.sub.2 and used in the preparation of a neuroactive pharmaceutical composition, in improving sperm motility or in labeling of biomolecules.

The present invention provides a rapid, sensitive method for forensic drug testing in a post-mortem subject or a live or a post-mortem animal using oral fluid collected from the post-mortem subject or live or post-mortem animal. The method comprises collecting a sample of oral fluid from a post-mortem subject or a live or a post-mortem animal, analyzing the oral fluid sample qualitatively to detect the presence of one or more non-naturally occurring drugs, analyzing the oral fluid sample quantitatively to determine concentration of the one or more non-naturally occurring drugs in the post-mortem subject or in the live or the post-mortem animal, and identifying the one or more non-naturally occurring drugs in the post-mortem subject or in the live or the post-mortem animal. The detection and quantification in oral fluid is more sensitive and faster than detection and quantification of the non-naturally occurring drugs in blood, urine, bile, and liver tissue collected from the same post-mortem subject. Further, the qualitative and quantitative results are obtained in as little as three hours.

A GABA detecting probe having a probe body with both a glutamate (Glu) micro-sensor and a GABA micro-sensor positioned on the probe body. The Glu micro-sensor and the GABA micro-sensor include electrodes having a surface modification with (i) GOx and a binding matrix, and (ii) GABASE, GOx, and the binding matrix, respectively. The sensors are positioned no further apart than 250 um and includes a sentinel site located on the probe body.

The present invention provides a rapid, sensitive method for forensic drug testing in a post-mortem subject or a live or a post-mortem animal using oral fluid collected from the post-mortem subject or live or post-mortem animal. The method comprises collecting a sample of oral fluid from a post-mortem subject or a live or a post-mortem animal, analyzing the oral fluid sample qualitatively to detect the presence of one or more non-naturally occurring drugs, analyzing the oral fluid sample quantitatively to determine concentration of the one or more non-naturally occurring drugs in the post-mortem subject or in the live or the post-mortem animal, and identifying the one or more non-naturally occurring drugs in the post-mortem subject or in the live or the post-mortem animal. The detection and quantification in oral fluid is more sensitive and faster than detection and quantification of the non-naturally occurring drugs in blood, urine, bile, and liver tissue collected from the same post-mortem subject. Further, the qualitative and quantitative results are obtained in as little as three hours.