CORE--ANALYTICAL LABORATORY

我们正在提议建立一个核心分析实验室，该实验室将进行分析，以支持将在拟议的TTURC主持下开展的多个研究项目。单一核心实验室的优势包括能够在现场为多名研究人员提供专业分析和相关咨询，以及随着中心的兴趣和优先事项随着新知识和最新技术的变化而发展，建立新的分析方法的灵活性和专业知识。统一的方法和质量控制将促进跨项目实验室数据的汇集和比较，从而加强跨学科合作。核心实验室最初提供的检测包括血浆可替宁（作为烟草/尼古丁暴露的标志）、治疗药物和/或其代谢物，以及选定的激素和单胺类神经递质。血浆可替宁将被测量，以表征受试者在招募期间的吸烟史，作为治疗研究期间的一项结果测量，并记录那些设计要求戒烟的研究的戒烟情况。治疗试验中使用的药物将在血浆中监测（纳曲酮/ -纳曲醇），以检查血浆浓度与结果和/或副作用之间可能存在的关系。尿液儿茶酚胺和血浆皮质醇的测量将与戒烟的研究结合起来，性激素的测定将支持另一个研究吸烟中特定性别因素的核心发起的项目。

We are proposing the establishment of a Core Analytical Laboratory, which will perform assays in support of the multiple research projects that will be carried out under the auspices of the proposed TTURC. The advantages of a single core laboratory include the ability to make specialized assays and related consultation available on site to multiple investigators, and the flexibility and expertise to establish new assays as the interests and priorities of the center evolve in concern with new knowledge and changes in the state of the art. Uniform methodology and quality control will enhance transdisciplinary collaborations by facilitating the pooling and comparison of laboratory data across projects. Amongst the assays to be initially offered by the core laboratory are plasma cotinine as a marker of tobacco/nicotine exposure, treatment drugs and/or their metabolites, and selected hormones and monoamine neurotransmitters. Plasma cotinine will be measured to characterize subjects smoking history during recruitment, as one outcome measure during treatment studies, and to document abstinence for studies whose design requires a defined period of smoking cessation. Drugs used in treatment trials will be monitored in plasma (naltrexone/beta-naltrexol) to examine possible relationships between plasma concentrations and outcome and/or side effects. Urinary catecholamines and plasma cortisol will be measured in conjunction with studies of abstinence, and sex hormones assayed to support projects initiated by another core concerned with sex specific factors in smoking.