Japan's emerging role as a 'global ordinary power'

In this article we argue that since 1945 Japanese foreign policyhas evolved through five phases, which will culminate in Japan'sre-emergence as a global ordinary power. We then discuss threepotential models of ordinary power that are ideal-typical innature, but which share some qualities with the respective politicalcircumstances of France, Germany, and Britain. We also considerthe legitimacy and capacity deficits that Japan possesses, andthe way in which recent electoral developments may contributeto the addressing of these deficits. We argue that Japan isusing the British model as a foundation for the acquisitionof ordinary power status. In doing so it is increasingly bindingitself to the United States. But such a move can also providea platform from which to develop the possibilities that liebeyond bilateralism (plus), in the realm of the German model,and wider regional cooperation.     

A study of the metabolism of methamphetamine and 4-bromo-2,5-dimethoxyphenethylamine (2C-B) in isolated rat hepatocytes

The metabolism of methamphetamine (MA) and 4-bromo-2,5-dimethoxyphenethylamine (2C-B) in freshly isolated rat hepatocytes was investigated, and compared with in vivo results. A suspended hepatocyte culture, established from male Wistar rats using a collagenase perfusion technique, was incubated in the presence of MA or 2C-B. After enzymatic hydrolysis of the conjugated forms, the metabolites were extracted by liquid-liquid partition and analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Amphetamine, p-hydroxymethamphetamine and p-hydroxyamphetamine were detected in the culture fluids of the rat hepatocytes inoculated with MA. The alcohol derivative, carboxylic acid derivative, 2-O-desmethyl-2C-B, 2-O-desmethyl-N-acetyl-2C-B and 5-O-desmethyl-N-acetyl-2C-B were detected in the case of 2C-B. The major metabolite of MA in rat hepatocytes was p-hydroxymethamphetamine. This is in good agreement with the urinary excretion profile for rats that were fed MA. 2-O-Desmethyl-2C-B and the carboxylic acid derivative were the major recovered metabolites of 2C-B in the rat hepatocyte culture, a slight deviation from the in vivo findings, in which 5-O-desmethyl-N-acetyl-2C-B was found to be the main component. Metabolites with a hydroxy group were largely present in their conjugated forms in the culture fluids, except for 2-O-desmethyl-2C-B. Taking these results into consideration, a primary hepatocyte culture system has the potential to provide a quick and handy method for estimating the in vivo metabolic fate of abused drugs.     

Identification of impurities and the statistical classification of methamphetamine using headspace solid phase microextraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

The profiling of impurities in methamphetamine (MA) using headspace solid phase microextraction (HS-SPME) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) is described. The extraction of the impurities with an SPME fiber was examined under varying conditions. Optimal chromatograms were obtained when a 50 mg MA sample at 85 degrees C for 30 min was extracted using a fiber coated with divinylbenzene/carboxen/polydimethylsiloxane. MA samples from nine different origins were analyzed under optimized extraction conditions. Compounds related to MA such as benzaldehyde, benzyl alcohol, amphetamine, benzyl methyl ketone, cis- and trans-1,2-dimethyl-3-phenylaziridine, dimethylamphetamine, N-acetylamphetamine, N-acetylmethamphetamine and N-formylmethamphetamine were detected in the chromatograms. Trace amounts of ethanol, diethyl ether and acetic acid were also detected in some of the chromatograms. The numbers and intensities of the peaks detected were different, depending on the sample. After the areas of the eight principal peaks were converted to their square root and logarithm, similarities among the samples were evaluated by Euclidian distance, cosine distance and correlation coefficient. The results showed that a combination of logarithmic conversion and cosine distance was the most suitable for discriminating and classifying the samples. HS-SPME/GC-MS is a simple and effective method for the extraction and identification of impurities. The present method, in combination with an appropriate statistical analysis, would be useful for developing a profile of impurities in MA.     

Analysis of hallucinogenic constituents in Amanita mushrooms circulated in Japan

The constituents of seven mushrooms sold as Amanita muscaria or Amanita pantherina (five A. muscaria and two A. pantherina) and four "extracts purported to contain A. muscaria" products that are currently circulated in Japan were determined. All mushroom samples were identified as A. muscaria or A. pantherina by macroscopic and microscopic observation. The dissociative constituents, ibotenic acid (IBO) and muscimol (MUS), were extracted with 70% methanol twice and determined by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The IBO (as the hydrate)/MUS contents were in the range of <10-2845ppm/46-1052ppm in the cap of A. muscaria and 188-269ppm/1554-1880ppm in the cap of A. pantherina. In the caps, these compounds had a tendency to be more concentrated in the flesh than in the cuticle. On the other hand, the IBO/MUS contents in the stem were far lower than in the caps. In the "extracts purported to contain A. muscaria" products, IBO/MUS were detected below the lower limit of calibration curve (<10ppm/<25ppm) or not detected. However, these samples contained other psychoactive compounds, such as psychoactive tryptamines (5-methoxy-N,N-diisopropyltryptamine and 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine), reversible monoamine oxidase inhibitors (harmine and harmaline) and tropane alkaloids (atropine and scopolamine), which were not quantified. This is the first report of the chemical analysis of Amanita mushrooms that are circulated in the drug market.     

Forensic application of chiral separation of amphetamine-type stimulants to impurity analysis of seized methamphetamine by capillary electrophoresis

The applicability of capillary electrophoresis (CE) with a UV detector using highly sulfated gamma-cyclodextrin as a chiral selector was examined for analysis of impurities in seized methamphetamine. Samples of methamphetamine-hydrochloride dissolved in water at a high concentration (20 mg/mL) were analyzed. Electrokinetic injection has an advantage over hydrodynamic injection for improving the detection of trace impurities. Small peaks of the precursor impurities, such as (1R,2S)-(-)-ephedrine and (1S,2S)-(+)-pseudoephedrine, were detected and quantified without extraction. The seized drugs could be classified into three groups based on the contents of the two impurities.     

Pathological demonstration of rapid involvement into the subcutaneous tissue in a case of fatal hydrofluoric acid burns

We report an autopsy case of a man who suffered accidental chemical burns following exposure to 60% hydrofluoric acid. The extent of the burns covered about 30% of his body surface, and cardiopulmonary arrest occurred about 30min after the exposure. At autopsy, the skin of the affected area showed greenish gray or black coloring with thin circumferential erythema, and this discoloration extended as far as the periosteum of the skull. However, such discoloration was not found on the mucosa of the airway or the gastrointestinal tract. Microscopically, severe liquefactive necrosis was already evident on the skin. Elastic fibers within the dermis were completely lost, and the entire wall of large vessels within the subcutaneous layer was already severely affected. Blood analysis in the emergency room showed hypocalcemia, and the levels of fluoride ions in the postmortem blood and urine showed extremely high values. However, fewer fluoride ions were detected from the lung tissue. The present case suggests that the hydrofluoric acid had immediately penetrated down into the deep layer of the skin, thereby involving the large vessels present within the subcutaneous layer. These pathological findings of the skin seen in the present case explain the mechanism behind the rapid dissemination of fluoride ions which entered the bloodstream from damaged arteries, resulting in the development of acute toxicity.     

Contribution of thermal desorption and liquid-liquid extraction for identification and profiling of impurities in methamphetamine by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

Impurity profiling of methamphetamine (MA) using thermal desorption (TD) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was examined. Using TD/GC-MS, impurities were extracted and separated under various conditions. Optimal chromatograms were obtained when a 20 mg MA sample was extracted at 120 degrees C for 3 min using a TD instrument, followed by separation of the extracts using a non-polar capillary column coated with (5%phenyl)-methylpolysiloxane. MA samples from nine different batches were analyzed under optimized conditions. Compounds related to the structure of MA, such as benzaldehyde, benzyl alcohol, amphetamine, cis- and trans-1,2-dimethyl-3-phenylaziridine, dimethylamphetamine, and N-acetylephedrine, were detected in the chromatograms without any laborious extraction procedure. Compounds such as ethanol, diethyl ether, and acetic acid, which are considered reagents and solvents for MA synthesis, were also detected in some of the chromatograms. The numbers and intensities of the peaks detected were different among the samples. Impurity profiling of MA using TD was compared with that using liquid-liquid extraction (LLE). Better reproducibility of peak areas was obtained using LLE, whereas higher intensities and numbers of peaks were detected using TD. Solvents were extracted more effectively using TD. The nine batches of MA were classified using both extraction procedures. The nine batches were divided roughly into two groups using data from LLE. Subsequently, the groups were classified in detail using data from TD. TD can be used to provide supplemental information for LLE, and the combination of these extraction methods can be helpful for impurity profiling of MA.