1,720,965 research outputs found
Improvement of hair testing for Ethylglucuronide by supported liquid extraction and ultra-high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry
No full textTo improve the reproducibility, suitability and speed of hair testing for Ethylglucuronide (EtG), an ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) method was developed and validated together with a supported liquid extraction (SLE) EtG from the keratin matrix. EtG was analyzed using reversed phase chromatography with gradient elution and detection with tandem mass spectrometry operated in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode via negative electrospray ionization (ESI). The method showed good linearity from limit of quantification (LOQ) to 100 pg/mg hair (r2 0.996 ± 0.004). Recovery of the analyte was always higher than 80%, whereas intra- and inter-assay precision were always better than 15%. The developed method was applied to the analysis of more than 200 samples with medico-legal and epidemiological purposes ranging from non-detection of the analyte to 88.1 pg/mg and its robustness was proved by reanalysis of six different proficiency testing samples from the Society of hair testing obtaining a Z-score always less than 2
Pharmacology and toxicology of xylazine: quid novum?
Full text linkThe current opioid overdose crisis is characterized by the presence of unknown psychoactive adulterants. Xylazine is an alpha-2 receptor agonist that is not approved for human use but is commonly used in veterinary medicine due to its sedative and muscle-relaxant properties. Cases of human intoxication due to accidental or voluntary use have been reported since the 1980s. However, reports of adulteration of illicit opioids (heroin and illicit fentanyl) with xylazine have been increasing all over Western countries. In humans, xylazine causes respiratory depression, bradycardia, and hypotension-posing individuals, using xylazine-adulterated opioids. We present a narrative review of the latest intoxication cases related to xylazine, to bring awareness to readers and also to help pathologists to detect and deal with xylazine cases
Dilute and shoot ultra-high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC–MS/MS) analysis of psychoactive drugs in oral fluid
No full textA fast and sensitive ultra-high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC–MS/MS) method was developed and validated for the measurement of the most common drugs of abuse and some new psychoactive substances in oral fluid. The target compounds were 6-monoacetylmorphine, morphine, codeine, cocaine, benzoylecgonine, amphetamine, methamphetamine, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, cannabidiol, mephedrone, ketamine and synthetic cannabinoid 5F-AKB48 (5F-APINACA). Oral fluid (OF) samples were 1/3 diluted with water and separated by reversed phase chromatography with gradient elution of 0.1% formic acid in water and 0.1% formic acid in acetonitrile and detected with tandem mass spectrometry operated in positive multiple reaction monitoring mode. The method was linear for all analytes under investigation from limit of quantification (LOQ, range: 0.5–5 ng/ml) to 250 ng/mL OF. Recovery of analytes under investigation and matrix effect were always higher than 90% (recovery range: 90.6–105.5% and matrix effect range 90.6–101.3%) whereas intra-assay and inter-assay precision and accuracy were always better than 15%. The developed method was successfully applied to ten OF specimens obtained from a proficiency test program and previously analyzed by gas-chromatography mass spectrometry. Analytes concentration between the two methods presented an excellent agreement (r 2 = 0.952) with overlapping values demonstrating method feasibility for high throughput laboratories needing indisputable results for clinical and/or forensic purposes. © 2019 Elsevier B.V
Stability and Degradation Pathways of Different Psychoactive Drugs in Neat and in Buffered Oral Fluid
No full textSampling and drug stability in oral fluid (OF) are crucial factors when interpreting forensic toxicological analysis, mainly because samples may not be analyzed immediately after collection, potentially altering drug concentrations. Therefore, the stability of some common drugs of abuse (morphine, codeine, 6-monoacetylmorphine, cocaine, benzoylecgonine, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol, cannabidiol, amphetamine, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, ketamine) and the more commonly consumed new psychoactive substances in our environment (mephedrone, and N-(adamantan-1-yl)-1-(5-fluoropentyl)-1H-indazole-3-carboxamide 5F-AKB48 also known as 5F-APINACA) was investigated in an OF pool for the presence and absence of M3 Reagent Buffer® up to 1 year of storage. Fortified OF samples were stored at three different temperatures (room temperature, 4 and -20°C) to determine the best storage conditions over time. Control fortified OF samples were stored at -80°C for reference purposes. Compounds with concentration changes within ±15% of initial value were considered stable. The drugs were significantly more stable in M3 Reagent Buffer® than in neat OF samples in all storage conditions. All analytes were stable for 1 year at 4°C and -20°C in M3 Reagent Buffer®. Drugs stability in OF varied depending on the analyte, the presence of a stabilizer, the storage duration and temperature. When immediate sample analysis is not possible, we suggest to store OF samples at 4 or -20°C and test them within 2 weeks. Alternatively, OF samples may be stored at 4 or -20°C with M3 Reagent Buffer® to be tested within 1 year
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Toxicology and analysis of psychoactive tryptamines
Full text linkOur understanding of tryptamines is poor due to the lack of data globally. Tryptamines currently are not part of typical toxicology testing regimens and their contribution to drug overdoses may be underestimated. Although their prevalence was low, it is increasing. There are few published data on the many new compounds, their mechanisms of action, onset and duration of action, toxicity, signs and symptoms of intoxication and analytical methods to identify tryptamines and their metabolites. We review the published literature and worldwide databases to describe the newest tryptamines, their toxicology, chemical structures and reported overdose cases. Tryptamines are 5-HT2A receptor agonists that produce altered perceptions of reality. Currently, the most prevalent tryptamines are 5-methoxy-N,N-diisopropyltryptamine (5-MeO-DiPT), 5-methoxy-N,N-diallyltryptamine (5-MeO-DALT) and dimethyltryptamine (DMT). From 2015 to 2020, 22 new analytical methods were developed to identify/quantify tryptamines and metabolites in biological samples, primarily by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. The morbidity accompanying tryptamine intake is considerable and it is critical for clinicians and laboratorians to be informed of the latest data on this public health threat
Drug-facilitated sexual assaults (DFSA): A serious underestimated issue
No full textOBJECTIVE: Drug-facilitated sexual assault (DFSA) is a nonconsensual sexual act in which the victim is incapacitated or unconscious due to the effects of alcohol, a drug and/or other intoxicating substances. Dozens of drugs (including ethanol) can potentially be used to commit sexual assaults, but γ-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) and flunitrazepam are the most common “date rape drugs”. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Multidisciplinary databases were browsed using the following search terms: “drug-facilitated sexual assault”, “chemical submission”, “date rape”, “rape drugs”, and “drink-spiking”. Moreover, a search for reports was conducted on Institutional websites to identify documentation published by international agencies or institutions. Articles and reports were independently evaluated by each author. RESULTS: There are no accurate estimates of the number of DFSA occurring each year, although assaults are increasingly reported. Many DFSA, however, are still not reported. Victims are reluctant to report incidents because of embarrassment, guilt or perceived responsibility, or because they do not clearly remember the assault. Moreover, most of the drugs typically used in sexual assaults are rapidly metabolized, making them undetectable in routine drug screenings. CONCLUSIONS: Most of the substances involved in DFSA, with the exception of alcohol, are under international control and scheduled under the United Nations Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961 and the Convention on Psychotropic Substances of 1971. However, several psychotropic substances and antihistamines used in sexual assaults are still not under international control, allowing for trafficking, often via the Internet and courier. The absence of international control makes it difficult to obtain accurate data on the nature and the extent of the problem
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