0000000000088954
AUTHOR
Michael Krämer
Systematic monitoring for detection of atrial fibrillation in patients with acute ischaemic stroke (MonDAFIS): a randomised, open-label, multicentre study.
Summary Background Systematic electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring improves detection of covert atrial fibrillation in stroke survivors but the effect on secondary prevention is unknown. We aimed to assess the effect of systematic ECG monitoring of patients in hospital on the rate of oral anticoagulant use after 12 months. Methods In this investigator-initiated, randomised, open-label, parallel-group multicentre study with masked endpoint adjudication, we recruited patients aged at least 18 years with acute ischaemic stroke or transient ischaemic attack without known atrial fibrillation in 38 certified stroke units in Germany. Patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to usual diagnostic procedur…
Detectability of cannabinoids in the serum samples of cannabis users: Indicators of recent cannabis use? A follow‐up study
Forensic toxicologists are frequently required to predict the time of last cannabis consumption. Several studies suggested the utility of minor cannabinoids as indicators of recent cannabis use. Because several factors influence blood cannabinoid concentrations, the interpretation of serum cannabinoid concentrations remains challenging. To assess the informative value of serum cannabinoid levels in cannabis users (in total N = 117 patients, including 56 patients who stated an exact time of last cannabis use within 24 h before blood sampling), the detectability of cannabinoids, namely delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta-9-THC), 11-hydroxy-delta-9-THC, 11-nor-9-carboxy-delta-9-THC, cannabichr…
Case report: Another death associated to γ-hydroxybutyric acid intoxication
Abstract We report a fatal γ-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) intoxication of a forty-year old man. According to an acquaintances’ statement, the deceased had drunk a beverage containing GHB approximately five hours before he was found. Postmortem GHB concentrations were determined using gas chromatography coupled to single quadrupole mass spectrometry after simple protein precipitation with methanol and derivatization with BSTFA (1% TMCS). Concentrations in body fluids and tissues of the deceased were as follows: cardiac blood 384 mg/L, femoral blood 358 mg/L, urine 864 mg/L, brain tissue 211 mg/kg, liver tissue 201 mg/kg, kidney tissue 492 mg/kg, bile 334 mg/L and gastric content 2025 mg/L. In a…
Detection of γ‐hydroxybutyric acid‐related acids in blood plasma and urine: Extending the detection window of an exogenous γ‐hydroxybutyric acid intake?
In crimes facilitated by γ-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) administration, the frequent occurrence of anterograde amnesia of the victims as well as the short detection window and variations of endogenous GHB concentrations complicate obtaining analytical proof of GHB administration. Because elevated endogenous organic acid concentrations have been found in the urine of patients with succinic semialdehyde deficiency (leading to accumulation of GHB in human specimens) and after GHB ingestion, we searched for an alternative way to prove GHB administration via detection of elevated organic acid concentrations in blood plasma and urine. We collected blood and urine samples from narcolepsy patients (n …