Search results for "Chemical Health and Safety"
showing 10 items of 53 documents
Pharmacogenetics and Forensic Toxicology: A New Step towards a Multidisciplinary Approach
2021
Pharmacogenetics analyzes the individual behavior of DNA genes after the administration of a drug. Pharmacogenetic research has been implemented in recent years thanks to the improvement in genome sequencing techniques and molecular genetics. In addition to medical purposes, pharmacogenetics can constitute an important tool for clarifying the interpretation of toxicological data in post-mortem examinations, sometimes crucial for determining the cause and modality of death. The purpose of this systematic literature review is not only to raise awareness among the forensic community concerning pharmacogenetics, but also to provide a workflow for forensic toxicologists to follow in cases of unk…
A preliminary study on the distribution of morphine and its glucuronides in the subcompartments of blood.
1998
[Abstract ] The distribution of morphine, morphine-3-glucuronide (M3G), and morphine-6-glucuronide (M6G) in whole blood, plasma, and packed erythrocytes was studied. Parameters investigated were the hematocrit values (10, 42, 44, and 71%) and the water content of the samples. The blood-to-plasma ratio of morphine concentrations was unaffected by variations in hematocrit and water content, whereas the corresponding ratios for M3G and M6G were strongly influenced. Ratios were 0.53 to 0.65 and 0.52 to 0.62 in specimens with average hematocrit values (42 and 44%, respectively), and the ratios were 0.81 or 0.89 (hematocrit 10%) and 0.27 or 0.28 (hemalocrit 71%) in blood samples with different he…
False-positive LSD testing in urine samples from intensive care patients.
1998
Unexpected positive results for lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) were found in urine samples from 12 patients in an intensive care unit in a routine screening using the CEDIA DAU assay. None of these test results could be confirmed by high-performance liquid chromatography analysis, but all samples contained the mucolytic drug ambroxol. Further studies demonstrated that ambroxol exhibits a significant cross-reactivity in the CEDIA DAU LSD assay. Therefore, positive LSD results obtained with the CEDIA DAU assay have to be critically evaluated, particularly during the cold season, when infections of the respiratory tract often result in more frequent use of mucolytic medications.
Sensitive Screening of New Psychoactive Substances in Serum Using Liquid Chromatography-Quadrupole Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry.
2021
Abstract Analysis of new psychoactive substances (NPS) still poses a challenge for many institutions due to the number of available substances and the constantly changing drug market. Both new and well-known substances keep appearing and disappearing on the market, making it hard to adapt analytical methods in a timely manner. In this study we developed a qualitative screening approach for serum samples by means of liquid chromatography--quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Samples were measured in data-dependent auto tandem mass spectrometry mode and identified by fragment spectra comparison, retention time and accurate mass. Approximately 500 NPS, including 195 synthetic cannabino…
Comparative studies on the detection of benzodiazepines in serum by means of immunoassays (FPIA).
1993
Serum was tested for benzodlazeplnes by fluorescence polarlzatlon Immunoassay (FPIA) on Abbott's ADx system uslng the benzodlazeplne serum reagents (Benzo S) and the benzodlazeplne urine reagents (Benzo U) after pretreatment of speclmens by means of acetone preclpltatlon. The followlng sera were included for comparing the two methods: negatlve sera spiked with varlous benzodlazeplnes; 80 sera randomly selected out of a total of 8654 serum specimens from Impalred drlvers; and blood speclmens from Indlvlduals who stated that they had taken benzodlazeplnes. The different benzodlazeplnes were added to serum st concentratlons of 25, 75, and 300 ng/mL. The low-dose benzodlazeplnes flunltrazepam a…
The influence of erdosteine administration on lead-induced oxidative stress in rat muscle.
2019
Lead-exposure is known to disrupt the redox balance of tissues leading to oxidative stress. Due to the fact that a mucolytic drug, erdosteine, exerts also antioxidant properties, we decided to perform a pilot study on rats to evaluate its therapeutic potency in lead poisoning. Male Wistar rats were divided randomly into the following seven groups having 10 animals in each. Group I served as the control group. During 8-week period, rats in groups II-IV, except standard alimentation, received: erdosteine in a dose 350 mg/kg (collateral control group), 1200 ppm of lead acetate in drinking water and placebo, as well as the same doses of lead and erdosteine, respectively. Rats in group V-VII rec…
Determination of propofol by GC/MS and fast GC/MS-TOF in two cases of poisoning
2017
Two cases of suspected acute and lethal intoxication caused by propofol were delivered by the judicial authority to the Department of Sciences for Health Promotion and Mother-Child Care in Palermo, Sicily. In the first case a female nurse was found in a hotel room, where she lived with her mother; four 10 mg/mL vials and two 20 mg/mL vials of propofol were found near the decedent along with syringes and needles. In the second case a male nurse was found in the operating room of a hospital, along with a used syringe. In both cases a preliminary systematic and toxicological analysis indicated the presence of propofol in the blood and urine. As a result, a method for the quantitative determina…
A Simple Microassay for the Determination of Hydrazine in Biological Samples. Effect of Hydrazine and Isoniazid on Liver and Brain Glutathione
1987
A simple microassay for the determination of hydrazine in laboratory samples is presented. The colored product of the reaction of p-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde with hydrazine was tested at 470 nm using double-beam mode in different samples. Internal standards and data on blood serum, liver, and brain of rats treated with hydrazine or isoniazid are presented. The tissue glutathione content of these rats was determined, and the possible implication of glutathione in the brain toxicity of hydrazine is discussed.
Stability of Morphine, Morphine-3-Glucuronide, and Morphine-6-Glucuronide in Fresh Blood and Plasma and Postmortem Blood Samples
2001
The present study was designed to determine the stability of morphine and its glucuronides in spiked fresh blood and plasma from live individuals as well as in four authentic postmortem blood specimens for a time interval of up to six months. The samples were stored in glass vials at -20 degrees C, 4 degrees C, and 20 degrees C. Additionally, spiked samples were exposed to light through window glass and subjected to a forced-degradation study at 40 degrees C. Data were established using solid-phase extraction and high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to atmospheric pressure ionization mass spectrometry for isolation and quantitation, providing a sensitive and specific detection met…
Safety, tolerability, and risks associated with first- and second-generation antipsychotics: a state-of-the-art clinical review
2017
Marco Solmi,1,2 Andrea Murru,3 Isabella Pacchiarotti,3 Juan Undurraga,4,5 Nicola Veronese,2,6 Michele Fornaro,7,8 Brendon Stubbs,2,9–11 Francesco Monaco,2 Eduard Vieta,3 Mary V Seeman,12 Christoph U Correll,13,14 André F Carvalho2,15 1Neuroscience Department, University of Padua, 2Institute for Clinical Research and Education in Medicine, Padua, Italy; 3Bipolar Disorders Unit, Institute of Neuroscience, Hospital Clínic, University of Barcelona, IDIBAPS, CIBERSAM, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; 4Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Clínica Alemana Universidad del Desarrollo, 5Early Intervention Program, J. Horwitz Psychiatric Institute, Santiago, Chile; 6Na…