Drug overdose vs. pre-existing health problems: Physicians disagree
According to the Los Angeles County coroner’s office, actress Brittany Murphy’s cause of death was pneumonia and her death was ruled accidental. Her family stated that she had flu-like symptoms and that she was taking prescription medication. The combination of her health condition, anemia and [...]
Abstract Hallucinogenic tryptamine analogues, an important class of drugs of abuse, can be naturally occurring or chemically synthesized
compounds. In Japan, psilocin and psilocybin (ingredients of “magic mushrooms”) and 5-methoxy-N,N-diisopropyltryptamine (5-MeO-DIPT; a synthetic tryptamine) seem to be particularly problematic due to their extensive abuse.
This review is focused on human metabolism and forensic toxicological analyses of the above three tryptamine analogues. In
humans, psilocybin is rapidly dephosphorylated to form psilocin, and most of the psilocin is eventually conjugated to form
its glucuronide. On the other hand, 5-MeO-DIPT is mainly metabolized via O-demethylation, 6-hydroxylation, and N-deisopropylation, partly followed by conjugation to form their...
Abstract Patterns of poisoning are known to be different in different countries, because of the local environmental, cultural, and
religious situations. Therefore, in Japan, it is important to know the pattern of poisoning in our own country and to prepare
for every poisoning case by establishing an efficient systematic toxicological analysis system in forensic practice. We conducted
a retrospective study of the kinds of compounds causing poisonings and the frequency of their use based on two series of reports
dealing with poisoning cases in Japan prepared by the National Research Institute of Police Science and the Japanese Society
of Legal Medicine for 2003 to 2006. From these reports, 459 and 177 compounds, respectively, were extracted as poisonous compounds
over the st...
Abstract Six novel hallucinogens classed as (tetrahydrobenzodifuranyl) aminoalkanes or (benzodifuranyl)aminoalkanes, which are known
by the common names of “FLY” and “DragonFLY,” respectively, were synthesized. These compounds were simultaneously analyzed
by gas chromatography (GC)-mass spectrometry (MS), liquid chromatography (LC)-MS, and LC-MS-MS. GCMS analysis of their free
bases was not satisfactory for both mass spectral and chromatographic measurements, and thus trifluoroacetyl (TFA) derivatization
was employed. However, it was found that the usual TFA derivatization procedure using trifluoroacetic anhydride caused dehydrogenation
of FLYs to the corresponding DragonFLYs. Therefore, TFA derivatization of FLYs was reinvestigated; the presence of triethylamine
c...
Abstract The accumulation of intravenously administered methamphetamine (MAMP) in the stomach contents was investigated as part of
a process used to discriminate between oral and intravenous administration of MAMP. Eight forensic autopsy cases, in which
intravenous administration of MAMP was confirmed, were used. Total amounts and pH values of stomach contents were in the ranges
of 20–500 g and 3–5 (determined in seven cases), respectively. Intervals between the last MAMP administration and each death
could be roughly estimated in four cases: 1–3 h in two cases and 3–6 h in two cases. MAMP levels in stomach contents and whole
blood were in the ranges of 0.816–43.4 µg/g (total amounts: 0.114–1.95 mg) and 0.236–14.6 µg/ml, respectively. The mean ratio
of MAMP...
In this study, we
established a detailed procedure for analysis of 11-nor-9-carboxy-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THCA), the main metabolite of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol, in human urine by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS) using SBSE with liquid
desorption. For quantitative analysis, an external calibration method was used. A urine sample was fi rst hydrolyzed under
strong alkaline conditions, followed by SBSE with a Twister stir bar at about pH 3. The analyte was desorbed from the bar
with a small amount of ethyl acetate. After evaporation of the solvent, it was reconstituted in water-methanol mixture for
LC-MS-MS analysis in the selected reaction monitoring mode. The calibration curve for THCA was linear in the range of 10–200
ng/ml urine. The lower limit of de...
Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Letter to the EditorDOI 10.1007/s11419-009-0082-1Authors
Kenji Tsujikawa, National Research Institute of Police Science 6-3-1 Kashiwanoha Kashiwa Chiba 277-0882 JapanKenji Kuwayama, National Research Institute of Police Science 6-3-1 Kashiwanoha Kashiwa Chiba 277-0882 JapanHajime Miyaguchi, National Research Institute of Police Science 6-3-1 Kashiwanoha Kashiwa Chiba 277-0882 JapanTatsuyuki Kanamori, National Research Institute of Police Science 6-3-1 Kashiwanoha Kashiwa Chiba 277-0882 JapanYuko T. Iwata, National Research Institute of Police Science 6-3-1 Kashiwanoha Kashiwa Chiba 277-0882 JapanHiroyuki Inoue, National Research Institute of Police Science 6-3-1 Kashiwanoha Kashiwa Chiba 277-0882 Japan
Journal Forensic ToxicologyOnline ISSN 1...
Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Letter to the EditorDOI 10.1007/s11419-009-0085-yAuthors
Fumio Moriya, Kawasaki University of Medical Welfare Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health and Welfare Matsushima, Kurashiki, Okayama 701-0193 Japan
Journal Forensic ToxicologyOnline ISSN 1860-8973Print ISSN 1860-8965 (Source: Forensic Toxicology)
Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Letter to the EditorDOI 10.1007/s11419-009-0080-3Authors
Pinjia Meng, Chinese People’s Public Security University Department of Forensic Science Muxidi Nanli 1# Xicheng District, Beijing 100038 P.R. ChinaPierre Margot, University of Lausanne Institute de Police Scientifique Lausanne-Dorigny Switzerland
Journal Forensic ToxicologyOnline ISSN 1860-8973Print ISSN 1860-8965 (Source: Forensic Toxicology)
Abstract Since 1992, California police have been using pepper sprays containing oleoresin capsicum (OC) as a nonlethal method to subdue
delirious or violent individuals. Capsaicin is a primary ingredient in OC spray. From January 1993 to June 1995, at least
20 deaths in California were associated with OC and stimulant drug (cocaine, amphetamines, or ephedrines) exposure. Based
on this background, we hypothesized a direct potentiation of cocaine toxicity by capsaicin. We performed animal experiments
and also reviewed human data involving capsaicin and stimulants. The lethal effects of capsaicin administered with cocaine
(both compounds administered intraperitoneally) were assessed in 14 groups of 20–40 male mice. Capsaicin at 10 mg/kg increased
the lethality of cocaine in...
