CI-mass fragmentographic analysis of methamphetamine and amphetamine in human autopsy tissues after acute methamphetamine poisoning

A 22-year-old male methamphetamine abuser was put under police protection owing to his abnormal state of excitation, but died 1 h later. Distribution of methamphetamine and amphetamine in the body was analyzed by the chemical ionization mass fragmentographic method. Amphetamine/methamphetamine concentrations (μmol/100 g) were $\text{0.24}\text{5.59}$ in blood, $\text{0.41}\text{9.43}$ in liver, $\text{0.41}\text{10.02}$ in brain, $\text{0.37}\text{9.80}$ in kidney, $\text{0.18}\text{4.57}$ in muscle, $\text{0.02}\text{0.63}$ in subcutaneous fat and $\text{1.87}\text{1464}$ in gastric contents. Total amount of methamphetamine hydrochloride in stomach contents was about 54 mg. Amphetamine concentrations in tissues ranged from 3.2% to 4.3% of methamphetamine, and was 0.1% in stomach contents. Amphetamine in tissues seems to be a metabolite of methamphetamine, and amphetamine in gastric contents is presumed to result from gastric mucous excretion. The blood concentration of methamphetamine was at a fatal level, and the total amount of the drug in gastric contents indicates that fatal poisoning occurred by ingestion.     

Articles found in the possession of a methamphetamine abuser

A plastic syringe containing bloody fluid, 2 ampules of 20% glucose, an ampule containing diphenhydramine hydrochloride and calcium bromide, powder in a plastic bag and powder wrapped in paper were among the articles found in the possession of a 42-year-old male methamphetamine abuser, who had been taken to a mental hospital owing to his hallucinations.Examination of the patient revealed several recent needle punctures on the left forearm. The concentration of methamphetamine and its metabolite, amphetamine, in blood collected 1 day following the last intake was 76 nmol/100 g. Analysis of the powder and of the contents of the syringe revealed methamphetamine hydrochloride at a concentration of 99.0–99.5% and 7.4%, respectively. Neither glucose nor diphenhydramine were detected in the contents of the syringe.It would seem that the patient abused methamphetamine hydrochloride by intravenous injection after dissolving it in city water or distilled water.     

Methamphetamine body packer: acute poisoning death due to massive leaking of methamphetamine

We encountered three methamphetamine (MA) body packers presenting simultaneously, one of whom died. Three Nigerian men (39, 35, and 37 years old) who attempted to smuggle were found to contain 35 (498 g), 21 (292 g), and 5 packages (73 g) of methamphetamine hydrochloride (MA-HCl) in their stomachs, respectively. Packages were wrapped with plastic film and Scotch tape. The 39-year-old man died with acute poisoning from c. 20 g of MA-HCl that had leaked from the packages into the stomach. His plasma MA concentration was 8.6 microg/mL when he was hospitalized (17 h before his death). Autopsy findings showed extreme pulmonary congestion and edema as well as moderate hepatic edema and several petechiae. Quantitative analysis was performed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Extremely high concentrations of MA and its metabolite amphetamine (AP) were found in cardiac blood (63.5 microg/mL and 1.2 microg/mL), urine (4,518 microg/mL and 72.4 microg/mL), gastric contents (8,490 microg/mL and 16.9 microg/mL), and in all other autopsy samples. These high concentrations confirmed that the cause of death was acute MA poisoning. Furthermore, impurity-profiling analysis of the seized MA revealed that the MA smuggled by the three suspects originated from the same batch.     

Detection of methamphetamine in mouse femurs exposed to high temperature

Bone samples are valuable for examining the cause of death and circumstance leading up to death when body fluids are not available for forensic toxicological analysis. Examined were heat-induced changes in methamphetamine and amphetamine concentrations in femurs removed from methamphetamine-injected mice to determine if the burned bones could be used for toxicology testing. The femurs were heated at 100°C, 300°C, or 500°C for 10 or 30 min. The tissue structure of the heated femurs was preserved at 100°C for 30 min but was destructed at higher temperatures. Methamphetamine and amphetamine were detected in femurs heated at 100°C for 10 min, 100°C for 30 min, and 300°C for 10 min (with methamphetamine and amphetamine concentrations ranging from 0.36 to 35 μg/g and 0.54 to 47 μg/g, respectively). Methamphetamine and amphetamine were detectable when heated above their decomposition temperature as a result of limited heat transfer do to protection provide by the femoral muscle. Thus, the bone could be a useful analytical sample in cases of burn-related deaths, where it is difficult to collect body fluids.     

A case of fatal hemorrhage in the cerebral ventricles following intravenous use of methamphetamine

We describe a case of massive hemorrhage in the cerebral ventricles, probably caused by methamphetamine abuse. A 44-year-old male was found dead in a prone position in a hotel room. Old and new injection marks were observed in his right cubital fossa. Petechiae were observed on the conjunctiva of his right eye, laryngeal mucosa, epicardium and under the capsule of the liver (to a slight or moderate degree). The brain, weighing 1.67 kg, was heavily edematous; the lateral and fourth ventricles were filled with hematomas. Subarachnoid, intracerebral hemorrhages were not observed. Cerebral vascular abnormalities were not evident. There were no remarkable changes in other organs, other than congestion. Gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric analysis of the urine disclosed the presence of methamphetamine and amphetamine. The concentration of methamphetamine within the femoral venous blood and intraventricular hematoma was 0.347 microg/ml and 0.189 microg/g, respectively. Amphetamine was not detected in either sample. Urine contained 3.15 microg/ml methamphetamine and 0.063 microg/ml amphetamine. These results indicate that intraventricular hemorrhage might have occurred shortly after intravenous self-administration of methamphetamine. Cerebral arterial spasm and hypertension resulting from the administration of methamphetamine might have resulted in intraventricular hemorrhage.     

Rapid GC–MS confirmation of amphetamines in urine by extractive acylation

Amphetamine and related derivatives are widely abused central- and psychostimulants. Detection of certain derivatives, such as methcathinone, by commonly available immunoassay screening techniques is insufficient. Multi-analyte confirmations for amphetamine type stimulants are therefore required, but traditional gas chromatography–mass spectrometry methods necessitate lengthy analytical procedures with prolonged sample turn-around times. A validated rapid GC–MS assay for urinary confirmation of amphetamine, methamphetamine, methcathinone, ephedrine, norephedrine, methylenedioxyamphetamine, methylenedioxymethamphetamine, methylenedioxyethylamphetamine and N-methyl-1-(3,4 methylenedioxyphenyl)-2-butanamine is reported. The method entailed in situ derivatization of urine specimens by extractive acylation with pentafluoropropionic anhydride, followed by rapid chromatography on a microbore capillary column. Analytes were separated in less than 3 min and quantified simultaneously by selected-ion monitoring using stable isotope substituted internal standards. The total instrument cycle-time was 6 min per sample. The limits of detection were between 1.5 ng/mL and 6.25 ng/mL for the various analytes. Intermediate precision and accuracy were in the range of 6.3–13.8% and 90.5–107.3% for the respective analytes at the lower limit of quantitation, and between 5.8–12.6% and 95.4–103.1% for the high control. Long-term storage of methcathinone positive specimens at ?20 °C proved insufficient stability of this analyte. The proposed assay is precise and accurate for confirmation of amphetamine and derivatives in urine. The complementary approach of extractive-derivatization and fast GC–MS analysis is especially applicable in routine clinical settings where reduced sample turn-around times are required. Further investigation of cathinone as a possible metabolite of methcathinone is warranted, based on results from analyzed authentic urine samples.     

Quantification of Methamphetamine in Mouse Thighbones Buried in Soil

Bone samples are used for analysis of drugs in decomposed or skeletonized bodies. Toxicological analyses of buried bones are important for determining the causes and circumstances of death. In this study, methamphetamine and amphetamine concentrations in heart blood, thigh muscles, and thighbones were analyzed using solid‐phase extraction with liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. Methamphetamine concentrations in heart blood, thigh muscle, and thighbone ranged from 0.041 to 0.873 μg/mL, 0.649 to 2.623 μg/g, and 56.543 to 643.371 μg/g, respectively. Thighbone concentrations were significantly higher than those in heart blood or thigh muscles were. Methamphetamine concentrations in buried thighbone (4.010–45.785 μg/g) were significantly lower than those of unburied thighbones were (56.543–643.371 μg/g). Methamphetamine and amphetamine were detected in thighbones buried for 7–180 days. These findings indicate that the methamphetamine concentrations in bone are higher and decrease after burial in soil.     

甲基苯丙胺在家兔体内的毒物代谢动力学研究

目的研究甲基苯丙胺及其代谢物苯丙胺在家兔体内的毒物代谢动力学行为。方法GC/MS法测定家兔灌胃甲基苯丙胺后不同时间点血、尿中甲基苯丙胺和代谢物苯丙胺浓度,采用3P97程序进行房室模型拟合以及毒物代谢动力学参数计算。结果甲基苯丙胺和苯丙胺在家兔体内的毒物代谢动力学过程均呈一级动力学特征,符合二室开放模型。甲基苯丙胺在家兔体内Cm ax为1.457 mg/L±0.094 mg/L,Tm ax为1.557h±0.078h,t1/2 ka、t1/2α和t1/2β分别为0.384h±0.052h、1.614h±0.036h和3.007h±0.430h,CL为1.769 L/h/kg±0.114 L/h/kg。甲基苯丙胺的毒物代谢动力学方程为:C t=2.767 e-0.746 t+1.454 e-0.234 t+4.119 e-1.746 t。结论甲基苯丙胺在家兔体内吸收、消除和代谢都较快。建立的甲基苯丙胺毒物代谢动力学方程和参数可为甲基苯丙胺分析的合理取样、从血药浓度推断服毒时间以及甲基苯丙胺滥用的法医学鉴定提供理论依据。     

Sex identification of bloodstains by radioimmunoassay of sex hormones

A forensic application is reported for the sex determination of subjects whose dried bloodstains are analyzed by radioimmunoassay for testosterone and progesterone. Blood specimens of ten males and 15 females were collected, prepared as bloodstains, and then assayed at four-different time intervals for testosterone (T) and progesterone (P) contents up to 3 months later. The ratio of the two hormone contents ($\text{P}\text{T}$) was used to establish the sex origin of the dried blood specimens.     

Maximum range of pellets fired from a shotgun

A mathematical model to determine the maximum range of pellets fired from a shotgun has been suggested. It has been assumed that the air resistance experienced by a pellet is proportional to the square of its velocity (?μV²) where $\text{μ =}\text{A}\text{C}$ with

$\text{C=0.061}\text{86}\text{N}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>3</mtext>}}$

and

$\text{A=}\text{1}\text{[17 696+2N+10 000(0.2?d)]}$

N is the number of pellets/ounce and d is the diameter of the pellets in inches. A method for calculating the maximum range has been suggested, and the values obtained for Buck 00, size 8 and size 9 American pellets are very close to the reported experimental observations. The maximum ranges for other sizes of pellets have also been calculated. The angle of projection decreases with increase in velocity and increases with increase in the weight of the pellet. It varies between 26° to 32° for common sizes of pellets and standard shotgun velocity. The maximum range in air is only 1 – 3% of the range attained by a pellet in vacuum.     

甲基苯丙胺滥用与司来吉兰服用的区分:尿液中甲基苯丙胺和苯丙胺的手性分析

目的考察司来吉兰及其代谢物在尿液中的含量变化,并结合实际案例探讨手性分析区分甲基苯丙胺滥用与司来吉兰服用的可行性。方法采用CHIROBIOTICTM V2手性液相色谱柱对尿液样品进行手性分离和液相色谱-串联质谱(LC-MS/MS)法测定,并对司来吉兰服药志愿者尿样、疑服用司来吉兰的涉毒人员尿样进行甲基苯丙胺和苯丙胺的手性分析。结果服用5 mg司来吉兰后,尿液中司来吉兰的检出时限仅为7h。尿液中R(-)-甲基苯丙胺和R(-)-苯丙胺约在7h质量浓度最高,分别为0.86μg/m L和0.18μg/m L,并在80 h和168 h后无法检出。应用该方法成功分析了疑服用司来吉兰的涉毒人员尿液中甲基苯丙胺和苯丙胺的来源。结论甲基苯丙胺和苯丙胺的手性分析以及司来吉兰代谢物检测可区分甲基苯丙胺滥用与司来吉兰服用。     

Acute Bacterial Meningitis with Coincident Methamphetamine Use: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Methamphetamine is a synthetic stimulant that can adversely affect the central nervous system and the immune system. Through various mechanisms, methamphetamine is toxic to neurons, endothelial cells, lymphocytes, granulocytes, and macrophages resulting in systemic damage. Reported is the sudden demise of an otherwise healthy 31‐year‐old woman with a history of stimulant abuse. At autopsy, acute bacterial meningitis was identified. Microbiology cultures grew a single isolate of Streptococcus pneumoniae. Toxicology was positive for amphetamine (0.13 mg/L) and methamphetamine (0.8 mg/L). The cause of death was classified as acute bacterial meningitis with methamphetamine use. Either the acute bacterial meningitis or the methamphetamine toxicity would have been sufficient to result in death; however, the concurrent pathophysiology of the two entities must be understood. A review of the current literature assesses the mechanisms of injury attributed to acute and chronic methamphetamine use, bacterial meningitis, and the synergy between the two.     

Clinical and Autopsy Characteristics of Fatal Methamphetamine Toxicity in Australia

Characteristics of death attributed solely to methamphetamine toxicity (MT, n = 93) by forensic pathologists were examined and compared to cases of multiple drug toxicity (MDT, n = 634). The mean age of MT cases was 36.7 years, and 86.0% were male. Strenuous activity was reported in 12.9%. The most common witness observations were: collapse (60.3%), difficulty in breathing (36.2%), and hyperthermia (27.6%). MT cases had higher blood methamphetamine (0.54 vs. 0.11 mg/L) and amphetamine (0.04 vs. 0.02 mg/L) concentrations and lower likelihoods for opioids (12.5% vs. 80.9%), hypnosedatives (27.3 vs. 60.7%), antidepressants (14.8 vs. 29.8%), and antipsychotics (9.1 vs. 19.7%). MT cases had significantly heavier hearts than MDT cases (423.4 vs. 385.8 g) and were more likely to have cardiomegaly (37.1 vs. 20.4%) and replacement fibrosis (25.7 vs. 14.5%). The clinical picture was of a sudden cardiac event in a middle‐aged man with a high methamphetamine concentration. Cardiovascular signs of heavy methamphetamine use are frequently seen.     

Amphetamine derivative related deaths

Amphetamine its methylendioxy (methylendioxyamphetamine methylenedioxymethylamphetamine, methylenedioxyethylamphetamine) and methoxy derivatives (p-methoxyamphetamine and p-methoxymethylamphetamine) are widely abused in Spanish society. We present here the results of a systematic study of all cases of deaths brought to the attention of the Madrid department of the Instituto Nacional de Toxicologia from 1993 to 1995 in which some of these drugs have been found in the cadaveric blood. The cases were divided into three categories: amphetamine and derivatives, amphetamines and alcohol, amphetamines and other drugs. Data on age, sex, clinical symptoms, morphological findings, circumstances of death, when known, and concentration of amphetamine derivatives, alcohol and other drugs in blood are given for each group. The information provided here may prove to be useful for the forensic interpretation of deaths which are directly or indirectly related to abuse of amphetamine derivatives.     

Nails as useful materials for detection of methamphetamine or amphetamine abuse

Methamphetamine and amphetamine could be demonstrated in nail clippings obtained from methamphetamine users by sensitive gas chromatography/chemical ionization mass spectrometry with N-methylbenzylamine as an internal standard. The methamphetamine levels in fingernails were comparable to those in hair. Both stimulants were more concentrated in toenails than in fingernails. The detection of methamphetamine and amphetamine in nails provides an alternative informatian to that in hair on their past abuse.