Distribution of morphine and morphine glucuronides in body tissue and fluids--postmortem findings in brief survival

An intoxication following administration of morphine, tramadol and atracurium in a suicide case is reported. The route of administration and the amount of the particular drug were known from the investigation of the death scene and the findings of the postmortem examination. Tramadol was present in the gastric contents as well as in blood, liver, kidney and brain samples, whereas the drug could not be detected in muscle. All body fluids and tissues investigated contained morphine as well as its 3- and 6-glucuronides with the exception of muscle tissue. The concentrations of morphine and its glucuronide metabolites were determined by LC/MS following solid phase extraction. Interestingly, the concentration of M6G in brain, liver and kidney were close to the concentration of M3G in the particular tissue. This phenomenon might be explained by a preferential hydrolysis of M3G or by a preferential formation of M6G postmortem. Measurement of morphine and M6G in femoral blood and cerebrospinal fluid may be a useful indicator in rapid deaths.     

吗啡及其代谢物在藏毒致死者体内分布初探

目的采用固相萃取、液相色谱一串联质谱（LC-MS／MS）检验方法,考察吗啡和葡萄糖醛酸吗啡（M3G）在一例体内藏毒致急性死亡者体内分布情况。方法提取死者心血、尿、胃内容物、肝、肾、脑等15种检材,经Waters HLB小柱固相萃取后,C18色谱柱分离,采用电喷雾电离（ESI）、多反应监测模式（MRM）检测目标化合物。结果所建方法在0．0l～101μg／mL浓度范围内线性关系良好,提取回收率大于75％。结果显示总吗啡含量（游离态＋结合态）在胃内容物中最高,其次是尿、‘肾,在心血、胃组织、肺和腺体中居中,脑组织和心脏含量最低。结论本例检验结果验证了胃内容物、尿液和肾脏等是该类中毒案件的理想检材,其分布规律也可作为体内毒品分析实验依据。     

Distribution of morphine in body fluids and tissues in fatal overdose

Two cases of fatal overdose with morphine are presented. Large amounts of the drug were involved in both cases, one by oral ingestion, the other by intravenous injection. Morphine concentrations in various body fluids and tissues are compared to those in the literature.     

Two fatal cases involving concurrent use of methamphetamine and morphine

We report on two cases of simultaneous administration of methamphetamine (MAP) and morphine (MOR) with hyperthermia. The blood levels of MAP and MOR were toxic and putatively lethal, respectively, although hyperthermia is a known cause of intoxication due to MAP rather than MOR. In Japan, MAP is the most predominant cause of drug intoxication. The presented cases suggest that MOR may exert synergistic effect on hyperthermia due to the MAP intoxication, together with experimental findings.     

Detection of morphine and codeine in blood samples with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (NCI and PCI) for differentiating codeine use from use of heroin and morphine

Morphine and codeine were isolated from blood with C18 Bond Elut columns and derivatised with pentafluoropropionic anhydride (PFPA). The PFPA-derivatives were examined by means of gas chromatography/mass spectrometry using electron impact and chemical ionisation (positive and negative mode). The negative chemical ionisation, as most sensitive, was applied for the quantitation of both examined substances in forensic blood samples.     

The detection of fingerprints and other marks in body fluids by the use of agar gels

Techniques are described whereby weak fingerprints in blood, semen and saliva on a variety of materials may be rapidly enhanced and photographed. The methods involve the use of flexible agar gels containing histochemical reagents for the development of prints made in these body fluids. The gels may be used on a variety of vertical, horizontal and irregular surfaces and in some cases could replace sprays and "fingerprint paints".     

Driving and the combined use of drugs and alcohol in The Netherlands

The extent and nature of the use of medicinal drugs by drivers who had undergone a blood test on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol was ascertained by analysing some 40,000 case records in which the suspect had been questioned about the use of drugs. No chemical analyses were performed. 9.7% of the road users indicated that they used drugs in combination with alcohol, and more than 50% of the drugs used must be considered to have a negative impact on driving performance. The influence of the combined use of benzodiazepines and alcohol on behaviour was also investigated. The finding here was that drivers using these drugs should be warned against the consumption of alcohol.     

环境激发吗啡CPP复燃大鼠杏仁核PSD-95的表达

目的检测吗啡条件性位置偏爱(conditioned place preference,CPP)复燃大鼠杏仁核突触后致密质-95(PSD-95)的表达,探讨其在吗啡成瘾中对记忆的影响。方法 SD大鼠32只,随机分为吗啡依赖组(MD)、吗啡CPP消退组(ME)、环境激发组(MR)和对照组(N)。建立吗啡CPP模型,自然消退后,通过环境诱发CPP复燃,应用免疫组化和RT-PCR方法,观察检测激发组大鼠杏仁核PSD-95蛋白和mRNA表达,并与依赖组、消退组、对照组进行比较。结果吗啡CPP环境激发组、吗啡CPP消退组和对照组比较,杏仁核PSD-95的表达明显增加,具有高度显著性差异(P<0.01);吗啡依赖组与对照组比较,PSD-95的表达明显降低,具有高度显著性差异(P<0.01)。结论吗啡CPP环境激发组大鼠杏仁核PSD-95表达明显增高,PSD-95可能参与了成瘾记忆。     

尿中吗啡的氮磷检测——气相色谱分析法

目的建立尿中吗啡的简便快速、灵敏可靠的GC/NPD分析方法。方法样品尿加内标烯丙吗啡,酶或酸催化水解,氯仿-异丙醇(9:1)液液提取或GDX403树脂固相提取,BSA衍生化,HP-5柱和氮磷检测器进行分析。结果 提取率62％～85％,检出限1.2～3.1ng/ml,线性范围20～2000ng/ml,回收率(97％～99％)±(6％~9％)(Mean±cv,N=5)。结论 方法适合于实际案件中尿样的检验。     

SPE-LC-MS/MS法测定尿液与血液中海洛因3种代谢物

目的采用SPE-LC-MS/MS方法,同时检测尿液与血液中海洛因主要代谢物3-β-D-葡萄糖醛酸吗啡(M3G)、吗啡和O6-单乙酰吗啡(O6)。方法采用BAKERBONDTMspe Octadecyl(C18)进行提取,应用LC-MS/MS方法检测并通过MRM及内标法进行量化。结果尿液中M3G、吗啡、O6-单乙酰吗啡的最低检测限(LOD)分别为1.24pg、6.71pg、0.47pg;回收率依次为82.25±12.25%、93.75±13.25%、88.70±11.90%。血液中M3G、吗啡、O6-单乙酰吗啡的最低检测限分别为1.50pg、8.21pg、0.52pg。回收率依次为89.85±21.15%、73.70±17.90%、90.10±3.90%。结论本文所建方法同时适用于尿液与血液中海洛因主要代谢物M3G、吗啡、O6-单乙酰吗啡的提取、净化、分析。     

Estimation of the post mortem period by multiple-site temperature measurements and the use of a new algorithm

The estimation of the post mortem period, in cases where death occurred under suspicious circumstances, is usually attempted using temperature measurements taken at a single body site. Early investigations of the validity of such an approach use the abdominal skin surface, the axilla and the rectum as measurement sites (B.H. Knight, Forensic Sci. Int., 36 (1987) 47-55). However, it has recently become more common to use the rectum alone, though the ear and the nasal passages have also been utilized. Whatever site is employed, the estimates are frequently found to be inaccurate. There are several fundamental reasons for these inaccuracies, the most prominent being the unknown variation in the ambient temperature between the time of death and the commencement of measurements, and the unknown body temperature at the time of death. This paper proposes a method of overcoming the above difficulties by taking a series of measurements concurrently at a number of body sites, a technique used by several previous workers (B.H. Knight, Forensic Sci. Int., 36 (1987) 47-55). Initial investigations have shown that an improved estimation of post mortem period is obtainable by the application of a suitable decision-making algorithm.     

Determination of morphine in postmortem rabbit bone marrow and comparison with blood morphine concentrations

The aim of this study is to predict how long after time of death a buried body could be analyzed for opiates in soft tissues and to show the accessibility and suitability of bone marrow as a useful toxicological specimen from buried bodies. Morphine solutions were injected in nine albino rabbits. Doses ranged from 0.3 to 1.1 mg/kg with 0.1 mg/kg increments. One hour after the injections, the rabbits were sacrificed. Blood, urine and bone marrow samples were collected for analysis. After the whole bodies were buried, femur bone marrow specimens were collected on the seventh and fourteenth days. CEDIA was used to monitor morphine contents of the collected samples. All experimental cases showed that the increase in the given morphine doses correlated with the increase in blood and bone marrow morphine concentrations. High morphine concentrations were detected in urine samples, but there was no correlation between the urine and blood or urine and bone marrow morphine concentrations. Statistically meaningful increases in bone marrow morphine concentrations were found parallel to increase of blood morphine concentrations. Seventh and fourteenth day postmortem morphine concentrations also followed this correlation. Morphine concentrations in bone marrow at 7 and 14 day postmortem decreased consistently when compared with bone marrow morphine concentrations collected immediately after death. We conclude that in sudden death when other specimens are unavailable due to degradation, bone marrow can be a most useful specimen. Further experimental research in this area is required to validate bone marrow as an alternative tissue.     

阿片类成瘾者血清、尿中吗啡TLCS分析

建立阿片类成瘾者血清、尿液中吗啡的薄层色谱扫描 (TCLS)定量检测方法。样品经酸、碱性水解后调至pH9,氯仿 /异丙醇 ( 9∶1)萃取及GDX 40 3柱固相萃取 ,在紫外区可见光区薄层扫描。测得 3种萃取方法吗啡回收率分别为 75 3 %± 4 9% ,80 9%± 3 2 %和 79 4%± 3 5 % ,血清、尿中吗啡最低检出浓度分别为 0 1μg·ml-1,0 0 5 μg·ml-1(信噪比≥ 3 )。本法可用于阿片类药物成瘾者或中毒者血、尿中吗啡的检测。     

Unconjugated morphine in blood by radioimmunoassay and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

Morphine, the active metabolite of heroin, is rapidly inactivated by glucuronidation at the 3 carbon. Unconjugated (pharmacologically active) morphine was measured in postmortem blood by radioimmunoassay using an antibody-coated tube kit. The kit shows less than 0.2% cross-reactivity with codeine and morphine-glucuronide. Unconjugated morphine concentrations were confirmed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) using deuterated morphine as the internal standard. The blood was precipitated with 10% trichloroacetic acid (TCA) and concentrated hydrochloric acid (HCl), centrifuged, and decanted. The supernatant was then either diluted (unhydrolyzed) or heated to 100 degrees C, 30 min (hydrolyzed), followed by a wash with 4:1 chloroform:isopropranol. The upper aqueous layer was then saturated with sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) and extracted with 4:1 chloroform:isopropranol. The organic layer was evaporated, derivatized with trifluoroacetic anhydride (TFA), and analyzed by selected ion monitoring (SIM) GC/MS. Comparison of the results for unconjugated morphine by radioimmunoassay and unhydrolyzed morphine by GC/MS gave a correlation coefficient of r = 0.98, n = 100. Unconjugated morphine ranged from 0 to 100% of total morphine with a mean of 42%, n = 200, for heroin or morphine involved deaths. Review of 56 putative rapid deaths gave a mean of 68% unconjugated morphine with a range of 26 to 100%. The ratio of unconjugated to total morphine was found to be stable in postmortem blood after more than a year of storage at room temperature, within the precision of the method.     

The history of heroin abuse by assaying 6-monoacetylmorphine and morphine in human hair

The purpose of this study is to conclude the history of heroin abuse by assaying 6-monoacetylmorphine (MAM) and morphine (MOR) in human hair. The hair of heroin abuse was labeled and segmented, then washed and cut into fragments. After hydrolyses and extraction, 6-MAM and MOR in human hair were determined by GC/MS-SIM with selected ion monitoring. Results of the segmented hair were analyzed. It provided useful information about the history of heroin abuse (hair growth rate 1-1.5 cm/mon).     

Analysis of morphine by RIA and HPLC in fingernail clippings obtained from heroin users

Heroin is abused around the world and is frequently reported as the cause of death in overdose cases. Analysis of morphine in hair has been used in the past in forensic toxicology to study the addiction history of heroin addicts. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the usefulness of the nail as an analytical specimen in the identification and quantification of morphine in fingernail clippings of known heroin users. Fingernail clippings were obtained from 26 consenting patients of the Glasgow Drug Problem Service. At the time of sampling, the participants provided answers to a questionnaire regarding their drug use patterns. Samples were decontaminated by sonication in SDS, deionized water and methanol, and the methanolic washes were screened for analyte presence. The washed nail clippings were then hydrolyzed and extracted. RIA was used for the screening and HPLC for the confirmation of morphine. Positive RIA results were obtained with nail clippings from 25 of the 26 heroin users. The levels ranged from 0.06 to 4.69 ng/mg with a mean morphine concentration of 1.67 ng/mg. HPLC results were positive for 22 of the 26 nail samples. The mean morphine level by HPLC was 2.11 ng/mg with a range from 0.14 to 6.90 ng/mg. Based on these results, we suggest that nails have the potential of becoming a powerful alternative to hair for the detection of past heroin use in forensic cases.     

Determination of lysergic acid diethylamide in body fluids by high-performance liquid chromatography and fluorescence detection--a more sensitive method suitable for routine use

A new method for determination of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) in body fluids by high-performance liquid chromatography and fluorescence detection was developed based on previously published methods. The new method is suitable for confirmation of samples tested positive by immunoassay, avoiding loss of LSD by absorption to surfaces. The reduced loss of LSD results in improved sensitivity. This is achieved by adding ethylene glycol to the samples, which cover glass surfaces. This principle can similarly be used to improve analysis of other drugs. Body fluids for analysis included urine and whole blood. An internal standard was applied for quantification of LSD. The new method offers satisfying precision data and has a detection limit of less than 0.05 ng/nL.     

The combined use of pollen and soil analyses in a search and subsequent murder investigation

This case report shows how soil analyses (particularly petrology) can be used in conjunction with pollen in order to refine or strengthen an association. Soil samples from a car believed to have been used by the suspect in a missing persons case was subjected to soil and pollen analyses. The soil characteristics and petrology were used to redefine the search area using geology and soils maps, the pollen and vegetative remains were used to target woodlands with a particular species mix. As a result two bodies were located and the environmental evidence was used in the subsequent trial. In this case the history of the vehicle was well known and the wheel arches and footwells provided reliable soil traps. The advantage of combining the techniques is that soil evidence (both mineralogy and other inclusions) provides a geological/soils match while the pollen provides independent evidence of vegetation type providing a combination that may be rare or unique.