Piperazine-like compounds: a new group of designer drugs-of-abuse on the European market

1-Aryl-piperazine compounds are, depending on their substituents, selective for certain serotonin receptors and together with their easy availability and their so-called legal status, this group of psychoactive compounds are potential designer drugs-of-abuse. Internet in that respect is an important source of information and distribution facilities. Because this development may have consequences for the interpretation of future clinical and forensic toxicological case studies, some analytical aspects of 1-benzyl-piperazine (BZP), 1-[4-methoxyphenyl]-piperazine (pMeOPP) and 1-[3-trifluoromethylphenyl]-piperazine (TFMPP) were studied. BZP was not detected by the AxSYM FPIA technology designed to determine amphetamine-like compounds, but had showed some cross reactivity with EMIT d.a.u.. The cross reactivities at 300 and 12,000ng/ml (RS)-amphetamine equivalents were 0.4 and 1.3%, respectively. Although BZP was not identified directly by the REMEDi HS Drug Profiling System, it can be detected by this HPLC/UV scanning system. Using GC/NPD without derivatisation, BZP, pMeOPP and TFMPP can be analysed for and applying GC/MS without or with acetylation or trifluoroacetylation, these compounds can be identified unambiguously. The usefulness of GC/NPD and GC/MS in this respect was demonstrated by the quantitative and qualitative analysis of the content of a capsule with the synthetic stimulant A2, which proved to contain 86.4mg of BZP.     

Sensitive and specific multiresidue methods for the determination of pesticides of various classes in clinical and forensic toxicology

Original and sensitive multiresidue methods are presented for the detection and quantitation, in human biological matrices, of 61 pesticides of toxicological significance in human. These methods involved rapid solid-phase extraction using new polymeric support (HLB and MCX) OASIS cartridges. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used for volatile (organophosphate, organochlorine, phtalimide, uracil) pesticides and liquid chromatography-ionspray-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) for thermolabile and polar pesticides (carbamates, benzimidazoles). Acquisition was performed in the selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode. Extraction recovery varied owing to the nature of pesticides, but was satisfactory for all. Limits of detection (LODs) and limits of quantitation (LOQs) ranged, respectively, from 2.5 to 20 and from 5 to 50ng/ml. An excellent linearity was observed from LOQs up to 1000ng/ml for all the pesticides studied. The proposed procedures yielded reproducible results with good inter-assay accuracy and precision. A few cases of intoxication are presented to demonstrate the diagnostic interest of these methods: in two cases were determined lethal concentrations of endosulfan and carbofuran; in four other cases, the procedures helped diagnose intoxication with, respectively, parathion-ethyl, the association of bromacil and strychnine, bifenthrin and aldicarb.     

Detection and assay of cis- and trans-isomers of 4-methylaminorex in urine, plasma and tissue samples

The 4-methylaminorex (4-MAX) is an amphetamine-related psychostimulant drug that has appeared on the clandestine market with a street name of "U4Euh". This compound exists as four stereoisomers, trans-4R,5R, trans-4S,5S, cis-4R,5S and cis-4S,5R, of which the cis forms have been classified as Schedule I substances in the US. The increasing variety of designer drugs has highlighted the importance of detection, identification, and quantitative measurement of these drugs, including 4-MAX, in biological samples. In the present study, the isomers of 4-MAX were detected in urine of rats treated with the drugs by some but not all of the on-site immunoassays tested, mainly as amphetamine or methamphetamine. To facilitate identification of 4-MAX by laboratories specialized in drug analysis, the electron-ionization mass spectrum and TLC data for underivatized 4-MAX using a routine laboratory drug-screening procedure is provided. In addition, a GC/MS method is described for the quantitative determination of cis- and trans-4-MAX as tert-butyldimethylsilyl-derivatives in plasma, urine and tissue.     

以PCR为基础的分子生物学方法及其在寄生虫学方面的应用

扼要介绍了以聚合酶链反应（ＰＣＲ）为基础的随机扩增多态ＤＮＡ（ＲＡＰＤ）,ＰＣＲ连接的限制性酶切片段长度多态性（ＰＣＲＲＦＬＰ）,扩增片段长度多态性（ＡＦＬＰ）等和ＤＮＡ序列分析在寄生虫学方面的应用及其优势和不足;叙述了检测寄生虫序列变异的几种新方法     

Allele frequency distribution of the STR loci HUMTPOX, HUMTH01 and HUMVWA in Asturias (north Spain)

In order to use genetic loci in forensic identity testing, some population data are needed. This paper presents a report of allele frequency data for the loci HUMTH01, HUMTPOX and HUMVWA in a population sample from Northern Spain. No deviation from the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was detected in any of the three markers investigated and there was no evidence of association between the alleles of these loci. Statistical analysis was also carried out to obtain some parameters of medicolegal interest and comparative studies were carried out with other populations studied to date for these five loci. The Asturian sample does not differ substantially from other Caucasian and Spanish populations.     

Lethal child abuse (through the use of physical force) in the German Democratic Republic during the period 1 January 1985 to 2 October 1990. Results of a multicenter study

No reliable data are available on cases of lethal child abuse (by active force) in the area of the former German Democratic Republic. In a multicenter study we therefore examined the police and court records for such cases occurring in the period 1 January 1985 to 2 October 1990 in the entire area of the former German Democratic Republic. RESULTS: The study center received information on 39 cases of lethal child abuse which correspond to approximately 7 cases per year. However, a low percentage of undetected crimes which cannot be determined more precisely has to be taken into consideration. Almost 40% of the victims were younger than 1 year, 73% of the victims showed indications of repeated ill-treatment. The effects caused by using direct blunt forces, against the head in particular, were by far the most frequent causes of death. The male contact person (the victim's father, brother or stepfather as well as the life companion of the child's mother in particular) killed the child in most of the cases. As far as it is known, 37% of the male/female offenders suffered from chronic alcoholism; 32% of the male/female offenders were under the influence of alcohol when the crime happened. 83% of the male/female offenders who were found guilty made a confession shortly after the crime had happened or during the interrogations. Almost all the male/female offenders were sentenced to prison (the duration of the imprisonment varied between one year and for life). Due to the considerably lower section rate compared to the one in the German Democratic Republic, it is to fear that each second fatal child abuse is not detected in the new federal states.     

东盟五国一九八○年经济概况和一九八一年经济发展趋势预测

印度尼西亚从各面方衡量,一九八○年对于印度尼西亚都是一个“吉年”。大米丰收、石油的勘探活动量和产量有所回升、建筑业繁荣、制造业生产迅速增长,所有这些因素结合在一起,使印度尼西亚一九八○年获得了七年来最高经济增长率。同时,物价上涨率比一九七九年有所减缓;由于油价上涨,一九八○年印度尼西亚获得相当巨额的国际经常收支盈余。     

俄罗斯联邦公民在中国境内居留的法律依据

探讨俄罗斯联邦公民在中华人民共和国境内的法律地位问题之一个方面,即在中国境内居留的法律依据对于建立和发展中俄两国的睦邻友好合作伙伴关系越来越具有现实意义。根据中华人民共和国法律的规定,我们可以把俄罗斯联邦公民在中国境内居留的法律依据划分为取得入境签证、取得外国人居留证和国际直接过境三种。     

在艾滋病病毒感染者中开展异烟肼预防性治疗:公共卫生面临的挑战及与实施相关的问题

异烟肼预防性治疗(isoniazid preventive therapy,IPT)是结核病防治规划(NTP)和艾滋病防治规划(NAP)联合行动的一项重要内容,目的是降低艾滋病病毒(HIV)感染者的结核病负担。然而,真正实施IPT的国家却很少。由于这一措施实施的失败,近期提出了称作“3个I“的口号(即实施感染控制(Infection control),预防结核病在卫生服务机构内传播;在艾滋病病毒感染者和艾滋病病人中加强结核病患者的发现IntensifiedTB case finding,和IPT。在本文中,我们首先回顾IPT的背景,然后讨论在HIV感染者中开展IPT面临的主要挑战,包括:实施IPT的责任和义务,发现结核分枝杆菌潜伏感染者,排除活动性结核病患者,预防异烟肼耐药,以及治疗时间和有效保护期。同时,我们也对几个目前尚未解决的、还在研究中的问题给予高度重视。最后,我们对现场如何推广IPT提出了可操作性的建议,包括:将IPT整合在艾滋病的一系列治疗关怀服务包中,遵照哲学上“边做边学“的原理开展实施性研究,制定入选IPT的流程图,制定和实施抗病毒治疗前的关怀服务,以及有关采购、供应、监控与评价等问题。我们支...