Stability of Morphine,Codeine, and 6‐Acetylmorphine in Blood at Different Sampling and Storage Conditions

The stability of drugs in biological specimens is a major concern during the evaluation of the toxicological results. The stability of morphine, codeine, and 6‐acetyl‐morphine in blood was studied after different sampling conditions: (i) in glass, polypropylene or polystyrene tubes, (ii) with addition of dipotassium ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (K₂EDTA) or sodium oxalate (Na₂C₂O₄), and (iii) with or without the addition of sodium fluoride (NaF). Spiked blood samples were stored at two different temperatures (4 and ?20^°C), analyzed after different storage times and after three freeze–thaw cycles. Opiate concentrations were decreased in all conditions, but the most unstable was 6‐acetyl‐morphine. The addition of NaF as preservative improved the stability of opiates at all conditions studied, whereas the type of anticoagulant did not affect the stability of opiates. It was concluded that blood samples should be stored at ?20^°C in glass tubes containing oxalate and NaF for maximum stability.     

First systematic evaluation of the potency of Cannabis sativa plants grown in Albania

Cannabis products (marijuana, hashish, cannabis oil) are the most frequently abused illegal substances worldwide. Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the main psychoactive component of Cannabis sativa plant, whereas cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabinol (CBN) are other major but no psychoactive constituents. Many studies have already been carried out on these compounds and chemical research was encouraged due to the legal implications concerning the misuse of marijuana. The aim of this study was to determine THC, CBD and CBN in a significant number of cannabis samples of Albanian origin, where cannabis is the most frequently used drug of abuse, in order to evaluate and classify them according to their cannabinoid composition. A GC-MS method was used, in order to assay cannabinoid content of hemp samples harvested at different maturation degree levels during the summer months and grown in different areas of Albania. This method can also be used for the determination of plant phenotype, the evaluation of psychoactive potency and the control of material quality. The highest cannabinoid concentrations were found in the flowers of cannabis. The THC concentrations in different locations of Albania ranged from 1.07 to 12.13%. The influence of environmental conditions on cannabinoid content is discussed. The cannabinoid content of cannabis plants were used for their profiling, and it was used for their classification, according to their geographical origin. The determined concentrations justify the fact that Albania is an area where cannabis is extensively cultivated for illegal purposes.     

Air Passenger Data Transfer to the USA: the Decision of the ECJ and latest developments

How much of European air passengers' personal data should beshared with U.S. border control authorities, and under whatconditions should this take place? This article examines a judgementof the European Court of Justice annulling acts of the EuropeanCommission and the Council that had allowed the transfer ofpersonal information across the Atlantic. After an account ofEC-USA negotiations and the relevant legislative procedure,it considers the findings of the Court as to the formal validityof the above measures, as well as the question of their conformitywith substantive provisions of the European Community Data ProtectionDirective. Finally, it addresses pleas of the European Parliamentnot dealt with by the Court. The article concludes by supportingthe Court's decision, and pointing out the unlawfulness of formerand current data transfers of this type.     

From Silicon Valley to the Levant: Innovation in the Eastern Mediterranean

Market economies in the eastern Mediterranean are not counted among ideal-typical innovators. But this picture may be changing. This article explores the emerging innovation systems in the eastern Mediterranean by examining recent data and the literatures on varieties of capitalism and innovation systems. Through the cases of Cyprus, Israel, and Turkey, the study argues that the varieties of capitalism framework, by focusing on performance at the macro level, disregards the subnational performance of these outlier markets, which have promising regional or local innovation systems. Fostering cooperation among these emerging innovation systems could become a valuable instrument for overcoming deeply rooted conflicts in the eastern Mediterranean, which has turned into a “crisis zone” due to recent energy discoveries.