Susceptibility of PharmChek drugs of abuse patch to environmental contamination

The key component of the PharmChek sweat patch, the membrane, has been tested for the passage of externally applied materials. Drugs in the uncharged state rapidly penetrated the membrane but charged species were greatly slowed. In basic media, detectable concentrations of cocaine, methamphetamine, and heroin were observed at the earliest collection time (ca. 30 s), after drugs were placed on the outside of the membrane. Drug concentrations increased over the 2 h time course, when amounts detected (1710 ng cocaine, 1060 ng methamphetamine, 550 ng heroin per pad at 2 h) represented 5-17% of the drug deposited on the surface of the sweat patch.Drugs externally applied to human skin were shown to bind readily. Drugs deposited on the skin of drug-free volunteers several days prior to application of the sweat patch were not completely removed by normal hygiene or the cleaning procedures recommended before application of the sweat patch. Even 6 days of normal hygiene did not remove all drugs from externally contaminated skin and positive sweat patches resulted. A mechanism for passage of drugs through the sweat patch membrane, a mechanism for retention of drugs on skin, and a redesign of the sweat patch and modification of its use to reduce external contamination are proposed. Appropriate care should be taken in the interpretation of positive results from a sweat patch test until more research is conducted.     

Molecular autopsy of sudden unexplained death in the young

Sudden unexplained death (SUD) claims over 4,000 persons between the age of 1 and 22 each year in the United States. Nearly half of all pediatric SUD cases have a normal structural autopsy evaluation and are dismissed without a diagnosis. With the discovery of the genetic basis for potentially fatal arrhythmias associated with the inherited long QT syndrome (LQTS), postmortem molecular diagnosis of this disorder is possible. The authors describe the results of a molecular autopsy performed on a 17-year-old boy found dead in bed. A novel clinical test involving an epinephrine challenge in the decedent's mother implicated a potential defect in the phase 3 potassium current encoded by the gene KVLQT1. Exon-specific amplification by polymerase chain reaction and direct DNA sequencing of KVLQT1 revealed a 5-base pair deletion in the genetic material recovered from the decedent's paraffin-embedded heart tissue. The ability to perform molecular autopsies on archived necropsy material undoubtedly will transform the forensic evaluation of SUD. The combination of catecholamine provocation testing in survivors and a postmortem LQTS gene analysis may unmask families with "concealed" LQTS and establish the cause and manner of death in SUDS.     

Brazilian population database for the 13 STR loci of the AmpFlSTR Profiler Plus and Cofiler multiplex kits

Allele frequencies for the 13 STR core loci (D3S1358, VWA, FGA, D8S1179, D21S11, D18S51, D5S818, D13S317, D7S820, CSF1PO, TPOX, THO1 and D16S539) included in the AmpFlSTR((R)) Profiler Plus and AmpFlSTR((R)) Cofiler kits were obtained for a sample of 700-800 genetically unrelated Brazilians. The expected performance of these loci for personal identification and paternity testing in the Brazilian population was estimated.     

Experience with urine drug testing by the Correctional Service of Canada

The Correctional Service of Canada implemented a urine drug-screening program over 10 years ago. The objective of this report is to describe the program and drug test results in this program for 1999. Offenders in Canadian federal correctional institutions and those living in the community on conditional release were subject to urine drug testing. Urine specimens were collected at correctional facilities and shipped by courier to MAXXAM Analytics Inc. laboratory. All urine specimens were analyzed for amphetamines, cannabinoids, cocaine metabolite (benzoylecgonine), opiates, phencyclidine, benzodiazepines, methyl phenidate, meperidine, pentazocine and fluoxetine by immunoassay screening (homogeneous EIA and ELISA assays) followed by GC-MS confirmation. Ethyl alcohol was analyzed when specifically requested. Alternative screening and confirmation methods with lower cut-off values were used, whenever urine specimens were dilute (creatinine <20mg/dl and specific gravity 相似文献   

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.     

Spectra interference between diquat and paraquat by second derivative spectrophotometry

A rapid and accurate method, combining solid-phase extraction and second-order derivative spectrophotomety approaches, is developed for the simultaneous determination of diquat (DQ) and paraquat (PQ) in blood, tissue and urine samples. Supernatant resulting from the precipitation of protein (with trichloroacetic acid) in plasma and tissue or Amberlite IRA-401 resin treated urine are passed through a mini-column packed with Wakogel gel (Silica gel). Analytes are then eluted with a non-organic solvent, 0.2mol/l HCl solution containing 2mol/l NH(4)Cl. UV spectrum of the eluent in 220-350nm range provides effective screen to detect the presence of DQ and/or PQ. In the presence of DQ or PQ alone, the analyte present is quantitated by conventional zero- or second-order derivative spectrophotometry. The calibration curve in the 0.1-5.0mg/l range for either analyte obeys Beer's law. When both DQ and PQ are present, their concentrations are determined by the peak amplitudes of their respective second-derivative spectra after the addition of alkaline dithionite reagent. Interference is negligible when the DQ/PQ concentration ratio is within the 5.0-0.2 range.Using a 2-ml of sample size, the detection limits for DQ and PQ in plasma are 0.02 and 0.005mg/l. The corresponding detection limits for urine samples (10ml sample size) are 0.004 and 0.001mg/l. Recoveries of DQ and PQ in triplicate plasma and urine samples spiked with 0.5mg/l of analytes are 93 and 85%. The precision of the proposed method resulting from triplicate study of spiked urine samples varies from 3.2 to 4.6% at 0.5mg/l of DQ and PQ, respectively.     

A protocol for the forensic analysis of condom and personal lubricants found in sexual assault cases.

In sexual assault cases, lubricant trace evidence may supplement biological evidence, or may be the primary physical evidence where biological evidence is unavailable. This study considered a total of 50 lubricants from condoms and personal lubricant products available in Australia. Differentiation of the samples was attempted using fluorescence examination, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (DRIFTS), gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, and pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Eleven of the samples were uniquely identified by the analysis scheme, while the remainder of the samples were separated into nine groups. As a result of this study, a recommended protocol for the detection and analysis of an "unknown" biological swab was produced.