Fast Discrimination of Marijuana using Automated High-throughput Cannabis Sample Preparation and Analysis by Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry

In the United States, federal law and many state laws differentiate between marijuana and industrial hemp through delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) levels, whereby the latter is defined as ≤0.3 percent THC on a dry weight basis. Many traditional cannabis identification methods employed by crime laboratories cannot accurately determine total THC quantities in accordance with federal and state regulations, or do so with increased time, labor, and risks of instrument damage. In order to quickly distinguish positive marijuana samples, a method was developed to identify plant material with a total THC level >1%. This novel, automated dispersive pipette extraction (DPX) method uses tip-based technology and an automated liquid handler to enable fast, hands-free selective isolation of THC and its precursors for downstream gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. The workflow proceeds with no repetitive manual effort and reduced need for instrument maintenance while enabling crime labs to legally identify marijuana through the detection of total THC above 1%. Recovery of THC using the DPX extraction method was 93% at 30 µg/mL and 78% at 500 µg/mL. Similarly, THCA-A recovery was 100% at 30 µg/mL and 74% at 500 µg/mL. Samples evaluated in a blind study (proficiency, hemp, and nonprobative case samples) were all accurately identified as greater than or less than 1% THC, with samples containing <1% THC being identified as “cannabis” and subjected to more discriminative analysis as needed.     

The Psilocin (4-hydroxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine) and Bufotenine (5-hydroxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine) Case: Ensuring the Correct Isomer has Been Identified

Psilocin (4-hydroxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine, 4-HO-DMT) and bufotenine (5-hydroxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine, 5-HO-DMT), which are both naturally occurring compounds, are classified as controlled substances in numerous countries due to their pharmacological activities and recreational usage. There are two other benzene ring regioisomers, 6-hydroxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (6-HO-DMT) and 7-hydroxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (7-HO-DMT), which are not classified by name as controlled substances, and which were synthesized for this current work. The four isomers were analyzed using routine methodologies employed by the Israel's Police Division of Identification and Forensic Science (DIFS) Laboratory, namely thin layer chromatography (TLC), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and gas chromatography mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). It was found possible to differentiate the four isomers. Forensic specimens that were suspected to be psilocybe mushrooms were examined, confirming that it is now possible to unequivocally identify the presence of psilocin and rule out the presence of its other isomers.     

Sustained Outcomes? an Exploratory Study of Juvenile Drug Courts and Long-Term Recidivism

This exploratory study examined juvenile drug courts’ effect on adulthood recidivism. Utilizing a twelve-year average follow up time, adult recidivism rates were compared between previous juvenile drug court participants and a comparison group of juveniles who participated in traditional probation. Linear regression models indicated limited recidivism effects of drug court on arrests or convictions into adulthood. The findings suggest that gender and race may play a role in how justice-involved juveniles interact and experience juvenile drug court, highlighting the need for gender-responsive and culturally responsive policies, practices, and programs within juvenile drug courts. Recommendations are made regarding future research areas and ways to potentially improve long-term juvenile drug court outcomes.     

Homeless Youth Seeking Health and Life-Meaning Through Popular Culture and the Arts

This pilot study demonstrates the roles of popular culture, media and the arts in the health and self-esteem of homeless youth. Reflecting focus group findings from a representative sample of street and sheltered youth, this article provides a qualitative assessment of what they advocated as an effective intervention that would promote the receipt of health services within their vulnerable community. Unlike alienating disease models where adverse health behaviors and outcomes determine intervention success or failure, a culturally-sensitive approach which provided skills mentoring and engaged the youth as health advocates seemed likely to produce important recovery incentives and enhanced health outcomes.     

鸡阿奇霉素急性中毒的病理学研究

以大发乌骨蛋鸡为研究对象,采用一次性灌胃给药法进行阿奇霉素的急性毒性试验,研究了试验鸡对阿奇霉素的毒性反应和病理变化.结果显示,阿奇霉素对鸡的半数致死量为4.57 g/kg,雏鸡急性中毒20 min后,出现明显的临床症状,主要表现为精神委靡,呼吸困难,食欲减退,且呈明显的量效关系.组织病理学变化主要为肝细胞颗粒变性和脂肪变性;肺淤血;肾小管上皮细胞和消化道黏膜上皮变性坏死.证实,阿奇霉素急性中毒会广泛损害雏鸡肝、肺、肾和肠等多种组织器官,甚至引起这些组织器官的变性坏死.     

制造毒品案件现场勘查及其组织指挥

制毒现场与其他犯罪现场相比有其特殊性,其勘查时的组织指挥十分关键。对制毒现场进行勘查时要根据其特点,熟悉制毒现场勘查的任务、措施及程序,采用相应勘查对策,把握组织指挥等关键环节。     

Reporting a fatality during tumescent liposuction

Deaths of patients during elective surgery have drawn attention to the danger of anesthesia. Tumescent local anesthesia is subcutaneous infiltration of large volumes of dilute lidocaine with epinephrine to produce vasoconstriction while delivering anesthesia over large areas without lidocaine toxicity. This report documents the case of a 38-year-old woman who attended an outpatient clinic to undergo liposuction of the abdomen and bilateral hips and thighs. According to one witness, around 30 min after anesthesia administration, the victim suffered an episode of tonic–clonic convulsion. When the emergency medical services arrived the patient was in asystole. She died in spite of attempted cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The patient had no significant past medical history including no history of allergies or any known complications with anesthesia. A complete autopsy was performed and possible causes of death such as myocardial infarction, aspiration of food or foreign body, and pulmonary embolism were discarded. Anaphylactic shock was considered a possible but unlikely explanation for the fatality. Toxicological analyses revealed the presence of lidocaine and mepivacaine in heart blood, at concentrations of 4.9 and 16.2 mg/L, respectively. All drugs involved in the case were detected using gas chromatography with nitrogen–phosphorus detector and confirmed using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry full scan mode after solid-phase extraction using Chem-Elut columns. An additional high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to diode-array detection screening also obtained the same results. Based on the autopsy findings, case history, and toxicology results, the forensic pathologists ruled that the cause of death was an overdose of local anesthetic agents. The Court of Law ruled the death as an involuntary homicide due to gross negligence.     

禁毒人民战争解读

在国家禁毒委员会的全面部署下，各地、各部门以“参与禁毒斗争，构建和谐社会”为主题，组织开展了全国性的禁毒人民战争。毒品问题的严峻形势得到有效缓解，全民识毒、拒毒、防毒意识普遍提高，禁毒的社会氛围更加浓厚。本文从健全和完善禁毒人民战争的理论体系出发，着力于禁毒斗争的纵深发展。     

制造冰毒案件的特点及发展趋势

上世纪九十年代初，制造冰毒犯罪在我国东南沿海地区出现之后便呈迅猛发展之势，至今未得到有效控制，凸现我们对此类案件认识和研究的贫乏。文章总结了当前我国制造冰毒案件的特点并预测了其发展趋势，以期对侦查实践有所帮助。     

布氏锥虫伊氏亚种体外药敏试验

应用布氏锥虫伊氏亚种(Trypanosoma brucei evansi,T.b.e)体外药敏试验系统检查了国内6个T.b.e虫株和国外布氏锥虫指名亚种(T.b.b)对苏拉灭(Suramin)、贝尼尔(Berenil)、安锥赛(Antrycide)、咪唑苯脲(Imidocard)和硫胂聚氰胺(Cymelarsan)等5种抗锥虫药的敏感性。结果表明,该系统能准确测定不同虫株对各种药物的敏感性,与小鼠治疗试验结果基本相符,发现了国内抗贝尼尔和苏拉灭的T.b.e虫株。