A case of fatal intoxication from metformin

A case of fatal intoxication from metformin is presented. The decedent was an obese 58-year-old-woman with type II diabetes, in whom severe lactic acidosis secondary to metformin accumulation was precipitated by acute renal failure. She had been on metformin 500 mg twice a day. Postmortem blood was deproteinated with acetonitrile, washed with dichloromethane, and the resulting supernatant injected into high-performance liquid chromatography system. Separation was performed on a analytical 125 x 4 mm i.d. RP-8 column. The wavelength was set at 235 nm. The mobile phase was acetonitrile (40%), sodium lauryl sulfate, and sodium dihydrogen phosphate adjusted to pH 5.1 (60%) at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. The concentration of metformin in postmortem blood was 77.3 microg/mL. The qualitative result was also confirmed by LC/APCI/MS/MS analysis.     

Identification of synthetic cannabinoids in herbal incense blends in the United States

Abstract: Synthetic cannabinoid agonists are chemically diverse with multiple analogs gaining popularity as drugs of abuse. We report on the use of thin layer chromatography, gas chromatography mass spectrometry, high‐performance liquid chromatography, and liquid chromatography time of flight mass spectrometry for the identification and quantitation of these pharmacologically active chemicals in street drug dosage forms. Using these approaches, we have identified the synthetic cannabinoids JWH‐018, JWH‐019, JWH‐073, JWH‐081, JWH‐200, JWH‐210, JWH‐250, CP47,497 (C=8) (cannabicyclohexanol), RCS‐4, RCS‐8, AM‐2201, and AM‐694 in various commercially available products. Other noncannabinoid drugs including mitragynine have also been detected. Typical concentrations of drug in the materials are in the range 5–20 mg/g, or 0.5–2% by weight for each compound, although many products contained more than one drug.     

A New Kind of Molotov? Gasoline–Pool Chlorinator Mixtures*

This paper investigates the reaction between pool chlorinators and gasoline. In particular, the propensity for self-ignition and the resulting chemical products were studied. An organic pool chlorinator was combined with gasoline in varying proportions in an attempt to form a hypergolic mixture. None of the combinations resulted in self-ignition, but larger quantities of chlorinator produced vigorous light-colored smoke and a solid mass containing isocyanuric acid and copper chloride. Additionally, the chlorinating abilities of different commercially available pool chlorinators were explored. When Ca(ClO)(2) and sodium dichloro-s-triazinetrione-based chlorinators were used, the presence of gasoline was still visible after 10 days, despite limited chlorination. The trichloro-s-triazinetrione-based chlorinator, however, caused efficient chlorination of the C(2)- and C(3)-alkylbenzenes, making gasoline no longer identifiable.     

Detection of amitriptyline, citalopram, and metabolites in porcine bones following extended outdoor decomposition

Skeletal remains of a domestic pig were assessed for relative distribution of amitriptyline, citalopram, and metabolites. Following acute exposure and outdoor decomposition for 2 years, drugs and metabolites were analyzed in 13 different bones. Bones were pulverized following a simple wash procedure, and drugs were extracted by passive incubation in methanol, followed by solid-phase extraction. Samples were analyzed by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) and confirmed with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The Kruskall-Wallis test showed that bone type was a main effect with respect to drug level for all analytes, with levels varying from 33- to 166-fold. Ratios of levels of drug to that of the corresponding metabolite were less variable, varying roughly one- to eightfold. This suggests limitations in the interpretive value of drug measurements in bone and that relative levels of drug and metabolites should be further investigated in terms of forensic value.     

高效液相色谱法测定山核桃外蒲壳中4,8-二羟基-1-四氢萘酮的含量

目的 采用高效液相色谱法（high performance liquid chromatography, HPLC）测定山核桃外蒲壳中4,8-二羟基-1-四氢萘酮的含量。方法 采用HPLC,色谱柱为Shim-pack 18 (250 mm×4.6 mm,5 μm),以甲醇-水-(40∶60)为流动相,流速为0.8 ml/min,检测波长为333 nm,柱温为25 ℃。结果 4,8-二羟基-1-四氢萘酮在1.13～20.34 μg/ml范围内与峰面积呈良好线性关系,r=0.999 9,平均回收率为101.8%,相对标准偏差为1.21%(n=6)。结论 所建立的HPLC准确可靠、结果稳定、重现性好,可用于山核桃外蒲壳4,8-二羟基-1-四氢萘酮的含量测定。     

10种中药水煎剂对念珠菌的体外抑菌作用

目的 观察苦参、土槿皮、黄柏、百部、黄连、虎杖、黄芩、大黄、藿香、五倍子及其混合液体外抑制念珠菌的效果。方法 参照1997年美国国家临床实验标准化委员会M27-A方案中的酵母菌微量稀释法进行药敏试验。结果 同一种中药水煎剂及不同的单味中药水煎剂对不同的念珠菌标准菌株的最低抑菌浓度(minimum inhibitory concentration,MIC）各不相同,中药混合液对5种标准菌株的MIC最低,均≤0.031 25 g/ml。结论 不同的中药对不同的念珠菌的抑制作用各不相同,复方对念珠菌的抑制作用优于单味中药。     

天麻醒脑胶囊的质量控制

［摘要］目的 建立天麻醒脑胶囊的质量标准。方法 采用薄层色谱法对该制剂中天麻、远志、熟地黄、地龙、石菖蒲进行定性鉴别;采用高效液相色谱法对君药天麻中天麻素进行含量测定。结果 薄层色谱斑点清晰,阴性对照无干扰,专属性强;天麻素在0.107～1.070 μg（r=0.999 2）范围内与峰面积呈良好的线性关系,加样回收率为97.8%,RSD=2.8%（n=5）。结论 所建立的方法准确、重现性好,可为天麻醒脑胶囊质量控制提供实验依据。     

Performance Testing of the New AMPAC Fire Debris Bag Against Three Other Commercial Fire Debris Bags(*)

Abstract: Fire debris evidence is collected and stored in a wide range of containers, including various polymer bags. Four different polymer bags have been investigated, including the NYLON, DUO, ALU, and AMPAC bags. The latter is the successor of the Kapak Fire DebrisPAK^?. Microscopy and infrared spectroscopy were used to elucidate the composition of the bags. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry was used to investigate performance parameters such as background volatiles, leak rate, cross‐contamination, recovery, and sorption. The NYLON bag was susceptible for leakage and cross‐contamination and showed decreased recoveries. The DUO and ALU bags showed some background volatiles, sorption, and poor recoveries. The AMPAC bag performed excellent: low background, no leakage or cross‐contamination, good recoveries, and only traces of sorption. Heat sealing proved to be the best method of closure. Preliminary studies on AMPAC bags showed that polyethylene clamps are easy to use on‐site and preserve ignitable liquids adequately for a limited period of time.     

超高效液相色谱与单四极杆质谱法同时测定胃复春片中7个成分含量

目的 建立超高效液相色谱串联单四极杆质谱法同时测定胃复春片中橙皮苷、新橙皮苷、迷迭香酸、人参皂苷Re、人参皂苷Rg1、人参皂苷Rf、人参皂苷Rb1的含量。方法 使用Waters X-select HSS T3（3.0 mm×150 mm,2.5 μm）色谱柱,以乙腈-0.05%甲酸水溶液为流动相,梯度洗脱,流速0.5 mL/min,使用ESI离子源,负离子模式,选择性离子监测模式下对橙皮苷（m/z 609.13）、新橙皮苷（m/z 609.13）、迷迭香酸（m/z 359.15）、人参皂苷Re（m/z 991.47）、人参皂苷Rg1（m/z 845.49）、人参皂苷Rb1（m/z 1 107.60）、人参皂苷Rf（m/z 845.49）进行测定。结果 7个成分的分离度、线性关系良好。平均回收率为89.3%~101.2%（n=6）,RSD均小于4.0%。14批胃复春片中橙皮苷、新橙皮苷、迷迭香酸、人参皂苷Re、人参皂苷Rg1、人参皂苷Rf、人参皂苷Rb1的含量范围分别为0.15~0.22、2.50~3.02、0.27~1.05、0.18~0.26、0.16~0.21、0.06~0.08和0.35~0.57 mg。结论 该方法简单快速,重复性好,可用于胃复春片的质量控制,为后续胃复春片质量标准的提升提供参考。