Drugs detection in fingerprints

Fingerprints left at a crime scene are used to connect the crime to a person who may have been present there. Fingerprints can also be used as alternative material in forensic toxicology. The detection of drugs in fingerprint samples can be used to show that an individual touching an item has consumed specific drugs. The aim of this study was to check the usefulness of fingerprints in drug analyses and detection of some analytes in this material. Fingerprint samples were collected on glass slides from a volunteer who consumed separately tablets containing pseudoephedrine, codeine, dextromethorphan, and used lidocaine spray. Moreover, fingerprints of individuals receiving sertraline, hydroxyzine and trazodone as part of their long-term treatment were analysed. The detection of drugs was conducted using the liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) technique. After administration of single doses of drugs, they were detected up to 36 h (pseudoephedrine), 24 h (codeine), and less than 6 h (dextromethorphan and lidocaine) with maximum concentrations observed at 1-4 h. In fingerprints of a person who has finished treatment with hydroxyzine and sertraline it was possible to detect these drugs even 20 days after last drug administration. Cetirizine (hydroxyzine metabolite) and mCPP (trazodone metabolite) were determined in fingerprints of individuals under long-term treatment. This work has demonstrated that forensic toxicology can use fingerprints as alternative material. Drugs can be detected in fingerprints even after their single doses. Parent compounds predominate over metabolites in the fingerprints. The detection window depends on the type of drug and duration of the treatment.

New Synthetic Cannabinoid ADB-BUTINACA-Related Death of a Police Dog

The popularity of synthetic cannabinoids puts police sniffer dogs at risk of accidental introduction of such substances into the body. The extreme efficacy and potency of many new synthetic cannabinoids are associated with a high risk of serious poisonings and even deaths. The paper presents the toxicological findings in an intoxication of a police dog, in which a new synthetic cannabinoid ADB-BUTINACA was detected and quantified in postmortem materials. The screening analyses were performed by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS) and liquid chromatography--quadrupole/time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-QTOF-MS). LC-MS-MS was also used for quantitative analyses, while LC-QTOF-MS for metabolite identification. Due to unusual matrices, the standard addition method was used for the quantitative determination of ADB-BUTINACA. The determined concentrations of ADB-BUTINACA in blood, lung, stomach, liver and kidney were 8.1 ng/mL, 6.4 ng/g, 1.5 ng/g, 1.8 ng/g and 0.4 ng/g, respectively. Apart from ADB-BUTINACA, the monohydroxylated metabolites and the dihydrodiol metabolite were detected and identified in all analyzed materials, and moreover the product of N-debutylation was found in blood and liver. The described case presents the identification and quantitation of a new synthetic cannabinoid ADB-BUTINACA in postmortem dog specimens. Although the cause of death was acute gastric dilatation, it cannot be ruled out that this process was the result of synthetic cannabinoid inhalation. Due to dogs' sensitivity to cannabinoids, ADB-BUTINACA poisoning cannot be excluded either. The described case suggests that ADB-BUTINACA elicits serious adverse effects in dogs. The article also indicates the dangers to which police dogs coming into contact with extremely potent drugs may be exposed.

Fatal intoxication with new synthetic cannabinoids 5F-MDMB-PICA and 4F-MDMB-BINACA-parent compounds and metabolite identification in blood, urine and cerebrospinal fluid

Synthetic cannabinoids (SCs) remain one of the largest groups of new psychoactive substances. Recently, new synthetic cannabinoids 5F-MDMB-PICA and 4F-MDMB-BINACA are increasing in popularity. A 33-year-old man lost consciousness after smoking an unknown substance. A glass pipe and two lumps of substance that turned out to contain 5F-MDMB-PICA and 4F-MDMB-BINACA were found at the scene. Blood, urine and cerebrospinal fluid were collected during the examination of the body. The synthetic cannabinoids were isolated from autopsy materials by precipitation with acetonitrile and extraction with ethyl acetate. The screening and quantitative analyses were performed by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The liquid chromatography-quadrupole/time of flight mass spectrometry (LC-Q/TOF) technique was used for metabolite identification. 5F-MDMB-PICA was detected and quantified in all analysed materials, whereas 4F-MDMB-BINACA was found only in cerebrospinal fluid. The determined concentrations of 5F-MDMB-PICA were 0.9 (blood), 0.1 (urine) and 3.2 ng/mL (cerebrospinal fluid). The concentration of 4F-MDMB-BINACA in cerebrospinal fluid was 0.1 ng/mL. The main metabolites of both compounds (hydrolysis and oxidative defluorination) were found in all analysed body fluids. Cerebrospinal fluid may be important alternative material in autopsy cases. Rapid elimination of 5F-MDMB-PICA and 4F-MDMB-BINACA compounds also means that the metabolite analysis can be crucial for the investigation. Laboratories must be made aware of their presence and incorporate these SCs and their metabolites into workflows for detection and confirmation. Ester hydrolysis and oxidative defluorination products can be found in blood, urine and cerebrospinal fluid making them useful biomarkers of intake.

Münchausen Syndrome as an Unusual Cause of Pseudo-resistant Hypertension: A Case Report

Münchausen syndrome can be characterized by simulated illness, pathological lying and wandering from place to place (the patient typically presents to numerous hospitals). Individuals with elevated blood pressure due to non-adherence to medication have the so-called pseudo-resistant hypertension.

A 45-year-old woman was admitted to hospital on an emergency basis because of a hypertensive crisis. Despite combination antihypertensive treatment, normalization of blood pressure was not achieved and a device to produce a therapeutic arteriovenous fi stula was implanted. Aft er the procedure, a signifi cant increase in pulmonary artery pressure was observed and closure of the fistula was performed by implantation of the stent graft . The suspicion was raised that the patient had not been taking her prescribed medications. Therefore, blood samples were taken and the serum was analyzed for presence of the prescribed drugs (atorvastatin, bisoprolol, chlorthalidone, clonidine, doxazosin, furosemide, nitrendipine, oxazepam and valsartan). The results confirmed suspected failure of the patient to take the prescribed medications.

Münchausen syndrome is usually first suspected when inexplicable laboratory test results are noted. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of Münchausen syndrome with pseudo-resistant hypertension leading to the implantation of a device to produce a therapeutic arteriovenous fi stula.

3-Methylmethcathinone--Interpretation of Blood Concentrations Based on Analysis of 95 Cases

3-Methylmethcathinone (3-MMC) has been one of the most popular new psychoactive substances (NPS) in Poland in recent years. 3-MMC was found in blood in 95 cases sent to the Institute of Forensic Research (IFR) during the two and a half year period, from 2013 to half of 2015. 3-MMC was determined in 13 and 48 cases in 2013 and 2014 year-round casework, respectively, while only in the first half of 2015 year it was present in 34 cases. In most cases, 3-MMC was detected together with other novel psychoactive substances and conventional drugs. Blood analyses for 3-MMC were carried out using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS). The concentrations of 3-MMC in all 95 cases were in the range from traces (<1 ng/mL) up to 1.6 µg/mL (mean concentration 51.3 ng/mL, median 18.5 ng/mL). Concentration ranges in particular types of cases were respectively: DUID cases: 1-171 ng/mL; traffic accidents: <1-29 ng/mL; drug possession: 2-408 ng/mL; intoxication: <1-1600 ng/mL and other: <1-61 ng/mL. The parameters of the developed method such as the LOD (0.02 ng/mL) and LOQ (1 ng/mL) demonstrate that the method is well suited for the analysis of blood samples for 3-MMC and covers the range of typical blood concentrations.

Assessment of adherence to treatment in patients with resistant hypertension using toxicological serum analysis. A subgroup evaluation of the RESIST-POL study

INTRODUCTION

Nonadherence to antihypertensive therapy is one of the main causes of resistant hypertension.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of our study was to evaluate adherence to therapy in patients with resistant hypertension by determining serum antihypertensive drug levels with the use of liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The study included 36 patients with primary resistant hypertension selected from the RESIST-POL study (23 men and 13 women; mean age, 52.5 ±9.1 years; range, 22-67 years; mean number of antihypertensive drugs, 5.3 ±1.4), who met all 3 inclusion criteria: use of ≥4 antihypertensive drugs; average daytime ambulatory systolic blood pressure ≥140 mmHg; one of the clinical features suggesting nonadherence. All patients had their serum drug levels assessed using LC-MS/MS. Patients in whom the serum level of at least 1 drug was below the limit of quantification for the method used were regarded as nonadherent.

RESULTS

Of all study patients, nonadherence was observed in 31 patients (86.1%), and none of the prescribed drugs was detected (complete nonadherence) in 5 patients (13.9%). In 26 patients (72.2%), at least 1 of the prescribed drugs could not be detected (partial nonadherence).

CONCLUSIONS

In our study, we documented a surprisingly low adherence to antihypertensive treatment in patients with resistant hypertension. Our results suggest that, particularly in those patients, the analysis of serum antihypertensive drug levels using LC-MS/MS might allow to avoid a comprehensive and costly diagnostic work-up including biochemical and imaging studies.

Analysis of MDPV in blood--determination and interpretation

3,4-Methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) is a cathinone derivative. It has recently been classified as a controlled substance in many countries. This substance is a stimulant that can be snorted, smoked or taken orally. MDPV has been determined in biological material from four cases sent to the Institute of Forensic Research in 2011. In the first case, a passenger car crashed into a truck; the driver of the vehicle suffered severe injuries, resulting in his death. In the second case, biological material was obtained from the decedent male individual, who did not wake up after a party. In the two cases, the material was secured on suspicion of the possession of narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances, in which the suspects admitted to using "legal highs." The MDPV blood concentrations of the deceased driver and deceased man were 38 and 17 ng/mL, respectively. In the two other cases, the determined concentrations were 306 and 124 ng/mL. However, MDPV was not the sole substance detected in these cases: in each, other drugs were also determined. Analyses of blood were conducted using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

Analysis of 4-MEC in biological and non-biological material--three case reports

4-Methylethcathinone (4-MEC) is a designer drug that is structurally similar to mephedrone. This substance was identified in many drug seizures analyzed in the Institute of Forensic Research (IFR). This paper describes three of the first cases in which both powders and biological material were secured at the same time and delivered to the IFR for toxicological analysis. The first case concerned a man who died in a car crash. The second case describes a death associated with multiple-drug intake, including 4-MEC. In this case, however, the death was the result of an overdose of para-methoxyamphetamine (PMA). In the third case, the man was arrested for possession of illicit drugs. Analysis of powders was carried out using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and high pressure liquid chromatography with diode array detection (HPLC-DAD). The purity of 4-MEC found in powder samples was 51% and 78%. Analyses of biological material were carried out using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). 4-MEC was found in blood samples at concentrations of 46, 56 and 152 ng/mL.

Fatal mephedrone intoxication--a case report

A death caused by a new designer drug, 4-methylmethcathinone (mephedrone), is reported. Eight small plastic bags containing white powder were found in the jacket of a young dead male. Spot tests conducted by the police officer indicated the presence of 4-bromo-2,5-dimethoxyphenethylamine (2C-B) in the powders. Laboratory routine screening analyses of blood and vitreous humor did not reveal any positive results; therefore, 2C-B was excluded. Analysis of powders was conducted using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and high-pressure liquid chromatography with diode array detection. The purity of mephedrone found in all powder samples was in the range of 80.4-87.3%. In connection with these findings, blood and vitreous humor samples were analyzed for mephedrone. Analyses were conducted using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Mephedrone was found in blood and vitreous humor at the concentrations of 5.5 and 7.1 µg/mL, respectively, revealing that this was a fatal mephedrone intoxication.

Photochromism of phenoxynaphthacenequinones: diabatic or adiabatic phenyl group transfer?

The photochromic reactions of 6-phenyloxy-5,12-naphthacenequinone (1) and of the 6,11-diphenyloxy derivative 2 were investigated by subpicosecond pump-probe, photoacoustic, and emission spectroscopies, and by nanosecond laser flash photolysis (LFP). The transformation of the trans-quinones 1 and 2 to their ana-isomers proceeds via short-lived triplet states of 1 and 2 (tau ca. 2 ns) and spiro-bridged biradical intermediates (ca. 6 ns). The long-lived (micros) ana-triplets that are observed by LFP of 1 and 2 are formed (predominantly) by reexcitation of the biradicals and ana-quinones, which appear during the laser pulse. The reverse reaction, ana-->trans, proceeds exclusively from the lowest pi,pi* singlet state of the ana-quinones.