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Biomedical subjects

A Tracqui

Publications and source records attributed to A Tracqui.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Amisulpride poisoning: a report on two cases.

The first two observations of human poisoning involving the recently developed neuroleptic amisulpride are described. In both cases drug determination was performed using reversed-phase HPLC coupled with diode array detection. Case 1 was a nonfatal overdosage in which the ingestion of 3.0 g amisulpride induced an attack of seizures, then light coma with agitation, hyperthermia, mydriasis, minimal extrapyramidal features, tachycardia and slight prolongation of the QT interval; the blood concentration of amisulpride was 9.63 micrograms ml-1. Case 2 was a fatality attributed to amisulpride in which the measured blood concentration was 41.70 micrograms ml-1. Our results are discussed in the light of data previously reported on the toxicity of substituted benzamides.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Systematic toxicological analysis using HPLC/DAD.

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method with diode-array detection (HPLC/DAD) for systematic toxicological analysis of human blood or plasma samples is presented. After single-step liquid/liquid extraction at pH 9.5 using chloroform/2-propanol/n-heptane (60:14:26, v/v/v), the drugs elute isocratically from a NovaPak C18 (Waters) 4-micrometers column (300 mm x 3.9 mm, i.d.) at 30 degrees C, with methanol/tetrahydrofuran/pH 2.6 phosphate buffer (65:5:30, v/v/v) as the mobile phase (flow rate 0.8 mL/min). Full UV spectra from 200 to 400 nm (resolution 1.3 nm) are recorded on-line during the 20 min chromatographic run. Solute identification may be automatically performed by comparison of analytical data (retention times and UV spectra) with references of 311 pharmaceuticals, toxicants and drugs of abuse stored in a computerized library. The method is simple, rapid, relatively inexpensive and highly specific. The previously reported applications of HPLC/DAD technology to drug screening are reviewed, and the interests and limitations of the method are discussed in the light of this literature.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗
PubMed1995

The detection of opiate drugs in nontraditional specimens (clothing): a report of ten cases.

We present a series of 10 fatalities involving opiate overdosage, in which morphine, codeine, and 6-monoacetylmorphine were identified and quantified, not only in postmortem biological samples, but also in pieces of underwear taken from the bodies. Small tissue samples (about 1 g) were cut off from several parts of the underwear, stored at ambient temperature until analysis, then extracted by agitation in a mixture of chloroform/2-propanol/n-heptane (60:14:26, v/v/v) and assayed using GC/MS in the single ion monitoring mode. Morphine, codeine and 6-monoacetylmorphine concentrations were in the range 0.02 to 9.27 micrograms/g. These results indicate that the impregnation of underwear by sweat and sebaceous secretions and/or urine provides detectable levels of the drugs excreted by these ways. Even in the absence of biological samples, assaying pieces of clothing may bring some evidence about the drug abuser status of their owner.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

French Caucasian population data for HUMTH01 and HUMFES/FPS short tandem repeat (STR) systems.

The recent technology of amplification of DNA sequences by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has already proved to be a very useful tool for the analysis of variable number of tandem repeat (VNTR) loci. Short tandem repeat (STR) loci appear as other promising PCR-based identification systems. In fact, DNA typing based on PCR amplification of STRs is very sensitive and allows to overcome major problems encountered when using the RFLP method, such as typing of very small amounts of DNA, highly degraded DNA or mixtures of DNA from more than one individual. Two STR systems, HUMTH01 (a tetranucleotide repeat (AATG) sequence located on chromosome 11) and HUMFES/FPS (a tetranucleotide repeat (ATTT) sequence located on chromosome 15) were investigated in order to determine allele and genotype frequencies for a French caucasian population sample. HUMTH01 and HUMFES/FPS alleles were amplified by the use of PCR and amplified STR sequences were analyzed on 6% Hydrolink Long Ranger gels and visualized by silver staining. The study was conducted on a sample of unrelated individuals (N approximately 190) randomly selected from the French caucasian population. The genotype distributions met Hardy-Weinberg expectations for both HUMTH01 and HUMFES/FPS STR systems. Furthermore, an additional allele, never reported before was observed at the HUMFES/FPS locus: it migrates as an allele containing 7 repeat units and corresponds to the smallest allele identified for this locus.

Alleles↗
PubMed1994

An unusual death by zipeprol overdose.

Capillary gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry was employed to quantify zipeprol in biological fluids and tissues in a death attributed to oral zipeprol ingestion. The blood concentration of zipeprol was 6.69 mg/l. Hair analysis clearly indicated chronic drug abuse, with a concentration of 33.1 ng/mg. Results are discussed in the light of the existing literature.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Lack of relationship between hair lead levels and some usual markers (blood lead levels, ZPP, urinary ALA-D) in occupationally exposed workers.

Blood and hair samples collected from 54 male workers occupationally exposed to lead were assayed for this metal by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Blood ZPP and urinary ALA-D were also determined for most subjects tested. Blood and hair lead concentrations (PbB and PbH) ranged from 100 to 770 ng/ml (10 to 77 micrograms/100 ml) (mean +/- SD: 384.6 +/- 143.4 ng/ml (38.46 +/- 14.34 micrograms/100 ml)), and from 3 to 243 ng/mg (mean +/- SD: 102.4 +/- 72.6 ng/mg), respectively. No correlation was observed between the PbH and PbB values, nor between PbH and ZPP or ALA-D values. Neither hair coloration nor subjects' age were related to PbH levels. Results are discussed in the light of the existing literature.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Medico-legal investigations of the Airbus, A320 crash upon Mount Ste-Odile, France.

The authors present the medico-legal investigations and identification after the aircrash of the Airbus A320 upon the Mount Sainte-Odile (France). The identification team comprising investigators from the gendarmerie, forensic pathologists, odontologists, and scientists of the Institute from Legal Medecine rapidly retrieved and identified 85 of the 87 victims, with 17 being identified through DNA typing, three through fingerprints and the remaining through dental records and specific physical or X-ray findings. Full autopsies were performed on all fatalities to determine patterns of injury and cause of death. Results lead us to point out the importance of a multidisciplinary team of forensic practitioners especially trained for managing medico-legal investigation in mass disaster and the ability of DNA technology to solve complex identification problems.

Accidents, Aviation↗
PubMed1993

High-performance liquid chromatographic assay with diode-array detection for toxicological screening of zopiclone, zolpidem, suriclone and alpidem in human plasma.

A high-performance liquid chromatographic assay with diode-array detection has been developed for the toxicological screening of the newly developed non-benzodiazepine hypnotics and anxiolytics zopiclone, zolpidem, suriclone and alpidem. After single-step liquid-liquid extraction of plasma at pH 9.5 using chloroform-2-propanol-n-heptane (60:14:26, v/v), the substances are separated on a Nova-Pak C18 4-microns column (300 mm x 3.9 mm, I.D.), with methanol-tetrahydrofuran-pH 2.6 phosphate buffer (65:5:30, v/v) as the mobile phase (flow-rate 0.8 ml/min). Full ultraviolet spectra from 200 to 400 nm are recorded on-line during the entire analysis and may be automatically compared to spectra stored in a library. The retention times of the four drugs are 4.05 min (zopiclone), 4.66 min (zolpidem), 6.74 min (suriclone) and 10.97 min (alpidem). The analysis is performed in 15 min. The method is simple, rapid and highly specific. It is the first assay to be described for convenient screening of cyclopyrrolones and imidazopyridines.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Pharmacological studies on meprobamate incorporation in human beard hair.

The time course of appearance of meprobamate in beard hair after single oral administration (400, 800, or 1200 mg) was monitored in 3 groups of 4 subjects by GC/MS. Meprobamate appeared in beard hair approximately 4-5 days after administration and peaked during the 7-9th day. Drug levels in beard hair appeared to be dose-related.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1993

Toxicological data in a fatality involving cyamemazine.

A fatality involving cyamemazine, a phenothiazine derivative, is presented. Cyamemazine was formally identified in postmortem blood using an HPLC-DAD screening procedure, and then quantified in some postmortem samples by means of a specific HPLC method. The blood concentration of cyamemazine was 9.8 micrograms/mL. Tissue distribution of cyamemazine is discussed in light of the existing literature.

Antipsychotic Agents↗
PubMed1993

A fatality involving two unusual compounds--zolpidem and acepromazine.

A fatality due to ingestion of zolpidem, a recently developed nonbenzodiazepine hypnotic, and acepromazine, a phenothiazine sedative used in veterinary practice, is reported. Both drugs were identified and quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detection. Zolpidem and acepromazine blood concentrations were 3.29 and 2.40 micrograms/ml, respectively. It is the first report of a death involving either of these two drugs. The results are discussed in the light of the existing literature and may suggest a reciprocal potentiation of the toxic effects of zolpidem and phenothiazines.

Acepromazine↗
PubMed1992

Determination of nalbuphine using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to photodiode-array detection and gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry.

A procedure involving capillary column gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry and a method involving liquid chromatography coupled to a diode-array detector have been developed for the analysis of nalbuphine. The extraction step is the same for both techniques and involves extraction under alkaline conditions in chloroform-2-propanol-n-heptane (50:17:33, v/v/v) with levallorphan as the internal standard. After purification by acidic extraction and back alkaline extraction, drugs are derivatized with N,O-bis-(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide with 1% trimethylchlorosilane for gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and directly injected for high-performance liquid chromatography-diode-array detection. The limits of detection are 2.0 and 25.0 ng/mg, respectively.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗
PubMed1992

Detection of drugs in human hair for clinical and forensic applications.

While hair has for sometime been analyzed for assessment of trace elements, it is only in recent years that attention has been focused on this matrix as a possible means of evaluating drug impregnation. This technique was applied to treated subjects and drug abusers for determination of drug consumation. The method involved decontamination in ethanol, solubilization in sodium hydroxide at 100 degrees C for 10 min, extraction in chloroform/isopropanol/n-heptane (50:17:33, v/v), separation on a BP-5 capillary column (GC) and detection by mass spectrometry. Hair samples were analysed for barbiturates, antidepressants, benzodiazepines, beta-blockers, nicotine, opiates, benzoylecgonine, cannabis and amphetamines.

Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry↗
PubMed1992

Accidental death caused by the absorption of 2,4-dichlorophenol through the skin.

A case involving an accidental fatality resulting from skin absorption of 2,4-dichlorophenol in a factory is presented. The compound was quantified using gas chromatography after separation on a SP-1240 DA column and detection with flame ionization. Confirmation was obtained with mass spectrometry. Blood concentration was 24.3 mg/l. Other drugs, including ethanol, were not detected.

Accidents, Occupational↗
PubMed1992

A high endrin concentration in a fatal case.

Gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry was employed to quantify endrin in biological fluids in a death attributed to endrin overdose. The blood concentration of endrin was 544.9 mg/l. Results are discussed in the light of the existing literature.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Determination of amitriptyline in the hair of psychiatric patients.

A study was conducted on 60 psychiatric patients to evaluate the reliability of a drug-exposure screening test based on gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis of hair samples for amitriptyline, and the possibility of using the hair concentrations of amitriptyline to monitor patients' therapeutic compliance. The qualitative test was found to be very reliable (sensitivity 93.3%; specificity 100%; positive and negative predictive values 100 and 93.8%) in assessing the consumer status of patients over a period of 2 months before analysis. Hair levels of amitriptyline ranged from 0 to 17.21 ng mg-1. A significant relationship (r = 0.563; P < 0.002) was found between the hair concentrations and the cumulative intake of amitriptyline over the studied period, but was not judged close enough to estimate one individual's therapeutic compliance. The results are discussed in the light of existing literature.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

A simple and rapid method for toxicological screening of 25 antidepressants in blood or urine using high performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detection.

A high performance liquid chromatographic method with diode-array detection (HPLC/DAD) for simultaneous screening of 25 antidepressants is presented. After single-step liquid-liquid extraction at pH9.5 using chloroform/2-propanol/n-heptane (60/14/26, v/v), the substances are eluted on a Novapak C18 4-microns column (300 x 3.9 mm, id), with methanol/tetrahydrofuran/pH 2.6 phosphate buffer (65/5/30, v/v) as the mobile phase (flow rate 0.8 ml/min). Full UV spectra from 200 to 400 nm are recorded on-line during the entire analysis and may be automatically compared to spectra stored in a library. The analysis is performed in 14 min. The method is simple, rapid, and highly specific.

Antidepressive Agents↗