Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to A Tracqui.
A fatality involving amitriptyline is described. The drug and its metabolite nortriptyline were separately quantified in various post-mortem samples, including hair. Results are discussed in the light of the existing literature.
Capillary gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry was employed to quantify codeine in biological fluids and tissues in a death attributed to oral codeine ingestion. The blood concentration of codeine was 22.1 mg/l. Results are discussed in the light of the existing literature.
A high-performance liquid chromatographic assay has been developed for the determination of nizatidine, a new histamine H2-receptor antagonist, and two of its main metabolites, N-desmethylnizatidine and nizatidine sulphoxide. Drugs were extracted with chloroform-2-propanol (90:10, v/v) from alkalinized samples of serum, using ranitidine as an internal standard. After evaporation of the extraction solvent, the residue was removed and analysed on a LiChrosorb Si60 5-microns column with a mobile phase of acetonitrile-methanol-water-ammonia solution (1000:200:20:5, v/v). The compounds were detected at 320 nm. The lower detection limits were 6-18 ng/ml at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3. This method is simple and specific, and the single-step extraction makes it rapid. It is the first high-performance liquid chromatographic assay to be described for the determination of nizatidine metabolites.
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Toxicological analyses on a putrefied cadaver are sometimes difficult to perform because of the absence of blood and urine. In this study, fly larvae, being living material, are proposed as a new medium of investigation in forensic toxicology. Bromazepam and levomepromazine were identified and assayed in the remains of cerebral tissue, in the clavicle of a putrefied cadaver, and in the fly larvae found on and in the corpse.
The tissue distribution of dextromoramide was studied in rats after the intraperitoneal injection of 0.2 mg/kg of the drug. The pattern of distribution was similar at 15, 30, 60 and 90 min, with the highest concentrations being found in the liver and the myocardium, while other organs were not able to concentrate dextromoramide.
A case of bisoprolol self-poisoning resulting in full recovery of the patient is described. The peak plasma level of bisoprolol was 541 ng ml-1. Sinus bradycardia was the only symptom observed, suggesting that cardioselectivity and absence of membrane stabilizing activity contribute to reduce the severity of beta-blocker intoxication.
A case of fatal self-poisoning with amitriptyline is reported. Both the drug and its metabolite nortriptyline were quantified in several post-mortem tissues and fluids, including vitreous humor. Results are discussed in the light of the existing literature.
This paper describes a procedure for the quantitative determination of alfentanil, dextromoramide, fentanyl, methadone, pentazocine, pethidine, phenoperidine and phencyclidine in human plasma. Some drug metabolites were included in the study. The procedure involves a simple alkaline extraction technique and capillary gas chromatography separation followed by a nitrogen-selective detection. Concentrations as low as 10 micrograms/l can be routinely evaluated, making this method suitable for use in overdose drug screening, therapeutic drug monitoring and pharmacokinetic studies.
Toxicological analyses on a putrefied cadaver are sometimes difficult to achieve because of the absence of blood and urine. In this study, maggots, living material, are proposed as a new medium of investigation in forensic medicine. Five drugs (triazolam, oxazepam, phenobarbital, alimemazine, and clomipramine) were identified and assayed in some tissues of a putrefied cadaver and in the maggots found on and in the body.
A method is presented for the simultaneous identification and quantification of several CNS stimulants, including amphetamine in plasma and urine by GC/FID using mephentermine as an internal standard. No derivation is necessary and after a single alkaline extraction, GC analysis for the 11 compounds tested is achieved in 23 min. The lower limit of detectability was found to be 4 ng/ml for amphetamine in plasma. This method is sensitive, reproducible, selective and applicable in forensic and clinical toxicological analyses. Toxicological findings, after a fatality involving phendimetrazine are presented as an application of the procedure.
An assay using high-performance liquid chromatography has been developed for the determination of bromazepam in plasma. After a single-step extraction from basified samples with dichloromethane, using decarboxyloflazepate as an internal standard, samples were analysed using a reversed-phase Nova Pak 5-microns column with a mobile phase of methanol - phosphate buffer (60 + 40) adjusted to pH 7.6. The drugs were detected at 239 nm and the limit of detection was found to be 3 micrograms l-1 for bromazepam. The method is simple, rapid and sensitive and permits bromazepam levels in clinical and pharmacokinetic studies to be monitored.
A fatal case involving the suicidal ingestion of secobarbital, nitrazepam, and codeine is presented. The drugs were quantified using gas chromatography for codeine and high-performance liquid chromatography for the two other drugs. The blood concentrations of secobarbital, nitrazepam, and codeine were found to be 11.48, 1.72, and 0.036 microgram/ml, respectively. Results are discussed in the light of the existing literature.
A death involving dextromoramide injection is presented. The drug was analyzed in whole blood, bile, stomach contents, kidney, brain and liver. The whole blood concentration was 1526 ng/ml. The results are compared with the existing literature.
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A case of suicidal overdose from the ingestion of Palpipax (meprobamate and sparteine) is presented. The drugs were quantified in biological fluids and tissues using gas chromatography. The blood concentrations of meprobamate and sparteine were found to be 88.2 and 40.4 micrograms/ml, respectively. Results are discussed in the light of the existing literature.
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A method for the identification and quantification of dextromoramide in plasma by GC/NPD is presented. The procedure employs alfentanil as the internal standard and requires no derivatization. After a single-step extraction, analysis is performed on a 3% OV-17 Chromosorb Q glass column. The lower limit of detectability was found to be 2 ng/ml in plasma.