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Biomedical subjects

I Sunshine

Publications and source records attributed to I Sunshine.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1989

A comparison of post-mortem ethanol levels obtained from blood and subdural specimens.

Post-mortem subdural ethanol levels have been proposed as a useful test in certain forensic cases involving head trauma, particularly when the time interval from injury to death may have caused a lowering of the blood ethanol concentration to insignificant or undetectable levels. This study of 75 autopsied persons from whom both blood and subdural ethanol levels were obtained, shows the usefulness of the subdural ethanol level, especially where there is a prolonged or unknown post-traumatic time interval. Use of such a test is recommended in these situations.

Autopsy↗
PubMed1988

Preliminary tests for drugs of abuse.

A drug-testing program must be designed by the client in consultation with the laboratory. The test procedures selected for the analytes in question depend on the defined "cutoff" concentrations, equipment available, and turnaround time. Preliminary tests are needed to separate the large number of negatives from presumptive positives, which then have to be confirmed. Immunoassays done with random-access analyzers are the procedures of choice. In clinical situations, thin-layer chromatographic procedures may be favored. The attributes and liabilities of the various procedures are presented as guides to the selection of a suitable procedure for a particular client.

Chromatography↗
PubMed1986

Role of the toxicology laboratory in suspected ingestions.

The toxicology laboratory can fill an important role in improving patient care. Whether the service provided by the laboratory is specifically in support of a pediatric population or devoted more to the entire hospital population, the considerations involved in its configuration are the same. These considerations involve establishment of an open dialogue between the laboratory and clinical staff, an integrated and comprehensive analytic approach, and provision of reliable laboratory data in a timely fashion.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Homogeneous enzyme immunoassay of acetaminophen in serum.

A new commercially available homogeneous enzyme immunoassay, using the glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) catalyzed conversion of NAD to NADH, has been evaluated and applied to the determination of acetaminophen in serum. Replicate analysis of serum control samples over the range of 10-200 micrograms/mL demonstrated a within-assay coefficient of variation of less than or equal to 4.6% and a between-assay coefficient of variation of less than or equal to 5.8%. Regression analysis of two separate groups of 98 and 47 serum samples by this technic, using different reagent lots, and a HPLC reference method gave equations of y = 0.981x - 0.941 (r = 0.984) and y = 1.06x - 2.21 (r = 0.994), respectively. No interference due to hemolysis or turbidity was noted. Evaluation of samples containing 35 commonly prescribed or over the counter medications demonstrated no significant cross-reactivity. Prepared reagents were stable over a period of at least 2 months when stored at 4 degrees C. Correlations between two reagent lots were excellent (r = 0.998). A single sample can be analyzed expeditiously. The result may help evaluate a potential acetaminophen poisoning. Another way to assess this toxicity, calculation of the elimination half-life, has limitations that depend on the precision of the analysis.

Acetaminophen↗
PubMed1984

Acute ethylene glycol poisoning.

Ethylene glycol, a major constituent of antifreeze, is metabolized by alcohol dehydrogenase to glycoaldehyde, glycolate, glyoxylate, and oxalate. The metabolites of ethylene glycol cause severe metabolic acidosis and central nervous system, pulmonary, and renal damage. Ethanol competes with ethylene glycol as an alternate substrate of alcohol dehydrogenase. Two cases of ethylene glycol poisoning associated with serum concentrations of 59 and 150 mg/dl are reported. One patient was protected from the toxic effects of the metabolites because of concomitant ethanol ingestion. In patients with unexplained anion and osmol gaps, early diagnosis and therapy with ethanol and hemodialysis help prevent the toxic manifestations of ethylene glycol poisoning.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1983

Dr. Alexander O. Gettler's documentation of a radiation hazard.

An example of the forensic scientist's role in the confirmation and subsequent eradication of a most lethal occupational hazard is discussed. the active participation of Dr. Gettler in the detection of radioactive substances in the watch dial industry lead to the removal of this hazard and a healthier work place.

Female↗
PubMed1982

Clinical application and evaluation of the Emit-stTM drug detection system.

A critical evaluation of a newly devised homogeneous assay system, Emit-stTM, for ethanol, opiates, barbiturates and benzodiazepines indicates they are class specific, simple to perform, completed quickly and more than sensitive enough to detect concentrations of the analytes at levels compatible with overdoses. By using this technic clinical diagnoses of acute poisonings can be improved.

Anti-Anxiety Agents↗
PubMed1979

High pressure liquid chromatography for simultaneous analysis of anticonvulsants: comparison with EMIT system.

We present a new high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for the simultaneous analysis of primidone, phenobarbital, phenytoin, and carbamazepine in serum. The chromatographic separation is carried out using an Altex model 110-A pump, a 250 times 4.6 mm column containing 5 mum Spherisorb ODS particles and a variable wavelength ultraviolet detector set at 197 nm. The mobile phase is a mixture of acetonitrile, distilled water, and 1.75 M phosphoric acid (27:72.8:0.2). The flow rate is 1.5 ml/min, and the analysis time is 17 min. A 200 mul aliquot of serum is buffered at pH 5 and extracted with dichloromethane. The extract is evaporated to dryness and dissolved in methanol for chromatographic analysis. Cyclopal is used as the internal standard and quantification is achieved using peak height ratios. This HPLC method is evaluated for precision and accuracy with reference to the EMIT system. The least-squares regression analysis of comparison data for the drugs shows a favorable correlation. Also, a paired t-test indicates no significant difference for the HPLC and EMIT values for primidone, phenobarbital, phenytoin, and carbamazepine. From this study we conclude that this HPLC method could be successfully used for the simultaneous therapeutic monitoring of the four anticonvulsants.

Anticonvulsants↗
PubMed1979

Toxicological determination of benzodiazepines in serum: methods and concentrations associated with high-dose intravenous therapy with diazepam.

This paper describes a rapid and simple procedure for the determination of benzodiazepines in biological samples. Five common benzodiazepines (diazepam, oxazepam, clorazepate, flurazepam, and chlordiazepoxide) and/or their major metabolites are extracted from a buffered serum sample at pH 9.2 by a mixture of toluene, hexane, and isoamyl alcohol. The phases are separated by centrifugation, and a small aliquot of the organic layer is injected into a gas chromatograph equipped with an electron-capture detector. The drugs are identified and quantitated by comparison with standards simultaneously processed similarly. A sample can be analyzed in about 30 min. The technique is illustrated by its application to sequential samples from a patient being treated for delirium tremens with large intravenous doses of diazepam. Serum diazepam, N-desmethyldiazepam, and oxazepam concentrations several times higher than usually encountered therapeutically were observed.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

Distribution of thioridazine and its metabolites in human tissues and fluids obtained postmortem.

Thioridazine and metabolites were measured in brain, liver, and kidney specimens, obtained postmortem from two subjects whose deaths were related to acute intoxication with thioridazine, by gas-liquid chromatography. Although the absolute concentration measured for thioridazine and metabolites differed in the two cases, the metabolic pattern for each tissue, expressed in terms of the percentage of total drug in each tissue, was quite similar. The brain, liver, and kidney metabolic patterns, however, are in sharp contrast to the plasma metabolite patterns observed for subjects on a therapeutic regimen of thioridazine. As this example demonstrates, postmortem specimens are a valuable (but seldom used) source of human pharmacological data.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1977

Solvent suppression of the decomposition of phenobarbital during on-column methylation with trimethylanilinium hydroxide.

Gas-liquid chromatographic (GLC) analysis of phenobarbital by on-column methylation with trimethylanilinium hydroxide gives rise to a major decomposition product, N-methyl-2-phenylbutyramide, in addition to the methylated barbiturate, N,N'-dimethylphenobarbital. This reaction occurs nearly exclusively in the solution phase in the injection port of the gas chromatography. A mechanism for the decomposition reaction consistent with the available information is presented. This decomposition is shown to be inhibited by certain solvents and this effect forms the basis of a new analytical technique for the simultaneous GLC analysis of phenobarbital, primidone, and diphenylhydantoin.

Aniline Compounds↗
PubMed1977

Carboxyhemoglobin concentrations in flash fire victims: report of six simultaneous fire fatalities without elevated carboxyhemoglobin.

Eight people died in a traffic accident involving a tractor-trailer and ten autos. The accident caused a series of flash fires from ruptured gas tanks. Complete autopsies established that six of the victims died exclusively from thermal trauma; none showed an elevated blood carboxyhemoglobin concentration. Flash fire victims are exceptions to the axiom that elevation of blood carboxyhemoglobin is a sine qua non for concluding that a decedent recovered from the scene of a conflagration was alive in the fire.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1976

Relative merits of some methods for amphetamine assay in biological fluids.

We describe principles and details that we use for amphetamine determination in blood and urine by photometric, thin-layer chromatographic, gas-chromatographic, and immunologic (EMIT and radioimmunoassay) procedures. Results, interferences, stabilities, and economic considerations are intercompared and recommendations are made.

Amphetamine↗