Driving under the influence of an intoxicant in Ireland.

The number of specimens analysed by the MBRS has been increasing for both alcohol and drugs. Blood and urine specimens are analysed for the concentration of alcohol using Headspace Gas Chromatography. Specimens testing positive were forwarded to the State Laboratory for confirmatory analysis by either GC/MS or LC/MS. In 2000, 93 per cent of blood specimens, 91 per cent of urine specimens and 82 per cent of breath specimens were over the limit. In the same year, 57 per cent of blood specimens, 66 per cent of urine specimens and 33 per cent of breath specimens were over twice the limit. Of the 78 specimens tested for the presence of a drug or drugs, 37 were blood specimens and 41 urine specimens. Of these, 34 blood specimens and 37 urine specimens were found to be positive, while seven specimens were negative for the drug or drug classes tested (three blood and four urine specimens). There were 23 specimens found positive for one drug class and 48 for more than one drug.The number of requests for the presence of drugs in RTA blood and urine specimens is increasing annually and the high percentage of positives found in the specimens tested indicates the need for such analyses. The results showed excellent agreement for drug detection in the blood specimens analysed by the different methods, except for the cannabinoids. The number of specimens in this study is small and care must be exercised in interpreting the results

Purinergic signalling and immune cells

This review article provides a historical perspective on the role of purinergic signalling in the regulation of various subsets of immune cells from early discoveries to current understanding. It is now recognised that adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) and other nucleotides are released from cells following stress or injury. They can act on virtually all subsets of immune cells through a spectrum of P2X ligand-gated ion channels and G protein-coupled P2Y receptors. Furthermore, ATP is rapidly degraded into adenosine by ectonucleotidases such as CD39 and CD73, and adenosine exerts additional regulatory effects through its own receptors. The resulting effect ranges from stimulation to tolerance depending on the amount and time courses of nucleotides released, and the balance between ATP and adenosine. This review identifies the various receptors involved in the different subsets of immune cells and their effects on the function of these cells

Pathways of SME Internationalization: a bibliometric and systematic review

Business is dynamic and rapidly changing. Global markets were previously the playing field of multinational corporations (MNCs), while small and medium enterprises (SMEs) were local; however, the removal of imposed barriers, and recent technological advances in manufacturing, transportation and communications have indorsed SMEs and international entrepreneurs (IE) global access. SMEs and IEs are increasingly fueling economic growth and innovation and these trends are presenting both opportunities and challenges to both MNCs and SMEs in the global arena. This review systematically examines comparative SME and IE research, analyzing (after fine tuning) 762 articles published in leading journals from 1992 to September 2018. Our bibliometric and systematic review classifies SME and IE research findings into three echelons: (i) subjects; (ii) theories; and (iii) methods

Drugs driving in Ireland: a preliminary study of the prevalence of driving under the influence of drugs on Irish roads.

Driving under the influence of alcohol on Irish roads is well publicised. In 1999, of the 8,476 sampler submitted by the Gardai to the Medical Bureau of Road safety for alcohol analysis, 92 per cent were over the legal alcohol limit. The results presented in this paper indicate that there has been a significant increase in driving under the influence of drugs in Irish roads since 1987, when 14.6 per cent of samples (under the legal alcohol limit) tested were found positive for drugs. This preliminary study has found that the percentage has risen to approximately 37 per cent. The extensive survey being carried out in 2000/2001 will identify true trends in the types of drugs being taken, their combination with alcohol, and the extent of polydrug use. This work also highlights the importance- of confirmatory analysis in the interpretation of drug screening results

Driving under the influence of drugs in Ireland: results of a nationwide survey 2000-2001.

This survey examines the level of driving under the influence of drugs in Ireland, with 2000 specimens selected for drug analysis, with 1000 for over the limit alcohol levels, and 1000 under the alcohol limit (or no alcohol present at all). It shows that there is a significant number of people driving under the influence of drugs, with a strong trend towards increasing drug positivity with decreasing level of alcohol. 68% of tested drivers with essentially zero levels of alcohol were positive for one or more drugs. Many drivers also showed polydrug use, and among those who tested positive for drugs, 60% tested positive for cannabinoids. The report advises Gardai that in the event of a nil or low alcohol reading being obtained, driver impairment may be caused by the presence of drugs

Introduction to evidential breath testing in Ireland.

Under section 6 of the 1994 Road Traffic Act, the Medical Bureau of Road Safely (the Bureau) has a statutory duty to arrange for the approval, supply and testing of apparatus for determining the concentration of alcohol in the breath. As part of the Government Strategy for Road Safety 1998-2002, the Bureau evaluated different types of instruments for this purpose from June 1999 to September 1999. The four instruments tested by the Bureau in the laboratory comply with the Bureau requirements and are suitable for evidential breath alcohol testing. On-going field tests show that these approved instruments continue to operate within their permitted tolerances and are under statistical control

Drinking, drugs and driving in Ireland: more evidence for action.

Objective: To examine the prevalence of drug positivity among drivers suspected of driving under the influence of an intoxicant, and consequently apprehended by the police in Ireland. Design: 2000 specimens were selected for drug analysis, 1000 with results under the limit for alcohol and 1000 over the limit. The limit for alcohol is 80 mg/100 ml in blood and 107 mg/100 ml in urine. Seven drugs/drug classes were examined; amphetamines, methamphetamines, benzodiazapines, cannabinoids, cocaine, opiates and methadone. Results: 331 (33.1%) of the drivers under the legal limit for alcohol tested positive for one or more of the relevant drugs, and the corresponding figures of drivers over the limit was 142 (14.2%; p200 mg/100 ml. Being under the limit for alcohol, stopped in a city area, stopped between 6 am and 4 pm, or 4 pm and 9 pm, and being of a younger age were each independently associated with drug positivity. Conclusions: There are immediate implications for the evidential breath alcohol program and for checkpoints; in the event of a nil or low alcohol reading being obtained, a separate blood or urine specimen should be sought for analysis, which is currently non-routine