A New Procedure for Diatom Extraction in the Diagnosis of Drowning

A simple and economical procedure for the destruction of human organic material for the diatom examination is presented. The Author has tested a minimal amount of H2SO4 diluted solution to detect diatoms in several tissues from human corpses under crime investigation, immersed in the sea and river water. The method was compared with a traditional method that includes digestion with a large amount of strong mixture of sulphuric and nitric acid (90%). The new procedure showed that all siliceous frustules of sea and river diatoms are more resistant to the H2SO4 diluted treatment and are still recognizable after digestion, and observation under the micrscope is better than the other procedure. Moreover, the microscopical observation of amoeboid protozoa (radiolarians) was also possible

Fatal injection of ranitidine: a case report

ABSTRACT: INTRODUCTION: Ranitidine hydrochloride (Zantac(R)), a histamine-2-receptor antagonist, is a widely used medication with an excellent safety record. Anaphylactic reaction to ranitidine is an extremely rare event and a related death has never been described in the literature. CASE PRESENTATION: We present the clinical history, histological and toxicological data of a 51-year-old man with negative anamnesis for allergic events, who died suddenly after the intravenous administration of one phial of Zantac(R) 50 mg prescribed as a routine post-surgical prophylaxis for stress ulcer. CONCLUSION: Although the incidence of anaphylactic reactions related to ranitidine is low, caution needs to be exercised on administration of this drug. In addition, further study is needed to define strategies for the prevention of adverse drug reactions in hospitalized patients

The sweat matrix: a new perspective for drugs analysis

No abstarct availabl

Detection of JWH-073 and Cannabis Congeners in Hair: Application in Pediatric Patient

Abstract not availabl

Norcocaine and cocaethylene distribution patterns in hair samples from light, moderate, and heavy cocaine users

Even though hair analysis often seems to be the best choice for retrospective monitoring of cocaine intake, differentiating between incorporated cocaine and external contamination is widely debated. In this study we report results obtained in 90 hair samples from addicts. All samples were analyzed for cocaine, benzoylecgonine, norcocaine, cocaethylene, and tropococaine by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) techniques coupled with direct immersion solid-phase micro-extraction. Cocaine concentrations were stratified into three classes of usage: light (0.5-3 ng/mg), moderate (3.1-10 ng/mg) and heavy (10.1-40 ng/mg). The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration cut-off criteria for establishing active cocaine use were applied to the results. For all samples criteria were cocaine levels above 0.5 ng/mg (ranging from 1.63 to 39.29 ng/mg, mean 9.49 ng/mg), benzoylecgonine concentrations ≥ 0.05 ng/mg (ranging from 0.19 to 5.77 ng/mg, mean 1.40), and benzoylecgonine to cocaine % ratio ≥5% (from 6.43 to 26.09%). Norcocaine was present in 58.9% of samples (concentration range: 0.22-3.14 ng/mg) and was strongly predictive only of heavy cocaine use (sensitivity 100% for cocaine concentrations above 9.58 ng/mg). Twenty hair samples from moderate and heavy users tested positive for cocaethylene (concentration range: 0.22-1.98 ng/mg, mean 0.73 ng/mg). This study on hair samples with no chance of false positive cases highlights the very limited applications of testing minor cocaine metabolites for definitive proof of active cocaine consumption

Sweat testing to monitor drug exposure

It may be advantageous to use sweat, rather than blood or urine, to monitor individuals' drug exposure for the purposes of drug treatment programs, employment initiatives, and forensic investigations. Forty-eight patients receiving methadone at the Public Service for the Treatment of Drug Dependence of Perugia (Italy) were monitored for 14 days by the analysis of methadone and cocaine present in two sweat patches, each worn for 7 days. The results were compared to those from the analysis of urine samples collected at the beginning of the study and after 7 days, as well as those from the analysis of hair collected on the fourteenth day. Sweat patch analysis was positive for methadone and its metabolite EDDP in 100% of patients. Some individuals were positive for cocaine in urine, sweat, and hair while others were positive for cocaine in only one of those samples. Results suggest analysis of a sweat patch indicates an individual's drug use or drug washout for the previous week, and provides an alternative to blood or urine analyses

Acute Ibuprofen Intoxication: report on a case and review of the literature

A fatality following the ingestion of ibupofen is reported. Ibuprofen is a prototypical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) widely prescribed as an analgesic, anti-inflammatory and anti-pyretic agent. To date, there are few case reports of fatal overdose with ibuprofen, following ibuprofen self-poisoning or accidental overdose. Here we report the case of a 51-year-old man with medical history of psychiatric disease, who was brought to the ED by ambulance with a chief complaint of having taken large amounts of drugs in a suicide attempt. Multiple empty containers of medications (ibuprofen, meloxicam, celecoxib, risperidon, citalopram, ketorolac, bromazepam) were found at the scene. He died 4 hours after admission to the ED, despite vigorous supportive care. Toxicological analyses were performed using a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) technique. The estimated ibuprofen concentration in plasma was 600 mcg/ml; gastric content were 200 mcg/ml for this compound. Our report describes results of the forensic investigation and discuss the review of the literature