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Trujillo Uruena M, York R, Philp M, Kuzhiumparambil U, Wei Z, Yun K, Fu S. Identification of Unique 4-Methylmethcathinone (4-MMC) Degradation Markers in Putrefied Matrices†. J Anal Toxicol 2020; 44:803-810. [PMID: 33313885 DOI: 10.1093/jat/bkaa041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2019] [Revised: 03/02/2020] [Accepted: 04/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Drug degradation as a consequence of putrefactive bacterial activity is a well-known factor that affects the identification and quantitation of certain substances of forensic interest. Current knowledge on putrefaction-mediated degradation of drugs is, however, significantly lacking. This study aimed to investigate the degradation of 4-methylmethcathinone (4-MMC or mephedrone) and to detect its degradation products in putrefied biological matrices containing 4-MMC. The bacteria species Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Proteus vulgaris were grown in brain-heart infusion broth, spiked with 4-MMC and incubated at 37°C for 24 h. Postmortem human blood and fresh porcine liver macerate were also left to putrefy in sample tubes at room temperature for 1 week. Structural elucidation was based on modern spectroscopic analyses including the use of high-resolution mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. All four putrefactive bacteria were capable of degrading 4-MMC extensively under the experimental conditions explored. Of particular interest was the discovery of a novel degradation product common to all four bacterial species, which was assigned as 2-hydroxy-1-(4-methylphenyl)propan-1-one (HMP) based on the spectroscopic data. This degradation product was detectable in both postmortem human blood and porcine liver samples. The stability of the identified degradation products, especially HMP, should be further investigated to assess their validity of serving as marker analytes for monitoring 4-MMC in postmortem toxicology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Trujillo Uruena
- Centre for Forensic Science, University of Technology Sydney, 15 Broadway, Ultimo, New South Wales 2007, Australia
| | - Rebekah York
- Centre for Forensic Science, University of Technology Sydney, 15 Broadway, Ultimo, New South Wales 2007, Australia
| | - Morgan Philp
- Centre for Forensic Science, University of Technology Sydney, 15 Broadway, Ultimo, New South Wales 2007, Australia
| | | | - Zhiwen Wei
- School of Forensic Medicine, Shanxi Medical University, 98 University Street, Yuci District, Jinzhong City 030606, Shanxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Keming Yun
- School of Forensic Medicine, Shanxi Medical University, 98 University Street, Yuci District, Jinzhong City 030606, Shanxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Shanlin Fu
- Centre for Forensic Science, University of Technology Sydney, 15 Broadway, Ultimo, New South Wales 2007, Australia.,School of Forensic Medicine, Shanxi Medical University, 98 University Street, Yuci District, Jinzhong City 030606, Shanxi, People's Republic of China
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Piperazine derivatives as dangerous abused compounds. ACTA PHARMACEUTICA (ZAGREB, CROATIA) 2020; 70:423-441. [PMID: 32412428 DOI: 10.2478/acph-2020-0035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/03/2019] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Piperazine derivatives are a group of compounds with a psychostimulant effect. They are an alternative to illegal drugs. They are being searched for recreational use due to their psychoactive and hallucinogenic effects. The high popularity of these compounds can be noticed all over the world due to easy purchase, lack of legal regulations and incorrect assessment of the safety of use. The recreational use of piperazine derivatives can often result in chronic and acute health problems and additionally with unpredictable remote effects. It is also common to take mixtures of psychoactive compounds. This hinders the correct diagnosis and treatment of patients with poisoning. The presented work is an illustration of the wide problem of piperazine derivatives abuse. The health effects and the possibility of identifying these compounds in preparations and biological material are described.
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Nowak K, Szpot P, Zawadzki M. The Stability of 4-Chloromethcathinone in Blood and Vitreous Humor. J Forensic Sci 2020; 65:1784-1790. [PMID: 32407550 DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.14454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2020] [Revised: 04/01/2020] [Accepted: 04/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
We present results of our study on the stability of 4-chloromethcathinone (4-CMC) in authentic postmortem peripheral blood and vitreous humor samples. The stability of 4-CMC was determined in postmortem blood samples (for a period of 90 days) and vitreous humor (30 days) at three different temperatures: -15°C, +4°C, and + 23°C. The analyses were carried out using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with triple-quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QqQ-MS/MS). In both materials, the lowest 4-CMC stability was demonstrated at room temperature. The blood samples stored in a freezer (-15°C) showed stability for the entire study period (90 days), while in the case of the vitreous humor sample stored at the same temperature the concentration of the substance decreased by 53% after 30 days. The study carried out in authentic postmortem blood and vitreous humor samples confirms the previous reports of 4-CMC instability in biological material. Authors suggest that the biological material should be stored frozen until analyses are carried out as soon as possible after collection of the material.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karolina Nowak
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, 4 J. Mikulicza-Radeckiego Street, 50-345, Wrocław, Poland.,Institute of Toxicology Research, 45 Kasztanowa Street, 55-093, Borowa, Poland
| | - Paweł Szpot
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, 4 J. Mikulicza-Radeckiego Street, 50-345, Wrocław, Poland.,Institute of Toxicology Research, 45 Kasztanowa Street, 55-093, Borowa, Poland
| | - Marcin Zawadzki
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, 4 J. Mikulicza-Radeckiego Street, 50-345, Wrocław, Poland.,Institute of Toxicology Research, 45 Kasztanowa Street, 55-093, Borowa, Poland
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Nowak K, Szpot P, Zawadzki M. Unstability of 4-CMC in human serum specimen. Forensic Toxicol 2018; 37:261-264. [PMID: 30636991 PMCID: PMC6315052 DOI: 10.1007/s11419-018-0455-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2018] [Accepted: 11/11/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Karolina Nowak
- 1Department of Forensic Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, 4 Jana Mikulicza-Radeckiego Street, 50-345 Wrocław, Poland.,Institute of Toxicology Research, 45 Kasztanowa Street, 55-093 Borowa, Poland
| | - Paweł Szpot
- 1Department of Forensic Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, 4 Jana Mikulicza-Radeckiego Street, 50-345 Wrocław, Poland.,Institute of Toxicology Research, 45 Kasztanowa Street, 55-093 Borowa, Poland
| | - Marcin Zawadzki
- 1Department of Forensic Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, 4 Jana Mikulicza-Radeckiego Street, 50-345 Wrocław, Poland.,Institute of Toxicology Research, 45 Kasztanowa Street, 55-093 Borowa, Poland
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