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Abstract
Hair analysis has been mainly used to document drug use history in abusers, drug-facilitated crime cases, doping control analysis and postmortem toxicology in the fields of forensic toxicology, clinical toxicology, and doping control. Hair analysis has also gained more attention in the last 30 years in China. Relevant technology has been promoted as more research has appeared concerning hair analysis, and consensus has been sought among forensic toxicologists regarding aspects such as hair decontamination treatment, detection of abused substances in hair, segmental hair analysis and interpretation of analytical results. However, there are still some limitations in the estimation of drug intake time and frequency by segmental hair analysis due to the different growth cycles evident within a bundle of hairs, the drug incorporation mechanism and sampling errors. Microsampling and imaging mass spectrometry (IMS) technology based on a single hair may be a good choice to estimate drug intake time more accurately. Analysis of hair root samples may also be used to document acute poisoning in postmortem toxicology, and the analysis of the hair shaft can document long-term use of drugs depending on the length of the hair being evaluated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Yan
- Department of Forensic Toxicology, Academy of Forensic Science, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Ping Xiang
- Department of Forensic Toxicology, Academy of Forensic Science, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Min Shen
- Department of Forensic Toxicology, Academy of Forensic Science, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, Shanghai, China
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2
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Ryu J, Manivannan R, Son YA. Azo dye-based optical probe for the detection toward mimic molecule of date rape drug. Microchem J 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.microc.2021.106237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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3
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Levels of GHB in hair after regular application. Forensic Sci Int 2021; 325:110885. [PMID: 34214830 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2021.110885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2021] [Revised: 06/16/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB) is a central nervous system depressant that is an approved drug for the treatment of narcolepsy with cataplexy and other syndromes. Due to its dose dependent stimulating, relaxing or sedative effects, illicit abuses include recreational use by young people and cases of drug-facilitated crime (DFC). Since GHB is also produced endogenously, for forensic questions, it is important to be able to differentiate between endogenous GHB and elevated levels due to additional intake. In this study, we measured GHB concentrations in hair of patients with narcolepsy receiving daily GHB treatment. The results were compared to endogenous concentrations and concentrations after chronic intake presented in several former studies. The aim of this study was to investigate whether a regular intake of a known dosage of GHB leads to elevated levels of GHB concentration in hair. We collected hair samples of 19 patients (14 female, 5 male) with narcolepsy under regular GHB treatment and examined the hair samples segmentally by digestion of the hair followed by liquid-liquid extraction and analysis using a Shimadzu LC20 UFLC system coupled with an AB Sciex API 4000 Qtrap tandem mass spectrometer. All volunteers received daily treatment with different doses of sodium oxybate (sodium salt of GHB) ranging between 3 and 9g per night. The observed mean value of GHB concentration in hair was 2.69ng GHB per mg hair for the 5 male participants, 1.56ng/mg for the 14 female participants giving an overall mean value of 1.86ng/mg for all participants. Our results showed no correlation between the daily dose or the duration intake of GHB and the measured concentration of GHB in hair. Although we did find a significant (p<0.01) difference between published endogenous levels of GHB in hair and GHB levels in hair of patients with regular daily GHB intake, the forensic relevance however is disputable. We hypothesise this narrow margin or even overlap to be the reason why analytical results from hair analysis in some cases fail to provide a reliable prove of a single exposition.
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Bertol E, Mari F, Lachi A, Tespio G, Vaiano F. Determination of endogenous GHB levels in chest and pubic hair. Forensic Sci Int 2021; 325:110857. [PMID: 34098474 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2021.110857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2021] [Revised: 05/26/2021] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Endogenous nature of GHB represents a critical issue for forensic toxicologists, especially in alleged sexual assaults. Therefore, discrimination between physiologically and additional amounts from exogenous sources of such a substance must be effective and reliable in order to avoid severe misinterpretation. This study aimed to quantify the GHB baseline concentrations in chest and pubic hairs collected from 105 healthy volunteers, non-consumers of any drugs of abuse. The final scope was to investigate if these keratin matrices could represent valid alternative to scalp hair when not available. Moreover, we also evaluated the age and gender influences on the GHB baseline levels. 25 mg of hair were incubated overnight with NaOH at 56 °C. After acidification with H2SO4, the solution was liquid-liquid extracted with ethyl acetate and a trimethylsilyl derivatization was then achieved. Analysis was performed in gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in single ion monitoring mode (m/z 233, 234, 147 for GHB; m/z 239, 240 and 147 for GHB-d6). The endogenous amount in "blank" hair was estimated by the standard addition method (0.301 for chest hair and 0.235 ng/mg for pubic hair). GHB concentration ranged from 0.205 to 1.511 ng/mg for chest hair and from 0.310 to 1.913 ng/mg for pubic hair. These values were consistent with previous studies on scalp hair and on pubic hair. Unfortunately, research on chest hair is not available in literature. T-Test and Linear Regression highlighted no statistically significant differences for the two matrices and for all age/gender sub-groups. However, further studies are required to estimate a reliable cut-off value for these keratin matrices. For the first time, we demonstrated the suitability of chest and pubic hair to detect endogenous levels of GHB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabetta Bertol
- Forensic Toxicology Division, Department of Health Science, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, Florence, Italy; U.R.I.To.N - Unit of Research of University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Francesco Mari
- Forensic Toxicology Division, Department of Health Science, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, Florence, Italy; U.R.I.To.N - Unit of Research of University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Alessio Lachi
- Department of Statistics, Computer Science, Applications "G. Parenti", University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Giusy Tespio
- Forensic Toxicology Division, Department of Health Science, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, Florence, Italy
| | - Fabio Vaiano
- Forensic Toxicology Division, Department of Health Science, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, Florence, Italy; U.R.I.To.N - Unit of Research of University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
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Carfora A, Campobasso CP, Cassandro P, Petrella R, Borriello R. Long-Term Detection In Hair Of Zolpidem, Oxazepam And Flunitrazepam In A Case Of Drug-Facilitated Sexual Assault. J Anal Toxicol 2020; 46:e16-e20. [PMID: 33180140 DOI: 10.1093/jat/bkaa174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2020] [Revised: 11/04/2020] [Accepted: 11/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Drug-facilitated sexual assault (DFSA) cases are pretty common in forensic toxicology. In this case report, a 56-year-old female tourist claimed to have been sexually assaulted by five men after having had a drug-spiked alcoholic drink. Urine samples were collected at 38, 44, and 45 hours after the alleged rape. After 7 months, hair strands (28 cm in length) were also sampled to perform the segmental hair testing. Urine and decontaminated hair segments were tested for different groups of basic, acid, and neutral substances (GHB, Z-drugs, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, hypnotics, antipsychotics, drugs of abuse). GC/MS and LC-MS/MS methods were applied for the qualitative and quantitative analyses. Toxicological analyses performed on urine samples gave inconclusive findings. Zolpidem, flunitrazepam, and oxazepam were detected in the hair segments corresponding to the time frame of the alleged assault. Endogenous levels of GHB were detected along the hair shaft. No drugs were detected in the proximal and distal hair segments or in washing solutions. This DFSA case demonstrated that the segmental toxicological analysis of hair, even when performed 7 months after the sexual assault, can provide evidence consistent in a single exposure to psychoactive drugs, at the time of the offence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Carfora
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Forensic Toxicology Unit, University of Campania "L. Vanvitelli", Naples - Italy
| | - Carlo Pietro Campobasso
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Forensic Toxicology Unit, University of Campania "L. Vanvitelli", Naples - Italy
| | - Paola Cassandro
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Forensic Toxicology Unit, University of Campania "L. Vanvitelli", Naples - Italy
| | - Raffaella Petrella
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Forensic Toxicology Unit, University of Campania "L. Vanvitelli", Naples - Italy
| | - Renata Borriello
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Forensic Toxicology Unit, University of Campania "L. Vanvitelli", Naples - Italy
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Strickland EC, Thomas JL, Lloyd EW, Smith MA, LeBeau MA, Montgomery MA, Karas RP, Peters EM, Miller ML. Endogenous GHB in Segmented Hair Part II: Intra-individual Variation for Exogenous Discrimination. J Anal Toxicol 2020; 44:637-650. [DOI: 10.1093/jat/bkaa086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2020] [Revised: 05/19/2020] [Accepted: 07/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Abstract
The endogenous presence of gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) complicates the interpretation of results in cases where an exogenous dosing is suspected. Due to GHB’s rapid metabolism and clearance following exogenous doses, hair has become a preferential matrix for confirmation of GHB exposure in drug-facilitated crimes. However, unlike blood and urine where an agreed-upon cut-off concentration for differentiation between endogenous and exogenous GHB has been made, there has been no consensus on a cut-off concentration for hair. This is due in part to the wide inter- and intra-individual variation that has been observed in endogenous GHB hair studies. A large (>50) population study of 214 donors was conducted to better understand these variations and to evaluate whether a cut-off concentration could be established for endogenous GHB in human hair. As seen in our previous study, the inter-individual variation was large, with concentrations ranging from <0.40 to 5.47 ng/mg. This range made an absolute cut-off concentration recommendation inappropriate, so an alternative approach for GHB discrimination was investigated utilizing the intra-individual variation. Male donors appeared to have greater intra-individual variation than female donors, yet it was noted that segment-to-segment variation along the length of hair had minimal change between individual donor’s adjacent segments. Overall, 97.1% of the adjacent segment differences were within ±0.5 ng/mg. Therefore, instead of a recommended cut-off concentration, it appears that using adjacent segment concentration differences could be a strategy to assist in differentiating endogenous from single exogenous GHB exposure. In the absence of controlled dosing data, previously published segmented results from controlled and suspected dosing donors are examined using the adjacent segmental difference approach and the results compared to currently used ratio-based calculations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin C Strickland
- Federal Bureau of Investigation Laboratory Division, Visiting Scientist Program, 2501 Investigation Parkway, Quantico, VA 22135, USA
| | - Jennifer L Thomas
- Federal Bureau of Investigation Laboratory Division, Visiting Scientist Program, 2501 Investigation Parkway, Quantico, VA 22135, USA
| | - Erin W Lloyd
- Federal Bureau of Investigation Laboratory Division, Visiting Scientist Program, 2501 Investigation Parkway, Quantico, VA 22135, USA
| | - Michael A Smith
- Federal Bureau of Investigation Laboratory Division, 2501 Investigation Parkway, Quantico, VA 22135, USA
| | - Marc A LeBeau
- Federal Bureau of Investigation Laboratory Division, 2501 Investigation Parkway, Quantico, VA 22135, USA
| | - Madeline A Montgomery
- Federal Bureau of Investigation Laboratory Division, 2501 Investigation Parkway, Quantico, VA 22135, USA
| | - Roman P Karas
- Federal Bureau of Investigation Laboratory Division, 2501 Investigation Parkway, Quantico, VA 22135, USA
| | - Eugene M Peters
- Federal Bureau of Investigation Laboratory Division, 2501 Investigation Parkway, Quantico, VA 22135, USA
| | - Mark L Miller
- Federal Bureau of Investigation Laboratory Division, 2501 Investigation Parkway, Quantico, VA 22135, USA
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Thomas JL, Strickland EC, Lloyd EW, Donnelly CC, Rankoth A, Pieczonka SM, Colpoys C, Smith MA, LeBeau MA, Montgomery MA, Karas RP, Peters EM, Miller ML. Endogenous GHB in Segmented Hair Part I: Inter-individual Variation for Group Comparisons. J Anal Toxicol 2020; 44:628-636. [DOI: 10.1093/jat/bkaa080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2020] [Revised: 05/18/2020] [Accepted: 06/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Abstract
While earlier studies have attempted to resolve the challenges encountered when interpreting gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) concentrations in hair (primarily due to its endogenous presence), few have had large sample sizes. The first objective of this study was to evaluate the inter-individual variation of endogenous GHB concentrations. The second objective, to be detailed in another report, was to assess intra-individual variation and the impact on exogenous GHB discrimination. Over 2,000 hair segments from 141 women and 73 men (all processed hair 3–12 cm long) were analyzed in this study. The raw calculated range of endogenous GHB concentrations was <0.40–5.47 ng/mg with 97.5% of the segmental results calculated less than 2.00 ng/mg. Imputation, assuming a lognormal distribution, was applied to the data to include non-detect (ND) data (<LOQ), which led to an estimated endogenous GHB range of 0.16–5.47 ng/mg. Kruskal–Wallis tests were employed on a segmental basis for group comparisons. This test was applied to the male and female segmental medians and subsequently indicated that these groups were different at the α = 0.05 level of significance. Additionally, female hair samples appeared to have a trend comprising higher endogenous GHB concentrations close to the scalp and a mean net decrease of ~0.2–0.3 ng/mg distally. Male hair samples displayed the opposite trend, with a mean net increase of ~0.5–0.6 ng/mg from the proximal to the distal end of the hair shaft. It was also concluded that differences exist between the median GHB concentrations of the ‘treated’ and ‘untreated’ hair in the female group at the α = 0.05 level of significance. Age groups and races were analyzed, but none of the observed differences in median concentration were significant at α = 0.05. This is the largest endogenous GHB hair population study to date and provides substantial new data on inter-individual variation and chronological trends of GHB concentrations in hair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer L Thomas
- Federal Bureau of Investigation Laboratory Division, Visiting Scientist Program, 2501 Investigation Parkway, Quantico, VA 22135, USA
| | - Erin C Strickland
- Federal Bureau of Investigation Laboratory Division, Visiting Scientist Program, 2501 Investigation Parkway, Quantico, VA 22135, USA
| | - Erin W Lloyd
- Federal Bureau of Investigation Laboratory Division, Visiting Scientist Program, 2501 Investigation Parkway, Quantico, VA 22135, USA
| | - Christopher C Donnelly
- Federal Bureau of Investigation Laboratory Division, Visiting Scientist Program, 2501 Investigation Parkway, Quantico, VA 22135, USA
| | - Anusha Rankoth
- Federal Bureau of Investigation Laboratory Division, Visiting Scientist Program, 2501 Investigation Parkway, Quantico, VA 22135, USA
| | - Sandra M Pieczonka
- Federal Bureau of Investigation Laboratory Division, 2501 Investigation Parkway, Quantico, VA 22135, USA
| | - Caroline Colpoys
- Federal Bureau of Investigation Laboratory Division, 2501 Investigation Parkway, Quantico, VA 22135, USA
| | - Michael A Smith
- Federal Bureau of Investigation Laboratory Division, 2501 Investigation Parkway, Quantico, VA 22135, USA
| | - Marc A LeBeau
- Federal Bureau of Investigation Laboratory Division, 2501 Investigation Parkway, Quantico, VA 22135, USA
| | - Madeline A Montgomery
- Federal Bureau of Investigation Laboratory Division, 2501 Investigation Parkway, Quantico, VA 22135, USA
| | - Roman P Karas
- Federal Bureau of Investigation Laboratory Division, 2501 Investigation Parkway, Quantico, VA 22135, USA
| | - Eugene M Peters
- Federal Bureau of Investigation Laboratory Division, 2501 Investigation Parkway, Quantico, VA 22135, USA
| | - Mark L Miller
- Federal Bureau of Investigation Laboratory Division, 2501 Investigation Parkway, Quantico, VA 22135, USA
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Meng L, Chen S, Zhu B, Zhang J, Mei Y, Cao J, Zheng K. Application of dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction and GC–MS/MS for the determination of GHB in beverages and hair. J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci 2020; 1144:122058. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jchromb.2020.122058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2019] [Revised: 02/04/2020] [Accepted: 03/10/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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Lloyd EW, Thomas JL, Donnelly CC, Montgomery MA, Karas RP, LeBeau MA, Miller ML. Evaluating Endogenous GHB Variation in Hair with a Synthetic Hair Matrix. J Anal Toxicol 2020; 44:354-361. [DOI: 10.1093/jat/bkz095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2019] [Revised: 09/04/2019] [Accepted: 09/08/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
The variation in drug concentrations in human head hair from 22 donors was measured using a synthetic hair matrix (SMx™ hair). This matrix is being reported for the first time as a calibrator for an endogenous substance. In comparison to authentic hair or melanin, the synthetic hair provided a reliable batch-to-batch source of liquid matrix similar in composition to authentic hair, but without detectable concentrations of endogenous gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB). Using the synthetic matrix for calibrator samples, validation of a liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) quantitative method for GHB in human head hair was completed. Validation included the evaluation of the following parameters: accuracy, precision, calibration model, carryover, interferences, limit of detection (LOD), limit of quantitation (LOQ) and processed sample stability. The method was valid over a range of 0.4–12 ng/mg, and its LOD and LOQ were both experimentally estimated to be 0.4 ng/mg. After validation, the variation in endogenous GHB concentrations across multiple donors and locations in the vertex posterior region of the human head were evaluated. Results for 11 non-GHB users showed minimal variability (average 3.0% RSD) across the vertex posterior for hair samples taken from three different areas. There was also low variability (average 1.8% RSD) in repeat samples taken from the same location for 11 other non-users. Endogenous GHB concentrations from the LOD/LOQ to 5.60 ng/mg were determined for the 22 donors using the synthetic hair as a calibrator. These results demonstrate the successful application of a synthetic hair matrix in the analysis of GHB in human hair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin W Lloyd
- Laboratory Division, Visiting Scientist Program, Federal Bureau of Investigation, 2501 Investigation Parkway, Quantico, VA 22135, USA
| | - Jennifer L Thomas
- Laboratory Division, Visiting Scientist Program, Federal Bureau of Investigation, 2501 Investigation Parkway, Quantico, VA 22135, USA
| | - Christopher C Donnelly
- Laboratory Division, Visiting Scientist Program, Federal Bureau of Investigation, 2501 Investigation Parkway, Quantico, VA 22135, USA
| | - Madeline A Montgomery
- Laboratory Division, Federal Bureau of Investigation, 2501 Investigation Parkway, Quantico, VA 22135
| | - Roman P Karas
- Laboratory Division, Federal Bureau of Investigation, 2501 Investigation Parkway, Quantico, VA 22135
| | - Marc A LeBeau
- Laboratory Division, Federal Bureau of Investigation, 2501 Investigation Parkway, Quantico, VA 22135
| | - Mark L Miller
- Laboratory Division, Federal Bureau of Investigation, 2501 Investigation Parkway, Quantico, VA 22135
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Interpreting GHB concentrations in hair: can a cut-off be established? Forensic Sci Int 2020; 306:110009. [DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2019.110009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2019] [Accepted: 10/21/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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11
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An evaluation of the cut-off value of methamphetamine in hair samples via HPLC-MS/MS. Forensic Sci Int 2020; 306:110094. [DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2019.110094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2019] [Revised: 11/24/2019] [Accepted: 11/25/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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Zwitterionic HILIC stationary phase as a valuable alternative in separative techniques: Application to the analysis of gamma-hydroxybutyric acid and its metabolite in hair. J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci 2019; 1134-1135:121876. [PMID: 31783252 DOI: 10.1016/j.jchromb.2019.121876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2019] [Revised: 10/30/2019] [Accepted: 11/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
In this work, the physical and chemical properties of a novel zwitterionic LC stationary phase are applied to the development, validation and application of a new fast and reliable method devoted to the analysis of GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyric acid) and its relatively new discovered glucuronide metabolite in hair. The obtained sensitivity, expressed as limit of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ), were 0.033 and 0.10 ng/mg for GHB and 0.11 and 0.37 ng/mg, for GHB-glucuronide respectively. Linearity was assessed between LOQ and 50 ng/mg for both compounds. GHB and GHB-glucuronide extraction from hair matrix was maintained simple and consisted in an acidified-solvent incubation. No samples purification was required before LC-MS/MS analysis. The method was finally applied to 65 real hair sample, 60 adults and 5 children below 2 years old. The obtained results highlighted that GHB concentrations were in the range 0.11-0.96 ng/mg (average 0.38 ± 0.25 ng/mg) in 44 cases (68%) while in 21 samples GHB concentrations were in the range between LOD and LOQ (0.033-0.1 ng/mg). GHB-glucuronide was detected in few samples (n. 3) at levels below LOQ. The interest on these molecules relies on the fact that GHB is both a naturally occurring inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system and an illicit drug often experienced by victims of drug-facilitated sexual assault. GHB-glucuronide was firstly identified in urine by the group of Petersen in 2013 and, as per analogy to ethyl glucuronide, it was proposed as a longer biomarker for GHB intoxication.
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Martz W, Nebel A, Veit F. Variation of intraindividual levels of endogenous GHB in segmented hair samples. Forensic Sci Int 2019; 302:109913. [DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2019.109913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2019] [Revised: 07/15/2019] [Accepted: 07/30/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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Case report: Another death associated to γ-hydroxybutyric acid intoxication. Forensic Sci Int 2019; 299:34-40. [DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2019.03.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2019] [Revised: 03/05/2019] [Accepted: 03/15/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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15
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Pan M, Wang X, Zhao Y, Liu W, Xiang P. A retrospective analysis of data from forensic toxicology at the Academy of Forensic Science in 2017. Forensic Sci Int 2019; 298:39-47. [DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2019.02.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2018] [Revised: 02/18/2019] [Accepted: 02/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
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Ramírez Fernández MDM, Wille SM, Di Fazio V, Samyn N. Influence of bleaching and thermal straightening on endogenous GHB concentrations in hair: An in vitro experiment. Forensic Sci Int 2019; 297:277-283. [DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2019.02.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2018] [Revised: 01/28/2019] [Accepted: 02/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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Busardò FP, Pichini S, Zaami S, Pacifici R, Kintz P. Hair testing of GHB: an everlasting issue in forensic toxicology. Clin Chem Lab Med 2019; 56:198-208. [PMID: 28763296 DOI: 10.1515/cclm-2017-0397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2017] [Accepted: 06/19/2017] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In this paper, the authors present a critical review of different studies regarding hair testing of endogenous γ-hydroxybutyrate (GHB), concentrations in chronic users, and values measured after a single GHB exposure in drug facilitated sexual assault (DFSA) cases together with the role of a recently identified GHB metabolite, GHB-glucuronide. CONTENT The following databases (up to March 2017) PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science were used, searching the following key words: γ-hydroxybutyrate, GHB, GHB glucuronide, hair. The main key words "GHB" and "γ-hydroxybutyrate" were searched singularly and then associated individually to each of the other keywords. SUMMARY Of the 2304 sources found, only 20 were considered appropriate for the purpose of this paper. Summing up all the studies investigating endogenous GHB concentration in hair, a very broad concentration range from 0 to 12 ng/mg was found. In order to detect a single GHB dose in hair it is necessary to commonly wait 1 month for collecting hair and a segmental analysis of 3 or 5 mm fragments and the calculation of a ratio between the targeted segment and the others represent a reliable method to detect a single GHB intake considering that the ratios presently proposed vary from 3 and 10. The only two studies so far performed, investigating GHB-Glucuronide in hair, show that the latter does not seem to provide any diagnostic information regarding GHB exposure. OUTLOOK A practical operative protocol is proposed to be applied in all suspected cases of GHB-facilitated sexual assault (GHB-FSA).
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Paolo Busardò
- Unit of Forensic Toxicology (UoFT), Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic and Orthopaedic Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Simona Pichini
- National Centre on Addiction and Doping, Istituto Superiore di Sanitá, Rome, Italy
| | - Simona Zaami
- Unit of Forensic Toxicology (UoFT), Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic and Orthopaedic Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Roberta Pacifici
- National Centre on Addiction and Doping, Istituto Superiore di Sanitá, Rome, Italy
| | - Pascal Kintz
- Institut de Médecine légale, Strasbourg, France.,X-Pertise Consulting, Oberhausbergen, France
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Van Elsué N, Crunelle CL, Verbrugge CA, van Baarle K, Rodrigues A, Neels H, Yegles M. Gammahydroxybutyrate in hair of non-GHB and repeated GHB users: A new and optimized method. Forensic Sci Int 2018; 291:193-198. [DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2018.08.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2018] [Revised: 08/19/2018] [Accepted: 08/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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19
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Liu J, Deng Z, Zhu Z, Wang Y, Wang G, Sun YA, Zhu Y. Determination of γ-hydroxybutyrate in human urine samples by ion exclusion and ion exchange two-dimensional chromatography system. J Chromatogr A 2017; 1528:35-40. [DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2017.10.069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2017] [Revised: 10/21/2017] [Accepted: 10/27/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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When a death apparently associated to sexual assault is instead a natural death due to idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome: The importance of gamma-hydroxybutyric acid analysis in vitreous humor. Leg Med (Tokyo) 2017; 26:92-97. [DOI: 10.1016/j.legalmed.2017.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2016] [Revised: 03/10/2017] [Accepted: 04/07/2017] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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Johansen SS, Wang X, Sejer Pedersen D, Pearl PL, Roullet JB, Ainslie GR, Vogel KR, Gibson KM. Gamma-Hydroxybutyrate (GHB) Content in Hair Samples Correlates Negatively with Age in Succinic Semialdehyde Dehydrogenase Deficiency. JIMD Rep 2017; 36:93-98. [PMID: 28213850 DOI: 10.1007/8904_2017_3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2016] [Revised: 01/02/2017] [Accepted: 01/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) is a drug of abuse, an approved therapeutic for narcolepsy, an agent employed for facilitation of sexual assault, as well as a biomarker of succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase deficiency (SSADHD). Our laboratory seeks to identify surrogate biomarkers in SSADHD that can shed light on the developmental course of this neurometabolic disease. Since GHB may be quantified in hair as a potential surrogate to identify victims of drug-related assault, we have opted to examine its level in SSADHD. We quantified GHB in hair derived from ten patients with SSADHD, and documented a significant negative age correlation. These findings are consistent with recent results in patient biological fluids, including plasma and red blood cells. These findings may provide additional insight into the developmental course of SSADHD (Jansen et al., J Inherit Metab Dis 39:795-800, 2016).
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Affiliation(s)
- S S Johansen
- Section of Forensic Chemistry, Department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - X Wang
- Section of Forensic Chemistry, Department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - D Sejer Pedersen
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - P L Pearl
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - J-B Roullet
- Section of Experimental and Systems Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Washington State University, Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences Building, Room 347, Health Sciences Campus, 412 E. Spokane Falls Blvd., Spokane, WA, 99214, USA
| | - G R Ainslie
- Section of Experimental and Systems Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Washington State University, Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences Building, Room 347, Health Sciences Campus, 412 E. Spokane Falls Blvd., Spokane, WA, 99214, USA
| | - K R Vogel
- Section of Experimental and Systems Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Washington State University, Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences Building, Room 347, Health Sciences Campus, 412 E. Spokane Falls Blvd., Spokane, WA, 99214, USA
| | - K M Gibson
- Section of Experimental and Systems Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Washington State University, Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences Building, Room 347, Health Sciences Campus, 412 E. Spokane Falls Blvd., Spokane, WA, 99214, USA.
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Kintz P. A Novel Approach to Document Single Exposure to GHB: Hair Analysis After Sweat Contamination: Table I. J Anal Toxicol 2016; 40:563-4. [DOI: 10.1093/jat/bkw052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2016] [Accepted: 04/24/2016] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
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Busardò FP. The importance of hair testing in GHB facilitated sexual assault cases. J Forensic Leg Med 2016; 39:74-5. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jflm.2016.01.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2016] [Accepted: 01/18/2016] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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