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Zhang Y, Liu L, Ren L. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) determination of cantharidin in biological specimens and application to postmortem interval estimation in cantharidin poisoning. Sci Rep 2020; 10:10438. [PMID: 32591575 PMCID: PMC7320148 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-67278-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2020] [Accepted: 06/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
A rapid, sensitive liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method was developed and validated for the determination and quantification of cantharidin in rats liver and kidney. After grinding with methanol, the supernatant was determined by LC-MS/MS using an Thermo Accucore C18 column (100 mm×2.1 mm, 2.6 μm) with a gradient elution of 0.1% formic acid and 0.1% acetonitrile, and in the subsequent analysis using selected reaction monitoring mode, three ion transitions were monitored for analyte. The limit of detection (LOD) was 0.741 ng/ml and the limit of quantitation (LOQ) was 2.471 ng/ml. Good linearity (R2 = 0.9998) was observed for the analyte over the linear range (5–400 ng/ml). The LC-MS/MS method was applied to the analysis of rats liver and kidney in different postmortem intervals (6 h, 12 h, 24 h, 48 h, 72 h and 168 h after death) after a single dose (4 mg/kg) of cantharidin administration by gavage. At 72 h after death, the cantharidin concentration in livers and kidneys were significantly higher than that in other postmortem intervals. Linear regression equations between postmortem interval and lg postmortem cantharidin concentration in rats liver and kidney were Y = 0.007455*X + 1.332(R2 = 0.863) and Y = 0.002689*X + 1.433 (R2 = 0.115) respectively. The animal experiment demonstrated LC-MS/MS method can be used to determine the postmortem cantharidin concentration in rats liver and kidney and the determination of cantharidin in the rats liver after death has potential value for postmortem interval estimation in cantharidin poisoning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youyou Zhang
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Liang Liu
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
| | - Liang Ren
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
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Whitlock SE, Pereira MG, Lane J, Sleep D, Shore RF, Arnold KE. Detecting fluoxetine and norfluoxetine in wild bird tissues and feathers. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2019; 126:193-201. [PMID: 30802636 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2019.01.083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2018] [Revised: 01/30/2019] [Accepted: 01/31/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The contamination of the environment with human pharmaceuticals is widespread and demand for such products is mounting globally. Wild vertebrates may be at particular risk from any effects from pharmaceuticals, because of the evolutionary conservation of drug targets. However, exposure of wildlife to pharmaceuticals is poorly characterised, partly due to challenges associated with detecting rapidly metabolised compounds. As part of a wider study on the behavioural effects of fluoxetine (Prozac) on Eurasian starlings (Sturnus vulgaris), we investigated which avian samples are best suited for detecting exposure to fluoxetine in free-living birds. We analysed plasma, various tissues and tail feathers (grown both in the wild and in captivity during the dosing period) from fluoxetine-treated birds (dosed daily with 0.035 mg kg-1 bodyweight for 28 weeks), and liver tissue and tail feathers from sham-dosed birds. We detected fluoxetine in only two of twelve plasma samples from dosed birds. In dosed birds, median concentrations of free fluoxetine/norfluoxetine in tissues (two hour post-final dose) were: 111.2/67.6 ng g-1 in liver, 29.6/5.7 ng g-1 in kidney, 14.2/4.0 ng g-1 in lung, 15.1/1.6 ng g-1 in brain. We estimated that fluoxetine would remain detectable in liver and kidney approximately 4.5 times longer (90 h) than in brain (20h). In dosed birds, fluoxetine was detected in feathers regrown during the dosing period (median concentration = 11.4 ng g-1) at concentrations significantly higher than in regrown feathers from control birds. Fluoxetine residues were detected in wild-grown feathers (grown before the birds were brought into captivity) at concentrations up to 27.0 ng g-1, providing some evidence of likely exposure in the wild. Our results show liver and kidney can be used for detecting fluoxetine in avian carcasses and provide a first indication that feathers may be useful for assessing exposure to fluoxetine, and possibly other pharmaceuticals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophia E Whitlock
- Environment Department, University of York, Heslington, York YO10 5NG, UK.
| | - M Glória Pereira
- Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Bailrigg, Lancaster LA1 4AP, UK
| | - Julie Lane
- Animal and Plant Health Agency, National Agri-Food Innovation Campus, Sand Hutton YO41 1LZ, UK
| | - Darren Sleep
- Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Bailrigg, Lancaster LA1 4AP, UK
| | - Richard F Shore
- Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Bailrigg, Lancaster LA1 4AP, UK
| | - Kathryn E Arnold
- Environment Department, University of York, Heslington, York YO10 5NG, UK
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Nagasawa S, Katagiri N, Nara A, Chiba F, Kubo Y, Torimitsu S, Yajima D, Akutsu M, Iwase H. Postmortem redistribution mechanism of donepezil in the rat. Forensic Sci Int 2016; 266:1-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2016.04.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2016] [Revised: 04/07/2016] [Accepted: 04/11/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Pélissier-Alicot AL. La redistribution post mortem : état des lieux en 2016. TOXICOLOGIE ANALYTIQUE ET CLINIQUE 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.toxac.2015.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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A suicide involving intraperitoneal injection of pentobarbital. Int J Legal Med 2015; 130:1217-22. [PMID: 26174446 DOI: 10.1007/s00414-015-1231-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2015] [Accepted: 06/30/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
We present an unusual case of suicide by intraperitoneal injection of pentobarbital, an overdose of zolpidem and the intake of diazepam, ethanol and other psychoactive substances. The autopsy and specimen collection were conducted in a 10 to 18 h postmortem interval. The toxicological analysis revealed a significantly higher pentobarbital concentration in femoral blood compared to cardiac blood (36 vs. 15 mg/L). On the contrary, zolpidem and diazepam concentrations in cardiac blood (2700 and 590 µg/L) were found to be significantly higher than in femoral blood (1500 and 230 µg/L). These findings point to a postmortem redistribution with a distinct gradient from areas of high drug concentrations in the gastrointestinal tract (zolpidem and diazepam) and the injection site (pentobarbital) to peripheral tissue. Ethanol concentration was 0.95 ‰ which amplified the CNS depression. The choice of this unusual suicide method was associated with the deceased's former job as a veterinarian's assistant. In veterinary medicine, the intraperitoneal injection of a lethal dose of pentobarbital is quite commonly performed to euthanise small animals. Intraperitoneal injection is rare as route of administration in humans.
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Juebner M, Fietzke M, Beike J, Rothschild MA, Bender K. Assisted suicide by fentanyl intoxication due to excessive transdermal application. Int J Legal Med 2014; 128:949-56. [PMID: 24577713 DOI: 10.1007/s00414-014-0982-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2013] [Accepted: 02/14/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Herein, we report a case of an assisted suicide committed by application of 34 matrix-based fentanyl-containing transdermal therapeutic systems (TTS) with different release rates. The TTS were supplied by the husband but administered by the deceased herself. Besides routine systematic toxicological analysis (STA), the concentrations of fentanyl and norfentanyl were determined in the blood (femoral and heart), urine, stomach content, brain, lung tissue, musculus iliopsoas, liver, kidney, bile and in some of the used TTS by LC-MS/MS. Blood levels of fentanyl were 60.6 μg/L in femoral blood and 94.1 μg/L in heart blood. These concentrations are in good concordance with levels described in cases with accidental or lethal suicidal fentanyl patch application. The organ distribution indicates an influence of post-mortem redistribution. The levels of residual fentanyl in the TTS were also determined. STA furthermore revealed supratherapeutic levels of bromazepam. Thus, the cause of death was a combination of fentanyl and bromazepam intoxication. However, considering the determined levels of fentanyl and norfentanyl in the entire set of specimens and the high toxicity in comparison to bromazepam, fentanyl was the leading toxic noxa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Juebner
- Institute of Legal Medicine, University Hospital of Cologne, Melatengürtel 60/62, 50823, Cologne, Germany,
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Gerostamoulos D, Beyer J, Staikos V, Tayler P, Woodford N, Drummer OH. The effect of the postmortem interval on the redistribution of drugs: a comparison of mortuary admission and autopsy blood specimens. Forensic Sci Med Pathol 2012; 8:373-9. [DOI: 10.1007/s12024-012-9341-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/16/2012] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Abstract
Clinical pharmacology assumes that deductions can be made about the concentrations of drugs from a knowledge of the pharmacokinetic parameters in an individual; and that the effects are related to the measured concentration. Post-mortem changes render the assumptions of clinical pharmacology largely invalid, and make the interpretation of concentrations measured in post-mortem samples difficult or impossible. Qualitative tests can show the presence of substances that were not present in life, and can fail to detect substances that led to death. Quantitative analysis is subject to error in itself, and because post-mortem concentrations vary in largely unpredictable ways with the site and time of sampling, as a result of the phenomenon of post-mortem redistribution. Consequently, compilations of 'lethal concentrations' are misleading. There is a lack of adequate studies of the true relationship between fatal events and the concentrations that can be measured subsequently, but without such studies, clinical pharmacologists and others should be wary of interpreting post-mortem measurements.
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Affiliation(s)
- R E Ferner
- West Midlands Centre for Adverse Drug Reactions, City Hospital and Department of Clinical Pharmacology, The Medical School, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
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Rodda KE, Drummer OH. The redistribution of selected psychiatric drugs in post-mortem cases. Forensic Sci Int 2006; 164:235-9. [PMID: 16554130 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2006.02.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2005] [Revised: 01/12/2006] [Accepted: 02/04/2006] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The post-mortem redistribution of a number of psychiatric drugs was investigated. A portion of liver, the gastric contents and blood collected from heart and femoral sites was obtained from 13 cases and analyzed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Drugs detected included five selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors; venlafaxine, a serotonin/noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor; and risperidone, an atypical antipsychotic. Heart blood concentrations were significantly higher (3.4-fold on average) than those measured in femoral blood when results from all drugs were included together. The range for parent drug concentrations in these two blood specimens was 0.5-6.2. There was no significant correlation of the post-mortem interval, the liver concentration and content of drugs in the gastric contents to the heart:femoral blood concentration ratio. These data serve to demonstrate that variable increases in blood concentration occur post-mortem and limit the interpretative value of such toxicological data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kabrena E Rodda
- Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine, Department of Forensic Medicine, Monash University, Southbank, VIC, Australia
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Proença P, Pinho Marques E, Teixeira H, Castanheira F, Barroso M, Avila S, Vieira DN. A fatal forensic intoxication with fenarimol: analysis by HPLC/DAD/MSD. Forensic Sci Int 2003; 133:95-100. [PMID: 12742694 DOI: 10.1016/s0379-0738(03)00054-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Fenarimol (Rubigan) is a pyrimidine ergosterol biosynthesis inhibitor used as a systemic fungicide. The authors present a fatal fenarimol intoxication case analysed in the Forensic Toxicology Service of the National Institute of Legal Medicine. The results were used to compare two different HPLC techniques, regarding selectivity and sensitivity: an HPLC system with a diode array detector (DAD) and an HPLC system with a DAD and a mass spectrometry detector (MSD) with an electrospray interface. All biological samples were submitted to a solid-phase extraction procedure. The detection and quantification limits of fenarimol, linearity, precision and accuracy were evaluated. The fenarimol concentration levels determined were of 89.0 mg/ml in gastric contents, 1.9 mg/g in liver and 0.4 mg/g in kidney. Blood was not available at autopsy. No published data related to fenarimol self-poisoning were found, so it was not possible to interpret the results obtained by comparison with toxic/lethal levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Proença
- National Institute of Legal Medicine-Delegation of Coimbra, Largo da Sé Nova, 3000-213 Coimbra, Portugal.
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Leikin JB, Watson WA. Post-mortem toxicology: what the dead can and cannot tell us. JOURNAL OF TOXICOLOGY. CLINICAL TOXICOLOGY 2003; 41:47-56. [PMID: 12645967 DOI: 10.1081/clt-120018270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
The evaluation of postmortem laboratory assays of drugs needs to be performed in a systematic manner. The condition of the body, drug characteristics, matrix and site analysis are factors which need to be considered in the proper interpretation of an autopsy specimen result.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jerrold B Leikin
- Evanston Northwestern Healthcare OMEGA, Glenbrook Hospital, Glenview, Illinois, 60025, USA.
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12
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Burghardt WF. Behavioral considerations in the management of working dogs. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract 2003; 33:417-46, viii. [PMID: 12701519 DOI: 10.1016/s0195-5616(02)00133-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
This article is not intended as a comprehensive exploration of all issues related to the behavioral management of working dogs or as a survey of all manners of canine employment. Rather, it is one person's perspective into the challenges of managing a behavioral medicine program in a large-scale working dog program environment. The issues presented, however, are those that are commonly encountered when selecting, assessing, diagnosing, and treating working dogs. I hope this article provides insight not only into the author's program but also into some of the unique challenges in working with working dogs as well as some of the commonalities of this kind of behavioral practice with companion animal settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Walter F Burghardt
- Behavioral Medicine and Military Working Dog Studies, Department of Defense Military Working Dog Veterinary Service, 1219 Knight Street, Lackland Air Force Base, TX 78236-5519, USA.
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Abstract
Publications focusing on the analysis of postmortem specimens for the presence of drugs were reviewed with particular reference to systematic toxicological analysis. Specimens included blood, liver, other solid specimens, and fly larvae. Extraction techniques published during the past 10 years most commonly used traditional solvent extraction techniques. High-performance liquid chromatography coupled to multichannel wavelength detection was most commonly used, which would easily lend itself to liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. There were few practical differences in the assays validated for a range of postmortem specimens to those in other forms of forensic toxicology, unless substantially decomposed tissue was used. When putrefied specimens were analyzed, a back-extraction or other form of specimen cleanup was recommended to reduce interfering substances. Many immunoassays designed for urine have been adapted for use in blood and tissue homogenates. Immunoassays designed for blood analysis, however, are likely to have more useful cutoff values than immunoassays optimized for urine testing. Postmortem specimens provide less stability for a number of drugs than other types of specimens. This is particularly a problem for cocaine, heroin, and some antidepressants, antipsychotics, and benzodiazepines. A number of artifacts occur postmortem, which affects the concentration of drug in specimens. This includes postmortem redistribution for drugs with a high tissue concentration relative to blood. Consequently, the likely extent of any change in concentration is relevant to the interpretation of doses and drug effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olaf H Drummer
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Monash University, Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine, 57-83 Kavanagh Street, Southbank, Melbourne, Australia 3006.
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Affiliation(s)
- T A Brettell
- Forensic Science Bureau, New Jersey State Police, West Trenton 08625, USA
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