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Freitas L, Amaral A, Conceição R, Barbosa G, Hamoy MK, Barbosa A, Paz C, Santos M, Hamoy A, Paz A, Favacho-Lopes D, Mello V, Hamoy M. Potentiation of the depressant effect of alcohol by flunitrazepam in rats: an electrocorticographic, respiratory and electrocardiographic study. Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol 2024:10.1007/s00210-024-03111-w. [PMID: 38676788 DOI: 10.1007/s00210-024-03111-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024]
Abstract
Alcohol, a widely commercialized psychotropic drug, and the benzodiazepine Flunitrazepam, an anxiolytic widely prescribed for patients with anxiety and insomnia problems, are well known drugs and both act on the central nervous system. The misuse and the association of these two drugs are public health concerns in several countries and could cause momentary, long-lasting and even lethal neurophysiological problems due to the potentiation of their adverse effects in synergy. The present study observed the result of the association of these drugs on electrophysiological responses in the brain, heart, and respiratory rate in Wistar rats. 8 experimental groups were determined: control, one alcohol group (20% at a dose of 1 ml/100 g VO), three Flunitrazepam groups (doses 0.1; 0.2 and 0.3 mg/kg) and three alcohol-Flunitrazepam groups (20% at a dose of 1 ml/100 g VO of alcohol, combined with 0.1; 0.2 and 0.3 mg/kg of Flunitrazepam, respectively). The results showed that there was a more pronounced reduction in alpha and theta wave power in the alcohol-Flunitrazepam groups, a decrease in the power of beta oscillations and greater sedation. There was a progressive decrease in respiratory rate linked to the increase of Flunitrazepam dose in the alcohol-Flunitrazepam associated administration. It was observed alteration in heart rate and Q-T interval in high doses of Flunitrazepam. Therefore, we conclude that the association alcohol-Flunitrazepam presented deepening of depressant synergistic effects according to the increase in the dose of the benzodiazepine, and this could cause alterations in low frequency brain oscillations, breathing, and hemodynamics of the patient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luiz Freitas
- Laboratory of Pharmacology and Toxicology of Natural Products, Biological Science Institute, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Brazil.
| | - Anthony Amaral
- Laboratory of Pharmacology and Toxicology of Natural Products, Biological Science Institute, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Brazil
| | - Raína Conceição
- Laboratory of Pharmacology and Toxicology of Natural Products, Biological Science Institute, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Brazil
| | - Gabriela Barbosa
- Laboratory of Pharmacology and Toxicology of Natural Products, Biological Science Institute, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Brazil
| | - Maria Klara Hamoy
- Laboratory of Pharmacology and Toxicology of Natural Products, Biological Science Institute, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Brazil
| | - Anara Barbosa
- Laboratory of Pharmacology and Toxicology of Natural Products, Biological Science Institute, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Brazil
| | - Clarissa Paz
- Laboratory of Pharmacology and Toxicology of Natural Products, Biological Science Institute, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Brazil
| | - Murilo Santos
- Laboratory of Pharmacology and Toxicology of Natural Products, Biological Science Institute, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Brazil
| | - Akira Hamoy
- Laboratory of Pharmacology and Toxicology of Natural Products, Biological Science Institute, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Brazil
| | - Allane Paz
- Laboratory of Pharmacology and Toxicology of Natural Products, Biological Science Institute, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Brazil
| | - Dielly Favacho-Lopes
- Laboratory of Experimental Neuropathology, Biological Science Institute, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Brazil
| | - Vanessa Mello
- Laboratory of Pharmacology and Toxicology of Natural Products, Biological Science Institute, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Brazil
| | - Moisés Hamoy
- Laboratory of Pharmacology and Toxicology of Natural Products, Biological Science Institute, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Brazil
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Qin Y, Huang Y, Lin W, Huang R, Li K, Han X, Ren Y. Neurotoxic effects induced by flunitrazepam and its metabolites in zebrafish: Oxidative stress, apoptosis, and histone hypoacetylation. Sci Total Environ 2024; 917:170521. [PMID: 38290676 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Revised: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
Benzodiazepines (BZDs) have been widely detected in aquatic environments, but their neurotoxic effects and potential mechanisms are still unclear. This study focuses on flunitrazepam (FLZ) and its metabolite, 7-aminoflunitrazepam (7-FLZ), as representative psychotropic BZD. We investigated their neurotoxic effects on adult zebrafish following a 30-day exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations. The findings reveal that exposure to these drugs induces anxiety-like and aggressive behaviors in zebrafish. Additionally, notable morphological damage to brain tissue and mitochondrial structures was observed. Through TUNEL staining, an increase in apoptotic cells was detected in the brain tissue of the exposed group, accompanied by marked elevations in ROS and caspase-3/9 levels. The upregulation of apoptosis-related genes Bax, p53, and Bcl-2 confirmed the occurrence of apoptosis. Furthermore, exposure to the drugs resulted in decreased acetylation levels of brain histones H3 and H4. The upregulation of histone deacetylation enzyme genes (HDAC1, HDAC3, HDAC4, and HDAC6) supported this result. Molecular docking results suggest that compared to 7-FLZ, FLZ has a higher binding affinity with HDAC3 and HDAC4, explaining why it causes lower histone acetylation levels. This study in zebrafish elucidates the neurotoxicity and molecular mechanisms induced by FLZ and 7-FLZ, which is significant for further understanding the impact of BZDs on human health and assessing their ecological risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingjun Qin
- School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, PR China
| | - Yajing Huang
- Guangdong YueGang Water Supply Co. Ltd, Shenzhen 518021, PR China
| | - Wenting Lin
- School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, PR China
| | - Rui Huang
- Guangdong YueGang Water Supply Co. Ltd, Shenzhen 518021, PR China
| | - Kan Li
- Anti-Drug Technology Center of Guangdong Province, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Psychoactive Substances Monitoring and Safety, Guangzhou 510230, PR China
| | - Xing Han
- Anti-Drug Technology Center of Guangdong Province, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Psychoactive Substances Monitoring and Safety, Guangzhou 510230, PR China
| | - Yuan Ren
- School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, PR China; The Key Lab of Pollution Control and Ecosystem Restoration in Industry Clusters, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou 510006, PR China; The Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Eco-Remediation of Guangdong Regular Higher Education Institutions, Guangzhou 510006, PR China.
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Lin W, Qin Y, Ren Y. Flunitrazepam and its metabolites induced brain toxicity: Insights from molecular dynamics simulation and transcriptomic analysis. J Hazard Mater 2024; 465:133113. [PMID: 38043427 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.133113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 11/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
Psychoactive drugs frequently contaminate aquatic environments after human consumption, raising concerns about their residues and ecological harm. This study investigates the effects of flunitrazepam (FLZ) and its metabolite 7-aminoflunitrazepam (7-FLZ), benzodiazepine-class psychoactive drugs, on brain accumulation, blood-brain barrier (BBB), and neuroinflammation of the model organism zebrafish. Molecular dynamics simulation and transcriptome sequencing were used to uncover their toxic mechanisms. Results demonstrate that both FLZ and 7-FLZ can accumulate in the brain, increasing Evans blue levels by 3.4 and 0.8 times, respectively. This increase results from abnormal expression of tight junction proteins, particularly ZO-1 and Occludin, leading to elevated BBB permeability. Furthermore, FLZ and 7-FLZ can also induce neuroinflammation, upregulating TNFα by 91% and 39%, respectively, leading to pathological changes and disrupted intracellular ion balance. Molecular dynamics simulation reveals conformational changes in ZO-1 and Occludin proteins, with FLZ exhibiting stronger binding forces and greater toxicity. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis identifies four modules correlated with BBB permeability and neuroinflammation. KEGG enrichment analysis of genes within these modules reveals pathways like protein processing in the endoplasmic reticulum, NOD-like receptor signaling pathway, and arginine and proline metabolism. This study enhances understanding of FLZ and 7-FLZ neurotoxicity and assesses environmental risks of psychoactive substances. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATION: With the increasing prevalence of mental disorders and the discharge of psychoactive drugs into water, even low drug concentrations (ng/L-μg/L) can pose neurological risks. This study, utilizing molecular dynamic (MD) simulations and transcriptome sequencing, investigate the neurotoxicity and mechanisms of flunitrazepam and 7-aminoflunitrazepam. It reveals that they disrupt the blood-brain barrier in zebrafish and induce neuroinflammation primarily by inducing conformational changes in tight junction proteins. MD simulations are valuable for understanding pollutant-protein interactions. This research offers invaluable insights for the environmental risk assessment of psychoactive drugs and informs the development of strategies aimed at prevention and mitigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenting Lin
- School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, PR China
| | - Yingjun Qin
- School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, PR China
| | - Yuan Ren
- School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, PR China; The Key Lab of Pollution Control and Ecosystem Restoration in Industry Clusters, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou 510006, PR China; The Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Eco-Remediation of Guangdong Regular Higher Education Institutions, Guangzhou 510006, PR China.
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Lin W, Qin Y, Ren Y. Flunitrazepam and its metabolites compromise zebrafish nervous system functionality: An integrated microbiome, metabolome, and genomic analysis. Environ Pollut 2024; 341:122949. [PMID: 37981184 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 10/29/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/21/2023]
Abstract
The psychotropic drug flunitrazepam (FLZ) is frequently detected in aquatic environments, yet its neurotoxicity to aquatic organisms has not received sufficient attention. In this study, microbiome, metabolome, and genome analyses were conducted to study the effects of FLZ and its metabolite 7-aminoflunitrazepam (7-FLZ) on the zebrafish nervous system and understand their toxic mechanisms. The results demonstrated that drug exposure induced gut dysbiosis, decreased short-chain fatty acids and promoted the production of lipopolysaccharides (LPS). LPS entered the brain and interacted with Toll-like receptors to cause neuroinflammation by upregulating the expression of proinflammatory cytokines TNFα and NF-κB. The increased ratio of S-adenosylmethionine to S-adenosylhomocysteine in brain tissues indicated abnormal expression of Dnmt1 gene. Whole-genome bisulfite sequencing displayed an increase in differentially methylated regions (DMRs) associated-genes and pertinent biological pathways encompassed the MAPK signaling pathway, calcium signaling pathway, and Wnt signaling pathway. Correlation analysis confirmed connections between gut microbiota, their metabolites, inflammatory factors, and DNA methylation-related markers in brain tissue. These findings indicate that while the toxicity is somewhat reduced in metabolized products, both FLZ and 7-FLZ can induce DNA methylation in brain tissue and ultimately affect the biological function of the nervous system by disrupting gut microbiota and their metabolites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenting Lin
- School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, PR China
| | - Yingjun Qin
- School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, PR China
| | - Yuan Ren
- School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, PR China; The Key Lab of Pollution Control and Ecosystem Restoration in Industry Clusters, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, 510006, PR China; The Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Eco-Remediation of Guangdong Regular Higher Education Institutions, Guangzhou, 510006, PR China.
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Lin W, Li K, Qin Y, Han X, Chen X, Ren Y. Flunitrazepam induces neurotoxicity in zebrafish through microbiota-gut-brain axis. Sci Total Environ 2023; 901:165974. [PMID: 37532048 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Revised: 07/02/2023] [Accepted: 07/30/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023]
Abstract
The abuse of psychoactive substances has led to their frequent detection in the environment, with unknown effects on the nervous system. In this study, zebrafish were exposed to benzodiazepine drug flunitrazepam (FLZ, 0.2 and 5 μg/L) for 30 days to assess its neurotoxicity. Results revealed that FLZ disrupted the balance of gut microbiota and caused an increase in pathogenic bacteria, such as Paracoccus and Aeromonas, leading to pathological damage to the intestine. The upregulation of intestinal pro-inflammatory factors, IL-1β and TNF-α, by 2.4 and 6.3 times, respectively, along with the downregulation of tight junction proteins, Occludin and zonula occludens 1 (ZO-1), by 80 % and 50 %, increased in intestinal permeability. Moreover, untargeted metabolomics demonstrated that FLZ interfered with intestinal nucleotide metabolism and amino acid biosynthesis. FLZ could also increase the levels of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in the brain by 0.9 and 3.4 times, respectively, leading to pathological changes in brain tissue. Furthermore, FLZ significantly disturbed nucleotide metabolism and amino acid biosynthesis and metabolism pathways in the brain. Correlation analysis between gut microbiota and neurochemicals confirmed that FLZ can induce neurotoxicity through the microbiota-gut-brain axis. These findings elucidate the molecular mechanisms of psychoactive drugs on microbiota-gut-brain axis and provide a theoretical basis for the ecological environmental risk assessment of various psychoactive substances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenting Lin
- School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, PR China
| | - Kan Li
- National Anti-Drug Laboratory Guangdong Regional Center, Guangzhou 510230, PR China; Anti-Drug Technology Center of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou 510230, PR China
| | - Yingjun Qin
- School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, PR China
| | - Xing Han
- National Anti-Drug Laboratory Guangdong Regional Center, Guangzhou 510230, PR China; Anti-Drug Technology Center of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou 510230, PR China
| | - Xiaohui Chen
- School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, PR China
| | - Yuan Ren
- School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, PR China; The Key Lab of Pollution Control and Ecosystem Restoration in Industry Clusters, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou 510006, PR China; The Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Eco-Remediation of Guangdong Regular Higher Education Institutions, Guangzhou 510006, PR China.
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Lin W, Qin Y, Wang X, Du M, Wang Y, Chen X, Ren Y. Flunitrazepam and its metabolites exposure disturb the zebrafish gut-liver axis: Combined microbiome and metabolomic analysis. Aquat Toxicol 2023; 263:106688. [PMID: 37699776 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2023.106688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2023] [Revised: 08/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023]
Abstract
Due to clinical treatment and illegal use, psychoactive substances have been widely detected in the aquatic environment. In this study, we investigated the effects of the benzodiazepine drug flunitrazepam (FLZ) and its metabolite 7-aminoflunitrazepam (7-FLZ) on the gut-liver axis of zebrafish. Zebrafish were exposed to two concentrations of FLZ and 7-FLZ (0.05 and 1 μg/L) for 30 days. Results showed that both FLZ and 7-FLZ exposure altered the relative abundance of Proteobacteria at the phylum level, with significant differences observed at the genus level for pathogenic bacteria such as Paracoccus, Shewanella, and Aeromonas. Metabolomics results showed both exposures significantly interfered with nucleotide and amino acid metabolism. The imbalance of gut microbiota and metabolic disorder increased the level of malondialdehyde, which in turn heightened the permeability of the gut mucosal barrier. FLZ and 7-FLZ induced oxidative stress in the liver via the gut-liver axis, leading to decreased levels of glucose, total cholesterol, and triglyceride, as well as the down-regulation of glycolipid metabolism-related genes (PPARα, PPARγ, FABP2, Fabp11, PFKFB3, and LDHA). Metabolomics results revealed that FLZ and 7-FLZ significantly affected the biosynthesis of amino acids and arginine, and other metabolic pathways such as nucleotide, nicotinate and nicotinamide, and purine in the liver. Our results unveiled the mechanisms behind the toxicological effects of psychoactive substances on the gut-liver axis, providing valuable data for ecological and environmental risk assessments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenting Lin
- School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, PR China
| | - Yingjun Qin
- School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, PR China
| | - Xinying Wang
- School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, PR China
| | - Mingluo Du
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Psychoactive Substances Monitoring and Safety, Anti-Drug Technology Center of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou 510230, PR China
| | - Yukai Wang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Psychoactive Substances Monitoring and Safety, Anti-Drug Technology Center of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou 510230, PR China
| | - Xiaohui Chen
- School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, PR China
| | - Yuan Ren
- School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, PR China; The Key Lab of Pollution Control and Ecosystem Restoration in Industry Clusters, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou 510006, PR China; The Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Eco-Remediation of Guangdong Regular Higher Education Institutions, Guangzhou 510006, China.
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Tantawy MA, Mohamed EH, Yehia AM. All solid-state miniaturized potentiometric sensors for flunitrazepam determination in beverages. Mikrochim Acta 2021; 188:192. [PMID: 34008054 DOI: 10.1007/s00604-021-04851-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Flunitrazepam is one of the frequently used hypnotic drugs to incapacitate victims for sexual assault. Appropriate diagnostic tools should be available to victims regarding the growing concern about "date-rape drugs" and their adverse impact on society. Miniaturized screen-printed potentiometric sensors offer crucial point-of-care devices that alleviate this serious problem. In this study, all solid-state screen-printed potentiometric flunitrazepam sensors have been designed. The paper device was printed with silver and carbon ink. Formation of an aqueous layer in the interface between carbon-conducting material and ion-sensing membrane nevertheless poses low reproducibility in the solid-contact electrodes. Accordingly, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDT) nano-dispersion was applied as a conducting hydrophobic polymer on the electrode surface to curb water accumulation. Conditioning of ion-sensing membrane in the vicinity of reference membrane has been considered carefully using special protocol. Electrochemical characteristics of the proposed PEDT-based sensor were calculated and compared favorably to PEDT-free one. The miniaturized device was successfully used for the determination of flunitrazepam in carbonated soft drinks, energy drink, and malt beverage. Statistical comparison between the proposed sensor and official method revealed no significant difference. Nevertheless, the proposed sensor provides simple and user-friendly diagnostic tool with less equipment for on-site determination of flunitrazepam.
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Adachi K, Beppu S, Nishiyama K, Shimizu M, Yamazaki H. Pharmacokinetics of duloxetine self-administered in overdose with quetiapine and other antipsychotic drugs in a Japanese patient admitted to hospital. J Pharm Health Care Sci 2021; 7:6. [PMID: 33531089 PMCID: PMC7856802 DOI: 10.1186/s40780-021-00189-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2020] [Accepted: 01/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Combinations of antidepressant duloxetine (at doses of 40–60 mg/day) and other antipsychotics are frequently used in clinical treatment; however, several fatal and nonfatal cases of duloxetine overdose have been documented. We experienced a patient who had taken an overdose of duloxetine (780 mg) in combination with other drugs in a suicide attempt. Case presentation The patient was a 37-year-old man (body weight, 64 kg) with a history of gender identity disorder and depression. He intentionally took an overdose of duloxetine in combination with three other antipsychotic drugs (18 mg flunitrazepam, 850 mg quetiapine, and 1100 mg trazodone) and was emergently admitted to Kyoto Medical Center. The patient’s plasma concentration of duloxetine during ambulance transport was 57 ng/ml, and the level was still as high as 126 ng/mL at 32 h after administration. Duloxetine disappeared most slowly from plasma, in contrast to quetiapine, which was the fastest to clear among the four medicines determined in this patient. The observed concentrations of duloxetine in this overdose patient were generally within the 95% confidence intervals of the plasma concentration curves predicted using a physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model. Conclusion Even if more than 1 h (the generally recommended period) has passed after administration of duloxetine in such overdose cases, gastric lavage and/or administration of activated charcoal may be effective in clinical practice up to 6 h because of the typically slow elimination behavior illustrated by the PBPK model. Pharmacokinetic profiles visualized using PBPK modeling can inform treatment decisions in cases of drug overdose for medicines such as duloxetine in emergency clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koichiro Adachi
- Laboratory of Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, Showa Pharmaceutical University, 3-3165 Higashi-tamagawa Gakuen, Machida, Tokyo, 194-8543, Japan.,Kyoto Medical Center, Fushimi-ku, Kyoto, 612-8555, Japan
| | - Satoru Beppu
- Kyoto Medical Center, Fushimi-ku, Kyoto, 612-8555, Japan
| | - Kei Nishiyama
- Kyoto Medical Center, Fushimi-ku, Kyoto, 612-8555, Japan
| | - Makiko Shimizu
- Laboratory of Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, Showa Pharmaceutical University, 3-3165 Higashi-tamagawa Gakuen, Machida, Tokyo, 194-8543, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Yamazaki
- Laboratory of Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, Showa Pharmaceutical University, 3-3165 Higashi-tamagawa Gakuen, Machida, Tokyo, 194-8543, Japan.
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Chen TW, Rajaji U, Chen SM, Muthumariyappan A, Mogren MMA, Jothi Ramalingam R, Hochlaf M. Facile synthesis of copper(II) oxide nanospheres covered on functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes modified electrode as rapid electrochemical sensing platform for super-sensitive detection of antibiotic. Ultrason Sonochem 2019; 58:104596. [PMID: 31450358 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultsonch.2019.05.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2019] [Revised: 05/07/2019] [Accepted: 05/09/2019] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Herein, we report a super-active electrocatalyst of copper(II) oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) decorated functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (CuO NPs@f-MWCNTs) by the ultrasonic method. The as-synthesized CuO NPs@f-MWCNTs was characterized through the FESEM, XPS, XRD and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The combination of highly active CuO NPs and highly conductive f-MWCNTs film with rapid detection enables this nanohybrid to display excellent electrochemical performance towards anesthesia drug. Furthermore, the hybrid electrocatalyst modified SPCE was developed for the determination of flunitrazepam (FTM) for the first time. FTM is important anesthesia drug with high adverse effect in human body. Benefiting from the synergistic reaction of CuO NPs and f-MWCNTs, this nanohybrid exhibited high sensitivity and specificity towards FTM electro-reduction. The CuO NPs@f-MWCNTs film modified SPCE exhibits outstanding electrochemical activity including excellent reproducibility, wide linear range from 0.05 to 346.6 µM with nanomolar limit of detection for FTM detection. Further, the as-modified CuO NPs@f-MWCNTs/SPCE has been applied to determination of FTM in biological and drug samples with satisfactory recovery results, thereby showing a notable potential for extensive (bio) sensor applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tse-Wei Chen
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, National Taipei University of Technology, No. 1, Section 3, Chung-Hsiao East Road, Taipei 106, Taiwan; Research and Development Center for Smart Textile Technology, National Taipei University of Technology, No. 1, Section 3, Chung-Hsiao East Road, Taipei 106, Taiwan
| | - Umamaheswari Rajaji
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, National Taipei University of Technology, No. 1, Section 3, Chung-Hsiao East Road, Taipei 106, Taiwan
| | - Shen-Ming Chen
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, National Taipei University of Technology, No. 1, Section 3, Chung-Hsiao East Road, Taipei 106, Taiwan.
| | - Akilarasan Muthumariyappan
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, National Taipei University of Technology, No. 1, Section 3, Chung-Hsiao East Road, Taipei 106, Taiwan
| | - Muneerah Mogren Al Mogren
- Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - R Jothi Ramalingam
- Surfactant Research Chair, Chemistry Department, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box-2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Majdi Hochlaf
- Laboratoire Modelisation et Simulation Multi Echelle, MSME UMR 8208 CNRS, Universit́ e Paris-Est, ́5 Blvd. Descartes, 77454 Marne-la-Vallee, France
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Leung TK, Lee CM, Gasbarri M, Chen YC. Base on concept of traditional Chinese medicine: Experimental studies on efficacy of BIOCERAMIC Resonance to alleviate drug withdrawal symptoms. J Tradit Complement Med 2019; 9:257-262. [PMID: 31453120 PMCID: PMC6702142 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtcme.2018.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2017] [Revised: 01/09/2018] [Accepted: 01/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Those who are challenged by dependency on prescription drugs or suffer drug addictions have few options available to them for recovery, such as psychotherapy and physiotherapy. Here we present a new approach with clinical examples involving stimulant addiction or overdose of hypnotic drugs that were received BIOCERAMIC Resonance, which was developed based on concept of 12 meridian channels of traditional Chinese medicine, and has successful withdrawal or dose reduction benefits. We describe the whole process and the clinical outcome. And by help of our previous publication on functional MRI, we discuss the possible brain locations response to BIOCERAMIC Resonance that may be corresponding to the beneficial effects of relief of depression, sleep deprivation and other mental symptoms that associate with substance abuse and withdrawal effects. We suggest this could be potentially widely application on substances abuse.
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Tseliou F, Pappas P, Spyrou K, Hrbac J, Prodromidis MI. Lab-on-a-screen-printed electrochemical cell for drop-volume voltammetric screening of flunitrazepam in untreated, undiluted alcoholic and soft drinks. Biosens Bioelectron 2019; 132:136-42. [PMID: 30870640 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2019.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2019] [Revised: 03/03/2019] [Accepted: 03/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Flunitrazepam, also known as "Rohypnol" or "Rophy" among other trade and street names, is an extremely potent benzodiazepine that is prescribed to treat severe insomnia. Due to these attributes, flunitrazepam, when is surreptitiously administered to an alcoholic or soft drink, is associated with "drug-facilitated sexual assault". We report here for the first time, a low cost lab-on-a-screen-printed electrochemical cell (SPC) based on iron-sparked graphite working electrode modified with glucose oxidase (GOx) and glucose hydrogel droplets (GluHD) for the detection of flunitrazepam. Iron-spark modification increases the response of the sensor by ca. 3-fold compared with that of the plain electrode, while an in situ deoxygenation process, based on GOx-glucose enzyme reaction, depletes dissolved oxygen. As a result, the method enables interference free voltammetric measurements of the electro reduction of the nitro group of flunitrazepam at ca. -0.71 to -0.78 V vs. Ag printed pseudo reference electrode depending on the sample's matrix, and the detection of the drug at the sub-millimolar level. GOx/GluHD-FeSPC was directly applied to the drop-volume (∼60 μL) detection of flunitrazepam to a wide range of untreated and undiluted spiked samples (Pepsi cola®, Vodka, Whisky, Tequila, Gin, and Rum) of different acidity (pH 2.3-8.4), and alcohol content up to 40% v/v. Data demonstrate the excellent performance of the sensor for point-of-need screening of flunitrazepam and suggest that GOx/GluHD-FeSPC holds promise as an effective analytical tool to prevent phenomena of covert drug administration.
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Dinis-Oliveira RJ. Metabolic Profile of Flunitrazepam: Clinical and Forensic Toxicological Aspects. Drug Metab Lett 2018; 11:14-20. [PMID: 28403803 DOI: 10.2174/1872312811666170407164216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2017] [Revised: 03/14/2017] [Accepted: 03/22/2017] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Flunitrazepam (FNZ) is a potent hypnotic, sedative, and amnestic drug used to treat insomnia and as a pre-anesthetic agent. The illicit practice in drug-facilitated sexual assault led to important clinical and forensic concerns. OBJECTIVE In this work the metabolism of FNZ, and pharmacological- and toxicological-related effects, were fully reviewed. METHODS FNZ and related known metabolizing enzymes and metabolites were searched in books and in PubMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine) without a limiting period. RESULTS Major metabolic pathways include N-demethylation, 3-hydroxylation, nitro-reduction, and further N-acetylation of the amino group, yielding N-desmethylflunitrazepam, 3-hydroxy-flunitrazepam, 7-aminoflunitrazepam, and 7-acetamidoflunitrazepam, respectively. A combination of these reactions may lead to the formation of 7-amino-N-desmethylflunitrazepam, 7-acetamido-N-desmethylflunitrazepam, 3- hydroxy-7-aminoflunitrazepam, 3-hydroxy-7-acetamidoflunitrazepam, 3-hydroxy-N-desmethylflunitrazepam and glucuronide conjugates. Genotypic variations in enzymes, interactions with other drugs or stability of FNZ during storage can result in large interindividual variability in the toxicological results. CONCLUSION It is aimed that knowing the metabolism of FNZ may lead to the development of new analytical strategies for early detection, since this drug is typically present in very low concentrations in blood and urine when used to facilitate sexual assault.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo Jorge Dinis-Oliveira
- IINFACTS - Institute of Research and Advanced Training in Health Sciences and Technologies, Department of Sciences, University Institute of Health Sciences (IUCS), CESPU, CRL, Gandra, Portugal.,UCIBIO-REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.,Department of Public Health and Forensic Sciences, and Medical Education, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
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Galizio M, Mathews M, Mason M, Panoz-Brown D, Prichard A, Soto P. Amnestic drugs in the odor span task: Effects of flunitrazepam, zolpidem and scopolamine. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2017; 145:67-74. [PMID: 28893667 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2017.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2017] [Revised: 08/10/2017] [Accepted: 09/07/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
The odor span task is an incrementing non-matching-to-sample procedure designed to provide an analysis of working memory capacity in rodents. The procedure takes place in an arena apparatus and rats are exposed to a series of odor stimuli in the form of scented lids with the selection of new stimuli reinforced. This procedure makes it possible to study drug effects as a function of the number of stimuli to remember. In the present study, the non-selective positive allosteric GABAA receptor modulator flunitrazepam impaired odor span performance at doses that did not affect a control odor discrimination. In contrast, the alpha-1 selective positive GABAA receptor modulator zolpidem and the cholinergic receptor antagonist scopolamine only impaired odor span at doses that produced more global impairment, including decreased accuracy in the control discrimination and increased response omissions in the both the odor span and control discrimination procedures. Even though the effects of flunitrazepam were selective to odor span performance, they did not depend on the number of stimuli to remember-the same degree of impairment occurred regardless of the memory load. These findings suggest that flunitrazepam interfered selectively with conditional discrimination performance rather than working memory and tentatively suggest that flunitrazepam's selective effects in the odor span task relative to the control odor discrimination are mediated by one or more non-alpha1 GABAA receptor subtypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Galizio
- University of North Carolina Wilmington, United States.
| | | | | | | | | | - Paul Soto
- Louisiana State University, United States
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Talarek S, Listos J, Orzelska-Gorka J, Jakobczuk M, Kotlinska J, Biala G. The Importance of L-Arginine:NO:cGMP Pathway in Tolerance to Flunitrazepam in Mice. Neurotox Res 2016; 31:309-316. [PMID: 27957675 PMCID: PMC5236083 DOI: 10.1007/s12640-016-9688-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2016] [Revised: 11/23/2016] [Accepted: 12/01/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The goal of the study was to investigate the effects of drugs modifying l-arginine:NO:cGMP pathway on the development of tolerance to flunitrazepam (FNZ)-induced motor impairment in mice. FNZ-induced motor incoordination was assessed on the 1st and 8th days of experiment, using the rotarod and chimney tests. It was found that (a) both a non-selective nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor: NG-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME) and an unselective neuronal NOS inhibitor: 7-nitroindazole (7-NI) inhibited the development of tolerance to the motor-impairing effects of FNZ in the rotarod and the chimney tests and (b) both a NO precursor: l-arginine and a selective inhibitor of phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5): sildenafil did not affect the development of tolerance to FNZ-induced motor impairment in mice. Those findings provided behavioural evidence that NO could contribute an important role in the development of tolerance to FNZ in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylwia Talarek
- Chair and Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacodynamics, Medical University of Lublin, Chodzki 4A, 20-093, Lublin, Poland.
| | - Joanna Listos
- Chair and Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacodynamics, Medical University of Lublin, Chodzki 4A, 20-093, Lublin, Poland
| | - Jolanta Orzelska-Gorka
- Chair and Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacodynamics, Medical University of Lublin, Chodzki 4A, 20-093, Lublin, Poland
| | - Malgorzata Jakobczuk
- Chair and Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacodynamics, Medical University of Lublin, Chodzki 4A, 20-093, Lublin, Poland
| | - Jolanta Kotlinska
- Chair and Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacodynamics, Medical University of Lublin, Chodzki 4A, 20-093, Lublin, Poland
| | - Grazyna Biala
- Chair and Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacodynamics, Medical University of Lublin, Chodzki 4A, 20-093, Lublin, Poland
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Orzelska-Gorka J, Talarek S, Listos J, Kedzierska E, Fidecka S. l-NAME differential effects on diazepam and flunitrazepam responses of rats in the object recognition test. Pharmacol Rep 2016; 68:728-32. [PMID: 27127911 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharep.2016.03.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2015] [Revised: 03/17/2016] [Accepted: 03/17/2016] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The present study was undertaken to better understand possible interaction(s) between a non-selective nitric oxide inhibitor: N(G)-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME) and benzodiazepines (BZs) in recognition memory. METHODS The study was carried out on adult male albino Wistar rats. A novel object recognition (NOR) task was used to evaluate memory process. RESULTS Combined administration of l-NAME (50mg/kg, ip) with a threshold dose of DZ (0.25mg/kg) induced amnesic effects in rats, participating in the NOR test. On the other hand, following a combined administration of l-NAME (100mg/kg, ip) with flunitrazepam (FNZ; 0.1mg/kg), it was found out that l-NAME inhibited the amnesic effects of FNZ on rats in the NOR test. CONCLUSIONS The obtained results suggest that suppressed NO synthesis may lead to a facilitation of DZ-induced memory impairment but surprisingly may prevent amnesic effect after FNZ in rats, submitted to NOR task.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jolanta Orzelska-Gorka
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacodynamics, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland.
| | - Sylwia Talarek
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacodynamics, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland
| | - Joanna Listos
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacodynamics, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland
| | - Ewa Kedzierska
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacodynamics, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland
| | - Sylwia Fidecka
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacodynamics, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland
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Orzelska J, Talarek S, Listos J, Fidecka S. Divergent effects of L-arginine-NO pathway modulators on diazepam and flunitrazepam responses in NOR task performance. Behav Brain Res 2015; 284:179-86. [PMID: 25698597 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2015.02.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2014] [Revised: 02/02/2015] [Accepted: 02/06/2015] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The goal of the study was an evaluation of the degree, in which nitric oxide (NO) is involved in the benzodiazepines (BZs)-induced recognition memory impairment in rats. The novel object recognition (NOR) test was used to examine recognition memory. The current research focused on the object memory impairing effects of diazepam (DZ; 0.5 and 1mg/kg, sc) and flunitrazepam (FNZ; 0.1 and 0.2mg/kg; sc) in 1-hour delay periods in rats. It was found that acute ip injection of L-arginine (L-arg; 250 and 500 mg/kg; ip), 5 min before DZ administration (0.5mg/kg, sc) prevented DZ-induced memory deficits. On the other hand, it was also proven that L-arg (125, 250 and 500 mg/kg; ip) did not change the behaviour of rats in the NOR test, following a combined administration with FNZ at a threshold dose (0.05 mg/kg; sc). It was also found that 7-nitroindazole (7-NI; 10, 20 and 40 mg/kg; ip) induced amnesic effects in DZ in rats, submitted to the NOR test, following a combined administration of 7-NI with a threshold dose of DZ (0.25mg/kg; sc). However, following a combined administration of 7-NI (10, 20 and 40 mg/kg; ip) with FNZ (0.1mg/kg; sc), it was observed that 7-NI inhibited the amnesic effects of FNZ on rats in the NOR test. Those findings led us to hypothesize that NO synthesis suppression may induce amnesic effects of DZ, while preventing FNZ memory impairment in rats, submitted to NOR tasks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jolanta Orzelska
- Chair and Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacodynamics, Medical University of Lublin, Chodzki 4A, 20-093 Lublin, Poland.
| | - Sylwia Talarek
- Chair and Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacodynamics, Medical University of Lublin, Chodzki 4A, 20-093 Lublin, Poland
| | - Joanna Listos
- Chair and Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacodynamics, Medical University of Lublin, Chodzki 4A, 20-093 Lublin, Poland
| | - Sylwia Fidecka
- Chair and Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacodynamics, Medical University of Lublin, Chodzki 4A, 20-093 Lublin, Poland
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Kataoka H, Kajiwara H, Yano E. Psychotropic drug-associated electrocardiographic presentation of diffuse J-waves in hypothermia: case report and literature review. Heart Vessels 2016; 31:996-1002. [PMID: 25666953 DOI: 10.1007/s00380-015-0646-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2014] [Accepted: 01/30/2015] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
The use of psychotropic drugs is often associated with electrocardiographic (ECG) QT-interval prolongation, but there are few reports of J-waves. This report describes the case of a schizophrenic patient under treatment with several psychotropic drugs (olanzapine, valproate, and flunitrazepam), in whom ECG J-waves diffusely appeared during a hypothermic episode. We further performed a literature review of psychotropic drug-related J-waves in hypothermia. The present case highlights the importance of recognizing psychotropic drug-related ECG J-waves on an early warning sign to ensure appropriate monitoring and/or treatment for possible life-threatening side effects of such medications.
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Ramadan ASE, Wenanu O, Cock ADE, Maes V, Lheureux P, Mols P. Chemical submission to commit robbery: a series of involuntary intoxications with flunitrazepam in Asian travellers in Brussels. J Forensic Leg Med 2013; 20:918-21. [PMID: 24112346 DOI: 10.1016/j.jflm.2013.06.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2012] [Revised: 06/17/2013] [Accepted: 06/28/2013] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Between January 17, 2003 and August 29, 2003, the Emergency Department admitted a patient who had been surreptitiously intoxicated and robbed of his valuables every Friday. The first cases were considered anecdotal, but criminal activity was rapidly suspected. The cohort includes 16 male Asian patients aged 28-50 years. All the victims had just arrived in Brussels through one of the main rail station of the town and were admitted via the emergency ambulance service from different locations in the centre of Brussels around the CHU Saint-Pierre Hospital. Haemodynamic parameters upon admission were within normal limits. The Glasgow Coma Scale was equal or higher than 9/15 in 14 of the 16 victims. Toxicology screening obtained in 12 patients revealed the presence of flunitrazepam, which was further quantified at levels ranging from 21 to 75 μg/l. One of the Japanese patients, who returned to Belgium afterwards for professional reasons, was approached by the police and accepted to press charges. This allowed the police to investigate and send undercover agents to the railway station on Friday afternoons and evenings. They found a person who was offering welcome cookies to Asian travellers. He arrived from Amsterdam and returned once his crime was committed. Flunitrazepam is well known as a rape drug. We report a series of victims in whom flunitrazepam was used to facilitate robbery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed S E Ramadan
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Saint-Pierre, Brussels, Belgium, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB).
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