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Giorgetti A, Pascali JP, Pelletti G, Garagnani M, Roffi R, Grech M, Fais P. Optimizing screening cutoffs for drugs of abuse in hair using immunoassay for forensic applications. ADV CLIN EXP MED 2024; 34:0-0. [PMID: 38411387 DOI: 10.17219/acem/183124] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In forensic toxicology, positive immunoassay (IA) test results do not hold forensic validity and need to be confirmed with mass spectrometry (MS). On the other hand, a negative result is a strong indication that the drug and/or the drug metabolites are not present in the sample and that confirmatory analyses are not necessary. Consequently, a negative IA result must have forensic validity since it can be admitted in court during a trial. OBJECTIVES Screening cutoffs for the analysis of hair samples using immunoassays (IAs) were retrospectively optimized based on the Society of Hair Testing (SoHT) confirmation cutoffs and the utility of the test for forensic applications was discussed. MATERIAL AND METHODS Hair samples taken from 150 patients with a history of drug addiction were analyzed with ILab 650, Werfen (Milan, Italy) using DRI® reagents. Confirmatory analyses were subsequently performed using the ACQUITY UPLC® System, Waters Corporation (Milford, USA). Screening cutoffs were retrospectively optimized using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. RESULTS A total of 162 single positive results were obtained for confirmatory analysis (10 for amphetamines/methamphetamines, 11 for MDMA, 37 for cocaine, 40 for THC, 33 for methadone, and 31 for opiates). The optimized screening cutoffs were 0.27 IA ng/mg for amphetamines, 0.51 IA ng/mg for MDMA, 0.59 IA ng/mg for cocaine, 0.14 IA ng/mg for cannabinoids, 0.63 IA ng/mg for methadone, and 0.26 IA ng/mg for opiates. An area under the curve (AUC) greater than 0.95 was obtained with very high sensitivity and specificity for all drugs. CONCLUSIONS The presented screening method proved to be a useful technique on hair samples for the classes of drugs most commonly found in Italy and Europe and can be applied to forensic analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arianna Giorgetti
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Unit of Legal Medicine, University of Bologna, Italy
| | - Jennifer P Pascali
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Unit of Legal Medicine, University of Bologna, Italy
| | - Guido Pelletti
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Unit of Legal Medicine, University of Bologna, Italy
| | - Marco Garagnani
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Unit of Legal Medicine, University of Bologna, Italy
| | - Raffaella Roffi
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Unit of Legal Medicine, University of Bologna, Italy
| | | | - Paolo Fais
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Unit of Legal Medicine, University of Bologna, Italy
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Pascali JP, Giorgetti A, Pelletti G, Morini L, Mohamed S, Barbaresi M, Cecchi R, Pelotti S, Fais P. Determination of ethyl glucuronide in hair and self-reported alcohol consumption in university students. Forensic Sci Med Pathol 2023:10.1007/s12024-023-00727-x. [PMID: 37796377 DOI: 10.1007/s12024-023-00727-x] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023]
Abstract
Young individuals constitute an intriguing population, as their drinking habits are notably shaped by their perception of their peers' alcohol consumption. Nonetheless, excessive alcohol intake can have detrimental effects on academic performance, interpersonal relationships, and the risk and severity of accidents. This study reported the first data involving students enrolled from three universities on a voluntary basis for alcohol consumption evaluation. Alcohol consumption was assessed through questionnaires and EtG quantification in hair (hEtG) carried out by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis after a solid-phase extraction (SPE) purification step. The results of our study demonstrated that 77.1% of samples tested negative for hEtG or displayed hEtG ≤ 5 pg/mg. Particularly, the student population was not characterized by samples with hEtG indicative of chronic excessive consumption (hEtG ≥ 30 pg/mg). No significant association was identified between biological sex, among the degree course/the year attended, nor in relation to BMI or smoking/coffee consumption. Among the obtained results, it was worth noting that the comparison of self-reporting abstinence from tobacco and coffee accounted for 65.3% and 16.7%, respectively, while only 2.8% of the total declared abstinence from alcohol. The current study has uncovered a significant level of interest among students in this analysis and its interpretation. This suggests that implementing public health promotion activities within a university setting could be beneficial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer P Pascali
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Unit of Legal Medicine, University of Bologna, via Irnerio 49, Bologna, Italy
| | - Arianna Giorgetti
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Unit of Legal Medicine, University of Bologna, via Irnerio 49, Bologna, Italy
| | - Guido Pelletti
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Unit of Legal Medicine, University of Bologna, via Irnerio 49, Bologna, Italy.
| | - Luca Morini
- Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Susan Mohamed
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Unit of Legal Medicine, University of Bologna, via Irnerio 49, Bologna, Italy
| | - Marta Barbaresi
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Unit of Legal Medicine, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Rossana Cecchi
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Unit of Legal Medicine, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Susi Pelotti
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Unit of Legal Medicine, University of Bologna, via Irnerio 49, Bologna, Italy
| | - Paolo Fais
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Unit of Legal Medicine, University of Bologna, via Irnerio 49, Bologna, Italy
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Piva E, Fais P, Ioime P, Forcato M, Viel G, Cecchetto G, Pascali JP. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) presence in food: Comparison among fresh, frozen and ready-to-eat vegetables. Food Chem 2023; 410:135415. [PMID: 36652797 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2023.135415] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2022] [Revised: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
There is a worldwide discussion to provide safety limits in food for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a group of persistent contaminants associated to human disease. Processed food is more at risk of containing increased amounts of PFAS as a consequence of intentionally or non-intentionally contamination during manipulation and packaging. Among food products, also vegetables can be submitted to industrial manipulation; therefore, a different PFAS content correlated to the level of vegetables processing is conceivable. This study assessed the amount and type of PFAS present in fresh, frozen and ready-to-eat vegetables. Differences have been observed between the three groups of samples in the average PFAS content; the difference between ready-to eat and frozen vegetables resulted statistically significative. Organic vegetables displayed a lower total amount of PFAS respect to the traditional counterpart. The impact of industrial manipulation remains to be cleared, but pesticides use during cultivation could be considered a source of PFAS contamination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Piva
- dtoLABS, Via Pozzuoli, 13C/13D, 30038 Spinea (VE), Italy
| | - Paolo Fais
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Unit of Legal Medicine, University of Bologna, Via Irnerio 49, 40126 Bologna, Italy.
| | - Pasquale Ioime
- dtoLABS, Via Pozzuoli, 13C/13D, 30038 Spinea (VE), Italy
| | - Mattia Forcato
- Department of Cardiologic, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, University of Padova, Via Falloppio 50, 35127 Padova, Italy
| | - Guido Viel
- Department of Cardiologic, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, University of Padova, Via Falloppio 50, 35127 Padova, Italy
| | - Giovanni Cecchetto
- Department of Cardiologic, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, University of Padova, Via Falloppio 50, 35127 Padova, Italy
| | - Jennifer P Pascali
- Department of Cardiologic, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, University of Padova, Via Falloppio 50, 35127 Padova, Italy
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Pascali JP, Piva E, Bonasoni MP, Migliavacca C, Seidenari A, Fais P. Analysis and distribution of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in decidua and villi placenta explants. Environ Res 2023; 229:115955. [PMID: 37119845 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.115955] [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: 01/27/2023] [Revised: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Placenta mediates the transfer of nutrients, oxygen and drugs from mother to fetus. It is constituted by two cellular layers separated by the intervillous space: the outer is in direct contact with maternal blood (decidua placenta), and the inner (villi) directly in contact with the fetus. Environmental contaminants, such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) also demonstrated the ability to cross the tissue multiple layers, posing at risk the health of the fetus. The aim of the present study was to analyse the PFAS amount in decidua and villi placenta explants and to study differences in their distribution among the two side of this organ. The determination of 23 PFAS was carried out by liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution accurate mass spectrometry (LC-HRAM). Our research included women who delivered at term between 2021 and 2022. Our data indicated that all samples contained at least one PFAS, demonstrating the ubiquitarian presence of these compounds in our population. A high occurrence of PFOS, PFOA and PFHxS, followed by PFHxA, PFBS and PFUnA was found. The fluorotelomer 6:2 FTS was also present in more than 40% of samples and this represent the first data on placenta explants. Mean and median PFAS values for decidual explants were 0.5 ng/g and 0.4 ng/g (SD 0.3), while for villi explants mean and median values were 0.6 ng/g and 0.4 ng/g (SD 0.4). A different pattern of accumulation was observed between villi and decidual explants for PFOS, PFOA and PFUnA (villi > decidua) and PFHxA, PFHxS, PFBS and 6:2 FTS (decidua > villi). Even if the mechanism of this selectively accumuation is not yet understood, molecular degree of ionization and its lipophilicity could at least in part explain this difference. This study expands the limited data describing PFAS levels in the placenta and pose attention on PFAS exposure during pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer P Pascali
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, Unit of Legal Medicine and Toxicology, University of Padova, Via Giustiniani, 2, 35127, Padova, Italy.
| | - Elena Piva
- dtoLABS, Via Pozzuoli, 13C/13D, 30038, Spinea (VE), Italy
| | | | - Costanza Migliavacca
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Azienda USL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, 42122, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Anna Seidenari
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Unit of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Bologna, Via Massarenti 9, 40126, Bologna, Italy
| | - Paolo Fais
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Unit of Legal Medicine, University of Bologna, Via Irnerio 49, 40126, Bologna, Italy
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Pascali JP, Giorgetti A, Barone R, Pelletti G, Fais P. Valproic acid determination by liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) in whole blood for forensic purposes. Drug Test Anal 2023; 15:128-133. [PMID: 36028251 PMCID: PMC10086813 DOI: 10.1002/dta.3362] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Revised: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Valproic acid (VPA) is a well-known drug prescribed as anti-epileptic. It has a narrow therapeutic range and shows great individual differences in pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics. Consequently, the therapeutical drug monitoring (TDM) in patient's plasma is of crucial importance. Liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) has gained importance in TDM applications for its features of sensitivity, selectivity and rapidity. However, in case of VPA, the LC-MS/MS selectivity could be hampered by the lack of a sufficient number of multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) transitions describing the molecule. In fact, the product ion scan of deprotonated molecules of VPA does not produce any ion and thus most LC-MS/MS methods are based on the detection of the unique MRM transition m/z 143➔143. In this way, the advantages of selectivity in LC-MS cannot be effectively exploited. In the present method, stable analyte adducts were exploited for the determination of VPA in blood. An Acquity HSS C18 column and mobile phases consisting of 5-mM ammonium formate and acetonitrile both added 0.1% formic acid were used. Source worked in negative acquisition mode and parameters were optimized to increase the adduct (m/z 189) and dimer (m/z 287) stability, and their fragmentation were used to increase the selectivity of MRM detection. The method has been validated according to the toxicological forensic guidelines and successfully applied to 10 real blood samples. Finally, the present method showed suitable for the rapid LC-MS/MS detection of VPA in whole blood, demonstrating the possibility to increase specificity by exploiting stable in-source adducts. This should be considered of utmost importance in the case of forensic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer P Pascali
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Arianna Giorgetti
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Unit of Legal Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Rossella Barone
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Unit of Legal Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Guido Pelletti
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Unit of Legal Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Paolo Fais
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Unit of Legal Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
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Pascali JP, Piva E, Ioime P, Forcato M, Boscolo-Berto R, Rondinelli R, Fais P. Multiple prohibited ingredients detected in nutritional supplements in a case of adverse analytical finding (AAF). Drug Test Anal 2022; 14:1791-1794. [PMID: 35867601 DOI: 10.1002/dta.3345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2022] [Revised: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer P Pascali
- Unit of Legal Medicine and Toxicology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | | | | | - Mattia Forcato
- Unit of Legal Medicine and Toxicology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Rafael Boscolo-Berto
- Section of Anatomy, Department of Neuroscience, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | | | - Paolo Fais
- Unit of Legal Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
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7
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Piva E, Ioime P, Dall'Ara S, Fais P, Pascali JP. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) determination in shellfish by liquid chromatography coupled to accurate mass spectrometry. Drug Test Anal 2022; 14:1652-1659. [PMID: 35562100 DOI: 10.1002/dta.3282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Revised: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Sonia Dall'Ara
- National Reference Laboratory for Marine Biotoxins, Fondazione Centro Ricerche Marine, Cesenatico, Italy
| | - Paolo Fais
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Unit of Legal Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Jennifer P Pascali
- Department of Cardiologic, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences- Legal Medicine and Toxicology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
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8
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Pascali JP, Dagoli S, Antonioni M, Facetti O, Anzillotti L, Calò L, Affini GF, Cantarelli B, Cecchi R. Oral fluid analysis to monitor recent exposure to synthetic cannabinoids in a high-risk subpopulation. J Forensic Sci 2022; 67:1932-1937. [PMID: 35642776 DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.15067] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Revised: 05/13/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Among novel psychoactive substances, synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists (SCRA) seem to have the widest diffusion in the population with no limitation to any particular demographic group. Information on drug consumption relies mostly on anonymized surveys and less on clinical or analytical data; notwithstanding, the huge efforts constantly made to enroll subjects to gather epidemiological data. In the present study, we collected 66 oral fluid samples from volunteers in a drug rehabilitation center in 2019 and early 2020. A liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry method previously developed and validated by our Unit was applied to detect SCRA (n = 10) in oral fluid. Results proved the presence of synthetic cannabinoids at a positivity rate of almost 20%, with detection frequency HU211(5/13) > UR144/JWH122 (3/13) > JWH019/JWH081/AM2201 (1/13). Concentrations were in the range < LOQ -0.36 ng/ml. Synthetic cannabinoids consumption had not been declared by any volunteer. This study enabled for the unprecedent detection of synthetic cannabinoids use in the territory of Parma (Italy) in a high-risk subpopulation. The identified SCRA proved the persistence into the market of the "first-generation" JWH family into the Italian territory and the marketing of relatively new ones (AM-2201). Public health consequences represented by NPS consumption are still scarce; therefore, further studies are needed to understand the real diffusion in the population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer P Pascali
- Legal medicine and toxicology, Department of Cardiologic, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Sara Dagoli
- Legal Medicine, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | | | - Olivia Facetti
- Service for Pathological Dependencies (SerDp), Parma, Italy
| | - Luca Anzillotti
- Legal Medicine, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Luca Calò
- Legal Medicine, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | | | | | - Rossana Cecchi
- Legal Medicine, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
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Giorgetti A, Pelletti G, Fais P, Giovannini E, Barone R, Pelotti S, Pascali JP. The use of fly artifacts in a crime scene: Is there any application for forensic toxicology? J Forensic Sci 2021; 67:749-755. [PMID: 34729777 DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.14930] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2021] [Revised: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Fly artifacts (FA) are bloodstains resulting from insect activity at a crime scene, usually by feeding on human blood. Whether these artifactual stains might be useful for forensic toxicological investigations in cases of absence of conventional and unconventional matrices, for example, in cases concealment of the body or of extensive putrefaction, has not yet been investigated. The purpose of this study is to understand if FA trace evidence permits toxicological analysis when traditional matrices are not available. To this aim, FA experimentally produced by Calliphora vomitoria feeding on human blood of a cocaine and heroin user were collected from absorptive and non-absorptive material. FA material was analyzed by a new simple and fast LC-MS/MS method. Results were evaluated in terms of presence of the drug and relative amount of the detected molecules. From a qualitative point of view, the analysis of FA revealed all the substances originally detected in post-mortem blood in both cases. The ratios of cocaine/benzoylecgonine, codeine/morphine, and 6-monoacetylmorphine/morphine recovered in FA from cotton-textile materials and from non-absorptive surfaces were consistent with data resulted from original post-mortem blood. The preliminary study herein reported demonstrated that FA are extremely informative in case of cocaine and heroin users and merit further research in order to be applied in real caseworks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arianna Giorgetti
- Unit of Legal Medicine, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Guido Pelletti
- Unit of Legal Medicine, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Paolo Fais
- Unit of Legal Medicine, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Elena Giovannini
- Unit of Legal Medicine, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Rossella Barone
- Unit of Legal Medicine, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Susi Pelotti
- Unit of Legal Medicine, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Jennifer P Pascali
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
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Politi C, Gabbin A, Cecchetto G, Montisci M, Viel G, Pascali JP. A case study on MDMA. Two fatal cases involving young adults. AUST J FORENSIC SCI 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/00450618.2021.1921267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Caterina Politi
- Department of Cardiac-Thoracic-Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Andrea Gabbin
- Department of Cardiac-Thoracic-Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Giovanni Cecchetto
- Department of Cardiac-Thoracic-Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Massimo Montisci
- Department of Cardiac-Thoracic-Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Guido Viel
- Department of Cardiac-Thoracic-Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Jennifer P. Pascali
- Department of Cardiac-Thoracic-Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
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Piva E, Giorgetti A, Ioime P, Morini L, Freni F, Faro FL, Pirani F, Montisci M, Fais P, Pascali JP. Hair determination of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the Italian population. Toxicology 2021; 458:152849. [PMID: 34217792 DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2021.152849] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2021] [Revised: 06/24/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are anthropogenic chemicals present in the environment and defined as persistent organic pollutants (POPs). The interest in these forms of contaminants is related to the toxic consequences for health derived from exposures and bioaccumulation processes. The present research aims at assessing differences in the exposure of PFAS in the Italian population by hair analyses. To this aim, 20 compounds of the PFAS family were investigated in hair of 86 Italian subjects distributed across the regions of Veneto, Emilia-Romagna, Lombardy and Marche. The applied method was ad hoc developed in a previous research and included SPE extraction and LC-QTOF analysis. In the analyzed population, 66.4 % had quantifiable amounts of one or more PFAS molecules (up to 4 compounds); mean PFAS content, expressed as sum of PFAS, was 0.1457 ng/g, ranging from "not detected" to 0.85 ng/g (SD 0.1867). PFOA and PFOS were the chemicals most frequently detected, with mean concentrations of 0.1402 ng/g and 0.1155 ng/g, respectively. PFBA was detected in 9.3 % of subjects with a mean concentration of 0.3760 ng/g; PFNA in 3.5 % of subjects with mean concentration 0.12 ng/g; PFDA was found in one subject at the concentration of 0.541 ng/g. PFUnA and PFHxS were detected below the limit of quantification. The overall results displayed differences in the presence and prevalence of PFAS in hair of the Italian population on a geographical base. On the contrary, no significatively differences in the amount of PFAS were observed when considering gender or age classes. On this base, hair can be considered a good diagnostic tool to assess PFAS exposure on a regional-scaled base. Of course, more studies are required to infer PFAS internal dose from hair results due to its peculiar detection window and to interpretative issues derived from external contamination.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Piva
- dtoLABS, Via Pozzuoli, 13C/13D, 30038, Spinea, VE, Italy
| | - A Giorgetti
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Unit of Legal Medicine, University of Bologna, Via Irnerio 49, 40126, Bologna, Italy
| | - P Ioime
- dtoLABS, Via Pozzuoli, 13C/13D, 30038, Spinea, VE, Italy
| | - L Morini
- Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine, University of Pavia, Via Forlanini, 12, 27100, Pavia, Italy
| | - F Freni
- Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine, University of Pavia, Via Forlanini, 12, 27100, Pavia, Italy
| | - F Lo Faro
- Department of Excellence of Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, University "Politecnica delle Marche" of Ancona, Via Conca 71, 60126, Ancona, Italy
| | - F Pirani
- Department of Excellence of Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, University "Politecnica delle Marche" of Ancona, Via Conca 71, 60126, Ancona, Italy
| | - M Montisci
- Department of Cardiologic, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, University of Padova, Via Giustiniani, 2, 35127, Padova, Italy
| | - P Fais
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Unit of Legal Medicine, University of Bologna, Via Irnerio 49, 40126, Bologna, Italy
| | - J P Pascali
- Department of Cardiologic, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, University of Padova, Via Giustiniani, 2, 35127, Padova, Italy.
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Ioime P, Piva E, Pozzebon M, Pascali JP. Automated sample preparation and analysis by gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) for the determination of 3- and 2-monochloropropanediol (MCPD) esters and glycidol esters in edible oils. J Chromatogr A 2021; 1650:462253. [PMID: 34049252 DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2021.462253] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2021] [Revised: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 05/09/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
The potentially carcinogenic process contaminant 3- and 2-monochloropropanediol esters (2-MCPD and 3-MCPD esters) and glycidyl esters (GEs) are under study in refined oils and foodstuffs. Legislation set recommended total daily intake (TDI) for 3-MCPD of 0.8 µg/kg and as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA) for glycidol. Usually, the so far adopted method for the determination of these contaminants relay on numerous and time-consuming steps for sample preparation (AOCS methods) and on GC-MS detection. The obtained sensitivities and the number of processable samples are thus limited. In this optic, new reliable methods that allow for the fast and sensitive determination of these contaminants in edible oils may be considered an improvement of the overall strategy of tackling the problem. In this paper a new automated method for sample preparation and detection by GC-MS/MS is presented and validated. Data on sensitivity (LOD at 1.5, 2.2 and 3 ng/g for 3-MCPD, 2-MCPD, 3-MBPD (deriving from glycidol), respectively), linearity across low and high calibration ranges and precision showed to be fit-for-purposes. Finally, the methodology was applied to ten extra virgin oil samples and one sample of sunflower seeds oil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pasquale Ioime
- dtoLABS, Via Pozzuoli, 13C/13D, 30038, Spinea (VE), Italy
| | - Elena Piva
- dtoLABS, Via Pozzuoli, 13C/13D, 30038, Spinea (VE), Italy
| | | | - Jennifer P Pascali
- Department of Cardiologic, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, University of Padova, Via Giustiniani, 2, 35127, Padova, Italy.
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Pascali JP, Fais P, Viel G, Cecchetto G, Montisci M. Correction to: Is old stuff back? A fatal case of ethyl chloride sniffing. Egypt J Forensic Sci 2020. [DOI: 10.1186/s41935-020-00199-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.
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Vaiano F, Pascali JP, Bertol E. New psychoactive substances: An actual problem or an overestimated phenomenon? Forensic Sci Int 2019; 304:109941. [PMID: 31574421 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2019.109941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2019] [Revised: 06/21/2019] [Accepted: 08/26/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
In last years, international and national Institutions have been completely focused on the new psychoactive substances (NPS) phenomenon. Many contrast policies have been planned in order to control their spread. Even scientific entities, such as our Forensic Toxicology Division, have spent time and resources for NPS identification in biological (from clinical and forensic caseworks) and non-biological (seized material) samples. Last reports show a low prevalence of NPS across the Europe and Italy, while the classical drugs are still the main cause of drug-related deaths. In particular, a worrisome datum is represented by the increasing number of deaths due to heroin. Seen these statistics, is the NPS phenomenon overestimated? Is the interest in classical drugs decreased? Were we diverted by NPS?
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Vaiano
- Forensic Toxicology Division, Department of Health Science, University of Florence, Florence, Italy; Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Jennifer P Pascali
- Forensic Toxicology Division, Department of Health Science, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Bertol
- Forensic Toxicology Division, Department of Health Science, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
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15
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Pascali JP, Viel G, Cecchetto G, Pigaiani N, Vanin S, Montisci M, Fais P. The Red Swamp Crayfish
Procambarus Clarkii
(the Louisiana Crayfish) as a Particular Scavenger on a Human Corpse. J Forensic Sci 2019; 65:323-326. [DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.14145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2019] [Revised: 07/10/2019] [Accepted: 07/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer P. Pascali
- Forensic Toxicology Unit Department of Health Sciences University of Florence Largo Brambilla 3 50134 Florence Italy
| | - Guido Viel
- Section of Legal Medicine Department of Cardiac Thoracic and Vascular Sciences University of Padova Via Falloppio 50 35121 Padova Italy
| | - Giovanni Cecchetto
- Section of Legal Medicine Department of Cardiac Thoracic and Vascular Sciences University of Padova Via Falloppio 50 35121 Padova Italy
| | - Nicola Pigaiani
- Unit of Forensic Medicine Department of Diagnostics and Public Health University of Verona P.le L.A. Scuro 1037134 Verona Italy
| | - Stefano Vanin
- School of Applied Sciences University of Huddersfield Queensgate HD1 3DH Huddersfield U.K
| | - Massimo Montisci
- Section of Legal Medicine Department of Cardiac Thoracic and Vascular Sciences University of Padova Via Falloppio 50 35121 Padova Italy
| | - Paolo Fais
- Unit of Legal Medicine Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences University of Bologna Via Irnerio 49 40126 Bologna Italy
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Pascali JP, Vaiano F, Palumbo D, Umani Ronchi F, Mari F, Bertol E. Psychotropic substance abuse and fitness to hold a driving license in Italy. Traffic Inj Prev 2019; 20:244-248. [PMID: 31013165 DOI: 10.1080/15389588.2019.1579320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [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: 11/08/2018] [Revised: 01/30/2019] [Accepted: 01/30/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Objective: Driving under the influence (DUI) of psychotropic substances is a serious and widespread problem in road safety. All countries try to reduce the impact with legislative controls over the criteria to regain a driver's license after suspension. In many European countries there are mandatory clinical and toxicological examinations required before a license is regranted. In Italy, individuals convicted of driving under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol must undergo a mandatory medico-legal and forensic toxicological examination prior to regranting of a license. This article reports on the prevalence, trends, and implications of psychotropic substances detected in more than 5,000 subjects submitted to driving license reissuance in the period 2011-2016. Methods: The study involved taking a clinical history, medical examination, and toxicological analysis of both urine and hair samples. Results: There was no change in the prevalence of psychoactive substances in the period 2011-2016. Cocaine was found most often (60%), followed by cannabinoids (15%) and opiates (9%). Methadone and amphetamine stimulants accounted for less than 5% each. Benzodiazepines were present in 15% of samples throughout the period. Conclusion: Cocaine and cannabinoids were the most used substances in the analyzed population, alone and in combination. Benzodiazepines were the most commonly detected prescription medication, raising questions about prescribed medication and driving risk that are not addressed by current legislation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer P Pascali
- a Forensic Toxicology Division, Department of Health Sciences , University of Florence , Florence , Italy
| | - Fabio Vaiano
- b Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases , Sapienza University of Rome , Rome , Italy
| | - Diego Palumbo
- a Forensic Toxicology Division, Department of Health Sciences , University of Florence , Florence , Italy
| | - Federica Umani Ronchi
- c Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic Medicine and Orthopaedic Sciences , Sapienza University of Rome , Rome , Italy
| | - Francesco Mari
- a Forensic Toxicology Division, Department of Health Sciences , University of Florence , Florence , Italy
| | - Elisabetta Bertol
- a Forensic Toxicology Division, Department of Health Sciences , University of Florence , Florence , Italy
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Bertol E, Di Milia MG, Fioravanti A, Mari F, Palumbo D, Pascali JP, Vaiano F. Proactive drugs in DFSA cases: Toxicological findings in an eight-years study. Forensic Sci Int 2018; 291:207-215. [DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2018.08.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2018] [Revised: 08/02/2018] [Accepted: 08/25/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Pascali JP, Fais P, Vaiano F, Bertol E. Application of HRAM screening and LC–MS/MS confirmation of active pharmaceutical ingredient in “natural” herbal supplements. Forensic Sci Int 2018; 286:e28-e31. [DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2018.03.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2018] [Revised: 03/04/2018] [Accepted: 03/08/2018] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
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Pascali JP, Fais P, Vaiano F, Pigaiani N, D'Errico S, Furlanetto S, Palumbo D, Bertol E. Internet pseudoscience: Testing opioid containing formulations with tampering potential. J Pharm Biomed Anal 2018; 153:16-21. [PMID: 29455092 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2018.02.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [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: 01/22/2018] [Revised: 02/06/2018] [Accepted: 02/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Drug tampering practices, with the aim to increase availability of drug delivery and/or enhance drug effects, are accessible on Internet and are practiced by some portion of recreational drug users. Not rarely, recreational misuse may result in toxic and even fatal results. The aim of the present study was to assess the tampering risk of medicaments containing different formulations of an opioid in combination with paracetamol or dexketoprofen, following the procedures reported in dedicated forums on the web. Tablets and suppositories containing codeine, tramadol and oxycodone were extracted following the reported "Cold water extraction"; dextromethorphan was extracted from cough syrup following the procedure reported as "Acid/base extraction" and fentanyl was extracted from transdermal patches according the procedure reported in Internet. The tampered products and opportunely prepared calibrators in water were analysed by liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The separation of the analytes was carried on Agilent ZORBAX Eclipse Plus C18 (RRHT 2.1 mm × 50 mm, 1.8 μm) by the gradient elution of 0.01% formic acid in water and 0.01% formic acid in methanol. Acquisition was by MRM mode considering at least two transitions for compound. Declared recoveries for these home-made extractions claimed to exceed 99% for the opioid and to complete remove paracetamol, often associated to liver toxicity and thus to obtain a "safer" preparation. In this study, the authors demonstrated that rarely the recoveries for the opioid reached 90% and that up to 60% of the paracetamol amount remained in solution. Thus, high risks for health remained both for the potential lethality of the opioid content, but also for the sub-lethal chronic use of these mixtures, which contained still uncontrolled, ignored, but often important amounts of paracetamol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer P Pascali
- Forensic Toxicology Division, Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, Florence, Italy.
| | - Paolo Fais
- University of Bologna, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Unit of Legal Medicine, Via Irnerio 49, Bologna, Italy
| | - Fabio Vaiano
- Forensic Toxicology Division, Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, Florence, Italy
| | - Nicola Pigaiani
- Department of Diagnostics and Public Health - Unit of Forensic Medicine, University of Verona, P.le L.A. Scuro 10, Verona, Italy
| | | | - Sandra Furlanetto
- Department of Chemistry "U. Schiff", University of Florence, Via della Lastruccia, 3-13 Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy
| | - Diego Palumbo
- Forensic Toxicology Division, Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, Florence, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Bertol
- Forensic Toxicology Division, Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, Florence, Italy
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Strano-Rossi S, Castrignanò E, Anzillotti L, Serpelloni G, Mollica R, Tagliaro F, Pascali JP, di Stefano D, Sgalla R, Chiarotti M. Evaluation of four oral fluid devices (DDS®, Drugtest 5000®, Drugwipe 5+® and RapidSTAT®) for on-site monitoring drugged driving in comparison with UHPLC–MS/MS analysis. Forensic Sci Int 2012; 221:70-6. [DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2012.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2012] [Revised: 03/27/2012] [Accepted: 04/07/2012] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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22
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Bertaso A, Pascali JP, Liotta E, Polettini A. [Assessment of fitness to drive in correlation with narcotic and psychotropic drug use. Epidemiologic study in Verona]. G Ital Med Lav Ergon 2011; 33:125-133. [PMID: 21796920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Driving under the influence of drugs is a serious problem for road traffic safety. According to the Italian Road Traffic Code, the driving licence must not be issued to anyone who abuses, is addicted to, or suffers for dependence to illicit or psychotropic drugs. The diagnosis of such clinical conditions is performed by Provincial Medical Commissions of the Public Health Service also on the basis of drugs of abuse testing results on urine and/or hair samples. This study aimed at examining test results obtained by the Forensic Toxicology laboratory of the Department of Public Health & Community Medicine, University of Verona, upon request of the local Medical Commission, over the period 2003-2008 with the purposes of (i) defining trends in drug abuse in the examined population (ii) identifying specific risk factors for testing positive and for relapse, (iii) selecting the most effective and efficient analytical strategy to detect illicit drugs use. During the study period, cocaine was the most frequently detected illicit drug. The comparison of results from urine and hair testing confirmed the complementary features of these two biological substrates and the importance to have both data in order to increase the sensitivity in detecting illicit drug use. Moreover, this study showed that testing for driving fitness is an effective deterrent to illicit drug use, as only about one quarter of subjects testing positive at the first testing are still positive at the second testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Bertaso
- Dipartimento di Sanità Pubblica & Medicina di Comunità, Università degli Studi di Verona, Italy
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Pascali JP, Bortolotti F, Sorio D, Ivanova M, Palmbach TM, Tagliaro F. Improved capillary electrophoresis determination of carbohydrate-deficient transferrin including on-line immunosubtraction. Med Sci Law 2011; 51:26-31. [PMID: 21595418 DOI: 10.1258/msl.2011.010031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
The instrumental analysis of carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT), a recognized marker of chronic alcohol abuse, is most commonly carried out by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) or capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE). Between these two techniques, CZE shows higher efficiency and productivity, but is often reported to be inferior to HPLC in terms of selectivity, because of a less specific ultraviolet detection wavelength than HPLC. On these grounds, the present work was aimed at the development of an improved CZE method for CDT determination, including an on-line immunosubtraction step specifically aimed at enhancing the analytical specificity of CZE determination. The analytical conditions were as follows: uncoated fused silica capillary, 30 microm x 60 cm (L = 50 cm to detector); running buffer, 100 mmol/L borate and 6 mmol/L DAB (1,4-diaminobutane), pH 8.3; voltage, 30 kV; temperature, 25 degrees C; detection, 200 nm. Under the described CZE conditions, a baseline separation between all the CDT related peaks was achieved with good analytical performances in terms of both precision and accuracy. In order to achieve unequivocal recognition of the CDT peaks, an in-capillary immunosubtraction step was included by loading a plug of anti-human transferrin antibody solution after the sample plug. This analytical approach was applied successfully to recognize CDT peaks in the presence of potential interferences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer P Pascali
- Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Unit of Forensic Medicine, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
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Bortolotti F, Pascali JP, Davis GG, Smith FP, Brissie RM, Tagliaro F. Study of vitreous potassium correlation with time since death in the postmortem range from 2 to 110 hours using capillary ion analysis. Med Sci Law 2011; 51 Suppl 1:S20-S23. [PMID: 22021629 DOI: 10.1258/msl.2010.010063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
The time-dependent postmortem increase of potassium concentration in the eye fluids has been studied since the 1960s. However, important discrepancies on the reproducibility of the phenomenon have hampered the use of this parameter in real cases. In recent years, a new analytical approach based on capillary ion analysis (CIA) has been reported. In the present work, the correlation between vitreous potassium and postmortem interval (PMI) has been re-evaluated by using CIA in a group of 164 cases with PMIs ranging from 2 to 110 hours. The correlation of the two parameters was described by the following regression equation: y = 0.1733x + 2.3008 (x = PMI; y = K(+) concentration); correlation coefficient = 0.962. The re-calculation of PMIs on the basis of this equation provided calculated PMIs with an average error of 5.54 hours (SD = 4.16). However, the percent PMI calculation error decreased with the increase of PMI, becoming acceptable for practical application above 24 hours since death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Bortolotti
- Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Unit of Forensic Medicine, University of Verona, Italy
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Bortolotti F, De Paoli G, Pascali JP, Tagliaro F. Fully automated analysis of Carbohydrate-Deficient Transferrin (CDT) by using a multicapillary electrophoresis system. Clin Chim Acta 2007; 380:4-7. [PMID: 17575578 DOI: 10.1016/j.cca.2006.12.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The techniques universally believed as most reliable for determination of Carbohydrate-Deficient Transferrin (CDT) are HPLC and capillary electrophoresis (CE). Recently a reagent kit for CDT analysis to be used in a multicapillary electropherograph has been introduced. The present work was aimed at a validation of this new commercial system by application of the analytical chemistry parameters and by comparison with validated CE and HPLC methods. METHODS One hundred forty serum samples were analyzed with multicapillary CE (Capillarys, Sebia, France) using kit reagents (CAPILLARYS CDT assay), with single capillary electropherograph (P/ACE MDQ, Beckman Coulter, USA) using an original method developed by our group and with HPLC, performed on a gradient HPLC (Shimadzu Europe, Germany), using column and reagents provided in kit (ClinRep, Recipe, Germany). RESULTS The separation efficiency of the multicapillary system was about 15,000 theoretical plates/column. The resolution of the transferrin isoforms ranged from 1.23 to 1.67. The variation coefficient was < 10% in both intra-run and between run tests. The correlation of results of multicapillary CE with those obtained with single CE and HPLC was statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS The multicapillary system shows high productivity with good analytical performances; however, a confirmation of positive results with an alternative method is required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Bortolotti
- Department of Medicine and Public Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
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Tagliaro F, Bortolotti F, Pascali JP. Current role of capillary electrophoretic/electrokinetic techniques in forensic toxicology. Anal Bioanal Chem 2007; 388:1359-64. [PMID: 17572886 DOI: 10.1007/s00216-007-1381-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2007] [Revised: 05/21/2007] [Accepted: 05/22/2007] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The current application of capillary electrophoresis in forensic toxicology has been critically reviewed with special focus on the areas where this technique has shown real advantages over chromatographic methods. For example, capillary electrophoresis has been most successfully applied to the chiral analysis of some drugs of forensic interest, including amphetamines and their congeners. Another typical application field of capillary electrophoresis is represented by protein analysis. Recently, special interest has been paid to carbohydrate deficient transferrin (CDT), the most important biological marker of chronic alcohol abuse. Other specific applications of capillary electrophoresis of potential forensic toxicological concern are also discussed. The review includes 62 references.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franco Tagliaro
- Department of Medicine and Public Health, Section of Forensic Medicine, University of Verona, Policlinico G.B. Rossi, P.le L.A. Scuro, 37134 Verona, Italy.
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Pascali JP, Trettene M, Bortolotti F, de Paoli G, Gottardo R, Tagliaro F. Direct analysis of bromide in human serum by capillary electrophoresis. J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci 2006; 839:2-5. [PMID: 16359933 DOI: 10.1016/j.jchromb.2005.11.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2005] [Revised: 11/16/2005] [Accepted: 11/22/2005] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The purpose of the present work was the development and validation of a simple, rapid and reliable method for direct bromide quantification in serum based on capillary electrophoresis (CE). The analysis was carried out with an automated capillary electropherograph. Analytical conditions were as follows. Capillary: uncoated fused silica, effective length 50 cm, internal diameter 50 microm; voltage: 20 kV in reverse polarity mode; temperature: 25 degrees C; running buffer: 90 mmol/L sodium tetraborate decahydrate and 10 mmol/L NaCl, pH 9.24; detection: direct UV absorption at 200 nm; sample treatment: dilution of serum 1:10 with the internal standard solution (2 mmol/L thiocyanate). Under the described conditions, bromide ions and internal standard were baseline separated in 7 min. No interferences from other serum components were observed. The analytical sensitivity was characterized by a LOD: 0.05 mmol/L and a LOQ of 0.1 mmol/L. Excellent linearity was verified in the range from 2.5 to 60 mmol/L [y = 0.0746x - 0.0372; R2 = 0.9995 (x = bromide concentration; y = bromide peak area/internal standard (I.S.) peak area)]. Quantitative imprecision in intra-day (n = 7) and day-to-day (n = 7) experiments was always within R.S.D. values <2%. Recovery was quantitative throughout the range of linearity of the method. Clinical cases of infants undergoing potassium bromide therapy for refractory epilepsy were analyzed with results in agreement with literature data. On the basis of these considerations, capillary electrophoresis can be proposed as the method of choice for bromide analysis in serum samples, especially for therapeutic drug monitoring purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer P Pascali
- Department of Medicine and Public Health, Unit of Forensic Medicine, University Hospital (Policlinico), Piazzale L.A. Scuro, 37134 Verona, Italy
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Bortolotti F, De Paoli G, Pascali JP, Trevisan MT, Floreani M, Tagliaro F. Analysis of Carbohydrate-Deficient Transferrin: Comparative Evaluation of Turbidimetric Immunoassay, Capillary Zone Electrophoresis, and HPLC. Clin Chem 2005; 51:2368-71. [PMID: 16306099 DOI: 10.1373/clinchem.2005.051805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Federica Bortolotti
- Department of Medicine and Public Health, Unit of Forensic Medicine, University of Verona, University Hospital (Policlinico), Italy
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