Kinetics of nitric oxide synthase induction by Propionibacterium avidum and lipopolysaccharide.

Conditions for the induction of rat liver Ca2(+)-independent nitric oxide synthase were determined with killed Propionibacterium avidum, and compared with lipopolysaccharide endotoxin. Similar maximal induction was obtained intraperitoneally with the two types of inducers but killed Propionibacterium avidum gave a long-lasting induction while lipopolysaccharide displayed a rapid and short response. Moreover, the induction resulting from an intravenous administration of killed Propionibacterium avidum reached 60 times that of the control whereas lipopolysaccharide treatment induced a 24-fold stimulation only. It is noteworthy that with the first inducer the nitric oxide activity was stable with time whereas with the second one it dropped after 8 h. Whatever the route of administration of killed Propionibacterium avidum, some huge vacuolated Kupffer cells were found in the liver whose parenchyma was almost normal. Numerous monocytes, and unaltered Kupffer cells, were observed. Kupffer cells were identified to be responsible for the uptake of killed Propionibacterium avidum.

Simultaneous HPLC analysis of the hypnotic benzodiazepines nitrazepam, estazolam, flunitrazepam, and triazolam in plasma.

A new analytical methodology was developed for simultaneous high-performance liquid chromatographic quantitation of nitrazepam, estazolam, flunitrazepam, and triazolam in plasma. After addition of the internal standard nor-prazepam, biological samples and calibration standards were extracted at basic pH into diethyl ether-methylene chloride (2:1, v/v). The reconstituted extract was separated on a reversed-phase Nova Pak C18 column with acidic buffer (6mM)-acetonitrile-methanol (64:23:13, v/v) as mobile phase. The detection was performed at 242 nm. Within-run and day-to-day precision values were about 2-8%. The method is thus sensitive and reproducible for use in clinical and experimental toxicokinetic studies.

Determination of dextromoramide by capillary gas chromatography and electron impact mass spectrometry.

A sensitive and specific quantitative assay for the determination of dextromoramide in human fluids and tissues is described. Dextromoramide and an internal standard, SKF 525 A, are isolated by a basic extraction and back-extraction process. The final extract is separated on a 25-m capillary column B.P. 1 and drugs are detected by selected ion monitoring at m/z 100 and m/z 86 for dextromoramide and the internal standard, respectively. The minimum detectable quantities are 0.5 and 0.3 ng/mL, for dextromoramide in plasma and urine, respectively. Coefficients of variation for within-run data were less than 6%.

[The determination of ketamine in biological fluids]. / Dosage de la kétamine dans les liquides biologiques.

A method for the identification and quantification of ketamine in biological fluids by GC/NPD is presented. The procedure employs SKF 525 A as the internal standard and requires no derivatization. After a single-step extraction, analysis is achieved in 5 min. The lower limit of detection was found to be 1 microgram/1 for ketamine in plasma. This method appears to be rapid, sensitive and applicable to forensic and clinical toxicological analyses.

Simultaneous determination of dextropropoxyphene, norpropoxyphene and methaqualone in plasma by gas chromatography with selective nitrogen detection.

A method for the identification and quantification of dextropropoxyphene, norpropoxyphene, and methaqualone in plasma by GC/NPD is presented. The procedure employs cyclizine as the internal standard and requires no derivatization. After a single-step extraction, analysis is achieved in 8 min. The lower limits of detection were found to be 6, 12, and 1 ng/ml for dextropropoxyphene, norpropoxyphene, and methaqualone, respectively. This method appears to be rapid, sensitive, and applicable to forensic and clinical toxicological analyses.

Fly larvae and their relevance in forensic toxicology.

Toxicological analyses on a putrefied cadaver are sometimes difficult to perform because of the absence of blood and urine. In this study, fly larvae, being living material, are proposed as a new medium of investigation in forensic toxicology. Bromazepam and levomepromazine were identified and assayed in the remains of cerebral tissue, in the clavicle of a putrefied cadaver, and in the fly larvae found on and in the corpse.

A rapid and sensitive gas chromatographic analysis of methadone and its primary metabolite.

A method for identification and quantification of methadone and its primary metabolite (1,5-dimethyl-3,3-diphenyl-2-2-ethylidene pyrrolidine) in plasma by GC/NPD is presented. The procedure employs SKF 525 A as the internal standard and requires no derivatization. After a single-step extraction, analysis is achieved in 10 min. The limit of detection was found to be 2 an 3 ng/ml for methadone and its metabolite, respectively. This method appears to be rapid, sensitive and applicable to forensic and clinical toxicological analyses.

Fly larvae: a new toxicological method of investigation in forensic medicine.

Toxicological analyses on a putrefied cadaver are sometimes difficult to achieve because of the absence of blood and urine. In this study, maggots, living material, are proposed as a new medium of investigation in forensic medicine. Five drugs (triazolam, oxazepam, phenobarbital, alimemazine, and clomipramine) were identified and assayed in some tissues of a putrefied cadaver and in the maggots found on and in the body.

Tissue distribution of dextromoramide in the rat.

The tissue distribution of dextromoramide was studied in rats after the intraperitoneal injection of 0.2 mg/kg of the drug. The pattern of distribution was similar at 15, 30, 60 and 90 min, with the highest concentrations being found in the liver and the myocardium, while other organs were not able to concentrate dextromoramide.

Simultaneous determination of pethidine (meperidine), phenoperidine, and norpethidine (normeperidine), their common metabolite, by gas chromatography with selective nitrogen detection.

This article describes a selective gas chromatographic method for the resolution and quantification of phenoperidine and its two metabolites, pethidine (meperidine) and norpethidine (normeperidine). Drugs and SKF 525 A, the internal standard, are separated from plasma by solvent extraction under alkaline conditions. They are chromatographed on a 3% OV-17 Chromosorb Q glass column and detected with a nitrogen-phosphorous detector. Linearity is observed in the study range (5-200 ng/ml). No interference by endogenous substances is noted.

Toxicological data after heroin overdose.

Capillary gas chromatography with selective nitrogen detection was employed to quantify morphine and 6-monoacetylmorphine in biological fluids and tissues in five deaths attributed to heroin injection overdose. The minimum lethal concentration found was 0.021 micrograms morphine per ml of blood. In all cases, 6-monoacetylmorphine was identified in urine, confirming heroin abuse.

Fatal intoxication by dextromoramide: a report on two cases.

Two cases involving an overdose resulting from the abuse of dextromoramide are presented. The drug was quantified with a gas chromatograph equipped with a nitrogen phosphorous detector (NPD). The whole blood dextromoramide concentrations were 984.3 ng/mL for case 1 and 871.1 ng/mL for case 2. No correlations could be established with the postmortem levels in blood and in bile.

A fatality involving secobarbital, nitrazepam, and codeine.

A fatal case involving the suicidal ingestion of secobarbital, nitrazepam, and codeine is presented. The drugs were quantified using gas chromatography for codeine and high-performance liquid chromatography for the two other drugs. The blood concentrations of secobarbital, nitrazepam, and codeine were found to be 11.48, 1.72, and 0.036 microgram/ml, respectively. Results are discussed in the light of the existing literature.

High-performance liquid chromatographic determination of bromazepam in human plasma.

An assay using high-performance liquid chromatography has been developed for the determination of bromazepam in plasma. After a single-step extraction from basified samples with dichloromethane, using decarboxyloflazepate as an internal standard, samples were analysed using a reversed-phase Nova Pak 5-microns column with a mobile phase of methanol - phosphate buffer (60 + 40) adjusted to pH 7.6. The drugs were detected at 239 nm and the limit of detection was found to be 3 micrograms l-1 for bromazepam. The method is simple, rapid and sensitive and permits bromazepam levels in clinical and pharmacokinetic studies to be monitored.

A simple gas chromatographic identification and determination of 11 CNS stimulants in biological samples. Application on a fatality involving phendimetrazine.

A method is presented for the simultaneous identification and quantification of several CNS stimulants, including amphetamine in plasma and urine by GC/FID using mephentermine as an internal standard. No derivation is necessary and after a single alkaline extraction, GC analysis for the 11 compounds tested is achieved in 23 min. The lower limit of detectability was found to be 4 ng/ml for amphetamine in plasma. This method is sensitive, reproducible, selective and applicable in forensic and clinical toxicological analyses. Toxicological findings, after a fatality involving phendimetrazine are presented as an application of the procedure.