Determination of the enantiomeric composition of amphetamine, methamphetamine and 3,4-methylendioxy-N-methylamphetamine (MDMA) in seized street drug samples from southern Germany.

Amphetamine (speed), methamphetamine (crystal meth), and 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine (MDMA, ecstasy) represent the most frequently abused amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS). Differences in pharmacological potency and metabolism have been shown for the enantiomers of all three stimulants. Legal consequences in cases of drug possession may also differ according to the German law depending on the enantiomeric composition of the seized drug. Therefore, enantioselective monitoring of seized specimens is crucial for legal and forensic casework. Various kinds of samples of amphetamine (n = 143), MDMA (n = 94), and methamphetamine (n = 528) that were seized in southern Germany in 2019 and 2020 were analyzed for their chiral composition using different chromatographic methods. Whereas all samples of amphetamine and MDMA were racemic mixtures, the chiral composition of the methamphetamine specimens was diverse. Although the vast majority (n = 502) was present as (S)-methamphetamine, also specimens containing pure (R)-methamphetamine (n = 7) were found. Furthermore, few samples (n = 8) were of racemic nature or contained non-racemic mixtures of both enantiomers (n = 10). Because methamphetamine appears in varying enantiomeric compositions, any seizure should be analyzed using an enantioselective method. Amphetamine and MDMA, on the other hand, currently appear to be synthesized exclusively via racemic pathways and are not chirally purified. Nevertheless, regular monitoring of the chiral composition should be ensured.

Detection of the recently emerged synthetic cannabinoid 4F-MDMB-BINACA in "legal high" products and human urine specimens.

Synthetic cannabinoids (SCs) remain one of the largest groups of new psychoactive substances (NPS) on the European drug market. Although the number of new derivatives occurring on the market has dropped in the last two years, newly emerging NPS still represent a challenge for laboratories performing forensic drug analysis in biological matrices. The newly emerged SC 4F-MDMB-BINACA has been reported by several law enforcement agencies in Europe and the USA since November 2018. This work aimed at revealing urinary markers to prove uptake of 4F-MDMB-BINACA and differentiate from the use of structurally similar SCs. Phase-I metabolites detected in human urine specimens were confirmed by phase-I metabolites generated in vitro using a pooled human liver microsomes (pHLM) assay. Seized materials and test-purchased "legal high" products were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight-mass spectrometry (LC-qToF-MS). Human urine specimens and pHLM assay extracts were measured with liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS) and confirmed by LC-qToF-MS. In January 2019, the Institute of Legal Medicine in Erlangen (Germany) identified 4F-MDMB-BINACA in three herbal blends. During the same time period, the described SC was identified in a research chemical purchased online. Investigation of phase-I metabolism led to the metabolites M10 (ester hydrolysis) and M11 (ester hydrolysis and dehydrogenation) as reliable urinary markers. Widespread distribution on the German drug market was proven by analysis of urine samples from abstinence control programs and by frequent detection of 4F-MDMB-BINACA in "herbal blends" and "'research chemicals" purchased via the Internet.

Massive intoxication with rivaroxaban, phenprocoumon, and diclofenac: A case report.

RATIONALE: Oral anticoagulants and painkillers, some with an additional effect on the coagulation system, are widely used and are therefore prone to abuse and (intentional) overdose. We report the case of a patient with a massive mixed anticoagulant intoxication. PATIENT CONCERNS: The patient had ingested 1960 mg rivaroxaban, 31.5 mg phenprocoumon, 1425 mg diclofenac, and 21,000 mg metamizole in suicidal intention. DIAGNOSES: Massive mixed anticoagulant overdose. INTERVENTIONS: The patient was closely monitored. The phenprocoumon overdose was treated by the administration of vitamin K and PCC. OUTCOMES: Despite the massive inhibition of the coagulation system, the patient did not experience bleeding apart from a slight gross hematuria. LESSONS: Despite the ingestion of a massive amount of rivaroxaban, the plasma levels were not as high as feared, due to the ceiling effect of rivaroxaban absorption. Elimination occurred according to the half-life of rivaroxaban and was not unduly prolonged by the ingested quantity.

"Herbal seizures"--atypical symptoms after ibogaine intoxication: a case report.

INTRODUCTION: Misuse of various new psychotropic substances such as ibogaine is increasing rapidly. Knowledge of their negative side effects is sparse. CASE PRESENTATION: We present a case of intoxication with the herbal substance ibogaine in a 22-year-old white man. After taking a cumulative dose of 38 g (taken in two doses), he developed visual memories, nausea and vomiting. He developed a generalized tonic-clonic seizure with additional grand mal seizures. He was treated with midazolam and levetiracetam. Extended drug screenings and computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging findings were all negative. CONCLUSIONS: Knowledge of the side effects of ibogaine has mainly come from reports of cardiovascular complications; seizures are rarely mentioned and experimental findings are inconsistent. It seems that ibogaine acts like a proconvulsive drug at high doses.

A peroxisomal disorder of severe intellectual disability, epilepsy, and cataracts due to fatty acyl-CoA reductase 1 deficiency.

Rhizomelic chondrodysplasia punctata (RCDP) is a group of disorders with overlapping clinical features including rhizomelia, chondrodysplasia punctata, coronal clefts, cervical dysplasia, congenital cataracts, profound postnatal growth retardation, severe intellectual disability, and seizures. Mutations in PEX7, GNPAT, and AGPS, all involved in the plasmalogen-biosynthesis pathway, have been described in individuals with RCDP. Here, we report the identification of mutations in another gene in plasmalogen biosynthesis, fatty acyl-CoA reductase 1 (FAR1), in two families affected by severe intellectual disability, early-onset epilepsy, microcephaly, congenital cataracts, growth retardation, and spasticity. Exome analyses revealed a homozygous in-frame indel mutation (c.495_507delinsT [p.Glu165_Pro169delinsAsp]) in two siblings from a consanguineous family and compound-heterozygous mutations (c.[787C>T];[1094A>G], p.[Arg263(∗)];[Asp365Gly]) in a third unrelated individual. FAR1 reduces fatty acids to their respective fatty alcohols for the plasmalogen-biosynthesis pathway. To assess the pathogenicity of the identified mutations, we transfected human embryonic kidney 293 cells with plasmids encoding FAR1 with either wild-type or mutated constructs and extracted the lipids from the cells. We screened the lipids with gas chromatography and mass spectrometry and found that all three mutations abolished the reductase activity of FAR1, given that no fatty alcohols could be detected. We also observed reduced plasmalogens in red blood cells in one individual to a range similar to that seen in individuals with RCDP, further supporting abolished FAR1 activity. We thus expand the spectrum of clinical features associated with defects in plasmalogen biosynthesis to include FAR1 deficiency as a cause of syndromic severe intellectual disability with cataracts, epilepsy, and growth retardation but without rhizomelia.

Eight cases of fatal and non-fatal poisoning with Taxus baccata.

This paper describes two fatalities, three non-fatal intentional and three accidental oral ingestions of yew (Taxus baccata) leaves. In all cases the post-mortem external examinations showed no signs of violence. Internal examinations revealed small green, needle-like particles on the tongue, in the esophagus and in the stomach. Yew leaves were also identified in the stomach contents, whereas Taxus leaves were cut into small pieces and then ingested in one case. The analytical method used was based on a liquid-liquid-extraction under alkaline conditions followed by LC-MS/MS analysis (QTRAP 5500). Chromatographic separation was achieved by HPLC on a Kinetex C18 2.6u (100×3) mm. The analytical method allows the simultaneous identification and quantification of the commercially available yew alkaloids taxoids (m/z): paclitaxel (854.2→105.0/286.1), 10-deacetyltaxol (10-DAT: 812.2→105.0/286.1), baccatin III (BAC III: 604.0→105.0/327.0), 10-deacetylbaccatin III (10-DAB III: 562.1→105.0/327.0), cephalomannine [taxol B] (562.1→105.0/327.0) and of 3,5-dimethoxyphenol (3,5-DMP: 155.0→111.9/122.9) also encompassing the qualitative analysis of the alkaloidal diterpenoids (Q1→194.0/107.0); reference mass spectra obtained from a yew leaves extract: monoacetyltaxine (MAT: 568.4), taxine B (584.2), monohydroxydiacetyltaxine (MHDAT: 626.4), triacetyltaxine (TAT: 652.4), monohydroxytriacetyltaxine (MHTAT: 668.4). In both fatalities, paclitaxel, 10-DAT and cephalomannine were not identified in urine, cardiac and femoral blood but all taxoids and 3,5-DMP were present in stomach content and excreted into the bile. In urine, highest 3,5-DMP concentration was 7500 µg/L and 23,000 µg/L after enzymatic hydrolysis, respectively. In intentional and accidental poisonings, when electrocardiogram (ECG) examinations revealed ventricular tachycardia and/or prolonged QRS intervals, taxines were identified in plasma/serum, even after the ingestion of a few number of yew leaves, when 3,5-dimethoxyphenol was not even found. According to the data from one near-fatal intentional poisoning, elimination half-life of MAT, TAXIN B, MHDAT and MHTAT in serum was calculated with 11-13 h and taxines were detected up to t=+122 h post-ingestion of approximately two handfuls of yew leaves.

Lethal cyanide inhalation with post-mortem trans-cutaneous cyanide diffusion.

A 27-year-old worker in a metal processing factory was found dead in a basin, sitting in a solution containing potassium dicyano argentate, potassium cyanide, master batch and brightener 'Elfit 73'. The worker was wearing an acid-resisting overall, rubber boots and a simple dust respirator. While the cyanide concentration in the stomach contents was only 0.05 microg/ml, it was 7.7 microg/g in the lung tissue, 6.3 microg/ml in the heart blood and 31 microg/ml in the femoral vein blood. The different concentrations suggest an initial lethal inhalation of cyanide and an extensive post-mortem diffusion of cyanide through primarily non-injured skin of buttocks and legs. The possibility of a post-mortem cyanide diffusion bars from concluding a vital sign from a high cyanide concentration in a blood sample of one single body site.