[Determination of ethylene glycol in biological fluids--propylene glycol interferences]. / Oznaczanie glikolu etylenowego w materiale biologicznym--interferencja glikolu propylenowego.

Many laboratories in Poland do not use gas chromatography (GC) method for determination of ethylene glycol (EG) and methanol in blood of poisoned patients, they use non specific spectrophotometry methods. One of the interfering substances is propylene glycol (PG)--compound present in many medical and cosmetic products: drops, air freshens, disinfectants, electronic cigarettes and others. In Laboratory of Analytical Toxicology and Drug Monitoring in Krakow determination of EG is made by GC method. The method enables to distinguish and make resolution of (EG) and (PG) in biological samples. In the years 2011-2012 in several serum samples from diagnosed patients PG was present in concentration from several to higher than 100 mg/dL. The aim of the study was to estimate PG interferences of serum EG determination by spectrophotometry method. Serum samples containing PG and EG were used in the study. The samples were analyzed by two methods: GC and spectrophotometry. Results of serum samples spiked with PG with no EG analysed by spectrophotometry method were improper ("false positive"). The results were correlated to PG concentration in samples. Calculated cross-reactivity of PG in the method was 42%. Positive results of EG measured by spectrophotometry method must be confirmed by reference GC method. Spectrophotometry method shouldn't be used for diagnostics and monitoring of patients poisoned by EG.

[Tobacco smoking by patients treat for alcohol addiction--interaction of psychoactive substances]. / Palenie tytoniu przez pacjentów leczonych z powodu uzaleznienia od alkoholu--interakcje uzywek.

Alcohol and tobacco addictions are often joined. There are biological and environmental reasons of the co-addiction. Active compounds present in the substances can interact in different ways, for example in biotransformation reactions. The aim of the paper was to describe differences of ethanol and nicotine metabolites concentrations in biological fluids. The material was blood and urine collected from alcohol and tobacco addicted patients treated in The Detoxication Department, Toxicology Clinic in Krakow. Acetaldehyde and volatile substances were determined in blood by GC-FID. Cotinine was determined in urine by HPLC-UV. Most (91.3%) of alcohol addicted patients were tobacco smokers. In the group 76.3% patients smoked more than 11 cigarettes per day. Tobacco addiction was usually longer or lasted the same time as alcohol addiction. Mean cotinine urine concentrations in the group of alcohol addicted smoking patients were lower than in group of smoking patients not alcohol addicted (p < 0.05). Differences between mean acetaldehyde blood concentrations in group of alcohol addicted smoking patients and alcohol addicted non smoking patients were not significant (p > 0.05).