By means of a highly specific and sensitive mass fragmentographic method mescaline was measured in rabbit plasma samples, taken at various points after an i.v. injection. The pharmacokinetic behaviour conformed to the two-compartment open model. Half-life times of alpha and beta phases, velocity constants and steady-state distribution volumes of four subjects are reported.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Disposition of tilidine in a fatal poisoning in man.

A fatal intoxication due to the ingestion of tilidine, a narcotic analgesic, in conjunction with ethanol, is described. Tilidine and its two active metabolites, nortilidine and bisnortilidine, were identified and quantitated in the biological fluids and tissues by thin-layer chromatography (TLC), gas-liquid chromatography with sensitive nitrogen-phosphorus detection (GLC/NPD) and gas-liquid chromatography with mass spectrometric detection (GC/MS). The toxicological results are compared with previously reported 14C-tilidine tissue distributions in rats following oral administration and limited tissue data in a previously reported human fatality. In the present case, the death was attributed to the combined central nervous system-depressing effects of ethanol and tilidine.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Comparison of a GLC-NPD method with a GLC-MS-SIM procedure for the determination of tilidine and its metabolites in plasma.

A gas liquid chromatographic method with nitrogen-phosphorus detection (GLC-NPD) is compared to a GLC-mass spectrometric determination employing selected ion monitoring (GLC-MS-SIM). These two methods of gas chromatographic separation were shown to be suitable for therapeutic monitoring of tilidine, nortilidine, and bisnortilidine in patients. The pharmacokinetic profile of tilidine was also studied in three normal humans after a single oral dose. Pharmacokinetic parameters such as Cmax, tmax, (t1/2) beta, AUC, AUMC, Vd beta, Cltot, beta, and MRT are derived from model independent pharmacokinetic techniques.

Absorption↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Saliva concentrations of disopyramide cannot substitute the drug's plasma concentrations.

For many drugs the salivary concentration corresponds to the free plasma drug concentration, which may be more closely related to drug activity or toxicity than the total plasma drug concentration. In this study a preliminary investigation was undertaken to determine the feasibility of monitoring saliva levels of disopyramide, an antiarrhythmic drug, for clinical and toxicological purposes. Single oral doses of this compound were administered to healthy volunteers. Stimulated mixed saliva and plasma levels were measured by the EMIT technique. The concentrations of disopyramide in the stimulated mixed saliva tended to be lower than those found in the corresponding plasma sample (fp 0.3-0.5), and the saliva-to-plasma concentration ratio increased with a decreasing salivary pH (pH 6.89, S/P = 0.25; pH 8.15, S/P = 0.08). The correlation between the saliva and the total plasma concentrations was significant but relatively poor, however. Consequently, mixed salivary disopyramide concentrations are a poor indicator of plasma concentrations, even if correction is made for pH change.

Disopyramide↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Suicidal poisoning by MCPA and parathion.

A suicidal poisoning committed by a sixty-five year old woman, who swallowed a bottle of Agroxyl, containing an aqueous 250 g/L solution of the sodium- and potassium salt of 2-methyl-4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid [MCPA], together with lethal amounts of a parathion formulation, is described. The case history, the postmortem examination and the concentrations of parathion and MCPA in the different viscera, are reported in detail. Parathion determination was performed by means of a routine method, previously developed in our laboratory. The MCPA quantification was achieved using a thoroughly evaluated EC- GLC micro-analytical procedure, which is discussed completely. Identity was confirmed by GC-MS. Intake of lethal parathion quantities caused the woman's death with five minutes. This case however is worth reporting, since we had the unique opportunity to establish the early distribution of MCPA through the body, during the short period of survival.

2-Methyl-4-chlorophenoxyacetic Acid↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Combined use of fused silica capillary columns and nitrogen-phosphorus detection for the toxicological analysis of illicit heroin samples.

Capillary GC is applied to the toxicological analysis of illicit heroin samples. The combined use of a permanently deactivated fused silica capillary column, and a nitrogen-phosphorus detector (NPD), allows the separation and determination of nanogram amounts of underivatised opiates, using a direct injection technique.

Chromatography, Gas↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Gas chromatographic determination of drug levels for the evaluation of a combined hemoperfusion-hemodialysis treatment.

Recently, the use of a prolonged and combined procedure of hemoperfusion (HP) and hemodialysis (HD) was considered as a treatment for severely intoxicated patients caused by drug overdose. Working in cooperation with different hospitals, this laboratory has been involved with the toxicological analysis of biological samples taken during such a treatment. This paper describes the use of a combined HP/HD treatment, especially the evaluation of the system, by giving the analytical results obtained by gas chromatography. The methods utilized enable this application for routine toxicological analysis.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Application of the combined use of fused silica capillary columns and NPD for the toxicological determination of codeine and ethylmorphine in a human overdose case.

The applicability of capillary gas chromatography to the toxicological analysis of extracts of human tissue samples was investigated for codeine and ethylmorphine in a case of drug overdose. After column extraction, the samples were injected onto a fused silica capillary column, using a direct injection technique. The nitrogen-phosphorus detector provided excellent stability and sensitivity without the need for extensive clean-up procedures.

Adult↗