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Biomedical subjects

A Steentoft

Publications and source records attributed to A Steentoft.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

[Amphetamine abuse in Denmark].

Over a five-year period (1985-1989) among a population of 5 million, a survey was made of the presence of amphetamine in 741 cases, in living persons where the police had asked for analyses for amphetamine(s), narcotics, heroin-like compounds, methadone etc. Cases, where the requisition was for morphine (heroin) only, were not included, on account of analytical reasons. Two hundred and fifty-nine cases were found to be positive for amphetamine, with only 18 cases in 1985 followed by approximately 60 cases per year during the remainder of the period. Most of the cases concerned men (93%). The age range was 15-58 years with a median of 26 years. In 194 of the amphetamine-positive cases where relevant information was available, 56% were cases of violation of the traffic laws, 17% were cases of violence, 3% were cases of sexual offence and 9% were cases of robbery. Nineteen of the 259 amphetamine-positive cases were analysed only for amphetamine and, in 75 cases, only amphetamine was found. In the 165 remaining cases, there were 279 positive findings of other drugs/narcotics than amphetamine with benzodiazepines, morphine, cannabis and methadone as the main groups with 86, 57, 49 and 44 findings respectively.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

[Incidence of drugs and euphoretic agents among motorists on the roads of Denmark. A possible relationship to traffic safety].

All of the Medicolegal Committee's cases from the period 1981-1985 concerning the influence of drugs on motorized road-users were reviewed. Only cases where a drug was demonstrated in blood and/or urine were included. A total of 442 cases were included in this investigation and 100 different agents, drugs and narcotics were demonstrated. In all of the cases the two drugs most frequently demonstrated were diazepam (46%) and morphine (19%). In the 46 cases where diazepam was demonstrated alone (blood alcohol concentration = 0, a significant correlation could be demonstrated between the sum of the blood concentration of diazepam and demethyldiazepam and the degree of intoxication as estimated by the clinical examination. In 87% of the cases, the road-users were men. Cannabis users had a lower age (21 years) than the road-users who had taken diazepam (28 years) or morphine (26 years) while individuals who had taken methadon had a higher average age (29 years) than those who had taken morphine. The frequencies of accidents in cases with morphine or methadon were lower than in the material as a whole while the frequency of accidents for dextropropoxyphen was higher compared with the other opiods and the material as a whole.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1991

[Triazolam (Halcion) poisoning].

Benzodiazepines have been regarded as relatively "safe" drugs where fatal poisonings are concerned. The very potent benzodiazepines have, to a certain extent, changed this viewpoint and since triazolam was introduced in Denmark in 1978, six fatal intoxications have occurred in East Denmark. Triazolam analyses were performed by capillary gas chromatography with an electron capture detector. In the only case where no ethanol was present, a blood triazolam concentration of 0.3 mumol/kg was detected. In one case no blood was available because of putrefaction, and muscle was analysed for triazolam instead of blood. The concentration range in the four cases with an ethanol concentration of 1-2 mg/g is 0.1-0.6 mumol/kg. The blood concentrations from these six fatal intoxications are compared to blood concentrations from living persons. The whole blood concentrations from living persons were in the range 0.005-0.08 mumol/kg (n = 28) with an average concentration of 0.034 mumol/kg.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

[Benzodiazepines in blood samples with 0 alcohol content sent to the Institute of Forensic Chemistry].

The Institute of Forensic Chemistry, Copenhagen, receives approximately 29,000 blood samples annually for alcohol determination from drivers suspected of drinking and driving. The incidence of benzodiazepines were estimated in the 877 alcohol-negative samples from six months (01.01-07.31 1983). Eight samples had to be excluded because of insufficient material. Screening for benzodiazepines was made by means of a radioreceptor-method. Quantification and identification of the benzodiazepines was performed by gas- and liquid-chromatography. 15% of the samples were found to be positive for benzodiazepines (13% positive for diazepam and desmethyldiazepam), while an earlier investigation of the same type of material, but including all blood samples, both alcohol-positive and negative showed only 5.8% of the samples positive for benzodiazepines (5.5% positive for diazepam). These findings are in agreement with the results of other investigations. 59% of the diazepam cases had a total concentration of diazepam and desmethyldiazepam higher than 1 mumol/kg. 69% were men and 31% were women. Most cases were found in the age group 20-30 years old. In only 22% of the cases, had the police required analyses for benzodiazepines. Due to the known difficulties in instituting proceedings against drivers influenced by drugs, it is feared, that the drug problem in connection with driving will be forgotten, all the while it is increasing steadily.

Automobile Driving↗
PubMed1990

Fatal poisoning by cyclic antidepressants.

In a seven-year period (1979-1985), 151 fatal cases of poisoning by cyclic antidepressants were registered at the Institute of Forensic Chemistry in Copenhagen. Amitriptyline was by far the most frequently occurring compound. An increase in the number of fatal poisonings by cyclic antidepressants was seen over the seven years, also compared to the total number of fatal poisonings registered at the Institute in the same period. The increase was seen mostly in men, the number of women remaining fairly constant over the period. Altogether there were 91 women and 60 men. Most cases were found in the 30-39 age group closely followed by the 40-49 age group, both groups including twice as many women as men. Men dominated only in the 20-29 age group. One hundred and twenty-one of the cases were found to be suicides, while thirteen of the cases were more dubious and were registered as "accident/suicide?" Seventeen of the cases were apparent accidents; of these, thirteen (76%) had a mention of alcohol abuse in their case histories.

Accidents↗
PubMed1989

[Fatal poisoning among narcotic addicts in Denmark in 1984-1985].

A material of 194 deaths from poisoning among drug addicts investigated in the Medico-Legal Institutes in 1984 and 1985 is described as regards type of poisoning, sex, age, housing etc.. This investigation is part of a Nordic project concerned with deaths from poisoning among young adults in the age group 15-34 years in the Nordic countries with particular attention to deaths from poisoning among drug addicts. Cases of heroin/morphine poisoning constitute half of the deaths while legal drugs such as dextropropoxyphene, methadone and ketobemidone were the causes of death in 30% of the cases. In approximately 40% of the cases of poisoning, alcohol was involved (blood alcohol concentrations greater than 0.5%). Deaths from heroin occurred most commonly in Copenhagen while deaths due to dextroproxyphene were relatively most common in the provinces. Less than half (42%) of the drug addicts examined lived in Copenhagen.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Fatal intoxications in the Nordic countries. A forensic toxicological study with special reference to young drug addicts.

Fatal intoxications in the 15-34 age group in the five Nordic countries during the years 1984 and 1985 (Sweden only in 1984) were investigated. The known drug addicts were studied separately. The highest incidence of intoxications, calculated per 10(5) population, was found in Finland (11.3), followed by Denmark (10.3), Sweden (8.5), Iceland (7.2) and Norway (6.6). The percentage of intoxications caused by drugs was 92 in Denmark, 71 in Norway, 66 in Sweden, 50 in Finland and 17 in Iceland. Ethanol intoxications were seen 5-7 and 2-3 times as frequently in Finland and in Iceland, respectively, than in the other three countries. Carbon monoxide intoxications accounted for two-thirds of all fatal intoxications in Iceland. Drug addicts accounted for 62% of all fatal intoxications in the Danish material. The corresponding figures were 33% in the Norwegian, 16% in the Swedish and 5% in the Finnish material. No deaths in drug addicts were found in Iceland. Most drug addicts in Denmark, Norway and Sweden died of hard drugs and most in Norway and Sweden, from heroin or morphine, whereas in Denmark other strong analgesics, such as methadone, dextropropoxyphene and ketobemidone, accounted for 40% of all hard-drug-related fatal intoxications. To a certain extent the results reflect differences in the legal autopsy routines in the various Nordic countries. However, the ascertainment of drug addicts is assumed to be near-complete in each country.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Fatal intoxications in the age group 15-34 years in Denmark in 1984 and 1985. A forensic study with special reference to drug addicts.

This survey deals with the Danish part of a study on fatal intoxications conducted in the Nordic countries in 1984 and 1985 with special reference to drug addicts. There were 315 cases of fatal intoxications in people 15-34 years of age. These were examined at the Forensic Institutes in Denmark and described with reference to cause of death, sex, age and drug addiction. Of the deceased, 194 were drug addicts according to a specific definition of this term. Women accounted for 28% of all the fatalities investigated in the study and 24% of those in addicts. More than 90% of the deaths were caused by drugs, with ethanol as a contributory factor in approximately 40% of cases. Deaths caused by heroin/morphine predominated, causing 50% of the deaths among drug addicts, but legal drugs, such as dextropropoxyphene, methadone and ketobemidone were also frequent causes of death in this group. In half the cases the concentration of morphine in blood following injection of heroin/morphine was found to be equal to or less than 0.5 mumol/kg, and in only about one-tenth of cases was the blood concentration above 2.0 mumol/kg.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

[Fatal poisoning in Scandinavia--narcotic addicts are a high-risk group].

This study on fatal intoxications in the Nordic countries indicates an over-representation of drug addicts in Denmark, Norway and Sweden. All cases of fatal intoxications in persons 15-34 years of age submitted to medicolegal autopsy and subsequent toxicological examination in the Nordic countries during 1984-1985 included in the study. A comparison between the Nordic countries is possible because the same definition of a drug addict and classification of drugs are used. The numbers of fatal intoxications among drug addicts per 10(5) population were 6.3 in Denmark, 2.1 in Norway, 1.3 in Sweden, 0.6 in Finland and none in Iceland. About 70 per cent of the drug addicts in Norway and Sweden died from heroin/morphine intoxication. In Denmark only 55 per cent of the drug addicts died from heroin/morphine and 36 per cent died from overdoses of the legal drugs methadone, dextropropoxyphene and ketobemidone.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Fatal intoxications in Denmark following intake of morphine from opium poppies.

In Denmark it is legal to grow opium poppies for the production of poppy seeds and until 1986 for decoration purposes, too. Danish poppy capsules contain 0.3-5 mg morphine per capsule and the content of morphine in opium exuded from the capsules may amount to 24%. This has resulted in misuse as both fresh and dried poppy capsules have been used for the production of "opium tea". During the period 1982-1985, seven casualties occurred among drug addicts in Denmark which were solely or partly caused by these opium poppies.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Intrathecal administration of morphine for the relief of pains in labour and estimation of maternal and fetal plasma concentration of morphine.

Thirteen healthy women in active labour received an intrathecal injection of morphine 1.0 mg. Eighty-five percent (11 patients) experienced acceptable or good pain relief. Analgesia set in 15-45 min after injection and reached a maximum after 15-120 min and lasted until delivery. Eighty-five percent (11 patients) of the patients developed mild side-effects i.e., pruritus, nausea and emesis. The intrathecal injection of morphine did not adversely affect the condition of the infant. Venous blood samples from the patients and umbilical cords for estimation of plasma morphine showed extremely low concentrations. No patients experienced any discomfort during the injection of morphine. These results indicate that morphine 1.0 mg administered intrathecally decreases labour pains to an acceptable level.

Anesthesia, Obstetrical↗
PubMed1982

Respiratory depression and morphine concentration in serum after epidural and intramuscular administration of morphine.

The ventilatory response to carbon dioxide and the serum level of free morphine were measured in six adult patients scheduled for operation under lumbar epidural analgesia. The investigation was performed on 2 consecutive days before the operation. The measurements were performed before, and 30 and 90 min after the intramuscular administration of morphine chloride (0.15 mg/kg body weight) as well as lumbar epidural administration of morphine chloride (5 mg morphine chloride diluted in 10 ml isotonic saline). The ventilatory response to carbon dioxide was depressed significantly both 30 and 90 min after epidurally administered morphine compared to the control value, while the depression of the ventilatory response was demonstrated in only five of six patients 30 min after intramuscularly administered morphine. The peak serum levels of free morphine were reached within 20 min of administration and it seemed that the injected quantity of morphine and not the method of administration determined the serum level.

Aged↗