Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to G Sticht.
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Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
We compared the MTP immunoassay with EMIT for the screening of drugs of abuse (opiates, cannabinoids, cocaine metabolites and amphetamines) in whole blood samples. These blood samples were obtained from the German police, when driving under the influence of drugs of abuse was suspected. For screening with the MTP immunoassay 25 microliters of serum or blood (without any pretreatment) was pipetted into the wells of the microtiter plates and the procedure was followed as described. Prior to screening with a Cobas Mira and EMIT reagents, the samples were treated with acetone to precipitate serum proteins. The cutoff for all drugs of abuse was set at 10 ng per ml of serum or blood. In most cases there was a good agreement between the negative and positive results of the two screening assays. The agreement between the two assays in the detection of opiates and cocaine was 91% and 93%, respectively, and for cannabinoids and amphetamines approximately 80%. The MTP immunoassay was more sensitive than EMIT for the detection of cannabinoids--but at the same time the MTP immunoassay was less specific. Both screening assays have a sensitivity of 100% for the detection of opiates and cocaine, but the specificity of the EMIT--also for opiates--was substantially lower. The MTP immunoassay has in respect to amphetamines a very high sensitivity, whereas the sensitivity of EMIT for amphetamines is inacceptable due to losses during sample preparation. The specificity of MTP immunoassay for amphetamines is not optimal, because a relatively large amount of samples tested false-positive for amphetamines at the cutoff of 10 ng/ml. In summary the MTP immunoassay, although not automated, performs well in comparison with EMIT, especially if the sample preparation for EMIT testing ist considered.
The authors report on a 21-year old female who died suddenly during a techno-festival. The autopsy findings and the results of chemical-toxicological analyses were not able to clear up the cause of death. Pathophysiological and toxicological considerations demonstrate that only a combination of facts are sufficient to explain the sudden death of this young woman.
A fatal intoxication of a 22-year-old woman after intake of the phenothiazine perazine is described. In all of investigated organs e.g. in liver, lungs and kidneys high concentrations of the active agent could be found. The analytical results lead to the assumption that at least 14, most likely 30 tablets of Taxilan 100 have been taken. An unintended overdosage seems to be excluded just as an administration by another person.
7 cases of "dumping" of the bodies of drug addicts are reported. Circumstances of the case, findings at the scene, autopsy findings and confessions raised already the suspicion that the bodies were not found at the scene of death. In 5 cases the "dumping" of the bodies was outside, in 2 cases inside a house. Identification of the bodies was always easy, since personal papers (passport, identity card) were still present and no attempts were made to prevent identification. The prevalent motivation for "dumping" seems to be not to be identified as drug addict or dealer or to be brought in connection with the death of drug addicts.
A man with indications of autoerotic manipulations was found dead in his flat and a homicide had to be excluded. Diverse material found in the flat suggested that the man was a consumer of cocaine. But the analyses of blood, urine and organs showed high concentrations of amphetamine and it was thought about an unintentionally mix-up with cocaine. A hair analysis was made and only amphetamine was detected. Therefore the utensils (mirror, razor-blade and sniff-pipe) belong to a rare nasal consumption of amphetamine.