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Biomedical subjects

R Mattern

Publications and source records attributed to R Mattern.

58 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

[Suicide with prothipendyl].

The distribution of prothipendyl (Dominal) in two cases of fatal poisoning are reported. The highest concentration of prothipendyl were found in liver (1.2 g/kg to 1.8 g/kg) and kidney (0.6 g/kg). Prothipendyl concentrations in these organs far exceeded those in blood. In the first case we found a blood concentration 200 times over the therapeutic range. Prothipendyl was detected in all specimens tested including: lung, muscle and stomach. These results are in agreement with limited, previously reported data and indicate that more then 4 g of prothipendyl is fatal overdose. In this report the survival time and dose are discussed.

Adult

[Sudden fatalities in mechanically restrained patients].

We report on 7 nursing home or hospital patients who died suddenly and unexpectedly during physical restraint. Four of the patients were found dead hanging beside their beds, with their waist restraints displaced to the thorax. In spite of a variety of preexisting diseases, asphyxia by thorax compression was the most probable cause of death. Three other patients, when falling out of their beds, were strangulated by the head opening of a nursing bedcover fixed to the bed. In all instances the fatal accidents resulted from improper handling of the restraint devices, namely from the omission of bed rails as well as of the obligatory waist belt lateral fixations. The bedcover type involved in three fatalities is destined for care purposes but not licensed as a restraint device. Physical restraint fatalities can be avoided to a large extent if the producers' instructions are strictly observed, and only especially trained and supervised personnel is admitted to this field of duties.

Aged

[Storage stability of flunitrazepam, flurazepam, diazepam and metabolites in blood and plasma].

The stability of flunitrazepam, flurazepam, diazepam and some of their metabolites in spiked blood and plasma samples was studied bei GC-ECD analysis at defined time intervals up to 240 days. Validation data of the method are given. The blood or plasma samples were stored either at 22 degrees C or at 4 degrees C, and were exposed to global natural light irradiation or protected from light. All substances considerably decreased during the time interval studied. Flunitrazepam soon disappeared completely at room temperature (22 degrees C), while diazepam and flurazepam proved to be more stable, but a clear pattern of breakdown could not be established. The data obtained suggest a result from a long-term stored sample to be cautiously interpreted. Further investigation concerning the stability of drugs and the establishment of optimal storage conditions seem necessary.

Anti-Anxiety Agents

[Fatal poisoning with clozapine and perazine. A case report].

An intoxication following an apparent overdose of clozapine (Leponex) and perazine (Taxilan) is reported. There was a wide range of variation in postmortem blood and tissue concentrations of clozapine, desmethyclozapine and perazine. Clozapine/norclozapine blood and tissue ratios and perazine-pill-fragments in the gastric content could be used as a sign of suspected acute clozapine and perazine overdose.

Adult