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W J Decker

Publications and source records attributed to W J Decker.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1990

Toxicological information series, IV. Information resources for chemical emergency response.

The need for rapidly available information by community agencies responding to chemical emergencies (leaks, spills, releases, fires, explosions, etc.) can be met by a number of resources. These resources include local poison control centers, the Toxicology Data Network (National Library of Medicine), the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, ATSDR/NLM's ANSWER, the National Chemical Response and Information Center, the National Pesticide Telecommunications Network, The National Response Center (U.S. Coast Guard), the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the National Safety Council, private-sector database vendors, and textbooks addressing hazardous substances.

Emergencies↗
PubMed1988

Chlorine poisoning at the swimming pool revisited: anatomy of two minidisasters.

A case of acute chlorine gas exposure in a swimming pool attendant was previously reported (Clin Tox 13:377-381, 1978). In April 1986, approximately 30 people, including a swimming coach, lifeguards, and competitive swimmers ranging in age from 5 to 12 years old, were exposed to heavy concentrations of chlorine gas at a large indoor swimming pool. The coach, one lifeguard, and 18 of the children were hospitalized. In June 1988, a similar exposure occurred at the same swimming pool, and 11 persons were affected. Information from these 2 incidents illustrates 4 important factors in disaster prevention and management: proper training of equipment operators, effectiveness of triage, information flow to relatives of the afflicted, and requisite posthospitalization followup to detect possible long-term adverse effects.

Child↗
PubMed1986

Toxicology of fires: an emerging clinical concern.

As a wider variety of synthetic materials is used in buildings, the potential for poisoning from inhalation of products of combustion is increasing greatly. Research during the past few years has shown that the burning of plastics (insulation, furniture, carpeting, electric wiring covering, decorative items) results in the formation of large amounts of highly toxic chemicals. Clinicians treating victims of fires should be aware of the toxicological ramifications of combustion, including delayed pathophysiological sequellae. A case report and a review of some current hypotheses of fire-induced toxicity illustrate the current state of knowledge, as well as some uncertainties and controversies in fire toxicology.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Decreased absorption of propoxyphene by activated charcoal.

In 1968 we first suggested that activated charcoal (AC) should be administered in the emergency treatment of propoxyphene overdosage. The dramatic increase in recent years of deaths involving propoxyphene has prompted us to again evaluate the efficacy of AC in preventing absorption of propoxyphene from the GI tract. Male rats (100-125 g) were administered propoxyphene hydrochloride (P-HCl, 350 mg/kg) or propoxyphene napsylate (P-N, 825 mg/kg) either dissolved or suspended in 5% acacia in H2O. After 30 min the rats were administered either AC at 10 times the drug dose or water. Surviving rats were sacrificed at 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, and 24 h; the brain, liver, and both kidneys were removed intact, weighed, and stored at -70 degrees C. After lyophilization, the tissues were analyzed for propoxyphene and its metabolite, norpropoxyphene, by GLC. There were significantly less deaths in rats that received P-HCl + AC or P-N + AC than rats that received either P-HCl or P-N alone (9 vs 19, p less than .01 and 5 vs 10, p less than .05 respectively). Tissue levels of propoxyphene and norpropoxyphene were similarly significantly reduced. These studies provide further evidence of the efficacy of AC in propoxyphene overdosage.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

Intravenous self-administration of propoxyphene napsylate: case report and in-vitro studies.

A man who was prescribed propoxyphene napsylate (PN) for treatment of heroin addiction stated that he received no effect from the drug by the oral route. He then decided to administer the drug to himself intravenously in a manner identical to that used by most heroin addicts (heating the tablet with water in a spoon and drawing the liquid through a needle); this procedure brought him immediate subjective relief. Several reports have stated than PN is not efficacious via the intravenous route since it is relatively water insoluble and is therefore not likely to be abuse in this manner. However, in vitro experiments demonstrated that at least 1 mg of PN can be extracted by 10 mL of hot water from a tablet containing 100 mg of the drug. Assuming (as a conservative estimate) that the subject received a bolus injection of approximately 40 mg PN (he used four 100 mg tablets at once), his response may not have been entirely subjective. Moreover, severe cardiovascular and pulmonary complications may ensure as a result of the insoluble material injected.

Dextropropoxyphene↗
PubMed1978

Rapid detection of amphetamine in urine by micro thin-layer chromatography and fluorescence.

A rapid, inexpensive, and simple screening procedure for the detection of amphetamine abuse was developed for use by laboratories without sophisticated equipment. A small volume of extract from a pH-adjusted urine specimen is used to spot a high-resolution micro TLC plate. The developed TLC plate is sprayed with a solution of fluorescamine in dry acetone. When viewed under ultraviolet illumination, amphetamines and other compounds with a primary amino group complexed with fluorescamine appear as greenish or bluish-white fluorescent spots. Secondary or tertiary amines do not react with fluorescamine. About 20 min is required to perform the procedure; the lower limit of detectability is approximately 100 ng/ml urine.

Amphetamine↗
PubMed1977

Laboratory support of drug abuse control programs: an overview.

Labeling an individual a drug abuser has serious sociologic and legal implications that only laboratory testing can effectively allay. A proper specimen (both qualitatively and quantitatively) must be obtained for analysis. Positive identification of specimen with subject is of paramount importance. The problems of specimen substitution--other people's urine, tap water, apple juice--directly impinge here, as does the possibility of drug degradation by heat, light, and microbial attack and of drug adsorption by the container and urinary sediment. Confirmation of postives indicated by screening tests (thin layer chromatography and immunoassays) by gas chromatography and/or ultraviolet spectrophotometry is, in most situations, mandatory. An effective quality control program is an absolute requirement. Even under ideal circumstances, laboratory results can sometimes wrongly indicate the abuse of drugs; and conversely, drug abuse can take place without detection by the laboratory. As in any clinical situation, laboratory tests are only a part (albeit an important one) of the entire evaluation of the individual involved.

Chemistry, Analytic↗
PubMed1977

Analysis of methotrexate in human plasma by high-pressure liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection.

Methotrexate in human plasma at a concentration as low as 0.01 microgram/ml can be assayed with the use of high-pressure-liquid chromatography and a fluorescence detection system. Methotrexate is oxidized stoichiometrically to 2,4-diaminopteridine-6-carboxylic acid, a fluorescent product that is separable from other fluorescent materials in plasma with the use of an octadecylsilane (reversed phase) column. The detector response is linear over the range of 0.01 to 10 microgram/ml. Neither folic acid nor citrovorum factor interferes with the analysis. N-((4-([2,4-Dihydroxy-6-pteridyl)methyl]-amino)benzoyl))glutamic acid may be used as an internal standard, since it can be extracted from plasma and oxidized like methotrexate. The procedure is rapid (about 30 min) and should be a useful method for monitoring methotrexate plasma concentrations.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗