Biomedical subjects

W W Wahba

Publications and source records attributed to W W Wahba.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1990

Plasma versus bone marrow desipramine: a comparative study.

Correlation between plasma and bone marrow tricyclic antidepressants has not been studied before. Two groups of rabbits were given 10 and 20 mg of desipramine/kg body weight, respectively. Desipramine was administered to the animals once daily by mouth for 5 days. On the fifth day the animals were sacrificed and blood and bone marrow samples were collected and analyzed using a high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method. Data showed that a correlation exists between bone marrow and blood desipramine. The bone marrow desipramine concentration increased as its blood levels increased. The average ratio of bone marrow to blood desipramine +/- S.D. (standard deviation) in both dosage groups was 37.2 +/- 4.46 with a range of 30.99-44.82. This investigation is promising and shows that bone marrow could be used as an alternative tissue in the absence of a suitable blood sample.

Animals↗

PubMed1989

Body distribution of ethchlorvynol.

Ethchlorvynol (Placidyl) is a nonbarbiturate sedative hypnotic. Two fatal cases of ethchlorvynol overdose are reported. Toxicological analyses of body fluids and tissues were performed by gas chromatography using a flame-ionization detector. The quantitative method was sensitive and reproducible. Body distribution of ethchlorvynol in blood and other tissues is presented. Biological samples analyzed included blood, urine, bile, liver, kidney, eye fluid, and gastric contents. Results presented add to the pharmacokinetic data needed to study the disposition of drugs in different tissues. Findings in present two cases are compared with published toxicological data.

Adult↗

PubMed1988

Determination of ethchlorvynol in body tissues and fluids after embalmment.

A 54 year-old female expired at her residence. Her husband, a physician, signed a certificate stating that her death was due to cerebrovascular accident (CVA) and released her body to a funeral home, where she was embalmed. Since the deceased had a long history of medical problems and drug abuse, an autopsy was performed and no evidence of CVA was found. Toxicological analyses of body fluids and tissues revealed the presence of ethchlorvynol in high concentration in the bile (112 mg/l). The bloody fluid collected from the heart contained a concentration of ethchlorvynol below the limit for quantitation. Other findings included phenobarbital (32.8 mg/l) in heart bloody fluid and methanol (an ingredient of embalming fluid). The significance of the findings is discussed in relation to embalmment prior to autopsy and toxicological analyses. Ethchlorvynol concentration in the bile is compared to other fatal cases due to ethchlorvynol overdose.

Bile↗

PubMed1985

Blood versus bone marrow pentobarbital concentrations.

Postmortem pentobarbital levels in rabbit heart blood and bone marrow were determined and compared. The average ratio of femur marrow/blood pentobarbital concentrations in 24 rabbits was 1.06 +/- 0.05. The average percent difference between actual plasma pentobarbital concentrations and calculated plasma pentobarbital concentrations was 5.82 +/- 1.96. Concentrations were determined by gas chromatography of extracted, derivatized pentobarbital.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Fatal strychnine ingestion.

A postmortem case involving ingestion of a strychnine-containing preparation is reported. Strychnine levels were determined in blood, urine, bile, liver, kidney, stomach contents, small and large intestines, and brain. The procedure, which is sensitive and specific, employs a gas-liquid chromatograph equipped with a flame ionization detector (FID). The extraction procedure using 5 mL of body fluids or tissue homogenate is described in detail. This is the first strychnine mortality in Allegheny County within a period of 20 years.

Chromatography, Gas↗

PubMedDate not supplied

An unusually high blood cocaine concentration in a fatal case.

A fatal case resulting in an unusually high blood cocaine concentration is reported. Cocaine was administered intranasally, then orally. Blood concentrations of cocaine and the combination of cocaine and its metabolites were 51.7 and 85.0 mg/L, respectively. Case history, pathological findings, and tissue distribution of cocaine and its metabolites are presented.

Administration, Oral↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Sudden death following accidental ingestion of chlormequat.

A 59-year-old white male accidentally ingested a mouthful of a plant growth chemical, Cycocel, containing 11.8% of the active ingredient (2-chloroethyl)trimethylammonium chloride (chlormequat). He was seen by a family physician and then transferred to a hospital where he died as a result of ventricular fibrillation, which progressed to asystole. Postingestion symptoms were typical of cholinergic crisis and included salivation, diaphoresis, bradycardia, visual disturbances, and seizure. Autopsy findings showed marked pulmonary edema, coronary atherosclerosis, atheromata of aorta, and localized adenocarcinoma of the prostate. Toxicological analyses of biological samples showed the presence of chlormequat in the stomach contents and urine.

Accidents, Occupational↗