[A rare case of exposure to natural psychoactive substances, and difficulties with medicolegal assessment]. / Rzadki przypadek ekspozycji na naturalne srodki psychoaktywne i trudnosci w opiniowaniu sadowo-lekarskim.

An unusual case of exposure to natural psychoactive substances deriving from Datura stramonium (jimsonweed, thorn-apple) is presented in this article. It may be of interest in this case that a hallucinogenic substance was intentionally administered by a third party. An initial assessment in this criminal case was questionable, and resulted from a lack of consideration of toxicological exposure and its possible aftermath. The above-mentioned case demonstrates the necessity of considering all toxicological aspects of the case, even though initial findings seemed to indicate something else.

H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic investigation of urine for diagnostic and clinical assessment of methanol intoxication.

Occasional or suicidal methanol intoxications are a permanent problem for most Poisoning Centers around the World. Therefore it is important to look for new diagnostic and clinical prognostic methods. In the present paper 5 cases of methanol intoxication were analyzed. At first the methanol concentrations in blood and urine were estimated with headspace gas chromatography technique. Next the urine samples were examined with 1H NMR spectroscopy, then the levels of ethanol, methanol and its metabolite, formate, lactate and trimethylamine-N-oxide with dimethylamine were evaluated. The concentrations of the above compounds were correlated with the patient's clinical status, the level of ethanol and methanol and biochemical parameters. The results indicate the correlation between clinical course of intoxication, prognostication and lactate level. There were no significant parallels for formate level as acidosis causing metabolite and initial methanol levels. In the urine samples of intoxicated patients the increased trimethyl-N-oxide and dimethylamine levels were observed, which may indicate renal cortex damage. Contrary to the opinion of some clinicians, methanol intoxication may be connected with renal functional disturbances. 1H NMR examination of urine appears to be an excellent tool to evaluate the clinical course of methanol intoxication.