ABSTRACT
The perception of the seriousness of a false-negative or false-positive diagnosis could influence treatment decision making for carious lesions. In order to investigate this hypothesis, the perceived risk of a complaint at a disciplinary tribunal was used as an indicator of the seriousness of the consequences of treatment decision errors. Using a computer programme for caries diagnosis on radiographs and by means of a questionnaire, was investigated in a group of fourth-year dental students whether their accuracy of treatment decision making for carious lesions was dependent on the perception of the risk of a complaint at a disciplinary tribunal. The perception of the likelihood of complaints does not seem to play a significant role in the accuracy of decision making. However, the students demonstrated unrealistical high risk perceptions of a complaint at a disciplinary tribunal following a treatment decision making error by a false diagnosis of a carious lesion on a bitewing radiograph.
Subject(s)
Clinical Competence , Decision Making , Dental Caries/diagnostic imaging , Patient Care Planning , Students, Dental/psychology , False Negative Reactions , False Positive Reactions , Humans , Malpractice , Radiography, BitewingABSTRACT
Results are presented of a liquid chromatographic-thermospray tandem mass spectrometric method of analysing different drugs in whole blood. Substances with hypnotic, sedative and tranquillising properties from the benzodiazepine, the thioxanthene, the butyrophenone, the methadone and the diphenylbutylpiperidine groups were investigated. It appears that ten to hundred times lower detection limits for the substances in whole blood can be reached with this method compared with methods more commonly used. Detection limits in the range 10-100 pg per injection (equivalent to 0.05-0.5 ng/ml whole blood) were reached for the majority of the compounds.
Subject(s)
Benzodiazepines/blood , Butyrophenones/blood , Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid/methods , Mass Spectrometry/methods , Methadone/blood , Narcotics/blood , Piperidines/blood , Thioxanthenes/blood , Calibration , Humans , Sensitivity and SpecificityABSTRACT
Mass spectrometric data are presented for the detection of metabolites of the amphetamine derivates 3,4-(Methylenedioxy)amphetamine (MDA) und 3,4-(Methylenedioxy)methylamphetamine (MDMA, Ecstasy) as well as some other derivatives.
Subject(s)
3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine/analysis , 3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine/chemistry , Designer Drugs/analysis , Mass Spectrometry , N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine/analysis , N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine/chemistry , Designer Drugs/chemistry , Humans , Structure-Activity Relationship , Substance Abuse Detection/legislation & jurisprudenceABSTRACT
The results of a liquid chromatographic-mass spectrometric method for the quantitative determination of some medicaments of the methadone, butyrophenone, or diphenylbutylpiperidine groups in whole blood are presented. The method includes an extraction procedure with Bond Elut columns. The liquid chromatograph is connected to a mass spectrometer by a thermospray interface, and to obtain as high a sensitivity and selectivity as possible, a selected reaction monitoring mass spectrometric technique in the daughter ion mode is applied.
Subject(s)
Analgesics/blood , Tranquilizing Agents/blood , Antipsychotic Agents/blood , Butyrophenones , Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid , Humans , Mass Spectrometry , Methadone/analogs & derivatives , Methadone/blood , Piperidines/bloodABSTRACT
Some impurities of illegally synthesized 3.4-(methylenedioxy)amphetamine (MDA) are presented. These compounds were detected in laboratory glassware which had been used for the synthesis of MDA via phenyl nitropropene route.
Subject(s)
3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine/chemical synthesis , Benzaldehydes/chemistry , Drug Contamination/legislation & jurisprudence , Drug and Narcotic Control/legislation & jurisprudence , Ethane/analogs & derivatives , Illicit Drugs/chemical synthesis , Nitroparaffins/chemistry , 3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine/chemistry , Benzodioxoles , Ethane/chemistry , Humans , Illicit Drugs/chemistryABSTRACT
An LC/TSP/MS/MS selected reaction monitoring (SRM) method in the daughter ion scan mode can be applied successfully for the quantitative determination of thermolabile benzodiazepines in whole-blood following an Extrelut extraction method. Detection limits as low as 100 pg per injection can be reached for all benzodiazepines. The benzodiazepines under investigation proved to be stable, with the exception of ketazolam for which complete degradation to diazepam was observed.
Subject(s)
Benzodiazepines/blood , Benzodiazepines/chemistry , Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid , Hot Temperature , Humans , Mass Spectrometry , Molecular Structure , Nebulizers and Vaporizers , Reference Standards , Sensitivity and SpecificityABSTRACT
Attention is given here to the mass spectral data of impurities present in illicit drug preparations of 3,4-(methylenedioxy)amphetamine and 3,4-(methylenedioxy)methylamphetamine. These "designer" drugs, having emphatic properties, were synthesized following well-known procedures such as the reductive amination route, the Leuckart reaction, and the nitropropene and the bromopropane routes. Based on the structure elucidation of impurities - especially those so-called "route specific" ones - present in these illicit drug preparations conclusions can be drawn about the method of preparation of a drug sample. Furthermore, on the basis of this kind of information methods can be developed for the comparison of drug samples, by which questions about the origin of drug samples can be solved (commonly known as the signature method).
ABSTRACT
In this paper a survey is given concerning the production of illegal MDMA preparations. It was found that the reductive amination and the Leuckart syntheses were used for this purposes.
Subject(s)
3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine/analogs & derivatives , Designer Drugs , Illicit Drugs , 3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine/analysis , Humans , N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine , NetherlandsABSTRACT
A new impurity was found in MDMA preparations, the tricyclic alcaloid hydrastinine. Production of MDMA was done by low pressure amination of 3,4-(methylenedioxy)propanone-2 with methylamine.
Subject(s)
3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine/analogs & derivatives , Designer Drugs/analysis , Drug Contamination , Illicit Drugs/analysis , Isoquinolines/analysis , Parasympatholytics/analysis , Tetrahydroisoquinolines , 3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine/analysis , Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry , HumansABSTRACT
In this review, attention is paid to chromatographic and mass spectral properties of already identified impurities found to be present in frequently abused drug preparations of illegal origin of amphetamine and methamphetamine. The most commonly employed methods of synthesis of drugs of this type are briefly described. Special emphasis is given to the Leuckart route, found to be the preferred method, in the illicit production of amphetamine. Furthermore, some isolation and preconcentration methods for the contaminants are discussed. The importance of identifying impurities present in amphetamine or methamphetamine cannot be overestimated. These impurities originate mostly from the improper purification in the end stage of the different syntheses used in the clandestine manufacture of the substances; it is possible to differentiate between the several kinds of illegal drug preparations, synthesized by various methods, by means of so-called "route specific" impurities. Finally, a survey is given of the impurities already known to be present in amphetamine and methamphetamine, together with their mass spectral and some chromatographic properties.
Subject(s)
Anti-Anxiety Agents/poisoning , Chlordiazepoxide/poisoning , Quinoxalines/pharmacokinetics , Temazepam/poisoning , Child , Chlordiazepoxide/pharmacokinetics , Gastrointestinal Contents/analysis , Humans , Infanticide/legislation & jurisprudence , Mass Spectrometry , Temazepam/pharmacokineticsABSTRACT
Urinary and faecal isolates of Proteus mirabilis were studied with respect to a number of bacterial properties as possible virulence factors in the pathogenesis of urinary tract infections: experimental virulence in a mouse model, haemolysin production, haemagglutinating properties, hydrophobicity of the bacterial surface, sensitivity to the bactericidal effect of human serum, serotype and cell invasiveness. Urinary isolates were slightly more virulent than faecal isolates in the mouse model. No other significant differences were found between both groups. So urinary strains seem to be selected from the faecal reservoir mainly on the basis of their prevalence in the faeces and not on the basis of the possession of particular virulence factors.
Subject(s)
Bacteriuria/microbiology , Feces/microbiology , Proteus Infections/microbiology , Proteus mirabilis/pathogenicity , Animals , Blood Bactericidal Activity , Hemagglutination , Hemolysis , Humans , Male , Mice , Proteus mirabilis/classification , Proteus mirabilis/isolation & purification , Serotyping , VirulenceSubject(s)
Anti-Anxiety Agents/poisoning , Homicide , Temazepam/poisoning , Biotransformation , Humans , Hydrolysis , Male , Temazepam/metabolismABSTRACT
A group of faecal isolates of Proteus vulgaris and P. mirabilis was studied for the presence of possible virulence factors such as growth rates in urine and broth, haemolysin production, hydrophobicity, sensitivity to the bactericidal activity of human serum and cell invasiveness. Differences were found in haemolysin production, cell invasiveness and experimental virulence in a mouse model. These differences might explain why P. mirabilis is much more common in human urinary-tract infections than P. vulgaris.
Subject(s)
Proteus mirabilis/pathogenicity , Proteus vulgaris/pathogenicity , Urine/microbiology , Animals , Feces/microbiology , Humans , Male , Mice , Urinary Tract Infections/microbiologyABSTRACT
The killing by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes of several species of bacteria, some of which were catalase positive, was examined in vitro in aerobic and anaerobic conditions. When all conditions other than the oxygen tension were identical, killing after 30 min was slightly greater in aerobic than in anaerobic conditions. However, after 60 and 120 min the difference between aerobic and anaerobic killing was smaller, and killing was nearly complete for all strains tested. These results conflict with the common opinion that oxygen is essential for efficient killing. Minor differences in experimental conditions can greatly influence results, and may be responsible for the discrepancy between this study and some previous studies on this subject.
Subject(s)
Bacteroides/physiology , Enterobacteriaceae/physiology , Enterococcus faecalis/physiology , Neutrophils/physiology , Staphylococcus/physiology , Aerobiosis , Anaerobiosis , Blood Bactericidal Activity , Humans , Hydrogen-Ion Concentration , In Vitro Techniques , Luminescent Measurements , Neutrophils/metabolism , Time FactorsABSTRACT
Results of the identification of some additional products in the hydrochloric acid hydrolysis of lorazepam are reported, together with some quantitative results about the hydrolysis products under varying circumstances. It appeared that the amount of byproducts was reduced by applying hydrochloric acid of good quality and further on hydrolysis time had to be short.
Subject(s)
Forensic Medicine , Lorazepam/analysis , Chromatography, Gas , Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid , Humans , Hydrolysis , Mass SpectrometryABSTRACT
Vero cell invasiveness was studied for a group of Proteus mirabilis strains isolated from the urinary tract and feces and for a limited group of urinary isolates of Escherichia coli. Experimental conditions affecting this invasiveness were studied. All of the P. mirabilis strains tested were capable of cell invasion, whereas none of the E. coli strains was. Correlation between the hemolytic activity of the P. mirabilis strains and their invasive ability suggested that the bacterial hemolysin may be involved in the invasion process. Other experimental evidence supporting this hypothesis is discussed. The differences in the invasive capacities of P. mirabilis and of E. coli may be important for the apparent differences in the pathogenesis of urinary tract infection by both species.
Subject(s)
Proteus Infections/complications , Urinary Tract Infections/etiology , Animals , Cell Line , Chlorocebus aethiops , Hemolysin Proteins/physiology , Hydrogen-Ion Concentration , Proteus Infections/microbiology , Proteus mirabilis/drug effects , Proteus mirabilis/growth & development , Proteus mirabilis/pathogenicity , Time Factors , Urea/pharmacology , Urinary Tract Infections/microbiology , VirulenceABSTRACT
Several by-products in the hydrochloric acid hydrolysis of clonazepam, flunitrazepam and nitrazepam are isolated by a combination of TLC and HPLC. With mass and NMR spectroscopic methods the structures of the by-products are established. Some indications are given for possible modes of formation of the by-products.