Distribution of hyoscyamine and scopolamine in Datura stramonium.

The production of hyoscyamine and scopolamine in Datura stramonium has been investigated in the different plant parts, at different stages of their life cycle. Maximum contents were found in the stems and leaves of young plants, hyoscyamine being always the predominant component.

Uremia, dialysis and aluminium.

Few studies have dealt with assaying aluminium levels in different tissues of uremic patients; so far a comparison has never been made between its accumulation in the various tissues of uremic patients and controls. Aluminium levels were determined in the following biological samples: 1) 111 serum samples from hemodialysis patients and 55 serum samples from normal subjects; 2) 47 urine samples from the same dialysis patients and 45 from the controls; autopsy tissue specimens (blood, bile, brain, rib, cartilage, cranium, lung, spleen, kidney, aorta, vena cava, liver, muscle) from 12 deceased dialysis patients undergoing post-mortem diagnosis and 10 autopsy cases in which death was not associated with uremia. In living subjects, both serum and urinary levels of aluminium are significantly higher in hemodialysis patients than in controls; a significant positive correlation was found between serum and urinary levels of aluminium. In autopsy specimens, aluminium levels were higher in the dialysis group than controls for all tissues; the differences were statistically significant except in heart and urine. Tissue concentrations of aluminium in the two groups were then analysed separately both in uremic patients and controls. The highest values found in dialysis cases were in the bile, followed by blood, urine and lung; levels in the other tissues were considerably lower. In controls, the distribution was somewhat different, due to much lower levels in the liver and bile with respect to dialysis cases. Again we found surprisingly high levels in the lung. The results show that aluminium storage in uremic patients occurs in all organs and tissues, albeit to different degrees.

Quantitative and qualitative analysis of MDMA, MDEA, MA and amphetamine in urine by headspace/solid phase micro-extraction (SPME) and GC/MS.

The results of qualitative and quantitative analysis of some amphetamines and their analogs isolated from urine samples by solid phase micro-extraction with polydimethylsiloxane fibers are reported. The analytical method employed was gas-chromatography/mass spectrometry of head space samples.

Binding features of diacetylmorphine (heroin) in whole blood and in blood fractions.

Binding features of heroin in whole blood and in blood fractions were delineated by measuring the selective spin-lattice relaxation rates of heroin protons in physiologic conditions. Interaction with some receptor located in the whole human blood or in the human plasma was detected and the apparent binding constant calculated (K = 39 mol-1 dm3). Inferences about molecular dynamics of the bound heroin could be also gained.

Conformational and dynamic features of cocaine in DMSO-d6 solution.

13C spin-lattice relaxation rates, 13C {1H} NOESs, 1H spin-spin relaxation rates and 1H two-dimensional magnetization transfer spectroscopy were used for delineating conformational features of cocaine in DMSO-d6 solution. Two main conformations differing in the orientation of the plane made by the benzoxy substituent with respect to the piperidine ring principal axis were observed. Relatively slow interconversions of the piperidine ring were delineated together with the main motional features of the whole molecule.

Pulmonary changes induced in rabbits by long-term exposure to n-hexane.

New Zealand male rabbits were exposed in an inhalation chamber to 3,000 ppm of n-hexane 8 h/day, 5 days/week for 24 weeks, resulting in a total of 120 exposures. After a further 120 days in clean air, morphologic examination of lungs by light and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed three important exposure-related lesions. These consisted of air space enlargement centered on respiratory bronchioles and alveolar ducts (centriacinar emphysema), scattered foci of pulmonary fibrosis, and papillary tumors of non-ciliated bronchiolar epithelial cells. At TEM examination these tumors were rather homogeneous and were found to consist of cells showing both small and large electron dense ovoid granules in their cytoplasmic matrix, a feature that has been described for Clara cells. The implications of these findings are discussed.

Cannabinoid level in the leaves as a tool for the early discrimination of Cannabis chemiovariants.

One hundred and seventy-six plants of 22 different lots of Cannabis sativa L., grown at the Botanical Garden of Siena (Italy) were chromatographically analysed in order to define the cannabinoid content in their leaves. The content of the major cannabinoids, delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol, cannabidiol, cannabinol and cannabichromene, determined weekly in vegetative and floral leaves enabled the determination of the chemical types of the plants, according to Turner's classification. The plants were easily distinguishable in drug, intermediate and fiber types. The cannabinoid characteristic of each type remains predominant, as compared with the other cannabinoids, throughout the whole period of growth, including the floral stage and after harvesting. On this basis, the predominant concentration of a specific cannabinoid can be used reliably for forensic application concerning drug-suspected material in very young plants.

A histofluorescent procedure for identifying marijuana cannabinoids.

A rapid and reliable fluorescence procedure is described as a test for the microscopical identification of the glandular hairs of Cannabis sativa. The proposed method, designated as the IFIM test (induced fluorescence identification for marijuana test), is based on the induction of a red fluorescence in cannabinoids by a hot clearing solution. The results, compared to those obtained by the classical RIM test, offer the possibility of more satisfactory identification of cannabis, hashish or marijuana in suspected samples.

Packed column chromatography, high-resolution gas-chromatography and high pressure liquid chromatography in comparison for the analysis of cannabis constituents.

The identification and the quantitative estimation of cannabis constituents is important for forensic purposes. High resolution gas-chromatography gives better results than gas-liquid chromatography with packed columns, as it shows a better resolution and higher number of constituents. Different quantitative values were found with the two chromatographic procedures. High-pressure liquid chromatography revealed the presence of cannabinoid acids in fresh cut influorescences of cannabis plants. The ratio acid/neutral cannabinoid may be useful in supplying information about the age of the cannabis preparations.

Response of lung enzyme activities in rabbits following short-term exposure to n-hexane: correlation between morphological and biochemical changes.

The activity of lactate dehydrogenase, beta-glucuronidase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, acid and alkaline phosphatase was studied in lung homogenate from New Zealand rabbits exposed to 3000 p.p.m. of n-hexane 8 h per day for 8 days of filtered air. In hydrocarbon-treated animals all enzymes examined, except alkaline phosphatase, were markedly increased. The biochemical changes correlated well with the morphological changes and the results of cytological evaluation of bronchopulmonary lavage. It is suggested that high values in lung lysosomal enzymes from treated rabbits reflect the acute inflammation whilst the increase in lung glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase may depend upon reparative process subsequent to n-hexane-induced lung damage.

[Experimental chronic poisoning by mercury and alcohol: histopathologic, ultrastructural findings and toxicologic and enzymatic evaluations]. / Intossicazione cronica sperimentale da mercurio ed alcool: reperti istopatologici, ultrastrutturali e dosaggi tossicologici ed enzimatici.

Rats were treated with HgCl2 and/or alcohol per os in a standard diet as to get a chronic intoxication. Histological and ultrastructural examination of the liver, GPT, GOT, LDH enzymatic activities, and toxicological mercury evaluation were performed. Liver cell degenerative changes with focal necrosis, and structural alteration and fibrosis were demonstrated in the group of rats treated with HgCl2. The combined administration of HgCl2 and alcohol did not result in more advanced lesions, even if steatosis could be demonstrated in the liver. An increase of the GPT, GOT and LDH enzymatic activities was demonstrated in the rats of both groups but it was higher in the rats treated with HgCl2 and alcohol combined. On the contrary, the liver and kidney mercury storage was higher in the rats treated with HgCl2 alone.

Effect of morphine analogues on the conformational state of polyriboadenylic acid in solution: an NMR study.

The interaction of morphine analogues with polyadenylic acid in aqueous solution at pH 7 has been investigated. The NMR spectra measured at several temperatures were shown to give evidence of a lowering of the transition temperature from the helix to the random-coil structure. The measured chemical shifts and relaxation times were interpreted in terms of an ionic interaction between the + N - CH3 group of the drug and phosphate residue of the polynucleotide.