The use of a shotgun for euthanasia of stranded cetaceans.

A 12-gauge shotgun, loaded with either a solid 28 g lead slug or buckshot consisting of nine individual lead pellets with a total mass of 28 g, was used to shoot the heads of one dead common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) and five dead long-finned pilot whales (Globicephala melaena) varying in length from 2.5 m to 5 m. The dolphin and the smallest pilot whale were shot with both projectiles from the dorsal surface of the head. The projectiles penetrated the head and dorsal surface of the skull, but not the base of the cranium. This site using buckshot was not effective in the larger animals. Two whales between 3 and 4 m in length were shot with buckshot through the lateral side of the head caudal to and above the eye, without penetration of the contralateral side of the head. It is concluded that shooting smaller cetaceans with a shotgun can be effective and safe. Further work is required to develop more suitable projectiles for cetaceans up to the size of mature pilot whales.

Observations on the metabolism of the psychotomimetic indolealkylamines: implications for future clinical studies.

Although the psychotomimetic indolealkylamines N,N-dimethyltryptamine, 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine, and 5-hydroxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine have been unequivocally identified in human body fluids, evidence relating their concentration to the presence of psychotic illness in humans remains controversial. A series of studies on the metabolism of the compounds in the rat have highlighted the rapidity and with which these are metabolized and renally excreted. The implications of our observation for the interpretation of past clinical studies and the design of future ones is discussed.

Gas chromatographic-mass spectroscopic characterisation of the psychotomimetic indolealkylamines and their in vivo metabolites.

The use of liquid chromatography with on-line fluorescence detection has formed the basis for the separation, characterisation and quantitation of a number of metabolites of the psychotomimetic indolealkylamines N,N-dimethyltryptamine and 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine formed both in vitro and in vivo. Verification of the identity of metabolites has previously been facilitated by the combined use of a number of analytical techniques including multidimensional liquid chromatography and stop-flow spectroscopic analysis. We now describe the combination of liquid chromatography with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for the unequivocal verification of a number of structurally characteristic metabolites of the psychotomimetic indolealkylamines.

Study of metabolism of psychotomimetic indolealkylamines by rat tissue extracts using liquid chromatography.

The use of a series of liquid chromatographic techniques involving cation-exchange, reverse-phase and normal-phase chromatography has permitted the separation and characterisation of a number of metabolites of the psychotomimetic indolealkylamines N,N-dimethyltryptamine and 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine which were isolated following incubation of these compounds with rat tissue extracts. In liver, kidney and brain tissue extracts the routes of metabolism identified included oxidative deamination, N-demethylation, O-demethylation and N-oxidation. The quantitative significance of individual routes of metabolism in these tissues was assessed using N,N-dimethyltryptamine as a substrate.

In vivo metabolism of 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine and N,N-dimethyltryptamine in the rat.

Following intraperitoneal administration, 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine and N,N-dimethyltryptamine are subject to both a very rapid uptake into, and clearance from, all tissues examined. The current studies in vivo confirm previous in vitro observations that the routes involved in the metabolism of these compounds include oxidative deamination, N-demethylation, O-demethylation, and N-oxidation. The analysis of metabolic profiles in various tissues led to the identification of the N-oxides as major metabolites. The successful inhibition and redirection of metabolism away from the indole acids towards the parent compounds and their structurally unique metabolites were demonstrated in animals pretreated with iproniazid.

Bufotenine reconsidered.

Bufotenine given intravenously to a medically trained volunteer subject correlated with the appearance of profound perceptual and emotional changes which were of short duration. The compound rapidly disappeared from the blood and metabolites quickly appeared in the urine of the subject.

A comparison between Australasian and Canadian candidates on common examinations in psychiatry.

Multiple choice examinations designed by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada were administered to candidates eligible for certification in the specialty of Psychiatry and to candidates in Australia and New Zealand who were eligible for certification by the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists. Results indicated that two national groups of candidates performed similarly on these common examinations. Comparison of the item analysis based on the two different groups of candidates revealed that most of the items were comparable in difficulty and discrimination. Because of the similar performance of the candidates, the stable cross-national statistical characteristics displayed by the items, and the confirmation of the relevance of the items by Australasian and Canadian content experts, it was concluded that the test items are suitable for testing the knowledge of both Australasian and Canadian candidates. The study recommends that the work begun by the working meetings dealing with international sharing of test materials and sponsored by the CIBA Foundation be continued.

The ion-pair extraction, purification, and liquid chromatographic analysis of indolealkylamines in human urine.

A highly efficient ion-pair extraction technique for the isolation of tryptamine, 5-hydroxytryptamine, and their mono- and N,N-dimethylated derivatives from aqueous media is described. The technique has been used to isolate nanogram quantities of both N, N-dimethyltryptamine and 5-hydroxy-N, N-dimethyltryptamine from large volumes of urine. A rapid and efficient normal-phase liquid chromatographic procedure has also been developed for the subsequent purification of indolealkylamines isolated from urine. The methods described have been used in the measurement of the urinary excretion of 5-hydroxy-N, N-dimethyltryptamine. Analyses were performed by liquid chromatography using a cation-exchange column with online fluorescence detection. Further characterization was achieved by stop-flow spectroscopic analysis of the LC eluant.

Distribution and interrelations of coronary risk factors in a community sample of Auckland men.

Distributions and interrelations of blood pressure, serum cholesterol, triglycerides, urate and glucose, cigarette and alcohol consumption and ECG characteristics were assessed in a community sample of 524 Auckland men aged 30-55. The distributions of these variables were generally similar to those found in other New Zealand samples, indicating that New Zealand levels of coronary risk factors lie in the upper reaches of the US and European range. Notable amongst the interrelations found were the pattern of relationships between serum cholesterol, triglycerides and urate, and the association of both body mass and alcohol intake urate level.

Loose associations: straight and crooked thinking and the group of schizophrenias.

In this paper I hope to provide the basis for a discussion on logic, logical thinking and creativity in medicine, particularly in psychiatry. By way of illustration we will examine schizophrenia with particular reference to biochemistry, but the discussion will focus on semantic issues and philosophical concepts. These issues are of fundamental importance in the development of psychiatry both as art and craft. Thus the paper deals both with the study of madness and madness itself. The title of the address illustrates some forms of communication which occur in the schizophrenias. It includes references to other ideas, to formal thought disorder and illogical thinking, private puns, vague links, and pointers to other sources and authors, namely, Bleuler (1950), Ernest Jones (1959) and Thouless (1974). These are all contained in a loose framework, wherein reference is made to a key anomaly always found in, but by no means unique to schizophrenia.

Attitudes of young drug users towards significant life concepts as measured by the semantic differential.

Thirty young drug users were matched for age and sex with thirty young orthopaedic outpatients. All completed an Osgood Semantic Differential. Results suggested that drug users see Drug Laws and Present Attitudes to Drug Use as bad. In the user group a poor perception of self is combined with concepts of ideal self which appear unattainable.