Credibility of a smoking questionnaire based on urine cotinine level for patients with bladder cancer - a preliminary report.

An analysis of the reliability of a questionnaire on smoking in 96 patients with transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the bladder. The credibility of the questionnaire was evaluated based on the detection of cotinine, an objective marker of tobacco smoke exposure, in urine. It was confirmed that approximately 18% of smokers did not admit to smoking, did not comply with recommendations to stop smoking, and about 4% of non-smokers were exposed to tobacco smoke unknowingly.

[Development of a method for estimation of citalopram and desmethylcitalopram in nails and hair and its usefulness in forensic toxicology]. / Opracowanie metody oznaczania citalopramu i desmetylocitalopramu w paznokciach i wlosach i jej wykorzystanie w toksykologii sadowej.

The report presents the possibility of using an alternative material of determining citalopram and its metabolite (desmethylcitalopram) in hair and nails. Citalopram (Cipramil, Citaratio, Citaxin, Oropram, Cital, Cilon, Aurex) is an antidepressant drug of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) class, employed in treatment of depression, prevention of depressive disorders recurrence and in some anxiety disorders. The investigations were performed using liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray-ionization mass spectrophotometry (LC-ESI-MS). In the course of the study, the authors developed a method for isolation and identification of Citaprolam and its metabolite (desmethylcitaprolam) from hair and nails. Determination were performed in hair and nail samples collected from individuals who had been administered citalopram in therapeutic doses at least for 12 months before sample collection. Hair and nail samples were obtained 4, 6, 9 and 15 months after discontinuing drug administration. The concentration of citalopram in nails was 0.40-10.49 ng/mg and the concentration of desmethylcitalopram was 0.32-3.70 ng/mg. In hair, citalopram concentration was 1.04-8.69 ng/mg and for desmethylcitalopram, the concentration range was 0.07-1.27 ng/mg.

Search for association between suicide and 5-HTT, MAOA and DAT polymorphism in Polish males.

A better understanding of genetic determinants of suicidal behavior might be very useful in clinical practice. The objectives of the present study were to answer the question whether there is an association between functional polymorphic forms of 5-HTT, MAOA or DAT and suicidality, and to examine whether the combination of functional alleles in 5-HTT, MAOA and DAT genes would predict a predisposition to suicidal behavior. Functional polymorphisms in 5-HTT, MAOA and DAT genes were investigated in 66 male suicide completers and 51 male control subjects from the Polish population. There were no significant differences in the allele and genotype frequencies between the case and control group. In the individual genotype tests, examination of the distribution differences of each genotype showed that genotype (3;12-12;S-S;9-10) differed between the suicide victims and control subjects. This genotype existed only in the control sample and appeared with the frequency of 8% (p = 0.03).

Morphine inhalation by cancer patients: a comparison of different nebulization techniques using pharmacokinetic, spirometric, and gasometric parameters.

Despite numerous case reports suggesting the value of morphine (M) nebulization in the treatment of breathlessness, only a few clinical trials have been able to support this. The reason for this could lie in the lack of understanding of the localization of opioid receptors in the airways and the biopharmaceutics and pharmacokinetics of nebulized morphine. In the present study, we compared two different methods of pneumodosimetric nebulization: the Bronchial Control Treatment System-Sidestream (BCTS-S) and the Bronchial Control Treatment System-Micro Cirrus (BCTS-MC). The first method delivers relatively large aerosol particles (2-5microm) preferentially to the bronchial tree and trachea. In the BCTS-MC method, small aerosol particles (0.5-2microm) mostly reach the alveoli. Ten patients with cancer were randomly assigned to either the BCTS-S or BCTS-MC inhalation of 5 mg morphine HCl. Patients using the BCTS-S method inhaled a morphine dose in 6.6+/-2 minutes, whereas with the BCTS-MC method, the inhalation time was 28.8+/-8 minutes. The areas under the curve of morphine and glucuronides were several times higher after BCTS-S than after BCTS-MC. The proportion of morphine-3-glucuronide to morphine-6-glucuronide (M6) was, on average, close to one for both methods. From the same amount of morphine in the BCTS-S method, five times more M6 was produced. In both methods, the time to maximum concentration for morphine metabolites was 20-40 minutes, much shorter than expected from oral, intranasal, or intravenous administration. The study shows that the method of inhalation may have a profound effect on the pharmacokinetics of morphine. It is possible that the lungs metabolize morphine to glucuronides themselves and in different proportions from those seen after systemic administration. The BCTS-S method was found to be potentially superior to the BCTS-MC method in local action in the lungs.

[Development of a method for determining antidepressant drugs in nails and its usefulness in forensic toxicology]. / Opracowanie metody oznaczania leków przeciwdepresyjnych w paznokciach i jej wykorzystanie w toksykologii sadowej.

The report presents the possibility of using alternative material in determinations of antidepressants taking as exemplified by flupentixol. At the first stage of the study, the method of flupentixol isolation from nails and its identification were elaborated. Determinations were performed in fingernail/toenail samples originating from individuals who had been administered flupentixol in therapeutic doses for at least 12 months before sample collection. The nails were obtained 4, 6, 7, 8 and 10 months after discontinuing the drug administration. The determinations were made by liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray-ionization mass spectrophotometry (LC-ESI-MS). The study showed that 4 months after discontinuing the drug, the nail flupentixol concentration was within the range of 0.086-0.109 ng/mg, after 6 months, the drug level was 0.036-0.042 ng/mg, after 7 months, it was 0.018-0.021 ng/mg and after 8 months - 0.020-0.022 ng/mg. Ten months after discontinuation of therapy, flupentixol was no longer found in nails.

[Comparative analysis of suicides in the Bydgoszcz region in the years 1977-1991 and 1991-2006]. / Analiza porównawcza samobójstw na terenie województwa kujawsko-pomorskiego w latach 1977-1991 oraz 1991-2006.

An increasing number of suicide cases has been observed in everyday forensic practice. The same view is discernible in the perception of the general public. Data concerning this subject from the years 1991 to 2006 have been compiled and compared to the earlier investigations from the years 1977 to 1991. The comparative analysis allowed the authors to show a relatively reliable picture of suicides in the Bydgoszcz region. Many false beliefs and myths pertaining to the subject were disproved. The authors also presented the evolution in the approach of penal legislators to the issue of suicide.

[Application of liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (LC/MS) to determine antidepressants in blood samples]. / Wykorzystanie chromatografii cieczowej z detektorem masowym (LC/MS) do oznaczania leków przeciwdepresyjnych we krwi.

A simultaneous determination of twelve antidepressant drugs (amitriptyline, chlorpromazine, clomipramine, doxepin, fluoxetine, levomepromazine, maprotiline, paroxetine, perazine, promazine, sertraline, thioridazine) in blood samples was developed using high-performance liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry (LC/MS). Blood samples were extracted with acetonitrile and separated by HPLC on a reversed phase C18 column with a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile -0.1% trifluoroacetic acid (50:50 (v/v) at a flow-rate of 0.4 ml/min. The analytes were determined using electrospray ionization in a single quadrupole mass spectrometer. LC-ESI-MS was performed in the selected-ion monitoring (SIM) mode using target ions. The validated method was successfully used to analyze antidepressants in blood samples collected from four victims of suicide by hanging.

[Determination of antidepressants in biological materials originating from victims of suicide by hanging]. / Oznaczanie leków przeciwdepresyjnych w materiale biologicznym pobranym od osób, których zgon byl skutkiem samobójstwa przez powieszenie.

The report presents the results of determinations of medication levels in biological materials collected from victims of suicide by hanging. The analysis included cases autopsied at Forensic Medicine Department in Bydgoszcz in the years 2005-2006. The authors observed that of 928 postmortem examinations, suicide by hanging accounted for 7.8% of cases; in this group, 11.1% victims were female and 88.9% were male. The most numerous group included individuals aged 20-29 years (20.7%), while the smallest group consisted of suicide victims below 20 years of age (8.3%). A total of 23.6% of individuals were under the influence of antidepressant drugs at the moment of death. The detected antidepressants included phenotiazine derivatives and such tricyclic antidepressants as amitryptyline, chloropromazine, clomipramine, levomepromazine, mianserin, promazine and thioridazine. Based on the above investigations, 11.1% of suicide victims may be said to have taken antidepressants in the past, but to be under no influence of such medications at the time of death.

[Accidents at work as an effect of lack or inadequate inspection /supervision of employees/workers (inform study)]. / Smiertelne wypadki przy pracy jako wynik braku lub nienalezytej kontroli pracowników (doniesienie z badan).

The analysis of available statistical data and the results of research studies show that accidents at work most commonly have non-criminal character but are an effect of unhappy coincidence or culpable behavior of the victim of the accident. The analysis of data from the years 1982 to 2007 collected in Department of Forensic Medicine CM in Bydgoszcz allowed the authors to illustrate the phenomenon in the Bydgoszcz district. In total, 12 500 cases were investigated, among which 175 cases of fatal accidents at work were found. The types of accidents and state of sobriety of the victims were assessed.

[A case of homicide by ergotamine poisoning]. / Przypadek zabójstwa przez zatrucie ergotamina.

The report presents a rare case of homicide. A mummified body of a man was found bricked up in the kitchen. Toxicological examination revealed high concentration levels of ergotamine in the internal organs and blood.

[Determination of haloperidol in fingernail/toenails by LC-ESI-Ms]. / Oznaczanie haloperidolu w paznokciach metoda LC-ESI-MS.

The report presents the possibility of using fingernails/ toenails to determine haloperidol levels. The described determinations were performed using the method of liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray-ionization mass spectrophotometry (LC-ESI-MS). In the course of the investigation, the authors developed a method for isolating haloperidol from nails and its identification. Determinations were performed in fingernail/toenail samples originating from individuals who had been administered haloperidol at least 6 months prior to sample collection. The materials demonstrated the presence of haloperidol in the following amount: fingernails - 67.3 +/- 6.49 pg/mg, toenails- 98.9 +/- 9.14 pg/mg.

[Cases of homicide-suicide (post-aggression suicide) in the material of the Chair and Department of Forensic Medicine in Bydgoszcz]. / Przypadki samobójstw poagresyjnych w materiale Katedry i Zakladu Medycyny Sadowej w Bydgoszczy.

Two cases of homicide-suicide (post-aggression suicide) are presented in this report. In the first case, a young man had killed his wife and mother-in-law inflicting numerous stab wounds to the chest and neck of both victims, subsequently strangled his daughter with his bare hands and then committed suicide by cutting his veins. In the second instance, a woman had killed one of her sons and tried to murder another by giving both victims psychostimulants and medicines against worms, as well as stabbing them repeatedly. She then committed suicide by hanging.

[Determination of bromochlorodifluoromethane (Halon 1211) in biological material by gas chromatography with mass detector]. / Oznaczanie bromochlorodifluorometanu (Halon 1211) w materiale biologicznym metoda chromatografii gazowej z detektorem masowym (GC/MS).

A gas chromatographic method with mass spectrometry has been developed for the determination of bromochlorodifluoromethane (Halon 1211) in biological material (whole blood, organ samples). After incubation of the sample (temp. 65 degrees C, 15 min), 10 microliters of the headspace is analysed using a capillary column DB-5 ms (30 m x 0.25 mm x 0.25 micron). Quantitative analysis was made with the use of a single ion monitoring option--m/z 85 and m/z 87. This developed method was used to determine the concentration of bromochlorodifluoromethane in biological material collected from the body of the man whose death was due to intoxication of Halon 1211--fire-extinguisher contents.