Identification and quantification of predominant metabolites of synthetic cannabinoid MAB-CHMINACA in an authentic human urine specimen.

An autopsy case in which the cause of death was judged as drug poisoning by two synthetic cannabinoids, including MAB-CHMINACA, was investigated. Although unchanged MAB-CHMINACA could be detected from solid tissues, blood and stomach contents in the case, the compound could not be detected from a urine specimen. We obtained six kinds of reference standards of MAB-CHMINACA metabolites from a commercial source.

Postmortem distribution of MAB-CHMINACA in body fluids and solid tissues of a human cadaver.

During the latter part of 2014, we experienced an autopsy case in which 5-fluoro-ADB, one of the most dangerous synthetic cannabinoids, was identified and quantitated in solid tissues and in three herbal blend products [Forensic Toxicol (2015) 33:112-121]. At that time, although we suspected that there may be some drug(s) other than 5-fluoro-ADB in the herbal products, all trials to find it/them were unsuccessful. Subsequently, we carefully re-examined the presence of other synthetic cannabinoid(s) in the above herbal blend products using accurate mass spectrometry and found two new compounds, 5-fluoro-ADB-PINACA and MAB-CHMINACA (Forensic Toxicol.

Identification and quantification of metabolites of AB-CHMINACA in a urine specimen of an abuser.

We experienced an autopsy case in which the cause of death was judged as poisoning by multiple new psychoactive substances, including AB-CHMINACA, 5-fluoro-AMB and diphenidine [Forensic Toxicol. 33 (2015): 45-53]. Although unchanged AB-CHMINACA could be detected from 8 solid tissues, it could neither be detected from blood nor urine specimens.

Postmortem distribution of flunitrazepam and its metabolite 7-aminoflunitrazepam in body fluids and solid tissues in an autopsy case: Usefulness of bile for their detection.

We experienced an autopsy case of a woman in her 70s, in which the direct cause of her death was judged as asphyxia due to the occlusion of food in the trachea. The postmortem interval was estimated at about 2days. The specimens dealt with were femoral vein blood, right heart blood, left heart blood, bile, brain, lung, heart muscle, liver, spleen, kidney, pancreas, skeletal muscle, and adipose tissue.

MALDI-TOF mass spectrometric determination of eight benzodiazepines with two of their metabolites in blood.

A rapid and sensitive method was developed for the determination of benzodiazepines and benzodiazepine-like substances (BZDs) by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI)-time-of-flight (TOF)-mass spectrometry (MS). In this method, α-cyano-4-hydroxy cinnamic acid was used as the matrix to assist the ionization of BZDs. Determination of 8 BZDs (with two of their metabolites) belonging to top 12 medical drugs detected in poisonous cases in Japan, was performed using diazepam-d5 as the internal standard.

Postmortem distribution of α-pyrrolidinobutiophenone in body fluids and solid tissues of a human cadaver.

We experienced an autopsy case of a 21-year-old male Caucasian, in which the direct cause of his death was judged as subarachnoid hemorrhage. There was cerebral arteriovenous malformation, which seemed related to the subarachnoid hemorrhage. The postmortem interval was estimated to be about 2days.

MALDI-Q-TOF mass spectrometric determination of gold and platinum in tissues using their diethyldithiocarbamate chelate complexes.

A rapid determination method is presented for gold (Au(3+)) and platinum (Pt(4+)) in tissues using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-Q-TOF-MS). Au and Pt ions in wet-ashed tissue solution were reacted with diethyldithiocarbamate (DDC), and the resulting chelate complex ions Au(DDC)2 (+) and Pt(DDC)3 (+) were detected by MALDI-Q-TOF-MS using α-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid as a matrix. The limit of detection (LOD) was 0.

Determination of azide in gastric fluid and urine by flow-injection electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry.

A rapid method was developed to identify and quantify the azide ion (N(3)(-)) in gastric fluid and urine. N(3)(-) in diluted biological fluids was reacted with NaAuCl(4) to produce Au(N(3))(2)(-), which was extracted with octanol. Five microliters of the extract were flow-injected into an electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometric instrument.

Determination of cyanide in blood by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry after direct injection of dicyanogold.

An electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometric (ESI-MS-MS) method has been developed for the determination of cyanide (CN(-)) in blood. Five microliters of blood was hemolyzed with 50 μL of water, then 5 μL of 1 M tetramethylammonium hydroxide solution was added to raise the pH of the hemolysate and to liberate CN(-) from methemoglobin. CN(-) was then reacted with NaAuCl(4) to produce dicyanogold, Au(CN)(2)(-), that was extracted with 75 μL of methyl isobutyl ketone.

GC/MS with post-column switching for large volume injection of headspace samples: sensitive determination of volatile organic compounds in human whole blood and urine.

When volatile or semivolatile compounds are measured by headspace (HS) gas chromatography (GC)/mass spectrometry (MS), the maximum gas volume to be injected is usually 0.5-1.0 mL; over the volume, the MS detector automatically shuts down due to impairment of the vacuum rate of the MS ionization chamber.

Simultaneous analysis of cardiac glycosides in blood and urine by thermoresponsive LC-MS-MS.

A new thermoresponsive polymer separation column was applied to simultaneous analysis of four cardiac glycosides (CGs) being widely used for the treatment of arrhythmias and heart failure in human blood and urine. This column is composed of an N-isopropylacrylamide polymer, the surface of which undergoes a reversible alteration from hydrophilic to hydrophobic by changing temperature. The chromatographic separation and retention times can be easily be controlled by adjusting the column temperature.

[Increase of poisoning by tropical mushrooms in Japan in recent years].

A tropical poisonous mushroom, Chlorophyllum molybdites, invaded into Japan in recent years, and distributed in south-eastern and central part of Japan including 27 Prefectures in 2009; Gunma, Tochigi, Saitama, Ibaraki, Tokyo (including Bonin Islands), Chiba, Shizuoka, Ishikawa, Aichi, Mie, Shiga, Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, Wakayama, Hyogo, Tottori, Okayama, Hiroshima, Yamaguchi, Kagawa, Tokushima, Kochi, Ohita, Kumamoto, Kagoshima and Okinawa. Poisoning by this fungus has increased recently (Table 2). Topics on distribution and poisoning by Russula subnigricans and Podostroma cornu-damae briefly discussed.

Determination of cyanide, in urine and gastric content, by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry after direct flow injection of dicyanogold.

A rapid and sensitive electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometric (ESI-MS-MS) procedure was developed for the determination of cyanide (CN(-)). CN(-) in biological fluids was reacted with NaAuCl(4) to produce dicyanogold, Au(CN)(2)(-), which was extracted with methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK). One microliter of the extract was injected directly into an ESI-MS-MS instrument.

[Acute encephalopathy caused by cyanogenic fungi in 2004, and magic mushroom regulation in Japan].

Two topics, related to mushroom poisoning of recent interest in Japan, have been presented. In autumn 2004, 59 cases of acute encephalopathy were reported across 9 prefectures in Japan (24 from Akita Prefecture with 8 deaths; age 48-93, average 70; female 14, male 10). Of 24 cases, 20 had kidney dysfunction.

[The research of the pathogen responsible for Pleurocybella porrigens related encephalopathy: investigation of 3-nitropropionic acid hypothesis].

Pleurocybella porrigens related encephalopathy exhibits consciousness disturbance and convulsion in the patients after taking and patients show bilateral basal ganglia lesion resulted in high mortality rate. This encephalopathy is a very similar to the moldy sugarcane encephalopathy epidemic in China in the past. We investigated the relationship between Pleurocybella porrigens related encephalopathy and 3-nitropropionic acid which had caused the moldy sugarcane encephalopathy.

Comparison of age estimated from degree of racemization of aspartic acid, glutamic acid and alanine in the femur.

Aspartic acid (Asp) is generally used for estimation of age by measuring the degree of racemization. For other amino acids, however, there are few reports regarding the usefulness of the degree of racemization for the estimation of age. Accordingly, in this study using the femur (obtained from 21 cadavers) as the specimen, we measured the degree of racemization of glutamic acid (Glu) and alanine (Ala) along with Asp in the total amino acid (TAA) fraction as well as in acid-insoluble collagen-rich (IC) and acid-soluble peptide (SP) sub-fractions.

Age estimation from aspartic acid racemization of root dentin by internal standard method.

In this study, we investigated the application of the internal standard method to determine age from aspartic acid (Asp) racemization. D-Methionine (D-Met) and D-norleucine (D-Nleu) were tested as internal standards for the purpose of validating the derivatization and gas chromatographic measurements. Using a set of standard amino acids plus the internal standards in constant volume, calibration plots with reasonable linearity (R > 0.

The examination of mushroom poisonings at Akita University.

In the past 10 years from 1991 to 2000, the number of consultations to the Japan Poison Information Center were 947 concerning mushroom poisonings. However, those from the hospital cases were not analyzed toxicologically. We examined toxicologically 20 cases (35 patients) of mushroom poisonings from 1993 to 2001.