Alternative matrices in forensic toxicology: a critical review.

Purpose: The use of alternative matrices in toxicological analyses has been on the rise in clinical and forensic settings. Specimens alternative to blood and urine are useful in providing additional information regarding drug exposure and analytical benefits. The goal of this paper is to present a critical review on the most recent literature regarding the application of six common alternative matrices, i.

Protective Effects of Cannabidiol against Seizures and Neuronal Death in a Rat Model of Mesial Temporal Lobe Epilepsy.

The present study reports the behavioral, electrophysiological, and neuropathological effects of cannabidiol (CBD), a major non-psychotropic constituent of , in the intrahippocampal pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus (SE) rat model. CBD was administered before pilocarpine-induced SE (group SE+CBDp) or before and after SE (group SE+CBDt), and compared to rats submitted only to SE (SE group), CBD, or vehicle (VH group). Groups were evaluated during SE (behavioral and electrophysiological analysis), as well as at days one and three post-SE (exploratory activity, electrophysiological analysis, neuron density, and neuron degeneration).

Disposable pipette tips extraction: Fundamentals, applications and state of the art.

Disposable pipette tips extraction consists of a solid-phase extraction in which the sorbent is poorly dispersed in a pipette tip, which allows a quick and dynamic contact between the aspirated analyte from the sample and the solid phase. It is a technique used particularly in food and forensic analysis, since it requires a small amount of sample and solvent. This article highlights the principles, advantages and disadvantages of the disposable pipette tips extraction method and reviews recent applications.

Direct Analysis of Amphetamine Stimulants in a Whole Urine Sample by Atmospheric Solids Analysis Probe Tandem Mass Spectrometry.

Amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) are among illicit stimulant drugs that are most often used worldwide. A major challenge is to develop a fast and efficient methodology involving minimal sample preparation to analyze ATS in biological fluids. In this study, a urine pool solution containing amphetamine, methamphetamine, ephedrine, sibutramine, and fenfluramine at concentrations ranging from 0.

A rapid assay for the simultaneous determination of nicotine, cocaine and metabolites in meconium using disposable pipette extraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS).

Drug abuse by pregnant women is considered a serious public health problem worldwide. Meconium is the first excretion in newborns and has been used as an alternative matrix to evaluate in utero drug exposure. Solid phase extraction (SPE) is widely employed to prepare and clean up samples in the field of forensic analysis.

Determination of cocaine and metabolites in hair by column-switching LC-MS-MS analysis.

A method for rapid, selective, and robust determination of cocaine (CO) and metabolites in 5-mg hair samples was developed and fully validated using a column-switching liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry system (LC-MS-MS). Hair samples were decontaminated, segmented, incubated overnight in diluted HCl, and centrifuged, and the diluted (1:10 with distilled water) extracts were analyzed in positive ionization mode monitoring two reactions per analyte. Quantifier transitions were: m/z 304.

Evaluation of buprenorphine LUCIO immunoassay versus GC-MS using urines from a workplace drug testing program.

The buprenorphine (BUP) LUCIO Nal Von Minden screening assay was evaluated. Urine samples from subjects enrolled in a workplace drug testing program were screened according to the manufacturer's instruction using a Roche COBAS Integra 800 analyser. For gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) confirmatory analysis, samples were submitted to enzymatic hydrolysis with β-glucuronidase and mixed-mode solid-phase extraction.