Proteomics for forensic identification of saliva and vomit in a case of alleged rape.

In crime investigations, the unambiguous identification of biological traces can be decisive for framing the events. In this study, we applied proteomics to analyze scant amounts of biological residues in the context of an alleged rape case, focusing on the detection of traces of vomit. We used high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) and two distinct proteomic workflows to identify proteins and possible proteolytic peptides in biological residues from clothing, bedding, and car upholstery from the alleged crime scene.

Pediatric poisoning management: How clinical practice can benefit from forensic approach.

Pediatric population represents the most vulnerable and at risk for unintentional poisoning, with children younger than 6 years old accounting for nearly half of poison exposures. Poisoning is a time-dependent emergency. The need to reach a scientific agreement on diagnostic protocol and treatment seems to be crucial to reduce morbidity and mortality.

The Identification of Drug Abuse.

Forensic toxicology has played a central role since its development in defining mechanisms of acute intoxication, often with a lethal outcome [...

Medico-Legal Issues in Cremation: Comparative Analysis of International Legislation.

Cremation has seen a constant increase in popularity all around the world. Because of its extensively destructive nature, however, a series of medico-legal issues arise concerning identification, forensic autopsy, external examination, histological, toxicological and genetic exams to be performed not in the immediacy of death. The aim of this study is to compare the international legislation on cremation, seeking the response of various countries to their medico-legal issues.

Forensic Toxicological and Medico-Legal Evaluation in a Case of Incongruous Drug Administration in Terminal Cancer Patients.

Background: In most cases, palliative care is prescribed to adults diagnosed with cancer. The definition of the most suitable therapy for an effective sedation in terminal cancer patients still represents one of the most challenging goals in medical practice. Due to their poor health, the correct dosing of drugs used for deep palliative sedation in terminal cancer patients, often already on polypharmacological therapy, can be extremely complicated, also considering possible drug-to-drug interactions that could lead to an increased risk of overdose and/or incongruous administration with fatal outcomes.

Deprescription in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Aims: The Primary aim is to verify physicians' adherence to the 2016 Italian diabetes guidelines therapeutic targets, and their habits on deprescription in elderly persons with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). Secondary aims are the assessment of the potential impact of the targets' changes in 2018 Italian guidelines, and the outcomes of deprescription in the management of T2DM.

Methods: Observational retrospective cohort study, enrolling persons with T2DM, aged > 75 years, who attended a visit throughout 2017, and a second visit 6 months later in our outpatient clinic.

Mass spectrometry-based proteomics for the forensic identification of vomit traces.

Proteomics was exploited to assess the nature of possible traces of vomit found on the scene of an alleged sexual assault. In the case in point, a woman reported to the police to be raped five days before by a cousin of hers in his car. The woman declared she had vomited in the car before fainting definitely, due to alcohol or possible drugs covertly slipped in her drinks.

On a defective Mitraclip® system: Considerations on the medical device regulation in Europe.

The use of medical devices is constantly growing and constitutes a valid aid to ailing people because of remarkable technological advances. The regulations on their circulation in Italy and Europe are inspired by the principle of free circulation: it is sufficient for a device to have the CE logo for it to be freely commercialized in all European countries. These regulations that favors commerce also expose the sick to the risk of harm from defective devices that have not been suitably checked prior to commercial release.

Proteomics in Forensic Sciences: Identification of the Nature of the Last Meal at Autopsy.

A long-term psychiatric 40 years-old male patient was found dead at 9:00 a.m. in the clinic where he lived.

Postmortem Cholesterol Levels in Peripheral Nerve Tissue: Preliminar Considerations on Interindividual and Intraindividual Variation.

The study reports the evolution of the demyelinization process based on cholesterol ([CHOL]) levels quantified in median nerve samples and collected at different times-from death from both right and left wrists. The statistical data show that the phenomenon evolves differently in the right and left nerves. Such a difference can reasonably be attributed to a different multicenter evolution of the demyelinization.

The effect of fluoride on the structure, function, and proteome of intestinal epithelia.

Fluoride exposure is widespread, with drinking water commonly containing natural and artificially added sources of the ion. Ingested fluoride undergoes absorption across the gastric and intestinal epithelia. Previous studies have reported adverse gastrointestinal effects with high levels of fluoride exposure.

Co-occurring Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder symptoms in adults affected by heroin dependence: Patients characteristics and treatment needs.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a risk for substance use disorders. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between adult ADHD symptoms, opioid use disorder, life dysfunction and co-occurring psychiatric symptoms. 1057 heroin dependent patients on opioid substitution treatment participated in the survey.

Environmental and occupational exposure to bisphenol A and endometriosis: urinary and peritoneal fluid concentration levels.

Objectives: The study aimed to give a first data set of bisphenol A (BPA) levels in the peritoneal fluid of patients suffering from endometriosis and to investigate the relationship between BPA exposure and endometriosis.

Methods: A questionnaire investigating the occupational context, life environment, and habits was administered to 68 patients suffering from endometriosis and 60 endometriosis-free subjects (control group). Urine and peritoneal fluids samples were collected and analysed by GC/MSMS for BPA dosage.

Pulmonary macrophages activity in CO intoxication.

The presence of macrophages and their activation on the pulmonary tissues of 21 subjects deceased after CO intoxication has been studied. A notable number of activated macrophages, especially in the interstitial level, have been evidenced, and such phenomenon supports the hypothesis of a possible association between CO intoxication and pulmonary macrophages activity. The highlighted association could be mediated by changes of the surfactant, by impairing of mitochondrial respiration and by release of pro-inflammatory cytokines.

Non-receptor tyrosine kinases and the actin cytoskeleton in contractile vascular smooth muscle.

The contractility of vascular smooth muscle cells within the walls of arteries is regulated by mechanical stresses and vasoactive signals. Transduction of these diverse stimuli into a cellular response occurs through many different mechanisms, one being reorganisation of the actin cytoskeleton. In addition to a structural role in maintaining cellular architecture it is now clear that the actin cytoskeleton of contractile vascular smooth muscle cells is a dynamic structure reacting to changes in the cellular environment.

METODO, a prospective observational study to assess the efficacy and tolerability of methadone in heroin-addicted patients undergoing a methadone maintenance treatment: preliminary results at baseline evaluation.

METODO (methadone efficacy therapy optimization dosage on-going) is a prospective observational study to assess the efficacy and tolerability of methadone in 500 heroin-addicted patients taking a methadone maintenance treatment, enrolled through 2010 to 2011 in five Italian sites, observed over 2 years. The Opiate Dosage Adequacy Scale has been used for the evaluation of the "adequacy" of the methadone dosage and to stratify patients in adequate and not adequate groups. The treatment efficacy has been evaluated in correlation to the dosage adequacy during the visits.

A novel test using dried blood spots for the chromatographic assay of methadone.

A novel test has been developed for the analysis of methadone in dried blood spot specimens from patients undergoing methadone maintenance treatment. An isocratic reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography method with coulometric detection has been optimized for the determination of methadone. The clean-up of dried blood spots was performed by means of an original microextraction by packed sorbent procedure after microwave-assisted extraction of the drug with a suitable solvent.

Epirubicin permeation of personal protective equipment can induce apoptosis in keratinocytes.

The present study investigated the epirubicin (EPI) permeability of various commercially available glove types, as well as toxicity mechanisms and effects on human keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT). Permeability experiments were carried out on various commercially available gloves, differing as regards material and thickness. Permeability was evaluated after different "contact times" and the influence of EPI solution's pH (acid and neutral) on permeability was also examined.

Screening of several drugs of abuse in Italian workplace drug testing: performance comparisons of on-site screening tests and a fluorescence polarization immunoassay-based device.

According to the Italian laws, some categories of workers entrusted with duties possibly constituting a threat to security, physical safety, and health of third parties have to be screened to exclude the use/abuse of the following drugs of abuse: opiates, cocaine, cannabinoids, amphetamine, methamphetamine, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, methadone, and buprenorphine. Toxicological tests can be performed with urinary on-site rapid screening devices, provided that sensitivities up to specified cutoffs are ensured. The present study reports performances, in terms of sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy, of an automatic on-site test and of an FPIA-based device, using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) as a reference methodology.

A prospective, randomized, multicenter acceptability and safety study of direct buprenorphine/naloxone induction in heroin-dependent individuals.

Aims: To provide controlled data on direct induction with buprenorphine/naloxone (BNX) versus indirect buprenorphine (BPN)-to-BNX induction.

Design: Phase 4, prospective, randomized, active-drug controlled, parallel-group trial consisting of a 2-day, double-blind, double-dummy induction phase followed by 26 days of open-label treatment with BNX.

Setting: Nineteen sites in 10 European countries from March 2008 to December 2009.

Analytical and pharmacological aspects of therapeutic drug monitoring of mTOR inhibitors.

Mammalian Target Of Rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors represent a new class of immunosuppressant drugs extensively used for the prevention and the treatment of graft rejection in organ transplant recipients. Their current use is due to referred low nephrotoxic effects, particularly important in kidney transplanted and/or patients with renal failure. The most representative drugs of such class are Sirolimus (Siro) and Everolimus (Rad).

Simultaneous determination of disulfiram and bupropion in human plasma of alcohol and nicotine abusers.

An isocratic high-performance liquid-chromatographic method has been developed for the simultaneous determination of disulfiram and bupropion in human plasma samples. Analyses were carried out on a C(8) reversed-phase column using a mobile phase composed of 50% acetonitrile and 50% aqueous phosphate buffer, containing triethylamine. Diode-array detection was used, operating at a wavelength of 250 nm.

Biological monitoring of nurses exposed to doxorubicin and epirubicin by a validated liquid chromatography/fluorescence detection method.

Objectives: Occupational exposure to antineoplastic drugs can represent a potential health risk for hospital staff. Assessing exposure is the first step in providing a safe work environment; the present study aimed to perform a biological monitoring (BM) of nurses exposed to doxorubicin and epirubicin. In order to assure data accuracy and reproducibility, the high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection method was validated.