Journal of analytical toxicology
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Blood cannabinoids. I. Absorption of THC and formation of 11-OH-THC and THCCOOH during and after smoking marijuana.
delta 9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the primary psychoactive constituent of marijuana, is rapidly transferred from lungs to blood during smoking. Oxidative metabolism of THC yields the active metabolite, 11-hydroxy-delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (11-OH-THC), and the inactive metabolite, 11-nor-9-carboxy-delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THCCOOH). Characterization of THC's absorption phase is important because of the rapidity with which THC penetrates the central nervous system to produce psychoactive effects. ⋯ The mean peak time for THCCOOH was 113 min and a correspondingly longer time course of detection was observed. This study provides the first complete pharmacokinetic profile of the absorption of THC and appearance of metabolites during marijuana smoking. These findings have implications for understanding the mechanisms underlying the performance-impairing effects of marijuana, as well as for aiding forensic interpretation of cannabinoid blood levels.
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Drug testing (doping test) procedures in the 1986 10th Asian Olympic Games and 1988 24th Seoul Olympic Games are reported. The International Olympic Committee Medical Commission (IOC-MC) conducted its first doping tests at the 1968 Olympics in Grenoble. ⋯ These tests covered about 100 different drugs and another 400 as metabolites in addition to pharmacologically related substances. For the Seoul Olympic Games from September 17 to October 2, 1988, the IOC-MC with the DCC/KAIST conducted doping tests on 1601 samples for stimulants, narcotics, beta-blockers, diuretics, and anabolic steroids using GC, HPLC, GC/MSD, GC/MS, LC/MS, and TDx.
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A selected ion monitoring gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric method for the quantitative determination of benzene in air, breath, and blood was developed utilizing a headspace assay with benzene-d3 as an internal standard. Limits of detection for 2 ng/mL in blood and 0.1 ppb in a 5-L sample of air or breath were attained. ⋯ For cases where background contamination could not be adequately controlled, the assay was modified for the quantitative determination of labelled benzenes six mass units heavier than natural benzene (benzene-d6 or benzene-13C6). Use of the method for the analysis of natural benzene was illustrated for the measurement of background levels in urban smokers and nonsmokers.
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Comparative Study
Carbon monoxide analysis: a comparison of two co-oximeters and headspace gas chromatography.
Three methods (IL-182 Co-Oximeter, IL-282 Co-Oximeter, and headspace gas chromatography) for the analysis of carbon monoxide in postmortem blood were studied and compared using a prepared reference standard, Quantra control materials, and 62 postmortem blood specimens. The methods compared favorably with one another. ⋯ GC, y = 0.88x + 2.97, r = 0.973; IL-282 vs. GC, y = 1.00x - 1.24, r = 0.986.
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Case Reports
Pentazocine and tripelennamine (T's and Blues) abuse: toxicological findings in 39 cases.
The post mortem findings of pentazocine and tripelennamine ("T's and Blues") in abusers dying in the City of St. Louis between July 1, 1979 and July 30, 1981 are presented. Thirty-three deaths were homicides; 30 black males, ages 21-38; one white male, age 26, died from gunshot wounds; and two black females, age 18 and 32, died of stab wounds. ⋯ Blood concentrations of pentazocine and tripelennamine ranged from 0.44 to 2.5 mg/L and 0.09 to 4.1 mg/L, respectively. Ethanol and diazepam were also detected in 49% and 13% of all deaths, respectively. Foreign body or talc granulomas in lung were the most common pathological finding relevant to the abuse of T's and Blues.