A whole-body permeability-rate-limited physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model for cocaine was developed with the aim to predict the concentration–time profiles of the drug in blood and different tissues in humans.
Malathion is a widely used organophosphorus pesticide; it is also a molecule of forensic interest due to its moderate to high toxicity in nontarget organisms, humans included. This compound is present in some fatal intoxications, accidental or intentional; its presence in the tissues on which the cadaveric entomofauna feeds may affect its growth rate and life cycle duration leading to an error in the estimation of the minimum postmortem interval (PMImin). Since the toxic effect of malathion on the cadaveric entomofauna could affect the estimation of the PMImin, the aim of this work was to study the toxic effect of malathion on the growth and development of the scuttle fly, Megaselia scalaris, a fly of forensic interest which plays an important role in forensics cases related to human remains found indoors or in concealed environments. The study was complemented with some morphological observations; no morphological changes were observed in the larvae, nor the adult flies exposed to malathion. Malathion affects the viability of the egg and pupa, it also reduces the larval growth rate and increases the duration of the larval stage; therefore, the estimation of the PMImin, with this species when malathion is present in tissues, could be affected.
Physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) models use a mechanistic approach to integrate physiological parameters, physicochemical drug properties, and biochemical processes by means of mathematical equations to predict the concentration of a drug over time in blood and tissues. These models represent a robust tool for the pharmaceutical sciences, but also applications in chemical risk assessment for drugs and chemicals of forensic interest or in occupational hazards have been explored over the last decade. Much like other computational tools, PBPK models’ application face challenges concerning validity, transparency and lack of collaboration between professionals in different fields. The potential uses and challenges of PBPK modeling are discussed, as well as some ways to address the latter.
<p>La muestra de orina es una de las más comunes para la determinación de sustancias de interés forense en matrices biológicas debido a su poca invasividad y la relativa facilidad con que se puede realizar en ella las pruebas presuntivas y su preparación pre-analítica para los análisis confirmatorios. Sin embargo, es una muestra que fácilmente puede adulterarse por sustitución, adición de sustancias que alteran el pH, adición de sustancias oxidantes, dilución <em>in vitro</em> o <em>in vivo</em> e incluso con productos caseros como sal de mesa o ablandadores de carne, que se añaden a la muestra con la intención de afectar los resultados del análisis. A pesar de esto, existen métodos para identificar estas adulteraciones, implementar algunos de ellos de forma rutinaria en los laboratorios forenses es importante para incrementar la confiabilidad de los resultados del análisis de sustancias de interés en orina.</p>
One of the problems faced by entomotoxicological studies is the large variability of experimental set-ups and the absence of harmonized protocols to compare the data and results obtained by different research groups. Among the wide range of influencing factors on the development and growth of insects, food substrates are remarkably relevant. This article proposes a standardized growth medium to be employed in future entomotoxicological studies on the scuttle fly Megaselia scalaris (Loew, 1866), (Diptera: Phoridae). This species plays an important role in forensic cases related to the decomposition of human remains found indoors and/or in concealed environments, because of their small size and ability to enter these locations at an earlier time than many other insects. Because of these traits, it can be used for the estimation of the minimum postmortem interval (mPMI). We achieved the formulation of a medium that overcomes two traditional disadvantages of culture media used to raise necrophagous Diptera, the unknown media composition and different growth rates from those reared in tissue. The proposed medium is a known composition formulation, free of xenobiotics, in which M. scalaris shows growth rates and development times similar to those obtained when it is reared in tissue. This new diet might be used in future studies to test the effect of substances of forensic interest (prescription or illicit drugs, poisons, etc.) on the larval development time, helping to adjust the estimation of mPMI based on the presence of such substances. Additionally, the formulation revealed some interesting data about nutritional requirements of this species.
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