Bone marrow studies currently provide a lot of valuable information in the diagnostics of hematological diseases including hematopoietic stem cells disorders. Our studies on low-molecular weight organic compounds in bone marrow stem cell niche in various pathogenic conditions, revealed relatively high variability of histamine levels in different groups of hematological diseases. It was also found that serotonin levels were significantly lower than those typically measured in peripheral blood as well as many have the influence on stem cells proliferative potential. This paper presents findings from quantitative and statistical analyses of histamine and serotonin levels. Bone marrow collected from patients undergoing routine diagnostic procedures for hematological diseases and receiving inpatient treatment were analyzed. Histamine and serotonin levels were measured using hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. Obtained data were analyzed statistically and correlated with the diagnosed groups of hematological diseases and the parameters of complete blood counts. Histamine was found in all tested samples, including those from patients without malignancy, and the reported levels were comparable to the reference values in blood. This observation allows us to assume that bone marrow cells can produce and accumulate histamine. Moreover, the statistical analysis revealed a significant relationship between histamine levels and diagnosed mastocytosis, and between histamine levels and myeloproliferative neoplasms. Different results were obtained for serotonin, and its concentrations in most cases were below the limit of quantification of the method used (< 0.2 ng/mL), which can only be compared to peripheral blood plasma. In a few cases, significantly higher serotonin levels were observed and it concerned diseases associated with an increased number of megakaryocytes in the bone marrow.
Introduction: Intoxication with new psychoactive substances (NPSs), colloquially known as designer drugs, has become a significant problem in the last several years.The aim of the study was to conduct a statistical analysis of retrospective data from test records for the presence of NPSs in patients hospitalized in 2015–2018 in the West Pomeranian province.Materials and methods: We analyzed 5,916 results of tests undertaken at the Department of Clinical and Forensic Toxicology at Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin. Blood samples had been analyzed by liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (LC/MS) and Headspace gas chromatography (GC/Headspace).Results: Our research was based on 5,916 diagnostic tests for poisoning with volatile and non-volatile organic compounds carried out in 2015–2018 at Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin. Psychoactive substances used for non-medical purposes were detected in 1,465 patients. In the period under analysis 1,328 of these patients were poisoned with classic psychoactive substances, the poisonings caused by the intentional use NPS were recorded in 137.Conclusions: A retrospective analysis of the above-mentioned data for the period 2015–2018 revealed a gradual increase in the incidence of poisoning with psychoactive substances used for non-medical purposes.Keywords: intoxication; new psychoactive substances; designer drugs; data analysis; diagnostic tests.
Introduction: Nowadays automotive transport is the basis for the efficient functioning of society, thus road safety, which is dependent on many factors such as the technological condition of roads, weather or traffic regulations, has a substantial impact on its performance. It should also be emphasized that traffic safety depends primarily on the mental psycho-organic status of drivers.The presented retrospective study describes drugs and medicines known to act similarly to ethanol, and which can be detected in the blood of drivers.The study aimed to analyze statistical data on driver blood samples that were tested for the presence of substances acting like ethanol. The analysis focused on samples collected in the period 2011–2015 in the West Pomeranian province in Poland.Materials and methods: During the analyzed period, more than 3069 of toxicological tests were performed on driver blood samples at the Department of Clinical Toxicology and Forensic Medicine of the Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin (Poland).Results: Based on the blood test results obtained in the period 2011–2015, the studies revealed the presence of substances acting like ethanol: 9delta-tetrahydrocannabinol (9ΔTHC), amphetamine, methamphetamine, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, cocaine, opiates and benzodiazepines. Moreover, the percentage of drivers whose blood samples revealed the presence of such substances increased steadily along with the simultaneous increase in the percentage of road users under the influence of the detected substance.Within the analysis, the presence of 9ΔTHC in the blood of drivers decreased from 80.45% to 44.13%, whilst the percentage of drivers with the presence of amphetamines increased from 16.43% to 46.85%, and was the most commonly detected psychoactive substance in 2015.Conclusions: The percentage of drivers whose blood samples revealed the presence of opiates, cocaine and benzodiazepines in the analyzed period remained at a constant low level of 5.24% in contrast to the number of drivers detected with amphetamines or 9ΔTHC.
Cases of poisoning with gases other than carbon monoxide are rarely reported in forensic medicine. Usually they are associated with an accident, suicidal intoxication, or recreational inhalation to obtain psychoactive effects. The paper presents 2 cases of poisoning with an air freshener aerosol and argon. Both caseswere confirmed after confronting the results of post-mortem examination, additional tests, and the detailed circumstances of the incidents. These cases deserve attention because of both the clinical and scientific aspects.Keywords: air freshener; argon; nitrous oxide; death; poisoning.
Introduction: Immunoassays are the 1st stage of clinical and forensic toxicology examinations.The aim of the research was to evaluate the suitability of CEDIA (cloned enzyme donor immmunoassay) for the detection of selected drugs such as amphetamine, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) metabolite: tetrahydrocanabinolic acid (11-nor-9-carboxy-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol – THC-COOH).Materials and methods: Blood samples were examined for the presence of the selected psychoactive drugs, similar in effect to alcohol. Whole blood samples were centrifuged, and the obtained plasma was analysed using CEDIA and LC-MS/MS.Results: We observed a strong correlation between amphetamine levels measured with CEDIA and the reference technique (LC-MS/MS), and a lack correlation for THC-COOH levels. Cloned enzyme donor immmunoassay did not provide false positive results – positive samples in CEDIA were also positive in LC-MS/MS, which demonstrated the high specificity of CEDIA.Conclusions: Considering the high specificity in tests for amphetamine and cannabinoids, CEDIA can be used as a qualitative method in forensic and clinical analysis. This study demonstrates a linearity only for amphetamine detection, which may suggest the need for further verification of the results of other assays offered by the manufacturer. Only serum/plasma can be analysed with CEDIA, which makes this technique unsuitable for highly degraded samples.Keywords: immunoenzyme techniques; screening methods; CEDIA; LC-MS/MS; psychoactive drugs.
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