Complete Post-mortem Investigations in a Death Involving Clenbuterol After Long-term Abuse

2019 ◽  
Vol 43 (8) ◽  
pp. 660-665 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pascal Kintz ◽  
Laurie Gheddar ◽  
Alice Ameline ◽  
Véronique Dumestre-Toulet ◽  
Marion Verschoore ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drugs Of Abuse ◽  
Anabolic Steroids ◽  
Traumatic Injury ◽  
The Body ◽  
Cardiac Insufficiency ◽  
Atheromatous Plaque ◽  
Alcohol And Drugs ◽  
Police Investigations ◽  
Femoral Blood

Abstract The body of a 61-year-old man was found at his home by his wife, lying on the floor, near the bathroom, around midnight. He was known to be training for bodybuilding, using anabolic steroids. Police investigations revealed the presence of two types of tablets at home, one supposed to contain clenbuterol (0.040 mg) and the other stanozolol (10 mg). Testing the tablets revealed different dosages from what was expected, i.e., 0.073 and 11.5 mg/tablet, for clenbuterol and stanozolol, respectively. External body examination and autopsy, which was performed the next day, revealed generalized organ congestion and lack of any traumatic injury (confirmed by radiology). Cardiomegaly, with a heart weighing 692 g, was obvious. Anatomic pathology tests did not reveal evidence of malformations, but atheromatous plaque was identified in the coronaries during complete histology investigations. Femoral blood, urine, bile, gastric contents and two strands of hair (6 cm) were collected for toxicology. These specimens were submitted to standard analyses, but also to a specific LC–MS-MS method for clenbuterol and stanozolol testing. Clenbuterol was identified in all the tissues, including femoral blood (1.1 ng/mL), urine (7.2 ng/mL), bile (2.4 ng/mL), gastric content (3.2 ng/mL) and hair (23 pg/mg). Stanozolol only tested positive in hair (11 pg/mg). All other analyses were negative, including blood alcohol and drugs of abuse. The pathologists concluded to cardiac insufficiency with support of cardiomegaly, in a context involving repetitive abuse of anabolic drugs. This case indicates that more attention should be paid to clenbuterol, a drug widely used as a stimulant by people who want to lose weight, athletes and bodybuilding practitioners.

scholarly journals Behavioral and Neurobiological Consequences of Hedonic Feeding on Alcohol Drinking

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (20) ◽  
pp. 2309-2315 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julianna Brutman ◽  
Jon F. Davis ◽  
Sunil Sirohi
Keyword(s):  
Alcohol Drinking ◽  
Alcohol Intake ◽  
Energy Homeostasis ◽  
Drugs Of Abuse ◽  
Drinking Behavior ◽  
The Body ◽  
Alcohol And Drugs ◽  
Signaling Mechanisms ◽  
Functional Consequences ◽  
Neuropsychiatric Conditions

A complex interplay of peripheral and central signaling mechanisms within the body of an organism maintains energy homeostasis. In addition, energy/food intake is modified by various external factors (e.g., palatability, food availability, social and environmental triggers). Highly palatable foods can provoke maladaptive feeding behavior, which in turn disrupts normal homeostatic regulation resulting in numerous health consequences. Furthermore, neuroendocrine peptides, traditionally considered to regulate appetite and energy homeostasis, also control the intake and reinforcing properties of alcohol and drugs of abuse. Therefore, dysregulated eating as a result of a hedonic/binge-like intake of hyper-palatable food may impact alcohol drinking behavior. Relevant in this case is the fact that eating disorders are highly comorbid with several neuropsychiatric conditions, including alcohol use disorder. The present review is intended to summarize the neurobiological and functional consequences of hedonic feeding on alcohol intake.

Toxicological Investigations in a Death Involving 2,5-Dimethoxy-4-Chloamphetamine (DOC) Performed on an Exhumed Body

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frédéric Aknouche ◽  
Alice Ameline ◽  
Angeline Kernalleguen ◽  
Nadia Arbouche ◽  
Christophe Maruejouls ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Liquid Chromatography ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Drugs Of Abuse ◽  
High Resolution Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Drug Stability ◽  
Traumatic Injury ◽  
Stability Study ◽  
The Body ◽  
Designer Drug

Abstract During a party in another country, several adults sniffed a powder presented as being lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD). The next morning, two subjects, including a French citizen, were found dead. After a body examination that concluded that the death was due to respiratory and cardiac collapses, the French citizen’s corpse was returned to France and buried. Four years later, the body was exhumed, and an autopsy that did not reveal traumatic injury was performed. During the autopsy, biological specimens were collected. A comprehensive toxicological screening, followed by confirmation using ultra high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS-MS) revealed the presence of 2,5-dimethoxy-4-chloamphetamine (DOC) in all specimens: liver (99 ng/g), spleen (28 ng/g), bone (14 ng/g), lung (15 ng/g) and pubic hair (32 pg/mg). No other drug, including pharmaceuticals and drugs of abuse were identified, but the circumstances of specimen collection can influence drug stability. Literature survey about DOC stability in biological material did not contribute in interpretation as there is no data dealing with storage for about 4 years before quantitative analysis. A stability study was performed at the laboratory. Blank blood was spiked with DOC at 1 mg/L, stored at + 4°C and −20°C and regularly tested over 6 months. The percentages of concentration remaining from the initial concentration of DOC stored for 6 months at + 4°C and −20°C were 53% and 59%, respectively. To characterize the metabolite(s) of DOC, the drug was incubated with a pool of human hepatic microsomes and the cofactors required to ensure the functioning of the main phase I enzymes. The incubation media were analyzed by liquid chromatography (LC) coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry (MS), and the results showed hydroxy-DOC. However, the hydroxy-metabolite was not identified in the liver or spleen of the subject. Although the French pathologist considered that it was more likely than not a toxic death, it is difficult to attribute the death to DOC alone, as it was impossible to test for ethanol and other chemically instable drugs. This case presents original data, which can be useful to increase the knowledge in designer drug toxicity.

In a Case of Death Involving Steroids, Hair Testing is more Informative than Blood or Urine Testing

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pascal Kintz ◽  
Laurie Gheddar ◽  
Adeline Blanchot ◽  
Alice Ameline ◽  
Jean-Sébastien Raul
Keyword(s):  
Anabolic Steroids ◽  
Parent Compound ◽  
Urinary Metabolites ◽  
Cardiac Insufficiency ◽  
Test Results ◽  
East Europe ◽  
Target Drug ◽  
Femoral Blood ◽  
Hair Testing ◽  
Urine Testing

Abstract A 59-year old male was found dead at home, with 2 empty vials of an oily preparation attributed to a manufacturer from East Europe. There was no label on the vial. The subject was a former weightlifter, also known as an anabolic steroids abuser. The local prosecutor ordered a body examination, which was unremarkable and allowed collecting femoral blood, urine and scalp hair (6 cm, brown). He was treated for cardiac insufficiency with quinidine. Biological specimens were submitted to standard toxicological analyses including a screening with LC-QToF, but also to a specific LC-MS/MS method for anabolic steroids testing. Ethanol was not found in both blood and urine. Quinidine blood concentration (791 ng/mL) was therapeutic. No drug of abuse was identified. In blood, testosterone was less that 1 ng/mL and no other steroid was identified. In urine, T/E was 1.56 and boldenone showed up at 9 ng/mL. The hair test results, performed on the whole length, demonstrated repetitive steroids abuse, including testosterone (140 pg/mg), testosterone propionate (605 pg/mg) and testosterone decanoate (249 pg/mg), but also boldenone (160 pg/mg), trenbolone (143 pg/mg) and metandienone (60 pg/mg). Given forensic laboratories have limited access to steroid urinary metabolites reference material due to specific regulations (to avoid testing athletes before anti-doping verifications), hair analyses seem to be the best approach to document anabolic agents abuse. Indeed, in hair, the target drug is the parent compound and, in addition, when compared to blood or urine, this matrix has a much larger window of detection. The pathologist concluded to cardiac insufficiency in a context involving repetitive abuse of anabolic drugs. This case indicates that more attention should be paid to anabolic steroids, in a context of sudden cardiac death.

Defining the Competence of Psychologists with a View to Public Accountability *

1997 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 293-300 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ype H. Poortinga ◽  
Ingrid Lunt
Keyword(s):  
Scientific Knowledge ◽  
Professional Training ◽  
Professional Competence ◽  
Codes Of Ethics ◽  
The Body ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Rigorous Evaluation ◽  
Judicial Proceedings ◽  
Psychological Knowledge

In national codes of ethics the practice of psychology is presented as rooted in scientific knowledge, professional skills, and experience. However, it is not self-evident that the body of scientific knowledge in psychology provides an adequate basis for current professional practice. Professional training and experience are seen as necessary for the application of psychological knowledge, but they appear insufficient to defend the soundness of one's practices when challenged in judicial proceedings of a kind that may be faced by psychologists in the European Union in the not too distant future. In seeking to define the basis for the professional competence of psychologists, this article recommends taking a position of modesty concerning the scope and effectiveness of psychological interventions. In many circumstances, psychologists can only provide partial advice, narrowing down the range of possible courses of action more by eliminating unpromising ones than by pointing out the most correct or most favorable one. By emphasizing rigorous evaluation, the profession should gain in accountability and, in the long term, in respectability.

Plasma Fibrinolytic Activity Following Oral Anabolic Steroid Therapy

1975 ◽  
Vol 34 (01) ◽  
pp. 236-245 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. D Walker ◽  
J. F Davidson ◽  
P Young ◽  
J. A Conkie
Keyword(s):  
Heart Disease ◽  
Ischaemic Heart Disease ◽  
Anabolic Steroid ◽  
Fibrinolytic Activity ◽  
Anabolic Steroids ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Lysis Time ◽  
Detailed Evaluation ◽  
Euglobulin Lysis Time

SummarySix anabolic steroids were assessed for their ability to enhance plasma fibrinolytic activity in males with ischaemic heart disease. Five 17α-alkylated steroids (Ethyloestrenol, Norethandrolone, Methandienone, Methylandrostenediol and Oxymetholone) were examined and all produced a significant increase in plasma plasminogen activator as measured by the euglobulin lysis time. The only non-17α-alkylated steroid studied (Methenolone acetate) failed to enhance fibrinolysis. The 17α-alkylated steroids studied all deserve more detailed evaluation of their long term effects on plasma fibrinolytic activity.

STUDIES IN THE SUPPOSED GOITROGENOUS EFFECT OF TAP WATER IN HELSINKI

1960 ◽  
Vol XXXIII (IV) ◽  
pp. 630-636
Author(s):  
F.-E. Krusius ◽  
P. Peltola
Keyword(s):  
Tap Water ◽  
Physiological Saline ◽  
Normal Weight ◽  
The Body ◽  
Iodine Uptake ◽  
Redistilled Water ◽  
Detectable Difference ◽  
Term Administration ◽  
Long Term Experiment

ABSTRACT The study reported here was performed in order to examine the tap water of Helsinki for its alleged goitrogenous effect. In a short-term, 24-hour experiment with rats, kept on an iodine-poor diet, we noticed no inhibition of the 4-hour 131I uptake, as compared with that of animals receiving physiological saline instead of tap water. Two similar groups of rats receiving 1 and 2 mg of mercazole in redistilled water showed a distinct blockage of the 4-hour uptake, which proved the effect of this substance. In a long-term experiment of 5 weeks' duration there was no detectable difference in the body weight, thyroid weight and the 4-hour 131I uptake when the rats receiving tap water or distilled water to which 0.45 per cent of sodium chloride was added were compared with each other. Replacement of tap water by a 10 mg per cent solution of mercazole in redistilled water enlarged the thyroid to double its normal weight and increased the 131I uptake to approximately five times that of the controls. Thus our experiments failed to demonstrate any goitrogenous effect in the tap water of Helsinki. Changes similar to those produced by a long-term administration of mercazole, i. e. an enlargement of the thyroid and an increased thyroidal iodine uptake, have been shown to be due to milk collected from goitrous areas. The observations here reported confirm the importance of milk in the genesis of the goitre endemia of Helsinki. Attention is further called to the fact that a thyroidal enlargement combined with an increased thyroidal iodine uptake cannot always be taken as a sign of iodine deficiency because similar changes may be produced by the administration of goitrogens.

ANALYSIS OF ABDOMINAL TYPHOID INCIDENCE IN THE SOUTH REGION OF THE KYRGYZ REPUBLIC

2020 ◽  
pp. 43-48
Author(s):  
Zakirova J.S. ◽  
Nadirbekova R.A. ◽  
Zholdoshev S.T.
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Typhoid Fever ◽  
Risk Groups ◽  
The Body ◽  
Kyrgyz Republic ◽  
Radiation Factor ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Two Generations ◽  
Immunological Deficiency

The article analyze the long-term morbidity, spread of typhoid fever in the southern regions of the Kyrgyz republic, and remains a permanent epidemic focus in the Jalal-Abad region, where against the low availability of the population to high-quality drinking water, an additional factor on the body for more than two generations and radiation factor, which we confirmed by the spread among the inhabitants of Mailuu-Suu of nosological forms of the syndrome of immunological deficiency, as a predictor of risk groups for infectious diseases, including typhoid fever.

Comparative assessment of morphological mechanisms of maintaining structural liver homeostasis in the dynamics of exposure to coal-rock dust and sodium fluoride on the body

2020 ◽  
pp. 189-194
Author(s):  
M. S. Bugaeva ◽  
O. I. Bondarev ◽  
N. N. Mikhailova ◽  
L. G. Gorokhova
Keyword(s):  
Sodium Fluoride ◽  
Morphological Changes ◽  
The Body ◽  
System Level ◽  
Production Factor ◽  
Coal Rock ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Structural Homeostasis ◽  
Rock Dust

Introduction. The impact on the body of such factors of the production environment as coal-rock dust and fluorine compounds leads to certain shift s in strict indicators of homeostasis at the system level. Maintaining the relative constancy of the internal environment of the body is provided by the functional consistency of all organs and systems, the leading of which is the liver. Organ repair plays a crucial role in restoring the structure of genetic material and maintaining normal cell viability. When this mechanism is damaged, the compensatory capabilities of the organ are disrupted, homeostasis is disrupted at the cellular and organizational levels, and the development of the main pathological processes is noted.The aim of the study is to compare the morphological mechanisms of maintaining structural homeostasis of the liver in the dynamics of the impact on the body of coal-rock dust and sodium fluoride.Materials and methods. Experimental studies were conducted on adult white male laboratory rats. Features of morphological mechanisms for maintaining structural homeostasis of the liver in the dynamics of exposure to coal-rock dust and sodium fluoride were studied on experimental models of pneumoconiosis and fluoride intoxication. For histological examination in experimental animals, liver sampling was performed after 1, 3, 6, 9, 12 weeks of the experiment.Results. The specificity of morphological changes in the liver depending on the harmful production factor was revealed. It is shown that chronic exposure to coal-rock dust and sodium fluoride is characterized by the development of similar morphological changes in the liver and its vessels from the predominance of the initial compensatory-adaptive to pronounced violations of the stromal and parenchymal components. Long-term inhalation of coal-rock dust at 1–3 weeks of seeding triggers adaptive mechanisms in the liver in the form of increased functional activity of cells, formation of double-core hepatocytes, activation of immunocompetent cells and endotheliocytes, ensuring the preservation of the parenchyma and the general morphostructure of the organ until the 12th week of the experiment. Exposure to sodium fluoride leads to early disruption of liver compensatory mechanisms and the development of dystrophic changes in the parenchyma with the formation of necrosis foci as early as the 6th week of the experiment.Conclusions. The study of mechanisms for compensating the liver structure in conditions of long-term exposure to coal-rock dust and sodium fluoride, as well as processes that indicate their failure, and the timing of their occurrence, is of theoretical and practical importance for developing recommendations for the timely prevention and correction of pathological conditions developing in employees of the aluminum and coal industry.The authors declare no conflict of interests.

Immunological mechanisms of chronic liver lesions under the influence of chemicals

2020 ◽  
pp. 536-537
Author(s):  
G. S. Agzamova ◽  
M. M. Abdullaeva
Keyword(s):  
The Body ◽  
Chronic Liver ◽  
Toxic Substances ◽  
Liver Lesions ◽  
Industrial Chemicals ◽  
Toxic Agent ◽  
Chronic Poisoning ◽  
Immunological Mechanisms ◽  
T System

The immunological profile of chronic liver lesions depending on the toxic agent was studied. It was revealed that chronic poisoning by industrial toxic substances causes changes in the functional state of the T-system of immunity, long-term contact with industrial chemicals leads to increased sensitization to autoantigens of the body.

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