-
British Medical Journal Jun 1973
Topics: Drug and Narcotic Control; England; Humans; Methaqualone; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Substance-Related Disorders
PubMed: 4714492
DOI: 10.1136/bmj.2.5865.552-a -
British Medical Journal May 1973
Topics: Diphenhydramine; Humans; Methaqualone; Sleep Wake Disorders; State Medicine; Substance-Related Disorders; United Kingdom
PubMed: 4712496
DOI: 10.1136/bmj.2.5864.486-b -
British Medical Journal May 1973
Topics: Diphenhydramine; Humans; Methaqualone; Substance-Related Disorders; Suicide; United Kingdom
PubMed: 4704530
DOI: 10.1136/bmj.2.5862.367-c -
Proceedings of the Royal Society of... May 1970
Review
Topics: Acetaminophen; Adult; Alcohols; Aniline Compounds; Arsenic Poisoning; Barbiturates; Carbon Tetrachloride Poisoning; Chelating Agents; Child; Chloral Hydrate; Fluoride Poisoning; Glutethimide; Glycols; Humans; Infant; Iron; Lead Poisoning; Male; Mercury Poisoning; Methaqualone; Phenacetin; Poisoning; Renal Dialysis; Salicylates
PubMed: 4916564
DOI: No ID Found -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Apr 2020Sensitive real-time detection of vapors produced by the precursors, reagents and solvents used in the illegal drugs manufacture represents a priority nowadays. Acetic...
Sensitive real-time detection of vapors produced by the precursors, reagents and solvents used in the illegal drugs manufacture represents a priority nowadays. Acetic anhydride (AA) is the key chemical used as acetylation agent in producing the illegal drugs heroin and methaqualone. This study was directed towards quick detection and quantification of AA in air, using two fast and very sensitive analytical techniques: photoionization detection (PID) and ion mobility spectrometry (IMS). Results obtained indicated that both PID and IMS can sense AA at ultra-trace levels in air, but while PID produces a non-selective response, IMS offers richer information. Ion mobility spectrometric response in the positive ion mode presented one product ion, at reduced ion mobility K of 1.89 cm V s (almost overlapped with positive reactant ion peak), while in the negative ion mode two well separated product ions, with K of 1.90 and 1.71 cm V s, were noticed. Our study showed that by using a portable, commercial IMS system (model Mini IMS, I.U.T. GmbH Berlin) AA can be easily measured at concentrations of 0.05 ppm (0.2 mg m) in negative ion mode. Best selectivity and sensitivity of the IMS response were therefore achieved in the negative operation mode.
Topics: Acetic Anhydrides; Biosensing Techniques; Illicit Drugs; Ion Mobility Spectrometry; Reproducibility of Results; Trace Elements
PubMed: 32316669
DOI: 10.3390/molecules25081852 -
Burns : Journal of the International... May 2024In South Africa, fire-related deaths are common, particularly within dense informal housing settlements. Published data on deaths from fire incidents in Cape Town is...
BACKGROUND
In South Africa, fire-related deaths are common, particularly within dense informal housing settlements. Published data on deaths from fire incidents in Cape Town is sparse. Additionally, little emphasis has been placed on the role of toxicological investigations in these deaths, despite the known risk of alcohol and drug impairment to burn injury.
METHODS
A retrospective, descriptive analysis of post-mortem case reports from Salt River Mortuary was conducted to investigate all deaths in which fires were involved in the west metropole of Cape Town, between 2006 to 2018. Demographic, circumstantial, and toxicological data were analyzed using R software.
RESULTS
In total 1370 fire deaths occurred over 13 years, with a mean of 106 (SD ± 18) cases per annum (≈3% of the annual caseload and a mortality rate of 5.5 per 100,000). Males (70.4%), adults (mean=30.7 years), and toddlers (1-4 years old) were notably at risk. Deaths typically occurred in the early morning (00h00 - 06h00) (45.7%), during winter (32.1%), and in lower socioeconomic areas with highly dense informal settlements (65.6%), with 29% of deaths occurring in multi-fatality incidents. Ethanol was detected (≥0.01 g/100 mL) in 55.1% of cases submitted for analysis (71.5%), with a mean of 0.18 g/100 mL, and with 93.8% of positive cases > 0.05 g/100 mL. Carboxyhaemoglobin (COHb) analysis was requested in 76.4% of cases, with 57% of cases having a %COHb of ≥ 20%. Toxicology results (for drugs other than ethanol) from the national laboratory were outstanding in 34.4% of the cases at the conclusion of the study. BAC and %COHb were significantly higher in deaths from burns and smoke inhalation (usually accidents) than deaths from combined trauma and burns (typically homicides). Fire deaths with high COHb levels were more likely to display cherry-red discoloration (OR=3.1) and soot in the airways (OR=2.7) at autopsy.
CONCLUSION
This article provides an updated description of fire deaths in the west metropole of Cape Town. The importance of BAC and COHb testing in these cases was noted, and the authors call for an investigation of the role of drug impairment (specifically frequently misused drugs methamphetamine and methaqualone) as a risk factor in these deaths. Areas of high-density informal settlements, where open flames are used to heat, light, and cook, were noted as high risk.
Topics: Humans; South Africa; Retrospective Studies; Male; Adult; Female; Burns; Fires; Infant; Child, Preschool; Child; Middle Aged; Adolescent; Young Adult; Carboxyhemoglobin; Aged; Blood Alcohol Content; Methamphetamine; Age Distribution; Ethanol; Sex Distribution; Smoke Inhalation Injury; Carbon Monoxide Poisoning; Seasons; Aged, 80 and over; Substance-Related Disorders; Central Nervous System Depressants
PubMed: 38290966
DOI: 10.1016/j.burns.2024.01.001 -
British Medical Journal Jan 1978In 1967-76 the annual number of admissions to a poisoning treatment centre rose from 964 to 2134. The proportion of admissions caused by taking barbiturate hypnotics and...
In 1967-76 the annual number of admissions to a poisoning treatment centre rose from 964 to 2134. The proportion of admissions caused by taking barbiturate hypnotics and methaqualone fell considerably while that caused by taking benzodiazepines and tricyclic antidepressants increased. As a result the proportion of patients admitted unconscious fell from 23% to 15%. The declining contributions of barbiturates and methaqualone and increased importance of tricyclic antidepressants were significant in all grades of coma. The change in drugs taken, however, has not yet reduced the percentage of unconscious patients needing endotracheal intubation or assisted ventilation, and hypothermia remains as common. Only hypotension has become less frequent as antidepressants replace barbiturates as the main cause of drug-induced coma. The use of salicylates for self-poisoning is declining slowly, and paracetamol poisoning is now as common.
Topics: Acetaminophen; Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; Barbiturates; Benzodiazepines; Humans; Hypotension; Methaqualone; Patient Admission; Poisoning; Salicylates; Suicide; Suicide, Attempted; Unconsciousness; United Kingdom
PubMed: 620215
DOI: 10.1136/bmj.1.6105.90 -
British Medical Journal Jan 1961
Topics: Hypnotics and Sedatives; Methaqualone
PubMed: 13733024
DOI: 10.1136/bmj.1.5220.171 -
British Medical Journal May 1970Though recovery of consciousness after drug overdose may occur within a day or two, the drug itself may not finally leave the brain for another one to three weeks, and...
Though recovery of consciousness after drug overdose may occur within a day or two, the drug itself may not finally leave the brain for another one to three weeks, and at this late time a withdrawal syndrome can occur, with insomnia, restlessness, raised paradoxical (R.E.M.) sleep, epileptic phenomena, and even delirium. It is proposed that a high degree of drug-tolerance and dependence can be rapidly acquired after overdose.Abnormal sleep features of 10 patients resolved only slowly over a period of up to two months after overdose. The data support the view that R.E.M. sleep is concerned with processes of brain repair.
Topics: Adult; Benzazepines; Brain; Delirium; Drug Tolerance; Electroencephalography; Female; Humans; Hypnotics and Sedatives; Methaqualone; Middle Aged; Phenobarbital; Poisoning; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders; Sleep, REM; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; Substance-Related Disorders; Unconsciousness
PubMed: 4317051
DOI: 10.1136/bmj.2.5705.318 -
British Medical Journal Nov 1972The influence of the newer, non-barbiturate hypnotics Mandrax (diphenhydramine-methaqualone) and nitrazepam on drug-metabolizing capacity was assessed and compared with...
The influence of the newer, non-barbiturate hypnotics Mandrax (diphenhydramine-methaqualone) and nitrazepam on drug-metabolizing capacity was assessed and compared with the effect of amylobarbitone, a known inducer of drug-metabolizing enzymes. Plasma antipyrine and phenylbutazone half-lives and urinary output of 6beta-hydroxycortisol were used as indices. Volunteer subjects were exposed to therapeutic amounts of these agents and, in the case of Mandrax and barbiturates, further studies were carried out in dependent patients.Mandrax but not nitrazepam increased the rate of drug metabolism, presumably by enzyme induction. The degree of induction was comparable with that produced by hypnotic doses of amylobarbitone. The Mandrax-dependent and barbiturate-dependent patients were the fastest metabolizers studied. It is concluded that drug interactions resulting from interference with drug metabolism are as likely to occur with Mandrax as with barbiturates. On the other hand, it is unlikely that such drug interactions would occur with nitrazepam.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Amobarbital; Antipyrine; Diphenhydramine; Drug Interactions; Humans; Hydrocortisone; Hypnotics and Sedatives; Methaqualone; Middle Aged; Nitrazepam; Phenylbutazone; Time Factors
PubMed: 4637511
DOI: 10.1136/bmj.4.5836.322