Karina Sommerfeld

Flubromazolam – A new life-threatening designer benzodiazepine

Abstract Context: In addition to designer benzodiazepines such as etizolam, deschloroetizolam, pyrazolam, diclazepam, nifoxipam, or clonazolam, a new psychoactive substance like flubromazolam, triazole of flubromazepam has become available. Flubromazolam is currently not marketed as a medication but rather as a research chemical and recreational drug. It mostly causes sedative effects but also has moderate anti-anxiety and muscle relaxant effects. A case of a severe intoxication of flubromazolam has been reported. Case details: A 27-year-old man, presented with deep coma, bilateral pinpoint unreactive pupils, acute respiratory failure and hypotension, complicated by hypoxic ischemic changes in the central nervous system. A positive result of a urine screening test confirmed the presence of benzodiazepines, which resulted in administration of flumazenil and improved patient consciousness. Quantitative method of liquid chromatography indicated flubromazolam in the patient’s serum at 59 ng/mL and urine at 105 ng/mL about 19 h after ingestion of 3 mg dose. On admission, serum creatine kinase was 15 960 U/L. The patient was treated with mechanical ventilation, intravenous fluids, flumazenil and continuous infusion of norepinephrine at a dose of 0.12 µg/kg/min. The patient survived and on the ninth day of hospitalization he was transferred to the Department of Neurology. Discussion: Flubromazolam is a new designer drug. Recreational use may be a cause of prolonged, severe intoxication associated with coma, hypotension, and rhabdomyolysis.

Barium Determination in Gastric Contents, Blood and Urine by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry in the Case of Oral Barium Chloride Poisoning

A serious case of barium intoxication from suicidal ingestion is reported. Oral barium chloride poisoning with hypokalemia, neuromuscular and cardiac toxicity, treated with intravenous potassium supplementation and hemodialysis, was confirmed by the determination of barium concentrations in gastric contents, blood, serum and urine using the inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry method. Barium concentrations in the analyzed specimens were 20.45 µg/L in serum, 150 µg/L in blood, 10,500 µg/L in urine and 63,500 µg/L in gastric contents. Results were compared with barium levels obtained from a non-intoxicated person.

Effect of 4-methylpyrazole on antioxidant enzyme status and lipid peroxidation in the liver of rats after exposure to ethylene glycol and ethyl alcohol

BACKGROUND The aim of the conducted studies was to evaluate the effect of 4-methylpyrazole, increasingly used in detoxifying treatments after ethylene glycol poisoning, on the activity of some antioxidant enzymes and lipid peroxidation formation in the liver of rats after experimental co-exposure to ethylene glycol and ethyl alcohol. METHODS The trials were conducted on adult male Wistar rats. Ethylene glycol (EG) at the dose of 3.83 g/kg bw and ethyl alcohol (EA) at the dose of 1 g/kg bw were administered po, and 4-methylpyrazole (4-MP) at the dose of 0.01 g/kg bw was administered ip. Parameters of antioxidant balance were evaluated in hepatic cytosol, including the activity of the following enzymes: glutathione S-transferase (GST), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and lipid peroxidation level (TBARS). RESULTS The results suggest that evaluation of the effects of administrated 4-MP after co-exposure to EG and EA in the liver revealed statistically significant changes on antioxidant enzyme system and malondialdehyde formation. CONCLUSION The changes in biomarkers activity indicate a greater production of free radicals which exceeds the capability of antioxidant system, appearing with oxidative stress in the group of animals treated by 4-MP combined with EG and EA.

Intravenous and oral suicidal e-liquid poisonings with confirmed nicotine and cotinine concentrations

The increasing availability of e-cigarettes is a potential toxicological concern. E-cigarettes appeared on the Polish market in 2006, and since 2009 they have been widely available with a new source of nicotine, the so-called e-liquid. In this paper two cases of suicidal oral and intravenous poisonings with the e-liquid are described. The clinical courses of these poisonings are presented. Nicotine and cotinine concentrations in the patients blood were determined using high performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection. In the course of intoxication patient No. 1, classic symptoms of acute nicotine poisoning without convulsions were observed. Nicotine and cotinine concentrations measured in serum were 0.096 and 4.4mg/L, respectively. The case of patient No. 2, admission with no typical symptoms of nicotine poisoning was identified, except unconsciousness and slow respiration. Nicotine and cotinine concentrations in the serum at the time of No. 2 admissions were determined to be 0.8 and 1.3mg/L, respectively. With the increasing number of e-liquid poisonings cases, it should be aware that these products can be a readily available source of poison.

Post-Injection Delirium/Sedation Syndrome after Olanzapine Long-Acting Intramuscular Injection – Who is at Risk?

The post‐injection olanzapine delirium/sedation syndrome (PDSS) was observed in a 60‐year‐old Caucasian, schizophrenic, non‐smoker and underweight [body mass index (BMI), 18.2 kg/m2] women after the fourth intramuscular injection of 405 mg olanzapine pamoate. Clinical symptoms of PDSS were similar to those of acute oral olanzapine intoxication. The patient received supportive treatment and recovered fully. High olanzapine concentrations in serum, with maximum level of 698 ng/mL, were confirmed by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC‐MS/MS). The authors wonder whether a low BMI and advanced age may predispose patients to PDSS occurrence.

Influence of acetylsalicylic acid on hematotoxicity of benzene

ObjectivesThe aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) on benzene hematotoxicity in rats.Materials and MethodsThe study was carried out on rats exposed for 2, 4 and 8 weeks to benzene vapour at a concentration of 1.5 or 4.5 mmol/m3 of air (5 days per week, 6 hours per day) alone or together with ASA at the doses of 5, 150 or 300 mg/kg body weight (per os).ResultsBenzene at a concentration of 4.5 mmol/m3 caused a slight lymphopenia, granulocytosis and reticulocytosis in blood. In bone marrow traits of megaloblastic renewal, presence of undifferentiated cells and giant forms of granulocytes as well as an increase in myeloperoxidase and decrease in chloroacetate esterase activity and lipids content were noted. ASA (150 and 300 mg/kg b.w.) influenced some of hematological parameters, altered by benzene intoxication. ASA limited the solvent-induced alteration in blood reticulocyte count and in the case of bone marrow in the erythroblasts count. Traits of megaloblastic renewal in bone marrow were less pronounced. Besides, higher activity of myeloperoxidase and the decrease in the level of lipids in granulocytes were noted.ConclusionOur results suggest that ASA limited the benzene-induced hematotoxicity.