Piotr Adamowicz

Bio: Piotr Adamowicz is an academic researcher. The author has contributed to research in topics: Liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry & Detection limit. The author has an hindex of 7, co-authored 11 publications receiving 250 citations.

Fatal intoxication with methoxetamine.

Abstract: Methoxetamine (MXE) is a new synthetic drug of abuse structurally related to ketamine and phencyclidine. A case of a 29-year-old male with acute toxicity related to the analytically confirmed use of MXE is reported. The man was found dead at his residence. Biological material was analyzed using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The concentration of MXE in urine of the deceased was 85 μg/mL. Despite the vial containing the blood sample being destroyed during transportation and the blood leaking out into the cardboard packaging, the blood level of MXE was estimated. After determination of the cardboard grammage (approx. 400 g/m(3) ) and the mean mass of the blood obtained after drying (0.1785 ± 0.0173 g per 1 mL), the estimated blood concentration of MXE was found to be 5.8 μg/mL. The high concentration of MXE in blood and urine and the circumstances of the case indicate an unintentional, fatal intoxication with this substance.

Blood concentrations of α-pyrrolidinovalerophenone (α-PVP) determined in 66 forensic samples

Abstract: α-Pyrrolidinovalerophenone (α-PVP) is a synthetic derivative of the cathinone, which is one of the most popular new psychoactive substances (NPSs) in Poland in recent years. α-PVP was found in blood in 66 cases sent to the Institute of Forensic Research during a one-and-a-half-year period, from the beginning of 2014 to the middle of 2015 (since 1 July 2015 α-PVP has been controlled). α-PVP was found in 26 cases in 2014 and in 40 cases in 2015. The cases were related mainly to driving under the influence of drugs (DUID), traffic accidents, acts of violence, as well as intoxications and deaths. In most of the cases (42 out of 66), other substances were also detected, including NPSs and other common drug(s) of abuse. Analyses of blood for α-PVP were carried out using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. The determined concentrations of α-PVP ranged from traces (<1 ng/mL) up to 6200 ng/mL (mean concentration 140 ng/mL, median 27 ng/mL). The ranges in specific type groups of cases were as follows: DUID, 6.4–99 ng/mL; traffic accidents, 10.2–30 ng/mL; drug possession, <1–98 ng/mL; non-fatal intoxication, 1.2–56 ng/mL; deaths, 1.1 ng/mL to 6200 ng/mL; and others, 2.6–136 ng/mL. Symptoms of α-PVP action were also studied. The effects of impairment were notable in a wide range of concentrations, but 40 ng/mL was proposed as the cutoff value for predicting significant influence of α-PVP on psychomotor performance. Intoxication cases indicated that recreational use of α-PVP involves significant health risks and is sometimes fatal.

Khat and synthetic cathinones: a review

Abstract: For centuries, 'khat sessions' have played a key role in the social and cultural traditions among several communities around Saudi Arabia and most East African countries. The identification of cathinone as the main psychoactive compound of khat leaves, exhibiting amphetamine-like pharmacological properties, resulted in the synthesis of several derivatives structurally similar to this so-called natural amphetamine. Synthetic cathinones were primarily developed for therapeutic purposes, but promptly started being misused and extensively abused for their euphoric effects. In the mid-2000's, synthetic cathinones emerged in the recreational drug markets as legal alternatives ('legal highs') to amphetamine, 'ecstasy', or cocaine. Currently, they are sold as 'bath salts' or 'plant food', under ambiguous labels lacking information about their true contents. Cathinone derivatives are conveniently available online or at 'smartshops' and are much more affordable than the traditional illicit drugs. Despite the scarcity of scientific data on these 'legal highs', synthetic cathinones use became an increasingly popular practice worldwide. Additionally, criminalization of these derivatives is often useless since for each specific substance that gets legally controlled, one or more structurally modified analogs are introduced into the legal market. Chemically, these substances are structurally related to amphetamine. For this reason, cathinone derivatives share with this drug both central nervous system stimulating and sympathomimetic features. Reports of intoxication and deaths related to the use of 'bath salts' have been frequently described over the last years, and several attempts to apply a legislative control on synthetic cathinones have been made. However, further research on their pharmacological and toxicological properties is fully required in order to access the actual potential harm of synthetic cathinones to general public health. The present work provides a review on khat and synthetic cathinones, concerning their historical background, prevalence, patterns of use, legal status, chemistry, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and their physiological and toxicological effects on animals and humans.

Comprehensive review of the detection methods for synthetic cannabinoids and cathinones

Abstract: A number of N-alkyl indole or indazole-3-carbonyl analogs, with modified chemical structures, are distributed throughout the world as synthetic cannabinoids. Like synthetic cannabinoids, cathinone analogs are also abused and cause serious problems worldwide. Acute deaths caused by overdoses of these drugs have been reported. Various analytical methods that can cope with the rapid changes in chemical structures are required for routine analysis and screening of these drugs in seized and biological materials for forensic and clinical purposes. Although many chromatographic methods to analyze each drug have been published, there are only a few articles summarizing these analytical methods. This review presents the various colorimetric detections, immunochemical assays, gas chromatographic–mass spectrometric methods, and liquid chromatographic–mass spectrometric methods proposed for the analysis of synthetic cannabinoids and cathinones.

Reports of Adverse Events Associated with Use of Novel Psychoactive Substances, 2013-2016: A Review.

Abstract: Novel psychoactive substances (NPS) represent significant analytical and interpretive challenges to forensic and clinical toxicologists. Timely access to case reports and reports of adverse incidents of impairment or toxicity is imperative to clinical diagnosis and treatment, as well as to interpretation of forensic results. Delays in identifying the presence of a novel intoxicating agent have significant consequences for public health and public safety. Adverse effects of intoxications with novel cannabinoids, stimulants, hallucinogens, benzodiazepines and opioids spanning January 2013 through December 2016 as reported in emergency departments, death investigations, impaired driving cases and other forensic contexts are the subject of this review. Discussion of the chemistry, pharmacology and adverse events associated with novel drug classes is summarized and described within. Adverse effects or symptoms associated with ingestion of more than 45 NPS have been abstracted and summarized in tables, including demographics, case history, clinical or behavioral symptoms, autopsy findings and drug confirmations with quantitative results when provided. Based on these findings and gaps in the available data, we provide recommendations for future toxicological testing of these evolving substances. These include development and management of a national monitoring program to provide real-time clinical and toxicological data, confirmed analytically, on emerging drugs and their known toxidromes and side effect profiles. Increased efforts should be made to analytically confirm the agents responsible for clinical intoxications involving adverse events in emergency department admissions or hospitalizations. Evidence-based community preparedness among analytical laboratories gained through active communication and sharing of toxicological findings and trends in NPS is imperative to assist in enabling early detection of new drugs in forensic and clinical populations.