New Insights into Forensic Toxicology

A special issue of Toxics (ISSN 2305-6304). This special issue belongs to the section "Novel Methods in Toxicology Research".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 November 2023) | Viewed by 7888

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
1. Laboratory of Forensic Toxicology, Department of Forensic Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland
2. Institute of Toxicology Research, Borowa, Poland
Interests: forensic toxicology; clinical toxicology; forensic medicine; gas chromatography; liquid chromatography; new psychoactive substances; markers of necrochemical diagnostics; tanatochemistry; chemical weapon

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Co-Guest Editor
1. Laboratory of Forensic Toxicology, Department of Forensic Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland
2. Institute of Toxicology Research, Borowa, Poland
Interests: forensic toxicology; clinical toxicology; forensic medicine; gas chromatography; liquid chromatography; new psychoactive substances; markers of necrochemical diagnostics; tanatochemistry; chemical weapon

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Forensic toxicology is a rapidly developing scientific field that covers clinical toxicology, forensic medicine and forensic analytics. With the development of the chemical and IT industries, new psychoactive substances appear on the black market every year, some of which pose a real threat to human life. In addition to new xenobiotics, compounds associated with the history of toxicology, such as cyanides, nitrates (III), arsenic and thallium compounds, are becoming increasingly common.

In response to these concerns, modern forensic toxicology must employ advanced analytical instrumentation, such as GC-MS, LC-MS, ICP-MS, as well as seeking new research methods. For this reason, methodological papers that allow the relatively simple and rapid determination of a wide range of different analytes in a diversified matrix are becoming extremely valuable. The determination of both chemical weapons and metabolites, as well as degradation products of compounds such as novichok, is also becoming a challenge for the modern world in the light of war.

This Special Issue seeks papers based on modern and advanced analytical methods, as well as more conventional techniques, for tackling intoxications with poisons that have existed for centuries.

The scope of this Special Issue is broad, encompassing forensic toxicology, including synthetic and natural poisons; development and application of novel analytical methods; interpretation of forensic toxicological data; new psychoactive substances and conventional illicit drugs; driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol; the latest advances in biomarker-related research; and markers of necrochemical diagnostics.

We will also consider papers covering other related topics of high scientific value. Original papers and review articles are encouraged.

Dr. Marcin Zawadzki
Dr. Paweł Szpot
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Toxics is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • forensic toxicology
  • LC-MS
  • GC-MS
  • ICP-MS
  • clinical toxicology
  • tanatochemistry
  • markers of poisoning
  • chemical weapon

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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11 pages, 3794 KiB  
Article
Determination of Prostaglandins (Carboprost, Cloprostenol, Dinoprost, Dinoprostone, Misoprostol, Sulprostone) by UHPLC-MS/MS in Toxicological Investigations
by Paweł Szpot, Olga Wachełko and Marcin Zawadzki
Toxics 2023, 11(10), 802; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics11100802 - 22 Sep 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1802
Abstract
Prostaglandins have stimulative influence on the human uterus and therefore were introduced to medical treatment in reproductive healthcare as labor inductors or abortifacients. The UHPLC-ESI-QqQ-MS/MS method was developed for six prostaglandins: carboprost, cloprostenol, dinoprost (PGF2α), dinoprostone (PGE2), misoprostol and sulprostone (substances for pregnancy [...] Read more.
Prostaglandins have stimulative influence on the human uterus and therefore were introduced to medical treatment in reproductive healthcare as labor inductors or abortifacients. The UHPLC-ESI-QqQ-MS/MS method was developed for six prostaglandins: carboprost, cloprostenol, dinoprost (PGF2α), dinoprostone (PGE2), misoprostol and sulprostone (substances for pregnancy termination) in pharmaceutical samples and was applied for the toxicological examination of pills containing misoprostol (collected during gynecological examination). There were used two internal standards: misoprostol-d5 and PGF2α-d4. The quantification of analytes was performed in the MRM mode. The linearity of method was in the range from 0.1 to 10 µg/mL, with a coefficient of determination above 0.997 (R2) for each compound. The precision and accuracy values did not exceed ±5.0%. Analysis of the pills revealed the presence of two substances: misoprostol and diclofenac. Misoprostol and diclofenac dose per sample were as follows: 608.8 ng (sample 1), 708.4 ng (sample 2), 618.8 ng (sample 3) and 67.7 mg (sample 1), 65.3 mg (sample 2) 67.3 mg (sample 3), respectively. A simple, precise and reliable method can be applied for routine examinations in terms of clinical and forensic toxicology examinations as well as in quality control of drugs for pharmaceutical purposes (original drugs and counterfeit medications). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights into Forensic Toxicology)
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19 pages, 3022 KiB  
Article
Pharmacokinetic Analysis of Ethanol in a Human Study: New Modification of Mathematic Model
by Paulo Zekan, Neven Ljubičić, Vladimir Blagaić, Ivan Dolanc, Antonija Jonjić, Miran Čoklo and Alenka Boban Blagaić
Toxics 2023, 11(9), 793; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics11090793 - 20 Sep 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2154
Abstract
In the pharmacokinetic analysis of ethanol after oral administration, only single- or two-compartment models are used, but their precision in estimating pharmacokinetic parameters might be insufficient. In a recent study, pharmacokinetic analysis using a modified Norberg three-compartment model was performed after oral administration [...] Read more.
In the pharmacokinetic analysis of ethanol after oral administration, only single- or two-compartment models are used, but their precision in estimating pharmacokinetic parameters might be insufficient. In a recent study, pharmacokinetic analysis using a modified Norberg three-compartment model was performed after oral administration of differently sweetened alcoholic solutions and compared to pharmacokinetic analysis using the classic Widmark model. On three occasions, eight male volunteers consumed differently sweetened alcoholic solutions: non-sweetened, sweetened with sucrose, and sweetened with steviol glycoside. Blood ethanol concentration was determined from samples obtained at t = 15, 30, 60, 90, 120, 180 min after consumption. Pharmacokinetic analysis was performed model independently, using the classic Widmarks model and using the modified Norberg model. Results showed that estimated pharmacokinetic parameters depend on the type of model used. The classic Widmark model in particular overestimated the fraction of absorbed ethanol from the gastrointestinal system to systemic circulation. Furthermore, the type of sweetener also affected pharmacokinetic parameters, although the difference was not statistically significant. In conclusion, the novel pharmacokinetic model, while being more physiological, fits experimental data better and hence is more suitable for modelling real-life alcohol consumption. In addition, the effect of natural non-caloric sweetener steviol glycoside on ethanol pharmacokinetics, analysed for the first time in the current research, might be different when compared to the common-used sweetener sucrose. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights into Forensic Toxicology)
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Review

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21 pages, 5114 KiB  
Review
Nitrites: An Old Poison or a Current Hazard? Epidemiology of Intoxications Covering the Last 100 Years and Evaluation of Analytical Methods
by Kaja Tusiewicz, Patryk Kuropka, Elżbieta Workiewicz, Olga Wachełko, Paweł Szpot and Marcin Zawadzki
Toxics 2023, 11(10), 832; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics11100832 - 1 Oct 2023
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3394
Abstract
In recent times, there has been a concerning and noteworthy rise in the global use of sodium nitrite for suicidal purposes. This is facilitated either through the employment of specialized “suicide kits” or by acquiring sodium nitrite through alternative means. Additionally, another occurrence [...] Read more.
In recent times, there has been a concerning and noteworthy rise in the global use of sodium nitrite for suicidal purposes. This is facilitated either through the employment of specialized “suicide kits” or by acquiring sodium nitrite through alternative means. Additionally, another occurrence contributing to nitrite poisoning is the recreational utilization of nitrites in the form of volatile aliphatic esters of nitrous acid, commonly referred to as “poppers”. Based on current available papers and reports on the subject of nitrates, nitrites, and poppers intoxications, an epidemiological analysis and evaluation of analytical methods were performed. A total of 128 papers, documenting a collective count of 492 intoxication cases, were identified. Additionally, in order to complete the epidemiological profile of nitrite poisoning, the authors briefly examined six cases of nitrite intoxication that were under investigation in our laboratory. Furthermore, a review of nitrite poisoning cases over the past 100 years shows that the old poison is still in use and poses a substantial risk to society. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights into Forensic Toxicology)
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