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Article
Open AccessHuman metabolism of four synthetic benzimidazole opioids: isotonitazene, metonitazene, etodesnitazene, and metodesnitazene
Following isotonitazene scheduling in 2019, the availability of alternative 2-benzylbenzimidazole opioids (nitazenes) on the global drug market increased, resulting in many fatalities worldwide. Nitazenes are ...
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Article
Open AccessIntoxications involving methoxyacetylfentanyl and U-47700: a study of 3 polydrug fatalities
Novel synthetic opioids (NSOs) represent an emerging group of novel psychoactive substances, acting as agonists at the opioid receptors. NSOs include fentanyl-related compounds, e.g. methoxyacetylfentanyl (MeA...
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Article
Open AccessDeath after smoking of fentanyl, 5F-ADB, 5F-MDMB-P7AICA and other synthetic cannabinoids with a bucket bong
We report a case of a polydrug user who consumed various synthetic cannabinoids and fentanyl from a transdermal patch via a bucket bong. Toxicological results from postmortem matrices with special focus on syn...
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Article
Open AccessIn vitro studies on the dependence of drug deposition in dentin on drug concentration, contact time, and the physicochemical properties of the drugs
The chemical analysis of dental hard tissues can provide information on previous drug use due to the deposition of drugs into this tissue. For the interpretation of analytical results in, e.g., postmortem toxi...
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Article
Open Access“Spice”-related deaths in and around Munich, Germany: A retrospective look at the role of synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists in our post-mortem cases over a seven-year period (2014–2020)
Synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists (SCRAs, “Spice”) are a diverse group of recreational drugs, with their structural and pharmacological variability still evolving. Forensic toxicologists often rely on p...
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Article
Assessment of Benzodiazepine (BZD) Use Among Nursing Home Residents by Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry, Nursing Questionnaires, and Examining Additional Mental Health Problems of BZD Users
This study aimed at evaluating the extent of benzodiazepine (BZD) consumption among nursing home residents and examining additional mental health problems. Urine samples were collected in nursing homes in a bo...
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Article
Open AccessA case of fatal multidrug intoxication involving flualprazolam: distribution in body fluids and solid tissues
Designer benzodiazepines (DBZDs) increasingly emerged on the novel psychoactive substance (NPS) market in the last few years. They are usually sold as readily available alternatives to prescription benzodiazep...
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Article
Open AccessFour cases of death involving the novel synthetic cannabinoid 5F-Cumyl-PEGACLONE
Cumyl-PEGACLONE was the first synthetic cannabinoid (SC) with a γ-carbolinone core structure detected in forensic casework and, since then, it has dominated the German SC-market. Here the first four cases of d...
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Article
Metabolism of the benzodiazepines norflurazepam, flurazepam, fludiazepam and cinolazepam by human hepatocytes using high-resolution mass spectrometry and distinguishing their intake in authentic urine samples
Norflurazepam, also a metabolite of other prescription benzodiazepines, appeared on the new psychoactive substances (NPS) drug market recently, complicating the interpretation of NPS findings. The aims of the ...
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Article
Phase I metabolic profiling of the synthetic cannabinoids THJ-018 and THJ-2201 in human urine in comparison to human liver microsome and cytochrome P450 isoenzyme incubation
Despite the increasing relevance of synthetic cannabinoids as one of the most important classes within “New Psychoactive Substances”, there is still a lack of knowledge concerning their metabolism in humans. D...
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Article
Structure-metabolism relationships of valine and tert-leucine-derived synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists: a systematic comparison of the in vitro phase I metabolism using pooled human liver microsomes and high-resolution mass spectrometry
Synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists, commonly referred to as ‘synthetic cannabinoids’ (SCs), gained popularity as recreational drugs due to their cannabis-like effects. The subclass of valine or tert-leucine-...
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Article
Open Access5F-Cumyl-PINACA in ‘e-liquids’ for electronic cigarettes: comprehensive characterization of a new type of synthetic cannabinoid in a trendy product including investigations on the in vitro and in vivo phase I metabolism of 5F-Cumyl-PINACA and its non-fluorinated analog Cumyl-PINACA
In recent years e-liquids used in electronic cigarettes have become an attractive alternative to smoking tobacco. A new trend is the use of e-liquids containing synthetic cannabinoids (SCs) instead of smoking ...
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Article
Open AccessHuman phase I metabolism of the novel synthetic cannabinoid 5F-CUMYL-PEGACLONE
5F-CUMYL-PEGACLONE is a recently emerged γ-carbolinone derived synthetic cannabinoid. The present study aimed to identify phase I metabolites to reliably prove consumption of the substance by urine analysis and t...
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Chapter
Designer Benzodiazepines: Another Class of New Psychoactive Substances
Benzodiazepines have been introduced as medical drugs in the 1960s. They replaced the more toxic barbiturates, which were commonly used for treatment of anxiety or sleep disorders at the time. However, benzodi...
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Chapter
Pharmakologie und Toxikologie synthetischer Cannabinoidrezeptor-Agonisten
Synthetische Cannabinoidrezeptor-Agonisten, von denen in den vergangenen Jahrzehnten sehr viele in Forschungseinrichtungen synthetisiert und basispharmakologisch untersucht wurden, verursachen ähnliche Effekte...
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Article
Open AccessGenotoxic properties of XLR-11, a widely consumed synthetic cannabinoid, and of the benzoyl indole RCS-4
Aim of this study was the investigation of the genotoxic properties of XLR-11 [1-(5-fluoropentyl)-1H-indol-3-yl](2,2,3,3-tetramethylcyclopropyl)methanone, a widely consumed synthetic cannabinoid (SC), and of the...
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Article
Impact of a synthetic cannabinoid (CP-47,497-C8) on protein expression in human cells: evidence for induction of inflammation and DNA damage
Synthetic cannabinoids (SCs) are marketed worldwide as legal surrogates for marihuana. In order to predict potential health effects in consumers and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of action, we investi...
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Article
Metabolites of synthetic cannabinoids in hair—proof of consumption or false friends for interpretation?
The detection of drug metabolites in hair is widely accepted as a proof for systemic uptake of the drug, unless the metabolites can be formed as artefacts. However, regarding synthetic cannabinoids, not much i...
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Article
Detection of the ethanol consumption markers ethyl glucuronide and ethyl sulfate in urine samples from inmates of two German prisons
Abstinence from ethanol is necessary in various situations. Among these are jail terms. Nevertheless, it is a matter of fact that ethanol is illegally produced and ingested in prisons. So far, data regarding d...
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Living Reference Work Entry In depth
Pharmakologie und Toxikologie synthetischer Cannabinoidrezeptor-Agonisten
Synthetische Cannabinoidrezeptor-Agonisten, von denen in den vergangenen Jahrzehnten sehr viele in Forschungseinrichtungen synthetisiert und basispharmakologisch untersucht wurden, verursachen ähnliche Effekte...
