Abstract
Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) is a central nervous system depressant endogenously produced and also employed as a recreational drug of abuse since the 90s, attracting notable attention particularly in those cases of drug facilitated sexual assault (DFSA). The implication of GHB among DFSA cases generates numerous concerns, making the interpretation of the toxicological findings often significantly difficult. In this review the Authors have explored GHB behaviour in ante-mortem and post-mortem specimens, taking into consideration its endogenous production, the post mortem interval, the time between sampling and analysis, the storage conditions (temperature and presence/absence of preservatives) and the usefulness of alternative matrices such as hair, bile and vitreous humour. Moreover, the cut-off values currently recommended in forensic toxicology in order to discriminate between endogenous and exogenous levels have been examined.
Keywords: Gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB), cut-off values, endogenous and post-mortem behaviour, post-mortem interval (PMI), storage conditions.
Recent Patents on Biotechnology
Title:GHB in Biological Specimens: Which Cut-off Levels Should be Taken into Consideration in Forensic Toxicological Investigation?
Volume: 8 Issue: 3
Author(s): Francesco Paolo Busardo and Chrystalla Kyriakou
Affiliation:
Keywords: Gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB), cut-off values, endogenous and post-mortem behaviour, post-mortem interval (PMI), storage conditions.
Abstract: Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) is a central nervous system depressant endogenously produced and also employed as a recreational drug of abuse since the 90s, attracting notable attention particularly in those cases of drug facilitated sexual assault (DFSA). The implication of GHB among DFSA cases generates numerous concerns, making the interpretation of the toxicological findings often significantly difficult. In this review the Authors have explored GHB behaviour in ante-mortem and post-mortem specimens, taking into consideration its endogenous production, the post mortem interval, the time between sampling and analysis, the storage conditions (temperature and presence/absence of preservatives) and the usefulness of alternative matrices such as hair, bile and vitreous humour. Moreover, the cut-off values currently recommended in forensic toxicology in order to discriminate between endogenous and exogenous levels have been examined.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Paolo Busardo Francesco and Kyriakou Chrystalla, GHB in Biological Specimens: Which Cut-off Levels Should be Taken into Consideration in Forensic Toxicological Investigation?, Recent Patents on Biotechnology 2014; 8 (3) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1872208309666150504143155
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1872208309666150504143155 |
Print ISSN 1872-2083 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 2212-4012 |
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
Related Articles
-
Meet Our Editorial Board Member
Current Medicinal Chemistry Recent Gains in Clinical Multiple Sclerosis Research
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets Why Antidiabetic Vanadium Complexes are Not in the Pipeline of “Big Pharma” Drug Research? A Critical Review
Current Medicinal Chemistry Levetiracetam might act as an efficacious drug to attenuate cognitive deficits of Alzheimer’s disease
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Different Types of Cell Death in Organismal Aging and Longevity: State of the Art and Possible Systems Biology Approach
Current Pharmaceutical Design Rediscovery of Caffeine: An Excellent Drug for Improving Patient Outcomes while Fighting WARS
Current Medicinal Chemistry Group I Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors: Involvement in Drug-Seeking and Drug-Induced Plasticity
Current Molecular Pharmacology Intravenous Immunoglobulins for Alzheimer's Disease
Current Alzheimer Research Genetics and Personalized Medicine in Antidepressant Treatment
Current Pharmaceutical Design Type 2 Diabetes and Heart Failure: Challenges and Solutions
Current Cardiology Reviews Diagnostic Issues in Early-Onset Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and their Treatment Implications
Current Neuropharmacology Editorial (Thematic Issue: Current Status and Progress of Radiopharmaceuticals for Molecular Imaging and Targeted Therapy)
Current Medicinal Chemistry Functional Food with Some Health Benefits, So Called Superfood: A Review
Current Nutrition & Food Science Taking Advantage of Plant Defense Mechanisms to Promote Human Health. The Plant Immune System. First of Two Parts
Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Disorders - Drug Targets Pathophysiology of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews subject Index To Volume 1
Current Medicinal Chemistry Psychosocial Predictors of Relapse Among Patients with Alcohol Problems
Current Drug Abuse Reviews NR2B Selective NMDA Receptor Antagonists
Current Pharmaceutical Design MicroRNA Polymorphisms, MicroRNA Pharmacogenomics and Cancer Susceptibility
Current Pharmacogenomics and Personalized Medicine The Neuroendocrine System as a Model to Evaluate Experimental Gene Therapy
Current Gene Therapy