Response of forensic scientific community to Covid-19 pandemic: A Review Article

The purpose of this review was to show the impact of Covid-19 pandemic on forensic sciences, as reflected in the publications, which appeared in 2020. The review covered following topics: Response of legal medical experts on the increased daily workload in forensic practice and enhanced risk issues arising in forensic practice, particularly regarding autopsy, drugs used in Covid-19 therapy and their toxicological significance, and influence of Covid-19 pandemic on the profile and extent of substance abuse.

The development of the conditions for vortioxetine isolation from biological fluids

The chemical-toxicological significance of antidepressant drugs is steadily increasing. The development of effective methods of the sample preparation of the biological material is an important analytical aspect in toxicology of the newgeneration antidepressants. Aim. To develop the conditions for the sample preparation of biological fluids in order use them in the chemicaltoxicological analysis of the new antidepressant vortioxetine. Materials and methods. The studies were performed with model blood and urine samples spiked with vortioxetine. When examining the blood the formed blood elements were pre-precipitated by adding 10 % solution of trichloroacetic acid. The extraction purification was performed with hexane at pH 1-2, and the drug was extracted from the biologicalfluids with methylene chloride at pH 8-9. The extracts obtained were further subjected to TLC purification. Vortioxetine in eluates from chromatograms was determined by the UV-spectrophotometric method. Results and discussion. The Rf value of vortioxetine in the mobile phase of ethyl acetate-methanol-25 % ammonium hydroxide solution (85 : 10 : 5) was 0.77 ± 0.05. The UV spectra of the eluates from the chromatograms had absorption maxima at the wavelengths of 229 ± 2 and 232 ± 2 nm and matched with the UV spectrum of the standard solution of vortioxetine in methanol. The quantitative determination was performed at λmax232 nm by the equation of the calibration curve y = (0.0172 ± 3 · 10-4)x + (0.027 ± 0.008). Under the conditions of the sample preparation developed 27 ± 1 % of vortioxetine from the blood and 62 ± 2 % of the drug from the urine were isolated. Conclusions. The efficiency of the sample preparation of biological fluids by the method of liquid-liquid extraction in relation to the new antidepressant vortioxetine has been determined. The methods developed are recommended for use in forensic and clinical toxicology.

Four cases of death involving the novel synthetic cannabinoid 5F-Cumyl-PEGACLONE

Purpose 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 death involving its fluorinated analog, 5F-Cumyl-PEGACLONE, a recently emerged γ-carbolinone derived SC, are reported. Methods Complete postmortem examinations were performed. Postmortem samples were screened by immunoassay, gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC–MS) or liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. For quantification of SCs, the standard addition method was employed. Herbal blends were analyzed by GC–MS. In each case of death, the Toxicological Significance Score (TSS) was assigned to the compound. Results 5F-Cumyl-PEGACLONE was identified at concentrations ranging 0.09–0.45 ng/mL in postmortem femoral blood. In case 1, signs of hypothermia and kidney bleedings were noted. Despite a possible tolerance due to long term SC use, a TSS of 3 was assigned. In case 2, an acute heroin intoxication occurred and a contributory role (TSS = 1) of 5F-Cumyl-PEGACLONE was suggested. In case 3, a prisoner was found dead. GC–MS analysis of herbal blends, retrieved in his cell together with paraphernalia, confirmed the presence of 5F-Cumyl-PEGACLONE and a causative role was deemed probable (TSS = 2). In case 4, the aspiration of gastric content due to a SC-induced coma was observed (TSS = 3). Conclusions 5F-Cumyl-PEGACLONE is an emerging and extremely potent SC which raises serious public health concerns. A comprehensive analysis of circumstantial, clinical, and postmortem findings, as well as an in-depth toxicological analysis is necessary for a valid interpretation and for the assessment of the toxicological significance.