The GHB concentration in majority of the blood samples (95%) was ≤ 50 mg/L, while in 81% it ranged from 10-50 mg/L. In 95% of the urine samples, the GHB concentration ranged from 10-20 mg/L while 82% of the samples had a concentration of < 10 mg/L. In cases where GHB intoxication was identified, GHB concentrations ranged from 264 to >500 mg/L. The proposed published GHB concentration of 50 mg/L...

Raves are all-night dance parties attended by large numbers of youth, sometimes in excess of 20,000. The rave scene, which is international in scope, is distinguished by clandestine venues, hypnotic electronic music and the liberal use of drugs such as ecstasy (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine), GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyrate) and ketamine. Several rave-related deaths in Canada in 1999 alerted hea...

BACKGROUND The Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT) and the United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS) demonstrated conclusively that risks for complications in patients with diabetes are directly related to glycemic control, as measured by glycohemoglobin (GHB). In 1994, one year after the DCCT results were reported, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) set specific diabet...

INTRODUCTION The accumulation of visceral fat affects the metabolism of hormones and some nutrients, but these mechanisms remain unclear. OBJECTIVE To assess the influence of cortisol on the metabolism of zinc in morbidly obese women. METHOD Cross-sectional, case-control study involving 80 women aged between 20 and 59 years. The participants were divided into two groups: experimental (morbi...

Gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB) has been used by body-builders to enhance performance and by young adults in rave parties. Warnings have been posted about its addictive potential. The use of these dietary compounds is currently banned by the Food and Drug Administration, but they are widely available through the Internet and in certain communities. The purpose of the study was to examine the use of...

Seit dem 01.03.2002 unterliegt γ-Hydroxybuttersäure dem Betäubungsmittelgesetz [1]. Somit ergibt sich die Notwendigkeit, den in den §§ 29 und 30 BtMG enthaltenen Begriff der Nicht Geringen Menge in Übereinstimmung mit den bisher durch den Bundesgerichtshof festgelegten Grenzwerten auch für diese Substanz zu definieren. Im Folgenden sollen Pharmakologie, Toxikologie, Wirkungen, Nebenwirkungen un...

The immunogenicity of three currently used hepatitis B vaccines was compared in an unselected study population in an every day travel clinical setting. Five hundred and eighteen vaccinees received Engerix-B (EB), 990 received Twinrix (TWX), and 366 were immunised with Gen-HB-Vax (GHB). Overall, 88.6% of the vaccinees, tested within the first 6 months after completion of the vaccination series, ...

The term “organic acidemia” or “organic aciduria” (OA) applies to inborn errors of metabolism (IEM) in which organic acids accumulate in tissues and biological fluids. Classical organic acidurias include methylmalonic aciduria (MMA), propionic aciduria (PA), isovaleric aciduria (IVA) and maple syrup urine disease (MSUD). Aminoacidurias like phenylketonuria are common in the western population. ...

The R- and S-enantiomers of 4-amino-3-hydroxybutanoic acid (GABOB) were full agonists at human recombinant rho1 GABA(C) receptors. Their enantioselectivity (R>S) matched that reported for their agonist actions at GABA(B) receptors, but was the opposite to that reported at GABA(A) receptors (S>R). The corresponding methylphosphinic acid analogues proved to be rho1 GABA(C) receptor antagonists wi...

In cases where pharmaceuticals and pharmaceutical candidates are involved in drug facilitated crimes (DFC), like organ theft, robbery, rape and suicides, the analysis of drug powders or solution residues found in crime scenes may give idea on what the victims have ingested. An easy and fast simultaneous determination of 7 drugs; GHB (γ-hydroxybutyrate), GBL (γ-butyrolactone), norketamine, ketam...