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Open Access 01-07-2015 | Short Communication

Postmortem distribution of MAB-CHMINACA in body fluids and solid tissues of a human cadaver

Authors: Koutaro Hasegawa, Amin Wurita, Kayoko Minakata, Kunio Gonmori, Hideki Nozawa, Itaru Yamagishi, Kanako Watanabe, Osamu Suzuki

Published in: Forensic Toxicology | Issue 2/2015

Abstract

During the latter part of 2014, we experienced an autopsy case in which 5-fluoro-ADB, one of the most dangerous synthetic cannabinoids, was identified and quantitated in solid tissues and in three herbal blend products [Forensic Toxicol (2015) 33:112–121]. At that time, although we suspected that there may be some drug(s) other than 5-fluoro-ADB in the herbal products, all trials to find it/them were unsuccessful. Subsequently, we carefully re-examined the presence of other synthetic cannabinoid(s) in the above herbal blend products using accurate mass spectrometry and found two new compounds, 5-fluoro-ADB-PINACA and MAB-CHMINACA (Forensic Toxicol. doi: 10.1007/s 11419-015-0264-y). In the present communication, we report the distribution of MAB-CHMINACA in body fluids and solid tissue specimens collected from the same deceased individual (kept frozen at −80 °C) as described above for demonstration of 5-fluoro-ADB. Unexpectedly, unchanged MAB-CHMINACA could be identified and quantitated in whole blood and in pericardial fluid specimens, but it was below the detection limit (0.1 ng/ml) in the urine specimen. A higher concentration of MAB-CHMINACA could be found in all of the nine solid tissues; the highest concentration of MAB-CHMINACA was found in the liver (156 ng/g), followed by the kidney, pancreas and so on. The compounds were detected in all nine solid tissues; their levels were generally higher than those in the whole blood and pericardial fluid. Contrary to expectations, the concentration of MAB-CHMINACA in the adipose tissue was relatively low. Our results show that the victim smoked one of the three herbal blend products containing both MAB-CHMINACA and 5-fluoro-ADB, resulting in the coexistence of both compounds. It should be concluded that 5-fluoro-ADB and MAB-CHMINACA synergically exerted their toxicities, leading to death after a short interval. The differences in the distribution of 5-fluoro-ADB and MAB-CHMINACA among the cadaver specimens were also discussed in view of the structures of both compounds. To our knowledge, this is the first report to demonstrate MAB-CHMINACA in biological/human specimens.

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Title: Postmortem distribution of MAB-CHMINACA in body fluids and solid tissues of a human cadaver
Authors: Koutaro Hasegawa
Amin Wurita
Kayoko Minakata
Kunio Gonmori
Hideki Nozawa
Itaru Yamagishi
Kanako Watanabe
Osamu Suzuki
Publication date: 01-07-2015
Publisher: Springer Japan
Published in: Forensic Toxicology / Issue 2/2015
Print ISSN: 1860-8965
Electronic ISSN: 1860-8973
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11419-015-0272-y

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Postmortem distribution of MAB-CHMINACA in body fluids and solid tissues of a human cadaver

Abstract

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