•Use of Google Trends to complement early warning systems for NPS.•NPS usually appear on Google Trends before their first reported date to the UNODC.•Google Trends data are a valid source to monitor ...substance presence on the market.•Trends over time could direct the focus towards a limited number of substances.
The past decade has seen an increase in the development and availability of a broad category of drugs, known as new psychoactive substances (NPS). NPS are challenging for public health authorities, therefore the two major drug monitoring bodies – the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) – have implemented the EU Early Warning System (EWS) and Early Warning Advisory (EWA), respectively. While these monitoring systems are informative, it is difficult to keep up with the constant and rapid developmental rate of NPS. The EMCDDA has recognised the need for an alternative and technologically derived early warning system. The aim of this research is to determine whether Google Trends and drug discussion forum data can be used to complement early warning systems for NPS.
Forty-eight substances were used in this study and classed into groups based on their chemical structure, following the UNODC classification system. Google Trends data (time range: 2004–2019) and drug forum data (time range: 2003–2018) were extracted for each substance and visual trend profiles were created for class groups as well as individual substances. Analysis was conducted to determine when a substance first appeared on Google Trends and a drug discussion forum as well as their trends over time. This date of first appearance was then compared to the date the substance was first reported to UNODC.
Of the three data sources utilised, substances were most likely to appear on Google Trends first. Amongst the different classes of NPS, discernible trends (‘block’, ‘successive’, and ‘generational’ trends) were observed. These trends reflect the evolution of the manufacture of substances or generations of substances that has been observed in the literature. For example, in the synthetic cannabinoids’ category, a generational trend is observed that corresponds to the different generations of synthetic cannabinoids. When comparing Google Trends and Drugs-Forum directly, the order of appearance and duration of presence for substances aligns accurately for most classes.
Google Trends showed the emergence, persistence, or transient nature of substances, which could direct the focus of law enforcement, health organisation and laboratory resources towards a limited number of substances. When one considers the reliance of individual information seeking on the Web as well as the prominence of NPS on the Web, it becomes clear that Google Trends and drug discussion forums could be used as a complement to current early warning systems.
The aim of the present study is to probe the potential association between previously-reported GARP2 mutations and retinitis pigmentosa (RP) using Scottish RP patients and controls.
Exons 4, 5 and 8 ...in DNA from blood or buccal samples (130 autosomal recessive and simplex RP patients, 31 controls) were amplified and analysed for single-strand conformational polymorphism by capillary electrophoresis (CE-SSCP) and confirmed by sequencing.
The p.Arg86Gln mutation in exon 4 was found in just one patient (out of 130), and in 10 of the 31 unaffected subjects. All of these occurrences were in people of West African origin (patient and controls). Two polymorphisms in exon 5, p.His100Arg and p.Gly109Gly, and a c.534+20A>G change in the intronic region flanking the 3′ end of exon 8 were also found not to be associated with RP.
The Scottish population examined here had no mutations in the GARP2 exons surveyed that could be associated with RP. The p.Arg86Gln mutation actually appears to be a polymorphism common in ethnic West Africans and not associated with RP. This change may provide a useful marker for West African ancestry.
This paper describes the reversed-phase liquid chromatographic behaviour of the trypanocidal quaternary ammonium salt isometamidium chloride and its related compounds on a range of liquid ...chromatographic phases possessing alkyl and phenyl ligands on the same inert silica. In a parallel study with various extended polar selectivity phases which possessed different hydrophobic/silanophilic (hydrogen bonding) activity ratios, the chromatographic retention/selectivities of the quaternary ammonium salts was shown to be due to a co-operative mechanism between hydrophobic and silanophilic interactions. The highly aromatic and planar isometamidium compounds were found to be substantially retained on stationary phases containing aromatic functionality via strong π–π interactions. The chemometric approach of principal component analysis was used to characterise the chromatographic behaviour of the isometamidium compounds on the differing phases and to help identify the dominant retention mechanism(s). Two-dimensional (temperature/gradient) retention modelling was employed to develop and optimise a rapid liquid chromatography method for the separation of the six quaternary ammonium salts within 2.5 min which would be suitable for bioanalysis using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry. This is the first reported systematic study of the relationship between stationary phase chemistries and retention/selectivity for a group of quaternary ammonium salts.
Fig. 1
Structure of isometamidium and related quaternary ammonium salts and their LC separation on a diverse range of RP columns.
The continual increase in drug resistance; the lack of new chemotherapeutic agents; the toxicity of existing agents and the increasing morbidity with HIV co-infection mean the search for new ...antileishmanial agents has never been more urgent. We have identified the benzodiazepines as a structural class for antileishmanial hit optimisation, and demonstrated that their in vitro activity is comparable with the clinically used drug, sodium stibogluconate, and that the compounds are not toxic to macrophages.
Abstract The nature of the global drugs market has evolved rapidly and become more complex with the emergence of new psychoactive substances (NPS), some of which have been associated with increased ...abuse, hospital emergency admissions and sometimes fatalities. NPS are characterised by geographic heterogeneity, with some only transient in nature and others not satisfying the criteria for harm required for international control. Consequently, a pragmatic response of the international community is to prioritise the most harmful, persistent and prevalent substances for action − an objective, which is hampered by the paucity of data on harms. The report describes an United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime initiative, in collaboration with the International Association of Forensic Toxicologists (TIAFT), to collect, analyse and share toxicology data at a global level to reinforce the ability of the international community in making informed decisions using a scientific evidence-based approach, in identifying the most harmful NPS.
The analysis of substances of abuse remains one of the most matured areas in forensic science with a strong scientific basis, namely analytical chemistry. The current evolving drug markets, ...characterized by the global emergence of new psychoactive substances (NPS) and the need for forensic scientists to identify an unprecedented and ever-increasing number of NPS, presents a unique challenge to this discipline. This article looks at the current situation with NPS at the global level, and the challenges posed to the otherwise technically robust forensic science discipline of analysis of substances of abuse. It discusses the preparedness of forensic science to deal with the current situation and identifies the need for a shift in forensic science practice, especially one which embraces research and looks beyond normal casework in order to provide the much needed data for developing effective policy responses to the NPS problem.
Abstract Metal-on-metal resurfacing arthroplasty is associated with elevated circulating levels of cobalt and chromium ions. To establish the long-term safety of metal-on-metal resurfacing ...arthroplasty, it has been recommended that during clinical follow-up of these patients, the levels of these metal ions in blood be monitored. In this article, we provide information on the distribution of chromium VI ions (the predominant form of chromium released by cobalt-chrome alloys in vivo and in vitro) in blood fractions. Chromium VI is predominantly partitioned into red blood cells compared with plasma (analysis of variance, P < .05). The extent of accumulation in red blood cells is influenced by the anticoagulant used to collect the blood, with EDTA giving a lower partitioning into red cells compared with sodium citrate and sodium heparin.
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