Bifunctionalized Gold Nanoparticles for the Colorimetric Detection of the Drug γ-Hydroxybutyric Acid (GHB) in Beverages

The increase in the number of drug-facilitated sexual assault (DFSA) cases in recent years has become a major concern. Consequently, there is a need to develop methods for the real-time detection of these substances. We report herein a colorimetric chemosensor for the real-time in situ detection of the “date rape” drug GHB. The sensor is based on gold nanoparticles functionalized with both a 2-aminonaphthoxazole and phenanthroline derivative. Its ability to act as “naked-eye” colorimetric sensor for the detection of the drug in soft drinks and alcoholic beverages was studied. The detection process is based on the double recognition of both the hydroxyl and the carboxylate groups present in GHB, which triggers the aggregation of the AuNPs, with the resulting change in the color of the solution.

SİNEMADA İLAÇLA KOLAYLAŞTIRILMIŞ CİNSEL SALDIRI OLGULARINA BAKIŞ; SOĞUK BİR GAZOZ ALIR MIYDINIZ?

Internet Movie Database (İMDb), film, dizi ve internet içerikleri ile ilgili bilgiler barındıran ve kayıtlı kullanıcı sayısının 83 milyon kişi olduğu çevrimiçi bir veri tabanıdır. Hazır anahtar kelimeler, filmleri konularına göre kategorize ederek aranılan özellikte filmlere ulaşmayı kolaylaştırmak amacıyla kullanılmaktadır. Bu hazır anahtar kelimelerden biri ‘'Date rape drug’’yani randevu tecavüzü ilaçlarıdır ve korku, gerilim, dram, komedi gibi birçok türde filme konu olduğu görülmektedir. İlaçların, tecavüzün konu edildiği sinema filmlerinde kullanılması, bu ilaçların neler olduğu sorusunu ve hikaye örüntüsündeki görevlerini ortaya koyma ihtiyacını doğurmuştur. Bu amaçla İMDb veri tabanında ‘‘date rape durg’’ hazır anahtar kelimesi seçilerek elde edilen 52 film incelenmiştir. Bu 52 filmin türünde İMDb puanı en yüksek olan 4 tanesi çalışma içine dahil edilmiştir. Türk sineması özelinde ise İffet ve Kayıp Kızlar filmi analiz edilmiştir. Bu çalışmada cinsel saldırıyı kolaylaştıran ilaçların özellik ve etkileri derlenmiş olup, konu edildiği filmlerdeki cinsel şiddetin işleniş biçimleri, kadın figürü temsili ve rolü incelenmiştir.

Rapid Drop-Volume Electrochemical Detection of the “Date Rape” Drug Flunitrazepam in Spirits Using a Screen-Printed Sensor in a Dry-Reagent Format

Flunitrazepam is an extremely potent benzodiazepine sedative which is associated with “drug-facilitated sexual assault” when administered within an alcoholic drink. This work describes a simple electrochemical method for on-site rapid detection of flunitrazepam in untreated spirits (whiskey, vodka and gin) using a single-use screen-printed sensor (featuring graphite working and auxiliary electrodes and an Ag/AgCl reference electrode) in a dry reagent format. Analysis was performed by placing a drop of sample on the sensor, which was previously coated with dry KCl, and recording selected reduction/oxidation peaks of the target compound in a cyclic voltammetry scan. The limit of quantification of flunitrazepam was at the sub-mg L−1 range. The between-sensor % relative standard deviation of the analytically useful reduction peak in a solution containing 11.4 mg L−1 flunitrazepam was 9.8% (n = 5). Quantification was performed using calibration curves constructed from pooled samples spiked with flunitrazepam with relative errors <15%. The main advantages of the methodology are that it involves no sample pretreatment (such as deoxygenation, extraction or reagent(s) addition) and requires only drop-sized volumes of the sample, thus facilitating rapid on-site screening using portable equipment.

GHB receptors - a new trend in psychopharmacology?

Introduction: Gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) is commonly known as a recreation drug or the so-called “date rape drug”. It is also used in medicine to treat narcolepsy and alcohol addiction. GHB has an affinity for two types of receptors: GABAB and the relatively recently discovered GHB receptors. GHB receptors were first cloned in 2003 in mice and then in 2007 in humans. So far, evidence has been presented for their impact on dopaminergic transmission, which may imply that they play a role in the pathogenesis of diseases such as schizophrenia. At the same time, it has been demonstrated that benzamide antipsychotic drugs have an affinity for GHB receptors, which is why it is postulated that some of the effects of these drugs may result precisely from this affinity. Aim: The study presents the current state of knowledge about GHB receptors and their potential role in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia, and discusses drugs which show an affinity for this receptor. Material and method: The literature review was based on a search of articles indexed between 1965 and 2018 in Medline, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect and Research Gate databases. The following search terms were used: GHB receptor, GHB, sulpiride, and amisulpride. Result and discussion: 1. It is possible that GHB receptors are involved in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia, although more research is needed in this area. 2. Part of the effects of some benzamide antipsychotic drugs (such as amisulpride) may be due to their affinity for GHB receptors.