• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• 제21권3호
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• pp.286-290
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• 1998

The abuse of zipeprol, an antitussive agent, was found to be most prevalent among young people in Korea. Because abusers take large doses of this drug for its hallucinogenic effects, fatalities from zipeprol overdose abuse have been on the rise since 1991. Since 1991, a total of 69 zipeprol-related deaths have occurred throughout the nation. A demographic study shows that in ninety six percent of cases involving zipeprol alone, the victims were in their teens and twenties. The mate/female ratio in zipeprol related death was 3.5:1. Most of these zipeprol-associated deaths occurred in the larger cities of Seoul and Inchon. The blood concentration of zipeprol ranged from 0.8 to $38.3{\mu}g/mL $in single drug involved deaths, while zipeprol varied from to 35.3 $0.1{\mu}g/mL $in zipeprol and dextromethorphan victims.

• 대한약학회:학술대회논문집
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• 대한약학회 2003년도 Proceedings of the Convention of the Pharmaceutical Society of Korea Vol.2-2
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• pp.118.2-118.2
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• 2003

Propofol(2, 6-diisopropylphenol) is rapid, short-acting intravenous anaesthetic agent. It is used for the induction and maintenance of general anaesthesia or sedation. The recommended doses are 2-2.5mg/kg given as a titration infusion over about 30min to achieve anaesthesia. Recently, we encountered 4 fatalities related to propofol. One death is a suicide by self-administered of propofol and the others are therapeutic misadventures during surgical care. The propofol level in the blood and tissues were determined by gas chromatographic analysis with mass spectral detection. (omitted)

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• 제20권4호통권51호
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• pp.297-302
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to provide the standard method for the analysis of organophosphorous pesticides such as chlorpyrifos, diazinon, malathion and parathion in blood. We performed method validation for these pesticides in blood according to EURACHEM (A focus For Analytical Chemistry in Europe) guide. For the analysis of the pesticides, we used solid-phase extraction ,column (Waters Oasis $HLB^{(R)}$. After the extraction, the supernatants were evaporated to dryness under the nitrogen stream. They were analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) after reconstituting with ethanol. Terbufos was used as an internal standard. To validate this method, we performed verification procedures with the following parameters: selectivity, linearity of calibration, accuracy, precision, limit of detection and quantification. Validation data according to Eurachem guide were adequate for our purpose for the analysis of chlorpyrifos, diazinon, malathion and parathion in blood.

• 약학회지
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• 제41권3호
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• pp.277-282
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• 1997

Methamphetamine, which is the most commonly abused drug in Korea, exists in terms of d-, l- isomers and a racemate(dl). d-Methamphetamine is a potent central nervous system stimulant, whereas l-Methamphetamine is sold freely as a nasal decongestant. In addition, methamphetamine appears in different ratios of optical isomers by the clandestine synthesis applied. In this study, enetiomeric separation of methamphetamines was estabilished to distinguish the chirality of methamphetamines trafficked and abused in Korea. A gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer(GC/MS) system equipped with an achiral capillary column is used to isolate the isomers of methamphetamine after (S)-N-(trifluoroacetyl)-l-prolyl(TFP) deravatization.After analyzing 10 illicit methamphetamine powders and 10 positive urine samples, following findings were found: d-Methamphetamine was well resolved from l-Methamphetamine by chromatographic separation of TFP derivatibes on DB-5 with retention time of 11.80 and 11.35 min respectively. The detection of d-Methamphetamine in all 10 powders and 10 urine samples proves that all methamphetamines abused in Korea are illegally manyfactured and administred.

• 약학회지
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• 제54권5호
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• pp.341-347
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• 2010

The majority of forensic autopsies in Korea are performed by the National Institute of Scientific Investigation (NISI), and the NISI has carried out about 4,000 cases annually. Total 4,578 autopsies were performed by NISI in 2009, among them 2,918 cases (64%) were carried out at main office of NISI in Seoul, which is in charge of Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi province. In this study we investigated pattern of drugs & poisons in autopsy cases for recent three years in Korea. Postmortem specimens (bloods, gastric contents, etc) from autopsy cases by main office of NISI during 2007~2009 were screened for drugs & poisons. Using laboratory information management system of NISI (iLIMS), the kinds of drugs & poisons and the frequency were investigated. As the results, 1,705 cases were negative to drugs & poisons, it occupied 58% of total 2,918 autopsy cases in 2009. During three years (2007~2009), the kinds of drugs & poisons detected in specimens were 206, 185 and 203, respectively, and top three drugs were atropine (anticholinergic), chlorpheniramine (antihistamine) and lidocaine (local anaesthetic/anti-arrythmic). These drugs were supposed to be used not so much for suicidal or homicidal purpose as for therapeutic purpose in hospital. Meanwhile cyanide showed the highest frequency of poisons during 2007~2009, and the frequency was 32 cases in 2009. In case of pesticides, poisoning by paraquat (herbicide, 17 cases) showed the highest frequency, and methomyl (insecticide, 9 cases) and glyphosate (herbicide, 7 cases) were followed. Finally we selected 62 drugs as target drugs for systematic toxicological analysis (STA) for Korea. Poisons such as pesticides, natural toxins, volatile compounds should be included for STA in further study.

• 대한수사과학회지
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• 제1권1호
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• pp.72-87
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• 2006

Accidents and terrorist acts that utilize explosives have a great influence on society and thus require a prompt investigation for the arrest of the culprit. However, such investigations are often met with difficulties due to the vastness of the crime scene, restrictions on approaching the scene, fragility of the evidence, complexity of investigation, and the lack of expertise. In spite of such facts, scientific investigation regarding explosives have not been widely studied in Korea. Therefore, the focus of this research primarily concerns the effective scientific investigation methods in cases of accidents that involve chemical explosives. Although the a systematic investigation method is at the heart of scientific investigation in cases of explosive accidents, it is only at its rudimentary stage. Therefore, in this research, a systematic investigation method is put forth for the 'scene investigation, the documentation of the scene, and the collection and processing of evidence. Further, I have set forth a 'scene investigation check list' the ensure a thorough scene investigation and to promote an exhaustive evidence collection that would guarantee the admissibility of such evidence in court. The above efforts were aimed at simplifying the currently complicated investigation system. 1) In the future, a guidebook that can be generally applied to accidents involving explosives in Korea ught to be produced, a continual systematic education and integrated training excises for investigators ought to be established, laws that require additives in explosives ought to be instituted so that the type, components, and source of explosives can be identified, and lastly, a database that contain information on former explosion accidents, trends, and techniques of criminal activities that involve explosion accidents should be compiled.

• 대한임상독성학회지
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• 제1권1호
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• pp.34-39
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• 2003

Carisoprodol (CSP) is commonly prescribed as a skeletal muscle relaxant. Recently, we encountered 7 suicidal cases in which carisoprodol was detected. We developed a rugged, sensitive, and specific method for the determination of CSP and meprobamate (MPB) by GC and GC/MS. Postmortem blood concentrations of CSP and MPB ranged 22.9-124.4 ,$\mu$g/ml and its metabolite, 26.8-144.5 ,$\mu$g/ml respectively. Among 7 cases studied, Only CSP was ingested in 4 cases and combination of CSP and dextromethorphan was ingested in 2 cases according to the case history and one case was with ethanol. The order of the tissue concentration of CSP and MPB was liver> kidney > brain, and the concentration of MPB was higher than that of CSP in all tissues. The MPB /CSP concentration ratios of urine, bile juice, liver, kidney, brain and blood were 15.7, 4.0, 1.2, 1.4, 1.4 and 1.0 respectively. There was a big difference in concentration of CSP and MPB in 7 cases due to differences in the amount of dose administered and time to death after dosing.

• 대한약학회:학술대회논문집
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• 대한약학회 2003년도 Proceedings of the Convention of the Pharmaceutical Society of Korea Vol.1
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• pp.168.1-168.1
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• 2003

This report surveyed the trends of the fatalities related to the drug-toxicant (DT) and the drug abuse(DA), requested to analyze to the Central District Office of National Institute of Scientific Investigation for a year, 2002. The mortality related to DT in men was more common than that in the women. The most common age group of DT intoxication was 30's. (omitted)

• 대한약학회:학술대회논문집
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• 대한약학회 2002년도 Proceedings of the Convention of the Pharmaceutical Society of Korea Vol.2
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• pp.285-285
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• 2002

Diazepam (DZ) is one of the most frequently prescribed drugs as an antianxiety agent. muscle relaxant. and anticovulsant and sometimes causes intoxication due to accidental overdose, misuse or abuse. DZ is metabolized to nordiazepam (NDZ, desmethyldiazepam), oxazepam (OX) and temazepam (TM) which are also pharmacologically active, although OX and TM do not accumulate in blood or plasma to an appreciable extent. (omitted)

• 대한약학회:학술대회논문집
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• 대한약학회 2003년도 Proceedings of the Convention of the Pharmaceutical Society of Korea Vol.1
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• pp.163.1-163.1
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• 2003

Arsenic is a ubiquitous element that ranks 20th in abundance in the earth's crust, 14th in the sea water, and is a component of several hundred minerals. Arsenic and its compounds are mobile in the environment. Groundwater contamination by arsenic is a serious threat to mankind all over the world and it can also enter food chain. Humans are exposed to this toxic arsenic from air, food and water. (omitted)