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Forensic Pharmacology > Exam Essay Prep > Flashcards

Exam Essay Prep Flashcards

1
Q

What are some examples of nerve agents?

A

Sarin (GB)
VX
And more

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2
Q

What is the enzyme that nerve agents inhibit?

A

Acetycholinesterase (AChE)

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3
Q

What do nerve agents target (location)?

A

Neuromuscular junction

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4
Q

What is acetylcholine?

A

A neurotransmitter

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5
Q

What does the enzyme acetylcholinesterase do?

A

Breaks down the neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh)

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6
Q

What happens when acetylcholinesterase is inhibited?

A

Acetylcholine accumulates at the neuromuscular junction which leads to excessive stimulation of the muscles

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7
Q

What does excessive stimulation of the muscles cause?

A

Muscle twitching, weakness, and paralysis

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8
Q

Other than the muscles, what else can nerve agents effect and what does it lead to?

A

CNS, leading to confusion, seizures, and loss of consciousness

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9
Q

What type of treatment is used for nerve agent poisoning?

A

Drugs that reactivate acetylcholinesterase
Drugs that block the effects of acetylcholine

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10
Q

What drugs reactivate acetycholinesterase?

A

Pralidoxime

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11
Q

What drugs block the effects of acetylcholine?

A

Atropine

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12
Q

What supportive care can be offered to manage symptoms?

A

Oxygen therapy (nebulisers), airway control (intubation) and cardiac monitoring

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13
Q

What 3 drugs are used as knock-out drugs in crimes?

A

Rohypnol, GHB, and ketamine

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14
Q

What is the analogue of the drug rohypnol?

A

Flunitrazepam

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15
Q

What type of drug is rohyphol?

A

A benzodiazepine - CNS depressant

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16
Q

What are the attributes of using “date rape” drugs?

A

Ketamine and rohypnol are bitter, GHB is salty - taste is masked
All are colourless and odourless when dissolved

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17
Q

How long is rohypnol detectable in blood and urine after ingestion?

A

72 hours

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18
Q

What receptor does GHB and rohypnol act on?

A

GABA

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19
Q

What does GHB and rohypnol do to the receptor?

A

They act on the neurotransmitter GABA, causing the inhibition of neuronal activity and a decrease in the release of excitatory neurotransmitters, such as dopamine. This causes the hypnotic and sedative effects

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20
Q

What are GHB, ketamine, and rohypnol often used as and why?

A

“Date rape” drugs because they cause sedation, amnesia, muscle relaxation, and can also lower the victim’s inhibitions and impair their judgement

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21
Q

What does GHB stand for?

A

Gamma-hydroxybutyrate

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22
Q

What type of drug is GHB?

A

CNS depressant

23
Q

How long is GHB detectable in blood and urine after ingestion

A

12 hours

24
Q

What is ketamine?

A

A general anaesthetic
A horse tranquilliser
A recreational drug

25
Q

What receptor does ketamine work on?

A

NMDA (antagonist)

26
Q

What does NMDA stand for?

A

N-methyl-D-aspartate

27
Q

What action does ketamine have on the receptor?

A

NMDA receptors are involved in pain perception and the regulation of neuronal excitability.

28
Q

What does blocking the NMDA receptor result in?

A

A dissociative state and pain relief

29
Q

How long is ketamine detectable in blood and urine after ingestion?

A

72 hours

30
Q

What are the forensic aspects of the 3 drugs used in “drug-facilitated crimes”?

A

Quick metabolism and short half-life - sample needs to be collected ASAP
Proper sample collection, storage, and testing is essential as there is usually not enough time for a second collection
In some cases, it is possible to detect traces of the drugs in the containers used to administer the drug to the victim

31
Q

What does ELISA stand for?

A

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

32
Q

What are the 4 types of ELISA techniques?

A

Sandwich
Competitive
Direct
Indirect

33
Q

What are the 3 steps in the ELISA technique?

A

1) Sample preparation
2) Immunoassay
3) Detection

34
Q

What is the 1st step of the ELISA technique?

A

The biological sample, such as blood or urine, is collected and prepared for analysis

35
Q

What is the 2nd step of the ELISA technique?

A

The sample is added to a plate that has been coated with an antibody specific to the target drug. If the drug is present in the sample, it will bind to the antibody

36
Q

What is the 3rd step of the ELISA technique?

A

A second, labelled antibody is added to the plate. This labelled antibody will bind to the drug-antibody complex. The amount of labelled antibody bound can be quantified

37
Q

What is the ELISA technique?

A

It is used to detect specific proteins or other molecules in a sample

38
Q

Why is the ELISA technique used in “drug-facilitated crimes”?

A

It detects the presence of drugs of abuse in biological fluids, such as blood, urine, or saliva

39
Q

What are 3 disadvantages of the ELISA technique?

A

Not a quantitative test, only confirms the presence of a drug (GC-MS to confirm)
Specific antibody must be available for each drug
Human error resulting in false negative/positive result

40
Q

What are 3 reasons why the ELISA technique is used?

A

ELISA is highly sensitive and specific
It can detect drugs at very low concentrations and can accurately distinguish between different drugs
It is relatively simple, cost-effective, and efficient for large-scale drug testing

41
Q

What is cardiac heart disease?

A

It is a general term that describes a range of conditions that affect the heart and blood vessels

42
Q

What are the cardiac heart diseases to discuss?

A

Myocardial infraction
Coronary artery disease
Cardiac arrhythmias
(And other valve disorders and cardiomyopathies)

43
Q

What causes cardiac heart diseases?

A

Genetics, lifestyle choices (smoking, diet, and exercise), and underlying health conditions

44
Q

Why does the forensic pathologist examine the heart?

A

It plays a vital role in determining the cause of sudden death

45
Q

Define sudden death

A

A death that occurs within 24 hours of the onset symptoms; it is often caused by cardiac heart disease

46
Q

What does the forensic pathologist look for when examining the heart?

A

Signs of disease such as:
Blockages or abnormalities in the coronary arteries or heart valves
Signs of injury such as:
Myocardial infraction

47
Q

How does a heart attack occur?

A

When a blockage in the coronary artery cuts of blood flow to a part of the heart
This can damage/kill the heart muscle cells - causing the heart to stop beating

48
Q

In examination, what 2 signs of a heart attack does the forensic pathologist look for?

A

Scarring or discolouration of the heart muscle
Blockages in the coronary arteries

49
Q

How do arrhythmias occur and what can they cause?

A

As a result of a heart disease or injury
Can cause the heart to stop beating

50
Q

In examination, what 2 signs of an arrhythmia does the forensic pathologist look for?

A

Abnormal electrical activity and structural abnormalities in the heart

51
Q

Other than the heart, what else does the forensic pathologist examine?

A

Other organs such as the lungs and brain

52
Q

Name 2 other causes of sudden death

A

Pulmonary embolism and stroke

53
Q

What else does the forensic pathologist examine to gain a comprehensive understanding of the cause of death?

A

The individual’s:
Medical history
Medication
Toxicology tests

Forensic Pharmacology (2 decks)

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