Evidence map›Paper›PMID 35893853›Full record

ArticleToxics2022

Detection of Morphine and Opioids in Fingernails: Immunohistochemical Analysis and Confirmation with Ultra-High-Performance Liquid Chromatography Coupled with High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry.

Roberto Scendoni, Emanuele Bury, Erika Buratti, Rino Froldi, Marta Cippitelli, Gianmario Mietti, Mariano Cingolani

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Toxics, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
9citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
1.9field-weighted citation impact, top 16% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

9 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 13 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Interpol review of forensic drug chemistry, 2022-2025.Forensic science international. Synergy · 2026
    Review
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. Exploring the Nexus of Climate Change and Substance Abuse: A Scoping Review.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2024
    Article
  7. Article
  8. Article
  9. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Roberto ScendoniForensic Medicine Laboratory, Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Macerata, 62100 Macerata, Italy.
Emanuele BuryForensic Medicine Laboratory, Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Macerata, 62100 Macerata, Italy.
Erika BurattiForensic Medicine Laboratory, Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Macerata, 62100 Macerata, Italy.
Rino FroldiForensic Medicine Laboratory, Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Macerata, 62100 Macerata, Italy.
Marta CippitelliForensic Medicine Laboratory, Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Macerata, 62100 Macerata, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-0227-7789
Gianmario MiettiForensic Medicine Laboratory, Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Macerata, 62100 Macerata, Italy.ORCID 0000-0001-7554-8378
Mariano CingolaniForensic Medicine Laboratory, Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Macerata, 62100 Macerata, Italy.ORCID 0000-0003-1916-1819
University of Macerata · IT

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the detection of morphine in fingernails from forensic autopsies using immunohistochemistry (IHC), with confirmation by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS). A primary antibody specific to morphine and a secondary antibody conjugated to horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was used. IHC on specimens of Subjects A and B (both drug addicts) resulted in the detection of morphine on a cell layer of the nail plate matrix. UHPLC-HRMS and GC-MS analysis showed that Subject A had a morphine concentration of 0.35 ng/mg in the fingernail and 472 ng/mL in the blood, while Subject B reached 1.23 ng/mg in the fingernail and 360 ng/ml in the blood. Most of those matrices were positive for codeine, methadone, EDDP, and 6-MAM. The use of IHC in Subject C (a former addict) showed no positivity for morphine in the fingernail, while the UHPLC-HRMS analysis confirmed its absence in the fingernail and blood. Additionally, an analysis of the scalp or pubic hair of the subjects was carried out using UHPLC-HRMS. The results suggest that IHC can be used to establish the site of accumulation of morphine in the nail matrix; for postmortem diagnosis; and that basic substances can be detected by UHPLC-HRMS. There are no previous studies on the use of IHC as a technique for forensic purposes in unconventional matrices, such as nails.

Indexed as

fingernailsforensic toxicologyhigh-resolution mass spectrometryimmunohistochemistrymorphineopioidsultra-high-performance liquid chromatographyunconventional matrices

Identifiers

PMID35893853
PMCPMC9331542
OpenAlexW4288180809

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.