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<article xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xmlns:ali="http://www.niso.org/schemas/ali/1.0/" article-type="research-article" dtd-version="1.2" xml:lang="en"><front><journal-meta><journal-id journal-id-type="publisher-id">Russian Journal of Forensic Medicine</journal-id><journal-title-group><journal-title xml:lang="en">Russian Journal of Forensic Medicine</journal-title><trans-title-group xml:lang="ru"><trans-title>Судебная медицина</trans-title></trans-title-group></journal-title-group><issn publication-format="print">2411-8729</issn><issn publication-format="electronic">2409-4161</issn><publisher><publisher-name xml:lang="en">Eco-Vector</publisher-name></publisher></journal-meta><article-meta><article-id pub-id-type="publisher-id">16255</article-id><article-id pub-id-type="doi">10.17816/fm16255</article-id><article-id pub-id-type="edn">EWJFSB</article-id><article-categories><subj-group subj-group-type="toc-heading" xml:lang="en"><subject>Original study articles</subject></subj-group><subj-group subj-group-type="toc-heading" xml:lang="ru"><subject>Оригинальные исследования</subject></subj-group><subj-group subj-group-type="toc-heading" xml:lang="zh"><subject>原创研究</subject></subj-group><subj-group subj-group-type="article-type"><subject>Research Article</subject></subj-group></article-categories><title-group><article-title xml:lang="en">Comparative analysis of fatal methadone poisonings based on chemical toxicological and forensic chemical investigations in Saint Petersburg in 2020–2022: a cross-sectional study</article-title><trans-title-group xml:lang="ru"><trans-title>Сравнительный анализ летальных отравлений метадоном по данным химико-токсикологических и судебно-химических исследований в Санкт-Петербурге за 2020–2022 гг.: одномоментное исследование</trans-title></trans-title-group><trans-title-group xml:lang="zh"><trans-title>基于圣彼得堡2020–2022年毒化学与法医化学检测数据的美沙酮致死中毒比较分析：横断面研究</trans-title></trans-title-group></title-group><contrib-group><contrib contrib-type="author"><contrib-id contrib-id-type="orcid">https://orcid.org/0009-0000-3863-3602</contrib-id><contrib-id contrib-id-type="spin">6563-9541</contrib-id><name-alternatives><name xml:lang="en"><surname>Varioshkin</surname><given-names>Pavel N.</given-names></name><name xml:lang="ru"><surname>Вариошкин</surname><given-names>Павел Николаевич</given-names></name><name xml:lang="zh"><surname>Varioshkin</surname><given-names>Pavel N.</given-names></name></name-alternatives><address><country country="RU">Russian Federation</country></address><bio xml:lang="en"><p>MD</p></bio><bio xml:lang="zh"><p>MD</p></bio><email>zonner17@list.ru</email><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff1"/></contrib><contrib contrib-type="author"><contrib-id contrib-id-type="orcid">https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3132-8522</contrib-id><contrib-id contrib-id-type="spin">5122-0242</contrib-id><name-alternatives><name xml:lang="en"><surname>Kuznetsov</surname><given-names>Semyon V.</given-names></name><name xml:lang="ru"><surname>Кузнецов</surname><given-names>Семён Валерьевич</given-names></name><name xml:lang="zh"><surname>Kuznetsov</surname><given-names>Semyon V.</given-names></name></name-alternatives><address><country country="RU">Russian Federation</country></address><bio xml:lang="en"><p>MD, Cand. Sci. (Medicine), Assistant Professor</p></bio><bio xml:lang="ru"><p>канд. мед. наук, доцент</p></bio><bio xml:lang="zh"><p>MD, Cand. Sci. (Medicine), Assistant Professor</p></bio><email>Nachsml@mail.ru</email><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff1"/><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff2"/></contrib><contrib contrib-type="author"><contrib-id contrib-id-type="orcid">https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4343-4656</contrib-id><contrib-id contrib-id-type="spin">7439-0540</contrib-id><name-alternatives><name xml:lang="en"><surname>Molin</surname><given-names>Yuri A.</given-names></name><name xml:lang="ru"><surname>Молин</surname><given-names>Юрий Александрович</given-names></name><name xml:lang="zh"><surname>Molin</surname><given-names>Yuri A.</given-names></name></name-alternatives><address><country country="RU">Russian Federation</country></address><bio xml:lang="en"><p>MD, Dr. Sci. (Medicine), Professor</p></bio><bio xml:lang="ru"><p>д-р мед. наук, профессор</p></bio><bio xml:lang="zh"><p>MD, Dr. Sci. (Medicine), Professor</p></bio><email>juri.molin@yandex.ru</email><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff3"/></contrib><contrib contrib-type="author"><contrib-id contrib-id-type="orcid">https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4472-6546</contrib-id><contrib-id contrib-id-type="spin">5828-0337</contrib-id><name-alternatives><name xml:lang="en"><surname>Reinuk</surname><given-names>Vladimir L.</given-names></name><name xml:lang="ru"><surname>Рейнюк</surname><given-names>Владимир Леонидович</given-names></name><name xml:lang="zh"><surname>Reinuk</surname><given-names>Vladimir L.</given-names></name></name-alternatives><address><country country="RU">Russian Federation</country></address><bio xml:lang="en"><p>MD, Dr. Sci. (Medicine), Assistant Professor</p></bio><bio xml:lang="ru"><p>д-р мед. наук, доцент</p>
<p>MD, Dr. Sci. (Medicine), Assistant Professor</p></bio><bio xml:lang="zh"><p>MD, Dr. Sci. (Medicine), Assistant Professor</p></bio><email>institute@toxicology.ru</email><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff1"/></contrib><contrib contrib-type="author"><contrib-id contrib-id-type="orcid">https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8672-2906</contrib-id><contrib-id contrib-id-type="spin">4886-8890</contrib-id><name-alternatives><name xml:lang="en"><surname>Lodiagin</surname><given-names>Aleksei N.</given-names></name><name xml:lang="ru"><surname>Лодягин</surname><given-names>Алексей Николаевич</given-names></name><name xml:lang="zh"><surname>Lodiagin</surname><given-names>Aleksei N.</given-names></name></name-alternatives><address><country country="RU">Russian Federation</country></address><bio xml:lang="en"><p>MD, Dr. Sci. (Medicine), Assistant Professor</p></bio><bio xml:lang="ru"><p>д-р мед. наук, доцент</p></bio><bio xml:lang="zh"><p>MD, Dr. Sci. (Medicine), Assistant Professor</p></bio><email>alodyagin@mail.ru</email><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff4"/></contrib><contrib contrib-type="author"><contrib-id contrib-id-type="orcid">https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6368-680X</contrib-id><contrib-id contrib-id-type="spin">5101-9477</contrib-id><name-alternatives><name xml:lang="en"><surname>Lukovnikova</surname><given-names>Lyubov V.</given-names></name><name xml:lang="ru"><surname>Луковникова</surname><given-names>Любовь Владимировна</given-names></name><name xml:lang="zh"><surname>Lukovnikova</surname><given-names>Lyubov V.</given-names></name></name-alternatives><address><country country="RU">Russian Federation</country></address><bio xml:lang="en"><p>MD, Dr. Sci. (Medicine), Professor</p></bio><bio xml:lang="ru"><p>д-р мед. наук, профессор</p></bio><bio xml:lang="zh"><p>MD, Dr. Sci. (Medicine), Professor</p></bio><email>lukovnikova.l.v@toxicology.ru</email><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff1"/></contrib><contrib contrib-type="author"><contrib-id contrib-id-type="orcid">https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6285-1132</contrib-id><contrib-id contrib-id-type="spin">9812-4780</contrib-id><name-alternatives><name xml:lang="en"><surname>Pyatibrat</surname><given-names>Aleksandr O.</given-names></name><name xml:lang="ru"><surname>Пятибрат</surname><given-names>Александр Олегович</given-names></name><name xml:lang="zh"><surname>Pyatibrat</surname><given-names>Aleksandr O.</given-names></name></name-alternatives><address><country country="RU">Russian Federation</country></address><bio xml:lang="en"><p>MD, Dr. Sci. (Medicine), Assistant Professor</p></bio><bio xml:lang="ru"><p>д-р мед. наук, доцент</p></bio><bio xml:lang="zh"><p>MD, Dr. Sci. (Medicine), Assistant Professor</p></bio><email>a5brat@yandex.ru</email><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff1"/><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff2"/></contrib><contrib contrib-type="author"><contrib-id contrib-id-type="orcid">https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2693-6283</contrib-id><contrib-id contrib-id-type="spin">9446-5175</contrib-id><name-alternatives><name xml:lang="en"><surname>Batotsyrenov</surname><given-names>Chimit B.</given-names></name><name xml:lang="ru"><surname>Батоцыренов</surname><given-names>Чимит Баирович</given-names></name><name xml:lang="zh"><surname>Batotsyrenov</surname><given-names>Chimit B.</given-names></name></name-alternatives><address><country country="RU">Russian Federation</country></address><bio xml:lang="en"><p>MD</p></bio><bio xml:lang="zh"><p>MD</p></bio><email>steelfire282@gmail.com</email><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff1"/></contrib></contrib-group><aff-alternatives id="aff1"><aff><institution xml:lang="en">Institution Golikov Research Clinical Center of Toxicology</institution></aff><aff><institution xml:lang="ru">Научно-клинический центр токсикологии имени академика С.Н. Голикова</institution></aff><aff><institution xml:lang="zh">Institution Golikov Research Clinical Center of Toxicology</institution></aff></aff-alternatives><aff-alternatives id="aff2"><aff><institution xml:lang="en">Saint-Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University</institution></aff><aff><institution xml:lang="ru">Санкт-Петербургский государственный педиатрический медицинский университет</institution></aff><aff><institution xml:lang="zh">Saint-Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University</institution></aff></aff-alternatives><aff-alternatives id="aff3"><aff><institution xml:lang="en">North-Western State Medical University named after I.I. Mechnikov</institution></aff><aff><institution xml:lang="ru">Северо-Западный государственный медицинский университет имени И.И. Мечникова</institution></aff><aff><institution xml:lang="zh">North-Western State Medical University named after I.I. Mechnikov</institution></aff></aff-alternatives><aff-alternatives id="aff4"><aff><institution xml:lang="en">Saint-Petersburg Institute of Emergency Care named after I.I. Dzhanelidze</institution></aff><aff><institution xml:lang="ru">Научно-исследовательский институт скорой помощи имени И.И. Джанелидзе</institution></aff><aff><institution xml:lang="zh">Saint-Petersburg Institute of Emergency Care named after I.I. Dzhanelidze</institution></aff></aff-alternatives><pub-date date-type="preprint" iso-8601-date="2026-03-23" publication-format="electronic"><day>23</day><month>03</month><year>2026</year></pub-date><pub-date date-type="pub" iso-8601-date="2026-04-13" publication-format="electronic"><day>13</day><month>04</month><year>2026</year></pub-date><volume>12</volume><issue>1</issue><issue-title xml:lang="en"/><issue-title xml:lang="ru"/><issue-title xml:lang="zh"/><fpage>40</fpage><lpage>47</lpage><history><date date-type="received" iso-8601-date="2025-02-05"><day>05</day><month>02</month><year>2025</year></date><date date-type="accepted" iso-8601-date="2026-02-16"><day>16</day><month>02</month><year>2026</year></date></history><permissions><copyright-statement xml:lang="en">Copyright ©; 2026, Eco-Vector</copyright-statement><copyright-statement xml:lang="ru">Copyright ©; 2026, Эко-Вектор</copyright-statement><copyright-statement xml:lang="zh">Copyright ©; 2026,</copyright-statement><copyright-year>2026</copyright-year><copyright-holder xml:lang="en">Eco-Vector</copyright-holder><copyright-holder xml:lang="ru">Эко-Вектор</copyright-holder><ali:free_to_read xmlns:ali="http://www.niso.org/schemas/ali/1.0/" start_date="2028-04-13"/><license><ali:license_ref xmlns:ali="http://www.niso.org/schemas/ali/1.0/">https://eco-vector.com/for_authors.php#07</ali:license_ref></license></permissions><self-uri xlink:href="https://for-medex.ru/jour/article/view/16255">https://for-medex.ru/jour/article/view/16255</self-uri><abstract xml:lang="en"><p><bold>BACKGROUND: </bold>For many years, methadone poisoning has remained one of the leading causes of death among patients admitted to toxicology departments worldwide. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of such patients increased substantially, which may be associated with heightened anxiety, fear, sadness, adaptation difficulties, symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, and suicidal tendencies in both the general population and specific subgroups, thereby increasing the risk of drug and alcohol use as maladaptive coping strategies.</p> <p><bold>AIM: </bold>To perform a comparative analysis and evaluate the results of methadone detection based on retrospective data from chemical toxicological and forensic chemical investigations conducted in 2020–2022.</p> <p><bold>METHODS: </bold>This cross-sectional multicenter sample study employed retrospective medical data from patients who died of acute methadone poisoning. The analysis assessed features of methadone detection in fatal acute poisonings, the comparability of chemical toxicological and forensic chemical investigation results, and the frequency of circumstances affecting interpretation of the obtained findings.</p> <p><bold>RESULTS: </bold>The study included data from 131 cases of fatal methadone poisoning. In all reviewed cases, screening in chemical toxicological investigations was performed using immunochromatographic assay. In 20% of cases, the assay was performed 12–48 hours after hospital admission. False-positive methadone detection results in chemical toxicological investigations were recorded in 3.4% of cases, whereas false-negative results were found in 6%. In addition, confirmatory methods were not used in 18% of cases. Moreover, in all cases with false-negative results, high concentrations of substances such as nicotine and caffeine were detected in the samples, which may have affected the reliability of immunochromatographic assay.</p> <p><bold>CONCLUSION: </bold>Improving approaches to the selection of biological material, the timing of assay, and the mandatory use of confirmatory methods may minimize the risk of false-positive and false-negative methadone test results in chemical toxicological investigations. This, in turn, may improve diagnostic accuracy, optimize treatment strategy, and provide a more objective assessment of medical circumstances in subsequent forensic medical examinations.</p></abstract><trans-abstract xml:lang="ru"><p><bold>Обоснование. </bold>На протяжении многих лет отравления метадоном во всём мире занимают одно из ведущих мест среди причин смерти пациентов, поступающих в токсикологические отделения. В свою очередь, во время пандемии COVID-19 число таких пациентов существенно возросло, что связано с повышением уровня тревожности у людей, страха, печали, трудностей адаптации, симптомами посттравматического стрессового расстройства и суицидальными наклонностями как в общей популяции, так и в отдельных подгруппах, что увеличивает риск употребление наркотических веществ и алкоголя в качестве неадаптивной стратегии преодоления трудностей.</p> <p><bold>Цель исследования. </bold>Проведение сравнительного анализа и оценка результатов обнаружения метадона по ретроспективным данным химико-токсикологических и судебно-химических исследований за период 2020–2022 гг.</p> <p><bold>Методы. </bold>Проведено одномоментное выборочное многоцентровое исследование с анализом ретроспективных медицинских данных пациентов, умерших вследствие острого отравления метадоном. Оценивали особенности обнаружения метадона при острых смертельных отравлениях, сопоставимость результатов химико-токсикологических и судебно-химических исследований, а также частоту выявления обстоятельств, влияющих на интерпретацию полученных результатов.</p> <p><bold>Результаты. </bold>В исследование включены данные о 131 случае смертельного отравления метадоном. Во всех рассмотренных случаях при проведении химико-токсикологического исследования использовали скрининговый метод иммунохроматографического анализа. В свою очередь, в 20% случаев его проводили через 12–48 ч после поступления пациента. Ложноположительные результаты обнаружения метадона при химико-токсикологическом исследовании зарегистрированы в 3,4% случаев, тогда как ложноотрицательные — в 6%. При этом в 18% случаев отмечено отсутствие использования подтверждающих методов. Кроме того, во всех случаях ложноотрицательных результатов в образцах выявляли высокие концентрации таких веществ, как никотин и кофеин, что могло влиять на достоверность иммунохроматографического анализа.</p> <p><bold>Заключение. </bold>Совершенствование подходов к выбору исследуемого материала, срокам выполнения анализа и обязательное применение подтверждающих методов позволит минимизировать риск ложноположительных и ложноотрицательных результатов химико-токсикологических исследований на метадон. Это, в свою очередь, будет способствовать повышению точности диагностики, оптимизации лечебной тактики и более объективной оценке медицинских обстоятельств при последующем проведении судебно-медицинских экспертиз.</p></trans-abstract><trans-abstract xml:lang="zh"><p>论证：多年来，美沙酮中毒在全球范围内一直是导致毒理学部门收治患者死亡的主要原因之一。另一方面，在COVID-19疫情期间，此类患者数量显著增加。这与社会整体及特定亚群体中普遍存在的焦虑情绪加剧、恐惧心理、悲伤情绪、适应障碍、创伤后应激障碍症状以及自杀倾向密切相关，导致人们更倾向于通过吸食毒品和饮酒这种非适应性的应对机制来缓解压力，从而加剧了物质滥用风险。</p> <p>目的：对2020至2022年间化学毒理学与法医化学回顾性研究数据中美沙酮检测结果开展比较分析与评估。</p> <p>方法：本研究采用横断面抽样多中心研究方法，对因急性美沙酮中毒致死患者的回顾性医疗数据进行分析。重点评估急性致死性中毒案件中美沙酮的检测特征、化学毒理学与司法化学检验结果的一致性，以及影响结果解读的相关因素的检出频率。</p> <p>结果：研究共纳入131例美沙酮致死中毒案例。所有案例均采用免疫层析分析法进行毒理学筛查，其中20%的检测在患者入院后12-48小时内完成。化学毒理学检测中美沙酮假阳性率为3.4%，假阴性率为6%。值得注意的是，18%的案例未采用验证性检测方法。所有假阴性样本中均检出高浓度尼古丁和咖啡因等物质，这些物质可能影响免疫层析分析结果的准确性。</p> <p>结论：优化研究对象材料的选择方法、精确分析执行时间以及强制采用验证性方法，将最大限度降低美沙酮化学毒理学检测中假阳性与假阴性结果的风险。这又将有助于提升诊断准确性、优化治疗策略，并为后续开展法医学鉴定时对医疗状况的评估提供更客观的依据。</p></trans-abstract><kwd-group xml:lang="en"><kwd>forensic chemical investigation</kwd><kwd>toxicology</kwd><kwd>acute poisoning</kwd><kwd>chemical toxicological investigation</kwd><kwd>immunochromatographic assay</kwd><kwd>methadone</kwd></kwd-group><kwd-group xml:lang="ru"><kwd>судебно-химическое исследование</kwd><kwd>токсикология</kwd><kwd>острые отравления</kwd><kwd>химико-токсикологическое исследование</kwd><kwd>иммунохроматографический анализ</kwd><kwd>метадон</kwd></kwd-group><kwd-group xml:lang="zh"><kwd>法医化学检验</kwd><kwd>毒理学</kwd><kwd>急性中毒</kwd><kwd>化学毒理学检测</kwd><kwd>免疫层析法</kwd><kwd>美沙酮</kwd></kwd-group><funding-group/></article-meta></front><body></body><back><ref-list><ref id="B1"><label>1.</label><mixed-citation>Mellos E, Paparrigopoulos T. 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