scholarly journals Skeletal tissue, a viable option in forensic toxicology? A view into post mortem cases

2020 ◽  
Vol 309 ◽  
pp. 110225
Author(s):  
Michiel Vandenbosch ◽  
Lukas Rooseleers ◽  
Wouter Van Den Bogaert ◽  
Joke Wuestenbergs ◽  
Wim Van de Voorde ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Forensic Toxicology ◽  
Post Mortem ◽  
Viable Option ◽  
Skeletal Tissue

Vitreous humour as a complementary sample to blood for the detection/confirmation of diazepam: ante-mortem and post-mortem studies in an animal model

2004 ◽  
Vol 23 (12) ◽  
pp. 571-577 ◽  
Author(s):  
H M Teixeira ◽  
F Reis ◽  
P Proença ◽  
P Ramos ◽  
O Quińtela ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drug Administration ◽  
Plasma Concentrations ◽  
Forensic Toxicology ◽  
Vitreous Humour ◽  
Toxic Substances ◽  
Time Of Death ◽  
Post Mortem ◽  
Correlation Ratio ◽  
Animal Group ◽  
Toxic Dose

The quantification of medical or toxic substances in vitreous humour (VH) could be very useful in forensic toxicology when blood sample determinations are impossible due to absence or deterioration. However, few studies have been made in this area and even fewer have tried to find a relationship between drug levels in both samples. To determine a correlation ratio between blood and VH diazepam (DZ) levels, we performed an experimental study using rabbits administered with a sub-toxic dose of DZ under known and controlled conditions. Blood and VH samples were collected 0.5, 1, 2, 3 and 6 hours after the drug administration in order to determine DZ and its main active metabolite, desmethyldiazepam (DMD). In addition, we have studied an animal group sacrificed 2 hours after intramuscular (i.m.) drug administration with blood and VH collection 24 hours later, to evaluate the existence of possible post-mortem changes. After DZ administration, a fast absorption phase was observed with a plasma Cmax value 1 hour after, followed by a rapid concentration decrease, with a half-life of 1 hour, indicating that, besides elimination, a fast distribution to other organs and tissues and/or hepatic metabolism occurred. Diazepam Cmax value in VH was achieved between 1 and 2 hours, when plasma concentrations had already decreased to half the value. The plasma/VH DZ ratio calculated at this time was 10. In the post-mortem study, while plasma DZ concentration at 24 hours was smaller, DMD levels were higher than those at the time of death. In the VH, both DZ and DMD concentrations at 24 hours were higher than those obtained at the time of death. That is, in both fluids DZ and DMD concentrations were different from those at the time of death and post-mortem distribution and redistribution phenomena occurred. The combination of antemortem and post-mortem studies has allowed the determination of a correlation ratio for DZ in the rabbit of 6×, comparing the concentrations in VH collected 24 hours after death with the concentrations detected in plasma at the time of death. This study opens new perspectives for the use of VH as a complementary sample to blood for DZ detection and confirmation. The putative relevance of the correlation ratio obtained, for forensic toxicology practice with medical substances, namely benzodiazepines, recommends further studies in humans.

scholarly journals Post Mortem Analysis of Opioids and Metabolites in Skeletal Tissue

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michiel Vandenbosch ◽  
Stane Pajk ◽  
Wouter Van Den Bogaert ◽  
Joke Wuestenbergs ◽  
Wim Van de Voorde ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bone Marrow ◽  
Bone Tissue ◽  
Reference Data ◽  
Solid Phase ◽  
Linear Trend ◽  
Post Mortem ◽  
Blood Concentrations ◽  
Skeletal Tissue ◽  
Validation Parameters ◽  
Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass

Abstract Every year, thousands of suspicious deaths are accounted for by an overdose of opioids. Occasionally all traditional matrices are unavailable due to decomposition. Skeletal tissue may pose a valid alternative. However, reference data on post-mortem concentrations in bone tissue and bone marrow is sparse. Therefore, a liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method was developed and fully validated for the analysis of 4 opioids and 2 metabolites (tramadol, O-desmethyltramadol, morphine, fentanyl, norfentanyl, codeine) in bone tissue and bone marrow. Sample preparation was performed using solid phase extraction (bone marrow), methanolic extraction (bone) and a protein precipitation (whole blood). All validation parameters were successfully fulfilled. This method was applied to analyze 22 forensic cases involving opioids. All 6 opioids were proven to be detectable and quantifiable in all specimens sampled. When tramadol blood concentrations were correlated with bone concentrations, a linear trend could be detected. The same was seen between tramadol blood and bone marrow concentration. A similar linear trend was seen when correlating codeine blood concentration with bone and bone marrow concentration. Although some variability was detected, the same linear trend was seen for morphine. For fentanyl and norfentanyl, the sample size was too small to draw conclusions, regarding correlation. As far as the authors know this is the first-time fentanyl and norfentanyl are quantified in skeletal tissue. In conclusion, due to the absence of reference data for drugs in skeletal tissue, these findings are a step forward towards a more thorough understanding of drug concentration found in post-mortem skeletal tissue.

scholarly journals Pharmacogenetics and Forensic Toxicology: A New Step towards a Multidisciplinary Approach

Toxics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 292
Author(s):  
Nunzio Di Nunno ◽  
Massimiliano Esposito ◽  
Antonina Argo ◽  
Monica Salerno ◽  
Francesco Sessa
Keyword(s):  
Drugs Of Abuse ◽  
Case Reports ◽  
Forensic Toxicology ◽  
Good Health ◽  
Post Mortem ◽  
Pharmacogenetic Study ◽  
Forensic Practice ◽  
Toxicological Data ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Overdose Deaths

Pharmacogenetics analyzes the individual behavior of DNA genes after the administration of a drug. Pharmacogenetic research has been implemented in recent years thanks to the improvement in genome sequencing techniques and molecular genetics. In addition to medical purposes, pharmacogenetics can constitute an important tool for clarifying the interpretation of toxicological data in post-mortem examinations, sometimes crucial for determining the cause and modality of death. The purpose of this systematic literature review is not only to raise awareness among the forensic community concerning pharmacogenetics, but also to provide a workflow for forensic toxicologists to follow in cases of unknown causes of death related to drug use/abuse. The scientific community is called on to work hard in order to supply evidence in forensic practice, demonstrating that this investigation could become an essential tool both in civil and forensic contexts. The following keywords were used for the search engine: (pharmacogenetics) AND (forensic toxicology); (pharmacogenetics) AND (post-mortem); (pharmacogenetics) AND (forensic science); and (pharmacogenetics) AND (autopsy). A total of 125 articles were collected. Of these, 29 articles were included in this systematic review. A total of 75% of the included studies were original articles (n = 21) and 25% were case reports (n = 7). A total of 78% (n = 22) of the studies involved deceased people for whom a complete autopsy was performed, while 22% (n = 6) involved people in good health who were given a drug with a subsequent pharmacogenetic study. The most studied drugs were opioids (codeine, morphine, and methadone), followed by antidepressants (tricyclic antidepressants and venlafaxine). Furthermore, all studies highlighted the importance of a pharmacogenetics study in drug-related deaths, especially in cases of non-overdose of drugs of abuse. This study highlights the importance of forensic pharmacogenetics, a field of toxicology still not fully understood, which is of great help in cases of sudden death, deaths from overdose, deaths after the administration of a drug, and also in cases of complaint of medical malpractice.

scholarly journals Asphyxiation by inhaling the inert gas helium inside a plastic bag

2017 ◽  
pp. 91-92
Author(s):  
Volodymyr Shilan ◽  
Cyril Shilan ◽  
Oleksii Shalniev
Keyword(s):  
Forensic Toxicology ◽  
Venous Congestion ◽  
The Other ◽  
Inert Gas ◽  
Post Mortem ◽  
Interstitial Edema ◽  
Internal Organs ◽  
Arterial Blood ◽  
Blood Filling ◽  
Plastic Bag

А case of death from asphyxiation by inhaling the inert gas helium inside a plastic bag placed over the head. Findings and discussion. In our practice, we had a case of post-mortem examination of a 22 y.o. male. As it is known from the circumstances of the case, the mail corpse was found in a forest belt area, with his head inside a black plastic bag tight-fitted around his neck with a band. In the bag, there were two plastic tubes – one of them was placed obliquely at the level of right anterior surface of neck and was fixed to the neck with transparent adhesive tape. The other end of tube was connected to the outlet of a valve on a cylinder of brown color superscribed «HELIUM». The valve of a cylinder was opened. The other tube is located on the left side of the neck, with a rubber ball attached to the exposed end. On post-mortem examination, we found the following: face – pale, not congested, w/o petechiation; livor mortis – generalized dark purple discoloration of the skin. Findings on internal examination: congestion of internal organs; dark-red liquid blood inside the cardiac cavity and larger vessels; hemicardiadextra, SVC and IVC overfilled with blood. No hemorrhages under epicardium and pleura. Findings during microscopic examination of internal organs: Heart: lack of arterial blood, venous congestion. Albuminous degeneration of cardiomyocytes. Interstitial edema. Areas of dystelectasis, acute vesicular emphysema. Pulmonary congestion. Liver: irregular blood filling of tissue. Albuminous degeneration, destruction of hepatocellular cytoplasm. Interstitial edema. Kidney: cortical ischemia, congestion of straight venules. Albuminous degeneration in nephrothelium of convoluted tubules. Interstitial edema. Brain: irregular blood filling of cerebral vessels. In pia mater: edema&focal infiltrates of fresh RBCs. Focal voids surrounding the vessels and neurons. Ischemic degeneration of neurons. Red blood cells accumulations in the enlarged paravasal spaces. Suprarenal gland: irregular venous congestion of tissue; occasional thinning of adrenal cortex. Pancreatic gland: lack of arterial blood, venous congestion. Spleen: irregular blood filling of tissue. Decision: morphological signs of acute death. Pulmonary edema. Forensic toxicology test results: methyl, ethyl, isopropyl, butyl, isoamyl alcohol; barbiturates; opium alkaloids – morphine, codeine and their synthetic analogues; phenothiazine, benzodiazepine derivatives; ephedrine, ephedrone – have not been identified. Conclusion: As can be seen from the above, the results of forensic examination of corpse, forensic toxicology and forensic histology tests, with account being taken of circumstances and scene investigation details, allowed suggesting that the possible cause of death was the asphyxiation by inhaling the inert gas helium inside a plastic bag placed over the head.

scholarly journals Use of bone marrow for detection of toxic chemicals for the elucidation of poisoning in forensic veterinary medicine

2020 ◽  
Vol 40 (10) ◽  
pp. 798-803
Author(s):  
Sóstenes A.C. Marcelino ◽  
Rogéria Serakides ◽  
Viviane N. Castro-Silva ◽  
Maria L. Ramos ◽  
Natália M. Ocarino ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bone Marrow ◽  
Veterinary Medicine ◽  
Clinical Symptoms ◽  
Forensic Toxicology ◽  
Toxic Chemicals ◽  
Post Mortem ◽  
Mass Spectrometry Detection ◽  
Toxicological Analysis ◽  
Post Mortem Interval ◽  
Toxicological Investigation

ABSTRACT: In forensic toxicology, the detection of toxic chemicals from human bone marrow is often used in cases with an extended post mortem interval; however, in veterinary medicine, this practice is not used. Therefore, this study was performed to investigate the suitability of bone marrow for toxicological analysis in dogs and cats. Six animals with suspected poisoning were selected; the carcasses were sent for necropsy, and the organs were collected and preserved in buffered formalin and processed routinely for histological examination. In addition, bone marrow samples from the femur, humerus, and tibia were collected for toxicological analysis by liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry detection (LC-MS). This analysis confirmed the presence of aldicarb, aldicarb sulfone, asulam, carbendazim, chlorpyrifos, dichlorvos, thifensulfuron methyl and trifloxysulfuron-sodium and associated with clinical symptoms and anatomo-histopathological alterations it was recognized the poisonings. It is expected that this study will promote the toxicological investigation of bone marrow and open avenues for the use of this tissue as an option for the detection of toxic chemicals in cases of forensic pathology.

scholarly journals Pemilihan, Penyimpanan dan Stabilitas Sampel Toksikologi pada Korban Penyalahgunaan Narkotika

2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Citra Manela
Keyword(s):  
Quantitative Analysis ◽  
Drug Abuse ◽  
Forensic Toxicology ◽  
Post Mortem ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative Analysis ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative ◽  
Main Work

AbstrakKasus penyalahgunaan narkotika semakin meningkat. Toksikologi forensik mempelajari tentang ilmu dan aplikasi toksikologi untuk kepentingan hukum. Kerja utama dari toksikologi forensik adalah melakukan analisis kualitatif maupun kuantitatif dari racun. Untuk memperoleh hasil pemeriksaan yang dapat dipertanggung jawabkan, maka syarat-syarat pengambilan, pemilihan, penyimpanan, dan pengiriman sampel toksikologi ke laboratorium harus dipenuhi dan benar-benar diperhatikan. Hal ini penting karena setiap obat memiliki stabilitas yang berbeda-beda sehingga nantinya akan mempengaruhi hasil analisis racun baik pada korban hidup maupun pada jenazah (post mortem).Kata kunci: sampel, penyalahgunaan narkotikaAbstractCases of drug abuse are increasing. Forensic toxicology learn about science and toxicology applications for legal purposes. The main work of forensic toxicology is the qualitative and quantitative analysis of toxins. To obtain the test results that can be reliable, then the terms of the retrieval, selection, storage, and shipment of samples to the toxicology laboratory must be filled and properly addressed. This is important because each drug has a different stability so that will affect the results of the analysis of toxins both in life and on the victim's body (post mortem).Keywords: sample, drug abused

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