scholarly journals Applications of Vitreous Humor in Forensic Medicine and Forensic Toxicology

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 87-99
Author(s):  
Simge ZENGİN ◽  
Selda MERCAN
Keyword(s):  
Forensic Medicine ◽  
Forensic Toxicology ◽  
Vitreous Humor

scholarly journals Spectroscopy as a useful tool for the identification of changes with time in post-mortem vitreous humor for forensic toxicology purposes

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Wójtowicz ◽  
Agata Mitura ◽  
Renata Wietecha-Posłuszny ◽  
Rafał Kurczab ◽  
Marcin Zawadzki
Keyword(s):  
Ir Spectra ◽  
Forensic Toxicology ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Hierarchical Cluster ◽  
Vitreous Humor ◽  
Attenuated Total Reflection ◽  
Glass Slides ◽  
Added Benefit ◽  
Ft Ir ◽  
Non Destructive

AbstractVitreous humor (VH) is an alternative biological matrix with a great advantage of longer availability for analysis due to the lack of many enzymes. The use of VH in forensic toxicology may have an added benefit, however, this application requires rapid, simple, non-destructive, and relatively portable analytical analysis methods. These requirements may be met by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy technique (FT-IR) equipped with attenuated total reflection accessory (ATR). FT-IR spectra of vitreous humor samples, deposited on glass slides, were collected and subsequent chemometric data analysis by means of Hierarchical Cluster Analysis and Principal Component Analysis was conducted. Differences between animal and human VH samples and human VH samples stored for diverse periods of time were detected. A kinetic study of changes in the VH composition up to 2 weeks showed the distinction of FT-IR spectra collected on the 1st and 14th day of storage. In addition, data obtained for the most recent human vitreous humor samples—collected 3 and 2 years before the study, presented successful discrimination of all time points studied. The method introduced was unable to detect mephedrone addition to VH in the concentration of 10 µg/cm3. Graphic abstract

scholarly journals Applications of Metabolomics in Forensic Toxicology and Forensic Medicine

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (6) ◽  
pp. 3010
Author(s):  
Michal Szeremeta ◽  
Karolina Pietrowska ◽  
Anna Niemcunowicz-Janica ◽  
Adam Kretowski ◽  
Michal Ciborowski
Keyword(s):  
Machine Learning ◽  
Multivariate Statistics ◽  
High Throughput ◽  
Forensic Medicine ◽  
Forensic Toxicology ◽  
Metabolic Changes ◽  
Untargeted Metabolomics ◽  
Criminal Cases ◽  
Statistical Approaches

Forensic toxicology and forensic medicine are unique among all other medical fields because of their essential legal impact, especially in civil and criminal cases. New high-throughput technologies, borrowed from chemistry and physics, have proven that metabolomics, the youngest of the “omics sciences”, could be one of the most powerful tools for monitoring changes in forensic disciplines. Metabolomics is a particular method that allows for the measurement of metabolic changes in a multicellular system using two different approaches: targeted and untargeted. Targeted studies are focused on a known number of defined metabolites. Untargeted metabolomics aims to capture all metabolites present in a sample. Different statistical approaches (e.g., uni- or multivariate statistics, machine learning) can be applied to extract useful and important information in both cases. This review aims to describe the role of metabolomics in forensic toxicology and in forensic medicine.

Method for Postmortem Quantification of Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol and Metabolites Using LC–MS–MS

2019 ◽  
Vol 43 (9) ◽  
pp. 703-719 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmed I Al-Asmari
Keyword(s):  
Alkaline Hydrolysis ◽  
Detection Method ◽  
Solid Phase ◽  
Forensic Toxicology ◽  
Stomach Contents ◽  
Vitreous Humor ◽  
Free Form ◽  
Simple Method ◽  
New Information

Abstract A specific, sensitive, fast and simple method for analysis of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), 11-hydroxy-Δ9-THC (THC-OH) and 11-nor-Δ9-THC-9-carboxylic acid (THC-COOH) in routine postmortem cases using LC–MS–MS was developed and validated. Prior to solid phase extraction, urine, stomach contents and bile were pretreated using alkaline hydrolysis, while blood and vitreous humor were pretreated with protein precipitation. The distribution of THC, THC-OH and THC-COOH were investigated in 31 postmortem cases that tested positive for cannabinoids. This revealed new information regarding the distribution of THC in stomach contents and vitreous humor. Alkaline hydrolysis was sufficient for the deglucuronidation of THC-COOH-glucuronide to its free form, THC-COOH, in urine, bile and stomach contents. However, the THC-OH concentration in bile reported in this study is considerably high compared to that of previous studies. In conclusion, including THC and its metabolites (THC-OH and THC-COOH) is crucial for any forensic toxicology detection method to most accurately determine the role of cannabinoids in deaths.

Pesticide intoxications in Cukurova, Turkey: three years analysis

2011 ◽  
Vol 30 (12) ◽  
pp. 1892-1895 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nebile Daglioglu ◽  
Ramazan Akcan ◽  
Mete Korkut Gulmen ◽  
Fadile Yener ◽  
Pinar Efeoglu
Keyword(s):  
Cause Of Death ◽  
Forensic Medicine ◽  
Forensic Toxicology ◽  
Pesticide Poisoning ◽  
Pesticide Analysis ◽  
Common Cause

In Cukurova region, pesticide poisonings still remain an unfortunate cause of death, which led to the present study. The autopsy records of Adana Branch of the Council of Forensic Medicine, between 2006 and 2008, were evaluated retrospectively. Deaths that were attributed to pesticide poisoning were included in the scope of the study to identify the type of pesticide, and etiology of intoxication. The frequency and distribution of intoxications were also analyzed in terms of sex and age. In the studied period, a total of 4199 autopsies were referred to the forensic toxicology laboratory for pesticide analysis. Seventy-two cases were positive for pesticide analysis. Of these, 42 (58.33%) were male and 30 (41.67%) were female, with a mean age of 38.8 ± 20.6 years. Among the inspected pesticides, endosulfan was found to be the most common with 47.2% of prevalence, followed by dichlorvos. This report showed that certain pesticides, endosulfan in particular, remains as common cause of poisonings in Cukurova region.

scholarly journals Assessment and Comparison of Vitreous Humor as an Alternative Matrix for Forensic Toxicology Screening by GC–MS

2016 ◽  
Vol 40 (4) ◽  
pp. 243-247 ◽  
Author(s):  
Imir G. Metushi ◽  
Robert L. Fitzgerald ◽  
Iain M. McIntyre
Keyword(s):  
Forensic Toxicology ◽  
Vitreous Humor ◽  
Toxicology Screening

Alcohol distribution in different postmortem body fluids

2006 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 93-97 ◽  
Author(s):  
B S De Martinis ◽  
C MC de Paula ◽  
A Braga ◽  
H T Moreira ◽  
C CS Martin
Keyword(s):  
Sampling Site ◽  
Forensic Toxicology ◽  
Vitreous Humor ◽  
Blood Samples ◽  
Flame Ionization ◽  
Heart Blood ◽  
Femoral Blood ◽  
Correlation Tests ◽  
Blood Specimens

Aims: The determination of postmortem ethanol is one of the most frequently requested analyses in forensic toxicology and of extreme importance, especially when the concentration is found to be above the legal level for intoxication at one sampling site and below that level at another sampling site. Because of the unavailability of blood samples for toxicological analysis or even contaminated samples, there is an enormous effort to find alternative sampling sites, such as vitreous humor for ethanol analysis. The main purpose of this study was to establish correlations between urine and blood alcohol concentrations collected from different sites and vitreous humor. Methods: Ethanol concentrations were determined in specimens of heart, subclavian and femoral blood, urine and vitreous humor, collected from 21 cadavers who were victims of different causes of death. Determinations of ethanol were performed in duplicate using capillary gas chromatography/flame ionization detector and headspace techniques. Results: Statistical analysis of the results indicated that there were no significant differences among urine and blood samples collected from different sites compared to vitreous humor. Regarding vitreous humor ethanol concentration, Pearson's correlation coefficient was 0.97 for femoral blood and urine, 0.96 for heart blood and 0.94 for subclavian blood. The results demonstrated that all the fluids tested against vitreous humor significantly correlated with P (associated probability for the used correlation tests) B<0.05. Conclusions: Vitreous humor can be considered as an alternative sample to urine and blood specimens.

Forensic Toxicology and Pharmacogenomics: Hype or Hope For Higher Standards in Forensic Medicine?

2010 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 139-145 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul J. Jannetto ◽  
Nancy C. Bratanow ◽  
Agnieszka Rogalska
Keyword(s):  
Forensic Medicine ◽  
Forensic Toxicology

scholarly journals Modern possibilities of forensic medical evaluation and differentiation of acute intoxications

2021 ◽  
pp. 11-17
Author(s):  
Oleksandr Dunaiev ◽  
Serhii Kozlov ◽  
Igor Oliynyk ◽  
Mykhailo Bratenko
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Data ◽  
Forensic Medicine ◽  
Human Body ◽  
Forensic Toxicology ◽  
Chemical Compounds ◽  
Toxic Substances ◽  
Toxicological Study ◽  
Toxicological Analysis ◽  
Medical Evaluation ◽  
Diagnostic Approaches

This article analyzes modern scientific sources on the problems of detection of toxic substances in the human body, considers the existing methods of toxicological examination used in practical forensic medicine to establish and differentiate acute intoxications with various chemical compounds. Despite the presence of a large number of methods of toxicological analysis, forensic diagnosis of poisoning is often complicated due to lack of data on the circumstances of the event, clinical data of poisoning, pathognomonic signs of poisoning, the difficulty of interpreting the results. Conclusions. When interpreting the results of a toxicological study should always take into account the circumstances of the case and factors that may have influenced the change in the concentration of toxic substances. There is a need to develop and implement in practice forensic toxicology laboratories fundamentally new diagnostic approaches for the detection of toxic substances and the differentiation of types of poisoning.

scholarly journals Medicolegal Death Investigation: Coroner and Forensic Pathology Functions and Processes in Victoria, Australia

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 567-581 ◽  
Author(s):  
David L. Ranson ◽  
Lyndal Bugeja
Keyword(s):  
Forensic Medicine ◽  
Forensic Pathology ◽  
Medical Information ◽  
Tissue Bank ◽  
Forensic Toxicology ◽  
Legislative Amendments ◽  
Therapeutic Services ◽  
Assault Victims ◽  
Death Investigation ◽  
Medicolegal Death Investigation

The medicolegal death investigation in Victoria, Australia is a traditional coroner system based on the model in England and Wales in the early 20th Century. In 1985, the first of a series of legislative amendments were made that proved the vanguard of reform of the coroners' jurisdictions in Australia. The Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine (the Institute) was established by the Coroners Act 1985 (Vic.), now the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine Act 1985 (Vic.), to provide forensic pathology, medical, and related scientific services needed by the justice system. In addition to death investigation, other forensic and scientific services are performed by the Institute including: clinical medical examinations and support services for assault victims and perpetrators, forensic toxicology services and molecular biology, and anthropology and odontology services in relation to human identification. Medical and nursing staff provide medical information and support to families in a therapeutic setting, as well as direct referral to clinical medical specialists. This takes place where a medical death investigation procedure uncovers genetic or familial disease that may place other family members at risk of future illness. A donor tissue bank ensures that a death also provides the opportunity for families to donate organs and tissues from the deceased for transplantation. Today, the traditional autopsy is one of several modalities of death investigation with postmortem radiology and imaging playing a significant role. This paper describes the principles and new processes at the Institute that support the coroner in death investigation and prevention as well as the therapeutic services designed to relieve the burden of disease on the community.

scholarly journals Alternative matrices in forensic toxicology: a critical review

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eduardo Geraldo de Campos ◽  
Bruno Ruiz Brandão da Costa ◽  
Fabiana Spineti dos Santos ◽  
Fernanda Monedeiro ◽  
Marcela Nogueira Rabelo Alves ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Milk ◽  
Critical Review ◽  
Oral Fluid ◽  
Drug Exposure ◽  
Drugs Of Abuse ◽  
Recent Literature ◽  
Forensic Toxicology ◽  
Vitreous Humor ◽  
Biological Matrices ◽  
Alternative Matrices

Abstract Purpose The use of alternative matrices in toxicological analyses has been on the rise in clinical and forensic settings. Specimens alternative to blood and urine are useful in providing additional information regarding drug exposure and analytical benefits. The goal of this paper is to present a critical review on the most recent literature regarding the application of six common alternative matrices, i.e., oral fluid, hair, sweat, meconium, breast milk and vitreous humor in forensic toxicology. Methods The recent literature have been searched and reviewed for the characteristics, advantages and limitations of oral fluid, hair, sweat, meconium, breast milk and vitreous humor and its applications in the analysis of traditional drugs of abuse and novel psychoactive substances (NPS). Results This paper outlines the properties of six biological matrices that have been used in forensic analyses, as alternatives to whole blood and urine specimens. Each of this matrix has benefits in regards to sampling, extraction, detection window, typical drug levels and other aspects. However, theses matrices have also limitations such as limited incorporation of drugs (according to physical–chemical properties), impossibility to correlate the concentrations for effects, low levels of xenobiotics and ultimately the need for more sensitive analysis. For more traditional drugs of abuse (e.g., cocaine and amphetamines), there are already data available on the detection in alternative matrices. However, data on the determination of emerging drugs such as the NPS in alternative biological matrices are more limited. Conclusions Alternative biological fluids are important specimens in forensic toxicology. These matrices have been increasingly reported over the years, and this dynamic will probably continue in the future, especially considering their inherent advantages and the possibility to be used when blood or urine are unavailable. However, one should be aware that these matrices have limitations and particular properties, and the findings obtained from the analysis of these specimens may vary according to the type of matrix. As a potential perspective in forensic toxicology, the topic of alternative matrices will be continuously explored, especially emphasizing NPS.

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