Determination of carbon monoxide in blood by gas chromatography using a thermal conductivity detector

A method is described for the gas chromatographic quantitation of carbon monoxide by means of thermal conductivity detection. Carbon monoxide is released from blood samples as small as 0.02 mL using a unique extraction chamber. The method was compared to a standard gas chromatographic and spectrophotometric method of carbon monoxide quantitation. It was comparable to the former with all samples evaluated and apparently more reliable than the latter with decomposed samples.     

顶空气相色谱法测定生物组织中的一氧化碳

本文主要研究用顼空气相色谱法测定生物检材中的一氧化碳。分析一个样品只需三分钟即可完成。本法不但适用于血样检材,而且适用于生物组织,甚至腐败生物检材,对于血液样品的最小检测量为50μl,变异系数为0.023。本文研究的方法已成功地应用于法庭科学一氧化碳中毒案件的检验。并描述了贮存的方法。     

Heroin dependence as a rare cause of symmetrical globus pallidus necrosis

Long-term survival after carbon monoxide intoxication has been accepted for a long time as pathognomonic for elective cerebral tissue damage, especially in cases of isolated symmetrical necrosis of the globus pallidus. The results of old bilateral necrosis in the globus pallidus are described in a case of an acute heroin death after long-term drug abuse. The evaluation of such cerebral changes is discussed as they have to be interpreted as hypoxic or oligemic tissue damage. The different causes of symmetrical necrosis of the globus pallidus that are relevant for legal medicine are compiled and discussed.     

Suicidal Carbon Monoxide Poisoning by Combining Formic Acid and Sulfuric Acid Within a Confined Space

Suicide by inhalation of carbon monoxide produced by mixing formic acid and sulfuric acid within a confined space is a rare method of suicide. This method is similar to the so‐called “detergent suicide” method where an acid‐based detergent is mixed with a sulfur source to produce hydrogen sulfide. Both methods produce a toxic gas that poses significant hazards for death investigators, first responders and bystanders. Carbon monoxide is an odorless gas, while hydrogen sulfide has a characteristic rotten eggs odor, so the risks associated with carbon monoxide are potentially greater due to lack of an important warning signal. While detergent suicides have become increasingly common in the USA, suicide with formic acid and sulfuric acid is rare with only three prior cases being reported. Greater awareness of this method among death investigators is warranted because of the special risks of accidental intoxication by toxic gas and the possibility that this method of suicide will become more common in the future.     

Suicide by inhalation of carbon monoxide in a residential fire

Fire deaths are usually accidental, but atypical cases of homicide or suicide have been described. In suicide by fire, the only method reported by several authors consists of self-immolation. We present here the unusual case of an adult female who committed suicide by waiting in the living room after setting fire to her bedroom. The autopsy revealed smoke inhalation and the toxicological analysis revealed carboxyhemoglobin levels of 67%. Very few cases of suicide by fire not of the self-immolation type have been reported, and all have been anecdotal. A review of the literature is presented and a new term, "suicide by inhalation of carbon monoxide in a fire," is proposed for such cases.     

大鼠急性CO中毒的超微病理学研究

大鼠吸入 CO(1500～4500PPM,2小时)急性中毒后,观察其心、肝、脾、肺、肾、脑的病理改变。光镜下可见心肌细胞浊肿,水性变,肌浆凝聚,间质水肿;肝细胞浊肿,轻度脂肪变;肺淤血、水肿;肾曲管上皮细胞浊肿,神经细胞急性肿胀,尼氏小体减少或消失。电镜下,心肌原纤维过度收缩,肌节交短,质膜部分破坏,肌原纤维断裂、坏死;线粒体肿胀,肌浆网扩张;神经细胞内粗面内质网呈囊状扩张;神经细胞固缩;星形细胞突起水肿。     

Instructions for the complete preparation of the larynx

A method of preparing the larynx in forensic cases is described especially when death occurs by strangulation (manually or using some form of ligature). After the usual dissection of the hyoid bone and the upper horns of the thyroid cartilage, the complete larynx is clipped and fixed in formaldehyde overnight. The first part of dissection after that is to cut away the thyroid gland and the remaining muscles in front of the larynx, except for the cricothyroid muscle and the esophagus and hypopharynx from the back of the larynx. The complete thyroid cartilage is dissected out, and then a horizontal cut is made through the cricoid cartilage. Median-sagittal halving of the remaining larynx completes the gross dissection. Arytenoid cartilages are exposed by dissection of the arytenoid muscles and opening the cricoarytenoid joints. Now all parts of the laryngeal skeleton and all articulations are examined, and all muscles and soft tissues are visible and can be clipped for histological examination.     

Detection and quantification of the age-related point mutation A189G in the human mitochondrial DNA

Mutation analysis in the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region is widely used in population genetic studies as well as in forensic medicine. Among the difficulties linked to the mtDNA analysis, one can find the detection of heteroplasmy, which can be inherited or somatic. Recently, age-related point mutation A189G was described in mtDNA and shown to accumulate with age in muscles. We carried out the detection of this 189 heteroplasmic point mutation using three technologies: automated DNA sequencing, Southern blot hybridization using a digoxigenin-labeled oligonucleotide probe, and peptide nucleic acid (PNA)/real-time PCR combined method on different biological samples. Our results give additional information on the increase in mutation frequency with age in muscle tissue and revealed that the PNA/real-time PCR is a largely more sensitive method than DNA sequencing for heteroplasmy detection. These investigations could be of interest in the detection and interpretation of mtDNA heteroplasmy in anthropological and forensic studies.     

Diagnosis of carbon monoxide poisoning following embalming and exhumation

Clots of blood, which were found in the cardiac ventricles at an autopsy of an embalmed corpse, were to analyse for carbon monoxide. It was not possible to determine reliably the CO-Hb-content of the blood clots with the known methods. Therefore a new procedure was developed. Carbon monoxide was released by a solution of nitric acid and determined gas chromatographically by a headspace method. In the same vessel the iron-content of the sample was measured after decomposition with atomic absorption spectrometry. This procedure is especially suitable for samples like putrid or heat-clotted blood.     

Five years of follow-up after elemental mercury self-poisoning

A case of attempted suicide by injection of elemental mercury is described. Radiographs demonstrated the presence of widespread opacities of metallic mercury in both the lungs and the abdomen. During a 5-year follow-up, even though the patient had high concentrations of mercury in the urine and blood, only mild clinical symptoms and moderate carbon monoxide diffusing capacity reduction appeared. No biochemical evidence of damage to any organ was found.     

Suicide by means of a charcoal grill. Casuistic report with review of the literature

Due to the conversion of the gas supply from city gas to CO-free natural gas and the introduction of the catalytic converter technology for motor vehicles the number of suicides by CO poisoning has decreased considerably. Nevertheless suicides by CO poisoning are still committed once in a while. In the described case from the autopsy material of the Institute of Legal Medicine at Münster, the suicide used a charcoal grill as the source of carbon monoxide.     

Comparison of Different Analytical Methods for the Determination of Carbon Monoxide in Postmortem Blood

The determination of carbon monoxide (CO) and carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) is of utmost importance in forensic toxicology to determine the cause of death in cases of CO poisoning, fire, and explosions. To this end, reliable and updated analytical methods are required. In this paper, four different methods for the determination of carbon monoxide in postmortem blood samples were compared: (i) the spectrophotometric determination of COHb applying the method proposed by Rodkey and modified by Beutler–West, (ii) the spectrophotometric determination of CO using a micro-diffusion-based method, (iii) the determination of CO by gas chromatography coupled to a TCD detector, and (iv) the determination of COHb by blood gas analysis. Three postmortem blood samples were analyzed with all methods, and the results were comparable. The applied methodologies showed different features depending on the sensitivity, sample preparation, and volume. The HS-GC/TCD method in our hand was the most appropriate, on postmortem samples, and versatile to apply. Unfortunately, only a limited number of postmortem blood samples were available for this study due to the rarity of that kind of intoxication in our jurisdiction.     

Determination of organosilicon oxide polymers in tissue by atomic absorption spectroscopy using HGA graphite furnace

A simple method of extraction and determination of organosilicon oxide polymers (silicones) in 0.1-0.5 g of formalin fixed tissue by atomic absorption spectroscopy is described. Before the tissue is extracted with n-heptane, it is dried in a desiccator containing concentrated sulphuric acid. The graphite tubes in the HGA graphite furnace are tubes with L'vov platform. The evaporation of n-heptane and a part of the charing of the tissue extract in the tube are done in the presence of oxygen (air). The significance of the employment of L'vov platform and the presence of oxygen are discussed. The methods detection limit (2 X S.D.) is about 0.009 microgram silicon/ml tissue extract which corresponds to about 0.5 microgram polydimethylsiloxane/g tissue.     

A new method for detecting diatoms in human organs

A new method for diatom detection is described. It includes an ultrasonic irradiation procedure with the use of a tissue solubilizer. The method is easy to carry out and is less time-consuming than previous techniques.     

过敏性休克死亡者肺组织类胰蛋白酶及类糜蛋白酶的表达

目的观察类胰蛋白酶与类糜蛋白酶在过敏性休克死亡人体肺组织中的表达,并探讨其在过敏性休克死亡法医学鉴定中的意义。方法应用荧光免疫组化法对类胰蛋白酶与类糜蛋白酶进行检测,同时以10例CO中毒死者为对照：采用图像分析仪及Image—pro plus 5．0．2软件进行图像分析,计算阳性肥大细胞数及类胰蛋白酶、类糜蛋白酶荧光表达强度。结果与对照组相比,实验组肺组织中类胰蛋白酶和类糜蛋白酶表达差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。结论过敏性休克死亡人体肺组织中类胰蛋白酶与类糜蛋白酶的表达增强．可作为过敏性休克死亡的形态学诊断依据。     

The effect of electricity on the myoglobin content of the human heart and skeletal muscles

The myoglobin content of heart muscles was examined by the indirect immunoperoxidase method in eight autopsy cases where death was due to electricity. Seven cases showed a considerable release of myoglobin from the myocardial fibers. In experimental comparison, the heart muscles and skeletal muscles from nine cases where death was natural were exposed to electricity, and considerable deletion of myoglobin was also demonstrated. We believe that the findings of ischemia or thermal effects due to electricity were the cause of the release of myoglobin. Because the demonstration of myoglobin is preferable to estimation of the damaged areas of muscles by hematoxylin-eosin staining, this examination may be more advantageous in forensic examination of death by electricity.     

家兔心肌自溶蛋白质降解与死亡时间的关系

本文对家兔心肌自溶时的蛋白质水解和氨基酸代谢进行了研究。心肌组织在37℃湿盒中自溶15～480min,用离子交换色谱法测定游离氨基酸以及组织氨含量。自溶时大多数组织游离氨基酸含量上升,丙氨酸、赖氨酸和组氨酸含量在自溶15min即有明显增加,而谷氨酸含量呈下降趋势,同时组织氨含量上升。结果提示:心肌自溶早期蛋白质降解加速。上述结果有助于死亡时间的推断。     

Death scene evaluation in a case of fatal accidental carbon monoxide toxicity

Exposure of humans to high concentrations of carbon monoxide can result in death, due to the formation of carboxyhaemoglobin (COHb), which impairs the oxygen carrying capacity of the haemoglobin. Carbon monoxide is responsible of a great number of accidental domestic poisonings and deaths throughout the world, particularly in homes that have faulty or poorly vented combustion appliances. A case is reported, in which a 21-year-old woman was found dead, due to carbon monoxide poisoning from a gas water heater, despite the puzzling evidence that the heater has been used for more than 10 years without any problem. An evaluation of the exposure to CO was performed, by measuiring the rate of production of CO from the heater, and using the Coburn-Forster-Kane equation to describe the kinetics of the poisoning process. The death was attributed to an accidental poisoning from carbon monoxide due to a sum of unfortunate circumstances.     

Supravital electrical excitability of muscles

A new method of postmortem electrical stimulation of muscles, measuring the force of the reaction against time, is presented. Preliminary investigations have yielded the following results: The maximum force of reaction in response to a definitive stimulation, measured by a sensitive force transducer, decreases in proportion to the post mortem interval. Using this method, the mechanical reactions of muscles by electrical stimulation can be demonstrated over a much longer postmortem period as these movements are visible. The duration of postmortem reaction of different muscles seems to be much more uniform than was previously assumed. Occasionally, reactions of the M. orbicularis oculi can be seen for the longest time. The basal muscular tonus changes relative to time. The time course of a single force reaction also changes relative to the postmortal interval: the reaction becomes slower. It has been theoretically established that measurement of influencing factors such as temperature and pH in the tested muscle will enable the time of death to be more precisely estimated.     

Intramuscular bleeding in deaths from an internal cause: forensically significant differential diagnosis between external trauma and hemorrhages occurring during agony

Five cases of death from an internal cause are described in which bleeding into the muscles of the neck, the region of the shoulder girdle, the back of the thorax and partly the arms occurred during agony. As the cause of death was unclear at first and a violent crime could not be ruled out, a forensic autopsy was ordered in the course of which hemorrhages were detected which raised the differential diagnostic question whether extravasation might have been caused by an impact of blunt force. However, thorough investigation of the macroscopic and especially the microscopic structure of the lesions provided clear evidence that all the hemorrhages were due to internal causes. The pattern of these muscular lesions suggests intensified breathing with dyspnea leading to ruptures of the accessory respiratory muscles. Intramuscular bleedings of this type are a well-known phenomenon in legal medicine in connection with death by drowning, but have not been described in the medicolegal literature in cases of natural death from an internal cause so far.