Determination of paraquat from formalin-fixed tissue

In this paper, a sulfuric acid digestion method and a clean-up technique by using cation exchange resin followed by XAD-2 resin has been developed for the determination of paraquat from formalin-fixed tissue at the submicrograms per gram level. Formalin-fixed tissue is dissolved by hot sulfuric acid, then paraquat is isolated and purified with cation exchange chromatography. The eluted paraquat forms an ion-pair with sodium dodecyl sulfate, it is then adsorbed on XAD-2 resin. Paraquat is eluted, extracted and reduced with solvent mixtures, NaCl solution and dithionite reagent, respectively. The calibration graphs of zero-order and second-derivative spectroscopy are linear in the range of 0.01-5.0 mg/kg. The relative standard deviation was less than 5% and the detection limit was 0.02 mg/kg based on 0.5-g samples. The sensitivity of the proposed method could be increased by using larger sample sizes. The method was precise and gave a quantitative recovery of paraquat spiked into formalin-fixed liver homogenates (78%). The proposed method has been satisfactorily applied to the determination of paraquat in the formalin-fixed tissues of suspected poisoned cases. It has been shown to be of great value in the field of forensic toxicology especially when formalin-fixed tissue only is available.     

A fatality involving phentermine

A case is presented where phentermine, a sympathomimetic amine used as an anorectic drug, is believed to have significantly contributed to the death of an individual in whom other drugs were also found. Blood, urine, and tissue concentrations of phentermine are reported and compared to other cases in the literature.     

Further evidence for phenotypes and gene frequencies of nine salivary polymorphisms in Japanese population

Nine salivary polymorphic systems (Pa, Pb, Pr, Db, PmF, PIF, Ph, Amy1 and s-AcP) were examined using parotid and whole saliva from random Japanese individuals. The gene frequencies obtained were: Pa+ = 0.221, Pb1 = 1.000 Pr1 = 0.741, Db+ = 0.033, PIF+ = 0.715, Ph+ = 0.029, Amyv1 = 0.013 and s-AcPA = 0.217, respectively.     

Studies on asphyxia: lipids in the alveoli of rats in hypoxic state

Biochemical characterization in alveolar lavage fluids of rats which had inhaled 5% oxygen, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide was studied in comparison with control rats. The protein content, consisting mainly of serum albumin, markedly increased in the hypoxic states. The phospholipid content also increased one and a half to two times as much as in the control rats. The phospholipids which increased in the alveoli were mainly pulmonary surfactant phospholipids, i.e. phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylglycerol. The phospholipid profiles did not appear to be affected by the leakage of plasma lipids. These findings indicate that pulmonary surfactant phospholipids accumulate in the alveoli of rats in the hypoxic states examined here.     

A study on the vital reaction in wounded skin: simultaneous determination of histamine and polyamines in injured rat skin by high-performance liquid chromatography

This paper describes a modified method of simultaneous quantitative determination of histamine and polyamines (putrescine, cadaverine, spermidine and spermine) in incised skin wounds of rats using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with a strong-cation exchange column, shim-pack ISC-05/S0504P, employing a linear gradient of 0.7-2.5 M sodium chloride. There was scarcely any change in the histamine content of the vital wounds throughout the one week experimental period, although content decreased slightly in 1-h-old wounds. On the other hand, concentrations of putrescine and spermidine increased suddenly 12 h after wounding, and spermine content increased slightly in 4-day-old wounds. There was no post-mortem change in the histamine, spermidine and spermine contents of vital wounds allowed to stand at 25 degrees C up to 24 h after death. Based on these results, this HPLC method may be useful for the determination of wound age during the period of healing.     

Detection of diatoms in blood by a combination of membrane filtering and chemical digestion

An improved method for detecting diatom in blood is reported. Blood of cadavers was obtained by cardiac puncture at inquest or from the left atrium directly at autopsy. The blood was hemolyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and filtered through membrane filter (47 mm in diameter and 5 microns in pore size). When the blood was putrefied, two or three pieces of membranes filters were needed because of choking membrane pore. The membrane filters were digested with fuming nitric acid and diluted with distilled water. The diluted solution was filtered through membrane filter (25 mm in diameter) again. After drying the membrane filter was immersed in oil. Diatoms on the membrane filter were clearly observed microscopically.     

Affirmed: A Study of Criminal Appeals and Decision-Making Norms in a California Court of Appeal

The work of state intermediate appellate courts is often described as “correcting legal errors” and “supervising” trial courts. But what do these labels mean in practice? This article explores the intermediate appellate process through a study of criminal appeals in a California Court of Appeal. Part I describes the characteristics and dispositions of criminal appeals. Contrary to popular impression, a conviction was reversed in only about 5 percent of these appeals. To explain the low reversal rate, part II draws upon interviews with justices of the Court of Appeal to examine the institutional norms and perspectives guiding the court's decisions. The basic decision norms described by the justices are norms of affirmance: for example, the harmless error rule and the substantial evidence rule incline the court to affirm despite certain legal errors or factual questions. Moreover, the particularistic approach the court typically takes in its decision making apparently sensitizes it to the substantive characteristics prevailing in criminal appeals: the crimes are serious and there is little doubt about factual guilt. The low reversal rate and the analysis of the court's norms suggest that intermediate appellate review of criminal convictions is narrower and more constrained than the “error correction” and “supervision” labels imply. Part III explores the implications of the case study for appellate policy.     

Age estimation from the rib by phase analysis: white females

Metamorphosis at the sternal extremity of the rib has already been established as a reliable indicator of age at death. Using a sample of white males, it was shown that an accurate estimation of age can be made by direct examination of the bone itself. However, because of sexual differences in hormonal production and dimorphism in the skeleton, the present study was carried out to develop an appropriate standard for age determination from the sternal rib in white females. The sample consisted of 86 ribs of known age, sex, and race. Observations were made at the costochondral junction with special attention to pit formation (its shape and depth), changes in the walls and rim surrounding it, and overall bone density and texture. Based on changes in these areas, the ribs were separated into nine phases (0 through 8). The most rapid metamorphosis occurred in Phases 1 through 4 (mean ages 14-28) with changes noticeable at 3 to 4 year intervals. After mean age 28, this process slowed, considerably expanding the interval between phases to 10 to 15 years. The female ribs showed both earlier initial pit formation and a different morphologic pattern of aging as compared with males. Statistical analysis revealed that the features chosen to delineate the phases are valid predictors of age. This study has shown that the sternal rib can provide an accurate estimation of age in females spanning a mean age of 14 to 76 years.