Alcohol dependence and criminal behavior: preliminary results of an association study of environmental and genetic factors in an italian male population

The aim of this study is to propose an innovative approach evaluating the connection between alcohol use disorders and criminal behavior. The research, structured as a case–control study, was based on the analysis of environmental (social variables) and genetic factors (single nucleotide polymorphisms of glutamic acid decarboxylase) in a population (N = 173) of Italian alcohol‐dependent men. Group 1 (N = 47, convicted subjects) was compared with Group 2 (N = 126, no previous criminal conduct). Grade repetition, work problems, and drug problems were statistically associated with criminal behavior. Having daily family meals together and having children were inversely related to convictions. The genotype distribution of the two groups was similar. The association between environmental factors and antisocial behavior confirms previous findings in the literature. The lack of genetic association does not exclude the role of the gamma‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) system in determining antisocial behavior; further studies with larger samples are needed, together with investigation of other components of the GABA pathway.     

Vital reactions to frostbite of the ear and paw skin in guinea pigs exposed to the cold

Vital reactions to frostbite in the paw and ear skin of guinea pigs were studied in order to find an animal model for frostbite in cases of accidental hypothermia. One group of animals was rendered hypothermic (rectal temperature, 30 degrees C) by exposure to an ambient temperature of -20 degrees C, and samples were taken from the frozen skin. A second group was rendered hypothermic and rewarmed in warm air at 45 degrees C, and samples were taken from the thawed skin. The only vital reaction in the first group (freezing time, 4-5 h) was mild initial inflammation, which was expressed in granulocyte adhesion to the vessel wall and the migration of a few cells into the dermis. The inflammatory reaction was more distinct in the second group (freezing and thawing together 5-7 h), with a large number of granulocytes being present in the dermis. Oedema and hyperaemia were also present in the frostbitten tissue after thawing, but no signs of necrosis developed. The alkaline-phosphatase reaction demonstrated the presence of granulocytes more clearly than H & E or Masson trichrome staining. Vital reactions were more advanced in the ear skin. It is concluded that vital reactions are very scarce in cases of frostbite, even after several hours' exposure, unless the tissue is allowed to thaw.     

三种酸类易制毒化学品的衍生化气相色谱—质谱鉴定

基于五氟苄基溴（PFBBr）微波衍生化的气相色谱—质谱（GC-MS）鉴定N-乙酰邻氨基苯甲酸、邻氨基苯甲酸和苯乙酸三种酸类易制毒化学品,以苯甲酸为内标物。N-乙酰邻氨基苯甲酸衍生化产物特征碎片峰为119、181、317、359;邻氨基苯甲酸衍生化产物特征碎片峰为119、181、317;苯乙酸衍生化产物特征碎片峰为91、181、316。检测结果与直接测试比较,色谱峰型明显改善,检测灵敏度提高,检测限（S/N=3∶1）3~12ng。该方法可以用于N-乙酰邻氨基苯甲酸、邻氨基苯甲酸和苯乙酸的鉴定。     

Structural variations of the VWA locus in humans and comparison with non-human primates

The HUMVWA locus was examined in 160 samples from the Japanese population. A total of 142 fragments were sequenced, and the counterpart sequences were also determined in non-human primates. In humans, 10 different alleles were found; they could be grouped into seven allelic classes based on the total number of repeats. No variation was observed in the alleles 17, 18 and 19, which showed consensus sequence structures and in the allele 14, which showed a different structure. New variation was found in alleles 15, 16, and 20, which had differences occurred in a basic (TCTA)(TCTG)(n) repeat in the 5' side. The counterpart fragments were successfully amplified in three species (chimpanzees, gorilla, and orangutan) out of four kinds of anthropoids, three species (rhesus macaques, Japanese macaques, and green monkey) out of four kinds of old world monkeys, but not in one species of either new world monkey or prosimian. The sizes of the fragments distributed from 92 to 180 bp in non-human primates and showed allelic size differences in four species. The sequence of the 5' flanking region followed by primer sequences in humans and anthropoids, which consisted of 19 bp, was identical in all, but differed from that in old world monkeys. The basic repeat motifs of humans and anthropoids consisted of TCTA, TCTG, and TCCA but that of old world monkeys consisted of TCTG, TCCG and TCCA The structures of humans and anthropoids were essentially similar, but with characteristic difference in each species. Differences in the allelic structures of old world monkeys were complex. Seven different alleles were observed in two rhesus and two Japanese macaques and one type of allele was observed in two green monkeys. Duplication of more than two repeat units of 4 bp was found in an allele of an old world monkey. These data illuminate interesting features of mutational changes in STRs during the long generations and also some insight into evolutional aspects of primates.     

一起毒鼠强食物中毒的调查分析及其实验室筛查探索

目的　探讨原因不明性食物中毒的检查策略。　方法　结合一起发生的原因不明性食物中毒案例 ,应用流行病学和简易急性动物试验等方法 ,对导致中毒的致病因素进行分析与判定。　结果　中毒案例的暴露时间为早餐时 ,平均潜伏期为 4 7.84分。中毒反应以神经症状和消化道症状为主。依病例的客观特征分层对其食谱分析 ,筛选出水煮豆腐是本次中毒的可疑食物。 7种剩余食物进行的急性动物试验中发现 ,水煮豆腐的小白鼠灌注量与中毒反应呈剂量反应关系 ,半数致死剂量为LD5 0 =1.68mg/ g。气相色谱 - -质谱仪分析确定水煮豆腐中的毒性性质为四次甲基二砜四胺。　结论　本案通过采用症状分析、急性动物实验和毒物分析测定方法确定了一起原因不明性食物中毒的中毒原因。这种检查策略有助于原因不明性食物中毒及其它突发中毒事件的性质判定。     

Biochemical pathways generating post-mortem volatile compounds co-detected during forensic ethanol analyses

In this contribution are presented the fermentations of the main substrates present in a decaying corpse, namely carbohydrates, amino acids, glycerol and fatty acids, generating the post-mortem volatile compounds that could be detected along with ethanol during the forensic ethanol analysis. The available literature (preferably reviews) on microbial metabolic pathways (enzymes, substrates, conditions) that are implicated in the formation of these volatiles has been reviewed. The microbial formation of the following volatiles is supported by the presented biochemical data: ethanol, acetaldehyde, acetone, 2-propanol, 1-propanol, 1-butanol, isobutanol, isoamyl alcohol, d-amyl alcohol, acetate, propionate, butyrate, isobutyrate and ethyl esters (mainly ethyl acetate). The extracted information was correlated with the existing forensic literature on the post-mortem detected volatiles. The significance of the microbial produced volatiles on the selection of an appropriate internal standard for the ethanol analysis has been considered. Finally, the possible contribution of the presence of volatiles in the interpretation of ethanol analysis results in post-mortem cases is discussed.     

Study of the reaction mechanism of 1,8-diazafluoren-9-one with the amino acid, L-alanine

This paper describes the study of the reaction between 1, 8-diazafluoren-9-one (DFO) with the amino acid L-alanine in methyl alcohol. Particular interest was paid to the possible role of the solvent which appears to react with the DFO to form a hemiketal that is the reactive species. A potential reaction pathway is proposed based on the current data collected. The reaction intermediates and products were identified by a variety of spectroscopic methods including mass spectrometry (MS), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, and X-ray crystallography.     

Pathological myophosphorylase reaction in malignant hyperthermia

In malignant hyperthermia, myophosphorylase reaction shows characteristic changes that take place within minutes: (1) a generally strongly weakened reaction; (2) numerous negatively reacting fibres; (3) frequently, fibre sections that show spotty and/or striatal weak or negative reactions and fibre sections with strong striatal reactions with relatively narrow sarcomere spacings (a "sign of hypercontraction"). Obviously, the morphological findings that show characteristic "striated fibres" are typical of the malignant hyperthermia syndrome! It is important to note that the muscular fibres showing such changes are, as a rule, inconspicuous when using other stains and reactions. These pathological myophosphorylase reactions were observed in five deceased patients (one independently of anaesthesia after an extended walk) and in 19 pigs (18 times after halothane testing and once in an experimental animal with clinical evidence of the presence of malignant hyperthermia). These reactions were not noted in pigs with negative halothane reactivity or prior to halothane testing. They were also not seen in a large number of very different healthy and diseased control and reference cases from our biopsy and autopsy material. Myophosphorylase reaction enables convincing demonstration of malignant hyperthermia, past or present. Hence, it is possible to elucidate puzzling deaths or verify apparently clear death occurring during or subsequent to anaesthesia or simply following stress ("human stress syndrome"). Many of these deaths doubtlessly escape the attention of clinicians using the usual morphological examination methods. However, the reaction cannot be used to identify potential victims.     

The influence of hypnotics on the development of morphological and biochemical wound reaction (author's transl)]

The influence of hypnotics (barbital and carbromal) on the development of the early wound reactions in mechanically injured skin of guinea pigs was investigated: 1) The cellular reactions in incised wounds were retarded after moderate intoxication by hypnotics (300 mg/kg barbital; 3 g/kg carbromal). The histomorphological changes in wounds were inhibited by carbromal twice as much as by barbital. The hitherto published investigations had not shown any retardation of the early cellular inflammation by weakening influences such as loss of blood or alcohol without symptoms of shock (Berg et al., 1977) or local disturbances by acids and bases (Kampmann et al., 1978). 2). A moderate delay of the activity of structure bound enzymes was found in barbital intoxication, a stronger restriction under the influence of carbromal. 3) After barbital intoxication significant elevation of histamine or serotonin in wounds was not seen. Under the influence of carbromal there was also no increase of histamine but an increase of serotonin. Thus, although the cellular reactions seem to be the most reliable indicator among the methods for the determinations of wound age under devitalizing influences, their value is reduced in cases of intoxications by hypnotics needing treatment. Possible pathophysiological connections of the alterations of morphological and biochemical wound reaction with shock are discussed.     

保存犬尸体中自生醇的研究

目的建立组织中自生醇直接进样毛细管柱气相色谱检测方法；建立犬尸体中自生醇研究模型．观察犬尸体中自生醇的产生情况。方法犬经CO2处死，置于室温，分别于死后0、2、4、8、12、24、48、72、96、120h采集样品，样品匀浆后（体液除外）离心去上清，内标溶液1：2（体液为1：4）稀释，直接进样，气相色谱法检测，保留时间定性，内标法定量。结果甲醇、丙酮、乙醇、正丙醇、异丁醇、异丙醇、正丁醇、异戊醇的保留时间分别为（2．77±0．01）、（3．42±0．01）、（3．87±0．01）、（5．92±0．01）、（7．54±0．01）、（7．92±0．01）、（10．33±0．01）、（13．55±0．01）min；大部分组织如心血、下腔静脉血、尿、胆汁、肝、脾、肺和肾在犬死后12h可检出乙醇，肌肉、玻璃体液、和大脑分别在死后48、72、96h检出乙醇；乙醇和正丙醇的生成存在正相关。结论死亡犬体内会产生自生醇，尿中检出乙醇不能判定为生前饮酒，在涉及乙醇的法医学检案中。特别是腐败样品．应注意自生醇对乙醇定性和定量可能造成的影响，应采集不易腐败的组织如玻璃体液、肌肉或大脑，检测乙醇及自生醇含量，并观察与正丙醇的比例关系来进行综合判定。     

Drug and chemical related deaths: incidence in the State of Maryland--1975 to 1980

The incidence of drug and chemical related deaths was studied over a six-year period in the State of Maryland. Deaths were classified into the following categories: alcohol, carbon monoxide (CO), single drugs, multiple drugs, and narcotism. The last three categories were further subdivided as to the specific drugs or chemicals involved. Over the six-year period the number of alcohol and CO deaths remained steady, the number of barbiturate and propoxyphene deaths declined, while the number of tricyclic antidepressant drug deaths increased.     

Stability of toluene and reduction of acetone to 2-propanol in homogenates of the human liver, brain and lungs

The homogenates of the livers, lungs and brains collected from five different cadavers were placed in the desiccator filled with vapours of rubber glue solvents and the concentrations of toluene, acetone and 2-propanol were determined during the 28-day storage at +25, +4 and -20 degrees C. It was demonstrated that only freezing of the material stabilised the initial concentration of these three xenobiotics while cooling to +4 degrees C resulted in limited conversion of acetone to 2-propanol and additionally reduced the biodegradation of toluene in the brain homogenates. Moreover, it was showed that at +25 degrees C the loss of acetone was almost equimolarly balanced by the 2-propanol increase, which allowed to estimate the initial concentration of acetone with the mean error of about 10%.     

氟乙酰胺和氟乙酸的毛细管柱气相色谱检测

本文建立氟乙酰胺和氟乙酸的毛细管柱气相色谱检测方法，氟乙酰胺和氟乙酸的线性检测范围为0．0625mg/ml～4mg／ml和0．625mg／ml~20mg／ml，最小检出浓度为31．25ug／ml和625ng/ml．太原地区地摊所售鼠药87．5％含有氟乙酰胺，30％含有氟乙酸．     

High cervical stress and apnoea

The aim of this study was to investigate vegetative reactions in infants after mechanical irritation of the suboccipital region. The investigation is based on 199 infants who were observed while being treated with a suboccipital impulse (manual therapy). The results revealed vegetative reactions in more than half of all cases (52.8%, n=105). The frequency of such vegetative reactions observed was at follows: flush 48.7% (n=97), apnoea 22.1% (n=44), hyperextension 13% (n=26), and sweating 7.5% (n=15). It is pointed out that ≈25% of all the infants examined reacted by apnoea due to a mechanical irritation of the suboccipital region. This symptom was part of an extensive vegetative reaction. This method of inducing an apnoea has not yet been described; from this it follows that there are close relations to sudden infant death.     

Forensic medicine and toxicologic aspects of 2-propanol poisoning

Two cases of poisoning with 2-propanol (isopropylalcohol) are reported. In one case, nail polish remover was drunk by a 2-year-old child. The concentration of 2-propanol and its metabolite acetone in the blood could be observed over a period of approximately 50 h. The highest concentration of 2-propanol determined was 4.22 g/l. Acetone reached a maximum value of 2.27 g/l 12 h after ingestion. The child survived without any observable after-effects. In the second case, a 35-year-old man drank ethanol in addition to 2-propanol. The poisoning was lethal. The possible time of intake before death is discussed in relation to the estimated levels of ethanol, 2-propanol and acetone found in the blood and urine. The histomorphological findings are often important as well with regard to time of intake.     

Alcohol use among fatally injured drivers in Spain

Blood from 285 fatally injured drivers in Northern Spain was collected and tested for the presence of alcohol and drugs. Alcohol was detected in 50.5% of all fatalities. Alcohol alone was detected in 44.2% of all samples and in the remaining 6.3% another substance was found together with alcohol. Blood alcohol concentration was classified in different levels. It has been observed that in 35.4% of the cases the blood alcohol level was > or = 0.8 g/l, the legal limit in Spain for car drivers. Alcohol together with other substances was encountered in 18 cases, with medication in 22.2% (4 out of 18), alcohol with illegal drugs in 66.6% of the cases (12 out of 18), and alcohol with medicines and illegal drugs in 11.1% (2 out of 18). Cocaine was the most commonly detected drug. The study shows how widespread the incidence of a high level of alcohol concentration among drivers involved in fatal accidents in Spain.     

Pathological intoxication and alcohol idiosyncratic intoxication--Part I: Diagnostic and clinical aspects

The concept of pathological intoxication and its successor term, alcohol idiosyncratic reaction, has been one of ambiguity and professional disagreement. The history of such an entity reveals contradictions and varying usage--particularly in regard to the amount of alcohol required. Some feel that the current classification system is broad enough to include such reactions without the use of such terms. Laboratory and electroencephalographic findings are not diagnostic. The author suggests that if the concept is to be retained, psychiatrists utilize where possible the term "alcohol idiosyncratic reaction" in accord with Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) III guidelines, particularly in view of the medicolegal implications discussed in Part II, which follows as a separate paper.     

The reactivity of gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) and gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) in alcoholic solutions

In this work the stability of GBL (gamma-butyrolactone) and GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyric acid) in alcoholic media was studied. Under acidic conditions the GBL will react with ethanol or methanol to give the corresponding ethyl and methyl esters of GHB. It can be seen that ester formation is dependent on the type of alcohol, the alcohol content of the solution, and the pH of the solution. Under the same conditions it was shown that GHB does not give rise directly to the corresponding ester when merely in the presence of an alcohol; however the ester will be formed if the conditions are present for conversion of GHB to GBL followed by subsequent reaction with alcohol. In alcoholic beverage samples spiked with GBL the expected conversion to GHB occurred, and the formation of the ethyl ester of GHB was also seen in some samples. Wine samples were analyzed for the presence of the ethyl ester of GHB, and the effect of adding GHB/GBL to hot beverages was studied.     

Detection of toluene in an adipoceratous body

A 24-year-old male was found dead in a car left in a river for about 3 months. The cadaver was almost adipoceratous and autopsy findings revealed that there were neither remarkable injuries nor lethal diseases. Toluene, ethanol, 1-propanol, 2-propanol, 1-butanol, dimethyl sulfide, dimethyl disulfide, isovaleraldehyde and n-butyl n-butyrate were detected in the specimens collected at the autopsy by head space gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The toluene concentrations (μg/g) were 31.0 in brain, 10.6 in liver, 5.4 in kidney, 15.0 in skeletal muscle and 187.1 in adipose tissue. The presence of diatom in lung, liver and kidney suggested that death was caused by drowning. So far as we know, this is the first report of detection of toluene in an adipoceratous body.