Comparison of blood-ethanol concentration in deaths attributed to acute alcohol poisoning and chronic alcoholism

Ethanol concentrations were measured in femoral venous blood in deaths attributed to acute alcohol poisoning (N = 693) or chronic alcoholism (N = 825), according to the forensic pathology report. Among acute alcohol poisonings were 529 men (76%) with mean age 53 years and 164 women (24%) with mean age 53 years. In the chronic alcoholism deaths were 705 men (85%) with mean age 55 years and 120 women (15%) with mean age 57 years. The blood-ethanol concentrations were not related to the person's age (r = -0.17 in acute poisonings and r = -0.09 in chronic alcoholism). The distribution of blood-ethanol concentrations in acute poisoning cases agreed with a normal or Gaussian curve with mean, median, standard deviation, coefficient of variation, and spread of 0.36 g/100 mL, 0.36 g/100 mL, 0.086 g/100 mL, 24% and 0.074 to 0.68 g/100 mL, respectively. The corresponding concentrations of ethanol in chronic alcoholism deaths were not normally distributed and showed a mode between 0.01 and 0.05 g/100 mL and mean, median, and spread of 0.172 g/100 mL, 0.150 g/100 mL, and 0.01 to 0.56 g/100 mL, respectively. The 5th and 95th percentiles for blood-ethanol concentration in acute poisoning deaths were 0.22 and 0.50 g/100 mL, respectively. However, these values are probably conservative estimates of the highest blood-ethanol concentrations before death owing to metabolism of ethanol until the time of death. In 98 chronic alcoholism deaths (12%) there was an elevated concentration of acetone in the blood (>0.01 g/100 mL), and 50 of these (6%) also had elevated isopropanol (>0.01 g/100 mL). This compares with 28 cases (4%) with elevated blood-acetone in the acute poisoning deaths and 22 (3%) with elevated blood-isopropanol. We offer various explanations for the differences in blood-ethanol and blood-acetone in acute poisoning and alcoholism deaths such as chronic tolerance, alcohol-related organ and tissue damage (cirrhosis, pancreatitis), positional asphyxia or suffocation by inhalation of vomit, exposure to cold coupled with alcohol-induced hypothermia, as well as various metabolic disturbances such as hypoglycemia and ketoacidosis.     

血中乙醇质量浓度与神经行为能力的关系

目的 研究血中乙醇质量浓度与神经行为能力的关系。方法 采用中文第三版计算机化神经行为测试评价系统（NES-C3）,通过自身对照的方式,对233名饮酒者进行神经行为能力的测试。结果 当血中乙醇质量浓度I〉0．157mg／mL时,视简单反应时和数字筛选能力指数有显著性下降;当血中乙醇质量浓度I〉0．204mg／mL时,心算、视觉保留、线条判断能力指数有显著性下降。结论 神经行为能力随着血中乙醇质量浓度的升高而下降,然后随着乙醇的不断代谢,血中乙醇质量浓度的降低,神经行为能力逐渐恢复。     

A controlled study of the time-course of breath alcohol concentration after moderate ingestion of ethanol following a social drinking session

This paper evaluates the breath alcohol concentration (BrAC), nausea (feeling of being slightly intoxicated) and subjective driving performance after ingesting a moderate dose of alcohol in the presence of a light meal, which intends to approach a social drinking setting. 119 healthy individuals (69 males and 50 females, aged 21.7+/-3.0) ingested three glasses of wine (95mL each) and their BrAC was determined by an Alcotest 7410 at 15, 30, 45, 60, 90 and 120min post-drinking. 46% of females and no male subjects exceeded a BrAC of 0.25mg/L, the legal limit for driving fixed by some Western countries. 53% of the study population felt nausea during the experimental session and 20% self-reported impairment of their driving skills. In both cases these subjective effects were more pronounced in females. The major determinants of mean BrAC were time post-drinking, gender (male) and body mass index (BMI), all these variables being inversely associated. Females and individuals with a BMI lower than 22.5kg/m(2) were at an increased risk of exceeding the legal limit of BrAC. The feeling of nausea was significantly associated with gender (females), the ingestion of up to 2 drinks on weekdays, and having exceeded a BrAC of 0.25mg/L during the experimental study. The main predictor of self-perception of impaired driving skills was the feeling of nausea, followed by a BrAC in excess of 0.25mg/L. In conclusion, both females and subjects with lower BMI are at an increased risk of exceeding the legal limit of BrAC after moderate alcohol consumption resembling a social drinking setting.     

Excretion of alcohol in urine and diuresis in healthy men in relation to their age, the dose administered and the time after drinking

Healthy male volunteers drank neat whisky in amounts corresponding to 0.51, 0.68, or 0.85 g ethanol/kg body weight in 15-25 min after an overnight (10 h) fast. Urine was collected immediately before drinking and then at 60 min intervals for 7-8 h after intake. The volumes of urine voided were measured and the concentrations of alcohol (UAC) were determined by an enzymatic method. Ethanol-induced diuresis showed large inter-subject variations. The flow of urine was maximum between 60 and 120 min post-drinking when the median rates of production were 117 ml/h (range 55-335), 113 ml/h (range 41-453) and 373 ml/h (range 215-485) for 0.51, 0.68, and 0.85 g ethanol/kg respectively. The output of urine returned to normal (30-60 ml/h) after the peak UAC had passed despite an elevated blood alcohol concentration (BAC). The average amount of alcohol excreted in urine was 0.29 g (S.D. 0.119), 0.44 g (S.D. 0.246), and 1.00 g (S.D. 0.427) after the consumption of 0.51, 0.68 and 0.85 g ethanol/kg respectively. Neither peak diuresis nor the amount of alcohol excreted depended on a subject's age between 20 and 60 years. This work shows that after drinking a moderate dose of alcohol, only 0.7-1.5% of the amount consumed is excreted unchanged in urine. Ethanol-induced diuresis is most pronounced for the first 1-2 h after drinking (rising BAC). The production of urine returns to normal during the post-absorptive state.     

Genetically-induced variability of alcohol metabolism and its effect on drinking behavior and predisposition to alcoholism

Alcoholism is one of the most challenging current health problems in the Western countries with far-reaching medical, social, and economic consequences. There are a series of factors that interact in predisposing or protecting an individual against alcoholism and alcohol-related disorders. This article surveys the state of our knowledge concerning the biochemical and genetic variations in alcohol metabolism and their implications in alcohol sensitivity, alcohol drinking habits, and alcoholism in different racial/ethnic groups. The major pathway for the degradation of ethanol is its oxidation to hydrogen and acetaldehyde--to which many of the toxic effects of ethanol can be attributed. Variations in alcohol and acetaldehyde metabolism via genetically determined polymorphisms in alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) seem to play an important role in individual and racial differences in acute and chronic reactions to alcohol, alcohol drinking habits, as well as vulnerability to organ damage after chronic alcohol abuse. Alcohol sensitivity and associated discomfort symptoms accompanying alcohol ingestion may be determinental for the significantly low incidence of alcoholism among the Japanese, Chinese and other Orientals of Mongoloid origin. An abnormal ALDH isozyme has been found to be widely prevalent among individuals of the Mongoloid race and is mainly responsible for the acute sensitivity to alcohol commonly observed in this race. Persons sensitive to alcohol by virtue of their genetically controlled ALDH isozyme deficiency may be discouraged from drinking large amounts of alcohol in their daily life due to the initial adverse reaction experienced after drinking alcohol. Indeed, a significantly low incidence of the mitochondrial ALDH isozyme deficiency has been observed in alcoholics as compared to psychiatric patients, drug dependents and healthy controls in Japan. How far any variation in ADH and/or ALDH activity among individuals of Caucasian origin will have similar effects has yet to be studied.     

The histoenzymological diagnosis of the time of occurrence of a closed spinal cord trauma]

Time course of the activities of transport enzymes in capillary walls of human spinal cord was studied in various periods after closed injury to the cord, inflicted by hard blunt objects, with the use of histochemical methods for the detection of alkaline phosphatase and Mg-dependent ATPase. Wave-like fluctuations in the activities of the examined enzymes were revealed. The findings may be used to assess the period elapsed since the cord injury.     

Presentation of fingerprints of cadavers after an extended period of time, and also immersed cadavers

Dactyloscopic fingerprints of longer time in water laying corpses can be taken from the surface and rear face of the epidermis and from the corium with a simple method. Used are in household occurring or easily available substances. For best results in identification it is important to get all fingerprints without exchanging them.     

The morphological characteristics of the brain injuries in acceleration trauma depending on the conditions of its occurrence

The series of 175 cases of cranio-cerebral trauma (acceleration trauma by mechanism of its formation) was studied. Morphology of percussion and anti-percussion cerebral lesions was shown to depend on conditions of trauma formation and other factors including presence or lack of cranial bone fractures, cerebral vascular pathology, nature of trauma (isolated or combined) etc.     

The effect of time of death on extravascular tissue/blood secobarbital concentration ratios in the rat

Extravascular liver/blood and brain/blood ratios were found to be an average of 6% and 1% higher, respectively, in all experiments than total liver/blood and brain/blood ratios. This difference may be informative in establishing true tissue levels. There was a significant time effect (P less than 0.05) with the extravascular liver/blood ratios but not with the extravscular brain/blood ratios. Extravascular liver/blood ratios were slightly higher in phenobarbital-pretreated animals than in non-pretreated animals. Tissue secobarbital levels in pretreated and non-pretreated animals are not different at 1/4 or 1 h, even though pretreated animals received higher doses than non-pretreated animals. Tissue levels are significantly higher (P less than 0.01) in pretreated animals than in non-pretreated animals at 4 h. It is possible that, at this time period, the barbiturate-metabolizing enzymes have become saturated or exhausted.     

家兔死后眼玻璃体液锌、镍含量与 PMI关系的研究

目的寻找一种精确推定PMI的方法。方法应用电感耦合等离子体质谱（ICP－MS）,检测了家兔死后96小时内眼玻璃体液锌、镍元素含量,探讨其与PMI的相关性。结果家兔死后24h内眼玻璃体液锌、镍元素含量与PMI显著相关,可作为推定早期PMI的参考指标,其二项式回归方程分别为y=0.1404x2－1.3351x＋3.8298（R2=0.9202）、y=0.0043x2－0.0596x＋0.2665（R2=0.9103）。结论家兔眼玻璃体液中Zn、Ni元素含量变化是推定早期PMI的参考指标之一。     

家兔死后眼玻璃体液镁，铁含量与PMI关系的研究

目的寻找一种精确推定PMI的方法。方法应用电感耦合等离子体质谱(ICP-MS),检测家兔死后96h内眼玻璃体液镁、铁元素含量,探讨其与PMI的相关性。结果家兔死后0～48h眼玻璃体液镁元素含量与PMI显著相关,6～48h铁元素含量与PMI显著相关,其二项式回归方程分别为y=0.0738x2+0.6997x+11.45(R2=0.9119)、y=0.0411x2-0.3148x+1.4113(R2=0.9594)。结论家兔死后眼玻璃体液Mg、Fe含量变化可作为推定48h内PMI的参考指标之一。     

家兔眼玻璃体液21例元素含量PMI关系的研究

目的寻找一种精确推定PMI的方法。方法应用电感耦合等离子体质谱(ICP-MS),系统研究了家兔死后96h内眼玻璃体液21种元素含量与PMI的相关性。结果眼玻璃体液Co、Mo、Cd、Sb、I、Pb、Bi、Li共8种元素与PMI无关。K、Mg、Fe、P、Na、Al、Ca、Ti、Ni、Cu、Zn、Sr、Ba共13种元素含量与PMI有关。结论眼玻璃体液K、Mg、Fe、P、Na、Al、Ca、Ti、Ni、Cu、Zn、Sr、Ba共13种元素与PMI有关。为研究人尸体眼玻璃体液元素与PMI的关系奠定了选择指标的基础。     

The time limit on copyright: an unlikely tragedy of the intellectual commons

With their “tragedy of the commons” paradigm for intellectual property, Landes and Posner argue that the most important benefit of intellectual property rights is not that they generate incentives to create new works, but that they ensure the efficient exploitation of existing intellectual works. This alternative economic case for IP notably relies on the argument that allowing the copyright on certain massively popular works to expire could lead to their overexploitation, generating negative externalities similar to congestion externalities. This article will assess in detail the plausibility of this effect, by reviewing its most plausible interpretations: a boredom effect, a “blurring” or “tarnishment” effect, a snob effect, or a decrease in product diversity. I will argue that while Landes and Posner’s argument is ultimately inconclusive and unverified by the current state of empirical research, it also raises greater challenges than has usually been thought. Moreover, taking their argument seriously can also contribute to a better understanding of the purposes and limits of an intellectual property regime.     

The forensic medical determination of the time of occurrence of subdural hemorrhages in the acute period of fatal craniocerebral trauma]

Presents the results of spectrophotometric and histologic examinations of subdural bleedings, meninges and brain matter in the acute period of a lethal craniocerebral injury. Discusses the possible use of a complex of histologic and biochemical studies in determination of the period elapsed since the injury.     

在全社会掀起新一轮法制宣传教育高潮

最近,十一届全国人大常委会第二十次会议表决通过了全国人大常委会关于进一步加强法制宣传教育的决议。根据决议,从2011年到2015年在全体公民中组织实施法制宣传教育第六个五年规划。     

FN－Ⅲcs在皮肤切创中的表达与损伤时间关系

目的研究纤维连接蛋白可变剪接片段Ⅲcs在不同损伤时间皮肤中的表达,为早期损伤时间的判定指标提供实验依据.方法DIG标记反意RNA探针,以原位杂交的方法检测大鼠和人体皮肤在损伤早期FNⅢcs表达的变化.结果(1)人体及大鼠皮肤损伤后30min皮肤网状层的毛囊、皮脂腺、血管内皮层中表达FNⅢcs的阳性细胞数开始增多,至伤后6h达到高峰,以后又逐渐减少.(2)人体皮肤FNⅢcs表达的部位与大鼠有明显的差异.结论FNⅢcs的原位检测可望成为判断早期损伤时间的有用指标;为FNⅢcs在创伤修复中的合成方式、部位和作用的研究提供了实验基础.     

大鼠脑挫伤后神经细胞DNA片段化和含量变化与损伤时间的关系

目的观察大鼠脑挫伤后神经细胞DNA片段化和DNA含量的时序变化规律。方法建立自由落体打击大鼠脑挫伤动物模型,采用TUNEL和Feulgen′sDNA染色方法,结合图像分析技术进行研究。结果大鼠脑挫伤后随着损伤时间延长DNA片段化程度逐渐增强,而DNA含量逐渐降低。结论采用TUNEL和Feulgen′sDNA染色法观察伤后DNA片段化和DNA含量变化,可以应用于脑损伤时间推断的研究,探索推断损伤时间的新方法。     

The effect of contextual cues on children's ability to remember an occurrence of a repeated event

Purpose. This study examined the usefulness of contextual cues in enhancing the accuracy of children's narrative accounts of an occurrence of a repeated event. Method. Children aged 6 to 7 years took part in the same staged event four times whereby 16 target details varied in each occurrence (e.g. the colour of a cloak varied each time). Three days later, the children's free recall of the final occurrence was elicited. This occurrence was identified in one of two ways. Either it was identified via the temporal term ‘last’, or else the term ‘last’ was combined with a feature related to the environmental context or setting that was unique to the occurrence (i.e., the interviewer referred to a new object that was worn throughout the occurrence or a new person who carried out the event). For each condition, performance was compared to that of children who experienced the event only once. Results. Children's memory of details specific to the target occurrence was better after the single than the repeated event. However for both event types, children who were given the contextual and temporal cue performed better than those who were given the temporal cue only. The benefit of using a contextual cue did not result in an increase in errors. Conclusion. Contextual cues (generated by an interviewer) can facilitate children's recall of an occurrence of an event. However, further research needs to determine whether this finding would generalize to a more practical situation where the child (rather than the interviewer) generates the cues.     

Changes in the lipid composition of latent fingerprint residue with time after deposition on a surface

The work described in this report was focused on generating increased knowledge of fingerprint chemistry, particularly the composition of a latent fingerprint at the time it is deposited, and the chemical changes in lipid components that occur over time. Fingerprints from five male donors (aged 25-34 years) were collected and aged under controlled conditions. The prints were then sampled at set intervals, solvent extracted with dichloromethane, co-derivatized with MSTFA and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). It was shown that there was loss of squalene from prints stored in the light or in the dark. Loss was more rapid in the light, with squalene in prints from some donors not detected after 9 days storage. For these same donors, squalene was still detected after 33 days storage in the dark, but at much lower levels than in fresh prints. For saturated fatty acids (tetradecanoic, palmitic and stearic acid) there was a trend towards an increase in levels of these substances during storage (up to about 20 days) followed by a decrease back to original levels or below. This was the case for samples stored in the light or in the dark. For palmitoleic acid, a similar trend was seen. For oleic acid, this trend was seen for samples stored in the dark. For samples stored in the light the general trend was a decrease in level over the storage period (up to 33 days).