Identification of fetal blood stains by radioimmunoassay of alpha 1-fetoprotein.

Radioimmunoassay of alpha 1-fetoprotein(AFP) for medico-legal identification of fetal blood stains using a commercial kit is described. The AFP content in fetal blood stains on filter paper ranged from 21--320 ng/9 mm2. The protein was detected in stains of adult blood and retroplacental blood in only negligible amounts. Aging of the blood stains did not influence the values up to 1 month. The method is simple and sensitive enough for application to medico-legal-practice.     

A fatal chronic ketamine poisoning

A few papers in the literature reported incident deaths by acute ketamine poisoning. In this paper, we report an unusual homicide caused by chronic ketamine poisoning. The victim was a 34-year old married woman with no previous medical history (except as reported herein) who died in her own home. The court investigation revealed that she was chronically poisoned by her husband over a period of about one year in an act of homicide. Determination of ketamine concentrations in autopsy specimens was carried out with gas-chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The results showed that ketamine concentration was 21 microg/mL in gastric contents, 3.8 microg/mL in blood and 1.2 microg/mL in urine. The most striking forensic findings were cardiac muscle fibrosis and hyaline degeneration of small arteries in victim's heart, the pathological features of ketamine poisoning previous reported only in animal studies.     

A fatal poisoning caused by methomyl and nicotine

A 35-year-old male was found lying in a prone position in his room. He was in cardiopulmonary arrest on arrival to hospital and was pronounced dead. There was no attempt at resuscitation. No miosis was observed on admission. At post-mortem his stomach contained 170 g greenish liquid with a small amount of shredded tobacco leaves. The serum cholinesterase activities were 47-90 IU (normal range for male: 200-440 IU). GC and GC-MS analyses showed nicotine (21.8 mg), methomyl (304 mg), and triazolam (1.69 mg) in his stomach. He had consumed tobacco leaves, Lannate containing water soluble methomyl (45%), and Halcion tablets containing 0.25 mg triazolam. Methomyl concentrations in blood were 3-8 ng/ml. Substantial amounts of methomyl (2260-2680 ng/ml) were detected in cerebrospinal fluid and vitreous humor. Nicotine concentrations in blood ranged from 222 to 733 ng/ml. A small amount of triazolam was detected only in bile (176 ng/ml) and liver (23 ng/g). The cause of death was respiratory paralysis produced by the additive effects of methomyl and nicotine shortly after consumption.     

Site-dependent production of gamma-hydroxybutyric acid in the early postmortem period

This study compared endogenous gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) concentrations in various postmortem fluid samples of 25 autopsy cases. All bodies were stored between 10-20 degrees C until autopsy, and the intervals between death and autopsy were less than 2 days (6-48 h). GHB concentrations were measured by headspace gas chromatography after GHB was converted to gamma-butyrolactone. Endogenous GHB concentrations were significantly higher in femoral venous blood (4.6+/-3.4 microg/ml, n=23) than in cerebrospinal fluid (1.8+/-1.5 microg/ml, n=9), vitreous humor (0.9+/-1.7 microg/ml, n=8), bile (1.0+/-1.1 microg/ml, n=9) and urine (0.6+/-1.2 microg/ml, n=12). GHB concentrations were similar in blood samples taken from different sites. Cut-off limits of 30 and 10 microg/ml are proposed for blood and urine, respectively, to discriminate between exogenous and endogenous GHB in decedents showing no or little putrefaction (postmortem intervals usually 48 h or less). The criterion established for endogenous GHB in postmortem urine may also be applicable to analytical results in cerebrospinal fluid, vitreous humor and bile from deceased persons.     

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.