Clinico-morphological parameters of heroin abuse and pathology connected with it

Morphological manifestations of narcomania in heroin users are described. Diseases associated with heroin narcomania and causes of death of heroin users are presented. Morphological manifestations at the site of injections and inflammatory reactions in parenchymatous organs are characterized. The authors pay special attention to the productive inflammation which can serve as one of the signs that confirm narcomania in cases with parenteral injections of crude heroin. The authors refer the granulomas to toxic allergic form of granulomatous hypersensitive inflammation.     

Blood carbon monoxide and hydrogen cyanide concentrations in the fatalities of fire and non-fire associated civil aviation accidents, 1991-1998

To evaluate pathophysiological significance of post-mortem urinary myoglobin levels in determining the cause of death, we investigated 210 forensic autopsy cases, partially in comparison with serum levels. Post-mortem serum myoglobin levels were extraordinary high in most cases possibly due to post-mortem change. Urinary myoglobin levels did not correlate with the serum levels, showing possible post-mortem elevation in cases of a prolonged post-mortem period over 48h. A high (>1000 ng/ml), moderate (100-1000 ng/ml), slight (50-100 ng/ml) and not significant (<50 ng/ml) elevation of urinary myoglobin were observed in 26, 43, 31 and 110 cases, respectively. Half the highly elevated cases were those with a survival time over 24h. In cases of minor muscle injury such as head trauma, elevation of urinary myoglobin level was closely related to longer survival. In acute/subacute deaths with a post-mortem interval within 48h, a significant difference was observed in relation to the blood carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) levels of fire victims: myoglobinuria over 100 ng/ml was more frequently and markedly observed in cases with COHb below 60% than over 60%, suggesting muscle damage in fatal burns. Similar elevation was observed in heat stroke victims, and also in some cases of acute and subacute death from polytrauma, asphyxiation, drowning, electricity and spontaneous cerebral bleeding, but not in myocardial infarction. Thus, it was suggested that high post-mortem urinary myoglobin levels in acute and subacute death cases may be a possible indicator of antemortem massive skeletal muscle damage as well as exertional muscle hyperactivity or convulsive disorders associated with hypoxia.     

Susceptibility of PharmChek drugs of abuse patch to environmental contamination

The key component of the PharmChek sweat patch, the membrane, has been tested for the passage of externally applied materials. Drugs in the uncharged state rapidly penetrated the membrane but charged species were greatly slowed. In basic media, detectable concentrations of cocaine, methamphetamine, and heroin were observed at the earliest collection time (ca. 30 s), after drugs were placed on the outside of the membrane. Drug concentrations increased over the 2 h time course, when amounts detected (1710 ng cocaine, 1060 ng methamphetamine, 550 ng heroin per pad at 2 h) represented 5-17% of the drug deposited on the surface of the sweat patch.Drugs externally applied to human skin were shown to bind readily. Drugs deposited on the skin of drug-free volunteers several days prior to application of the sweat patch were not completely removed by normal hygiene or the cleaning procedures recommended before application of the sweat patch. Even 6 days of normal hygiene did not remove all drugs from externally contaminated skin and positive sweat patches resulted. A mechanism for passage of drugs through the sweat patch membrane, a mechanism for retention of drugs on skin, and a redesign of the sweat patch and modification of its use to reduce external contamination are proposed. Appropriate care should be taken in the interpretation of positive results from a sweat patch test until more research is conducted.     

Molecular autopsy of sudden unexplained death in the young

Sudden unexplained death (SUD) claims over 4,000 persons between the age of 1 and 22 each year in the United States. Nearly half of all pediatric SUD cases have a normal structural autopsy evaluation and are dismissed without a diagnosis. With the discovery of the genetic basis for potentially fatal arrhythmias associated with the inherited long QT syndrome (LQTS), postmortem molecular diagnosis of this disorder is possible. The authors describe the results of a molecular autopsy performed on a 17-year-old boy found dead in bed. A novel clinical test involving an epinephrine challenge in the decedent's mother implicated a potential defect in the phase 3 potassium current encoded by the gene KVLQT1. Exon-specific amplification by polymerase chain reaction and direct DNA sequencing of KVLQT1 revealed a 5-base pair deletion in the genetic material recovered from the decedent's paraffin-embedded heart tissue. The ability to perform molecular autopsies on archived necropsy material undoubtedly will transform the forensic evaluation of SUD. The combination of catecholamine provocation testing in survivors and a postmortem LQTS gene analysis may unmask families with "concealed" LQTS and establish the cause and manner of death in SUDS.     

A protocol for the forensic analysis of condom and personal lubricants found in sexual assault cases.

In sexual assault cases, lubricant trace evidence may supplement biological evidence, or may be the primary physical evidence where biological evidence is unavailable. This study considered a total of 50 lubricants from condoms and personal lubricant products available in Australia. Differentiation of the samples was attempted using fluorescence examination, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (DRIFTS), gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, and pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Eleven of the samples were uniquely identified by the analysis scheme, while the remainder of the samples were separated into nine groups. As a result of this study, a recommended protocol for the detection and analysis of an "unknown" biological swab was produced.     

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。