Application of three spectrometric methods to total selenium determination in postmortem material in a case of acute selenium compound poisoning

Three spectrometric methods, that is, spectrofluorimetry (SF), atomic absorption spectrometry with electrothermal atomization (ET-AAS), and atomic fluorescence spectrometry with hydride generation (HG-AFS) were used for the determination of total selenium in biological samples taken from postmortem material in a case of acute selenium compound poisoning. The precision of the SF, ET-AAS, and HG-AFS methods (RSD, n=10) was found to be in the ranges of 10.0-15.0, 3.0-6.0 and 1.0-1.5%, respectively, and the detection limit was 10.0, 4.0, and 0.1 μg/L of Se, respectively. In the case of HG-AFS, the analytical procedure takes less time and is less laborious than the other methods considered. The obtained results show the usefulness of the HG-AFS method as a supplementary analytical tool to the SF and ET-AAS methods with respect to the determination of selenium as well as the possibility of using this method as a primary one in forensic toxicology practice.     

甲基苯丙胺和乙醇在染毒大鼠体内联用的实验研究

目的研究甲基苯丙胺（MA）和乙醇联合应用在急性、亚急性染毒大鼠体内的情况。方法以MA1.0 mg/kg剂量对慢性自由饮酒大鼠多次腹腔注射,分别建立急性、亚急性染毒大鼠模型;处死后即时检测血中乙醇浓度、体液和组织样品中MA的浓度。结果多次注入MA药后,亚急性中毒大鼠体内的MA浓度高于急性中毒大鼠;急性和亚急性联合中毒大鼠体内MA浓度均高于急性和亚急性单一药物组。结论无论是否联用乙醇,14d内增加注射次数会在大鼠体内产生不同程度的MA残留;与乙醇联用可加速MA在大鼠体内的吸收,其药物浓度的升高程度随生物样品不同存在差异。     

Autopsy Findings in Botulinum Toxin Poisoning

Abstract: In the United States, foodborne botulism is most commonly associated with home‐canned food products. Between 1950 and 2005, 405 separate outbreaks of botulism were reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Approximately 8% of these outbreaks were attributed to commercially produced canned food products. Overall, 5–10% of persons ingesting botulinum toxin die. Few reports exist pertaining to autopsy findings in cases of foodborne botulism. Here, we report the autopsy findings of a man who died after a prolonged illness caused by botulinum toxin exposure likely attributable to a commercially prepared food source. Despite extensive testing, our histopathologic findings were nonspecific. We therefore conclude that the forensic pathologist must become familiar with the neurotoxicity syndrome associated with this illness. Maintaining vigilance for botulism by carefully reviewing the decedent’s clinical history will aid in the early identification and control of outbreaks, either foodborne or terrorism‐related.     

Hungry for Information: Public Attitudes Toward Food Nanotechnology and Labeling

What people think about food nanotechnology (nanofood) is under‐explored in the United States, especially outside of quantitative surveys. As such, we set out to examine public attitudes toward food nanotechnology in conversational, focus group settings in order to identify policy options for nanofood governance, and in particular, options for labeling. Through analysis of focus groups in six U.S. locations, we found that the vast majority of the participants wanted nanotechnology labels for all types of food products, and most were willing to pay a premium for labeling. Participants cited abilities to choose and avoid potential risk as the main purposes of nanofood labels. However, they recognized that labels alone do not provide much meaning and that information concerning food nanotechnology products needs to be sought and supplied beyond the label to enable informed choices. Additionally, willingness‐to‐use and risk–benefit perceptions varied according to the position and intended functions of the nanomaterials in food products.     

Chemical Contamination of Soft Drinks in Sealed Plastic Bottles by Environmental Stress Cracking

Abstract:  A contamination of soft drinks in sealed bottles by organic solvents is reported: closed bottles full of soft drinks were accidentally placed on a cardboard soaked with thinner and the organic fluid subsequently fissured the bottom of the bottles and penetrated into the soft drinks without any apparent leakage of the soft drinks. Experiments were carried out to simulate the process: the penetration of different organic solvents into soft drinks through the bottom of closed bottles was tested. The penetration occurred only when the closed bottles contained carbonated soft drinks (CSD), indicating that inner pressure is a necessary condition for the fissuring of the bottles. This paper discusses environmental stress cracking of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles by organic solvents and migration of chemicals to CSD. Experiments were conducted to determine the conditions in which PET can be permeable to poisoning organic products.     

吸毒死亡相关者组织病理学观察

目的研究吸毒死亡者的组织病理学特点,为此类案件的诊断提供有价值的参考资料。方法收集30例吸毒者尸体材料,进行系统尸体解剖和组织病理学检查,并结合吸毒者生前资料进行综合分析。结果体表注射痕迹、消瘦、窒息现象和重要器官病变与吸毒密切相关。30例中,20％死于疾病,33．3％死于毒品过量致急性中毒,26．7％在戒毒期间死亡,10％猝死,10％死于外来暴力。结论系统尸检和组织病理学观察在毒品相关死亡案例的诊断中有重要意义。     

小鼠急性八角枫中毒的病理学观察

目的观察急性八角枫中毒小鼠器官组织病理学变化并探讨其中毒机制。方法应用八角枫须根水煎液对小鼠灌胃急性染毒,提取组织器官经HE染色后进行病理学观察。结果实验组主要病理改变为肺泡腔出血、肺间质出血,肝窦扩张、淤血,肝细胞水肿,蛛网膜下腔出血,其他器官呈淤血、出血性改变。结论八角枫毒性作用的主要靶器官或靶组织为肺、肝和血管平滑肌;毒性作用与剂量具有相关性。     

State–peasant movement relations and the politics of food sovereignty in Mexico and Ecuador

This contribution argues that the articulation between the state and peasant organizations’ internal structures – the class characteristics of their mass bases, their leaderships and the modes of interaction between the two – is critical for determining the nature of contemporary struggles guided by the discourse of food sovereignty. It will show that that counter-hegemonic demands are not synonymous with counter-hegemonic practice; rather than struggling to replace the neoliberal food regime, many peasant organizations employ the food sovereignty discourse as a political tool in their negotiations with the state in order to access resources from within the prevailing neoliberal model, not to transform it.