A charred body inside a burning car with a garden hose connected to the exhaust pipe: Post-mortem self-immolation,a complex or a complicated suicide after the ingestion of alcohol? The importance of an interdisciplinary approach

The analysis of charred bodies represents a serious challenge for forensic pathologists, and an interdisciplinary approach is often the only way to determine the cause and manner of death. We present an unusual case in which the charred body of a 61-year-old man was found inside his burning vehicle. In order to determine cause and manner of death, an interdisciplinary team was employed, with experts in forensic pathology, forensic radiology, toxicology and fire investigations. Post-mortem computed tomography, autopsy and toxicology ruled out the presence of trauma injury and detected signs of vital exposure to fire and blood alcohol levels. On the other hand, according to fire investigations, the fire started inside the car and partially burned fragments of a garden hose were found along the right side of the car. A suicide could therefore be hypothesized, with the man having attempted to poison himself with the car's exhaust fumes and having set the car on fire. The death was consistent with a complicated suicide in which the victim, in a state of reduced capability, accidentally set his car on fire and was unable to escape. The hypothesis of a complex suicide, with the car having been set deliberately on fire, could not, however, be ruled out.     

铊（TI）投毒案检验

目的　通过 11例中毒者分析研究铊中毒的症状 ,达到了解和认识铊中毒的目的。方法　收集 11例铊中毒的相关资料 ,分析铊中毒的特征。结果　铊中毒的共同特征是出现症状的时候都有四肢疼痛或麻木 ,同时伴有严重脱发。结论　铊中毒依个体的年龄、性别、状态及中毒量不同 ,其发病前具有一定潜伏期。但性别、年龄与死亡的时间关系目前尚不清     

血、尿中金属毒物的电感耦合等离子发射光谱检测方法

目的建立血和尿中的有毒金属元素快速检测方法。方法通过模拟样品,采用微波消解炉对样品进行预处理,用电感耦合等离子发射光谱仪同时对多种可疑有毒金属元素进行检测。结果血、尿样品经消解或酸稀释处理,镉、钴、铬、铜、镍等元素可检测方法平均回收率范围为75.5%～127.5%,变异系数小于16.4%结论在中毒剂量,对肝脏和肾脏组织中的可疑有毒金属元素,可以采用电感耦合等离子发射光谱仪同时进行检测。     

Distribution of dimethoate in the body after a fatal organphosphateintoxication

Many organophosphate pesticides (OPs) such as dimethoate are used to eradicate household pests, and those occurring in agriculture and forestry sectors. Combinations of two or more different insecticides have been manufactured to increase their effectiveness. A case of death is presented as suspected organophosphates intoxication. Autopsy was unremarkable except for grayish fluid in the stomach, with garlicky odor. A systematic toxicological analysis on post-mortem specimens revealed high concentrations of dimethoate in blood 38 μg/mL, urine 0.47 μg/mL, brain 2.2 μg/g, myocardial muscle 7.6 μg/g, liver 4.6 μg/g, lung 7.6 μg/g, skeletal muscle 21 μg/g, kidney 55 μg/g and gall bladder 31 μg/g. Blood alcohol was 2.85 g/L, cyclohexanone and cyclohexanol were also detected in the blood but not quantified. The cause of death was determined as organophosphate intoxication.     

Acute Poisoning Types and Prevalence in Shanghai,China, from January 2010 to August 2011

In recent years, the number of cases of acute poisoning has increased in China, yet; currently, there is no detailed report published that addresses acute poisoning in the mainland of China. We collected biological samples from 466 cases of suspected acute poisoning at the hospitals in Shanghai, China, and examined them using spectroscopy, chromatography and chromatography/mass spectrometry. Of the 466 cases, 230 cases (100 men and 130 women) were positively confirmed as acute poisonings. There were 80 types of compounds identified in this study. Medications were the most frequent substances identified, and the other substances included pesticides, multiple compounds, volatile compounds, natural toxins, and others. The results of this study indicate a need for strengthening the education about and management of the rational and safe use of drugs in Shanghai.     

22例天然气不完全燃烧废气中毒案件分析

目的分析天然气不完全燃烧后废气中毒案件特点,为法医学鉴定以及事故的预防提供参考。方法收集2004—2013年间上海市闵行区天然气不完全燃烧后废气中毒案件22例,从死亡人员一般情况、案件发生时段及天气、现场情况、尸体检验等进行回顾性分析。结果 22例案件中,男性死者15人,女性死者16人,年龄在2~82岁,事发时间主要在1和2月(各8例),事发地点基本在小面积公寓房(21例),所有案件中使用燃气热水器时排气口旁均留有较宽的缝隙。结论通风窗口在燃气热水器排气口旁边的小面积公寓房易发生天然气不完全燃烧后废气中毒事故,在寒冷季节应注意废气中毒现场的勘察。     

急性乙醇中毒者体内乙醇动力学研究

根据乙醇在体内的代谢动力学特点,本文建立了研究急性乙醇中毒者血液乙醇动力学数学模型,其表达式为:x(t)=x_0(1-e-~(kat))-k_bt。从该数学模型可求得乙醇在体内的吸收速率常数(K_a)和消除速率常数(K_b),从而可以获得体内乙醇浓度动态变化曲线。所以,饮用乙醇饮料后的时刻乙醇浓度(x(t))均可由曲线中查得。实验研究证实,以该数学模型导出的参数与实验获得的结果相一致。     

Commotio cordis as a result of a fight: report of a case considered to be imprudent homicide

The report describes a fatal outcome in a 5-year-old male who died after drinking a fatal dose of ethanol at the party held by his parents. Urine and blood alcohol level of the deceased was 0.4 and 0.5 g/dL, what might explain the sudden death of the child. In addition, the analysis of the boy's hair demonstrated the presence of ethyl glucuronide (EtG), a marker of alcohol consumption; hair EtG concentration levels indicated that the boy might have occasionally imbibed alcohol prior to death. Pathological lesions of the liver observed in histopathology did not contradict such a hypothesis.     

Evaluation of the Role of Toxicological Data in Discriminating Between H2S Femoral Blood Concentration Secondary to Lethal poisoning and Endogenous H2S Putrefactive Production

Hydrogen sulfide is a colorless gas and has a strong odor of rotten eggs. It is absorbed by the upper respiratory tract mucosa, and it causes histotoxic hypoxemia and respiratory depression by exerting an inhibitory effect on cytochrome oxidase. To evaluate the role of toxicological data in distinguishing between the H₂S blood concentration secondary to lethal poisoning and the endogenous H₂S produced during putrefaction, we compared the postmortem H₂S concentrations of six fatal H₂S poisoning cases (8.7–28.6 mg/L) with the postmortem concentrations of endogenous H₂S of 12 subjects who died from other causes (traffic‐related deaths) (2.2–32.7 mg/L). These results will be of interest to the forensic community as it underlines the importance of considering circumstantial evidence along with the toxicological and pathological findings in the identification of H₂S lethal poisoning.     

Human Fatality Due to Thallium Poisoning: Autopsy,Microscopy, and Mass Spectrometry Assays,

Thallium has been responsible for many intoxications since its discovery; however, toxicological profiles for thallium in human fatalities have not been updated recently. Autopsy, microscopic investigations, and toxicological analyses were performed on a married couple who died from thallium sulfate intended homicidal poisoning. The distribution of thallium was established by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry with hair samples showing the highest thallium concentration. Electron microscopy revealed a dystrophic condition of hair with disorganized cuticle and atrophy of the hair bulb. Thallium interacts with cells at different levels, with prominent ultrastructural injuries in the mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum, and high concentration of electron dense granules observed in the cytoplasm and mitochondria of several organs. Alopecia, toxic encephalopathy, and peripheral neuropathy were diagnosed in the victims and suggested to be crucial implications for thallium poisoning. The analytical procedures used in this case are of considerable forensic importance in the diagnosis of thallium poisoning.