Determining the Toxicological Significance of Pregabalin in Fatalities

Pregabalin has become more widely prescribed and abused in recent years but is still not always included in laboratory analysis. An LC‐MS‐MS method has been developed and applied to measure pregabalin in 93 postmortem cases, including drug‐related deaths, alternative causes of death, and fatalities where pregabalin was likely to have contributed to death. Other drugs or alcohol was detected, and the most common drug types (in decreasing frequency) were antidepressants, opioids, benzodiazepines, opiates, alcohol, antipsychotics, cocaine, cardiac drugs, amphetamines, cannabis, anticonvulsants, and antihistamines. New psychoactive substances (methoxphenidine and synthetic cannabinoids) were only found in two cases. The results provide further data to assist in evaluating the significance of postmortem pregabalin concentrations and a toxicologically significant concentration of 25 mg/L is proposed. Pregabalin, especially with concomitant use of other CNS depressant drugs, presents a significant toxicological risk and existing laboratory protocols should be reviewed for their suitability to detect pregabalin.     

Bioelectrical Impedance as a Technique for Estimating Postmortem Interval,,

Estimation of postmortem interval (PMI) is a critical component of death investigation. A cadaver can be hypothesized to be a resistor–capacitor (RC) circuit the impedance (Z) of which changes in a quantifiable manner as the cadaver decomposes. This hypothesis was tested using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) equipment to apply a current with a fixed amplitude at a single frequency to four cadavers over time and measuring two components of Z, resistance (R) and reactance (X_c). Quadratic regression analysis between Z and accumulated degree days (ADD) showed a statistically significant parabolic relationship. The parabolic relationship poses an initial challenge to the use of the method, and additional research is needed to address this issue. However, the results of the reported research support the hypothesis that Z measured using BIA has a relationship to PMI.     

Estimating Sex Using Metric Analysis of the Scapula by Postmortem Computed Tomography

Postmortem computed tomography (CT) has been extensively used in the last decade for identification purposes and in various anthropologic studies. Postmortem CT measurements of scapulae, analyzed using logistic discriminant function developed in this study, showed 94.5% accuracy in estimating sex. Data analyzed using the Dabbs and Moore‐Jansen (2010) discriminant function and the discriminant function generated in this study provided nearly identical results with disagreement in only one case. Height and weight were not statically significant in sex prediction. The results of this study show that data obtained from volume rendered postmortem CT images can be considered reliable and treated as a practical option to standard anthropological methods, especially in mass fatalities as a rapid triage tool for sex determination.     

STAYIN' ALIVE

This article analyzes the rapidly changing face of postmortem reproductive technology and its impact on the family. Postmortem reproduction is being used more frequently, and its implications for the resulting children's inheritance has sparked worldwide debate. This article provides support for posthumously conceived children's ability to inherit from their deceased parent when certain criteria have been met.     

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。     

大鼠死后心血吗啡浓度变化的HPLC检测

采用高效液相邑谱分析技术（HPLC）检测治疗量及中毒量吗啡肌注大鼠死后心血中吗啡浓度变化。结果表明，以治疗量吗啡肌往大鼠，在死后96h内，心血中吗啡浓度随死后时间增加而显著升高（P＜0．01），吗啡浓度水平与死后时间里显著正相关；以中毒量吗啡肌注大鼠，在死后12h内，心血吗啡浓度无明显变化；死后24h、48h及96h，随死后时间延长，心血中吗啡浓度逐渐升高（P＞0．01），其递增强度不如治疗量吗啡组大鼠的明显.本研究证实，死后尸体心血吗啡浓度明显受生前剂量的影响，且在死后96h内，随死后时间增加．心血中吗啡浓度少数不断增高。     

大鼠脾细胞DNA含量与早期死亡时间关系的图像分析研究

选择15只大鼠 ,处死后 ,在24h内每隔1h进行脾细胞学涂片、福尔马林液固定、Feulgen染色后 ,用自动图像分析仪测量细胞DNA的积分光密度、平均光密度、异形指数等指标 ,并对数据进行统计学处理。实验结果证明大鼠脾细胞DNA含量在死后24h内 ,随死亡时间的延长而呈较有规律的下降。其中积分光密度、平均光密度、异形指数是用来研究死亡24h内脾DNA降解规律 ,并准确推断死亡时间的较好指标     

春季尸体腹腔腐败气压在法医学死亡时间推断中的应用研究

目的 研究尸体腹腔腐败气压在春季的发展变化规律及其用于推断死后经过时间的方法。方法用实验动物山羊57只,分陆地处死和水中溺死两大组,用自行研制的“腐败气压测定仪”,定时系统测量动物尸体腹腔内的腐败气压。结果 得出尸体腹腔内腐败气压的发展变化规律,并据此建立测量腹腔腐败气压推断死后经过时间的方法。研究了数种死亡方式、尸体所处环境和个体差异等的影响。结论 该研究成果填补了法医学中尸体腐败气压发展变化规律研究、检测腐败气压推算死后经过时间和腐败气压测定仪等的多项空白,丰富了该领域的法医学内容。     

家兔角膜上皮和内皮细胞DNA含量与PMI关系的图像分析

目的 探讨家兔角膜上皮和内皮细胞DNA含量与PMI的关系。方法 应用计算机图像分析技术,测定105只家兔死后72h内不同时间点家兔角膜上皮和内皮细胞核DNA含量(IOD)的变化值并做统计学分析。结果 家兔死后72h内其角膜上皮细胞和内皮细胞核DNA降解速率与PMI具有显著的相关性,并由此归纳出体现DNA降解趋势的二项式回归方程。结论 应用计算机图像分析技术,测量机体死后角膜内外皮细胞DNA含量变化,将会成为推断PMI精确、客观的新方法。     

Fatal Intoxication with Acetyl Fentanyl

Among the new psychoactive substances encountered in forensic investigations is the opioid, acetyl fentanyl. The death of a 28‐year‐old man from recreational use of this compound is reported. The decedent was found in the bathroom of his residence with a tourniquet secured around his arm and a syringe nearby. Postmortem examination findings included marked pulmonary and cerebral edema and needle track marks. Toxicological analysis revealed acetyl fentanyl in subclavian blood, liver, vitreous fluid, and urine at concentrations of 235 ng/mL, 2400 ng/g, 131 ng/mL, and 234 ng/mL, respectively. Acetyl fentanyl was also detected in the accompanying syringe. Death was attributed to recreational acetyl fentanyl abuse, likely through intravenous administration. The blood acetyl fentanyl concentration is considerably higher than typically found in fatal fentanyl intoxications. Analysis of this case underscores the need for consideration of a wide range of compounds with potential opioid‐agonist activity when investigating apparent recreational drug‐related deaths.