Decaying Mouse Volatiles Perceived by Calliphora vicina Rob.‐Desv.

Volatiles emitted by decaying human remains are in the focus of recent research. The identification of core volatiles in this field is of high importance, because cadaveric volatiles generally show high variation. In this study, the volatile profiles of five mice (Myodes glareolus) were sampled with charcoal filter tubes from their time of death until advanced decay. Eleven compounds were quantitated by means of gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Electroantennographic experiments with female Calliphora vicina antennae led to the identification of dimethyl trisulfide, dimethyl disulfide, nonanal, hexan‐1‐ol, 1‐octen‐3‐ol, 3‐methylbutan‐1‐ol, and heptanal as electrophysiologically active compounds. When these were compared, dimethyl trisulfide (17 ng/μL) and dimethyl disulfide (11 ng/μL) were found to be emitted in higher concentrations. The roles of these compounds and nonanal as core volatiles for cadaver detection or postmortem time determination and their correlation to the stages of decay and the accumulated degree days are discussed.     

Doing More in The Middle East

正China becomes increasingly involved in Middle East issue The international community once described China’s Middle East diplomatic policy using phrases such as"modera-tion,""detachment,"or"lack of imagination."But as its status as a global player grows,China is no longer merely a distant observer of events in the volatile region.     

Fatal Intoxication with Toluene Due to Inhalation of Glue

Two cases of fatal intoxications with toluene due to glue sniffing are described. In case 1, the autopsy did not indicate cause of death, while in case 2, the cause of death was determined to possibly be due to mechanical asphyxia by drowning. As the decedents had a history of glue sniffing, toxicological analyses were performed. Using gas chromatography with flame ionization detector and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) with headspace method, toluene was detected in biological samples. Toluene ranged from 3.81 to 20.97 μg/g, with the highest concentrations observed in liver and brain (13.82–20.97 μg/g) in both cases. Based upon this data, the cause of death in both cases was determined to be toluene poisoning. Toxicological investigations are extremely important and should be considered mandatory in all deaths thought to be due to volatile substance abuse, as well as all deaths that are thought to be due to poisoning in young people.     

Origin,Analytical Characterization,and Use of Human Odor in Forensics

Developing a strategy to characterize the odor prints of individuals should be relevant to support identification obtained using dogs in courts of justice. This article proposes an overview of the techniques used for the forensic profiling of human odor. After reviewing the origin of human odor—both genetic and physiological—the different analytical steps from sample collection to statistical data processing are presented. The first challenge is the collection of odor, whether by direct sampling with polymer patches, cotton gauze, etc., or indirect sampling with devices like Scent Transfer Unit. Then, analytical techniques are presented. Analyses are commonly performed with gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. As they yield large amounts of data, advanced statistical tools are needed to provide efficient and reliable data processing, which is essential to give more probative value to information.     

TDS-GC/MS法检测黑色中性笔墨迹中挥发性溶剂的历时性变化

目的 应用热脱附-气相色谱/质谱(TDS-GC/MS)分析,研究7支黑色中性笔墨迹中挥发性溶剂的历时性变化规律.方法 选取7支不同品牌的黑色中性笔,分别在A4纸和笔记本上进行一次制样,然后在不同时间点取样,应用所建TDS-GC/MS方法分析墨迹中乙二醇、二甘醇和三甘醇在200余天内的含量变化.结果 6支笔中的乙二醇、三...     

Inhalant abuse detection and evaluation in young Tunisians

Occupational exposure biological monitoring techniques were applied for the diagnosis of inhalation abuse and for the evaluation of the levels of exposure to benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylenes, and n-hexane, in 44 Tunisian adolescents and children suspected for volatile substance addiction. Urinary trans,trans-muconic acid, hippuric acid (HA), mandelic acid, and methylhippuric acids determinations were performed by high performance liquid chromatography with a photodiode array detector, and urinary o-cresol (o-Cr) and 2,5-hexanedione (HD) were extracted simultaneously and measured using gas chromatography with a flame ionization detector. Given the high linearity ranges, HD and o-Cr occupational exposure monitoring techniques could be applied without modification. However, urinary sample dilution was necessary before HA analysis. Concentrations were compared with the maxima of normal values (MNVs) in the general population and to the biological exposure indices (BEIs) used in occupational toxicology. Values as high as 6610-fold the MNV and 68 times the BEI were registered. The subjects showed high exposure to toluene and hexane. Measured metabolites HA and/or o-Cr and HD enabled the easy detection and evaluation of exposure levels. The problem of inhalant abuse should be given more attention and treated through an effective prevention strategy.     

Comparison of the Volatile Organic Compounds from Different Biological Specimens for Profiling Potential*

Previous work has demonstrated the ability to differentiate individuals based on the analysis of human scent hand odor chemicals. In this paper, a range of forensic biological specimens are shown to also have the ability to differentiate individuals based upon the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) present. Human VOC profiles from hand odor, oral fluid, breath, blood, and urine of 31 individuals were analyzed by solid‐phase microextraction–gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (SPME‐GC‐MS) and combined methods of chromatogram comparison, Spearman rank correlation comparison, and principal component analysis. Intra‐specimen comparisons demonstrated the distinguishability of individuals above 99%. Inter‐specimen VOC profiles from the same individual were found to be too different to be used for scent‐matching purposes, with Spearman rank coefficients below 0.15. A 6‐month VOC profile monitoring of two individuals demonstrated the consistency of VOC profiles over time across specimens.     

白鸡屎藤挥发油抗肠炎沙门菌内毒素作用的分析

为了探讨白鸡屎藤挥发油抗肠炎沙门菌内毒素的作用,将420只7日龄三黄鸡随机分成A、B、C、D、E、F组并对A、B、C组鸡按100μg/mL(1mL)预防用药,在12日龄时对A、B、D、E组口服肠炎沙门菌攻毒,攻毒24h后对A、D组按100μg/mL白鸡屎藤挥发油1mL进行滴鼻给药治疗,同时将不同质量浓度的白鸡屎藤挥发油与内毒素混合对另外90只雏鸡进行肌肉注射攻毒,并进行试验鸡与攻毒鸡临床死亡情况统计、病理组织学观察和肝与血液生化指标测定。结果显示,白鸡屎藤挥发油对肠炎沙门菌内毒素具有灭活作用,可缓解血清ALT和AST活性的升高或使其降低(P<0.01或P<0.05),提升肝及血清中SOD的活性(P<0.01或P<0.05),使肝中MDA含量下降和延缓其升高。结果表明,白鸡屎藤挥发油具有抗肠炎沙门菌内毒素的作用,其机理与其保肝作用和抗氧化损伤作用有关。     

大鼠死后肌肉电导率与腐败程度的关系

目的分析大鼠死后肌肉电导率(electrical conductivity,EC)、肉类食品腐败程度指标挥发性盐基氮(total volatile basic nitrogen,TVB-N)与死亡时间(postmortem interval,PMI)的关系,探讨EC作为尸体肌肉腐败程度评价指标的可行性,为该法用于PMI推断奠定理论基础。方法健康SD大鼠颈椎脱臼处死后,保存在28℃环境中,于死后不同时间点提取大鼠后肢肌肉组织,用去离子水制成质量浓度为0.1 g/m L的肌肉浸渍液,并测量所得浸渍液的EC值和TVB-N含量。分析EC(x_1)与TVB-N(x_2)的相关性,建立二者关系的回归方程;分析两指标与PMI的相关性,并分别建立两指标与PMI(y)关系的回归方程。结果肌肉浸渍液EC、TVB-N随PMI的变化曲线走势基本相同;EC与TVB-N呈显著直线正相关,回归方程为x_2=0.14 x1-164.91(R~2=0.982);EC、TVB-N与PMI显著相关,回归方程分别为y=19.38 x_1~3-370.68 x_1~2+2 526.03 x1-717.06(R~2=0.994),y=2.56 x_2~3-48.39 x_2~2+330.60 x_2-255.04(R2=0.997)。结论大鼠死后肌肉EC与TVB-N变化趋势一致,可以作为反映尸体肌肉腐败程度的指标,为腐败尸体PMI推断的相关研究提供方法。     

Fourier-transformed infrared breath testing after ingestion of technical alcohol

The study aim was to evaluate the feasibility of a Fourier-transformed infrared (FT-IR) analyzer for out-of-laboratory use by screening the exhalations of inebriated individuals, and to determine analysis quality using common breath components and solvents. Each of the 35 inebriated participants gave an acceptable sample. Because of the metabolism of 2-propanol, the subjects exhaled high concentrations of acetone in addition to ethanol. Other volatile ingredients of technical ethanol products (methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, and 2-propanol) were also detected. The lower limits of quantification for the analyzed components ranged from 1.7 to 12 microg/L in simulated breath samples. The bias was +/-2% for ethanol and -11% for methanol. Within-day and between-day coefficients of variation were <1% for ethanol and <4% for methanol. The bias of ethanol and methanol analyses due to coexisting solvents ranged from -0.8 to +2.2% and from -5.6 to +2.9%, respectively. The FT-IR method proved suitable for use outside the laboratory and fulfilled the quality criteria for analysis of solvents in breath.