1/8. gasoline exposure in motor vehicle accident fatalities.Three cases are described in which deaths after motor vehicle accidents occurred as a result of positional asphyxia associated with exposure to gasoline. The deceased individuals were aged 16, 34, and 35 years, respectively (M:F = 1:2) and had all been in the back seat of motor vehicles involved in rollover accidents that had resulted in spilling of gasoline with contamination of the cabins. Major components of gasoline were detected in blood and tissues by headspace gas chromatography. Postmortem toxicologic investigations of such cases, which include analyses for volatile hydrocarbons, may therefore produce additional significant information.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = chromatography (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/8. Analytical aspects of volatile substance abuse (VSA).Through a case report, the authors illustrate the volatile substance abuse (VSA) toxicological investigation difficulties mainly due to evaporation of the compounds from postmortem samples and to the lack of reference data for interpretation. A 17-year-old man, student in a chemistry institute, was found dead with a plastic bag placed over his head. Several chemical substances were found in his belongings. autopsy findings included serious pulmonary lesions and hemorrhagic digestive ulcerations. A large screening of drugs and toxic compounds and selective analyses for several classes of drugs of abuse were carried out in the autopsy samples. In particular, a headspace (HS), -gas chromatography/-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) technique was used to screen for volatile substances and metabolites in the biological samples and for residues of volatile substances on the surface of the plastic bag and in the chemicals found on the scene. The main analytical finding was the presence of alkanes (heptane, methyl-2-pentane, methyl-3-hexane, methylcyclohexane) in the gastric content. The literature data, VSA practices, long time-delay between death and autopsy, preservation conditions of the biological samples before analysis, and in-lab experiments on evaporation of volatile substances were considered to interpret this result. The present fatality was attributed to VSA with a gasoline-based stain remover like "eau ecarlate," associated with a hypoxic recreation practice using a plastic bag.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = chromatography (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/8. Distribution of ether in two postmortem cases.Diethyl ether (ether) is a volatile liquid that was used in the 1800s as an anesthetic agent; however, it is no longer used for this purpose, partly because of its odor and flammability. Two postmortem cases in which ether was detected are presented. The first case was an 18-year-old male found hanging from a basement ceiling brace in a semi-sitting position with a gas mask covering his face. A container of Prestone starting fluid and a bong were found on the floor close to the body. The second case was a 20-year-old male found unresponsive in his dormitory room with two black plastic trash bags secured over his head. Two saturated rags and a resealable bag containing a clear liquid were contained within these trash bags. An almost empty can of Tradco starting fluid was also found at the scene. ether concentrations were determined by headspace gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in the selective ion monitoring mode. In case #1, the medical examiner ruled that the cause of death was asphyxia due to hanging; the manner of death was undetermined. In case #2, the medical examiner ruled that the cause of death was asphyxia and the manner of death was suicide.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = chromatography (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/8. thiamylal: review of the literature and report of a suicide.A 28-year-old white male medical student was found hanging by the neck from the bathroom closet of a hotel room. An intravenous infusion line leading from a bottle of thiamylal sodium (an ultrashort-acting barbiturate) was inserted into the antecubital vein of the left arm. blood was analyzed for alcohol and other volatiles and for acidic, basic, and neutral drugs. Only thiamylal was detected. thiamylal was quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection, and its presence was confirmed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The tissue distribution of thiamylal was 29 mg/L in blood, 1.4 mg/L in urine, 16 mg/L in bile, 135 mg/kg in liver, 25 mg/kg in kidney, and 0.4 mg in the stomach contents. The uptake and distribution of thiamylal is similar to thiopental. The distribution of the drug in this case was compared to that of other fatalities involving ultrashort-acting barbiturates.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 2keywords = chromatography (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/8. Studies on the composition of gases in the post-mortem body: animal experiments and two autopsy cases.The composition of gases was measured in a cadaver, particularly in the stomach, using gas chromatography. High concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2) and hydrogen (H2) and a low concentration of methane (CH4) were found. At an environmental temperature of 25 degrees C, the concentrations of CO2 and H2 were approximately 80% and 10%, respectively, at an advanced stage of putrefaction, while at an environmental temperature of 15 degrees C the concentrations were approximately 60% and 35%, respectively. These gases were not produced until the fourth day at 15 degrees C, but after that the volume of gases was greater than that produced at 25 degrees C, the cadaver becoming greatly enlarged. oxygen (O2) in air injected into a body disappeared during putrefaction. This study revealed that H2 was the main component of inflammable gas in a dead body. The mechanisms of production of the gases are also discussed.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = chromatography (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/8. A death involving asphyxiation from propane inhalation.A death involving asphyxiation by propane inhalation is reported. The presence of propane was determined in blood, brain, kidney, liver, and lung by gas chromatography. autopsy samples were heated in hot water, and headspace samples from various specimens were injected into the gas chromatograph. The identity of propane was established on the basis of the retention times. The brain of the deceased showed the highest level of propane, whereas the kidney exhibited the lowest level.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = chromatography (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/8. Death due to asphyxia linked to antipsychotic drugs.A 46-year-old man with schizophrenia, died in hospital. autopsy revealed numerous facial injuries and the direct cause of death was apparently asphyxia as a large amount of coagulated blood was present in the lower part of the trachea and bronchi. The blood derived from a lacerated wound of the mouth. The question was raised as to why expectoration was impossible and a toxicological analysis was directed to the antipsychotic drugs allegedly prescribed by doctors at the hospital. Using gas chromatography and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, four different antipsychotic drugs including chlorpromazine, levomepromazine, zotepine and haloperidol were identified in the whole blood and tissues with concentrations being 1.91, 0.75, 0.61 and 0.48 micrograms/g in the blood, respectively. These levels were toxic to the extent that he could not expectorate and blood accumulating in the airway led to asphyxia and death.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 2keywords = chromatography (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/8. Asphyxial suicide by propane inhalation and plastic bag suffocation.A 26-year-old male committed suicide by inducing asphyxia using a combination of plastic bag suffocation and propane-gas inhalation. This method has been reported in the literature, but it remains unusual. autopsy findings were consistent with a hypoxic event, and blood, brain, and lung tissue tested positive for propane by gas chromatography. propane, while possessing some narcotic properties, causes death primarily by displacing oxygen in the atmosphere with resultant asphyxia.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = chromatography (Clic here for more details about this article) |