[Correlation between the changes of oxidation reduction potential values and postmortem interval of heart blood in rabbits after death].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate correlation between the changes of oxidation reduction potential (ORP) values of heart blood in rabbits after death and postmortem interval (PMI) at different temperatures. METHODS: Forty-eight rabbits were randomly divided into 6 groups and sacrificed by air embolism. Blood samples were taken from the right ventricle of each rabbit and stored at different temperatures of 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35 degrees C, respectively. Every 4 hours from 0 h to 132 h postmortem, the ORP values of the blood samples were measured at different intervals by PB-21 electrochemical analyzer. The curvilinear regression equation was established by SPSS 17.0 software. The surface equation and 3D surface diagram were established by MATLAB 7.10.0 software. RESULTS: The ORP values at different temperatures of heart blood in rabbits were highly correlated with the PMI. The ORP values rised obviously when the temperature was high and rised slowly when the temperature was low. The surface equation and 3D surface diagram were obtained. CONCLUSION: The surface equation and 3D surface diagram of ORP values and PMI may be used for PMI estimation at different temperatures.

[Analysis of death cases involved in TASER in the State of Maryland].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the features of autopsy cases involved in electronic weapon (TASER) in the State of Maryland, and to discuss the appraisable points. METHODS: Thirteen autopsy cases involving TASER were collected from 2004 to 2011 in the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, State of Maryland. All the cases include detailed scene investigations, complete autopsy, toxicological analysis and histopathological examination. Statistical analysis were conducted including general information of victim, type of TASER, type of contact, toxicological results, manner and cause of death. RESULTS: Majority of victims were male with an acute onset of agitated and delusional behavior. Drugs were often involved. Deaths were attributed to multiple factors. CONCLUSION: Most of cases involved in TASER resulted from multiple fatal factors. Further researches are needed for the principal mechanism. Thorough scene investigation and complete autopsy examination play crucial role in evaluation of such cases.

Evaluation of aortic injury in driver fatalities occurring in motor vehicle accidents in the State of Maryland for 2003 and 2004.

Incorporating epidemiological and pathologic factors, a retrospective analysis of aortic injury and driving fatalities was conducted. To better understand the mechanism of injury, data were compiled for decedent demographics, autopsy and toxicology findings, and accident circumstances, with emphasis on directional impact. Review of the autopsy files of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in the State of Maryland in 2003 and 2004, identified 150 cases of aortic injury recorded in 537 autopsied drivers. Aortic lacerations occurred in 96% of the cases with aortic injury, two thirds of which were complete or near complete transections. A large percentage of cases involved a side impact collision. Consistent with extant research on frontal and lateral impacts, the majority of aortic injuries occurred at the ligamentum arteriosum. Also, the mechanism of aortic injury seems to be similar for side and frontal impact collisions, involving a combination of rapid deceleration forces along with chest and/or upper abdominal compression. This study emphasizes the importance of side impact collisions as a cause of aortic injury. Aortic lacerations have a high mortality rate and better motor vehicle design may prevent this type of injury.

Simultaneous quantification of methamphetamine, cocaine, codeine, and metabolites in skin by positive chemical ionization gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

A positive chemical ionization gas chromatography-mass spectrometric method was validated to simultaneously quantify drugs and metabolites in skin collected after controlled administration of methamphetamine, cocaine, and codeine. Calibration curves (2.5-100 ng/skin biopsy) for methamphetamine, amphetamine, cocaine, norcocaine, benzoylecgonine, cocaethylene, norcocaethylene, anhydroecgonine methyl ester, morphine, codeine, and 6-acetylmorphine (5-100 ng/skin biopsy for ecgonine methyl ester and ecgonine ethyl ester) exhibited correlation coefficients >0.999 and concentrations +/-20% of target. Intra- and inter-run precisions were <10%. This procedure should be useful for postmortem analysis; data are included on drug concentrations in skin after controlled drug administration.

Fatal dog maulings associated with infant swings.

We present three cases of fatal dog maulings of infants placed in mobile infant swings, a phenomenon not previously described in the literature. In each case, the victim was left in a mobile swing, unsupervised by an adult, and the attacking dog was a family pet. Case 1 involved an 18-day-old male infant attacked by a pit bull; Case 2 involved a 3-month-old male infant attacked by a Chow Chow and/or a Dachshund, and Case 3 involved an 18-day-old female infant attacked by a Labrador-pit bull mix. These cases not only underscore the importance of not leaving young children unattended in the presence of pet dogs, but also raise the possibility that mobile swings may trigger a predatory response in dogs and thus may represent an additional risk factor for dog attack.

Investigation of sudden infant deaths in the State of Maryland (1990-2000).

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) has recorded a significant decline in the deaths of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) in the state of Maryland since 1994. However, infants who died of accidental or non-accidental injuries remained consistent during the same time period. This report focuses on the epidemiological characteristics and scene investigation findings of infant victims who died suddenly and unexpectedly in Maryland between 1990 and 2000. A retrospective study of OCME cases between 1990 and 2000 yielded a total of 1619 infant fatalities. 802 infant deaths were determined to be SIDS, which represented 50% of the total infant deaths in our study population. Five hundred and twenty-three (31.8%) deaths were due to natural diseases, 128 (7.9%) deaths were accidents, and 74 (4.6%) were homicides. The manner of death could not be determined after a thorough scene investigation, review of history and a complete postmortem examination in 92 (5.7%) infants. SIDS deaths most often involved infants who were male and black. The peak incidence of SIDS was between 2 and 4 months of age. The majority of SIDS infants (60%) were found unresponsive on their stomach. Among SIDS infants, 269 (33.4%) were found in bed with another person or persons (bed sharing). Of the bed-sharing SIDS cases, 182 (68%) were African-American. In the past 11 years, 52 infants died of asphyxia due to unsafe sleeping environment, such as defective cribs, ill-fitting mattresses, inappropriate bedding materials. Of the 74 homicide victims, 53 (70%) involved infants less than 6 months of age. Twenty (27%) exhibited the classical abuse syndrome characterized by repeated acts of trauma to the infants.

Tissue distribution of xylazine in a suicide by hanging.

Xylazine (Rompun, Sedazine, AnaSed) is currently the most commonly used sedative-analgesic in veterinary medicine. There are nine published cases of xylazine's involvement in human drug-related deaths and impairment. However, blood concentrations were reported in only four of these cases. Three of these nine cases were fatalities involving xylazine, two of which involved xylazine alone but did not report blood concentrations because of extensive decomposition of the bodies. This report documents a case in which xylazine alone was identified in a suicide by hanging. The following xylazine concentrations were found: 2.3 mg/L in heart blood; 2.9 mg/L in peripheral (subclavian) blood; 6.3 mg/L in bile; 0.01 mg/L in urine; 6.1 mg/kg in liver; and 7.8 mg/kg in kidney.

Preliminary study on diffuse axonal injury by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy histopathology imaging.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the application of Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy for detecting diffuse axonal injury (DAI) in a mouse model. Brain tissues from DAI mouse model were prepared with H&E, silver, and ß-amyloid precursor protein (ß-APP) immunohistochemistry stains and were also studied with FTIR. The infrared spectrum images showed high absorption of amide II in the subcortical white matter of the experimental mouse brain, while there was no obvious expression of amide II in the control mouse brain. The areas with high absorption of amide II were in the same distribution as the DAI region confirmed by the silver and ß-APP studies. The result suggests that high absorption of amide II correlates with axonal injury. The use of FTIR imaging allows the biochemical changes associated with DAI pathologies to be detected in the tissues, thus providing an important adjunct method to the current conventional pathological diagnostic techniques.

Methylenedioxypyrovalerone ("bath salts"), related death: case report and review of the literature.

Cathinone derivatives (bath salts) have emerged as the latest drugs of abuse. 3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) is the primary active ingredient in bath salts used in this country. This article presents the second reported cause of death by MDPV intoxication alone. In April 2011, a delusional man was emergently brought to a hospital, where he self-reported bath salt usage. He became agitated, developed ventricular tachycardia, hyperthermia, and died. Comprehensive alcohol and drug testing was performed. Using the alkaline drug screen, heart blood contained 0.7 mg/L MDPV and peripheral blood contained 1.0 mg/L MDPV. His bizarre behavior with life-threatening hyperthermia was consistent with an MDPV-induced excited delirium state. MDPV is not yet found by routine immunoassay toxicology screens. Testing for MDPV should be considered in cases with a history of polysubstance abuse with stimulant type drugs, report of acute onset of psychogenic symptoms, excited delirium syndrome, or presentation in a hyperthermic state.

Anaphylaxis after the injection of buprenorphine.

Cause of death rulings in cases when the concentration of a drug or drugs is higher than observed following therapeutic use are generally straightforward "drug deaths." However, when toxicology testing identifies drug concentrations consistent with therapeutic use or detects no drugs at all, then the cause of death determination is more complicated. Given the rapidity and protean manifestations of anaphylaxis, it should be considered in deaths where no other cause of death is apparent in a suspected drug death. This article reports two cases where an anaphylactic reaction was observed following either the actual or alleged use of therapeutic formulations of buprenorphine intravenously.