Application of a chemiluminescence immunoassay system and GC/MS for toxicological investigations on skeletonized human remains.

Hair, larvae and cardiac muscle, the only biological samples present on a skeletonized human body found in a rural area, were used for forensic toxicological analyses in order to determine possible causes of death. Since no information about the victim or the circumstances of death was available (except for the place where the corpse was found, known to be a gathering place for drug addicts), the first approach for the analysis of non-conventional matrices involved the screening of different classes of active principles, using a chemiluminescence-based screening assay designed for whole blood. The immunoassay test results showed positivity to amphetamines, cocaine and opiates on water/methanol extract from cardiac tissue, larvae and hair samples. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analyses confirmed the immunoassay results, except for amphetamines. The minimal sample preparation (hydration and extraction in an ultrasonic bath), the reduced sample volume required for the analyses, together with the correctness of results as confirmed by GC/MS, showed the suitability of the screening test for forensic applications on non-conventional matrices. Quantitative analyses in GC/MS allowed the cause of death to be ascertained on the basis of the ratio between parent drugs and metabolites.

Strain rate imaging: data acquisition and postrocessing.

Several studies already demonstrated the clinical relevance of strain rate imaging. Unfortunately, so far only few echolaboratories are using this technique in their clinical practice. This is mainly due to the lack of information on how to perform a standard strain rate imaging study. Thus, the aim of the present review is to provide the bases and methodology to perform a correct strain rate study.

Immunoglobulin changes after varied resuscitation regimens.

Prior studies showed that albumin supplementation of the resuscitation for hypovolemic shock caused an increase in serum albumin but a fall in serum globulins; immunoglobulins were not measured. Using frozen sera, immunoglobulins (IgG, IgM, IgA, IgD) were measured in 184 severely injured patients including 40 patients prospectively randomized for supplemental steroid therapy and 46 patients prospectively randomized for supplemental albumin therapy. The remaining patients served as the control patients. Compared to normal, the control patients had a significant reduction in IgG, IgM, and IgA. This reduction was associated with a fall in total serum proteins and serum albumin concentrations. Supplemental albumin resulted in an increase in the serum albumin concentration but a reciprocal fall in the serum globulin fraction and in IgG, IgM, and IgA. The serum proteins and immunoglobulins in the steroid patients were significantly below normal but similar to that seen in the control patients. The reduction in serum proteins and immunoglobulins in the control and steroid patients paralleled the shock time (systolic pressure below 80 mm Hg) and the amount of plasma given during resuscitation. These correlations were not significant in the albumin- supplemented patients. These data indicate that albumin supplementation alters the normal immunoglobulin response to shock. These changes in the postinjury recovery period need further study.