Is zinc a reliable biochemical marker of chronic alcoholism in the overall context of a medico-legal autopsy?

The purpose of our investigation is to appreciate the usefulness of zinc determination in the human body with regard to the tracing of chronic alcoholism at forensic autopsies. The analysis of zinc was performed in vitreous humour and in skeletal muscle. Our results tend to prove that, in post-mortem material, zinc is not a suitable marker of chronic alcoholism. Furthermore one has to take into account the frequent contamination during collection and storage of the samples and also the post-mortem increase of zinc in the vitreous humour due to autolysis.

Suicidal poisoning by MCPA and parathion.

A suicidal poisoning committed by a sixty-five year old woman, who swallowed a bottle of Agroxyl, containing an aqueous 250 g/L solution of the sodium- and potassium salt of 2-methyl-4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid [MCPA], together with lethal amounts of a parathion formulation, is described. The case history, the postmortem examination and the concentrations of parathion and MCPA in the different viscera, are reported in detail. Parathion determination was performed by means of a routine method, previously developed in our laboratory. The MCPA quantification was achieved using a thoroughly evaluated EC- GLC micro-analytical procedure, which is discussed completely. Identity was confirmed by GC-MS. Intake of lethal parathion quantities caused the woman's death with five minutes. This case however is worth reporting, since we had the unique opportunity to establish the early distribution of MCPA through the body, during the short period of survival.

[Legal medicine--an evolution]. / De gerechtelijke geneeskunde--een evolutie.

After about forty years of medico-legal practice the author considers some aspects of the evolution of this activity on the forensic field. He throws a glance on the nowadays problems concerning living persons or victims and even so on the new trends in regard to thanatology and thanato-etiology. After having drown some comments towards the "CO-WORKING" with the judicial apparatus he underlines his views and perspectives regarding on the one side the eventual postdoctoral graduation of Police Surgeons and on the other, the official qualification, on the basis of academic criteria, of forensic pathologists who, with the clear support of the universities, he hopes to see more strengthened by future statutes.

Sudden death in idiopathic giant cell myocarditis.

A rare case of idiopathic giant-cell myocarditis fatally affecting a middle-aged woman is presented. The circumstances of the fulminant and unexpected death were witnessed and reported by a relative. The confusing aspects of the 'Fiedler's myocarditis', the relation with more common forms of viral myocarditis and finally the medico-legal importance in the context of the sudden and natural death are mentioned.

Serum strontium estimation as a medico-legal diagnostic indicator of drowning.

In order to corroborate the medico-legal diagnosis of vital submersion we reviewed the appropriate literature and tested Icard's initial hypothesis, already expressed in 1932, that Strontium might be a good indicator of sea-water drowning. Therefore, we examined all the bodies found either in fresh or in sea-water, and also non-drowned control cases. Strontium concentrations in both cardiac cavities and in a peripheral blood-vessel were determined by flameless atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The statistical evaluation of the results is hereby presented. We come to the conclusion that this determination can be a valuable additional proof for sea-water drowning diagnosis, whilst freshwater drowning would be more difficult to assess. Further investigations are being undertaken.

How some medicolegal aspects of the Zeebrugge Ferry disaster apply to the investigation of mass disasters.

The capsizing of a British Channel ferry as it left Zeebrugge, Belgium's harbor, on the 6th of March, 1987, resulted in an all-out effort by Belgian and British authorities to identify the victims as well as to determine the medicolegal ramifications. This report describes the investigation and the lessons learned from it.

Suicidal poisoning by nitrite.

The authors relate a suicidal poisoning by nitrites. Post mortem findings are reported as well as a method for the quantitative assessment of NO2- in blood, urine, gastric and intestinal contents, kidney and liver. The concentration values obtained are correlated with the methemoglobin figures which indeed are lethal. The highest concentrations of NO2- are found in the small intestine where the nitrites seem to resist chemical decomposition owing to the reducing properties of the bacterial flora.

Toxicological analysis in a case of endosulfan suicide.

Stomach, small intestine contents, blood, liver, kidney and urine of a 28-years old man, were analyzed for residues of Endosulfan (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 10-hexachloro-1, 5, 5a, 6, 9, 9a-hexahydro-6, 9-methano-2, 4, 3-benzo(e)dioxathiepin 3-oxide). The analysis results showed the presence of high concentrations of the two endosulfan isomers in all samples. Since also alcohol was present in all the tissues analyzed, it was concluded that the victim died of a combined endosulfan-alcohol poisoning. No other drugs were found.