Stability of postmortem blood ethanol under experimental conditions.

Objective: To do analysis of ethanol in postmortem blood samples stored at different temperatures and time intervals and to compare ethanol concentration in blood samples with high and normal glucose amounts when stored at room temperature. Methods: Blood samples collected from the fifty autopsy cases with 1% sodium fluoride as preservative were analyzed immediately by headspace gas chromatography. Each blood sample was divided into three sets. Each set of blood samples were stored at room temperature, 4°C and -20°C, respectively. The storage samples were analyzed for ethanol concentration at different time interval at: 2, 4, 7, 14, 28, 60 and 90 days after collection. Each of ten blood samples of normal (70-110 mg/dl) and high (greater than 200 mg/dl) glucose level were tested for ethanol concentration immediately and then transferred to twelve polypropylene tubes with a tightened cap. The blood sample was stored at room temperature and analyzed for various time intervals including 2, 4, 7, 14 and 28 days. Results: Ethanol concentrations in blood stored at 4°C and -20°C were stable up to 14 and 7 days before slowly declining until 90 days. Whereas blood samples stored at room temperature the ethanol concentrations continuously decreased throughout storage time and was less stable at any storage time than those stored at 4°C and -20°C. Ethanol concentrations in the high glucose blood group were significantly increased after 7 days while those in the normal glucose blood group were mostly unchanged. Conclusion: The stability of ethanol concentration in preserved blood stored at 4°C was longer than those stored at -20°C and room temperature. A high glucose level may lead to increased ethanol concentration when stored at room temperature.

Cranial suture closure and age determination in the Thai population.

Objective: To determine whether the time of cranial suture closure in the Thai population has changed compared to findings in the past or not. Is there any difference between sexes? Also to determine the difference between the time of ectocranium and endocranium closure and their reliability for age determination in the Thai population. Methods: The time of closure of the sagittal, coronal and lambdoid sutures was studied in 166 crania (known age Thai adults, 30 females and 136 males) for which the medicolegal autopsies were performed at the Department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok,during the year 2006, age range between 15 to 83 years old. The sagittal suture was divided into four segments and those of each side of the coronal and lambdoid sutures into three segments. The degree of suture closure was recorded for endocranial and ectocranial sides by our scoring system. The sum of all endocranial suture scores, which were also defined as “Composite scores”, were divided into 7 stages (designated as S0-S6). The graph showing the association between chronological age and endocranial composite scores was plotted. The correlation coefficient, chi-square tests, and independent t test were used for statistical analysis, P value <0.05 was statistically significant. Results: It was found that the Thai new generation’s ectocranial suture closure starts and completes earlier than those in the past while endocranial sagittal suture closure starts and completes at a similar time as found in the past. Endocranial sutures start closing before ectocranial and endocranial closure is more related to age than another and no difference between sexes could be found. Using the closure of each suture separately to determine the age at death, somehow, may not be appropriate while using the sum of suture scores reduces variations. The sum of endocranial suture scores (composite scores) are statistically proven to be most related to age without significant statistical difference between the two sexes. The association between age and the interval of composite scores was shown andsuggested to be the age predicting tool. Conclusion: The time of cranial suture closure is stated as one of indicators of age at death but its progression variesgreatly. According to our study, using composite scores helps in diminishing this variation. The information on suture closure is useful when other criteria are not available or when being used in conjunction with other attributes.

Detection of methamphetamine in urine stains.

Objective: The aim of this study is to determine the stability of methamphetamine in urine stains on two materials (gauze and filter paper) which were stored for up to 24 weeks in different temperatures and environmental conditions. Methods: One ml of 10 different concentrations of positive methamphetamine urine samples were prepared for study by staining each samples on gauze sponge and filter paper. Each set of urine stains were stored at 0C, 4C, room temperature and outdoor (avoiding water and rain exposure). Urine stains were eluted subsequently at different times as follows: immediately, 3 days, 1 week, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 12 weeks and 24 weeks, respectively. Then, elution solvent was analyzed for methamphetamine concentration by TDx analyzer. Results: Methamphetamine concentrations of immediate urine stains on gauze were lower than that of urine in all concentrations. The urine stains on filter paper contained methamphetamine less than urine at a concentration below 5,000 ng/ml. Methamphetamine on gauze and filter paper stored at 0C and 4C did not change for 24 weeks. Being stored at room temperature and outdoor, methamphetamines on gauze and filter paper significantly decreased during 24 weeks. The amount of methamphetamines on gauze and filter paper at outdoor declined faster than at room temperature within the same time frame. Conclusions: Rethamphetamine recovered from urine stains on filter paper was higher than from gauze sponge. The amount of methamphetamine of urine stain on gauze and filter paper were stable when stored at 0C and 4C but at room temperature and outdoor they were continuously declined during 24 weeks.

Microbial and heavy metal contamination of treated hospital wastewater in Thailand.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the microbial and heavy metal contamination of treated hospital wastewater MATERIAL AND METHOD: Methods of treating wastewater were acquired by questionnaires. Chlorine concentration, pH, bacteria and parasites in treated wastewater were tested in the individual hospitals. Heavy metal concentrations were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. RESULTS: In 2002, 72 hospitals were included in the present study. The common methods of treating wastewater were activated sludge and oxidation ditch. Bacteria exceeded standard numbers, pathogenic bacteria and parasites were found in two-thirds of the hospitals. Heavy metals, namely lead, chromium and cadmium, in the hospital effluent did not exceed standard concentrations. CONCLUSION: Micro-organisms exceeding standard levels were found in treated wastewater in two-thirds of the hospitals. Lead, chromium and cadmium levels in hospital effluent were in an acceptable range.

A drowsy patient with a positive purple urine test.

We report a pitfall in the investigation of amphetamine poisoning by urine test. A 21-year-old female who came to hospital with drowsiness and was reported to have positive purple urine test. This false positive urine test occurred as a result of drugs and substances of the same structure. Specific investigations were further recommended in order to detect the use of the amphetamines and allow appropriate treatment.