The distribution of ethanol in postmortem blood specimens.

Ethanol was determined by gas chromatography in a variety of tissues and body fluids secured at autopsy in 61 cases. The specimens tested included right and left heart blood, femoral blood, pericardial fluid, cerebrospinal fluid, vitreous humor, urine, stomach contents, and brain. Statistical analysis of the cases revealed no significant differences among the various blood sites tested. However, the variations in blood ethanol concentrations among the various sampling sites within each case were as follows: 40 cases showed differences of less than 25%; 16 cases revealed variability between 25% and 50%, 4 cases had differences exceeding 50%. In one case, satisfactory blood analyses could not be accomplished. The larger variances occurred especially in those instances in which stomach alcohol concentration was 0.50% or greater. In one case, the variability amongst the different blood sites exceeded 400% (femoral blood--0.043%, right atrium--0.070%, root of aorta--0.156%); the brain was 0.050%, and the stomach contents was 1.2%. For all 61 cases, variances in blood alcohol content among the different sampling sites in a single cadaver ranged from 1.8 to 428%.

Attempted murder with pancuronium.

A nurse was accused of attempting to murder her anesthesiologist husband on two occasions by administering to him a neuromuscular blocking agent. In both episodes, urine specimens were obtained from the victim shortly after the suspected assaults. The samples were initially tested fluorometrically using Rose Bengal dye as a pairing agent. Both were presumptively positive for pancuronium. Confirmation of these results was achieved by pairing the drug with potassium iodide, extracting the complex, and submitting the extract to thin-layer chromatography (TLC) cleanup, elution at the appropriate retardation factor (Rf), and, finally, gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis in the selected-ion monitoring mode. The two quaternary amines of pancuronium appear to undergo pyrolytic N-demethylation in the injection port to yield an entity amenable to capillary column gas chromatography. The mass spectrum of the compound consists of a base peak of m/z 322, with additional fragments of 292, 323, 338, and 397 m/z, each of which was monitored. The confirmed positive findings were instrumental in adjudicating the case.

The production of amitriptyline from nortriptyline in formaldehyde-containing solutions.

The stability of nortriptyline in aqueous solutions containing various concentrations of formaldehyde was investigated. Amitriptyline, as a reaction product, was determined by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) in these experiments. Factors that may contribute to this phenomenon, including pH, formaldehyde concentration, and incubation time were evaluated. At 40% (v/v) formaldehyde concentration and pH 4, there was a 68% decrease in nortriptyline concentration along with a concomitant formation of amitriptyline after 24 h. The N-methylated product was responsible for 48% of the total tricyclic drug present. The data also clearly indicate that the formation of amitriptyline is favored at elevated pH.

Endogenous isopropanol: forensic and biochemical implications.

Concomitant findings of isopropanol and acetone in biospecimens of decedents known not to have been exposed to the alcohol prompted a study to explain its origins. Mixtures of acetone, ADH, and NADH at pHs 7.3 and 8.8 were incubated at 37 degrees C for varying intervals. Reaction products were then analyzed by headspace GC and assured identification made by GC/MS. It was found that isopropanol is produced by reduction of acetone at pH 7.3 (to a lesser extent at pH 8.8), providing evidence for an alternate metabolic route for acetone. A mechanism for this reduction is proposed. Ranges for isopropanol (in mg/dL or mg/100 g) found in unexposed decedents were: blood 1-29; liver 7-59; brain 2-12; kidney 6-26. Thus, the forensic investigator must interpret isopropanol results cautiously, particularly when low concentrations are found.

Detection and quantitation of multiple volatile compounds in tissues by GC and GC/MS.

Qualitative and quantitative analysis of tissues and body fluids for multiple volatile organic compounds were performed by a combination of packed and open tubular capillary GC and GC/MS. This paper describes methods for such analyses in a case involving the exposure of two persons to methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, toluene and the three isomeric xylenes. Tissue and body fluid concentrations of these substances in the two decedents are presented and discussed briefly.

Detection and identification of gasoline in tissues by capillary GC using pattern recognition techniques.

Blood, brain, lung, and gastric contents of a drowning victim recovered from an automobile in which there was a strong odor of gasoline were examined for the presence of gasoline. Heated headspace, capillary column gas chromatography (GC) was employed for the analysis of the samples with simple pattern recognition being used to complete the determination. A mathematical discussion of the probability of artifact components or other organic compounds in the samples causing results which could falsely appear to be gasoline is discussed.