Postmortem interval (PMI) determined by study sarcophagous biocenoses: three cases from the province of Venice (Italy).

This paper presents and discusses three cases of cadavers found, unburied, in the province of Venice, Northern Italy. In each case, all insect species playing some role in carrion decay processes, both sarcophagous and their predators, found on or in the bodies, were collected and determined. In one case, many larvae of the black soldier fly, Hermetia illucens L. (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) were found and are reported, for the first time in Italy, as necrophagous. Experimental breeding of some fly species was also carried out in controlled temperature and humidity conditions. In particular, it was of interest to know how the Neotropical black soldier fly modified its life-cycle to adapt to a temperate climate. It was thus possible to establish the rate of larval growth and timing of pupation, emergence, oviposition and hatching in various external conditions. The postmortem interval (PMI) established by identifying the life-cycle stages of dipterofauna were later confirmed in all cases through police investigations and the results of forensic analyses.

Determination of morphine in the hair of heroin addicts by high performance liquid chromatography with fluorimetric detection.

A procedure has been presented for the quantitative determination of morphine contained in the hair of heroin addicts, by means of heat-acid hydrolysis, pre-column dansyl derivatization, straight phase liquid chromatography, and fluorescence detection. External standardization was used. Intra-assay and day-to-day variation coefficients were 5.6 and 7.8%, respectively (n = 10), when hair containing 1 ng/mg of morphine was assayed. Hair samples of 22 heroin addicts showed positive results in the range 0.08 to 15.7 ng/mg. No false positive results were found in 20 control subjects. A close correlation was shown between high performance liquid chromatography and radioimmunoassay results (y = 0.97x + 0.26)(r = 0.997, n = 15). Morphine hair content results significantly correlated with the grade of heroin use roughly estimated by means of serial determinations of morphine in urines during the last months before hair sampling.

Calcitonin serum levels in heroin addicts: effects of methadone and clonidine detoxication treatments.

Calcitonin (CT), a 32-aminoacid peptide, is secreted by the parafollicular 'C' cells of the thyroid which derive from the ultimobranchial body and, ultimately, from the neural crest. In man, the main role of this hormone is to protect the skeleton during periods of physiological stress, such as growth, pregnancy and lactation by reducing calcium loss [1]. Nevertheless, some recent data, such as the finding of immunoreactive CT-like material (iCT) in the central nervous system [2] and in the cerebrospinal fluid and the demonstration of its analgesic action in rabbits [4] and in man [5] indicate a relationship between CT and the neuroendocrine system. The purpose of the present study is to evaluate the levels of CT in a group of addicts to heroin both before and during detoxication treatment with methadone or a non-opioid drug like clonidine.

Free and bound testosterone in male heroin addicts.

The plasma levels of the active (free) fraction of testosterone (Te) and of Te Binding Globulin (TeBG) in a group of 42 heroin addicts with similar sexual difficulties were investigated for almost 2 years. Plasma levels of free Te were significantly low and TeBG were significantly high not only in the addicts with low total Te concentrations, but also in the addicts with normal values of total Te.

Hormone levels in methadone-treated drug addicts.

To test the effect of methadone on hormone release in man, plasma levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), 17-beta-estradiol (E2), estrone (E1), progesterone (P), testosterone (T), dehydrotestosterone (DHT), androstenedione (A), dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DS), and prolactin (PRL) have been evaluated in 25 male subjects in treatment wit 30 mg/day methadone per os for at least two months after a minimum of one year of heroin addiction. All subjects had a history of sexual difficulties. The levels of E1, E2, P and LH were always within normal values whereas FSH showed lower values than normal and A, DS and PRL noticeably increased in many subjects. Modest variations were noted for T and DHT. These data seem to indicate that methadone abuse affects the hypophysis, the testiculum and the adrenal cortex. More details will probably be obtained when the variations in hormone rates and opiate serum concentrations are checked at a later date.

Record of hospitalized acute intoxication cases: a proposed statistical-epidemiological form.

A form is presented for recording acute toxicological case histories for statistical purposes. It includes personal data, case history, social and environmental data, characteristics of the poison(s), history of the intoxication, general and prevailing signs and symptoms, criteria of diagnosis, emergency measures, specific and antagonistic treatment before and during hospitalization, clinical laboratory findings, toxicological analysis, and progression of symptoms until full or partial recovery or death. This form was developed in the course of retrospective research, and can be used either for telephone emergency calls or as a part of the clinical file. Through the elaboration of the compiled forms a strict cooperation between the assisting services and the Specialized Toxicology Centre may allow for better preventive and therapeutic measures.

Heroin addiction: relationship between the plasma levels of testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, androstenedione, LH, FSH, and the plasma concentration of heroin.

Changes in sexual function and hormone levels are commonly found in subjects addicted to narcotics. In this study we examined 16 male and 3 female addicts who had been taking heroin (H) in the last year in doses higher than 150 mg/day. In these patients, who presented similar clinical problems, we assayed by RIA the plasma levels of heroin, testosterone, (T), dihydrotestosterone (DHT), androstenedione (A), luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) for periods of 150 min, 6 h and 9 h. We found a significant reduction of T and DHT concomitant with higher plasma concentrations of heroin but no relevant changes of A, LH and FSH. T and DHT returned to the initial levels after the decrease of heroin concentration. The GnRH test effectd on a female subject allowed us to make the diagnosis of hypothalamic amenorrhea. In the same patient no circadian rhythms for T, DHT and A were detected.

The ultradian pulsatile release of gonadotropins in normal female subjects.

With an original statistical study which employes the analysis of variance and the harmonic analysis, the authors evaluated the levels of LH and FSH obtained from 5 female patients of the infertility clinic. These subjects, apparently free from endocrine disorders, underwent a 7-hour test consisting of samples obtained at 20 minute intervals. By a double-antibody RIA method, we assayed LH and FSH in quintuplicate or triplicate in each sample and counted the tubes twice consecutively. In all subjects for LH and in 3 subjects for FSH we detected a real ultradian pulsatile release of the hormone. Period and amplitude of the LH fluctuations vary according to the phase of the menstrual cycle (follicular phase: short period and low amplitude; luteal phase: long period and high amplitude). No change in amplitude was observed for FSH, while the period in two cases varied in accordance with LH. In two cases we found multiple periods in the fluctuations of one hormone during the same test.

Radioimmunoassay of morphine and morphine-like substances in biological fluids and human tissues.

A radioimmunoassay is described for the determination of morphine and morphine-like substances in plasma, serum, biological fluids and tissue homogenates using an antiserum to morphine-6-hemisuccinyl-BSA and 125I-morphine as the labelled tracer. In the B/F separation with ammonium sulphate, calcium sulphate was added to make the precipitate more compact. Some parameters related to the use of this method in direct assay on plasma, serum, other biological fluids and tissue homogenates were evaluated.