bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Postmortem Amitriptyline Pharmacokinetics in Pigs after Oral and Intravenous Routes of Administration
Authors: Hilberg T , Ripel Å , Smith AJ , Slørdal L , Mørland J , Bjørneboe A 
Published: August 2015

Abstract
In this study we have evaluated the postmortem pharmacokinetics of amitriptyline (Ami) and metabolites in pigs after oral and intravenous administration, and the results are compared with previous studies in rats and humans. In addition a meticulous investigation of blood and tissue concentrations after postmortem intravenous infusion of Ami was undertaken. Of a total of 9 over-night fasted pigs, 3 were given 25 mg/Kg Ami orally, and another 3 pigs received an intravenous infusion lasting 1 h of 3.3 mg/Kg Ami prior to death. The final 3 pigs were sacrificed and then given the intravenous infusion after death. After ∼5 h at room temperature, all carcasses were subsequently stored at 4–5°C. Postmortem blood samples were collected at 0.25, 1, 2, 4, 8, 24, 48, and 96 h through an indwelling intracardial needle. Postmortem examination with blood and tissue sampling was performed 96 h after death. Analysis was carried out by high performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection. Postmortem blood samples from the heart of the orally dosed animals revealed large and variable concentration increases of 99(30–243)% for Ami and 96(52–429)% for the main metabolite 10-OH-Ami at 96 h. In the intravenously infused live pigs heart blood Ami increased by 55(33–69)% and 10-OH-Ami increased by 232(76–240)%. Blood from the atria had significantly higher Ami concentrations than blood from both ventricles in the animals dosed while alive, and the drug concentration in femoral blood was higher than in heart blood (p &lt; 0.01). In the orally dosed pigs the left lobe of the liver had significantly higher Ami levels than the right lobe.
Tissue/blood Ami concentration ratios were generally lower than previously reported in rats and approximating the levels reported in humans. The animals infused intravenously after death demonstrated high drug levels in blood samples from central vessels, heart, lungs as well as cerebrospinal fluid and vitreous humour. This implies that the presence of a lethal concentration of a drug in just one sample of heart blood can prove worthless in a case where agonal drug infusion may have occurred.
Considerations in the Interpretation of Urine Analyses in Suspected Opiate Intoxications
Authors: Levine B , Smialek JE 
Published: August 2015

Abstract
Over the years, it has been observed that in many suspected opiate intoxications, a urine screen using the standard 300 ng/mL cutoff has produced negative results. Subsequent analysis of the blood in many of these cases, in fact, were positive for morphine. To identify the frequency of this occurrence and to determine a more appropriate uring screening cutoff, paired blood and urine specimens were tested for opiates at the above cutoffs.
Over the 6 month period of this study, 102 cases were identified where the blood morphine concentration by Roche Abuscreen was greater than 100 ng/mL of “morphine equivalents.” All positive cases were confirmed as morphine by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Seventy nine of these cases, or 77%, had urine concentrations by Abuscreen exceeding 300 ng/mL of “morphine equivalents.” The remaining 23 cases had urine morphine concentrations less than 300 ng/mL by Abuscreen. Urine specimens were then reanalyzed by Abuscreen using dilutions of the 300 ng/mL calibrator: 50, 75, and 150 ng/mL. Even with the use of a 50 ng/mL cutoff, 9 of these 23 specimens tested negative by Abuscreen.
Moreover, 23 of the 67 cases or 34% in which the cause of death was narcotic intoxication had urine opiate concentrations by Abuscreen less than the recommended 300 ng/mL cutoff. These results indicate the critical importance in cases of suspected narcotic intoxication of screening the blood in addition to urine.
Setting Cutoff Concentrations for Immunoassay Screening of Postmortem Blood
Authors: Collison IB , Spiehler VR , Guluzian S , Sedgwick PR 
Published: August 2015

Abstract
The objective of this study was to establish the optimum immunoassay cutoff concentrations for screening postmortem blood from coroner's cases for drugs of abuse with a coated tube radioimmunoassay (RIA) to ensure that the results with the coated tube RIA would be equal to or better than those with the previously used double antibody RIA. Immunoassay results (positive or negative) blood were compared to confirmed results on those cases by GC/MS alone or in combination with GLC using either a NPD or FID detector. Four to seven potential cutoff concentrations were evaluated for the drug classes opiates, amphetamines, cocaine and metabolites, and barbiturates. Specimens were 350 postmortem blood specimens and liver homogenates.
The cutoffs chosen for the coated tube RIA using this approach were 5 ng/mL morphine, 25 ng/mL methamphetamine, 500 ng/mL benzoylecgonine, and 500 ng/mL secobarbital. These cutoffs corresponded to a sensitivity and specificity of 94% and 96% for opiates, 93% and 86% for amphetamines, 91% and 96% for cocaine and metabolites and 91% and 87% for barbiturates. The double antibody RIAs were run on the same specimens with cutoffs of 20 ng/mL morphine, 50 ng/mL methamphetamine, 50 ng/mL benzoylecgonine and 1000 ng/mL phenobarbital. The sensitivity and specificity's for the double antibody immunoassay were: &gt;99% and 96% for opiates, 83% and 89% for amphetamines, 98% and 97% for cocaine, 79% and 95% for barbiturates.
Evaluation of the Accuracy of On-Site Multi-Analyte Drug Testing Devices in the Determination of the Prevalence of Illicit Drugs in Drivers
Authors: Buchan BJ , Walsh JM , Leaverton PE 
Published: August 2015

Abstract
A principal goal of this research was to conduct a field evaluation of “on-site” multi-analyte drug testing devices to determine the most accurate, efficient, and cost-effective device available for the purpose of rapidly detecting drivers under the influence of drugs.
Four on-site kits were selected and evaluated for accuracy and efficiency for the detection of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the cocaine metabolites (COC), and opiates (OPI). From 16 December 1995 to 17 March 1996, 303 voluntary urine specimens were collected by law enforcement officers from persons arrested for driving-under-the-influence (DUI). These specimens were tested using the four selected kits and aliquots of the specimens were sent to a DHHS certified lab for “gold standard” comparison testing by immunoassay and Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry.
On-site kit sensitivity ranged from 82.9% to 100% for THC, 82.5% to 100% for COC, and all were at 100% for OPI. Specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were also determined. Accuracy ranged from 94.0% to 98.3% for THC, 97.4% to 98.0% for COC, and 99.7% to 100% for OPI. All four kits were in very close agreement on prevalence: 15.5% to 15.8% for THC, all were at 13.2% for COC, and all were at 0.7% for OPI. For law enforcement purposes, sensitivity may be the most important indicator in these kits.
Xylazine Toxicity—Literature Review and Report of Two Cases
Authors: Mittleman RE , Hearn WL , Hime GW 
Published: August 2015

Abstract
Xylazine is a veterinary sedative, analgesic or general anesthetic. Its pharmaceutical action results in sympathetic discharge via stimulation of alpha-2-adrenoceptors. In humans, toxicity consists of central nervous system depression, bradycardia and hypotension. The dosages known to produce toxicity in humans vary from 40 mg up to 2400 mg.
Because of decomposition, xylazine blood concentrations in two homicide victims were unknown; however, the concentrations in the brain, liver, and kidneys were much higher in the 23-year-old female versus the 33-year-old male victim. A bottle of xylazine found on the crime scene had a concentration of 100 mg/mL. This 50 mL bottle had 32 mL remaining. Therefore at some point in time 18 mL had been utilized. The amount of available milligrams of xylazine (1800 mg) were enough to cause toxicity in both the woman and the man. Of interest was the fact that the partially skeletonized heads were found remote from the torsos, however, the concentration of xylazine in the body tissues provided a toxicological match of which head belonged to which body. Xylazine toxicity in humans and its relationship to these homicides will be the focus of this report.
Quechua Amerindian Population Characterized by HLA-DQα, YNZ22, 3′APO B, HUMTH01, and HUMVWA31A polymorphisms
Authors: Gené M , Fuentes M , Huguet E , Piqué E , Bert F , Corella A , Pérez-Pérez A , Corbella J , Moreno P 
Published: August 2015

AbstractAllele and genotype frequencies of DNA polymorphisms were determined in a population sample of Quechua (n = 113) using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). We report data on the frequencies of HLA-DQα, YNZ22, 3′ApoB, HUMTH01 and HUMVWA31A alleles and the distribution of the different genotypes. No significant deviations between observed and expected numbers were found, thus assuming the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium.
D4S43 Locus DNA Typing in the Japanese Population and Application to Teeth with Degraded DNA
Authors: Hanaoka Y , Minaguch K 
Published: August 2015

Abstract
VNTR polymorphism at the D4S43 locus was investigated, and allele frequencies in the Japanese population sample were determined by the polymerase chain reaction. Eleven different alleles and 16 genotypes were observed in 131 unrelated Japanese. The most common allele was one repeat unit (60.3%), the heterozygosity index of the present study was 58.7%, and the polymorphic information content was calculated at 0.55. In addition, we found four new size variations in the one-repeat-unit allele, which was the most common allele among the Japanese population. These variations were believed to be different from variations by repeats of the basic 14-bp unit. The one-repeat-unit allele at the D4S43 locus, which comes in four sizes, was detected in all of the samples, including degraded DNA samples obtained from hard tooth tissue. Therefore, this new variation is useful in personal identification by DNA analysis using forensic scientific degraded DNA samples.
Human Orosomucoid (ORM1) Subtyping: Further Population Genetic Data and Reports on the Feasibility to Type Aged Blood Samples and Stains
Authors: Dülmer M , Reker G , Nguyen TT , Henke L , Henke J 
Published: August 2015

Abstract
Genetic polymorphism of serum orosomucoid (ORM1) was investigated in 1072 unrelated German Caucasians using isolectric focusing followed by Western blotting and EIA. The estimated allele frequencies were ORM1 *F1 = 0,5690, ORM1 *S = 0,3927, ORM1 *F2 = 0,0368, ORM1 *F2S = 0,0009 and ORM1 *F5 = 0,0005. The method was successfully applied to determine ORM1 phenotypes in aged blood samples and blood stains. The results indicated that the ORM protein is a informative and remarkably robust blood group system.
Experimental Single Controlled Study of Burned Bones: Contribution of Scanning Electron Microscopy
Authors: Quatrehomme G , Bolla M , Muller M , Rocca J-P , Grévin G , Bailet P , Ollier A 
Published: August 2015

Abstract
Burned bones were studied using Scanning Electron Microscopy. The samples were cut from a maxillary-mandibular block taken during an autopsy. These fragments were heated in a furnace under controlled temperature conditions for 60 minutes. The temperatures ranged from 150 to 1150 degrees Celsius. The results are as following: (i) there are significant alterations of the bone, more and more obvious as the temperature increases, (ii) it appears to be difficult to establish a precise correlation between the temperature and the scanning electron microscopy patterns.
Analysis of Shrinkage in Human Fetal Diaphyseal Lengths from Fresh to Dry Bone Using Petersohn and Köhler's Data
Authors: Huxley AK 
Published: August 2015

Abstract
Calculation of gestational age from forensic fetal remains may be problematic. If soft-tissue indicators are not available, then diaphyseal lengths obtained through sonograms on living fetuses in utero or radiographs of long bones can be compared to known European standards, such as Fazekas and Kósa (1978) and Olivier and Pineau (1958, 1960). Radiographic comparison to these European standards, however, requires a correction factor for diaphyseal shrinkage from fresh to dry states. Percent shrinkage is calculated for six diaphyses (humerus, ulna, radius, femur, tibia and fibula) from Petersohn and Köhler's data published in Fazekas and Kósa (1978:362–369). Average shrinkage, standard deviation, minimum and maximum values are calculated for each diaphysis and for all diaphyses during 4–10 lunar months (LM) and newborns. Corresponding average and standard deviation values are as follows: 4 LM-10.09% ± 2.67%; 5 LM-5.74% ± 0.84%; 6 LM-3.48% ± 0.49%; 7 LM-2.32% ± 0.16%; 8 LM-2.18% ± 0.51%; 9 LM-1.76% ± 0.14%; 10 LM-1.90% ± 0.59%; and newborns-1.28% ± 0.55%. Analysis of these values suggests that percent shrinkage steadily declines as the fetus ages. This pattern presumably reflects calcification of bone during growth and development in utero. These findings demonstrate a significant shrinkage in the diaphysis early in development, which may alter accurate age estimation in the earliest fetal age groups.
Correlation of Body Mass Index with Thoracic and Abdominal Panniculus
Authors: Hunter B , French D , Warner J , Remick D 
Published: August 2015

Abstract
Obesity can play a significant role in chronic diseases, sudden unexpected death, and morbid obesity may be important as a cause of death for forensic pathologists. Our study attempted to determine if there is a correlation between panniculus measurements and body mass index (BMI) since BMI has been used in most studies to categorize obesity. Using data obtained from a review of 524 adult autopsies conducted at the University of Michigan from 1990 to 1992 we were able to show a correlation between both thoracic and abdominal panniculus and BMI (r2 = 0.335 and 0.296 respectively) which is statistically significant (p = 10−47 and 10−41 respectively). A prospective study confirmed the correlation (r2 = 0.552 for thoracic and 0.436 for abdominal panniculus) when the measurements were taken at the xyphoid process and 3 cm below the umbilicus. Using these data we calculated a panniculus index (PI) which is equal to the thoracic + abdominal panniculus in centimeters divided by the square of the height (in meters). The PI strongly correlated with BMI and was able to predict obesity. Using a BMI cutoff of 39 for morbid obesity, a PI value of 4.07 for females and 3.25 for males predicted morbid obesity with the probability of a false positive less than or equal to 2.5%. Mild and severe obesity could also be determined using the PI. Based on these data we've concluded that a concise mathematical relationship does exist between BMI and panniculus measurements. Therefore panniculus measurements can be used either as a surrogate measurement of morbid obesity or to support BMI calculations.
Origin and Gender Determination of Dried Blood on a Statue of the Virgin Mary
Authors: Palmirotta R , Verginelli F , Cama A , Mariani-Costantini R , Frati L , Battista P 
Published: August 2015

Abstract
In Italy, blood exudation from objects of worship recurs frequently in ancient chronicles and literature, in popular beliefs, and even in modern mass-media reports. This phenomenon, that was associated with epochal or catastrophic events, has roots that reach classical antiquity. In the last few years, several events connected with the detection of bloody “tears” on statues of the Virgin Mary required forensic medicine investigations. In the present report we describe genetic investigations conducted on dried blood of unknown derivation found on a statuette representing the Virgin Mary. To test the human or animal origin of the blood, we amplified Alu-specific sequences from DNAs obtained from the unknown sample and from humans, large apes, various Old and New World monkeys, a prosimian, mouse, common domestic artiodactyls and chicken. This investigation restricted the range of possible origin of the statue blood to humans, apes and Old World monkeys. To test the male or female origin of the blood, we used a multiplex nested polymerase chain reaction method, that allows the simultaneous amplification of the X-specific locus DXZ4 and of the Y-specific locus SRY. Considering the unlikelihood of an origin from simian Old World primates, the exclusive amplification of the X-specific product from the unknown sample and from human female blood controls, compared to the amplification of distinct X- and Y-specific bands from human male blood controls, strongly supports a human female origin of the statue blood.
Evidence of Polydrug Use Using Hair Analysis: A Fatal Case Involving Heroin, Cocaine, Cannabis, Chloroform, Thiopental and Ketamine
Authors: Gaillard Y , Pépin G 
Published: August 2015

Abstract
A case is presented involving a young woman on several illicit drugs (heroin, cocaine and cannabis) as well as two medications and a solvent used for their anesthetic and narcotic properties: thiopental, ketamine and chloroform. This complex drug use was supported by hair analysis over a 10.5 cm segment of the hair taken at autopsy. The average measured concentrations in hair were: thiopental = 5.3 ng/mg, pentobarbital = 10.0 ng/mg, ketamine = 11.3 ng/mg norketamine = 1.0 ng/mg, diazepam = 1.2 ng/mg, nordiazepam = 0.1 ng/mg, 6-acetylmorphine = 4.4 ng/mg, morphine = 3.4 ng/mg, codeine = 1.2 ng/mg, cocaine = 5.5 ng/mg, benzoylecgonine = 1.5 ng/mg and methylecgonine ester = 1.0 ng/mg. While the ketamine/norketamine ratio is consistent with that already reported on drug detection in hair, the thiopental/pentobarbital ratio seems to be inverted.
Citation Trends and Practices in the Journal of Forensic Sciences as Documented by ISI's Journal Citation Report
Authors: Jones AW 
Published: August 2015

Abstract
ISI stands for Institute for Scientific Information, which is a Philadelphia-based organization specializing in retrieving, documenting and evaluating bibliometric information about science, scientists and scientific journals. The company was founded in 1960 by Eugene Garfield Ph.D. and has since grown into a multimillion dollar worldwide organization (1–3). Among the many information products produced by ISI, perhaps the most sophisticated and widely acclaimed is the Science Citation Index (SCI) (4–6). The first edition of SCI was produced in 1963 and in many ways this database is unique because the fate of a published article and the citations it receives can be followed forward in time, whereas other databases permit retrospective searching but not prospective (2). The SCI gives cumulative information about cited articles (volume, page numbers, and year), the frequency of citation, the name, volume, and year of the citing journal, and the names of the authors (2,7). However, citation counts are listed under the name of the first author of the cited article. In 1965, ISI introduced a new product relevant to citation analysis called Journal Citation Reports (JCR), which is a database devoted to the citation practices of the journals covered by SCI.
Interlaboratory Comparison of Autoradiographic DNA Profiling Measurements: Precision and Concordance
Authors: Duewer DL , Lalonde SA , Aubin RA , Fourney RM , Reeder DJ 
Published: August 2015

Abstract
Knowledge of the expected uncertainty in restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) measurements is required for confident exchange of such data among different laboratories. The total measurement uncertainty among all Technical Working Group for DNA analysis Methods laboratories has previously been characterized and found to be acceptably small. Casework cell line control measurements provided by six Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and 30 U.S. commercial, local, state, and Federal forensic laboratories enable quantitative determination of the within-laboratory precision and among-laboratory concordance components of measurement uncertainty typical of both sets of laboratories. Measurement precision is the same in the two countries for DNA fragments of size 1000 base pairs (bp) to 10,000 bp. However, the measurement concordance among the RCMP laboratories is clearly superior to that within the U.S. forensic community. This result is attributable to the use of a single analytical protocol in all RCMP laboratories. Concordance among U.S. Laboratories cannot be improved through simple mathematical adjustments. Community-wide efforts focused on improved concordance may be the most efficient mechanism for further reduction of among-laboratory RFLP measurement uncertainty, should the resources required to fully evaluate potential cross-jurisdictional matches become burdensome as the number of RFLP profiles on record increases.
Using a Tree Diagram to Interpret a Mixed DNA Profile
Authors: Evett IW , Foreman LA , Lambert JA , Emes A 
Published: August 2015

Abstract
A recent case is described where the evidence of bloodstaining on a knife suggested that it was a mixture from the two victims. Interpretation of the evidence in this problem necessitated the formulation of several sets of multiple hypotheses which were analyzed by means of a tree diagram. The problem was then greatly simplified to one of comparing the two alternative hypotheses of most interest. It was found that results were robust to variation in the expert's judgment regarding the possibility that a mixture of blood was present on the knife.
Effect of Reference Database on Frequency Estimates of Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)-Based DNA Profiles
Authors: Monson KL , Budowle B 
Published: August 2015

Abstract
A variety of general, regional, ancestral and ethnic databases is available for the polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based loci LDLR, GYPA, HBGG, D7S8, Gc, DQA1, and D1S80. Generally, we observed greater differences in frequency estimations of DNA profiles between racial groups than between ethnic or geographic subgroups. Analysis revealed few forensically significant differences within ethnic subgroups, particularly within general United States groups, and multi-locus frequency estimates typically differ by less than a factor of ten. Using a database different from the one to which a target profile belongs tends to overestimate rarity. Implementation of the general correction of homozygote frequencies for a population substructure, advised by the 1996 National Research Council report, The Evaluation of Forensic DNA Evidence, has a minimal effect on profile frequencies. Even when it is known that both the suspect and all possible perpetrators must belong to the same isolated population, the special correction for inbreeding, which was proposed by the 1996 National Research Council report for this special case, has a relatively modest effect, typically a factor of two or less for 1% inbreeding. The effect becomes more substantial (exceeding a factor of ten) for inbreeding of 3% or more in multi-locus profiles rarer than about one in a million.
Determination of Gamma-Hydroxybutyrate (GHB) and Gamma-Butyrolactone (GBL) by HPLC/UV-VIS Spectrophotometry and HPLC/Thermospray Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Mesmer MZ , Duane Satzger R 
Published: August 2015

Abstract
This laboratory frequently receives samples that are suspected of being gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB), its lactone, gamma-butyrolactone (GBL), or a mixture of the two. We have developed an HPLC/UV-VIS spectrophotometric method for the separation and quantitation of GHB and GBL in illegal preparations that are available on the black market. The estimated detection limit is 50 ng injected onto the column. We are also reporting a simple and fast HPLC/thermospray mass spectrometric method for the confirmation of these compounds in illegal preparations. The characteristic mass spectrum for each compound could be obtained from as low as a 5 µg injection.