Human bone marrow as a tissue in post-mortem identification and determination of psychoactive Substances—Screening methodology

Wietecha‐Posłuszny, Renata; Lendor, Sofia; Garnysz, Magdalena; Zawadzki, Marcin; Kościelniak, Paweł

doi:10.1016/j.jchromb.2017.08.006

Cited by 23 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…Benzodiazepines, in particular diazepam and its metabolite (nordiazepam), were the most commonly detected drugs (10 cases), in accordance to previous studies [1,13]. Also, as demonstrated by the same authors, the blood concentrations in these cases were lower than the corresponding bone levels, probably due to a storage effect due to prolonged assumption [1,13]. Polypharmacy was also a frequent finding, in accordance with the above‐mentioned literature.…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 86%

“…However, there are too many confounding factors, for example, bone irroration, chemical properties of the drug, individual tolerance and metabolism, etc. [1,3,6,9,13,16,23,26,46,49‐51 ] whose mechanisms are beyond the scope of this study.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the absence of other matrices, the analysis of bone tissue may provide the only source of toxicological information, since it is the most resistant tissue of the human body [3,6,10]. Also, similarly to keratinous matrices, drugs can be detected in bones years after death [13].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Drugs in bone: Detectability of substances of toxicological interest in different states of preservation

Franceschetti

Candia

Giordano

et al. 2020

Journal of Forensic Sciences

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In forensic contexts of advanced decomposition, when conventional matrices are no longer available for toxicological analyses, finding alternative matrices is necessary. The skeleton, which is fundamental for anthropologists and geneticists, could be useful also for toxicological purposes. The present study aims to examine what kind of information toxicological analysis performed on bones (the cranium and the ribs) in different states of preservation could provide to the forensic practitioner. Thirty cadavers with known pharmacological history, subjected to forensic autopsy at the Institute of Legal Medicine of Milan, were selected. Rib and cranium samples were collected from each body and separated into two parts in order to create two different states of preservation: One was cleaned from soft tissues and analyzed as a well‐preserved bone sample; the other was submitted to a long maceration process, simulating complete skeletonization. All specimens were then processed with accelerated solvent extraction and the eluates analyzed using Q‐Exactive™ Orbitrap™ Mass Spectrometer. The analysis of blood and skeletal matrices showed positive results for the tested substances in 63% of cases, mainly benzodiazepines, antidepressants, and drug abuse. Significant Pearson correlations were observed between non‐macerated vs. macerated bone samples: r = 0.79 for rib samples, r = 0.61 for cranium samples, and r = 0.69 for all bone samples. As a consequence, the positive results confirm the potential of the bone tissue as an alternative matrix in forensic toxicology, even in cases of extremely decomposed bodies. This study also highlighted important elements for reconstructing the biological profile in cases of forensic anthropological concern.

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 86%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Drugs in bone: Detectability of substances of toxicological interest in different states of preservation

Franceschetti

Candia

Giordano

et al. 2020

Journal of Forensic Sciences

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“…In view of the above, we find it quite surprising that the current version of the "Recommendations of the Polish Society of Forensic Medicine and Criminology on the collection of post-mortem material for toxicological analysis" fails to include any references to vitreous humour [3]. What is more, other alternative materials such as bone marrow or adipose tissue (useful for confirming the intake of lipophilic new psychoactive substances) also deserve to be considered and discussed in the Recommendations which, in their current version, are simply outdated [4,5]. Consequently, it is the belief of the authors of this letter that the text of the Recommendations needs an urgent update.…”

Section: Autorzy Deklarują Brak Konfliktu Interesówmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…W związku z powyższym dziwi fakt, że obowiązujące "Zalecenia Polskiego Towarzystwa Medycyny Sądowej i Kryminologii w sprawie pobierania materiału sekcyjnego do badań toksykologicznych" nie zawierają jakiegokolwiek odniesienia do ciała szklistego [3]. Co więcej, inne materiały alternatywne, takie jak szpik kostny czy tkanka tłuszczowa (wartościowa przy potwierdzaniu przyjęcia lipofilnych -nowych -substancji psychoaktywnych), także zasługują na uwzględnienie i szersze omówienie w tym dokumencie, który obecnie jest po prostu przestarzały [4,5]. W ocenie autorów listu zasadne byłoby zatem dokonanie pilnej aktualizacji ww.…”

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Is it time to update the Recommendations of the Polish Society of Forensic Medicine and Criminology on the collection of post-mortem material for toxicological analysis?

Skowronek

Zawadzki

2018

amsik

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Hair analysis in postmortem investigations: Case of a skeletonized body

Pelissier‐Alicot,

Ameline,

Kintz

et al. 2024

Drug Testing and Analysis

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Analysis of hair collected from putrefied or skeletal bodies is always complex and must take into account several pitfalls, such as external contamination and contamination by biological fluids. This work presents a case of particular complexity. A skeletonized body was discovered on a country road. A tuft of brown hair, detached from the scalp, irregular in length, non‐oriented, in contact with soil and vegetation, was removed. An anthropological examination was carried out and genetic samples were taken from the right femoral shaft. After about 10 washes with warm water and dichloromethane, the tuft of hair was analyzed without segmentation. General unknown screening was performed by liquid chromatography system coupled to a high‐resolution mass spectrometry (LC‐HRMS) after incubation in pH 9.5 borate buffer and liquid–liquid extraction. Specific Multiple Reaction Monitoring (MRM) methods for date rape drugs were carried out by liquid chromatography system coupled to a tandem mass spectrometry (LC‐MS/MS). The anthropological examination allowed to determine that the victim was a female individual, over 60 years old, the death dating from 3 months to 1 year. Comparison of the DNA results with the Missing Persons Index led to the identification, a 60‐year‐old woman who disappeared 5 months earlier. Hair analysis showed the presence of oxazepam (361 pg/mg), nordiazepam (54 pg/mg), and alimemazine (5 pg/mg). The interpretation of these concentrations is extremely difficult due to the risk of degradation of the hair cuticle during prolonged stay in the soil, as well as of contamination by putrefactive fluids. The authors discuss the value of using multiple biological and non‐biological matrices in this context to improve the interpretation of the results.

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Human bone marrow as a tissue in post-mortem identification and determination of psychoactive Substances—Screening methodology

Cited by 23 publications

References 23 publications

Drugs in bone: Detectability of substances of toxicological interest in different states of preservation

Drugs in bone: Detectability of substances of toxicological interest in different states of preservation

Is it time to update the Recommendations of the Polish Society of Forensic Medicine and Criminology on the collection of post-mortem material for toxicological analysis?

Hair analysis in postmortem investigations: Case of a skeletonized body

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