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McIntyre DB, Dawson BM, Long BM, Barton PS. A review of multi-disciplinary decomposition research and key drivers of variation in decay. Int J Legal Med 2024:10.1007/s00414-024-03222-2. [PMID: 38622312 DOI: 10.1007/s00414-024-03222-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
The decomposition of animal remains is a multifaceted process, involving ecological, biological, and chemical interactions. While the complexity is acknowledged through concepts like the necrobiome, it's unclear if this complexity is reflected in research. Appreciation of the complexity of decomposition is crucial for identifying sources of variation in estimations of time since death in medico-legal science, as well as building broader ecological knowledge of the decomposition process. To gain insights into the extent of multidisciplinary research in the field of decomposition science, we conducted an examination of peer-reviewed literature on four key drivers of variation: volatile organic compounds, microbes, drugs/toxins, and insects. Among 650 articles, we identified their scientific discipline, driver/s of variation investigated, and year of publication. We found that 19% explored relationships between two drivers, while only 4% investigated interactions between three. None considered all four drivers. Over the past three decades, there has been a steady increase in decomposition research publications, signifying its growing importance. Most research (79%) was linked to forensic science, highlighting opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration in decomposition science. Overall, our review underscores the need to incorporate multidisciplinary approaches and theory into contemporary decomposition research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donna B McIntyre
- Future Regions Research Centre, Federation University, Mount Helen, VIC, 3350, Australia.
- Graduate Research School, Federation University, Mount Helen, VIC, 3350, Australia.
| | - Blake M Dawson
- School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, NSW, 2350, Australia
| | - Benjamin M Long
- Future Regions Research Centre, Federation University, Mount Helen, VIC, 3350, Australia
| | - Philip S Barton
- Future Regions Research Centre, Federation University, Mount Helen, VIC, 3350, Australia
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, 3216, Australia
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Chan WS, Wong GF, Hung CW, Wong YN, Fung KM, Lee WK, Dao KL, Leung CW, Lo KM, Lee WM, Cheung BKK. Interpol review of toxicology 2016-2019. Forensic Sci Int Synerg 2020; 2:563-607. [PMID: 33385147 PMCID: PMC7770452 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsisyn.2020.01.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2020] [Accepted: 01/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
This review paper covers the forensic-relevant literature in toxicology from 2016 to 2019 as a part of the 19th Interpol International Forensic Science Managers Symposium. The review papers are also available at the Interpol website at: https://www.interpol.int/content/download/14458/file/Interpol%20Review%20.Papers%202019.pdf.
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Silva AR, Dinis-Oliveira RJ. Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of dextromethorphan: clinical and forensic aspects. Drug Metab Rev 2020; 52:258-282. [DOI: 10.1080/03602532.2020.1758712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ana Rita Silva
- Department of Public Health and Forensic Sciences, and Medical Education, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Ricardo Jorge Dinis-Oliveira
- Department of Public Health and Forensic Sciences, and Medical Education, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Department of Sciences, IINFACTS – Institute of Research and Advanced Training in Health Sciences and Technologies, University Institute of Health Sciences (IUCS), CESPU, CRL, Gandra, Portugal
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Laboratory of Toxicology, UCIBIO, REQUIMTE, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
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Cornthwaite HM, McDonald CS, Watterson JH. Analysis of Dextromethorphan and Three Metabolites in Decomposed Skeletal Tissues by UPLC-QToF-MS: Comparison of Acute and Repeated Drug Exposures. J Anal Toxicol 2019; 43:726-733. [PMID: 31504591 DOI: 10.1093/jat/bkz074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2019] [Revised: 05/31/2019] [Accepted: 06/06/2019] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Ultra-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-QToF-MS) analysis of dextromethorphan (DXM) and its metabolites-dextrorphan, 3-methoxymorphinan (3-MEM) and 3-hydroxymorphinan-in skeletal remains of rats exposed to DXM under different dosing patterns is described. Rats (n = 20) received DXM in one of four dosing patterns: acute (ACU1 or ACU2-100 or 200 mg/kg, i.p.; n = 5, respectively) or repeated (REP1 or REP2-3 doses of 25 or 50 mg/kg, i.p., 30 min apart; n = 5, respectively). Drug-free animals (n = 5) served as negative controls. Following euthanasia, the animals decomposed to skeleton outdoors. Bones were sorted by animal and skeletal element (vertebra, femur, pelvis, tibia, rib and skull), washed, air-dried and pulverized prior to dynamic methanolic drug extraction, filtration/pass-through extraction and analysis by UPLC-QToF-MS in positive electrospray ionization mode. Analyte levels (expressed as mass-normalized response ratios, RR/m) differed significantly between ACU1 and ACU2 (Mann-Whitney (MW), P < 0.05) in all skeletal elements for all analytes investigated, and between REP1 and REP2 in most skeletal elements for 3-MEM and 3-HOM, but in all skeletal elements for DXM. Between ACU1 and ACU2, and between REP1 and REP2, analyte level ratios (RRi/RRj) differed significantly (MW, P < 0.05) in 3/6 to 6/6 skeletal elements, depending on the ratios concerned, with no analyte level ratio differing significantly between both ACU1 vs ACU2 and REP1 vs REP2. Kruskal-Wallis (KW) analysis showed skeletal element to be a main effect for all analyte levels and analyte level ratios in all ACU and REP groups examined (P < 0.05). For data pooled only according to exposure pattern, KW analysis showed dose pattern to be a main effect for both analyte levels and analyte level ratios (P < 0.05). These data illustrate a dependence of these measures on dose, dose pattern and skeletal element, suggesting that some exposure patterns may be distinguished by toxicological analysis of bone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather M Cornthwaite
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Laurentian University, 935 Ramsey Lake Rd, Sudbury, Ontario P3E 2C6, Canada
| | - Claire S McDonald
- Department of Forensic Science, Laurentian University, 935 Ramsey Lake Rd, Sudbury, Ontario P3E 2C6, Canada
| | - James H Watterson
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Laurentian University, 935 Ramsey Lake Rd, Sudbury, Ontario P3E 2C6, Canada.,Department of Forensic Science, Laurentian University, 935 Ramsey Lake Rd, Sudbury, Ontario P3E 2C6, Canada
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Vandenbosch M, Somers T, Cuypers E. Distribution of clomipramine, citalopram, midazolam, and metabolites in skeletal tissue after chronic dosing in rats. Drug Test Anal 2019; 11:1083-1093. [PMID: 30817095 DOI: 10.1002/dta.2578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2019] [Revised: 02/13/2019] [Accepted: 02/22/2019] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
In recent years, the use of skeletal tissue as an alternative matrix in forensic toxicology has received new interest. In cases where extreme decomposition has taken place, analysis of skeletal tissue is often the only option left. In this article, a fully validated method is presented and the distribution of clomipramine, citalopram, midazolam, and metabolites after chronically administration is examined within skeletal tissue. Rats were chronically dosed with respectively clomipramine, citalopram, or midazolam. Extracts were quantitatively analyzed using liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS). Clomipramine, citalopram, and metabolites, respectively desmethylclomipramine and desmethylcitalopram are shown to be detectable in all bone types sampled. Midazolam and its metabolite α-OH-midazolam could not be detected. The absence of midazolam in extracts gives an indication that drugs with pKa values under physiological pH are badly or not incorporated in bone tissue. Bone and post-mortem blood concentrations were compared. A range of different bone types was compared and showed that the concentration is strongly dependent on the bone type. In concordance with previous publications, the humerus shows the highest drug levels. Skeletal tissue concentrations found ranged from 1.1 to 587.8 ng/g. Comparison of the same bone type between the different rats showed high variances. However, the drugs-metabolite ratio proved to have lower variances (<20%). Moreover, the drugs-metabolite ratio in the sampled bones is in close concordance to the ratios seen in blood within a rat. From this, we can assume that the drugs-metabolite ratio in skeletal tissue may prove to be more useful than absolute found concentration.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tomas Somers
- Toxicology and Pharmacology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Eva Cuypers
- Toxicology and Pharmacology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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The current state and future directions of skeletal toxicology: Forensic and humanitarian implications of a proposed model for the in vivo incorporation of drugs into the human skeleton. Forensic Sci Int 2018; 289:419-428. [DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2018.06.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2018] [Revised: 06/04/2018] [Accepted: 06/17/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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