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Bickel J, Aboutara N, Jungen H, Szewczyk A, Müller A, Ondruschka B, Iwersen-Bergmann S. Morphine concentrations in fatalities after palliative treatment of acute burn injury. Int J Legal Med 2024; 138:839-847. [PMID: 38231204 PMCID: PMC11004028 DOI: 10.1007/s00414-024-03164-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
The evaluation of a morphine concentration in postmortem blood is routine for a forensic toxicologist. We here report three fatal cases where we found high morphine concentrations with 7.96, 4.30, and 5.82 mg/l in femoral blood that have to be estimated as unusually high. All these individuals died due to severe burn injuries and obtained morphine in the context of their palliative care in the last hours of their lives. According to the autopsy results, the cause of death in case 1 was burn disease with burns of about 90% of the body surface area (BSA), case 2 burn trauma, and case 3 burn shock. Besides morphine, propofol, fentanyl, sufentanil, midazolam, diazepam, lorazepam, cefazolin, and rocuronium were detected in femoral blood. The findings fitted well with the detailed clinical documentation. Further evidence of therapeutic concentrations of quetiapine, duloxetine, and melperone could be matched to preexisting medication of the individuals. Physiologically based pharmacokinetic modelling (PBPK) was applied, developed for the intravenous administration of morphine, to find an explanation for the high morphine concentrations in femoral blood. Quantification of morphine in body fluids and tissue was performed to calculate morphine tissue concentration ratios to the morphine concentration in femoral blood. The presented cases show that pharmacokinetic simulations can reflect decreased renal clearance and decreased hepatic metabolism in general. However, this prediction is not sufficient to explain the high morphine concentrations in femoral blood measured here. It can be assumed that burn shock in particular leads to altered pharmacokinetics, namely decreased distribution of morphine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julian Bickel
- Department of Legal Medicine, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Nadine Aboutara
- Research Centre Borstel Leibniz Lung Centre, Borstel, Germany
| | - Hilke Jungen
- Department of Legal Medicine, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Anne Szewczyk
- Department of Legal Medicine, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Alexander Müller
- Department of Legal Medicine, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Benjamin Ondruschka
- Department of Legal Medicine, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
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Fischer F, Lafleur L, Lackermair K. [Cardiac implantable electric devices in forensic medicine : Overview from the forensic and cardiology perspective]. Herzschrittmacherther Elektrophysiol 2023; 34:212-217. [PMID: 37401929 DOI: 10.1007/s00399-023-00952-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/05/2023]
Abstract
In 2021, about 75,000 persons in Germany died unnaturally or due to unexplained reasons. As a consequence, there are difficulties in more precisely identifying the time, cause and circumstances of death. Nevertheless, clarification is crucial not only from the clinical perspective, but these data are of considerable importance in the context of investigative procedures as they can be used to answer numerous legally relevant questions. Cardiac implantable devices (CIED) are of vital importance in the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias. In 2020 about 100,000 patients underwent CIED implantation in Germany. Therefore, CIED are present in a relevant proportion of the deceased mentioned above. The valuable source of information represented by postmortal CIED interrogation has been shown in numerous studies. Nevertheless, postmortal CIED interrogation is not routinely performed in the context of forensic medical examinations for reasons of practicability. This article summarizes benefits and limitations of postmortal CIED interrogation from the perspective of forensic medicine and cardiology and gives a recommendation for realization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian Fischer
- Institut für Rechtsmedizin, LMU München, Nußbaumstraße 26, 80336, München, Deutschland
| | - Laurent Lafleur
- Oberlandesgericht München, Nymphenburger Str. 16, 80335, München, Deutschland
| | - Korbinian Lackermair
- Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik I, LMU Klinikum München, Marchioninistr. 15, 81377, München, Deutschland.
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Wójtowicz A, Reciak M, Nowak PM, Wietecha-Posłuszny R. A sustainable approach for the stability study of psychotropic substances using vitreous humor and liver as alternative matrices. Anal Bioanal Chem 2022. [PMID: 35511247 DOI: 10.1007/s00216-022-04064-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Revised: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The stability of psychotropic substances representing various drug groups important from the perspective of forensic chemistry, including benzodiazepines, antidepressants, carbamazepine, cocaine, and their selected metabolites, was investigated for 1 month in two alternative biological matrices, vitreous humor and liver homogenate. Three different thermal storage conditions (−20, 4, and 20 °C) were tested. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis was preceded by an effective solid-phase microextraction (SPME) procedure. The results were statistically analyzed using one-way ANOVA to find significant concentration variations over time. The results obtained allowed for dividing the analytes into four groups: stable under all tested conditions, only at −20 and 4 °C, only at 20 °C, and overall unstable. Nordiazepam, venlafaxine, and cocaine and its metabolites turned out to be the most unstable substances, while fluoxetine showed the highest storage stability in both matrices. The SPME/LC-MS method was comprehensively evaluated according to the principles of white analytical chemistry (WAC), which reconcile the greenness and functionality of the method. A close to 100% whiteness score proves its sustainability and suitability for the intended application.
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Huss MB, Schmitz-Valckenberg S, Finger RP, Löffler KU, Fleckenstein M, Holz FG, Pfau M. The Willingness of Patients to Participate in an Eye Donation Registry for Research. Ophthalmologica 2020; 244:179-186. [PMID: 33316801 DOI: 10.1159/000513722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Accepted: 12/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION For ophthalmologic research, the systematic correlation of clinical data with data obtained from postmortem tissue donation is of great benefit. In this respect, the establishment of an eye donation registry represents a prerequisite for the acquisition of such data. METHODS A total of 300 patients were interviewed at a tertiary referral center in Germany by means of a standardized questionnaire. Binary questions were evaluated by percentage; Likert-scaled questions (1 = does apply; 5 = does not apply) were analyzed by the median and 25th (Q25) and 75th (Q75) percentiles. RESULTS The majority of patients (77.0%) would agree to donate their eyes for research purposes. When asked about reasons against an eye donation, 60.9% of all patients only stated reasons in the category "addressable" (e.g., not enough awareness of the topic). The vast majority of patients considered it appropriate for an ophthalmologist to approach them on the issue of postmortem eye donation (median 1, Q25 1, Q75 1). CONCLUSION Overall, patients had a positive attitude towards postmortem eye donation for research purposes. Importantly, reasons given against postmortem eye donation were often related to misconceptions and were potentially addressable. These results underline the fundamental willingness of ophthalmological patients in Germany to donate their eyes postmortem for research purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muriel B Huss
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Steffen Schmitz-Valckenberg
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany, .,GRADE Reading Center, Bonn, Germany, .,John A. Moran Eye Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake, Utah, USA,
| | - Robert P Finger
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Karin U Löffler
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Monika Fleckenstein
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany.,GRADE Reading Center, Bonn, Germany.,John A. Moran Eye Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake, Utah, USA
| | - Frank G Holz
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany.,GRADE Reading Center, Bonn, Germany
| | - Maximilian Pfau
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany.,GRADE Reading Center, Bonn, Germany.,Department of Biomedical Data Science, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
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Ramos P, Santos A, Pinto E, Pinto NR, Mendes R, Magalhães T, Almeida A. Alkali metals levels in the human brain tissue: Anatomical region differences and age-related changes. J Trace Elem Med Biol 2016; 38:174-182. [PMID: 27150910 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtemb.2016.03.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2016] [Accepted: 03/31/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The link between trace elements imbalances (both "toxic" and "essential") in the human brain and neurodegenerative disease has been subject of extensive research. More recently, some studies have highlighted the potential role of the homeostasis deregulation of alkali metals in specific brain regions as key factor in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases such as multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer's disease. Using flame atomic emission spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry after microwave-assisted acid digestion of the samples, alkali metals (Na, K, Li, Rb and Cs) were determined in 14 different areas of the human brain (frontal cortex, superior and middle temporal gyri, caudate nucleus, putamen, globus pallidus, cingulated gyrus, hippocampus, inferior parietal lobule, visual cortex of the occipital lobe, midbrain, pons, medulla and cerebellum) of adult individuals (n=42; 71±12, range: 50-101 years old) with no known history and evidence of neurodegenerative, neurological or psychiatric disorder. Potassium was found as the most abundant alkali metal, followed by Na, Rb, Cs and Li. Lithium, K and Cs distribution showed to be quite heterogeneous. On the contrary, Rb and Na appeared quite homogeneously distributed within the human brain tissue. The lowest levels of Na, K, Rb and Li were found in the brainstem (midbrain, medulla and pons) and cerebellum, while the lowest levels of Cs were found in the frontal cortex. The highest levels of K (mean±sd; range 15.5±2.5; 8.9-21.8mg/g) Rb (17.2±6.1; 3.9-32.4μg/g and Cs (83.4±48.6; 17.3-220.5ng/g) were found in putamen. The highest levels of Na and Li were found in the frontal cortex (11.6±2.4; 6.6-17.1mg/g) and caudate nucleus (7.6±4.6 2.2-21.3ng/g), respectively. Although K, Cs and Li levels appear to remain largely unchanged with age, some age-related changes were observed for Na and Rb levels in particular brain regions (namely in the hippocampus).
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrícia Ramos
- LAQV/REQUIMTE, Department of Chemical Sciences, Laboratory of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Porto University, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Agostinho Santos
- National Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences - North Branch, Jardim Carrilho Videira, 4050-167 Porto, Portugal; CENCIFOR - Forensic Science Center, Largo da Sé Nova, s/n, 3000-213 Coimbra, Portugal; Faculty of Medicine, Porto University, Al. Prof. Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal; School of Health Sciences, Minho University, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Edgar Pinto
- LAQV/REQUIMTE, Department of Chemical Sciences, Laboratory of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Porto University, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; CISA, Research Centre on Environment and Health, School of Allied Health Sciences, Polytechnic Institute of Porto, Rua Valente Perfeito 322, 4400-330 Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal
| | - Nair Rosas Pinto
- CENCIFOR - Forensic Science Center, Largo da Sé Nova, s/n, 3000-213 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Ricardo Mendes
- CENCIFOR - Forensic Science Center, Largo da Sé Nova, s/n, 3000-213 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Teresa Magalhães
- CENCIFOR - Forensic Science Center, Largo da Sé Nova, s/n, 3000-213 Coimbra, Portugal; Faculty of Medicine, Porto University, Al. Prof. Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal; Institute of Research and Advanced Training in Health Sciences and Technologies (IINFACTS), Department of Sciences, University Institute of Health Sciences (IUCS), CESPU, R. Central da Gandra 1317, 4585-116 Gandra, Portugal
| | - Agostinho Almeida
- LAQV/REQUIMTE, Department of Chemical Sciences, Laboratory of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Porto University, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal.
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