Showing papers by "Kenji Hara published in 2017"

Volatile Hydrocarbon Analysis in Blood by Headspace Solid-Phase Microextraction: The Interpretation of VHC Patterns in Fire-Related Incidents

Abstract: A headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) technique was used to quantitate the concentration of volatile hydrocarbons from the blood of cadavers by cryogenic gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy. A total of 24 compounds including aromatic and aliphatic volatile hydrocarbons were analyzed by this method. The analytes in the headspace of 0.1 g of blood mixed with 1.0 mL of distilled water plus 1 µL of an internal standard solution were adsorbed onto a 100-µm polydimethylsiloxane fiber at 0°C for 15 min, and measured using a GC-MS full scan method. The limit of quantitation for the analytes ranged from 6.8 to 10 ng per 1 g of blood. This method was applied to actual autopsy cases to quantitate the level of volatile hydrocarbons (VHCs) in the blood of cadavers who died in fire-related incidents. The patterns of the VHCs revealed the presence or absence of accelerants. Petroleum-based fuels such as gasoline and kerosene were differentiated. The detection of C8-C13 aliphatic hydrocarbons indicated the presence of kerosene; the detection of C3 alkylbenzenes in the absence of C8-C13 aliphatic hydrocarbons was indicative of gasoline; and elevated levels of styrene or benzene in the absence of C3/C4 alkylbenzenes and aliphatic hydrocarbons indicated a normal construction fire. This sensitive HS-SPME method could help aid the investigation of fire-related deaths by providing a simple pattern to use for the interpretation of VHCs in human blood.

Basal subarachnoid hemorrhage by rupture of arteriovenous malformation at the cerebellopontine angle.

Abstract: A man in his late forties had lived as a recluse for more than ten years. He was found dead in his room. At autopsy, subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) was detected at the base of the brain, which weighed 1333 g. The cerebellar tonsil was swollen. The cerebral ventricle was enlarged and filled with blood. A hematoma was observed in the upper part of the left side of the cerebellar hemisphere. The location and size of SAH in this case indicated that the rupture of a cerebral aneurysm (CA) had occurred; however, CA was not detected. A mass of blood vessels buried in the hematoma was observed at the left cerebellopontine angle (CPA). The vascular lesion showed round-shaped blood vessels as well as flat-shaped vessels with the appearance of veins, but with elastic fibers indicative of arteries. The lesion was considered to be the nidus and was 5-8 mm in size. Feeding arteries appeared to be from the anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA). However, the draining vein and anastomotic parts of the artery and vein were not confirmed. Based on these histopathological features, this vascular lesion was diagnosed as arteriovenous malformation (AVM). A differential diagnosis between AVM at CPA and CA is needed in order to identify the source of non-traumatic SAH.

Simple regioisomeric differentiation of 2-, 3- and 4-methyl-α-pyrrolidinobutiophenones by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry using bromination

Abstract: A simple method for the differentiation of three cathinone-type regioisomers, 2-, 3- and 4-methyl-α-pyrrolidinobutiophenone (MePBPs), using a bromination procedure was developed in this study. The bromination was performed in a vial where isomers of MePBP, iron(III) bromide, and liquid bromine were added. After excess bromine in the vial was evacuated and an alkaline solution was added, the compounds were extracted with n-hexane and analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. This method is a useful way to differentiate among isomers of MePBPs using the differences in the number of peaks generated and the intensity ratio between peaks on the extracted ion chromatograms. This method seems to have great potential to be applied to regioisomer differentiation of other drugs.

An autopsy case of serotonin syndrome induced by illegal antipsychotics

Abstract: Serotonin syndrome is a documented side effect of the use of serotonergic agents. We herein reported an autopsy case of serotonin syndrome (SS), revealed by autopsy findings and a toxicological analysis. A female in her late twenties was discovered lying dead in her kitchen in early June. The room was unkempt, with household belongings scattered about. Illegal herbs and a large number of drug tablets and capsules were discovered in her room. Her thoracoabdominal region had putrefactive discoloration, accompanied by vesicles and abrasions. Many wounds, discolorations, bruises, and muscle hemorrhages were observed on her body. No clear lesions were detected on any of the internal organs. A toxicological screening analysis identified several selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in her blood and urine, specifically fluoxetine (SSRI), citalopram (SSRI), diphenhydramine (antihistamine: AH), venlafaxine (serotonin noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor: SNRI), and chlorpheniramine (AH). A quantitative analysis was performed using liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. Most of the drugs detected were at lethal concentrations. Serotonergic agent intoxication induces SS, a condition accompanied by symptoms such as confusion and agitation. Since many blunt force injuries were observed on her body, she may have fallen into an excited and confused state just before her death, and, in a wild rage, scattered her belongings about and injured herself, thereby causing the many wounds on her body. The cause of death was multiple drug intoxication with SS.