Association between serum catecholamine levels and VNTR polymorphism in the promoter region of the monoamine oxidase A gene in forensic autopsy cases.

Monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) catalyzes oxidative deamination of catecholamines. A functional variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) polymorphism in the promoter region of the MAOA gene has been previously reported. In the present study, we measured serum adrenaline (Adr), noradrenaline (Nad), and dopamine (DA) levels in 90 male and 34 female Japanese autopsy cases in which amphetamines or psychotropic drugs were not detected.

An autopsy case of cerebral hemorrhage in an HIV-infected patient with suspected HIV-associated cerebrovascular disease.

A male in his late 30s was found dead in his home. He was diagnosed with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) about six years prior. The HIV infection was well controlled before his death.

The effect of tea catechins on the forensic identification of urine: Urine camouflage to evade drug tests.

Background: We encountered a urine sample suspected of being mixed with tea, submitted by a suspect attempting to camouflage illegal drugs. Although urine should turn reddish-pink during a urea test with p-Dimethylaminocinnamaldehyde (DAC), this suspect's sample exhibited a blue coloration when tested with DAC.

Aim: Our aim was to examine the influence and mechanism of green tea on various urine identification tests.

Urinary phenylacetylglutamine as a possible biomarker for central nervous system disorders in forensic autopsy cases.

Unlabelled: Phenylacetylglutamine (PAG) is a metabolite that is excreted in human urine. Phenylalanine is metabolized to phenylacetic acid, which is then amide-bonded to glutamine to form PAG. We are currently studying PAG as a urinary biomarker in forensic autopsy cases.

Giant intracranial arteriovenous malformation as a possibility of epileptic seizures in a case of drowning.

A male in his late 50s had been complaining of headaches and dizziness for 25 years. He also had episodes of losing consciousness, but had not sought treatment because of financial hardship. He was found in the ocean.

Diagnostic meaning of urinary ethyl glucoside concentrations in relationship to alcoholic beverage consumption.

Incidents and accidents often involve the drinking of alcoholic beverages. We investigated compounds that indicate the consumption of alcoholic beverages even after ethanol (EtOH) becomes undetectable in blood and urine. Ethyl glucoside (EG) has been isolated as a possible drinking marker, and a GC-MS/MS method for EG isomers has been developed.

A large interhemispheric glioependymal cyst associated with partial defect of the corpus callosum in an elderly man.

Interhemispheric cysts are congenital, and usually present symptoms during childhood. However, they are occasionally detected in adults. These cystic lesions are sometimes associated with defects of the corpus callosum.

Organ distribution of endogenous p-cresol in hemodialysis patients.

Background: p-Cresol concentrations are high in the blood of hemodialysis (HD) patients. However, its organ distribution has not yet been investigated in detail. We herein report the distribution of p-cresolin HD patients from forensic autopsy cases.

VNTR polymorphism in the monoamine oxidase A promoter region and cerebrospinal fluid catecholamine concentrations in forensic autopsy cases.

Monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) plays important roles in the metabolism of catecholamines and modulates adrenergic, noradrenergic, and dopaminergic signaling. A polymorphic promoter variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) locus (MAOA-uVNTR) is located approximately 1.2 kb upstream from MAOA exon 1.

Diagnostic meaning of blood p-cresol concentration in forensic autopsy cases.

In some forensic autopsy cases there are high concentrations of p-cresol in the blood. In vivo, p-cresol is the only isomer yielded by intestinal bacteria and is excreted into urine. We investigated the diagnostic meaning of p-cresol in the blood of forensic autopsy cases.

Association between cytochrome P450 2D6 polymorphisms and body fluid methamphetamine concentrations in Japanese forensic autopsy cases.

Methamphetamine (MA) is an illicit stimulant that affects the central nervous system. Cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) plays an important role in MA metabolism. Numerous allelic variants confer substantial variation in CYP2D6 activity among individuals.

DRD2/ANKK1 gene polymorphisms in forensic autopsies of methamphetamine intoxication fatalities.

Dopamine D2 receptor/ankyrin repeat and kinase domain containing 1 (DRD2/ANKK1) gene polymorphisms have been associated with responses to psychotropic drugs and addiction. We analyzed two DRD2/ANKK1 polymorphisms, Taq1A and -141C Ins/Del, in 37 fatal methamphetamine (MA) intoxication cases and 235 control cases in which MA and psychotropic drugs were not detected. The association among polymorphism, cause of death, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) dopamine concentration was evaluated.

Subarachnoid hemorrhage in a Japanese cocaine abuser: Cocaine-related sudden death.

Based on a prospective case-control study of forensic autopsies, the causes of cocaine (COC)-related sudden death (SD) are cardiovascular events in 62.0% of cases, cerebrovascular events in 14.0%, and others.

Giant intracranial arteriovenous malformation as the focus of epileptic seizures.

A man in his late thirties was found in a supine position in the hallway of his house. He had been diagnosed with epilepsy at approximately 20 years old. Since stopping treatment, epileptic events occurred more frequently and his condition deteriorated in the past 2 years.

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

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.

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

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.

Association between cerebrospinal fluid dopamine concentrations and catechol-O-methyltransferase gene polymorphisms in forensic autopsy cases of methamphetamine abusers.

Methamphetamine (MA) is an illicit psychostimulant that stimulates the release of catecholamines from sympathetic nerve terminals and is widely abused worldwide. Since catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) metabolizes catecholamines and mediates adrenergic, noradrenergic, and dopaminergic signaling responses, we investigated the effects of the COMT polymorphisms rs4633 and rs4680 on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) catecholamine concentrations in autopsies of subjects who died of drug intoxication. 28 MA abusers and 22 fatal psychotropic drug intoxication cases were evaluated.

An unexpected death due to massive ascites and a giant mucinous ovarian cystadenoma.

A female in her thirties fell face down in her room. She was motionless when her sister found her. She was transported to the hospital by ambulance and was in a state of cardiopulmonary arrest on admission.

Quantification of immunohistochemical findings of neurofibrillary tangles and senile plaques for a diagnosis of dementia in forensic autopsy cases.

We report the quantification of immunohistochemical findings for a diagnosis of dementia in autopsy cases among older decedents. Autopsy cases were selected with the following requirements: >65yo; no head injuries, thermal injuries, or heat stroke; no intracranial lesions; and within 48h of death. Among cases that met all requirements, 10 had a clinical diagnosis of dementia were included in dementia group.

Development of a preparation method to produce a single sample that can be applied to both LC-MS/MS and GC-MS for the screening of postmortem specimens.

Simple and efficient extraction methods have been developed for the screening of a wide array of drugs in postmortem autopsy specimens. Acidic and basic compounds were targeted with two extraction methods that can be applied to both GC-MS and LC-MS/MS instrumentation. The extractions were achieved by utilizing lipid-removal and solid-phase extraction cartridges while carefully monitoring the pH of the samples to ensure the adequate removal of interfering substances like lipids and amino acid derivatives.

An autopsy case of caffeine intoxication related by energy drink.

An autopsy case of caffeine intoxication related to the consumption of caffeinated products, such as energy drinks and caffeine contained drugs, was reported. Case report: A male in his early twenties was working a night shift job. After work one morning he came home and was not feeling well.

GC-PCI-MS/MS and LC-ESI-MS/MS databases for the detection of 104 psychotropic compounds (synthetic cannabinoids, synthetic cathinones, phenethylamine derivatives).

Designer psychotropic compounds continue to be a major problem in Japan and all around the world. Electron impact mass spectrometry (GC-EI-MS) and liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS) data on these compounds have been widely reported. In this report, we present a detection method that has been rarely utilized to analyze these types of compounds, gas chromatography with positive chemical ionization and tandem mass spectrometry (GC-PCI-MS/MS).

Quantification of neuropathological findings by image data for the diagnosis of dementia in forensic autopsy cases.

The aim of the present study was to quantify neuropathological findings using image analysis software for the diagnosis of dementia in deceased who underwent forensic autopsy. Of the autopsies performed within 48 hours of death and excluding those of patients with head injury, thermal injury, heat stroke, or intracranial lesions, 8 were of autopsy cases clinically diagnosed with dementia and thus included in the dementia group (D). The non-dementia group (non-D) consisted of 6 deceased without dementia.