Terrorist attacks: cutaneous patterns of gunshot and secondary blast injuries.

Terrorist attacks have been on the rise. During the recent terrorist attacks in France, terrorists perpetrated their acts using weapons of war, as well as explosive charges. These two modes of action, when combined, can create skin lesions with similar macroscopic appearances, which can sometimes go unnoticed because of body fragmentation.

An overview of forensic operations performed following the terrorist attacks on November 13, 2015, in Paris.

On the evening of November 13, 2015, the city of Paris and its surroundings was hit by a series of attacks committed by terrorist groups, using firearms and explosives. The final toll was 140 people deceased (130 victims and 10 terrorists or their relatives) and more than 413 injured, making these attacks the worst mass killings ever recorded in Paris in peacetime. This article presents the forensic operations carried out at the Medicolegal Institute of Paris (MLIP) following these attacks.

Ventral striatum regulates behavioral response to ethanol and MDMA combination.

Our previous studies consistently showed that MDMA-induced locomotor hyperactivity is dramatically increased by coadministration of ethanol (EtOH) in rats, indicating possible potentiation of MDMA abuse liability. Thus, we aimed to identify the brain region(s) and neuropharmacological substrates involved in the pharmacodynamics of this potentiation. We first showed that potentiation of locomotor activity by the combination of ip administration of EtOH (1.

Terrorist explosive belt attacks: specific patterns of bone traumas.

In cases of terrorist bomb attacks, the issue of victim identification is the principal aim. For investigators and justice, terrorists must also be identified in a timely manner. The fragmentation of bodies caused by explosive devices however makes this operation difficult.

The potential of forensic analysis on human bones found in riverine environment.

Human remains found in aquatic contexts are frequently recovered incomplete and badly decomposed, and therefore present a challenge for medico-legal institutes as their possibilities of analysis for identification and investigation of cause and manner of death are limited. This article aims to demonstrate the potential of forensic examination and analyses (DNA, toxicology, diatoms and entomology) on a set of bones recovered from a river in Strasbourg and the possibility to trigger identification of the victim and circumstances of death despite the state of decomposition and incompleteness of remains.

Sexual abuse and anti-wrinkle cream: evidence from octocrylene.

We report an alleged case of sexual assault in which an anti-wrinkle cream could have been used as a lubricant. Three anorectal samples taken from the victim were given to us in an attempt to document the presence of remains of the cream involved. After examining the composition of the cream, octocrylene (OCT) was selected as the most relevant marker for this analysis.

Ethanol increases the distribution of MDMA to the rat brain: possible implications in the ethanol-induced potentiation of the psychostimulant effects of MDMA.

Ecstasy (3,4-methylenedioxymethylamphetamine; MDMA) is a popular club drug often taken with ethanol (EtOH). We recently found EtOH potentiated the psychomotor effects of MDMA in rats. This potentiation could reflect pharmacodynamic or/and pharmacokinetic processes.

Determination of cannabinoids in whole blood by UPLC-MS-MS.

An ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS-MS) method was developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), 11-hydroxy-Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (11-OH-THC), and 11-nor-9-carboxy-Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC-COOH) in whole blood. Samples were prepared by protein precipitation followed by solid-phase extraction. Data were acquired using positive electrospray ionization and multiple reaction monitoring.

Ethanol-MDMA interactions in rats: the importance of interval between repeated treatments in biobehavioral tolerance and sensitization to the combination.

Rationale: In our previous work, we showed that ethanol (EtOH) potentiates 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-induced hyperlocomotion while protecting against its hyperthermic effects. Whereas the effect on activity were found on all days (although declining over the three first days), the protection against hyperthermia completely disappeared on the second day. The latter effect was previously thought to reflect tolerance to ethanol or the combination, per se.

Testing for zopiclone in hair application to drug-facilitated crimes.

The use of a drug to modify a person's behaviour for criminal gain is not a recent phenomenon. However, the recent increase in reports of drug-facilitated crimes (sexual assault, robbery) has caused alarm in the general public. The drugs involved can be difficult to detect due to low dosages or chemical instability.

Windows of detection of zolpidem in urine and hair: application to two drug facilitated sexual assaults.

A LC-MS/MS method for the detection of zolpidem in hair was developed to detect this drug after a single dose in possible drug facilitated sexual assaults. To determine the window of detection of zolpidem in both urine and hair, three volunteers received a 10 mg dose. Urine specimens were collected each 12 h for 144 h.

Homicide by manual occipitoatlantal dislocation.

Occipitoatlantal dislocation is usually seen as a fatal injury in traffic accidents and has rarely been reported as a consequence of a homicide. The authors report the case of a women presenting a fatal occipitoatlantal dislocation, the circumstances of which pointed to a homicidal origin. Blood extravasation surrounding the muscles of the posterior part of the neck as well as abnormal mobility of the cranio-cervical joint was noted during autopsy; thus a complete dissection of this region was performed.

Entomotoxicology for the forensic toxicologist: much ado about nothing?

We present a series of 29 necropsies in which organic compounds (including benzodiazepines, barbiturates, antidepressants, phenothiazine, opiates, cannabinoids, meprobamate, digoxin and nefopam) were detected in arthropod larvae sampled on human corpses. No correlation was observed between drug concentrations in the larvae versus human samples. When tested, inter-larvae and inter-site variations of drug concentrations (i.

Testing for kavain in human hair using gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

A sensitive, specific and reproducible method for the quantitative determination of kavain in human hair has been developed. The sample preparation involved a decontamination step of the hair with methylene chloride. The hair sample (about 50 mg) was incubated in 1 ml of methanol for 1 h, in an ultrasonic bath, in presence of 20 ng of methaqualone-d7 used as internal standard.

Buprenorphine in drug-facilitated sexual abuse: a fatal case involving a 14-year-old boy.

The first case involving repetitive sexual abuse linked to the use of buprenorphine is reported. Under the tradename Subutex, buprenorphine is largely used for the substitution management of opiate-dependent individuals, but it can also be easily found on the black market. A 14-year-old boy was found dead at the home of a well-known sex offender of minors.

HPLC/MS findings in a fatality involving sustained-release verapamil.

A fatality involving verapamil, a calcium channel blocker agent, is presented. A 51-year old male ingested 7200 mg of sustained-release (SR) verapamil at T0 and died 40 hours later of refractory, mixed shock and multiorgan failure. The symptoms displayed during hospitalization were quite typical and involved altered consciousness, hypotension, bradycardia, atrioventricular block, metabolic acidosis and renal failure.

Homicide attempt with a Japanese samurai sword.

The use of Japanese swords for homicidal attempts is rare. A Japanese samurai sword is a sharp and cutting object. When faced with the use of this weapon, one must distinguish between stabs and incised wounds.

HPLC-MS for the determination of sildenafil citrate (Viagra) in biological fluids. Application to the salivary excretion of sildenafil after oral intake.

An original high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) procedure was developed for the determination of sildenafil in biological fluids. Liquid-liquid extraction was performed by chloroform/2-propanol/n-heptane (25:10:65, v/v) at pH 9.5 with 300 ng of buprenorphine-d4 as the internal standard (IS).

Fatal overdosage with sildenafil citrate (Viagra): first report and review of the literature.

A fatal case of sildenafil citrate (Viagra) overdosage is presented. The deceased was a 56-year old male found dead at home, with a past history of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, chronic alcoholism, anxio-depressive disorders, and erectile dysfunction. The main autopsy findings were cardiomegaly (650 g) with dilated cardiomyopathy, diffuse coronary atherosclerosis with no sign of acute ischaemic disease, and extensive fibrosis of the myocardium, especially affecting the cardiac conducting tissue.

Penetration of a piece of World War II rifle grenade initially suspected as a stab wound.

The authors report the case of a 58-year-old man found dead by his son in the forest where he had gone to cut wood for winter. Initial examination showed an upper left laterocervical wound compatible with a stab wound. Radiography and autopsy performed the next day showed a piece of metal located in the left part of the occipital bone, associated with a half-ring fracture of the occipital bone and consequent diffuse subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Fatal overdosage with nefopam (Acupan).

This paper presents a fatality due to massive, intravenous self-administration of nefopam (Acupan), a non-opiate central analgesic, in a 37-year-old female. Nefopam was measured in various postmortem samples by means of high-pressure liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry via an ionspray interface. Heart blood concentration was 4.

Determination of blood cyanide by HPLC-MS.

An original high-performance liquid chromatographic-mass spectrometric (HPLC-MS) procedure was developed for the determination of cyanide (CN) in whole blood. After the addition of K13C15N as internal standard, blood was placed in a microdiffusion device, the inner well of which was filled with a mixture of taurine (50mM in water)/naphthalene-2,3-dicarboxaldehyde (NDA, 10mM in methanol)/methanol/ concentrated (approximately 20%) ammonia solution (25:25:45:5, v/v). Concentrated H2SO4 was added to the blood sample, and the microdiffusion chamber was sealed.

Repeated measurements of aldicarb in blood and urine in a case of nonfatal poisoning.

A nonfatal case of poisoning involving aldicarb, an extremely toxic carbamate pesticide, is presented. A 39-year-old female ingested an unknown amount of aldicarb, together with alprazolam and sertraline. On admission to ICU (T0), she displayed marked cholinergic symptoms and a deep coma.

Fatal blunt pancreatic trauma secondary to assault and battery: a case report.

The authors report on an fatal case of closed trauma of the pancreas in a context of violence. A 55-year-old man was found unconscious on the sidewalk and died a short time after being taken to the hospital. He had been hit with several punches to the face and abdomen 6 h before.