The process of cooling is always associated with the depletion of energetic reserves and burning the ketone bodies covers the tissues' needs. Ethanol shows antiketonaemic effects changing the cellular redox potential, inhibiting beta-oxidation of fatty acids, stimulating the release of insulin and inhibiting the release of its antagonist. The aim of the study was to determine whether the cooling process of the organism in the presence of ethanol intoxication may be related to inhibition of the physiological mechanism of ketogenesis induced by hypothermia. The study involved the 67 autopsy cases from 1996 to 2002, in which the circumstances of death indicated the effects of overcooling. This was confirmed on the basis of the data from the Prosecutor's Offices. Then, the chromatograms of autopsy blood alcohol determinations were analyzed and the acetone levels recorded. The analysis supported the hypothesis that the severity of ketosis is inversely proportional to the blood ethanol concentration. Furthermore, it demonstrated that signs of prolonged cold exposure were less frequently observed in unsober persons (frostbites, gastric hemorrhages). Increased sensitivity of intoxicated individuals to cold may be related not only to the dilation of the peripheral vessels, inhibition of shivering thermogenesis caused by muscle relaxation, central nervous system depression and behavioral factors but also to the antiketonaemic effects of ethanol.
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Biochemical background of ethanol-induced cold susceptibility.
Leg Med (Tokyo)
January 2005
Chair and Department of Forensic Medicine, Medical University of Lublin, ul. Jaczewskiego 8, 20-090 Lublin, Poland.
The process of cooling is always associated with the depletion of energetic reserves and burning the ketone bodies covers the tissues' needs. Ethanol shows antiketonaemic effects changing the cellular redox potential, inhibiting beta-oxidation of fatty acids, stimulating the release of insulin and inhibiting the release of its antagonist. The aim of the study was to determine whether the cooling process of the organism in the presence of ethanol intoxication may be related to inhibition of the physiological mechanism of ketogenesis induced by hypothermia.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe influence of ethanol on the level of ketone bodies in hypothermia.
Forensic Sci Int
June 2002
Department of Forensic Medicine, Medical Academy in Lublin, ul. Jaczewskiego 8, Poland.
Presently available possibilities of macro- and microscopic diagnosis of death from hypothermia are very limited as the changes observed are either weakly specific (ecchymoses in the mucous membrane of the stomach, histological features of haemorrhagic pancreatic necrosis, cardiomyocyte necrosis or decreased content of glycogen in hepatocytes) or represent only local action of low temperatures (frostbites, violet patches in the region of knees and elbows, red livores) and they may not be present in cases of death from cooling at environmental temperature close to zero or higher. The study evaluated the usefulness of acetoacetic acid (Ac-Ac), beta-hydroxybutyric acid (beta-HBA) and acetone determinations in blood, urine and vitreous humour for diagnosis of death from hypothermia. These three substances called ketone bodies, are easily assimilated energetic substrates that get oxidized preferentially before glucose and fatty acids.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe effect of etomoxir on the mRNA levels of enzymes involved in ketogenesis and cholesterogenesis in rat liver.
Biochem Pharmacol
April 1994
Unit of Biochemistry, University of Barcelona, School of Pharmacy, Spain.
The effects of acute treatment with 2-[6-(4-chlorophenoxy)hexyl]-oxirane-2-carboxylate (etomoxir), an antiketonaemic and antidiabetic drug, on the mRNA levels of several regulatory enzymes of ketogenesis, cholesterogenesis, and fatty acid synthesis in rats were determined. In rats treated with etomoxir, mRNA levels for mitochondrial 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA (HMG-CoA) synthase and carnitine palmitoyl transferase I (CPT I) remained unchanged, while mRNA levels for carnitine palmitoyl transferase II (CPT II) significantly increased 2-fold. Injection of etomoxir produced no effect on the mRNA levels of cytosolic HMG-CoA synthase but increased the mRNA levels of HMG-CoA reductase 2.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGlucose kinetics during acute and chronic treatment of rats with 2[6(4-chloro-phenoxy)hexyl]oxirane-2-carboxylate, etomoxir.
Biochem Pharmacol
November 1987
Department of Medicine, Medical School, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, U.K.
(1) The effects of 2[6(4-chlorophenoxy)hexyl]oxirane-2-carboxylate (etomoxir), a candidate antiketonaemic and antidiabetic drug, on glucose turnover and recycling of glucose carbon in rats were determined using [3-3H, U-14C]glucose. (2) Etomoxir (Na salt) was infused continuously at a rate of 2 mg/hr in fasted male Wistar ab Boots rats (250-280 g) that had been maintained on a standard diet, or on a diet containing 0.1% of etomoxir for 10 days.
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