Evaluation and review of ways to differentiate sources of ethanol in postmortem blood

Lin, Zijie; Wang, Hao; Jones, Alan Wayne; Wang, Fanglin; Zhang, Yunfeng; Rao, Yulan

doi:10.1007/s00414-020-02415-9

Cited by 22 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 109 publications

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“…Many studies reported on the microbial ethanol generation post-sampling in postmortem samples [ 2 , 3 , 6 ]. On the contrary, the post-sampling higher alcohols generation in postmortem blood and the relevant measured concentrations have been reported only for 1-propanol, in only one study ( Table 2 ) [ 42 ].…”

Section: Higher Alcohols As Biomarkers Of Postmortem Ethanol Productionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Therefore, the discrimination of the source of ethanol, ante mortem ingestion or postmortem microbial production, is of vital importance for the proper interpretation of postmortem BAC results. It is the forensic toxicologist who is challenged to provide the relative, available scientific evidence on the ethanol levels at death and the subsequent behavioral impairment of the person at the time of death [ 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Factors, such as the putrefaction state of the cadaver at autopsy, the clinical history of the deceased, the determination of glucose levels, the identification of microbes in the analyzed sample, and the evaluation of the discrepancies between ethanol concentration from various sampling sites and from different specimens, have been used to evaluate the origin of the measured ethanol, in the effort to achieve feasible accuracy in interpreting the postmortem ethanol analysis results [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 6 ]. Furthermore, several biochemical molecules have been suggested to be determined in the biological specimens, and to be evaluated, mainly, as qualitative indicators of either antemortem ethanol consumption [ 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 ], or postmortem neoformation of ethanol [ 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Modeling Postmortem Ethanol Production/Insights into the Origin of Higher Alcohols

Boumba

2022

Molecules

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The forensic toxicologist is challenged to provide scientific evidence to distinguish the source of ethanol (antemortem ingestion or microbial production) determined in the postmortem blood and to properly interpret the relevant blood alcohol concentration (BAC) results, in regard to ethanol levels at death and subsequent behavioral impairment of the person at the time of death. Higher alcohols (1-propanol, 1-butanol, isobutanol, 2-methyl-1-butanol (isoamyl-alcohol), and 3-methyl-2-butanol (amyl-alcohol)) are among the volatile compounds that are often detected in postmortem specimens and have been correlated with putrefaction and microbial activity. This brief review investigates the role of the higher alcohols as biomarkers of postmortem, microbial ethanol production, notably, regarding the modeling of postmortem ethanol production. Main conclusions of this contribution are, firstly, that the higher alcohols are qualitative and quantitative indicators of microbial ethanol production, and, secondly that the respective models of microbial ethanol production are tools offering additional data to interpret properly the origin of the ethanol concentrations measured in postmortem cases. More studies are needed to clarify current uncertainties about the origin of higher alcohols in postmortem specimens.

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Section: Higher Alcohols As Biomarkers Of Postmortem Ethanol Productionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Modeling Postmortem Ethanol Production/Insights into the Origin of Higher Alcohols

Boumba

2022

Molecules

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“…Several authors correlate an increase in the alcohol concentration with post-mortem production due to the action of different species of bacteria. In most of the cases in which the production of post-mortem ethanol was observed, the concentration was not higher than 0.3 g/L [29][30][31][32]. In Table 2, the analyte concentrations found in peripheral blood and urine are reported.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Forensic Aspects of a Fatal Intoxication Involving Acetaminophen, Citalopram and Trazodone: A Case Report

Mannocchi

Tittarelli

Pantano³

et al. 2022

Toxics

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We report the case of a young man, a former heroin addict, found dead at home by the Police Forces in an advanced state of decomposition. Numerous blisters and unpacked tablets of medications were found all over the bed and on the floor of the room. Multiple injuries to the face, left arm and neck of the deceased were noted. The latter damages were attributed to post-mortem dog bites, since no indications of a possible defense against the animal were observed. The autopsy findings were unremarkable. Toxicological investigations performed on peripheral blood and urine by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) technique showed the presence of acetaminophen, citalopram and trazodone. Combined drug intoxication was proposed as the cause of death since acetaminophen and trazodone concentrations were comparable with the ones found in fatal cases. Moreover, citalopram concentration in peripheral blood was above the toxic range and in accordance with levels found in fatalities due to poly-drug intoxication.

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“…Its detection window is highly dependent on the matrix chosen and ranges from up to 36 h (blood), over days (urine), or even months (hair) (Heier et al, 2016;Jastrzebska et al, 2016;Wurst et al, 2015). Apart from those matrices, it can also be measured in sweat, oral fluid, vitreous humor, finger nails, meconium, and placenta (Heier et al, 2016;Lin et al, 2020;May et al, 2018). Maximal EtG concentrations in serum are reached approximately 2-3 h later than maximal blood alcohol levels.…”

Section: Ethylglucuronidementioning

confidence: 99%

Monitoring the use of alcohol—A critical overview of the state‐of‐the‐art biomarkers

Uytfanghe

Boosere

Stove

2022

WIREs Forensic Science

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The use of alcohol, despite it being a psychoactive substance, is widely accepted. This acceptance and the ease of access may lead to alcohol abuse and dependence. Misuse of alcohol is one of the leading causes of preventable illness, injury or death, has social consequences, and can be linked to various types of criminal activities. Upon monitoring alcohol consumption, the question is not necessarily solely whether or not someone is or was abstinent, but may also imply what kind of drinking behavior or patterns are displayed. To reveal the answer, a portfolio of different biomarkers for alcohol (ab)use has been established. A distinction is made between indirect and direct markers. Indirect biomarkers are proteins, enzymes, or cells of which the level or activity undergoes typical changes as a result of (excessive) alcohol intake [e.g., carbohydrate‐deficient transferrin (CDT)], while direct biomarkers are ethanol itself and molecules which are directly related to the metabolism of alcohol [e.g., ethyl glucuronide (EtG), ethyl sulphate (EtS), fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEE), and phosphatidylethanol (PEth)]. These direct biomarkers have the potential to differentiate between drinking behaviors because they allow a higher sensitivity and specificity, in particular for the detection of abstinence or any drinking, and because they can be measured in different matrices, with different detection windows. These assets open the possibilities for testing strategies based on a combination of different markers that can be used both in retrospective and prospective assessments of alcohol intake. This article is categorized under: Toxicology > Alcohol

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Evaluation and review of ways to differentiate sources of ethanol in postmortem blood

Cited by 22 publications

References 109 publications

Modeling Postmortem Ethanol Production/Insights into the Origin of Higher Alcohols

Modeling Postmortem Ethanol Production/Insights into the Origin of Higher Alcohols

Forensic Aspects of a Fatal Intoxication Involving Acetaminophen, Citalopram and Trazodone: A Case Report

Monitoring the use of alcohol—A critical overview of the state‐of‐the‐art biomarkers

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