Aurelio Luna

Studies on seasonal arthropod succession on carrion in the southeastern Iberian Peninsula

A global study of the sarcosaprophagous community that occurs in the southeastern Iberian Peninsula during all four seasons is made for the first time, and its diversity is described with reference to biological indices. A total of 18,179 adults and, additionally, a number of preimaginal states were collected. The results for the main arthropod groups, and their diversity are discussed in relation to the season and decompositional stages. The results provide an extensive inventory of carrion-associated arthropods. An association between decomposition stages and more representative arthropod groups is established. With respect to the biological indices applied, Margalef’s index shows that the diversity of the community increases as the state of decomposition advances, while Sorenson’s quantitative index shows that the greatest similarities are between spring and summer on the one hand, and fall and winter, on the other.

An initial study on the succession of sarcosaprophagous Diptera (Insecta) on carrion in the southeastern Iberian peninsula

Abstract We present the results of the first study concerning Diptera carried out on the sarcosaprophagous fauna of southeastern Spain. This work represents the first attempt to describe dipteran sarcosaprophagous fauna in the Iberian peninsula, the seasonal succession, main features of the population dynamics and the main taxa useful for estimation of the post-mortem interval. The results of this study could be very useful for further forensic case work in the west Mediterranean area.

Distribution of cadmium in blood and tissues of wild birds

The principal aim of this study is to establish the kinetic behavior of cadmium by determining the concentrations of this element in the blood and in different tissues of wild birds exposed to environmental cadmium. We have studied a total of 118 birds living in the southeast of Spain, a zone with a Mediterranean climate and stopover point for important migratory species. The distribution pattern followed by the cadmium in our samples reveals that the kidney is the primary organ for accumulation, followed by the liver and, to lesser extent, the brain and bone. Low concentrations were found in the tissues and in the blood. The study of correlations between the different tissues and blood suggests a compartmental behavior of cadmium under these exposure conditions.

Placental lead and outcome of pregnancy.

Prenatal exposure to lead produces toxic effects in the human fetus, including an increased risk of preterm delivery, low birth weight and impaired mental development. Since we believe that placental lead could be a good biomarker for fetal exposure, we assessed the relation of placental lead to intrauterine fetal growth and some adverse outcomes of pregnancy. Low concentrations of lead were found in the population studied (N, 89; mean, 113.4 ng/g dry tissue; S.D., 58.0). The cases were divided into two groups based on delivery outcome. In the group of placentas from premature rupture of membranes and preterm labor (gestational age <or=37 weeks), higher lead levels were recorded than in the placentas from term pregnancies. The proportion of abnormal pregnancy outcome in the group of placentas with lead concentrations above 120 ng/g was 40.6 versus 8.8% in placentas below this concentration. Higher placental lead levels, in general, were not related to smaller weight, head and abdominal circumference or shorter length at birth.

Cardiac troponin I (cTn I) and the postmortem diagnosis of myocardial infarction

Abstract In clinical practice several biochemical markers are used for the diagnosis of myocardial infarction. Because of its extremely high specificity for myocardial damage, cardiac troponin I (cTn I) is frequently used. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of postmortem cTn I determinations in pericardial fluid and serum and to compare these results with other biochemical markers and with structural findings used to diagnose acute myocardial ischaemia. We studied 89 cadavers with a mean age of 51.38 ± 2.04 (SD 19.27 years). Cases were allocated to 1 of 4 diagnostic groups depending on the probable intensity of myocardial damage and cause of death. In pericardial fluid we obtained statistically significant differences for the four biochemical parameters, while in serum myosin heavy chains and myoglobin showed statistically significant differences. The highest levels of biochemical markers in pericardial fluid were observed in subjects who had died from definite myocardial infarction.

Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry assay for the simultaneous quantification of drugs of abuse in human placenta at 12th week of gestation

We describe the development and validation of a method for the quantification of drugs of abuse, using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS), in human placenta. Concentration ranges covered were 5-500 ng/g for amphetamine, methamphetamine, MDMA, methadone, cocaine, benzoylecgonine, cocaethylene, morphine, 11-nor-9-carboxy-delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, nicotine, and cotinine. Intra-assay and inter-assay imprecisions were less than 15.7% for lower quality control samples and less than 14.9% for medium and high quality control samples. Recovery range was 36.2-83.7%. Placenta samples were kept at -80 degrees C until analysis; analytes were stable after three freeze-thaw cycles (samples stored at -20 degrees C). This accurate and precise assay has sufficient sensitivity and specificity for the analysis of specimens collected from women who voluntarily terminated their pregnancy at 12th week of gestation. The method has proven to be robust and accurate for the quantification of the principal recreational drugs of abuse in this period of the prenatal life. This is the first report that highlights the presence of drugs of abuse during the first trimester of gestation.

Suspicion of elder abuse in South Eastern Spain: The extent and risk factors

Elder abuse is recognized internationally as a growing problem. Recent years have seen an increase in the number of authors recommending that the MDs systematically question old people concerning possible abuse. The aim of our study was to ascertain the extent of suspicion of elder abuse and the different types of abuse. We design a cross-sectional survey including 460 patients > or = 65 years at different health centers (South East Spain). A face-to-face interview and a physical examination was carried out. Extent of suspected abuse was 44.6%. Female sex, > or = 75 years, widowhood, living alone or with children, accommodation in house of relatives and income < or = 300 euros/month were the associated sociodemographic variables. The risk factors associated are recent worsening of health, living with a mentally ill person, excessive consumption of alcohol or illegal drugs, arguing frequently with relatives or the dependence on someone to carry out a daily activity. The signs in the physical examination associated are dehydration/malnutrition, pressure ulcers and poor body and/or mouth hygiene. There is a high extent of suspicion of elder abuse and the keyword in this respect is prevention.

Glucose and Lactate in Vitreous Humor Compared With the Determination of Fructosamine for the Postmortem Diagnosis of Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic illness responsible for a great number of deaths. In postmortem diagnosis, because of the difficulty involved in interpreting blood glucose levels and relatively nonspecific pathologic features, biochemical markers in vitreous humor are useful. The aim of this study was to compare the results obtained for the combined determination of lactate and glucose with fructosamine levels recorded in the vitreous humor of two diagnostic groups (one diabetic and the other nondiabetic). The authors intended to ascertain the capacity of different markers measured in vitreous humor to diagnose diabetes mellitus. Fifty-one cadavers (mean age, 58.7 years; standard deviation, 17.09) were studied. The mean postmortem interval was 16.4 hours (standard deviation, 9.05). Cases were assigned to two diagnostic groups according to whether they were previously diagnosed as either diabetic or nondiabetic. Statistically significant differences for glucose, fructosamine, and the sum values of glucose and lactate were found between the two diagnostic groups. The highest levels were obtained in the group of cases with a previous diagnosis of diabetes mellitus. After the comparison of receiver operating characteristic curves, the sum values of glucose and lactate in vitreous humor is a better predictor of antemortem diabetes mellitus than the fructosamine.

Vitreous humor fructosamine concentrations in the autopsy diagnosis of diabetes mellitus

Abstract In clinical practice, biochemical markers, particularly serum glucose levels are used to diagnose diabetes mellitus. However, at autopsy this marker is of no value due to the substantial and capricious fluctuations in glucose levels after death. The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of the postmortem determination of fructosamine in vitreous humor for confirming the presence of antemortem hyperglycemia. This was a study of 92 cadavers with a mean age of 60.05 years (SD 17.73) and a mean postmortem interval of 17.02 h (SD 9.76, range 2–58 h). Cases were assigned to two diagnostic groups according to the antemortem diagnosis of diabetes mellitus based on the patients’ medical records. In vitreous humor statistically significant differences were found in glucose and fructosamine concentrations between the two diagnostic groups, the highest values being obtained in the group of subjects with a previous diagnosis of diabetes mellitus.

Is postmortem biochemistry really useful? Why is it not widely used in forensic pathology?

Medico legal autopsy has a basic objective to reconstruct as accurately as possible the circumstances of death to solve a judicial problem, is a process of collection of evidences from the cadaver and interpretation of the data to solve a series of questions raised in the judicial process. These questions are not only the cause of death, the survival time, the data of death, the role of previous pathology in the deaths process, etc. Considering that there are more difficult problems to be solved and higher requirements for quality it is necessary that new diagnostic tools are introduced into forensic pathology. In Forensic Pathology the scientific and technological evolution has been subsidiary to other disciplines: immunology, inmunopathology, molecular biology, clinical pathology, etc. The little influence that postmortem biochemical methods have had in forensic pathology is a fact not an opinion. The reasons can be very diverse and they go from a lack of trust in the scientific literature on these topics, to an ignorance of the many possibilities which are offered by biochemical complementary tests in the cadaver for the solutions of some questions. One of the problematic issues in postmortem biochemistry is the interpretation of the obtained results; in the absence of databases with sufficient numbers of cases to establish the ranges of normality, therefore it is a real difficulty to use these types of results. On the other hand there are very few works where a correspondence between the histopathologycal findings and the biochemical values has been established; this fact is decisive for understanding the difficulties of introduction of these biochemical techniques. The main problem is forgetting that a complementary test needs a set of basic data for its interpretation and its integration into the global findings. It is not easy for the pathologist to include in their work routine tests that require not only a change of attitude but a change in the sampling methods to obtain the materials and necessary fluids for these determinations. The weight of histopathology is decisive and it is more practical. Obviously pathologist prefers take the closer methodology to own field.