Carmen Cinira Santos Martin

Automated headspace solid-phase microextraction and capillary gas chromatography analysis of ethanol in postmortem specimens.

Solid-phase microextraction (SPME) is a relatively new solventless sample preparation technique that allows simultaneous sampling, extraction, pre-concentration, and introduction of analytes from a sample matrix in a single procedure. This methodology has been used for the analysis of several drugs of forensic toxicology interest including volatile compounds. This paper describes a methodology for analysis of ethanol and other volatile compounds using automatic headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) and capillary gas chromatography in postmortem specimens. The methodology was initially developed using standard solutions of acetaldehyde, acetone, methanol, and ethanol. Isobutanol was used as internal standard. Postmortem samples of blood, urine, and vitreous humor were obtained during medico-legal autopsies. To date, there are no published paper regarding alcohol analysis in vitreous humor specimens using HS-SPME and limited literature analyzing blood and urine samples. HS-SPME analysis showed that, under optimized conditions, ethanol and isobutanol (internal standard) were well-separated from other volatile compounds such as acetaldehyde, acetone, and methanol considered to be potential interferents in ethanol analysis. The calibration curves for each volatile compound demonstrated good linearity throughout the concentration range from 0.001 to 1.0 g/dl and the detection limit of ethanol in the studied specimens was approximately 0.0001 g/dl.

Female victims of sexual abuse: coercive methods and non-genital injuries

This study aims to analyze the coercive methods used by sex offenders and the occurrence of non-genital injuries in female children, adolescent, and adult victims of sexual abuse reported to the Womens Police Precinct and examined at the Department of Forensic Medicine in Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo State, Brazil, from 1996 to 2000. Age distribution followed the criteria established by Brazils Statute for Children and Adolescents (the prevailing legislation on issues pertaining to minors). Physical violence was the most frequently used form of coercion against adults (44.1%) and adolescents (25.0%), followed by serious threat in 36.5% and 17.0% of the cases, respectively. Presumed violence by innocentia consilii occurred in 94.1% of the children and 42.8% of the adolescents. Minor non-genital injuries were found in 7.8% of the cases, involving children (3.0%), adolescents (7.2%), and adults (14.4%), with no weapons involved in 75.0% of these cases. A decrease in the number of cases with injuries was observed in relation to knives (14.3%) and handguns (10.7%) used against adult and adolescent victims.

Heat Induced Changes to Dental Resin Composites: A Reference in Forensic Investigations?*

Abstract:  The objective was to investigate color change and surface damage in dental resin composites exposed to high temperatures over different time intervals for comparative purposes. Samples were prepared using two resins ‐ Z100® (R1) and Charisma ® (R2), heated at the following temperatures: 200°C, 400°C, 600°C, 1000°C, for 15, 30 and 45 min (n = 104 for each resin sample). Color (ΔE*) and brightness (ΔL*) changes were analyzed by spectrophotometry using the CIE L*a*b* system and surface changes by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). R1 showed more intense color changes after heat exposure than R2. ΔL* values were found to be the best parameter for evaluation of light and color change. A biphasic pattern after thermal exposure was detected, from dark brown to light white. SEM showed more intense alterations in R2 than in R1. These results indicate that the parameters observed in both resins are useful as a guide in forensic analyses.

Assessment of methods of homicide in a Brazilian city: a preliminary study

Homicides in the city of Ribeirão Preto, state of São Paulo, Brazil, were analyzed with regard to methods (firearms or others) and gender, in a retrospective study from 1993 to 1997. There was a progressive increase in the number of homicides, mainly after 1995, with an increment of 86.6% in 1997 in comparison to 1993. The incidence of homicides was higher among males, with firearms being the most common method in this group since 1993. In addition, a 10% increase in this method was observed since 1995, in association with a proportional reduction in the use of other methods. The incidence of homicides among females remained stable until 1996 and increased by 51.3% in 1997. Simultaneously, firearms have become the most common method among female victims (71.4%), pattern similar to that observed among males. Attention is drawn to the social and economic conditions and their relationships with drug traffic in the city.

Sudden death caused by fibrovascular esophageal polyp: case report and study review.

Benign tumors of the esophagus are rare but can lead be fatal when aspirated into the upper airway. Here, we describe a sudden death due to aspiration of a fibrovascular polyp supported by a review of 11 cases from the literature.

Determination of cocaine in brazilian paper currency by capillary gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

The presence of illicit drugs such as cocaine and marijuana in US paper currency is very well demonstrated. However, there is no published study describing the presence of cocaine and/or other illicit drugs in Brazilian paper currency. In this study, Brazilian banknotes were collected from nine cities, extracted and analyzed by capillary gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, in order to investigate the presence of cocaine. Bills were extracted with deionized water followed by ethyl acetate. Results showed that 93% of the bills presented cocaine in a concentration range of 2.38-275.10 µg/bill.

Relation between alcohol consumption and traffic violations and accidents in the region of Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo State.

In recent years, alcohol consumption has been considered an important public health problem. Ethanol, the alcohol used in beverages, is a drug that affects the central nervous system (CNS) and impairs driving skills and co-ordination, increasing risk of deaths and injuries derived from crashes and road accidents. Consumption of alcoholic beverages is implicated with premature deaths, injuries and damages caused by motor vehicle crashes, which result in high costs to government and society. Considering that alcohol consumption is the main responsible factor for deaths and disabilities in young people, the aim of this work was to evaluate the prevalence of blood alcohol in offenders and/or fatal and non-fatal victims of traffic occurrences in the region of Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo State, from 2005 to 2007. The results revealed that in 2134 cases investigated, blood alcohol positivity was generally found in young adults, 25-45 years old and male. The study showed the high risk of drinking and driving and the importance in establishing actions of prevention and intervention to promote the reduction in the number of traffic occurrences related to consumption of alcoholic beverages.

Procedimentos em exumações para investigação de vínculo genético em ossos

OBJETIVO: Identificar problemas tecnicos nas exumacoes para pesquisa de DNA em ossos e propor solucoes por meio de protocolo. METODOS: Estudo prospectivo e qualitativo das exumacoes, procedendo cada etapa da pericia conforme proposto na literatura medico-legal. Foram realizadas dez exumacoes no periodo de 1995 a 1998, para coleta de restos humanos e extracao do DNA, sendo sete de interesse civil e tres, criminal. As dificuldades tecnicas surgidas na execucao desses procedimentos foram resolvidas a partir de alternativas estabelecidas. RESULTADOS: A escassez de informacoes uteis para a identificacao do individuo, baseada em seus restos mortais, foi observada em todos os casos. As caracteristicas morfologicas individuais contribuiram para a identificacao em 50% dos casos. O auxilio dos familiares foi importante na revelacao dessas caracteristicas. Em tres casos, foi indicado apenas o sexo e, em um, a idade. A falta de infra-estrutura dos cemiterios e de seguranca policial dificultou o trabalho pericial. CONCLUSOES: Para garantir a fidelidade do exame molecular do DNA e necessario identificar de quem sao os restos mortais a serem exumados. Para a eficiencia da pericia, e fundamental o uso de um protocolo que inclua, entre outras questoes, as relativas a identificacao, infra-estrutura e seguranca pessoal dos peritos no local do exame.