Michael Heninger

Differential association of socioeconomic status in ethnic and age-defined suicides.

Suicide rates vary among racel- and age-defined groups, yet little is known about how suicide risk factors differentially impact individual groups. This study assessed differential associations of socioeconomic status among age- and race-defined groups of suicide victims. A database containing demographic information on declared suicides in Fulton County, GA, from 1 January 1988 through 31 December 2003 was combined with annual per capita income by zip code in Atlanta, GA. Analyses were performed to evaluate differential associations of socioeconomic status among age- and race-defined groups of suicide victims. Compared with the respective ethnic populations of Fulton County, white suicide victims lived in areas with lower per capita income (

Postmortem vitreous beta-hydroxybutyrate: interpretation in a forensic setting.

51,232 vs.

Nonnatural deaths of adolescents and teenagers: Fulton County, Georgia, 1985-2004

35,893); African American suicide victims did not (

Acute bacterial meningitis with coincident methamphetamine use: a case report and review of the literature.

17,384 vs.

Combined Pathological Effects of Cocaine Abuse and HIV Infection on the Cardiovascular System: An Autopsy Study of 187 Cases From the Fulton County Medical Examinerʼs Office

18,179). Elderly suicide victims (>or= 65 years) were more likely to live in the lowest per capita income areas compared with other age groups (OR 1.80, 95% C.I. 1.14, 2.84). Cox proportional hazards models showed increasing income increased the instantaneous risk of suicide among adolescents (HR 2.76; 95% C.I. 2.15, 3.53), particularly African American adolescents (HR 4.22; 95% C.I. 2.19, 8.11), and decreased risk among the elderly (HR 0.58; 95% C.I. 0.50, 0.68). Socioeconomic status had differential associations among age- and race-defined groups of suicide victims.

Commonly encountered prescription medications in medical-legal death investigation: a guide for death investigators and medical examiners.

Abstract:  Vitreous beta‐hydroxybutyrate (BHB) was retrospectively analyzed in 1795 forensic cases using the Pointe Scientific method. Comparison of vitreous BHB with vitreous glucose in 1781 of the cases showed moderately good correlation r = 0.731. Comparison with blood alcohol levels in 1561 of the cases showed no correlation r = −0.053. Vitreous BHB was a marker of diabetic ketoacidosis when above 6.0 mM with a vitreous glucose over 200 mg/dL. It was an indicator (>50%) for alcoholic ketoacidosis when above 6.0 mM with a vitreous glucose below 200 mg/dL. Recommendations for interpretation of vitreous BHB: <0.4 mM normal; 0.41–1.2 mM slightly elevated, rarely (<1%) of concern; 1.21–2.0 mM moderately elevated, less rarely (2.5%) of concern; 2.01–6.0 mM significantly elevated, frequently of concern (12–48%); >6.0 mM usually (100% in this study) indicated life‐threatening conditions. Vitreous BHB was helpful evaluating cases with ketogenic conditions, especially diabetes and alcoholism.

Subdural hematoma occurrence: comparison between ethanol and cocaine use at death.

Context: Childhood deaths are carefully scrutinized by many different government agencies, fatality review panels, researchers, and other groups. Many such deaths, especially those that involve external causes such as injury and poisoning, are amenable to prevention. Characterizing the causes and circumstances of nonnatural childhood deaths may provide information that is useful for development of prevention strategies and programs. Methods: This is a retrospective review of all nonnatural deaths investigated and certified by the Fulton County Medical Examiner involving persons 10 to 19 years of age during the years 1985–2004, inclusive. Cases were identified by searching electronic death investigation files maintained during the study period. Demographic and circumstantial information were tabulated for homicides, suicides, motor-vehicle fatalities, and other accidental deaths, and crude death rates were calculated for each 5-year period during the study. Results: During the 20 year period there were 961 nonnatural deaths among persons 10 to 19 years of age. Most deaths were due to homicide (48%) followed by motor-vehicle fatalities (30%), suicide (12%), and nontraffic accidental fatalities (10%). Black males had the highest death rates among the homicide, suicide, and nontraffic accidental deaths, although the rates for each of these were lower in the most recent 5 year period than the first 5-year period. The number of deaths increased in each category as age increased, and this observation was most marked for homicides and least marked for nontraffic accidental deaths. Firearms were involved in 88% of homicides and 61% of suicides. Most nontraffic accidental deaths were due to water-related accidents, followed by drug and/or alcohol toxicity, fire-related injuries, and accidental firearms injuries. Conclusions: Homicide accounts for almost half of all deaths among persons 10 to 19 years of age. Black males are at particularly high risk for nonnatural death in comparison with other race/sex groups, especially for homicide. If effective firearm fatality prevention strategies and programs could be implemented, data in this study suggests that such a measure alone could cut in half the nonnatural mortality rate in the 10 to 19 year age group in Fulton County. Although homicide and suicide rates have declined, there remains room for improvement in these areas, as is the case for traffic-related and other accidental fatalities.

The Fulton County Medical Examiner's experience with the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Missing Person DNA Database Program, 2004-2007.

Methamphetamine is a synthetic stimulant that can adversely affect the central nervous system and the immune system. Through various mechanisms, methamphetamine is toxic to neurons, endothelial cells, lymphocytes, granulocytes, and macrophages resulting in systemic damage. Reported is the sudden demise of an otherwise healthy 31‐year‐old woman with a history of stimulant abuse. At autopsy, acute bacterial meningitis was identified. Microbiology cultures grew a single isolate of Streptococcus pneumoniae. Toxicology was positive for amphetamine (0.13 mg/L) and methamphetamine (0.8 mg/L). The cause of death was classified as acute bacterial meningitis with methamphetamine use. Either the acute bacterial meningitis or the methamphetamine toxicity would have been sufficient to result in death; however, the concurrent pathophysiology of the two entities must be understood. A review of the current literature assesses the mechanisms of injury attributed to acute and chronic methamphetamine use, bacterial meningitis, and the synergy between the two.

Concordance rate for the identification of distant entrance gunshot wounds of the back by experienced forensic pathologists examining only images of autopsies

This autopsy study evaluates the possible cumulative effects of cocaine use in HIV-infected adult individuals on cardiovascular tissue. A total of 187 autopsy case reports and available H&E sections of myocardium and coronary arteries were reviewed. Four major study groups were defined: (A) a total of 63 cases positive for cocaine and negative for HIV (COC); (B) 40 cases positive for HIV/AIDS and negative for cocaine (HIV), (C) 23 cases both HIV/AIDS and cocaine (HIV/COC), and (D) a control group of 61 age-, sex- and race-matched, negative for cocaine and for HIV (CONT). The following morphologic and demographic data were analyzed: heart weight, left ventricular hypertrophy, myocardial fibrosis, thickening of the intramyocardial vessels, myocarditis, acute or remote myocardial infarcts (MI), age, sex, and race. Increased frequency of coronary wall and adventitial infiltrates, myocarditis, and thickened intramyocardial vessels present in HIV/COC group (14.5%, 17.4%, and 17.4% vs. 6.5%, 3.3%, and 0% in CONT group) may indicate possible combined and/or cumulative effects of HIV and cocaine on cardiovascular pathology.

Ethnic Differences in Patterns of Suicide Across the Life Cycle

The most common prescription medications encountered and recorded in the normal course of a death investigation by a medical examiners office in a moderate-sized jurisdiction in an urban city are tallied, based on data collected from 2233 deaths reported in 1998. Medication history was available for 775 of these deaths and is reviewed in this study. The 25 most common medications are each briefly discussed, particularly adverse effects and possible toxicity of concern in the investigation of death. Medications to treat cardiovascular disease are by far the most commonly encountered. The 10 most common medications regardless of category were furosemide, digoxin, nitroglycerin, potassium, lisinopril, warfarin, albuterol, nifedipine, codeine, and amlodipine.