Nicholas T. Lappas

Determination of Carbon Monoxide in Blood by Gas Chromatography Using a Thermal Conductivity Detector

A method is described for the gas chromatographic quantitation of carbon monoxide by means of thermal conductivity detection. Carbon monoxide is released from blood samples as small as 0.02 mL using a unique extraction chamber. The method was compared to a standard gas chromatographic and spectrophotometric method of carbon monoxide quantitation. It was comparable to the former with all samples evaluated and apparently more reliable than the latter with decomposed samples.

d-Limonene modulates T lymphocyte activity and viability

d-Limonene, a cyclic terpene that is a major component of several plant essential oils, is used widely as an additive in perfumes, soaps, foods and beverages, and has also been shown to possess chemopreventative and chemotherapeutic activity. A limited number of studies have been conducted investigating the effect of d-limonene on immune system function. We show that d-limonene and its metabolites limonene-1-2-diol and perillic acid inhibit the production by CD3(+)CD4(+) T cells of IFN-γ, IL-2, TNF-α, IL-4 and IL-13, and the production by CD3(+)CD8(+) T cells of IFN-γ, IL-2, and TNF-α. Additionally, the upregulation of CD25, CD69 and CD40L by activated T lymphocytes is modulated by d-limonene, limonene-1-2-diol and perillic acid treatment. Furthermore, high concentrations of d-limonene, limonene-1-2-diol and perillic acid induce T lymphocyte cell death. These data suggest that d-limonene possesses immunomodulatory activity that must be considered when utilizing the compound for therapeutic or commercial purposes.

The Identification of Human Bloodstains by Means of a Micro-Thin-Layer Immunoassay Procedure

A method for the identification of human bloodstains using a micro-thin-layer immunoassay (TIA) procedure is presented. The equivalent of approximately 0.01 micro /leter of human blood may be detected using this method with anti-human hemoglobin. Blind studies and stability studies indicate that the method is sufficiently specific and sensitive to be of forensic science value.

The detection of fetal hemoglobin in bloodstains by means of thin-layer immunoassay.

A method for the detection of fetal hemoglobin in bloodstains by means of thin-layer immunoassay is described. The equivalent of 0.01 microL of blood containing 0.18 to 0.24 microgram of fetal hemoglobin may be detected by this method. Studies with stains up to two years old and blind studies have shown these methods to be sufficiently sensitive and specific to be of value in forensic serology.

The detection of protein p30 in seminal stains by means of thin-layer immunoassay.

The detection of p30 by means of an indirect thin-layer immunoassay (TIA) is described. Extracts from 20 samples can be analyzed in approximately 2 h with a detection limit of approximately 50 ng. The p30 protein was detected in seminal stains which had been stored at room temperature for six months and at 130 degrees C for 4 h. Blood, saliva, urine, perspiration, and tears did not interfere with the method. The reliability of the method was demonstrated in a blind study.

Chlorpromazine-sensitive developmental processes in the sea urchin, Lytechinus pictus—I. Inhibition of cleavage, gastrulation and primary mesenchyme cell differentiation

Abstract 1. 1. The effects on sea urchin embryogenesis of continuous exposure of embryos, beginning at different times after fertilization, to chlorpromazine, a neurotransmitter and calmodulin antagonist, were examined. 2. 2. Embryos cultured in 100, 10, 5, 1 or 0.5 μM chlorpromazine beginning immediately after fertilization were arrested at pronuclear fusion, 4–8 cell, 32–64 cell, mesenchyme blastula, and early gastrula stages, respectively; 0.1 μM treated embryos developed normally. 3. 3. Although 1.0 μM chlorpromazine, added at any time prior to gastrulation, delayed cleavage and totally blocked gastrulation, embryos formed mesenchyme blastulae at the same time as controls but with fewer cells. 4. 4. Embryos cultured in 0.5 μM chlorpromazine beginning at any time prior to gastrulation developed normally to early gastrulae; however, further invagination of the future gut tube was blocked or delayed and spicule development was abnormal.

Chlorpromazine-sensitive developmental processes in the sea urchin, Lytechinus pictus—II. Effects of neuroactive agents on the susceptibility of the gastrulation process to chlorpromazine

Abstract 1. 1. The complete inhibition of gastrulation in sea urchin embryos continuously incubated in 1 μM chlorpromazine beginning at the hatched blastula stage was partially reversed by serotonin (10 μM), lanthanum ions (1 μM), dibutyrl cAMP (1 μM), or reserpine (10 μM) but not by dopamine, norepinephrine, epinephrine, acetylcholine, dibutyrl cGMP, or excess calcium ions. 2. 2. The specific inhibition of the secondary phase of gastrulation by 0.5 μM chlorpromazine was not reversed by any of the above agents. 3. 3. Hatched blastula embryos cultured in 1 μM chlorpromazine sulfoxide or 1 μM haliperidol, a dopamine antagonist, developed to normal pluteus larvae. 4. 4. A serotonergic morphogenetic mechanism is proposed.

The identification of human bloodstains by means of thin-layer immunoassay: a preliminary report.

The application of thin-layer immunoassay to the problem of human bloodstain identification is described. The differentiation of human, dog and rabbit bloodstains has been achieved by this method with the use of anti-human haemoglobin serum.

Utilization of Medically Obtained Evidence in Cases of Sexual Assault: Results of a Survey

Recent studies of the problem of sexual assault [1–3] have reached a consensus that physical evidence is valuable in investigations of such incidents. While physical evidence such as fingerprints, footprints, and tire tracks may be obtained in many cases of sexual assault, the physical evidence most frequently encountered in such cases is the biological material transferred during sexual activity: hair, semen, blood, and other fluids or tissues. The collecting of such evidence is the province of the emergency room physician (or medical examiner, if the victim is deceased). The victim of a sexual attack who suffers trauma, or fears pregnancy or venereal disease, will probably seek medical treatment. If the victim reports the assault to the police she will also almost certainly receive a medical examination. This medical examination not only provides a basis for further medical treatment but also serves as the primary opportunity for the recovery and preservation of potentially valuable physical evidence.

Forensic Science Laboratories in the United States: A Survey

The results of a survey of forensic science laboratories in the United States indicate that these laboratories are widely divergent in several of the parameters evaluated. It appears that, although the majority of them attempt to function as “full-service” laboratories, the level of performance is not uniform due to differences in the availability of financial and personnel resources as well as in the educational and training requirements of the laboratory scientists. The prevalence of the “generalist” philosophy of the forensic sciences coupled with a virtually total commitment to casework analyses may explain the lack of a major research effort in these laboratories.