• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.147-152
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• 2014

RUVIS(Reflective Ultraviolet Imaging System) is an effective equipment that detects the location of latent fingerprint at crime scene using short wavelength ultraviolet of 254 nm. In this study, the degree of DNA damage in biological samples was compared depending on the distance and time of processing using four commonly used RUVIS. 50% of DNA was damaged by treating 10 seconds at 10 cm distance in 3 types of RUVIS such as Police RUVIS, SIRCHIE mini light and SIRCHIE RUVIS. In addition, the degree of DNA damage was increased as the distance was closer and the treatment time was longer. It showed that short wavelength UV could cause DNA damage when used close to the samples at crime scene. Therefore, it was suggested to use RUVIS at a distance of at least 1 m. The degree of DNA damage was not significant by Polilight which used long wavelength ultraviolet of 350 nm. As a result, the choice and usage of which UV light and RUVIS were critical for detection of fingerprint and successful DNA typing.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.245-255
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• 2013

Identification of paint on victim's clothing and a vehicle are valuable for forensic examination when investigating hit-and-run accidents. Automotive paints on clothes are used to prove a victim caused by traffic accident and to identify a suspected vehicle. The comparison of transferred paints between victim's vehicle and suspected vehicle can be an important evidence in reconstructing the accident situation and in discovering the truth. The paints such as white, yellow, red, blue, or black are hard to examine particle shape under a stereomicroscope because of it is not included aluminum, pearl, and mica flakes in the pigments. The aim of this study under forensic aspect is to compare pigment among basecoat layers of solid paints by identifying inorganic elemental compositions and binder resins of pigments using by micro-FT-IR and micro-XRF spectrometer. The pigment samples were analyzed by using two methods of FT-IR: Reflectance and ATR method. Two methods of FT-IR were useful in discriminating binder resins of pigments by comparing characteristic peaks and patterns of spectra. Also, XRF spectrometer could identify the elemental compositions in inorganic pigments of trace paints which are difficult to compare the identification by FT-IR.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.57 no.4
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• pp.289-292
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• 2013

A total of 2,080 forensic autopsies in Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi province were performed by the National Forensic Service (NFS) in 2010. After analysing blood samples collected at autopsies by GC-MS and LC-MS/MS, the types and prevalence of drugs and poisons in blood were investigated using our laboratory information management system. Among 2,080 cases, 1,061 cases (51%) were positive for drugs and poisons. Surprisingly, antidepressants were identified in 137 cases which comprised 13% of the positive cases. Twelve different kinds of antidepressants were determined: Amitriptyline, fluoxetine, nortriptyline, trazodone, imipramine, mirtazapine, citalopram, venlafaxin, clomipramine, paroxetine, sertraline and bupropion. Amitriptyline was the most frequently detected antidepressant and was identified in 39 cases. Moreover, amitriptyline, fluoxetine, and nortriptyline were included in the list of the 20 most commonly encountered drugs or poisons in the analysis of blood collected at autopsies from 2007 to 2009, indicating the prevalence of their use. In this study, the 137 antidepressant-related deaths were classified by the mode of death to predict the prevalence of these drugs. As a result, those deaths were divided into four groups based on the cause and mode of death: 56 cases of suicide with fatal concentrations of antidepressant drugs in blood, 6 homicidal cases directly or indirectly related to antidepressants, 59 natural deaths with antidepressants detected in blood and 16 deaths caused by fire or other accidents with antidepressants detected in blood. Because incidents involving antidepressants have been increasing, especially in suicides or homicides, it is necessary for the health authorities and law enforcement administrations to cooperate and share the statistical data for curbing the abuse of antidepressants. This report is expected to provide the reference data related with antidepressants for the investigation of the deaths.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.34 no.8
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• pp.2413-2418
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• 2013

Forensic and legal medicine require reliable data to indicate excessive alcohol consumption. Ethanol is oxidatively metabolized to acetate by alcohol dehydrogenase and non-oxidatively metabolized to ethyl glucuronide (EtG), ethyl sulfate (EtS), phosphatidylethanol, or fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEE). Oxidative metabolism is too rapid to provide biomarkers for the detection of ethanol ingestion. However, the non-oxidative metabolite EtG is a useful biomarker because it is stable, non-volatile, water soluble, highly sensitive, and is detected in body fluid, hair, and tissues. EtG analysis methods such as mass spectroscopy, chromatography, or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay techniques are currently in use. We suggest that nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy could be used to monitor ethanol intake. As with current conventional methods, NMR spectroscopy doesn't require complicated pretreatments or sample separation. This method has the advantages of short acquisition time, simple sample preparation, reproducibility, and accuracy. In addition, all proton-containing compounds can be detected. In this study, we performed $^1H$ NMR analyses of urine to monitor the ethanol and EtG. Urinary samples were collected over time from 5 male volunteers. We confirmed that ethanol and EtG signals could be detected with NMR spectroscopy. Ethanol signals increased immediately upon alcohol intake, but decreased sharply over time. In contrast, EtG signal increased and reached a maximum about 9 h later, after which the EtG signal decreased gradually and remained detectable after 20-25 h. Based on these results, we suggest that $^1H$ NMR spectroscopy may be used to identify ethanol non-oxidative metabolites without the need for sample pretreatment.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.23-32
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• 2020

Methamphetamine (MA) is the most common and available drug of abuse in Korea and its primary metabolite is amphetamine (AP). Detection of AP derivatives, such as MA, AP, phentermine (PT), MDA, MDMA, and MDEA by the use of immunoassay screening is not reliable and accurate due to cross-reactivity and insufficient specificity/sensitivity. Therefore, the analytical process accepted by most urine drug-testing programs employs the two-step method with an initial screening test followed by a more specific confirmatory test if the specimen screens positive. In this study, a gas chromatography-mass spectrometric (GC-MS) method was developed and validated for confirmation of MA and AP in human urine. Urine sample (500 µL) was added with N-isopropylbenzylamine as internal standard and ethyl chloroformate as a derivatization reagent, and then extracted with 200 µL of ethyl acetate. Extracted samples were analysed with GC-MS in the SIM/ Scan mode, which were screened by Cobas c311 analyzer (Roche/Hitachi) to evaluate the efficiency as well as the compatibility of the GC-MS method. Qualitative method validation requirements for selectivity, limit of detection (LOD), precision, accuracy, and specificity/sensitivity were examined. These parameters were estimated on the basis of the most intense and characteristic ions in mass spectra of target compounds. Precision and accuracy were less than 5.2 % (RSD) and ±14.0 % (bias), respectively. The LODs were 3 ng/mL for MA and 1.5 ng/mL for AP. At the screening immunoassay had a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 95.1 % versus GC-MS for confirmatory testing. The applicability of the method was tested by the analysis of spiked urine and abusers' urine samples.

• Journal of the Korean Magnetic Resonance Society
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.40-46
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• 2013

For a case study of suspected paraquat intoxication, we developed a simple and rapid method of $^1H$ qNMR to determine the mili-molar amount of paraquat in postmortem blood samples. There were no interfering signals from endogenous compounds in the chemical shift of paraquat and diquat (internal standard). The amount of sample used ranged from 0.25 mM to 10.0 mM. Diquat, which has similar physicochemical properties with paraquat, was chosen as an internal standard. The NMR experimental conditions, relaxation delay time and CPMG spin-echo pulse sequence were optimized. The developed method was validated in terms of specificity, accuracy, precision, matrix effect, recovery, limit of detection (LOD), and low limit of quantification (LLOQ). The proposed qNMR method provided a simple and rapid assay for the identification and quantification of the quaternary ammonium herbicide, "paraquat" in postmortem blood samples. This method was tested by using the blood from the heart of a man who was intoxicated with paraquat. In this particular case, the level of paraquat was 1.07 mM in the blood. For the determination of quaternary ammonium herbicides, qNMR could also be used to provide a better understanding of the currently available techniques.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.569-573
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• 2014

In a paleo-parasitological analysis of soil samples obtained from V-shaped pits dating to the ancient Baekje period in Korean history, we discovered Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, and Clonorchis sinensis eggs. In light of the samples' seriously contaminated state, the V-shaped pits might have served as toilets, cesspits, or dung heaps. For a long period of time, researchers scouring archaeological sites in Korea have had difficulties locating such structures. In this context then, the present report is unique because similar kind of the ancient ruins must become an ideal resource for successful sampling in our forthcoming paleoparasitological studies.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.205-219
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• 1994

Cigarette butts from 5 smokers were gathered and then, placed in room temperature for 1, 3, 5, 7, 15 days. The possible use of the cigarette butts for individual identification was evaluated in sex determination, amplification of D1S80 locus, polymorphisms of HLA-DQA1 gene from the extracted DNA. 1. DNA extraction was possible in cigarette butts weree left in room temperature for 15days, so it can be applicatable to individual identification by polymerase chain reaction(PCR). 2. Amplification of X-Y homologous amelogenin gene by PCR made it possible to identify the sex in saliva stains (cigarette butts). 3. Amplification of D1S80 locus can be acquired from adding the boving serum albumin and hot start PCR procedures from forensic samples such as saliva stains (cigarette butts), so the AMP-FLPs examining is possible. 4. Genotype could be determined simply and rapidly using Amplitype$TM$ HLA-DQ$\alpha$ forensic kit in examining the HLA-DQA1 gene. From the investigation, DNA extraction, sex determination, amplification of D1S80 locus, polymorphisms of HLA-DQA1 gene was successfully done even though the cigarette butts were left for 15 days at room temperature. Therefore cigarette butts are highly reliable and applicatable as molecular biologic samples for individual identification.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.89-96
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• 1987

To test the efficacies of thiosulfate in cyanide poisoning with or without oxygen, after the administration of sublethal dose of potassium cyanide, serial arterial blood samples were collected during 60 minutes in 15 rabbits. Cyanide ion concentrations were measured by Conway cell microdiffusion method, and arterial oxygen tensions were also observed. Comparison of elimination constants showed that arterial blood cyanide ion concentration decreased most rapidly in the thiosulfate with oxygen-administered group. The elimination of cyanide ion by the action of thiosulfate in acutely poisoned rabbit accelerated probably due to oxygen and elimination pattern seems to occur by first-order elimination kinetics.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.82-91
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• 2022

Grayanotoxin-contaminated honey exhibits toxicity. In this study, a reliable and sensitive liquid-chromatography-tandem-mass-spectrometric method (LC-MS/MS) was developed and validated for the quantitation of grayanotoxin I and grayanotoxin III in honey. The grayanotoxins were extracted from honey via solid phase extraction and separated on a biphenyl column with a mobile phase consisting of 0.5 % acetic acid in water and methanol. Mass spectrometric detection was performed in the multiple-reaction monitoring mode with positive electrospray ionization. The calibration curve covered the range 0.25 to 100 ㎍/g. The intra- and inter-day deviations were less than 10.6 %, and the accuracy was between 94.3 and 114.0 %. The validated method was successfully applied to the determination of grayanotoxins in mad honey from Nepal. The concentrations of grayanotoxin I and grayanotoxin III in 33 out of 60 mad honey samples were 0.75 - 64.86 ㎍/g and 0.25 - 63.99 ㎍/g, respectively. The method established herein would help in preventing and confirming grayanotoxin poisoning.