Microbial neoformation of volatiles: implications for the estimation of post-mortem interval in decomposed human remains in an indoor setting.
1-Butanol
Acetaldehyde
N-Propanol
Neoformation of ethanol
Post-mortem interval
Total body score
Journal
International journal of legal medicine
ISSN: 1437-1596
Titre abrégé: Int J Legal Med
Pays: Germany
ID NLM: 9101456
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
Jan 2021
Jan 2021
Historique:
received:
02
06
2020
accepted:
30
09
2020
pubmed:
8
10
2020
medline:
3
9
2021
entrez:
7
10
2020
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
The objective of this study was to determine if a relationship between microbial neoformation of volatiles and the post-mortem interval (PMI) exists, and if the volatiles could be used as a tool to improve the precision of PMI estimation in decomposed human remains found in an indoor setting. Chromatograms from alcohol analysis (femoral vein blood) of 412 cases were retrospectively assessed for the presence of ethanol, N-propanol, 1-butanol, and acetaldehyde. The most common finding was acetaldehyde (83% of the cases), followed by ethanol (37%), N-propanol (21%), and 1-butanol (4%). A direct link between the volatiles and the PMI or the degree of decomposition was not observed. However, the decomposition had progressed faster in cases with microbial neoformation than in cases without signs of neoformation. Microbial neoformation may therefore act as an indicator of the decomposition rate within the early decomposition to bloating stages. This may be used in PMI estimation based on the total body score (TBS) and accumulated degree days (ADD) model, to potentially improve the model's precision.
Identifiants
pubmed: 33026504
doi: 10.1007/s00414-020-02436-4
pii: 10.1007/s00414-020-02436-4
pmc: PMC7782407
doi:
Substances chimiques
Ethanol
3K9958V90M
1-Butanol
8PJ61P6TS3
1-Propanol
96F264O9SV
Acetaldehyde
GO1N1ZPR3B
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
223-233Références
Carter DO (2020) The importance of microbial communities in the estimation of the time since death. In: Hayman J, Oxenham (eds) Estimation of the time since death. Current research and future trends. Academic Press, Elsevier Inc, pp 109–139
Corry JE (1978) A review. Possible sources of ethanol ante- and post-mortem: its relationship to the biochemistry and microbiology of decomposition. J Appl Bacteriol 44:1–56
doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2672.1978.tb00776.x
Boumba VA, Ziavrou KS, Vougiouklakis T (2008) Biochemical pathways generating post-mortem volatile compounds co-detected during forensic ethanol analyses. Forensic Sci Int 174:133–151
doi: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2007.03.018
Harper DR (1989) A comparative study of the microbiological contamination of postmortem blood and vitreous humour samples taken for ethanol determination. Forensic Sci Int 43:37–44. https://doi.org/10.1016/0379-0738(89)90120-5
doi: 10.1016/0379-0738(89)90120-5
pubmed: 2591842
Kugelberg FC, Jones AW (2007) Interpreting results of ethanol analysis in postmortem specimens: a review of the literature. Forensic Sci Int 165:10–29
doi: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2006.05.004
O’Neal CL, Poklis A (1996) Postmortem production of ethanol and factors that influence interpretation: a critical review. Am J Forensic Med Pathol 17:8–20
doi: 10.1097/00000433-199603000-00002
Ziavrou K, Boumba VA, Vougiouklakis TG (2005) Insights into the origin of postmortem ethanol. Int J Toxicol 24:69–77
doi: 10.1080/10915810590936391
Ehrlich E, Kästner J, Hegewald C, Rießelmann B (2010) Alkoholbefunde bei fäulnisveränderten leichen. Rechtsmedizine 20:258–261
doi: 10.1007/s00194-010-0691-3
Boumba VA, Economou V, Kourkoumelis N, Gousia P, Papadopoulou C, Vougiouklakis T (2012) Microbial ethanol production: experimental study and multivariate evaluation. Forensic Sci Int 215:189–198
doi: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2011.03.003
Boumba VA, Kourkoumelis N, Gousia P, Economou V, Papadopoulou C, Vougiouklakis T (2013) Modeling microbial ethanol production by E. coli under aerobic/anaerobic conditions: applicability to real postmortem cases and to postmortem blood derived microbial cultures. Forensic Sci Int 232:191–198
doi: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2013.07.021
Yajima D, Motani H, Kamei K, Sato Y, Hayakawa M, Iwase H (2006) Ethanol production by Candida albicans in postmortem human blood samples: effects of blood glucose level and dilution. Forensic Sci Int 164:116–121. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2005.12.009
doi: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2005.12.009
pubmed: 16427751
Swift R (2003) Direct measurement of alcohol and its metabolites. Addiction 98:73–80
doi: 10.1046/j.1359-6357.2003.00605.x
Boumba VA, Kourkoumelis N, Ziavrou KS, Fragkouli K, Vougiouklakis T (2012) Patterns of the most abundant volatiles detected in post-mortem blood. Rom J Leg Med 20:147–154
doi: 10.4323/rjlm.2012.147
Vezzoli S, Bernini M, De Ferrari F (2015) Ethyl glucuronide in vitreous humor and blood postmortem specimens: analysis by liquid chromatography-electrospray tandem mass spectrometry and interpreting results of neo-formation of ethanol. Ann Ist Super Sanità 51:19–27
pubmed: 25857380
Davis GL, Leffert RL, Rantanen NW (1972) Putrefactive ethanol sources in postmortem tissues of conventional and germfree mice. Arch Pathol 94:71–74
pubmed: 5033298
Bogusz M, Guminska M, Markiewicz J (1970) Studies on the formation of endogenous ethanol in blood putrefying in vitro. J Forensic Med 17:156–168
pubmed: 5495839
Petković SM, Simić MA, Vujić DN (2005) Postmortem production of ethanol in different tissues under controlled experimental conditions. J Forensic Sci 50:204–208
doi: 10.1520/JFS2004109
Megyesi MS, Nawrocki SP, Haskell NH (2005) Using accumulated degree-days to estimate the postmortem interval from decomposed human remains. J Forensic Sci 50:1–9
doi: 10.1520/JFS2004017
Moffatt C, Simmons T, Lynch-Aird J (2016) An improved equation for TBS and ADD: establishing arReliable postmortem interval framework for casework and experimental studies. J Forensic Sci 61:S201–S207
doi: 10.1111/1556-4029.12931
Mann RW, Bass WM, Meadows L (1990) Time since death and decomposition of the human body: variables and observations in case and experimental field studies. J Forensic Sci 35(1):103–111
doi: 10.1520/JFS12806J
Heaton V, Lagden A, Moffatt C, Simmons T (2010) Predicting the postmortem submersion interval for human remains recovered from U.K. waterways. J Forensic Sci 55:302–307. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1556-4029.2009.01291.x
doi: 10.1111/j.1556-4029.2009.01291.x
pubmed: 20102465
Gruenthal A, Moffatt C, Simmons T (2012) Differential decomposition patterns in charred versus un-charred remains. J Forensic Sci 57:12–18. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1556-4029.2011.01909.x
doi: 10.1111/j.1556-4029.2011.01909.x
pubmed: 21923798
Jones AW, Lund M, Andersson E (1989) Drinking drivers in Sweden who consume denatured alcohol preparations: an analytical-toxicological study. J Anal Toxicol 13:199–203
doi: 10.1093/jat/13.4.199
Jones AW, Schuberth J (1989) Computer-aided headspace gas chromatography applied to blood-alcohol analysis: importance of online process control. J Forensic Sci 34:1116–1127
pubmed: 2809542
Folkhälsomyndighetens allmänna råd om temperatur inomhus (FoHMFS 2014:17). [The Public Health Agency of Sweden’s general advice on indoor temperature]
Zumwalt RE, Bost RO, Sunshine I (1982) Evaluation of ethanol concentrations in decomposed bodies. J Forensic Sci 27:549–554
doi: 10.1520/JFS12167J
Gilliland MG, Bost RO (1993) Alcohol in decomposed bodies: postmortem synthesis and distribution. J Forensic Sci 38:1266–1274. https://doi.org/10.1520/JFS13533J
doi: 10.1520/JFS13533J
pubmed: 8263473
Mayes R, Levine B, Smith ML, Wagner GN, Froede R (1992) Toxicologic findings in the USS Iowa disaster. J Forensic Sci 37:1352–1357
doi: 10.1520/JFS13324J
Boumba VA, Kourkoumelis N, Ziavrou K, Vougiouklakis T (2019) Estimating a reliable cutoff point of 1-propanol in postmortem blood as marker of microbial ethanol production. J Forensic Sci Med 5:141–146. https://doi.org/10.4103/jfsm.jfsm_8_19
doi: 10.4103/jfsm.jfsm_8_19
Krause D, Wehner HD (2004) Blood alcohol/congeners of alcoholic beverages. Forensic Science Int 144:177–183
doi: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2004.04.052
Rodda LN, Beyer J, Gerostamoulos D, Drummer OH (2013) Alcohol congener analysis and the source of alcohol: a review. Forensic Sci Med Pathol 9:194–207
doi: 10.1007/s12024-013-9411-0
Hoiseth G (2008) In vitro formation of ethanol in autopsy samples containing fluoride ions. Int J Legal Med 122:63–66. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-007-0166-6
doi: 10.1007/s00414-007-0166-6
pubmed: 17387502
Sutlovic D, Nestic M, Kovacic Z, Gusic S, Mlinarek T, Salamunic I, Sardelic S (2013) Microbial ethanol production in postmortem urine sample. Med Sci Law 53(4):243–246. https://doi.org/10.1177/0025802412473594
doi: 10.1177/0025802412473594
pubmed: 23812407
Gainza-Cirauqui ML, Nieminen MT, Novak Frazer L, Aguirre-Urizar JM, Moragues MD, Rautemaa R (2013) Production of carcinogenic acetaldehyde by Candida albicans from patients with potentially malignant oral mucosal disorders. J Oral Pathol Med 42(3):243–249. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0714.2012.01203.x
doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0714.2012.01203.x
pubmed: 22909057
Kristoffersen L, Stormyhr LE, Smith-Kielland A (2006) Headspace gas chromatographic determination of ethanol: the use of factorial design to study effects of blood storage and headspace conditions on ethanol stability and acetaldehyde formation in whole blood and plasma. Forensic Sci Int 161:151–157
doi: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2006.03.034
Clark MA, Jones JW (1982) Studies on putrefactive ethanol production. I Lack of spontaneous ethanol production in intact human bodies. J Forensic Sci 27:366–371
doi: 10.1520/JFS11490J
Zhou C, Byard RW (2011) Factors and processes causing accelerated decomposition in human cadavers – an overview. J Forensic Legal Med 18:6–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jflm.2010.10.003
doi: 10.1016/j.jflm.2010.10.003
Knight B, Saukko P (2004) Knight’s forensic pathology, 3rd edn. Hodder Arnold, London
Collison IB (2005) Elevated postmortem ethanol concentrations in an insulin-dependent diabetic. J Anal Toxicol 29:762–764
doi: 10.1093/jat/29.7.762
Appenzeller BMR, Schuman M, Wennig R (2008) Was a child poisoned by ethanol? Discrimination between ante-mortem consumption and post-mortem formation. Int J Legal Med 122:429–434. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-008-0245-3
doi: 10.1007/s00414-008-0245-3
pubmed: 18594851