Question 1

If an acid digestion is done on the brain of a corpse and steam is used to release the toxicants of interest, with what might this person might be poisoned?

Accepted Answer

Volatiles might have poisoned ...

Question 2

Liver enzymes found in the plasma are usually a sign of statin or acetaminophen toxicity but could be due to excess iron or other liver toxicants. What might separate the toxicity on a corpse but would not be highly recommended on a surviving person?

Accepted Answer

The liver enzymes and signs of jaundice are good clinical measures, but don't indicate the site of damage. For that information a tissue sample would indicate periportal damage to iron but likely centrilobular damage for toxic metabolites of acetaminophen. For changes in gene expression of proteins that lead to toxicity DNA microarrays might prove useful in cases of altered protein synthesis.

Question 3

If an athlete used an illegal performance-enhancing medication and this athlete's samples were lost, what might still contain the drug weeks to a few months later?

Accepted Answer

Proteins would really need the blood work as would the original compound. The urine would have the metabolites of medications but not the proteins or peptides. Hair samples are the only ones that might contain samples of the medication weeks to a few months later.

Question 4

If a person came in experiencing toxidromes consistent with changes in the anion gap and hepatic damage, which toxicants are consistent with these effects?

Accepted Answer

The hepatic damage could be due to acetaldehyde, acetaminophen, aflatoxin, Amanita phalloides, CCl₄, a variety of other chlorinated hydrocarbons, halothane, phenol, phosphorus or valproic acid while the anion gap alterations may be due to acetaminophen, adrenergic medications, CO, CN, Fe, isoniazid, salicylates, theophylline, toxic alcohols, or valproic acid. A GC-MS profile would like test for high concentrations of acetaminophen and metabolite sin the plasma.

Exam 14: Forensic Toxicity Testing

If an acid digestion is done on the brain of a corpse and steam is used to release the toxicants of interest, with what might this person might be poisoned?

Correct Answer
verified
Volatiles might have poisoned ...
View Answer

Liver enzymes found in the plasma are usually a sign of statin or acetaminophen toxicity but could be due to excess iron or other liver toxicants. What might separate the toxicity on a corpse but would not be highly recommended on a surviving person?

If an athlete used an illegal performance-enhancing medication and this athlete's samples were lost, what might still contain the drug weeks to a few months later?

Correct Answer
verified
Proteins would really need the blood work as would the original compound. The urine would have the metabolites of medications but not the proteins or peptides. Hair samples are the only ones that might contain samples of the medication weeks to a few months later.

If a person came in experiencing toxidromes consistent with changes in the anion gap and hepatic damage, which toxicants are consistent with these effects?

Exam 14: Forensic Toxicity Testing

If an acid digestion is done on the brain of a corpse and steam is used to release the toxicants of interest, with what might this person might be poisoned?

Correct AnswerverifiedVolatiles might have poisoned ...View AnswerShow Answer

Liver enzymes found in the plasma are usually a sign of statin or acetaminophen toxicity but could be due to excess iron or other liver toxicants. What might separate the toxicity on a corpse but would not be highly recommended on a surviving person?

If an athlete used an illegal performance-enhancing medication and this athlete's samples were lost, what might still contain the drug weeks to a few months later?

Correct AnswerverifiedProteins would really need the blood work as would the original compound. The urine would have the metabolites of medications but not the proteins or peptides. Hair samples are the only ones that might contain samples of the medication weeks to a few months later.

If a person came in experiencing toxidromes consistent with changes in the anion gap and hepatic damage, which toxicants are consistent with these effects?

Correct Answer
verified
Volatiles might have poisoned ...
View Answer

Correct Answer
verified
Proteins would really need the blood work as would the original compound. The urine would have the metabolites of medications but not the proteins or peptides. Hair samples are the only ones that might contain samples of the medication weeks to a few months later.