FORENSIC TOXICOLOGY - Bio Medical Forensics

may be relevant to forensic toxicological specimens, where the analytical
quantitative results include the error associated with the analysis.
Furthermore, the use of bar code labels on the SC-Tips ensures sample
integrity and minimizes possible mishandling errors and chain-ofcustody
issues.
Recoveries and %RSDs for over 60 drugs are shown, with most
recoveries and %RSDs being greater than 70% and less than
10%, respectively.
Sample Preparation, LC/MS/MS, Automation
K27 Ricin-Binding Proteins in Buccal Cells and
Salivary Fluid
Oluseyi A. Vanderpuye, PhD*, Albany State University, Forensic
Science, 504 College Drive, Room 118, Hartnett Building,
Albany, GA 31705
After attending this presentation, attendees will learn how specific
binding proteins for the toxin ricin can be identified in human buccal
cells and cell free saliva.
This presentation will impact the forensic science community by
demonstrating how the characterization of ricin binding proteins in
salivary fluid and buccal cells proteins may facilitate discovery of
methods for diagnosis of ricin poisoning and clarify additional details of
mechanisms involved in ricin toxicity.
The plant protein ricin is one of the most poisonous known
substances, is subject to biological and chemical weapons bans and is of
concern as a tool of terrorists. There is no cure for ricin poisoning and
diagnostic difficulty in distinguishing its effects from other harmful
agents. Routes of exposure include ingestion, inhalation and injection.
There are gaps in the knowledge of specific molecular identities of cell
surface ricin-binding proteins. This research describes binding of ricin
and the related lectin RCA-I to proteins in buccal cells and salivary fluid
which are biological material that could be exposed to ricin during
poisoning.
This study investigated if binding of ricin could be detected to
buccal cell surfaces, salivary and buccal proteins and identification of
molecular masses of ricin ligands. Whole saliva was collected by
expectoration and salivary fluid and buccal cell fractions isolated by
centrifugation. Ricin and RCA-I-binding proteins were detected by
lectin blotting after SDS gel electrophoresis of saliva and buccal cell
proteins and also measured by Enzyme-linked microtiter plate binding
assays. Fluorescence microscopy with biotinylated ricin and RCA-I was
used to visualize localization of ricin and RCA-I binding to buccal cell
surfaces.
After electrophoresis, lectin blots identified a 170kDa buccal cell
protein band in reduced samples that bound to ricin, binding was absent
or decreased in non-reduced samples. Major ricin-binding proteins in
salivary fluid included 170-150kDa, 75kDa, 50kDa, 40kDa and 25kDA
molecules. Neuraminidase from Clostridium perfringens increased the
binding of ricin to blots of salivary fluid proteins but had less effect on
the binding of RCA-I. Treatment with neuraminidase from Vibrio
cholerae did not affect the binding of ricin and RCA-I to buccal cell
proteins in lectin blots. In fluorescence microscopy and microtiter plate
binding assays, ricin bound only weakly to buccal cells in contrast to
strong staining and binding seen with RCA-I.
Specific ricin and RCA-I –binding salivary and buccal cell proteins
can be detected by lectin blotting after electrophoresis including a
common 170kDa protein. There are differences in the reactivity patterns
of the related molecules RCA-I and ricin with buccal cells and saliva,
even though in the literature both are reported to bind to galactoseterminated
oligosaccharide structures on proteins and glycolipids.
Binding to buccal cells and salivary proteins could be relevant to the
* Presenting Author
bioavailability of ricin or dose reaching other tissues in the event of
poisoning by the oral route.
Ricin, Toxin, Saliva
K28 Workplace Toxicity In the Archives of
Ottoman Empire
Salih Cengiz, PhD*, and Selda Mercan, MS, Istanbul University,
Institute of Forensic Science, Cerrahpasa, Istanbul, 34303, TURKEY; T.
Mehmet Karayel, BS, Istanbul University, Institute of Forensic Sciences,
Istanbul Universitesi, Adli Tip Enstitusu, Cerrahpasa Kampusu, PK.10,
34303, Istanbul, 34303, TURKEY; and Zeynep Turkmen, MS, Istanbul
University, Institute of Forensic Sciences, Cerrahpasa, Istanbul,
34303, TURKEY
After attending this presentation, attendees will understand the
residual effects of multiple applications of chemical products, including
heavy metals, pesticides, and rodenticides, over a five century period and
its affects on archive employees.
This presentation will impact the forensic science community by
demonstrating workplace toxicity due to multiple applications of
pesticides and rodenticides.
The employees of the Ottoman Archives are exposed to different
molds and chemical products such as heavy metals, pesticides, and
rodenticides. The goal of this study is to investigate the inorganic
elemental composition of archived papers to predict whether if there is
any toxicity or not in the 100 to 500 years old Ottoman Archives as a
work place.
Material and Method: Five ml of 70 % HNO3 and 1 ml of
concentrated HCl were added to the 0.1 g aliquots of the collected paper
samples from randomly chosen fifteen departments of the archive and
nails from the randomly selected ten employees and digested in
microwave oven under 170º C/400 watt/15 minutes. Thirty-five
elements of the collected pieces of papers of each of fifteen archive
rooms and a blank plain paper have been analyzed and compared by
using ICP MS technique.
The ICP-MS conditions were as follows: Rf power:1200 w;
Nebuliser gas flow: 0.87 ml/min; Auxiliary gas flow: 0.75 ml/min;
cooling gas flow: 13.8 ml/min. sample uptake: 60 s; Dwell time: 10 ms.
Results: Average values in ppm of fifteen archive rooms for related
elements have been found as follows Li : 0,1 Be: 0,174 B: 29,1 Na:
1659,0 Mg: 3104,7 Al: 9538,2 P: 652,5 S: 0,0 K: 3047,7 Ca: 10573,4 V:
3,8 Cr: 97,7 Mn:68,0 Fe: 13857,1 Co: 7,8 Ni: 24,3 Cu:82,6
Zn:312,9 As: 24,6 Se: 0,3 Sr: 51,3 Zr: 1,5 Mo: 1,4 Cd: 0,3 Sn: 14,2
Sb: 1,4 Ba: 384,6 W: 0,1 Pt: 0,0 Hg: 4,9 Tl: 0,1 Pb: 282,8 Bi: 5,1 Th:
0,676 U: 0,344 respectively.
Conclusion: This study showed that, toxic metals such as As, Cu,
and Pb varied between 100 and 1,000 folds of the nowadays produced
plain (blank) paper. Employees that working for long times in
restoration or examination of the archived papers inside the archive
rooms subjected to chronic workplace heavy metal toxicity. Furthermore
from the analysis of their nail samples, employees are under the risk of
heavy metal toxicity. On the other hand, 160 employees of the archives
have been sent to the department of thoracic medicine where breathing
functions were administered. When compared, the values in the patients
files of the hospital; Forced Expiratory Volume in One Second (FEV1)
breathing function although statistically not significant, decline in ten
years was greater in the achieve employees, in spite of smoking was
more common in the control group while other functions such as FVC,
FEV1/FVC, MEF 25-75%, DLCO/VA still in normal values.
Workplace, Toxicity, Archives
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