TY  - JOUR
PY  - 1989//
TI  - Comparison of chemical methods for determining postmortem interval
JO  - Journal of forensic sciences
A1  - Sparks, D. L.
A1  - Oeltgen, P. R.
A1  - Kryscio, R. J.
A1  - Hunsaker, J. C.
SP  - 197
EP  - 206
VL  - 34
IS  - 1
N2  - Accurate determination of postmortem interval (PMI) is a problem for the forensic thanatologist, especially in unwitnessed deaths. A number of objective chemical methods for determining PMI have been developed, the most widely used being accumulation of potassium in the vitreous humor. The authors previously have reported a chemical method for determining PMI from the predictable accumulation or clearance of the dopaminergic metabolite 3-methoxytyramine (3-MT) in the putamen of the brain. They have extended their previous study to compare directly the accuracy of determining PMI from the level of 3-MT in putamen with the level of potassium in vitreous humor. The data indicate that 3-MT is at least as accurate as, if not more accurate than, potassium accumulation in vitreous humor, although 3-MT levels can be affected by the cause of death and drugs present at the time of death. Nevertheless, determination of both the 3-MT and potassium levels can afford the most accurate method of determining PMI; preliminary nomograms for determining PMI from both variables are presented.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0022-1198
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/
ID  - ref1
ER  -