K W Norman | PubMed Health

PubMed2001

Headspace/solid-phase microextraction/gas chromatography-mass spectrometry: a screening technique for the recovery and identification of volatile organic compounds (VOC's) in postmortem blood and viscera samples.

This paper describes the application of Headspace/Solid-Phase Microextraction/Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (HS/SPME/GC-MS) to the recovery and identification of volatile organic compounds in blood and viscera samples from deceased persons. The technique is used as a screening procedure to rapidly obtain information relating to toxicological investigations. The technique is suitable for the detection of volatiles (of wide boiling range) including butane, halothane, toluene, xylenes, and petrol residues in blood and viscera (lung, brain, and body fat).

Adipose Tissue↗

PubMed1994

Platelet and plasma platelet-activating factor in sepsis and myocardial infarction.

Platelet-activating factor (PAF) is a potent phospholipid mediator which has been implicated in the pathophysiology and complications of diverse clinical illness such as myocardial infarction and shock. 10 normal males, 13 presenting with acute myocardial infarction and 13 with clinical sepsis were studied. In myocardial infarction, plasma PAF, platelet PAF receptor number and platelet-associated PAF were not significantly different from normal. In clinical sepsis, plasma PAF was not different and platelet-associated PAF was slightly, but not significantly, higher. Similarly, in this group, the production of PAF from resting and stimulated neutrophils was not different from normal. Despite significant experimental evidence from animal studies for the involvement of PAF in cardiovascular disorders, this clinical study provides little direct evidence to support this view. Our results suggest that PAF is maintained at a relatively constant circulating level, a consequence of metabolic regulation and a high avidity for platelets and neutrophils.

Adult↗