Ep 70 The Maple Old Fashioned: Postmortem, Kay Scarpetta, and the Medical Clue You Can Smell

In this episode of Medical Media Mixer, we break down Postmortem by Patricia Cornwell, the novel that introduced forensic icon Dr. Kay Scarpetta. We explore how a rare metabolic disorder — Maple Syrup Urine Disease — becomes the key medical clue that exposes a serial killer, and how Scarpetta weaponizes forensic science and the media to bring him down. We also preview the upcoming Prime Video series Scarpetta and why this story still resonates decades later. SOURCES & FURTHER READING Maple Syrup Urine Disease — National Library of Medicine (MedlinePlus) https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/condition/maple-syrup-urine-disease/ Pathophysiology of Maple Syrup Urine Disease: Focus on the Neurotoxic Role of the Accumulated Branched-Chain Amino Acids and Branched-Chain α-Keto Acids Amaral AU, Wajner M. Neurochemistry International. 2022;157:105360 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuint.2022.105360 BCKDHA Gene — National Library of Medicine (MedlinePlus) https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/gene/bckdha/ BCKDHB Gene — National Library of Medicine (MedlinePlus) https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/gene/bckdhb/ Maple Syrup Urine Disease — GeneReviews® (Updated April 23, 2020) Strauss KA, Puffenberger EG, Carson VJ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK1319/ Treatment of Maple Syrup Urine Disease: Benefits, Risks, and Challenges of Liver Transplantation Deon M, Guerreiro G, Girardi J, Ribas G, Vargas CR International Journal of Developmental Neuroscience. 2023;83(6):489–504 https://doi.org/10.1002/jdn.10283 Maple Syrup Urine Disease: Characteristics of Diagnosis and Treatment in 45 Patients in Chile Medina MF, Castro G, Falcon F, et al. American Journal of Medical Genetics Part C. 2021;187(3):373–380 https://doi.org/10.1002/ajmg.c.31933 Brain Branched-Chain Amino Acids in Maple Syrup Urine Disease: Implications for Neurological Disorders Xu J, Jakher Y, Ahrens-Nicklas RC International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2020;21(20):E7490 https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21207490 Interrupting the Mechanisms of Brain Injury in a Model of Maple Syrup Urine Disease Encephalopathy Zinnanti WJ, Lazovic J Journal of Inherited Metabolic Disease. 2012;35(1):71–79 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10545-011-9333-5 MEDIA & POP CULTURE Scarpetta (TV Series) — IMDb https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14786934/ Kay Scarpetta — Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kay_Scarpetta Postmortem Study Guide — BookRags https://www.bookrags.com/studyguide-postmortem/#gsc.tab=0 EPISODE COCKTAIL The Maple Old Fashioned https://www.liquor.com/recipes/maple-old-fashioned/ Episodes every Monday ⭐️ Subscribe, Rate and Review! 🍸 Recipes drop on socials Discounts: 15% off Comfrt apparel Purple Carrot: 40% off your first box ClassPass: 2 weeks free 15% off non-alcoholic spirits at The Zero Proof 💳 Support us on Patreon | ☕️ Buy Me a Coffee Contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.