Impact of (forensic) expert opinions according to the Istanbul Protocol in Germany-results and insights of the in:Fo-project.

As part of a third-party funded project, expert opinions according to the Istanbul Protocol (IP) standards were compiled in Germany on a larger scale for the first time. The assessment process was initiated for 130 project participants. Statistical analysis on numerous variables was performed to test the impact of the expert opinions, foremost of the forensic medical expert opinions, on the individuals' asylum proceedings.

Complex challenges of estimating the age and vitality of muscle wounds: a study with matrix metalloproteinases and their inhibitors on animal and human tissue samples.

The estimation of wound age and wound vitality is a recurring task in forensic routine work and has been subject of forensic research for a long time. By now, an unrestrictedly reliable marker or set of markers has not been found. In a study on myocardial infarctions, matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) 2 and 9 as well as tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases 1 (TIMP-1) were detected immunohistochemically in mechanically wounded myocardium (ECG electrodes, vessel ligations).

Effects of cocaine and levamisole (as adulterant) on the isolated perfused Langendorff heart.

Cocaine-related deaths occur regularly in forensic routine work. In cases in which the detected concentration of cocaine is rather low and other causes of death apart from intoxication can be ruled out, the question arises if adulterants of cocaine might have played a crucial role. In the present study, cardiac effects of cocaine, of the adulterant levamisole and of mixtures of both were evaluated using the isolated perfused Langendorff heart.

The impact of sex and myocardial ischemic preconditioning on immunohistochemical markers of acute myocardial infarction.

The immunohistochemical detection of dityrosine, troponins I (cTNI) and T (cTnT), and connexin 43 has been proposed as a tool for the diagnosis of myocardial infarction with short survival times. Results of clinical and experimental studies reveal that gender and/or ischemic preconditioning of the heart may have an influence on severity and magnitude of myocardial infarction. To clarify the question, if the above-mentioned markers are influenced by sex or ischemic preconditioning, experiments on isolated rat hearts using the Langendorff technique were performed.

Biomechanical stress in myocardial infarctions: can endothelin-1 and growth differentiation factor 15 serve as immunohistochemical markers?

Myocardial infarctions go along with biomechanical stress, i.e. stretching of muscle fibres, and the expression of certain marker molecules.