A nontuberculous mycobacterium could solve the mystery of the lady from the Franciscan church in Basel, Switzerland.

Background: In 1975, the mummified body of a female has been found in the Franciscan church in Basel, Switzerland. Molecular and genealogic analyses unveiled her identity as Anna Catharina Bischoff (ACB), a member of the upper class of post-reformed Basel, who died at the age of 68 years, in 1787. The reason behind her death is still a mystery, especially that toxicological analyses revealed high levels of mercury, a common treatment against infections at that time, in different body organs.

Distribution pattern of common drugs of abuse, ethyl glucuronide, and benzodiazepines in hair across the scalp.

While hair analysis is important and accepted in forensic applications, fundamental knowledge gaps still exist, exacerbated by a lack of knowledge of the incorporation mechanisms of substances into hair. The influence of the hair sampling location on the head on ethyl glucuronide (EtG) and cocaine concentrations was investigated by measuring the complete scalp hair of 14 (2 EtG, 4 cocaine, 8 both EtG and cocaine) study participants in a grid pattern for EtG, drugs of abuse, and benzodiazepines. Head skin perfusion and sweating rates were investigated to rationalize the concentration differences.

Sample preparation method for the combined extraction of ethyl glucuronide and drugs of abuse in hair.

Often in hair analysis, a small hair sample is available while the analysis of a multitude of structurally diverse substances with different concentration ranges is demanded. The analysis of the different substances often requires different sample preparation methods, increasing the amount of required hair sample. When segmental hair analysis is necessary, the amount of hair sample needed is further increased.

Distribution pattern of ethyl glucuronide and caffeine concentrations over the scalp of a single person in a forensic context.

The distribution of analyte concentrations in hair across the scalp has not been thoroughly investigated. Differences in concentrations depending on sampling location are problematic, especially when measuring a second strand to confirm the result of the first measurement. Aiming at a better understanding of the concentration differences, the distribution of ethyl glucuronide (EtG) and caffeine concentrations in hair across the entire head of one test subject was investigated by dividing the scalp completely into regions of ca 2 cm × 2 cm area, yielding a total of 104 samples.

Is one hair lock really representative?

When investigating someone's hair a single lock is cut, washed, extracted and analysed. The forensic institutes in Switzerland agreed to retain a second lock for a possible reassessment. We were interested in the reproducibility of the concentrations of analytes in hair locks taken from different areas of the head of the same person covering the same time period.

[Analysis with the Combur-Test--special aspects in forensic trace examination].

The Combur Test is a ready-made and easy-to-use pretest for blood. It is based on the oxidation of tetramethylbenzidine (TMB), which is catalysed by haemoglobin and its derivatives. Despite its high sensitivity, there are many known substances which are responsible for false positive and false negative test results.

Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of nasally delivered midazolam.

Aims: To investigate the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of nasal formulations containing midazolam (5-30 mg ml(-1)) complexed with cyclodextrin.

Methods: An open-label sequential trial was conducted in eight healthy subjects receiving single doses of 1 mg and 3 mg intranasally and 1 mg midazolam intravenously. Pharmacokinetic parameters were obtained by non-compartmental and two-compartmental models.

First nationwide study on driving under the influence of drugs in Switzerland.

In Switzerland, a two-tier system based on impairment by any psychoactive substances which affect the capacity to drive safely and zero tolerance for certain illicit drugs came into force on 1 January 2005. According to the new legislation, the offender is sanctioned if Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol THC is >or=1.5ng/ml or amphetamine, methamphetamine, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), 3,4-methylenedioxyethylamphetamine (MDEA), cocaine, free morphine are >or=15ng/ml in whole blood (confidence interval+/-30%).

Quality assurance in road traffic analyses in Switzerland.

Swiss laboratories performing toxicological road traffic analyses have been authorized for many years by the Swiss Federal Roads Office (FEDRO). In 2003 FEDRO signed a contract with the Swiss Society of Legal Medicine (SSLM) to organize the complete quality management concerning road traffic analyses. For this purpose a multidisciplinary working group was established under the name of "road traffic commission (RTC)".

Validation of an ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) method for the detection of heroin and cocaine on incriminated material.

The validation of a qualitative ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) procedure for the detection of trace amounts of heroin and cocaine on incriminated material using a vacuum cleaner for sampling is presented. The limit of detection, the limit of decision, selectivity and robustness were determined. As an approach, robustness was determined using ionizational interferences and matrix effects.

Quantification of benzodiazepines in whole blood and serum.

A high-performance liquid chromatography method for the determination of benzodiazepines and their metabolites in whole blood and serum using mass spectrometry (MS) and photodiode array (PDA) detection is presented. The combination of both detection types can complement each other and provides extensive case relevant data. The limits of quantification (LOQ) with the MS detection lie between 2 and 3 microg/l for the following benzodiazepines or metabolites: 7-amino-flunitrazepam, alprazolam, desalkyl-flurazepam, desmethyl-flunitrazepam, diazepam, flunitrazepam, flurazepam, alpha-hydroxy-midazolam, lorazepam, midazolam, nitrazepam, nordazepam and oxazepam, respectively 5 microg/l for lormetazepam and 6 microg/l for bromazepam.

Isolation of Delta9-THCA-A from hemp and analytical aspects concerning the determination of Delta9-THC in cannabis products.

A simple procedure based on a common silica gel column chromatography for the isolation of Delta9-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid A (Delta9-THCA-A) from hemp in a multi-milligram scale is presented. Further, the decarboxylation reaction of Delta9-THCA-A to the toxicologically active Delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Delta9-THC) at different analytical and under-smoking conditions is investigated. Maximal conversion in an optimised analytical equipment yields about 70% Delta9-THC.