A fatal paramethoxymethamphetamine intoxication.

During the last years in Germany a marked increase in the use of amphetamines such as 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ecstasy) has been observed. The use of these recreational drugs is especially common among young people participating in rave parties. Occasionally ring-methoxylated phenethylamine derivatives like paramethoxymethamphetamine (PMMA) or paramethoxyamphetamine (PMA) are found in street drugs offered as ecstasy.

The Y-Short Tandem Repeat Haplotype Reference Database (YHRD) and Male Population Stratification in Europe - Impact on Forensic Genetics.

The forensic application of patrilinearly transmitted Y-chromosomal markers requires knowledge of its substantial sensitivity to population substructuring. The establishment of carefully constructed, large, onlineavailable and worldwide population databases for Y-short tandem repeat-based haplotypes illustrates the magnitude and importance of male population subdivision, which is even recognizable in the otherwise nearly indistinguishable European populations. Thus, the choice of the suitable reference population is an absolute requirement for the interpretation of haplotype matches.

Cutaneous current marks due to a stun gun injury.

Histological changes of the skin following electrical injury with a stun gun have rarely been described. We report the case of a 61-year-old man who died after having been tortured with a stun gun during a robbery. At autopsy two reddish, dot-like lesions where found on the chest and histological examination revealed electric current-related changes.

Methadone and its role in drug-related fatalities in Cologne 1989-2000.

All drug-associated deaths from 1989 to 2000 were analysed at the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Cologne. Information concerning sex, gender, drug consumption, time, place and circumstances of death were analysed. A number of 605 cases were recorded; in 518 cases a toxicological analysis was possible and in 171 an autopsy was performed.

Trajectory reconstruction from trace evidence on spent bullets. I. Deposits from intermediate targets.

Contact of a fired bullet with an intermediate target of sufficient resistance commonly causes the bullet to ricochet, fragment or perforate together with a deviation in trajectory. The transfer of intermediate target material to bullets and subsequent detection on the bullet surface after recovery from a bullet collector, were examined using a scanning electron microscope and an energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometer (SEM/EDS). A total of 76 gunshots (9 mm Luger FMJ RN bullets) were fired at various intermediate targets and at combinations of intermediate targets and tissue located in line.

Population genetic studies in the Balkans. II. DNA-STR-systems.

Within a study of the genetics of Southeastern European populations four DNA-STR-systems (D21S11, FGA, TH01, VWA) were examined in seven samples (samples of three Aromuns and four other Balkan populations). The results have been compared to data from four samples from literature (Austrians, Germans, Hungarians, Slovenians). The results show three clusters: a) the Aromuns from Albania (Andon Poci) and Macedonia (Stip region), b) the Romanian Aromuns (Kogalniceanu), Romanians (Constanta, Ploiesti) and Albanians (Tirana) und c) the data from literature.

Trajectory reconstruction from trace evidence on spent bullets. II. Are tissue deposits eliminated by subsequent impacts?

STR-based individualisation of biological deposits on bullets after perforation of tissue, can identify the person injured or killed by a particular bullet and comparison with the firearms used can identify the weapon and thus possibly the person who did the shooting. In this study, the effect of subsequent impacts on intermediate targets such as loss of cells was investigated by amplification of mitochondrial (mt) DNA. Bovine tissue was perforated and the 9 mm Luger FMJ bullets were recovered from the bullet collector.

Methadone-related fatalities in Hamburg 1990-1999: implications for quality standards in maintenance treatment?

Drug-related fatal poisonings were analysed in Hamburg from 1990 to 30th June 1999 with special attention to the role of methadone. The first methadone-related fatalities were observed in Hamburg three years after methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) was introduced in 1990. Meanwhile more than half of all fatal poisonings among drug addicts are monovalent or polydrug intoxications with evidence for methadone.

Report on intrauterine drug exposure during second trimester of pregnancy in a heroin-associated death.

A 17-year-old girl was found dead in a public toilet with fresh needle puncture marks. She was 18-20 weeks pregnant with a male fetus. Drug screening of her blood and urine indicated recent heroin use.

HumCD4--validation of a STR system for forensic purposes in an Austrian Caucasian population sample.

The short tandem repeat system HumCD4 was amplified by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on blood samples from 304 unrelated Austrian Caucasians and analyzed by horizontal, non-denaturing polyacrylamide electrophoresis. The mean exclusion chance was 0.417, the discriminating power 0.

Detection of the age-dependent 4977 bp deletion of mitochondrial DNA. A pilot study.

In recent years a number of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) deletions have been detected in various tissues from individuals over 20 years of age. It has been postulated that these deletions are associated with natural aging. In order to determine whether a correlation exists between age and the amount of deleted 4977 bp mtDNA, we used two PCR reactions to study total DNA (nuclear and mitochondrial DNA) extracted from skeletal muscle (m.

Evaluation of MHS-5 in detecting seminal fluid in vaginal swabs.

Vaginal swabs taken in 211 cases of alleged sexual assault were examined for seminal vesicle-specific antigen (SVSA) using an MHS-5-ELISA (SEMA kit). The results were compared with those obtained by sperm detection by means of light microscopy and the acid phosphatase reaction (ACP), using Phosphatesmo-KM papers. Especially in fresher samples (duration of storage between 10 days and 2 1/2 months), a high degree of correlation was observed between the results of light microscopic and MHS-5 methods.

Airbag deployment and eye perforation by a tobacco pipe.

Airbags have been shown to reduce injuries and save the lives of car occupants in a crash. Like any protection system, airbags potentially introduce some new risks if no appropriate countermeasures are taken. A case of a relatively moderate frontal impact is described where the driver of an airbag-equipped car suffered a severe penetrating eye injury after the airbag deployed.

Polymorphism of the complement C8A and -B genes in two families with C8 beta deficiency and neisserial infections.

Serum samples from members of two Italian families with complement C8 beta deficiency were studied by SDS-PAGE under nonreducing conditions and by IEF. The proband of family I had suffered from two episodes of purulent meningitis and two of her uncles had suffered from only one episode, while the proband of family II had suffered from three different episodes. In contrast to previous findings, where C8 beta deficiency was cosegregating with C8A (alpha-gamma) allotype A, the proband of family II had the C8A allotype B.

Measurement of the skin temperature at the entry wound by means of infrared thermography. An investigation involving the use of .22- to .38- caliber handguns.

This study examines the temperatures at the point that bullets impact human skin. With the assistance of infrared thermography, measurements were taken after shots were fired by .22-, .

Siderophages in the lung of drug addicts.

According to literature, siderophages are a characteristic histological finding in the lung of deceased drug addicts (IVDA). It was the aim of our study to evaluate their pathognomonic significance. The lungs of 591 drug deaths in Hamburg were examined histologically for siderophages in two series, with different 'Berlinerblau' (Prussian blue) staining methods.

Genetic basis of human complement C4A deficiency. Detection of a point mutation leading to nonexpression.

The fourth component of the human complement system (C4) is coded for by two genes, C4A and C4B, located within the MHC. Null alleles of C4 (C4Q0) are defined by the absence of C4 protein in plasma. These null alleles are due either to large gene deletions or to nonexpression of the respective genes.

Comparative studies on the detection of benzodiazepines in serum by means of immunoassays (FPIA).

Serum was tested for benzodiazepines by fluorescence polarization immunoassay (FPIA) on Abbott's ADx system using the benzodiazepine serum reagents (Benzo S) and the benzodiazepine urine reagents (Benzo U) after pretreatment of specimens by means of acetone precipitation. The following sera were included for comparing the two methods: negative sera spiked with various benzodiazepines; 80 sera randomly selected out of a total of 8654 serum specimens from impaired drivers; and blood specimens from individuals who stated that they had taken benzodiazepines. The different benzodiazepines were added to serum at concentrations of 25, 75, and 300 ng/mL.

Hydroxysteroid sulfotransferase and a specific UDP-glucuronosyltransferase are involved in the metabolism of digitoxin in man.

In vitro experiments were performed with cytosolic and microsomal fractions of human liver specimens in order to investigate which enzyme forms of sulfotransferase (ST) and UDP-glucurosyltransferase (GT) are involved in the metabolism of digitoxin (dt-3) and/or its cleavage products. It was found that the cytosolic STs preferentially react with digitoxigenin (dt-0) whereas microsomal GTs conjugate digitoxigenin-monodigitoxoside (dt-1) and in traces the bisdigitoxoside (dt-2). Dt-3 and dt-0 cannot be glucuronidated.

Identification of the recombination site within the steroid 21-hydroxylase gene (CYP21) of the HLA-B47,DR7 haplotype.

The HLA haplotype A3-Cw6-B47-C4A91-BQ0-DR7 is associated with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), since it only carries the dysfunctional steroid 21-hydroxylase A pseudogene as well as the 5' adjacent complement C4A gene. The recombination site leading to the deletion of the complement C4B and steroid 21-hydroxylase B genes in this haplotype was studied by determining the 21-hydroxylase genomic DNA sequence in comparison to the standard CYP21A- and CYP21B-specific sequences. A 200-bp region between exons 7 and 8 was identified as a possible recombination site.

Blood alcohol concentrations of sudden unexpected deaths and non natural deaths.

This study reports on the relationships between the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) and the cause of death - which is of course common knowledge for forensic scientists! Our special aim was to gain unselected data for generalizing conclusions. The blood of 2465 consecutive cases (86% of all 2852 sudden unexpected and unnatural fatalities investigated at the Institute for Legal Medicine in Hamburg during the year 1989) was analysed. The BAC was evaluated according to sex, age, cause of death and place of death.

Purification of a rat liver cytosolic sulfotransferase responsible for the conjugation of digitoxigenin.

Previous investigations on the digitoxin metabolism hardly considered the role of the sulfate ester conjugation. Therefore, this study examined whether digitoxin (dt-3) or one of its cleavage products might be sulfated in vitro. It was proven that digitoxigenin (dt-0) is by far the best substrate for the cytosolic sulfotransferases (ST).

Detection of oxilofrine in plasma and urine by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection and comparison with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

A high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method with electrochemical detection for the determination of oxilofrine [1-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-methylaminopropanol] in human plasma and urine (before and after cleavage of the metabolic conjugates) is described. Isolation from biological fluids is performed batchwise by weak acid cation exchange. Separation of plasma and urine components is achieved on a reversed-phase C18 column as an ion pair with heptanesulphonic acid.