Poisoning from oral ingestion of carbofuran (Furadan 4F), a cholinesterase-inhibiting carbamate insecticide, and its effects on cholinesterase activity in various biological fluids.

A case is presented of a fatal ingestion of Furadan (carbofuran), a cholinesterase-inhibiting carbamate insecticide. A 26-year-old white male was found dead with a partially filled 1-gal (3.8-L) container of Furadan 4F insecticide-nematocide (44.9% carbofuran). The individual had ingested approximately 345 mL of the mixture. Analysis of cholinesterase activity in various biological fluids was performed spectrophotometrically using propionylthiocholine and 5,5'-dithiobis-2-nitrobenzoic acid [Sigma Diagnostics, cholinesterase procedure No. 422 (PTC)] which was measured at 405 nm and 30 degrees C in a Gilford Stasar III Spectrophotometer. The cholinesterase activities were as follows: plasma, 245 units (U)/L (93% inhibition/7% normal activity); serum, 208 U/L (95.3% inhibition/4.7% normal activity); whole blood, 297 U/L (92.8% inhibition/7.2% normal activity); erythrocytes, 58 U/L (99% inhibition/1% normal activity); vitreous humor, 7 U/L; and bile, 148 U/L. Carbofuran was detected in the blood and gastric contents by thin-layer chromatography. No alcohol or other drugs were detected in the blood, urine, or gastric contents. Ingestion of the carbofuran produced acute visceral congestion and pulmonary edema. Death was caused by anoxia due to respiratory paralysis produced by cholinesterase inhibition from Furadan (carbofuran) ingestion.     

抗人转铁蛋白单链抗体的研制及部分性能研究

研制人转铁蛋白的单链抗体。以纯化人转铁蛋白免疫小鼠,制备小鼠脾脏 mRNA,RT-PCR 扩增重轻链可变区基因;Linker 连接及引入 Sfi Ⅰ和 NotⅠ酶切位点构建单链抗体基因;同载体 pCANTAB 5E 连接,转化 E.coliTG1细胞,以 M13K07挽救制备噬菌体抗体呈现文库,筛选抗原阳性重组噬菌体粒子(Panning);感染 E.coliHB2151菌株,制备可溶抗体并检测其性质;测定抗体基因序列并分析同源性及结构特征。制备出4株分泌抗人转铁蛋白可溶抗体的 E.coli HB2151菌株。抗体基因只由小鼠抗体的轻重链可变区基因构成,开放读码,无终止子,并紧接一末尾为一琥珀终止密码的 E 末端序列,其对应氨基酸序列 V_H 和 V_L 部分均遵从抗体可变区特征。实验证明,可把基因工程抗体技术应用于法医血清学,以制备新型抗体试剂。     

Molecular analysis of the human esterase D gene ESD(*)Q0(yonago) responsible for incompatibility in a Japanese paternity case

In a Japanese paternity test, an alleged father was excluded only by reverse homozygosity of esterase D (ESD) phenotypes (mother, ESD 1; child, ESD 1; alleged father, ESD 2) out of 43 classical and DNA markers investigated. To solve the aberrant inheritance of the ESD phenotypes observed between them, fragments for all eight coding exons amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were subjected to DNA analysis. The child and alleged father shared a null allele, originating from ESD(*)1. It was characterized by having TGA for the stop codon instead of TCA for serine at codon 63. Thus, the sharing of a rare null gene, ESD(*)Q0(yonago), increased the probability of paternity.     

The use of serial measurement of plasma cholinesterase in the management of acute poisoning with organophosphates and carbamates

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the benefits of using serial measurements of plasma cholinesterase (butyrylcholinesterase, BuChE) activity in the management of cholinesterase inhibitor insecticidal poisoning. METHOD: After establishing and validating BuChE activity test, and making it available for clinical service in the toxicology laboratory at Jordan University Hospital. Serial measurements of BuChE were performed on samples taken from 10 symptomatic patients presented with the manifestations of poisoning due to acetylcholinesterase inhibitor insecticides during the year 2001. The number of serial repeats of BuChE activity tests ranged from 2 to 4 and from 8 to 11 for patients with carbamates and organophosphates (OPs) poisoning, respectively. The results of serial measurement of BuChE obtained from each patient's samples were used to draw a curve; three different types of curves were obtained from all patients samples. RESULT: The obtained curves were found to follow our three proposed curves, which support our point view regarding the importance of the proposed curves in the differential diagnosis and treatment of cholinesterase inhibitor pesticides poisoning. CONCLUSION: This study pointed out the importance of utilizing serial measurements of BuChE activity in the diagnosis and the management of organophosphates and carbamates poisoning. The BuChE activity results were used to support diagnostic and prognostic criteria that guided patient management and follow up. Applying those curves to large number of patients' samples will enhance its credibility. The study also demonstrated the importance of direct contract between toxicologist and physician in treatment of the pesticides poisoned patients.     

A Novel Pixel‐Based Method to Estimate the Instantaneous Velocity of a Vehicle from CCTV Images

In traffic forensic identifications, it was usually unfavorable that estimated velocities of questioned vehicles derived from frame‐based methods eventually turned out to be close to but a bit less than speed limits. In this paper, a novel pixel‐based method was presented to estimate vehicles’ relatively instantaneous velocities. First, two adjacent pixels’ actual distance was acquired from the closed‐circuit television (CCTV) images. Then, the instantaneous average velocity within this one frame interval time (FIT) was calculated out. The frame‐based method and its evaluating result were also introduced in this paper. The results showed that the velocity estimated by this new pixel‐based method was higher than which derived from the frame‐based method. Employing this presented novel method in these cases, it could be more accurately identified whether or not the vehicles had exceeded the speed limits, and then the responsibilities could be consequently assigned impartially.     

Effect of sodium fluoride on cholinesterase activity in postmortem blood

Thirty-two postmortem blood specimens, with and without sodium fluoride as preservative, were analyzed for cholinesterase activity by the Michel method. The fluoridated specimens, which contained from 0.7 to 31 mg/mL (average 6.3) of sodium fluoride, were found to exhibit cholinesterase activities that were 5 to 59% (average 25%) lower than the duplicate unfluoridated specimens. We concluded that, while this decrease is quite significant, a fluoridated postmortem blood specimen may be used for the measurement of cholinesterase activity when a non-fluoridated specimen is unavailable.     

A Challenge for Police-Community Relations: Rethinking Stop and Search in England and Wales

This article presents research carried out as part of a government research programme looking at how police tactic of 'stop and search' in England and Wales. For many years, figures which have shown a higher rate of stop and search of minority ethnic groups, particularly black people, have provoked much controversy, and have been seen by many as a manifestation of police racism. This article reviews the way in which stop and search impacts on public confidence, with particular reference to those from minority ethnic groups. It goes on to explore its role within policing, including an examination of its effectiveness against crime and the evidence for racism in police practice. Following from this, it considers how stop and search can be used in a way that minimises negative impacts on the community and maximises its effectiveness against crime.     

Regulating stop and search: a challenge for police and community relations in England and Wales

Policing in England and Wales has become increasingly contested since the 1960s and has been subject to unprecedented levels of public scrutiny. Stop and search powers have played a central role in this process and, though often described as an essential part of modern policing, have continued to provide a flashpoint in police–community relations. In this article the authors briefly review the history of stop and search in England and Wales, drawing particular attention to the concerns that have been raised about the use of this power in relation to minority ethnic communities. The article goes on to consider how issues of public trust and confidence have been addressed and raises questions about the effectiveness of efforts to regulate this area of activity. Finally, we suggest that regulation has become too tightly bound to ‘‘race’’ and measures of disproportionality. Instead, we argue that the current focus on ‘‘race’’ should be broadened to include other groups that may be subject to over-policing and that monitoring should be based on a system of triangulation, which combines multiple indicators and mixed methods.     

Frame Spillover: Media Framing and Public Opinion of a Multifaceted LGBT Rights Agenda

Between May and July 2003, a shift in how the US public viewed the legality of consensual homosexual sex occurred. While in May the largest percentage of respondents to date supported decriminalizing such activity, that percentage dropped eleven points two months later. Similar declines in support were evident in the same period over a range of gay and lesbian rights claims. The ruling in Lawrence v. Texas (2003) decriminalizing homosexual sex is the obvious intervening event. To explain this pattern, coding of print and televised news coverage of the ruling throughout 2003 was undertaken. Coverage was not overtly negative in terms of antigay rhetoric or hostility toward the judiciary; rather, the dominant media frame focused on the implications of Lawrence for an entirely separate rights issue: marriage equality. This article examines the dynamic of frame “spillover,” or the idea that media focus on a distinct and not widely supported rights claim in a multifaceted rights agenda might depress support across the entire rights agenda. The findings call for further research, and they have implications for scholarship on public opinion, social movement framing, and ideational development and policy debate as studied within the broader field of American political development.     

Forensic-biochemical indices of serum amilase and cholinesterase activity in lethal poisoning with heroin

The examination of the activity of serum amilase and cholinesterase in the blood from subjects who had died of heroin poisoning showed significant elevation of such activity. These findings allow experts to use the activity of the above enzymes as effective markers in detection of narcotic drugs in cadaveric blood, opiate narcotics, in particular.     

Survival of severe amlodipine intoxication due to medical intensive care

We report the case of attempted suicide with amlodipine, chlorthalidone and mefenamic acid and subsequent medical intensive care measures which resulted in total recovery of a 42-year-old male. After admission to the medical intensive care unit the intoxicated patient was deeply hypotensive and needed fluid replacement, dobutamine and norepinephrine. Additionally insulin and calcium gluconate were given. Since hypotension persisted and the patient developed oliguria, terlipressin was applied and finally showed an effect on blood pressure and on urinary output. A volume overload of 7 L in the first 24 h resulted in a pulmonary edema. The patient was started on non-invasive ventilation with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and frusemide was added to the therapy with good success. Quantitative determination of amlodipine in plasma samples was performed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The highest amlodipine concentrations was measured in the plasma sample collected approximately 8 h after ingestion of the drug, and was 393 microg/L. Four days later, it was possible to stop the treatment with catecholamines, at that time the amlodipine plasma concentration had declined to 132 microg/L, still tenfold higher than therapeutic (5-18 microg/L). Elimination half-life of amlodipine is approximately 55 h. After 6 days in the intensive care unit the patient was transferred to psychiatric treatment. Intensive care management and plasma levels in this intoxication case are compared to data from literature on other cases.     

The effect of event context on children's recall of non‐experienced events across multiple interviews

Purpose. The current study examined whether young children's willingness to assent to, and provide details about, a false (non‐experienced) activity differs depending on whether the activity was allegedly embedded within (a) a specific event or (b) a broad (non‐specified) time frame. Method. Ninety‐nine children aged 4–5 years (from both low and high socio‐economic backgrounds) either (a) participated in a staged event that consisted of two activities or (b) did not participate in the staged event. One or two days later, all children were given false suggestions about a non‐experienced (false) activity that had either high or low plausibility. Approximately 8, 15, and 22 days after the event, children were asked to recall the activities, and to answer a series of specific cued‐recall questions. Results. There was no effect of event context on assent rates, and the rate at which children reported interviewer suggestions. However, children who participated in the staged event provided fewer details about the false activity. Further, among those children who assented to the false activity, fewer subjects, objects, actions, temporal markers, locations, fantastic/improbable details, and confabulation errors were reported when the activity was embedded within the specific staged event. Conclusion. The degree of error in children's accounts of a completely false activity is reduced when the activity is suggested to have occurred within a specified event as opposed to a broad (non‐specified) time frame.     

Detection of S-methylfenitrothion, aminofenitrothion, aminofenitroxon and acetylaminofenitroxon in the urine of a fenitrothion intoxication case

A 23-year-old male attempted suicide by ingesting approximately 50 ml of 5% fenitrothion emulsion, and vomited soon afterwards. He was admitted to a hospital about 3 h after ingestion. He recovered and was discharged from hospital 3 days after admission. The serum cholinesterase activity (normal range: 175-440 I.U.) was only 29 at 3 h, 32 at 1 day, 59 at 2 days and 75 at 3 days after ingestion. Fenitrothion and its metabolites in the body fluids were extracted by an Extrelut column extraction method, detected by a gas chromatograph equipped with either a hydrogen flame ionization detector or a flame photometric detector, and confirmed by a gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer. Fenitrothion concentration in the blood was 169.5 ng/g at 3 h after ingestion. The half life of blood fenitrothion concentration was found to be about 4.5 h. Fenitrothion metabolites, 3-methyl-4-nitrophenol, aminofenitrothion, aminofenitroxon, acetylaminofenitroxon and S-methylfenitrothion, were detected in the urine samples. All of them except S-methylfenitrothion were detected in the urine samples collected up to 62 h after ingestion. It would appear therefore that fenitrothion poisoning can be determined by detection and analysis of the metabolites in urine even if fenitrothion has not been detected in the blood.     

Perceptions of Law Enforcement Officers in Seeking Mental Health Treatment in a Right-to-Work State

The high stress environment of law enforcement places officers at risk for a variety of mental and physical health problems; however, officers are reluctant to seek out treatment. The purpose of this study was to identify which factors associated with law enforcement officers had predictive value in the level of stigma perceived in seeking mental health treatment by currently employed, certified peace officers in Arizona. The factors included sex, age, race/ethnicity, years employed as an officer, size of the department, current rank/position within the department, the type of government operating the agency, and payment of union dues. The study included 454 participants. Participation included the completion of demographic data, the Self-Stigma of Seeking Psychological Help (SSOSH), and the Perceptions of Stigmatization by Others for Seeking Help (PSOSH). Using standard multiple regression, the most significant finding was the relationship between the size of the department and levels of stigma (p = .014); such that, the size was inversely related to the levels of perceived stigma. As the agency size increased, the perceptions of stigma decreased. Such a finding has several implications for law enforcement agencies related to preparedness and training.     

Discharge of a Pistol Out a Car Window with the Breech Within the Interior of the Car: Analysis of Gunshot Residue on a Car's Interior Surfaces

The defendant, the driver of the questioned car, allegedly extended his right arm over the passenger seat and fired a single shot from a 380 pistol out the passenger window with the pistol's breech within the car. A simulation of this shooting scenario using the same model car, but different year, was conducted to quantitate gunshot residue (GSR) contamination of interior surfaces within the car. The test car's dash and headliner/window frame above the pistol had the heaviest GSR contamination. The dash GSR from airborne deposition documents a firearm discharge within the vehicle. Transfer from GSR‐contaminated hands or clothing to the dash is unlikely. The heavy GSR contamination of the headliner/window frame above the pistol likely documents the window from which the pistol was fired, but additional experiments are needed to verify.     

论宪法裁决中的实体价值——以美国宪法司法审查的理论解说为中心

司法审查是美国法律制度的一个重要特征。然而，自马伯里诉麦迪逊案确立该制度之日起，支持和反对司法审查的理论争论就从未停止过，从而形成解释主义和非解释主义之分，实体价值在司法审查中的作用即为该争论之一部分。通过梳理和解读当前具有影响的支持者的理论和反对者的质疑，本文从宪法和法理的角度对两者之间的联系与区别作出检讨。而且，对司法审查理论依据的梳理，有助于理解该制度的理论发展动向。     

Unilateral occurrence of blowfly maggots in the face of a decomposing body

The corpse of a 41-year-old medical doctor was found in his bed. The body was partially dried out; parts of the hip region were skeletonized due to maggot activity. In the facial region of the corpse, blowfly maggots (Lucilia (Phaenicia) sericata [Meigen]) were found exclusively in one eye socket. This is an unusual occurrence since on that side, a bedlight (40 W light bulb) had been burning during the seven week post mortem interval. All other lights in the apartment were switched off, and no direct sunlight could enter the space where the body was found (only a TV set had been running all the time, ca. 2 m away from the head at the foot end of the bed). Obviously, the maggots who usually flee light had used up the one eye that was further away from the bedlight as a feeding source. Since the continuing mummification of the corpse led to a substantial restriction of feeding material, the maggots finally switched to the eye that the light was shining on.     

亲子鉴定中STR基因座的基因突变分析

目的探讨Identifiler^TM荧光标记复合扩增试剂盒15个STR基因座在亲子鉴定中的基因突变特点。方法应用Identifiler^TM荧光标记复合扩增试剂盒检测676例亲子鉴定案，对其中1～2个突变基因座加做HLA等位基因检测或Y—STR基因座检测。结果在认定亲子关系的676例中，观察1304次减数分裂，Identifiler^TM荧光标记复合扩增试剂盒中的15个基因座确定19例突变，其中D18S51基因座4例，D2S1338基因座3例，D8S1179、D16S539、vWA、D7S820、D13S317基因座各2例，D5S818和TH01基因座各1例，D21S11、FGA、D3S1358、D19S433、TPOX、CSF1P0基因座未见突变；一步突变的17例，二步突变的为1例，四步突变的1例；1个基因座发生突变的18例，2个基因座同时发生基因突变的为1例；突变来自父亲与来自母亲的比例为13：2，4例来源不能确定。结论用Identifiler^TM荧光标记复合扩增试剂盒检测到1—2个基因座发生突变，须增加对其它遗传标记的检测。     

Correlates of outcome following acute glutethimide overdosage

Potential predictors of outcome following acute glutethimide overdosage were assessed in 63 patients hospitalized with this diagnosis at a large urban medical center between 1962 and 1975. Their mean age was 34 years (range, 15 to 84 years) and 62% were female. Assisted ventilation was required in 59% of cases, and 32% developed hypotension. Six patients died, including all three aged 60 years or older. Multiple regression analysis confirmed that age was the major identifiable determinant of survival, regardless of other factors. Among identifiable determinants of coma grade, glutethimide dose, glutethimide plasma concentration, and coingestion of barbiturates were the most important. An ingested dose of 10 g or more, or a plasma concentration exceeding 30 microgram/ml, was almost always associated with deep coma. However, a relatively small ingested dose or a low plasma level by no means ruled out development of serious intoxication, particularly in those patients who also ingested barbiturates. Thus elderly individuals are at high risk for fatal outcome following glutethimide overdosage and should receive priority for intensive care and monitoring. Glutethimide dose, plasma concentration, and history of coingestion of barbiturates are of value in predicting development of deep coma. These items of information should be obtained on admission whenever possible.     

A Rush to Judgment?: The Origin of the 2001 Australian “Heroin Drought” and its Implications for the Future of Drug Law Enforcement

This paper reassesses the origins of what has been referred to as the Australian “heroin drought.” It looks at the theories that circulated in drug policy circles immediately after the supply shortage was discovered in 2001. It concludes that there may have been a ”rush to judgment” as these inferences were based on unsatisfactory data. As such, none of the theories that were advanced at the time hold true — the shortage was almost certain to have been the result of a Taliban- enforced reduction of Afghanistan grown opium. As interdiction strategies were one of the main theories for the shortage, this might seem disappointing, especially as supply reduction strategies struggle to maintain relevancy against a growing shift to demand reduction and harm reduction strategies. But this situation should not be the case — drug seizures should not be hailed as law enforcement's central strength in this or any other situation. Instead, the strong point of policing should be seen as the broad approach it takes to reduce crime through its attack on all criminal enterprises, not just its assault on a particular criminal sector — like the drug trade.