Yellow oleander poisoning--a study of 170 cases

Yellow oleander or Thevetia peruviana is a very common plant in the North of Sri Lanka. Ever since the fact that the fruits and kernel are poisonous was published in the Newspapers, many cases of poisoning due to Thevetia occurred. 170 cases of Thevetia poisoning admitted to the Teaching Hospital, Jaffna in the North of Sri Lanka are studied by the authors. The mortality, morbidity, age distribution, presenting symptoms and clinical findings are analysed. The action of the cardiac glycoside in Thevetia is clearly demonstrated in this study.     

Injuries caused by home-made explosives

Eighty-six cases of injuries caused by home-made unconventional explosives were studied. The use of this type of explosive is common in India, Sri Lanka and other Eastern countries. Injuries are due to the blast effect, shrapnel and flash. The blast effect is seen only when the explosion occurs at close range. Accidental injuries to handlers and manufacturers conform to a particular pattern.     

Beyond ‘Don't Be Evil’: The European Union GSP+ Trade Preference Scheme and the Incentivisation of the Sri Lankan Garment Industry to Foster Human Rights

Orthodox discourse on business and human rights tends to conceive of the human rights responsibility of corporations in terms of minimising the negative human rights impacts of their own activities, as opposed to exerting a net positive effect on human rights. On 15 August 2010, however, Sri Lanka's access to the EU's Generalized System of Preferences (GSP)+ trade incentives was withdrawn for reasons relating to that country's human rights record, creating an actual positive economic incentive for Sri Lankan businesses to actively engage the government on its human rights record. In this context, the author explores the potential for the Sri Lankan garment industry, which is highly dependent on exports to the EU, to effect positive human rights change in Sri Lanka.     

Agrochemical poisoning in Sri Lanka

Mortality resulting from agrochemicals met within the Office of the Judicial Medical Officer, Colombo, which is the premier Medico-legal Institute in Sri Lanka, are analysed over a 3-year period and the morbidity and mortality rates of the entire country are examined over a 10-year period. The number of patients admitted to hospitals in Sri Lanka during the period 1975-1983, stood at around 11,000-15,000 each year, with the year 1983 recording 16,649 admissions. The number of deaths during the same period varied from 900 to 1500 each year, while the year 1983 recording 1521 deaths. About 75% of such cases of poisoning were due to self ingestion while accidental and occupational poisoning formed the balance. Principal agricultural districts like Kurunegala, Jaffna, Vavuniya, Nuwara-Eliya and Badulla recorded the highest incidence of poisoning. The mortality figures of the Office of the J.M.O., Colombo, indicated that 4% of all bodies subjected to autopsy were those of agrochemical poisoning. The male/female ratio was 2:1. Seventy-five percent of deaths from agrochemical poisoning were recorded in the 15-39 year age group, while 33% of deaths belonged to the 20-24 age group. One third of cases of agrochemical poisoning were dead on being brought to hospital, while 50% were dead within 2 h and 60% dead within 24 h. Organophosphates accounted for 57.6% of all cases of agrochemical poisoning, while paraquat accounted for 21.2% of cases. Deaths were also reported from what are called safe chemicals like Carbamates and Pyrethrums due to their lethal additives.     

Forensic medicine and medicolegal investigation in Sri Lanka

In a small country such as Sri Lanka, very interesting applications of forensic medicine and medicolegal investigation exist. We present information that provides an important addition to the knowledge of medicolegal investigators all over the world.     

Retrospective analysis of factors affecting rate of skeletonization within a tropical climate

Estimating the post mortem interval (PMI) in skeletonized cases is an extremely challenging exercise. Sri Lanka lacks adequate taphonomic research which is a serious limitation when assessing PMI in forensic death investigations. Methods that have been proposed to estimate PMI using the total body score (TBS) and accumulated degree days (ADD) are mainly based on data from continental and temperate climates and have shown less reliability in tropical climates. With the intention of developing a region-specific, evidence-based guide which would be applicable to tropical climates like Sri Lanka, we selected thirteen skeletonized remains with known PMIs from forensic case records and analysed their taphonomy in relation to selected weather data. We also compared the ADD values within our dataset with reference ranges calculated using published formula.All except one were found from outdoor locations. The TBS ranged from 24 to 32 and had a weak positive correlation with the PMI. The earliest appearance of skeletonization was 15 days in a body found indoors. The highest rate of skeletonization was seen in a body with a TBS of 32 and a PMI of 23 days. The average daily temperature and relative humidity were similar across all the cases however, the amount of rainfall varied. Bodies exposed to monsoon rains (n = 6) had a lower mean rate of skeletonization compared to those that were not exposed (n = 4) suggesting lower rates of decomposition during periods of heavy rainfall.No correlation was found between ADD and TBS. In 9 (69.2%) cases, the actual ADD was much lower than reference ADD ranges for TBS values, indicating poor applicability of TBS and ADD based formulae in estimating PMI within the Sri Lankan climate. Our study shows a strong need for taphonomic and entomological research in tropical climates to further explore the impact of monsoons on biotic and abiotic factors affecting skeletonization.     

Sudden unexpected death due to familial hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a familial condition with a very distinct risk of sudden death in males in certain families. The disease appears to be not uncommon in Sri Lanka. A sudden death in a 26-year-old healthy man is reported: At autopsy the heart was 500 g due mainly to left ventricular hypertrophy, and showed histological changes consistent with cardiomyopathy. Symptomless family members of the deceased were subsequently referred to a cardiologist. Cardiomyopathy was diagnosed in one of them.     

应用斑点酶标法检测吸毒者尿液中常见毒品

目的建立吸毒者尿液中常见毒品的斑点酶标法检测分析方法。方法生物检材为尿液,采用免疫学酶标法理论和斑点酶标法的高通量技术,应用于人体尿液中常见毒品的检测。结果同时分析多人尿液中是否含有苯丙胺、巴比妥、天使尘、美沙酮及吗啡。尿液中的最低检测量达ng级。结论本方法可用于吸毒者尿液中常见毒品的检测分析。     

Effective prison rehabilitation system： Special reference to Sri Lanka

Prison is one of the main and important agencies which involves in the criminal justice process. Offenders who are sentenced to imprisonment are sent to this institution for rehabilitation. The main objective of the prison institution is to rehabilitate prisoners thereby helping them to understand what was wrong with their behaviors and helping them to become productive citizens in the future after releasing from prison. In order to achieve this task, the prison system should take necessary steps to conduct an effective rehabilitation process during the imprisonment period and to ensure the protection of their human rights. The present situation in prisons, the increasing rate of the reconvicted and the recidivism demonstrate that the prison system in Sri Lanka is not able to successfully reach its main goal that of the adequate rehabilitation of offenders and sufficient protection of their rights. This paper focuses on an effective prison rehabilitation system for Sri Lanka through the protection of rights of prisoners. To reach this goal, the role and the importance of the concept of rehabilitation as a main objective of punishment, present international regional and national laws relating to the rights of the prisoner, existing prison system in Sri Lanka, the current problems in our prison system and reasons for the problems are discussed. Furthermore, the initiatives and the measures that could be taken for an effective prison rehabilitation system in Sri Lanka and the role of the public and privates institutions in this regard are also considered.     

Common law country update on international humanitarian law: annual update on national legislation, 2010

The article highlights the challenge before the courts to the decision of the parliamentary select committee to remove the former Chief Justice of Sri Lanka in January 2013. Parliament and the President proceeded with the impeachment and removal of the Chief Justice, despite court decisions, on the basis that this was a power specifically granted to the parliament under the constitution. The article examines how the legitimacy of impeachment proceedings of superior court judges can be ensured within the concept of the separation of powers without adversely impacting on the independence of the judiciary and the rule of law.     

唾液中滥用药物分析及其与血液中药物浓度的相关性

唾液是一种成分简单、易于采集的体液,某些药物在唾液中的浓度可以反映其血药浓度。本文分析了滥用药物进入唾液的机制和影响因素,综述了唾液中滥用药物分析时样品的采集、前处理和检测方法以及唾液与血液中药物浓度的相关性。认为唾液是临床和法医学方面很有价值的分析样品,用唾液中滥用药物浓度来推测血药浓度具有一定的法医学意义。     

The emergence of restorative justice in Sri Lanka: a review essay

Within the framework of retributive justice, crime is understood as an offence against the State and is defined as a violation of law. It represents the punitive approach of reaction to crime, where the offenders are considered as an unwanted group who should be punished. However, with the development of criminology, offenders are identified as the persons needing rehabilitation and reintegration into the society as law abiding citizens. This novel thinking has paved the way to the establishment of the concept of restorative justice where crime is understood to be an infringement on man and human relationship. It involves reintegration of both the offender and victim within the community. The restorative justice principle could be found in community service orders, probation, parole, and other noncustodial measures as alternatives to the traditional incarceration, victim offender mediation, sentencing, peacemaking and healing circles, police cautions, and active participation of victims in the criminal justice process, and so on. This article evaluates Sri Lanka's transformation from retributive justice to restorative justice by incorporating the above-mentioned means and methods to the criminal justice system. Further, it examines how these innovations have affected the crime rate in Sri Lanka.     

性别鉴定中amelogenin基因座变异的研究进展

Amelogenin基因座变异,分为amelogenin引物结合区突变和包含amelogenin基因座的Y染色体微缺失两种类型,以后者最为常见。Amelogenin引物结合区突变的发生机制是核苷酸点突变,包含amelogenin的Y染色体微缺失的发生机制可能是非等位同源重组或者非同源末端连接。在全世界人群中,位于印度次大陆地区的印度人群、斯里兰卡人群和尼泊尔人群amelogenin变异率非常高。Amelogenin变异对生育能力和表型影响非常小,但在性别鉴定中会导致错误的性别鉴定结果。采用包含常染色体STR基因座、amelogenin基因座和多个Y-STR基因座的复合扩增试剂盒进行检测可有效避免因amelogenin变异导致的性别误判。     

Digital thombos: A new source for 18th century Sri Lankan family history. Research note

The Sri Lanka National Archives (SLNA) in Colombo preserve under the names of head thombo and land thombo several hundreds of eighteenth-century registers on family composition and landownership. At the time of their compilation by the Dutch East India Company or VOC the thombos suited a general administrative purpose; currently they are used only in genealogical research and in court cases concerning land disputes. Demographic, family and colonial history, however, can profit considerably from this neglected source. In the following we describe a project to digitize the registers of the Colombo province, and we discuss and evaluate the variables in the database by focusing on the family groups of a relatively small district.     

Performance of immunoassays in screening for opiates,cannabinoids and amphetamines in post-mortem blood

Several immunoassay methods for screening of abused drugs in whole blood were evaluated in post-mortem forensic toxicology. Blood samples known to be positive or negative for opiates, cannabinoids or amphetamines by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) were analysed by EMIT II Plus and EMIT d.a.u., Syva RapidTest and Triage 8 after acetone precipitation. In these experiments, the EMIT immunoassay method was modified by using the Dade Behring VIVA analyser to detect substances more sensitively. Low concentrations of abused drugs were detected in blood samples. The sensitivities of the modified EMIT method for opiates, cannabinoids and amphetamines were 100, 86 and 98%, respectively, whereas the values were below 86% with the other methods. The specificities of all immunoassay methods for opiates and cannabinoids were 83% or above but 51-85% for amphetamines. Sample rejection occurred in a few cases with the EMIT amphetamine assays. The modified EMIT immunoassay system presented here seems to be useful for screening of drugs of abuse in post-mortem blood samples, especially when urine is not available.     

体液中常见滥用药物的系统筛选分析

本文建立了体液中常见滥用药物的筛选分析体系.尿液或血液经固相萃取(SPE)或液提取(LLE)后,直接用GC/NPD分析或经TFA、BSTFA衍生化后用GC/MS分析.方法适用于同时分析甲基苯丙胺、MDMA、度冷丁、去甲度冷丁、曲马多、美沙酮、EDDP、可卡因、苯甲酰芽子碱、可待因、安定、氯丙嗪、吗啡、单乙酰吗啡等十四种常见滥用药物及代谢物.SPE法和LLE法回收率分别为66～102%和50～86%,最低检出限为2-5ng/ml尿.涉毒案件的鉴定应用表明该分析方法简便、快速、可靠.     

Interpretations of the TDxFLx calibration data of the abused drugs

The useful TDxFLx calibration data was obtained for the interpretation of the interactions of the abused drugs to sheep antiserum protein. The antibody of TDxFLx calibrators was prepared from sheep antiserum. Furthermore these data can be used to interpret the abused drug-protein binding phenomena in human body and the TDxFLx screening results of the abused drugs in urine samples. TDxFLx system uses fluorescence polarization immunoassay technique that is a competitive binding immunoassay methodology to allow tracer-labeled antigen (*Drug) and patient antigen (Drug) to compete for the same binding sites on the antibody molecules of sheep antiserum. To obtain the binding parameters, binding constant (K) and number of independent binding site (n), generally, Scatchard equation is used. This Scatchard equation is expressed in the concentration terms of free drug, bound drug, and protein (antibody). The binding parameters can not be obtained by applying the TDxFLx calibration data to the Scatchard equation directly because the TDxFLx calibration data are composed of the fluorescence polarization and the total drug concentrations. To obtain the binding parameters from the TDxFLx calibration data the new useful equation which was expressed in the total concentrations of drug and fluorescence polarization should be derived. Derivation of new equation was based on the Scatchard equation. The TDxFLx calibration data was curve fitted to the derived equation using KaleidaGraph program and Macintosh computer. The binding constant (K) and the number (n(P(t))) of binding site of 11-nor-delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol-9-carboxylic acid (COOH.THC) on the antibody were 1.14 x 10(8)l/mole and 4.04 x 10(-7)M, respectively. The binding constant and the number (n(P(t))) of binding site of amphetamine were 5.15 x 10(5)l/mole and 2.05 x 10(6)M, respectively. In case of COOH.THC the fluorescence polarization decreased linearly with the concentration. However, in case of amphetamine or the other three abused drugs the fluorescence polarizations decreased exponentially with their concentrations.     

Toxicological findings in military aircraft fatalities from 1986-1990.

Toxicological findings in all military aircraft fatalities investigated by the Division of Forensic Toxicology at the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology from 1986-1990 are presented. Carbon monoxide saturation levels greater than 10% were found in 4% of the 535 cases where appropriate specimens were collected. Positive ethanol findings were more indicative of postmortem formation than antemortem consumption. In only 1 case were abused drugs (cannabinoids in a passenger) detected. Other drugs identified included nicotine, chloroquine and over-the-counter analgesic agents, antihistamines and sympathomimetic drugs.     

A TLC visualisation reagent for dimethylamphetamine and other abused tertiary amines

Application of citric acid/acetic anhydride reagent (CAR), a colour reagent selective for tertiary amines in solution, improves detection of abused tertiary amino drugs on the TLC plate. The plate is pretreated by a brief immersion in phosphoric acid/acetone solution to suppress colouration. After suppressing, the plate is sprayed with CAR and heated at 100 degrees C, causing tertiary amines to turn red purple within 3 minutes. The sensitivity of this new CAR method is 2.5 to 15-times greater than that of conventional detection with Dragendorff reagent for some of the tertiary amines dimethylamphetamine, methylephedrine, levomepromazine, chlorpromazine, caffeine, theophylline, theobromine and nicotine. This present method provides rapid TLC detection of abused tertiary amino drugs such as phenethylamine, phenothiazine, xanthine derivative, nicotine and narcotics.