Death of an infant involving benzocaine

This report describes the death of a four-month-old Hispanic male which may be related to benzocaine toxicity. A toxicological evaluation revealed benzocaine at a concentration of 3.48 mg/L, and postmortem methemoglobin of 36% (normal 0.4-1.5). Methemoglobinemia is a complication of benzocaine toxicity. In light of the toxicology findings, the coroner investigated the source of the benzocaine and discovered that the child was treated with Zenith Goldline Allergen Ear Drops containing 0.25% w/v benzocaine and 5.4% w/v antipyrine. There was an admission by a caregiver that on the day prior to the child's death, he had been treated with three times the prescribed dose. Blood benzocaine concentrations in nine other unrelated cases were determined and concentrations ranged from <0.05-5.3 mg/L (mean 1.48 mg/L). Seven of the nine cases were positive for drugs of abuse, and one additional case was described as a known drug user. Methemoglobin in these benzocaine positive cases ranged from 6-69%; however, methemoglobin concentrations in postmortem cases are frequently elevated and should be interpreted with caution. The unknown significance of the benzocaine, and the circumstances of the case raise questions about the ultimate attribution of this death to SIDS.     

Book Review: <Emphasis Type="Italic">Critical Issues in Restorative Justice by Howard Zehr and Barb Toews (eds). Monsey,NY: Criminal Justice Press, 2004. Reviewed by Dan Okada,California State University,Sacramento</Emphasis>.

Book Review

Book Review: Critical Issues in Restorative Justice by Howard Zehr and Barb Toews (eds). Monsey, NY: Criminal Justice Press, 2004. Reviewed by Dan Okada, California State University, Sacramento.     

EFFECTS OF SKILL-BASED VERSUS INFORMATION-BASED DIVORCE EDUCATION PROGRAMS ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND PARENTAL COMMUNICATION

This study used a pre- and postevaluation with a control group to compare the effectiveness of two divorce education programs: skill-based Children in the Middle (CIM) and informationbased Children First in Divorce (CFD). Each treatment group consisted of approximately 125 divorcing parents mandated to attend divorce education in Florida. The control group consisted of 64 divorcing parents not mandated to attend divorce education in Alabama for lack of a program. Treatment and control parents lived in comparable cities with comparable demographics. Results indicate that CIM, not CFD, improved parental communication. Both CIM and CFD reduced child exposure to parental conflict. Neither program had effects on domestic violence, actual parental conflict, or child behavior problems. Across all groups, parents with greater divorce knowledge and communication skills experienced more reciprocal discussions with the other parent, less parental conflict, less domestic violence, and they exposed children to less conflict.     

The politics of implementing China’s nuclear strategy,part I: 1949–1965

China’s nuclear weapons strategy has evolved under a consensus of the Chinese leadership that it must develop nuclear weapons of its own. However, on three occasions, in 1955, 1959, and 1965 the leadership’s decisions to pursue long-term economic, technological, and weapons development in lieu of short-term acquisition of nuclear weapons resulted in leadership purges. In each case external developments sparked the debate about China’s nuclear strategy, while internal economic and political considerations were the significant factors in resolving the disputes.