Sudden death in a 35-year-old man with occult malformation of the brain and aseptic meningitis

A 35-year-old man was found dead by his wife. He was reported to have had symptoms of a common cold the week preceding his death. The medicolegal autopsy yielded signs of central dysregulation (ectasia of the urinary bladder and rectum, dystelectasis of the lungs) together with marked brain edema and fresh bite marks on the tongue. The cause of death was presumed to be lethal epileptic seizure. Neuropathologic examination revealed neuronal nodular heterotopia as well as discrete lymphocytic meningitis (aseptic meningitis). The death was most probably caused by the combination of the meningitis with the occult malformation, leading to a lowered seizure threshold and subsequent lethal seizure. The morphologic findings of this case are presented, and the probable mechanisms of death are discussed.     

Outpatient civil commitment in Texas for management and treatment of sexually violent predators: a preliminary report

Texas established in 1999 outpatient civil commitment for sexually violent predators discharged from prison with or without parole. These individuals suffer from a behavioral abnormality, have been convicted of two or more sexually violent crimes and are deemed likely to reoffend. Civilly committed individuals are managed by a team composed of case manager (supervision), treatment provider, public safety officer (global positioning satellite monitoring), and other professionals. Treatment consists of individual and group therapy using a standard workbook. Out of 21 committed individuals, 7 are in the treatment, 1 died, 10 are in custody after breaking conditions of commitment that constitute a felony, and 3 await release from prison. Cost of outpatient civil commitment is less than $20,000/person/year compared with more than $100,000 for inpatient commitment in other states. Texas has found outpatient civil commitment to be an effective and relatively low-cost way to protect the public and treat the offender.     

Y-chromosome STR haplotypes in two population samples: Azores Islands and Central Portugal

The Y-chromosome haplotypes defined by nine STRs (DYS19, DYS385, DYS389I, DYS389II, DYS390, DYS391, DYS392 and DYS393) were studied in 207 unrelated individuals from Central Portugal and 63 from Azores Islands. The most common haplotype in Central Portugal was shared by 3.4% of the males, while 160 haplotypes were unique. In Azores Islands the most common haplotype was shared by 6.4% of the males, while 40 haplotypes were unique. The values of haplotype diversity were 0.993 for Central Portugal and 0.976 for Azores Islands.     

Correlation of Delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol concentrations determined by LC-MS-MS in oral fluid and plasma from impaired drivers and evaluation of the on-site Dräger DrugTest

Oral fluid (collected with the Intercept((R)) device) and plasma samples were obtained from 139 individuals suspected of driving under the influence of drugs and analyzed for Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the major psychoactive constituent of cannabis, using a validated quantitative LC-MS-MS method. The first aim of the study was to investigate the correlation between the analytical data obtained in the plasma and oral fluid samples, to evaluate the use of oral fluid as a 'predictor' of actual cannabis influence. The results of the study indicated a good accuracy when comparing THC detection in oral fluid and plasma (84.9-95.7% depending on the cut-off used for plasma analysis). ROC curve analysis was subsequently used to determine the optimal cut-off value for THC in oral fluid with plasma as reference sample, in order to 'predict' a positive plasma result for THC. When using the LOQ of the method for plasma (0.5 ng/mL), the optimal cut-off was 1.2 ng/mL THC in oral fluid (sensitivity, 94.7%; specificity, 92.0%). When using the legal cut-off in Belgium for driving under the influence in plasma (2 ng/mL), an optimal cut-off value of 5.2 ng/mL THC in oral fluid (sensitivity, 91.6%; specificity, 88.6%) was observed. In the second part of the study, the performance of the on-site Dr?ger DrugTest for the screening of THC in oral fluid during roadside controls was assessed by comparison with the corresponding LC-MS-MS results in plasma and oral fluid. Since the accuracy was always less than 66%, we do not recommend this Dr?ger DrugTest system for the on-site screening of THC in oral fluid.     

Genetic data on 15 STR loci in the ethnic group of Polish Tatars residing in the area of Podlasie (Northeastern Poland)

Population genetic data for the 15 STRs included in the AmpFlSTR Identifiler kit were obtained from a sample of 168 unrelated individuals of the ethnic group of Polish Tatars residing in the Northeastern Poland. Significant differences revealed in relation to the autochthonous Poles by using R x C test as well as F(ST) and F(IS) estimates suggest that the ethnic group of Polish Tatars is a distinct genetic community.     

Development of a pentaplex X-chromosomal short tandem repeat typing system and population genetic studies

Quadruplex and pentaplex systems for polymerase chain reaction amplification of X-chromosomal short tandem repeats DXS101, HPRTB, DXS8377, DXS981 (STRX1) and DXS6789 were developed for automated profiling of liquid and membrane-bound DNA samples. Chinese, Japanese and Thai populations were typed using a quadruplex system, while German and Philippine populations were analyzed using a five-locus system. Out of 88 meioses studied in Philippine family samples at each locus, a possible one repeat deletion (allele 51 to 50) at DXS8377 was observed in a father-daughter pair. Exact tests performed on genotype data from females in the Philippine, German and Thai populations indicated that these groups conform to Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Exact tests for population differentiation indicate significant variations in allele distributions, particularly at loci DXS101, DXS981 and DXS6789. Considered individually, DXS8377 was the most polymorphic and HPRTB the least polymorphic locus in these five populations. When the forensic efficiency of the quadruplex system was calculated, the combined power of discrimination among males (PD(M)) was no lower than 0.998, while among females the combined PD(F) was at least 0.9999 in all populations. The combined power of paternity exclusion was a minimum of 0.998 in trio cases and 0.98 in motherless cases. The addition of locus DXS6789 to the German and Philippine population databases using a pentaplex increased the forensic efficiency of the analysis system.     

The impact of sexual assault history and relationship context on appraisal of and responses to acquaintance sexual assault risk

Although a major predictor of sexual victimization is previous victimization, the mechanism underlying this effect is not well understood. Sexual assault history's impact on appraisal of and responses to sexual assault risk was examined in an experimental analog study. Intimacy with perpetrator was also examined as a potential contributor to appraisal and responses. Young women varying in sexual assault history were randomly assigned to receive a scenario in which type of perpetrator was manipulated (someone just met, friend, date, boyfriend). Respondents appraised the man's actions as sexual interest or assault and indicated intentions to respond (resistance and nonresistance). Sexual assault history did not directly influence appraisal or intended responses but had modest indirect effects on resistance via sexual assertiveness. The primary influence on appraisal and responses was perpetrator intimacy. Women facing advances within a more intimate relationship were less likely to appraise those advances as threatening and less likely to resist.