Lewis blood group determination in bloodstains by planimetric measurement of eluted monoclonal antibodies

Planimetric measurements were employed for reading the results of an elution test to determine Lewis blood groups in dry human bloodstains. In the absorption-elution test, two varieties of indicators were used to detect eluted Lewis antibodies. First, 64 blood-stains aged between 2 to 8 months were tested with glutaraldehyde (GLA)-treated erythrocytes (planimetric hemagglutination assay, PMHA). This method demonstrated that dry stains weighing approximately 0.4 mg (equivalent to 3 microliters of whole blood) were sufficient for detection of Lea or Leb antigen. Results were obtained within 1 h. Then, 37 of these stains were tested with Lewis substance-coated latex particles (planimetric latex agglutination assay, PMLA). The presence of Lea and Leb antigen were detected from dry stains weighing 0.1 mg (equivalent to 1 microL of whole blood) within 3 h. Both these assays are faster and simpler with accuracy than the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Latex particles coated with Lewis substance are, in particular, strongly agglutinated and show agglutination patterns more clearly than erythrocytes. The blind tests using these two methods properly classified 7 Le(a + b-) and 23 Le(a-b + ) bloodstains; whereas, 5 Le(a-b-) stains were undetermined by the criteria for these tests. These results indicate the usefulness of the PMHA and PMLA for typing Lewis blood groups from small bloodstains.     

The three Mini Dragons: Economic development in Thailand,Malaysia, and Indonesia

The rapid pace of economic growth in Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia indicates that all three ASEAN countries are quickly becoming Newly Industrialized Economies (NIEs). Yet a close comparison of the three leads the author to conclude that there are dissimilarities in their economic development resulting from each country's unique social and economic conditions. Masato Hayashida was a senior economist in the Economic Research Division at The Mitsubishi Bank before being seconded to IIPS as a senior research fellow.     

Potentiation of lethality and increase in body temperature by combined use of d-methamphetamine and morphine in mice

Lethality and change in body temperature in mice were examined after subcutaneous injection of d-methamphetamine and morphine alone or in combination. The LD50 values for methamphetamine and morphine were calculated to be 95 and 670 mg/kg body wt., respectively. When a non-lethal dose of morphine (300 mg/kg) was administered with various doses of methamphetamine, the LD50 for methamphetamine was reduced to 5 mg/kg, indicating a marked potentiation of toxicity by combined use of both drugs. Injection of 5 mg/kg of methamphetamine produced slight hyperthermia, while 300 mg/kg of morphine decreased the body temperature of mice. However, when both drugs were used concomitantly, a marked increase in body temperature was observed. Hyperthermia was also observed when the dose of morphine was reduced to 50 mg/kg. It is postulated that hyperthermia is probably one of the contributory factors in the potentiated toxicity by combined use of morphine and methamphetamine.     

A newly designed apparatus for testing blood levels of fuel vapor

An apparatus for exposure of laboratory animals to fuel vapor was designed, manufactured and set up for routine experiments. Gasoline was vaporized by warming and was introduced into a series of chambers in which the concentration was regulated and stabilized, using air pumps. Concentration of the vapor in a chamber was controlled and experiments on rats showed a positive correlation between blood levels and vapor concentration at the time of exposure. A case of suicide by gasoline poisoning was briefly described.     

Diagnostic value of the placenta in medico-legal practice

In three suspected cases of infanticide, histological examinations of the placentas were effective in clarifying the circumstances. We have estimated the 5th month of pregnancy from pieces of the placenta in one case and diagnosed the causes of perinatal abnormalities in two cases, those being acute chorioamnionitis and possible premature separation of normally implanted placenta.     

Dual-label time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay of psychopharmaceuticals and stimulants in serum

A new method to measure two different drugs simultaneously by time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay (TR-FIA) has been developed. In the TR-FIA reported here, psychopharmaceuticals [chlorpromazine (CPZ) and desipramine (DSP)] and methamphetamine (MA) contained in serum are assayed by a combined use of a new europium (Eu) chelate and a samarium (Sm) chelate, as labels. The drug concentrations were determined by the competition between a labeled antigen with Eu(3+) or biotin and a sample antigen. A microtiter plate coated with a mixture of rabbit IgGs (anti-MA and anti-CPZ or anti-MA and anti-DSP) was used. In the assay of MA and CPZ, Eu(3+) labeled MA-bovine serum albumin conjugate (MA-BSA) and biotinylated CPZ-BSA were added to the well with their non-labeled standard solutions or samples. MA was assayed by measuring the fluorescence intensity of Eu(3+) at 615 nm. After incubation of the Sm(3+) labeled streptavidin, CPZ was assayed by measuring the fluorescence of Sm(3+) at 643 nm. In the assay of MA and DSP, Eu(3+) labeled DSP-BSA and biotinylated MA-BSA were used. In our dual-assay, the minimum detection limits of these drugs were 1ng/ml for MA, 10 ng/ml for CZP and 10 ng/ml for DSP. Since the simultaneous detection of different drugs by TR-FIA is time and sample saving, the method can be employed in rapid and sensitive screening tests.     

Dermal absorption of kerosene components in rats and the influence of its amount and area of exposure

The influences of amount and area of dermal exposure to kerosene upon the levels of kerosene components in biological samples were examined in vivo and in vitro. Thirty-two rats were randomly divided into four groups and exposed to kerosene through the abdominal skin for 2h. The amounts (soaked in cotton) and area of kerosene exposed were 1 ml/4 cm(2) in Group I, 4 ml/4 cm(2) in Group II, 4 ml/16 cm(2) in Group III and 16 ml/64 cm(2) in Group IV. Before, then 5, 10, 20, 30, 45, 60, 90 and 120 min after exposure, 0.5 ml of blood was collected. Solid tissue samples, including the exposed skin area, were harvested at 120 min. Kerosene components were analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Trimethylbenzens (TMBs) that are easily absorbed kerosene components, appeared at 5-20 min. The time course changes in TMB levels in blood were significantly different between Groups I and II or Groups I and III, and almost identical between Groups II and III. Similar trends were observed in tissue samples at 120 min. High concentrations of aliphatic hydrocarbons (AHCs) were detected in the exposed skin and the AHC levels were dependent on the amount of kerosene exposed per unit area. These results suggest that (1) dermal absorption of kerosene occurs soon after dermal exposure started, (2) absorption of TMBs is influenced by the total amount of kerosene rather than area of exposure, and (3) AHCs remaining in the skin at significant levels are influenced by the amount of kerosene per unit area exposed.     

12 Y-chromosomal STR haplotypes in Japanese

Haplotypes and allele frequencies of 12 Y-STRs were examined in a population sample of 381 Japanese male volunteers. A total of 315 haplotypes were identified, of which 288 haplotypes were unique, and 18, three, three, two, one and one were found in two, three, four, five, eight and 18 individuals, respectively. Total gene diversity was 0.997.