Morphometric assessment of testicular changes in drug-related fatalities

Testicular sections of 50 deceased drug addicts were examined by light microscopy using morphometric methods and determining the extent of spermatogenesis by application of the Johnsen score count. Twenty cases of violent death served as reference sample. The study was aimed at obtaining data about the degree of germinal gland damage following the duration of the individual drug career, which was correlated to the histologic findings. Progressively reduced maturation of germinal cells, decrease of tubular diameter and height of sperm-producing epithelium were found the longer the individual case history has been. The results clearly indicated a substantial impairment of male fertility in the course of a drug career, but etiology seems to be multifactorial, since most of the deceased were polytoxicomanic and more than 40% were under the influence of alcohol at the time of death. Testicular damage is obviously a sequel of long-lasting abuse and a very complex process, presumably progressing with the duration of the adverse habit.     

Determination of methadone in urine using ion trap GC/MS in positive ion chemical ionization mode

Methadone is a potent analgesic and sedative. It is widely used in the treatment of heroin addiction and is often encountered in forensic specimens. In electron impact (EI) gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) mode, methadone produces predominantly a m/z 72 ion, which is not sufficiently characteristic for identification. Determination of the molecular ion, which can be achieved using chemical ionization (CI) provides diagnostic information and better identification of the drug. This paper describes the development of a positive ion CI GC/MS procedure, using a liquid reagent gas and ion trap instrumentation, for the determination of methadone and its metabolites in urine. CI generally produces a single molecular ion spectrum, but optimization of the reagent gas parameters increases the fragmentation of the molecule, allowing determination of ion ratios if required. The procedure is sensitive, diagnostic and is currently in routine use in our laboratory.     

High resolution Y chromosome typing: 19 STRs amplified in three multiplex reactions

Nineteen Y-specific short tandem repeat (STR) loci have been amplified in 768 samples from the Iberian Peninsula in order to evaluate their usefulness in forensic casework. Two previously published multiplex reactions by Thomas et al. [Hum. Genet. 6 (1999) 577] (MS1, modified here: DYS19, DYS388, DYS390, DYS391, DYS392 and DYS393) and by Ayub et al. [Nucl. Acids Res. 28 (2000) e8] (CTS: DYS434, DYS435, DYS436, DYS437, DYS438 and DYS439) plus a novel one reported here (EBF: DYS385, DYS389, DYS460, DYS461, DYS462 and amelogenin) have been used. DYS385, DYS439 and DYS391 were the most informative loci with allele diversities of 0.7997, 0.6683 and 0.5940, respectively. A total of 635 different haplotypes were observed, of which 573 (90.24%) were found in single individuals. The overall haplotype diversity was 0.9988 and that obtained by each multiplex system was 0.9812 for EBF, 0.9292 for MS1 and 0.9089 for CTS.     

Demonstration of a chloroquine fatality after 10-month earth-grave

A 19-year-old woman suspect of a suicidal drug intoxication was exhumed after a 10-month earth-grave, because the police was accused of manslaughter and neglected help by the relatives of the deceased. Toxicologic analysis revealed as the cause of death an acute chloroquine intoxication. An expert opinion had to deal with the question if the woman would have been saved if the police had appeared earlier. Therefore the duration of agonal period after suicidal chloroquine ingestion was important. An estimation of the time since death was possible on the one hand ex-post from the development of cadaveric changes and supravital reactions and on the other hand, based on premortal changes detectable on the body together with the findings of the authorities. Taking into account all evidence the woman was probably already dead at or prior to the arrival of the police (110 min after ingestion), at least this could not be excluded. Chloroquine has to be considered to be useful for fatal poisoning, which is also recommended in some publications on methods to commit suicide.     

上下颌牙齿磨耗推断年龄准确性的比较

目的利用牙齿磨耗不同的分类方法分别推断上、下颌的牙齿年龄,分析各种方法推断上、下颌牙齿年龄的误差,评价上、下颌牙齿用于年龄推断的准确性。方法采用分级法与数量化法分别对164名18~46岁之间的成年人进行牙龄推断,计算出推断牙龄与实际年龄的误差,输入SPSS软件对误差的数据进行统计学分析。结果分别使用不同方法对上、下颌牙齿磨耗程度进行年龄推断的结果差别不大。结论上、下颌牙齿用于牙齿磨耗推断年龄的准确性无明显差异。     

西藏产业结构优化升级的问题及对策研究

由于主客观方面的原因,西藏产业经济的发展体现出很大范围的不合理性,存在着产业结构偏离度不断扩大、结构性调整能力不强、特色支柱产业发展滞后等问题,需要运用合理手段,逐步实施产业结构优化升级战略:创新农牧业技术水平和运营模式,促进第一产业快速发展;培育并提升藏医药产业市场竞争力,带动第二产业稳步发展;强化旅游业规划能力和队伍建设,推动第三产业持续发展。     

一场罕见的夫妻官司

夫妻对簿公堂在西方均属司空见惯,在奇闻轶事屡见不鲜的美国,更属“白开水一杯”。不过,本文所要叙述的一场夫妻讼案,却在美国引起轰动。 话说海军陆战队员约翰·韦恩·博比特退役后于四年前与洛雷娜小姐共结晋秦之好。小两口在弗吉     

科学发展观与首都城市管理

■首都城市发展面临的诸多问题只有以科学发展观为指导才能加以解决。■明晰政府的城市管理职能定位,是改进城市管理体制的基础。■探索建立政府、市场、社会的良性互动,保障全社会管理城市,是高水平管理城市的必然。     

当前社会中的“双面人“现象及其根源剖析

当前社会上"双面人"现象十分严重,说明其价值系统的失衡、道德水准的下降,社会将为此付出沉重的代价."双面人"现象的根源存在于制度和文化两方面中,要采取针对性措施,正本清源,重树社会诚信.