Immunohistochemical detection of methadone in the human brain

To develop a method of detecting methadone in the human brain by immunohistochemistry, brain tissue of frontal cortex, cerebellum, hippocampus, basal ganglions and brain stem from victims of a lethal methadone overdose was examined. The staining was performed with a monoclonal anti-methadone antibody from the mouse, originally developed for immunochemichal purposes (ELISA). With the help of the DAKO((R)) Catalyzed Signal Amplification (CSA) System, a specific positive immunoreaction was obtained in the neurons of the frontal cortex and hippocampus, as compared with specimen from deaths without exposition to methadone. Thus, along with metamphetamine, phenobarbital, morphine and insulin, immunohistochemical detection is also possible for methadone and the intake of this medicament can now be proven morphologically.     

Evaluation of a method for simultaneous quantification of codeine, ethylmorphine and morphine in blood.

Codeine, ethylmorphine and morphine are the most commonly detected opiates in forensic blood samples in Norway. A method for the simultaneous quantification of these opiates utilizing solid phase extraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry has been evaluated. The detection limits were 0.026 mumol/l for codeine, 0.025 mumol/l for ethylmorphine and 0.032 mumol/l for morphine (corresponding to 7.8, 7.8 and 9.1 micrograms/l, respectively). The analytical variations at concentrations of 1.0 mumol/l codeine, 1.0 mumol/l ethylmorphine and 0.5 mumol/l morphine were less than 5%.     

Diffuse gastropathy and gastritis--a main or secondary finding concerning the cause of death?

On the basis of the autopsy results in three cases, extensive pathomorphological changes were demonstrated in the stomach, such as Ménétrier's disease and diffuse superficial gastritis. For these cases of sudden death, no cause could be found that could be verified by morphological or toxicological means. Analogous to clinical experience on the protein deficiency syndrome and food allergies and based on the knowledge that the intestinal tract also represents an immune organ, as well as the finding of diffuse changes in the gastric mucosa ideas have been developed regarding hypersensitive immunological reactions which might have not only local but also systemic effects comparable with anaphylactic reactions of different origins. Diffuse gastropathy or gastritis should not simply be assessed as a secondary finding. If other explanations are lacking and there are indications of intensive cellular immune reactions, the possibility arises of reconstructing lethal pathophysiological mechanisms.     

Grasping the Commercial Institutional Peace

While the commercial institutional peace research program provides empirical evidence that international institutions, especially preferential trade arrangements, help reduce the incidence of militarized inter-state conflict, it fails to delineate clearly how such institutions matter. Building from the logic that low opportunity costs for fighting, private information, and commitment problems constitute important causes of war, this article explores three interrelated causal mechanisms. First, the state leaders' increased expectations about future commerce create an incentive for these actors to consider peaceful bargains as an alternative to costly war. Second, security coordination under the umbrella of a commercial institution provides fuller information about state military capabilities, thus making inter-state bargaining for dispute resolution more efficient. Third, in bringing together high-level state leaders on a regular basis, commercial institutions may create the trust necessary to overcome commitment problems in inter-state bargaining. I explore how these mechanisms have operated within the Gulf Cooperation Council and the Economic Community of West African States.     

The catathymic crisis: An explanation of the serial killer

Various explanations have been proposed to explain the motivation of serial killers. This article proposes that the theory of the Catathymic Crisis is an explanation that adds light to the “serial” nature of serial murder as well as an explanation of why and how a person can become a serial killer. The theory of Catathymic Crisis was presented in 1937 by Dr. Frederic Wertham as an explanation for some types violent and seemingly motivationless crimes. Dr. Wertham's theory describes a five stage process in which (1) a thinking disorder occurs within the mind of the criminal, (2) a plan is created to commit a violent criminal act, (3) internal emotional tension forces the commission of the criminal act, which leads to (4) a superficial calmness in which the need to commit the violent act is eliminated and normal activity can be conducted and (5) the mind adjusts itself and understands that the thinking process that caused the commission of the criminal act was flawed and the mind makes adjustments in order to prevent further criminal activity. The serial killer never reaches the fifth stage but returns to the second and operates in a cycle between stage two and four. This article advocates that the Catathymic Crisis explains why the serial killer needs to commit murder, why that need develops and why there is an escalating nature of the criminal activity by the serial killer.     

Relational Justice in Organizations: The Group-Value Model and Support for Change

This paper examines the psychological dynamics of the Group-Value Model for a behavioral orientation which has seldom been considered in the social justice literature: acceptance and support for change. A field study was conducted, with 176 participants members of an organization which was undergoing a change process. Participants were asked (a) to think of a specific relevant conflict situation with their supervisor; (b) to evaluate supervisor's behavior in that situation, with respect to relational and distributive justice; (c) to state the justice aspects most valued in conflict situations with their supervisor. A test of the model was conducted through a mediation analysis. According to the Group-Value Model (GVM), respect experienced within the group and pride in the group were mediating variables between justice judgements and orientation toward acceptance and support for change in the organization. Interactional and procedural aspects (relational judgements) were the only ones to predict pride, respect, and behavioral orientation, and were also the ones most valued in general conflict situations with the supervisor. The model was also tested at three different levels of analysis: organization as a whole, department, and work group. This confirmed pride and respect within the group as mediating variables between relational justice judgements and orientation toward acceptance and support for change at the department and workgroup levels.