Use of prostate specific antigen in the identification of semen in postmortem cases

Over the past 20 years, the use of prostate specific antigen (PSA) as evidence of the presence of semen in forensic cases has been well established. In this study, we compared a commercially available immunoradiometric assay (IRMA) for the identification of PSA with the identification of spermatozoa in swabs obtained from the vagina of deceased females. There was agreement between the 2 methods in 67 of the 80 cases (84%), including 18 cases where both the PSA was positive and sperm were observed microscopically. The remaining cases had 1 positive result and 1 negative result. We concluded that although there was substantial agreement between the presence of sperm and a positive PSA, there were enough discrepancies between the 2 methods (16%) to justify the use of both methodologies, if possible, to make the determination of sexual activity prior to death.     

Rapid determination of ketamine in urine by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry for a high throughput laboratory

In recent years, the abuse of ketamine had gained popularity in rave parties in Hong Kong. The Urinalysis Unit of the Government Laboratory of Hong Kong faced a tremendous increase in workload for ketamine analysis. The number of tests performed rose from 10 in 1999 to 15,000 in 2002. As a fully validated immunoassay test for ketamine was not available in the market, most laboratories analyzed ketamine by chromatographic techniques after liquid-liquid extraction. However, these methods reported in the literature are not suitable for high throughput laboratories. Hence, a rapid screening/confirmation method for ketamine by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS) with a detection limit of 5 ng/ml was developed. After automated solid-phase extraction (SPE), the urine extract was analyzed for ketamine by a 2.5-min chromatographic run, the estimated recovery was 89% and the precision was 11% R.S.D. at 20 ng/ml. With the aid of an in-house developed computer program, the results were presented in spreadsheet format for easy checking. The method has been applied to our laboratory for routine ketamine analysis and a maximum of 200 samples per day can be achieved.     

The right not to know and coronary angiography: is the common law of Australia consistent with patients' wishes?

In "The Right Not to Know: Patient Autonomy or Medical Paternalism?" (2000) 7 JLM 286 Judy Gutman qualitatively examined the direction of the law relating to the duty of medical practitioners to disclose information to their patients about risks associated with medical treatment. Prompted by theoretical issues raised in that article, a quantitative study was performed. The study focused on the wishes of patients referred for coronary angiography regarding information about the risks inherent in that procedure. The results of the study contribute to the ongoing academic discussion about risk disclosure and consent to medical treatment and demonstrate a need for further empirical research in the area. The study also highlights the desirability of clinical medical practice conforming to the tenets of the common law and vice versa.     

The effect of oleoresin capsicum "pepper" spray inhalation on respiratory function

We performed a randomized, cross-over controlled trial to assess the effect of Oleoresin capsicum (OC) spray inhalation on respiratory function by itself and combined with restraint. Thirty-five subjects were exposed to OC or placebo spray, followed by 10 min of sitting or prone maximal restraint position (PMRP). Spirometry, oximetry, and end-tidal CO2 levels were collected at baseline and throughout the 10 min. Data were compared between groups (ANOVA) and with predefined normal values. In the sitting position, OC did not result in any significant changes in mean percent predicted forced vital capacity (%predFVC), percent predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 s (%predFEV1), oxygen, or CO2 levels. In PMRP, mean %predFVC and %predFEV1 fell 14.4 and 16.5% for placebo and 16.2 and 19.1% for OC, but were not significantly different by exposure. There was no evidence of hypoxemia or hypercapnia in either groups. OC exposure did not result in abnormal spirometry, hypoxemia, or hypoventilation when compared to placebo in either sitting or PMRP.     

Open revolver cylinder at the suicide death scene

Revolvers with an open cylinder were found at three death scenes of apparently self-inflicted gunshot wounds. All three handguns were Smith & Wesson.38 or.357 revolvers. Investigation revealed that firing the gun with the thumb on the cylinder release latch could disengage the cylinder. A combination of gravity and recoil impact against the thumb would open the cylinder and even allow the casing and the unspent cartridges to fall from the gun, creating a confusing death scene.     

The Social-Psychological Measurement of Partisanship

This article undertakes a comprehensive examination of the social-psychological theory behind the concept of partisanship and addresses how well contemporary measures, especially the ubiquitous NES/Michigan measure, accord with contemporary theories of measurement, attitudes, and group identification. A number of shortcomings with the NES measure are discovered and more recent, psychologically informed measures that address these shortcomings are explored. After a brief empirical demonstration of the utility of these newer measures, recommendations are made for using new theory and new measures to improve our understanding of the role of partisanship in influencing political behavior.     

Novel Y-STR typing strategies reveal the genetic profile of the semen donor in extended interval post-coital cervicovaginal samples

For a variety of reasons, some victims of sexual assault provide vaginal samples more than 24-36 h after the incident. In these cases, the ability to obtain an autosomal STR profile of the semen donor from the living victim diminishes rapidly as the post-coital interval is extended. We have used a number of carefully selected Y-STR loci in a variety of multiplex or monoplex formats to extend the post-coital interval from which a genetic profile of the semen donor can be obtained. The proposed Y-STR typing strategies enable the routine detection of the male donor Y-STR haplotype in cervicovaginal samples recovered up to 4 days post-coitus. We attribute our success to a number of factors that significantly improve the sensitivity and specificity of the analysis. Firstly, we utilize a subset of Y-STR loci that have been carefully selected for their superior performance under stressed conditions in both multiplex and monoplex formats. Specifically these loci function with low copy number templates in the presence of a vast excess of potentially confounding female DNA. Secondly, sperm and non-sperm DNA is co-extracted without a differential extraction process to prevent the unnecessary loss of the small number of structurally fragile sperm remaining in the cervicovaginal tract several days after intercourse. Thirdly, low copy number detection is facilitated by increasing the cycle number to 34-35 cycles and by the ability to input up to 450 ng of co-extracted sperm/non-sperm DNA into the PCR reaction without the appearance of confounding female artifacts. Lastly, the proper collection of post-coital cervicovaginal samples, instead of the lower or mid-vaginal tract samples often taken, is required for optimal recovery of sperm for analysis. In this report we demonstrate that our previously described 19 Y-STR loci systems (MPI and MPII) permit a reliable high resolution haplotype determination of the semen donor in cervicovaginal samples taken up to 48 h after intercourse. However, as the post-coital interval is extended further, dramatic loss of signal is observed and haplotype determination of the male donor is no longer possible with MPI and MPII. Nonetheless, subsets of these 19 loci (MPA and MPB) have been developed specifically to detect the male haplotype in samples recovered 4 days after intercourse. Thus, it is possible to derive an 11-19 locus Y-STR profile of the semen donor in cervicovaginal samples recovered 2-4 days after intercourse.     

Estimation of Models with Beta-Distributed Dependent Variables: A Replication and Extension of Paolino's Study

This note replicates and extends Paolino's discussion (2001,Political Analysis 9:325–346) on the estimation of modelswith beta-distributed dependent variables in two ways. First,it introduces an easy-to-use program for estimating the modelusing Stata. Second, it presents a Bayesian estimator for betavariables based on Paolino's model. Results are compared tothose in the original article.     

Democratic Transitions

Przeworski et al. (2000) challenge the key hypothesis in modernization theory: political regimes do not transition to democracy as per capita incomes rise, they argue. Rather, democratic transitions occur randomly, but once there, countries with higher levels of GDP per capita remain democratic. We retest the modernization hypothesis using new data, new techniques, and a three-way rather than dichotomous classification of regimes. Contrary to Przeworski et al. (2000) we find that the modernization hypothesis stands up well. We also find that partial democracies emerge as among the most important and least understood regime types.