Simple determination of carboxyhemoglobin by double wavelength spectrophotometry of absorbance difference and the comparison with gas chromatographic method

This paper describes the spectrophotometric determination of carboxyhemoglobin (CO-Hb) in blood on the basis of double wavelength spectrophotometry of absorbance difference. Absorbance measurements are made in the 500–600 nm region at a blood dilution of 100–200-fold. Blood is diluted with a solution containing Na₂S₂O₄ to provide two components of CO-Hb and deoxyhemoglobin (deoxy-Hb). Absorbance difference at the two wavelengths at which deoxy-Hb has the same absorbance reflects only the CO-Hb component because the opposite component is nulled out of the mixture. After measurement of the absorbance difference, the measuring solution is saturated with CO gas to make all Hb derivative CO-Hb and remeasured at the same wavelengths. The percent of CO-Hb is considered the absorbance difference ratio. Results obtained by the present method was in satisfactory agreement with gas chromatographic data in blood not containing methemoglobin (Met-Hb). Comparative experiments using the gas chromatographic method and the present method were performed with samples containing Met-Hb. However, while there is a deficiency in the gas chromatographic method when the samples contain Met-Hb, the results of the present method were in close agreement with theoretical values when samples are mixed with CO-Hb, O₂-Hb and Met-Hb. Advantages of this method are that it is simple and accurate, standard curve or equation for calculation and accurate dilution are not necessary.     

21世纪中日侵权行为法的诸课题——以中国的法制定为契机

进行中日侵权行为法的比较研究是一项有意义的课题,因为侵权行为法在中日两国都是极富争议的法学领域,而这种争议性集中体现在侵权责任法的目的论以及侵权损害赔偿方式上。本文主要从以下几方面的实例来进行中日两国侵权行为法的比较研究:交通事故、医疗事故、产品责任、公害与环境问题、灾害问题以及战后补偿问题。本文认为,在21世纪侵权行为法面临的最紧迫的任务体现在以下几方面:首先,(1)在许多公共侵权案件中,法和政策之间存在交叉作用的关系;(2)侵权法的新近发展,例如,经济性侵权、网络侵权、性骚扰、儿童虐待以及一些发生在家庭和学校中的所谓密室侵权等;(3)侵权案件所造成的对于个人人格的损害,而这种损害并不同于普通的身体伤害。此外,我们还需要关注环境侵权法的发展。其次,在交通事故处理的案件中,有关在传统的侵权法领域之外建立综合救济体系的讨论已经开始展开,但是还有必要将这一救济体系应用在有关于自然灾害的处理过程中去,如最近频发的震灾救济和水灾救济等。而在此基础之上,我们还可以讨论建立一整套更加广泛的公共救济机制。再次,东亚邻国之间的国际合作在环保等领域也是不可或缺的,例如,在对公共资源(诸如森林资源、水资源、渔业资源等)的保护与管理中,这些环保领域的合作有助于防止"温室效应"的进一步恶化以及对于自然资源的掠夺式利用。最后,关于战后补偿问题,尤其是日本侵华战争之后遗留下的有关战后补偿问题的讨论仍显不足。重新审视战后补偿问题中存在的法律与道德性责任,重新考虑战后补偿问题究竟采用什么样的救济方式这些问题,具有相当重要的现实意义。因为这关系到如何防止两国人民之间仇恨心理的延续,关系到如何寻求受害人内心的宽恕,更关系到如何寻求两国之间历史性的和解。在这个意义上,20世纪50年代在中国抚顺进行的对日本战犯的效果显著的"认罪"实践,为学术界在此问题的研究上提供了宝贵借鉴。     

A dot-blot-immunoassay for semen identification using a polyclonal antibody against semenogelin, a powerful seminal marker

Among various seminal plasma proteins, semenogelin (Sg), produced in the seminal vesicle, has been considered a candidate for demonstrating the presence of semen. Sg consists of two proteins, one 52 kDa (Sg-I) in size, and the other a mixture of 71 and 76 kDa proteins (Sg-II). Recombinant Sg-I and Sg-II proteins were obtained using a baculovirus system and then injected into a rabbit to produce the respective antibodies [Characterization of recombinant precursor proteins of the human seminal plasma sperm motility inhibitor synthesized in insect cells, Int. J. Mol. Med. 2 (1998) 693]. When liquefied seminal plasma was immunoblotted with the anti-Sg-I and Sg-II antibodies, the anti-Sg-II antibody identified a wider range of the polypeptides originating from Sg than did the anti-Sg-I antibody. A dot-blot-immunoassay using anti-Sg-II antibody revealed a clear immunoreactive spot even when the semen was diluted 6400-fold. However, this assay showed that the Sg antigen was undetectable in saliva, urine, vaginal secretions, sweat, nasal secretions and serum. To determine the stability of Sg antigenic activity, filter paper with dried semen stains were kept at 37, 4 and 22 degrees C for 1, 6 and 18 months, respectively, and the Sg antigenic activity was examined. The activity was detectable in an area not less than 0.5 cm x 0.5 cm under all of the above environmental conditions during each period. Finally, semen was mixed with saliva or blood at various volumetric ratios, and used as a source of dried stains. The Sg antigenic activity was detectable in the stains until the ratio of semen to saliva or blood reached 1:8. These results suggest that Sg may be useful as a marker for semen identification.     

Detection of the calcium antagonist nicardipine and its metabolites by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

An 89-year-old male patient, hospitalized with Parkinson's syndrome, suddenly died shortly after an intravenous drug injection. The conditions indicated that an overdose of nicardipine (1.3 mg/(mlkg)) may be given to the patient. At the autopsy, no pathological changes were noted. With a capillary gas chromatograph with mass spectrometer (GC-MS), nicardipine (4.97 microg/ml) and its pyridine metabolite (M-5, 5.0 microg/ml) were detected in the heart blood of the deceased. This result indicated that an overdose of intravenous nicardipine caused a sudden death of a patient in a poor condition.     

Two fatal cases involving concurrent use of methamphetamine and morphine

We report on two cases of simultaneous administration of methamphetamine (MAP) and morphine (MOR) with hyperthermia. The blood levels of MAP and MOR were toxic and putatively lethal, respectively, although hyperthermia is a known cause of intoxication due to MAP rather than MOR. In Japan, MAP is the most predominant cause of drug intoxication. The presented cases suggest that MOR may exert synergistic effect on hyperthermia due to the MAP intoxication, together with experimental findings.     

A standard of AmpliType PM typing from aged evidentiary samples

In analyzing aged samples by the AmpliType PM PCR amplification and Typing kit, it was occasionally observed that color developed typing strips had dark allele dots on PM loci but no visible S dot. Since the S dot acts as a minimum dot intensity control to determine positive alleles on the PM loci, it is necessary to apply another control system. To achieve positive PM typing from a degraded DNA sample that is inferred to be derived from a single donor, a standard has been adopted wherein loci from which sufficient PCR products are observed on agarose gel can be typed. The objective determination of sufficient PCR was done by comparison between band peak height of each locus generated from a sample and that of the corresponding locus generated from two nanograms (recommended minimum quantity as template DNA) of the control DNA provided in the kit.     

The determination by gas chromatography with atomic emission detection of total sulfur in fuels used as forensic evidence

In Japan, taxed diesel fuel from non-taxed fuel oil-A is illegally produced by removing coumarin, which is added as a non-taxed marker. The coumarin is removed using concentrated sulfuric acid and this produces a high viscosity and hazardous material, called "sulfuric acid pitch", as a by-product. This compound has a detrimental effect on the environment and is hazardous to humans. The actions have been associated with organized crime with the illegally gained taxes becoming financial bases. To discriminate legal and diesel oil from illegal product, the peak area ratio R(SC), the ratio of total sulfur to carbon (>C(14)), was used. R(SC) is calculated by the total areas of sulfur and carbon (>C(14)) from the gas chromatogram obtained by gas chromatography-atomic emission detection (GC-AED). Sulfur in legal diesel fuels is strictly regulated by a maximum limit, which was 50ppm (and is now 10ppm), but in the preparation of illegal diesel oil, in which coumarin is eliminated, sulfur cannot be removed. Therefore, the R(SC) of fuel oil-A and illegal fuel oil is over 15, whereas those for legal fuel oil and diesel fuel are under 2.0. Furthermore, these ratios do not change in weathering experiments. GC-AED was applied to an actual arson case and was found to be effective for the determination of total sulfur in trace amounts of accelerants detected in fire debris at the arson scene, and hence was effective for the characterization of the ignitable liquids used.     

Apoptotic and necrotic brain lesions in a fatal case of carbon monoxide poisoning

A 41-year-old man was accidentally exposed to carbon monoxide (CO) gas and found in a state of cardiopulmonary arrest while he took bath. After admission, he was resuscitated and underwent artificial ventilation in a comatose state and died about 19h later. Computed tomography (CT) examination disclosed bilateral low density area in the basal ganglia and the thalamus, a well-known finding in the CO intoxication. Necropsy, histological examination, DNA ladder assay gave the first line of evidence for the presence of apoptosis as well as necrosis in the human case of CO intoxication. TdT-mediated dUTP-biotin nick-end labeling (TUNEL) positive apoptotic cells were more predominant in the CA2 area than in CA1 area. There is general co-relation between the ratio of TUNEL-positive cells and the DNA laddering on the agarose gel. Basal ganglia and thalamus, which showed bilateral low density area in CT, were revealed to be severe edema. The two types of cell death occurred in the cortex, basal ganglia, hippocampus, thalamus, and cerebellum. Hypoxia caused by CO-hemoglobin formation alone cannot explain the phenomena.     

An Experimental Study on the Effects of Exitability and Correctability on Electronic Negotiation

The purpose of the present study was to examine via a laboratory experiment the effects of two features of electronic negotiation, correctability and exitability, on negotiation processes and outcomes. We define correctability as the negotiator's ability to revise messages before transmitting them to the other party, thus prompting informational and social elaboration. The opportunity to exit the negotiation that the use of the electronic medium creates, a phenomenon for which we have coined the term "exitability," can give rise to the perception that electronic negotiation is inherently more unstable than face-to-face negotiation. In two experiments, we manipulated the exitability of one of the parties in three ways. In another experiment, we manipulated correctability in two ways. We found that increased exitability caused by the existence of a potential alternative party with whom to negotiate prompted participants to decrease their demands and to reach agreement more often. Increasing the correctability of messages enhanced their clarity and generated more trade-offs, thus leading to more frequent agreements.