Death following acute poisoning by moclobemide

A fatality due to ingestion of a reversible inhibitor of monoamine-oxidase A (MAO-A) is reported. Moclobemide is generally considered as a safe drug far less toxic than tricyclic anti-depressants. However, severe intoxications may result from interactions with other drugs and food such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), anti-Parkinsonians of the MAOI-type (e.g. selegiline) or tyramine from ripe cheese or other sources. In the present case, high levels of moclobemide were measured in peripheral blood exceeding toxic values reported so far in the scientific literature. The body fluid concentrations of moclobemide were of 498 mg/l in peripheral whole blood, 96.3 mg/l in urine while an amount of approximately 33 g could be recovered from gastric contents. The other xenobiotics were considered of little toxicological relevance. The victim (male, 48-year-old) had a past history of depression and committed one suicide attempt 2 years before death. Autopsy revealed no evidence of significant natural disease or injury. It was concluded that the manner of death was suicide and that the unique cause of death was massive ingestion of moclobemide.     

Multilateral Rules on Investment: Is Forward Movement Possible?

This paper explores the forces that have to date impeded thedevelopment of a multilateral set of rules on investment. Thepaper chronicles the policy- and rule-making debates that tookplace in the World Trade Organization’s (WTO’s)Working Group on Trade and Investment (WGTI) and advances anumber of political economy reasons that contributed to thederailment of investment discussions under the Doha DevelopmentAgenda (DDA). The paper highlights elements of a development-friendlyinternational investment regime and identifies various scenariosfor imparting forward movement to international negotiationson investment issues at the bilateral, regional and multilaterallevels.     

Ballpoint pen inks: characterization by positive and negative ion-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry for the forensic examination of writing inks

A method based on profiling of dye components by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI/MS) is described for the characterization of ballpoint pen inks. The method involves benzyl alcohol (30 microL) extraction of ink from paper. The extracts of ink lines 1 and 5 mm in length are used for direct ESI/MS analysis in positive and negative modes, respectively. The instrumental analysis takes 3 min. Basic and acid dyes in the inks are detected in the positive and negative modes, respectively, with each dye yielding one or two characteristic ion peaks. The mass spectrum, which is mainly a compositional signature of the dyes in the ink, was not affected by the type of paper from which the ink was extracted, or by natural ageing of the ink on document in the absence of light. However, exposure to fluorescent illumination caused dealkylation of polyalkylated basic dyes and resulted in changes in the homologous distribution of the dyes. In this study, a total of 44 blue inks, 23 black inks, and 10 red inks have been analyzed, and the mass spectra were used to establish a searchable library. ESI/MS analysis provides a simple and fast way to compare ink specimens and in combination with on-line library search permits rapid screening of inks for forensic document investigations.     

Apport de l'immunoelectrophorese pour l'expertise des taches de sang en medecine legale

Conclusive evidence was obtained in this study that immunoelectrophoresis could be used in the identification of blood-stains in two particular cases: for diagnosis or approach to diagnosis of the age of a blood-stain, and for diagnosis of the human origin of a blood-stain that had been treated with petroleum products.Although many aspects should be investigated in more detail, it is certain that this method can be employed in combination with other methods.     

Évolution de la gestion des ressources humaines dans la fonction publique québécoise

Sommaire: L'austérité qui a frappé les budgets gouvernementaux, combinée à plusicurs autres nouveaux facteurs. exerce une profonde influence sur l'administration publique. Le statut et la sécurité. du fonctionnaire sont remis en cause et le priblic manifeste des exigences nouvelles. Les gouvernements prennent des mesures pour satisfaire l'intérêt public et cela transformera le rôle de l'administrateur public. La nouvelle Loi sur la fonction publique du Québec (Loi 51) provoquera une autre transition dam la gestion des ressources humaines. Après être passée do l'arbitraire des années 1950 à l'administration normative des années 1970, la gestion des ressources humaines des années 1980 sera déconcentrée vers les ministéres et organismes qui en assumeront la responsabilité première. L'instauration d'un régime d'imputabilité suppose clue le gestionnaire jouera un rôle plus engagé dam la gestion de ses ressources humaines et que la fonction publique sera mieux orientée vers sa mission première, qui est de fournir au public les services de qualité auxquels il a droit. Abstract: Hestmint affecting governmental budgets, combined with several new other factors. is having a serious effect on public administration. The public servant's status and security are challenged and the public is making new demands on the public services. Governments take measures to satisfy the public interest and this will transform the role of the public administrator. The new Quebec Public Service Act will allow a new transition in the management of human resources. After going from the ai-bitrariness of the 1950s to the normative administration of the 1970s, the management of human resources of the 1980s will be decentralized towards ministries which will take on full responsibility. The institution of an accountability system implies that the administrator will play a more active role in the management of his human resources and that the public service will be better directed towards its first task, which is to provide the public with the quality services it is entitled to.