Heroin dependence as a rare cause of symmetrical globus pallidus necrosis

Long-term survival after carbon monoxide intoxication has been accepted for a long time as pathognomonic for elective cerebral tissue damage, especially in cases of isolated symmetrical necrosis of the globus pallidus. The results of old bilateral necrosis in the globus pallidus are described in a case of an acute heroin death after long-term drug abuse. The evaluation of such cerebral changes is discussed as they have to be interpreted as hypoxic or oligemic tissue damage. The different causes of symmetrical necrosis of the globus pallidus that are relevant for legal medicine are compiled and discussed.     

A multilevel comparison of child abusers with nonabusers

An integrative, ecological model developed by Belsky (1980) implies that to understand child abuse researchers must examine factors at four levels: the individual, the family, the environment, and the culture. This study compared abusive and nonabusive parents at three of these four levels. At the individual level, abusers were found to have lower self-esteem than controls. Also, male abusers were likely to be relatively impulsive and hostile. At the level of the family, abusers described their children as more troublesome than control parents, but they did not perceive them as developmentally delayed. At the level of the environment, abusers identified more intense life stressors than nonabusers. Results of this investigation supported Belsky's argument that child abuse involved multiple factors and levels.     

Morphologic identification of mummified tissue traces

Post mortem tissue samples from various human organs (skin, muscle, liver, kidney, brain) were stored at room temperature for a period of one year. During this time the samples were regularly histologically tested. Without any pretreatment of the samples a histological preparation and identification was no longer possible after only a few hours. By the use of a rehydration solution consisting of absolute ethanol (30 ml), aqua dest. (50 ml) and 0.2 M phosphate buffer pH 7.0 (20 ml) a reconstitution and identification was again possible. Further immunhistochemical examinations were also unaffected by the solution. The use of microwave stimulation allowed a reduction of the rehydration process from 24 hours to only 4 hours.     

A new individualization marker of semen: deoxyribonuclease I (DNase I) polymorphism.

We describe a method for obtaining specific and reproducible deoxyribonuclease I (DNase I) typing from liquid semen. Isoelectric focusing of the enzymes on polyacrylamide gel (IEF-PAGE, pH 3.5-5) was accomplished using a 0.5-mm thick gel. The separated isozymes were visualized by a new activity staining method, dried agarose film-overlay (DAFO). Pretreatment of semen samples with neuraminidase markedly enhanced the isozyme-band resolution and sensitivity. The method was simple and reliable, with high resolution and sensitivity. The DNase I types in semen samples were correlated with the types found in corresponding blood and urine samples. DNase I typing could therefore provide an additional discriminant characteristic in the forensic examination of semen.     

Case report of pathologic and criminal self injury]

A case of morbid self-violence (Münchhausen Syndrome) leading to death and a case of criminal self-violence (cutaneous emphysema) are reported. The issue of such cases is discussed with regard to the consequences concerning judicial procedure of punishment and insurance.     

Perceptions of repressed memories: A reappraisal

College students read a trial summary of a sexual abuse case. The victim in the case either claimed that (a) her memory for the abuse had been repressed for 20 years and only recently recovered during therapy, or (b) she consciously remembered the abuse for 20 years but never discussed it until recently in therapy. Participants were significantly more likely to convict the defendant when the testimony was described as nonrepressed (67%) versus repressed (58%). This effect was not modified by the age of the victim at the time the alleged abuse occurred (either 3, 8, or 13 years of age), although the younger and older victims were significantly less believable than the 8-year-old victim. Compared to female participants, male participants were significantly less likely to convict the defendant and rated the victim as significantly less believable. These findings are discussed in the context of recent research on juror reactions to repressed memory testimony.