LKW-Fahrverbot auf Bundesstraßen, Erprobung und Lärmschutz

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Screening for drugs in forensic blood samples using EMIT urine assays

A screening method for the detection of drugs in haemolysed whole blood has been evaluated. Methanolic extracts of 300 forensic blood samples known to be positive or negative for drugs were analysed with EMIT d.a.u. assay kits for amphetamine, cannabinoids, opiates and benzodiazepines (the latter to analyse for diazepam and the main metabolite N-desmethyldiazepam). There were very few false positive results, except for the amphetamine assay in postmortem blood samples, where 9% were false positive. For amphetamine and cannabinoids a few false negatives were found, these were from samples with very low drug concentrations. No false negatives were found for opiates and diazepam. The present modification of the EMIT d.a.u. method seems to be a good method for screening of drugs in forensic blood samples, except for amphetamine in postmortem samples. The method is simple and requires only 0.5 ml blood.     

Promotion of tobacco products: issues and policy options

During the past year, several prominent voluntary health organizations and professional medical associations have called for a ban on all forms of promotion of tobacco products. The proposal raises complex issues, ranging from determination of the effects of tobacco promotion to assessment of the constitutionality of banning advertising of a legal product. We identify the issues that underlie the concern of health professionals, review evidence addressing these issues, and describe and discuss frequently mentioned policy options, especially the ban proposal.     

Discriminant analysis of the mandible for sex determination

Seventeen measuring parameters were used to characterize 197 mandibles (109 males, 88 females) taken from the corpses of people 20-80 years of age from the Rhine-Main-Neckar area. The representative measuring parameters and discriminating functions of intact lower jaws and lower jaw fragments of most frequent fracture types were determined in this practice group by means of discriminating analysis. In the present research material it was possible to determine sex accurately from an intact lower jaw bone in 82.6% (m) and 79.5% (f) of the cases. Furthermore, our results show clearly that sex may even be determined from lower jaw fragments. The classification was correct, depending on the type of fragment, in 72.5%-81.7% (m) and 71.6%-79.5% (f) of the cases.