Mitochondrial DNA error prophylaxis: assessing the causes of errors in the GEP'02-03 proficiency testing trial

A qualitative and quantitative analytical method was developed and validated for the determination of 49 licit and illicit drugs in oral fluid. Small oral fluid samples, volume 1mL, were collected from volunteers using a modified Omni-Sal device and the analytes were extracted from an oral fluid/buffer mixture using a single Bond Elut Certify solid phase extraction cartridge. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS) and gas chromatography-repetitive full scan mass spectrometry (GC-MS) were used in parallel to analyze the extracts for the targeted drugs. Extracts were analyzed by GC-MS in their underivatized form and as their pentafluoropropionyl derivatives. Deuterated internal standards were used for quantification of drugs of abuse by LC-MS-MS to minimize matrix effects. Methadone-d(9) and tumoxetine were used as the internal standards for quantification of non-derivatized and derivatized analytes respectively by GC-MS. Linearity was demonstrated over the range 5-200 ng/mL and limits of detection were less than 4 ng/mL for each drug analyzed. The method demonstrated acceptable recoveries for most of the analytes and good intra- and inter-day precision. Acquisition of data by repetitive full scan GC-MS allows the addition of further analytes to the target menu.     

Y-chromosomal STR haplotypes in a population sample from continental Greece, and the islands of Crete and Chios

Eight Y chromosome short tandem repeat (STR) polymorphisms (DYS19, DYS385, DYS389I, DYS389II, DYS390, DYS391, DYS392, and DYS393) were analyzed in the sample of 117 unrelated Albanian males living in Kosovo. A general STR allelic frequency pattern in the Albanian population from Kosovo corresponds to other European populations. Fourty six haplotypes were observed in single copy. The most frequent haplotypes were (DYS19-DYS385-DYS389I-DYS389II-DYS390-DYS391-DYS392-DYS393) 14-11/11-13-29-24-11-13-13 (10.26%), 14-14/17-12-28-24-10-11-12 (9.40%), 13-16/18-13-30-24-10-11-13 (9.40%), and 14-17/17-13-31-24-10-11-13 (9.40%).     

Suicide with a butcher's bolt

The captive bolt pistol is an atypical firearm exclusively produced and used for butchery of breeding animals, but in some rare cases, it has been used as a lethal weapon for committing suicide by butchers, breeders and other people who have access to such weapons during their professional activities. This study describes the suicide committed by a butcher in the province of Udine (N. Italy) in 2001 who shot himself with his own captive bolt pistol that produced in the right temporal region a circular wound and a bone lesion of the temporal squama with a groove involving the frontal lobe; he died five days later of the fatal consequences of the meningo-encephalic lesions. The medico-legal issues implicated in this case, seen in the light of the data reported in the international literature, illustrate the difficulties faced when diagnosing these types of lesions, bearing in mind their rarity and peculiar nature, and introduce elements of differential diagnosis regarding lesions produced by similar weapons that lead to ascertainment of the event as accidental, suicidal, or homicidal.     

Medical malpractice: a study of case histories by the Forensic Medicine Section of Bari

The learning objectives of this paper are to study the actual extent of medical malpractice, the medical acts at risk, and their impact on mortality. The number of suits filed against physicians for deaths resulting from alleged malpractice and autopsies ordered by the Judicial Authority in cases of possible therapeutic misadventures are rising. A major factor pushing this trend is public mistrust of healthcare providers and public and facilities. This mistrust is partly fueled by the mass media which, often to gain larger audience shares, sensationalizes single cases of real or alleged iatrogenic injury. Further, the potential for astronomic settlements, either from the single doctor or from the healthcare institution, has increased the number of legal proceedings that start on the basis of mere suspicion. In this context, the autopsy becomes an important instrument for shedding light on the situation, and it must be carried out by highly qualified and experienced professionals capable of ascertaining the cause of death, identifying any possible misconduct, and assessing its consequences. We reviewed the data regarding autopsies performed at the Forensic Medicine Section of the Department of Internal and Public Medicine of the University of Bari over 1991 to 2000. We culled the cases alleged malpractice and, from these, identified those in which the death had truly been caused by medical error. This study also allowed us to understand the incidence of lethal therapeutic misadventures and to identify the medical and surgical branches more frequently involved.     

试析当前美国经济走势

美国经济形势自去年第4季度开始趋于严峻,经济增速大幅下降,股市大跌,消费者信心受重挫;制造业濒临衰退,高新技术产业持续不振;失业率、通胀率有所上升等.但由于美经济实力雄厚,基础条件较好,市场对外资吸引力不减;新经济仍有生命力;美在经济全球化中处于有利地位;世界石油价格回落;美联储的调控渐起作用;布什政府出台一系列有利于经济恢复和发展的政策等,美国经济出现衰退的可能性不大.     

建立警察公共关系危机预警机制的构想

警察组织工作的特殊性,使得警察公共关系危机处于一种潜伏的状态,且成为一种社会常态,而各领域各层次的问题错综交织,都有可能成为公关危机发生的导火索,警察组织一味被动地应对警察公共关系危机只会使得警察组织公关更加被动。预防管理理论告诉我们：预防是战胜危机的第一法宝。科学构建中国特色警察公共关系危机的预警机制,是时代发展的呼...     

改府规模与结构优化的维度与性质

政府规模与结构优化是近年来学术界与实践领域特别关注的一个问题.然而,目前的研究主要借助于经济学领域关于政府规模与结构优化的概念体系,而没有形成从公共管理的角度来探讨这一问题的概念体系,由此导致关于政府规模与结构优化的理论研究与实践探索出现某些偏颇.从公共管理的角度上说,我们认为,政府规模就是政府在社会、经济、政治、文化等领域的活动范围以及政府行为对个体或组织的行为所产生的影响;政府规模结构是指政府规模的组织构成、内容构成以及组织-内容匹配性构成.因此,政府规模与结构应该从政府活动、行为及其社会影响三个维度进行优化.     

城市基层社会的数字化治理

北京市X区J街道H社区在社会文化建设、社会服务提供、基层民主选举等几个领域内所发生的“治理一应对”的运作过程说明：当前城市基层社会的治理在很多方面表现为一种“数字化治理”模式,治理对象不是社区里的人或事,而是档案、数据、文牍等数字化内容,以此达到掌控基层社会情况、增加合法性、突出政绩等目的。同时,这种治理模式也直接促使社区事务执行者在不断提高文牍技术、注重细节、追求形式化的同时,采取变通、重新解释、选择性关注等方式,形成了新的社区运作逻辑和基层应对策略。