Weal-formation by Utrica Dioica. An intravital reaction? (author's transl)]

The question concerning the intravital and postmortal mechanism of urticarial weal after contact with nettles (urtica dioica) was investigated in corpses, animal experiments and voluntary trials. No nettle weals could be induced in corpses or postmortally in experiments with albino rats (Witstar Strain). When animals were exposed to nettle-stings immediately before decapitation only 2 od 12 rats developed weals postmortally. However, the diameter of such weals was only 30% of that of weals produced intravitally. After Application of a tourniquet (180 - 200 mm Hg) to test persons no weals were formed after contact with nettles in a period of 10 minutes. As soon as the tourniquet was released weal-formation occured in full extent in most test persons. According to the authors opinion the occurence of nettle weals (urtica dioica) in corpses is therefore considered a local intravital reaction.     

Cyclizine as a drug of abuse?

Two British people going from Amsterdam to Berlin was examined at the borderline near Aix la Chapelle. Customsinspectors found besides a lot of hashish a letter hidden in a pocket lamp concerning drugs received in Amsterdam as remarks to LSD trips. Therefore a white powder found in a little paper in the purse of one person was tested for drugs. Previous examinations at the border failed and after further investigations at the Department of Forensic Medicine including mass spectrophotometry the powder was identified as Cyclizine. The analytical data like mass spectrum are described. This compound used many years for the prevention and treatment of motion sickness is off the market because of suggested teratogen effects. Previous reports about LSD-like symptoms after ingestion of large amounts of Cyclizine as the environment the powder was found let us suppose that some people will know about psychotic effects at high doses of this drug not being an inhibited narcotic.     

Psychedelic fungus (Psilocybe sp.) authentication in a case of illegal drug traffic: sporological,molecular analysis and identification of the psychoactive substance

In nature, there are >200 species of fungi with hallucinogenic properties. These fungi are classified as Psilocybe, Gymnopilus, and Panaeolus which contain active principles with hallucinogenic properties such as ibotenic acid, psilocybin, psilocin, or baeocystin. In Chile, fungi seizures are mainly of mature specimens or spores. However, clandestine laboratories have been found that process fungus samples at the mycelium stage. In this transient stage of growth (mycelium), traditional taxonomic identification is not feasible, making it necessary to develop a new method of study.Currently, DNA analysis is the only reliable method that can be used as an identification tool for the purposes of supporting evidence, due to the high variability of DNA between species. One way to identify the species of a distinctive DNA fragment is to study PCR products analyzed by real time PCR and sequencing. One of the most popular sequencing methods of forensic interest at the generic and intra-generic levels in plants is internal transcribed spacer (ITS). With real time PCR it is possible to distinguish PCR products by differential analysis of their melting temperature (Tm) curves.This paper describes morphological, chemical, and genetic analysis of mycelia of psychedelic fungi collected from a clandestine laboratory. The fungus species were identified using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), mass spectrometry, HRM analysis, and ITS sequencing. The sporological studies showed a generally smooth surface and oval shape, with maximum length 10.1?μm and width 6.4?μm. The alkaloid Psilocyn was identified by mass spectrometry, while HRM analysis and ITS sequencing identified the species as Psilocybe cubensis. A genetic match was confirmed between the HRM curves obtained from the mycelia (evidence) and biological tissue extracted from the fruiting bodies. Mycelia recovered from the evidence and fruiting bodies (control) were genetically indistinguishable.