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.     

An end to a rumour

Mardin, is a city in the southeastern part of Turkey where people from different cultures and religions have been living together peacefully for centuries. The province hosted many valuable historical constructions representing different civilizations. Kasimiye Medresse, one of the most important educational centers of its times, has a sacred value for people in Mardin. The reason is that the stain on the wall of Kasimiye Medresse is considered to be Sultan Kasim's blood. Our study aims to analyze if the stain in question is blood. Serological tests are performed by using "Kastle-Meyer" and "Luminol" reactives on the scrapped samples taken from stained and unstained parts of the wall. At the end of the analysis, the stain is turned out to be a dye made of herbal roots ending the rumour of centuries.     

Burial location using cheap and reliable quantitative probe measurements

Absolute measurements of soil density using a weight gauge attached to the standard probe of Owsley [D.W. Owsley, Techniques for locating burials, with emphasis on the probe. J. Forensic Sci. 40 (5) (1995) 735-740] provide digital data for operator-independent verification and possible later manipulation. The weight gauge measures insertion pressure that depends on soil density, variations in which may define areas of disturbance. Iterative reconnaissance surveys allow selection of appropriate probe length and weight gauge type in order to obtain maximum sensitivity. In a test case, a probe was used to locate a 50 cm-wide, 3-year-old fibre optic cable trench in urban circumstances where geophysics would have proven challenging. Subjective surveys using the standard 1m probe located the trench; summary digital output from the weight gauge (contoured on site in 1 h) allowed the original form of the trench to be ascertained. This is a preliminary note: the technique requires testing by parallel measurement, comparison to other (especially geophysical) techniques and in a court of law.     

实验性猪水泡病的普通病理学

对24头有极轻微疾病的猪,用猪水泡病病毒一株英国毒株作了脑内、静脉内或皮内接种。在皮肤、鼻、舌和扁桃体上主要的病变是一种复层鳞状上皮的极其致密的凝固性坏死。在肾盂、膀胱、扁桃体和唾液腺及胰腺的导管,发生上皮变性并有过碘酸雪夫反应(PAS)阳性物质的形成均是本病常见的特征。仅用组织病理学检查,不能将猪水泡病和口蹄疫所引起的十分明显的皮肤病变区别开。对水泡病和科赛奇B_5之间的关系作了简短的讨论。     

猪水泡病抗体检查的放射免疫扩散和血清中和技术

曾用(a)放射免疫扩散技术结合放射自显影术和(b)血清中和试验检查了猪血清中猪水泡病病毒的抗体。前者较为灵敏,用于血清的初步筛选,后者用于测定阳性血清的滴度。 有一次从屠宰场采集的1759份血清的调查中,在已知发生过本病的地区内的七个圈舍中,有14份血清具有明显的滴度,结论是这个结果既不表示有广泛散播的未查出的疾病,也不表示在猪群中存在隐性感染。     

菲律宾的对外贸易及扩大出口的措施

世界资本主义经济萧条对菲律宾的对外贸易正产生消极影响。一九八○年,菲律宾的贸易条件恶化了,进出口商品的比价比上年减少了百分之十五,主要原因是石油价格上涨。一九八一年,由于菲律宾最重要的出口原料商品价格趋势不佳(铜、金与镍的价格猛     

Forensic age diagnostics of living people undergoing criminal proceedings

In the German-speaking area, recent years have seen a rapid growth of the need for forensic age estimations. Such need arises, for example, if no verified information on the age of a person suspected of a criminal offence is available; the issue at question in terms of criminal law is whether the person concerned has reached the age of criminal responsibility and whether general criminal law in force for adults is to be applied. The relevant age tresholds in criminal proceedings are 14, 18 and 21 years of age. According to recommendations of the Study Group on Forensic Age Diagnostics, a forensic age estimate should consist of a physical examination, an X-ray of the hand, and a dental examination which records dentition status and evaluates an orthopantomogram. In addition, a radiological or CT examination of the clavicles is recommended to establish whether a person has attained 21 years of age. The present article addresses the influence of ethnic origin on the examined developmental systems.     

Hair analysis for fenfluramine and norfenfluramine as biomarkers for N-nitrosofenfluramine ingestion

In this paper, a high performance liquid chromatographic method with fluorescence detection (HPLC-FL) for the determination of fenfluramine (Fen) and norfenfluramine (Norf) in human hair as biomarker metabolites of N-nitrosofenfluramine (N-Fen) is described. Washed and cut hair segments were extracted by ultrasonication for 1h at room temperature in methanol. The extract was evaporated and applied for derivatization with the fluorescent reagent 4-(4,5-diphenyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl)benzoyl chloride (DIB-Cl). An HPLC-FL analysis was performed using an ODS column with mobile phase composition of acetonitrile and water (65:35, v/v) and monitored at 430 nm (excitation 325 nm). The method was sensitive with detection limits of 36 and 16 pg/mg hair for Fen and Norf, respectively. The linearity was assessed in the range 0.036-144 ng/mg for Fen and 0.016-127 ng/mg for Norf with correlation coefficients larger than 0.999. The method was successfully used for the segmental determination of Fen and Norf in hair samples obtained from hospitalized patients diagnosed with hepatotoxicity and suspected to ingest N-Fen. Both Fen and Norf could be detected in these patients' hair samples in the ranges 43-1389 pg/mg for Fen and 18-680 pg/mg for Norf and the results showed that the patients might ingest N-Fen for a period of not less than 5 months. As well, the method was applied for the determination of Fen and Norf in rats that possess pigmented and non-pigmented hair after an intraperitoneal administration of Fen. Both compounds were determined in black as well as in white hair.