The Prevalence of Sexual Harassment, Stalking, and False Victimization Syndrome (FVS) Cases and Related Human Resource Management Policies in a Cross-Section of Canadian Companies from January 1995 Through January 2000

This study used a questionnaire design to investigate the relative prevalence of reported sexual harassment, stalking, and False Victimization Syndrome (FVS) cases in a cross-section of 46 Canadian companies from January 1995 through January 2000. This study also investigated the number of companies having policies related to these three constructs, inside and outside interventions relied upon by the targets for coping with such aggressive incidents, and the injuries reported by the targets as a result of such incidents. Implications for Human Resource managers are discussed.     

THE (DE)CONSTRUCTION OF CONFLICT IN DIVORCE LITIGATION: A DISCURSIVE CRITIQUE OF “PARENTAL ALIENATION SYNDROME” AND “THE ALIENATED CHILD”

In high‐conflict divorce litigation involving custody and access, mental‐health professionals are often used to assess the case and make recommendations. Using Foucauldian theories of discourse, this article suggests that these assessments, which are intended to resolve the conflict or offer profitable information, often participate in the conflict by constructing assessments and diagnoses that fit with legal discourse, and thus with the outcomes of adversarial‐styled rulings and ideologically driven interests. This article suggests that so long as such professionals are driven by the privileged discourse of law and psychology/psychiatry, the best interests of those at the center of the conflict can have their experience co‐opted by the iatrogenic features of these discourses.     

云南省曲靖市家畜猝死症的病原分离与鉴定

对云南省曲靖市近年流行的家畜猝死症进行了流行病学调查、临床症状观察、病理剖检 ,并对先后采自 7个县 (市 )区的 2 4份病料进行了病原分离、动物接种试验、生化鉴定、肠毒素定型及药敏试验。共分离到细菌 2 4株 ,其中产单核细胞李氏杆菌 2 0株 ,A型产气荚膜梭菌 2株 ,C型产气荚膜梭菌 2株。采取相应的综合防治措施后 ,2 0 0 3年冬到 2 0 0 4年春夏再未发生新的疫情。     

猪生殖和呼吸系统综合征的血清学调查

采用IDEXX公司生产的ELISA试剂盒对 2 0 0 1年 8月至 2 0 0 2年 8月湖北、河南、福建、浙江等省的大中型猪场猪生殖和呼吸系统综合征 (PRRS)的流行情况进行了血清学调查。共检测84 4份血清 ,检出阳性 382份 ,阳性率为 4 5 .2 6 %。其中湖北省猪场的 6 6 1份血清 ,检出阳性 2 4 9份 ,阳性率 37.6 7%。 4 83份种猪血清 ,检出阳性 2 4 4份 ,阳性率 5 0 .5 2 % ,36 1份仔猪血清 ,检出阳性 14 1份 ,阳性率 4 0 .0 6 %。在被检的 5 0个猪场中 ,检出PRRS血清学阳性猪的猪场 4 1个 ,占 82 .0 0 % ,其中湖北省的 38个猪场 ,检出PRRS阳性的 2 9个 ,阳性率 76 .32 %。     

猪生殖与呼吸综合征病毒M基因和N基因的表达

将猪生殖与呼吸综合征病毒(PRRSV)的M基因和N基因从重组质粒pMD18-T-M-N中亚克隆至pBV220原核表达载体上,成功构建了重组表达质粒pBVM-N。将pBVM-N转化大肠埃希氏菌DH5α感受态细胞,重组菌经温度敏感诱导表达,其细菌裂解物经SDS-PAGE可检测到分子质量约为19 ku的目的蛋白,与M基因表达产物一致;经蛋白质分析软件Bandscan分析,其表达量可达19.1%;Western-blotting分析表明,该重组蛋白可被兔抗PRRSV血清所识别,与预期的M基因表达产物相一致,而N基因未获表达。     

Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome mimicking child abuse by burning

Child abuse by burning comprises 6–20% of all child abuse cases, but misdiagnosis may arise in cases of some medical conditions. We present two cases of suspected inflicted burns, later diagnosed as staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome (SSSS).     

Death in bathtub revisited with molecular genetics: a victim with suicidal traits and a LQTS gene mutation

A 44-year-old woman with a medical history of mental disorders and previous suicidal behaviour was found in a bathtub and pronounced death few minutes later despite of resuscitation attempts. After police investigation and on the basis of autopsy findings, the death was classified as suicide drowning. Retrospective examination of clinical data revealed, a prolonged rate-corrected QT-interval (QTc: 468 ms) 3 months before death. Post-mortem (PM) DNA analysis disclosed KCNH2_FIN mutation for the long-QT syndrome (LQTS). The value of PM molecular screening for LQTS is emphasised, especially for victims of putative drowning.     

Incidence of Low Body Mass Index in the Elderly in Forensic Cases—A Possible Marker for Frailty Syndrome?

Diagnosing frailty syndrome at autopsy may be difficult if no adequate clinical history is provided. As low body mass index (BMI) may be associated with frailty in the elderly, the following study was undertaken to determine the percentage of medicolegal cases with BMIs < 18.5 in decedents aged over 75 years. Review was undertaken over three time periods: January to December 1986, January to December 2006, and January to December 2012. In 1986, 16% (15 of 93) of individuals aged ≥75 years had BMIs < 18.5, in 2006, 15% (50 of 336), and in 2012, 13% (35 of 274). In no case was frailty syndrome mentioned. This study demonstrates that frailty syndrome appears to be an underappreciated diagnosis in forensic practice despite a significant percentage of elderly decedents (13–16% over a 27‐year period) having low BMIs. Prospective assessment of this group is required to determine the incidence and contribution to mortality of frailty syndrome in a forensic context.     

Molecular Autopsy of Desmosomal Protein Plakophilin‐2 in Sudden Unexplained Nocturnal Death Syndrome

Plakophilin‐2 (PKP2) variants could produce a phenotype of Brugada syndrome (BrS), which seems to be most likely the same allelic disorder as some sudden unexplained nocturnal death syndrome (SUNDS). All coding regions of PKP2 gene in 119 SUNDS victims were genetically screened using PCR and direct Sanger sequencing methods. Three novel mutations (p.Ala159Thr, p.Val200Val, and p.Gly265Glu), one novel rare polymorphism (p.Thr723Thr), and eight reported polymorphisms were identified. A compound mutation (p.Ala159Thr and p.Gly265Glu) and a rare polymorphism (p.Thr723Thr) were found in one SUNDS case with absence of the cardiomyopathic features. The detected compound mutation identified in this first investigation of PKP2 genetic phenotype in SUNDS is regarded as the plausible genetic cause of this SUNDS case. The rare incidence of PKP2 mutation in SUNDS (1%) supports the previous viewpoint that SUNDS is most likely an allelic disorder as BrS.     

Persistent Retinal Iron in Abusive Head Trauma

Retinal hemosiderin deposition is a histologic indicator of sustained hemorrhage but cannot be used to precisely estimate the elapsed time since an episode of trauma. A 5‐month‐old male infant was admitted to hospital after acute deterioration. Examination revealed encephalopathy, subdural hematomas, and retinal hemorrhages consistent with abusive head trauma (AHT). At the age of 3, he was readmitted to hospital with spontaneous osteopenic fracture of the right femur. The patient deteriorated and died after unsuccessful resuscitation. Ophthalmopathological investigation showed atrophy of the retina and optic nerve and hemosiderin deposition in both eyes. Retinal hemosiderin deposition is currently generally assumed to disappear within 6–8 weeks after the occurrence of hemorrhage in AHT. This case report describes an infant with bilateral retinal hemosiderin depositions due to hemorrhages sustained from AHT occurring 32 months prior to death. Implications of this finding for the interpretation of retinal hemosiderin depositions in AHT are discussed.