Beitrage zur gerichtlichen Medizin最新文献

DNA from unrelated individuals (Caucasians; n = 200-271) from Switzerland were digested with Hae III and successively hybridized to the DNA probes D1S7, D2S44, D4S139, D10S28, D14S13, D17S26 and D17S79. An allele frequency distribution was determined for each locus. Furthermore, from the same individuals (n = 200) after amplification of DNA the allele and genotype frequencies at the HLA-DQ alpha locus were determined. The allele frequency distribution in Swiss Caucasians is statistically similar to American Caucasian population samples. In criminal cases a DNA-profile derived from four single-locus probes always leads to a very high value of discrimination and in paternity testing the probability of paternity always exceeds 99.9% regardless to the reference population used for biostatistical evaluation. Therefore for use in forensic analysis and paternity testing pooled caucasian databases might be used for the determination of the frequency of occurrence of a DNA-profile.

The authors report the analysis of mass disasters, which had been dealt with by forensic experts, on the territory of the former GDR. The report comes on the initiative of the Society of Forensic Medicine and with the support of regional institutes. For the period 1960 to 1989, 20 events with 738 casualties were registered. The number of victims was particularly high in aviation and rail disasters as well as in the Zwickau mine disaster. The Forensic Institute of the Humboldt-University in Berlin was engaged in the investigation of the three airplane crashes on Berlin territory and near Berlin (Königs-Wusterhausen 1972, Berlin-Bohnsdorf 1986 and Berlin-Schönefeld 1989) as well as of the railway disaster near Lebus in 1977. As a result of the analysis, the experience gained in three decades regarding the planning, organization and realization of the identification of victims is dealt with in more detail. It emphasizes the significance of close cooperation with dentists and criminalists. Because of ethical, legal and criminalistic reasons the aim should always be a complete examination (including autopsy) of the victims as well as their identification.

The report initially discuss the properties and application of tempered glass (TG) and laminated glass (LG) in motor vehicles. Although the trunk and extremities are injured these injuries are seldom life threatening. In contrast, head or neck injuries present a greater threat to life. Especially serious are TG injuries resulting in blindness. The resultant vehicle damage can appear not only as isolated glass cracking, which occurs regularly accompanying injuries without loss of consciousness, but as deformation of the vehicle interior adjacent to the windscreen. In the cases where more solid structures are impacted fatal injuries are possible. This report presents detail both of some real accident investigations and of 9 simulated oblique collisions using 9 post mortem human subjects (PMHS's). In these 9 simulations the head impacted during the primary impact phase against side windows constructed from TG. A modified tempered glass construction (two plates sandwiching a 3 mm air layer) was also tested. Impact angles were 35 to 45 degrees. The severity of facial laceration was dependent on collision severity, type of glass and glass damage resulting from head impact. Minor or severe cutting injuries of the face were caused. Only through the investigation of real accidents and accident simulations can occupant safety be improved.

A new method of quantitative measurement of the strength and the progress of hemagglutination is being reported. A rapid investigation of antibody titres and receptor strength is possible.

A 70-year-old pedestrian was hit by a passenger car, when she crossed a road outside built-up areas; at the time of the collision the car drove at a speed of about 100 km/h and did not brake. In this lateral accident the trunk of the pedestrian was completely severed near the upper brim of the pelvis. The upper part of the body was flown into the interior of the car through the windscreen; the lower half of the body was found between the place of collision and the place, where the car came to a standstill. The body was not severed at the front edge of the roof, but in the region of the front edge of the engine hood. The abdominal skin and the inguinal region were marked by numerous transverse distension tears; these were indirect injuries of the collision caused by tensile strain due to inertia.

The size relation between the bullet calibre and the minimum diameter of the entrance hole in extracranial bones of predominantly spongy structure was systematically investigated. Test shots (cartridges .22 lr, 7.65 mm Brown. and 9 mm Parabellum) on bone specimens covered with soft tissue (coxal end of the femoral bone, ala ossis ilii, corpus sterni) showed the following results: The entrance holes in bone produced by solid-lead projectiles of calibre .22 showed a tendency towards larger diameters compared with the bullet (deviations at the proximal femur up to about 20%); full-jacketed bullets of calibre 7.65 mm and 9 mm mostly produced entrance holes which were smaller than the cross-section of the projectile (deviations at the sternum and os ilium up to about 12%). For perpendicular hits it was possible within one test-firing region to assign the minimum diameters of entry to one of the three calibres without any overlapping in the borderline area. The measurement results classified according to calibre and area of entry are indicated in diagrams.

In 1988 we interviewed approximately a quarter (n = 395) of the female students enrolled at Ulm/D. University in order to get knowledge of their alcohol-drinking habits. There was no selection of whom we asked. The results encourage us to the conclusion that we might have got a representative survey. Of the students inquired about 11% lived abstinently, less than 2% consumed alcohol daily, most of all took alcohol repeatedly per month. The predominant part of the students questioned, stated an intake of less than 40 g alcohol per day. The average quantity of alcohol consumed per month was smaller than with a group of female students interviewed in Spain as well as with a group of young women comparable in age in Northern Germany.

In the capacity of an initial study both, the half-lives of morphine and its metabolites morphine-3-glucuronide and morphine-6-glucuronide as well as the ratio of concentrations in the development of time using two different dosages were determined and shown by comparison. A bolus of 10 mg (10 micrograms) tritium-marked morphine was administered intravenously. Subsequently the half-lives of morphine, morphine-3-glucuronide and morphine-6-glucuronide in serum, saliva and urine were determined. To achieve this, morphine and its glucuronides were separated via HPLC and then quantified by measuring the radioactivity. In addition to the short half-lives of morphine and morphine-glucuronides long half-lives were found in the range of 12.6 to 20 hours in serum and urine. There was no positive evidence for glucuronides in saliva. In urine the morphine/glucuronide ratio showed a linear resp. exponential development dependent of dose.

The use of endoscopical methods augments the macroscopical diagnosis in autopsies. Cavities and sinuses which are hardly accessible may be inspected and photographically documented as well without damage of the anatomical context. In terms of forensic autopsies the endoscopical technique is mostly recommended for the inspection of the fundus of the eye, the external auditory meatus up to the tympanic membrane, the naso- and laryngopharynx. Pathological and traumatical changes can be valued at once in situ. Forensic evidence of postmortal endoscopical findings is exemplified.

Mass-disasters with high numbers of victims are a real challenge to the specialists. The role of forensic experts is generally emphasized. The missions of the Leipzig Taskgroup for identification and the experience gained during them confirm, that special training necessary staff members is. Compared with the general signs of identity, like clothing, jewelry and accessories, scars etc., the marks of ears and observations of forensic odonto-stomatology provide good chances for identification. For forensic odonto-stomatology, we developed computer programs.