The German Stain Commission: recommendations for the interpretation of mixed stains.

In the course of forensic DNA analysis, the interpretation of DNA profiles of mixed stains, i.e. cell material from more than a single donor, has become increasingly more important. The German Stain Commission, a joint commission of Institutes of Forensic Science and Legal Medicine, has therefore developed guidelines aiming to harmonize the evaluation of mixed stains in German criminal cases.

Recombinant human Fab antibody fragments to HIV-1 Rev and Tat regulatory proteins: direct selection from a combinatorial phage display library.

A human Fab phage display library has been produced from peripheral blood lymphocytes of an individual who was asymptomatic after 10 years of infection with human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1). The library was panned against the HIV-1 Rev and Tat regulatory proteins and several clones, producing Fab binding to these proteins, were isolated (3 to Rev and 4 to Tat) with binding constants varying from 10(-6)M to 10(-8)M. DNA sequencing demonstrated two unique anti-Rev Fab clones, but the four anti-Tat Fab comprised only two unique IgG1 heavy chain Fd fragments, illustrating redundancy of light chains. Peptide mapping of the epitopes recognized by these Fab indicated that three of the anti-Tat Fab were directed to the functional domain between amino acid residues 22-33 of the Tat molecule, and that binding was inhibited by reduction of this cysteine-rich region with dithiothreitol. The anti-Rev Fab were directed to sites adjacent to the Rev basic nucleolar localization sequence (residues 52-64) and to the Rev activation domain (residues 75-88). Binding constants were of a similar order to that of an anti-Rev single-chain Fv fragment (SFv) used successfully for intracellular immunization, and as such intracellular effects with the human anti-Tat and anti-Rev Fab are not precluded. These newly described human antibody fragments to HIV-1 regulatory proteins may be critical moieties for gene therapeutic protocols, to control HIV-1 replication in human cells.

Analysis of a case of generalized amniotic fluid embolism by demonstrating the fetal isoantigen (A blood type) in maternal tissues of B blood type, using immunoperoxidase staining.

A case of generalized amniotic fluid embolism, confirmed by staining fetal isoantigen in the maternal tissues, is reported. The distribution of emboli may be more accurately evaluated with the immunochemical staining technic than with standard hematoxylin and eosin stain. The severity of the embolic state is evaluated very exactly.

A behavioral bioassay for analysis of rabbit nipple-search pheromone.

To suckle, newborn rabbits are completely dependent on a pheromone present on the doe's ventrum and also apparently contained in the milk. Pups presented in a standardized test with 30 microliters of fresh rabbit milk on a glass rod reacted with vigorous search-like movements in 93%, and with grasping of the rod in 70% of trials, but did not respond to control presentations of other odorants. The pups were found to be most reactive 1-3 hours before the once daily nursing, and although they rapidly habituated to repeated testing, a break of 30 minutes was sufficient for the recovery of responsiveness. Even milk diluted by as much as 1:10(4) elicited significantly more responses than control substances. However, when left at room temperature it lost this behavior-releasing quality within about 20 minutes, but retained it for several months when stored at -40 degrees C. Rabbit milk thus appears to represent a ready source of nipple-search pheromone, and the behavioral response of pups to be reliable enough to serve as a bioassay for further pheromonal analysis.

Textbooks on legal medicine in the German-speaking countries.

In this survey, the textbooks on legal medicine which were published in the German-speaking countries from the 17th century up to now are briefly reviewed. The textbooks with the most impact on the further development of legal medicines were those published by Johann Ludwig Casper in Berlin and Eduard Ritter von Hofmann in Vienna in the 19th century. The main textbooks of the 20th century are addressed as well, also the different development in both German countries.

Quantitative IgD measurement for discrimination of human bloodstains.

The IgD concentrations of eluates of artificial bloodstains and of the corresponding sera from 40 subjects of different ages were measured by single radial immunodiffusion. IgD was found in bloodstains stored up to 53 days, i.e. IgD storage stability is sufficient for forensic purposes. Since serum IgD concentrations of individuals, in particular of adults, are almost invariable and serum levels of different individuals can vary by more than a 1000-fold, the discrimination of bloodstains on the basis of IgD is generally possible. Thus IgD constitutes a further marker in antibody profiling of bloodstains.

The detection of petechial haemorrhages of the conjunctivae in dependency on the postmortem interval.

Petechial haemorrhages of the conjunctivae are not specific for lethal throttling or strangulation, but they belong to the important indicators for such mechanisms. In experimental models it is shown that petechial bleedings of the conjunctivae disappear with the occurrence of advanced signs of putrefaction or in cases of fresh-water logging. Therefore, it must be emphasized that the lack of petechial haemorrhages in putrefied or fresh-water-logged corpses is of very restricted meaning for the examination, whether throttling or strangulation has taken place or not, and the autopsy should always be performed in these cases with special regard to the neck.

Haemorrhages in the posterior cricoarytenoid muscles--an unspecific autopsy finding.

Atraumatic haemorrhages in the posterior cricoarytenoid (PCA) muscles can be observed for from 1% to 9% of various causes of death. It has been claimed that there is an association between these findings and the cause of death, particularly coronary death. Additionally it has been assumed that haemorrhages in the PCA muscles may be caused by an asphyxial mechanism and it has even been suggested that the haemorrhages may be a "sign" which could be used to differentiate between natural and unnatural death. Because of the differing views we carried out additional research into the course of these haemorrhages. Six characteristic cases out of 2060 autopsies with macroscopically diagnosed haemorrhages in the PCA muscles are presented. The six cases included acute heart failure, death caused by bolus, drowning, trauma of brain and skull, exsanguination from polytrauma and choking after aspiration of vomit. These cases were completely different with regard to all the circumstances of death. On the basis of these findings and in contrast to the literature it cannot be shown that proofs exist for a correlation between the haemorrhages and the causes and the manner of death. As a consequence it must be stated that haemorrhages in the PCA muscles do not have any diagnostic significance.

Variations of the frontal exit of the supraorbital nerve: an anatomic study.

Until now, it has been taken for granted that the point of emergence of the supraorbital nerve is by way of a notch or a foramen at the border of the inner to the medial third of the supraorbital rim. In contrast to several anatomic textbooks, we noticed that the exit point was repeatedly not at the site where anticipated when implanting lid springs for facial palsy. This gave us the idea of investigating these variations and how big they are, because most open and recent endoscopic forehead lift techniques have relied on a constant exit point of the supraorbital nerve. A total of 507 macerated skulls (1014 orbits) from three anatomic collections in Austria and Germany were studied. All skulls were adult European skulls gathered from the prehistoric age up to the twentieth century. Additionally, 18 fixed cadavers (36 orbits) and 25 fresh cadavers (50 orbits) were studied. These data were not included in the statistical analysis but in the discussion. The anatomic measurements on the skulls were carried out with an anthropometric calliper. The examinations concentrated on the configuration (notch/foramen) and the number of exit point(s) on the supraorbital rim, the vertical distance from the supraorbital rim, and the distance from the nasion to the various exit point(s). Combining all of these parameters, 74 percent of the skulls showed asymmetric findings between the right and left orbits. In 15 percent of both orbits, the supraorbital nerve left the orbital cavity already in its two branches, the medial and lateral branch, either through a notch or a foramen, the foramen being sometimes the exit of a supraorbital canal. The average distance from the nasion to the frontal notch/foramen was 25 mm on both orbits (range 16 to 55 mm) and to the supraorbital notch/foramen 31 mm (range 20 to 49 mm). The largest vertical distance from the supraorbital rim to its farthest exit point was 19 mm. Other than what is cited in literature, the variations concerning the configuration and the distance of the exit point(s) of the supraorbital nerve were so significant that all forehead operations, especially those using endoscopic techniques, must take into account these findings.

DNA typing from stained sperm-positive vaginal smears: four rape cases.

DNA typing from stained sperm-positive vaginal smears was performed in four cases of sexual assault. In Cases 1 and 2, a 6-month-old and a 6-week-old, Papanicolaou-stained vaginal smear with 99% propanol fixation underwent DNA analysis respectively. In Case 1, the HLA-DQalpha type of the sperm fraction of the smear was able to be determined following PCR, and the possibility of the suspect being the rapist could not be excluded. In Case 2, the possibility that the suspect was the rapist in the crime was excluded based on the results of DNA typing by means of two different single-locus probes. In the remaining two cases, H-E-stained smears after air drying for 4 or 5 months were the material for DNA analysis, and DNA typing was attempted by PCR-based STR system. In Case 3, there was no genetic information from sperm fraction of the smear due to the small number of spermatozoa on the glass slide. Therefore, it was impossible to determine whether the suspect was the rapist or not. In Case 4, sperm DNA from the smear was amplified and typed, and the suspect could be excluded. These four cases demonstrate that stained vaginal smears containing many spermatozoa can be used for DNA analysis in sexual assault cases.

The diagnostic significance of haemorrhage of the posterior cricoarytenoid muscles.

A number of authors have indicated that haemorrhage of the posterior cricoarytenoid (PCA) muscles can be used as a diagnostic criterion to establish the cause of death. Other authors even consider it to be 'forensic evidence' when differentiating between natural and violent death. They agree on agonal asphyxia or dyspnoea as a developmental mechanism, possibly in combination with a 'convulsive' dilatation of the glottic cleft. In view of this difference of opinion, we conducted a study of our own. Retrospective evaluation of 2060 post-mortem examinations performed in 1996 at the Institute of Forensic Medicine of the University of Munich disclosed 28 cases demonstrating visible haemorrhage of the PCA muscles. The study revealed no correlation between these findings and certain causes of death, nor any indication of certain mechanisms of development.

[Self-castration with suicide]. / Selbstkastration im Rahmen eines Suizids.

Suicide of a 31 year old man with multiple slashes and stab wounds including complete amputation of penis, scrotum and testicles is reported. Wound patterns in genital self-mutilations are discussed. Despite serious loss of blood the reported survival periods are remarkable; death from bleeding seems to be rare. A review of similar cases shows that self-castrations as well as other self-inflicted genital mutilations are usually associated with psychiatric disorders and transsexuality or hypersexuality.