Maximale Blutalkoholkonzentration nach forciertem Konsum von alkoholfreiem Bier

In recent years sales of non-alcoholic beer have constantly increased. In Germany, so-called non-alcoholic beer may still have an ethanol content of up to 0.5% (by volume). This marginal amount of ethanol might have negative implications for certain groups of persons such as novice drivers. So far no reliable data regarding the blood ethanol concentration after consumption of non-alcoholic beer have been published. Therefore, a drinking experiment was performed as follows: after 5 days of abstinence from ethanol 78 test persons were asked to drink 1.5?l of non-alcoholic beer (ethanol content 0.41–0.42%) within 1?h. Blood samples were taken on a regular basis and analyzed for ethanol by headspace gas chromatography-flame ionization detection (HS-GC-FID). A total of 67 data sets could be interpreted and in 20 test persons ethanol was detected in blood with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.0005?g/l. The maximum blood ethanol concentration was 0.0056‰. The results of the study suggest that even after consumption of unrealistically high amounts of non-alcoholic beer negative forensic implications are not to be expected.     

Ruptur einer zerebralen arterioven?sen Malformation

Arteriovenous malformations are vascular anomalies characterised by the presence of an arteriovenous shunt in the absence of a normally structured capillary bed. The prevalence of manifestations in the brain is given in specialist literature with a high level of variability. Brain hemorrhages resulting from a lesion of a cerebral arteriovenous malformation and leading to sudden unexpected death are relatively seldom in forensic autopsy material. The forensic significance of this syndrome may be illustrated by the example of a 16-year-old female who was found dead in the bathroom of her parents?? home for reasons which were initially unexplained.     

Synthetische Cannabinoide

In recent years a flood of new psychoactive substances offered as “legal highs” appeared on the drugs market worldwide. In some parts of the world amphetamine-type stimulants are predominant but in Germany synthetic cannabinoids represent the bigger problem. The high dynamics which are maintained by the “cat and mouse game” of scheduling substances and the producers circumventing the regulations by adding new, chemically modified substances, poses a great challenge for both forensic science and toxicology.     

Posterior spinal cord block: a dosimetric study

To determine the optimal width of a midline posterior spinal block (MPSB) (to avoid delivering too great a dose to the cord and too small a dose to adjacent tissue), the authors determined with magnetic resonance (MR) imaging normal ranges of cord depth and width and correlated them with film dosimetric data. In 59 randomly selected patients there was a wide range for both depth and width. The average depths of the anterior and posterior surfaces of the cord were 6.7 cm +/- 1.4 and 5.4 cm +/- 1.3, respectively. The average cord width was 1.6 cm +/- 0.4. Optimal cord block width as a function of cord width was determined for a 6-MV photon beam. The optimal cord block width at the surface (half-value layer [HVL] thickness = 6) varied from 1.5 to 3.0 cm for cord widths of 0.8-2.4 cm, which correspond to two standard deviations from the average. There was no significant dependence on depth of the cord. For optimal treatment outcome, the MPSB width may have to be determined for each patient individually.     

Diagnostik des benignen Prostatasyndroms

The diagnostic work-up of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in the German guidelines consists of obligatory and optional diagnostic parameters. Recommendations for assessing LUTS include patient history, symptom questionnaires (IPSS international prostate symptoms score), physical examination, urine analysis, prostate-specific antigen, uroflowmetry, ultrasound examination of the urinary bladder, including postvoid residual urine and ultrasound examination of the upper urinary tract. Optional tests are voiding diary, pressure-flow studies, ultrasound measurement of detrusor wall thickness, urethrocystography and urethrocystoscopy. Ultrasound measurement of detrusor wall thickness in particular has a 95 % positive predictive value in diagnosing bladder outlet obstruction. With all diagnostic parameters it is possible to treat LUTS in a risk-adapted manner.     

Tissue Engineering der Harnröhre und des Harnleiters

Congenital or acquired disorders of the urethra or ureter often require adequate tissue transfer for reconstruction. A variety of biomaterials have proved to be useful in the reconstruction of the urethra or ureter in animal models and meanwhile even clinically. Innovative tissues such as acellular matrices can be placed in the host and function as a scaffold to allow the natural process of tissue regeneration. Biodegradable scaffolds can also be used as cell transplantation vehicles for the reconstruction of urethral or ureteral tissue. One of the limitations of cell-based tissue engineering techniques however is the difficulty of growing genitourinary-associated cells in large quantities in primary cultures. It can be speculated that stem cell research might help to overcome this specific problem in the future.     

Hüftarthroskopische Therapie bei veralteten extrakapsul?ren traumatischen Hüftluxationen bei Kindern

We report about the first hip arthroscopies of extracapsular neglected hip dislocations with concomitant injuries in two children (2 and 4 years old). The major problem of traumatic hip dislocation is avascular necrosis. Further problems are possible concomitant injuries. It is important not to cause further damage by therapeutic procedures. In a 4-year-old child the hip could be reduced under visualization and in a 2-year-old child with epiphyseal fracture the extent of the operation could be reduced. In both children large avulsion injuries of the ligamentum capitis femoris could be resected via hip arthroscopy. Hip arthroscopy can reduce surgical morbidity considerably and can possibly contribute to prevention of the feared avascular necrosis of the femoral head.