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Biomedical subjects

M Staak

Publications and source records attributed to M Staak.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Alcoholism detection markers in blood samples of road users.

Alcoholics as participants in road traffic are an international problem. In Germany a confiscated driving licence is only given back by the road traffic authorities to suspected alcoholics after a medico-psychological examination. The problem is: "How can alcoholics be detected among drunken road users." Traffic authorities use as a marker of alcoholism only the height of the blood alcohol concentration. The limit is a level of 1.6 g alcohol per kg blood, in some regions a level of 2.0 g/kg. Our studies show that the blood alcohol level is a very weak marker for alcoholism. Better markers are beside the GGT the alcohols methanol and isopropanol. They can be detected by congener alcohol analysis. Their concentrations are significant elevated by long-lasting drinking like it is typical for alcoholics.

1-Propanol↗
PubMed1990

[Morbidity of the drug addict].

Exact inquiries about cross-sectional dates and the pursuit of trends within the spectrum of morbidity under correct scientific conditions are essential for characterization of the epidemiological situation of the abuse of narcotics. At the moment we only have limited possibilities. In the Federal Republic of Germany we observe a remarkable increase of drug abuse, an increase of criminality connected with drug abuse, death caused by drugs and a shift to elder age-groups. The intravenous drug-addicts are considerably and increasingly burdened by hepatotropic virus infections. They show a high risk relating to the virustransfer into the younger population because of the rapidly increasing HIV-prevalence. From the insurance-medical point of view we have to consider a toxicological investigation of the current abuse of narcotics besides a clinical diagnostic including a virological status.

Cross-Sectional Studies↗
PubMed1990

[Expansion of the physician's responsibility in patient education].

The Federal Supreme Court binds jointly treating physicians to mutual control. The further treating physician engages to inform his patients about misdiagnosis. Security information of the patient has priority over self protection and loyalty towards one's colleagues. However no common duty to denunciation of secure or supposed incorrect treatments is established.

Down Syndrome↗
PubMed1990

[Methanol and isopropanol as markers of alcoholism].

Car-drivers, who lost their licence on account of drunkeness, must be tested if the danger of alcoholism exists. The only criterion for this check is the level of bloodalcohol during this case. This check happens mostly one year later. It is proposed to analyse the blood sample immediately after measuring bloodalcohol for markers of chronic or acute abuse to differ alcoholics from persons consuming alcoholic beverages in normal mode.

1-Propanol↗
PubMed1990

[Possibilities for individual identification of hair roots using DNA probes].

High-molecular weight DNA was extracted from hair roots. The obtained DNA was digested with Hae III and Msp I and transferred to nylon membranes by Southern blotting. The possibility of applying a probe for sex determination (pHY2.1) a "single-locus"-probe (YNH24) as well as a "multi-locus"-probe (M13) was examinated as a function of the amount of hair being supplied. In the laboratory experiment a single hair root was enough for a sex determination or individual identification. Because of methodical difficulties in practice this kind of profiling should only be done with several hair roots.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

[Density of immunoreactive cells in the spleen in drug fatalities].

66 autopsied drug-related death cases in the Institute of Legal Medicine of Cologne of the years 1979 to 1989 were morphologically examined to get information whether cytological investigations of the spleen reveal a damage of the immune system. The weights of the spleen were registered and immunoreactive cells, i.e. macrophages, B- and T-lymphocytes, were quantitative counted. Neither a significant alteration of the weights of the spleen nor an important change of the density of the immunoreactive cells could be registered.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

[Chemical-toxicologic studies of the epidemiology of drug use (1.)].

During a long term program we secured when possible blood from a femoral vein of dead bodies. Until now 207 cases which were not selected have been investigated. The analyses were performed by high pressure liquid chromatography to prove extractable as well as by gas chromatography to determine volatile substances. These results are represented and correlated with the investigation of the CID or the Department of Public Prosecution respectively and with the results of autopsies if available and discussed.

Cause of Death↗
PubMed1989

DNA extraction from bloodstains in respect to age and stained substrate.

The amount and the quality of DNA that could be extracted from bloodstains equivalent to 200 microliters blood were examined after 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18 and 21 days of storage under dry or humid conditions at room temperature. DNA was also extracted from two days old 200 microliters bloodstains on different stain carriers. The amount of DNA that could be extracted showed a dependency on all the parameters that were examined. On carriers with a rough surface structure, where the blood can soak in, the resolving of leukocytes was impaired and the DNA recovery rate was low, e.g. carpeting and suede. The DNA yield was higher for substrates with a smooth surface, e.g. paper, glass and smooth leather. The aging experiments revealed that for the stains stored under dry conditions, there was no decrease in the DNA yield for stains on glass, while the amount of DNA that could be extracted became less for older stains on cotton. Under humid conditions the DNA yield was high and did not decrease for both glass and cotton fabric. The quality of the DNA was not impaired by aging or storage conditions, but for several stain carriers the DNA was contaminated by chemical substances which inhibited restriction enzyme digestion and successful DNA-typing.

Aging↗
PubMed1989

Results of toxicological investigations of poisonings with atropine and scopolamine.

Lethal poisonings with alkaloids are rarely observed in the Federal Republic of Germany. We had however to investigate a case of poisoning with atropine and another with scopolamine during the last few years. The analysis was carried out with GC-MS and HPLC. Concentrations of the active substance on different organs of the body are represented. Thus the amount of alkaloid being taken is deduced. Cause of death is discussed by means of literature data.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1989

[Comparison of various immunologic methods with a GC-MS analysis in cannabinoid detection in urine].

60 urine samples which were sent within one month in order to be investigated on narcotic drugs were examined by means of 3 immunological methods EMIT, TDx and EIA (Roche) to prove cannabinoids and GC/MS procedure to investigate 11-Nor-delta-9-THC-9-carboxylic acid with 11-Nor-delta-8-THC-9-carboxylic acid as an internal standard. 50 of 51 cases which were proved to be positive by EMIT were confirmed by chromatography and were positive by the EIA method too. With TDx 40 of these cases corresponded one sample could not be measured. The applicability of the special immunological procedures to carry out quantitative analysis of the 11-Nor-delta-9-THC-carboxylic acid are presented.

Cannabinoids↗
PubMed1989

[Methodologic variants of DNA blood stain analysis: extraction in agarose and digoxigenin marking].

DNA was extracted from 1 microliter bloodstains on glass, cotton cloth and paper using proteinase K digestion in a solution containing low gelling temperature agarose. This method is advantageous for small amounts of source material because the purifying procedures of other methods that contain a risk of loss of DNA, are avoided. The recovered DNA was digested with Hae III and after Southern blotting, a Digoxigenin labeled probe (Amprobe, human Y-chromosome specific repeat) was successfully used for sex determination. With this non-radioactive method quantities of DNA smaller than 1.5 pg were detected.

Blood Grouping and Crossmatching↗
PubMed1989

[Ethanol and isopropanol consumption].

Drinking tests with isopropanol or isopropanol and ethanol, in which blood levels were measured over some hours, have not yet been described in literature. Pharmacokinetic parameters like decomposition rate, distribution volume or distribution factor were calculated. The results of these tests are discussed also in their reliance to clinical treatment of intoxications.

1-Propanol↗