Forensic science international
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Historical Article
Forensic medicine in the German Democratic Republic.
Forensic medicine services were resumed in the territory of the Soviet occupation zone in early summer 1945. One coherent legal system was established, following the foundation of the German Democratic Republic (GDR), 7 October 1949. ⋯ The Gesellschaft für Gerichtliche Medizin der DDR (GDR Society of Forensic Medicine) was established in 1967 and began to organise with high continuity a wide-ranging variety of scientific events. Almost all administrative districts had their own institute of forensic medicine by 1990.
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Historical Article
100 Years of toxicology in the German Society of Legal Medicine.
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Colchicine overdose is uncommon but potentially life threatening because of the high toxicity of the drug. Poisoning by colchicine may occur following ingestion of medication used in acute attacks of gout and inflammatory diseases. We describe two cases involving suicide by the ingestion of medications marketed in France. ⋯ Even after massive overdose, it could be impossible to detect colchicine in blood, and as there is a widespread enterohepatic recirculation before excretion in bile and feces, bile is the target sample to analyse. We conclude in both cases that the cause of death was suicide with colchicine. It appears very important to perform an autopsy in order to obtain bile, urine, heart blood and femoral blood.
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Since 1998, driving under the influence of drugs such as amphetamine, MDMA, MDE, cannabis, cocaine, heroine and morphine is sanctioned due to Section 24a of the Road Traffic Regulations of Germany. Therefore, from December 2000 to June 2002 altogether 751 roadside tests with the immunochemical test device Toxiquick were conducted on 302 drivers (273 male and 29 female) on oral fluid samples obtained during control actions in Franconia. ⋯ In general, in 75% the roadside test produced correct results and therefore gave helpful assistance to the police officers into the right direction regarding drug abuse. Except for cannabinoids, the number of false negative results was relatively small, whereas false positive results ranged between 32.2% for opiates and 10.7% for benzoylecgonine.