Self-constructed shooting devices utilizing manually-impacted firing-pins (suicide machines)

Three cases of suicide are described where deaths were due to single gunshot wounds to the head from self-constructed shooting devices. The victims were twin brothers aged 27 years, and a 53-year-old male. The firearms were manufactured by the victims who used machined metal tubes with 12-gauge shotgun and 7.65 mm ammunition, respectively. The mechanism of action in all cases relied upon direct impact on the firing pin rod; with a hammer in 2 cases, and a rock in the third. Homemade firearms are manufactured globally for use in criminal activities, although they tend to be found more often in countries and among groups where there is limited access to commercially manufactured weapons due to economic or legal constraints. Most devices use either a standard sprung hammer or trigger mechanisms. Given the unusual and cumbersome nature of the firing mechanism in the reported cases, it is likely that these firearms were specifically manufactured for the purpose of suicide.Sven Hartwig, Michael Tsokos, Sven Schmidt and Roger W. Byar

Culture of sea bass larvae (<i>Dicentrarchus labrax</i>) in completely closed recirculation systems with artificial seawater

Sea bass larvae (Dicentrarchus labrax) were cultured under laboratory conditions in "completely"-closed recirculation systems with artificial seawater. Daily measurements ensured that the quality of the water was always under control. A 3-year survey of the bacterial population in this system, revealed on the one hand, the permanent presence of Vibrio alginolyticus and Pseudomonas species and, on the other heand, a low bacterial concentration during the first 30 days of the rearing period. After 3 years of investigation, a larval survival of 22% was obtained at day 45. The growth rate was similar to that reported by other investigations (18.4mm at day 45). The major problems were: absence of swimbladder, swimbladder hypertrophy and a spinning movement syndrome or whirling disease

Sushi, Fish & Parasites

Farming yellowtail in Japan is big business and cultivation of the closely related kingfish in South Australia is rapidly emerging as a local industry. But parasites can affect productivity, and solving parasite problems is important in this rapidly growing industry, write Ian Whittington, Ingo Ernst, Serge Corneillie and Clive Talbot

Infections of Seriola quinqueradiata Temminck & Schlegel and S. dumerili (Risso) in Japan by Benedenia seriolae (Monogenea) confirmed by morphology and 28S ribosomal DNA analysis

The definitive version is available at www.blackwell-synergy.comI D Whittington, S Corneillie, C Talbot, J A T Morgan and R D Adlar

Stimulation of thyroid function by several pituitary hormones results in an increase in plasma thyroxine and reverse triiodothyronine in tilapia (Tilapia nilotica)

In this study, intravenous injection of several doses of porcine follicle stimulating hormone (pFSH: 0.002, 0.01, 0.05, and 0.5 μg/g body wt), bovine TSH (bTSH: 0.5 μg/g body wt), and ovine growth hormone (oGH: 0.04, 0.02, and 0.4 μg/g body wt) stimulated an increase in plasma thyroxine (T4) and reverse triiodothyronine (rT3) in tilapia. This effect occurred in a dose-dependent manner. pFSH was the most potent in stimulating thyroid function. The dose of 0.002 μg pFSH/g body wt increased plasma levels of T4 over control levels (2.59 ± 0.16 ng/ml) about 2.5-fold within 4 hr, whereas a concentration of 0.5 μg/g body wt caused a great and prolonged increase of T4 and rT3 levels. Control levels (2.59 ± 0.16 ng/ml for T4 and 40.37 ± 8.60 pg/ml for rT3) were increased 19- and 22-fold respectively, over 24 hr. An increase of T4 and rT3 levels occurred also after injection of total hypophyseal extract and a Con A II glycoprotein fraction of a tilapia pituitary homogenate, whereas the protein fraction failed to alter plasma concentrations of T4 and rT3. rT3 levels were also significantly increased at 2 hr, but not at 1 hr, after injection of T4. Basal T3 levels (1.90 ± 0.22 ng/ml) were reduced by half over 24 hr in all experiments. These results suggest the existence, in tilapia, of a 5-D pathway deiodination of T4 which is pituitary independent. Stimulation of T4 release is always followed by an increase in plasma rT3 levels.status: publishe

Chronological appearance of the different hypophyseal hormones in the pituitary of sea bass larvae (Dicentrarchus labrax) during their early development: an immunocytochemical demonstration

Antisera raised against chum salmon prolactin (PRL), rainbow trout growth hormone (GH), mammalian adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), and luteinizing hormone (LH) were used to study the chronological appearance of immunoreactivity for PRL, GH, ACTH, TSH, LH, and melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH) in the pituitary of sea bass larvae (Dicentrarchus labrax) during the first 26 days after hatching. The anti-ACTH gives positive immunostaining in the ACTH cells as well as in the MSH cells; however, the two cell types can easily be distinguished by their different localization in the pituitary: ACTH in the rostral pars distalis, MSH in the pars intermedia. The first day after hatching cells immunoreactive for TSH, GH and ACTH could already be noticed, ACTH reacted strong in the pars intermedia but very weak in the rostral pars distalis. Cells immunopositive for PRL became visible between Days 9 and 15. With anti-LH, no positive reaction could be obtained during the first 26 days after hatching.status: publishe