[ACN (Automatic Collision Notification)--reducing fatalities in traffic accidents by automated accident reporting]. / ACN--Reduzierung von Toten im Strassenverkehr durch automatische Unfallmeldung.

To improve patient's outcome of seriously injured occupants after vehicle accident rescue should be performed as soon as possible. While the rescue-time-period after EMS alarming is well-defined the rescue-time-period before EMS-alarm is very variable from minutes to several hours. To reduce the rescue-time-period between accident occurrence and EMS-alarm the Automatic Collision Notification (ACN) was developed. The ACN is a new invehicle-equipment which detects a severe vehicle crash and alarms via cellular phone the EMS automatically. Simultaneously the exact accident location is transmitted (GPS). Official data of the European Community predict a 15% reduction of road traffic fatalities with ACN. Thereby the economical benefit of about 561 million [symbol: see text] could be calculated for Germany 2000.

[Clarification of a break-in theft crime by multiplex PCR analysis of cigarette butts]. / Klärung eines Einbruchsdiebstahls durch Multiplex PCR Analyse von Zigarettenkippen.

This paper describes the first use of multiplex PCR amplification kits for the analysis of DNA extracted from cigarette butts in a criminal case. Two suspects could be excluded as potential contributors to the samples, whereas the multi locus PCR-based DNa profile derived from the cigarette butts was consistent with a DNA profile derived from a third suspect. For identity testing in criminal cases where cigarette butts are involved, commercially available PCR amplification kits provide currently the most powerful tool. Furthermore this PCR-based analysis can be implemented into most application orientated laboratories.

[Suspected SIDS diagnosis--van Praagh I truncus communis as a nonfatal incidental finding]. / Verdachtsdiagnose SIDS--Truncus communis van Praagh I als nicht letaler Zufallsbefund.

Autopsy of a baby suspicious to SIDS. Most interesting postmortem finding was a congenital malformation of the great vessels, a truncus arteriosus communis typus van Praagh A I. That one is very rare with a clinically frequency of only 1.7%. The malformation was not cause of death and was statistically survived for 2 months. The baby died of aspiration resultant from an incarcerated inguinal hernia.

[Causes and incidence of traffic accidents caused by precipitous disorders of consciousness and illnesses of drivers. A one year study in Upper Austria and Salzburg]. / Ursachen und Häufigkeit von Verkehrsunfällen infolge anfallsartiger Bewusstseins- bzw. Gesundheitsstörungen der Lenker. Eine einjährige Erhebung in Oberösterreich und Salzburg.

It was attempted to make a survey of all traffic accidents due to sudden disturbances of health on behalf of drivers, being supported by the police of Upper Austria and Salzburg. Only 26 out of a total amount of 53.530 road accidents were made known but the cooperation with the police did not always seem to work too well. Only in the province of Salzburg did the number of these accidents correspond with the expected frequencies of 1.3%. Most of the drivers were internally sick, cardiovascular diseases prevailing. The danger of epilepsy is generally overestimated, that of diabetes and other internal diseases rather underrated. People in general good health were also seen causing accidents due to nausea. In such cases self-endangering is twice as common as the exposure of others to danger. In the majority of the incidents only damage to property resulted. In addition it became apparent, that accidents with damage to people occurred more often in the city than in rural areas, whereas fatalities and severe injuries were more common in the country than in cities.