Ethical and legal consideration of prisoner's hunger strike in Serbia.

Hunger strike of prisoners and detainees remains a major human rights and ethical issue for medical professionals. We are reporting on a case of a 48-year-old male sentenced prisoner, intravenous heroin user, who went on a hunger strike and died 15 days later. Throughout the fasting period, the prisoner, who was capable of decision making, refused any medical examination. Autopsy findings were not supporting prolonged starvation, while toxicology revealed benzodiazepines and opiates in blood and urine. Cause of death was given as "heroin intoxication" in keeping with detection of 6-MAM. Legal and ethical issues pertinent to medical examination and treatment of prisoners on hunger strike are explored in accordance with legislation and professional ethical standards in Serbia. A recommendation for the best autopsy practice in deaths following hunger strike has been made.

Ethanol and magnesium suppress nickel-induced bursting activity in leech Retzius nerve cells.

In the present study we have examined effects of ethanol and magnesium on Ni(2+)-induced bursting of leech Retzius cells. Saline with 3 mmol/l NiCl2 induced spontaneous bursting activity, characterized by rapid depolarizations to a plateau level during which bursts of action potentials occurred. To test for the mechanism of bursting initiation external Na+ was completely removed. Removal of external Na(+) in presence of 3 mmol/l NiCl2 terminated the bursting activity. Application of 2% ethanol solution significantly decreased the bursting frequency, duration and amplitude of depolarization plateaus, and the number of spikes per plateau. Solution containing 10 mmol/l Mg2+ almost completely abolished the oscillatory activity of the neurons and completely suppressed action potential generation. We conclude that ethanol and magnesium suppress Ni(2+)-induced epileptic activity.