MedWorm.com provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest items from the 'Legal Medicine' source. Tue, 07 Feb 2012 01:05:07 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5594455&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622311001490%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes (Source: Legal Medicine) Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5594455 Sun, 01 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100 5594455 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5594460&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622311001386%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Although some previous studies have reported patients who developed compartment syndrome or died because of locally applied negative pressure, no detailed investigation of pathologic changes caused by negative pressure-induced injury has been reported in the literature. The main purpose of this study was to examine the morphologic characteristics of injury caused by local negative pressure and correlate these with systemic changes. A total of 30 male Wister rats were used. Animals were randomly assigned to 6 groups. Negative pressure was applied to the right hindlimb of each animal in each group for periods of 0 (sham-operated), 30, 60, 90, 120, or 180min using a vacuum pump. Macroscopic and microscopic changes induced by local negative pressure were already observed after 30min ... Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5594460 Wed, 28 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5594460 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5594457&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622311001155%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: To protect children from abuse, it is important to identify victims at an early date, but diagnosis is often difficult. We used ultrasonography for objective examination of bruises arising from subcutaneous hemorrhages, and determined whether we could precisely measure the depth and thickness of a subcutaneous hemorrhage. We compared macroscopic findings, microscopic findings and ultrasonographic images of 10 bruises in forensic autopsy cases. In addition, we measured chronologic changes in subcutaneous hemorrhages using ultrasonography of 16 bruises in healthy volunteer children. Mild or moderate subcutaneous hemorrhages spreading along the fibrous partition in subcutaneous fatty tissue were observed by histological examination. There was a thickened fibrous partition or an isoe... Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5594457 Thu, 22 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5594457 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5594465&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622311001350%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: The identification of menstrual blood is important when discriminating menstruation from vaginal trauma in sexual assault cases. The aim of this study was to evaluate two fibrin–fibrinogen degradation product (FDP)-latex agglutination test kits, FDPL® Test (FDP-L) and FDP Plasma “RD” (FDP-P), for their ability to forensically identify menstrual blood. Sensitivity and specificity of the two kits were compared for menstrual blood and various body fluids, and the sensitivity of the FDP-latex agglutination test kit was also compared with that of an immunochromatographic test for human hemoglobin. The robustness of the FDP-latex agglutination test was compared with that of gene expression analysis of menstrual blood specific markers. The FDP-L kit was more sensitive than the FD... Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5594465 Wed, 21 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5594465 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5594463&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622311001143%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: DNA transfer and its possible role in explaining the presence of a biological sample at a crime scene is becoming more prevalent in criminal investigations and related court proceedings. To assist understanding of DNA transfer and assess the extent to which we can utilise already available information regarding transfer of DNA we compare transfer rates determined from mock multi-step transfer scenarios with transfer rates predicted by the application of currently available transfer rate data. The transfer results obtained from the scenarios tested were, in some instances, different (both lower and higher rates) from those predicted. These discrepancies are most likely the result of the impact of as yet untested variables. These may include the variations in substrate type, transf... Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5594463 Wed, 21 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5594463 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5594464&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622311001349%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: ABO grouping of biological specimens is informative for identifying victims and narrowing down suspects. In Japan and elsewhere, ABO grouping as well as DNA profiling plays an essential role in crime investigations. In the present study, we developed a new method for ABO genotyping using allele-specific primers and real-time PCR. The method allows for the detection of three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at nucleotide positions 261, 796, and 803 in the ABO gene and the determination of six major ABO genotypes. This method required less than 2h for accurate ABO genotyping using 2.0ng of DNA. This method could be applicable for rapid and simple screening of forensic samples. (Source: Legal Medicine) Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5594464 Mon, 19 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5594464 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5594462&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622311001131%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: The DNA extraction performance of three low-throughput extraction systems was evaluated. The instruments and respective chemistries all use a similar extraction methodology that involves binding DNA to a coated magnetic resin in the presence of chaotropic salt, washing of the resin to remove undesirable compounds, and elution of DNA from the particles in a low-salt solution. The AutoMate Express™ (Life Technologies Corporation, Carlsbad, CA), EZ1® Advanced XL (Qiagen Inc., Valencia, CA), and Maxwell® 16 (Promega Corporation, Madison, WI) were compared using a variety of samples including: blood on swabs, blood on denim, blood on cotton, blood mixed with inhibitors (a mixture of indigo, hematin, humic acid, and urban dust) on cotton, blood on FTA® paper, saliva residue on cig... Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5594462 Mon, 19 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5594462 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5594459&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622311001374%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Isopropyl alcohol (IPA) is widely used as an industrial solvent and cleaning fluid. After ingestion or absorption, IPA is converted into acetone by alcohol dehydrogenase. However, in ketosis, acetone can be reduced to IPA. The aim of this study was to investigate blood IPA and acetone concentrations in a series of 400 medico-legal autopsies, including cases of diabetic ketoacidosis, hypothermia and alcohol misuse-related deaths, to illustrate the extent of ketosis at the time of death. Vitreous glucose, blood 3-β-hydroxybutyrate (3HB) and acetoacetate (AcAc) concentrations were also determined systematically. Additionally, vitreous and urine IPA, acetone, 3HB and AcAc concentrations as well as other biochemical markers, including glycated hemoglobin and carbohydrate-deficient tr... Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5594459 Mon, 19 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5594459 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5594458&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622311001337%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: We selected 16 new X chromosomal SNPs (rs4827155, rs471205, rs7884160, rs16982419, rs985251, rs3813932, rs6630351, rs4132871, rs5966270, rs7471388, rs6641116, rs6521038, rs5990560, rs5959408, rs414960, and rs3006142) and developed the two X chromosomal SNPs Octaplex systems using multiplex single base extension reactions. To make the systems more useful for analyzing degraded DNA samples, we designed primers to render amplicons of 100bp or shorter (shorter PCR products). Statistical analyses of the 16 SNPs indicated a high usefulness for the Japanese forensic practice. In addition, results of tests on degraded DNA confirm the usefulness of this technique in such samples. (Source: Legal Medicine) Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5594458 Mon, 19 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5594458 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5594461&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622311001362%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: The aim of this work is to present some practical, postmortem biochemistry applications to illustrate the usefulness of this discipline and reassert the importance of carrying out biochemical investigations as an integral part of the autopsy process. Five case reports are presented pertaining to diabetic ketoacidosis in an adult who was not known to suffer from diabetes and in presence of multiple psychotropic substances; fatal flecainide intoxication in a poor metabolizer also presenting an impaired renal function; diabetic ketoacidosis showing severe postmortem changes; primary aldosteronism presented with intracranial hemorrhage and hypothermia showing severe postmortem changes. The cases herein presented can be considered representative examples of the importance of postmorte... Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5594461 Fri, 16 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5594461 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5356344&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622311001180%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes (Source: Legal Medicine) Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5356344 Fri, 28 Oct 2011 11:14:24 +0100 5356344 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5356351&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622311001106%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Traumatic lung herniation through the superior thoracic aperture rarely occurs. In this case report we present a motor vehicle accident of a 40year old male victim with cervical lung herniation. After an enormous blunt trauma to the chest, the disrupted and lacerated lung tissue left the thoracic cavity and was pushed into the laryngeal and oral cavity. Extrathoracic post-traumatic lung herniation through the thoracic inlet and connective tissue spaces of the neck into the oral cavity is a unique complication of blunt trauma to the chest, and the post-mortem medico-legal investigations may collect more information about this phenomenon. (Source: Legal Medicine) Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5356351 Mon, 17 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5356351 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5594456&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622311001118%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes We examined 63 cases within 48h of the postmortem interval, which included assaults, slips and falls and falls from heights, traffic accidents, and sharp instrumental injuries. Immunohistochemically, each kidney was stained against hemoglobin (Hb), myoglobin (Mb), superoxide dismutase (SOD), 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), 150kDa oxygen regulated protein (ORP150), pulmonary surfactant A (SP-A), and liver-type fatty acid binding protein (L-FABP). Bleeding or circulatory failure induced ORP150, 8-OHdG, and L-FABP in the kidney. Statistical analysis of the immunoreactivity revealed that in battered and/or abused cases, Hb could be considered a specific marker. Hb and Mb were observed in the cases with general severe trauma, such as slips and falls and falls from heights. In traffic ac... Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5594456 Fri, 14 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5594456 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5356350&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622311001088%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes We report a case of sudden death during exercise in a juvenile. This case showed fatty replacement of the right ventricular wall, which suggests that ARVC may have been associated with the cause of death. Further genetic analysis showed a novel homozygous R292C substitution of the desmoglein-2 gene (DSG2), which encodes a desmosomal protein. In addition to morphological examination, genetic analysis may be useful for diagnosis of ARVC-suspected autopsy cases. (Source: Legal Medicine) Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5356350 Fri, 14 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5356350 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5356346&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS134462231100112X%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Conclusion: HHGV is a common PMCT finding. Clear HHGV on PMCT was related to higher level of fibrinogen in non-traumatic in-hospital death cases. (Source: Legal Medicine) Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5356346 Fri, 14 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5356346 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5356345&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS134462231100109X%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes In this study, we investigated the latest results of medicolegal deaths in the Tokyo Metropolis, which is composed of areas with and without the medical examiner system, and compared the results of inquests performed by official medical examiners with those by medical practitioners to re-evaluate the effectiveness of the medical examiner system for the Japanese death inquiry system.Methods: By using death certificates as inquest records in the Tokyo Metropolis, 2010, we made a comparison of the autopsy rates, causes of death and the numbers of death certificates containing defects between the inquests performed by official medical examiners and those by medical practitioners.Results: Age distributions and male to female ratios were not different between the two groups. The autopsy rate of ... Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5356345 Fri, 14 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5356345 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5356348&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622311000885%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: South American camelids comprise the wild species guanaco and vicuña and their respective domestic relatives llama and alpaca. The aim of the present study was to determine by DNA analysis to which of these species belong a herd of camelids confiscated from a llama breeder but alleged to be alpacas by the prosecution, and to evaluate the usefulness of mitochondrial and autosomal DNA markers to solve judicial cases involving camelid taxa. Cytochrome b and cytochrome oxidase I mitochondrial genes and 7 STR were analyzed in 25 confiscated samples. Mitochondrial results were inconclusive because 18 of the sequestered samples presented haplotypes that corresponded to the guanaco haplogroup and the remaining seven belonged to a vicuña linage. Microsatellite data of casework samples a... Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5356348 Mon, 10 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5356348 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5356347&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622311000861%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: A 53-year-old man was found dead after a fire at his residence had been extinguished. Although a pistol was recovered beside the body, external examination was unable to indicate any gunshot wound because of severe charring of the body. Postmortem computed tomography (CT) scan performed prior to autopsy suggested an entrance gunshot wound in the posterior pharynx with loss of soft tissue and an internal bullet path through the right anterior and posterior parts of the occipital bone. Autopsy revealed an entrance gunshot wound with hemorrhage in the soft tissue of the posterior pharynx, massive contusion of the right occipital lobe, and subarachnoid hemorrhage in the right temporal lobe, both occipital lobes and the superior surface of the left cerebellar hemisphere, thus being co... Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5356347 Mon, 10 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5356347 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5356356&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS134462231100085X%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes This study allows the identification of forensic efficiency parameters to be used in forensic genetics and to explore the genetic similarities between Nayarit and the neighboring countries such as Mexico, Brazil, Puerto Rico, Guatemala, Honduras, Bolivia and Costa Rica. The Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium, expected heterozygosity, matching probability, and power of discrimination, were calculated in the Nayarit population. We found that with respect to the studied markers, Nayarit genetic structure is homogeneous. In this study, it is established that Nayarit is genetically similar to the South American Mestizo population. The distribution of a set of these 15 STRs was analyzed with other South American populations as well as in the extensive set of neighboring populations from the literature... Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5356356 Mon, 26 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5356356 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5356352&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622311000836%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes In this study, a simple trypsin method for cleaning bone samples prior to DNA isolation was developed. Cleaning the surface of human bone samples was achieved by the application of trypsin solution. Light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy results indicated that trypsin treatment was effective in removing the outer surface of bone samples. The yield of DNA isolated from trypsin-treated bone samples was sufficient for subsequent short tandem repeat (STR) analysis. STR analysis revealed no adverse effect on the DNA profile after the trypsin treatment. The data suggest that this trypsin method can potentially be an alternative cleaning method to mechanical cleaning methods. (Source: Legal Medicine) Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5356352 Fri, 23 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5356352 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5356355&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622311001076%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Conclusion: We showed that CT values of the thyroid decreased after death. (Source: Legal Medicine) Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5356355 Thu, 22 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5356355 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5356354&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622311000873%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Magnetic resonance imaging thermometry has been introduced as a technique for measurement of temperature changes in cooling dead rats. Rat pelvic magnetic resonance images were acquired sequentially more than 2h after euthanasia by halothane overdose. A series of temperature difference maps in cooling dead rats was obtained with calculating imaging phase changes induced by the water proton frequency shift caused by temperature changes. Different cooling processes were monitored by the temperature difference maps in the rats. Magnetic resonance imaging thermometry applied in the study of laboratory animals could theoretically reproduce a variety of causes of death with different environmental conditions. Outcomes from experimental animal studies could be translated into a temperat... Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5356354 Thu, 22 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5356354 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5356353&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622311000848%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes We examined expression levels of statherin and histatin, peptides which are commonly found in saliva, in nasal and vaginal secretions by real-time RT-PCR and ELISA assays. Statherin mRNA was highly expressed in all nasal samples (dCt value=−1.49±1.10, n=8) and was detected even in 1-day-old 0.1-μL stains. However, the stability of mRNA in nasal stains was significantly (P (Source: Legal Medicine) Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5356353 Thu, 22 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5356353 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5356349&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622311001064%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: A female infant was found unresponsive at home. The mother alleged that she delivered the baby at home 13days prior to the death. The mother did not have any prenatal examinations during the pregnancy and the infant was not examined by a doctor until death. The autopsy revealed that the cause of death was hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) and the infant’s chest showed bilateral breast enlargement. Forensic pathologists may encounter very rare pathological findings with unexpected infant deaths. Some, like HLHS, are serious congenital heart defects related to the cause of death, and others are unique phenomena unrelated to the cause of death such as breast swelling and discharge called “witch’s milk.” In this case, we observed both findings. (Source: Legal Medicine) Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5356349 Thu, 22 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5356349 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5174257&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622311000915%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes (Source: Legal Medicine) Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5174257 Tue, 30 Aug 2011 03:47:12 +0100 5174257 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5174266&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622311000812%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes In this study, we could approximate the population frequency of AMELY negative males in 1230 individuals from five states of Mexico (0.081%). For the sole AMELY negative male detected, we constructed a deletion map by means of 10 markers (7 STS and 3 Y-STRs). This allowed classifying the case into the most common category (Class I deletion), according to the nomenclature proposed by Jobling et al. (2007). Interestingly, the Mexican sample was R1a1∗, a Y-chromosome haplogroup non-previously reported for AMELY negative cases. The geographic distribution of R1a1∗, and the Y-STR haplotype similarity with a reported case from Slovenia, suggests an Eastern-Europe paternal origin for this case from Mexico. To our knowledge, this is the first report in Latin America that implies a low populati... Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5174266 Sun, 07 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5174266 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5174265&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622311000800%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes We report a case of homicidal hanging of a young Sikh individual found hanging in a well. It became evident from the results of forensic autopsy that the victim had first been given alcohol mixed with pesticides and then hanged by his turban from a well. The rare combination of lynching (homicidal hanging) and use of organo-phosporous pesticide poisoning as a means of homicide are discussed in this paper. (Source: Legal Medicine) Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5174265 Sun, 07 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5174265 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5174263&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622311000782%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes This report illustrates the fact that a combination of biochemical and immunohistochemical investigations can be useful for diagnosing this condition in cases with evident postmortem changes. (Source: Legal Medicine) Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5174263 Sun, 07 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5174263 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5174262&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622311000770%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: A deceased 23year old female was repatriated from a 3rd world country in a deeply frozen state as no conventional mortuary refrigeration was available. Prior to her death the deceased had complained of abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting followed by collapse. She was unable to be resuscitated. Postmortem CT scanning on arrival at our mortuary (105h after death) revealed a large volume hemoperitoneum in two distinct forms. In the pelvis, uniform hyperdense material with a mean Hounsfield unit (HU) density of 74, encircled the uterus and Fallopian tubes. In the upper abdomen there was a highly unusual appearance of multiple, thin, parallel and intersecting linear structures having a mean HU density of −10 to 10 within more dense, dependent material (mean HU density of 50) around ... Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5174262 Sun, 07 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5174262 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5174261&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622311000824%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: The number of deaths related to drugs of abuse makes necessary the use of an on-site test for those cases in which a rapid detection of the consumed drug is required. Cozart® DDS test provides a simple, fast and reliable tool for the qualitative on-site analysis in post-mortem blood. Owing that this test is prepared for oral fluid samples, a validation becomes essential in order to use it for a different matrix than the established one. According to that, results obtained by Cozart® DDS test used in post-mortem blood samples have been compared with a qualitative gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC/MS/MS). Positive results for cocaine family compounds (COC-F) were 43.75%, for opiates family compounds (OPI-F) 25.78%, and for cannabis family compounds (THC-F) 2.34%. Negativ... Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5174261 Sun, 07 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5174261 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5174264&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622311000794%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes We present a case of asphyxial death by plastic-bag suffocation with additional detection of diethyl ether in autopsy specimens. Autopsy initially failed to reveal the cause of death. Macroscopic and microscopic findings as well as subsequent toxicological examination procedures and results are pointed out in the present case report. Headspace gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (HS-GC–FID) coupled with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC–MS) proved to be the method of choice for fast and reliable analysis of unknown highly volatile substances (other than blood alcohol). In this case the detection of diethyl ether in autopsy specimens led to further investigations by the police at the death scene. During these investigations a bottle bearing a diethyl ether label wa... Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5174264 Mon, 01 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5174264 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5174260&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622311000757%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Buckle rib fractures are incomplete fractures involving the inner cortex alone, and are rarely detected on routine chest X-ray or at autopsy. The characteristics of these fractures have not been well evaluated in situ although they are commonly observed on postmortem CT images especially following CPR. The postmortem CT findings in 42 cases showing buckle rib fractures caused by CPR were reviewed. The cause of death in all cases was non-traumatic. The shape, number, location, and distribution of these buckle rib fractures and their relationship to other types of rib fractures were evaluated using a novel oblique axial multiplanar reconstruction technique. Almost all incomplete rib fractures associated with CPR are buckle rib fractures (90.5%). All rib fractures were distributed f... Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5174260 Wed, 27 Jul 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5174260 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5174269&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622311000745%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes We read with interest this case report on the use of postmortem CT for detection of a foreign body in the upper airway of a deceased person that had been intermed for over 1year . (Source: Legal Medicine) Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5174269 Wed, 22 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5174269 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5174268&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622311000769%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Identification of diatoms from human or animal tissue may be affected by factors concerning techniques of extraction and analysis which cause fragmentation or loss of diatoms. In this brief technical note a novel efficient method of extraction of diatoms from animal tissues is presented. The authors have tested an H2O2 plus HCl and HCl method to detect diatoms in several tissues from pig immersed in water rich in diatoms; they have also compared this method to other methods of extraction including enzymatic ones. The experiment showed that all siliceous frustules of fresh water diatoms are resistant to the treatment proposed and are still recognizable after the digestion.Among the different tests, treatment by 20% HCl (T1) proved to be more simple and time-saving, and seems to be... Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5174268 Sun, 19 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5174268 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5174267&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622311000538%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: The identification of sperm at the scene of a sexual crime is important evidence that can be used to prove that a crime took place. We used the new genome profiling (GP) method in this study to identify sperm and vaginal fluid from RNA extracted from bodily fluids. We randomly amplified genes via a PCR approach from these semen and vaginal fluid samples and performed temperature gradient gel electrophoresis between 15–65°C. We identified specific species identification dots (spiddos) for semen and vaginal fluid. The results showed that the GP method is effective for the identification of bodily fluids at the scene of a sex crime. (Source: Legal Medicine) Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5174267 Sun, 19 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5174267 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5174259&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS134462231100054X%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB), cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and myoglobin (Mb) are biochemical markers of myocardial injury; however, Mb is more abundant in skeletal muscles. The present study involved analysis of these markers in pericardial and cerebrospinal fluids (PCF and CSF) from serial medicolegal autopsy cases (n=295, within 48h) to examine their efficacy in determining the cause of death. Although these markers showed a slight postmortem time-dependent elevation, except for CK-MB in CSF, the distribution depended on the cause of death. Mb levels in PCF and CSF were higher in fatal hyperthermia (heat stroke) and methamphetamine abuse, and CK-MB in both fluids was also higher in the latter. In psychotropic drug intoxication, CK-MB, cTnI and Mb were higher in PCF, but only cTnI w... Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5174259 Sun, 19 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5174259 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5174258&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622311000526%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Several chlorpromazine (CPZ)-related deaths have been suspected in forensic autopsies but these are difficult to identify precisely because only low concentrations of CPZ can usually be detected. Patients on CPZ therapy exhibit various cardiovascular diseases, such as arrhythmia and cardiomyopathy. As our previous study revealed that CPZ administration affects the expression of immediate early genes that are induced before any other genes, we expected that CPZ probably affects the heart and, in particular, the gene expression in heart. CPZ changes tumor necrosis factor (TNF) production. After stimulation of TNF, the Janus kinase signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK-STAT) signaling pathway is activated via TNF receptor (TNF-R), and the pathway participates in the ... Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5174258 Thu, 16 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5174258 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4883052&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622311000514%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes The Department of Forensic Medicine was established in Dubai in 1980, within the Dubai Police General Head Quarters. Initially, the staff consisted of one forensic medical examiner and few clerking personnel. For two years, the department occupied a temporary building, which has facility for examination of clinical cases, i.e. injuries, age assessment and sexual crimes. Postmortem examinations were carried out in a basic mortuary at the nearby hospital. (Source: Legal Medicine) Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4883052 Wed, 01 Jun 2011 00:41:40 +0100 4883052 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4883039&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622311000575%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes (Source: Legal Medicine) Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4883039 Wed, 01 Jun 2011 00:41:35 +0100 4883039 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4883049&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622311000502%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes We report an autopsy case of postmortem ethanol diffusion into the cardiac blood after aspiration of wood chips, although antemortem ethanol consumption was not evident. A man in his twenties, who was loading a truck with small wood chips in a hot, humid storehouse, was accidentally buried in a heap of chips. At the time the body was discovered, 20h after the accident, rectal temperature was 36°C. Autopsy showed the cause of death to be asphyxia due to obstruction of the airway by aspiration of wood chips. The ethanol and n-propanol levels were significantly higher in the lungs (left, 0.603 and 0.009mg/g; right, 0.571 and 0.006mg/g) than in other tissues. A significant difference in ethanol concentration was observed between the left cardiac blood (0.243mg/g) and the right femoral blood (... Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4883049 Wed, 18 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4883049 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4883048&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622311000459%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes In this study, we examined forensic autopsy specimens to determine whether DNA methylation status in the promoter regions of nine circadian clock genes (Per1, Per2, Per3, Cry1, Cry2, Bmal1, Clock, Tim, and Ck1e) is related to a change in acquired diathesis and/or causes of death. Methylation-specific PCR and direct sequencing methods revealed that the promoters of Per1, Cry2, Bmal1, Clock, and Ck1e were unmethylated in all the forensic autopsy specimens, while the promoters of Per2, Per3, Cry1, and Tim were partially methylated. Methylation status varied between individuals and between tissues in the same patient. A detailed analysis of methylation patterns in the Cry1 promoter region revealed that the patterns also varied between individuals and the Cry1 promoter had highly methylated pat... Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4883048 Wed, 18 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4883048 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4883051&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622311000496%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes This study confirmed that these two East Asian-specific alleles are characteristic of northern and central-southern East Asian populations. (Source: Legal Medicine) Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4883051 Wed, 11 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4883051 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4883044&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622311000484%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: We assessed the plankton levels using the diatom test in the lungs and organs of the circulatory system of nine postmortem cases of bathwater drowning and one case of death due to ischemic heart disease (IHD) while bathing, as well as in the associated bathwater. The number of planktons detected in the lungs was not related to the postmortem period or the process of drowning, but was related to the plankton levels detected in the bathwater taken from the scene. In one case of bathwater drowning, the diatom distribution of the four pulmonary lobes (165.0–280.0planktons/100g sample) and other organs (3.6–13.6/100g) highly corresponded to the pattern of ‘usual’ drowning in water which contains a lot of diatoms. In this case, the bathwater taken from the scene contained a con... Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4883044 Wed, 11 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4883044 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4883042&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622311000460%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Objectives: To investigate the occurrence of intravascular gas in the liver, kidneys, spleen, and pancreas by postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) in cases of non-traumatic in-hospital deaths and elucidate the relationship between the PMCT data and clinical information or autopsy results.Methods: The study included 45 cadavers of patients who died while receiving treatment in our academic tertiary-care hospital between April and December 2009. All subjects underwent PMCT and conventional autopsy. The appearance of postmortem gas in the liver, kidney, spleen, and pancreas was assessed using PMCT and scored using a subjective scale (liver, L0–L3; kidney, K0–K2; spleen, S0–S1; and pancreas, P0–P1), and the distribution of gases in the vessels of the liver (arteries, veins, ... Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4883042 Wed, 11 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4883042 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4883043&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622311000472%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes In conclusion, the current results suggest that fenitrothion and chlorpyrifosmethyl are transported with pharmacokinetics indicative of hOAT1 involvement in the human kidney. (Source: Legal Medicine) Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4883043 Tue, 10 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4883043 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4652609&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622311000307%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes (Source: Legal Medicine) Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4652609 Wed, 30 Mar 2011 04:29:13 +0100 4652609 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4883050&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622311000277%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Allele frequencies for the 15 short tandem repeats loci D8S1179, D21S11, D7S820, CSF1PO, D3S1358, TH01, D13S317, D16S539, D2S1338, D19S433, vWA, TPOX, D18S51, D5S818 and FGA (AmpFℓSTR® Identifiler™ PCR Amplification Kit, Applied Biosystems) were determined in a sample of 322 unrelated individuals from Nicaragua. Statistical analyses were performed using PowerStats v12 and Genepop v4.0. All loci are in Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium and show high discrimination for paternity analysis and forensic genetic applications. (Source: Legal Medicine) Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4883050 Mon, 07 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4883050 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4883047&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622311000241%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes We report a case of unexpected sudden death due to blood aspiration from rupture of a thoracic aortic aneurysm into the lung. An 83yearold man, who had a past history of surgery for an abdominal aortic aneurysm about 17years previously, was found dead on his bed with massive hemoptysis. Medico-legal autopsy revealed rupture of a thoracic aortic aneurysm into the left lung, causing massive blood aspiration. Tight, diffuse pleural adhesion and the vulnerable wall of an aortic aneurysm due to advanced atherosclerosis with active inflammation appeared to have predominantly contributed to the penetration of the ruptured aneurysm into the lung. This case suggests that long-term clinical follow-up and management are needed for a patient with aortic aneurysm, and that a ruptured aortic aneurysm sh... Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4883047 Mon, 07 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4883047 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4883046&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS134462231100023X%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes We describe an autopsy case in which a patient with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) was found in a head-down position. A female in her late 70s was found dead in her home in a supine position on the kitchen floor. The upper part of her body was hanging down over the edge of the kitchen floor to the backyard through the open window. External examination revealed congestion of the head and upper region of the face and neck. There were numerous petechiae on the superior palpebral conjunctivae and upper part of the oral mucosa. On internal examination, extensive hemorrhages in the subcutaneous fat tissues and muscles were observed at the upper part of the neck, although there were no external injuries on the neck. Histopathological examination revealed that hemorrhages were accompanied with infilt... Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4883046 Mon, 07 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4883046 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4883045&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622311000204%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: An autopsy case of fatal complication of percutaneous liver biopsy targeting a rare type of large B-cell lymphoma is presented. A 79 year-old man was referred to the hematology unit of a hospital because of anemia with thrombocytopenia and hepatosplenomegaly. Results of inguinal lymph node biopsy were inconclusive. To investigate a mass lesion in the liver visualized by ultrasonography, image-guided liver biopsy was performed following platelet infusion. The patient became unresponsive 6h post procedure because of hypotension due to intraperitoneal hemorrhage of undetermined origin. Autopsy revealed hemoperitoneum but failed to identify any macroscopic intra- or extrahepatic vascular injuries. Histopathological investigation disclosed infiltration of atypical lymphocytes into the... Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4883045 Mon, 07 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4883045 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4883041&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622311000253%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: The concentrations of free-morphine (Mo), free-codeine (Co) and 6-monoacetyl morphine (6-MAM) were determined in femoral blood in N=747 heroin-related deaths. The opiates were determined by isotope dilution gas chromatography-mass spectrometry after solid-phase extraction. The median blood concentrations of 6-MAM, free-morphine and free-codeine were 0.01mg/L, 0.24mg/L and 0.02mg/L, respectively. The mean and median Mo/Co concentration ratios were 13.2 and 11.0, respectively with a range from 0.2 to 124. Despite the fact that all victims had taken heroin, there were eight cases (1.1%) with a Mo/Co ratio less than one and 18 cases (2.4%) with a ratio less than two. The free-morphine concentration in blood did not depend on the Mo/Co ratio; median 0.29mg/L (Mo/Co2.0). By contrast, t... Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4883041 Mon, 07 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4883041 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4883040&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622311000228%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Diagnosis of fatal hypothermia is considered to be difficult in forensic practice because of the lack of any specific pathological findings. The mechanism that induces abnormal behavior such as undressing or hiding during the state of hypothermia has not been clarified. In order to solve these problems, we made a rat model of fatal hypothermia and investigated the expression of some mRNA within the hypothalamus and the frontal cortex. The expression of aldehyde dehydrogenase 6 family, member A1 (ALDH6A1), cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript peptide (CARTPT), desmin (DES), heat shock 70kDa protein 4 (HSPA4), serotonin receptor 2A (HTR2A), opioid receptor, delta 1 (OPRD1) and transthyretin (TTR) supposedly related to fatal hypothermia was determined using quantitative rea... Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4883040 Mon, 07 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4883040 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4652618&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622311000046%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes We report a forced double suicide involving a wife and husband in their late 80s resulting from chloroform inhalation. Macro- and microscopic examinations revealed marked pulmonary edema and extensive contraction band necrosis of the cardiac muscles. Toxicological analysis revealed high levels of chloroform in the blood (41.4μg/ml in the wife and 29.1μg/ml in the husband) and in the adipose tissue (128μg/g in the wife and 131μg/g in the husband). From these findings, we conclude that the cause of death of both was acute heart failure due to chloroform poisoning. In addition, the pathological examination of the husband revealed submucosal hemorrhage at the root of the tongue and trachea, erosion of the stomach, and upper jejunum, none of which were present in the wife. Furthermore, hype... Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4652618 Mon, 07 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4652618 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4652612&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622311000216%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Age estimation of living individuals often represents a forensic challenge with important legal and social implications. In an effort to better understand the accuracy of the methods of Greulich and Pyle (GP), Tanner–Whitehouse (TW) and Fels, a systematic review and a meta-analysis of articles published from 1956 to 20 December 2009 in the Medline and Trip databases were conducted. We only selected articles on healthy people. The meta-analysis showed that GP is not as accurate a method as TW2 or TW3 for both Caucasian people and Mongoloids, even if it is the one most often used. However, due to the very wide age estimation range, in line with what has already been established by several authors, our systematic review and meta-analysis confirmed that age estimation in living ind... Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4652612 Mon, 07 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4652612 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4652610&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622311000265%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: In recent years, many analogs of narcotics have been widely distributed as easily available psychotropic substances and have become a serious problem in Japan. To counter the spread of these non-controlled substances, the Pharmaceutical Affairs Law in Japan was amended in 2006 to establish a new category, “designated substances”, to more strictly control these psychotropic substances. Fifty-one substances have been listed in this category as of December 2010. However, many new analogs have appeared, one after the other. Although the distribution of tryptamine-type designer drugs has decreased since the amendment of the law, the distribution of cathinone derivatives, as well as of phenetylamine-type and piperazine-type designer drugs, has increased. Moreover, non-controlled ps... Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4652610 Mon, 07 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4652610 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4470102&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622311000071%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes (Source: Legal Medicine) Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4470102 Sun, 13 Feb 2011 01:18:06 +0100 4470102 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4652617&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622311000022%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Conclusion: PMCT images of the lung change as the time after death increases due to the natural postmortem changes of the corpse. Immediate PMCT is more suitable than delayed PMCT for discerning cause of death. Delayed PMCT reflects the autopsy findings more accurately than immediate PMCT. (Source: Legal Medicine) Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4652617 Fri, 11 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4652617 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4652613&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622311000034%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Identification of the population origin of an individual is very useful for crime investigators who need to narrow down a suspect based on specimens left at a crime scene. Single nucleotide polymorphisms of the Y chromosome (Y-SNPs) are a class of markers of interest to forensic investigators because many of the markers indicate regional specificity, thus providing useful information about the geographic origin of a subject. We selected seven informative Y-SNPs (M168, M130, JST021355, M96, P126, P196, and P234) to differentiate the three major population groups (East Asian, European, and African) and used them to develop forensic application. SNP genotyping was carried out by multiplex PCR reaction and multiplex single base extension (MSBE) reaction followed by capillary electrop... Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4652613 Fri, 11 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4652613 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4652616&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622310001860%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: A 54-year-old man, who lived alone, was hospitalized due to rapid deterioration of the general condition over a three-week period caused by alcoholic cirrhosis. One month after he left hospital, he was found dead in his house by his friend. Three days before he was found dead, he had met his friend and seemed to be in poor condition. Autopsy was conducted by a medical examiner to clarify the cause of death. Externally, signs of severe jaundice were apparent over the whole body, along with extensive abdominal swelling and edema of the extremities. Autopsy findings demonstrated that the abdominal cavity contained an amount of massive turbid and slight pale reddish brown ascites (23l). There were no findings of severe peritoneal inflammation. The liver (650g) was elastic hard and ha... Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4652616 Mon, 31 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4652616 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4652619&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622310001872%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: In the present study, a Brazilian population, located in the Rondônia state, was genetically characterized for a set of Y chromosome specific STRs included in the Applied Biosystems kit (AmpFℓSTR®Yfiler™), which allows the simultaneous amplification of 16 markers: DYS19, DYS389I, DYS389II, DYS390, DYS391, DYS392, DYS393, DYS385a/b, DYS438, DYS439, DYS437, DYS448, DYS456, DYS458, DYS635 and GATA H4. The studied population from Rondônia state, in the North of Brazil, included individuals with admixed Native American, African and European ancestry. When comparing Rondônia with other Brazilian populations no significant genetic distances were found. In the comparison with other worldwide populations, although a predominant male European influence could be detected, there were... Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4652619 Thu, 27 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4652619 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4652615&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622310001847%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes This article describes the case of a sudden death in a 45-year-old female consecutive to acute and extensive arterial dissection in a context of Ehlers–Danlos syndrome type IV. The interest of this case report is that autopsy findings led to the suspicion of a clinical diagnosis prompting as carrying out a genetic testing which definitively confirms the diagnosis, opening the way to genetic council for family members. Criteria for this disease diagnosis and full methodology are described, that may help forensic practitioners. (Source: Legal Medicine) Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4652615 Thu, 27 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4652615 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4652614&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622310001823%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes We describe a case of exhumation, performed to investigate the circumstances and cause of death, one year after burial. Post mortem computed tomography (PMCT) revealed a mass in the pharynx. Imaging directed the subsequent forensic autopsy to careful retrieval of a foreign body. Histological analysis revealed a non-cellular composition. The detection of foreign material in the pharynx and its composition indicated accidental, rather than natural death, secondary to choking on food. This unusual case illustrates how post mortem imaging can significantly contribute to forensic investigation and stresses the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration between forensic pathologists and radiologists. (Source: Legal Medicine) Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4652614 Thu, 27 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4652614 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4652611&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622310001835%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Although China had greatly improved its health and medical system, the contradiction between arduous medical tasks and insufficient health resources has not been fundamentally resolved. This contradiction raised a large number of legal issues in medical industry. Literatures about these issues are usually published in legal journal, and are not easy accessible to clinicians. We thus provide clinicians a brief introduction to the legal liability of medical malpractice, and describe the debate about the punishment setting of China’s medical malpractice crime in detail.Considering the complexity and humanitarian nature of medical practice, legislators set a relative lenient punishment system for medical malpractice crime. But the “aggravating” supporter argued that, judging fr... Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4652611 Thu, 27 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4652611 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4470104&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622310001586%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Short tandem repeat (STR) systems are the most powerful and widely used genetic marker systems in forensic DNA typing. Optimized amplification conditions and PCR reagents in combination with laser fluorescence based detection methods have increased the sensitivity and decreased the detection threshold down to approximately 100pg. The quality of human DNA from forensic samples can be influenced by environmental factors. These may cause different degrees of degradation which have a negative impact on the amplification process especially of STR systems with large amplicons. Therefore, methods which need only small amplicon sizes to detect DNA markers are a better choice for typing degraded DNA. Here we report investigations on different types of DNA markers and typing methods which ... Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4470104 Thu, 27 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4470104 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4470103&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622310001859%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: The essential tasks of forensic pathology involve investigation of the cause and process of death, especially in traumatic and unexpected sudden deaths, largely including unwitnessed deaths. Thus, agonal and postmortem interference is inevitable and unpredictable in all forensic procedures; this is not particular to forensic biochemistry, but also occurs in morphology and toxicology. Therefore, findings should be assessed based on the postmortem data established through serial investigations of autopsy materials using easily accessible standardized procedures. With respect to this, biochemical procedures have advantages of standardization, quality assurance, quantitative analyses, statistic assessment and availability of multiple markers, despite several problems involved in the ... Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4470103 Thu, 27 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4470103 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4470112&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622310001549%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes In this study, 17 Y-chromosomal short tandem repeat (Y-STR) loci were typed to evaluate their forensic and population genetic applications in 189 unrelated Afghan males geographically partitioned along the Hindu Kush Mountain range into north (N=44) and south (N=145) populations. North Afghanistan (0.9734, 0.9905) exhibits higher haplotype diversity than south Afghanistan (0.9408, 0.9813) at both the minimal 9-loci and 17-loci Yfiler haplotypes, respectively. The overall haplotype diversity for both Afghan populations at 17 Y-STR loci is 0.9850 and the corresponding value for the minimal 9-loci haplotypes is 0.9487. A query using of the most frequent Afghan Yfiler haplotype (7.98%) against the worldwide Y-STR haplotype reference database (YHRD) returned no profile match, indicating a high ... Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4470112 Tue, 18 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4470112 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4470111&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622310001574%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: We aimed to examine our autopsy data in order to analyze epidemiological and injury characteristics in criminal and suicidal immolation cases.During the 18-year period, we recorded 29 suicides and three homicides due to fire burns. In suicide group there was a majority of men (gender ratio: 3.1:1) and the mean age was 42.8years (range 20–72). In the homicide group, the victims were two men and one woman. Their mean age was 44years (range 39–54). The location of self-immolation was mostly the deceased’s car or home and most suicides happened during the evening and the night. The main frequent motives for self-immolation were affective problems, financial problems, or both. One or several flammable fluids, usually petrol or alcohol, were used in 18 suicide cases and in one ho... Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4470111 Mon, 03 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4470111 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4293723&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622310001215%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: High-resolution melting (HRM) analysis is a simpler genotyping method than allele-specific PCR, PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism and multiplex PCR. Duffy, Kidd and Diego are clinically important blood group antigens. We used a novel method to genotype these three blood group antigens.Purified genomic DNA extracts of blood samples (354 Duffy, 347 Kidd and 457 Diego) were amplified using specific amplification primers. HRM curves were obtained by HRM analysis.Results were in complete concordance with those obtained for previous phenotypes and genotypes. Nucleotide substitutions for these blood group antigens were differentiated by the HRM curves. HRM analysis is a simple genotyping method and is an alternative to serological typing.Our results suggest that HRM analysis ... Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4293723 Wed, 29 Dec 2010 04:45:41 +0100 4293723 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4293722&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS134462231000163X%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes (Source: Legal Medicine) Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4293722 Wed, 29 Dec 2010 04:45:41 +0100 4293722 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4470110&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622310001562%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: It is one of the most important tasks of the forensic pathologist to explain the forensically relevant medical findings to medical non-professionals. However, it is often difficult to comment on the nature and potential consequences of organ injuries in a comprehensive way to individuals with limited knowledge of anatomy and physiology. This rare case of survived pancreatic transaction after kicks to the abdomen illustrates how the application of dedicated software programs for three-dimensional reconstruction can overcome these difficulties, allowing for clear and concise visualization of complex findings. (Source: Legal Medicine) Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4470110 Mon, 27 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4470110 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4470109&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622310001550%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes We present a case of an individual who stabbed himself through the heart with a large knife. Post mortem computed tomography (CT) and CT-angiography were used to assess the stab channel and to reconstruct the sequence of events. After penetrating injuries to the chest, both the intra-thoracic organs and the injury causing instrument may shift (e.g. from pnemothorax) and render forensic reconstructions more challenging. This case report illustrates the potentials and the pitfalls of CT for the reconstruction of penetrating injures to the chest. (Source: Legal Medicine) Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4470109 Mon, 27 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4470109 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4470105&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622310001537%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) is a neurotransmitter in the central nervous system (CNS) and a smooth muscle regulator in the cardiovascular and gastrointestinal systems. The present study investigated postmortem 5-HT levels in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and pericardial fluid (PCF) with regard to the cause of death in serial medicolegal autopsy cases within 48h postmortem (n=351, >20years of age). CSF and PCF 5-HT slightly increased during the postmortem period (r=0.298 and 0.253, respectively, p (Source: Legal Medicine) Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4470105 Mon, 27 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4470105 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4470108&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622310001525%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes We present three cases of sudden death due to varicose vein rupture. After a review of the literature, the case circumstances and the findings of imaging examination, performed in two cases, are presented. One of them had undergone a post-mortem computed tomography angiography (PMCTA), and one a PMCTA as well as a post-mortem magnetic resonance (PMMR) imaging prior to conventional autopsy. One of the cases presented herein is, to our knowledge, the youngest known fatality due to varicose vein rupture. (Source: Legal Medicine) Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4470108 Thu, 09 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4470108 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4293727&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS134462231000146X%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Gene expression is driven by promoters, enhancers, silencers, and other cis-regulatory elements upstream and downstream of the gene. Previous studies of the regulation of human ABO gene transcription have focused mainly on the 5′ region, including the core promoter and the region proximal to it. However, as the involvement of the 3′ flanking region in transcriptional regulation has not yet been examined, we focused on this issue. The 3′ region approximately 2.2kb downstream of the ABO gene was PCR-amplified and inserted into a cloning vector, followed by sequence determination and preparation of luciferase reporter vectors. Transient transfections into KATOIII and K562 cells were performed using various reporter plasmids containing the 3′ region. The 3′ region of the AB... Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4293727 Thu, 09 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4293727 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4470107&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622310001513%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: In the present paper, the authors describe a case of fatal thoracic impalement in a victim of a road traffic accident, by penetration of a metal handrail. The driver lost control of his car while overtaking three cars. Due to the force of the vehicle collision with a metal railing, the upper cross bar penetrated the front of the car and subsequently the driver was pierced by the center-pillar in the car. Death occurred at the scene of the accident. Postmortem, computed tomography, computed tomography angiography and a magnetic resonance tomography were performed and revealed severe heart destruction and hemorrhage as cause of death. The present case report shows that postmortem imaging might have value as a screening method to decide whether arising forensic questions can be answ... Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4470107 Mon, 06 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4470107 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4470106&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622310001501%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: An 83year old female was found dead in her home. The deceased had been struck repeatedly to the head with at least one weapon, one of which was a hammer. The deceased had suffered both penetrating and non-penetrating blunt trauma to the head as a result of the assault. A multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) scan was undertaken approximately 12h after death prior to the autopsy examination. This demonstrated the presence of a cardiac air embolus and continuity between the air embolus and the penetrating head injury. Air within the heart is a recognised post-mortem artefact frequently seen on MDCT scans and a common pitfall for inexperienced cadaveric MDCT reporters. This case builds upon a previous report by Kauczor, illustrating how MDCT can be used to demonstrate the origin... Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4470106 Mon, 06 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4470106 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4293735&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622310001495%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes In 2010, Ge et al. wrote “Buckleton et al. [27] discussed the likelihood ratio (LR) method for interpreting Y-STR mixtures. Unfortunately, their equations incorporating the effect of substructure were incorrect”. We warmly accept their retraction and apology. We are heartened to see this acceptance by Ge et al. that the likelihood ratio as outlined in Buckleton et al. is correct and is the appropriate way to interpret Y chromosome mixtures. This is an emerging and welcome consensus. (Source: Legal Medicine) Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4293735 Mon, 06 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4293735 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4293731&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622310001483%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: The questions of cause and manner of death are the most pressing ones in any forensic investigation. Traditionally, autopsy is the means to provide answers to these questions and despite the increasing use of CT and MR in the post-mortem setting, imaging has usually been an adjunct to forensic autopsy. Here we describe a case where post-mortem CT and MR were performed instead of autopsy, at the request of the responsible public prosecutor. The forensic conclusions derived from imaging, including cause and manner of death were accepted by the legal authorities, thereby setting precedence for future cases. This case represents a landmark in forensic medicine and is another step toward the full realization of minimally invasive forensic autopsy. (Source: Legal Medicine) Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4293731 Mon, 06 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4293731 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4293730&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622310001471%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: A 22-year-old woman was found dead in her bed, and subsequent postmortem examination was performed using ordinary methods such as external examination, Triage®, and computed tomography (CT) scan which demonstrated a high-density content of the duodenum. Autopsy and quantitative analysis of drugs present in the GI tract showed that high amounts of radiopaque psychotic agents such as fluvoxamine maleate, carbamazepine, and zolpidem tartrate had been responsible for the high-density profile of the duodenum. Postmortem quantitative analysis of drugs in the blood suggested that death had been caused by fatal intoxication with fluvoxamine maleate. Thus, postmortem CT could offer an opportunity to suspect drug intoxication due to radiopaque psychotic agents such as chloral hydrate, phe... Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4293730 Mon, 06 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4293730 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4293733&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622310001446%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: To investigate the possibility that buccal swab and hair follicle samples could be used to detect recipients’ personal identification or kinship study in forensic cases, who have received allogeneic peripheral blood stem cells transplantation (allo-PBSCT). Seven casework examples of materials collected from individuals after allo-PBSCT and their donors were investigated. Detection of genotypes was preformed by PCR analysis of short tandem repeats (STRs) in blood, buccal swab and hair follicle samples. Donor genotypes were detected in all blood samples of the patients. Case 2 recipient presented obvious chimeric DNA patterns (54% donor) and case 3 showed almost donor genotype (90% donor) in buccal swab samples. Other cases exhibited much lower chimeric DNA patterns in some allel... Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4293733 Fri, 29 Oct 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4293733 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4293732&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622310001434%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: We recently identified a 42bp Variable Number of Tandem Repeats polymorphism in intron 4 of Cold-induced autoinflammatory syndrome 1 gene (CIAS1 42bp-VNTR), which are associated with CIAS1 gene expression and some inflammatory disease. The aim of our study is to investigate whether variability of CIAS1 42bp-VNTR allele is difference among races. A total of 1291 subjects from 7 populations (178 Chinese, 95 Korean, 614 Mongolian, 49 Bangladesh, 72 Sri Lanka, 192 African and 91 European) was genotyped on CIAS1 42bp-VNTR polymorphism, which was also compared to previous genotyping data from 508 Japanese subjects. A total of 11 genotypes and 5 alleles were found in 8 populations. The range of allele frequencies of CIAS1∗6, CIAS1∗7, CIAS1∗9, CIAS1∗12, and CIAS1∗13 were 0.000�... Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4293732 Fri, 29 Oct 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4293732 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4293728&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622310001239%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Here, we present a case in which the result of a maternity test was obscured due to two false indirect exclusions that occurred in two out of 15 genetic loci through the use of the AmpFlSTR Identifiler PCR Amplification kit (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA). The Identifiler kit failed to amplify allele 11 of the D5S818 system on the child and failed to capture the existence of allele 13 on the FGA system on both mother and child. The situation was remedied through use of the PowerPlex 16 PCR Amplification Kit (Promega, Madison, WI) which used different primers with a different allele range than that of the Identifiler kit. Maternity was confirmed through sequencing and it was found that the failure of the Identifiler kit to amplify allele 11 on the D5S818 system was the resul... Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4293728 Thu, 28 Oct 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4293728 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4293726&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622310001458%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes We examined the value of post-mortem computed tomography (CT) imaging relative to autopsy for distinguishing aspiration into the lungs from airways, from lung alterations due to other causes, and for identifying the aspirated material. We selected 54 bodies submitted to whole-body CT scanning prior to autopsy. All cases had autopsy findings of blood (31 cases), fresh water (12 cases), or gastric content (11 cases) aspiration. The radiological images were retrospectively analyzed for airway and lung aspiration. In all cases, CT imaging detected pulmonary abnormalities suggestive of aspiration. Nevertheless, analysis of the CT images alone was not able to identify the aspirated material or to distinguish pulmonary findings of aspiration from lung changes due to other causes, except for a few... Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4293726 Thu, 28 Oct 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4293726 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4293729&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622310001276%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is one of the best known genetic diseases. However, in only very rare cases does it present as an abnormal death followed by clarification of its genetic background. We experienced a case in which ADPKD first became evident from the results of forensic autopsy, on the basis of which all potentially affected family members were offered genetic and other medical examinations. In this way, forensic medicine was able not only to determine the cause of death but to contribute to preventive medicine as well. (Source: Legal Medicine) Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4293729 Mon, 25 Oct 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4293729 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4293734&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622310001264%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes In our paper the statement about the work by Buckleton et al. may have been too strong and we believe not appropriate. Their equations in and were different from ours because of different hypotheses and conditions as well as for practical application issues. The defense hypothesis (Hd) in is “the contributors are two random men given the observed known contributors”. Instead, our Hd is “the contributors are two random men” without conditioning on the known contributors, which leads to different equations from . Both methods are based on specific haplotype combinations and the haplotype frequencies were considered in the calculation. However, because of the limited sizes of the Y chromosome STR databases, the haplotype frequency estimation may not be precise . (Source: Legal Medicin... Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4293734 Thu, 21 Oct 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4293734 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4293725&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622310001252%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Unprecedented fidelity and specificity have afforded DNA testing its long reigning status as the gold standard for establishing personal identification. While the method itself is flawless, forensic experts have undoubtedly stumbled across challenging cases in which no reference samples for an unknown person (UP) are available for comparison. In such cases, experts often must resort to an assortment of kinship analyses—primarily those involving alleged parents or children of a UP—to establish personal identification. The present study derives likelihood ratio (LR) distributions from an extensive series of kinship simulations and places actual data, obtained from 120 cases in which personal identification of a UP was established via kinship analyses, to a comprehensive compari... Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4293725 Thu, 21 Oct 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4293725 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4293724&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622310001240%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes We examined mutations in the ryanodine receptor 1 (RYR 1), carnitine palmitoyltransferase II (CPT II), very long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (VLCAD), and cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2D6 genes. Different RYR1 mutations that caused amino acid substitutions (612Ala>Thr and 4295Ala>Val) were identified in 2 cases. In the CPT II gene, there was a new mutation (545Glu>Ala) in 1 case and there were mutations that did not change activity in 17 cases. In the VLCAD gene, there were mutations that did not change activity in 6 cases. In the CYP2D6 gene, homozygosity for CYP2D6∗10, which is associated with significantly reduced metabolic activity, was found in 3 cases, while 2 cases carried a different previously unreported missense mutation (344Arg>Gln and 48His>Tyr). RYR1 mutations and the new CPT II mu... Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4293724 Thu, 21 Oct 2010 00:00:00 +0100 4293724 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4022388&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622310001306%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes (Source: Legal Medicine) Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4022388 Fri, 01 Oct 2010 22:14:27 +0100 4022388 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4022401&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622310001227%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Seventeen autosomal STRs were analyzed (D2S1338, D3S1358, D5S818, D7S820, D8S1179, D13S317, D16S539, D18S51, D19S433, D21S11, CSF1PO, FGA, TH01, TPOX, vWA, Penta D, and Penta E) in the Lebanese population. A total of 192 unrelated individuals were genotyped for the 15 autosomal STRs in the Promega PowerPlex 16 STR kit. An additional 275 unrelated individuals were genotyped for the Applied Biosystems AmpFlSTR Identifiler and SGM+STR kits. Allele frequencies for the shared CODIS 13 loci among the three STR kits tested were not significantly different among individuals within the Lebanese population. Forensic and population genetic parameters for the 17 loci were calculated. We also compared the allele frequencies from this population with other populations in the same geographic vi... Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4022401 Mon, 27 Sep 2010 23:00:00 +0100 4022401 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4022399&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622310001203%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes This study focuses on the differential diagnosis of one specific kind of frequent skin injury usually seen in situations of both child abuse and IM (in this case Tui Na) - bruises.As the number of people who practice Traditional Chinese Medicine and other forms of IM increases in the Western world, the child protection community would benefit from familiarizing itselves with these practices to prevent social and/or legal conflicts that may arise from mistaken diagnoses of abuse.The objective of this case report is to emphasize the relevance of comprehensive and interdisciplinary evaluation of child abuse cases taking into account the specifics of each case, to achieve a proper diagnosis. (Source: Legal Medicine) Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4022399 Mon, 27 Sep 2010 23:00:00 +0100 4022399 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4022395&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622310001197%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Clobazam is a benzodiazepine with anti-anxiety and anticonvulsant properties marketed in several countries. Norclobazam, a metabolite of clobazam, has similar pharmacological activity but weaker sedative and tranquilizing effect. The two drugs were detected by GC–MS and determined by HPLC-DAD in the samples from a postmortem case. The femoral blood concentrations of clobazam and norclobazam were 0.72 and 36μg/mL, respectively. The concentration of the active norclobazam was very high. The sum of both clobazam and norclobazam blood concentration (36.72μg/mL) was clearly toxic, but was not necessarily fatal. Other associated drugs concentrations were within their therapeutic ranges. Interactions due to drug association were discussed. (Source: Legal Medicine) Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4022395 Mon, 27 Sep 2010 23:00:00 +0100 4022395 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4022392&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622310001161%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Many cases of sudden chlorpromazine (Chl)-related deaths have been identified in forensic autopsies. Because Chl concentration detected in such cases is often low, identifying the cause of death can be difficult. Patients on Chl therapy exhibit arrhythmia and cardiomyopathy. Thus, Chl may affect the heart, particularly, gene expression there. Immediate early genes (IEGs) are expressed following stimulation. Using real-time quantitative-PCR, we investigated the mRNA expression of IEGs, including C-fos, Fos-B, Fosl-1, Fosl-2, Dusp-1 and C-jun, in the mouse heart after once-daily high-dose (7.5mg/kg) or low-dose (0.75mg/kg) of Chl single and repeated (1–4weeks) injections. We showed that single high-dose Chl administration induced IEGs except C-jun. This induction was not observed... Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4022392 Tue, 14 Sep 2010 23:00:00 +0100 4022392 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4022398&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622310001148%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: This case report describes the incidental finding of a calcified ligamentum arteriosum during post-mortem CT examination. The calcification of the ligament was confirmed at autopsy. Subsequent histological examination revealed the presence of cartilage-like and bone-like tissue as well as extended calcification areas. The importance of not confusing this normal post-mortem CT finding with vessel pathology is being emphasized. (Source: Legal Medicine) Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4022398 Mon, 06 Sep 2010 23:00:00 +0100 4022398 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4022393&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622310001173%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: A forensic Y-STR database generated in the US was compiled with profiles containing a portion or complete typing of 16 STR markers DYS19, DYS385, DYS389I, DYS389II, DYS390, DYS391, DYS392, DYS393, DYS437, DYS438, DYS439, DYS456, DYS458, DYS635, DYS448, and Y GATA H4. There were 17,447 samples in the version of database in which 77% and 20% were collected in North America and Asia, respectively. The database was separated into six general populations, African American, Asian, Caucasian, Hispanic, Indian, and Native American. Each population was further classified into subgroups according to geographic regions. Some subgroups were tested, found to be homogenous and merged together. Allele and haplotype frequencies, as well as sample sizes were summarized. Of the full haplotypes (i.... Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4022393 Sun, 05 Sep 2010 23:00:00 +0100 4022393 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4022394&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622310001185%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: In Japan, healthcare professionals are required by Article 21 of the Medical Practitioner’s Law to report “unnatural deaths” to the police in cases of healthcare-associated patient death. The attitudes of medical personnel at the forefront of clinical medicine regarding reporting have not been described. We investigate the attitudes of physicians and risk managers (RMs) regarding reporting to the police under different circumstances. We sent standardized questionnaires to all hospitals in Japan that participate in the National General Residency Program. We asked physicians and RMs to indicate if they would report to the police or not under scenarios including cases where medical error is present, uncertain, or absent. We also asked if they would report when medical error ha... Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4022394 Thu, 02 Sep 2010 23:00:00 +0100 4022394 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4022391&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622310001136%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes In this study, comprehensive screening of TNNI3 was performed in 36 consented autopsy cases diagnosed as CM, in order to evaluate the prevalence of gene mutations in sudden death caused by CM. In DCM cases, a new missense mutation Pro16Thr was detected. A single nucleotide polymorphism at −8 position of intron 3 (IVS 3 −8 T>A) was identified, which had a significant difference in allele frequency between DCM and control cases. From these results, it was indicated that this study contribute to genetic based diagnosis, risk stratification and prevention of sudden death caused by CM. (Source: Legal Medicine) Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4022391 Thu, 02 Sep 2010 23:00:00 +0100 4022391 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4022400&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS134462231000115X%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: The genetic profiles for 15 autosomal microsatellite loci were analyzed in a Tamil population from Southern India to study the genetic diversities and relatedness of this population with other national and global populations. Statistical analyses of the data revealed all loci were within Hardy–Weinberg Equilibrium (HWE) expectations with the exception of the locus D5S818 (p=0.011). A significantly greater inter-individual variation (Fst=99%) observed within the individuals among the four subgroups in this study and low population differentiation (Fst=1%) suggests relative genetic closeness of these four subgroups. This indicates that the populations in the southern region of India might have a common ancestry or probably experienced high gene flow during the period of their coe... Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4022400 Wed, 01 Sep 2010 23:00:00 +0100 4022400 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4022397&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622310000945%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Blood aspiration may be fatal, even when caused by a minor hemorrhage, and then it is important to localize and identify the source of bleeding in order to determine its origin as traumatic, spontaneous or iatrogenic. The present case deals with the clinically unexpected sudden death of a 73-year-old woman who underwent pulmonary artery catheterization (PAC) 11days before because of known pulmonary hypertension. The forensic autopsy revealed a previously undiagnosed cavernous hemangioma of the right lung which had led to a local intrapulmonary hemorrhage with secondary bleeding into the bronchial tree. The fatal blood aspiration was preceded by recurrent episodes of hemoptysis, and its occurrence was probably promoted by the pre-existing pulmonary hypertension. The present case a... Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4022397 Sun, 22 Aug 2010 23:00:00 +0100 4022397 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4022396&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622310000933%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes We report here a sudden death case of a patient previously diagnosed as Marfan syndrome (MFS). The victim was dead on the wheel and the cause of death was diagnosed to be a rupture of the thoracic aorta by autopsy findings. MFS is an autosomal dominant disorder of the connective tissue and can be a cause of sudden death. Postmortem genetic analysis revealed a heterozygous p.C1307Y of the FBN1 gene, which is responsible for pathogenesis of MFS, was evident. This substitution was not found in 400 alleles from control individuals. In addition, the position 1307 is highly conserved among species. Because the position 1307 serves as part of the Cys1307-Cys1320 disulfide bond of the fibrillin-1, the p.C1307Y substitution results in loss of the intramolecular disulfide bond. The p.C1307Y substitu... Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4022396 Sun, 22 Aug 2010 23:00:00 +0100 4022396 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4022390&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622310001124%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes In this study, five corpses were ventilated using a mechanical ventilator with a pressure of 40mbar (40.8cm H2O). The ventilation was performed via an endotracheal tube, a larynx mask or a continuous positive airway pressure mask. Postmortem computed tomographic images of the lungs before and with a ventilation of 40mbar (40.8cm H2O) were evaluated and the lung volumes were measured with segmentation software.Postmortem ventilation led to a clearly visible decrease of both the density in the dependant parts of the lungs and ground glass attenuation, whereas consolidated areas remained unchanged. Furthermore, a mean increase in the lung volume of 2.10l was seen. Pathological changes such as septal thickening or pulmonary nodules in the lung parenchyma became more detectable with postmortem ... Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4022390 Sun, 22 Aug 2010 23:00:00 +0100 4022390 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4022389&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622310000921%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes In this study, we examined the feasibility of using cross-sectional imaging with postmortem multi-slice computed tomography (MSCT) to detect lesions of the skeletal structures and internal organs. For this purpose, we used whole-body MSCT to examine 10 corpses that suffered fatal falls from great height while climbing in the Swiss part of the European Alps from the years 2007 to 2009.We conclude that postmortem CT imaging is a valuable tool for dental identification and is superior to plain X-rays as a viable compromise between a solely external legal inspection and an autopsy because it delivers otherwise irretrievable additional internal findings non-invasively. This fact is of great importance in cases where an autopsy is refused. (Source: Legal Medicine) Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4022389 Sun, 22 Aug 2010 23:00:00 +0100 4022389 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3790326&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622310000970%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes (Source: Legal Medicine) Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3790326 Tue, 27 Jul 2010 08:00:26 +0100 3790326 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3790332&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS134462231000091X%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: An elderly female with a 43-year history of rheumatoid arthritis died 2weeks after the onset of chest discomfort, electrolyte disturbance, and interstitial pneumonia. She had frequent premature ventricular contractions, fluctuating heart rate, and hypotension. Ischemic heart disease and interstitial pneumonia were excluded as the cause of death based on clinical course and autopsy findings. A severe cervical deformity with myelopathy likely contributed to circulatory instability, possibly through injury to the intra-spinal sympathetic nervous system, which can induce cardiovascular instability and suppress respiratory function. This likely led to death. (Source: Legal Medicine) Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3790332 Wed, 14 Jul 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3790332 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3790335&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS134462231000088X%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Allele frequencies for 15 STRs (CSF1PO, D3S1358, D5S818, D7S820, D8S1179, D13S317, D16S539, D18S51, D21S11, FGA, Penta D, Penta E, THO1, TPOX, and vWA) in the PowerPlex 16 System (Promega Corporation) were assessed in 386 individuals from five Russian urban populations. No significant between-population differences in frequencies and molecular variance of 15 microsatellites were revealed. For all 15 loci, the combined matching probability is 3.19 × 10−18 and the power of exclusion is 99.99989%. (Source: Legal Medicine) Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3790335 Tue, 13 Jul 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3790335 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3790329&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622310000866%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Conclusion: Clinical forensic findings differ significantly in non-life-threatening and life-threatening manual strangulation. Thanks to MRI a rather objective test for life-threatening strangulation can be added to a SLS. (Source: Legal Medicine) Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3790329 Tue, 13 Jul 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3790329 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3790328&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622310000660%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Time of fusion of hyoid is of considerable interest for forensic experts in estimating the age of an individual when unrecognized decomposed bodies or skeletal remains are available. The present investigation was carried out to study the age of fusion in 200 hyoid bones (133 males and 67 females) varying in age from 18 to 85years. Fusion of greater cornu with the body of the hyoid bone was not seen till the age of 25years in both sexes. In the males complete fusion was seen in 22(16.5%) bilaterally and 16(6.0%) unilaterally while in females it was observed in 18(26.9%) bilaterally and 10(7.5%) unilaterally. No significant sexual and side differences were found between the incidence of fusion of greater cornu with the body of hyoid in almost all the age groups except in the last a... Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3790328 Tue, 13 Jul 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3790328 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3790327&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622310000878%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: The aim of this article is to disclose the characteristics of postmortem forensic imaging; give an overview of the several possible findings in postmortem imaging, which are uncommon or new to clinical radiologists; and discuss the possible pitfalls. Unspecific postmortem signs are enlisted and specific signs shall be presented, which are typical for one cause of death.Unspecific signs. Livor mortis may not only be seen from the outside, but also inside the body in the lungs: in chest CT internal livor mortis appear as ground glass opacity in the dependent lower lobes. The aortic wall is often hyperdense in postmortem CT due to wall contraction and loss of luminal pressure. Gas bubbles are very common postmortem due to systemic gas embolism after major open trauma, artificial res... Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3790327 Tue, 13 Jul 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3790327 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3790337&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622310000908%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: We have analyzed 17 Y chromosomal STR loci in a population sample of 154 unrelated male individuals of the Tamil ethnic group residing in the state of Tamil Nadu, Southern India using AmpFlSTR® Yfiler™ PCR amplification kit. The population samples consist of the following castes: Kongu Gounder (KOG), Nadar Hindu (NAH), Agamudayar (AGA), Parayar (PAR) and other Tamil individuals (MCT) of mixed castes. A total of 152 unique haplotypes were identified among the 154 individuals studied. The haplotype diversity was found to be 0.9935 or higher for all the five groups. The results of population pairwise Fst p values indicate no statistically significant differentiation between the five populations in this study, but the results were highly significant when compared with 12 other glo... Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3790337 Sun, 11 Jul 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3790337 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3790336&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622310000891%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Haplotypes and allele frequencies for 17 STR loci included in AmpFlSTR YFiler kit (DYS456, DYS389I, DYS390, DYS389II, DYS458, DYS19, DYS385a/b, DYS393, DYS391, DYS439, DYS635, DYS392, Y GATAH4, DYS437, DYS438 and DYS448) were determined in a sample of 122 unrelated males living in the South-East Romania. Genetic distances had been calculated and dendrograms had been generated for South-East Romanian population and other eighteen surrounding populations. (Source: Legal Medicine) Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3790336 Sun, 11 Jul 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3790336 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3790334&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622310000684%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes In this study 17 Y-chromosomal STRs (including DYS19, DYS389I, DS389II, DYS390, DYS391, DYS392, DYS393, DYS385a/b, DYS437, DYS438, DYS439, DYS448, DYS456, DYS458, DYS635 and Y GATA H4) were analysed using blood samples of 122 unrelated male individuals belonging to Saraswat Brahmin community from Jammu (ID YP000599) and Kashmir (ID YP000600) region of J&K state of India. The allelic frequency distribution and haplotype diversity of 17 Y-chromosomal STR for both the populations were calculated. In the Kashmiri Saraswat group, a total of 109 haplotypes were identified in 122 individuals, of these haplotypes, 101 were found only once. The gene diversity values of STR loci ranged from 0.4813 (DYS391) to 0.8645 (DYS385a/b) for Jammu & Kashmiri Saraswat Brahmins. (Source: Legal Medicine) Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3790334 Sun, 11 Jul 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3790334 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3790333&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622310000672%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Fifteen autosomal STR loci included in AmpFℓSTR® NGM™ kit were analyzed in 154 unrelated individuals from Poland. This multiplex kit enables simultaneous amplification of 10 standard STR loci included in AmpFℓSTR® SGM Plus® kit (D3S1358, vWA, D16S539, D2S1338, D8S1179, D19S433, TH01, FGA, D21S11 and D18S51) and five new mini- and midi-STR loci (D10S1248, D22S1045, D2S441, D1S1656 and D12S391). Population study was conducted to evaluate usefulness of the loci (especially the five new microsatellite systems) in forensic genetic identification examinations. All 15 markers were found to be in Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. The combined probability of match for the 15 studied STR loci was 3.998×10−19. The same parameter calculated for five new microsatellite loci equaled 8.... Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3790333 Sun, 11 Jul 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3790333 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3629245&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622310000714%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes (Source: Legal Medicine) Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3629245 Fri, 04 Jun 2010 15:12:11 +0100 3629245 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3790331&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622310000647%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes We present a case of homicide by hatchet blow that underwent CT, MRI, and autopsy examination. Skull fragmentation, fracture lines, and brain injuries were demonstrated prior to autopsy. Many of the hatchet-specific characteristics (flaking, crushing, shattering, and fracture lines) described in literature were observed in the post-mortem imaging of this case. (Source: Legal Medicine) Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3790331 Sun, 23 May 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3790331 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3790330&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622310000635%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes We report a case of a 78-year-old female with a proximal femur fracture caused by an accidental fall who died suddenly 1h after orthopaedic prosthesis insertion. Post-mortem computed tomography (CT) scan and histological examination of samples obtained with post-mortem percutaneous needle biopsies of both lungs were performed. Analysis of the medical history and the clinical scenario immediately before death, imaging data, and biopsy histology established the cause of death without proceeding to traditional autopsy. It was determined to be acute right ventricular failure caused by massive pulmonary fat embolism. Although further research in post-mortem imaging and post-mortem tissue sampling by needle biopsies is necessary, we conclude that the use of CT techniques and percutaneous biopsy,... Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3790330 Sun, 23 May 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3790330 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3629255&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622310000611%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes In this study, five single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the ABCC4, FBN1, CEP152, ZNF804B, and GALNT11 genes were investigated to assess allele frequencies in 14 different populations by a novel pentaplex PCR method. All SNPs were polymorphic in East Asians, whereas mutant alleles were absent or rare in non-East Asians. The frequencies of a mutant allele in FBN1 (rs140598) showed a north–south downward cline in East Asia, whereas those of a mutant allele in ZNF804B (rs1916830) were relatively uniform in East Asia. The highest frequencies of mutant alleles in ABCC4 (rs3765534), CEP152 (rs2289178), and GALNT11 (rs3778922) were observed in Okinawa. The mutant allele in GALNT11 was found only in Far-East Asian populations: the frequencies were about 0.153 in Okinawa, 0.076 in the main i... Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3629255 Sun, 23 May 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3629255 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3629254&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622310000623%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Two newborn infants (one male and one female) were discovered dead and frozen in a home freezer. Although thawing is expected to lead to changes that may hamper postmortem investigations, the victims could not be examined in the frozen state and were thus immersed in saline at 37°C to completely thaw them over about 90min. Autolysis and putrefaction were not evident, postmortem changes were slight, and the internal organs were soft, allowing a thorough examination, including an autopsy and a histological investigation. Autopsy showed that both infants were full-term at the time of death. Hydrostatic tests of the lung and stomach indicated that the infants had been born alive, and based on histological analyses of pulmonary alveoli and bronchioles, they had started breathing. Mal... Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3629254 Sun, 23 May 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3629254 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3629248&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622310000659%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: In the US the suicide rate on a population basis has risen and fallen over time between approximately 10 and 12 per 100,000 population. The recent trend toward an increased rate has been paralleled by an increase in emergency department visits for attempted suicide. The purpose of this study was to examine trends in suspected suicide (SS) cases reported to the National Poison Data System (NPDS), over a 9-year period (2000–2008).Methods: Data were obtained from NPDS, for all human patients between the years 2000 and 2008 with the reason for poisoning exposure recorded as “Intentional – Suspected Suicide” (ISS). Additionally, population sizes were obtained from the US Census Bureau as single annual counts by age and sex bands for the 2000–2008.Results: There were 1,672,32... Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3629248 Sun, 23 May 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3629248 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3629247&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622310000398%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: A/B-transferase is a glycosyltransferase that transfers a sugar substrate onto H-antigen resulting in the synthesis of glycoproteins and glycolipids termed A/B-antigens. The ABO blood group (ABO) gene encoding A/B-transferase possesses numerous polymorphisms affecting the specificity and/or activity of the enzyme. The relationship between genotype and phenotype is very complicated, except for those of some critical polymorphisms. In order to establish a system for evaluating the effect of each polymorphism on the transferase function, an A- or B-transferase cDNA expressing vector was introduced into HeLa cells, a cell line that do not possess endogenous A/B-transferase activity. We successfully detected substrate-specific transferase activity in the cells and in the culture mediu... Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3629247 Sun, 16 May 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3629247 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3629252&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622310000428%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: A decomposed female body with an open abdomen and pleural cavity washed up on a beach after a powerful typhoon. Autopsy findings could not determine the cause of death because of leaching and putrefaction. Numbers and types of diatoms in organs overall, suggested the aspiration of fresh or brackish water with low salinity. However, this could not be confirmed because of contamination via the open cavities. We simultaneously investigated the presence of bacterioplankton in liver, kidney and lung homogenates using a modification of our reported bacteriological method. The freshwater bacterioplankton Plesiomonas shigelloides was identified in each of these organs, but marine bacterioplankton were undetectable despite the circumstances under which the body was discovered. The presenc... Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3629252 Wed, 05 May 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3629252 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3629250&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622310000386%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: The right upper extremity of a 38-year-old man was entrapped in an underwater intake of a water duct of a dam reservoir, and he died despite being promptly rescued. His right upper extremity was swollen and exhibited purplish-red discolourations. The skin had numerous blisters and increased tension. Severe subcutaneous and muscle bleeding were observed in the right upper extremity. The circumference and volume of the right upper extremity were approximately 1.2 and 1.4 times, respectively, that the circumference and volume of the left upper extremity. The increase in weight of the right extremity was calculated to be approximately 2.1kg; this finding indicates a severe decrease in the victim’s central blood volume. Furthermore, it is possible that much more than 2.1kg of blood ... Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3629250 Wed, 05 May 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3629250 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3629256&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622310000404%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Eleven human-specific Alu insertion polymorphic loci (ACE, APO, A25, B65, D1, FXIIIB, HS2.36, HS2.43, HS3.23, PV92, TPA25) were analyzed in a population sample of 263 unrelated healthy individuals native of Piedmont (North-Western Italy). Alu insertion frequency and heterozygosity values were highly variable in all loci, except for the HS2.36 locus. (Source: Legal Medicine) Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3629256 Tue, 04 May 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3629256 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3629253&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS134462231000043X%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes We describe a case of a sudden death associated with an unruptured giant vertebrobasilar aneurysm in a symptomatic 18-year-old male. Post-mortem examination revealed three giant fusiform and thrombosed aneurysms (vertebrobasilar junction, internal carotid arteries), an old infarct with some sub-acute changes in the brain stem and medulla, an incipient pneumonia, and a high blood alcohol concentration (2.4o/oo). The association of these findings suggest the role of a multi-factorial respiratory dysfunction as a pathophysiological mechanism leading to death. In fatal cases related to giant intracranial aneurysm, a number of triggers and contributing factors, with potential medico-legal implications, must be appropriately considered in the chain of events leading to death. (Source: Legal Medi... Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3629253 Tue, 04 May 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3629253 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3629251&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622310000416%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: To diagnose the cause of death in autopsy cases, systematic examinations, such as macroscopic, pathological, biochemical, and toxicological are important. In this case report, drug examinations also gave very useful information to diagnose the cause of death, fatal diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). A female methamphetamine abuser in her forties was found dead lying on a hotel bed. Diagnosing her cause of death was difficult only from the macroscopic findings because there was no fatal and/or serious injury or disease. On toxicological examination, acetone was detected at a high concentration (682μg/mL in blood, 887μg/mL in urine) using gas chromatography (GC). Using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS), methamphetamine was detected in the blood, urine, hair, and visceral... Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3629251 Tue, 04 May 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3629251 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3629246&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622310000374%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes This article describes the potential interest in forensic anthropology of the microscopic analysis of dental calculus deposits (DCD), a calcified residue frequently found on the surface of teeth. Its sampling and analysis seem straightforward and relatively reproducible. Samples came from archaeological material (KHB-1 Ra’s al-Khabbah and RH-5 Ra′s al-Hamra, two Prehistoric graveyards located in the Sultanate of Oman, dated between the 5th and 4th millennium B.C.; Montenzio Vecchia, an Etruscan-Celtic necropolis from the north of Italy, dated between the 5th and 3rd century B.C.; body rests of Agnès Sorel, French royal mistress died in 1450 A.D.; skeleton of Pierre Hazard, French royal notary from the 15th century A.D.). Samples were studies by direct optical microscope (OM) or scanni... Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3629246 Tue, 04 May 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3629246 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3453464&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622310000465%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes (Source: Legal Medicine) Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3453464 Fri, 09 Apr 2010 15:57:31 +0100 3453464 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3629249&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622310000362%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Eagle’s syndrome occurs due to elongation of the styloid process or calcification of the stylohyoid ligament, which then may produce a pain sensation due to pressure exerted on various structures in the head and neck region. A case report of calcified stylohyoid ligament found incidentally at autopsy and further confirmed by computed tomography scan and histopathology is herein discussed with associated medicolegal significance. (Source: Legal Medicine) Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3629249 Thu, 08 Apr 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3629249 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3453475&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622310000350%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes We report this case to alert medical examiners to the troubling trend of increased fentanyl patch abuse and its expanding range of misuses and associated morbidities. The decedent was a 28-year-old white male with a past medical history of prescription drug abuse who was pronounced dead in the emergency department shortly after arrival. An autopsy was completed and a tough but stretchy beige foreign body was identified lodged in a mainstem bronchus. Toxicological analysis of femoral blood showed methamphetamine, fentanyl and norfentanyl concentrations of 1456, 8.6 and 1.4ng/mL, respectively. Individuals who abuse prescription medications often modify the route of administration of the drug from the intended method. As this case demonstrates, this choice can be fatal. The novel findings inc... Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3453475 Thu, 01 Apr 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3453475 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3453470&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622310000325%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes We describe approaches for calculating the probability of exclusion (PE) and likelihood ratio (LR) methods to interpret Y-STR mixture evidence with population substructure incorporated. For a mixture sample, first, all possible contributor haplotypes in a reference database are listed as a candidate list. The PE is the complement of the summation of the frequencies of haplotypes in the candidate list. The LR method compares the probabilities of the evidence given alternative hypotheses. The hypotheses are possible explanations for the mixture. Population substructure may be further incorporated in likelihood calculation. The maximum number of contributors is based on the candidate list and the computing complexity is polynomial. Additionally, mixtures were simulated by combining two or thr... Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3453470 Fri, 26 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3453470 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3453469&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622310000106%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (EDX) enables rapid, non-destructive, multi-elemental analysis. Using EDX, bromide was detected in seawater but not in freshwater. We applied EDX to the detection of bromide in cardiac blood from medico-legal autopsy cases to obtain additional evidence supportive of seawater drowning. Bromide was detected in the blood of 4 out of 10 victims drowned in seawater. In contrast, bromide concentrations were below the quantification limit in both victims from freshwater drowning and non-drowning controls. No postmortem invasion of bromide was observed in animal experiments of postmortem immersion in seawater. These results indicate that the detection of bromide in blood by EDX could be a chemical marker supportive of drowning in seawater... Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3453469 Wed, 24 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3453469 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3453476&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622310000337%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: AmpFℓSTR® Sinofiler™ PCR Amplification Kit is specially developed for Chinese forensic laboratories, but there are little population-genetic indices about this kit as a whole. This kit contains 15 STR loci: D8S1179, D21S11, D7S820, CSF1PO, D3S1358, D13S317, D16S539, D2S1338, D19S433, vWA, D18S51, D6S1043, D12S391, D5S818 and FGA. In order to evaluate this kit and to get basic population-genetic indices for its use in forensic practice in Chinese Han population, the DNA of 231 unrelated Han individuals from Henan (central China) were typed using the Kit. The most discriminating locus was D6S1043 while the least was D3S1358. The combined match probability was 9.81×10−19 and the combined power of exclusion was 0.99999974. Statistical analysis of the generated data indicated ... Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3453476 Mon, 22 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3453476 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3453474&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622310000349%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes We present a case of an accidentally self-inflicted fatal bullet wound to the chest where pm-CT-angiography revealed a small laceration of the anterior interventricular branch of the left coronary artery and a tiny disruption of the right ventricle with pericardial and pleural effusion. Subsequent autopsy confirmed our radiological findings. Post-mortem CT-angiography has a great potential for the detection of vascular lesions and can be considered equivalent to autopsy for selected cases in forensic medicine. (Source: Legal Medicine) Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3453474 Mon, 22 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3453474 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3453473&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622310000313%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes We report two infant deaths attributable to intussusception, but without clear evidence of peritonitis. In the first instance, a 3-year-old girl had presented with abdominal pain, vomiting, and melena before her demise. Aspirated vomitus was subsequently ascertained as the immediate cause of death, due to intussusception-induced ileus. The other infant, a 2-month-old male, showed autopsy evidence of intussusception at two sites, with likely aspiration of gastric mucus. Since the circumstances surrounding his death were vague, timing of the intussusception was difficult to pinpoint. Thus, an inconsequential, agonal event could not be discounted. Taken together, however, death from intussusception, without peritonitis, is the most viable postmortem interpretation for both patients. The cause... Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3453473 Mon, 22 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3453473 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3453472&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622310000301%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: In medical practice, many clinical accidents due to blood transfusion reactions have been reported, among which, nonhemolytic transfusion reactions (NHTRs) have been mainly reported in recent years. NHTRs induce reactions such as anaphylactic shock and transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI); however, few forensic autopsy case reports with blood transfusion reactions including anaphylactic shock have been published.A marker for anaphylactic shock is serum tryptase, which indicates systematic mast cell activation in living patients. In forensic medicine, serum tryptase has been used in the postmortem diagnosis of anaphylactic shock. In this autopsy case report, the blood tryptase level was elevated to 49.0ng/mL (reference standard level (Source: Legal Medicine) Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3453472 Mon, 22 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3453472 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3453468&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS134462231000009X%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes In this study, we used cyclophosphamide hydrate (CPM) to induce leukocytopenia in rats, and measured VEGF in the skin incision wound area to assess the involvement of leukocytes in the early production of VEGF. Male Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats were intraperitoneally administered CPM 75mg/kg body weight on day 0 and 5, and dorsal skin incision wounds were made on day 5. One and 3days after the skin incision, leukocytes counts were determined and skin specimens from the wounds were collected for measurements of total proteins, VEGF proteins, and semi-quantification of VEGF mRNA. VEGF immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization for VEGF mRNA were also performed. VEGF proteins were smaller in the amount statistically significantly in the 1- and 3-day-old wounds of CPM-induced leukocytopenic ... Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3453468 Mon, 08 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3453468 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3453467&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622310000088%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Catecholamines are involved in various stress responses. Previous studies have suggested applicability of the postmortem blood levels to investigations of physical stress responses or toxic/hyperthermic neuronal dysfunction during death process. The present study investigated cellular immunopositivity for adrenaline (Adr), noradrenaline (Nad) and dopamine (DA) in the hypothalamus, adenohypophysis and adrenal medulla with special regard to fatal hypothermia (cold exposure) and hyperthermia (heat stroke) to examine forensic pathological significance. Medicolegal autopsy cases (n=290, within 3days postmortem) were examined. The proportions of catecholamine (Adr, Nad and DA)-positive cells (% positivity) in each tissue were quantitatively estimated using immunostaining. Hyperthermia ... Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3453467 Mon, 08 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3453467 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3453466&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622310000076%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: There is a paucity of data on the relative transfer rates of deposited biological substances which could assist evaluation of the probability of given crime scene scenarios, especially for those relating to objects originally touched by hand. This investigation examines factors that may influence the secondary transfer of DNA from this source, including the freshness of the deposit, the nature of the primary and secondary substrate and the manner of contact between the surfaces.The transfer rates showed that both the primary and secondary type of substrate and the manner of contact are important factors influencing transfer of skin cells, but, unlike other biological fluids, such as blood and saliva, the freshness of the deposit in most instances is not. Skin cells deposited on a... Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3453466 Mon, 08 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3453466 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3453465&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622310000064%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Hyoid is a U-shaped bone present in the ventral aspect of neck at the level of fourth cervical vertebra. It is a small bone placed between the root of tongue and the thyroid cartilage. Fracture of hyoid has great significance and importance in forensic pathology. It is well documented that fracture of hyoid is a recognized finding and indicator of strangulation (more common in manual or throttling than by ligature). Fracture of hyoid is less frequently reported in hanging. Discriminant function analysis was used with all predictors (width of hyoid, antero-posterior length of hyoid and length of greater cornu) were entered together. The analysis showed that 96.0% of original grouped cases could be correctly classified. (Source: Legal Medicine) Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3453465 Mon, 08 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3453465 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3294248&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622310000131%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes (Source: Legal Medicine) Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3294248 Mon, 22 Feb 2010 17:02:18 +0100 3294248 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3294253&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622310000027%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: In order to investigate the interaction in the heart between the administration of methamphetamine (MAP) and restraint of the body following it, we administrated MAP intraperitoneally to mice and restrained them, and then determined the level of mRNA expression of 22 genes in the heart using quantitative RT-PCR method. The mRNA expressions of Nfkbiz, Nr4a1 and Dusp1 changed significantly after the administration of MAP, suggesting the induction of an inflammatory condition such as damage to the myocardium. Moreover, the serum concentrations of inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6 were significantly increased by the administration of MAP. On the other hand, the mRNA expressions of Rgs2 and Rasd1 were changed by both the administrat... Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3294253 Wed, 10 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3294253 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3294250&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622309003642%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: The present study investigated the morphology of astrocytes in the hippocampus and serum S100B levels in cases of mechanical asphyxia due to neck compression (n=23: atypical hanging, n=7; ligature/manual strangulation, n=16) with regard to the classical autopsy findings, compared with those of other types of asphyxiation (n=9) and acute myocardial infarction/ischemia (AMI, n=20). The decrease in intact astrocyte number, as shown by S100 and GFAP-immunostaining, was larger for asphyxiation due to neck compression compared with that for other asphyxiation and AMI, showing a correlation with the increase in the serum S100B levels. The decrease in intact astrocyte number and increase in serum S100B were closely related to the severity of conjunctival petechial hemorrhage and fracture... Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3294250 Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3294250 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3294258&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622309003617%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes This report also discusses the relationships between suicide and unemployment rates and increased rates of mining and industrial production and increased rates of money supply during the same period.During the period studied, annual suicide rates ranged from 7.1 to 18.3 per 100,000 populations. Multiple regression analysis indicated that the suicide rate was clearly related to the unemployment rate, but the suicide rate was not related to increased rates of mining and industrial production and increased rates of money supply. Thus, when unemployment rates increase, relevant organizations and the community should pay close attention to the increase in suicide rates. (Source: Legal Medicine) Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3294258 Mon, 01 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3294258 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3294257&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622310000052%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes We present a case of TBSAH possibly originating from hemorrhagic cerebellar contusions due to fist blows to the neck. A 35-year-old woman, who was punched on the right side of the neck, became unconscious about 20min later and died. Autopsy demonstrated a massive subarachnoid hemorrhage at the base of the brain, with blood clots attached to the right lower surface of the cerebellum. No tear was detected in the vertebro-basilar vessels, but there were hemorrhagic cerebellar contusions beneath the blood clots as a possible source of TBSAH. The site of impact to the neck suggested the cerebellar contusions to be a coup injury due to hard blows. (Source: Legal Medicine) Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3294257 Mon, 01 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3294257 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3294262&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622309003678%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes We read with great interest the original article by Maeda et al. in the April 2009 special issue of the Journal. According to literature previously published, the authors believe that laboratory tests are an almost indispensable tool for medico-legal examinations of corpses. (Source: Legal Medicine) Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3294262 Fri, 29 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3294262 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3294261&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622309003629%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: We have co-amplified and analyzed 17 Y-chromosomal STRs loci (DYS19, DYS389I/II, DYS390, DYS391, DYS392, DYS393, DYS438, DYS439, DYS437, DYS448, DYS456, DYS458, DYS635, YGATA-H4 and DYS385a/b) in 132 healthy unrelated autochthonous male individuals of Chinese Tibetan ethnic group residing in Lassa area of China. The gene diversity values for the Y-STRs loci ranged from a minimum 0.206 for DYS391 locus to a maximum of 0.912 for DYS385a/b locus in the populations. A total of 123 haplotypes were identified, among which 115 were unique and 8 occurred more than once. The overall haplotype diversity for 17 Y-STRs loci was 0.998. Research results will be valuable for forensic use in the regions and for Chinese population genetic study. (Source: Legal Medicine) Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3294261 Fri, 29 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3294261 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3294252&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622309003666%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: It is difficult to examine the intact in situ status of thoracic organs, including the heart and lungs, after opening the chest at autopsy. The present study investigated the pathological diagnostic significance of the cardiothoracic ratio (CTR) with regard to heart and lung weight in postmortem plain chest radiography. The pathological diagnostic significance of the CTR in postmortem plain chest radiography using serial forensic autopsy cases of adults (>19years of age, n=367, within 72h postmortem) was retrospectively investigated. In natural deaths, CTR was larger for heart diseases, and was smaller for pulmonary infection and gastrointestinal bleeding, showing correlations to the heart weight except in cases of hemopericardium. In traumatic deaths, CTR was larger in cases of ... Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3294252 Fri, 29 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3294252 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3453471&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622310000040%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes We describe an autopsy case of the sudden, unexpected death of a 17-year-old boy with 13q− syndrome. He had severe psychomotor retardation and had been receiving follow-up care. One day he was found dead in his house and autopsy was performed to elucidate the cause of death. Autopsy findings revealed lobulation anomalies of the lungs, hypoplasia of the adrenal and thyroid glands, and apituitarism due to hyperplasia of bone in the hypophyseal fossa. No other pathological lesions were observed. Chromosomal analysis confirmed interstitial deletion from the long arm of chromosome 13. Karyotype was 46,XY, del(13)(q14.3q32). We concluded that the patient died of multi-organ dysfunction due to apituitarism. Autopsy cases of 13q− syndrome are rare. Furthermore, lobulation anomalies and apituit... Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3453471 Thu, 28 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3453471 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3294259&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622309003873%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: Energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (EDX) enables rapid, non-destructive, multi-elemental analysis. Using EDX, lead and some other metallic elements were detected in paraffin-blocks in which skin samples from a gunshot wound were embedded. Lead was not identified in control samples from non-injured cases. These findings indicate that EDX is a useful method for rapid non-destructive analysis of paraffin-embedded blocks. This technique can provide scientific evidence for identification of a firearm even after storing the sample for a long time. (Source: Legal Medicine) Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3294259 Thu, 28 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3294259 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3294256&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS134462230900368X%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes We present two cases where a single locus mismatch was found in the locus D19S433 using the AmpFℓSTR® Identifiler™ PCR Amplification Kit (Applied Biosystems) (Identifiler Kit) during paternity and maternity tests. This mismatch differed from the mismatch pattern where there is usually a one repeat difference. We designed forward and reverse primers so that they were positioned further away from the primer set contained in the Identifiler Kit. The results showed the existence of a silent allele 13 in both families, due to a point mutation that changed guanine to adenine at 32 nucleotides downstream from the 3′ end of the AAGG repeat sequences in all four members. A single locus mismatch due to a silent allele may occur in any locus using any kit. Accordingly, we should pay attention ... Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3294256 Thu, 28 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3294256 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3294255&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622309003630%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes We present a case of a 44-year-old man, in apparent good health, who suddenly died during sleep. The autopsy revealed an hypopharyngeal lymphoid hyperplasia that can provide the asphyxial mechanisms as cause of death.Furthermore, the anatomical finding could be integrated by a circumstantial piece of evidence: the death occurring during sleep. Some studies, in fact, have highlighted the physio-pathological mechanisms to explain sleep-disordered breathing, particularly the muscular and neural changes involving the pharynx.The asphyxial mechanism was also studied by an immunoistochemical analysis with the anti-Human Surfactant Apoprotein-A (SP-A) antibody. (Source: Legal Medicine) Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3294255 Thu, 28 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3294255 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3294254&cid=s_37939_142_f&fid=37939&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.legalmedicinejournal.com%2Farticle%2FPIIS1344622310000039%2Fabstract%3Frss%3Dyes Abstract: An experimental DNA extraction kit (new kit) was recently developed to extract DNA from degraded skeletal remains without the need for powdering the samples. We compared the utility of the new kit with the conventional phenol/chloroform method using real-time quantitative PCR and multiplex STR analysis. The new kit yielded large amounts of DNA from a compact bone fragment compared with the conventional phenol/chloroform method. We were able to extract sufficient DNA for STR analysis from 75% (3 of 4) and 60% (3 of 5) of the un-powdered tooth and bone samples, respectively, using the new kit. We were able to perform mini-STR analysis of the remaining samples using DNA extracted with the new kit. Furthermore, we successfully performed mitochondrial DNA sequencing of every sample. T... Legal Medicine journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3294254 Thu, 28 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3294254