Behavior of 5-hydroxytryptamine and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid in relation to agonized suffering (I)

The authors have studied the levels of 5-HT and 5-HIA,--in serum, CSP fluid and pericardial fluid of cadavers at the Forensic Anatomic Institute of Granada and its relations with the length of agonized suffering. The results showed us that the study of 5-HT and its main metabolite, the 5-HIAA, may be useful for the exact evaluation of agonized suffering, and the pericardial fluid is most suited for the analysis of 5-HT and 5-HIAA. We found that there was a significant correlation between the 5-HT and 5-HIAA and the agonized suffering. When the agonized sufferings of a moderate length (10 min-6h) were compared with the slow and long processes of death, the correlation was highly significant (P less than 0.001).     

过敏性休克死亡体内血栓素B_2含量变化的研究

本研究采用非平衡法,对青霉素和血清过敏性休克致死机体的血浆、肺、脾和肾中血栓素B_2(Thromboxane,TXB_2)进行放射免疫分析(RIST)。正常对照组血浆中TXB_2含量是9.63±1.77(ng/ml),实验组休克前是9.264±3.01(mg/ml),两者P>0.05。青霉素休克组30.36±10.72(ng/ml);血清休克组40.10±6.51(ng/ml),与对照及休克前相比均P<0.01。对照、青霉素和血清过敏性休克肺中TXB_2依次为:89.90±6.57、171.96±18.07和187.70±18.89(ng/g)(P<0.01)。脾中依次为:68.334±10.09、137.68±15.97和173.72±18.75(ng/g)(P<0.01)。肾中依次为:73.89±5.05、128.30±19.99和152.15±17.77(ng/g)(P<0.01)。过敏性休克致死的机体置室温6或12h,或冰箱48h后,不明显影响TXB_2的检测。研究者认为:发生过敏性休克时,血栓素系统发生剧烈变化,表现为血和脏器中TXB_2的增加,可为确定过敏性休克死亡提供一个重要的生化指标。     

Central monoamines and the death process time (antemortem time) during asphyxia. An experimental study in the mouse brain

The changes of the brain monoamines, norepinephrine (NE), dopamine (DA), and serotonin (5-HT), during acute asphyxia, caused by strangulation, anoxia, and drowning, were studied in the mouse. In several asphyxiated animal groups significant linear correlation was found between the level of monoamines, NE, DA, and 5-HT, and the death process times or antemortem times were r = 0.50, 0.98 (P less than 0.05), and 0.57, respectively. It is concluded that the level of brain NE and DA increased in the mouse that died of asphyxia, and the level of 5-HT showed only an apparent decrease in anoxia groups as compared with the control group and showed a twice as high increase in drowning groups. Especially, there was a tendency that the longer the death process times or antemortem times, the higher was the level of DA.     

Postmortem serotonin (5-HT) concentrations in the cerebrospinal fluid of medicolegal cases

In a medicolegal study the postmortem serotonin (5-HT) cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) concentrations were determined in routine autopsies using a high performance liquid chromatographic procedure with electrochemical detection. There was no correlation between 5-HT concentrations and age, sex or blood alcohol concentration using a postmortem delay < or = 3 days. In suicides the suboccipital CSF concentrations were significantly decreased compared to the levels measured in the control group (8.55+/-5.99 ng/ml versus 20.15+/-13.56 ng/ml). Additionally, a decrease of 5-HT was found in the suboccipital CSF of opiate fatalities (15.56+/-13.52 ng/ml). The results support the hypothesis that decreased 5-HT concentrations in the CSF are characteristic in suicides. However, due to a rather broad overlapping of values between suicides and controls the results failed to define a possible cut-off level in the 5-HT CSF concentration to distinguish between a suicidal and a non-suicidal incident.     

补体C5在心肌梗死死后诊断的特异性研究

为了探讨补体C     

补体C_5在心肌梗死死后诊断的特异性研究

为了探讨补体 C5在心肌梗死死后诊断的特异性,应用免疫组织化学和图像分析技术 ,对正常心脏、心肌梗死及其它非梗死性的引起直接或间接心脏损害的情况如心肌炎、窒息、电击死、出血性休克、心挫伤、有机磷中毒等心肌细胞内 C5的变化进行研究。结果发现： C5仅在心肌梗死与心肌炎病例出现阳性反应,其阳性反应面积同正常对照组存在显著性差异,在窒息、电击死、出血性休克、心挫伤、有机磷中毒等病例未见明显阳性反应。因此 C5作为心肌梗死死后诊断指标仅受心肌炎的影响,对诊断心肌梗死具有较好的特异性。     

Expression patterns of adhesion molecules P-selectin, von Willebrand factor and PECAM-1 in lungs: a comparative study in cases of burn shock and hemorrhagic shock

For comparative examination of the pathological findings in burn shock and hemorrhagic shock, histological and immunohistochemical investigations of the lungs were performed. Histological specimens of 30 cases each were examined by means of immunohistological staining with P-selectin, von Willebrand factor (vWF) and PECAM-1. The results showed statistically significant differences between the two groups. There was strong staining for P-selectin (especially in the lumina of the blood vessels) and vWF (especially in the endothelium of medium-sized blood vessels) in the specimens of burn shock fatalities. In cases of rapid death after exposure to fire the strong expression of adhesion molecules, which are mainly responsible for the initial inflammatory reaction of leucocytes and platelets in burn shock, suggests prompt activation of inflammatory cells in the lung tissue. In cases of hemorrhagic shock, this reaction was much less distinct in the early stages. The same is true of the expression of PECAM-1, which was lower in lungs from burn shock fatalities than in those from hemorrhagic shock fatalities. The low expression of PECAM-1 in burn shock is a clue to the migration/diapedesis of leucocytes into the areas of burn damage. In total, the results of the investigation indicate different pathophysiological processes even in the very early stages of burn shock and hemorrhagic shock.     

Rapid postmortem changes of rat striatum dopamine, serotonin, and their metabolites as monitored by brain microdialysis

Brain microdialysis was used to monitor changes in extracelluar dopamine (DA), serotonin (5-HT), and their metabolite levels in the rat striatum at death by cervical dislocation. Maximum respective 450-fold and 150-fold increases in the extracelluar output of DA and 5-HT were observed within the first 30 min of death. DA and 5-HT outputs remained elevated over the following 2 h at levels about 100-fold and 50-fold above pre-death values, respectively. In contrast with monoamine outputs, the outputs of the DA metabolite, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), and the 5-HT metabolite, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), rapidly decreased by 10% and 20%, respectively 1 h after death. 5-Hydroxytryptophol (5-HTOL) gradually decreased after death. Before death both the extracellular DOPAC/DA and 5-HIAA/5-HT ratios were about 400; after death these ratios dropped to 0.56 and 4.0, respectively at 30 min. These observations suggested that regulation of neurotransmitter releases through the neuronal membrane and metabolisms in the rat striatum were seriously disrupted at death. This finding may be helpful in the determination of death in the field of forensic medicine.     

Penetrating cardiac injuries. A pathological analysis of 20 autopsy cases

A total of 20 autopsy cases involving deaths due to penetrating cardiac injuries were analyzed pathologically: the causes of death of the victims who died before cardiorrhaphy were exsanguination or hemorrhagic shock in nine cases, pericardial tamponade in three, and a combination of the two in another three. Three of the remaining five cases of early postoperative death resulted from hemorrhagic shock, one resulted from pulmonary air embolism, and one resulted from a combination of hemorrhagic shock and coronary platelet embolism. We should pay more attention to air embolism and platelet embolism as causes of death of victims who have had penetrating cardiac injuries, whose exsanguinating hemorrhage and/or pericardial tamponade may be controlled by emergency-room thoracotomy and cardiorrhaphy.     

血清IgE在药物过敏性休克死亡鉴定中的价值

目的 探讨血清IgE在药物过敏性休克死亡鉴定中的应用价值。方法 采用MEIA法，对17例明确鉴定为药物过敏性休克死亡者(休克组)和16例交通事故死亡者(对照组)的心血进行IgE检测，并对2组IgE检测结果进行统计学分析。结果 休克组IgE水平为(622.49±594.67)U／ml，对照组为(45.04±43.62)U／ml；经t检验，2组显著差异(P＜0.01)。结论 血清IgE水平升高，可作为鉴定药物过敏性休克死亡的依据之一。     

怀疑原发性脑干损伤早期死亡脑干纤维联结蛋白的免疫组化研究

在本研究的１３个案例中，怀疑原发性脑干伤死亡的５例，明确死因的８例，其中严重闭合性颅脑损伤２例；缢死１例，失血性休克１例，电击２例，海洛因中毒２例。用ＬＳＡＢ法对１３例脑干的中脑、脑桥、延髓各部ＦＮ进行检测。结果显示５例怀疑为原发性脑干伤、２例严重颅脑损伤、２例海洛因中毒死者的脑千部位的神经元内均可见ＦＮ的异常沉积，其它各例未见ＦＮ的异常沉积。结果表明；ＬＳＡＢ－ＦＮ法是诊断原发性脑干伤早期死亡灵敏但非特异的形态学指标。     

Effects of ion channel blockers on rapid postmortem changes in extracellular dopamine and serotonin levels in the rat nucleus accumbens

In the present study, we used in vivo brain microdialysis to examine the effects of ion channel blockers tetrodotoxin (TTX), EGTA-free Ca²⁺ and verapamil on rapid postmortem changes in extracellular levels of doapmine (DA), serotonin (5-HT) and their metabolites dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) in the ACC of freely moving rats. Extracellular ACC DA levels decreased following the perfusion of the three ion channel blockers in freely moving rats, and then, at death by cervical dislocation, maximum respective 220-, 60- and 90-fold increases were observed in the extracellular output of DA in animals treated with EGTA, verapamil and TTX, respectively. Also, ACC 5-HT decreased following perfusion with the three blockers in the freely moving rats, and then maximum increases of 80-, 30- and 45-fold in the extracellular output of 5-HT were observed at death in animals treated with EGTA, verapamil and TTX, respectively, compared to the baseline. Cervical dislocation-induced rapid postmortem changes were inhibited markedly by perfusion with CSF containing the Ca²⁺ entry blocker verapamil. These observations suggested that rapid postmortem changes in ACC DA and 5-HT release were associated with the action of calcium ion channels and/or voltage gated channels in the CNS.     

142例过敏性休克死亡法医病理学分析

目的 探讨过敏性休克死亡案例的特点.方法 对142例过敏性休克死亡案例进行回顾性分析,并对过敏性休克死亡案例与62例非过敏性休克死亡案例的血清IgE水平进行统计分析.结果 过敏性休克死亡大多发生于医疗机构,占77.46％.采用单纯静脉给药方式致过敏性休克死亡案例占53.53％.β-内酰胺类抗生素、糖皮质激素类药物、中药制剂在过敏性休克死亡案例生前治疗药物中占有重要比例.过敏性休克死亡案例多无特异性组织病理学改变,与非过敏性休克死亡组的血清IgE水平的差异具有统计学意义（P＜0.05）.结论 过敏性休克死亡案例死因鉴定应根据案情、解剖检验结果及血清IgE水平等检测指标进行综合分析判定.     

过敏性休克死亡法医学诊断的研究现状

过敏性休克死亡在临床医学及法医学鉴定中较为常见,但过敏性猝死的死后诊断一直是法医病理学鉴定的一大难点。近年来,国内外学者研究了过敏性死亡血清IgE、组胺、肥大细胞类胰蛋白酶和P物质的含量以及其在肺脏和胃肠等组织中的免疫表达,试图为过敏性猝死的法医学鉴定提供客观、准确的形态学依据和诊断指标。本文就过敏性休克死亡法医学诊断的研究进展和存在的问题加以综述。     

Diagnostic significance of myofibrillar degeneration of cardiocytes in forensic pathology

The incidence of myofibrillar degeneration (MFD) was studied in the following different forensic-pathological diagnostic groups of 25 cases each: acute morphine intoxication, acute carbon monoxide intoxication, hanging, strangulation by hand/ligature, drowning, acute hemorrhagic shock, lethal acute brain injury, explainable death of babies or infants and sudden infant death syndrome, together with 18 cases of intoxication with various drugs. The MFD was demonstrated by the Luxol-fast-blue reaction, with two types of phenomena being differentiated, namely cross-band lesions and diffuse staining. All diagnostic groups included cases of MFD of differing degrees. Cross-band lesions were observed in practically all cases of hanging, strangulation and acute hemorrhagic shock. Diffuse stain was noted particularly in cases of drowning and acute brain injury. The diagnostic significance is discussed.     

Postmortem evaluation of serum and urine neopterin concentrations

Cellular immune response is accompanied by the release of neopterin. Increased neopterin levels in urine and serum are observed in patients during viral infections, autoimmune diseases, and allograft rejections and certain malignant diseases. We investigated postmortem neopterin concentrations in urine and serum samples taken from 32 corpses 3 to 69 h (mean 19.3 h) after death. Urine neopterin concentrations in corpses are similar to those of healthy live controls and are independent of the time after death. In contrast, serum neopterin concentrations are frequently greatly increased in corpses, and the levels are higher in sera collected more than 10 h after death in comparison with samples obtained earlier. Neopterin measurement in urine and serum samples of corpses is feasible. It appears likely that urine neopterin concentrations could aid the diagnosis of inflammatory diseases in corpses.     

An autopsy report on a ruptured rudimentary horn (uterine anomaly) with ectopic pregnancy

The rudimentary horn is a rare developmental anomaly of the Müllerian duct. Ectopic pregnancy in the rudimentary horn is estimated to occur in one out of 76,000–150,000 pregnancies. A 30-year-old primigravida suddenly collapsed after 3 days of continuous abdominal pain. Emergency laparotomy revealed a massive intraperitoneal hemorrhage and fetal demise. The growth of the fetus after 19 weeks of gestation is believed to have caused the rudimentary horn rupture, thereby rapidly leading to hemorrhagic shock in the mother and ischemic death in the fetus. This is the first autopsy report on maternal death due to the rudimentary horn or other Müllerian duct anomalies, which emphasizes the need for forensic pathologists to consider this condition as a possible cause of unexpected death in fertile women. In addition, it is very important for clinicians to detect Müllerian duct anomalies by sonography during routine obstetric examinations, and promptly diagnose anomaly related ectopic pregnancies in women displaying symptoms of an acute abdomen, intraperitoneal hemorrhage, or shock in the emergency practice.     

TNFα检测在药物过敏性休克死因鉴定中的价值

目的分析某些药物过敏性休克致死者血清中肿瘤坏死因子α（tumor necrosis factor-alpha,TNFα）检测水平的变化,探讨TNFα检测在药物过敏性休克死因鉴定中的应用价值。方法采用双抗体夹心酶联免疫吸附试验法（ELISA）检测尸体心血中TNFα的水平。结果实验组TNFα检测值为（131.6±9.4）pg/mL,感染性疾病对照组TNFα检测值为（87.3±6.4）pg/mL,正常对照组TNFα检测值为（17.2±4.5）pg/mL,各组间差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）。结论血清TNFα检测可以作为高度怀疑药物过敏性休克案例的死因鉴定的指标之一。     

纤维连接蛋白在诊断心肌梗死的特异性研究

探讨纤维连接蛋白 (Fn)对心肌梗死死后诊断的特异性。应用免疫组织化学和图像分析技术 ,对正常心脏、心肌梗死及其它非梗死性因素 ,如心肌炎、窒息、电击死、出血性休克、心挫伤、有机磷中毒等 ,直接或间接引起心脏损害时心肌细胞内Fn的变化进行研究。结果发现 :Fn仅在心肌梗死与心肌炎病例出现阳性反应 ,其阳性反应面积同正常对照组存在显著性差异 ,在窒息、电击死、出血性休克、心挫伤、有机磷中毒等病例未见明显阳性反应。Fn作为心肌梗死死后诊断指标仅受心肌炎的影响 ,对诊断心肌梗死具有较好的特异性     

过敏性休克诊断的法医学研究进展

过敏性休克的诊断一直是法医学死亡原因鉴定工作的重点和难点之一。因为尸检中缺乏特异性的病理学改变,案情调查时过敏性休克的发生过程和病情进展及既往过敏史不详,且患者常患有冠心病、肺炎、哮喘、皮肤过敏等疾病,死亡时间长导致血清过敏指标的降解等因素,是检案工作中常常遇到的问题。本文拟对过敏性休克的鉴定现状和诊断指标,包括病理形态学改变、特殊染色、免疫组化、血清学检查等实验方法在过敏性休克中的应用进行综述,以期能为过敏性休克的诊断和研究提供参考。