Detection of ketosis in vitreous at autopsy after embalming

Ketosis occurs in ketoacidosis or malnourishment. When either is suspected in relation to a death, it may be important to analyze for ketosis at autopsy. We encountered a case where starvation was suspected in a deceased nursing home resident, where the body had been embalmed prior to autopsy. Gas chromatography (GC) was unable to separate acetone from formaldehyde, a component of embalming fluid. The Acetest is a simple test that can detect acetone and acetoacetate in body fluids. We validated the Acetest with GC on vitreous. The Acetest and GC were consistent except at very low levels of acetone or acetoacetate. The sensitivity of the Acetest for acetoacetate in vitreous was 10 mg/dL, consistent with early starvation. Significant interference from embalming fluid did not occur. The Acetest was negative in the described case. The Acetest is a simple and useful test for the detection of ketosis in embalmed autopsies.     

Immunology and microbiology devices; reclassification of the herpes simplex virus serological assay device. Final rule

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is amending the special controls for the herpes simplex virus (HSV) serological assay device type, which is classified as class II (special controls). These device types are devices that consist of antigens and antisera used in various serological tests to identify antibodies to herpes simplex virus in serum, and the devices that consist of herpes simplex virus antisera conjugated with a fluorescent dye (immunofluorescent assays) used to identify herpes simplex virus directly from clinical specimens or tissue culture isolates derived from clinical specimens.     

Microbiology devices; reclassification of herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 serological assays. Final rule

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is reclassifying herpes simplex virus (HSV) types 1 and/or 2 (HSV 1 and 2) serological assays from class III (premarket approval) to class II (special controls). FDA had earlier proposed this reclassification on its own initiative based on new information. Elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register, FDA is announcing the availability of a class II special controls guidance entitled "Class II Special Controls Guidance Document: Herpes Simplex Virus Types 1 and 2 Serological Assays."     

Detection of E 605 several years after burial

Five cadavers were exhumed 8 months to 20 years after burial, as it was suspected that these persons had been poisoned with E 605. Parathion at doses of between 200 mg and 500 mg might have been administered. Parathion, aminoparathion, paraoxon, p-nitrophenol, and a decomposition product of CI solvent blue 78 (Ceresblau) were found 9 months after burial, and aminoparathion and p-nitrophenol could be detected 3 and 7 years after burial. Neither parathion nor its degradation products were found in postmortem samples 13 and 20 years after burial. As secondary findings, barbital was detected in specimens 20 years after burial. The analytical findings were confirmed by GLC mass spectrometry.     

Stability of cholesterol gall stones after 165 years of burial

A woman who died in 1837 was exhumed for the purposes of moving the grave to another location. During the excavation, small white deposits of stone were uncovered in the right abdominal region, inferior to the rib cage and superior to the ilium blade. These stones were analyzed for cholesterol, bilirubin, and calcium following solubilization using methyl tert-butyl ether as a solvent. The results of these clinical chemistry analyses showed that these stones consisted primarily of cholesterol. Under these particular soil conditions encountered in this case, cholesterol gall stones are stable for at least 165 years.     

Diagnosis of carbon monoxide poisoning following embalming and exhumation

Clots of blood, which were found in the cardiac ventricles at an autopsy of an embalmed corpse, were to analyse for carbon monoxide. It was not possible to determine reliably the CO-Hb-content of the blood clots with the known methods. Therefore a new procedure was developed. Carbon monoxide was released by a solution of nitric acid and determined gas chromatographically by a headspace method. In the same vessel the iron-content of the sample was measured after decomposition with atomic absorption spectrometry. This procedure is especially suitable for samples like putrid or heat-clotted blood.     

Sudden death in a neonate as a result of herpes simplex infection

This paper describes a case of a neonate with disseminated herpes simplex born to a 14-year-old asymptomatic mother. The infant's physical examination was normal at birth, and subsequent abnormalities were so subtle that infection was not recognized during life. Postmortem cultures of liver and spleen grew herpes simplex virus, and immunofluorescent direct antibody typing revealed Type 2. A cervical culture of the mother obtained after the infant's death was negative.     

Ultrastructural differences of fibrin coagulation before and after cardiovascular arrest

The reconstruction of killing offences often requires the differentiation between vital and postmortal blood traces at the sites of action and finding. Earlier investigations seemed to imply the possibility of such a differentiation depending on the different clot structure. We therefore examined clots prior and after 10 minutes of complete occlusion of the upper extremity morphologically and morphometrically with the REM. The morphologic comparison of these clots revealed narrow, round shaped fibrin fiber networks for clots of native blood, whereas clots after occlusion showed linear, rarely connected long fibrin fibers. The morphometry of the fibrin free spaces revealed a significant enlargement of the single fibrin free spaces as well as of the total fibrin free space after occlusion. For capillary blood a significant decrease in fiber diameter was observed after occlusion. The examination of clinical clotting parameters revealed alterations of thrombocyte aggregation for the collagen induction, a slightly reduced thrombocyte retention and slightly steeper flanks in the thromboelastogram after occlusion. The reason for these changes was interpreted as lack of high energetic phosphates in the retraction process as the clotting cascade itself requires a very high amount of these phosphates. Use of these results in the forensic practice will have to take factors as temperature, drying out, surface-structure and many others into account.     

Ultrastructural alterations of skeletal muscles after electric shock

The existence of tracks of electric current in the skeletal muscles was checked by electron-microscopic investigations in animal experiments on rats. Hypercontraction bands alternating with dilated sarcomeres and tumefaction of tubular apparatus and mitochondria with cristiolysis were established. The most severely expressed alterations were found in the vicinity of the electrodes and adjacent to the joints; they are thought to be caused by electrically induced tetanus and local hyperthermia. The forensic aspects of these findings are discussed.     

Physical and mechanical degradation of shirting fabrics in burial conditions

The current focal areas within forensic textile science are fibre identification and assessment of the method of damage to fabrics. This paper investigates fabric degradation within clandestine burials. The fabrics considered in this paper, unlike previous archaeological studies, are a modern polyester-cotton blend (65%/35%) and a 100% cotton fabric both of which are commonly used for men's shirting fabrics in the UK. Three laundering conditions were investigated (i) not-laundered, (ii) laundered 6 times, and (iii) laundered 60 times; this represented varying conditions of fabric upon clothing deposition. The two burial conditions; sand and clay, were selected as extremes of soil type. The deposition times (15 and 30 days) were based on a study of clandestine burials in UK crimes. There were clear differences in how polyester-cotton and cotton stained within the two different soil conditions, polyester-cotton becoming extensively stained after a 30-day deposition in sand. The tear force required to tear the fabric after deposition, suggested that polyester/cotton fabrics were consistently weaker after burial, regardless of soil type and deposition period. There was also significant damage caused to not-laundered cotton fabrics after a 30-day deposition in clay. This work indicates that common apparel fabrics can degrade in relatively short times when buried.     

Diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease in an exhumed decomposed brain after twenty months of burial in a deep grave

After 20 months of interment in a deep grave, the decomposed body of the 81-year old testator of a will was exhumed to sustain the burden of proof that he lacked testamentary capacity when the will was rewritten two days prior to his death. The brain was mushy and pulverized with complete disappearance of the brainstem, cerebellum and subcortical ganglia. Small foci of relatively intact dorsal frontal neocortex were identified. Sections from these foci were stained with hematoxylin and eosin, bielchowsky silver stain and immunostains for beta amyloid peptide (betaA4), tau and alpha-synuclein. Despite severe autolysis and decomposition, the bielchowsky stain and the betaA4 immunostains showed preserved frequent neuritic amyloid plaques with very few residual neurofibrillary tangles. Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy was present. At the present time this case represents the first documented and reported case of direct tissue diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease pathology in a decomposed brain following long term burial in a deep grave.     

Ultrastructural changes in liver after the test exposition of laser irradiation

The aim of this research was to verify characteristic morphological changes in the liver with regard to survival time after laser irradiation. The duration of irradiation was constant. For the purpose of irradiation we used a helium-neon laser. The value of the energy absorbed during the exposition amounted to about 2.5 J. Segments from the irradiated liver field of rats were taken directly after decapitation following different times of survival, and the changes were estimated in an ultrastructural microscope. Our results showed dependence of certain morphological changes (perceptible only by ultrastructural examination) on the time of survival after irradiation.     

Ultrastructural changes in dermal pig skin after exposure to heat and electric energy and acid and basic solutions

In order to describe the ultrastructure of the histopathological changes in dermis after exposure to electrical energy, heat energy and acid and basic solutions the skin of fully anaesthetized Danish Landrace pigs were exposed to direct current, heat (80 degrees C and 450 degrees C) and acid and basic solutions. Biopsies were obtained immediately after the exposure from all types of injury. Biopsies from the cathode areas biopsies were also taken on day 1 and day 2.5 in order to describe the initial calcium deposits. Homogeneous collagen fibres without any birefringence from heat exposed areas were ultrastructurally composed of filamentous materials. Collagen fibres with fine densely spaced cross-striation from cathode areas and areas exposed to basic solutions were shown ultrastructurally to consist of parallelly arranged collagen fibrils with regular waves. It is concluded that the cross-striation of the collagen fibres observed in polarized light are due to a periodic change in the orientation of the fibres seen as waves of the fibres. The ultrastructure of dermal cells were similar to that of epidermal cells following the different types of influence. Characteristically the nuclei were condensed following heat and more electron-lucent following direct current (d.c.) and acid and basic solutions. In cathode areas and areas influenced by basic solutions the electron-lucent nuclei contained fine fibrils. The ultrastructural study supports the suggestion from light microscopic studies that the morphology of anode and cathode lesions shows resemblance to acid induced and basic induced lesions, respectively. Apatite crystals were observed on day 2.5 at the periphery of the collagen fibrils and in the matrix of elastic fibres.     

Improved method for the detection of TATP after explosion

TATP in post explosion exhibits was reported earlier to be best recovered from vapor phase. A typical procedure includes its adsorption on Amberlite XAD-7, elution with acetonitrile and analysis by GC/MS. In this work, improved recovery of TATP from the vapor phase was achieved by SPME using PDMS/DVB fiber and immediate sampling to GC/MS. The recovery of TATP by SPME was compared with headspace and with adsorption on Amberlite XAD-7 by spiking onto filter paper put in a 100 mL beaker. The limit of detection of TATP was 6.4 ng in these conditions, few orders magnitude more than in the other tested methods. Recovery of TATP in the presence of various solvents was also studied. Acetone, water, and mixtures of water:alcohols (1:1) were found to reduce the recovery of TATP. Using SPME, TATP has been identified in dozens of post-explosion cases.     

Discrimination between functions of an expert bureau and a burial firm (topic for discussion)

The authors suggest measures aimed at discrimination of the functions performed by forensic medical experts and the services rendered by burial firms. The responsibilities of pathology departments of hospitals and bureaus of forensic medical expert evaluations, which should be reflected in official documents, should be confined to manipulations needed to solve the professional problems and removal of sections. Cases when utilization of certain chemicals or manipulations aimed at restoration of the body are prohibited should be listed in detail. The order of transfer of the body from pathology department or forensic medical bureau to the burial firm and to relatives should be regulated with consideration for the results of autopsy. The moment of the end of autopsy studies is to be determined.     

大鼠视神经横断伤视网膜病理改变及其P-ERG检测

目的 观测大鼠视神经横断伤后视网膜神经节细胞(RGCs)形态学变化及与图形视网膜电流图(P-ERG)波幅值、波潜时变化的关系,同时探讨其对视功能的影响规律.方法 采用大鼠球后视神经横断伤动物模型,在伤后不同时间处死动物并取材后,HE染色观察视网膜形态学的动态变化,P-ERG检测视功能状况.结果 视神经横断伤后RGCs数目严重下降,2周内RGCs快速减少,以3～9天为明显,2周以后减少缓慢.损伤经过时间与P-ERG-N95波幅值呈负相关,与其峰潜时呈正相关;RGCs数量变化与P-ERG-P50波幅值及波潜时改变密切相关;至伤后4周P-ERG波形近乎消失.结论 P-ERG起源于RGCs,RGCs进行性丧失是P-ERG变化的重要病理基础,并与视功能的时间规律变化具有相关性.     

大鼠视神经夹伤后视网膜病变及其F-VEP检测

目的观测大鼠视神经夹伤后视网膜病变及其对视功能时序性变化的影响。方法建立大鼠视神经夹伤模型,分别于伤后1、3、5、7、9、14、28、56、84d光镜观察视网膜病变,闪光视觉诱发电位(F-VEP)检测视功能状况。结果大鼠视神经损伤诱导视网膜神经节细胞(RGCs)较正常眼明显减少。损伤后3～7d RGCs减少率快速上升,14d 后缓慢下降,28d后几乎无明显变化。视神经损伤1d F-VEP波形变得低而宽;1-14d峰潜时和波幅呈进行性下降, 28d后变化平稳,并显示恢复迹象。结论神经损伤后节细胞继发性病变是视功能进行性下降的重要基础;并与视功能的时间规律变化具有相关性。     

急性酒精中毒对大鼠溺死后肺组织硅藻检出的影响

目的急性酒精中毒对大鼠溺死后肺组织硅藻检出的影响。方法将40只大鼠随机分为5组,进行酒精灌胃,灌注量分别为:正常组(0m L/kg)、低剂量组(7m L/kg)、中剂量组(15m L/kg)、高剂量组(22m L/kg)、死后抛尸组(0m L/kg)。观察各组大鼠行为变化、溺水时生存能力及死后肺组织中硅藻检出量。结果高剂量组呼吸出现浅慢,呼吸停止时间减少(P0.05)。酒精灌注各组大鼠攀附时间均减少(P0.05),肺组织硅藻检出量均减少(P0.05)。结论急性酒精中毒可以导致大鼠溺死后肺组织硅藻检出量减少。     

The detection of group-specific antigens in hair after its contact with blood and ejaculate]

The aim of this study was the detection of AB0 antigens extrinsic for a person in his (her) hair. The hair was kept for 1-7 days in whole or diluted blood (96 experiments) and semen (11 experiments). Only the group-specific antigens, intrinsic for the subjects whose hair was examined, were detectable in the hair after this exposure.