Immunohistochemical investigation of ubiquitin and myoglobin in the kidney in medicolegal autopsy cases

We examined the immunohistochemical distributions of ubiquitin (Ub) and myoglobin (Mb) in human kidney tissues to assist the pathological assessment of death due to trauma. Medicolegal autopsy cases at our institute (n=138: 0-96 years of age, 105 males and 33 females) were examined. Causes of death were blunt injury (n=31), sharp injury (n=15), poisoning (n=11), drowning (n=10), fire fatalities (n=25), hypothermia (n=7), asphyxiation (n=14), hyperthermia (n=3), and natural diseases (n=22) for controls. Immunostaining of Ub and Mb was performed on the formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded kidney tissue sections. Quantitative analyses by estimating the proportion of Ub- and Mb-positive cells (%positivity) of renal tubule epithelial cells showed that the positivities for Ub and Mb were higher in subjects who died due to fire, blunt injury, sharp injury and fatal hypothermia than in other groups. The Ub-positivity correlated with the severity of airway thermal injury in fire deaths, survival time in blunt injury, and serum markers for renal failure in deaths due to sharp injury. Concomitant increases in the tubular Mb- and Ub-positivities were characteristic to deaths from injury and hypothermia. These findings suggest that Ub may serve as a sensitive indicator of the fatal influence of traumas.     

Evaluation of the severity of harm to health by gastrointestinal injury caused by blunt trauma

A total of 226 forensic medical conclusions in traumas of the gastrointestinal tract with blunt objects, 111 of these with lethal outcomes, are analyzed. The types of injuries, clinical course, medical care, complications, flaws in medical care and their consequences, and pathomorphology of the injury were analyzed. Criteria of harm inflicted to health are determined and a table of qualifying signs is suggested for cases with blunt injuries of the gastrointestinal system, with consideration for the type of injury.     

Tissue-specific differences in mRNA quantification of glucose transporter 1 and vascular endothelial growth factor with special regard to death investigations of fatal injuries

Glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) have been established as being responsible for cellular adaptation to oxygen deficiency in tissue ischemia and hypoxia mediated by hypoxia-inducible factor 1. We hypothesized that mRNA quantification of these factors in autopsy tissue specimens could have diagnostic significance for investigating the pathology of death, especially after injury. Various cases (total, n=119; less than 48h postmortem) were examined, including fatal blunt injury (n=71) and sharp instrument injury (n=18), as well as asphyxia (strangulation/hanging, n=12) and acute myocardial infarction/ischemia (n=18) as controls. Quantification of mRNA by TaqMan real-time RT-PCR and immunostaining were performed for GLUT1 and VEGF in lung, kidney, and skeletal muscle specimens. The postmortem interval showed no significant influence on the relative quantification of mRNA during the early postmortem period. Characteristic results were found in blunt injury cases: both GLUT1 and VEGF mRNAs decreased in the lung but increased in the skeletal muscle depending on survival time. In the kidney, subacute deaths showed higher GLUT1 mRNA levels compared with acute deaths from blunt injury, but no significant change was found for VEGF mRNA. Immunohistochemistry showed visually predominant GLUT1 immunoreactivity in the renal cortex for cases with a longer survival time, coincident with the results at the mRNA level. Tissue-specific differences in mRNA quantification of GLUT1 and VEGF shed light on tissue ischemia/hypoxia and subsequent tissue-dependent pathophysiological changes leading to death after injury.     

Weapon Use in Korean Homicide: Differences Between Homicides Involving Sharp and Blunt Instruments

On the basis of information regarding 276 homicides committed in South Korea between 1987 and 2008, we compared offenders’ and victims’ characteristics, injury locations, weapon‐related behavior, and offending behavior between homicides involving sharp and blunt instruments. The victims of sharp‐force homicide were much younger relative to those of blunt‐force homicide. In addition, homicides involving blunt instruments were more likely to be committed by offenders who lived with the victims. Most sharp‐force homicides involved injuries to the torso, while blunt‐force homicides involved mainly head injuries. Furthermore, perpetrators of sharp‐force homicides tended to preselect their weapons, while those of blunt‐force homicides were likely to use weapons of opportunity. Logistic regression analysis identified a number of factors, including injury location and body transportation, which significantly predicted weapon type. As this was the first South Korean study to compare sharp‐ and blunt‐force homicides, the results have practical implications for homicide investigations.     

眼部损伤程度法医学鉴定60例分析

目的探讨眼外伤的特点及其损伤程度法医学鉴定要点。方法对60例眼外伤的法医学鉴定案例进行回顾性分析,对所有案例按照性别、年龄、职业、致伤物及损伤类型进行分类研究。结果眼外伤中农民、工人占61.7%,钝性损伤达85.0%,且大多属单纯挫伤,占63.3%。结论眼外伤大多属钝性外力所致,眼底病变是影响视力的重要原因,对外力与视力受损关系的评价要充分考虑致伤物种类、打击部位及伤前眼病史等诸多因素的影响。     

Cardiac Ventricular Laceration Due to Child Abuse: Abusive Ventricular Laceration

Traumatic cardiac ventricular ruptures in children are rare. Only a single case of left ventricular rupture due to child abuse has been reported. We report a child who sustained a fatal left ventricular apical rupture. It appeared to have resulted from hydrostatic forces resulting from abusive blunt thoracic injury. That he was being abused was previously missed when he was presented to the emergency department with facial pyoderma. It was not noted that he also had lip and oral mucosal injury, sites not affected by staph toxins. As a result, his underlying, abusive and secondarily infected, facial flow type scald burn was not appreciated. Within a week thereafter his fatal injury occurred, accompanied by extensive and obvious associated abusive injuries. Postmortem high‐detail whole body computed tomography scanning aided the autopsy. Although rare, ventricular rupture from abusive blunt thoracic injury can occur.     

Analysis of blunt trauma injuries: vertical deceleration versus horizontal deceleration injuries

There are several similarities found in blunt trauma injuries to humans sustained as a result of vertical deceleration (falling) and those sustained as a result of deceleration in a horizontal plane (automobile accidents). However, examination of the patterns of traumatic skeletal injuries can distinguish those injuries associated with falling from heights from those associated with automobile accidents. While there is considerable variation within each type of blunt trauma injury dependent on the angle at which one falls or is struck, there are several characteristic skeletal features associated with each type of trauma. In this study we review both the current literature and human skeletal remains from the University of New Mexico's Documented Collection known to have been subjected to blunt trauma. This collection is used to characterize and differentiate the pattern of skeletal injuries to various parts of the body for each type of trauma. These assessments are applied to investigate the traumatic skeletal lesions observed in a forensic case where the manner of death is unknown. Analyses suggest two possible scenarios that would explain the death of the individual investigated, with death most likely related to a vehicular-pedestrian accident.     

23例头面部拳掌伤致脑干损伤致死病理学分析

目的 观察头面部拳掌伤，及钝器打击伤致脑干损伤死的病理形态学特点，并探讨其成伤机理。方法 对23例拳击(A组)与30例钝器打击(B组)采用作者建立的脑干损伤取材方法，于脑干各颅神经根部作水平面切6块，HE染色光镜检查。结果 2组脑干损伤具有相同的病理形态学改变。A组水肿显著(71.6％)，B组以组织撕裂、挫碎为多(76.6％)；A组颅神经损伤多为单根(47.6％)，B组2根以上占53.7％，最多可达4根；A组单纯脑实质挫伤多(50％)，B组多伴发血肿或挫挤带。结论 拳、掌和钝器打击头面部致脑干损伤的病理形态学相同，但钝器打击比拳、掌致脑干损伤严重且广泛。提示脑干损伤致命与其受力部位、发病机理关系密切，而与受力强度关系不大。     

Detection and assessment of microparticles in the area of periosteum damage from blunt trauma

Periosteal injuries and deposition of trace corpuscles on the periosteum resultant from stroke with blunt hard objects and in car or railway accidents are analyzed. The greatest number of trace corpuscles of different origin are formed as a result of direct strike of a hard blunt object against the bone surface. They are deposited at the site of periosteal injury, which should be removed and examined by special methods. This will help determine the mechanism of injury and identify the object with which the injury was inflicted.     

The theory of cardiac lesions from blunt chest injury

The main theories of myocardial lesions associated with a blunt chest injury proposed starting from the XIXth century till the present time are considered based on the overview of the literature data. It is shown that the theory of selective mechanical activation of ATP-dependent K+ channels is most promising for further investigations into the mechanisms of myocardial dysfunction resulting from blunt chest injuries. The authors emphasize the absence of the universally accepted theory explaining the mechanism behind traumatic cardiac troubles and its fatal outcome despite numerous studies of cardiac lesions in patients with a blunt chest injury. It dictates the necessity of further research, both clinical and experimental, for a deeper insight into the problem.     

Identification of blunt objects according to the injuries caused by them

The article presents principles of forensic-medical identification of blunt objects by injuries inflicted with them. It is shown that each injury has its own complexes of identifying signs. It is necessary to consider mechanisms of action of blunt objects inflicting contact, noncontact and other injuries. Mathematical methods should be employed to estimate probability of identification of traumatic blunt object.     

Unusual blunt force wound patterns due to a hexagonal steel bar

Pathologists routinely examine victims with blunt force traumatic injuries. Many of these victims exhibit injury patterns that can help identify the weapon used in the assault. Proper documentation that accurately portrays the injury pattern and allows for comparison with recovered weapons is therefore essential. Our office investigated a homicide with unusual blunt force injuries. This article presents the procedure that we followed to identify the weapon.     

Laceration of the stomach by blunt trauma in a child: a case of child abuse

A case of perforation of the stomach following blunt abdominal trauma is described in a two-year-old boy. The abdominal trauma was the result of a blow to the abdomen by the stepfather. The child had ingested a large meal in the hour preceding the injury. The child died from peritonitis and shock 12 h following the injury. The literature on gastric perforation by blunt trauma is reviewed. Injuries to the stomach from nonpenetrating trauma are quite rare and are most often related to vehicular accidents. Gastric injury in a child presenting with a history of a minor home or play injury should arouse suspicion of more significant and perhaps intentional trauma.     

兔皮肤钝器伤IL-1β、COX-2和MCP-1 mRNA表达与法医学应用

目的应用荧光定量PCR技术检测兔皮肤钝器伤后IL-1β、COX-2和MCP-1mRNA的时序性表达规律,分析其与损伤时间的关系。方法分别在兔耳皮肤钝器伤后<0.5h,0.5h,1h,2h,3h,4h,5h,6h,8h,12h,24h,1d,3d,7d和死后10min,0.5h,1h取材,一步法提取组织总RNA,逆转录合成cDNA第一条链,荧光定量PCR检测IL-1β、COX-2和MCP-1mRNA逆转录合成第一条cDNA链的拷贝数,作统计学分析。结果IL-1βmRNA在钝器伤后<0.5h表达显著增强(P<0.001),0.5h达到峰值,至第2d降至基本水平;COX-2mRNA于创伤后0.5h表达显著增强(P<0.05)并持续强表达至24h开始下降,第2d降至正常;MCP-1 mRNA在钝器伤后于1h表达显著增强(P<0.05),于3h出现表达峰,至第3d降至正常;3个指标在死后各时间组与正常对照无明显表达差异。结论检测皮肤IL-1β、COX-2和MCP-1mRNA可对早期损伤时间的推断提供帮助,并且这三个指标都可以鉴别生前伤和死后伤。     

Suicide by blunt force trauma

Suicide by self-inflicted blunt force injury is rare. The authors report a case of a 48-year-old man who initially appeared to have died of a homicidal beating. The pertinent autopsy findings consisted of blunt force closed head injury combined with numerous cutaneous abrasions and contusions of the entire body. Further inquiries confirmed a medical history of paranoid schizophrenia and a previous attempt at suicide. This case represents an extreme example of severe blunt trauma sustained during fatal self-mutilation and masquerading as a homicide. It also underscores the importance of correlating a thorough background investigation with autopsy findings in determining the appropriate manner of death.     

大鼠皮肤钝器伤血管内皮生长因子表达变化的研究

目的观察大鼠皮肤钝器伤后VEGF表达的变化规律。方法应用免疫组化技术观察大鼠皮肤钝器伤后不同时间(1h、3h、6h、12h、1d、3d、5d、7d、9d)VEGF的表达情况,并用MIAS图像分析系统进行图象分析。 结果正常对照组大鼠皮肤有低水平VEGF表达,钝器伤后VEGF表达逐渐增加,于伤后7d达峰值,伤后9d开始下降。 结论皮肤钝器伤可诱导VEGF表达增加,其时序性变化可望作为一种客观指标用于法医学损伤时间的推断。     

Characteristics of traumatic death of people in high mountains

Lethal accidents with tourists who died of trauma in high mountains of Kabardino-Balkaria were retrospectively studied for the period from 1978 to 2003. The victims were 163 males and 17 females aged 14-72 years. Among causes of death most prevalent was a step-by-step blunt mechanical trauma as a result of falling from a great height. In such conditions the body obtains great kinetic energy causing a severe, often lethal, craniocerebral injury with destruction of the brain, blunt injury of the chest, thoracic and other organs.     

捅创论(附尸检例报告)

无尖无刃的细长钝器,沿其长轴戳入人体形成的创伤应命名为捅创。国内外现有的法医学书籍很少甚至没有描述过此创,个别作者将其归入锐器刺创。本文作者通过案例研究发现:不仅该创的致伤物为无刃无尖的棍棒类钝器(如木棍、木桩、手杖、擀面棍、铁锹把、竹竿、筷子、钢筋)而且成伤机制、形态学变化也与锐器刺创不同,应属于钝器伤。     

大鼠局灶性脑挫伤后Cdk5的表达变化

目的研究大鼠受到一定钝力打击造成中度脑损伤后,3h至10d脑组织Cdk5的表达规律及法医学意义。方法建立大鼠钝力性局灶性脑挫伤模型,应用免疫组织化学技术和免疫蛋白印迹技术观察脑损伤后不同时间脑组织中Cdk5表达变化。结果正常组、假手术组脑组织有少量Cdk5表达;实验组损伤后3h组、6h组Cdk5表达增高,12h组表达明显升高(P0.05);在24h达到峰值,3d组、5d组、7d组、10d组逐渐下降,并在7d组、10d组基本降至正常,与正常组、假手术组比较基本无差异性(P0.05)。结论大鼠钝力性脑挫伤后Cdk5在挫伤脑组织周边区表达量增多,并呈现单峰变化,随时间延长基本降至正常。Cdk5表达变化可为早期脑挫伤时间推断奠定基础,提供新的参考指标。     

Fatal traumatic rupture of an aortic aneurysm of the sinus of Valsalva: an autopsy case

This report describes an autopsy case of a rare type of aortic sinus of Valsalva aneurysm, which caused fatal rupture from a blunt chest impact. A 51-year-old male was hit in the chest with a fist, lost consciousness after about 15min and died after approximately 7h. The postmortem examination revealed a large saccular aneurysm of the right coronary sinus bulging on the right atrium, which had a full laceration causing pericardial hematoma (cardiac tamponade). A related chest wall injury was observed in the right outer mammary region. A rare type of bulging onto the right atrium and subsequent sclerosis of the right coronary artery appeared to have greatly contributed to the fatal rupture.