Detection of apoptosis in ischemic heart. Usefulness in the diagnosis of early myocardial injury

Myocardial samples of hearts with histologic findings of acute myocardial infarction (group A), sudden coronary deaths without histologic changes (group B), and chronic ischemic heart disease (group C) were analyzed to investigate the appearance of apoptosis in acute and chronic ischemic cardiac disorders. This analysis involved the morphologic detection of DNA strand breaks in myocyte nuclei by the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assay and the biochemical determination of DNA laddering in the myocardium using archival formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections of human myocardium. The authors demonstrated that apoptosis of myocardial cells could occur after ischemic myocardial cell injury. In all documented cases of acute myocardial infarction (group A), the infarcted area included extensive presence of both apoptosis and necrosis. In the tissue bordering on and away from the obviously infarcted areas, positive nuclei were intermingled with nonstained normal myocytes. The number of positive nuclei decreased with the distance from the infarction foci. In group B, myocardial samples showed focal or diffuse nuclear positivity of varying degrees for apoptosis, confirming the presence of myocardial ischemic cell death, whereas the histologic diagnosis remained inconclusive. This finding suggests that apoptosis could be used as a marker for acute ischemic injury. In group C, stained nuclei were dispersed with intermingled normal cardiomyocytes.     

Hepatic glycogen staining. Applications in injury survival time and child abuse

Hepatic glycogen stores have long been known to decrease with starvation, trauma, acute stress, and shock. In this study, hepatic tissue was examined in 122 decedents ranging in age from 1 to 88 years who died of a variety of causes. Hepatic tissue was stained for glycogen/carbohydrates using the Best's carmine and/or period acid-Schiff (PAS)-alcian blue methods in 121 cases. The liver samples were evaluated for amount of staining, staining around hepatic injuries (if present), and presence of histologic abnormalities. Prominence of staining was decreased with increasing survival times after injury (P=.0001) and increasing postmortem interval. Staining along the edges of hepatic injuries was decreased in antemortem injuries but not in postmortem-induced injuries (P<.0001). If used in conjunction with circumstantial and autopsy information, hepatic glycogen/carbohydrate staining using the Best's carmine and PAS-alcian blue methods could greatly aid in the determination of injury survival times and the vital nature of questionable injuries in child deaths and other cases.     

Evaluation of histologic changes of the skin in postmortem period

ABSTRACT: Determination of the time of death is an important consideration in forensic practice. Many methods have been attempted to accurately and systematically determine the postmortem interval (PMI). Histologic examination of the skin or appendages is one of the methods tried by few researchers. However, no attempt had been made to analyze the histologic changes in the skin and appendages simultaneously and to compare them with PMI. We sequentially studied the histologic changes of the skin and appendages in the early PMI. The results of the present study show that the skin undergoes progressive morphological changes in the postmortem period. The epidermis and the dermis appeared normal for 6 hours after death, and after this period, degenerative changes began. By 6 to 9 hours after death, degeneration began in the dermis, and by the end of 18 hours, the dermis began to disintegrate. The sweat glands appeared normal for approximately 3 to 4 hours. For 18 hours after death, the sebaceous glands and hair follicles appeared normal, and after this period, degeneration began.     

实验性脑挫伤后 Fos蛋白和 NGFR变化与损伤时间关系的研究

目的 检测分析不同损伤时间组实验大鼠脑挫伤灶周围神经细胞中 NGFR阳性染色强度变化与损伤后经过时间之间的关系,对其在脑挫伤时间推断中的作用作出评价。方法 运用免疫组织化学技术（ SABC法）,结合计算机彩色图像分析技术观察大鼠实验性脑挫伤后原癌基因 c－ fos的表达产物 Fos蛋白和神经生长因子受体（ NGFR）的染色变化。结果 （ 1）伤后 0.5h组在挫伤灶周围可见 Fos阳性染色细胞出现。伤后 3h组阳性表达数量和强度达峰值,且分布广泛。后表达逐渐降低。 1d后各组未见 Fos阳性染色强度增加的细胞。对照组染色为阴性。（ 2）伤后 1d组在挫伤灶周围可见少量 NGFR阳性染色细胞,以神经细胞表达为主。伤后 3d组,阳性细胞表达与 1d组相比有显著性增强 (P< 0.01), 数 量 和 着 色 强 度 达 到 高 峰 , 量 多 且 染 色 深 。 之 后 逐 渐 缓 慢 减 弱 。 对 照 组 染 色 为 阴 性 。 可 见 脑 挫 伤 后 Fos和 NGFR在 损 伤 局 部 的 阳 性 染 色 分 别 在 伤 后 早 期 及 随 后 较 晚 时 段 里 出 现 。 前 者 表 达 时 间 短 暂 , 而 后 者 则 持 续 时 间 较 长 , 但 都 有 一 定 的 规 律 性 。 结 论 Fos蛋 白 和 NGFR变 化 可 用 于 脑 挫 伤 后 不 同 时 段 的 损 伤 时 间 推 断 。     

凋亡相关基因表达与早期脑损伤时间关系研究

目的 探讨脑挫伤早期细胞凋亡相关基因Bcl-2、Fas表达的变化规律与损伤时间关系。方法 运用光镜观察脑挫伤后脑组织的形态学变化,同时应用图像分析技术检测脑挫伤早期不同时程Bcl-2、Fas免疫组化染色平均光度值的变化规律。结果 伤后8h在脑挫伤周围可见典型的凋亡神经细胞;伤后30min损伤灶周围神经细胞出现Bcl-2、Fas阳性表达,以后呈逐渐上升趋势且表达范围亦逐渐扩大,其中Bcl-2蛋白表达在伤后4h达高峰,随后呈下降的趋势,至伤后10～12h其表达程度与伤后1h相比无明显差异。结论检测细胞凋亡相关基因的表达可用于早期脑损伤时间的推断及生前与死后脑损伤的鉴别。     

用GFAP和VIM表达推断脑损伤时间的实验研究

用落体撞击法复制大鼠闭合性脑损伤模型 ,经免疫组化法观察脑挫伤后不同时间GFAP、VIM的相关改变 ,并对其阳性细胞面积进行图像分析及统计学处理 ,旨在得出脑挫伤后GFAP、VIM表达的动态变化规律 ,为推断脑损伤时间的研究提供理论参考。结果显示 :GFAP阳性细胞在伤后 12h开始表达 ,7d达高峰 ,阳性细胞面积较对照组有显著差异 (P <0 0 1) ;VIM阳性细胞在伤后 3d开始表达 ,5d达高峰 ,阳性细胞面积较 3d组有显著差异 (P <0 0 5 )。GFAP及VIM阳性细胞均为星形胶质细胞 ,在损伤部位上 ,GFAP较VIM更为广泛 ,且反应更强烈。提示可用GFAP、VIM的动态观察作为推断脑损伤时间的一项指标     

Serum concentrations of cardiac troponin T in sudden death

Ischemic heart disease is the most common cause of sudden death of natural causes in most western countries. By autopsy, there may be no gross or histologic evidence of acute myocardial damage unless the patient survived for several hours following the event. Cardiac troponin in serum has become the recommended biochemical marker for myocardial injury in the clinical setting. We performed a prospective study on 102 autopsied subjects at the Central Hospital of Rogaland, Stavanger, Norway. Femoral blood was sampled for subsequent analysis of cardiac troponin T (cTnT). In the subjects with morphologic evidence of recent myocardial injury (n = 34), the mean serum cTnT level was 1.95 microg/L compared with 0.16 microg/L in the subjects with a noncardiac cause of death (n = 35) and 0.61 microg/L in the group with probable sudden cardiac death without morphologic signs of acute myocardial injury (n = 33). The observed differences in mean serum cTnT levels between the groups were statistically significant (P < 0.0001). These data suggest that elevated postmortem serum concentration of cTnT reflects ongoing myocardial damage and may support a diagnosis of cardiac-related death in cases associated with sparse or inconclusive morphologic findings postmortem.     

The timing of histologic changes in liver lacerations

Microscopic examination was performed on 55 cases of traumatic liver lacerations incurred from fatal motor vehicle accidents. None of the deaths was due to the liver injury. In 38 of 55 cases, the decedent was pronounced dead at the scene. Microscopic examination of the liver lacerations in these 38 cases revealed no histologic changes related to the trauma. In 17 of 55 cases, the decedent was transported to the emergency room (ER) with a "survival time" (from Emergency Medical Service arrival to the time of pronouncement) of 15 minutes to 7 hours and 10 minutes. Nine of these 17 had vital signs at the scene. Five of the 17 had neutrophilic infiltration and hepatocyte necrosis at the site of the laceration. Four of these had vitals signs at the scene. Survival time of the 5 patients with a vital reaction at their liver injury ranged from 51 minutes to 7 hours and 10 minutes.     

新生儿先天性成骨不全一例

<正> 成骨不全症(Osteogenesis Imperfecta)是一种遗传性全身结缔组织障碍所致的疾患。由于骨质脆弱而易引起多发性骨折,在法医学鉴定中需与外伤性骨折区别。本文报告一例法医学鉴定的先天性成骨不全。     

Artifactual injuries of the larynx produced by resuscitative intubation

Over a period of 9 months we examined a series of 50 deaths due to natural and unnatural causes in which there had been endotracheal intubation and chest compression during resuscitation at the scene or in the emergency department shortly before death. In 37 of 50 cases (74%) there were airway injuries directly resulting from the intubation procedure which we documented using a standardized protocol and photography. Specific airway injuries, ranging from petechiae to contusions, included oral injury (28%), posterior pharyngeal injury (16%), epiglottic injury (22%), piriform recess injury (12%), laryngeal and tracheal mucosa injury (64%), strap muscle hemorrhage (14%), and cutaneous injury of the neck (4%). In addition, we recorded the presence of facial (6%) and conjunctival petechiae (21%) and attributed these changes to resuscitative chest compression. No cases had associated fractures of the hyoid or thyroid cartilage. Based on our findings, we conclude that resuscitative intubation can cause artifactual injury that may mimic inflicted injuries caused by neck compression, including strangulation and neck holds.     

高位视路损伤与管内段间接视神经损伤的比较

目的 探讨高位视路损伤的法医学鉴定问题。方法 搜集11例头部外伤致高位视路损伤的案例资料,与随机选取的20例管内段间接视神经损伤的案例资料进行比较,并就相关临床检查所见、电视野及闪光VEP特征进行分析。结果 与视神经损伤相比,高位视路损伤的临床常规检查,除视功能障碍的主诉外瞳孔对光反射及眼底均无阳性所见;电视野检查表现为双眼同向性偏盲,管内段视神经损伤表现为单眼视野缺损。在11例高位视路损伤者中,8例为枕叶皮层损伤,闪光VEP表现为双眼P1波潜伏期轻度延长,波幅基本正常;3例为皮层下损伤,表现为P1波潜伏期明显延长,波幅明显降低。视神经损伤闪光VEP表现为伤眼PI波潜伏期明显延长,波幅明显降低,甚至无波诱出。结论双眼视野同向性偏盲是高位视路损伤的特征性改变,高位视路损伤闪光VEP的异常率较低,但一旦双眼闪光VEP异常可以支持高位视路损伤的诊断,鉴定时应同时结合头颅CT及脑电图结果综合分析,加以确认高位视路损伤的存在。     

Inflicted head injury in infants

There is scant neuropathological information in the child abuse literature; even the best reviews include assumptions based on the findings of a few inadequate early studies. Our recent series of 53 fatal cases (Brain 124 (2001) 1290, 1299 [1,2]) demonstrated age-related patterns of brain injury and showed the substrate of severe encephalopathy in the infants to be hypoxic brain damage, not diffuse traumatic axonal injury ('DAI'), as had previously been thought. About one-third had craniocervical injuries, particularly in the brain stem, suggestive of stretch injury to the neuraxis. Our interpretation was that this finding implied a mechanism of injury--brain stem damage from stretch injury to the neck with resultant apnoea--that could account for the clinical scenario in many cases, and for which violence would not necessarily be required. Since publishing this study we have turned our attention to the subgroup of infants who die without objective signs of injury, such as skull fracture or impact, whose carers are accused of abuse, usually, "violent shaking", on the pathologic findings alone. Given the striking discrepancy that there often is in such cases between the relatively trivial findings in the brain and the accusations of violence, we have been looking at the pathogenesis of the typical intracranial bleeding. A histologic study of dura from 50 paediatric autopsies, none of whom had suffered a head injury, has led us to propose that the subdural and retinal bleeding in such cases may well have a physiological aetiology, rather than being caused directly by trauma.     

Homicide by asphyxia--yes or no? On the use of muscle histology

In two cases of death autopsy revealed large hemorrhages in the muscles of the neck, which lead to the conclusion of a murder by strangulation, e.g. with a soft tool. Histologic examination of the injured muscles didn't show any sign of vital reaction, which means, that they had developed post mortem. There was no reason for further suspicion of a violent crime. Later it became obvious, that neck lesions resulted from inadequate recovery and transport of the corpses. "Vital" type of muscular alteration is characterized by segmental or disk-like fragmentation of muscle fibres, loss of sarcoplasmatic cross-striation and appearance of pathologic longitudinal fibrillar structures. These signs are missing in case of a postmortal injury, whereas the cross striation is intact. The slides should be stained with PTAH. With these two cases we would like to demonstrate the importance of histologic examination of injured muscles, when question for intravital or postmortal injury rises.     

The histoenzymological diagnosis of the time of occurrence of a closed spinal cord trauma]

Time course of the activities of transport enzymes in capillary walls of human spinal cord was studied in various periods after closed injury to the cord, inflicted by hard blunt objects, with the use of histochemical methods for the detection of alkaline phosphatase and Mg-dependent ATPase. Wave-like fluctuations in the activities of the examined enzymes were revealed. The findings may be used to assess the period elapsed since the cord injury.     

Skin changes following defibrillation. The effect of high voltage direct current

Previously, electrical injuries have been suggested caused only by the concomitant heat developed during the passage of an electrical current. Recent experimental studies on fully anesthetized pigs and the study of one human case have, however, shown typical electrical alterations. The purpose of the present study was further to evaluate the histology of electrically induced changes in the skin in humans. In addition, supplementary in vivo methods for evaluation of skin changes as high-frequency ultrasound and Raman spectroscopy were used. The skin of 11 patients treated with a defibrillation of the heart was examined for macroscopic changes, the skin of eight of them also for histologic changes and for changes observable via supplementary methods. Immediately and 7 days after the defibrillation, fractions of a narrow red ring were observed along the periphery of the tin-foil electrode. Epidermis showed signs previously observed following electrical influence: segmental alterations often related to the openings of sweat ducts, darkstaining or "empty" nuclei and homogeneous cytoplasm, eosinophilic or pale. Dermis did not show the specific sign of electrical influence: deposits of calcium salts on dermal fibres, neither via histologic examination nor via high-frequency ultrasonography and Raman spectroscopy. Fractions of a narrow red ring along the periphery of the electrode showing histological signs of electric influence in epidermis thus appear to be characteristic of high voltage electrical injury.     

超生反应阶段人骨骼肌对电刺激反应的形态学研究

利用人骨骼肌在死亡早期阶段能对电刺激产生兴奋和收缩的特点，以加大刺激强度为手段，对18例死亡早期阶段（1小时25分至6小时40分）具有超生反应能力的尸检骨骼肌和17例稍晚阶段（10～60小时）不具有超生反应能力的尸检骨骼肌，进行了电刺激损伤的系列形态学对比研究。结果表明，死亡早期阶段的肢体骨骼肌，经电刺激后，能产生整个肌肉或局部肌肉的收缩；在电极周围以及电路中的肌纤维形成大片的极具特点的收缩带、条带状嗜酸性变、高度变形的节段状和盘片状崩解等改变；稍晚期阶段受刺激的肌纤维则未见上述改变。探讨形态学改变的形成机理及意义，为研究死亡早期阶段的电损伤提供形态学基础。     

The effect of the unrestrained back seat passenger on the injuries suffered by drivers and front seat passengers in head-on collisions

In head-on collisions, loose items in the rear of the car, such as luggage or unrestrained back seat passengers can cause substantial loading on the back of the front seats. The purpose of this paper is to study if such loading increases the injury severity for the front seat occupants. Data were collected from all fatal automobile accidents for a period of 1 year in Sweden. Information was collected about the survivors as well as the decreased. Head-on collisions were selected, and the injuries of the front seat occupants were scored according to the Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) and the Injury Severity Score (ISS). In evaluating the injury severity, the collision energy was taken into account. The results indicate that belted front seat passengers sustain a higher injury risk with an unrestrained passenger in the back seat. These results are valid for collision speeds below 45 km/h.     

Cardiac Injuries Caused by Blunt Trauma: An Autopsy Based Assessment of the Injury Pattern

Abstract:  Nonpenetrating chest trauma with injury to the heart and aorta has become increasingly common, particularly as a result of rapid deceleration in high-speed vehicular accidents, over the past 2–3 decades. The high mortality rate of cardiac injuries and possible late onset complications make blunt cardiac injuries an important challenging point for legal medicine. One hundred and ninety cases with blunt cardiac injuries in a period of 3 years were analyzed retrospectively in terms of patterns of cardiac injury, survival times, and demographic profiles of the cases in this study.     

Missouri's lakes and the disposal of homicide victims

This paper presents the circumstances surrounding the retrieval and subsequent autopsies of four bodies accidentally discovered weighted down in Missouri's lakes. The bodies, representing four separate cases of homicide, were sunken for a period of three weeks to ten months. The relationship of adipocere formation to the postmortem interval and the problems of injury interpretation are discussed.     

液压冲击脑损伤后细胞间粘附分子表达的研究

目的测定外伤性脑损伤后脑内细胞间粘附分子(ICAM-1)的变化。方法用大鼠液压冲击脑损伤致伤模型制作大鼠脑损伤,伤后2、4、8、12、24h取脑组织,用免疫组织化学方法染色并用MIAS图像分析系统进行图像分析。结果脑损伤后2h即可见ICAM-1在脑内表达上调,12h达高峰,24h已回落。结论测定I-CAM-1在脑内的变化情况,可为推断24h以内脑损伤形成时间及伤后存活时间提供参考。