心肌炎猝死案例的法医病理学研究

从法医尸检案例中取心肌炎猝死17例进行分析及病理学观察，对心肌炎的分关、心肌炎导致猝死机制进行探讨，认为诱发急性心力衰竭是心肌炎猝死的主要原因。     

失血即刻死亡心肌超微结构,组织化学及免疫组化研究

本研究应用电镜、组织化学、免疫组化及形态计量分析等方法和技术，观察失血即刻死亡时家兔心肌超微结构、琥珀酸脱氢酶（ＳＤＨ）活性、肌红蛋白（Ｍｂ）脱失的变化特点。结果发现，失血即刻死亡时家兔心肌细胞轻度水肿，肌原纤维普遍强度收缩，肌节缩短，Ｚ线增粗，心肌细胞内ＳＤＨ活性明显下降，Ｍｂ轻度局灶性脱失．     

Cathepsin activity in the myocardium and skeletal muscles as a sign of the time of death

Determination of postmortem interval according to the time course of cathepsins activity within 5 days since death was carried out using myocardium and skeletal muscles of white breedless rats and cadavers of people who died of craniocerebral trauma. Natural time course of changes in cathepsins activity was determined which makes it possible to use these values as one of criteria in determination of postmortem interval.     

心肌炎猝死者心、脾中柯萨奇 B3病毒基因的检测

目的检测病毒性心肌炎（ viral myocarditis,VMC）猝死者心、脾组织柯萨奇 B3病毒 (CVB3)基因,探索 VMC的病原学诊断方法。方法运用原位逆转录 PCR技术检测实验组（ VMC猝死, 8例）及对照组（非心性死亡, 4例）心、脾组织中的 CVB3基因。结果实验组中, 3例（第 1, 4, 7例）心肌 CVB3基因阳性, 4例（第 2, 4 , 6, 7例）脾组织 CVB3基因阳性;对照组心、脾 CVB3基因均为阴性。结论心、脾组织中 CVB3基因联合阳性可能是 VMC的重要特征;联合检测心、脾中 CVB3基因可提高 VMC的病原学诊断率。     

Modified variant of macroscopic study of the myocardium in cases of sudden death from cardiovascular diseases

A method for examination of the myocardium modified for forensic medical expert evaluations is described. The number of incisions made to open the heart cavities is decreased. The incisions for examining the myocardium are made at an angle of 45 degrees to the axis of the heart, which is simpler, allows the restoration of the organ shape, and permits the examination of a larger area of sections for detecting the slightest changes in the myocardium.     

Forensic medical estimation of the morphological changes in the myocardium and hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal system in case of sudden cardiac death

This morphological, morphometric, and immunohistochemical study of the myocardium, adrenal gland, and hypothalamus included 50 corpses of men aged from 25-49 years deceased by reason of acute coronary failure associated with coronary heart disease. The commonest lesions in the myocardium were contractures (54.3 +/- 3.5% [51.2; 57.8%]), cyclic deformation (44.7 +/- 6.3% [38.2; 51.4%]), and dissociation of cardiomyocytes (61.2 +/- 2.3% [56.3; 64.8%]). The sinoatrial and atrioventricular nodes of the heart contained large amounts of adrenaline-positive cells (45.6 +/- 4.5% [40.1; 48.7%]) and 34.2 +/- 2.9% [31.2; 37.4%]). The equally large numbers of adrenaline-positive cells were detected in the adrenal medulla (67.2 +/- 6.8% [61.9; 74.3%]). The arcuate, supraoptic, and paraventricular nuclei of the hypothalamus underwent reversible changes of neutron content (the degree of damage 25.6 +/- 4.8% [21.2; 29.8%]) and contained large amounts of noradrenaline-positive and dopamine-positive neural cells (54.2 +/- 3.6% [51.4; 59.3%]) and 28.7 +/- 2.1% [23.4; 31.7%]) respectively. It is concluded that the morphometric and immunohistochemical changes detected in the present study can be used as the additional forensic medical criteria for diagnostics of death from acute coronary failure associated with coronary heart disease.     

Significance of changes in the myocardium for the forensic-medical diagnosis of death as a result of alcoholic cardiomyopathy

Significance, of the weight and dimensions of heart as well as of fat dystrophy of cardiomyocytes and of the related detection methods is demonstrated for the diagnosis of alcoholic cardiomyopathy (ACMP). When such patients die in a state of alcoholic intoxication, the diagnosis should be death of acute alcoholic intoxication. Lethality of ACMP can be diagnosed only in those who die in the sober condition or with an insignificant level of alcohol.     

冠心病猝死者心肌中SOCS-1和Bax的表达

目的采用免疫组化方法,观察细胞因子信号转导抑制因子-1(SOCS-1)和Bax在冠心病猝死(SCD)者心肌中的表达情况,探讨其对SCD诊断的意义。方法 25例诊断为SCD者心脏样本为实验组,25例非心血管疾病猝死者心脏样本为对照组。应用免疫组织化学方法检测SOCS-1和Bax在心肌中的表达,应用SPSS 17.0软件进行统计处理,组间比较采用秩和检验。结果 SCD猝死者心肌SOCS-1与Bax的表达明显高于对照组,Uc值SOCS-1为5.830 6,Bax为5.573,两种指标组间比较,差异均有显著性意义(P<0.01);SCD组中SOCS-1表达阳性以上且Bax表达弱阳性以上有22例,而正常对照组仅有1例。结论 SOCS-1与Bax均可能参与了细胞凋亡的过程,检测两种指标在心肌中阳性表达,可以为SCD的诊断提供客观依据,且联合检测可提高SCD诊断的特异性。     

The myocardium in epileptics

The main purpose of this investigation was to examine by quantitative methods if pathological fibrosis could be found in the myocardium of epileptics. The investigation was retrospective and included 23 epileptics and 30 controls who were age- and sex-matched with the epileptics. No difference was found between epileptics and the control group as far as cellular infiltration, single myocyte necrosis, basophilic cell degeneration, and fresh bleeding were concerned. Fibrosis of the myocardium was measured quantitatively by point counting. The fibrosis was approximately 6% of the muscle mass in both groups. In conclusion, no structural difference in the myocardial composition was found between epileptics and the control group.     

Autonomy and death

In this Article, Professor Clark explores the contours of the current debate over physician-assisted death. She beings by focusing on the legal issues raised by statutory attempts to either legalize or criminalize physician-assisted death, with particular emphasis on the constitutional questions that are currently before the United States Supreme Court. She then examines physician-assisted death from both medical and societal perspectives. Professor Clark uses a thought experiment in which assisted death is facilitated by persons other than physicians, and in doing so, questions whether physicians are the proper persons in whom to rest power over assisted death. She points out the irony in a process that would set up physicians as protectors of individual autonomy, and ultimately concludes that by deferring to the medical profession in this process, we risk losing the very autonomy that assisted death is designed to effectuate.     

Cocaine and fetal death

Toxicologic screening for cocaine and its metabolites was performed on 103 cases of fetal death autopsied in the Office of Chief Medical Examiner, City of New York. In 64 cases cocaine or its metabolites were found in the blood or in the brain. Some malformations were also found. The study indicates that maternal use of cocaine may lead to abruptio placentae, abortion and fetal death. The importance of toxicologic examination in these deaths is emphasized.