The characterization of automobile body fillers

Body fillers are sometimes encountered with paint evidence from hit-and-run accidents. Little forensic research has been conducted and published on the subject since 1986. The objective of this study was to determine if chemical and physical differences in body fillers from various manufacturers existed and could be identified. Thirty-three samples of light-weight automobile body fillers and spot putties were obtained. The fillers and putties were compared using light microscopy, infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (SEM-EDX), and pyrolysis gas chromatography (pyGC). Results from fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis placed the samples into five groups and differentiated six samples. Light microscopy placed the samples into one of five color groups. PyGC placed the samples into three groups and differentiated one sample. SEM-EDX placed the samples into four groups and differentiated 13 samples. Using these analysis methods, 19 of the 33 samples could be discriminated. The best discriminatory tool was found to be SEM-EDX.     

Estimation of stature from body parts

Anthropometric technique commonly used by anthropologists and adopted by medical scientists has been employed to estimate body size for over a hundred years. With the increasing frequency of mass disasters, the identification of an isolated lower extremity and the stature of the person it belonged to has created problems for the investigation of the identity of some of the victims. In spite of a need for such a study, there is a lack of systematic studies to identify fragmented and dismembered human remains. The purpose of the paper is to analyze anthropometric relationships between dimensions of the lower extremity and body height. Analysis is based on a sample of middle class male (N=203) and female (N=108) adult Turks residing in Istanbul. The participants are mostly students and staff members of a medical school, and military personnel. Measurements taken are stature, trochanteric height, thigh length, lower leg length, leg length, and foot height, breadth, and length. Of the five variables entered into the regression analysis, all but foot breadth participate in the analysis with leg length as the first and followed by thigh and foot lengths, and finally foot height in males (R(2)). There were also individually calculated formulae for some of these measurements which provided smaller R(2)-values. Student's t-test to assess if there was any intraobserver error in measurements take by individual anthropometrist did not show such any statistically significant difference. In conclusion, the study suggested that estimation of a living height can be made possible using various dimensions of the lower extremity. One must consider differences between populations in order to apply functions as such to others.     

MicroRNA在创伤性脑损伤的研究进展

MicroRNA是一类非编码小分子RNA,可调控人类基因组中20%-30%的基因,对细胞分化、增殖和凋亡起着重要调控作用。部分microRNA在哺乳动物中枢神经系统呈高水平表达,在神经元发育、突触发生和可塑性等过程中发挥关键作用,对认知功能亦有重要影响。创伤性脑损伤所致认知障碍的鉴定是法医学领域的重点及难点问题,识别其相关的特异性microRNA及其靶基因、阐明相应的信号传导通路对明确颅脑损伤的诊断、鉴别、预后及判断致伤机制、推断死因等方面可能均具有重要价值,应是今后的研究重点。本文简介microRNA在中枢神经系统中的分布与功能,对microRNA在创伤性脑损伤中所发挥的作用以及法医学研究进展做了重点阐述。     

利用脚手长及相关部位推测身长的研究

探讨脚长、手长及相关部位与身长的相关关系。对 489名男女青年进行了脚长、脚掌宽、手全长、食指长、中指长、小指长和身长的测量 ,并将测量数据输入计算机中进行回归分析。结果表明 :男性各项指标与身长具有一定的线性关系 ,呈直线正相关。其直线回归方程包括 :(1) y =93 5 5 + 3 2 6x (用脚长推测身长 ) ;(2 ) y =130 79+4 18x (用脚掌宽推测身长 ) ;(3) y =76 15 + 5 33x (用手全长推测身长 ) ;(4)y =10 8 6 1+ 8 76x (用食指长推测身长 ) ;(5 )y =94 85 + 9 47x (用中指长推测身长 ) ;(6 ) y =12 0 79+ 8 6 8x (用小指长推测身长 )。女性手全长和中指长两项测量指标与身长具有一定的线性关系。其直线回归方程包括 :(1) y =119 86 + 2 44x (用手全长推测身长 ) ;(2 )y =12 9 89+ 4 0 8x (用中指长推测身长 )。女性的脚长、脚掌宽、食指长、小指长等 4项测量指标与身长的线性关系不明显 ,其推测身长的方程式不宜应用     

大鼠实验性脑挫伤后不同时间脑apoE的表达

目的观察大鼠实验性脑挫伤后脑内apoE蛋白变化的时空性规律。方法采用自由落体撞击法致大鼠脑挫伤模型,观察伤后不同时间(0.5h、2h、6h、12h、24h、3d、7d、14d)apoE蛋白的变化,并用计算机图像分析技术作定量统计分析。结果伤后0.5h组脑皮质神经元apoE出现阳性表达,3d达到高峰,随后下降;伤后0.5h组在海马出现apoE强阳性反应,CA1区在伤后3d达到高峰,而CA2~CA4区在24h达到高峰,随后逐渐下降,伤后海马apoE表达以CA1区最强。结论挫伤后apoE时空性变化规律可作为脑损伤时间推断、早期诊断及生前伤和死后伤鉴别的一个新的参考指标。     

创伤性脑损伤大鼠水通道蛋白4表达变化及法医学意义

目的观察大鼠颅脑损伤后不同时间内水通道蛋白4（AQP4）mRNA表达的变化，探讨AQP4在脑损伤经过时间推断中的意义。方法利用液压冲击法制作不同程度大鼠颅脑损伤模型，在伤后不同时间（0．5、2、6、12、24、48、72h），应用RT-PCR法检测脑组织AQP4 mRNA表达，同时以非损伤组做对照。结果不同程度颅脑损伤后0．5h脑组织AQP4 mRNA表达均开始上调（P〈0．01），6、12h依次增高，24h达到高峰，差异均有统计学意义（P〈0．01），72h时仍维持较高水平（P〈0．01）；0．5h时轻度、中度、重度脑损伤时AQP4 mRNA的表达差异两两之间无统计学意义（P〉0．05），2、6、12、24、48、72h轻度、中度、重度脑损伤时AQP4 mRNA的表达差异两两之间有统计学意义（P〈0．01）。结论颅脑损伤后AQP4 mRNA呈现出时序性变化，其变化规律可望成为法医学推断早期脑损伤时间的指标之一。     

The expression of excitatory amino acid transporter 2 in traumatic brain injury

It is well recognized that glutamate is the major excitatory neurotransmitter, which is removed from the synaptic cleft by excitatory amino acid transporter 2 (EAAT2) located on the perisynaptic astrocytes and that neuronal death has been associated with an increased extracellular glutamate concentration. In this study, we have immunohistochemically demonstrated the expression of EAAT2 protein in the human brain after traumatic brain injury (TBI). The EAAT2 expression patterns can be divided into three types: continuous and highly extensive staining (E); continuous but sporadic staining (M); and sporadic pattern staining (S). In six of the nine short survival cases studied (1 h to 1 day), continuous and highly extensive staining for EAAT2 (E type) was observed in the ipsilateral cerebral cortex. On the other hand, we were able to demonstrate weak staining (S and M types) in 5 of the 7 long survival cases (> or =1 day) and in 12 of the 14 very short survival cases (<1 h) studied. Similar findings were obtained in the contralateral cerebral cortex and also in the ipsilateral hippocampus. In addition, positive staining for glial fibrillary acidic protein was detected around the cerebral contusion, but the EAAT2-positive expression was not observed in the same region for all of the six short and long survival cases (> or =1 h) after TBI. These findings clearly showed the differences in EAAT2 expression in the cerebral cortex according to the survival time and severity of cerebral contusion after TBI. Therefore, we emphasized that EAAT2 might play an important role in contributing to extracellular glutamate concentrations and secondary brain injury after TBI.     

GFAP和VEGF在创伤性脑损伤中表达的研究进展

创伤性脑损伤是世界上导致死亡及残疾的主要原因之一。检测对中枢神经系统损伤有高度特异性和敏感性的生物标志物,可以在一定程度上反映损伤情况。胶质纤维酸性蛋白与血管内皮生长因子均可作为颅脑损伤的生物学标记物,其表达变化规律、峰值出现时间,与创伤性脑损伤的严重程度及损伤时间的推断密切相关,对于法医病理学具有重大意义。该文对胶质纤维酸性蛋白与血管内皮生长因子的分子生物学特性及其在创伤性脑损伤中的表达进行综述。     

The expression of excitatory amino acid transporter 2 in traumatic brain injury

It is well recognized that glutamate is the major excitatory neurotransmitter, which is removed from the synaptic cleft by excitatory amino acid transporter 2 (EAAT2) located on the perisynaptic astrocytes and that neuronal death has been associated with an increased extracellular glutamate concentration. In this study, we have immunohistochemically demonstrated the expression of EAAT2 protein in the human brain after traumatic brain injury (TBI). The EAAT2 expression patterns can be divided into three types: continuous and highly extensive staining (E); continuous but sporadic staining (M); and sporadic pattern staining (S). In six of the nine short survival cases studied (1 h to 1 day), continuous and highly extensive staining for EAAT2 (E type) was observed in the ipsilateral cerebral cortex. On the other hand, we were able to demonstrate weak staining (S and M types) in 5 of the 7 long survival cases (≥1 day) and in 12 of the 14 very short survival cases (<1 h) studied. Similar findings were obtained in the contralateral cerebral cortex and also in the ipsilateral hippocampus. In addition, positive staining for glial fibrillary acidic protein was detected around the cerebral contusion, but the EAAT2-positive expression was not observed in the same region for all of the six short and long survival cases (≥1 h) after TBI. These findings clearly showed the differences in EAAT2 expression in the cerebral cortex according to the survival time and severity of cerebral contusion after TBI. Therefore, we emphasized that EAAT2 might play an important role in contributing to extracellular glutamate concentrations and secondary brain injury after TBI.     

外伤后诊疗失误医疗纠纷分析

通过对5例外伤后医疗纠纷案件的回顾性分析,探讨了此类医疗纠纷的特点和医疗失误的成因。通过外伤和医疗失误在患者死亡后果中责任程度分析,提出了“死因竞合”和“参与度”的判定原则。并且认为,在涉讼的此类医疗纠纷案件的技术鉴定中,如将对死者进行全面尸体解剖和病理学检验以明确患者死亡的原因作为必要的前置程序．则对于此类案件的科学鉴定具有非常重要的意义。