BK virus genotype distribution offers information of tracing the geographical origins of unidentified cadaver

There are no efficient methods to determine the geographic origin of unidentified cadavers. We showed earlier that the geographical distribution of the JC virus genotype detected from human kidneys indicates the host's geographical origin. As there are still cadavers from which we cannot detect the JC virus (JCV), we investigated whether the genotype of another virus species belonging to the same family, human BK virus (BKV), could also be used to detect human geographical origin. BKV was found in 11 of 36 cases (30.5%). Even in the seven JCV-negative cases, the host's geographic origin could be estimated from the BKV genotype. Four subjects were positive for both the BKV and JCV. As the distribution areas of BKV and JCV genotypes are not identical, it is possible to narrow down the geographic area that any cadaver originates from.     

An autopsy case of sudden death due to acute gastric dilatation without rupture

We report the first autopsy case of fatal gastric dilatation without rupture. A 31-year-old woman who lived alone was found dead in her living room. Despite being very thin, she showed marked abdominal distention. Autopsy and histological findings revealed that a severely distended stomach, of which walls notably thin and displayed transmural necrosis, occupied the entire abdominal cavity. Severe congestion was observed in the intestine and cecum. Theses findings suggest that bulimia nervosa together with anorexia nervosa resulted in rapid dilation of the stomach. We conclude that the cause of death was acute circulatory failure from hypovolemic shock that occurred following compression of the inferior vena cava and superior mesenteric vein, and by loss of circulatory volume to the third space.     

Genotypic Polymorphisms of Hepatitis B Virus Provide Useful Information for Estimating Geographical Origin or Place of Long‐term Residence of Unidentified Cadavers

Increasing numbers of unidentified cadavers are a major problem. We have developed a new method for providing identification information that can determine the geographical origin or place of long‐term residence of unidentified cadavers based on genotypic polymorphisms of hepatitis B virus (HBV) known to correlate with their geographical distribution. PCR of serum samples detected HBV DNA from 4 (3.9%) of 102 randomly selected Japanese forensic cadavers. Multiplex PCR did not detect multiple HBV genotypes from any single cadaver, confirming the absence of coinfection. Phylogenetic tree analysis based on a 485‐bp mutant region of the HBV S gene successfully classified the HBV genotypes into A to J. Among 10 HBV‐infected cadavers, 8 had genotype Ce/C2, a genotype prevalent in East Asia, and 2 had genotype Bj/B1, a Japanese‐specific genotype. HBV genotypic polymorphisms correlate with the geographical distribution of the virus and thus provide important information for identifying unidentified cadavers infected with HBV.     

Popular legal participation in China and Japan

The purpose of this paper is to examine two contrasting styles of the mixed-court system in China and Japan and investigate the extent of their civic legal participation in both nations. In 2004, Japan passed the Quasi-Jury Act to introduce a system of popular legal participation in criminal trials, where defendants have their guilt and sentence determined by a judicial panel of both professional and lay judges. In the same year, the Standing Committee of the Chinese People’s Congress also promulgated the Resolution about the Improvement of the Lay Assessor System in 2004 (the Lay Assessor Act in 2004²) to revise the system of popular participation in law. The act was designed to correct the defects of the lay assessor system that have been sharply criticized by the Western observers for their lack of institutional effectiveness, minimizing the use of lay assessors, pointing at lay assessors’ participatory incompetence and passivity, and disapproving of insufficient funding, among others.There has been, however, little study critically examining the effectiveness of the revised system under the Lay Assessor Act in 2004 in China. In Japan, the first ever quasi-jury trial began in August 2009, but its quasi-jury system suffered from a lack of publicity and insufficient public knowledge about the system, thereby creating the wide-spread public reluctance, or even strong resistance, to participate in the system.The present research is an attempt to shed both theoretical and empirical light on the effectiveness of popular legal participation in these two powerful jurisdictions in East Asia. As both nations are working to adopt a democratic system of popular legal adjudication, this study will provide important clues to measuring the nations’ commitment, as well as the success or failure of the respective governments’ efforts, to democratize their systems of popular participation in legal decision-making.     

Is There Hope for Firms Facing the Technology Gap? A case of China's mobile industry

We have examined the way in which local firms in China's handset industry, confronted with a technology gap, have achieved growth, using the concept of boundaries of the firm. Chinese local firms have lacked technology, and have therefore turned to outside firms for development, design, and manufacturing in some cases. On the other hand, they themselves have focused on sales and marketing, using their advantage of familiarity with the home market. Consequently, by establishing a growth condition in which their selection of boundaries counterbalances the technology gap, they have been able to expand their market shares in comparison with foreign firms.     

Three cases of sudden death due to butane or propane gas inhalation: analysis of tissues for gas components

We report three cases of sudden death due to inhalation of portable cooking stove fuel (case 1), cigarette lighter fuel (case 2), and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) (case 3). Specimens of blood, urine, stomach contents, brain, heart, lung, liver, kidney, and fat were collected and analyzed for propylene, propane, isobutane, and n-butane by headspace gas chromatography. n-Butane was the major substance among the volatiles found in the tissues of cases 1 and 2, and propane was the major substance in case 3. A combination of the autopsy findings and the gas analysis results revealed that the cause of death was ventricular fibrillation induced by hard muscle exercise after gas inhalation in cases 1 and 2, and that the cause of death in case 3 might be hypoxia. It is possible that the victim in case 3 was under anesthetic toxicity of accumulated isobutane which is a minor component of liquefied petroleum gas.     

Detection of the calcium antagonist nicardipine and its metabolites by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

An 89-year-old male patient, hospitalized with Parkinson's syndrome, suddenly died shortly after an intravenous drug injection. The conditions indicated that an overdose of nicardipine (1.3 mg/(mlkg)) may be given to the patient. At the autopsy, no pathological changes were noted. With a capillary gas chromatograph with mass spectrometer (GC-MS), nicardipine (4.97 microg/ml) and its pyridine metabolite (M-5, 5.0 microg/ml) were detected in the heart blood of the deceased. This result indicated that an overdose of intravenous nicardipine caused a sudden death of a patient in a poor condition.     

Simultaneous identification/determination system for phentolamine and sildenafil as adulterants in soft drinks advertising roborant nutrition

An easily available, simultaneous identification/determination procedure for phentolamine (PHE) and sildenafil (SIL) in adulterated dietary supplements was established by using a combination of three different analytical methods; thin-layer chromatography (TLC), liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC/MS) and a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)/photo-diode-array. The sample solution for TLC was applied to silica gel 60 F(254) plates with chloroform/ammonia solution (28)/methanol (70:5:3, lower layer) and chloroform/diethylamine/methanol (15:3:2) as the developing solvent. Spots were located under UV radiation at 254 nm. Mass spectra of PHE and SIL by LC/MS were investigated with electrospray ionization (ESI) interface, under both positive and negative ion mode. The HPLC analysis was performed on a column of Wakosil 5C18 (4.6 mm x 150 mm, 5 microm) with water/methanol/acetonitrile/triethylamine (580:250:170:1) adjusted with phosphoric acid to pH 3.0 as the mobile phase, and the effluent was monitored with a photo-diode-array detector. Quantitative HPLC analysis of PHE and SIL were detected at 280 nm. When this procedure was applied to commercial soft drinks, PHE and SIL were identified and determined at a concentration of 17 mg PHE and 44 mg SIL per bottle, respectively. The procedure described here is available for the screening of PHE and SIL in adulterated supplements.     

An autopsy case of combined drug intoxication involving verapamil,metoprolol and digoxin

We present here a fatal poisoning case involving verapamil, metoprolol and digoxin. A 39-year-old male was found dead in his room, and a lot of empty packets of prescribed drugs were found near the corpse. The blood concentrations of verapamil, metoprolol and digoxin were 9.2 microg/ml, 3.6 microg/ml and 3.2 ng/ml, respectively. The cause of death was given as cardiac failure, hypotension and bradycardia due to a mixed drug overdose of verapamil, metoprolol and digoxin, based on the results of the autopsy and toxicological examination. We speculate that the toxicity of verapamil is potentiated by drug interaction with metoprolol and digoxin.