The propriety of establishing the fact of neonatality based on the examination of the child's corpse

It is shown based on the historical and legal analysis that the designation of the child's status as a newborn infant throughout the period of its neonatal life till violent death "at or immediately after births" is the exclusive prerogative of the law-enforcement authorities. An original approach has been developed and recommended for the introduction into the expert practice. According to this proposal facts and arguments in the "Expert conclusions" should be formulated so as to avoid mentioning the child as newborn and to indicate only the duration of its extrauterine life. Such an approach leaves it to the law-enforcement authorities to decide in each concrete case whether the child should be designated as a newborn infant or not.     

Optimization of the biological microchip for genotyping of the AB0 locus: correction of DNA probes

The objective of the present work was to search for methodological options facilitating the improvement and optimization of the biological microchip designed for genotyping of the AB0 locus. Testing a prototype biological microchip for genotyping of the AB0 locus using a reference set of preparations with the known group specificity has demonstrated that the choice of DNA probes by theoretical calculation of their thermodynamic parameters does not necessarily yields the desired practical result. Suffice it to say that under certain conditions some cells of the biochip appear to generate artifact hybridization signals that tend to make the results of genotyping either incorrect or difficult to interpret. This problem required the adjustment of the molecular structure of DNA probes for the optimization of their hybridization properties. As a result new DNA probes have been developed and synthesized and new variants of the prototype biochip constructed to be subjected to experimental verification.     

The influence of an air ionizer on the air ionic composition

The air ionic composition in a classroom was determined during the operation of a Neo Tec XJ-2100 ionizer (Germany). The amount of ions in the air was measured before and after the switch-on of the ionizer. It was shown to vary depending on the mode of operation of the device and differ from the recommended normal values. The necessity of checking up the work of air ionizers both in living quarters and at workplaces is discussed with the application of air ion counters making it possible to carry out monitoring of the air ionic composition and estimate its compliance with the sanitary and hygienic norms.     

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.     

The characteristic morphological changes of the internal organs in certain forms of combined poisoning

The results of forensic medical investigations of 100 corpses of the persons who died from combined intoxication with two and more poisons are presented. They were compared with clinical observations and summarized uisng the methods of tanatogenetic analysis. The main variants of fatal combined poisoning and the underlying tanatogenetic mechanisms were categorized into cardiac (disturbances of rhythm and conductivity, progressive hypotension, flabby heart muscle, extensive fragmentation of cardiomyocytes), cerebral (coma and massive death of brainstem neurons), and pulmonary (of pneumonia- or pulmonary oedema-type with fibrin precipitation in the alveoli and formation of hyaline membranes). This classification was supplemented by a variety of combinations of the above variants with necrotic nephrosis and disseminated intravascular coagulation syndrome. It is concluded that the results of this study may be of use for forensic medical diagnostics of combined poisoning and the elucidation of the contribution of individual toxic substances to the fatal outcome bearing in mind the low informative value of the relevant forensic medical data.     

Modern concepts of adipocere formation mechanisms

Biochemical parameters of transformation of fresh subcutaneous fat into adipocere have been studied in experiment. Activation of lipid peroxidation is a significant component of the mechanism of adipocere transformation, which is proven by a drastic increase in the level of Schiff's bases in adipocere in comparison with subcutaneous fat. The concentrations of myristic, palmitic, and stearic fatty acids increase during the formation of adipocere, while the content of linoleic acid decreases in comparison with the unchanged human subcutaneous fat.     

Crystallographic analysis of liquor for diagnosis and life-time evaluation of craniocerebral injury

Liquor specimens were examined by crystallography in 136 patients with craniocerebral injuries of different severity, hospitalized at the neuroinjury department of Kaliningrad Emergency Hospital and in 12 normal subjects in 1997-1998. The crystallograms were evaluated by a sum of signs, as a result of which specific patterns of colony growth in health and craniocerebral injury of different severity were obtained.     

Expert evaluation of damage to health in dental injuries

Discusses problems in forensic medical expert evaluation of the severity of dental injuries. Analyzes the classification of dental injuries and criteria for their expert evaluation. Considers some disputable and contradictory problems in expert interpretation of dental injuries involving complete loss of teeth and evaluation of injuries in subjects with maxillodental diseases. Offers approaches to solution of these problems.     

Morphological aspects of acute intoxication with azaleptin

Clinico-anatomical analysis, chemico-toxicological and histological examination of material from 54 deceased from intoxication with azaleptin both in urgent toxicology department and pre-admission stage, were performed. Morphology of intoxication with azaleptin was studied, structural base of genopathy at these intoxications was developed.