Hepatotoxicity of dichloromethane

We studied hepatotoxicity of dichloromethane using primary cultures of parenchymal cells (hepatocyte) from adult rat livers. The production of carbon monoxide from dichloromethane increased with time, the increased cell number, and the concentration of dichloromethane. However, the carbon monoxide production per hepatocyte decreased with increasing cell density. When dichloromethane was in a high concentration, the metabolism of dichloromethane to carbon monoxide was extensively depressed, total glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) and mitochondrial GOT (m-GOT) levels in the cultured medium were extensively elevated, and the cultured hepatocytes were destroyed by dichloromethane. A case of accidental exposure to dichloromethane which occurred in Japan was also considered, and it is suspected that the inhalation of dichloromethane vapors in a high concentration for many hours may cause hepatotoxicity.     

Prediction of stature from hand measurements

A sample of 166 normal adult males and females was taken from different colleges of Assiut representing those living in upper Egypt. Each subject has been studied for measurements of stature (S), hand length (HL) and hand breadth (HB). The data were statistically analysed in order to assess the relationship between stature and hand measurements. The correlation matrix of the study indicates close similarity of the relationship between stature and hand measurements in both sexes and in both sides. A generalized multiple regression equation has been designed to estimate stature from values of hand length and hand breadth regardless of sex or side in the form: S = 34.5 + 5.77 HL + 2.7 HB +/- 5.1. This equation may be helpful to obtain approximate stature when there is difficulty in obtaining a direct measurement or where there is a chance print of a criminal or an amputated hand or arm.     

The effect of conditions of putrefaction on species determination in human and animal teeth

Tooth fragments freshly extracted from humans and rats were stored at either 4 degrees C or room temperature in dry or humid conditions for periods ranging from 1 to 6 months. The fragments were reduced to powder and antigens were extracted. Comparison of these samples was carried out using Counter Current Electrophoresis. Extracted sera were tested against known specific antisera and resultant precipitin reactions stained for examination. Correct species identification was possible both from desiccated and humid fragments but there was species variation in the sensitivity of the method. All the extracts from human teeth were positive against human antisera. In the rat some test specimens were initially negative but became positive following further dilution of the extracts.     

HIV-infection in forensic autopsy cases

Sudden and unexpected death and violent death of persons with a high risk of acquiring HIV-infections, especially homosexual males and intravenous drug abusers, have to be investigated by forensic autopsies. Therefore every forensic pathologist has to be aware of this infection and should try to make the proper diagnosis. Three typical cases are described: (1) suicide by hanging, (2) homicide by cutting the throat and (3) intravenous heroin overdose. Merely retrospectively it could be cleared up that the deceased were homosexual but did not manifestly suffer from AIDS. The morphological findings in the lymph nodes and the postmortem serological findings are described in detail.     

Insanity plea

Examining 484 consecutive criminal cases in which the NGRI plea was made, it was found: (1) a high degree of interexaminer agreement existed on the issue of the defendant's mental state in a nonadversary examination procedure; and, (2) court verdicts were highly congruent with the opinions expressed by examiners on the issue of insanity.     

Fatal intraoperative hemorrhage during spinal fusion surgery for osteogenesis imperfecta

Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is an uncommon inherited systemic disorder of the connective tissues characterized primarily by varying degrees of bony fragility. Consequently, individuals affected by this condition frequently suffer severe skeletal injuries from otherwise innocuous traumatic events. This syndrome has other associated abnormalities, including hydrocephalus and brain stem compression on the basis of cranial developmental defects (platybasia), cardiac and vascular problems, respiratory disease from spinal deformities, vascular fragility, a bleeding disorder caused by an apparent platelet function abnormality, and anesthesia-related hyperpyrexia. A case is presented here of a young girl with advanced OI in whom intraoperative death occurred as a consequence of inadvertent rib fractures, with subsequent uncontrollable hemorrhage. OI may also potentially be mistaken for child abuse by an inexperienced examiner.     

A fatal case of oral ingestion of toluene

A 51-year-old male ingested orally a large quantity of toluene and died about 30 min later. The presence of toluene in body fluids and tissues was confirmed by gas chromatography and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Tissue distribution of toluene showed that the liver detected the highest content of toluene (433.5 micrograms/g), except for the stomach contents, followed by pancreas (88.2 micrograms/g), brain (85.3 micrograms/g), heart (62.6 micrograms/g), blood (27.6 micrograms/g), fat (12.2 micrograms/g) and finally cerebrospinal fluid (11.1 micrograms/g).