Cranial thickness in relation to age, sex and general body build in a Danish forensic sample

The cranial thickness was measured in 64 individuals (43 males, 21 females) autopsied at our institute. The thickness was measured by taking a biopsy with a trephine at four specific locations on the skull. Complete medical records and pathologic autopsy results were available. While none of the individuals had suffered from diseases affecting bone or bone metabolism as such, a large sub group consisted of individuals with a history of, and autopsy finds consistent with, chronic substance and alcohol abuse. There was no statistically significant difference in cranial thickness measures between this group and the rest of the material. Subsequent analyses failed to reveal any correlations between the cranial thickness and sex and age and height and weight of the individual. This is in accordance with most earlier studies, which likewise show no correlation, or only very faint trends, between cranial thickness and these parameters. This study, thus, adds to other studies showing that cranial thickness cannot be used in aging or sexing human remains. Likewise, in a forensic pathological setting, cranial thickness cannot be inferred from the individuals stature and build, which may be an issue in cases of interpersonal violence with cranial trauma.     

大鼠脑挫伤后FN表达与损伤时程关系的研究

为寻找推断脑损伤经历时间的可靠指标,采用自制自由落体撞击法致大鼠右顶叶局灶性脑挫伤模型,于不同时间段处死大鼠后,进行纤维连接蛋白的免疫组织化学及原位杂交法研究,结果发现纤维连接蛋白及其 mRNA表达水平与伤后经历时间有一定相关性,并能较好地鉴别死前脑挫伤和死后脑挫伤,可作为推断脑挫伤经历时间的参考指标之一。     

不同损伤时间大鼠皮肤切创 Fos表达研究

目的研究皮肤切创在伤后不同时间段 Fos的表达 . 方法在大鼠皮肤切创模型石蜡切片上进行 Fos免疫组化染色 . 结果伤后 10min, 表达量开始增高 , 伤后 3h达高峰 , 以后又逐渐降低 , 至损伤 1d后 , 表达量与对照组无显著性差别 . 结论 Fos为皮肤伤后的敏感指标 , 但需结合其他指标综合评价 .     

Late-form hemorrhagic disease of the newborn: a fatal case report with illustration of investigations that may assist in avoiding the mistaken diagnosis of child abuse

Hemorrhagic disease of the newborn (HDN) is usually a self-limiting hemorrhagic disorder of childhood that occurs as a result of vitamin K deficiency. It may be defined as early or late form depending on the time of onset related to birth. HDN is recognized as one of several bleeding disorders that can mimic the findings of nonaccidental head injury and may lead to a mistaken diagnosis of child abuse. We present a single fatal case of late-onset HDN with illustration of hematologic assays that can be performed to assist the pathologist in making the correct diagnosis of HDN.     

Prolonged activity after an ultimately fatal gunshot wound to the heart: case report

In this article, we describe an unusual case of suicide involving a gunshot wound to the left ventricle. The victim engaged in premortem activity that was both prolonged and methodical. This report stresses the importance of a complete investigation to distinguish such case from an homicide.     

The conversion and settlement of Georgia Blue: are consumer groups still singing the blues?

As more Blue Cross/Blue Shield Organizations employ various means to convert to for-profit status, myriad issues arise concerning the proper treatment of assets that were accumulated during the not-for-profit years of such organizations. Moreover, state officials face pressure from all sides to assure that the conversion process is "fair." In the following Article, the author examines the conversion of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia to demonstrate the various conversion issues that arise under traditional legal principles--as well as the means by which that Blue employed newly enacted legislation to avoid many of the requirements that otherwise would have attended its conversion.     

Hypoxic/ischaemic brain damage, especially pallidal lesions, in heroin addicts.

The occurrence of pallidal lesions with or without other hypoxic/ischaemic brain injuries was evaluated in 100 intravenous (i.v.) heroin addicts. The brains were collected consecutively from forensic autopsies during the period from January 1995 to June 1996. The autopsies were required by the police and performed at The Institute of Forensic Medicine, The National Hospital, Oslo. There were 21 women and 79 men, median age 32 (range 21-47) and 34 (19-60) years, respectively. Of 38 brains with abnormalities, twenty-five cases showed isolated or combined lesions of hypoxic/ischaemic origin. Pallidal lesions were found in nine brains; six lesions were old, one was subacute (a couple of weeks), and two were part of recent, generalized hypoxia/ischaemia. Six persons had old infarcts in the hippocampal formation, and one of them in combination with old pallidal infarcts. In seven brains small and old infarcts were found in watershed areas in the cerebellum. Between five and ten percent of i.v. heroin addicts might have pallidal infarcts, either as the sole lesion, or combined with other manifestations of hypoxic/ischaemic brain injury. This might give severe mental disturbances in the affected persons.