Study of microinjuries to hair cuticle of human head by scanning electron microscopy

The author presents the data on microclues in the free edges of hair cuticles of human head: microinjuries, microdefects (cracks, breaks, clefts, large and small waves) in representatives of Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Eastern Europe. The studies were carried out by scanning electron microscopy. Microinjuries of cuticle cells forming during hair combing by different types of combs and as a result of "permanent" curling are described. Scanning electron microscopy at the optimal magnification of x 3000 is a highly informative method for investigating microinjuries to the hair cuticle as additional signs in expert evaluation of the hair.     

Structure of hair on the head and other parts fo body in Latin Americans

The structure of hairs from the head, chest, armpits, and pubis of residents of Latin America (Bolivia, Salvador, Panama, Ecuador, Chile, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Peru, Brasil, and Mexico) has been studied. New data on macro- and microscopic characteristics of hairs of the population of the above countries were obtained (color, shape, length, thickness of hair; number of cuticle lines; characteristics of hair layers, shapes of transverse sections, etc.).     

New variant for detecting ABO antigens in human bones

AB0 antigens can be extracted from human bone tissue into aqueous solution during boiling and then identified by absorption elution test.     

Comparative analysis fo heroin

A protocol for comparative analysis of heroin making use of chromatographic methods and infra-red spectroscopy is presented.     

Forensic medical evaluation of flaws in medical care rendered at public health institutions in the Russian Federation

The authors analyze the flaws in medical care rendered at various public health institutions by the results of 2436 expert committee conclusions, verified at bureaus of forensic medical expert evaluations. The essence and causes of these defects at the hospital and prehospital stages of medical care, rendered by physicians of different specializations and nurses, are analyzed.     

Participation of forensic medics in anthropological examinations of the Orthodox church burials

Examinations of the rudiments of the Russian Orthodox Saints are reviewed. The burial of holy people in Russia is described. The results of examinations of rudiments of the Saints, Reverend Iosaph of Belgorod, Cornilai Padansky, and Arsenii Konevsky, are presented. A detailed algorithm of expert steps is suggested.     

Use of Adobe Photoshop software in medical criminology

Describes the method of comparative analysis of various objects in practical medical criminology and making of high-quality photographs with the use of Adobe Photoshop software. Options of the software needed for expert evaluations are enumerated.     

The effects of sarin-like and soman-like organophosphorus agents on MAPK and JNK in rat brains

One sarin-like and one soman-like organophosphorus agent [bis(isopropyl methyl)phosphonate, BIMP and bis(pinacolyl methyl)phosphonate, BPMP] were injected intravenously (iv) in rats. An increase in the tyrosine phosphorylation of several proteins in the cytosol fraction of the brain was observed. Activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and slight activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in the cytosol were also observed. The activation of these enzymes may be related to the high toxicity of these nerve agents.     

Effect of toluene inhalation on astrocytes and neurotrophic factor in rat brain

Toluene, an abused substance in Japan, is a neurotoxic chemical that has been shown to have neurobehavioral and electrophysiological effects. In previous work, both acute and chronic effects of toluene on cells have been studied extensively. However, although glial cells are thought to play an important role in the survival of neurons in the brain, the effect of toluene on glial cell function has not yet been characterized. To elucidate this, the effect of toluene inhalation on astrocytes in rat brain was examined. Toluene exposure (1500 ppm for 4 h on 4-10 days) augmented glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) immunoreactivity, particularly in the hippocampus and cerebellum. Quantitative analysis showed that toluene inhalation markedly enhanced GFAP expression in the hippocampus and cerebellum. In both regions, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) showed no obvious changes, but glutamine synthetase (GS)-immunoreactive cells were markedly increased by toluene exposure. Thus, the elevation of GFAP expression was induced by astrocyte activation rather than by cell proliferation. If toluene exposure activates astrocytes, astrocytes may play a role in the neurophysiological changes observed in toluene intoxication. A neurotrophic factor, basic fibroblast growth factor (b-FGF) was observed immunohistochemically in the capillary vessel walls in the hippocampus and the cerebellum of toluene-intoxicated rats. Basic-FGF may have induced GFAP expression both in the hippocampus and the cerebellum. So, other neurotrophic factors may affect the difference of GFAP elevation between the hippocampus and the cerebellum. These differences may relate to neurobehavioral function of each brain part after toluene exposure.