The ageing of bruises: A review and study of the colour changes with time

This work was inspired by a recent case of child abuse where the question of the age of the bruises on the body was raised. The first part of this paper reviews published work on bruises. It illustrates the paucity of work in this field and the absence of studies of the colour changes in bruises of human skin with time. The second part of this paper consists of our own study of the appearance of bruises. The aim was to identify the colour changes which occur in bruises and over what time-scale, in order to determine whether bruises can be aged by appearance. A total of 369 photographs were obtained of bruises aged <6 h and up to 21 days old, in 89 subjects aged 10–100 years. It was found that the development of a yellow colour was the most significant change (subjects aged <65, P < 0.001; subjects aged ≥65 years, P < 0.001). The development of a yellow colour occurred significantly faster in subjects aged < 65 years. (P < 0.001). The appearance of a blue and purple/black colour was of lesser significance. The appearance of a red colour did not alter significantly with time. From this study it was only possible to conclude that a bruise with a yellow colour was more than 18 h old.     

International politics and international justice: Unity in diversity?

DCL, LL.M, LL.B, Aviation Consultant and Post Doctoral Research Scholar, Faculty of Law, McGill University, Montreal, Canada. Also, Air Transport Officer, International Civil Aviation Organization. This paper has been written in the author's personal capacity.     

Wischnevsky's gastric lesions in accidental hypothermia.

We examine the pathogenesis of Wischnevsky's lesions. These gastric lesions were found in 15 of 17 deaths due to accidental hypothermia. Deaths occurred at various minimum temperatures (-2.4-20.4 degrees C); gastric lesions did not always reflect exposure temperatures. However, all victims exposed to temperatures greater than 10 degrees C had severe lesions. At temperatures less than 5 degrees C, on the other hand, severe gastric lesions were seen in victims younger (43.2 years old) than those with mild lesions (61.0 years old). These findings suggest that gastric lesions develop by exposure to temperatures at which the body's response to cold stress continues, or as result of a strong response to short-term stress. Histopathologic examination demonstrated a characteristic finding of cystic dilatation of the capillaries, presumably due to massive reperfusion after functional collapse of the microcirculation in the gastric mucosa.     

Determination of ABO blood groups by radioimmunoassay using 125I-protein A

Since the crystallizable fragment (Fc) portion of the immunoglobulin G (IgG) molecule is the binding site of Protein A, a radioimmunoassay procedure using 125I-Protein A was developed for identification of the ABO blood groups. The isotope level bound to Group A, B, or AB red cells decreased with the dilution of anti-A or -B, respectively. After sensitization by anti-A plus B in Group O serum, the isotope bindings were observed in Groups A, B, and AB cells, while no significant radioactive count appeared in Group O cells. Furthermore, there was little significant isotope binding in both Group A and B red cells sensitized by the serum from Group A or B blood containing mainly IgM anti-A or -B. A radioimmunoassay using 125I-Protein A is an excellent method for identifying ABO blood groups.     

The investigation of blood and secretion stains by the absorption-elution reaction using anti-H monoclonal antibodies

Possible use of monoclonal antibodies anti-H in absorption-elution reaction was studied. Blood and secretion stains on gauze were analysed. Practical usefulness of monoclonal antibodies anti-H for investigation of human blood and secretions was stated. Differences in interaction of monoclonal antibodies with traces of different origin were found.     

Blaming the jews

His most recent publication is Interminority Affairs in the U.S.: The Challenge of Pluralism,a special issue of The Annals of the American Academy of Social and Political Science.He is author of Mainstreams and Margins: Jews, Blacks, and Other Americans,published by Transaction.