Alcoholic hepatosis in pathogenesis of hepatic encephalopathy

The problem of chronic alcoholism has a great social importance. In the literature there are not methodological grounds for verification of causes and mechanisms of unexpected death caused by chronic alcoholic intoxication. Given literature data show the reasonability of study of hepatic encephalopathy in combination with pathomorphological, histochemical and biochemical analyses in comparison with forensic chemical analysis of alcohol concentration in human organism. That will make possible to determine the mechanisms of tanatogenesis of alcoholic intoxication.     

Current approaches to analysis of narcotic drugs in biological substances

A method of analysis of basic narcotic drugs in urine is described. It consists in isolation by solid phase extraction, derivation and identification by gas chromatography with mass-selective detector. The approaches applied in the above method can be used for analysis of narcotic drugs undetectable by preliminary investigations as well as for urine examination for pharmacological or other biologically active substances.     

Pathology of the heart conducting system in the thanatogenesis of sudden death from alcoholic cardiomyopathy and coronary heart disease

The present literature review is focused on the contribution of various pathological changes in the heart conducting system to the tanatogenesis of sudden death from alcoholic cardiomyopathy and coronary heart disease viewed from the perspective of a forensic medical expert. The currently available data on the disorders in the heart conducting system in the subjects with these diseases are presented. Various aspects of pathology of the heart conducting system are considered in the modern and historical contexts. The prospects for the further investigations into the tanatogenic mechanisms of sudden death by reason of alcoholic cardiomyopathy and coronary heart disease are outlined.     

Forensic medical expert evaluation of lethal poisoning with narcotics

Morphological manifestations of lethal narcotic poisoning are analyzed on the basis of results presented in "Acts of Medical Examination of Corpse" and "Expert Conclusions" on 352 cases with lethal narcotic poisoning, suspected (with good grounds) poisoning, and combined poisoning with narcotics and other agents. Causes of failure to detect narcotics in forensic chemical analysis of biological material from the corpse are enumerated.     

Morphometry of cerebral neuroglial complexes in forensic medical diagnosis of substance abuse

A method of morphometric evaluation of neuroglial complexes of the brain by relatively simple and available morphometric technique is described. The gist of the method is measuring the glial distance and glial density, which change during narcotic intoxication and abstinence. The method is addressed to forensic medical expert histologists engaged in microscopic diagnosis of such poisonings on section material.     

Determination of a mechanism of the coming of death by morphological methods in strangulation mechanical asphyxia

Described in the paper are morphological data characterizing the tempo and type of thanatogenesis in strangulation asphyxia. The cerebral thanatogenesis was shown to prevail in mechanical asphyxia. The results of determination of a degree of hydration of the brain by drying its samples are described. Medullary substance was demonstrated to be hypohydrated in such death.     

Determination of death mechanisms in forensic-medical examination of a corpse

Applied aspects of multivalued and modal logics served the basis for the proposed algorithm of tanatological analysis of autopsy material including formalization of semiquantitative data on changes in vital organs with further conversion of the estimated tanatogenetic coefficients in the form of probability suggestions leading to the conclusion about the kind and speed of tanatogenesis. The method is illustrated by cases from expert practice.