A biomechanical study of the human vertebral artery with implications for fatal arterial injury

We studied the biomechanical behaviour of ring and strip specimens from along the length of 18 vertebral arteries taken from 16 subjects aged 28-90 years, in order to consider some of the factors which may play a role in vertebral artery rupture. The method was chosen to allow a comparison between circumferential distension (ring samples) and longitudinal extension, (strip samples). The samples were extended between the jaws of a tensile testing apparatus until the specimen broke and a number of biomechanical parameters were derived. These were the percentage extension to break, the tensile strength, Young's modulus and the peak load. There were a number of important findings. The vertebral artery was shown to be susceptible to longitudinal stretching with a number of strip samples breaking when extended by as little as 16-20%. The tensile strength and load at peak of the strip specimens were correspondingly lower than for the ring samples. Marked intersubject variations were shown for all these parameters and prominent changes in behaviour occurred along the vertebral artery. This study indicates that the artery may be susceptible to head and neck movements which cause the vessel to stretch, and intersubject variations in behaviour may be one important explanation for the marked differences in outcome which appear to exist in subjects who suffer broadly similar head and neck insults.     

Black women and intimate partner violence: new directions for research

African American women are at elevated risk for nonfatal and lethal intimate partner violence (IPV). Accordingly, the purpose of this article is to review our current knowledge, with a focus on the sociodemographic factors that make this population particularly vulnerable to abuse. Future research directions include using more diverse Black samples, considering how living at the intersection of multiple forms of oppression shapes Black women's experience with violence, exploring the influence of historical events and oppressive images on victimization, and focusing on survivors' resilience and activism.     

监禁死亡的法医病理学研究

目的　探讨监禁死亡的法医病理学及其流行病学特点。方法　对华西医科大学法医学系 1 987～ 1 998年所作 5 2例监禁死亡案例病理材料进行统计分析。结果　性别 :5 2例均为男性。年龄 :从 1 8岁～ 70岁 ,以 2 1至 4 0年龄段为主 ( 6 1 5 3% )。民族 :汉族人居多 ( 84 6 1 % )。职业 :待业、农民、工人最多 ( 75 % )。婚姻状态 :已婚者占多数 ( 5 9 6 1 % )。监禁原因 :以抢劫、偷盗为主 ( 6 3 4 6 % ) ,首次被监禁为主 ( 94 2 3% )。监禁死亡时间以 3个月常见 ( 36 5 4 % ) ,死亡地点以派出所、看守所及监狱常见 ( 82 6 9% )。死亡方式 :自然死亡以肺结核及支气管炎为主 ( 4 6 1 5 % ) ,自杀以自缢及高坠为主 ( 4 8 1 5 % ) ,少部分为他杀 ,以同监犯人打死为主( 5 76 % )。结论　监禁中死亡与多种因素有关 ,防止该类事件的发生需要各方面的努力。