An Analysis of Possible Mechanisms of Unexpected Death Occurring in Hydatid Disease (Echinococcosis)

Abstract:  Most cases of hydatid disease in human populations are due to Echinococcus granulosus. The hydatid life cycle involves passage between definitive hosts such as dogs and intermediate hosts such as sheep. Humans become accidental intermediate hosts following ingestion of food or water contaminated with eggs or by contact with infected dogs. Although hydatid disease may remain asymptomatic, occasional cases of sudden and unexpected death present to autopsy. Causes of rapid clinical decline involve a wide range of mechanisms including anaphylaxis (with or without cyst rupture), cardiac outflow obstruction or conduction tract disturbance, pulmonary and cerebral embolism, pericarditis, cardiac tamponade, myocardial ischemia, pulmonary hypertension, peritonitis, hollow organ perforation, intracerebral mass effect, obstructive hydrocephalus, seizures, cerebral ischemia/infarction, and pregnancy complications. The autopsy assessment of cases therefore requires careful examination of all organ systems for characteristic cystic lesions, as multiorgan involvement is common, with integration of findings so that possible mechanisms of death can be determined. Measurement of serum tryptase and specific IgE levels should be undertaken for possible anaphylaxis.     

冠状动脉肌桥与心源性猝死

冠状动脉肌桥也称冠脉肌桥或心肌桥,是一种先天性冠状动脉分布走行的发育畸形,为冠状动脉某一段或其分支的某一段走行于心外膜下的心肌层内。这种先天性冠状动脉分布走行的发育畸形可以引起猝死,在尸体解剖中也较为常见。本文对冠脉肌桥的形态学特点、临床影像学与心电图改变、猝死机制以及法医学鉴定中需要注意的问题等方面进行了阐述。     

房室结纤维和脂肪增多与房室结动脉狭窄的关系

目的探讨房室结纤维、脂肪含量与房室结动脉狭窄之间的关系,分析房室结内病理性纤维化和病理性脂肪浸润的原因。方法选取119例心源性猝死案例,用Image-pro plus图像分析软件检测组织切片,计算房室结面积,房室结动脉内径、房室结动脉管腔面积(lumen area,LA)、外周横截面积(perimeterarea,PA),纤维组织面积和脂肪组织面积。将所有案例分为动脉狭窄组和正常对照组组,观察房室结动脉PA/LA值及房室结纤维及脂肪含量的改变。结果狭窄组房室结动脉PA/LA值在21～40岁最大,40岁以下两组房室结脂肪含量和总间质含量差异有统计学意义。结论房室结动脉狭窄与房室结间质含量增多有一定关系。     

冠心病猝死心肌肌红蛋白缺失的免疫组化研究

作者应用免疫组化ABC法首次对SCD及对照组病例的心肌Mb缺失情况进行了研究,并经扫描显微镜光度计测量及电子计算机统计分析,结果发现SCD组心肌Mb均有明显缺失,呈现多发、散在、节段性分布,而对照组无缺失,认为这种多发、散在、节段性Mb缺失可作为无大片心肌梗死的SCD病例的诊断标志之一,为SCD的尸检诊断开辟了新途径。     

Cytoskeleton immunohistochemical study of early ischemic myocardium

Previous studies on cytoskeletal changes of in vitro and in vivo animal models of ischemic myocardium have suggested the possibility of using alterations in cytoskeleton proteins as an early marker for the post-mortem diagnosis of myocardial ischemia in cases of sudden death due to coronary artery disease (CAD). In the present study, using the technique of ABC-immunohistochemistry, we examine the changes of three cytoskeletal proteins: vinculin, desmin and α-actinin in human myocardial samples taken from 14 cases of CAD sudden death and 13 cases of non-CAD death. Results of these examinations are compared with immunohistochemical changes of myoglobin and histochemical staining of hematoxylin and eosin and phosphotungstic acid, and Masson trichrome. Patchy and extensive loss of the three cytoskeletal proteins was demonstrated in the myocardium of victims who died 1 h or later following the onset of symptoms of ischemic myocardium. The pattern of cytoskeleton change is equivocal in the cases of CAD who died less than 1 h after the onset of symptoms and of the cases of non-CAD. In these cases, no significant histological change was observed. With less non-specific background changes and stronger positive staining, immunohistochemical staining of the three cytoskeletal proteins is more reliable than myoglobin, which has attracted the attention of many pathologists searching for anatomic evidence of ischemic myocardium in coronary artery disease.     

介绍两种冠状动脉狭窄程度的检测方法

本文作者提出用相对面积计算和同心圆两种方法检测冠脉狭窄程度，并对其实用价值进行了探讨。     

Fat Transfer and Fatal Macroembolization

Fat embolism is usually associated with long bone fractures or other trauma. The diagnosis is usually clinical, and in most cases, emboli are not fatal and not usually seen on gross examination. At the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office, we autopsied the victim of fatal macroscopic fat embolization to the lungs. The patient died during buttock enhancement surgery when fat from liposuction was injected into her buttocks. Fat embolism from liposuction and fat injection is reportedly rare, and macroscopic embolization is rarer still. Varicose veins can occur in the area of the sciatic notch and are known to cause painful sciatica symptoms. We suggest them as a potential conduit for macroscopic fat to reach the lungs. Simple pre‐operative questioning for sciatica symptoms and possible radiologic study to rule out sciatic varices seem prudent before undertaking buttock‐enhancing surgery. Careful fat injection with pre‐aspiration is always advised.     

Fatal Penetrating Injuries Sustained by High-pressure Water Jet Unit

The high-pressure water jet unit is a generator of frequent burst of water jets. The water jet reaches very high speeds and is able to cause wounds similar to those of high-velocity projectiles. In the presented case, unusual fatal injuries sustained by water jet are presented. Operating with the unit, an untrained worker accidentally activated a high-pressure water jet unit, and the extremely high pressure of water liberated the jet unit from his hand and whirled it around him. A jet stream of water ran across his body and caused fatal penetrating injuries in the femoral region. The edges of the wound were mainly sharp with contusion rings on the skin beyond the edges. Exploring the inside of the canals during the autopsy, the left femoral artery and vein were found to be completely transected. The resemblance to a firearm entry wound and the severity of the internal injury make it a noteworthy entity.     

冠心病猝死冠脉斑块组成成分的病理形态学改变

目的探讨冠心病猝死(SCD)组和对照组冠脉粥样硬化斑块纤维帽厚度和脂质核心百分比的差异。方法随机挑选病例及心脏标本共64例,分为SCD组和对照组。在冠脉粥样硬化最严重的部位取材,制片,并行HE染色,显微镜观察冠脉的病理变化和斑块的组成,采用图像分析系统对冠脉斑块纤维帽厚度和脂质核心与整个斑块的百分比进行定量分析,所得数据用SPSS11.5统计软件进行数据分析。结果SCD组中,冠脉粥样硬化病变Ⅳ级21例,Ⅲ级15例,对照组中冠脉粥样硬化病变Ⅳ级12例,Ⅲ级16例,两组在病变的严重程度上未见显著性差异(P>0.05);两组冠脉粥样硬化斑块纤维帽的厚度和脂质核心百分比均有显著性差异(P<0.01)。结论SCD组与对照组在冠脉粥样斑块的纤维帽厚度和脂质核心百分比大小等两方面均存在显著性差异;对SCD的病理诊断和法医学鉴定都具有重要意义。     

Previously Unreported Complication of Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting: Suture Rupture Resulting in Patient's Death

Traditionally, the manner of death in most hospital autopsy cases is natural, in which death is due to the natural course of disease or reasonably anticipated outcomes of medical interventions. Some cases fall into a potential gray zone between natural and accident, including rare or unanticipated outcomes of medical interventions. We present a case of a patient postcoronary artery bypass graft. Autopsy revealed the proximal anastomosis of the aorta‐to‐first‐diagonal‐coronary‐artery‐to‐second‐obtuse‐marginal‐artery graft was detached from the aorta. A broken suture was present at the disconnected anastomosis, with intact knots but was broken along its length. In‐hospital mortality rates of CABG range from 1% to 3%, with several autopsy studies identifying surgical complications as the cause of death in one‐third of perioperative deaths. No publications were found that described suture rupture as directly relating to the cause of death. This case report describes a previously unreported complication of coronary artery bypass grafting.