Injury of the vertebral artery in suicidal hanging

The vertebral artery was investigated in suicidal hanging for specific forensic, but also general traumatological reasons. The objective was to establish the extent to which the vertebral artery in its relatively protected position is injured at all and if so, in what form. For this purpose, cervical spine preparations with the posterior space of the skull were fixed in formalin and detached in the sagittal plane in 36 unselected cases of suicidal hanging after angiographic visualization of the vertebral artery. Afterwards, both vertebral arteries were visualized, and vascular injuries were compared with injuries of the soft tissues of the neck, of the cervical spine, and of the external types of hanging. The vertebral artery was shown to be injured quite frequently (rupture, intimal tear, sub-intimal hemorrhage), namely in one quarter of all cases, and indeed in more than half taking into account the perivascular bleeding. In this way, frequencies were found which were far in excess of those of the common carotid artery. The different mechanical behavior of these two paired neck arteries in traction are dealt with and the form of injury explained.     

Time-related changes in cardiac ct images of rabbits died from four kinds of execution

Objective To explore the feasibility and appropriate parameters for estimating postmortem interval (PMI) through time-related CT imaging into dynamically monitoring the cardiac changes of rabbits died from four kinds of execution. Methods The experimental rabbits were executed with four disposals of air embolism, strangulation, drowning and hemorrhagic shock. The dead rabbits were observed of their hearts with CT scanning every 6 hours within 120h from the death moment, having the obtained time-different CT images and mean CT values examined. With the cardiac average CT values of rabbits died from discrepant execution, four relevant regression equations were established against the elapsing time (i.e. PMI). Results The CT images of post-death cardiac tissue of rabbits died from one of four executions did change regularly with the PMI elongating, showing consistent with the autopsy verification. The binomial regressive equations were established between the post-death cardiac average CT value and PMI from four executions, demonstrating statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion The postmortem cardiac CT imaging into PMI analysis, plus the relating regression equation, provides a new objective visual quantitative approach and reference for forensic medicine to infer the time of death. © 2021, Editorial Office of Forensic Science and Technology. All rights reserved.     

Sudden Death Caused by Anomalous Origin of the Coronary Artery During Exercise

Anomalous origin of the coronary artery (AOCA) is a rare, but important cause of sudden cardiac death among young athletes. Nine autopsy cases (8 male, 1 female; mean age, 17.9 years; age range, 11–31 years) of sudden death during or just after exercise caused by AOCA were reviewed. The exercises performed at the time of death were running (4 cases), soccer (2 cases), and baseball, swimming and kendo (Japanese swordsmanship) (1 case each). In 6 cases, the left coronary artery arose from the right sinus of Valsalva, and in 3, the right coronary artery from the left sinus. The coronary arteries passed between the pulmonary artery and the aorta with an acute angle takeoff from the orifice. Three cases had cardiovascular manifestations prior to death. In cases with cardiovascular manifestations, novel imaging methods should be considered to prevent sudden death.     

Fatal Venous Air Embolism Following Intravenous Infusion*

Abstract: Venous air embolism has been reported as a complication of invasive diagnostic and therapeutic procedures or accidental trauma. Little is known about the incidence of air embolism after minimal intravenous manipulations such as the insertion of a peripheral intravenous cannula. Only when large amounts of air sufficient enough to block the cardiovascular system enter, the patient develops symptoms and signs of severe neurological injury, cardiovascular collapse, or death. The dead body of a 14‐year‐old boy was brought for postmortem examination with allegations of death from negligence during treatment. He was treated for pain in the abdomen in a hospital by attendants in telephonic consultation with a medical practitioner. Following intravenous infusions, the boy died suddenly in respiratory distress. Gross findings indicated the death to be from venous air embolism. Chemical analysis, histopathology, and microbiology ruled out other causes of death. Dilemmas of the case with difficulties in diagnosis are being presented herewith.     

推拿治疗椎动脉型颈椎病的时效性研究

目的 探讨推拿治疗时间对椎动脉型颈椎病（cervical spondylosis of vertebral artery,CSA）的影响。方法 选取符合纳入标准的CSA患者90例,按随机数字表法随机分为推拿10 min组、推拿20 min组和推拿30 min组,行常规推拿手法治疗,比较治疗前后所有患者临床疗效、颈椎功能评分以及经颅多普勒（transcranial Doppler,TCD）超声检测情况。结果 3组患者临床疗效的分布比较,差异均具有统计学意义（P<0.05）,推拿20 min组和30 min组临床疗效均明显优于10 min组。推拿10 min组治疗前后颈椎功能评分比较,差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）,而推拿20 min组和30 min组治疗后颈椎功能评分均较治疗前明显改善（P＜0.05）。推拿20 min、30 min组较10 min组颈椎功能评分改善程度更加明显（P＜0.05）;推拿20 min组和30 min组相比较,颈椎功能评分改善程度差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）。3组患者治疗前后相比,两侧椎动脉的血流速度均有明显改善（P＜0.05）;与推拿10 min组比较,推拿20 min、30 min组治疗后两侧椎动脉的血流速度改善更加明显（P＜0.05）,推拿20 min和30 min组比较,治疗后两侧椎动脉血流速度的改善程度无统计学意义（P＞0.05）。结论 推拿治疗CSA具有时间累积效应,随着推拿时间的延长,疗效提高,但是到达一定时间疗效不再增加;推拿治疗时间的选择在20 min左右为最佳。     

延黄消心痛胶囊治疗心血瘀阻型冠心病心绞痛48例

目的 评价延黄消心痛胶囊治疗心血瘀阻型冠心病心绞痛的临床疗效及其安全性。方法 采用随机、双盲、安慰剂平行对照的研究方法,将48例患者随机分为试验组24例和对照组24例,分别给予延黄消心痛胶囊及模拟剂。比较两组的心绞痛疗效、中医证候疗效、心电图疗效及Duke运动平板评分。结果 试验组在降低心绞痛发作次数和Duke运动评分,提高心绞痛疗效、中医证候疗效方面显著优于对照组（P<0.05,或P<0.01）;两组心电图疗效比较,差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）。结论 延黄消心痛胶囊临床使用安全,治疗心血瘀阻型冠心病心绞痛疗效确切。     

李业甫筋骨并举整脊法治疗颈性眩晕临床疗效观察

目的 观察李业甫筋骨并举整脊法治疗颈性眩晕的临床疗效.方法 将80例颈性眩晕患者按照随机数字表法分为对照组和观察组,每组40例.对照组患者采用常规推拿治疗,观察组患者采用常规推拿结合李业甫筋骨并举整脊法治疗.比较两组患者临床疗效,治疗前后颈性眩晕症状与功能评分、眩晕残障程度评定量表(dizziness handicap inventory,DHI)评分及椎-基底动脉血流速度.结果 两组患者临床疗效比较,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05),观察组的治疗效果优于对照组.两组治疗后颈性眩晕症状与功能评分均显著升高,DHI评分均显著降低(P<0.05),且观察组改善程度显著优于对照组(P<0.05).两组治疗后左侧椎动脉、右侧椎动脉、基底动脉平均血流速度均有所增加(P<0.05),且观察组改善程度优于对照组(P<0.05).结论 李业甫筋骨并举整脊法可以有效调节椎-基底动脉血流速度以减轻患者的眩晕症状.     

Two consecutive fatal cases of acute myocardial infarction caused by free floating thrombus in the ascending aorta and review of literature

Free floating thrombus in the ascending aorta is an uncommon source of acute myocardial infarction. We report on two cases of young women who died of acute myocardial infarction caused by a free floating thrombus in the sinus of Valsalva obstructing the coronary arteries' ostia. The first case reports on a 30-year-old pregnant woman who anamnestically had episodes with short loss of consciousness and weakness. The second case presents a 37-year-old woman suffering from multiple sclerosis with no previous history of thrombotic events. The review of literature revealed a predominance of women (eight females and three males). Interestingly, the coronary arteries bear no preference concerning the right (RCA) or left coronary artery (LCA) being more often occluded by a free floating thrombus. Especially, younger women (mean age 45.5 years, range 30-59 years) with no history of cardiac symptoms and without atherosclerotic changes seem to be predispositioned. The hypothesis that thrombus formation in cases without plaque disruption may depend on an endothelial erosion which seems to be more common in younger women and promoted by a hyperthrombogenic state is supported by our two cases. A comprehensive literature search revealed, that these are the first two reports on a free floating thrombus being the cause of fatal acute myocardial infarction in a pregnant woman, respectively, a woman suffering from multiple sclerosis.     

Infant death due to air embolism from peripheral venous infusion

An otherwise healthy male infant was brought to the hospital because the mother suspected superficial infection at the operative site 5 days after an inguinal hernia repair. He was admitted to the pediatric unit overnight to be evaluated by his surgeon the next morning. When a venous infusion of maintenance fluids was started, the patient immediately went into cardio-respiratory arrest and was pronounced dead after resuscitation efforts failed. Subsequently, air collections were found in both venous and arterial circulations, including the splenoportal system. Detailed review of the clinical presentation and course, laboratory results, radiological, and pathological findings, along with a review of pertinent literature provides an explanation for the death by air embolism. Apparent inconsistent findings both radiographically and at autopsy are resolved. The mechanism of distribution of air to both systemic and splenoportal circulation is discussed. We believe this to be only the eighth case reported in English-language literature of infantile death from peripheral venous infusion. In all age groups, we find only six other cases in the English-language literature of gas found concomitantly in both the systemic and portal venous systems.     

Bear attack--A unique fatality in Finland

Fatalities due to animal bites, the vast majority of which are associated with dogs and big cats, are relatively uncommon and rarely described in the literature. Especially rare are fatal bear attacks on humans. We herein present a forensic investigation of a fatal assault, involving numerous bites on a 42-year-old man in Finland by an European brown bear (Ursus arctos arctos).