Facial soft tissue depths in craniofacial identification (part II): An analytical review of the published sub-adult data

Prior research indicates that while statistically significant differences exist between subcategories of the adult soft tissue depth data, magnitudes of difference are small and possess little practical meaning when measurement errors and variations between measurement methods are considered. These findings raise questions as to what variables may or may not hold meaning for the sub-adult data. Of primary interest is the effect of age, as these differences have the potential to surpass the magnitude of measurement error. Data from the five studies in the literature on sub-adults which describe values for single integer age groups were pooled and differences across the ages examined. From 1 to 18 years, most soft tissue depth measurements increased by less than 3 mm. These results suggest that dividing the data for children into more than two age groups is unlikely to hold many advantages. Data were therefore split into two groups with the division point corresponding to the mid-point of the observed trends and main data density (0-11 and 12-18 years; division point = 11.5 years). Published sub-adult data for seven further studies which reported broader age groups were pooled with the data above to produce the final tallied soft tissue depth tables. These tables hold the advantages of increased sample sizes (pogonion has greater than 1770 individuals for either age group) and increased levels of certainty (as random and opposing systematic errors specific to each independent study should average out when the data are combined).     

Facial Tissue Depths in Children with Cleft Lip and Palate

Cleft lip and palate (CLP) is a craniofacial malformation affecting more than seven million people worldwide that results in defects of the hard palate, teeth, maxilla, nasal spine and floor, and maxillodental asymmetry. CLP facial soft‐tissue depth (FSTD) values have never been published. The purpose of this research is to report CLP FSTD values and compare them to previously published FSTD values for normal children. Thirty‐eight FSTDs were measured on cone beam computed tomography images of CLP children (n = 86; 7–17 years). MANOVA and ANOVA tests determined whether cleft type, age, sex, and bone graft surgical status affect tissue depths. Both cleft type (unilateral/bilateral) and age influence FSTDs. CLP FSTDs exhibit patterns of variation that differ from normal children, particularly around the oronasal regions of the face. These differences should be taken into account when facial reconstructions of children with CLP are created.     

Forensic Potential of MMPs and CC Chemokines for Wound Age Determination

In this study, we investigated time-dependent expression of matrix metalloproteases (MMP)-2, MMP-9, chemokine CC motif ligand (CCL)-2, CCL-3, CCL-5, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α mRNA at the skin injury site and sought their forensic potentials during the skin wound repair process. The tested wound ages in 42 mouse skin wounds were distributed at 0d, 1d, 3d, 5d, 7d, 10d, and 14d, respectively and then followed by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Ultimately, MMP-2 played an important role in the inflammation phase. On the contrary, MMP-9 became involved at a later phase during wound healing. Meanwhile, CCL-2 and CCL-3 were active throughout almost all of the process. However, CCL-5 mRNA had no significance. Collectively, an MMP-9/MMP-2 ratio of over 0.84 indicated that skin wound healing age was strongly 5 days or less. So elevated gene expressions of cytokines and chemokines in different phases of wound ages implied that combined exploration could make wound age determination more accurate and objective.     

基于PTEN研究桃红四物汤治疗产后血瘀证的机制

目的 观察桃红四物汤对产后血瘀证大鼠子宫第10染色体缺失的碱性磷酸和张力蛋白同源物（phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted in chromosome 10,PTEN）mRNA及其蛋白表达的影响,探讨其祛瘀生新的作用机制。方法 采用米非司酮和米索前列醇灌胃法复制产后血瘀证大鼠模型,将模型大鼠分为模型组,阳性对照组（益母草颗粒4.3 g/kg）,桃红四物汤高剂量（18.0 g/kg）、中剂量（9.0 g/kg）、低剂量（4.5 g/kg）组,另设正常对照组。连续灌胃给药7 d后,麻醉大鼠并分离子宫,光镜下观察子宫血瘀状态,分别采用实时PCR和Western blot法检测子宫组织PTEN mRNA及其蛋白表达水平。结果 桃红四物汤能改善产后血瘀证大鼠子宫间质的充血、水肿。与正常对照组比较,模型组PTEN mRNA及其蛋白表达水平显著升高（P<0.05）;与模型组比较,桃红四物汤高剂量组PTEN mRNA及其蛋白表达水平均显著降低（P<0.05）,桃红四物汤中剂量组仅PTEN蛋白表达水平显著降低（P<0.05）。结论 桃红四物汤的祛瘀生新作用可能与其下调PTEN的表达有关。     

阿维菌素对鸽脑组织GABAA受体结合作用的影响

在试验组日粮中按40 mg/kg添加阿维菌素(AVM),对照组饲喂不添加AVM的常规日粮,利用3H-蝇蕈醇(3H-muscimol)与鸽脑组织γ-氨基丁酸(GABA)均能与GABAA受体结合的特性,应用放射免疫法测得3H-蝇蕈醇与王鸽大脑GABAA受体结合的平衡解离常数(kd)和最大结合量(Bmax)分别为(44.62±2.07)nmol/L和(3.31±0.10)pmol/mg。结果表明,AVM可使3H-muscimol与王鸽大脑组织GABAA受体结合量增大,AVM可促进GABA的释放,增强GABA的抑制作用。     

婴幼儿猝死综合征心传导系统的免疫组化研究

作者应用ＰＧＰ９．５与抗Ｓ１００抗体和高压消毒蒸锅抗原复活技术对４例婴幼儿猝死综合征（ＳＩＤＳ）和３例非心源性死亡对照婴儿心传导系统的神经组织总量进行免疫组化研究。结果：在正常婴儿心传导系统，ＰＧＰ９．５与Ｓ１００阳性的神经纤维里不均匀分布，以窦房结最多，房室结次之，希氏束最少；４例ＳＩＤＳ心传导系统的神经组织分布同对照组无明显差异。     

Model for the prediction of mechanical asphyxia as the cause of death based on four biological indexes in human cardiac tissue

Determination of mechanical asphyxia as the cause of death has always been difficult for forensic pathologists, particularly when signs of asphyxia are not obvious on the body. Currently, depending on only physical examination of corpses, pathologists must be cautious when making cause-of-death appraisals. In a previous study, four biomarkers—dual-specificity phosphatase 1 (DUSP1), potassium voltage-gated channel subfamily J member 2 (KCNJ2), miR-122, and miR-3185—were screened in human cardiac tissue from cadavers that died from mechanical asphyxia compared with those that died from craniocerebral injury, hemorrhagic shock, or other causes. Expression of the markers correlated with death from mechanical asphyxia regardless of age, environmental temperature, and postmortem interval. However, a single biological index is not an accurate basis for the identification of the cause of death. In this study, receiver operating characteristic curves of the ΔCq values of the four indexes were generated. The diagnostic accuracy of the indexes was judged according to their area under the curve (DUSP1: 0.773, KCNJ2: 0.775, miR-122: 0.667, and miR-3185: 0.801). Finally, a nomogram was generated, and single blind experiment was conducted to verify the cause of death of mechanical asphyxia.     

CT‐Guided,Minimally Invasive,Postmortem Needle Biopsy Using the B‐Rob II Needle‐Positioning Robot

CT‐guided, minimally invasive needle biopsy techniques can be used to retrieve tissue or body fluid samples for histologic tissue diagnoses in forensic investigations. The purpose of this study was an evaluation of CT‐guided needle‐positioning robot B‐Rob II. To operate under CT guidance, we adopted the B‐Rob II robotic needle placement system and its workflow. The accuracy and speed of the procedure were tested on a gelatin phantom in a series of 21 biopsies. We achieved an average needle placement accuracy of 1.8 mm (±1.1 mm) using robotic assistance. The procedure required an average of 2 min 21 s. The needle placement accuracy for minimally invasive needle biopsies using the B‐Rob II biopsy robot is sufficiently accurate and fast for forensic postmortem examinations of focal organ changes. Further tests will be performed to test the feasibility of the robot for performing biopsies of focal organ changes in human bodies.     

Anthropological Facial Approximation in Three Dimensions (AFA3D): Computer‐Assisted Estimation of the Facial Morphology Using Geometric Morphometrics

This study presents Anthropological Facial Approximation in Three Dimensions (AFA3D), a new computerized method for estimating face shape based on computed tomography (CT) scans of 500 French individuals. Facial soft tissue depths are estimated based on age, sex, corpulence, and craniometrics, and projected using reference planes to obtain the global facial appearance. Position and shape of the eyes, nose, mouth, and ears are inferred from cranial landmarks through geometric morphometrics. The 100 estimated cutaneous landmarks are then used to warp a generic face to the target facial approximation. A validation by re‐sampling on a subsample demonstrated an average accuracy of c. 4 mm for the overall face. The resulting approximation is an objective probable facial shape, but is also synthetic (i.e., without texture), and therefore needs to be enhanced artistically prior to its use in forensic cases. AFA3D, integrated in the TIVMI software, is available freely for further testing.