Immunohistochemical staining as a potential method for the identification of vaginal epithelial cells in forensic casework

There is currently no accurate method to identify vaginal epithelial cells uniquely. This study aimed to use a cell extraction procedure compatible with routine forensic sampling methods, and to investigate the expression of cytokeratin (CK), estrogen receptor-alpha (ERalpha), and phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) in order to distinguish between skin, buccal, vaginal, and external penile epithelial cells. Seminal fluid samples were also examined. Epithelial cell samples were fixed in formalin, embedded in agarose, and processed using histological methods. Antigen-antibody reactions were detected using the DAKO Envision+ detection system. CK was present in all cells from all five sources confirming the origin of cells as epithelial. Both ERalpha and PDE5 positively labeled vaginal, buccal, and skin epithelial cells. Although an antigen unique to vaginal epithelial cells was not identified, we have described a cell extraction procedure for use in the immunohistochemical detection of a wide range of antigens, an approach compatible with forensic diagnostics.     

关于变异型刺创形成机制的研究附380例刺创分析

本文通过380例刺杀案中823个创口的分类统计分析,结合动物实验,研究了单刃、双刃、三棱、四棱四种刺器造成变异型刺创的形成机制。并对刺创的检验方法进行了探讨。     

A Rare Case of an Intact Bone Plug Associated with a Gunshot Exit Wound

This case study presents an unusual manifestation of gunshot trauma in skeletal tissue from a post‐World War II human rights abuse sample uncovered in Vilnius, Lithuania. After briefly reviewing the typical wound appearance of projectile trauma in the cranium, we discuss the presence of an intact bone plug associated with a gunshot exit wound in an individual from the Tuskulenai Case. While this individual demonstrated typical gunshot entry and exit wounds to the cranium consistent with high‐velocity trauma, the bone plug indicates that the projectile likely lost much of its kinetic energy while traveling through the cranium resulting in a low‐velocity impact at the exit site. This study reviews a similar instance of a bone plug recovered from a bioarcheological sample in Peru and emphasizes the importance of thorough archeological excavations of mass graves.     

Engraved Suicide Notes: The Last Note Written on Body by Metallic Object

“ Suicide notes” are the notes, where the victim has documented the intention to terminate one's own life. The victim generally writes them on a paper, notebook, wall, or mirror by means of pen or marker. However, suicide notes written on one's own body are very rare, and suicide note engraved by some metallic objects over body has not yet reported. We present two cases where the victim had used some metallic objects to write a message on the body. These may be termed “engraved suicide notes.” We believe these to be the first reported cases where a metallic object was used for engraving the last notes on the body before committing suicide.     

Preclinical Assessment of Safety and Efficacy of Fluorescent Dye for Detecting Dermal Injuries (the injuries were both abrasions and incision) in a Murine Model

Objective documentation of tears and abrasions to the external genitalia after sexual assault is an important part of the forensic examination. A 1% aqueous solution of toluidine blue (TB) dye is often used to highlight injury, but the dye can be difficult to see on dark skin. We evaluated a fluorescent dye for detecting injuries on all skin colors in a relevant preclinical murine model. We compared the ability of trained, blinded observers to detect unstained wounds and wounds stained with 1% fluorescein sodium (FL) and with TB. We also evaluated the cutaneous wound healing response after application of both dyes. The no‐dye group had significantly fewer (p < 0.05) true‐positive identifications compared to all the dye groups. No differences in effectiveness were detected between dye treatments. All groups exhibited statistically similar healing rates. These findings support the evaluation of fluorescein sodium in a future clinical study with human subjects.     

Application of 3D documentation and geometric reconstruction methods in traffic accident analysis: with high resolution surface scanning, radiological MSCT/MRI scanning and real data based animation

The examination of traffic accidents is daily routine in forensic medicine. An important question in the analysis of the victims of traffic accidents, for example in collisions between motor vehicles and pedestrians or cyclists, is the situation of the impact. Apart from forensic medical examinations (external examination and autopsy), three-dimensional technologies and methods are gaining importance in forensic investigations. Besides the post-mortem multi-slice computed tomography (MSCT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the documentation and analysis of internal findings, highly precise 3D surface scanning is employed for the documentation of the external body findings and of injury-inflicting instruments. The correlation of injuries of the body to the injury-inflicting object and the accident mechanism are of great importance. The applied methods include documentation of the external and internal body and the involved vehicles and inflicting tools as well as the analysis of the acquired data. The body surface and the accident vehicles with their damages were digitized by 3D surface scanning. For the internal findings of the body, post-mortem MSCT and MRI were used. The analysis included the processing of the obtained data to 3D models, determination of the driving direction of the vehicle, correlation of injuries to the vehicle damages, geometric determination of the impact situation and evaluation of further findings of the accident. In the following article, the benefits of the 3D documentation and computer-assisted, drawn-to-scale 3D comparisons of the relevant injuries with the damages to the vehicle in the analysis of the course of accidents, especially with regard to the impact situation, are shown on two examined cases.     

大鼠皮肤切创愈合过程中泛素的表达及其法医学意义

目的观察大鼠皮肤切创后泛素(ubiquitin)表达的变化规律。方法应用免疫组化方法,观察大鼠皮肤切创后1、3、6、12h和1、3、6、10、14d ubiquitin的表达情况,并用图像分析系统进行图像分析。结果正常对照组大鼠皮肤有低水平ubiquitin表达,切创后ubiquitin表达增加,伤后6d达峰值,伤后10d开始下降,伤后14d恢复到正常水平。结论ubiquitin可作为法医学损伤时间推断的有效指标。     

A new type of shotgun ammunition produces unique wound characteristics

The Tucson Police Department, Tucson, AZ, has begun using the Polyshok Impact Reactive Projectile (IRP), a new type of shotgun ammunition that includes a lead bead core that travels within single, plastic-encased projectile. On impact, the core is released to distribute over a small area, thereby disintegrating on impact to reduce the likelihood of exit or collateral damage on missed shots. After a brief review of shotgun slug ballistics and wound characteristics and a discussion of the mechanism of the Polyshok IRP, we report the first death in the United States from this ammunition. Findings included a single entrance wound with plastic ammunition components and small lead particles recovered from the body, the combination of which normally would suggest a close-range shooting with birdshot. However, the characteristics of this ammunition create different patterns than are found with slugs or shot, so that a medical examiner unfamiliar with the Polyshok IRP could draw inaccurate conclusions about ammunition and range of fire. Because the single projectile fired from this ammunition is composed of both plastic and lead, plastic components are likely to be found within the wound at any range of fire, unlike traditional shot or slug ammunition. Also, the small size of lead particles found spread through the wound cavity would ordinarily suggest a small-size shot, whereas the external appearance of the wound (a single entrance with no dispersion of shot) and the pattern of tissue destruction are more consistent with the patterns of injury associated with shotgun slugs.     

中药经皮给药治疗疼痛临床研究

目的 观察中药经皮给药治疗疼痛的临床疗效。方法 共选择疼痛患者1 621例，其中闭合性胸肋部软组织损伤1 080例，腰背肌筋膜炎181例，肩关节周围炎360例，将每种疾病患者随机分为治疗组和观察组，治疗组用祛风散寒、活血通络、消炎止痛中药的乙醇提取液喷洒患处；对照组给予常规治疗。所有患者治疗前后进行疼痛评分，比较两组疼痛缓解时间和临床疗效。结果 对于3种疾病，治疗组疼痛缓解时间和疼痛评分显著低于对照组（P<0.01），总有效率显著高于对照组（P<0.01）。结论 具有祛风散寒、活血通络、消炎止痛的中药经皮给药治疗疼痛见效快，疗程短，治愈率高。