人体器官肺的体积、密度检测及其医学和法医学意义

目的积累不同种族人体器官组织体积和密度的基本数据。为病理学和法医学尸检提供简便、可靠的诊断方法。方法应用电子智能化体积-密度仪,同步检测正常人及各种疾病死者肺的质量、体积、密度。结果获得正常肺和不同程度弥漫性肺水肿病变器官体积和组织密度;在2例医源性循环超负荷和水中毒案件的法医病理学鉴定中,用肺密度值证实了常规病理组织学形态不典型的严重低渗性肺水肿。结论大体检测器官密度对尸体解剖的综合病理诊断具有一定的辅助意义。     

Influence of substrate tissue type on larval growth in Calliphora augur and Lucilia cuprina (Diptera: Calliphoridae)

The size of fly larvae is an important variable in the use of these insects to estimate postmortem interval. Furthermore, the nutritional intake of larvae is likely to vary subject to the part of a corpse on which they are feeding. A study was therefore conducted to investigate the effect of type of food substrate on larval growth in two species of forensically important Australian blowflies. After collection on sheep's liver in the laboratory, different groups of larvae of Lucilia cuprina (Wiedemann) and Calliphora augur (Fabricius) were grown on sheep's liver, meat, and brains, and their body lengths compared. Results indicated that the development of larvae fed sheep's liver was adversely affected compared with larvae fed meat and brain; they moulted later, reached maximum length more slowly and sometimes produced significantly smaller pupae. These findings, similar to those of another recent study, have obvious implications for postmortem interval determinations. Estimates may be considerably skewed if the site of collection of larvae at a death scene contains tissue types different to those used in reference experiments. We therefore recommend caution in forensic analyses that interpret crime scene data using developmental studies performed with a single type of larval food substrate.     

Typeability of AmpFlSTR SGM Plus loci in brain and thyroid gland tissue samples incubated in different environments

Autolysis and putrefaction are crucial factors responsible for degradation of cells, tissues, and organs. Postmortem changes may assume different course depending on extrinsic and intrinsic conditions. The aim of the study was assessment of environmental effect on typeability of AmpFlSTR SGM Plus loci: D3S1358, VWA, D16S539, D2S1338, D81179, D21S11, D18S51, D19S433, TH01, FGA, and gender marker amelogenin. Brain and thyroid gland tissue specimens collected during autopsies of five persons aged 20-30 years were incubated at 21 degrees C and 4 degrees C in different environmental conditions. DNA was extracted by organic method from tissue samples collected in 7-day intervals and subsequently typed using AmpFlSTR SGM Plus kit and ABI 310. A fast decrease in typeability rate was seen in specimens incubated in peat soil and in sand. Brain tissue samples were typeable in all AmpFlSTR SGM Plus loci within 126 days of incubation at 4 degrees C. Faster DNA degradation was recorded in thyroid gland specimens. In samples with negative genotyping results, no DNA was found by fluorometric quantitiation.     

Reproducibility of facial soft tissue thicknesses for craniofacial reconstruction using cone-beam CT images

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reproducibility of the soft tissue (ST) thicknesses at 31 landmarks using the cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images obtained from 20 adult subjects. Four observers carried out ST thickness measurements using Skull Measure software, and the inter- and intra-observer error rates were evaluated. Only five of 31 landmarks showed significant differences in recorded ST thickness between the observers. When excluding inexperienced observers, only one landmark showed a significant difference between the observers. Regarding the intra-observer reproducibility, the ST thickness measurements at three landmarks showed low correlation coefficients. The results of this study indicate that CBCT images can be used to measure ST thickness with high reproducibility. However, some landmarks need to be redefined to reliably measure ST thickness on CBCT images.     

Towards molecular autopsies: Development of a FFPE tissue DNA extraction workflow

Sudden unexpected death (SUD) is a devastating event and forms a substantial proportion of the cases investigated at forensic mortuaries each year. Despite post-mortem investigations, the cause of death may remain undetermined. There is potential for these unresolved cases to benefit from retrospective molecular autopsies for investigation into genetic mutations which may have contributed towards death. Often, formalin fixed paraffin embedded tissues (FFPET) are the only archival sources of DNA available for retrospective analyses. However, extracting usable DNA from FFPET is challenging as current methods yield poor quality and quantity DNA. Thus, this study aimed to optimise DNA recovery from FFPET by investigating several variables within the DNA extraction workflow, including the selection of tissue type, number and thickness of tissue sections, deparaffinisation method, and DNA extraction kit. The quantity and quality of DNA recovered were assessed using spectrophotometry, real time PCR, digital capillary electrophoresis and DNA profiling. This study was the first to implement a nuclei quantification using microscopy to guide the selection of the best tissue type to use for DNA analysis. The use of a greater number of thinner tissue sections (100 sections, each 1 μm) significantly improved DNA concentration, purity and fragment length. Additionally, the combination of Deparaffinization Solution with the QIAamp® DNA FFPE Tissue Kit proved most favourable with a median DNA yield of 320 ng and 55% of DNA fragments greater than 400 bp. Isolated DNA was of single source, indicating no contamination in the workflow, and FFPET blocks that were stored for up to 3.5 years did not significantly affect DNA degradation (p = 0.1764). These results are especially informative for designing library preparation and sequencing workflows for determining cause of death in unresolved SUD cases.     

Position Effect on Facial Soft Tissue Depths: A Sonographic Investigation

The head is positioned erect for an approximation; yet most facial soft tissue depths (FSTD) used are measured from supine subjects. Depth difference might be significant, but there is a paucity of data to verify. This study compared erect and supine values for 17 landmarks from 30 healthy New Zealand (European population affinity) women (18–30 or 40–55 years) in erect then supine positions. Height, weight, and sonographic FSTD data, totaling 1020 measurements, were obtained. Three midline and seven averaged bilateral values were compared using ANOVA, p values, and Pearson's correlations. Correlative strength of age and body mass index, BMI (kg/m²), was determined by values. Results showed averaged erect and supine differences were significant for four of ten FSTDs. Between individuals, difference was various and not unidirectional. In conclusion, depth differences were observed but not all significant or unidirectional, BMI significantly influenced nine FSTD values, but age group did not.     

Vertical Lip Position and Thickness in Facial Reconstruction: A Validation of Commonly Used Methods for Predicting the Position and Size of Lips

This study examined several methods used to estimate oral fissure position, lip margin position, and lip thickness recommended by Angel, George, Lebedinskaya, Taylor, Wilkinson et al., Balueva and Veselovskaya. A sample of 86 lateral head cephalograms of adult subjects from central Europe were measured and the actual and predicted dimensions were compared. The best estimation for oral fissure position was “opposite the lower ¾ mark of maxillary incisors” (error of 1.3 mm). Upper lip margin was predicted best by “upper ¼ mark of maxillary incisors” (error of 1.7 mm), and lower lip margin by “cementum‐enamel junction of mandibular incisors” (error of 2.3 mm). The regression equations of Wilkinson et al. displayed least error (1.3 mm and 1.8 mm, respectively) for upper and lower lip thickness, and method of George (error of 3.4 mm) for total lip thickness.     

mRNA在体液斑迹鉴定与组织来源推断中的应用

体液斑迹鉴定及其组织来源推断一直是法医学研究的重要方向之一,其传统的检验方法存在诸如假阳性率高、检材易破坏等缺陷,亟需更高效的确证实验。高度分化的体细胞表达特异的m RNA分子,可推断其来源:外周血、月经血、精液、唾液、阴道分泌物、接触斑等,且灵敏度、特异度及保存时间相对较为理想,是未来用于体液斑迹鉴别的理想遗传标记。本文对m RNA在体液斑迹鉴定和组织来源推断方面的应用及其前景进行综述。     

广泛软组织挫伤--挤压综合征

本文通过回顾国内外医学文献,对广泛性软组织挫伤--挤压综合征的研究现状和取得的成就进行了介绍,并对其今后的发展趋势进行了探讨.     

Alprazolam and Zolpidem in Skeletal Tissue of Decomposed Body Confirms Exposure

In several medico‐legal cases, bone samples analysis may provide the only source of toxicological information. This case study reports the analysis of a human bone specimen, belonging to a 46‐year‐old man, found 3 months after his death due to cervical–thoracic injuries in a motorcycle accident. Bone specimen was the only available material for toxicological analysis, among few skull hair and rotten skin. Analysis was performed by a newly developed and validated ultra‐high‐pressure liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (UHPLC‐MS/MS) method, following simple and efficient sample pretreatment. The results were in accordance with the man's medical record: Alprazolam and zolpidem were found at 2.2 and 5.4 ng/g of bone, respectively. Both these drugs were prescribed to the deceased.