A distant-range, suicidal shotgun wound of the back

The case being reported is one of a shotgun fatality with a thoracic back wound. A 23-year-old man was shot from a distance with trajectories going from back to front and on a nearly horizontal level. These findings observed in the autopsy could represent homicide, but scene investigation and police records were interpreted and it became clear that the case was suicide. Thus, this case shows that the determination of the manner of death requires a careful forensic investigation including autopsy findings, scene investigation, and reconstruction of the events.     

在大鼠皮肤切创愈合过程中TGF-β_1基因及蛋白表达变化与损伤时间关系的实验研究

了解细胞因子在创伤及修复过程中的表达变化与损伤时间的关系。初步调查生前不同造创时间 ( 0 5h～16 8h)皮肤创缘组织在修复过程中TGF β1mRNA和蛋白质表达变化 ,并与死后伤 ( 0 5h～ 6h)上述变化进行比较。结果表明 ,在生前伤 ,TGF β1在上皮细胞的表达于损伤后 0 5h开始增强 ,以 2 4h～ 96h反应最强 ,除上皮细胞内表达外 ,还在肉芽组织的巨噬细胞和成纤维细胞表达。TGF β1的免疫印迹 (WesternBlot)分析表明 ,TGF β1蛋白表达的峰值在 16 8h ;TGF β1斑点杂交和原位杂交结果显示 ,mRNA的表达在伤后 3h开始 ,6h后明显 ,96h达峰值。死后损伤组在 0 5～ 3h内有免疫组化的弱～中度表达 ,但无mRNA的表达 ,3h后则均无任何表达。TGF β1在修复过程中的一些规律性变化及特点反映了与损伤时间的关系 ,可作为精确推断损伤时间的分子生物学标志。     

人皮肤成纤维细胞早期损伤后EDA-FN表达与损伤时间的关系

目的探讨培养的人体皮肤成纤维细胞损伤后纤维连接蛋白EDA片段的表达情况与损伤时间的关系。方法培养人体皮肤成纤维细胞,利用单克隆抗体进行免疫组织化学染色及Western检测。结果培养中的人体成纤维细胞可以微量表达EDA,随损伤时间延长而表达量增加。结论EDA片段表达变化可以作为法医学早期损伤时间推断的比较理想的指标。     

弹丸与无刃刺器形成损伤的鉴别

弹丸形成的损伤与无刃刺器形成的损伤在衣物和人身体上各有不同的特点。可从创口、创道及创内异物等方面对弹丸和无刃刺器形成的损伤加以鉴别。     

Chromatic Variation of Soot Soiling: A Possible Marker for Gunshot Wounds in Burnt Bone

Soot soiling is a crucial forensic parameter around gunshot lesions. Carbonization, however, can severely alter human tissues and mimic such clues. This study aims at evaluating the survival of soot soiling even after carbonization in bone. A total of 36 bovine ribs (half fleshed and half defleshed) were shot with two types of bullet (both 9‐mm; full metal‐jacketed and unjacketed) with a near‐contact range. With unjacketed bullets, the shot left in every case a clear, black, and roughly round soot stain around the entrance wound, whereas full metal‐jacketed bullets left no signs of soot. Every specimen then underwent calcination in an oven at 800°C. The analysis of the charred samples clearly showed the survival of the soot soiling in both fleshed and bony samples, with a clear correspondence with the former position, but with a different color (yellow). Thus, soot soiling may survive, although with a different color, even after charring.     

A comparative and comprehensive analysis of nonsexual assaults

The aim of this study was to make a comparative and comprehensive analysis of nonsexual assaults in 488 medico-legal cases presented to Forensic Medicine Outpatient Clinic of Celal Bayar University Hospital (Manisa, Turkey), between 2005 and 2009. There were blunt force injuries (BFI) in 262 cases (53.7%), sharp force injuries (SFI) in 163 cases (33.4%), and firearm-related wounds (FRW) in 63 cases (12.9%). The results showed significant differences in the monthly distribution of assaults, localization of injuries, and severity of injuries depending on the types of assaults. Most of the injuries were localized to the face, head, and neck in BFI and SFI and to the lower limbs in FRW. The results of this study will help researchers to investigate characteristics of victims, offenders, and injuries and types of assaults because of nonsexual violence.     

Supplementary pathway for vitality of wounds and wound age estimation in bruises using the electric impedance spectroscopy technique

Determination of wound vitality and estimation of wound age are central issues in daily forensic practice. The objective of this study was to develop a new and rapid method for determining wound vitality and estimating wound age in bruises using electric impedance spectroscopy. Forty Sprague-Dawley rats (140-170 g) were divided into five groups: group 1 (n=8): controls, group 2 (n=8): postmortem bruises, group 3 (n=8): bruises 1 h before death, group 4 (n=8): bruises 3 h before death, group 5 (n=8): bruises 6 h before death. Measurements of the right gluteus maximus muscle were taken at 6, 24, and 48 h after the rats were sacrificed by cervical dislocation. The results from this study indicate that electric impedance spectroscopy is clearly sensitive enough to differentiate between vital and postmortem wound infliction and to determine the survival time after the infliction of an injury.     

大鼠脑挫伤后脑组织β-APP表达与损伤时间的关系

目的观察大鼠实验性脑挫伤后不同时间内脑组织β淀粉样前体蛋白（β-APP）表达的变化,探讨β-APP与脑损伤经过时间的关系。方法参照Feeney’s法建立大鼠脑挫伤模型,在伤后1h,4h,12h,48h,72h,7d,14d,运用免疫组化SABC法和Westernblot法检测β-APP的表达,以非损伤组做对照。结果β-APP出现于损伤后1h,4h开始增加至12h达到高峰,随后阳性反应细胞逐渐减少,7d后仍有少量表达但仍高于对照组,14d后表达基本恢复至接近对照组水平,各实验组与对照组比较有统计学意义（P〈0.05）。结论β-APP在脑挫伤后随时间的变化,其表达呈现先逐渐增加后又减少的一定规律性变化。     

Discordance of Gross and Histologic Findings in Estimating the Range of Fire of Gunshot Wounds

Forensic pathologist use soot and/or stippling surrounding entrance gunshot wounds in categorizing range of fire. If absent, some pathologists suggest utilizing histology when the range is diagnostically critical. This study investigates the concordance of macroscopic and microscopic findings in estimating range of fire by evaluating gunshot entrance and exit wounds made through human tissue analogs at defined distances using two handgun calibers. Examination of over 150 entrance wounds verified the ease of visually detecting soot from a muzzle distance of contact to 1 foot (30.5 cm), and its absence at 9 feet (274.3 cm). Distinctly apparent was bullet wipe surrounding the entrance wounds regardless of muzzle distance. Although variations existed, dark material was histologically identified in many skin, soft tissue, and bone sections at all ranges with both calibers. These nonparallel results decrease the dependability of histology for range of fire estimation and reinforce using gross observation.     

小鼠皮肤创伤愈合过程中IL-10在不同表达部位的组化定量研究

目的探讨小鼠皮肤创伤愈合过程中IL-10在不同表达部位的变化与损伤时间的关系。方法应用免疫组织化学技术和形态计量法,对小鼠不同时程皮肤切创组织中IL-10不同表达部位(表皮细胞及表皮下组织的浸润细胞)的变化进行研究。结果皮肤切创前后表皮层均有阳性表达,切创后1～3h表皮细胞阳性表达水平迅速升高,24h时降至较低水平,伤后48h表达水平再次升高,96h后逐渐回复到正常水平;表皮以下阳性部位主要是浸润的单核/巨噬细胞,损伤6h后阳性细胞在真皮、皮下组织及创口肉芽组织内逐渐增多,于伤后72h达最大值(51.41±3.12)%,96～168h阳性细胞数逐渐减少(29.38±2.64)%～(5.56±4.74)%。结论皮肤创伤修复过程中IL-10在不同表达部位的变化特点与皮肤损伤时间相关,检测其表达变化可望用于损伤时间推断。