Nihon hoigaku zasshi = The Japanese journal of legal medicine最新文献

In the field of forensic medicine, shock has been identified as a cause of death owing to various kinds of exogenous insults. The etiology and pathogenesis of shock cannot be explained well by the usual gross appearance in medicolegal autopsies, because it is now generally established that the shock is a functional reaction of the vascular system to bodily injury, and that several organs are secondarily impaired during shock. Thus it seemed to forensic pathologists that these morphological changes in several organs after shock did not reveal any significant differences among the causes of death. We approached to the induction mechanism of shock, and we investigated what etiology induced these morphological changes after shock in order to identify shock as the cause of death. It is now generally accepted that the kidney is a target organ of shock, so we mainly investigated the cause of kidney disorder in a case of burn shock and hemorrhagic shock. 1. Consequences of bacterial translocation (BT) in the shock. The concept of BT indicates that the beginning of shock is induced by the loss of gut barrier function and consequent translocation of bacteria. In general, impaired gut barrier function can be caused either during the shock period by decreased intestinal blood flow and reduced oxygen delivery, resulting during reperfusion in a stage of increased intestinal blood flow, or at a later stage again by reduced flow. A variety of physiological stresses, such as trauma, hemorrhage, thermal injury, surgical operation, various kinds of drags and mental stress, have been shown to cause failure of the gut mucosal barrier, with translocation of bacteria/endotoxin from the gastrointestinal into the mesenteric lymph nodes, and translocation into remote organs and systemic circulation. 2. Burn shock. We designed to evaluate the BT in a burn shock rat model (following 20% full-thickness scald injury). The p38 MAPK pathway is an important stress-responsive signal molecule pathway, and it is responsible for the production and signal transduction of cytokines. This pathway is activated by the bacterial LPS or ischemia, so we examined the effects of FR167653, a specific inhibitor of p38 MAPK, on the development of renal failure after the burn-induced intestinal barrier damage. Our study demonstrated that viable bacteria reached the remote organs after burn by quantitative bacterial culture data and FR167653 blocked the burn-induced intestinal barrier damage, and the immunohistochemical data showed that FR167653 prevented the accumulation of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) in the glomerular capillaries after burn, and blockaded the burn-induced renal failure by serum UN assay. FR167653 especially decreased the phosphorylation levels of p38 MAPK in the infant kidney after burn, and TNF-alpha and IL-1beta mRNA decreased through the p38 MAPK pathway. The above-mentioned facts do provide additional support for the hypothesis that postburn renal failure is me

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations observed in both non-coding control and coding regions are being used widely to characterize human evolution and for identification. Several methodological approaches have been available for detection of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). SNPs of the non-coding region were mainly analyzed by means of direct sequencing. Especially, sequence analysis of D-loop is often the final resort in forensic and ancient personal identification. However, sequencing is relatively expensive and time-consuming. Furthermore, because the mtDNA molecule is a single linked unit, the statistical significance in forensic cases requires mtDNA matching in comparison with large sequence data. In this study, we developed a procedure of technique simultaneous typing to 11 SNPs and 2 tandem repeat sites in the non-coding and coding region by use of allele-specific amplification. In an analysis to 631 unrelated Japanese individuals the 180 haplotypes were defined in this study, and the level of haplotypic diversity and random mach probability was similar to that obtained by sequencing of the human hypervariable region 1 in mtDNA. These results show the usefulness of mtDNA haplotype analysis by the presented method for personal identification.

Quantitation of drug concentration in a cell: Laser-induced photo-thermal microscopy and laser microscope (LSM) were used for quantitation of drug concentration in a cell of the fixed tissue sections. The colloidal gold labeled with antibodies was used as an indicator for detection of drugs or other antigens. The detection limit (10 zmol) of the tobramycin distributed in a epithelial cell of one renal tubule was 10-times superior to that of scanning laser microscope. The colloidal gold remained stable to laser-beam radiation and gave a low background. Therefore, the use of colloidal gold and laser microscopy make possible highly sensitive detection of drug in the fixed tissues. Highly sensitive quantitation of drug: A simple and highly sensitive time-resolved fluoroimmumoassay using a fluorescent europium chelate (4, 4'-bis (1", 1", 1", 2", 2", 3", 3"-heptafluoro-4", 6"-hexanedion-6"-yl)-chlorosulfo-o-terphenyl (BHHCT)-Eu+3) was used for analysis of methamphetamine (MA). Two kinds of assay methods (one step assay and two step assay) using a microtiter plate coated with anti-MA were employed. The smallest measurable amounts of MA for the one-step and the two-step methods were 25 pg/assay and 25 fg/assay, respectively. Molecular biological approach to the forensic problem: a. The diagnosis of the death caused by drowning was possible by detection of the DNA fragments of aquatic plants from the organ of victims. The detection of the DNA fragments of chloroplast gene, ribose-bisphosphate carboxylase large subunit (rbcL), was performed using PCR method with the newly synthesized probes. b. Taq-Man probes were useful to perform the personal identification of many samples. Mitochondrial DNA analysis was also brought about good results for putrefactive samples. So, the combination of some examine methods was need for personal identification of multiple samples. DGGE method was also very useful and easy for multiple gene analysis for personal identification with SNPs.

This article is a review of our experimental results regarding the physiological statuses and roles of chemical mediators in tourniquet shock, and a novel phenomenon, modulation reflex, that is commonly observed in this shock model is discussed. In a rabbit with a tourniquet applied to a hind limb for 24 hrs, blood pressure (BP) gradually falls after release of the tourniquet, but the decline in BP stops when a tourniquet is again applied to the hind limb, indicating that shock mediators are attributed to the hind limb. The levels of dipeptides (anserine and carnosine) and lysosomes in blood samples as well as the levels of leukotrienes (LTD4 and LTE4) in blood and muscle samples from rabbits in tourniquet shock were elevated. However, injection of a large amount of a dipeptide into an ear vein of a rabbit did not reduce BP, suggesting that both peptides may not be directly related with reduction in BP of rabbits in tourniquet shock. Injection of a platelet-activating factor (PAF) antagonist into an ear vein resulted in slight elevation of BP and the elevated level was maintained for about 1 to 4 hrs during the period of decline in BP in tourniquet shock. As for interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-6-deficient mice at young ages have a significantly greater blood volume than do wild-type mice without concomitant changes in body composition. Therefore, the role for IL-6 in the regulation of peripheral circulation may be to elevate, not reduce BP. In mice in tourniquet shock, superoxide (O2-) production is observed in skeletal muscle cells and these cells correspond to mitochondria-rich cells. However, RT-PCR of muscle samples showed no significant nitric oxide synthase (NOS) mRNA expression after tourniquet release. Pretreatment with NOS inhibitors before tourniquet release reduced O2- production in the skeletal muscle. These results indicate that O2- produced in muscle subjected to ischemia/repefusion may be involved in shock. As for changes in mRNA expression patterns of pro-inflammatory cytokines and nerve growth factors in blood samples from rats in tourniquet shock, up-regulation of M-CSF mRNA began at 2 h after tourniquet application and was short-lived. The level of ATF-3 mRNA had increased at 1 h and NGF mRNA gradually increased and reached a significantly high level at 4 h after tourniquet application. These results indicate that the transient mRNA expressions probably trigger secondary events that may be beneficial to wound repair and regeneration. In the early stage of tourniquet shock, the levels of IL-6 mRNA in the liver and kidneys of rats increased progressively and significantly, and the levels of iNOS mRNA in the kidneys increased. These findings suggest that that humoral and/or cellular mediators produced locally in the hind limb are responsible for remote organ injuries. Thus, these mediators, interacting each other, may contribute to the progress of shock. We have also found a novel phenomenon in tourniquet shock using rabbits. When

The investigation committee of Japanese Society of Legal Medicine has investigated 459 forensic autopsy cases of battered children from 1990-1999. The age range was 0-4 years of 381 cases (83%). Of them, the age less than 1 year was high as 161 cases (35.1%). The cause of death including head injury was 161 cases (35.1%), suffocation caused by nasal blockages 37 cases (8.1%), strangulation 32 cases (7.0%), and drowning 30 cases (6.5%) was revealed. In case of assailant, own mother was 226 cases (49.2%), own father was 73 cases (15.9%) and stepfather 46 cases (10.0%) were reported. The intention of cruelty was that the body was positively assaulted (84.3%) and duration was less than 2 months in 136 cases (67%). The nature of cruelty was that beating by other hands (16.8%) in 77 cases and pushed away and threw (1.7%) in 8 cases and those complex (7.8%) in 36 cases. The motive of cruelty when he assailant was own mother (209 cases) was as fellow: 1. Mentally abnormal (15.3%), 2. Irresponsibility (14.4%), 3. Victim cries (5.7%). When the assailant was own father (63%), the motive of cruelty was as 1. Victim cries (12.7%), 2. Lack of love (7.9%), 3. Reassisted attitude (6.3%). Reported death in high temperature was in 29 cases (6.3%) and strangulation was in 27 cases (5.9%). The homicide was 13% and neither care nor protection (neglect) was 2.7%. The physical conditions of battered children were emaciated and stunted growth in 128 cases (31.2%). The past history of medical consultation to the medical hospital was 32 cases (17.8%). Among the injuries, external findings consist of abrasions and bruises were 147 cases (32%) and internal findings were 70 cases (16.7%) mainly numerous gastro-intestinal tract injuries than liver and lungs. In addition, lung edema (16.8%) in 68 cases, thymus atrophy (12.6%) in 51 cases and amalgamation (4.5%) in 18 cases were reported. The injury around the anus and genitalia were 13 cases (3.2%). The bone fracture was not observed in 368 cases (80.2%) out of 459. Among the intracranial injuries, subdural haemastoma or amalgamation were 31.6% (145 cases) out of 459.

This is a review article dealing with the half-century evolution of the quality assurance program to improve patient care in the United States. The author attempted to point out some differences in approach to solving the medical error and medical malpractice problems between Japan and the U.S. In the 1970s, an increase in the medical malpractice claims resulted in such high premiums for medical liability insurance that it threatened the healthcare system in the U.S. Urgent legislative remedy, the Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act (MICRA) was put into place in the State of California. This act was the beginning of the definitive quality improvement in our health care system. It was followed by other improvement programs, such as the National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) for tracking physicians with malpractice judgments or settlements against them, or who have problems with the medical licensing Board or other impairments. By comparison, in recent years, in Japan, there has been a rash of medical malpractice claims, similar to the situation in the U.S. in the 1970's. The two pronged approach to maintaining and assuring quality health care are: (1) Set standards by inspection and accreditation of hospitals and healthcare facilities and (2) by credentialing and peer review program to assure the competency of the physicians and other healthcare personnel. Clinical medicine has made a major effort in setting up a quality assurance program and so has forensic medicine. Similar approaches have been used in both programs. The current emphasis in forensic medicine is on inspection and accreditation of the medical examiner and coroner's offices by the National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME) and re-certification for the medical license and specialty board and credentialing and peer review activities.

Ethanol and n-propanol concentrations in forensic autopsy cases determined in Department of Forensic Medicine, Kumamoto University School of Medicine were reviewed retrospectively. Out of 388 autopsies in 6 years (1994-1999), ethanol was positive in 88 (22.7%) cases. Higher positive rates were observed in bleeding and burning cases compared to other cases. Histograms of the blood ethanol concentrations in all ethanol positive cases had two peaks at 0.1 mg/ml to 0.5 mg/ml and 1.5 mg/ml to 2.0 mg/ml ranges, which indicated that not only an intermediate but also a weak drunkenness level could be a risk factor of being involved in forensic fatalities. There were no differences in mean ethanol concentrations in the blood samples of the right, left and whole heart blood collected from each victim. The femoral blood, however, was slightly higher than those of heart blood. N-Propanol, an indicator for postmortem ethanol production, was detected in 14.7% of stomach contents samples as early as 6 to 12 hours of post mortem intervals, whereas it was not remarkable in urine and femoral vein blood.