Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

B Brinkmann

Publications and source records attributed to B Brinkmann.

At least 271 records · Page 15Linked to original sources
PubMed1984

[The use of and value as evidence of polymorphism of phosphoglycolate phosphatase (E.C. 3.1.3.18) in forensic medicine].

The paper deals with a description of a modified technique of the electrophoretic demonstration of the phenotypes of phosphoglycolate phosphatase (PGP). The technique yields reproducible results. A total of 369 nonrelated blood donors as well as 138 mother/child pairs were investigated. The blood donors were predominantly of the population of east Westphalia (Münsterland). The following gene-frequencies were calculated: PGP1 0.867, PGP2 0.106, PGP3 0.027. The figures are in good agreement with other German samples. In the mother/child pairs investigated so far there was no irregular segregation. The hypothesis of three alleles on an autosomal locus is thus further confirmed. On the basis of all available family and mother/child data, it is suggested that in the "classical" exclusion method, use of the maximal value is possible. In blood stains that were artificially produced PGP phenotypes were demonstrable up to 6 to 7 weeks.

Female↗
PubMed1984

Identification of mechanical asphyxiation in cases of attempted masking of the homicide.

Five homicides are described that had remained unexplained as to the causes of death after gross pathology. Although general signs of asphyxiation were present, they were lacking injuries specific of strangulation or oro-nasal occlusion. The diagnoses of asphyxiation were established by microscopical investigation of the lung and confirmed by subsequent police inquiries. An oro-nasal occlusion was involved in three cases, a strangulation or an oro-nasal occlusion, in another case. The victims were young and healthy. Toxicological investigations remained negative in four cases; one victim was anaesthetized by bromazepam and ether and had a blood alcohol concentration of 80 mg/100 ml. Lung histology and electron microscopy revealed acute emphysema, the development of a haemorrhagic-dysoric syndrome and a microembolism syndrome. With regard to the haemorrhagic-dysoric syndrome, the development of alveolar-interstitial edema is particularly important. This finding may also be diagnosed by light microscopy in semi-thin sections. It is emphasized that the combined action of several pathomechanisms is responsible for the rapid manifestation of the pulmonary lesions. Especially, the haemorrhagic-dysoric syndrome is brought about by the combined action of inspiratory intrapulmonary vacuum and raised intracapillary pressure. The complex pattern allows to compile the diagnosis of mechanical asphyxia even if there is no corresponding injury.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

[Extragenital injuries in rape].

The documentation of extragenital injuries to verify violent cohabitation has considerable forensic relevance. 1,875 police files in Hamburg were investigated. Injuries were analysed under the following aspects: kinds, localisations and patterns. According to the most frequent conduct of the doer (manual fixation of the victim and beats in 60% of all cases), consequences of contused violence (i.e. effusions of blood, contusions, dehiscences) were found in 50% of all cases. Injuries due to semi-sharp violence, wounds of genitals or signs of choke were relatively rare (15-3-3%). An isolated state of genital organs is of minor importance. The most frequent localisations of injuries were face and arms, less frequently legs and back. Injuries as result of manual fixation, defence or abutment formed the main patterns. "Banal" hurts were also found. In numerous cases, the outer appearance of the lesions enabled conclusions regarding the instrument used (i.e. double wales after beats with a stick). Self-inflicted injuries can mostly be discerned by their kind and localisation. Rape without any injuries is conceivable as the result of missing defence in the presence of severe threat. Psychic alterations were found in 20% of the cases, half of them continuing for a long time. The medical examination of the suspected man must include the search of signs of a fight (scratch marks, bites), localised at the hands, face and neck (besides ascertainment of traces, for example, smears of semen and smegma, i.e. from the glans penis). Extent and thoroughness of medical examinations as presently practised are discussed critically. The manner in which these examinations are conducted, is considered to be the main cause of a "secondary victimisation" of the raped woman.

Adjustment Disorders↗
PubMed1983

[Lung histology in experimental drowning].

Experiments were carried out on anesthetized rats which had to aspirate actively watery fluids of different osmolarities (range: freshwater--2.9% NaCl solution) by a tracheotomy tube. The cytologic and histological alterations which are to be found are mainly of osmotic origin. In aspiration of hypotonic solutions macroscopy shows the well-known emphysema aquosum. Corresponding to the structure of the respiratory system, the histological alterations show areolar limitations. The influx of fluids causes a wide range of reactions from the development of an alveolar-interstitial edema in combination with intracellular and intercellular vesiculation, karyolysis with swollen homogenized nuclei of the subendothelial, septal, and epithelial cells to a necrosis of all the cellular elements. A pronounced microangiopathy with edema of the vascular walls, a hydrops of the myocytes containing large vacuoles and perivascular edema with dilated lymphatic channels are likewise to be found. The alveolar macrophages are considerably increased. Sporadic ruptures of the alveolar walls and microhemorrhages occur. In salt water drowning alterations of the shape of both the erythrocytes (thorn-apple form) and the alveolar epithelium in combination with a striking of the pneumocytes and villous transformation prevail. Besides, these are capillary hyperemia and sludge. In a careful specimen analysis a differentiation of the findings between vital reactions and postmortem fluid impact is possible.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

[Ultrastructural pathology of the alveolar apparatus in experimental drowning].

Investigations were carried out on anaesthetized rats which by a tracheotomy tube actively aspirated liquids of different osmolarities covering a range from tap water to 2.9% NaCl solution. In every range of osmolarity, the ultrastructural alterations show areolar limitations and different stages of development. In freshwater the influx of liquid causes a hypoxemic-dysoric alveolose with diffuse of pulvinate oedematous swellings of all compartments of the blood-gas-barrier, cytolysis, karyolysis, membrane desintegration, hydropic alterations of the (cell) organelles, dilatation of the drainage tracts of the alveolar interstitium. Vesicular transformation caused by a dilatation of the pinocytotic system ending in endothelial and epithelial vesiculation. Salt-water drowning leads to a hypoxemic alveolose with a marked compaction of the matrix. The epithelium shows many alterations of the surface, numerous protrusions, constrictions and expose of the basement membrane (villous transformation). Erythrocyte sludge and thorn-apple-shaped erythrocytes are found in the capillaries. Application of electron microscopy in the diagnosis of drowning allows a more reliable classification and, correspondingly, decisive improvements of the reliability of lightmicroscopical findings.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

[Initial results of postmortem diagnosis of diabetes mellitus by Hb A1 determination].

Ensuring the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus by morphological findings is very difficult. Postmortem determination of blood glucose is of no value because of the influence of glycolysis. In clinical studies, Hb A1 determination is used for long-time therapy control of diabetes. Values of less than 10% Hb A1 show that assimilation of glucose is in order. This study is based on the investigation of blood from 174 cadavers (125 men aged between 17 and 84 years; 49 women aged between 27 and 89 years) with many different causes of death, including some cases of coma diabeticum. Blood was frozen immediately; in 48 cases it was stored at +4 degrees C, too. Besides, we took cerebrospinal fluid and urine from each corpse (frozen at -80 degrees C) for determination of glucose, lactic acid, and acetone. Hemoglobin A1 was analyzed by a chromatographic method: the concentrations of Hb A1 ranged from 7.5% to 20% independent of the actual amount of total hemoglobin in our samples (total Hb from 5 to 32 g/dl). Obviously, there is very little influence of autolysis or prefinal glucose fluctuations in blood on its quantity. There is a positive correlation to the concentration of glucose and lactic acid in cerebrospinal fluid (according to the formula of Traub) and also to the presence of acetone in case of diabetic coma. According to our experience, Hemoglobin A1 is a very useful marker to ensure the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus post mortem. As Hb A1 seems to be very constant and stable vs. autolysis, it may help to clear up cases of unexpected death.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

[Suicidal strangulation by ligature (author's transl)].

Out of sample of about 15,000 medico-legal autopsies seven cases of suicidal strangulation by ligature were selected. Suicidal strangulation has a frequency of about 0.1% among all suicides and a frequency of about 5% in all fatalities due to strangulation by ligature. In two cases strangulation was achieved by auxiliary mechanisms other than by the own hands. In four other cases the tool was wound around the neck many times with or without a final knot in the frontal position. In another case there was only a single surrounding of rope around the neck with a single knot. The hands of the corpses were rarely found firmly attached to the ends of the tools (two cases), an observation, which does not necessarily indicate the involvement of an additional person. All cases showed extensive congestion of the head and the neck above the level of strangulation with multiple petechial hemorrhages, swelling of the soft tissues, and hemorrhagic infarction of the tongue and the bottom of the mouth. Histologically, these lesions exhibited expressed vital reactions with leukocytosis and incipient emigration of inflammatory cells. These reactions were obviously due to prolonged agony. It is tentatively concluded that suicidal strangulation usually shows a pattern of findings that allows the differentiation of homicide.

Adult↗