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At least 973 records · Page 54Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

Histochemical demonstration of methamphetamine by immunocytochemistry.

A method for the demonstration of methamphetamine (MA) by immunocytochemistry was established. The tissues of intoxicated mice, administered various amounts of MA in single doses of from 0.01 to 1 mg of MA-HCl, were fixed in glutaraldehyde-containing fixatives. Cryostat and paraffin slices gave a positive reaction of MA localization by staining the brain, liver, kidney, lung, stomach, spleen, and so forth, with the aid of the indirect immunoperoxidase technique. Those of animals administered a single dose of 0.1 mg or more (over 3 to 4 mg/kg--the usual dose of MA in acute intoxication death in forensic medicine), in particular, gave a strong strong reaction, so that the diagnosis of MA intoxication can be performed by macroscopic observation of stained slices. The histochemical diagnosis of MA intoxication in clinical toxicology and pathology might be regarded as a useful tool, especially in forensic pathology. The following cells gave a strong positive reaction: nerve cells and myelin sheaths, hepatocytes, epithelial cells of the distal part of the renal tubule and of the collecting tubule, alveolar and bronchial epithelial cells of the lung, chief and parietal cells of the gastric gland, capillaries of the renal glomerulus, macrophages in the blood and tissues, and striated muscle cells including cardiocytes. The morphological evidence of the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of MA can be determined at the cellular level by immunocytochemistry.

Amphetamine↗
PubMed2005

Commentary: getting at the truth about pathological lying.

Lying is common, and in its many aspects forms a normal part of social interchange. In this issue, Dike et al. review the literature on what has been referred to as pathological lying, highlighting the lack of information available about this phenomenon. In this commentary on Dike et al., it is noted that if pathological lying exists, it is not the lie, but the liar that is abnormal, with the abnormality relating not to the nature of the lies told, but to the mental state associated with the behavior. Before forensic opinions regarding pathological lying can be given with confidence, we need more data to help determine whether it is in fact a psychiatric entity, and if it is, about the physical and psychological characteristics that underpin it.

Criminal Law↗
PubMed2004

[Pathological gambling in Israel as a medical and social problem].

This article discusses the phenomenon of pathological gambling in Israel today, emphasizing its medical as well as social dimensions. After a brief historical review of pathological gambling in world and Jewish history, certain psychological aspects of the disorder are reviewed. The typology of gamblers is mentioned, and the relationship between gambling and affective disorders is briefly discussed. Some of the forensic implications of pathological gambling are also mentioned.

Crime↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Role of alcoholization in pathogenesis of morphological changes in substance abusers].

Morphological manifestations of combined intoxication with ethanol and narcotics are described. Special attention is paid to changes in the liver which were studied both qualitatively and quantitatively. Specific features in the pathological processes concomitant with combined intoxication are described; high incidence and expression of morphological markers of alcoholism in subjects abusing both ethanol and narcotics in comparison with "pure" alcoholics were determined. These features can be used in forensic medical and pathological (autopsy) diagnosis of chronic narcotic intoxication and its combination with alcoholism.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

A forensic toxicological dilemma: the interpretation of post-mortem concentrations of central acting analgesics.

Dora V., a 88-year-old pensioner suffering from a hiatus hernia, died at the home of an orthopaedist and his wife, an anaesthetist, immediately after she had received a dose of 300 mg pethidine via intravenous infusion in a timeframe of about 90 min. One day before her death a befriended notary of the couple visited Dora V. and obtained a blank signature. After her death, a will was forged using this signature, rendering the couple sole heirs of Dora V.'s estate with a value of several million euros. Post-mortem toxicology was performed in three different institutes of legal medicine. The concentrations of pethidine in peripheral venous blood were between 6.1 and 6.5mg/l and 9.5 and 17.2mg/kg in brain. Pharmacokinetic calculation confirms the given dose. There was no doubt that the cause of death was acute pethidine intoxication. The accused couple claimed that this dose of pethidine was indicated to relief pain, and as the pathologists said in their expert opinions that the hiatus hernia could explain her death, the court had to acquit the accused. This very special case demonstrates that preconceived murder of a sick person with suitable analgesics cannot be proven--at least not with the methods available to forensic toxicology and pathology. This has to be taken into consideration if euthanasia will be legalised under special circumstances.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

Exsanguination from impact head trauma; the explanation for the "empty heart" sign.

Twenty-four autopsied cases of lethal closed head trauma occurring sufficiently rapidly for the salient pathologic features to remain unobscured by medical intervention, and selected to exclude the possibility of exsanguination by other means, were analyzed for the presence or absence of exsanguination from basal skull fracture. The purpose of this study was to test the validity of the "Empty Heart" sign in head injuries, attributed by Hirsch and Zumwalt [C.S., Hirsch, R.E., Zumwalt, The "Empty Heart" sign. The American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology 7 (2) (1986) 112-114] to a hypothetical neurologic reflex causing occult intra-corporeal sequestration of blood. The study revealed that the twelve cases with more severe injuries showed clear cut exsanguination (with "empty" hearts) due to basal skull fractures, while the twelve milder injury cases showed no signs of exsanguination, including the empty heart sign. No cases of cryptogenic empty heart were found. These findings demonstrate that the "empty heart" sign is merely an indication of exsanguination due to basilar skull fracture. The mechanism of exsanguination in these cases is discussed. The author's method for the determination of depleted blood volume at autopsy is described. The routine estimation of blood volume at autopsy and the inclusion of investigative data in forensic case assessment are recommended.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Forensic osteological investigations in Kosovo.

A team of Finnish forensic experts performed investigations of alleged mass graves in Kosovo under the mandate of the European Union (EU). Human skeletal remains from two locations were examined. The remains contained three almost complete skeletons, and individual bones and bone fragments, part of which were burned. Injuries, pathological changes, and findings for identification purposes were examined and documented using standard methods of forensic pathology and osteology. Gunshot injuries were found in some cases, but reliable determination of the cause and manner of death was not possible. A discrepancy arose between the number of victims reported in information received from the presiding district court, and results of the investigations. The estimation of the minimum number of victims was mostly acquired by DNA analysis.

Age Determination by Skeleton↗
PubMed2000

The growth of the upper and lower extremities of Turkish fetuses during the fetal period.

Prenatal analysis of the fetal structures gives us information about fetal growth and gestational age. The aim of this study was to investigate the morphologic structure of the upper and lower extremities of Turkish fetuses during the fetal period, to measure the morphometric values, and to determine the relationship between CRL (crown-rump length) and growth of the foot. In this study, 106 human fetuses (56 males, 50 females) without external anomalies and aged between 10-40 post-menstrual weeks (PMW) were studied. In the upper extremity, the width of shoulder and the length of the arms, forearms and hands were measured. In the lower extremity, the width of the iliac crest, knee condyles, feet, and heels and the length of the thighs, legs and feet were measured. A significant correlation was found between all parameters taken within the fetal period and PMW (p < 0.001). Statistically significant correlations found between foot-growth measurements and fetal parameters indicate that foot length may be a good predictor of age. The measurements of the upper and lower extremities during fetal period are a reliable parameter for use in the assessment of gestational age. These measurements are particularly useful when other parameters do not accurately predict gestational age in some cases such as hydrocephalus, anencephaly, short-limb dysplasia. Our opinion is that the measurements can be useful to assess gestational age in several fields such as anatomy, pathologic anatomy (fetopathology), forensic medicine, medical imaging, obstetrics and pediatrics.

Crown-Rump Length↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Adipositas cordis, fatty infiltration of the right ventricle, and arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy. Just a matter of fat?

Whether fatty infiltration of the right ventricle has to be considered "per se" a sufficient morphologic hallmark of arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) is still a source of controversy; ARVC should be kept distinct from both fatty infiltration of the right ventricle and adipositas cordis. In fact, it is well known that a certain amount of intramyocardial fat is present in the right ventricular antero-lateral and apical regions even in the normal heart and that the epicardial fat increases with increasing body weight. However, both the fibro-fatty and fatty variants of ARVC show, besides fatty replacement of the right ventricular myocardium, degenerative changes of the myocytes and interstitial fibrosis, with or without extensive replacement-type fibrosis. The need to adopt strict diagnostic criteria is warranted not only in the clinical setting but also in the forensic and general pathology arena. When dealing with a case of sudden death, in which the only morphologic finding consists of an increased amount of epicardial or intramyocardial fat, a more convincing arrhythmogenic source such as myocardial inflammatory infiltrates, fibrosis, anomalous pathways, and ion channel disease should always be searched for, in order to avoid an over-diagnosis of ARVC cases.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed2006

Anatomical development of the fetal uterus.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to gather data on the morphology of the uterus during its development, to provide detailed information regarding the neighboring structures and its variations using anatomical dissections. STUDY DESIGN: Eighty uteri acquired from female fetuses aged 10-40 weeks of gestation were used in this study. Firstly, the relationship between the fetal uterus and the linea terminalis and the position of the uterus within the pelvic cavity was noted. Then the distance between the fundus of the uterus to the promontory and pubic symphysis were measured. Fetal uteri were classified according to their physical appearances. Finally the lengths of the corpus and cervix in three planes and the anteflexion angle were measured. RESULTS: During the fetal period, the fundus of the uterus was above the linea terminalis in 94% and below it in 6% of the cases. The distance between the fundus of the uterus and the promontory significantly correlated with the distance between the fundus of the uterus and the pubic symphysis (p<0.001). This was true for the correlation between the gestational age and the orthogonal lengths of the uterine corpus and cervix (p<0.001). As the gestational age advanced, the anteflexion angle was noted to reduce from 177 degrees to 120 degrees . The shape of the uterus was either cylindrical, pear-shaped, heart-shaped or hourglass-shaped during the fetal period. CONDENSATION: We believe that the data obtained through dissections of the human fetuses in this study will help identifying uterine developmental variations, anomalies and pathologies and will contribute to the studies carried out in obstetrics, perinatology, forensic medicine and fetal pathology departments.

Body Weights and Measures↗
PubMed2001

Surprising drifting of bodies along the coast of Portugal and Spain.

Ocean currents are extremely important as agents affecting the scene of death, because they may transport bodies long distances. Under these circumstances, considerable difficulty is involved when conducting the search for a missing person. Furthermore, when the victim's body is found on the shore of a foreign country, additional complications arise regarding identification. In the medicolegal literature, this issue has rarely been evaluated from a forensic point of view. In this paper, we present the medicolegal investigations performed at the Santiago de Compostela Department of Forensic Medicine and Pathology (Ministry of Justice, Spain) and nine cases of identification of bodies which had drifted a considerable distance from the scene of death. The two bodies were considered to be the victims who committed suicide at the sea side, and the other seven bodies were identified as the victims of the bus accident in the Duero River, Portugal. When the distance and speed of the drifting bodies of the former two were compared to those of the latter seven bodies, it was surprising that the seven victims of the bus accident were found as clustered at the coast of Spain and some of them were pushed by the currents as much as 380 km in only 60 h. Such phenomena has never been reported, and the discovery of the majority of the corpses has had international far-reaching consequences. The identification of the victims was successfully carried out by dentistry, by DNA and in most cases, especially in those related to the bus accident in Portugal, by digital photography sent by electronic mail to the victim's home country. Attention is also given to a possible explanation related to the buoyancy and displacement of the bodies.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2005

Atherosclerosis-like lesions of the aortic valve are common in adults of all ages: a necropsy study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the presence and size of atherosclerosis-like lesions in aortic valves of unselected adults of all ages. DESIGN: Necropsy study. SETTING: Departments of Forensic Medicine and Pathology at the University of Oulu and the Oulu University Hospital in Finland. SUBJECTS: 48 consecutive unselected adult subjects (15 subjects aged 20-40 years, 17 aged 41-60, and 16 aged >or= 61) undergoing necropsy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Detection of the presence of atherosclerosis-like lesions and mineralisation in aortic valves, and morphometrical measurement of the size of lesions. RESULTS: None of the necropsy subjects had aortic stenosis and only two subjects had macroscopic calcification of the aortic valve. Of 48 subjects, however, 45 had an atherosclerosis-like subendothelial thickening above the elastic lamina on the aortic side of at least one of the valve leaflets. Of 15 young subjects aged 20-40 years, eight had a lesion in the right coronary cusp of the aortic valve and 12 had a lesion in at least one of the three aortic valve leaflets. Of 17 middle aged subjects, 16 had an early lesion in the right coronary cusp and all had a lesion in at least one of the valve leaflets. In the oldest age group, all 16 subjects had a lesion in every valve leaflet. The mean lesion area in the three valve leaflets varied from 0.1-0.2 mm(2) in young subjects, 0.5-0.8 mm(2) in middle aged, and 1.3-2.3 mm(2) in elderly subjects (p < 0.001). Microscopic calcification in the right coronary cusp of the aortic valve was observed in 12 of 17 middle aged and 14 of 16 elderly subjects but only in one young subject. CONCLUSIONS: Atherosclerosis-like lesions in the aortic valve are prevalent in adults of all age groups, including young subjects aged 20-40 years, suggesting that the disease process leading to aortic stenosis is common, often beginning in early adulthood.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

[Pathological studies of 23 cases of thrombus formation in cardiac cavity].

23 cases of thrombus formation in cardiac cavity were studied. 9 were cased by extensive trauma in soft tissue, 13 by various cardiac diseases. There was no significant difference between trauma and heart disease (p > 0.05). The white thrombus formation was mainly caused by trauma and was often found in the right cardiac cavity (P < 0.001). The mixed thrombus was mainly caused by heart disease and no difference was found between in fight and left cardiac cavity (p > 0.05). The types, positions and causes of thrombus were significantly related (p < 0.001). The causes, pathologic mechanism and forensic identification of thrombus formation in cardiac cavity were discussed.

Adolescent↗