Application of Virtual Anatomy Technology in Postmortem Examination of Medical Dispute Cases / 法医学杂志

Objective To discuss the application value of CT scanning technology in cause of death determination of medical dispute cases. Methods From July 2017 to December 2018, postmortem CT imaging data of 12 medical dispute cases were collected. CT imaging diagnosis results and anatomy findings as well as differences between antemortem and postmortem CT diagnosis were compared. The advantages and disadvantages of CT routine tests of the cadavers in terms of the diagnosis of disease and damage were analyzed. Results The comparison between CT imaging diagnosis and anatomical findings showed that CT scans had advantages in the diagnosis of disease and damage with large differences in density changes, such as atelectasis, pneumonia, calcification, fracture and hemorrhage, etc. The comparison of CT diagnosis in antemortem and postmortem examination showed that the cadavers of medical dispute cases were well preserved and that postmortem CT scan was meaningful for the diagnosis of antemortem diseases. Conclusion Virtual anatomy technology has a relatively high application value in postmortem examination of medical dispute cases. It can provide effective information for the appraisers before the autopsy and can also provide a reference for cause of death analysis when the anatomy cannot be performed.

Relationship between the Number of Neutrophils and Myofibroblasts during Diabetic Wound Healing and Wound Age / 法医学杂志

Objective To investigate the sequential changes of the number of neutrophils and myofibroblasts during diabetic wound healing, and discuss its application value in wound age estimation. Methods Diabetic DB mice and mice of the same age in the normal control group were selected, a wound healing model was established, wound samples were taken at different time points, while the number of neutrophils and myofibroblasts during diabetic wound healing were determined by immunohistochemical staining technique. Results The number of infiltrated neutrophils in the wounds of control and diabetic groups reached the peak respectively at 12 h and 5 d after injury. Compared with the control group, the number of neutrophils in the diabetic group decreased significantly from 6 h to 1 d after injury, but increased markedly from 5 d to 14 d. From 5 d to 10 d after injury, the average number of neutrophils at high magnification in wounds of the diabetic group was over 30, while that of neutrophils in wounds of the control group was less than 20. Myofibroblasts appeared in wounds from 3 d to 14 d after injury in the control group and from 5 d to 14 d after injury in the diabetic group. The difference in the number of myofibroblasts in wounds between control group and diabetic group from 3 to 7 d after injury had statistical significance. Conclusion In comparison with normal wound healing, the number of neutrophils and myofibroblasts during diabetic wound healing shows different sequential changes. The results of this study can provide reference for wound age estimation of patients with severe diabetes.

Awareness Status of Chronic Disabling Neurological Diseases among Elderly Veterans / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>The awareness, treatment and prevention of chronic diseases are generally poor among the elderly population of China, whereas the prevention and control of chronic diseases in elderly veteran communities have been ongoing for more than 30 years. Therefore, investigating the awareness status of chronic disabling neurological diseases (CDND) and common chronic diseases (CCD) among elderly veterans may provide references for related programs among the elderly in the general population.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A cross-sectional survey was conducted among veterans ≥60 years old in veteran communities in Beijing. The awareness of preventive strategies against dementia, Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), sleep disorders, cerebrovascular disease (CVD) and CCD such as hypertension, and the approaches used to access this information, including media, word of mouth (verbal communication among the elderly) and health care professionals, were investigated via face-to-face interviews.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The awareness rates for CCD and CVD were approximately 100%, but that for AD was the lowest at <10%. The awareness rates for sleep disorders, PD and dementia, were 51.0-89.4%. Media was the most commonly selected mode of communication by which veterans acquired knowledge about CCD and CVD. Media was used by approximately 80% of veterans. Both health care professionals and word of mouth were used by approximately 50% of veterans. With respect to the source of information about CDND excluding AD, the rates of the use of health care professionals, word of mouth and media were 10.6-28.2%, 56.5-76.5%, and approximately 50%, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The awareness of CDND among elderly veterans was significantly lower than that of CCD. More information about CDND should be disseminated by health care professionals. Appropriate guidance will promote the rapid and extensive dissemination of information about the prevention of CDND by media and word-of-mouth peer education.</p>

Study on the mechanism of how curcumin improves pulmonary vascular remodeling associated with chronic pulmonary arterial hypertension / 中国应用生理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the mechanism of how curcumin improves pulmonary vascular remodeling associated with chronic pulmonary arterial hypertension.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The model of chromic hypoxia hypercapniapulmoary remodeling was made. Twenty-four male rats were randomly divided into 4 groups (n = 6): group I (normoxia control group), group II (hypxia and hypercapnia model group), group II (disodium cromoglycate control group), group IV (curcumin treated group). The last 3 group rats were put in a hypoxia cabin where the concentrate of O2 was 8% - 11% and the concentrate of CO2 was 3% - 5%, for 8 h a day and lasting 4 w in total. Group III rats were intraperitoneally injected with disodium cromoglycate (20 mg/kg) and group IV rats were administrated with curcumin by gavage (150 mg/kg). The morphological changes of pulmonary vessel walls and the ultrastructure of mast cells were observed by the optics microscope and the transmission electron microscope. Mast cells and its degranulation state were measured by toluidine blue staining and immunohistochemistry. Data were expressed as means ± SD (standard deviation) and analyzed with SPSS17.0 software.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) By optics microscopy observation, the value of WA/TA was significantly higher in II group than other groups (P < 0.05). (2) Electron microscope showed that the endothelial cells of pulmonary arterioles in III and IV group were near to I group and the proliferation of pulmonary arterial media smooth cell layer and collagen fibers in adventitia was much lighter than those in II group. The membrane of mast cells was more intact in I, III, IV group than II group. (3) The number of mast cells, the degranulation rate of master cells and the number of positive tryptase stained cells in II group were significantly more than those in other groups. (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Curcumin may inhibit the remodeling of pulmonary vessel induced by chronic hypoxia hypercapnia by mast cell regulation.</p>

Protective effect of qingxin kaiqiao fang containing cerebrospinal fluid on PC12 cell injury induced by Abeta25-35 / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the protective effect of Qingxin Kaiqiao Fang containing cerebrospinal fluid on PC12 cell injury induced by Abeta25-35, in order to provide basis for clinical application of the formula.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Sprague Dawley rats were orally administration with Qingxin Kaiqiao Fang (7.9 g x kg(-1)) twice a day for 3.5 days to prepare Qingxin Kaiqiao Fang containing cerebrospinal fluid. The nerve cell injury model was established by PC12 cells and Abeta25-35 with the concentration of 10 micromol x L(-1). The expressions of Bax, Bcl-2 and Caspase-3 mRNA were detected by immunohistochemical method in the PC12 cells.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The Qingxin Kaiqiao Fang group showed a significant higher PC12 cell activity than the model group, with decrease in Bax mRNA and Caspase-3 mRNA expressions and increase in Bcl-2 mRNA expression. There was a significant difference from the model group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Qinxin Kaiqiao Fang shows a significant protective effect on Abeta25-35-induced nerve cell injury.</p>

Effects of α-lipoic acid and vitamin C on oxidative stress in rat exposed to chronic arsenic toxicity / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore arsenic-induced oxidative stress and the protective efficacy of α-lipoic acid and vitamin c.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>50 male SD rats were randomly divided into 5 groups. Ten rats (the control group) were exposed to deionized water for 6 weeks, and the others were alone exposed to sodium arsenite (50 mg/L water) for 6 weeks, at the same time, three group rats were administered intragastrically (i.g.) with α-lipoic acid 10 mg×kg(-1)×d(-1) and vitamin C 25 mg×kg(-1)×d(-1) either alone or in combination. At the end of experiment, blood was drawn from abdominal aorta, and then the blood, brain and liver of rats were used for biochemical assays, including blood glutathione (GSH), δ-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (δ-ALAD ), reactive oxygen species (ROS) and oxidized glutathione (GSSG) level. At the same time, the super oxide dismutase (SOD) activity, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity, catalase (CAT) activity, ATPase activity of brain and liver were determined. The caspase activity of brain were also determined.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There were a significant increase in ROS level (P < 0.05), but a significant decrease in δ-ALAD activity (P < 0.01) in the chronic arsenic toxicity model group compared with the control group. These alterations were marginally restored by co-administration of vitamin C and α-lipoic acid individually, while significant recovery was observed in the animals supplemented with both the antioxidants together with arsenite in rat (P < 0.05). At the same time, there was a significant increase in the ROS and TBARS level of the brain and liver (P < 0.05), and caspase activity of the brain (P < 0.05), while there was a significant decrease in antioxidant enzymes and ATPase activity on arsenite exposure in rats (P < 0.05). These alterations were also marginally restored by co-administration of vitamin C and α-lipoic acid individually, while significant recovery was observed in the animals supplemented with both the antioxidants together with arsenite in rat (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Arsenite-induced oxidative stress can be significantly protected by co-administration of α-lipoic acid and vitamin C individually, but the best effects could be observed with combined administration of two antioxidants during arsenite exposure in animals. The dietary intervention of or supplementation with natural dietary nutrients is possible to prevent the effects of arsenic in populations of risk.</p>

Analysis of 90 autopsy cases in medical legal dispute / 法医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To analyze the significance of forensic autopsy in medical tangle.@*METHODS@#Ninety autopsy cases of medical legal dispute were retrospectively analyzed from the database of our department from 2001 to 2008. All cases were analyzed and classified based on age, sex, cause of death, clinic diagnosis and forensic diagnosis.@*RESULTS@#The age ranged from 1 day to 72 years, and the ratios of male to female is 1:1. The most common healthcare facilities involved were county hospitals (30 cases, 33.33%). The coincidence rate between clinical diagnoses and pathological diagnoses was 33.33%.@*CONCLUSION@#The forensic autopsy is valuable to solve or even avoid the occurrence of medical legal dispute.

Effects of curcumin on malondialdehyde and c-fos protein in hypoxia ischemia brain tissue in rats / 法医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the effects of curcumin on the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) and the expression level of c-fos protein following hypoxia ischemia brain damage (HIBD) in rats.@*METHODS@#Sprague-Dauley (SD) rats were randomly divided into four groups as the following: sham group, hypoxia ischemia brain damage group, curcumin group and solvent control group. The content of MDA in the brain was measured by colorimetry. The expression level of c-fos protein in the cortex tissue was detected by immunohistochemistry. Morphologic and structural changes of neuron cells of the cortex were observed by electron microscopy.@*RESULTS@#The content of MDA was clearly lower in curcumin group than that in the other groups at the same time after HIBD. The expression level of c-fos protein was higher in the curcumin group than that in the other groups (P<0.05). Electron microscopy showed that the morphologic and structural changes of neuron cells of cortex in the curcumin group were reduced.@*CONCLUSION@#Curcumin could significantly decrease the content of MDA, increase the expression level of c-fos protein and reduce the damage of the neuron cells.

Acute necrotizing pancreatitis and postmortem autolysis of pancreas / 法医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To compare the pathomorphologic changes between the pancreas in acute necrotizing pancreatitis (ANP) and that in acute deaths of rats (within 48 hours) so as to find the distinctions.@*METHODS@#The animal models of ANP and other acute deaths (electroshock, mechanic asphyxia/strangle, and acute poisoning with tetramine) were established according to the criteria. Half-quantitative grading and image quantitative analysis methods were employed to observe the gross and microscopic changes of the pancreases.@*RESULTS@#Three features including inflammation infiltrate, fat necrosis and calcium deposit in the ANP group were considerably different from that in other acutely died rat group (P<0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#Inflammation infiltrate, fat necrosis and calcium deposit are the most important pathologic features found in ANP by common light microscope, distinguishing ANP from postmortem pancreatic autolysis.

Application of diatom detection using knead pulp method / 法医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#A novel technology for detection of diatom was discussed.@*METHODS@#Five grams of testing sample were taken and the organics were removed using simple mechanical knead pulp method. The homogenized samples were concentrated by centrifugation, smeared, and then examined under light microscope.@*RESULTS@#Except for a few feather's grains, the vast majority of diatom could be identified easily with clear diatom striations. The organic diatom could also be easily detected by this methodology.@*CONCLUSION@#The detection of diatom using knead pulp method is not only simple and inexpensive with a higher successful rate, but also causes nearly no harm to human and environment.