Research Progress of Zebrafish Model in Toxicology and Its Application Prospects in Forensic Science / 法医学杂志

In recent years, zebrafish model has been widely concerned and recognized by scholars at home and abroad. As an animal model, zebrafish is of great research value because it is easy to feed, easy to operate, observe and analyze, and the model results can be highly combined with human body test data. Zebrafish model has been widely used in many fields, including basic medical science, clinical medicine, agricultural production, environmental toxicology and forensic science. This review introduces the biological characteristics of zebrafish, summarizes the research progress of zebrafish model in toxicology, and discusses the application prospect of zebrafish model in forensic science.

Burden of Outpatient Visits Attributable to Ambient Temperature in Qingdao, China / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

Climate change has been referred to as one of the greatest threats to human health, with reports citing likely increases in extreme meteorological events. In this study, we estimated the relationships between temperature and outpatients at a major hospital in Qingdao, China, during 2015-2017, and assessed the morbidity burden. The results showed that both low and high temperatures were associated with an increased risk of outpatient visits. High temperatures were responsible for more morbidity than low temperatures, with an attributed fraction (AF) of 16.86%. Most temperature-related burdens were attributed to moderate cold and hot temperatures, with AFs of 5.99% and 14.44%, respectively, with the young (0-17) and male showing greater susceptibility. The results suggest that governments should implement intervention measures to reduce the adverse effects of non-optimal temperatures on public health-especially in vulnerable groups.

Nail Selenium Level and Diabetes in Older People in Rural China / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

This cross-sectional study aimed to examine the association between selenium levels and diabetes in an older population with life-long natural exposure to selenium in rural China. A total of 1856 subjects aged 65 years or older from four Chinese rural counties with different environmental selenium levels were evaluated. Analysis of covariance models and logistic regression models were used to examine the relationship between nail selenium levels and serum glucose, serum insulin, insulin resistance [using the Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR)], and the risk of diabetes. The mean nail selenium level was 0.461 μg/g and the prevalence rate of diabetes was 8.3% in this population. The mean nail selenium level was significantly higher in the group with diabetes than in the group without diabetes (P<0.0001). The adjusted odds ratios for diabetes were 2.65 (95% CI: 1.48 to 4.73), 2.47 (95% CI: 1.37 to 4.45), and 3.30 (95% CI: 1.85 to 5.88) from the second selenium quartile to the fourth quartile, respectively, compared with the first quartile group. The mean serum glucose and HOMA-IR in the higher selenium quartile groups were significantly higher than those of the lowest quartile group. However, no significant differences in insulin were observed among the four quartile groups. A long-term, higher level of exposure to selenium may be associated with a higher risk of diabetes. Future studies are needed to elucidate the association between selenium and insulin resistance.

Analysis of Relationship between Injury and Disease in 17 Cases of Cervical Trauma with Cervical Vertebra Degeneration / 法医学杂志

OBJECTIVES@#To study the characteristics of the relationship between injury and disease in forensic identification cases of cervical trauma with cervical vertebra degeneration, and to explore the problems about how to identify the participation rates of injury and disease using the clinical information, forensic examination and imaging examination.@*METHODS@#Seventeen forensic identification cases of cervical trauma with cervical vertebra degeneration were collected. The age distributions, injury formations, injury severities and imaging findings of these cases were analyzed and the relationship between injury and disease was evaluated comprehensively.@*RESULTS@#Middle-aged and elderly were common in 17 cases and every case was involved with intervertebral disc herniation. The main reasons of injuries were hyperextension. The degree of injury severity and vertebra degeneration were graded according to the imaging findings. The participation rates of injury and disease were also calculated comprehensively.@*CONCLUSIONS@#The forensic identification cases of cervical trauma with cervical vertebra degeneration should be evaluated with clinical information, forensic examination and imaging finding.

Species Identification Based on Morphological Variability of Femur / 法医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To study the morphological characteristics of femurs of adult human and 11 kinds of adult animals from cattle, horses, pigs, goats, sheep, dogs, cats, rabbits, geese, ducks, chickens, and to establish an effective species identification method among various species.@*METHODS@#The 4 cm mid-diaphyseal segment of the femur from adult human (older than 20 years old) at autopsy was obtained. Addi-tionally, the 4 cm ones from 11 kinds of adult animals were obtained. After decalcification, all femurs were made into slices, and then were observed by optical microscope. The 25 indexes were selected and analyzed by step discriminant analysis according to differences between human and mammal, human and poultry, and human and 11 kinds of animals.@*RESULTS@#The histological structure of bone mineral density of middle part of femur had obvious characteristics among the species. And the morphology and number of osteon showed the trend of obvious biological evolution. There were 11 indexes with significant differences between human and 11 kinds of animals to establish some mathematical models to discriminate all species. The correct discrimination rate was 96.3% between human and mammal. The correct discrimination rate was up to 100% between human and poultry, and was 89.4% among human, mammal and poultry.@*CONCLUSION@#The mathematical models have good correct discrimination rate among human and the other animals, which could be applied in the practical species identification cases.

Assessment of skeletal age in Chinese male adolescents / 法医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To develop medicolegal expertise standard to assess skeletal age of Chinese male adolescents by joint X-ray.@*METHODS@#Radiographs of male adolescent aged 11 to 20 years were obtained in Southern, Central, and Eastern China. The bone development process were graded according to morphology characteristics in radiograph based on the appearance of secondary ossification centers and the arrest of epiphysises. All statistical analysis was carried out with SPSS and SAS.@*RESULTS@#Most indexes were correlated to age. Optimization multiple regression equation was created to estimate age of adolescent. Discriminatory equations were established to distinguish the age of 14, 16 or 18 years.@*CONCLUSION@#More anatomical site evaluation and more index application can improve the accuracy rate. The methods can be used in age determination by skeleton in Chinese male adolescents.

Mathematical models of forensic bone age assessment of living subjects in Chinese Han female teenagers / 法医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To establish mathematical models which are used to assess bone age of living subjects in Chinese Han female teenagers.@*METHODS@#Radiographs were taken from 838 normal Chinese female subjects aged from 11 to 20 years old including sternal end of clavical and the left side of shoulder, elbow, carpal, hip, knee and ankle joints,which were from Middle China, South China and East China. Then read and grade the 24 osteal loci in accordance with the grading criteria of skeletal growth of teenagers. Meanwhile, the influencing factors such as: height, body mass and location are all taken into account. To explore the associativity between each index and chronological age, all the statistic procedures were finished by SAS 8.1 and SPSS 11.0.@*RESULTS@#To construct several combining multiple regression mathematical models that use the arrested extent of epiphysis of sternal end of clavical and six joints to assess the chronological age of living subjects in Chinese Han female teenagers, and establish some Fisher's discriminatory analysis equations which are used to determine whether the chronological age of Chinese Han female teenagers has been to 14, 16 and 18 years old or not.@*CONCLUSION@#These mathematical models which used to assess the age of living subjects has profused the methods of forensic bone age identification of living subjects. It also made the methods and conclusions much more scientific and accurate.

Staging methods of skeletal growth by X-ray in teenagers / 法医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To establish staging criteria for teenager's skeletal growth by examining osteoarticular X-rays.@*METHODS@#Review publications on skeletal growth staging systems by domestic and overseas authorities. Abided by the staging principles on theory of cartilage epiphyseal growth and X-ray images of skeletal growth, X-ray imaging characteristics were studied through three hundred male and female teenagers epiphyseal growth of both sternal ends of clavicle and the left side of shoulder, elbow, carpal, hip, knee and ankle joints transversally and longitudinally. The subjects were from 11 to 20 years old, selected from Henan, Hainan and Zhejiang province in China. Twenty-four skeletal growth indexes were selected closely related to age.@*RESULTS@#Based on regular changing characteristics of epiphyseal growth at different joints, 24 skeletal development indexes were divided into 2 to 8 stages. The stage number of different indexes of the single joint were similar. It was shown that the time of different epiphyseal growth in identical joints had isochromism.@*CONCLUSION@#These staging criteria have merits of extensive skeletal growth indexes, and are applicable to wide age range with a strong maneuverability. It provides a favorable fundamental platform for forensic evaluating skeletal age in living subjects in China.

Development and prospect on skeletal age evaluation methods of X-ray film / 法医学杂志

The traditional methods of skeletal age estimation mainly include Numeration, Atlas, and Counting scores. In recent years, other new methods were proposed by several scholars. Utilizing image logical characteristics of X-ray film to extrapolate skeletal age is a key means by present forensic medicine workers in evaluating skeletal age. However, there exist some variations when we present the conclusion of skeletal age as an "evidence" directly to the Justice Trial Authority. In order to enhance the accuracy of skeletal age determination, further investigation for appropriate methodology should be undertaken. After a collective study of pertinent domestic and international literatures, we present this review of the research and advancement on skeletal age evaluation methods of X-ray film.

Image analysis of avulsion fracture, permanent osteoepiphyte, sesamoid and accessory bones / 法医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate a method to distinguish avulsion fracture from sesamoid, accessory bone, and permanent osteoepiphyte.@*METHODS@#Fourteen cases of suspicious avulsion fractures of articular portion of tubular bones were reviewed. Direct/indirect signs and the injury mechanism of avulsion fractures were analyzed and compared with permanent osteoepiphyte, sesamoid and accessory bones for their morphological characteristics.@*RESULTS@#There are two cases of permanent osteoepiphytes, three cases of sesamoids, and three cases of accessory bones. These cases were characterized by smooth edges, contiguous bony cortex, without swelling of the surrounding soft tissue or obvious image changes after consecutive radiography.@*CONCLUSION@#It is fundamental in image analysis to distinguish avulsion fracture from physiological small osteoepiphyte, sesamoid bone, and aberrant accessory bone.

APOE Genotypes Frequency of Chinese Old People in Rural Area / 环境与健康杂志

Objective To know the apolipoprotein E(APOE)genotypes frequency of Chinese old people in the rural area. Methods 2000 Chinese aged 65 years or older from four sites in China were enrolled in this study in 2004-2008.Two sites were from the Sichuan province in southwestern China,and another two sites were from the Shandong province in eastern China.The finger blood samples on filter paper were collected from all the investigated people in the end of the interview.The genotype for apolipoprotein E(gene symbol,APOE)was determined by eluting DNA from a dried blood spot,followed by HhaI digestion of amplified products.Results Through statistical analysis,APOE genotypes frequency of Chinese people aged 65 years or older in the rural area,as for ?/?2,?2/?3,?2/?4,?3/?3,?3/?4,?4/?4,they were 1.1%,13.55%,2.05%,68.80%,13.35% and 1.15% respectively.4 carriers and no 4 carriers were 16.55% and 83.45%.Conclusion The distribution of APOE 4 genotype is more widely in Chinese people aged 65 years or older in the rural area.

Apoptosis in mouse after tetramine poisoning / 法医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To observe pathological changes and apoptosis in mouse brain, hart, liver and kidney after tetramine poisoning, and to provide some references for forensic identification.@*METHODS@#An experimental model of mouse tetramine poisoning was found, and the technology of apoptosis detection was used. The staining results were analyzed by computer image analysis competitive system.@*RESULTS@#(1) Quantities of apoptosis in brain, hart, liver and kidney in chronic poisoning groups are many more than in acute poisoning groups. As in same organs, Quantities of apoptosis are different after different poisoning time. In addition, the peak-time of apoptosis is not same in different organs. (2) Poison analysis showed that, all organic samples from acute poisoning groups were positive, while that from chronic poisoning groups are negative.@*CONCLUSION@#Chronic tetramine poisoning can not be detective by clinic or poison analysis while can be found changes in apoptosis, which indicate that small amount and chronic poisoning still affects the body.