Effect of Corpse Cryopreservation on Forensic Pathological Identification.

Because cryopreservation can effectively slow down the putrefaction and prolong the preservation time of corpses, it has become the main way of corpse preservation in China. However, it may cause a certain degree of non-specific effects on the corpses and thus interfere with forensic pathological identification. This paper summarizes relevant problems reported in domestic and foreign literature reports and practical identification, and analyzes the effects of cryopreservation on corpses from aspects of anatomical findings, histomorphology, postmortem biochemistry, and postmortem imaging, therefore to provide Chinese forensic workers assistance on problems in their practice of forensic pathology.

Statistical Analysis of the Heart and Lung Mass in Forensic Anatomical Cases and Its Forensic Significance.

ABSTRACT: Objective To investigate the differences of heart mass and lung mass in forensic autopsy cases and to explore their application value in forensic identification. Methods The data from 1 614 autopsy cases accepted by center of Medico-legal Investigation of China Medical University between 2007 to 2016 were collected. The correlation of heart and lung mass with age, height, body weight, and body mass index （BMI）, as well as differences in different causes of death were analyzed by GraphPad Prism 6.0 software. Results The heart mass and lung mass of males were higher than those of females （P<0.05）. The heart mass of males and females was positively correlated with age, height, body weight and body mass index （BMI） （P<0.05）. The heart mass of patients dying from sudden cardiac death （SCD） was significantly higher than those dying from other causes of death. The lung mass of patients dying from drowning and delayed treatment was higher than those dying from other causes of death （P<0.05）. Conclusion In forensic practice, measurement of the heart mass and lung mass has certain significance for differential diagnosis and diagnosis of different causes of death.

Forensic Pathological Identification and Antidiastole of Commotio Cordis.

Commotio cordis （CC） is the acute death caused by the cardiac rhythm disorder after a sudden blunt external force to the precordium of a healthy person without previous heart disease. As one type of violent heart damage, CC is rare with relatively small external force and sudden death, therefore causing disputes. This paper reviews the epidemiology, mechanisms and the key points in forensic identification of CC, discusses the identification and antidiastole of CC, myocardial contusion, sudden cardiac death and death from inhibition, and provides assistance to forensic pathologists to identify such causes of death.

[The Changes of HIF-1α and VEGF-A in Myocardial Tissue of Rats with Arrhythmias].

OBJECTIVES: To observe the expression changes of hypoxia inducible factor-1α（HIF-1α） and vascular endothelial growth factor-A （VEGF-A） in rats with arrhythmias, and to explore the differences of the expression pattern in the two indicators of acute myocardial ischemia caused by arrhythmias and coronary insufficiency. METHODS: The arrhythmia was induced by CaCl2, and the expression changes of HIF-1α and VEGF-A were detected by immunohistochemistry, Western blotting and real-time PCR within 6 h after the arrhythmia in rats. RESULTS: The expression of HIF-1α and VEGF-A showed diffuse in the myocardial tissue of rats died from arrhythmias. Both of them increased in the early arrhythmia, then decreased. Extensive myocardial ischemia happened at the beginning of arrhythmia occurrence and its range didn't expand with time. CONCLUSIONS: The expressions of HIF-1α and VEGF-A in myocardium of the rats with arrhythmia can provide evidence for the differential diagnosis of acute myocardial ischemia caused by fatal arrhythmia and coronary insufficiency.

[Expression of Brain Natriuretic Peptide in Myocardial Tissue of Sudden Cardiac Death and Non-sudden Cardiac Death].

OBJECTIVES: To study the expression pattern of brain natriuretic peptide （BNP） in myocardial tissue from forensic routine cases and to explore its application value in the forensic determination of sudden cardiac death （SCD）. METHODS: The data of 96 autopsy cases accepted by the center of Medico-legal Investigation of China Medical University between December 2008 to May 2014 were collected. There were 62 cases in SCD group cardiac and 34 cases in non-SCD group. The myocardial tissues were taken from left and right ventricular wall, respectively. The expressions of BNP protein and BNP mRNA in myocardial tissue were detected by HE staining, immunohistochemical staining, Western blotting and quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction （RT-qPCR）, etc. RESULTS: The immunohistochemical staining of myocardial tissue showed diffusely positive staining in SCD group, and patchily or diffusely positive staining in non-SCD group with lighter degree. The result of Western blotting showed that the expression of BNP protein elevated in left ventricular wall of SCD group. The result of RT-qPCR showed a positive correlation between the BNP mRNA expressions in bilateral ventricular walls and the heart weight, bilateral lung weight, and N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide （NT-proBNP） concentration. There were large differences between the BNP mRNA concentrations in SCD group and non-SCD group, and the former was statistically higher （P<0.05）. CONCLUSIONS: The expressions of BNP protein and BNP mRNA in myocardial tissue are related to the causes of death. Combined with pathological changes, the expressions of BNP protein and BNP mRNA in myocardial tissue have certainly practical significance for the determination of SCD and the analysis of the death mechanism in the cases related to forensic pathology.

Characterization of three novel monoclonal anti-OKa.

Anti-Ok(a) was first described by Morel and Hamilton in 1979. The Ok(a) antigen has a very high incidence, and only eight probands that are Ok(a-) have been found; all are of Japanese heritage. In this study,we describe the generation and characterization of three novel monoclonal antibodies (Mabs), MIMA-25, MIMA-144, and MIMA-149. The reactivity of these three Mabs was compared with the original human polyclonal anti-Ok(a). Mice were immunized with transfected HEK cells to induce an immune response, and the spleen B lymphocytes were fused with mouse myeloma X63-Ag8.653 cells to form antibody-secreting hybridomas. The resulting Mabs were tested serologically, by flow cytometry, and by immunoblotting. The specificity of each antibody was determined after excluding specificities to common antigens in the Rh, Kell, Duffy, Kidd, MNS, Lewis, Lutheran, P1, Colton, Diego, Xga, and Dombrock blood group systems. In each case only the Ok(a-)RBC sample was nonreactive. The Mabs and the original human anti-Ok(a) each have a unique pattern of reactivity when tested with enzyme-treated cells; however, none were reactive by immunoblotting. We have generated three novel anti-Ok(a) Mabs: MIMA-144 is an indirectly agglutinating IgG2b antibody, and MIMA-25 and MIMA-149 are directly agglutinating antibodies (IgM and IgA, respectively), underscoring their usefulness as typing reagents for the clinical laboratory.