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28 October 2012, Volume 28 Issue 5 Previous Issue    Next Issue

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Relation between PMI and FTIR Spectral Changes in Asphyxiated Rat’s Liver and Spleen LI SHI-YING, SHAO YU, LI ZHENG-DONG, ET AL. 2012, 28(5): 321-326.  DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1004-5619.2012.05.001 Abstract ( 1646 )   Objective Fourier transform infrared （FTIR） spectroscopy was applied to observe the postmortem degradation process in mechanical asphyxiated rat’s liver and spleen for providing a new method of estimating PMI. Methods Rats were sacrificed by mechanical asphyxia and cadavers were kept at （20±2） ℃ in a control chamber. The liver and spleen were sub-sampled from the same rat at intervals of 0-15 days postmortem and the data were measured by FTIR spectrometer. The different absorbance （A） ratios of peaks were calculated and the curve estimation analysis between absorbance ratios （x） and PMI （y） were performed to establish mathematical models by the statistical software. Results The band absorbance ratios showed increase, decrease and stable with PMI. The cubic model functions showed the strongest correlation coefficient. Compared with the spleen, the liver showed a higher correlation coefficient. The A1 541/A1 396 of liver showed the highest correlation coefficient（r=0.966）. After 6-7 days postmortem, band absorbance ratios showed a steady period. Conclusion FTIR spectroscopy can be a new and efficient method to estimate PMI within 7 days. Related Articles | Metrics

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Early Expression of Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1 alpha after Acute Myocardial Ischemia in Rats DU ZHONG-BO, MAO RUI-MING, GAO WEI-MIN, ET AL. 2012, 28(5): 327-332.  DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1004-5619.2012.05.002 Abstract ( 1708 )   Objective To observe the changes of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha（HIF-1α）, the expression in the early stage （within 6 h） of acute myocardial ischemia and to explore the potential forensic application. Methods SD rats were randomly divided into one control group, one sham operation group and five myocardial ischemia groups which received ligation of the left anterior descending（LAD） coronary artery. The five experiment groups divided into 15 min, 30 min, 1 h, 3 h and 6 h after LAD ligation. The expression of HIF-1α was detected by immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence and Western blotting, respectively. Results Both the control group and sham operation group showed no expression of HIF-1α, whereas the expression of HIF-1α could be weakly detected beneath the endocardium at 15 min after LAD ligation. With the increase of myocardial ischemia process, the positive staining gradually extended from endocardium to epicardium, reached the peak at 3 h, and began to decrease gradually at 6 h after LAD ligation but still maintained at a relatively high level. In addition, the expression of HIF-1α without a time-dependent way was also detected in full thickness of the right ventricle in occurrence of ventricular arrhythmia after LAD ligation. Conclusion HIF-1α may be regarded as a sensitive marker for sudden cardiac death induced by early acute myocardial ischemia, and may also be helpful for the diagnosis of fatal arrhythmia. Related Articles | Metrics

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Changes of CK-MB and HSP 60 in Electrical-Injuried Rats LIU HUI-TONG, FU GAO-WEN, ZHAO ZE, ET AL. 2012, 28(5): 333-336.  DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1004-5619.2012.05.003 Abstract ( 1740 )   Objective To investigate the changes of creatine kinase-MB （CK-MB） and heat shock protein 60 （HSP 60） in rats without electric marks after electric injury, to identify the relationship of the CK-MB, HSP 60 and the time of electric injuries, and to evaluate the damage to cells after electric injury. Methods The animal model of electric injury without electric marks was established by alternating current （voltage 110 V）. Automatic biochemistry analyzer was used to detect the serum CK-MB and immunohistochemical staining technology was used to analyze the tissues of myocardium and left lobe of liver. Results The amount of serum CK-MB was increased when the rats were injuried, and reached the peak at 30 min. Then the amount of CK-MB began to decrease and showed a slight downward trend in 3-5 h after electric injury, and leveled off at 6 h. Immunohistochemistry staining also showed the changes of HSP 60 of rats’ myocardial cells and hepatic cells regularly after electric injury. Conclusion The regular changes of serum CK-MB and tissular HSP 60 in rats can be used to diagnosis electric injury and assess the injury of internal organs after the electric injury without electric marks. Related Articles | Metrics

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KCNQ1, KCNH2, KCNE1 and KCNE2 Potassium Channels Gene Variants in Sudden Manhood Death Syndrome ZHAO QIAN-HAO, LIU CHAO, LU LONG-WU, ET AL. 2012, 28(5): 337-341,346.  DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1004-5619.2012.05.004 Abstract ( 2030 )   Objective To investigate KCNQ1, KCNH2, KCNE1 and KCNE2 gene variants in the cases of sudden manhood death syndrome （SMDS）. Methods One hundred and sixteen sporadic cases of SMDS and one hundred and twenty-five healthy controlled samples were enrolled. Genomic DNA was extracted from blood samples. Gene variants of KCNQ1, KCNH2, KCNE1 and KCNE2 were screened by direct sequencing. Results A total of 14 mutations and 14 SNP were detected. Two non-synonymous mutations of them were newfound. There was no non-synonymous mutation found in the control group. Conclusion There are KCNQ1, KCNH2, KCNE1 and KCNE2 gene variants found in Chinese SMDS cases. KCNQ1, KCNH2, KCNE1 and KCNE2 gene mutation may correlate partly with the occurrence of some cases of the SMDS in China. Related Articles | Metrics

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Freeze Grinding Combined Ultrasonic Technique for the Treatment of Nail Test Material CHEN HANG, XIANG PING, SUN QI-RAN, ET AL. 2012, 28(5): 342-346.  DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1004-5619.2012.05.005 Abstract ( 1763 )   Objective To investigate the feasibility of the new method of combining freeze grinding with ultrasonic technique for the pretreatment of the nail for toxicological and pharmaceutical analysis and to compare the advantages and disadvantages of this method with other traditional methods. Methods Five pretreatment methods were examined. Scanning electron microscope （SEM） was used to observe the micro-structural changes of the nail. Results The microscopic structure of nail totally destroyed after alkali treatment. The hierarchy mode of the internal structure became obvious and tight after acid hydrolysis, which became indistinct after methanol infiltration. The structure of nail broke to pieces after ultrasonic technique. After freeze grinding combined ultrasonic technique, the particle structure kept original shape, and its size was one hundred times smaller than which after manual way. Conclusion The freeze grinding combined ultrasonic technique can improve the release efficiency, and ensure the stability of the toxicant or drug during the pretreatment process. It is appropriate for toxicological and pharmaceutical analysis in the nail. Related Articles | Metrics

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LC-MS/MS Analysis of Determination of Strychnine and Brucine in Formaldehyde Fixed Tissue ZHAN LAN-FEN, LIU MING-DONG, YAN YOU-YI, ET AL. 2012, 28(5): 347-350.  DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1004-5619.2012.05.006 Abstract ( 3104 )   Objective To establish a method for determination of strychnine and brucine in formaldehyde fixed tissue by LC-MS/MS analysis. Methods The samples were pretreated with solid phase extraction using SCX cartridges and separated on SB-C18 column with mobile phase 0.1% formic acid ∶ 0.1% formic acid-acetonitrile （75∶25）. Electrospray ionization （ESI） source was utilized and operated in positive ion mode. Multiple reactions monitoring （MRM） mode was applied. External standard method was applied for quantitation. Results The chromatographic separation of strychnine and brucine in formaldehyde fixed nephritic and hepatic tissues resulted successfully. The standard curve was linear in the range of 0.002～2.0 μg/g for strychnine and brucine in formaldehyde fixed tissues, and the correlation coefficient was more than 0.996. The limits of detection （LOD） of strychnine and brucine in nephritic tissues were 0.06 ng/g and 0.03 ng/g, respectively. The LOD of both chemicals were 0.3 ng/g in hepatic tissues. The extraction recovery rate was more than 74.5%. The precision of intra-day and inter-day were both less than 8.2%. Conclusion Strychnine and brucine can be sensitive to be determined in formaldehyde fixed tissue by LC-MS/MS analysis. It can be applied in the forensic toxicological analysis. Related Articles | Metrics

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Forensic Application of Investigator HDplex Kit in Han Nationality of Eastern China ZHANG SU-HUA, ZHANG ZHE-REN, SUN KUAN, ET AL. 2012, 28(5): 351-354.  DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1004-5619.2012.05.007 Abstract ( 1838 )   Objective To investigate the genetic data of 12 autosomal STR loci included in Investigator HDplex kit and to evaluate its forensic application in Han nationality of Eastern China. Methods A total of 484 unrelated healthy individuals in Han nationality of Eastern China were investigated with Investigator HDplex kit. Allele frequencies, population genetics parameters and linkage disequilibrium information of the 12 autosomal STR loci were statistically analyzed. Results No deviations from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium were detected and all loci were independent form each other within the studied 484 unrelated healthy individuals. DP values of the 12 autosomal STR loci were all above 0.8, and CDP was 0.999 999 999 92. The cumulative probability of paternity exclusion in duo and in trio were 0.999 82 and 0.999 998 6, respectively. Conclusion Investigator HDplex kit with 12 highly polymorphic STR loci in Han nationality of Eastern China could be used effectively for forensic DNA genotyping. Related Articles | Metrics

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Genetic Polymorphism of 16 Y-STR Loci in Miao, Yao and Dong Nationalities of Guangxi Population JIAO WEI, LIU FEI, LI HAI-LAN, ET AL. 2012, 28(5): 355-358.  DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1004-5619.2012.05.008 Abstract ( 1933 )   Objective To investigate the genetic polymorphisms of 16 Y-STR loci and to evaluate the forensic application in Miao, Yao and Dong nationalities of Guangxi population. Methods Genotypes of Y-STR loci were tested in a total of 253 healthy unrelated individuals （67 Miao people, 99 Yao people, 87 Dong people） using AmpF?STR®  YfilerTM PCR amplification kit. Allele frequencies and population genetics parameters of the 16 Y-STR loci were statistically analyzed. The allele frequencies were compared among the three nationalities. Results Most alleles were detected at locus DYS385 while fewest alleles were detected at locus DYS437 among the three nationalities. GD values were ranged from 0.261 9 （DYS438） to 0.941 7 （DYS385） for Miao nationality, 0.317 0 （DYS391） to 0.955 9 （DYS385） for Yao nationality and 0.305 3 （DYS391） to 0.943 3 （DYS385） for Dong nationality, respectively. There were no statistically significant differences detected （P>0.05） at loci of DYS391 and DYS438 among the three nationalities. Conclusion The 16 Y-STR loci can be applied to practices and basic research of forensic genetics in the three main nationalities of Guangxi population. Related Articles | Metrics

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A New Method of Identifying the Peripheral Blood and the Menstrual Blood WANG YING-XI, ZHU XIAO-JUN, JIAO ZHANG-PING, ET AL. 2012, 28(5): 359-361.  DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1004-5619.2012.05.009 Abstract ( 1713 )   Objective To explore the tissue-specific gene expressions of the peripheral blood and the menstrual blood, and to search some specific factors to establish an effective method for identifying the peripheral blood and the menstrual blood. Methods The specific products of the peripheral blood and the menstrual blood were detected by RT-PCR and separated by electrophoretic technology. Results Beta-spectrin （SPTB） as one specific marker of peripheral blood and 18S rRNA as a kind of the housekeeping gene were expressed in both the peripheral blood and the menstrual blood. However, matrix metalloproteinase 7 （MMP7） as one specific marker of menstrual blood and human beta defensin 1 （HBD1） as one specific marker of vaginal discharge were only found in the menstrual blood. Conclusion There are differences of specific gene expressions between the peripheral blood and the menstrual blood. They could be accurately distinguished from each other by using the combination of fluorescence technology and RT-PCR to detect the specific identification of mRNA. Related Articles | Metrics

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Application of Molecular Autopsy in Sudden Death Caused by Inherited Arrhythmia Lü YE-HUI, LI WEN-CAN, CHEN LONG 2012, 28(5): 362-365,370.  DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1004-5619.2012.05.010 Abstract ( 1490 )   Sudden cardiac death （SCD） refers to sudden stop of breath and heartbeat and death within one hour caused by underlying cardiac diseases. Clinical manifestation of inherited arrhythmia is lethal arrhythmia without gross cardiac lesions, which can lead to SCD. The autopsy and pathological examination are difficult to identify the cause of death. Fatal mechanism of inherited arrhythmia is the change in the genes encoding for cardiac ion channel protein, which causes the dysfunctions of cardiac electrical activity. It is very important to detect genetic mutation by the technique of molecular biology in negative autopsy. This review presents the latest research on the relation between SCD and inherited arrhythmia, and the application of molecular autopsy used in identifying SCD due to inherited arrhythmia and its candidate gene. Related Articles | Metrics

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Progress on Epigenetics Applications in Forensic Science YANG YA-RAN, WANG PENG-XIANG, FANG XIANG-DONG, ET AL. 2012, 28(5): 366-370.  DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1004-5619.2012.05.011 Abstract ( 1886 )   Epigenetics is the study of heritable changes in gene expression other than changes in the underlying DNA sequence. Such changes include DNA methylation, histone modification, chromatin remodeling, genomic imprinting, X chromosome inactivation and non-coding RNA regulation. Recent progresses on epigenetics open new possibilities in tackling these challenging problems in forensic science, including identification of fetal paternity testing in embryonic period, determination of the necessary allele in paternity testing, discrimination of identical twins, origination analysis of micro tissue, verification of forged DNA. This review focuses on epigenetics concept and its latest application in the field of paternity testing, age estimation, discrimination between the twins, identification of tissue of origin, and estimation of postmortem interval. Related Articles | Metrics

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Pulmonary Hemorrhagic Infarction due to Fat Embolism and Thromboembolism after Maxillofacial Plastic Surgery: a Rare Case Report 2012, 28(5): 375-378.  DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1004-5619.2012.05.014 Abstract ( 1336 )   Pulmonary fat embolism （PFE） and pulmonary thromboembolism （PTE） are common post-operative complications of orthopedic surgical procedures, but are reported less often following maxillofacial plastic surgical procedures, especially with respect to PFE. Thrombi, or together with fat emboli in pulmonary vessels can induce hemorrhagic infarction and cause death. Herein this report introduced a death due to pulmonary hemorrhagic infarction following maxillofacial plastic surgery. The female patient underwent several osteotomies of the mandible, zygomas and autologous bone grafting within a single operation. The operative time was longer than normal and no preventive strategies for pulmonary embolism were implemented. The patient died 20 days after hospital discharge. The autopsy confirmed pulmonary hemorrhagic infarction. The fat emboli and thrombi were also noted in the pulmonary vessels, which were thought to have resulted from the maxillofacial osteotomy. Suggestions were offered to forensic pathologists that risk factors of PFE and PTE, such as the type and length of surgery, the surgical sites, and the preventive strategies, should be considered when handling deaths after maxillofacial operations. Related Articles | Metrics

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Assessment of a Sudden Death Case due to Coronary Artery Disease Based on the PMCT and Forensic Autopsy 2012, 28(5): 379-382.  DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1004-5619.2012.05.015 Abstract ( 1362 )   It is never an easy thing to diagnose heart vascular disease only depending on the unenhanced postmortem computed tomography （PMCT）. This article reported a case of sudden natural death after the complaint of anterior chest pain in which coronary artery calcification （CAC） was clearly displayed using PMCT scan. The entire coronary artery system was almost reconstructed via multiplanar reformation （MPR） and volume-rendering reconstruction （VR）, and the total calcium score of the coronary arteries was obtained with CaScoring automatic analysis software. The results showed that CAC was conspicuous; the total calcium score was 640.3, considerably higher than 400. The pulmonary ground-glass opacity（GGO） and small amount of fluid both in the subglottic trachea and main bronchi were also found. The imaging results confirmed those of autopsy. In addition, the results concluded that PMCT might serve as an invaluable adjunct to the classic autopsy procedure. Related Articles | Metrics