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28 October 2013, Volume 29 Issue 5 Previous Issue    Next Issue

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Correlation between the Changes of Oxidation Reduction Potential Values and Postmortem Interval of Heart Blood in Rabbits after Death YANG TIAN-TONG, YU YONG-GUANG, BAI JING, ET AL. 2013, 29(5): 321-324,329.  DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1004-5619.2013.05.001 Abstract ( 1534 )   Objective To investigate correlation between the changes of oxidation reduction potential （ORP） values of heart blood in rabbits after death and postmortem interval （PMI） at different temperatures. Methods Forty-eight rabbits were randomly divided into 6 groups and sacrificed by air embolism. Blood samples were taken from the right ventricle of each rabbit and stored at different temperatures of 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35 ℃, respectively. Every 4 hours from 0 h to 132 h postmortem, the ORP values of the blood samples were measured at different intervals by PB-21 electrochemical analyzer. The curvilinear regression equation was established by SPSS 17.0 software. The surface equation and 3D surface diagram were established by MATLAB 7.10.0 software. Results The ORP values at different temperatures of heart blood in rabbits were highly correlated with the PMI. The ORP values rised obviously when the temperature was high and rised slowly when the temperature was low. The surface equation and 3D surface diagram were obtained. Conclusion The surface equation and 3D surface diagram of ORP values and PMI may be used for PMI estimation at different temperatures. Related Articles | Metrics

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Apoptosis in Adult Mouse Brain after Chronic Poisoning of Ketamine YANG JU, LI XIAO-JING, ZHANG ZHI-XIANG, ET AL. 2013, 29(5): 325-329.  DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1004-5619.2013.05.002 Abstract ( 1477 )   Objective To study the effect of chronic poisoning of ketamine on brain cell apoptosis in adult mouse under different duration and doses. Methods The mouse model of chronic poisoning of ketamine was established on adult mouse by tail vein injection of ketamine twice every week with different doses （4, 10, 20 and 30 mg/kg）. The mice were sacrificed after continuous injection of ketamine of 1, 2, 4, 8 and 12 weeks. The qualitative assessment of apoptosis was made by transmission electron microscope and the quantitative assessment was made by Caspase-3 immumofluorescence staining method and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling （TUNEL） to estimate the time point of apoptosis. All the experimental results were statistically analyzed. Results The neuron apoptosis was observed in hippocampus and corpus striatum by transmission electron microscope one week after administration, and continued for eight weeks. High level of Caspase-3 expression was observed one week after administration, but with a low level expression after 4 weeks. The number of TUNEL positive cells obviously increased one week after administration and maintained in a high number at 4 weeks. Conclusion Ketamine by tail vein injection could induce neuron apoptosis in adult mouse. Related Articles | Metrics

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Expression of GAP－43 in Midbrain Ventral Tegmental Area of Morphine Withdrawal Rats LUO LIANG-MING, WU YU-FENG, NI WEI-CHENG, ET AL. 2013, 29(5): 330-332,336.  DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1004-5619.2013.05.003 Abstract ( 1383 )   Objective To observe the protein expression of growth associated protein-43 （GAP-43） in midbrain ventral tegmental area in morphine withdrawal rats at different time, and to evaluate the effect of GAP-43 on morphine withdrawal memory. Methods Rat models of morphine dependent 1 week, 2 weeks and 4 weeks were established by morphine hydrochloride intraperitoneal injection with increasing doses to establish natural withdrawal. The protein expression of GAP-43 in midbrain ventral tegmental area was observed by immunohistochemical staining and the results were analyzed by Image-Pro Plus 5.1 image analysis system. Results With prolongation of dependent time, the expression of GAP-43 was decreased then increased in midbrain ventral tegmental area. Conclusion GAP-43 could play a role in morphine withdrawal memory in midbrain ventral tegmental area. Related Articles | Metrics

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Pathological Changes in Rats with Acute Dysosma Versipellis Poisoning XU XIANG, XU MAO-SHENG, ZHU JIAN-HUA, ET AL. 2013, 29(5): 333-336.  DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1004-5619.2013.05.004 Abstract ( 1367 )   Objective To observe the pathological changes of major organs in rats with acute Dysosma versipellis poisoning and investigate the toxic mechanism and the injuries of target tissues and organs. Methods Forty Sprague-Dawley （SD） rats were randomly divided into three experimental groups, which were given the gavage with 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 LD50 doses of Dysosma versipellis decoction, and one control group, which was given the gavage with 1.0 LD50 dose of normal saline. The rats were sacrificed 14 days after Dysosma versipellis poisoning and samples including brain, heart, liver, lung, and kidney were taken. After pathological process, the pathological changes of the major organs and tissues were observed by light microscope and electron microscope. The experimental data were statistical analyzed by χ2 test. Results The observations of light microscopy： loose cytoplasm of neurons with loss of most Nissl bodies; swelling of myocardial cells with disappearance of intercalated disk and striations; hepatocellular edema with ballooning degeneration; and swelling epithelial cells of renal proximal convoluted tubule with red light coloring protein-like substances in the tube. The observations of electron microscopy： the structures of cell membrane and nuclear membrane of neurons were destroyed; cytoplasm of neurons, obvious edema; and most organelles, destroyed and disappeared. The mortalities of rats after acute poisoning of the four groups increased with doses （P<0.05）. Conclusion Acute Dysosma versipellis poisoning can cause multi-organ pathological changes. There is a positive correlation between the toxic effect and the dosage. The target tissues and organs are brain （neurons）, heart, liver and kidney. Related Articles | Metrics

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Change Rules of Quantity and Species of Diatoms in Hunhe River in Shenyang DU YU, ZHOU ZHE, CAI HONG-YANG, ET AL. 2013, 29(5): 337-339,343.  DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1004-5619.2013.05.005 Abstract ( 1302 )   Objection To observe the change rules of quantity and species of diatoms in Hunhe River in Shenyang and to provide technology and scientific evidence for drowning identification and the location of drowning in forensic investigation. Methods In 2011, different locations for collecting water samples were chosen in Hunhe River in Shenyang. Water samples were collected and variation of quantity and species of diatoms were observed every month. And variation of dominant species of diatoms was observed every week. Results The quantity, species and dominant species of diatoms in Hunhe River in Shenyang varied with different time and locations. The quantity and species of diatoms were lowest from December to February and gradually increased, reaching peak in May and second peak in October, and then gradually decreased. The dominant species of diatoms varied significantly adjacent two weeks at same location from April to November, but had little changes at different locations in same week from July to August. Conclusion The change rules of quantity and species of diatoms are complicated and affected by various factors such as environment and hydrology. The change rules of species and quantity of diatoms should be considered in forensic investigation of drowning identification and the location of drowning. Related Articles | Metrics

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Mathematical Models of the Teenager’s Skeletal Age Evaluation Based on CT Scan and Imaging Reconstruction of Medial Clavicular Epiphysis WEI HUA, TELET·SIYIT, WAN LEI, ET AL. 2013, 29(5): 340-343.  DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1004-5619.2013.05.006 Abstract ( 1529 )   Objective To explore the correlation between CT volume rendering （VR） statistics and living age and to build the mathematical models for skeletal age evaluation based on the growth rules of medial clavicular epiphysis of teenagers in China. Methods The thin layer CT scan and VR 3D imaging reconstruction of both sides of sternal ends of clavicles were examined for 684 teenagers aged from 15 to 25 in East and South China. The parameters of  sternal end of clavicle including the longest diameter of epiphysis, the longest diameter of metaphysis, their length radio, area of epiphysis, area of metaphysic, their area ratio, and other data were measured and calculated in order to establish  mathematical models of  skeletal age evaluation. Fifty trained subjects were tested to verify the accuracy of the mathematical models. Results In the same age group, the length ratio and the area ratio had significant difference in genders （P<0.05）. The established mathematical models showed that the growth rules of medial clavicular epiphysis were highly correlated with the living ages. The accuracies of these models were higher than 70.5% （±1.0 year） and 82.5% （±1.5 year）. Conclusion The mathematical models have easy operability and high accuracy. It can be used to confirm and sustain the conclusion of atlas method. Meanwhile, it is of great significance to study the other single skeletal age evaluation in the future. Related Articles | Metrics

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Stature Estimation for Sichuan Han Nationality Female Based on X-Ray Technology with Measurement of Lumbar Vertebrae QING SI-HAN, CHANG YUN-FENG, DONG XIAO-AI, ET AL. 2013, 29(5): 344-347.  DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1004-5619.2013.05.007 Abstract ( 1438 )   Objective To establish the mathematical models of stature estimation for Sichuan Han female with measurement of lumbar vertebrae by X-ray to provide essential data for forensic anthropology research. Methods The samples, 206 Sichuan Han females, were divided into three groups including group A, B and C according to the ages. Group A （206 samples） consisted of all ages, group B （116 samples） were 20-45 years old and 90 samples over 45 years old were group C. All the samples were examined lumbar vertebrae through CR technology, including the parameters of five centrums （L1-L5） as anterior border, posterior border and central heights （x1-x15）, total central height of lumbar spine （x16）, and the real height of every sample. The linear regression analysis was produced using the parameters to establish the mathematical models of stature estimation. Sixty-two trained subjects were tested to verify the accuracy of the mathematical models. Results The established mathematical models by hypothesis test of linear regression equation model were statistically significant （P<0.05）. The standard errors of the equation were 2.982-5.004 cm, while correlation coefficients were 0.370-0.779 and multiple correlation coefficients were 0.533-0.834. The return tests of the highest correlation coefficient and multiple correlation coefficient of each group showed that the highest accuracy of the multiple regression equation, y=100.33+1.489 x3-0.548 x6+ 0.772 x9+0.058 x12+0.645 x15, in group A were 80.6% （±1SE） and 100% （±2SE）. Conclusion The established mathematical models in this study could be applied for the stature estimation for Sichuan Han females. Related Articles | Metrics

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Gene Detection of GPD1-L and the Association with Sudden Unexplained Death Syndrome in Young Adults XU XIAO-LONG, WANG WEN, LIU CHAO, ET AL. 2013, 29(5): 348-352.  DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1004-5619.2013.05.008 Abstract ( 1443 )   Objective To analyze the variations of glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase 1 like gene （GPD1-L） and address the association with sudden manhood death syndrome （SMDS）. Methods The genomic DNA was extracted from blood samples of the SMDS group and the normal control group. The exons, exon-intron boundaries and 3′-UTRs of coding region of GPD1-L were PCR amplified and DNA sequenced directly to confirm the types of variations. The genotype frequency and allele frequency were analyzed statistically. Results There were two variants in the SMDS group, c.465C＞T and c.*18G＞T, the latter existed certain degree difference of genotype distribution and allele frequency between the SMDS group and the control group, but there was no statistically significant（P＞0.05）. Conclusion The relation between gene mutation of GPD1-L and the occurrence of Chinese SMDS deserves a further research. Related Articles | Metrics

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Analysis of Deaths Caused by Secondary Damages of Road Traffic Accidents: 17 Fatal Cases HUANG SI-XING, ZHANG XIAN-GUO, KONG BIN, ET AL. 2013, 29(5): 353-355.  DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1004-5619.2013.05.009 Abstract ( 1538 )   Objective To explore the forensic identification points of deaths caused by secondary damages of road traffic accidents. Methods Seventeen deaths caused by secondary damages of road traffic accidents were collected. Through scene investigation and necropsy, the basic information of the accidents, distribution and property of the injuries, and other information were collected. According to the collected data, the scene was reconstructed in order to confirm the injury process, analyze the way, mechanism and severity of injury, distinguish antemortem injury from postmortem injury, and determine the cause of deaths. Results Certain features such as serious injuries, multiple traumas, combined injuries, co-existence of antemortem and postmortem injuries, multiple causes of wounds, complex injury mechanism, as well as the mutual damaging and overlapping injuries were quite characteristically noted in these secondary traffic accident cases. Conclusion Forensic assessment of deaths caused by secondary damages of road traffic accidents should be synthetically analyzed and judged through scene investigation and necropsy. Related Articles | Metrics

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Comparative Analysis between Diatom Nitric Acid Digestion Method and Plankton 16S rDNA PCR Method HAN JUN-GE, WANG CHENG-BAO, LI XING-BIAO, ET AL. 2013, 29(5): 356-359.  DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1004-5619.2013.05.010 Abstract ( 1340 )   Objective To compare and explore the application value of diatom nitric acid digestion method and plankton 16S rDNA PCR method for drowning identification. Methods Forty drowning cases from 2010 to 2011 were collected from Department of Forensic Medicine of Wenzhou Medical University. Samples including lung, kidney, liver and field water from each case were tested with diatom nitric acid digestion method and plankton 16S rDNA PCR method, respectively. The Diatom nitric acid digestion method and plankton 16S rDNA PCR method required 20 g and 2 g of each organ, and 15 mL and 1.5 mL of field water, respectively. The inspection time and detection rate were compared between the two methods. Results Diatom nitric acid digestion method mainly detected two species of diatoms, Centriae and Pennatae, while plankton 16S rDNA PCR method amplified a length of 162 bp band. The average inspection time of each case of the Diatom nitric acid digestion method was （95.30±2.78） min less than （325.33±14.18） min of plankton 16S rDNA PCR method （P<0.05）. The detection rates of two methods for field water and lung were both 100%. For liver and kidney, the detection rate of plankton 16S rDNA PCR method was both 80%, higher than 40% and 30% of diatom nitric acid digestion method （P<0.05）, respectively. Conclusion The laboratory testing method needs to be appropriately selected according to the specific circumstances in the forensic appraisal of drowning. Compared with diatom nitric acid digestion method, plankton 16S rDNA PCR method has practice values with such advantages as less quantity of samples, huge information and high specificity. Related Articles | Metrics

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SNP in Differentially Methylated Region Upstream of H19 Gene in Chinese Korean Nationality WEI WEN-TAO, WANG XIN, WANG DONG-MEI, ET AL. 2013, 29(5): 360-364.  DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1004-5619.2013.05.011 Abstract ( 1444 )   Objective To investigate SNP and distribution of haplotypes in differentially methylated region （DMR） upstream of H19 gene in Chinese Korean nationality in order to provide basic data for forensic application and population genetics research. Methods One hundred and one blood samples from unrelated Chinese Korean individuals and 14 blood samples from 5 Chinese Korean intergenerational families which known genetic relationship were collected. The SNP in DMR upstream of H19 gene were investigated by PCR-cycle sequencing and McrBC digestion followed by PCR. The haplotypes detected by parentally imprinted allele （PIA） method and relevant genetic parameters were calculated. Results Thirteen SNPs （rs10840167, rs2525883, rs12417375, rs4930101, rs2525882, rs2735970, rs2735971, rs11042170, rs2735972, rs10732516, rs2071094, rs2107425, and rs4930098） and five haplotypes were detected in 1 174 bp target product in DMR upstream of H19 gene, with 9 SNPs having high discrimination power as good genetic markers. The average gene diversity （GD） of haplotypes was 0.714. The maternal haplotype was confirmed correctly by PIA method from McrBC-digested products of genomic DNA. Conclusion High polymorphisms exist in DMR upstream of H19 gene in Chinese Korean nationality. And determination of the maternal haplotype could furthermore enhance the forensic identification efficiency of imprinted gene. Related Articles | Metrics

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Metallothionein-Ⅰ/Ⅱ in Brain Injury Repair Mechanism and Its Application in Forensic Medicine LI DONG, LI RU-BO, LIN JU-LI 2013, 29(5): 365-367,377.  DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1004-5619.2013.05.012 Abstract ( 1400 )   Metallothionein （MT） is a kind of metal binding protein. As an important member in metallothionein family, MT-Ⅰ/Ⅱ regulates metabolism and detoxication of brain metal ion and scavenges free radicals. It is capable of anti-inflammatory response and anti-oxidative stress so as to protect the brain tissue. During the repair process of brain injury, the latest study showed that MT-Ⅰ/Ⅱ could stimulate brain anti-inflammatory factors, growth factors, neurotrophic factors and the expression of the receptor, and promote the extension of axon of neuron, which makes contribution to the regeneration of neuron and has important effect on the recovery of brain injury. Based on the findings, this article reviews the structure, expression, distribution, adjustion, function, mechanism in the repair of brain injury of MT-Ⅰ/Ⅱ and its application prospect in forensic medicine. It could provide a new approach for the design and manufacture of brain injury drugs as well as for age estimation of the brain injury. Related Articles | Metrics