Crime scene investigation is one of the important aspects in a medico-legal proceeding. This article describes the principles of forensic investigation under different circumstances including indoor and outdoor as well as moving objects/environment.
Autopsy ; Cadaver ; Cause of Death ; Crime ; Environment ; Forensic Medicine/methods* ; Humans

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the value of double source multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) in visualization of cardiac veins in patients with chronic heart failure.

METHODSThirty-five patients with chronic heart failure (aged 65.4 ± 8.8, 21 males and 14 females) were enrolled in the study. In Group A, MDCT and retrograde coronary venography (RCV) were performed consecutively; in Group B anterograde visualization of the coronary venous and RCV were performed.

RESULTSCoronary sinus, GCV and MCV of all individuals were identified in MDCT. LVPV was observed in 65% patients of Group A, and 66.7% patients of Group B. The correlation coefficient between MDCT and RCV was 0.944, and that between CVG and RCV was 0.42.

CONCLUSIONNon-invasive evaluation of cardiac veins with double source CT is feasible and may be used in cardiac resynchronization therapy.

Aged ; Coronary Angiography ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phlebography ; methods ; Tomography, Spiral Computed ; methods

OBJECTIVETo explore the relationship between hypoxia and the apoptosis of corpus cavernosum smooth muscle cells (CCSMC) in SD rats.

METHODSCCSMCs were cultured in vitro and identified by immunohistochemistry, and then underwent hypoxia interference at the concentration of 1% O2 for 12, 24, 48 and 72 hours, with normal oxygen concentration as the control. Flow cytometry was used to determine the cycles and apoptosis of the cells.

RESULTSThe cultured CCSMCs grew well, positive for anti-smooth muscle alpha-actin monoclonal antibody immunohistochemical staining. Flow cytometry showed that the number of CCSMCs in G0/G1 was gradually increased within 48 hours and then decreased, just opposite to the proportion of the S phase cells. But no regular change was found in the proportion of the cells in the G2/M phase.

CONCLUSIONHypoxia promotes the apoptosis of CCSMCs in a time-dependent manner, to the maximum at 48 hours, and then cell lysis may occur, but with no further apoptosis.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Cell Hypoxia ; Cells, Cultured ; Male ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; cytology ; Penis ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

12E7 Antigen ; Antigens, CD ; metabolism ; Bone Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Cell Adhesion Molecules ; metabolism ; Chondrosarcoma, Mesenchymal ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Hemangiopericytoma ; pathology ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pneumonectomy ; methods

OBJECTIVE: To compare peripheral T lymphocyte apoptosis of chronic bronchitis during an acute episode with that during a stable period. METHODS: Seventeen Chronic Btonchitis patients who presented to the ER with an acute episode were compared with 10 stable Chronic Bronchitis patients seen in the out-patient clinic. Peripheral venous blood was obtained from each patient and T lymphocytes were separated by fluorescent monoclonal antibodies. CD3, CD95 and CD25 were measured by flow cytometry. RESULTS: In the acute episode patients, the total quantity of T lymphocytes with CD3 was (42.63 +/-16.37) and with CD95 (14.15 +/-11.06). In the stable group T lymphocyte CD3 was (64.22 +/-23.90) and CD95 (34.88 +/-8.92) (t=-4.238, P <0.001; t=-8.796, P <0.001). The total quantity of Lymphocyte CD25 did not differ significantly between the two groups (P > 0.05). Total quantity of active T lymphocytes with CD3/CD25 was lower in the acute episode group (6.26 +/-3.94) compared to the stable group (10.52 +/-3143) (t=-1.068, P <0.05). CONCLUSION: T lymphocyte apoptosis increased in Chronic Bronchitis patients who presented with an acute episode. They also experienced a significant disturbance in immune function.

There are many differences between cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) and conventional pacing therapy in terms of indications and implant techniques. Generally speaking, CRT requires implanting 3 pacing leads in heart failure patients with ventricular dysynchrony. A left ventricular lead is implanted via intravenous coronary sinus. The pacing site of left ventricle has important influence on therapy response. Sometimes open chest implant or other pacing modes are adopted to compensate the anatomical limitation of coronary sinus and its branches. In addition, the pacing sites and modes of right atrium and right ventricle are also under research to further improve CRT response.
Cardiac Pacing, Artificial ; methods ; Electrodes, Implanted ; Heart Atria ; Heart Failure ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Ventricular Dysfunction, Left ; physiopathology ; Ventricular Dysfunction, Right ; physiopathology

Objective To explore the relationship between the bacterial biofilm, allergy,inflammatory cytokines and refractory rhinosinusitis. Method According to the assessment of symptom by visual analogue scale and nasal endoscopy by Lund-Kennedy system, 19 patients with persistent chronic rhinosinusitis and 6 patients with curative chronic rhinosinusitis were recruited from 340 chronic rhinosinusitis patients underwent functional endoscopic sinus surgery for the first time and received standard medication postoperatively. These cases were divided into the study group and the control group respectively.Electron microscope scanning and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay were used to observe the bacterial biofilm formation on ethmoid sinus mucosal surface and detect the concentration of specific IgE and interleukin (IL) 4, IL-5, IL-6, and IL-8 in ethmoid sinus mucosal tissue. Then the differences between the group were all found biofilm formation in ethmoid sinus, besides the damage of epithelial cells and cilia. Six cases from the control group were found no biofilm, with the integrity of epithelial cells and cilia. Statistical Specific IgE: specific IgE was detected in nine cases from the study group and was not found in any case all detected under normal value both in the study group and the control group, except for only 2 cases from the study group with higher IL-8 concentration. Positive reaction to IL was detected as follows: IL-4 (7cases), IL-5 (14 cases), IL-6 (15 cases), and IL-8 (12 cases) in the study group; IL-4 (1 case), IL-5 (5 cases), IL-6 (5 cases), and IL-8 (5 cases) in control group. No difference in IL detection rate was found between the two groups (P > 0.05). Conclusion Bacterial biofilm and allergic inflammation are important factors resulting into refractory chronic rhinosinusitis.

Background People recently realized that it is important for artificial vascular biodegradable graft to bionically mimic the functions of the native vessel.In order to overcome the high risk of thrombosis and keep the patency in the clinical small-diameter vascular graft (SDVG) transplantation,a double-layer bionic scaffold,which can offer anticoagulation and mechanical strength simultaneously,was designed and fabricated via electrospinning technique.Methods Heparin-conjugated polycaprolactone (hPCL) and polyurethane (PU)-collagen type Ⅰ composite was used as the inner and outer layers,respectively.The porosity and the burst pressure of SDVG were evaluated.Its biocompatibility was demonstrated by the 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazol)-2,5-diphenyl-2H tetrazolium bromide (MTT) test in vitro and subcutaneous implants in vivo respectively.The grafts of diameter 2.5 mm and length 4.0 cm were implanted to replace the femoral artery in Beagle dog model.Then,angiography was performed in the Beagle dogs to investigate the patency and aneurysm of grafts at 2,4,and 8 weeks post-transplantation.After angiography,the patent grafts were explanted for histological analysis.Results The double-layer bionic SDVG meet the clinical mechanical demand.Its good biocompatibility was proven by cytotoxicity experiment (the cell's relative growth rates (RGR) of PU-collagen outer layer were 102.8％,109.2％ and 103.5％,while the RGR of hPCL inner layer were 99.0％,100.0％ and 98.0％,on days 1,3,and 5,respectively) and the subdermal implants experiment in the Beagle dog.Arteriography showed that all the implanted SDVGs were patent without any aneurismal dilatation or obvious anastomotic stenosis at the 2nd,4th,and 8th week after the operation,except one SDVG that failed at the 2nd week.Histological analysis and SEM showed that the inner layer was covered by new endothelial-like cells.Conclusion The double-layer bionic SDVG is a promising candidate as a replacement of native small-diameter vascular graft.

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of hypoxia on the fibrosis of corpus cavernosum smooth muscle cells (CCSMC) in SD rats.

METHODSCCSMCs were cultured in vitro, identified by immunohistochemistry, and then exposed to hypoxia at the concentration of 1% O2 for 12, 24, 48 and 72 hours. Those exposed to normal oxygen concentration for the corresponding lengths of time were used as the control. The relative expressions of TGF-131, type I collagen and type DI collagen were determined by RT-PCR.

RESULTSThe in vitro cultured CCSMCs grew well, and the anti-a-smooth muscle actin monoclonal antibodies were positive on immunohistochemical staining. The relative expression levels of TGF-beta1, type I collagen and type mI collagen were positively correlated with the time of hypoxia interference within 48 hours, and did not increase further with prolonged exposure.

CONCLUSIONWhen exposed to hypoxia, the relative expressions of TGF-beta1, type I collagen and type mI collagen in the CCSMCs of SD rats increased with the length of time, and reached the peak at 48 hours. Hypoxia can cause fibrosis of CCSMCs in SD rats.

Animals ; Cell Hypoxia ; Cells, Cultured ; Collagen Type I ; metabolism ; Extracellular Matrix ; Fibrosis ; Male ; Muscle, Smooth ; cytology ; pathology ; Oxygen ; metabolism ; Penis ; metabolism ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism

OBJECTIVESTo evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of the B-NHL-BFM-90 protocol in the treatment of Chinese childhood and adolescent B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (B-NHL).

METHODSForty-two untreated childhood and adolescent B-NHL were enrolled in the present study. Of them 18 cases were Burkitt's lymphoma, 16 diffuse large B cell lymphoma and 8 anaplastic lymphoma. There were 10 cases in stage II and 32 in stage III/IV. The patients were grouped by risk factors into low, medium and high risk groups. All patients were treated with the B-NHL-BFM 90 (Berlin-Frankfurt- Münster) protocol. The low risk group received A, B courses for 4 cycles, the medium risk group AA, BB courses for 6 cycles, and the high risk group AA, BB, CC courses for 6 cycles.

RESULTSComplete remission (CR) was obtained in 37 patients (88%), and partial remission (PR) in 5 (12%). Of the 5 PR patients, I received autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, 3 received radiotherapy for residual disease and 1 just under watching. Major toxicity was myelosuppression and mucositis, especially in AA, BB and CC cycles, but was tolerant and manageable. Median follow-up was 20 (4 - 89) months. Kaplan-Meier method was used to analyse survival data. Two year event free survival (EFS) for all patients was 86. 24%, being 100% for stage II and 80.95% for stage III/IV.

CONCLUSIONShort term and intensive chemotherapy can improves the efficacy and survival rate of childhood and adolescent B-NHL, especially for advanced stage patients.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Feasibility Studies ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Infant ; Lymphoma, B-Cell ; drug therapy ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome