[Forensic medical implications of histomorphological changes in the bone and cartilage tissues under effect of radiation].

The objective of the present work was to study roentgenological, microscopic, and histomorphological changes in the bone and cartilage tissues under effect of different doses of gamma-ray radiation from Gammatron-2 (GUT Co 400) and betatron bremsstrahlung radiation (25 MeV). The total radiation dose varied from 9.6 Gy to 120 Gy per unit area during 5-8 weeks. The study included 210 patients at the age from 7 to 82 years (97 men and 113 women). Histomorphological studies were carried out using samples of bone and cartilage tissues taken from different body regions immediately after irradiation and throughout the follow-up period of up to 4 years 6 months. Control samples were the unexposed bone and cartilage tissues from the same subjects (n = 14). The tissues were stained either with eosin and hematoxylin or by Van Gieson's and Mallory's methods. Gomori's nonspecific staining was used to detect acid and alkaline phosphatase activities. Moreover, argyrophilic substance was identified in the cartilaginous tissue. Best's carmine was used for glycogen staining and Weigert's stain for elastic fibers. Metachromasia was revealed by toluidine blue staining and fat by the sudan III staining technique. In addition, the ultrastructure of cartilaginous tissue was investigated. Taken together, these methods made it possible to identify the signs of radiation-induced damage to the bone and cartilage tissues in conjunction with complications that are likely to develop at different periods after irradiation including such ones as spontaneous fractures, deforming arthrosis and radiation-induced tumours.

[A case of the death from lung tissue embolism].

The authors report the results of expert examination of the case of sudden death of a patient having the history of oncological pathology from pulmonary embolism. In the precedingstudy, the latter condition was considered to be a concomitant disease rather than the immediate cause of death.

[Histomorphological features of gunshot injuries to the calvarian bone in nephrogenic osteopathy].

This histological study of calvarian bones with the injuries inflicted by a shot from an Osa traumatic non-lethal pistol revealed nephrogenic osteopathy in the preceding period. The pathologically altered bone tissue was damaged by a relatively mild tangential traumatic impact. It is concluded that the possibility of such pathological changes should be taken into consideration in the forensic medical expertise of any trauma including gunshot injuries.

[Forensic medical aspects of bone tissue injuries and pathology].

This paper reports the results of a number of investigations into forensic medical aspects of bone tissue injuries and pathology that may be of value, both theoretical and practical, for the further studies in this field. The data obtained shed light on the influence of bone porosity on the mechanism of fractures and processes of reparation in the bone tissue. Moreover, they can be used for the purpose of forensic medical expertise.

[Bone tissue in osteogenesis imperfecta: light and electron microscopic studies].

Osteogenesis imperfecta was studied by light and electron microscopic techniques in 36 cases, of them there were 10 postmortem and 26 bone biopsies. The persons' age was from 0 to 38 years. There were 25 males and 11 females. The microscopic studies indicated a decrease in the basic substance and an increase in the number of osteocytes. The electron microscopic studies revealed a reduction in the granular endoplasmic reticulum, as well as matrix swelling in the mitochondria, their crista degeneration, and the presence of mitochondrial hydroxyappatite; non-uniform mineralization of collagenous structures, their disintegration, a change in the diameter of collagenous fibril, and a decrease in their transversal lines.

[Rupture of the major artery in incomplete desmogenesis].

A pathomorphological examination of a congenital disease - incomplete desmogenesis (ID) - was made in 5 women aged 19-34 years. They had spontaneous ruptures of the major arteries (subclavial, brachial, splenic, gastric). Microscopically, the wall of the ruptured artery contained no or minimal collagenic structures which looked homogeously, like a mixomatous edema. Content of acid mucopolysaccharides and hyperelastoses was elevated. The rupture was provoked by infections, additional loads, such as pregnancy, etc. Vascular surgery in ID is difficult as arteries often break at suturing while vascular walls are amputated at ligation. In one patient tamponade stopped hemorrhage and saved her.

[Diagnosing death from burn shock]. / Diagnostika smerti ot ozhogovogo shoka.

Morphological changes were studied in the organs of 28 victims dead from burn shock at the age of 20-65 years and in rabbits in which burn shock was induced. Histological sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin, Sudan III, by Regaud's method; brain sections were stained by Nissl's and Brachet's methods and examined by electron microscopy. Morphological criteria of burn shock were determined, underlying the specific features of thermal injury.

[Fibrous osteodysplasia in forensic medicine traumatology]. / Fibroznaia osteodisplazia v sudebno-meditsinskoi travmotologii.

Histo- and ultrastructure of pathologically changed bone tissue in fibrous dysplasia was under study (9 cases were analyzed). Histologically a fibrous dysplasia focus is represented by cellular fibrous osteogenic tissue with scanty primitive coarse-fibrous bone structures. Ultrastructural changes evidence that these structures are formed at the edge of previous bone beams. Inadequate intraperiod fine structure of collagen fibrils does not provide a strong connection between hydroxyapatite crystals. These shifts result in functional inadequacy of bone tissue in fibrous dysplasia, that should be taken into consideration when assessing the severity of injury to osseous organs.