[General characteristics of morphometric and morphoscopic signs of liver rupture with different localizations]. / Obshchaia kharakteristika morfometricheskikh i morfoskopicheskikh priznakov razryvov pecheni razlichnoi lokalizatsii.

The aim of this study was to compare the morphoscopic and morphometric features of local and remote liver ruptures under various external influences. It was found that the local main ruptures were formed in the case of impact trauma more often in the right side of the liver on its diaphragmatic surface, in the anterior third of the organ. They were linear and located in the longitudinal direction. The size of the ruptures increased as the impact force increased. Local additional ruptures were associated with impact and compression trauma and were located only on the diaphragmatic surface of the liver, more often in the right half, in the middle third of the organ. These ruptures were linear, co-directional and small in size under various external influences. Central ruptures were formed by impact and compression trauma, were located more often in the middle third of the right side of the liver and were slit-shaped with a longitudinal direction. The size of central ruptures was associated with falls on the stomach and compression trauma. Peripheral ruptures were formed in the case of impact and compression trauma, were located more often in the right half of the liver on its diaphragmatic surface, mainly in the middle third of the organ and were linear with a slanting direction. The relative constancy of the average sizes of peripheral ruptures was noted. Anti-shock ruptures were observed resulting from shock trauma and were located more often in the right side of the liver, on its visceral surface, in the rear third of the organ. They were linear and curvilinear, and longitudinally and obliquely oriented. Ruptures were relatively constant in size with different types of impact.

[Morphogenesis of central and peripheral liver ruptures in blunt-force trauma]. / Morfogenez tsentral'nykh i perifericheskikh razryvov pecheni pri travme tupymi predmetami.

The purpose of this study was an in depth investigation of the morphogenesis of central and peripheral liver ruptures in blunt trauma and to obtain additional information about their forensic medical significance. It has been established that central and peripheral ruptures are formed by shocks caused by very high forces, as well as by frontal compression of the body as a result of general deformation of the organ and rupture of parenchyma from stretching and tissue shearing. The surface relief of central ruptures was found to be independent of the type of external influence and was determined by the size of the rupture. The peripheral part of such ruptures was characterized by a relatively homogeneous surface topography formed by shear ridges, while the central part was characterized by an inhomogeneous surface topography formed by tensile zones. The surface relief of peripheral ruptures also did not depend on the type of external influence. The surface was relatively homogeneous, with ridges along the edge of the rupture, shear ridges and stretch zones directed deep into the rupture and forming the rupture surface relief in the form of alternating elevations and depressions.

[The peculiar morphological features of the surface relief of the major local ruptures of the liver in the case of a blunt injury]. / Morfologicheskie osobennosti rel'efa poverkhnosti mestnykh osnovnykh razryvov pecheni pri tupoi travme.

The objective of the present study was the comprehensive investigation of morphogenesis of the surface relief of the major local ruptures of the liver in the case of a blunt injury and the obtaining of an additional information on the possibility to use these data for the purposes of forensic medical expertise. We explored the reliefs of the major local ruptures of the liver in the cases of a single fatal blunt injury inflicted in a traffic accident, by kicking or a powerful stroke with the fist. In addition, the threshold hepatic lesions depending on their severity were determined experimentally. The model allowing to describe the qualitative relief alterations of the rupture surface associated with a blunt injury has been developed. The main elements of the surface relief of the major ruptures include avulsion and shear ridges, folds as well as 'extension zones'. Three types of possible rupture surface reliefs have been identified, viz. relatively uniform, stratified and fragmented non-uniform ones. Such reliefs are formed in the case of a threshold injury, powerful stroke with the leg or the fist, and road traffic accident, respectively. The location of the shear ridges at the ruptured surface makes it possible to determine the direction of growth of the local major rupture and of the stroke vector. The presence of multiple 'extension zones' at the surface of the local major rupture may serve as an indicator either of the influence of the unlimited traumatic surface or of the very strong stroke. The above features of the relief of the rupture surface provide the conditions for the application of the statistical approach to the elucidation of the mechanisms underlying the deformation and the destruction of the parenchymatous organs suffering a blunt injury.

[The contribution of the scientific school of Yu.I. Pigolkin, corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, to the development of modern methods for the estimation of the time of death].

The principal characteristics of the investigations performed to specify methods for estimation of the time of death (TD) are presented. The studies included the measurement of electric conductivity of organs and tissues depending on the time of death and the evaluation of contractile activities of smooth muscle cells in response to the application of an electric current. A new method for the estimation of the time of death with the use of morphometric techniques is described. The results of histostereometric measurements are used for the first time to characterize the intensity of autolysis. Forensic medical mycological studies have been carried out. A combined approach to the determination of the time of death is proposed including mathematical simulation.