RESUMEN
This paper describes the variety of information that a tool mark analysis on human tissue can provide based on a case of multiple sharp violence. The perpetrator attacked the victim with a sharp-edged weapon against the head, leaving several deep wounds on the back of the skull bone. Three of those marks on the skull bone could be used for a forensic tool mark examination. Silicone casts of the marks were compared by light microscopy with casts of test marks of Japanese katana swords found at the crime scene. One of the swords could be identified as the one responsible for the marks. In addition, the marks and the test marks were scanned in 3D and examined in a visual on-screen comparison confirming the results from the light microscopic examination. Furthermore, a mathematical approach in which the signatures of the marks from the skull bone and the test marks from the sword were compared by cross correlation confirms those findings. In addition, the aforementioned results were used to determine the orientation of the sword in relation to the cranial bone at the time of the respective impact.
Asunto(s)
Procesamiento de Imagen Asistido por Computador , Cráneo/diagnóstico por imagen , Cráneo/patología , Armas , Heridas Punzantes/diagnóstico por imagen , Heridas Punzantes/patología , Simulación por Computador , Homicidio , Humanos , Imagenología Tridimensional , Masculino , Microscopía , Cráneo/lesiones , Tomografía Computarizada por Rayos XRESUMEN
From time to time, severe or fatal injuries caused by small caliber air rifle projectiles are seen. In forensic sciences, the theoretical wounding potential of these weapons and projectiles is widely known. Usually, shots against the skull were reported and, in these cases, penetrating the eyes or thin bone layers of the temporal region. Amongst a huge number of different projectiles available for air guns, sub-caliber 4.4-mm (.173) caliber steel ball projectiles were used in an unusual suicide case. This case led to fundamental questions concerning wound ballistics. An 82-year-old man shot once against his right temporal region and twice into his mouth with a 4.5-mm (.177) caliber air rifle. Because of the exceptionally deep penetration of the base of the skull and the use of spherical-shaped sub-caliber air rifle projectiles, terminal ballistic features were analyzed and compared to results published in forensic literature. Test shots using the same weapon and similar projectiles were fired into ballistic gelatin to measure and calculate basic wound ballistic variables of cal. 4.4-mm (.173) steel balls. In comparison, further test shots with cal. 4.5-mm (.177) steel balls BB (ball bearing), flat-headed and pointed air rifle pellets ("diabolos") were carried out. The theoretical penetration depth in solid bone was calculated with 36.4 mm, and test shots in gelatin from hard contact produced an on-average wound track of 120 mm underlining the potential wounding effect. Furthermore, spherical projectiles could roll back and forth within the barrel, and an air cushion between projectile and breechblock can reduce muzzle velocity by more than half, explaining the retained missile in the temporal region.
Asunto(s)
Armas de Fuego , Balística Forense , Traumatismos Penetrantes de la Cabeza/patología , Heridas por Arma de Fuego/patología , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Senos Etmoidales/lesiones , Senos Etmoidales/patología , Gelatina , Humanos , Cinética , Masculino , Modelos Biológicos , Hueso Paladar/lesiones , Hueso Paladar/patología , Cráneo/lesiones , Cráneo/patología , AceroRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Aging is a multifactorial process characterized by organ loss of function and degeneration, but the mechanisms involved remain elusive. We have shown recently that catecholamine metabolism drives the accumulation of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) deletions in dopaminergic cells, which likely contribute to their degeneration during aging. Here we investigated whether the well-documented degeneration and altered function of adrenals during aging is linked to catecholamine production in the medulla followed by accumulation of mtDNA deletions. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We analyzed adrenal medullary and cortical samples of both murine and human origin covering a wide range of ages for mtDNA deletion content, mtDNA copy number, mitochondrial and cellular integrity as well as aging-related tissue changes such as fibrosis. RESULTS: Indeed, we demonstrate in mice and humans that the adrenal medulla accumulates a strikingly high amount of mtDNA deletions with age, causing mitochondrial dysfunction in the adrenal medulla, but also in the cortex, accompanied by apoptosis and, more importantly, by severe inflammation and remarkable fibrosis. Additionally, a concomitant and dramatic loss of medullary and cortical cells is observed in old animals. CONCLUSION: Our results show that accumulation of mtDNA deletions, and the ensuing mitochondrial dysfunction, is a hallmark of adrenal aging, further strengthening the hypothesis that catecholamine metabolism is detrimental to mtDNA integrity, mitochondrial function and cell survival. Moreover, the cell loss potentially induced by mitochondrial dysfunction could explain the decline in adrenal hormonal and steroidal secretion during aging.
Asunto(s)
Glándulas Suprarrenales/ultraestructura , Envejecimiento , Catecolaminas/metabolismo , ADN Mitocondrial/genética , Eliminación de Gen , Mitocondrias/metabolismo , Glándulas Suprarrenales/citología , Animales , Células Cultivadas , Humanos , Ratones , Ratones Endogámicos C57BL , Mitocondrias/genética , Neuronas/efectos de los fármacos , Neuronas/metabolismo , Células PC12 , ARN Mensajero/metabolismo , Ratas , Factores de TiempoRESUMEN
Situations of both, intentional and inadvertent or accidental doping, necessitate consideration in today's doping controls, especially in the light of the substantial consequences that athletes are facing in case of so-called adverse analytical findings. The aim of this study was to investigate, whether a transdermal uptake of doping substances would be possible. In addition to the period of detectability of the particular substances or respective characteristic metabolites, the possibility of deducing the route of administration by metabolite patterns was also assessed. Twelve male subjects were included in the study. Four common anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) were dissolved in dimethylsulfoxide to facilitate transdermal administration on different skin regions. One half of the test persons received only oxandrolone (17α-methyl-2-oxa-4,5α-dihydrotestosterone), and the other half were applied a mixture of oxandrolone, metandienone (17ß-hydroxy-17α-methylandrosta-1,4-dien-3-one), clostebol (4-chlorotestosterone-17ß-acetate) and dehydrochloromethyltestosterone (DHCMT). Urine samples were collected 1 h, 6 h and one sample per day for the next 14 consecutive days. Measurements were conducted on a tandem-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) or tandem-liquid chromatography-MS/MS (LC-MS/MS) system. Substance findings were obtained at least 1 day after application on nearly all skin locations. The results indicated inter-individual variability in detection windows, also varying between the different analytes and possible impact of skin location and skin thickness, respectively. Nevertheless, a rapid and rather long detectability of all substances (or respective metabolites) was given, in some cases within hours after administration and for up to 10-14 days. Hence, the transdermal application or exposure to the investigated AAS is a plausible scenario that warrants consideration in anti-doping.
Asunto(s)
Anabolizantes , Doping en los Deportes , Metandrostenolona , Acetatos , Administración Cutánea , Anabolizantes/orina , Cromatografía Liquida/métodos , Dihidrotestosterona , Dimetilsulfóxido , Humanos , Masculino , Metandrostenolona/orina , Oxandrolona/metabolismo , Detección de Abuso de Sustancias/métodos , Espectrometría de Masas en Tándem/métodos , Testosterona/análogos & derivadosRESUMEN
Compared to articular cartilage, the biomechanical properties of costal cartilage have not yet been extensively explored. The research presented addresses this problem by studying for the first time the anisotropic elastic behavior of human costal cartilage. Samples were taken from 12 male and female cadavers and unconfined compression and indentation tests were performed in mediolateral and dorsoventral direction to determine Young's Moduli EC for compression and Ei5%, Ei10% and Eimax at 5%, 10% and maximum strain for indentation. Furthermore, the crack direction of the unconfined compression samples was determined and histological samples of the cartilage tissue were examined with the picrosirius-polarization staining method. The tests revealed mean Young's Moduli of EC = 32.9 ± 17.9 MPa (N = 10), Ei5% = 11.1 ± 5.6 MPa (N = 12), Ei10% = 13.3 ± 6.3 MPa (N = 12) and Eimax = 14.6 ± 6.6 MPa (N = 12). We found that the Young's Moduli in the indentation test are clearly anisotropic with significant higher results in the mediolateral direction (all P = 0.002). In addition, a dependence of the crack direction of the compressed specimens on the load orientation was observed. Those findings were supported by the orientation of the structure of the collagen fibers determined in the histological examination. Also, a significant age-related elastic behavior of human costal cartilage could be shown with the unconfined compression test (P = 0.009) and the indentation test (P = 0.004), but no sex effect could be detected. Those results are helpful in the field of autologous grafts for rhinoplastic surgery and for the refinement of material parameters in Finite Element models e.g., for accident analyses with traumatic impact on the thorax.
Asunto(s)
Envejecimiento , Cartílago Articular , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Envejecimiento/metabolismo , Envejecimiento/patología , Anisotropía , Cartílago Articular/metabolismo , Cartílago Articular/patología , Elasticidad , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana EdadRESUMEN
The organ distribution of 3-fluorophenmetrazine (3-FPM), pyrazolam, diclazepam as well as its main metabolites delorazepam, lormetazepam and lorazepam, was investigated. A solid phase extraction (SPE) and a QuEChERS (acronym for quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged and safe) - approach were used for the extraction of the analytes from human tissues, body fluids and stomach contents. The detection was performed on a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry system (LCMS/MS). The analytes of interest were detected in all body fluids and tissues. Results showed femoral blood concentrations of 10 µg/L for 3-FPM, 28 µg/L for pyrazolam, 1 µg/L for diclazepam, 100 µg/L for delorazepam, 6 µg/L for lormetazepam, and 22 µg/L for lorazepam. Tissues (muscle, kidney and liver) and bile exhibited higher concentrations of the mentioned analytes than in blood. Additional positive findings in femoral blood were for 2-fluoroamphetamine (2-FA, approx. 89 µg/L), 2-flourometamphetamine (2-FMA, hint), methiopropamine (approx. 2.2 µg/L), amphetamine (approx. 21 µg/L) and caffeine (positive). Delorazepam showed the highest ratio of heart (C) and femoral blood (P) concentration (C/P ratio = 2.5), supported by the concentrations detected in psoas muscle (430 µg/kg) and stomach content (approx. 210 µg/L, absolute 84 µg). The C/P ratio indicates that delorazepam displays susceptibility for post-mortem redistribution (PMR), supported by the findings in muscle tissue. 3-FPM, pyrazolam, diclazepam, lorazepam and lormetazepam did apparently not exhibit any PMR. The cause of death, in conjunction with autopsy findings was concluded as a positional asphyxia promoted by poly-drug intoxication by arising from designer benzodiazepines and the presence of synthetic stimulants.
Asunto(s)
Benzodiazepinas/farmacocinética , Drogas de Diseño/farmacocinética , Diazepam/análogos & derivados , Fenmetrazina/análogos & derivados , Cambios Post Mortem , Adulto , Benzodiazepinas/análisis , Bilis/química , Líquidos Corporales/química , Química Encefálica , Drogas de Diseño/análisis , Diazepam/análisis , Diazepam/farmacocinética , Toxicología Forense , Contenido Digestivo/química , Humanos , Riñón/química , Hígado/química , Lorazepam/análogos & derivados , Lorazepam/análisis , Lorazepam/farmacocinética , Pulmón/química , Masculino , Nordazepam/análogos & derivados , Nordazepam/análisis , Nordazepam/farmacocinética , Líquido Pericárdico/química , Fenmetrazina/análisis , Fenmetrazina/farmacocinética , Músculos Psoas/química , Espectrometría de Masas en TándemRESUMEN
A 34-year old male was found breathless and panting at home by his girlfriend three hours after a gym workout. Minutes later, he collapsed and died. Autopsy, histological and chemical analyses were conducted. The examination of the heart showed left ventricular hypertrophy, while the right coronary artery showed only a small vascular lumen (3 mm in diameter), due to its anatomical structure. In femoral blood concentrations of approx. 1 µg/L clenbuterol, approx. 56 µg/L stanozolol and approx. 8 µg/L metandienone, with trenbolone (Asunto(s)
Anabolizantes/efectos adversos
, Clenbuterol/efectos adversos
, Doping en los Deportes
, Metandrostenolona/efectos adversos
, Estanozolol/efectos adversos
, Adulto
, Anabolizantes/análisis
, Androstanoles/orina
, Clenbuterol/análisis
, Clomifeno/orina
, Vasos Coronarios/patología
, Resultado Fatal
, Insuficiencia Cardíaca/inducido químicamente
, Humanos
, Hipertrofia Ventricular Izquierda/patología
, Masculino
, Metandrostenolona/análisis
, Estanozolol/análisis
, Testosterona/análogos & derivados
, Testosterona/orina
, Acetato de Trembolona/sangre
, Acetato de Trembolona/orina
RESUMEN
Perifibrillar adapter proteins, interconnecting collagen fibrils, and linking the collagen network with the aggrecan matrix seem to play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis (OA). Therefore, we examined immunohistochemically the extracellular distribution of collagen II and the main perifibrillar adapter proteins-collagen IX, decorin, cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP), and matrilin-3-in human samples of healthy (n=4) and OA (n=42) knee joint cartilage. Histopathology assessment was performed using an OA score. Staining patterns were evaluated in relation to the disease stage. The perifibrillar adapter proteins were uniformly distributed in the upper zones of healthy cartilage. In moderate OA (n=8; score 14.3 ± 4.7), all proteins analyzed were locally absent in the fibrillated area or the superficial and upper mid zone. In advanced OA (n=20; score 18.9 ± 5.3), they were uniformly distributed in these zones and accumulated pericellularly. Perifibrillar adapter proteins are important for the stabilization of the collagen network in the upper zones of healthy cartilage. Their degradation might be a critical event in early OA. In advanced OA, there are indications for an increased synthesis in an attempt to regenerate the lost tissue and to protect the remaining cartilage from further destruction.