The characteristics and prevalence of patent foramen ovale in Japanese people: a study using material from forensic autopsies.

Racial and ethnic differences in the prevalence of patent foramen ovale have been suggested, but there are insufficient data to confirm the situation. Studies have also not investigated detailed morphological changes in the fossa ovalis by age. This study therefore aimed to clarify the characteristics of the fossa ovalis and determine the frequency of patent foramen ovale in Japanese people, using materials from forensic autopsies. A total of 359 hearts were obtained during forensic autopsies (from 223 males and 136 females, aged from 0 to 94 years). Overall, prevalence of patent foramen ovale was 12.5%, but it was significantly higher among those under 20 years old (66.7% in males, 38.5% in females). The area of the fossa ovalis linearly increased with age in both sexes. The prevalence of patent foramen ovale was lower in Japanese adults than previously found in either White or Black people. The ratio of the area of the fossa ovalis to the heart weight was nearly constant.

Does abdominal protrusion in pregnant women affect abdominal injury severity in motor vehicle collisions? A nationwide database study.

AIMS: Some pregnant women avoid vehicle driving owing to the risk of contact between their protruding abdomen and steering wheel. This study was performed to determine whether abdominal protrusion in late-term pregnant car users affects the occurrence and severity of abdominal injuries in motor vehicle collisions using a national crash database. METHODS: The National Automotive Sampling System/Crashworthiness Data System was used to analyse maternal background, collision characteristics, outcome and Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) scores for the body regions of all persons involved in the collision. RESULTS: Comparison of pregnant and non-pregnant women in the driver's seat showed no significant differences in the rate of AIS scores of ≥2 (2+) for abdominal injuries and female outcomes. Comparison of use of the driver's seat and front passenger's seat by pregnant women showed no significant difference in rate of AIS 2+ injuries or in maternal and fetal outcomes. Comparison of pregnant women with a gestational age of ≤27 and >27 weeks in the driver's seat showed no significant differences in rate of AIS 2+ injuries or in maternal and fetal outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the data from relatively low-speed frontal collisions, obstetrician/gynaecologists should advise pregnant women that they do not need to change their preferred car seat from the driver's seat to another seat because of fear of contact between their protruding abdomen and the vehicle interior.

Affecting Factors of Prostate Volume in Forensic Autopsied Decedents.

Because decedents undergoing forensic autopsies would have behaved normally before death, prostate volume according to age group can be confirmed with forensic autopsy materials. The objectives of this study were to first confirm the current prostate volume by age and then determine diseases that can influence prostate volume using forensic autopsy materials. Prostate specimens were collected from forensic autopsies performed at Shiga University of Medical Science, Japan, between January 2015 and December 2019. Overall, 207 decedents were included in the study. Prostate volume was measured by the Archimedes' principle. Concomitant diseases were determined by the past medical histories and autopsy results. The mean crude prostate volume was 29.1 ± 10.3 mL (range, 2.8-88.0 mL). The crude prostate volume increased with age. The mean corrected prostate volume (divided by body surface area) was significantly higher in patients with atherosclerosis than in those without. However, multiple regression analysis revealed that only age influenced the corrected prostate volume. Age was the only significant influencing factor for prostate volume. We propose applying age estimation using prostate volume for forensic medicine purposes. Because prostate volume was not influenced by concomitant disease, it would be valuable to estimate the decedent's age using the prostate volume.

An in vitro lipid-mixing assay to investigate the fusion between small extracellular vesicles and endosome.

Small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) such as exosomes can efficiently deliver nucleic acids into the cytosol of recipient cells. However, the molecular mechanism of the subsequent fusion with an endosome is not well understood. In this study, we developed an in vitro lipid-mixing assay using an endosomal-mimicking anionic liposome to investigate the fusion between sEVs and endosomes. We observed that the particle number ratio between the sEVs and the anionic liposomes, the diameter of the liposomes, and the buffer pH were all important for fusion activity. Furthermore, we optimized the liposomal lipid composition and demonstrated that incorporating the anionic lipid bis(monooleoylglycero) phosphate and cholesterol was important for efficient and reliable fusion. Our in vitro assay suggested that a decrease in pH increased the fusion activity. Additionally, it was suggested that this pH-dependent increase in the fusion activity was predominantly due to a change in the sEVs. sEVs possess a larger fusion activity than artificial liposomes that mimic the physicochemical properties of exosomes. These results are consistent with those of previous in vivo studies, supporting the physiological relevance of our system. This study provides an important platform for further research to clarify the molecular mechanisms of fusion between sEVs and endosomes.

A fatal case of intoxication from a single use of eutylone: Clinical symptoms and quantitative analysis results.

Eutylone is a synthetic cathinone that is becoming an increasingly popular drug in the US and Europe. This report describes a fatal case of eutylone intoxication. A 32-year-old man went into cardiac arrest after several minutes of abnormal behavior. Rectal temperature was 37.0 °C at 5 h after death. Autopsy revealed no remarkable injuries apart from several small abrasions and no signs of rhabdomyolysis. Toxicological examination revealed only aripiprazole in the therapeutic range and eutylone. The eutylone concentration in cardiac blood was 4290 ng/g. This case is valuable because it involved fatal intoxication from a single use of eutylone and quantitative analysis, whereas most previous reports of eutylone intoxication have involved a mixture of drugs with limited quantitative analysis.

Comparison of the Injury Mechanism between Pregnant and Non-Pregnant Women Vehicle Passengers Using Car Crash Test Dummies.

This paper analyzes the kinematics and applied forces of pregnant and non-pregnant women dummies sitting in the rear seat during a frontal vehicle collision to determine differences in the features of abdominal injuries. Sled tests were conducted at 29 and 48 km/h with pregnant and non-pregnant dummies (i.e., MAMA IIB and Hybrid III). The overall kinematics of the dummy, resultant acceleration at the chest, transrational acceleration along each axis at the pelvis, and loads of the lap belt and shoulder belt were examined. The belt loads were higher for the MAMA IIB than for the Hybrid III because the MAMA IIB had a higher body mass than the Hybrid III. The differences in the lap belt loads were 1119 N at 29 km/h and 1981-2365 N at 48 km/h. Therefore, for restrained pregnant women sitting in the rear seat, stronger forces may apply to the lower abdomen during a high-velocity frontal collision. Our results suggest that for restrained pregnant women sitting in the rear seat, the severity of abdominal injuries and the risk of a negative fetal outcome depend on the collision velocity.

Comparison of Motor Vehicle Collision Injuries between Pregnant and Non-Pregnant Women: A Nationwide Collision Data-Based Study.

We compared the independent predictive factors for moderate and severe injuries, along with characteristics and outcomes of motor vehicle collisions, between pregnant and non-pregnant women. Using 2001-2015 records from the National Automotive Sampling System/Crashworthiness Data System, we selected 736 pregnant women and 21,874 non-pregnant women having any anatomical injuries. Pregnant women showed less severe collisions, fewer fatalities, and less severe injuries in most body regions than non-pregnant women. In pregnant women, the rate of sustaining abbreviated injury scale (AIS) scores 2+ injuries was higher for the abdomen only. For non-pregnant women, rear seat position, airbag deployment, multiple collisions, rollover, force from the left, and higher collision velocity had a positive influence on the likelihood of AIS 2+ injuries, and seatbelt use and force from the rear had a negative influence. There is a need for further development of passive safety technologies for restraint and active safety features to slow down vehicles and mitigate collisions. The influencing factors identified may be improved by safety education. Therefore, simple and effective interventions by health professionals are required that are tailored to pregnant women.

Biomechanical Analysis of Serious Neck Injuries Resulting from Judo.

To establish a basis for initial diagnosis and for proposing preventive measures for the serious neck injuries occasionally experienced by judo practitioners, the biomechanical mechanisms of these injuries were analyzed. Two male judo experts repeatedly threw an anthropomorphic test device (POLAR dummy) using three throwing techniques (Seoi-nage, Osoto-gari, and Ouchi-gari). The dummy's kinematic data were captured using a high-speed digital camera, and the load and moment of the neck were measured with load cells. The neck injury criterion (Nij) and beam criterion were also calculated. In Seoi-nage, the anterior and parietal regions of the dummy's head contacted the tatami (judo mat). Subsequently, most of the body weight was applied, with the neck experiencing the highest compression. However, in Osoto-gari and Ouchi-gari, the occipital region of the dummy's head contacted the tatami. Significantly higher values of both Nij (median 0.68) and beam criterion (median 0.90) corresponding to a 34.7% to 37.1% risk of neck injury with an abbreviated injury scale score ≥2 were shown in Seoi-nage than in either Ouchi-gari or Osoto-gari. In judo, when thrown by the Seoi-nage technique, serious neck injuries can occur as a result of neck compression that occurs when the head contacts the ground.

Exploring the potential for age estimation using facial image sensing technology for postmortem investigation.

In this study, we examine the potential for using face imaging sensing technology in place of a human forensic practitioner to estimate the age of cadavers. We used the age estimation software FieldAnalyst for Signage Ver. 6.0 AW32. To validate the usefulness of its age estimation for living subjects, images of 28 subjects were taken at three angles (+30°, 0°, and -30°) with respect to the horizontal plane, with their eyes open and closed. The highest positive correlation between mean the estimated age and the actual age (y = 1.02x - 0.35, and Spearman's rank correlation coefficient of 0.78, P < 0.001) was obtained when the subjects had their eyes closed and the image was captured at an angle of 0°. The ages of 93% of the subjects were estimated within ±10 years of their actual ages. We then applied this procedure to 61 cadavers with their eyes closed. Facial images were taken at an angle of 0° with respect to the horizontal plane and used to estimate the ages of the cadavers. Although a positive correlation between the actual and mean estimated ages was obtained (y = 1.28x + 0.43, Pearson's correlation coefficient of 0.69, P < 0.001), the mean estimated ages of only 39.3% of the subjects were within ±10 years of their actual ages. It appears that this technology is not accurate enough to use to determine the age of a cadaver. Therefore, medical inspectors with adequate knowledge and experience are still required for postmortem examination.

Factors influencing vehicle passenger fatality have changed over 10 years: a nationwide hospital-based study.

Traffic injury trends have changed with safety developments. To establish effective preventive measures against traffic fatalities, the factors influencing fatalities must be understood. The present study evaluated data from a national medical database to determine the changes in these factors over time, as this has not been previously investigated. This observational study retrospectively analysed data from the Japanese Trauma Data Bank. Vehicle passengers involved in collisions from 2004-2008 and 2016-2017 were included. Data were compared between the two study periods, and between fatal and non-fatal patients within each period. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the factors influencing fatalities. In 2016-2017, patients were older and had lower fatality rates. In 2004-2008, fatalities were more likely to involve older male front-seat passengers with low d-BP, BT, and GCS values, and high AIS of the neck and abdomen. However, in 2016-2017, fatalities were more likely to involve older males with low GCS, high AIS of the abdomen, and positive focused assessment with sonography for trauma results. Our study identified independent factors influencing vehicle passenger fatalities, which will likely continue to evolve with the aging of the population and changing manners of injury.

Differences in severity of injuries between motorcyclist and bicyclist fatalities in single vehicle collisions.

To understand the injury severity of bicyclists and motorcyclists in single vehicle collisions, we performed a retrospective analysis of forensic autopsy cases of 25 motorcyclists and 14 bicyclists performed from 1999 to 2018. Collision details, injury characteristics, and involvement of alcohol were examined. The injury severity between bicyclists and motorcyclists was compared. The average age of victims was 62.3 years. All motorcyclists and no bicyclists wore a helmet. Motorcyclists had more severe injuries than bicyclists (mean Injury Severity Score of 42 and 27, respectively). The motorcyclists had more severe chest injuries but fewer severe facial injuries than bicyclists, owing to the difference in collision velocity or rate of helmet use (p < 0.05). Alcohol was present in the blood of 52.0% of bicyclists but no motorcyclists. The mean blood alcohol concentration of these bicyclists was 1.59 mg/mL. The bicyclists under the influence of alcohol had more severe injuries to neck and upper extremities than non-drunken bicyclists (p < 0.05). Our results may be useful for determining the cause of death and reconstructing the mechanisms of fatal injuries in bicyclists and motorcyclists.

Mechanisms of Negative Fetal Outcome in Frontal Vehicle Colli-Sions Involving Unbelted Pregnant Drivers.

To determine the cause of negative fetal outcomes and the causative mechanism in a frontal collision, we analyzed the kinematics and mechanisms of injuries using an unbelted pregnant dummy, the Maternal Anthropometric Measurement Apparatus dummy, version 2B. Sled tests were performed to recreate frontal impact situations with impact speeds of 13, 26, and 40 km/h. Overall kinematics of the dummy were examined through high-speed video imaging. Quantitative dummy responses-such as time courses of the abdominal pressure, chest deflection, neck injury criteria (Nij), and displacement of the pelvis during impact-were also measured. The maximum abdominal pressure of 103.3 kPa was obtained at an impact speed of 13 km/h. The maximum chest deflection of 38.5 mm and Nij of 0.36 were obtained at an impact speed of 26 km/h. The highest maximum chest deflection of >40.9 mm, Nij of 0.61, and forward pelvis displacement of 478 mm were obtained at an impact speed of 40 km/h. Although the kinematics and mechanism of injuries of the dummy were different for different collision speeds, we found that unbelted pregnant drivers suffer severe or fatal injuries to the fetus even in low-speed collisions.

Autopsy Cases of Motorcyclists Dying of Trauma or Disease.

We aimed to provide a better estimation of health-related motorcycle fatalities by comparing the backgrounds, mechanisms of injuries, and injury severity of victims who died of collision versus those who died of disease. We retrospectively analyzed autopsy records of 29 motorcyclists (mean age, 61.0 ± 21.0 years), none of whom had been driving under the influence of alcohol. Altogether, 22 (75.9%) had died of trauma, and 7 had died of disease. The disease-death victims were significantly older and had a significantly higher prevalence of a medical history compared with those with trauma-related death (100% vs 45.5%, P = 0.01), especially of lifestyle diseases (100% vs 13.6%, P < 0.001) and heart or cerebrovascular disease (57.1% vs 13.6%, P = 0.02). All of the victims who were affected by disease and 50% of trauma-death victims had fallen on the road without a vehicle collision (P = 0.02). Mean Injury Severity Score of the trauma-death group was significantly higher than that of the disease-death group (48.1 vs 9.1, P < 0.001). A forensic autopsy should be performed for all motorcyclist fatalities to diagnose a disease-related death during motorcycle riding. To reduce the incidence of these accidents, motorcyclists should maintain a good physical status.

Autopsy of a patient with alcoholic suffering from cardiopulmonary arrest at the hospital.

A 48-year-old Japanese woman with >10 years history of alcoholic had been falling repeatedly during 1 week before her death. She complained of nausea and did not eat or drink for 2 days. Thereafter, she became drowsy and she was transferred to the hospital. On arrival at the hospital, she had cardiopulmonary arrest and died soon after. Although blood tests showed metabolic ketoacidosis, a hemorrhagic lesion was also found in the brain by computed tomography. To determine the cause of death,. a forensic autopsy was performed on the next day. At autopsy, cerebral contusion, skull fracture, and subdural hemorrhage caused.by the head injury received after falling were found. Histological examination showed fatty changes and Mallory bodies in the liver. There was a marked increase in ketone bodies, especially ß -hydroxybutyrate, in postmortem blood examination. Therefore, the cause of death was diagnosed as alcoholic ketoacidosis. Accurate diagnosis of mild trauma and metabolic disease is difficult by postmortem computed tomography; therefore, autopsy is required for sudden death. In this case, the cause of death and accompanying traumatic lesions that were compatible with her history was clarified by autopsy. Furthermore, because the blood was taken at the time of cardiopulmonary arrest, we.obtained reliable data from the terminal stage of alcoholic ketoacidosis. This case demonstrates the physiological and pathological changes in sudden death of a patient with alcoholic.

Glutathione supplementation to semen extender improves the quality of frozen-thawed canine spermatozoa for transcervical insemination.

The present study was conducted to evaluate whether supplementation of semen extender with glutathione (GSH) can maintain the quality of frozen-thawed canine spermatozoa. Eighteen ejaculates were obtained from 5 dogs and placed in extender (20% egg yolk, Tris, citric acid, lactose, raffinose, antibiotics and 6.5% glycerol) containing 0 (control), 2.5, 5, 7.5 or 10 mM GSH. The samples were cooled to 4 C and then frozen in liquid nitrogen vapor. Motility parameters of the sperm were evaluated at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 12 and 24 h after thawing. Sperm motility was higher in the 5 mM GSH group than in the control or 2.5 and 10 mM GSH groups; this effect was observed at 1 to 24 h after thawing (P < 0.05). The 5 mM GSH group had a higher sperm viability index at 12 and 24 h after thawing compared with the other groups (P < 0.05). Acrosome integrity, evaluated at 4 h after thawing, was greater in two of the GSH-treated groups (5 and 10 mM) compared with the control. Lipid peroxidation (LP) levels immediately after thawing were lower in the 5 and 10 mM GSH groups compared with the control, while those at 12 h after thawing did not differ significantly. Frozen-thawed semen in the 5 mM GSH group was used for transcervical insemination of 4 bitches, resulting in delivery of 5 puppies from 2 bitches. These results indicate that supplementation of semen extender with 5 mM GSH was effective in improving motility, longevity and acrosomal integrity and inhibiting LP levels in post-thaw canine spermatozoa, without any adverse impacts on full-term development after transcervical insemination.