The proof of flat-line scalp EEGs of brain dead patients by an automatic EEG analysis system.

Scalp electroencephalograms (EEGs) of brain dead patients are macroscopically flat under 7 or 10 microV/mm electroencephalograph sensitivity, but significant noises are detected in EEGs under 2 microV/mm sensitivity, interfering with the analysis. EEGs of 20 brain dead patients (17-76 years old) were therefore analyzed quantitatively as equivalent electric potentials in frequency bands delta, theta, alpha and beta using the automatic EEG analysis system developed in Kansai Medical University. The equivalent electric potentials in each band were about or less than 1 microV, which is used as a criterion of judgment of flat-line EEGs or brain death. Then, macroscopically flat EEGs of 12 comatose patients including infants (3-67 years old) were analyzed by the system, confirming their brain death. Thus, the automatic EEG analysis system could be used as a supporting tool to confirm flat-line EEGs of brain dead patients. ATAMAP II for Windows software was also evaluated.

Identification of animal species using the partial sequences in the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene.

This study investigated a PCR direct sequencing method for species identification by analyzing partial sequences in the mitochondrial 16S rRNA genes of many animal species amplified with universal primers. Samples from 182 vertebrates and 103 invertebrates were analyzed, and the sequences could be obtained in 182 and 72 species, respectively. The sequence divergence was sufficient to identify the species at the level of genus with the aid of the GenBank database and the BLAST tool. This method could be a powerful tool for animal species identification, especially in forensic cases in which many unknown biological samples should be analyzed.

ABO and Rh phenotyping by absorption-elution technique using cerebral dura maters.

Phenotyping of ABO and Rh blood groups was performed by the absorption-elution technique using cerebral dura maters. For the ABO system, the cerebral dura maters extracted from nine autopsied cadavers including two burnt bodies, two putrefied corpses, and one half-mummified and one skeletal structure were tested with commercially available Wako antisera (animal polyclonal antibodies). At the same time, blood, fingernails or bones were sampled. In all the cases, the phenotypes could be typed correctly and more clearly with the use of 2 x 2 x 0.3 mm dura maters (0.6 mm thick dura maters were sliced to 0.3 mm thickness) than the phenotyping using 2 x 2 mm fingernails or 2 x 2 x 1 mm bones. For the Rh system, the cerebral dura maters extracted from eight autopsied cadavers within 2 days after death including two burnt bodies were tested with commercially available Ortho Bioclone anti-C, anti-c, anti-E and anti-e sera (human monoclonal antibodies), and Ortho anti-D serum (human polyclonal antibody). The eluate of anti-D antibody was needed to perform the indirect anti-globulin test (Ortho Coombs serum). At the same time, blood was sampled. In all the cases, the Rh blood groups of cerebral dura maters were in agreement with those of blood.