The presence of mu-, delta-, and kappa-opioid receptors in human heart tissue.

Functional evidence suggests that the stimulation of peripheral and central opioid receptors (ORs) is able to modulate heart function. Moreover, selective stimulation of either cardiac or central ORs evokes preconditioning and, therefore, protects the heart against ischemic injury. However, anatomic evidence for OR subtypes in the human heart is scarce. Human heart tissue obtained during autopsy after sudden death was examined immunohistochemically for mu- (MOR), kappa- (KOR), and delta- (DOR) OR subtypes. MOR and DOR immunoreactivity was found mainly in myocardial cells, as well as on sparse individual nerve fibers. KOR immunoreactivity was identified predominantly in myocardial cells and on intrinsic cardiac adrenergic (ICA) cell-like structures. Double immunofluorescence confocal microscopy revealed that DOR colocalized with the neuronal marker PGP9.5, as well as with the sensory neuron marker calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP). CGRP-immunoreactive (IR) fibers were detected either in nerve bundles or as sparse individual fibers containing varicose-like structures. Our findings offer the first hint of an anatomic basis for the existence of OR subtypes in the human heart by demonstrating their presence in CGRP-IR sensory nerve fibers, small cells with an eccentric nucleus resembling ICA cells, and myocardial cells. Taken together, this suggests the role of opioids in both the neural transmission and regulation of myocardial cell function.

Cases of non-fatal chop wounds to the head / Przypadki obrazen rabanych glowy bez skutku smiertelnego.

Chop wounds, due to the fact that they are usually located on the head and are inflicted by a weapon or an object with a large mass, usually lead to death from an extensive damage to the skull and brain structures. Non-lethal chop wounds to the head are found very rarely in forensic practice. The following paper presents three cases, in which the occurrence of wounds has been attributed to the use of an axe. In the first case, the sustained injuries actually resulted in a life-threatening condition. The injuries in the second case bore attributes of exposure to direct danger to life and health within the meaning of the relevant article of the Criminal Code. The third case can be considered interesting, not only because of the nature of the suffered post-traumatic lesions, but also in view of the circumstances of the death of the victim occurring later on in life.

[Hangings in the material of Department of Forensic Medicine, Nicolaus Copernicus University Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, in the years 2000-2010]. / Powieszenia w materialach Zakladu Medycyny Sadowej CM UMK w Bydgoszczy w latach 2000-2010.

This study presents an analysis of suicides based on autopsy protocols from the years 2000-2010. Out of all autopsies conducted at Department of Forensic Medicine, Nicolaus Copernicus University Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, 477 cases resulted from hanging. During this period the majority of hangings were recorded in 2010 (61 cases). The parameters assessed in this study included age, sex, post-mortem blood ethanol concentration and place of death of the victims. The age range of the deceased was similar in the group of men and women. Males represented the majority of victims of hanging (89%); only 11% of all the victims were females. The authors observed differences in blood alcohol level of the victims in association with their sex. Not present ethanol was noted in approx. 42% of men and 71% of women. More than 65% cases of suicide hangings were encountered in urban areas, in living quarters and outbuildings.

Fragments of hydrophilic polymer coating as an embolic material - rare complication and potential cause of death. / Fragmenty hydrofilowych powlok polimerowych jako material zatorowy ­ rzadkie powiklanie i potencjalna przyczyna zgonu.

The most common complications of percutaneous coronary interventions and other endovascular procedures include minor hemorrhage, hematoma, or infection at the insertion site [1]. Much more serious ones include damage to the vessel wall, dissection, shock from contrast administration, acute kidney injury, myocardial infarction [2] and ischemic stroke [3]. Ischemic complications can be caused by an embolic incident due to a thrombus formation or detachment of atherosclerotic plaque fragments [3]. A rarely diagnosed complication is ischemia caused by microembolisms from the material covering the equipment inserted into the vessel - hydrophilic polymer coating (HPC)[4]. We present an interesting case of HPC revealed in coronary vessels within myocardial preparations taken in forensic post-mortem examination conducted at the Department of Forensic Medicine in Bydgoszcz (L.dz. 676/19). This article raises the issue of clinical implications and forensic aspects.

Search for association between suicide and 5-HTT, MAOA and DAT polymorphism in Polish males.

A better understanding of genetic determinants of suicidal behavior might be very useful in clinical practice. The objectives of the present study were to answer the question whether there is an association between functional polymorphic forms of 5-HTT, MAOA or DAT and suicidality, and to examine whether the combination of functional alleles in 5-HTT, MAOA and DAT genes would predict a predisposition to suicidal behavior. Functional polymorphisms in 5-HTT, MAOA and DAT genes were investigated in 66 male suicide completers and 51 male control subjects from the Polish population. There were no significant differences in the allele and genotype frequencies between the case and control group. In the individual genotype tests, examination of the distribution differences of each genotype showed that genotype (3;12-12;S-S;9-10) differed between the suicide victims and control subjects. This genotype existed only in the control sample and appeared with the frequency of 8% (p = 0.03).

[Negligence in a care and sudden death in children]. / Niezachowanie nalezytej starannosci w opiece a gwaltowne zgony dzieci.

Deaths in children, and particularly sudden deaths, are extremely emotionally difficult experiences for parents, caregivers and the general public. The primary objective of this study was to present negligence in care as a risk factor of sudden deaths in children. The second goal was to estimate a chance of avoiding such tragic deaths. The analyzed material was provided by protocols of body inspection and postmortem examination of children below 15 years of age examined in the years 1992-2007, where the circumstances surrounding death suggested an accident. The majority of victims were male and the greatest number of death was noted in preschool and school children. The most frequent cause of death was accidental drowning and cerebrocranial trauma due to a road traffic accident. Several homicide cases were also observed. After the analysis of the material, the authors concluded that negligence in care is a significant risk factor in sudden deaths in children.

[Determination of antidepressants in biological materials originating from victims of suicide by hanging]. / Oznaczanie leków przeciwdepresyjnych w materiale biologicznym pobranym od osób, których zgon byl skutkiem samobójstwa przez powieszenie.

The report presents the results of determinations of medication levels in biological materials collected from victims of suicide by hanging. The analysis included cases autopsied at Forensic Medicine Department in Bydgoszcz in the years 2005-2006. The authors observed that of 928 postmortem examinations, suicide by hanging accounted for 7.8% of cases; in this group, 11.1% victims were female and 88.9% were male. The most numerous group included individuals aged 20-29 years (20.7%), while the smallest group consisted of suicide victims below 20 years of age (8.3%). A total of 23.6% of individuals were under the influence of antidepressant drugs at the moment of death. The detected antidepressants included phenotiazine derivatives and such tricyclic antidepressants as amitryptyline, chloropromazine, clomipramine, levomepromazine, mianserin, promazine and thioridazine. Based on the above investigations, 11.1% of suicide victims may be said to have taken antidepressants in the past, but to be under no influence of such medications at the time of death.

[Deaths of children in infancy, with particular emphasis on neonaticide in materials collected by Department of Forensic Medicine in Bydgoszcz in the years 1992 to 2006]. / Zgony dzieci w wieku noworodkowym ze szczególnym uwzglednieniem dzieciobójstwa w materialach Zakladu Medycyny Sadowej w Bydgoszczy w latach 1992-2006.

The issue of sudden deaths of children in the infant period is presented in the report. The analysis included a total of 54 cases of sudden deaths of infants. Death caused by a disease, neonaticide and intrauterine necrosis were observed. In the group of disease-associated deaths, the most common cause of death was pneumonia. The most common mechanism of neonaticide was strangulation.

[The effect of the duration of corpse immersion on the occurrence of selected morphological findings]. / Wplyw czasu przebywania zwlok w wodzie na pojawienie sie wybranych zmian morfologicznych.

The report presents a method of estimation the duration of corpse immersion based on fully developed morphological findings. The authors demonstrated that the duration of body immersion affects the occurrence of marked putrid color, separation of hair, the "washerwoman's skin" effect on the macerated fingertips, separation of fingernails, fimbriated separation of epidermis involving the feet, lack of blood in the heart ventricles and putrid encephalomalacia. The report further stated that the duration of immersion does not necessarily affect the occurrence of marbling, corpse distension, separation of epidermis from the body surface, detachment of fingernails from fingernail bed, fimbriated separation of epidermis involving the hand, the "washerwoman's skin" effect on the toes, detachment of toenails from toenail bed and the presence of over 500 ml of pleural putrefied "effusion".

[Offender's health state and his typing process]. / Ocena stanu zdrowia, a typowanie sprawcy przestepstwa.

The problem of offender typing has been repeatedly discussed in criminalistic literature. The inference about physical health or psychophysical health of an unknown offender may significantly accelerate his identification. To achieve this objective, both serological as well as bacteriological tests have been used. The considerable progress in natural sciences indicates a possibility of employing genetic research to define the offender's health state.

[Using X-ray results in head gunshot wounds]. / Wykorzystanie badan radiologicznych w ranach postrzalowych glowy.

The authors draw attention to the importance of X-ray examinations in craniocerebral gunshot injuries. A life-saving neurosurgical operation of a victim resulted in changes occurring not only in the soft tissue, but also in the bony structures of the cranium, which practically rendered impossible any assessment of and differentiation between the location of entrance and exit wounds during autopsy. The assessment of preoperative head X-ray demonstrated the presence of characteristic crater-like bone defects, what allowed for determining the location of the entrance and exit wounds. The medico-legal examination of bone defects indicated that the entrance wound was situated on the left side, contrary to information provided by hospital medical records.

[Bullet embolism]. / Przemieszczanie sie pocisków w swietle naczyn.

Bullet embolism is an uncommon consequence of penetrating firearm injuries, rarely observed in everyday forensic practice. The present report presents two cases of gunshot bullet embolism. The first examined case is a contact gunshot wound with the entry wound situated at the back of the victim. The wound channel terminated in the thoracic aorta, where from, in keeping with the blood flow, the bullet was transported into the left common iliac artery. The second case pertains to a gunshot in the head, with the bullet shot from a point blank range. The wound channel had a downward course and terminated in the superior vena cava at the level of the pericardium, where from the bullet was transported down the inferior vena cava to the right femoral vein.

[The medico-legal analysis of drowning in the materials collected by Department of Forensic Medicine in Bydgoszcz in the years 1992 to 2002]. / Sadowo-lekarska analiza utoniec w materialach Zakladu Medycyny Sadowej w Bydgoszczy w latach 1992-2002.

The report presents a medico-legal and toxicological analysis of cases of drowning. Within eleven years, 184 cases of deaths by drowning were observed in our Department. The majority of victims died because of a tragic accident, while in three cases death was a result of suicide. Toxicological observations showed that most victims were under the influence of alcohol. In isolated cases, blood carboxyhemoglobin and delta9tetrahydrocanabinnol were detected.

[Comparative analysis of suicides in the Bydgoszcz region in the years 1977-1991 and 1991-2006]. / Analiza porównawcza samobójstw na terenie województwa kujawsko-pomorskiego w latach 1977-1991 oraz 1991-2006.

An increasing number of suicide cases has been observed in everyday forensic practice. The same view is discernible in the perception of the general public. Data concerning this subject from the years 1991 to 2006 have been compiled and compared to the earlier investigations from the years 1977 to 1991. The comparative analysis allowed the authors to show a relatively reliable picture of suicides in the Bydgoszcz region. Many false beliefs and myths pertaining to the subject were disproved. The authors also presented the evolution in the approach of penal legislators to the issue of suicide.

[Accidents at work as an effect of lack or inadequate inspection /supervision of employees/workers (inform study)]. / Smiertelne wypadki przy pracy jako wynik braku lub nienalezytej kontroli pracowników (doniesienie z badan).

The analysis of available statistical data and the results of research studies show that accidents at work most commonly have non-criminal character but are an effect of unhappy coincidence or culpable behavior of the victim of the accident. The analysis of data from the years 1982 to 2007 collected in Department of Forensic Medicine CM in Bydgoszcz allowed the authors to illustrate the phenomenon in the Bydgoszcz district. In total, 12 500 cases were investigated, among which 175 cases of fatal accidents at work were found. The types of accidents and state of sobriety of the victims were assessed.

[A case of homicide by ergotamine poisoning]. / Przypadek zabójstwa przez zatrucie ergotamina.

The report presents a rare case of homicide. A mummified body of a man was found bricked up in the kitchen. Toxicological examination revealed high concentration levels of ergotamine in the internal organs and blood.

[Bacterial nosocomial infections in the material of the Chair of Forensic Medicine, Collegium Medicum, Medical University in Bydgoszcz in the years 2000-2006]. / Bakteryjne zakazenia szpitalne w latach 2000-2006 w materialach wlasnych Katedry Medycyny Sadowej CM UMK w Bydgoszczy.

The ever increasing number of legal claims and lawsuits associated with nosocomial infections has become a serious problem. The present authors analyzed the medicolegal opinions regarding nosocomial bacterial infections issued by the faculty of the Bydgoszcz Department of Forensic Medicine in the years 2000-2006. Within the evaluated period, the investigators observed an increase in the number of court cases concerning hospital-acquired infections. The most frequent pathogen was Staphylococcus aureus.

[Gunshot wounds in the material of Forensic Medicine Institute, Collegium Medicum, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Bydgoszcz]. / Obrazenia postrzalowe w materialach Katedry i Zakladu Medycyny Sadowej CM UMK w Bydgoszczy z lat 1995-2005.

The Medical Forensic Institute, Collegium Medicum, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Bydgoszcz annually conducts approximately 600 autopsies. Gunshot wounds constitute only a small percentage of that number. The authors of this work have conducted an analysis of autopsy protocols prepared at the Institute in the years 1995-2005. During this period, 48 people were found dead as a result of gunshot wounds. This number constitutes 0.66% of all autopsies conducted within that time-frame. The objective of this study was an attempt at assessing the character of this phenomenon with due consideration given to the following parameters: age, sex, sobriety, circumstances and locality of the event, as well as season of the year, at comparing the results with data found in the literature on the subject.

[The structure of homicides in Bydgoszcz area in the years 1992-2002]. / Struktura zabójstw w regionie bydgoskim w latach 1992-2002.

The authors presents an analysis of homicides based on autopsy material collected at the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Bydgoszcz in the years 1992-2002 and the comparison of the thus obtained results with the results for the years 1986-1991. In approximately 3500 analyzed postmortem examinations, this type of death accounted for 5.6% of cases. The majority of victims were men, mostly 31-50 years of age, accounting for 69% of cases. In the compared periods, the authors noted an approximately 20% increase in this type of crimes, especially apparent in rural areas. The number of homicides with firearms and serial killings was also increased. The most common injuries were stab wounds. The number of drunken perpetrators was also increased.

2,4,6-Trimethyl-N-[3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]benzenesulfonamide increases calcium influx in lipopolisaccharide-pre-treated arteries.

It has been demonstrated that 2,4,6-trimethyl-N-[3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]benzenesulfonamide (m-3M3FBS) activates phospholipase C (PLC) and stimulates apoptosis in smooth muscle cells, which may increase vascular reactivity. The primary aim of the present study was to evaluate the physiological effects of the direct stimulation of PLC by m-3M3FBS on vascular smooth muscle reactivity in arteries pre-treated with lipopolysaccharides (LPS) as a model of septic shock. Experiments were performed on isolated and perfused tail arteries of Wistar rats. The contraction force in the model was measured by assessing increases in perfusion pressure at a constant flow. Parameters describing the concentration-response curves (CRCs) obtained for phenylephrine and arginine-vasopressin in the presence of LPS confirmed a decrease in vessels reactivity. In comparison with the controls, m-3M3FBS treatment caused a significant increase in LPS-untreated as well as pre-treated arteries. Furthermore, in the presence of m-3M3FBS, calcium influx from intra- as well as extracellular calcium stores was significantly higher for LPS-untreated and pre-treated arteries. The results of the present study suggested that m-3M3FBS significantly increased the reactivity of vascular smooth muscle cells pre-treated with LPS by increasing the calcium influx from intra- and extracellular calcium stores. Further studies investigating this mechanism are required to evaluate whether this pathway may be a potential therapeutic strategy to treat sepsis.