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Abstract: Previous studies have reported that the concentration of thyroglobulin (Tg) in heart blood is high in cases of asphyxia by neck compression such as hanging, strangulation, and throttling and in those with traumatic injuries to the head. However, we have experienced cases in which we observed high Tg concentrations without such findings. Therefore, we analyzed the influence of postmortem changes on Tg concentration. Of 253 forensic autopsies conducted at our institution, we analyzed 44 cases without the findings presumed to increase Tg concentration. We collected right heart blood (RHB) and left heart blood (LHB) separately and measured Tg concentrations in each. The Tg concentration of the RHB in 19 (43%) cases and that of the LHB in 10 (23%) cases was higher than the standard value (200ng/ml) obtained in previous studies. In some cases, we found large differences between the Tg concentrations of RHB and LHB. We suggest that Tg concentration can increase above the standard value and that a difference between the Tg concentration of RHB and LHB arises as a result of postmortem changes. Consequently, if there is a large difference between the Tg concentration of RHB and LHB, the concentration of Tg should not be used as a basis for forensic diagnosis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We measured concentrations of sodium (Na), chloride (Cl), calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg) in pleural effusion from forensic autopsy cases to examine whether they were useful for a diagnosis of drowning. We analyzed a total of 51 cases (15 seawater drowning, 10 freshwater drowning, and 26 non-drowning), and determined the following reference values. If the concentration of Na or Cl is under 65mEq/l, a diagnosis of freshwater drowning can be made. If the concentration of Na is higher than 175mEq/l, or that of Cl is higher than 155mEq/l, or that of Ca is higher than 16mg/dl, or that of Mg is higher than 15mg/dl, a diagnosis of seawater drowning can be made. We recommend that pleural effusion from the left and the right thoracic cavities should be collected and analyzed separately because large differences may be observed between each side in the case of drowning. If one side corresponds to the reference value for seawater or freshwater drowning and the other side does not, a diagnosis of drowning can still be made according to the obtained value. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: An old man was found dead in a rice paddy with his face down in the water. His right forearm and hand were severely injured and the shapes of injuries were unusual. It was initially suspected that the injuries had been caused by a cultivator placed at the site. However, they proved to be postmortem injuries because vital reactions were not observed. The skin was widely torn away. Some edges of the injuries looked like a bite mark and other parts looked like scratches. There were many parallel injuries on the right forearm and hand and footmark-like injuries on the right hand. They were probably caused by wild animals. Judging from the sizes and shapes of the footprint, bite marks and scratches, we estimated that the animal which caused the injuries was weasels. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In Sapporo city, located in the northern district of Japan, it is very difficult to estimate the time of death of decomposed or skeletonized bodies found outdoors in cold season (November–April) because postmortem changes are markedly retarded in the season compared with warm season (May–October), and the bodies are often damaged and skeletonized by carnivorous animals such as wild dogs and foxes. However, they cannot damage the brain in the cranium. The brain is mainly damaged by fly larvae. In Sapporo city, we can estimate that the time of death of a cadaver found outdoors in the cold season is in the beginning of November or before if fly larvae hatched in autumn exist on the cadaver, and that the time of death is in the beginning of November or after if fly larvae hatched in autumn do not exist and most of the brain remains in the cranium. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• Interspecific hybridization changed carotenoid synthesis and increased β-carotene. • Interspecific hybridization induced the conversion of β-cryptoxanthin to haskap. • β-cryptoxanthin concentration in haskap strains was below the quantification limit. Carotenoids are important color pigments that contribute to human health. Haskap (Lonicera caerulea subsp. edulis), a shrub mainly distributed in Hokkaido, produces violet-blue berries low in carotenoid amount. We have conducted interspecific hybridization between Miyama-uguisukagura (Lonicera gracilipes var. glandulosa) and haskap to obtain interspecific hybrids for improving fruit quality. In this study, we compared four carotenoid concentrations in fruits using liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) to reveal carotenoid accumulation changes by interspecific hybridization. β-Carotene was the main carotenoid, and the concentration in interspecific hybrids (0.49–0.77 mg/100 g FW) was higher than Miyama-uguisukagura (0.37 mg/100 g FW) and haskap (0.25–0.35 mg/100 g FW). β-Cryptoxanthin concentration was below the quantification limit in haskap strains; however, we could quantify β-cryptoxanthin in interspecific hybrids. β-Cryptoxanthin concentration in Miyama-uguisukagura fruits and the interspecific hybrid strain that contained higher β-cryptoxanthin tended to increase during maturation, although others did not increase. Our study revealed that interspecific hybridization changed carotenoid biosynthesis, increased β-carotene, and induced the conversion of β-cryptoxanthin to haskap. This study proposes a strategy to expand color variation by interspecific hybridization in fruit breeding programs and provides novel materials to analyze the "vigor" phenomenon in hybrid plants. Carotenoid accumulation patterns differ by strain. The interspecific hybrid strain that contains higher β-cryptoxanthin, tended to increase β-cryptoxanthin concentration during maturing. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thiosulfate measurement is crucial to diagnosis of hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S) poisoning in forensic toxicology. Although GC–MS method is currently regarded as a standard thiosulfate measurement, it requires complicated sample preparation prior to analysis. This study presents a simple, rapid, and highly sensitive method for the quantitative analysis of serum thiosulfate by using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). This method is based on selected reaction monitoring and has high sensitivity with a lower quantification limit of 0.5 μM. Precision and accuracy of this method meet the basic requirements for quantitative analysis (intra- and inter-day tests have a relative standard deviation of ⩽10.4%; range of analytical recovery is 94.3–102.6%). On the measurements of serum thiosulfate by our developed method, a thiosulfate concentration as 57.5 μM was detected clearly in the H 2 S poisoning case comparing to the non poisoning case in which only a trace amount of thiosulfate was observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose We retrospectively evaluated the cerebro-spinal fluid (CSF) CT density at the lateral ventricle to compare the postmortem intervals in cadavers. Materials and methods The number of cadavers enrolled in this study was 189 (male 120, female 69). According to the estimated postmortem time, the cadavers were divided into 13 groups (postmortem day 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 7, 10, 14, 21, 30), and were also re-grouped into 3 groups according to the postmortem time-width: group A (postmortem day 0.5–2.5), group B (day 3–7), and group C (day 10–30). Comparisons between the CSF density and estimated postmortem time were also analyzed. Results The CSF density was around 20 HU up to day 2.5, and it increased gradually after day 3. Day 3 and 4 presented higher CSF density than day 1 and 1.5 (p < 0.05). Day 7 presented higher CSF density than day 3 (p < 0.05). According to the postmortem time-width, the CSF density increased with postmortem time (p < 0.05). The simple linear regression equations presented negative correlation between CSF density and estimated postmortem time, and R 2 was 0.119. Conclusion The CSF density increased, but not linearly, according to the postmortem time, and the 3rd postmortem day was the earliest time allowing the difference to be detected. The CSF density needs further evaluation to enable estimation of the postmortem time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We report a case of a juvenile male with muscle rigidity caused by cerebral palsy who experienced intraoperative sudden death due to pulmonary fat embolism after multiple muscle-release and tenotomy of the bilateral lower limbs. Data were obtained through review of the surgical and anesthesia records, as well as from autopsy and histopathological examination. All surgical procedures were performed within the same operation, beginning with the right lower limb and then proceeding with the left lower limb, with application of a pneumatic tourniquet to avoid intraoperative hemorrhage. Slight changes in the hemodynamics were noticed after release of the right tourniquet. Further, sudden onset of hypotension, severe bradycardia, and a marked decrease in percutaneously monitored oxygen saturation occurred just after release of the left tourniquet when the left limb was raised for casting. The patient died despite immediate and vigorous cardiopulmonary resuscitation. At autopsy performed 20h after death, examination of the lungs revealed a pale surface, slight edema, and obvious fat droplets in the vessels at the cut surfaces. Histopathological examination with fat staining was notable for the presence of pulmonary fat embolism. These results suggest that restoration of venous return after removal of the tourniquet combined with massive fat embolism from dead spaces was the likely cause of death. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]