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In this study we assessed the BDNF promoter IV methylation state of a large genomic region surrounding promoter IV and evaluated BDNF transcript IV expression from prefrontal cortex and striatum of 15 schizophrenic and 15 control subjects. In prefrontal cortex, a single CpG site at -93, appeared to be undermethylated in patients׳group. BDNF mRNA levels in frontal cortex and striatum were variable among individuals but did not associate with disease.

The authors analyzed the injury pattern of 385 victims of fall from a height which underwent a complete autopsy, with the objective to investigate whether it was possible to construct a mathematical model to be used for height of the fall diagnosis. The cases were selected and enrolled according to a balanced stratification of the heights of the fall, allowing a subdivision into seven classes consisting of 55 subjects each: 6 m or less, 9 m, 12 m, 15 m, 18 m, 21 m, 24 m or more (maximum 36 m). For each case anthropologic and necroscopic data was collected and analyzed to obtain a standardized description of the injury pattern was obtained, dividing the body into 4 major anatomical areas (Head, Thorax, Abdomen, Skeleton), each of them further divided in 5 major organs. Every organ was finally divided into 5 objective degrees of injury. Statistical analysis was performed on all the available data using IBM SPSS Statistics 20, to test the performance of the “injury pattern assessment table” in the diagnosis of the height of the fall and to develop a related mathematical model. Our findings confirm that the height of the fall is significantly associated with age, weight of the body and the injury pattern. An Injury Pattern Assessment Table and two mathematical models which correlates the height of the fall with analyzed variables are presented.