Nihon hōigaku zasshi = The Japanese journal of legal medicine
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Nihon Hoigaku Zasshi · Feb 1994
Comparative Study[The role of haptoglobin in asphyxia mechanism (II)--Acute drowning and hanging].
We examined changes in plasma during drowning and hanging to determine the mechanism of acute asphyxia. Rabbits were used for the acute drowning and hanging experiments (using artificial sea water or fresh water for the former and complete or incomplete hanging for the latter). The plasma was examined for changes in haptoglobin and total protein contents. ⋯ The changes in the haptoglobin level caused by hanging were similar to those that occur in acute asphxia when the air passage is completely obstructed and in subacute asphxia when the air passage is strangulated. Totally different and unique patterns were seen in association with drowning in comparison with obstructive asphyxia. These results suggested that the pathological physiology of acute drowning is different from that of fatal neck compression or other types of acute asphyxia.
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Nihon Hoigaku Zasshi · Oct 1993
Review[Recent advances in the study on the mechanism of brain injury].
A cerebral contusion and DAI (diffuse axonal injury) are practically very important in a medico-legal case of the closed head injury. In this paper, we will report the epitome of the recent advances in the study on the mechanism of them. Coup contusion can be mainly attributed to the skull inbending and/or the skull fracture which develop in the impact region. ⋯ As to the brain injuries which include a cerebral contusion and DAI, two theories are reported. Centripetal progression of strains to the core of a brain injuries the brain (Ommaya). Natural frequency of impact determines the nature of resulting injury to the brain (Willinger).
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Nihon Hoigaku Zasshi · Jun 1993
Hymenoptera sting anaphylaxis: detection and clinical significance of individual bee and wasp venoms specific IgE and IgG4 antibodies.
In Japan, an average of 37 fatalities per year related to bee or wasp stings were reported during the years 1979-1988. To confirm fatal anaphylaxis serologically, we measured bee or wasp venom specific IgE (sIgE) and IgG4 (sIgG4) antibodies in the sera of 22 patients who visited hospitals with either allergic or anaphylactic reactions after bee or wasp stings by using Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay. Specific IgE or IgG4 antibodies against Polistes apachus (Paper wasp) and/or a mixture of Polistes annularis, P. exceramans, P. fuscatus, and P. metricus venoms of Polistes genus were detected in 11 patients and the detection frequencies were the highest among positive antibodies against bee or wasp venoms. ⋯ Whereas, the detection frequency of sIgG4 was high (67-100%) in grade 2-4 patients. Especially high levels of sIgE and sIgG4 were detected in patients experiencing the most severe clinical reactions. The detection of venom specific IgE and IgG4 antibodies appears to be useful when determining bee or wasp stings as the cause of fatalities.
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Nihon Hoigaku Zasshi · Apr 1993
Case Reports[An autopsy case of traumatic middle cerebral artery occlusion].
An autopsy case of middle cerebral artery occlusion following closed head injury is reported. A 16-year-old laborer received head injuries in a motorcycle-automobile accident. On first examination at the time of admission, semi-coma, left-sided hemiplegia and other focal cerebral signs were evident. ⋯ On the 4th day, angiography showed tapering occlusion of the right internal carotid artery at the top of the 3rd cervical vertebra. The patient died from the cerebral infarct 7 days after injury. At autopsy, thrombotic obstruction at the origin of the right middle cerebral artery due to a dissecting aneurysm was found.
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Nihon Hoigaku Zasshi · Oct 1992
Case ReportsA fatal case of a single stab wound penetrating the small, narrow atlantoaxial interspace.
A 73-year-old woman was found dead with a small wound on the nape of her neck. The wound was oval in shape, measuring about 0.6 cm in length along the major axis, with a slightly irregular margin. The wound injured the medulla oblongata through the atlantoaxial interspace, and reached the left vertebral artery. ⋯ The wound depth was 5 cm in length, with the direction of the wound canal from posterior-lower right to anterior-upper left. The size and appearance of the wound corresponded to those of the horizontal section of a skewer used by the assailant. Such a fatal case due to a single stabbing of the medullar oblongata by the chance gliding of a skewer through the small, narrow atlantoaxial interspace is considered to be exceptional.