Postmortem changes in porcine eyes on computed tomography images.

Porcine eyes were examined using postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) under controlled postmortem time and temperature conditions to assess the mechanisms and timing of changes in ocular structure. Eight porcine heads were halved, and PMCT scans were conducted from postmortem interval (PMI) days 0 to 13. CT images were obtained to evaluate the vitreous volumes, vitreous CT values, axial lengths of the eyes, lens dislocation, and intraocular gas.

"Shock kidney-like Appearance": Objective evaluation of renal color changes in hemorrhagic shock deaths.

Severe bleeding due to various traumatic injuries can cause hemorrhagic shock, which is difficult to diagnose using forensic medicine. Therefore, we defined the difference in color between the renal cortex and medulla observed in hemorrhagic shock deaths as "shock kidney-like appearance (SKLA)" and digitally analyzed the color difference with a digital camera and color analysis software. The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate a method for objectively determining SKLA and improve the accuracy of forensic diagnosis.

Massive bleeding from an infected pseudoaneurysm in an arteriovenous graft that resulted in death: A case report.

We report an autopsy of a death due to a ruptured infected pseudoaneurysm; a man in his 70s was found dead with massive bleeding from the shunt of his right arm. Autopsy and pathological examination revealed that the cause of death was hemorrhagic shock due to rupture of an infected pseudoaneurysm. Ruptured aneurysms and pseudoaneurysm are a complication of dialysis, and death is rare because they are treated immediately on discovery.

Postmortem changes in the eye on computed tomography images.

Background: Ocular tension decreases with increasing postmortem interval (PMI) and eyes collapse with extreme progression of postmortem change; however, time-related changes in postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) findings have not been clarified. This study aimed to quantitatively evaluate the vitreous volume and CT values of the vitreous body to clarify time-related changes in PMCT.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed PMCT images of the eyes of subjects who underwent autopsy at our institution between July 2023 and February 2024.

Postmortem contrast-enhanced computed tomography via direct large-vessel puncture.

The aim of this study was to assess the usefulness of postmortem contrast-enhanced CT (PMeCT) performed via direct large-vessel puncture when routine postmortem CT suggests a vascular lesion as the cause of death. PMeCT was performed in 9 cases (4 male, 5 female) with a mean age of 76 years (range 52-92) at the time of death. The mean time elapsed since death was 29.

Objective evaluation of changes in serum transmittance over time using a portable color digitizer.

Forensic pathologists empirically understand that postmortem changes can decrease serum transparency and change its color. Such changes are potential indicators for estimating postmortem intervals; however, reports on color changes focusing on postmortem changes in serum are scarce. To elucidate the effect of postmortem intervals on serum levels, we quantitatively evaluated and investigated the relationship between serum color and time using venous blood samples obtained from three healthy male volunteers.

Objective Evaluation of Oral and Pharyngeal Areas in Autopsy Cases of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome via Postmortem CT.

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) can cause sudden death during sleep. Previous findings have suggested that OSAS development is related to maxillofacial morphology. Evaluation of facial morphology can determine the risk of developing the disease, and establishing an objective method to assess the underlying etiology of OSAS-related death would be advantageous.

Postmortem kinetic CT of the cervical spine and an objective index for diagnosing anterior disc space widening: A retrospective utility analysis.

Postmortem CT has limitations in identifying cervical spine injuries. Injuries at the level of the intervertebral disc (anterior disc space widening), such as rupture of the anterior longitudinal ligament or intervertebral disc, may be difficult to distinguish from normal images depending on the imaging position. We performed postmortem kinetic CT of the cervical spine in the extended position in addition to CT in the neutral position.

Objective evaluation of chest findings in infants by postmortem computed tomography.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to review the findings of computed tomography (CT) performed early postmortem on infants and to clarify the postmortem CT lung findings that occur in the absence of abnormal histopathological findings.

Materials And Methods: From July 2016 to March 2022, 72 infants were autopsied with postmortem CT (41 boys 31 girls, aged 0-36 (mean 8.2) months).

The usefulness of measuring n-butyric acid concentration as a new indicator of blood decomposition in forensic autopsy.

In forensic medicine, although various alcohols have been reported as indicators of decomposition in collected blood, no studies have examined short-chain fatty acids as indicators. In this study, the blood n-butyric acid concentration was quantified, and the association between n-butyric acid and decomposition was investigated to determine whether the detection of n-butyric acid could be a new indicator of decomposition. Among the forensic autopsies performed from 2016 to 2018 in our laboratory, the cases were divided into decomposed (n = 20) and non-decomposed (n = 20) groups based on macroscopic findings.

Objective skull fracture evaluation by using the postmortem 3D-CT skull fracture score in fatal falls.

Purpose: We evaluated the usefulness of skull fracture analysis using three-dimensional computed tomography skull fracture scores (3DCT-SFs) in cases of fatal falls.

Materials And Methods: From April 2016 to September 2020, 46 cases of fatal falls from great heights (33 males, 13 females; mean age: 52.7 (range: 18-89) years) were examined using routine postmortem CT.

Generation gaps in medical education: An exploratory qualitative study.

This qualitative study aimed to explore medical students' experience of generation gap in their interactions with senior teachers (aged >55) in Japan. Focus group interviews were conducted with 28 medical students (20 to 30 years, mean age 22 ±2 years, classified as millennials, with only one year of studies since starting specialised courses for medicine. The participants were interviewed in groups of four, with each interview lasting 60 minutes.

Evaluation of oral air space volume in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome using clinical and postmortem CT imaging.

Objectives: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) induces upper airway occlusion and may cause sudden death during sleep. This study sought to clarify the relationship between oral air space volume and OSAS onset, which is influenced by multiple factors, such as jawbone, dentition morphology, and oral soft-tissue volume.

Methods: (1) 50 subjects from deceased cases were divided into two groups: OSAS (25 subjects) and controls (25 subjects).

Sample preparation method with ultrafiltration for whole blood thiosulfate measurement.

Quantitative analysis of thiosulfate is useful for diagnosing hydrogen sulfide poisoning. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) enables more rapid and sensitive measurements than previous methodologies. As simple measurements of blood thiosulfate concentration are affected by the blood matrix, blood is used as the solvent to prepare the standard solution for calibration curve generation.

Post-mortem computed tomography in sudden death by asthma.

Ground glass attenuation (GGA) of the lungs is a common finding of post-mortem computed tomography (PMCT) that is associated with pulmonary congestion and edema due to cardiac failure during the agonal period, or due to post-mortem hypostasis. However, hypo-attenuation of the lung is an atypical finding of PMCT, and is usually a consequence of hypovolemic states before death or postmortem body posture after death. Previous studies have shown a few differential diagnoses, such as hypothermia, massive hemorrhage, asphyxiation by hanging, and dehydration, for hypo-attenuation of the lung.

Joint European Society of Paediatric Radiology (ESPR) and International Society for Forensic Radiology and Imaging (ISFRI) guidelines: paediatric postmortem computed tomography imaging protocol.

Postmortem CT for investigating childhood deaths is increasingly utilised as a noninvasive adjunct or alternative to standard autopsy; however there are no standardised published imaging protocols. This article describes a standardised imaging protocol that has been developed based on current practices of international postmortem imaging practitioners and experts. This recommendation is expected to be useful for postmortem imaging centres wishing to update their existing practices and for those starting paediatric postmortem CT as a new service.

Lung weight estimation with postmortem CT in forensic cases.

Postmortem computed tomography (CT) is a minimally invasive technique to examine internal organs before a forensic autopsy. The purpose of our study was to estimate lung weight in a forensic setting in cases of various lung states, including fluid accumulation (congestion, edema, hypostasis, and inflammation etc.) using postmortem CT.

Estimating normal lung weight measurement using postmortem CT in forensic cases.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to estimate the lung weight using postmortem CT in well aerated lung autopsy cases. The correlation coefficients to the lung weight were also evaluated for the cadavers' height, weight, whole body surface area (WBSA), body mass index, and estimated lung volume.

Materials And Methods: From October 2015 to July 2016, 31 cadavers (male 12, female 19, age 20-98 (mean 66.

Freezing preparation for macroscopic forensic investigation in putrefied brain.

Purpose: To evaluate the usefulness of the applied freezing technique in putrefied brain for macroscopic investigation.

Materials And Methods: From October 2015 to September 2016, first the brains of 10 cadavers (control group: male 6, female 4, age 20-80 (mean 61.5), postmortem intervals (PMI) 14-75 (mean 29.

Experimental evaluation of freezing preparation for the macroscopic inspection in putrefied brain.

Purpose: To evaluate the usefulness of freezing preparation for macroscopic investigation in advanced putrefied brain.

Materials And Methods: After sealing in individual plastic bags, 10 pig heads were stored at 20°C for 5days allow postmortem change (putrefaction) to progress. After an observation period, they were divided into 2 groups to evaluate the usefulness of the freezing effect in macroscopic investigation.