A practical workflow for forensic species identification using direct sequencing of real-time PCR products.

Background: Forensic scientists are often required to identify species of unknown biological samples. Although methods based on sequencing of DNA barcode regions are the gold standard for species identification in single-source forensic samples, they are cumbersome to implement as routine work in forensic laboratories that perform many tests, including human DNA typing. We have developed a species identification workflow that incorporates direct sequencing with real-time PCR products (real-time PCR-direct sequencing) as the technical trick for easy testing in forensic practice.

An autopsy case report of aortic dissection complicated with histiolymphocytic pericarditis and aortic inflammation after mRNA COVID-19 vaccination.

A male in his 90 s consulted a doctor because he experienced several days of general fatigue and dyspnea. He was diagnosed with heart failure, and diuretic medications taken for 3 days relieved his symptoms. However, he was found dead on the morning of the fourth day after consultation.

Blunt traumatic aortic dissection death by falling: an autopsy case report.

A man in his early 60 s who worked at a waste disposal plant had fallen into the refuse pit and was immediately taken to the emergency department for treatment. After 8 days without recovering consciousness, the man died. Antemortem contrast-enhanced computed tomography at the emergency department indicated Stanford type B/DeBakey type IIIb aortic dissection.

Immunohistochemical analysis of CD31 expression in myocardial tissues from autopsies of patients with ischemic heart disease.

CD31, a transmembrane protein expressed on endothelial and hematopoietic cells, plays important roles in leukocyte trafficking, mechanotransduction, angiogenesis, vascular permeability, and regulation of cellular responsiveness. CD31 immunoreactivity is employed as a sensitive and specific endothelial marker in diagnostic pathology. In this study, CD31 expression in myocardial tissues from deceased patients with ischemic heart disease and a mouse model of acute myocardial infarction were examined by immunohistochemical staining.

Immunohistochemical analysis of vimentin expression in myocardial tissue from autopsy cases of ischemic heart disease.

Vimentin is a type III intermediate filament cytoskeletal protein that is expressed mainly in cells of mesenchymal origin and is involved in a plethora of cellular functions. In this study, myocardial tissues from patients with ischemic heart disease and a mouse model of acute myocardial infarction were subjected to immunohistochemistry for vimentin. We first examined 26 neutral formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded myocardial tissue samples from autopsies of patients that were diagnosed with ischemic heart disease within 48 h postmortem.

Immunohistochemical analysis of von Willebrand factor expression in myocardial tissues from autopsies of patients with ischemic heart disease.

von Willebrand factor (VWF) plays a crucial role in hemostasis and thrombosis. VWF is involved in platelet attachment to the subendothelium, serving as a carrier protein for coagulation factor VIII. In this study, myocardial tissues from deceased patients with ischemic heart disease and a mouse model of acute myocardial infarction were subjected to immunohistochemistry to determine VWF expression.

Application of fragment analysis based on methylation status mobility difference to identify vaginal secretions.

Identifying vaginal secretions attaching or adhering to a suspect's belongings would be beneficial for reconstructing the events that have taken place during a sexual assault. The present study describes a novel approach to identify vaginal secretions by fragment analysis using capillary electrophoresis, based on the mobility differences of PCR amplicons from bisulfite-treated DNA depending on methylation status. We targeted three genome regions including each of three vaginal secretion-specific methylated CpG sites reported previously: cg25416153, cg09765089, and cg14991487.

Immunohistochemical analysis of thrombomodulin expression in myocardial tissue from autopsy cases of ischemic heart disease.

Thrombomodulin is a transmembrane glycoprotein that is ubiquitously expressed on the surface of vascular endothelial cells. Thrombomodulin exerts its anticoagulant effects by combining with thrombin, activating protein C, and inactivating the coagulation factors FVa and FVIIIa. Clinically, thrombomodulin is also known as a marker of vascular injury because it circulates freely in response to endothelial injury.

Autopsy case of Rosai-Dorfman disease presenting as fibrinous pericarditis.

Rosai-Dorfman disease (RDD) is a rare non-Langerhans cell histiocytosis that is characterized histopathologically by accumulation of CD68-positive, S100-positive, and CD1a-negative histiocytes. Cardiac involvement of RDD is rare. We report here an autopsy case of cardiac involvement of RDD presenting as fibrinous pericarditis.

Anterior Tricuspid Leaflet Cleft in an Adult Male: An Autopsy Case Report.

The deceased was a 44-year-old male who was treated for a suspected Ebstein's anomaly observed using transthoracic echocardiogram. He was found dead in his bed at home. Autopsy revealed that the septal tricuspid leaflet was intact; however, a large anterior tricuspid leaflet cleft and right atrioventricular cavity dilation were observed.

Stability of ten psychotropic drugs in formalin-fixed porcine liver homogenates.

In forensic toxicology studies, drug concentrations must be estimated by the analytical data of formalin-fixed tissues if fresh or frozen tissue specimens are not available. We wished to investigate the stability and time-course of metabolism/degradation of drugs in formalin-fixed tissues using porcine liver homogenates (PLHs) instead of human tissue. Ten psychotropic drugs (amitriptyline, brotizolam, diazepam, diphenhydramine, estazolam, etizolam, levomepromazine, paroxetine, quetiapine and triazolam) were added to PLHs.

Coronary artery stenosis-related perfusion ratio using dynamic computed tomography myocardial perfusion imaging: a pilot for identification of hemodynamically significant coronary artery disease.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of the stenosis-related quantitative perfusion ratio (QPR) for detecting hemodynamically significant coronary artery disease (CAD). Twenty-seven patients were retrospectively enrolled. All patients underwent dynamic myocardial computed tomography perfusion (CTP) and coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) before invasive coronary angiography (ICA) measuring the fractional flow reserve (FFR).

A simple and versatile authenticity assay of coffee products by single-nucleotide polymorphism genotyping.

Interspecific single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the DNA barcode have been strictly validated and adopted as a designed SNP genotyping maker to discriminate between two major coffee species, and , and to estimate the mixing ratio of DNA from / in this study. The SNP genotyping is applicable to not only green (unroasted) coffee beans, but also processed coffee products (roasted coffee beans and instant coffee powder), in which genomic DNA is degraded, because the genotyping developed in this study requires only 10 copies of 63-bp-long DNA fragments of gene. The authenticity assay established in this study has several advantages: a high versatility to DNA sample conditions; simple and rapid procedures (only two steps; DNA extraction and SNP genotyping); the feasibility in coffee business for practical use to prevent false advertising and provide quality control.

Carbon monoxide poisoning-induced delayed encephalopathy accompanies decreased microglial cell numbers: Distinctive pathophysiological features from hypoxemia-induced brain damage.

Carbon monoxide (CO) causes not only acute fatal poisoning but also may cause a delayed neurologic syndrome called delayed encephalopathy (DE), which occasionally occurs after an interval of several days to several weeks post-exposure. However, the mechanisms of DE have not been fully elucidated. This study aimed to clarify the pathophysiology of CO-induced DE and its distinctive features compared with hypoxemic hypoxia.

Autopsy Case of a Penetrating Wound to the Left Cerebral Hemisphere Caused by an Accidental Shooting With a Crossbow.

A crossbow is a bow that shoots an arrow when a gun-like trigger is pulled. Deaths caused by accidental crossbow shootings are extremely rare. Here we describe an autopsy case of a penetrating wound to the left cerebral hemisphere caused by an accidental shooting with a crossbow.

An autopsy case of zinc chloride poisoning.

Ingestion of large amounts of zinc chloride causes corrosive gastroenteritis with vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Some individuals experience shock after ingesting large amounts of zinc chloride, resulting in fatality. Here, we present the results of an administrative autopsy performed on a 70-year-old man who ingested zinc chloride solution and died.

Postmortem interval estimation: a novel approach utilizing gas chromatography/mass spectrometry-based biochemical profiling.

While the molecular mechanisms underlying postmortem change have been exhaustively investigated, the establishment of an objective and reliable means for estimating postmortem interval (PMI) remains an elusive feat. In the present study, we exploit low molecular weight metabolites to estimate postmortem interval in mice. After sacrifice, serum and muscle samples were procured from C57BL/6J mice (n = 52) at seven predetermined postmortem intervals (0, 1, 3, 6, 12, 24, and 48 h).

An autopsy case of cardiac tamponade caused by a ruptured ventricular aneurysm associated with acute myocarditis.

We report an autopsy case of hemopericardium caused by rupture of a ventricular aneurysm associated with acute myocarditis in an infant boy aged 2 years and 10 months. Three days before his death, the patient developed fever. On the day of death, he described an urge to defecate and attempted to do so in an upright position.

Autopsy case of undiagnosed gangliocytoma in the medulla oblongata complicated with cerebral palsy.

A Japanese man in his 30s who had congenital cerebral palsy was found unresponsive in bed. His death was confirmed after resuscitation attempts. He had a history of occasional falling (despite the use of walking sticks and a wheelchair) owing to a slowly progressive gait disturbance, and had a medical examination without full neurological re-examination.

Rupture of massive coronary artery aneurysm resulting in cardiac tamponade.

Coronary artery aneurysm is a fairly uncommon clinical entity, which is defined by a characteristic dilatation that exceeds 1.5 times the width of normal adjacent coronary artery segments. In the present report, we describe a case of rupture of a massive coronary artery aneurysm.

Unexpected neonatal death caused by interrupted aortic arch, an uncommon congenital great vessel malformation: An autopsy case report.

A 21-day-old Japanese male infant became inactive and then collapsed unexpectedly. On autopsy, there was no connection between the ascending and descending thoracic aorta. The site of interruption was the aortic isthmus.

A simple identification method for vaginal secretions using relative quantification of Lactobacillus DNA.

In criminal investigations there are some cases in which identifying the presence of vaginal secretions provides crucial evidence in proving sexual assault. However, there are no methods for definitively identifying vaginal secretions. In the present study, we focused on Lactobacillus levels in vaginal secretions and developed a novel identification method for vaginal secretions by relative quantification based on real time PCR.