Visualization of left common carotid artery injury by glass using postmortem virtual angioscopy.

A deceased man in his 50 s was found with his neck over a broken glass door frame, with blood around the body. A non-contrast postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) scan revealed subcutaneous hemorrhage, temporal bone fracture, and cerebral contusion. Also, wounds extending from the anterior to posterior neck and the presence of air in the cervical vessels suggested cervical vascular injury.

Postmortem genetic analysis of 17 sudden cardiac deaths identified nonsense and frameshift variants in two cases of arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy.

Sudden death, or unexpected natural death of a healthy individual, is a serious problem in all nations. Sudden cardiac death (SCD) mainly due to ischemic heart diseases is the top cause of sudden death. However, there are pathophysiological conditions, referred to as sudden arrhythmic death syndrome, in which no apparent lesion can be identified even after complete conventional or ordinary autopsy.

Acute subdural hematoma caused by rupture of a mycotic aneurysm due to meningitis associated with infectious endocarditis: comparison of autopsy findings with postmortem computed tomography.

Forensic pathologists often encounter cases of acute subdural hematoma (SDH) due to trauma, whereas those attributable to endogenous causes are rare. Here, we report a case of the latter type in a 42-year-old man who was found dead at home after several months of fever and malaise. Postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) and autopsy were undertaken to clarify the cause of death.

Emergence of an erythroid cell-specific regulatory region in ABO intron 1 attributable to A- or B-antigen expression on erythrocytes in Hominoidea.

A- and B-antigens are present on red blood cells (RBCs) as well as other cells and secretions in Hominoidea including humans and apes such as chimpanzees and gibbons, whereas expression of these antigens on RBCs is subtle in monkeys such as Japanese macaques. Previous studies have indicated that H-antigen expression has not completely developed on RBCs in monkeys. Such antigen expression requires the presence of H-antigen and A- or B-transferase expression in cells of erythroid lineage, although whether or not ABO gene regulation is associated with the difference of A- or B-antigen expression between Hominoidea and monkeys has not been examined.

Post-traumatic cerebral infarction caused by thrombus in the middle cerebral artery.

A woman in her 80s was found unconscious after being hit by a car while crossing a road. After admission to hospitals, computed tomography (CT) scans revealed traumatic brain injury (TBI), and the patient was treated symptomatically. However, despite improvement of TBI in CT images, she died unexpectedly.

Usefulness of a tissue optical clearing technique for forensic autopsy.

Forensic pathologists are required to investigate lethal trauma or disease at autopsy. In addition to massive contusions of various organs, a number of small features with potentially fatal implications also need to be sought. Since such lesions may need microscopic examinations for detailed evaluation, it is important to select suitable anatomic locations for tissue sampling.

Reduction of blood group A antigen on erythrocytes in a patient with myelodysplastic syndrome harboring somatic mutations in RUNX1 and GATA2.

Background: Reduction of blood group ABO antigens on red blood cells (RBCs) is well known in patients with leukemias, and this reduction of ABO expression is strongly associated with DNA methylation of the ABO promoter. Previously, we reported a two-nucleotide deletion in RUNX1 encoding an abnormally elongated protein lacking the trans-activation domain in a patient with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) showing A-antigen loss on RBCs. This prompted us to investigate the underlying mechanism responsible for A-antigen reduction on RBCs in another patient with MDS.

Investigation of the applicability of virtual gastroscopy based on postmortem computed tomography to detect changes in the stomach, along with reports of three rare cases.

Postmortem computed tomography is now being used more commonly for routine forensic investigation. The use of 3D reconstruction techniques including virtual gastroscopy is effective and also improves the speed of interpretation, recognition, and description of specific clinical conditions. However, it has been unclear whether postmortem virtual endoscopy could be applicable for medicolegal autopsy or whether it could complement pathological examination at autopsy.

Histone deacetylase inhibitors suppress ACE2 and ABO simultaneously, suggesting a preventive potential against COVID-19.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has spread worldwide as a pandemic throughout 2020. Since the virus uses angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) as a receptor for cellular entry, increment of ACE2 would lead to an increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection. At the same time, an association of the ABO blood group system with COVID-19 has also been highlighted: there is increasing evidence to suggest that non-O individuals are at higher risk of severe COVID-19 than O individuals.

Superimposed CT imaging using fusion function to visualize the relationship between the knife and the wound path in a stabbing victim.

With the increasing use of postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) in medicolegal autopsies, three-dimensional (3D) models of injured areas can now be generated from multislice computed tomography images. However, since PMCT has low sensitivity for detecting injuries in solid organs in the absence of contrast administration, it has been difficult to demonstrate the tracks of stab wounds leading to solid organ injury using 3D reconstruction. Here, we report one homicide case with two stab wounds.

RUNX1 mutation in a patient with myelodysplastic syndrome and decreased erythrocyte expression of blood group A antigen.

Background: Loss of blood group ABO antigens on red blood cells (RBCs) is well known in patients with leukemias, and such decreased ABO expression has been reported to be strongly associated with hypermethylation of the ABO promoter. We investigated the underlying mechanism responsible for A-antigen reduction on RBCs in a patient with myelodysplastic syndrome.

Study Design And Methods: Genetic analysis of ABO was performed by PCR and sequencing using peripheral blood.

DNA methylation of the NR3C1 promoter region in brains of pediatric victims of physical abuse.

Early life stress (ELS) has been suggested to cause epigenetic changes to genes in the brain, such as the Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 3, Group C, Member 1 gene (NR3C1). Conversely, evaluation of the epigenetic status in the postmortem brain might provide clues to the antemortem ELS experience. We examined DNA methylation of the 1F promoter region of NR3C1 in the postmortem brains of eight children including four ELS cases.

Use of postmortem computed tomography to retrieve small metal fragments derived from a weapon in the bodies of victims in two homicide cases.

Postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) is becoming a commonly used modality in routine forensic investigation. Mechanical injuries including lacerations, incisions, stab wounds and gunshot wounds frequently contain foreign bodies that may have significant value as clues in criminal investigations. CT is a sensitive modality for detection of metal foreign bodies that may be associated with injuries to the victim in cases of homicide or traffic accidents.

Histone deacetylase inhibitors suppress ABO transcription in vitro, leading to reduced expression of the antigens.

Background: The ABO system is of fundamental importance in the fields of transfusion and transplantation and has apparent associations with certain diseases, including cardiovascular disorders. ABO expression is reduced in the late phase of erythroid differentiation in vitro, whereas histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACIs) are known to promote cell differentiation. Therefore, whether or not HDACIs could reduce the amount of ABO transcripts and A or B antigens is an intriguing issue.

Use of postmortem computed tomography angiography to detect vascular injuries accompanying skull base fracture.

A 58-year-old woman who had presented for upper gastrointestinal barium examination accidently slipped from the movable bed, and her head became compressed between the end of the bed and the side wall. She suffered massive bleeding from her nose and ear followed by cardiac arrest, and subsequent attempts at cardiopulmonary resuscitation failed. A medicolegal autopsy was performed to reveal the cause of death, as part of the investigation of the accident.

A case of sudden unexpected infant death involving a homozygotic twin with the thermolabile CPT2 variant, accompanied by rotavirus infection and treatment with an antibiotic containing pivalic acid.

We investigated a case of sudden unexpected death involving a 22-month-old male homozygotic twin infant. After both of the twins had suffered from gastroenteritis, one was found dead in his bed, but his brother survived and has since been healthy. Notably, only the deceased had been treated with an antibiotic containing pivalic acid, which may sometimes cause hypocarnitinemia.

Epithelial Expression of Human ABO Blood Group Genes Is Dependent upon a Downstream Regulatory Element Functioning through an Epithelial Cell-specific Transcription Factor, Elf5.

The human ABO blood group system is of great importance in blood transfusion and organ transplantation. The ABO system is composed of complex carbohydrate structures that are biosynthesized by A- and B-transferases encoded by the ABO gene. However, the mechanisms regulating ABO gene expression in epithelial cells remain obscure.

[Corrigendum] Aberrant methylation of CXCL12 in non-small cell lung cancer is associated with an unfavorable prognosis.

The PCR panels presented in Figs. 1 and 2 are incorrect. The authors provide the correct figures below.

Combination of postmortem mass spectrometry imaging and genetic analysis reveals very long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency in a case of infant death with liver steatosis.

Case History: A 3-month-old infant was found dead in his bed. A postmortem computed tomography (CT) scan suggested fatty attenuation in the liver parenchyma, but no other potentially fatal changes were found. To clarify the cause of death, a medicolegal autopsy was carried out.