Spectrophotometric evaluation of the colour of intra- and subcutaneous bruises

Spectrophotometric measurements were performed on intra- and/or subcutaneous bruises occurring in direct temporal connection with peracute fatal trauma. The purpose of these measurements was to determine whether the visual colour impression of a fresh traumatic extravasation can give information on the localisation of the haemorrhage in a certain tissue layer. After visual assessment of the colour of the bruise, the spectral reflectance curves and the CIE-L*a*b* colour values were determined with the help of a diode array spectrophotometer. The localisation and size of the haemorrhages in the cutis and/or subcutis were evaluated morphologically after incision of the skin. It was confirmed that there is a relationship between the colour impression and the localisation of the bruise. Bruises localised near the surface have a more reddish appearance while bruises in deeper layers give a more bluish colour impression. An explanation may be found in the optical characteristics of skin. Blood localised in the subcutis appears blue on the surface due to scattering processes in the dermis (Rayleigh scattering), as the blue wavelengths of the light are scattered (and thus reflected) to a greater extent than the red wavelengths. Received: 4 March 1999 / Accepted: 9 September 1999     

Citalopram concentrations in samples from autopsies and living persons

Concentrations of citalopram in medicolegal samples from 92 autopsies and 27 living persons are described. In autopsy cases in which citalopram alone was the cause of death, concentrations ranged from 2.0 to 6.2 mg/kg whole blood. In autopsy cases in which citalopram together with other substances was considered to be the cause of death, the concentrations of citalopram ranged from 0.6 to 5.2 mg/kg whole blood. In autopsy cases toxic concentrations ranged from 0.4 to 0.9 mg/kg whole blood and therapeutic concentrations from 0.03 to 0.6 mg/kg whole blood. In samples from living persons the concentrations of citalopram in whole blood were 0.02 to 0.3 mg/kg. Received: 16 June 1997 / Received in revised form: 13 November 1997     

Spectrophotometric dental colour measurement to assess age in living adults

The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of spectrometrically measured colour parameters of teeth for age estimation in living adults. A total of 329 teeth were selected (162 upper central incisors and 167 upper canines) from 52 men and 50 women aged between 20 and 86 years. Colour measurements were performed in vivo on the vestibular surface of the teeth using a portable contact Spectro-color device. Colorimetric variables (L*, a*, b*), chromaticity coordinates (x, y, z), and indexes of whiteness (WIC, Z%, WI) and yellowness (YI) were calculated. The accuracy of colour values to estimate the age was determined by Receiver Operating Characteristic analysis. A more powerful age discrimination was obtained with upper incisors than with upper canines. Areas under the ROC curve ranged from 0.7 to 0.8 for all dental colour parameters measured in upper central incisors except for the variables L* and Z%, with sensitivity values ranging from 56% to 93% and specificity values from 38% to 92%. We conclude that spectrophotometric dental colour measurement may be an objective and useful tool to estimate age and meets medical ethical standards for application in living adults. However, further research is needed to study the effect of ethnicity and other factors on tooth colour.     

Spectrophotometric analysis of irradiated spices

Seven different spices (thyme, cinnamon, coriander, caraway, pimento, paprika, black pepper) were treated by gamma radiation at an absorbed dose of 10 kGy, and the effect on chemical quality was determined. The effects of this dose were assessed by spectrophotometric analysis of some water-soluble constituents of spices (carbohydrates; carbonyl compounds) and on the content of water-insoluble steam-volatile oils. The colour of paprika and the content of piperine in pepper held in different packaging materials were measured in unirradiated and irradiated samples as a function of storage time. In all cases irradiation does not bring about any distinct qualitative or quantitative chemical changes based on spectrophotometric analysis of spice extracts.     

Ultrasonographic analysis of subcutaneous angiolipoma

Objective

To describe and analyze the ultrasonographic appearance of subcutaneous angiolipoma in pathology-proven cases.

Materials and methods

We retrospectively searched the January 2004 to May 2011 surgical pathology database for cases of pathology-proven angiolipoma. The ultrasonographic findings were analyzed for angiolipoma size, shape, margin, echo texture, echogenicity, acoustic enhancement, calcifications, and color Doppler flow.

Results

Of 31 angiolipomas, 19 lesions occurred in an upper extremity, one in a lower extremity, nine in the chest and abdominal wall, and two in the back. The mean tumor size was 17.7?mm. Twenty-five cases (80%) appeared as oval mass and all tumors had well-defined margins. All cases showed hyperechoic; 14 (45%), homogeneous; 17 (55%), heterogeneous. Seven cases (23%) showed blood flow in the mass. Acoustic enhancement and calcification was not shown in any cases. A correct preoperative diagnosis was made in three cases (10%) by ultrasonography.

Conclusions

Most subcutaneous angiolipomas are oval-shaped, have well-defined margins, and hyperechoic appearance on ultrasonography. Although color Doppler flow of subcutaneous angiolipoma is not seen in many cases, it may helpful in differentiating angiolipoma from ordinary subcutaneous lipoma.     

The identification of living persons on images: A literature review

Personal identification in the forensic context commonly concerns unknown decedents. However, recently there has been an increase in cases which require identification of living persons, especially from surveillance systems. These cases bring about a relatively new challenge for forensic anthropologists and pathologists concerning the selection of the most suitable methodological approaches with regard to the limitations of the photographic representation of a given person for individualization and identity.Facial features are instinctively the primary focus for identification approaches. However, other body parts (e.g. hands), and body height and gait (on videos) have been considered in cases of personal identification.This review aims at summarizing the state-of-the-art concerning the identification of the living on images and videos, including a critical evaluation of the advantages and limitations of different methods. Recommendations are given in order to aid forensic practitioners who face cases of identification of living persons.     

Functional analysis of the cervical spine in healthy persons

Radiograms were taken of subjects with no symptoms of cervical spine problems; the cervical spine was evaluated in the spontaneous posture and at maximal flexion and extension. The position and movement of the vertebra, intervertebral height and gliding were calculated. The results showed that (1) lordosis in women occurred less pronounced than in men, and that there was an increase with age; (2) C 2-3 was the least flexible segment and motility increased in the caudal direction; mobility decreased with age and the segments of the lower cervical spine with the highest mobility decreased the most; (3) all posterior and ventral intervertebral heights showed a decrease with age at C 5-6 and C 6-7; (4) vertebral gliding decreased with age.     

Validation of reference data on wisdom tooth mineralization and eruption for forensic age estimation in living persons

Estimation of dental age is an important part of forensic age estimation in living persons. As the quality of the values given in population-specific reference studies has a great impact on the estimation, the aim of this study was to validate reference data for wisdom teeth mineralization and eruption of a German population concerning the diagnosis of the age limit of 18 years in persons with known age. Mineralization and eruption was evaluated in 307 orthopantomograms of Central European subjects aged 17.5–18.5 years. Dental age was estimated using reference data and compared to chronological age. Statistical methods were used to analyze the differences and to propose adjusted reference values. Estimation of dental age relying on mineralization resulted in overestimations of 2 years on average in 76% of the males and 82% of the females. Using eruption, all men and 75% of the women were overestimated by up to 7 years. The differences between estimated and chronological age in both men and women were associated with the mineralization and eruption stage, respectively. The higher the stage, the higher was the risk of overestimation. The mineralization stages up to stage E were associated with underestimations. Using the proposed adjusted reference values resulted in more accurate estimations of dental age. Validation of reference values for dental age estimation showed great overestimations resulting in high error rates with numerous persons being younger than the estimated dental age. Adjustments are proposed which reduce differences between estimated dental age and chronological age.     

胚胎停止发育的危险因素分析

目的 对胚胎停止发育患者在生活和工作中接触到的某些危险因素进行分析,探讨其对胚胎停止发育的影响,为预防胚胎停止发育提供科学依据.方法 选取2010-06至2012-06诊断为胚胎停止发育患者60例为病例组,胚胎正常发育者60例为对照组,对以上两组孕妇予以问卷调查,内容涉及基本情况、生活习惯、生活和工作环境中各种因素等,对搜集到的资料进行t检验、x2检验和非条件Logistic回归分析.结果 既往流产史、每日使用辐射性电器的时间、睡眠不足6 h/d、饮酒、吸烟等十项因素与胚胎停止发育的发生率相关（P＜0.05）,采用非条件Logistic回归法进一步分析,有流产史（OR=18.254）、使用辐射性电器的时间2～6 h/d（OR=43.067）和＞6 h/d（OR =94.886）、经常睡眠不足6 h/d（OR =9.017）、经常饮酒（OR=7.602）、经常吸烟（OR=7.573）、进行适量体育锻炼（OR=0.151）、孕期心情抑郁（OR =46.025）、工作强度较大（OR=108.003）有统计学意义（P＜0.05）.结论 有流产史、使用辐射性电器的时间＞2 h/d、有经常睡眠＜6 h/d、饮酒、吸烟的情况、孕期心情抑郁、工作强度较大等可能是导致胚胎停止发育的危险因素,进行适量体育锻炼可能是预防胚胎停止发育的保护因素.     

剖宫产后出血原因分析及介入治疗的价值

目的 分析剖宫产后出血的原因,探讨介入性血管造影及经导管动脉栓塞治疗方法在诊断和治疗剖宫产后出血的临床应用价值.方法 2001年1月至2011年12月对65例剖宫产后出血患者进行子宫动脉造影,并行经导管子宫动脉栓塞术治疗,术后观察止血效果,并对患者的临床及影像学表现进行回顾性分析.结果 剖宫产后出血原因系子宫动脉假性动...     

阴道超声和宫腔镜检查诊断绝经后子宫出血的对比分析

绝经后出血（postmenopausal bleeding,PMB）是老年妇女常见的一种妇科疾病,目前发生率呈逐年上升趋势。研究认为引起PMB的主要原因为子宫内膜的良性病变,但临床上有近10％～15％由子宫内膜癌引起。     

高原红细胞增多症与慢性牙龈出血的调查分析

目的：探讨高原红细胞增多症(HAPC)患者牙龈出血的原因。方法：对HAPC患者牙龈出血情况进行调查，并与非HAPC患者进行对照比较。结果：HAPC患者牙龈出血非常常见，其发病率高达90．0％以上，且牙龈出血程度较重。结论：HAPC患者牙损出血主要原因是：(1）高原缺氧所致的微循环障碍直接引起毛细血管壁损害；(2)缺氧使毛细血管密度增加和管腔扩张；(3)缺氧因素所致凝血机制紊乱；(4)牙龈组织损伤修复慢，继发细菌感染。     

高原缺氧环境成年男性精子质量分析

目的：了解长期高原缺氧暴露对成年男性精子功能的影响。方法：以38名驻海拔3 300 m和36名驻海拔5 000 m以上的健康成年男性青年为高原组1和高原组2,以生活在海拔1 300 m的35名同龄成年男性为对照组。行精液常规检测与血常规检查。结果：高原组的精子密度明显低于对照组（P〈0.05）,精子活率在高原组2与对照组有显著差异（P〈0.05）;高原组中血红蛋白浓度与精子数量和活率成正比。结论：虽然人体有一定的代偿功能,但长期驻留高原缺氧环境对成年男性的精子功能有负面影响。     

Genetic analysis of Kashmiri Muslim population living in Pakistan

The PowerPlex 16 amplification kit was used for the analysis of allele frequencies for the 15 STR loci (D3S1358, TH01, D21S11, D18S51, Penta E, D5S818, D13S317, D7S820, D16S539, CSF1PO, Penta D, vWA, D8S1179, TPOX and FGA) in unrelated, autochthonous healthy adults from Kashmiri refugee population in Pakistani Punjab (n=125). The allelic distributions were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in all of loci examined except for the vWA locus. Forensic parameters were calculated and a comparison was made with geographically nearby populations.     

围绝经期阴道出血182例临床分析

目的分析围绝经期阴道出血的病因。方法对我院2007年1～12月门诊182例围绝经期阴道出血进行回顾性分析。结果围绝经期阴道出血的病因主要为良性病变145例,占79.67%,恶性病变15例,占8.24%,癌前病变包括子宫内膜不典型增生过长和宫颈上皮内瘤变（CIN）22例,占12.09%。结论围绝经期卵巢功能减退是导致围绝经期阴道出血的主要病因,但癌前病变及恶性病变是不可忽视的病因。     

低剂量慢性辐射环境工作人员口腔医疗需要自我评估情况问卷调查分析

目的探讨长期低剂量慢性辐射环境对工作人员口腔疾病发病情况的影响,了解相关人员口腔医疗需要自我评估情况,以便客观分析特殊环境工作人员的口腔健康状况,为进一步提高防护能力提供依据。方法选择长期在辐射环境下工作的人员341名为研究对象,并按照文化程度分成高中文化以上组139名、高中文化组83名及高中文化以下组119名。采用世界卫生组织公布的口腔健康调查基本方法和标准器材,并根据实际情况需要设定了口腔健康调查项目,参考最新WHO标准,对特殊环境工作人员口腔医疗需要自我评估进行问卷调查分析。结果调查发现34.3%的人群对自我口腔疾病情况模糊不清,对口腔疾病的判断高中文化以上组不清楚比例(23.7%)明显低于高中文化组(45.8%)和以下组(38.7%)。79.8%调查对象牙龈出现过出血情况,其中15.0%调查对象认为经常牙龈出血。高达81.8%的人群不同程度有口腔医疗需要,其中需要洁牙治疗的最多,高达62.2%的人群没有得到口腔定期检查。在不同文化程度组间,对定期口腔健康检查情况,高中文化以上组比例(15.8%)明显高于高中文化组(1.2%)和以下组(0.8%)。结论特殊环境工作人员口腔状况不容乐观,对口腔医疗的需求很大,健康教育和预防治疗措施有待加强。