Characteristics of Sudden Bath-Related Death Investigated by Medical Examiners in Tokyo,Japan

Background

Sudden bath-related deaths occur frequently in Japan, particularly among elderly people. However, the precise mechanism of bath-related death remains uncertain, and effective prevention strategies have not been established.

Methods

Cases of bath-related deaths (n = 3289) were selected from all cases handled by the Tokyo Medical Examiner’s Office from 2009 to 2011 (N = 41 336). The ages and occurrence dates were examined, and major autopsy findings, including toxicological analysis, were evaluated for the autopsied cases (n = 550).

Results

Most cases occurred in individuals older than 60 years of age during winter. Analysis of autopsy findings revealed water inhalation signs in many cases (n = 435, 79.1%). Circulatory system diseases constituted more than half of the pathological findings regarding factors that may have contributed significantly to death (n = 300, 54.5%), and cardiac lesions were the most common pathological finding (n = 250, 45.5%). However, approximately one-third of the cases exhibited no remarkable pathological findings (n = 198, 36.0%). A quarter of all cases involved blood ethanol levels that exceeded 0.5 mg/mL (n = 140).

Conclusions

The results suggested that drowning plays an important role in the final process of bath-related death. Circulatory system diseases may be the primary underlying pathology; however, there were variations in the medical histories and pathologies of cases of bath-related death. From a preventive perspective, family members should pay attention to elderly people with circulatory system diseases during bathing, particularly in winter. Additionally, the notion that ill or inebriated individuals should not take baths should be reinforced.Key words: bath-related death, sudden death, forensic autopsy, medical examiner     

The linkage among ambulance transports,death and climate parameters in Asahikawa City,Japan

Objective

The aim of this study was to investigate the linkage among climate parameters, total ambulance transports and the number of deaths in Asahikawa City in northern Japan.

Methods

Monthly data on total ambulance transports and the number of deaths from January 2004 to December 2011 were obtained from Asahikawa City Fire Department and the Asahikawa City official website. Climate parameters for the required period were also obtained from the Japan Meteorological Agency, Japan. To adjust for the population, we also used monthly population data on Asahikawa City. The linkage among climate parameters, total ambulance transports and the number of deaths was evaluated by ecological analysis.

Results

The mean air temperature in the Asahikawa area was 7.3 ± 10.1 °C. Total ambulance transports (/a hundred thousand people/day) and the number of deaths (/a hundred thousand people/day) were 10.0 ± 0.6 and 2.6 ± 0.3, respectively. Using quadratic curves, total ambulance transports and the number of deaths were weakly correlated with some climate parameters. The number of deaths was weakly and positively correlated with total ambulance transports.

Conclusion

A weak linkage among climate parameters, total ambulance transports and the number of deaths was noted in Asahikawa City, Japan. However, these associations were not as high as expected.     

Liver-related events after direct-acting antiviral therapy in patients with hepatitis C virus-associated cirrhosis

Journal of Gastroenterology - Direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy enables a high rate of sustained virologic response (SVR) in patients with hepatitis C virus associated cirrhosis. However, the...     

Blood supply of the sinus node artery in beagle dogs

Summary Postmortem coronary angiography was performed in 20 beagles and 15 mongrels, and the origin and distribution of the sinus node arteries (SNAs) were subsequently investigated using soft X-ray radiography, the tissue clearing method, and histological examination. In 19 of 20 beagles, the SNAs consisted of a single atrial branch originating from the right coronary artery, and the distribution pattern of the atrial branch seemed to be uniform. In contrast, the following three different patterns were recognized in the atrial branches forming the SNAs of mongrels: (1) distribution by two atrial branches, i.e., one originating from the right coronary artery and the other from the left circumflex artery, (2) dual distribution by two atrial branches originating from the right coronary artery, and (3) distribution by a single atrial branch originating from the right coronary artery or from the left circumflex artery. In 26 of the 30 dogs which were histologically examined, the SNAs ran outside of the sinus node and were not centrally located. In the beagles, the proximal atrial branch from the right coronary artery reached the atrioventricuolar node area and supplied blood to the atrioventricular node together with the arterial branches derived from the anterior septal artery and posterior septal artery. In addition, the arterial branch of the SNAs reached the atrioventricular junction area. These findings should contribute to clinical, pharmacological, and pathological studies of the cardiovascular system, including studies on cardiac arrhythmias in beagles.     

Relationship between neutrophil elastase and acute lung injury in humans

We conducted clinical trials in patients with acute lung injury (ALI) associated with systemic inflammatory response syndrome using a selective neutrophil elastase inhibitor, sivelestat sodium hydrate (Sivelestat), to investigate the involvement of neutrophil elastase in ALI. In the phase III double-blind study (Study 1) in 230 patients, the efficacy of Sivelestat was evaluated with the pulmonary function improvement (PFI) rating as the primary endpoint, and the weaning rate from mechanical ventilator, the discharge rate from intensive care unit (ICU), and the survival rate as secondary endpoints. Afterwards, an unblinded study (Study 2) in 20 patients was conducted using procedures for weaning from mechanical ventilation to reevaluate its efficacy with ventilator-free days (VFD) value, the primary endpoint, and to compare with that of Study 1 subgroup, which met the selection criteria used in Study 2. Sivelestat increased PFI rating, reduced duration of mechanical ventilation, and shortened stay in ICU in Study 1, although there was no significant efficacy on the survival rate. VFD value in Study 2 was comparable to that in the optimal-dose group of Study 1 subgroup, and increase in VFD value correlated with PFI rating and increase in ICU free days. It was concluded that neutrophil elastase may be involved in the pathogenesis of ALI in humans.