Kichiro Okada

Determination of α2HS-glycoprotein phenotypes by isoelectric focusing and immunoblotting: polymorphic occurrence of HSGA*5 in Okinawa

SummaryA print immunofixation is a very useful procedure for the demonstration of α2HS-glycoprotein (HSGA) following polyacrylamide gel isoelectric focusing. However, this technique has the one disadvantage of requiring a large volume of expensive antiserum. In this paper an alternative detection system is presented which involves the non-electric transfer of HSGA from a focused gel to a nitrocellulose filter and the immunologic detection of HSGA immobilized on nitrocellulose. Using this method the distribution of HSGA polymorphism in the Nepalese and Japanese populations was investigated. All the populations tested were found to lack the common HSGA*3 of the Caucasians. A rare HSGA*5 in Honshu, a main island of Japan, was observed at polymorphic frequency in Okinawa, Southern Japan.

PI (α1) polymorphism in the Japanese: Confirmation of PI*M4 and description of new PI variants

SummaryPI phenotyping by separator isoelectric focusing (SIEF) was performed on a total of 1000 unrelated Japanese individuals from two different areas of Western Japan. The PI M1M4 subtype was observed together with the six common PI M subtypes. PI*M4 was confirmed to be present but rare in the Japanese. Several new PI variants were identified by comparison runs of each variant with previously reported genetic variants. The significance of treatment of serum with dithiothreitol (DTT) followed by iodacetic acid (IAC) in determination of PI variants is also described.

Distribution of Hp, Tf, Gc and Pi polymorphisms in a Nepalese population

Hp typing and Tf, Gc and Pi subtypings were performed on 144 serum samples from a Nepalese population in the Katmandu Valley, Nepal. The obtained allele frequencies are as follows: Hp1 = 0.1771, Hp2 = 0.8229; TfC1 = 0.7222, TfC2 = 0.2500, TfC3 = 0.0174, TfCnepal (TfC9) = 0.0104; Gc1F = 0.2448, Gc1S = 0.4825, Gc2 = 0.2727; PiM1 = 0.6076, PiM2 = 0.2118, PiM3 = 0.1806. The relationship between this sample population and the Indian population is discussed.

Toxicological index of paraquat: A new strategy for assessment of severity of paraquat poisoning in 128 patients

A new assessment of the severity of paraquat poisoning in 128 patients has been developed. It involves toxicological index of paraquat and discriminant function score. This system not only allows a more accurate assessment of severity of the poisoning, but also provides a more reliable prediction of the outcome in an early stage for the purpose of forensic and clinical toxicology.

Sex determination by discriminant function analysis of lateral cranial form

To sex the cranium, morphological features of cranial specimens were quantified with a personal computer that automatically measures distance and gradient for 39 craniometric points in the lateral contour line of the skull, which were digitized by a tablet digitizer connected to the computer. Specimens used for discriminant analysis were 50 male and 50 female adult Japanese skulls. The lateral contour showed sex differences in the nasal bone, supraorbital ridge, forehead and vertex. The nasal bone and supraorbital ridge were more developed in male contour line, and the forehead was more rounded in female contour line. But compared with the supraorbital ridge and forehead, the vertex had a wide variety of contour lines in both sexes. The vertex seemed to be less reliable as the indicator of sex. The sex differences were better reflected by gradient than distance. From variables of the gradient and distance showing significant sex differences, the discriminant function was derived and tested in 21 other specimens (13 male and 8 female skulls). The mean ratio of correct sexing of the human skull by the discriminant function was 86%.

Inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor (ITI): A useful genetic system in paternity testing. Evidence for polymorphic occurrence ofITI*3 and existence of a new allele,ITI*4

SummaryThe genetic polymorphism of human interalpha-trypsin inhibitor (ITI) has been investigated in sialidase-treated samples by isoelectric focusing on polyarcrylamide gels with a pH range 3.5–9.5 followed by passive blotting with enzyme immunoassay. In 400 blood donors from western Japan, 8 simplified band patterns were observed, 6 of which could be explained by the previously described 3 polymorphic alleles, ITI*1, ITI*2, and ITI*3. The others were products of a new and rare fourth allele designated ITI*4, whose expression is also consistent with autosomal codominant inheritance. The frequency of these alleles was 0.440, 0.526, 0.030 and 0.004, respectively. The theoretical exclusion rate for putative fathers in paternity cases was calculated to be 0.228. The ITI system is a useful genetic marker for forensic hemogenetics in Japanese and in Europeans.ZusammenfassungDer genetische Polymorphismus des menschlichen Inter-Alpha-Trypsin-Inhibitors (ITI) wurde mit Hilfe der isoelektrischen Fokussierung an Sialidase-behandelten Seren untersucht. Der pH-Bereich war von 3,5 bis 9,5, an die Elektrophorese schloß sich ein passiver Blot an mit anschließendem Enzym-ImmunoEssay. Bei 400 Blutspendern aus West-Japan wurden 8 vereinfachte Bandenmuster beobachtet, von denen 6 durch die bereits früher beschriebenen polymorphen Allele ITI*1, ITI*2 und ITI*3 erklärt werden konnten. Die anderen Phänotypen waren Produkte eines neuen und seltenen 4. Allels, welches als ITI*4 bezeichnet wurde und dessen Expression ebenfalls mit der Annahme eines autosomalen kodominanten Erbganges konsistent ist. Die Frequenz dieser Allele war 0,440, 0,526, 0,030 und 0,004. Die theoretische Ausschließungschance für Putativväter in Vaterschaftsfällen wurde mit 0,228 errechnet. Das ITI-System ist ein nützlicher genetischer Marker für die forensische Hämogenetik in der japanischen und europäischen Bevölkerung.

Gas chromatographic and gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric determination of gasoline in a case of gasoline vapor and alcohol poisoning.

A case of fatal poisoning due to the combined effect of alcohol and gasoline following an automobile accident is described. Toxicological analyses by means of gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry permitted the identification and quantitation of alcohol and several hydrocarbons in the heart blood and in the gas in the lung. Great variation was found in the estimates of blood gasoline concentration, depending on which of six constituents of gasoline was chosen for quantitation. The cause of this variation is discussed, together with the possible mechanisms leading to death.

Esterase D phenotyping of bloodstains and hair roots by low voltage isoelectric focusing

A new isoelectric focusing method is described for phenotyping of esterase D in blood stains and hair roots. It permitted easy and rapid discrimination of six phenotypes determined by ESD*1, ESD*2 and ESD*7. Experiments showed it to be practicable in forensic stain work. In addition, this technique was also usable in phenotyping of ESD 5.

Development of an instrument to measure postmortem lividity and its preliminary application to estimate the time since death

A degree of postmortem lividity was related to a subcutaneous hemoglobin concentration, which can be measured by using light absorption. On the basis of this theory, the authors have developed an instrument utilizing a light to measure the degree of postmortem lividity. By using 42 corpses whose postmortem intervals were known, the authors examined the relationship between the actual postmortem intervals and the measurements, and found that there was significant correlation between them.

PI*Siiyama, a deficiency gene of alpha1-antitrypsin: Evidence for the occurrence in western Japan

SummaryAn alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency associated with pulmonary emphysema was investigated in a 32-year-old Japanese male. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-amplified fragments and dot blot hybridization with allele-specific oligonucleotide probes revealed that the patient was homozygous for a C to T transition at codon 53, resulting in the substitution of Phe53 for Ser53 (PI*Siiyama). Crossedimmunoelectrophoresis after iso-electric focusing and agarose gel electrophoresis showed atypical banding patterns. PI* Siiyama is a rare deficiency gene, but it can occur sporadically all over the Japan.