Koichi Terazawa

Estimation of stature from somatometry of skull

In order to investigate the possibility of estimating stature from somatometry of the skull, we carried out a study on 124 Japanese cadavers (comprising 77 males and 47 females) that had been autopsied at our laboratory between July 1986 and June 1991. Somatometry of the skull was performed on diameter (distance between glabella and external protuberance) and circumference (length around the skull through two points: the glabella and the external protuberance). The regression equations calculated were as follows: stature in males = (diameter + circumference) x 1.35 + 70.6 (standard error of estimate (S.E.) = 6.96 cm); stature in females = circumference x 1.28 + 87.8 (S.E. = 6.59 cm); stature in both sexes = (diameter + circumference) x 1.95 + 25.2 (S.E. = 7.95 cm). These S.E.s appear to be larger than those obtained for other parts of the body. However, in cases where identification is required by means of only the skull, this method could prove useful.

Estimating stature from the length of the lumbar part of the spine in Japanese.

In order to estimate the stature from the length of the lumbar part of spine (LLPS), studies were made on Japanese males (n=42) and females (n=29) autopsied in our laboratory during 1984–1987. Somatometry was performed on the stature and LLPS in centimetres, the latter being measured from the upper edge of the first lumbar vertebral body, to the promontorium, along the anterior surface of the spine. LLPS were 19.9 ± 1.19 cm in males and 18.6 ± 0.84 cm in females (mean ± S.D.). The regression equations calculated were as follows: stature in males = LLPS × 3.23 + 101.7; stature in females = LLPS × 2.31 + 110.8. The standard errors of estimate were 6.16 cm in males and 4.05 cm in females. This method is useful for estimating the stature of severely burned or mutilated bodies which have no limbs.

The mechanism of experimental adipocere formation: Hydration and dehydrogenation in microbial synthesis of hydroxy and oxo fatty acids

The enzyme preparations from Flavobacterium meningosepticum solubilized by sonication catalyzed not only hydration of oleic acid to produce 10-hydroxystearic acid but dehydrogenation of this product. The mechanism of the hydration and dehydrogenation was proved by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry of 10-hydroxy and 10-oxostearic acids produced in the presence of D2O or H2(18)O. The activity of these enzymes was increased by preincubating Flavobacterium meningosepticum with oleic acid.

An autopsy case of sudden death due to acute gastric dilatation without rupture

We report the first autopsy case of fatal gastric dilatation without rupture. A 31-year-old woman who lived alone was found dead in her living room. Despite being very thin, she showed marked abdominal distention. Autopsy and histological findings revealed that a severely distended stomach, of which walls notably thin and displayed transmural necrosis, occupied the entire abdominal cavity. Severe congestion was observed in the intestine and cecum. Theses findings suggest that bulimia nervosa together with anorexia nervosa resulted in rapid dilation of the stomach. We conclude that the cause of death was acute circulatory failure from hypovolemic shock that occurred following compression of the inferior vena cava and superior mesenteric vein, and by loss of circulatory volume to the third space.

Estimation of time of death by quantification of melatonin in corpses.

A method for the estimation of time of death (TOD), was evaluated by measuring the melatonin (MT) content of pineal bodies (PBs), sera and urine samples from 85 cadavers. A total of 44 cadavers were investigated in Sapporo (geographical coordinates N 43° 4′, E 141° 21′) and 41 in Tokyo (N 35° 39′, E 139° 44′). MT contents were measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA) in 75 PBs, 27 sera and 14 urine samples. Exponential differences of pineal MT content were recognized between peaks in nighttime and nadirs in daytime, ranging from 0.099 to 63.2 ng/PB. Circadian rhythms were also observed for the concentrations of MT in serum (11–205 pg/ml), and in urine (7.5–137.5 pg/ml). Consequently, criteria for the TOD estimation are proposed as follows. 1) Pineal MT contents — (1) 0–0.2 ng/PB: TOD 1100–1700 hours, (2) 0.2–0.3 ng/PB: TOD 0700–2000 hours, (3) 0.3–1 ng/PB: inconclusive, (4) 1–4 ng/PB: TOD 1600–1000 hours, (5) 4–8 ng/PB: TOD 2000–0800 hours, (6) over 8 ng/PB: TOD 2000–0500 hours, 2) Serum MT concentration — (1) 0–100 pg/ml: inconclusive, (2) over 100 pg/ml: TOD 2200–0100 hours, and 3) Urinary MT concentration — (1) 0–35 pg/ml: inconclusive, (2) over 35 pg/ml: TOD 1800–0600 hours. The range of the estimation can be limited by a combination of these 3 criteria. The present method can be combined with other methods for estimating the TOD to decrease the range.ZusammenfassungEine Methode zur Bestimmung der Todeszeit (TZ) wurde evaluiert, indem der Melatonin-Gehalt der Epiphysen, Serum und Urin-Proben von 85 Leichen gemessen wurde. Insgesamt wurden 44 Leichen in Sapporo (geographische Koordinaten N 43°, 4′, E 141° 21′) und 41 Leichen in Tokio (N 35° 39′, E 139° 44′) untersucht. Die Melatonin-Gehalte wurden mit Hilfe des Radioimmunoassays (RIA) in 85 Epiphysen, 27 Seren und 14 Urinproben untersucht. Exponentielle Differenzen des epiphysären Melatonin-Gehalts wurden zwischen den nächtlichen Spitzenwerten und den „Nadirs” während der Tageszeit beobachtet. Diese variierten zwischen 0,099 und 63,2 ng/Epiphyse. Zirkadian-Rhythmen wurden ebenfalls beobachtet für die Konzentrationen von Melatonin im Serum (11–205 pg/ml) und in Urin (7,5–137,5 pg/ml). Folglich werden die Kriterien für die Bestimmung der TZ wie folgt vorgeschlagen: 1) Epiphysäre Melatonin-Gehalte —(1) 0–0,2 ng/Epiphyse: TZ 1100–1700 Uhr, (2) 0,2–0,3 ng/Epiphyse: TZ 0700–2000 Uhr, (3) 0.3–1 ng/Epiphyse: unentschieden, (4) 1–4 ng/Epiphyse: TZ 1600–1000 Uhr, (5) 4–8 ng/Epiphyse: TZ 2000–0800 Uhr, (6) über 8 ng/Epiphyse: TZ 2000–0500 Uhr; 2) Serum-Melatonin-Gehalte — (1) 0–100 pg/ml: unentschieden, (2) über 100 pg/ml: TZ 2200–0100 Uhr und 3) Urin-Melatonin-Gehalte — (1) 0–35 pg/ml: unentschieden, (2) über 35 pg/ml: TZ 1800–0600 Uhr. Die Streubreite der Bestimmung kann durch eine Kombination dieser 3 Kriterien eingeengt werden. Die vorliegende Methode kann mit anderen Methoden zur Bestimmung der Todeszeit kombiniert werden, um deren Variationsbreite zu verringern.

The mechanism of experimental adipocere formation: Substrate specificity on microbial production of hydroxy and oxo fatty acids

Studies are reported on microbial conversion of various unsaturated fatty acids to 10-hydroxy and/or 10-oxo fatty acids by Micrococcus luteus. Four fatty acids possessing cis-9-unsaturation produced 10-hydroxy and 10-oxo fatty acid products, but three enoic acids possessing trans-9-unsaturation or double bond(s) in other than the 9-carbon position were inactive as substrates. 10-Hydroxy palmitic and stearic acids were converted to the corresponding 10-oxo fatty acids, but the 10-oxo compounds were inactive as substrates. This indicates that the metabolic sequence of cis-9-enoic fatty acid by the microbial enzyme(s) is first converted to 10-hydroxy fatty acid and then to its 10-oxo compound.

Immunohistochemical localization of paraquat in lung and brain.

In order to observe the localization and dynamics of paraquat in lung and brain, immunohistochemical approaches were conducted by using animals. Experimental paraquat-poisoned rats were sacrificed 3 hours, 12 hours, 24 hours, 3 days, 7 days and 10 days after intravenous administration of paraquat (5 mg/kg). In lung tissues, paraquat was localized in histiocytes, walls of blood vessels and bronchiolar epithelial cells from 3 hours to 10 days after the paraquat exposure, and interstitial pulmonary fibrosis was being developed with time. On the other hand, in brain tissues, paraquat was localized only in capillary walls and glial cells but not observed in nerve cells 10 days after the administration of paraquat.

Methane asphyxia. Coal mine accident investigation of distribution of gas.

Death from asphyxia due to substitution of air by methane gas may occur in coal mine by gas outburst. In such a case, it is required to determine methane gas contents from cadaveric blood and tissues for diagnosing cause of death and estimating conditions of the accident.The methane concentration in blood and tissue samples of 22 male victims by a gas outburst accident was measured by gas chromatography. The level of methane in the cardiac blood was in the range of 6.8–26.8 μliter/g.As a model of gas outburst in coal mine, rats were exposed experimentally to various concentrations of methane. Their course of death and methane distribution in the bodies were observed. From these findings, diagnostic criteria for asphyxia from substitution of air by methane are also discussed.

Identification of 10-hydroxy-12-octadecenoic acid in adipocere

Studies are reported on separation and identification of 10-hydroxy-12-octadecenoic acid in human adipocere. The chemical structure was determined by thin-layer chromatography (TLC), gas-liquid chromatography (GLC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS).

Development and characterization of monoclonal antibodies reactive with paraquat.

A set of three anti-paraquat monoclonal antibodies(MoAbs), named APM-1, APM-2 and APM-3, has been isolated. In order to evaluate the ability of these MoAbs to recognize various kinds of bipyridyl herbicides and similar congeners of paraquat, a competition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using avidin-biotin complex (ABC) was developed. All three antibodies strongly recognized paraquat and slightly did the other analogs. These three MoAbs are therefore advantageous to a toxicological study of paraquat and of its localization in tissues.