Suicidal knife wound to the heart: challenges in reconstructing wound channels with post mortem CT and CT-angiography

We present a case of an individual who stabbed himself through the heart with a large knife. Post mortem computed tomography (CT) and CT-angiography were used to assess the stab channel and to reconstruct the sequence of events. After penetrating injuries to the chest, both the intra-thoracic organs and the injury causing instrument may shift (e.g. from pnemothorax) and render forensic reconstructions more challenging. This case report illustrates the potentials and the pitfalls of CT for the reconstruction of penetrating injures to the chest.

Transient MR changes and symptomatic epilepsy following gamma knife treatment of a residual GH-secreting pituitary adenoma in the cavernous sinus

To report a rare side effect of gamma knife treatment of pituitary macroadenoma.

Eliminating exposure to aqueous solvents is necessary for the early detection and ultrastructural elemental analysis of sites of calcium and phosphorus enrichment in mineralizing UMR106-01 osteoblastic cultures

The mechanism underlying the mineralization of bone is well studied and yet it remains controversial. Inherent difficulties of imaging mineralized tissues and the aqueous solubility of calcium and phosphate, the 2 ions which combine to form bone mineral crystals, limit current analyses of labile diffusible, amorphous, and crystalline intermediates by electron microscopy. To improve the retention of calcium and phosphorus, we developed a pseudo nonaqueous processing approach and used it to characterize biomineralization foci, extracellular sites of hydroxyapatite deposition in osteoblastic cell cultures. Since mineralization of UMR106-01 osteoblasts is temporally synchronized and begins 78 h after plating, we used these cultures to evaluate the effectiveness of our method when applied to cells just prior to the formation of the first mineral crystals. Our approach combines for the first time 3 well-established methods with a fourth one, i.e. dry ultrathin sectioning. Dry ultrathin sectioning with an oscillating diamond knife was used to produce electron spectroscopic images of mineralized biomineralization foci which were high-pressure frozen and freeze substituted. For comparison, cultures were also treated with conventional processing and wet sectioning. The results show that only the use of pseudo nonaqueous processing was able to detect extracellular sites of early calcium and phosphorus enrichment at 76 h, several hours prior to detection of mineral crystals within biomineralization foci.

A Minimally Invasive Technique for the Detection and Analysis of Pulmonary Fat Embolism: A Feasibility Study*

We investigated the feasibility of postmortem percutaneous needle biopsy (PNB) for obtaining pulmonary samples adequate for the study of pulmonary fat embolism (PFE). Samples of both lungs were obtained from 26 cadavers via two different methods: (i) PNB and (ii) the double-edged knife technique, the gold standard at our institute. After water storage and Sudan III staining, six forensic pathologists independently examined all samples for the presence and severity of PFE. The results were compared and analyzed in each case regarding the vitality of the PFE and its relationship to the cause of death. The results showed that PFE was almost identically diagnosed and graded on the samples obtained via both methods. The discrepancies between the two techniques did not affect the diagnoses of vitality or cause of death related to PFE. This study demonstrates the feasibility of the PNB sampling method for the diagnosis and interpretation of PFE in the postmortem setting.

Genetic diversity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Madang, Papua New Guinea

Madang and surroundings, Papua New Guinea (PNG).

Improved protocol for chromatofocusing on the ProteomeLab PF2D

Beckman-Coulter has recently introduced the ProteomeLab PF2D for 2-D liquid separation of protein samples. The system features separation in the first dimension by chromatofocusing, followed by RP chromatography in the second dimension, allowing the analysis of complex proteomics samples. When used by the standard protocol, reproducibility and column life times are limited, making the use of the instrument very costly. We here present an improved protocol for chromatofocusing, which enhances column life by at least fivefold.

Antegrade endopyelotomy for treatment of ureteropelvic junction obstruction in transplanted kidneys

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Little is known about the incidence and treatment of ureteropelvic junction (UPJ) obstruction of renal grafts. We report on three cases treated by endopyelotomy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Graft function declined in three patients 98, 135, and 144 days after kidney transplantation. Acute rejection was excluded by renal biopsy. Ultrasonography revealed a dilated collecting system, and a percutaneous nephrostomy tube was placed. An antegrade nephrostogram showed UPJ obstruction. Percutaneous antegrade endopyelotomy was performed with the cold-knife technique, and the area was stented for 6 weeks using a 14F/8.2F Smith endopyelotomy stent. RESULTS: No intraoperative or postoperative complications occurred. The endopyelotomies were successful, and the creatinine clearances returned to normal. CONCLUSION: Antegrade endopyelotomy in patients with UPJ obstruction of a renal graft is feasible and effective. Normal kidney function was restored after correction of the obstruction.