Time-related change evaluation of the cerebrospinal fluid using postmortem CT

Purpose: We retrospectively evaluated the cerebro-spinal fluid (CSF) CT density at the lateral ventricle to compare the postmortem intervals in cadavers. Materials and methods: The number of cadavers enrolled in this study was 189 (male 120, female 69). According to the estimated postmortem time, the cadavers were divided into 13 groups (postmortem day 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 7, 10, 14, 21, 30), and were also re-grouped into 3 groups according to the postmortem time-width: group A (postmortem day 0.5-2.5), group B (day 3-7), and group C (day 10-30). Comparisons between the CSF density and estimated postmortem time were also analyzed. Results: The CSF density was around 20 HU up to day 2.5, and it increased gradually after day 3. Day 3 and 4 presented higher CSF density than day 1 and 1.5 (p < 0.05). Day 7 presented higher CSF density than day 3 (p < 0.05). According to the postmortem time-width, the CSF density increased with postmortem time (p < 0.05). The simple linear regression equations presented negative correlation between CSF density and estimated postmortem time, and R2 was 0.119. Conclusion: The CSF density increased, but not linearly, according to the postmortem time, and the 3rd postmortem day was the earliest time allowing the difference to be detected. The CSF density needs further evaluation to enable estimation of the postmortem time

Stature estimation from anatomical landmarks in femur using postmortem CT

Objective: The present study aims to assess the correlation between stature and partial femur measurements in Japanese population, using three-dimensional (3D) computed tomographic (CT) images. Method: A total of 195 cadavers (105 males, 90 females) underwent postmortem CT scanning and subsequent forensic autopsy between April 2013 and June 2014. Five femur length measurements were taken from 3D CT volume rendering (VR) images according to three anatomical landmarks: the greater trochanter, the lesser trochanter, and the adductor tubercle. The correlations between stature and each of the femur length measurements were assessed with Spearman's rank correlation test, and showed significant correlations between stature and femur length measurements. Results: Using a mixed-sex regression formula, the R2 was from 0.644 to 0.766 and actual difference was less than 4.6 cm. Conclusion: Present study showed that femur length measurements, according to the anatomical landmarks obtained from 3DCT VR images, were useful for estimation of the stature, particularly in cases when a total femur bone was not available

Susceptibility of Males, but Not Females to Developing Femoral Head Osteonecrosis in Response to Alcohol Consumption

<div><p>Background</p><p>We previously reported that ethanol-containing liquid diet feeding induces osteonecrosis of the femoral head in male rats. Also, it was reported that a large amount of consumed ethanol and a long-term history of drinking were risk factors for osteonecrosis of the femoral head, and that the frequency of alcohol-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head in males was much greater than in females. The higher incidence of alcohol-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head could be due to either higher prevalence of alcohol drinking in males or due to their potential higher sensitivity to alcohol. The aim of the study is to investigate the influence of alcohol consumption and drinking period on the development of osteonecrosis of the femoral head in rats of both sex.</p><p>Methods</p><p>All the experimental male rats were allocated to the male one-month ethanol drinking group (M1). Female rats were randomly divided into the female one- to five-months ethanol drinking groups (F1-5). All rats were fed a Lieber-DeCarli liquid diet containing 5% ethanol for one to five months.</p><p>Results</p><p>One-month feeding with the ethanol-containing liquid diet resulted in the development of osteonecrosis of the femoral head in seven of twenty in the M1 group, but none in the F1 group, although the mean intake of ethanol per body weight in the M1 group was significantly lower than that in the F1 group. Furthermore, long drinking periods with a large amount of ethanol intake in the F2-5 groups did not induce osteonecrosis of the femoral head.</p><p>Conclusion</p><p>The present study shows that lower alcohol consumption over short periods of time that were sufficient to induce osteonecrosis of the femoral head in males had no effect on females. Even with greater alcohol consumption and longer duration, females did not develop osteonecrosis of the femoral head. Therefore, unknown factors related to sex must be responsible for the development of this condition.</p></div

Histological appearance of hematoxylin and eosin stained femoral head.

<p>Typical images from the MC and M1 groups are shown. The diffuse presence of empty lacunae in the bone trabeculae accompanied by bone marrow cell necrosis was observed in the femoral head of M1 group. Scale bar: 100μm.</p

The percentage of empty lacunae in the femoral head and NASH steatosis score in the liver.

<p>The percentage of empty lacunae in the M1 group was significantly higher than in the other groups (p<0.0001). The percentage of empty lacunae in the M1 group with ONFH was significantly higher than in the M1 group without ONFH (ONFH- vs ONFH+: 7.62±0.82 vs 73.29±4.34, Fig 3). Hepatic steatosis score in the M1 group was significantly higher than in the other groups (p<0.0001). ^† vs MC, FC, F1-5, <i>p</i> <0.0001, ^‡ vs ONFH-, <i>p</i> <0.0001, Mann-Whitney test, ^§ vs MC, FC, <i>p</i> <0.05.</p

Characteristics of each group.

<p>Characteristics of each group.</p

Histological appearance of hematoxylin and eosin stained liver.

<p>The M1 group liver shows moderate hepatocellular steatosis. Scale bar: 100μm.</p

Plasma concentration of AST, ALT, TG, TC and HDL.

<p>In the M1 group, all the parameters except TG were significantly higher compared to the MC group (<i>P</i><0.0001); AST, ALT and HDL were significantly higher compared to the F1 group (<i>P</i><0.0001). ^† vs MC, FC, F1-5, <i>p</i> <0.0001, ^‡ vs FC, <i>p</i> <0.0001, ^§ vs FC, <i>p</i> <0.05, ^¶ vs MC, <i>p</i> <0.01, ^†† vs MC, FC or F2-5, <i>p</i> <0.0001, ^‡‡ vs FC, <i>p</i> <0.01, ^§§ vs MC, FC, F5, <i>p</i> <0.0001, vs F2-4, <i>p</i> <0.01, ^¶¶ vs MC, FC, F1, 3–5, <i>p</i> <0.0001, vs F2, <i>p</i> <0.001 ^††† vs MC, <i>p</i> <0.0001, ^‡‡‡ vs MC, <i>p</i> <0.05,</p