RESUMEN
Tauopathies are a group of neurodegenerative diseases characterized by the alteration/aggregation of TAU protein, for which there is still no effective treatment. Therefore, new pharmacological targets are being sought, such as elements of the endocannabinoid system (ECS). We analysed the occurrence of changes in the ECS in tauopathies and their implication in the pathogenesis. By integrating gene expression analysis, immunofluorescence, genetic and adeno-associated virus expressing TAU mouse models, we found a TAU-dependent increase in CB2 receptor expression in hippocampal neurons, that occurs as an early event in the pathology and was maintained until late stages. These changes were accompanied by alterations in the endocannabinoid metabolism. Remarkably, CB2 ablation in mice protects from neurodegeneration induced by hTAUP301L overexpression, corroborated at the level of cognitive behaviour, synaptic plasticity, and aggregates of insoluble TAU. At the level of neuroinflammation, the absence of CB2 did not produce significant changes in concordance with a possible neuronal location rather than its classic glial expression in these models. These findings were corroborated in post-mortem samples of patients with Alzheimer's disease, the most common tauopathy. Our results show that neurons with accumulated TAU induce the expression of the CB2 receptor, which enhances neurodegeneration. These results are important for our understanding of disease mechanisms, providing a novel therapeutic strategy to be investigated in tauopathies.
Asunto(s)
Encéfalo/metabolismo , Neuroprotección/fisiología , Receptor Cannabinoide CB2/biosíntesis , Tauopatías/metabolismo , Proteínas tau/biosíntesis , Adulto , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Enfermedad de Alzheimer/genética , Enfermedad de Alzheimer/metabolismo , Enfermedad de Alzheimer/patología , Animales , Encéfalo/patología , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Ratones , Ratones Endogámicos C57BL , Ratones Noqueados , Ratones Transgénicos , Persona de Mediana Edad , Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas/genética , Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas/metabolismo , Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas/patología , Receptor Cannabinoide CB2/genética , Tauopatías/genética , Tauopatías/patología , Proteínas tau/genéticaRESUMEN
OBJECTIVES: There is increasing evidence that ferritin is a key marker of macrophage activation, but its potential role in influenza infection remains unexplored. Our aim was to assess whether hyperferritinaemia (ferritin ≥500 ng/mL) could be a marker of poor prognosis in hospitalized patients with confirmed influenza A infection. METHODS: We prospectively recruited all hospitalized adult patients who tested positive for the influenza A rRT-PCR assay performed on respiratory samples in two consecutive influenza periods (2016-17 and 2017-18). Poor outcome was defined as the presence of at least one of the following: respiratory failure, admission to the intensive care unit, or in-hospital mortality. RESULTS: Among 494 patients, 68 (14%) developed poor outcomes; 112 patients (23%) had hyperferritinaemia (39/68, 57% in the poor-outcome group versus 73/426, 17% in the remaining patients, p < 0.0001). Median serum ferritin levels were significantly higher in the subgroup of patients with poor outcomes (609 ng/mL, range 231-967 versus 217 ng/mL, range 140-394, p < 0.0001). In multivariate analysis, hyperferritinaemia was associated with a five-fold increase in the odds ratio of developing poor outcome. After adjusting for classic influenza risk factors, ferritin remained as a significant predictive factor in all exploratory models. Ferritin levels had a good discriminative capacity with an area under the ROC curve of 0.72 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.65-0.8, p < 0.001) and an overall diagnostic accuracy for predicting poor outcome of 79.3% (95%CI 75.4-82.7%). CONCLUSIONS: Serum ferritin may discriminate a subgroup of patients with influenza infection who have a higher risk of developing a poor outcome.
Asunto(s)
Ferritinas/sangre , Virus de la Influenza A/genética , Gripe Humana/diagnóstico , Regulación hacia Arriba , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Cuidados Críticos/estadística & datos numéricos , Femenino , Mortalidad Hospitalaria , Hospitalización , Humanos , Gripe Humana/sangre , Gripe Humana/complicaciones , Gripe Humana/mortalidad , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Pronóstico , Estudios Prospectivos , Insuficiencia Respiratoria/epidemiología , Insuficiencia Respiratoria/etiologíaRESUMEN
The manuscript presents the International Guidelines developed by the Working Group on Personal Injury and Damage under the patronage of the International Academy of Legal Medicine (IALM) regarding the Methods of Ascertainment of any suspected Whiplash-Associated Disorders (WAD).The document includes a detailed description of the logical and methodological steps of the ascertainment process as well as a synoptic diagram in the form of Flow Chart.
Asunto(s)
Lesiones por Latigazo Cervical/diagnóstico , Humanos , Anamnesis/normas , Examen Físico/normas , Escala Visual AnalógicaRESUMEN
No disponible
Asunto(s)
Accidentes de Tránsito , Compensación y Reparación/legislación & jurisprudencia , Seguro de Responsabilidad Civil/legislación & jurisprudencia , Monitoreo Epidemiológico/tendencias , Evaluación de la Discapacidad , Evaluación de Daños/legislación & jurisprudencia , Aseguradoras , Medicina Legal , España/epidemiologíaRESUMEN
El perjuicio estético ha sido tradicionalmente relegado en los baremos de valoración, sin establecer con claridad cuáles eran los elementos a considerar en su valoración y cuantificación. La existencia de factores tanto funcionales, como de alteración de la normal forma, han podido determinar una imprecisa valoración, especialmente plasmada en el baremo al uso más importante en nuestro país: el empleado para la indemnización de lesiones derivadas de los accidentes de tráfico contenido actualmente en el Real Decreto Legislativo 8/2004. Proponemos unos nuevos criterios de valoración que atiendan a todos los aspectos precisos, eliminando el capítulo especial de cuantificación del perjuicio estético e incluyéndolo con el resto de las secuelas cuantificables en los diferentes apartados de la Tabla VI (AU)
The aesthetic damage traditionally has been relegated in the most important scales, and especially in the Spanish origin, at a second level, without clarity establishing with which are the elements to consider in their valuation and quantification. The existence of functional factors, and normal form alteration, has been able to determine a vague valuation, especially shaped in the scale of most important use in our country: this one to indemnification of injuries derived from the road traffic accidents contained into the Royal Legislative Decree 8/2004. We propose new criteria of valuation that take care of all the precise aspects, eliminating the special chapter of quantification of the aesthetic damage and including it with the rest of the quantifiable sequels in the different sections from the Table VI (AU)
Asunto(s)
Humanos , Masculino , Femenino , Estética , Evaluación de Daños/legislación & jurisprudencia , Mala Praxis/legislación & jurisprudencia , Reembolso Compartido Desproporcionado/legislación & jurisprudencia , Procedimientos de Cirugía Plástica/ética , Procedimientos de Cirugía Plástica/legislación & jurisprudencia , Estadísticas de Secuelas y DiscapacidadRESUMEN
Peritoneal dialysis is a renal replacement therapy indicated in patients with an unstable hemodynamic status. It has been used, by ultrafiltration, preferably in those patients with congestive heart failure refractory to conventional medical therapy. We present the experience of our center with five patients who were affected by severe congestive heart failure [Class IV on the New York Heart Association (NYHA) scale] and diverse stages of chronic renal failure, who received this therapy. Icodextrin has been used as an osmotic agent to induce ultrafiltration. The follow-up period ranged between 5 and 14 months (9.8 +/- 3.7 months). The results that we have found are similar to those of other studies: we observed a significant improvement in quality of life and a reduction in morbidity and hospitalization rates in all our patients. But it seems to be necessary to make a prospective randomized controlled trial with more number of individuals to confirm these promising facts, to clarify the impact on the survival, and to analyze the cost-benefit for treating patients suffering from refractory, end stage congestive heart failure.
Asunto(s)
Insuficiencia Cardíaca/terapia , Fallo Renal Crónico/terapia , Diálisis Peritoneal , Anciano , Femenino , Insuficiencia Cardíaca/complicaciones , Humanos , Fallo Renal Crónico/complicaciones , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Estudios RetrospectivosRESUMEN
La diálisis peritoneal es una técnica sustitutiva de la función renal indicada en pacientes con inestabilidad hemodinámica. Por ello, se ha utilizado preferentemente en aquellos pacientes con insuficiencia cardíaca refractaria al tratamiento médico convencional. Presentamos la experiencia de nuestro centro con cinco pacientes que presentaban diversos grados de enfermedad renal crónica e insuficiencia cardíaca congestiva, que recibieron este tratamiento. Los resultados que hemos encontrado son superponibles a otros estudios realizados: en todos nuestros pacientes mejoró la clase funcional según la Clasificación de la New York Heart Association y disminuyeron los tiempos de hospitalización. Parece necesario realizar estudios prospectivos con mayor número de individuos para confirmar estas afirmaciones, aclarar el impacto sobre la supervivencia, y analizar el coste-beneficio
Peritoneal dialysis is a renal replacement therapy indicated in patients with an unstable hemodynamic status. It has been used, by ultrafiltration, preferably in those patients with congestive heart failure refractory to conventional medical therapy.We present the experience of our center with five patients who were affected by severe congestive heart failure [Class IV on the New York Heart Association (NYHA) scale] and diverse stages of chronic renal failure,who received this therapy. Icodextrin has been used as an osmotic agent to induce ultrafiltration. The follow-up period ranged between 5 and 14 months (9.8 ± 3.7 months). The results that we have found are similar to those of other studies:we observed a significant improvement in quality of life and a reduction in morbidity and hospitalization rates in all our patients. But it seems to be necessary to make a prospective randomized controlled trial with more number of individuals to confirm these promising facts, to clarify the impact on the survival, and to analyze the cost-benefit for treating patients suffering from refractory, end stage congestive heart failure
Asunto(s)
Humanos , Insuficiencia Cardíaca/terapia , Diálisis Peritoneal/métodos , Insuficiencia Renal Crónica/complicaciones , Insuficiencia Renal Crónica/terapia , Supervivencia , Tiempo de Internación/estadística & datos numéricosRESUMEN
Suero costeño is a fermented milk product from the Colombian Atlantic coast, which is produced by the spontaneous acidification of raw milk due to the action of environmental microbes during traditional and semi-industrial processes. Eleven fermentations were carried out in experimental settings replicating traditional conditions and changes in concentration among microbial groups involved during the process (Aerobic Mesophilic bacteria, Yeasts, Enterobacteriaceae and Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB)). LAB plays an important role in the fermentation process, especially during the final stage (24 hours). In addition, yeasts seem to have an effect on fermentation, showing an increase during the first hours of the process, while Enterobacterial counts decreased during fermentation. Thirty six LAB strains were isolated from commercial samples and thirty two were identified using the API 50 CH kit (BioMCrieux). 41% of the strains identified belonged to the species Lb. plantarum, and 19% were Lb. paracasei subsp. paracasei. Sugars fermented by LAB include milk carbohydrates such as D-Lactose, D-Glucose and D-Galactose. Because of their capacity to use other carbohydrates (manose, celobiose, maltose, fructose, ribose, trehalose, salicin, gentiobiose), it would also be possible to use these strains as starter cultures for other fermentations.
Asunto(s)
Productos Lácteos Cultivados/microbiología , Lactobacillus/aislamiento & purificación , Lactococcus/aislamiento & purificación , Leuconostoc/aislamiento & purificación , Levaduras/aislamiento & purificación , Colombia , Ácido LácticoRESUMEN
Precise diagnosis of eating disorders has long been problematic. First off, although the DSM IV provides clear criteria, these are applicable to a very narrow range of disorders. Subclinical disorders, although well defined in the literature, are difficult to diagnose as no tool has been previously available. These subclinical disorders are particularly important if one considers that they are often precursors to more serious and life-threatening eating disorders. In addition, choice of diagnostic tool for eating disorders has also long been the cause of difficulty for both researchers and clinicians. Although interviews are favored for their in-depth approach, they are sometimes difficult to implement and often too long and costly to use on a regular basis. Most available questionnaires are limited by their approach to one or two diagnostic categories, and again, until now, no tool has fully addressed the issue of subclinical disorders. The goal of this work was to translate and use a new questionnaire, The Questionnaire for Eating Disorders (Q-EDD), which was developed in the United States and based on both DSM IV criteria as well as carefully developed subclinical disorder criteria. The Q-EDD can identify the major eating disorder categories while at the same time distinguishing between different qualities in each (for example restricting versus compensatory anorexia). Moreover, the Q-EDD can identify several subclinical disorder categories, providing useful insight into potentially dangerous evolution of these disorders. In collaboration with one of the original authors, the questionnaire was translated into French with careful attention to DSM IV criteria in order to preserve its original validity. The questionnaire was read by several professionals in psychology as well as lay people to assure its face validity and ease of use. Once the questionnaire was adequately translated and corrected, it was used for an epidemiological study with a large sample of adolescents and young adults (n=1 001) from several Junior High and High Schools in the greater metropolitan area of Toulouse, France. The schools were located in a variety of neighborhoods and represented a wide range of population, some of them being more academic oriented, others being more oriented towards practical training. The population was composed of 703 females and 298 males, with an average age of 17.06 years. In addition, the population included several different ethnic categories, all of which are similarly represented in the general French population. The results from the Q-EDD showed levels of various clinical disorders to replicate data from previous epidemiological studies with 1.5% of the population suffering from a serious clinical DSM IV disorder; 7.9% suffering from DSM IV disorders NOS; and 20.9% suffering subclinical disorders. In addition to this finding of 30% of the population with an eating disorder, it was noted that a large number of these young people fell into the severe underweight and low weight categories. Indeed, nearly 10% of this group were within the weight criteria for anorexia, despite the fact that they did not meet the other criteria. This finding seemed to warrant additional investigation, and as a result, a different cut-off for severe underweight was established using literature references; this cut-off was set at the 10(th) percentile for BMI based on age. Yet, even with this new cut-off, 6% of this population still met a severe underweight criteria suggestive of anorexic pathology. These results led to the formulation of 2 hypotheses to explain this finding, the first of which examines morphological differences, the second of which suggests cultural differences in terms of eating habits and diet. The French version of the Q-EDD appears to follow the psychometric properties of the original version, moreover it provides useful and rich data regarding eating disorders in a format that is simple and efficient.
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Trastornos de Alimentación y de la Ingestión de Alimentos/diagnóstico , Trastornos de Alimentación y de la Ingestión de Alimentos/epidemiología , Encuestas y Cuestionarios , Adolescente , Conducta del Adolescente/psicología , Adulto , Índice de Masa Corporal , Niño , Diagnóstico Diferencial , Manual Diagnóstico y Estadístico de los Trastornos Mentales , Estudios de Factibilidad , Trastornos de Alimentación y de la Ingestión de Alimentos/clasificación , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Psicología del AdolescenteRESUMEN
The male human body found in an Alpine glacier on September 19, 1991 ("Tyrolean Iceman") has, for the first time in history, given scientists a chance to perform detailed anatomical, histological, and molecular investigations on the organs of a person from the Neolithic Age (5350-5100 B.P.). In the present study, tissue samples aseptically taken from the stomach and the colon of the mummy were utilized for DNA extraction, and the DNA was PCR-amplified, using primer pairs designed to bind to fragments of the 16s ribosomal RNA gene (16s rDNA) of a broad range of bacteria. The PCR products were cloned in plasmid vectors, and the recombinant clones (amplicons) were sequenced. The sequence data were finally used for scanning data libraries containing the corresponding sequences of present-day bacteria, to infer the putative ecophysiology of the ancient ones. The same procedure was repeated on some fragments of grass from the clothing found near the corpse. These fragments were taken as a control of the microbiological situation of the glacier. The results show that the flora of the Iceman's stomach is entirely composed of Burkholderia pickettii, an organism commonly found in aquatic habitats. The colon, on the other hand, contains several members of the fecal flora of humans, such as Clostridium perfringens, C. ghonii, C. sordellii, Eubacterium tenue, and Bacteroides sp. The Iceman's colon, however, was found to contain, rather unexpectedly, also some members of the genus Vibrio. The results are discussed in light of what is known about the preservation of microbial DNA at the Iceman's site and of previous parasitological studies performed on the Iceman himself and on human coprolites.
Asunto(s)
Colon/microbiología , ADN Bacteriano/química , Hominidae/genética , Estómago/microbiología , Animales , ADN Ribosómico/química , Fósiles , Biblioteca de Genes , Humanos , Masculino , Microscopía Electrónica , Datos de Secuencia Molecular , Filogenia , Poaceae/microbiología , Análisis de Secuencia de ADNRESUMEN
The diagnosis of the vital origin of wounds in many cases remains an unsolved problem for the forensic pathologist. Practical experience enables the expert to diagnose the vital or postmortem origin of wounds on the basis of macroscopic examination. In some cases, optic microscopy is used to confirm the diagnosis. In many other cases, additional more sensitive and specific markers of vitality are required. In the past 50 years, comprehensive research on this topic has resulted in a better understanding of the acute inflammatory reaction. The development and application of sensitive and specific markers through research in the areas of histochemistry, enzymology, and biochemistry has provided a partial solution to the problems involved in wound vitality diagnosis. A review of this challenging area of forensic pathology, including an explanation of these methods and markers, is presented in this paper.
Asunto(s)
Medicina Legal , Cicatrización de Heridas/fisiología , Heridas y Lesiones/etiología , Heridas y Lesiones/fisiopatología , Biomarcadores , Medicina Legal/métodos , HumanosRESUMEN
Optic nerves of adult fish and amphibia can successfully regenerate, in part because their glial cells, unlike those of mammals, provide an environment permissive to regrowth. We altered the environment of regenerating dorsal root axons in the frog, Rana pipiens, by grafting segments of optic nerve to test the permissiveness of CNS glial cells to other sensory neurons. We compared these preparations to grafts of segments of sciatic nerve. After allowing various times for survival, light and electron microscopy were used to evaluate the grafts. An agglomeration of astrocytes, tightly joined by desmosomes, initially formed in the center of the optic nerve grafts. Around this grew regenerating dorsal root axons, accompanied by Schwann cells. At early stages, some axons formed dilated terminal structures, which were not seen in peripheral nerve grafts. The appearance of blood vessels within the graft and the dispersion of cells allowed larger numbers of axons to grow through the graft. By eight weeks, 48% of dorsal root sensory axons had grown through optic nerve grafts, compared to 84% for sciatic nerve. These results suggest that astrocytes from optic nerve are not inhibitory to, and provide a suitable substrate for, regrowing sensory neurons.
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Axones/fisiología , Regeneración Nerviosa , Neuronas Aferentes/fisiología , Nervio Óptico/ultraestructura , Nervio Ciático/ultraestructura , Animales , Astrocitos/fisiología , Neuroglía/fisiología , Rana pipiensRESUMEN
Two bacterial isolates, designated AMG-D1T and AMG-D2, were recovered from 25-35-million-year-old Dominican amber. AMG-D1T and AMG-D2 biochemically most closely resemble Staphylococcus xylosus; they differ physiologically from other staphylococci. Fatty acid analysis and comparisons with extensive databases were unable to show relatedness to any specific taxon. Moreover, AMG-D1T and AMG-D2 contain tuberculostearic acid and meso-diaminopimelic acid, characteristic of the G + C-rich coryneform bacteria, as opposed to L-lysine characteristic of staphylococci. AMG-D1T and AMG-D2 have a G + C ratio of 35 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis with the 16S rRNA gene indicated that AMG-D1T and AMG-D2 were most closely related to Staphylococcus equorum, S. xylosus, Staphylococcus saprophyticus and other novobiocin-resistant staphylococci. Stringent DNA-DNA hybridization studies with AMG-D1T revealed similarities of 38% with S. equorum, 23% with S. xylosus and 6% with S. saprophyticus. The results indicate that AMG-D1T and AMG-D2 represent a novel species, which was named Staphylococcus succinus sp. nov. The type strain of the new species is AMG-D1 (ATCC 700337).
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Ámbar , Staphylococcus/clasificación , Antibacterianos/farmacología , Composición de Base , Secuencia de Bases , Pared Celular , ADN Bacteriano/análisis , Dominica , Ácidos Grasos/análisis , Datos de Secuencia Molecular , Filogenia , Staphylococcus/efectos de los fármacos , Staphylococcus/aislamiento & purificación , Staphylococcus/ultraestructuraRESUMEN
The potential of skin measurements of D-dimer (DD), a specific derivative of crosslinked fibrin, for the diagnosis of the vital origin of wounds was investigated in 67 human vital skin wounds and homolateral control pieces of skin from 53 autopsies performed at the Institute of Legal Medicine of Coimbra (Portugal) during 1992. Our results demonstrate that DD levels for the incised vital skin wounds (n = 50) were much higher on average than their controls (P < 0.01) which were actually incised injuries produced postmortem at the autopsy. We did not find any statistical difference in average DD levels among the remaining injuries (seven abrasions and ten contusions) in comparison to their respective controls. DD may be used, with certain limitations, as a marker of the vitality of incised wounds. The authors believe this is the first time this marker has been applied in forensic pathology. It is an example of an easy and quick application technique, with the added advantage of low cost.
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Contusiones/patología , Productos de Degradación de Fibrina-Fibrinógeno/análisis , Cambios Post Mortem , Heridas Penetrantes/patología , Autopsia , Biomarcadores/análisis , Fibrinógeno/análisis , Humanos , Reproducibilidad de los Resultados , Factores de TiempoRESUMEN
We have compared the individual sensitivity, specificity and predictive value of the CAGE questionnaire, plasma levels of ethanol and acetate, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT), and glycosylated haemoglobin (Hb A1c) in a group of 50 healthy non-alcoholic controls and 31 patients with non-alcoholic liver disease (Group I), and in a second group of 40 alcoholic patients (Group II). Taken individually, the CAGE questionnaire was the most efficient (96% sensitive and 92% specific), followed by plasma levels of acetate (74% sensitive and 85% specific), MCV (64% sensitive and 91% specific) and GGT (72% sensitive and 80% specific). Hb A1c did not show any statistically significant difference between alcoholics and non-alcoholics and thus is of no use as a screening test for the diagnosis of alcoholism. Furthermore, we attempted to design a discrimination procedure to separate alcoholics from controls and patients with non-alcoholic hepatic diseases using a combination of the most promising tests. The most powerful discrimination model was constructed with the four questions of the CAGE questionnaire. The percentage of correct classifications using this model was 99% from Group I (specificity) and 90% from Group II (sensitivity). The CAGE questionnaire was itself so useful as a discriminant in our sample that no increased diagnostic efficacy was noticed on adding any of the other tests. Using objective variables (MCV, acetate and GGT) as discriminants, we could correctly classify 96% of subjects from Group I (specificity) and only 64% from Group II (sensitivity).
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Alcoholismo/diagnóstico , Análisis Químico de la Sangre , Determinación de la Personalidad/estadística & datos numéricos , Adolescente , Adulto , Anciano , Alcoholismo/enzimología , Diagnóstico Diferencial , Índices de Eritrocitos , Etanol/farmacología , Femenino , Hemoglobina Glucada/metabolismo , Humanos , Hepatopatías Alcohólicas/diagnóstico , Hepatopatías Alcohólicas/enzimología , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Valor Predictivo de las Pruebas , Psicometría , gamma-Glutamiltransferasa/sangreRESUMEN
We have studied the viability of PGF2a as a vitality marker in skin wounds. Incised vital skin wounds and homolateral control pieces of skin were obtained from 20 autopsies performed at the Institute of Legal Medicine of Coimbra University (Portugal). We have also studied 10 fresh skin samples from the Department of Dermatology of the University Hospital (Granada). Our results show that PGF2a is not suitable for the diagnosis of the vitality of wounds because of its irregular behaviour.
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Dinoprost/análisis , Cambios Post Mortem , Heridas y Lesiones/patología , Biomarcadores , Dinoprost/metabolismo , Humanos , Radioinmunoensayo , Reproducibilidad de los Resultados , Factores de Tiempo , Heridas y Lesiones/metabolismoRESUMEN
Plasma levels of ethanol and acetate, which is the end product of hepatic ethanol oxidation, have been studied in 60 rats. Animals were divided into two groups: 1) Control rats, and 2) Alcohol-treated rats. Ethanol and acetate were measured without any previous handling (endogenous levels) and after intraperitoneal injection of a single dose of ethanol. Blood specimens were taken at 30, 60, 120, 180 and 240 minutes after ethanol injection. Plasma levels of ethanol and acetate were performed by Head Space Gas Chromatography. Alcohol-treated animals had higher plasma acetate levels than control ones. There were statistically significant differences for acetate between both groups of rats at 0, 30, 120 and 180 minutes.
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Acetatos/metabolismo , Consumo de Bebidas Alcohólicas/metabolismo , Etanol/farmacocinética , Hígado/metabolismo , Alcohol Deshidrogenasa/metabolismo , Animales , Etanol/sangre , Etanol/farmacología , Semivida , Hígado/efectos de los fármacos , Masculino , Tasa de Depuración Metabólica , Oxidación-Reducción , Ratas , Ratas Wistar/metabolismo , Factores de TiempoRESUMEN
This paper shows the results obtained by studying the lysosomal enzyme Cathepsin D as a potential marker for the vitality of wounds in human specimens. We have analyzed 53 samples using enzymological and histological techniques. Our results show the ability of Cathepsin D to establish the vital origin of wounds inflicted 5 minutes or less before death, where the specific activity of cathepsin D reached 0.055 units at the wound edge and 0.01 units in their respective controls (P < 0.001). As previously demonstrated in an experimental series, Cathepsin D seems to be a very useful marker of high forensic interest in especially difficult cases. Further studies are in progress to check the influence of different factors such as drugs intake and clinical conditions on Cathepsin D activity.
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Catepsina D/análisis , Medicina Legal/métodos , Cambios Post Mortem , Heridas Penetrantes/enzimología , Adolescente , Adulto , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Biomarcadores , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Muestreo , Factores de Tiempo , Heridas Penetrantes/patologíaRESUMEN
The authors have studied the usefulness of some lung surfactant phospholipids (LSPs) isolated from lung tissues as markers of drowning. Two different groups of rabbits were sacrificed by drowning in fresh and salt water, and their phospholipid compositions were compared with those of a non-drowned control series. For the phospholipids studied in lung lavages (phosphatidyl choline, phosphatidyl ethanolamine, and phosphatidyl glycerol) the proportions differed between the control group and the drowned group, and between the fresh-water and salt-water drowned animals. According to these results, the lipids we have analyzed can be employed as markers in forensic autopsies, where it is necessary to differentiate between death by drowning and postmortem immersion and between fresh-water and salt-water drowning. In lung tissue, only phosphatidyl choline and phosphatidyl inositol showed significative differences. These results also confirm that LSPs are strongly affected in drowning.