Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Skin Res Technol 2019 Feb 15. Epub 2019 Feb 15.

Department of Forensic Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.

Background: Previous studies have reported relationships between various visual parameters of the skin and changes due to aging. Due to an increase in the discovery of unidentified bodies, the field of forensic medicine anticipates the development of a rapid method for estimating age. The present study measured various visual parameters of the skin in human remains and investigated the correlation between these parameters and age. Read More

Addict Biol 2019 Feb 12. Epub 2019 Feb 12.

Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Centre for Neuroscience, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.

Excessive use of cocaine is known to induce changes in brain white and gray matter. It is unknown whether the extent of these changes is related to individual differences in vulnerability to cocaine addiction. One factor increasing vulnerability involves reduced expression of the serotonin transporter (5-HTT). Read More

Asian-Australas J Anim Sci 2019 Jan 4. Epub 2019 Jan 4.

NARO Tohoku Agricultural Research Center, Morioka, Iwate 020-0198, Japan.

Objective: Meat quality attributes in postmortem muscle tissues depend on skeletal muscle metabolites. The objective of this study was to determine the key metabolic compounds and pathways associated with postmortem aging and beef quality in Japanese Black cattle (JB; a Japanese Wagyu breed with highly marbled beef).

Methods: Lean portions of Longissimus thoracis (LT: loin) muscle in 3 JB steers were collected at 0, 1, and 14 days after slaughter. Read More

N Z Vet J 2019 Feb 11:1-19. Epub 2019 Feb 11.

a School of Veterinary Science , Massey University , Private Bag 11 222, Palmerston North , 4442 , New Zealand.

Case History: A group of 39, 19- to 22-month-old Friesian bulls were administered an ivermectin/closantel anthelmintic via intended S/C injection in the ischiorectal fossa on 15 June 2017 (Day 0). Over the next 50 days, 22 affected bulls presented various degrees of anorexia, abdominal pain and urine dribbling. Seventeen bulls were examined by transrectal ultrasonography which revealed urinary bladder distension in all 17, and peritoneal fluid accumulation in some. Read More

J Vet Diagn Invest 2019 Feb 10:1040638719828412. Epub 2019 Feb 10.

Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine (Lawrence, Shulzhenko, Löhr).

Knowledge of changes in the composition of microbial communities (microbiota) in tissues after death, over time, is critical to correctly interpret results of microbiologic testing from postmortem examinations. Limited information is available about postmortem changes of the microbiota and the associated microbial genes (microbiome) of internal organs in any species. We examined the effect of time and ambient temperature on the postmortem microbiome (thanatomicrobiome) of tissues typically sampled for microbiologic testing during autopsies. Read More

Magn Reson Med Sci 2019 Feb 7. Epub 2019 Feb 7.

Department of Radiological Sciences, Human Health Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan University Graduate School.

Purpose: Ex vivo brains have different MRI properties than in vivo brains because of chemical changes caused by fixative solutions, which change the signal intensity and/or tissue contrast on MR images. In this study, we investigated and compared the MRI properties of in vivo and ex vivo brains.

Methods: Using a Bruker 9. Read More

Animal 2019 Feb 6:1-8. Epub 2019 Feb 6.

1School of Environmental and Rural Science,University of New England,Armidale,NSW 2350,Australia.

A simple index that reflects the potential eating quality of beef carcasses is very important for producer feedback. The Meat Standards Australia (MSA) Index reflects variation in carcass quality due to factors that are influenced by producers (hot carcass weight, rib fat depth, hump height, marbling and ossification scores along with milk fed veal category, direct or saleyard consignment, hormonal growth promotant status and sex). In addition, processor impacts on meat quality are standardised so that the MSA Index could be compared across time, breed and geographical regions. Read More

Food Res Int 2019 Feb 9;116:1336-1343. Epub 2018 Oct 9.

Institute of Animal and Veterinary Science of Haibei Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Haibei, Qinghai 810200, PR China.

A label-free proteomics method was used to explore the effects of differentially expressed proteins on the tenderness of yak rumen smooth muscle during postmortem storage (0, 3 and 7 days) at 3 ± 1 °C. The tenderness improved significantly during storage. A total of 212 differentially expressed proteins were identified by the following comparisons: Day 3 vs. Read More

Neurobiol Aging 2019 Jan 8;76:166-180. Epub 2019 Jan 8.

Wolfson Centre for Age-Related Diseases, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK; Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia characterized by substantial neuronal loss and progressive brain atrophy. Animal studies have suggested that the process of adult neurogenesis might be altered at the earliest phases of disease onset. The relationship between AD progression and adult neurogenesis in the human brain is, however, not well understood. Read More

IEEE Trans Med Imaging 2019 Jan 31. Epub 2019 Jan 31.

Cerebral ischemic stroke causes injury to brain tissue characterized by a complex cascade of neuronal and vascular events. Imaging during early stages of its development allows prediction of tissue infarction and penumbra, so that optimal intervention can be determined in order to salvage brain function impairment. Therefore, there is a critical need for novel imaging techniques that can characterize brain injury in the earliest phases of ischemic stroke. Read More

Acta Neuropathol 2019 Feb 2. Epub 2019 Feb 2.

Lieber Institute for Brain Development, Johns Hopkins Medical Campus, 855 N Wolfe St, Suite 300, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.

Late-onset Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a complex age-related neurodegenerative disorder that likely involves epigenetic factors. To better understand the epigenetic state associated with AD, we surveyed 420,852 DNA methylation (DNAm) sites from neurotypical controls (N = 49) and late-onset AD patients (N = 24) across four brain regions (hippocampus, entorhinal cortex, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and cerebellum). We identified 858 sites with robust differential methylation collectively annotated to 772 possible genes (FDR < 5%, within 10 kb). Read More

Kardiologiia 2019 Jan 27;59(1):12-21. Epub 2019 Jan 27.

Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University.

Aim: to study changes in the volumes of muscle, fat, and connective tissue in postmortem issue samples (autoptates) from diaphragm, right ventricle, lower limb (gastrocnemius muscle), as well as morphological changes of the diaphragm muscular structure in patients with different functional classes of heart failure (HF), and to compare them with some intravital parameters of external respiration (with maximal inspiratory pressure and its amplitude simultaneously measured by ultrasound method in particular).

Materials And Methods: Autoptates of the diaphragm muscle, right ventricle, lower limb (n=39) from 20 men and 19 women (with in vivo diagnosis CHF NYHA functional class (FC) I-IV, hypertension, ischemic heart disease) were examined within 24 hours after the fatal outcome. Light optical microscopy was used to assess the percentages of muscle, connective, adipose tissue, numbers of fibroblasts, and collagen fibers. Read More

Neurobiol Aging 2018 Dec 27;76:80-95. Epub 2018 Dec 27.

Department of Medicine, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland; Department of Neurology Research, Swiss Integrative Center for Human Health, Fribourg, Switzerland. Electronic address:

Olfaction declines with aging and appears to be a prodromal sign of cognitive decline in progressive neurodegenerative diseases. Nevertheless, very little is known about the pathophysiological changes underlying smell loss that may reflect early network dysfunction. A cross-sectional histoanatomical study was conducted on postmortem olfactory nerves of patients with increasing severity of dementia from mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to moderate and severe Alzheimer's disease. Read More

Transl Psychiatry 2019 Jan 31;9(1):47. Epub 2019 Jan 31.

Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, 52246, USA.

Differential DNA methylation in the brain is associated with many psychiatric diseases, but access to brain tissues is essentially limited to postmortem samples. The use of surrogate tissues has become common in identifying methylation changes associated with psychiatric disease. In this study, we determined the extent to which peripheral tissues can be used as surrogates for DNA methylation in the brain. Read More

Transl Psychiatry 2019 Jan 29;9(1):39. Epub 2019 Jan 29.

Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.

A consistent gene set undergoes age-associated expression changes in the human cerebral cortex, and our Age-by-Disease Model posits that these changes contribute to psychiatric diseases by "pushing" the expression of disease-associated genes in disease-promoting directions. DNA methylation (DNAm) is an attractive candidate mechanism for age-associated gene expression changes. We used the Illumina HumanMethylation450 array to characterize genome-wide DNAm in the postmortem orbital frontal cortex from 20 younger (<42 years) and 19 older (>60 years) subjects. Read More

Mol Psychiatry 2019 Jan 25. Epub 2019 Jan 25.

Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA.

Protein homeostasis is an emerging component of schizophrenia (SZ) pathophysiology. Proteomic alterations in SZ are well-documented and changes in transcript expression are frequently not associated with changes in protein expression in SZ brain. The underlying mechanism driving these changes remains unknown, though altered expression of ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS) components have implicated protein degradation. Read More

J Neuroophthalmol 2019 Jan 22. Epub 2019 Jan 22.

Departments of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences (RNM, GPVS, RR, GJH) and Neurology (LS), Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri; Blue Sky Neurology (NHK), Denver, Colorado; Department of Pathology and Immunology (CJF, RES, SD, GJH), Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri; Department of Radiology (JT), University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado; and Department of Neurology (AD), Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.

A 21-year-old man experienced unilateral vision loss associated with multiple atrophic chorioretinal lesions. He was treated for a presumptive diagnosis of acute retinal necrosis, but his vision did not improve with antiviral therapy. Over the course of several weeks, his symptoms progressed to involve both eyes. Read More

Brain Res 2019 Jan 18. Epub 2019 Jan 18.

CHDI Foundation/CHDI Management, Inc., Princeton, New York, USA.

Highly specific and sensitive biomarkers for pathologies related to dysfunctions in the basal ganglia circuit are of great value to assess therapeutic efficacy not only clinically to establish an early diagnosis, but also in terms of monitoring the efficacy of therapeutic interventions and decelerated neurodegeneration. The phosphodiesterase 10A (PDE10A) enzyme plays a central role in striatal signaling and is implicated in several neuropsychiatric disorders involving striatal pathology, such as Huntingtońs disease (HD) and schizophrenia. Inhibition of PDE10A activates the neurons in the striatum and consequently leads to alteration of behavioral aspects modulated by the striatal circuit. Read More

J Forensic Sci 2019 Jan 21. Epub 2019 Jan 21.

Department of Biological Sciences, Colorado Mesa University, 1100 North Avenue, Grand Junction, CO, 81501.

The creation of a regional decomposition scoring system for western Colorado provides a model for the creation of regional systems. The development of a scoring system requires: (1) human remains, not proxies, (2) longitudinal observations, and (3) large sample size. First, an enhanced system (total body desiccation score; TBDS) was developed through observations of 40 human remains. Read More

Transl Psychiatry 2019 Jan 17;9(1):21. Epub 2019 Jan 17.

Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY, 10029, USA.

The genetic architecture of schizophrenia (SCZ) includes numerous risk loci across a range of frequencies and sizes, including common and rare single-nucleotide variants and insertions/deletions (indels), as well as rare copy number variants (CNVs). Despite the clear heritability of the disease, monozygotic twins are discordant for SCZ at a significant rate. Somatic variants-genetic changes that arise after fertilization rather than through germline inheritance-are widespread in the human brain and known to contribute to risk for both rare and common neuropsychiatric conditions. Read More

Sci Justice 2019 Jan 10;59(1):52-57. Epub 2018 Aug 10.

Laboratory of Forensic Anthropology, Centre for Functional Ecology, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim Freitas, Coimbra 3000-456, Portugal; Research Centre for Anthropology and Health (CIAS), Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim Freitas, Coimbra 3000-456, Portugal; Archaeosciences Laboratory, Directorate General Cultural Heritage (LARC/CIBIO/InBIO), Calçada do Mirante à Ajuda n.º10A, 1300-418 Lisboa, Portugal. Electronic address:

Extreme fragmentation can complicate the inventory of human skeletal remains. In such cases, skeletal mass can provide information regarding skeleton completeness and the minimum number of individuals. For that purpose, several references for skeletal mass can be used to establish comparisons and draw inferences regarding those parameters. Read More

Neural Plast 2018 13;2018:2019091. Epub 2018 Dec 13.

Department of Psychiatry and Health Behavior, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA.

Impairments in social behavior are highly implicated in many neuropsychiatric disorders. Recent studies indicate a role for endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in altering social behavior, but the underlying mechanism is not known. In the present study, we examined the role of transglutaminase 2 (TG2), a calcium-dependent enzyme known to be induced following ER stress, in social behavior in mice. Read More

Food Chem 2019 May 19;280:203-209. Epub 2018 Dec 19.

Institute of Food Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Key Laboratory of Agro-Products Processing, Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing 100193, PR China. Electronic address:

Phosphorylation regulates protein structure, function, cell signaling and enzyme activities within cells. Postmortem changes of muscle to meat are partially determined by the structure, function and enzyme activities of proteins. To further understand the mechanisms regulating postmortem changes, ovine muscles with different glycolytic rates were subjected to quantitative phosphoproteomic analysis. Read More

Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2019 Jan 7;98:47-57. Epub 2019 Jan 7.

INSERM U955, Team 15 "Translational Psychiatry", Hôpitaux Universitaires Mondor, Créteil, France; Fondation Fondamental, Créteil, France; NeuroSpin Neuroimaging Center, UNIACT Lab, Psychiatry Team, CEA Saclay, France.

White matter (WM) abnormalities have implicated schizophrenia (SZ) and bipolar disorder (BD) as disconnection syndromes, yet the extent to which these abnormalities are shared versus distinct remains unclear. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) studies yield a putative measure of WM integrity while neuropathological studies provide more specific microstructural information. We therefore systematically reviewed all neuropathological (n = 12) and DTI (n = 11) studies directly comparing patients with SZ and BD. Read More

Bone Rep 2019 Jun 28;10:100194. Epub 2018 Dec 28.

Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, United States of America.

Hypercalcemia in HIV patients has been previously reported, but 1,25-(OH) vitamin D-mediated hypercalcemia, due to increased activity of extrarenal 1-alpha hydroxylase, is rarely described with HIV-related infections or malignancies. We describe a case of 1,25-(OH) vitamin D-mediated hypercalcemia in a patient presenting with progressive cognitive decline and weakness. Initial evaluation revealed a new diagnosis of HIV, for which he was started on antiretroviral therapy (ART). Read More

Front Neural Circuits 2018 21;12:106. Epub 2018 Dec 21.

Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.

Neuropeptides are auxiliary messenger molecules that always co-exist in nerve cells with one or more small molecule (classic) neurotransmitters. Neuropeptides act both as transmitters and trophic factors, and play a role particularly when the nervous system is challenged, as by injury, pain or stress. Here neuropeptides and coexistence in mammals are reviewed, but with special focus on the 29/30 amino acid galanin and its three receptors GalR1, -R2 and -R3. Read More

BMC Vet Res 2019 Jan 5;15(1). Epub 2019 Jan 5.

Department of Virology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ataturk University, Erzurum, Turkey.

Background: The diagnosis of previous cases of feline tuberculosis in Turkey has been made based solely on pathological changes without isolation of the causative agent. This case report details the first case of feline tuberculosis in Turkey for which the causative agent (Mycobacterium bovis) was confirmed with microbiological isolation, morphological evaluation, molecular (PCR) characterization and antibiotic sensitivity.

Case Presentation: Systemic tuberculosis was diagnosed via postmortem examination of a 5-year-old stray male cat. Read More

Phytochemistry 2019 Mar 31;159:102-107. Epub 2018 Dec 31.

Institute for Plant Biology, TU Braunschweig, Mendelssohnsstr. 4, 38106, Braunschweig, Germany. Electronic address:

This study focuses on the elucidation of the stress-induced reverse changes of major indole alkaloids in Vinca minor, primarily on the postulated conversion of vincamine and vincadifformine to yield 9-methoxyvincamine, minovincine, and minovincinine, respectively. By applying the P450 enzyme inhibitors, naproxen and resveratrol, it was shown that the oxidative reaction involved in the postulated conversion of vincamine and vincadifformine is catalyzed by cytochrome P450 enzymes. In combination with the identification of 9-hydroxyvincamine as a postulated intermediate, this result confirms that the observed stress-induced reverse changes in the alkaloid pattern are caused by modifications of the alkaloids which regularly accumulate in the healthy Vinca minor plants. Read More

J Psychiatry Neurosci 2018 Dec 10;44(1):1-10. Epub 2018 Dec 10.

From the Graduate Student, MiNDS Neuroscience Graduate Program, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON (Sehmbi, Rowley); the Mood Disorders Program, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON (Minuzzi, Kapczinski, Frey); the Women’s Health Concerns Clinic, St. Joseph’s Healthcare, Hamilton, ON (Minuzzi, Frey); the Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, M. deGroote School of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON (Kwiecien); the Department of Psychology, Neuroscience, and Behaviour, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON (Bock); and the Department of Clinical Pathomorphology, Medical University of Lublin, Poland (Kwiecien).

Background: Previous studies have implicated white-matter-related changes in the pathophysiology of bipolar disorder. However, most of what is known is derived from in vivo subcortical white-matter imaging or postmortem studies. In this study, we investigated whole-brain intracortical myelin (ICM) content in people with bipolar disorder type I and controls. Read More

Stem Cell Reports 2019 Jan 27;12(1):29-41. Epub 2018 Dec 27.

Neuroregeneration Research Institute, Harvard Medical School/McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA 02478, USA. Electronic address:

The Parkinson disease (PD) genetic LRRK2 gain-of-function mutations may relate to the ER pathological changes seen in PD patients at postmortem. Human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived neurons with the PD pathogenic LRRK2 G2019S mutation exhibited neurite collapse when challenged with the ER Ca influx sarco/ER Ca-ATPase inhibitor thapsigargin (THP). Baseline ER Ca levels measured with the ER Ca indicator CEPIA-ER were lower in LRRK2 G2019S human neurons, including in differentiated midbrain dopamine neurons in vitro. Read More

J Forensic Leg Med 2019 Feb 13;61:122-127. Epub 2018 Dec 13.

Professor of Forensic Medicine and Health-criminal Law, Maastricht University, the Netherlands; Public Health Service IJsselland, Zwolle, the Netherlands. Electronic address:

Postmortem interval (PMI) estimations which are used as evidence in Dutch court are sometimes solely based on the experience of the forensic physician without a scientific background. The aim of this study was to investigate the degree of agreement between forensic physicians and their PMI estimations. Fifteen cases were selected from 1534 external postmortem investigations. Read More

Lab Invest 2018 Dec 20. Epub 2018 Dec 20.

Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.

Huntington's disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant disorder caused by a trinucleotide expansion in the huntingtin gene. Recently, a new role for tau has been implicated in the pathogenesis of HD, whereas others have argued that postmortem tau pathology findings are attributable to concurrent Alzheimer's disease pathology. The frequency of other well-defined common age-related tau pathologies in HD has not been examined in detail. Read More

Cereb Cortex 2019 Mar;29(3):1305-1327

C. and O. Vogt Institute for Brain Research, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany.

Human posterior intraparietal sulcus (pIPS) and adjacent posterior wall of parieto-occipital sulcus (POS) are functionally diverse, serving higher motor, visual and cognitive functions. Its microstructural basis, though, is still largely unknown. A similar or even more pronounced architectonical complexity, as described in monkeys, could be assumed. Read More

J Anat 2018 Dec 13. Epub 2018 Dec 13.

Croatian Institute for Brain Research, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.

The objective of this paper was to collect normative data essential for analyzing the subplate (SP) role in pathogenesis of developmental disorders, characterized by abnormal circuitry, such as hypoxic-ischemic lesions, autism and schizophrenia. The main cytological features of the SP, such as low cell density, early differentiation of neurons and glia, plexiform arrangement of axons and dendrites, presence of synapses and a large amount of extracellular matrix (ECM) distinguish this compartment from the cell-dense cortical plate (CP; towards pia) and large fiber bundles of external axonal strata of fetal white matter (towards ventricle). For SP delineation from these adjacent layers based on combined cytological criteria, we analyzed the sublaminar distribution of different microstructural elements and the associated maturational gradients throughout development, using immunocytochemical and histological techniques on postmortem brain material (Zagreb Neuroembryological Collection). Read More

Sci Transl Med 2018 Dec 13;10(472). Epub 2018 Dec 13.

Center for Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China.

Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are complex psychiatric diseases with risks contributed by multiple genes. Dysregulation of gene expression has been implicated in these disorders, but little is known about such dysregulation in the human brain. We analyzed three transcriptome datasets from 394 postmortem brain tissue samples from patients with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder or from healthy control individuals without a known history of psychiatric disease. Read More

Eur Radiol 2018 Dec 12. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Pediatric Radiology and Neuroradiology Department, Children's Hospital V. Buzzi - ASST Fatebenefratelli-Sacco, Via Castelvetro 32, 20154, Milan, Italy.

Background And Purpose: Fetal postmortem MR Imaging (pmMRI) has been recently used as an adjuvant tool to conventional brain autopsy after termination of pregnancy (TOP). Our purpose was to compare the diagnostic performance of intrauterine MRI (iuMRI) and pmMRI in the detection of brain anomalies in fetuses at early gestational age (GA).

Material And Methods: We retrospectively collected 53 fetuses who had undergone iuMRI and pmMRI for suspected brain anomalies. Read More

Front Psychol 2018 21;9:2201. Epub 2018 Nov 21.

Department of Psychiatry, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China.

A growing body of researches support a role for dysfunction of serotoninergic, noradrenergic, and dopaminergic systems in the neurobiological processes involved in major depression disorder (MDD) and anxiety disorders (ADs). The physiological changes underlying abnormal signaling of 5-HT, NE, and DA may be due to either reduced presynaptic release of these neurotransmitters or aberrant signal transductions, and thus contributing to the alterations in regulation or function of receptors and/or impaired intracellular signal processing. Animal models demonstrate crucial responsiveness to disturbance of 5-HT, NE, and DA neurotransmissions. Read More

Vet World 2018 Nov 3;11(10):1376-1379. Epub 2018 Oct 3.

Department of Basic Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.

Aim: The objective of this study was to describe and characterize the postmortem and histopathological findings of putative esophageal chondrosarcoma associated with .

Materials And Methods: Spirocerca-associated esophageal nodules were collected from 54 dogs at postmortem examination and were stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Of the cases examined, 15 were selected randomly for further investigation, of which 11 were classified as non-neoplastic nodules while 4 had changes reflecting a neoplastic process. Read More

Otol Neurotol 2019 Jan;40(1):e14-e19

Department of Otolaryngology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary.

Objective: Audiometric outcomes following cochlear implantation (CI) in patients with temporal bone fracture (TBF) are variable and the pathophysiology is not well understood. Herein, we describe otopathologic findings in two such cases to provide insight into pathophysiology and outcomes.

Patients: Two patients had a history of head trauma resulting in bilateral TBF and sudden, profound, sensorineural hearing loss. Read More

Neural Regen Res 2019 Feb;14(2):242-255

Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common age-related, progressive neurodegenerative disease. It is characterized by memory loss and cognitive decline and responsible for most cases of dementia in the elderly. Late-onset or sporadic AD accounts for > 95% of cases, with age at onset > 65 years. Read More

Forensic Sci Med Pathol 2019 Mar 5;15(1):75-83. Epub 2018 Dec 5.

Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA.

Death does not occur instantaneously and organs do not decompose at the same rate or in the same way. Nulligravid human uteri and prostate glands are the last internal organs to deteriorate during decomposition; however, the reason for this very important observation is still enigmatic. Recent studies have elucidated that the composition and abundance of microbes in the human thanatomicrobiome (microbiome of death) varies by organ and changes as a function of time and temperature. Read More

Int J Mol Sci 2018 Nov 30;19(12). Epub 2018 Nov 30.

Department of Translational Research in Psychiatry, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, 80804 Munich, Germany.

Childhood-onset schizophrenia (COS) is a rare psychiatric disorder characterized by earlier onset, more severe course, and poorer outcome relative to adult-onset schizophrenia (AOS). Even though, clinical, neuroimaging, and genetic studies support that COS is continuous to AOS. Early neurodevelopmental deviations in COS are thought to be significantly mediated through poorly understood genetic risk factors that may also predispose to long-term outcome. Read More

Brain Pathol 2018 Dec 3. Epub 2018 Dec 3.

Department of Neurobiology and, Department of Neurology of the Second Affiliated Hospital, NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, P.R. China.

Our previous studies showed that the transcription factor early growth response-1 (EGR1) may play a role in keeping the brain cholinergic function intact in the preclinical stages of Alzheimer's disease (AD). In order to elucidate the mechanisms involved, we first performed data mining on our previous microarray study on postmortem human prefrontal cortex (PFC) for the changes in the expression of EGR1 and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and the relationship between them during the course of AD. The study contained 49 patients, ranging from non-demented controls (Braak stage 0) to late AD patients (Braak stage VI). Read More

Sud Med Ekspert 2018 ;61(6):8-12

Voronezh Regional Bureau of Forensic Medical Expertise, Voronezh, Russia, 394068.

This article was designed to report the results of the comprehensive clinical and morphological analysis of the cases of death from the complications of burn disease based on the available medical documentation, the results of autopsies, and the data obtained in the histological and biochemical investigations. The study made it possible to reveal and identify the most typical, reliable, and stable intravital clinical and laboratory features of sepsis developing in burned individuals as well as postmortem pathomorphological and biochemical changes characterizing this condition supposed to be the immediate cause of death. The results of the study may be used to enhance the objectiveness and the level of evidence of expert conclusions concerning the cause of death of the patients presenting with burn disease and developing complications during its late period. Read More

J Food Sci 2019 Jan 29;84(1):38-50. Epub 2018 Nov 29.

Dept. of Animal and Food Sciences, Oklahoma State Univ., Stillwater, OK 74078, U.S.A.

Interrelationship between mitochondria and myoglobin function influence beef color. NADH level in postmortem muscle is an important determinant of mitochondrial activity and metmyoglobin reduction. Increased aging time promotes discoloration of steaks; however, the mechanism of this effect is not clear. Read More

Alzheimers Res Ther 2018 Nov 28;10(1):117. Epub 2018 Nov 28.

Sanofi R&D Neuroscience Unit, Sanofi, 1Av P. Brossolette, 91385, Chilly-Mazarin, France.

Background: Anti-amyloid β (Aβ) immunotherapy represents a major area of drug development for Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, Aβ peptide adopts multiple conformations and the pathological forms to be specifically targeted have not been identified. Aβ immunotherapy-related vasogenic edema has also been severely dose limiting for antibodies with effector functions binding vascular amyloid such as bapineuzumab. Read More

Forensic Sci Res 2018 21;3(1):74-82. Epub 2017 Dec 21.

Department of Forensic Medicine, Soochow University, Suzhou, China.

(Fabricius, 1794) is the most abundant and predominant species which arrives and colonizes a cadaver first in most parts of China. Therefore, its growth and development patterns have great implications in the estimation of the minimum postmortem interval (PMI). In this study, was collected from the Yangtze River Delta region and reared at seven constant temperatures ranging from 16 °C to 34 °C. Read More

Handb Clin Neurol 2018 ;158:309-322

Psychiatric Neuroimaging Laboratory, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States; Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatic, and Psychotherapy, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Munich, Germany. Electronic address:

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a neurodegenerative disorder associated with repetitive head impact exposure, such as that resulting from sports-related concussive and subconcussive brain trauma. Currently, the only way to diagnose CTE is by using neuropathologic markers obtained postmortem. To diagnose CTE earlier, so that possible treatment interventions may be employed, there is a need to develop noninvasive in vivo biomarkers of CTE. Read More

J Alzheimers Dis Rep 2018 Apr 12;2(1):79-91. Epub 2018 Apr 12.

Acibadem Labmed R&D Laboratory, Istanbul, Turkey.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive disorder characterized by a variety of molecular pathologies causing cortical dementia with a prominent memory deficit. Formation of the pathology, which begins decades before the diagnosis of the disease, is highly correlated with the clinical symptoms. Several proteomics studies were performed using animal models to monitor the alterations of the brain tissue proteome at different stages of AD. Read More