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en: A paradigm shift from investigations of human casualties of mass-disaster to disaster measures : from Hanshin to Nankai

ja: 死因調査から防災対策へ-阪神から南海へ-

en: An interdisciplinary research series of human casualties on the great Hanshin-Awaji earthquakeand the Niigata Chuetsu earthquake was performed. For the difference of their natural and socialattributes, the great Hanshin-Awaji earthquake was occurred in the urban and heavily populatedarea and the Niigata Chuetsu earthquake was occurred in the rural and sparsely populated area,differences of their structural damage and human casualties and issues for countermeasure to massdisasterwere marked in occasional. In human casualties, there was found an imperceptible differencebetween them. Deaths by traumatic asphyxia under the collapsed housing were main events anddeaths at the place to work and/or to drop in were lesser, however they were found within bothearthquakes. On the next Nankai earthquake, the human casualties will find under the similarcondition of Hanshin, Chuetsu and the eastern Japan earthquake. Spreading consciousness forearthquake-resistant houses and countermeasures for tsunami, and establishing education systemfor talented persons with the skill of the postmortem medical examination and/or taking case forthe families of the deceased is indispensable for the countermeasure on the next Nankai earthquake.

en: Shikoku Acta Medica

ja: 四国医学雑誌


en: 人の死後の法的取り扱いと死亡診断書(死体検案書)

ja: 人の死後の法的取り扱いと死亡診断書(死体検案書)

en: 徳島県医師会報

ja: 徳島県医師会報


en: Phylogenetic analysis of picoplankton in Lake Biwa and application to legal medicine.

en: Three strains of picoplankton designated as brown, green, and pink belonging to the Synechococcus genus in cyanobacteria (approximately 1 microm in size) are found ubiquitously in Lake Biwa, Japan. However, they could not be morphologically discriminated from other bacteria such as Proteobacteria and Bacillus by microscopy. In this study, we attempted to use the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis of the 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) from picoplankton for the diagnosis of death by drowning. A segment of 16S rDNA was sequenced in order to investigate their phylogenetic relationships and to design the specific primers. The PCR products from three picoplanktons were compared with those from five other cyanobacteria, Melosira (diatom), Staurastrum (green alga), bacteria from Lake Baikal, and humans. The picogram order of template DNA from picoplankton was specifically amplified by the primers. When the template of picoplankton was mixed with human tissue, at least 10 ng of template DNA was needed to obtain a PCR product. The efficiency of PCR was increased more than hundredfold by isolating the picoplankton from human lung tissue. The specific PCR products of the picoplankton were obtained from a formalin-fixed drowning body (lung and liver) that was found in a downstream river and Lake Biwa. The PCR analysis of the picoplanktion 16S rDNA is considered useful for the diagnosis of death by drowning.

en: Electrophoresis

ja: Electrophoresis


en: [Recent advances in the study on the mechanism of brain injury]

en: A cerebral contusion and DAI (diffuse axonal injury) are practically very important in a medico-legal case of the closed head injury. In this paper, we will report the epitome of the recent advances in the study on the mechanism of them. Coup contusion can be mainly attributed to the skull inbending and/or the skull fracture which develop in the impact region. As to the mechanism of the contrecoup contusion, several theories are reported. During rotational movement of the head, intracerebral shear strains would be produced because of brain lag (Holbourn's rotation theory). Anatomical features of the skull plays an important role (Gurdjian). Relative movement between a brain and a skull induces intracranial cavitation due to pressure gradient (Gross's cavitation theory). Brain is injured by deformation pressure induced by skull deformation and acceleration one done by a movement of the head (Lindenberg). The last one is Courville's transmitted waves of force theory. As to DAI, there is Gennarelli's theory. During a rotational movement of a brain caused by high rate of angular acceleration operating for a long period, intracerebral shear strains occur and injure a brain. As to the brain injuries which include a cerebral contusion and DAI, two theories are reported. Centripetal progression of strains to the core of a brain injuries the brain (Ommaya). Natural frequency of impact determines the nature of resulting injury to the brain (Willinger).

en: Nihon Hōigaku Zasshi

ja: 日本法医学雑誌