Okayama University Medical School Acta Medica Okayama 0386-300X 57 2 2003 Analysis of short tandem repeat (STR) polymorphisms by the powerplex 16 system and capillary electrophoresis: application to forensic practice. 59 71 EN Osamu Okamoto Yuji Yamamoto Sachiyo Inagaki Kei Yoshitome Takaki ishikawa Kiyomi Imabayashi Satoru Miyaishi Hideo Ishizu Article 10.18926/AMO/32819 Allele and genotype frequencies for 15 short tandem repeat (STR) polymorphisms--D3S1358, TH01, D21S11, D18S51, Penta E, D5S818, D13S317, D7S820, D16S539, CSF1PO, Penta D, vWA, D8S1179, TPOX and FGA--in a Japanese population were estimated. No deviations of the observed allele frequency from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium expectations were found for any of the systems studied. Between 2 new pentanucleotide STR loci, Penta E and Penta D, for which there is only limited data regarding the allelic distribution in Japanese, the Penta E locus was found to be highly polymorphic and exhibited a tri- or tetra-modal distribution pattern having allelic peaks with 5, 11, 15 and 20 repeats. The distribution was significantly different from that of the other ethnic groups. Statistical parameters of forensic importance, the power of discrimination (PD), observed and expected heterozygosity values (H), polymorphism information content (PIC), power of discrimination (PD), matching probability (pM), power of exclusion (PE), and typical paternity index (PI), were calculated for the loci. These parameters indicated the usefulness of the loci in forensic personal identification and paternity testing among Japanese. The systems Penta E, FGA, D18S51 and D8S1179 were the most informative. This method was successfully applied to forensic personal identification and paternity testing among Japanese, thereby confirming its efficacy for forensic practice. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Okayama University Medical School Acta Medica Okayama 0386-300X 54 1 2000 Forensic study of sex determination using PCR on teeth samples. 21 32 EN Hiroki Murakami Yuji Ymamamoto Kei Yoshitome Toshiaki Ono Osamu Okamoto Yoshiaki Shigeta Yusuke Doi Satoru Miyaishi Hideo Ishizu Article 10.18926/AMO/32309 In this study, sex determination using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on tooth material was evaluated from the viewpoint of forensic medicine. The sensitivity of PCR for detection of the Y chromosome-specific alphoid repeat sequence and the X chromosome-specific alphoid repeat sequence was 0.5 pg of genomic DNA. Sex could be determined by PCR of DNA extracted from the pulp of 16 freshly extracted permanent teeth and dentine including the surface of the pulp cavity of 6 freshly extracted milk teeth. Sex could be determined using the pulp in all 20 teeth (10 male and 10 female) preserved at room temperature for 22 years. For the pulp of teeth stored in sea water, the sex could be determined in all 8 teeth immersed for 1 week and in 5 of 6 teeth immersed for 4 weeks. In the remaining 1 tooth, in which sex determination based on the pulp failed, the sex could be determined correctly when DNA extracted from the tooth hard tissue was examined. For teeth stored in soil, the sex could be determined accurately in all 8 teeth buried for 1 week, 7 of 8 teeth buried for 4 weeks, and in all 6 teeth buried for 8 weeks. When teeth were heated for 30 min, sex determination from the pulp was possible in all teeth heated to 100, 150, and 200 degrees C, and even in some teeth heated to 250 degrees C. When this method was applied to actual forensic cases, the sex of a mummified body estimated to have been discovered half a year to 1 year after death could be determined readily by examination of the dental pulp. In the skeletons of 2 bodies placed under water for approximately 1 year and approximately 11 years and 7 months, pulp tissues had been dissolved and lost, but sex determination was possible using DNA extracted from hard dental tissues. These results indicate that this method is useful in forensic practices for sex determination based on teeth samples. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Okayama University Medical School Acta Medica Okayama 0386-300X 55 3 2001 Human identification from forensic materials by amplification of a human-specific sequence in the myoglobin gene. 175 184 EN Toshiaki Ono Satoru Miyaishi Yuji Yamamoto Kei Yoshitome Takaki Ishikawa Hideo Ishizu Article 10.18926/AMO/32024 We developed a method for human identification of forensic biological materials by PCR-based detection of a human-specific sequence in exon 3 of the myoglobin gene. This human-specific DNA sequence was deduced from differences in the amino acid sequences of myoglobins between humans and other animal species. The new method enabled amplification of the target DNA fragment from 30 samples of human DNA, and the amplified sequences were identical with that already reported. Using this method, we were able to distinguish human samples from those of 21 kinds of animals: the crab-eating monkey, horse, cow, sheep, goat, pig, wild boar, dog, raccoon dog, cat, rabbit, guinea pig, hamster, rat, mouse, whale, chicken, pigeon, turtle, frog, and tuna. However, we were unable to distinguish between human and gorilla samples. This method enabled us to detect the target sequence from 25 pg of human DNA, and the target DNA fragment from blood stored at 37 degrees C for 6 months, and from bloodstains heated at 150 degrees C for 4 h or stored at room temperature for 26 years. Herein we also report a practical application of the method for human identification of a bone fragment. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Okayama University Medical School Acta Medica Okayama 0386-300X 59 5 2005 A new HLA-DRB1 genotyping method using single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis with multiplex primer extension reactions and its application to mixed samples. 179 194 EN Kiyomi Imabayashi Yuji Yamamoto Sachiyo Inagaki Yusuke Doi Kei Yoshitome Satoru Miyaishi Hideo Ishizu Article 10.18926/AMO/31971 We have improved on conventional methods for HLA-DRB1 genotyping and devised a new method that is simple, cost-effective, and adequately applicable to routine forensic practice. This method consists of group-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of the exon 2 region of the HLA-DRB1 gene and simultaneous detection of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at multiple sites using multiplex primer extension reactions. With this method, we successfully detected HLA-DRB1 genotypes from the following materials: the peripheral blood of 142 donors, 6 aged saliva stains of known DRB1 genotype stored for 5-10 years at room temperature, 10 aged bloodstains of unknown DRB1 genotype stored for 29 years at room temperature, and minimal bloodstains and saliva stains from 3 donors of known DRB1 genotypes. Furthermore, we were able to type DRB1 alleles of the minor component in mixed samples at a proportion of 1/1,000 or 1/10,000. In a criminal case, DRB1 alleles detected from mixed bloodstains on a sword found at the scene enabled us to explain the case. This method is expected to be useful for forensic medicine. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Okayama University Medical School Acta Medica Okayama 0386-300X 63 4 2009 Factors affecting the choice of suicide method in Okayama: a database analysis from a forensic perspective 177 186 EN Eigo Kamizato Kei Yoshitome Yuji Yamamoto Toshihide Iwase Toshihide Tsuda Satoru Miyaishi Hiroyuki Doi Original Article 10.18926/AMO/31815 The annual number of suicides in Japan increased sharply in 1998, and since that time it has consistently exceeded 30,000 per year. In this study, we analyze a database of personal and background characteristics of 824 cases (605 men, 219 women) who completed suicide in Okayama Prefecture in 2002 and 2003. The data were obtained with cooperation from the police. Using the methodologies in a previous European study as a model, we classified the suicide methods into 8 categories. To examine the generational and regional differences in the choice of methods, we stratified the sample into 4 age groups (<-24, 2544, 4564, and >-65) and 2 regional groups (Okayama/Kurashiki vs. other areas). Our results on gender differences in 7 of the suicide methods were mostly similar to the European data. However, our data showed a remarkably higher proportionate male-to-female mortality ratio for poisoning by other substances (ICD-10, X65-X69 codes) (1.83, 1.15-2.92). In terms of generational differences in the choice of suicide methods, the Mantel-Haenszel test of homogeneity was significant for most of the categories in our study, suggesting an impact of age on how people commit suicide. There were no remarkable regional differences in our sample. An epidemic curve for suicides via carbon monoxide poisoning using charcoal briquets revealed a trend of time clustering not observed in the other 6 means. The database constructed and used in this study contains richer information than conventional death statistics and is expected to provide helpful knowledge and insights for future epidemiological studies. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Okayama University Medical School Acta Medica Okayama 0386-300X 56 1 2002 A case of suffocation by an advertising balloon filled with pure helium gas. 53 55 EN Kei Yoshitome Takaki Ishikawa Sachiyo Inagaki Yuji Yamamoto Satoru Miyaishi Hideo Ishizu Article 10.18926/AMO/31726 We encountered a rare case of suffocation by an advertising balloon filled with pure helium gas. Suffocation caused by inhalation of atmosphere lacking in oxygen is not exceptional, but reports of death by suffocation due to a pure inert gas such as helium are very rare. In this case, the balloon mooring on the ground was enclosed, warning signs were displayed, and it was clear that entering the balloon filled with an atmosphere lacking in oxygen was extremely dangerous and should not be done; the accident did, however, occur. Accidents of this kind may occur in the future unless appropriate education and countermeasures are taken. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Acta Medica Okayama 2009 Postmortem acidification of blood/organs induces an increase in flecainide concentration in cardiac blood and the contribution of the lungs to this increase EN Kei Yoshitome No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山医学会 Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1558 113 3 2001 外因死の疑いで司法解剖となった内因性急死の2例 241 245 EN Takaki Ishikawa Satoru Miyaishi Yuji Yamamoto Kei Yoshitome Sachiyo Inagaki Michihiko Okamura Hideo Ishizu Two judicial autopsy cases of sudden unexpected natural death were reported. In both cases it was suspected that the victims had died of a traffic accident or violent injury. It became clear, however, that both the cause of death had been myocardial infarction by the forensic autopsies and that the suspects had not been criminally responsible for the death of the victims. It is expected that sudden unexpected natural death whose cause and manner are unclear at first may occur more frequently following the increase of the number of death from ischemic heart disease in the future. In these circumstances the forensic autopsy of such cases will become more important socially. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山医学会 Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1558 114 3 2003 岡山県下で起きた早春室内での凍死例 303 308 EN Takaki Ishikawa Satoru Miyaishi Yusuke Doi Tomoyo Takata Kiyomi Imabayashi Sachiyo Inagaki Kei Yoshitome Yuji Yamamoto Hideo Ishizu We encountered two cases of unnatural death occurring indoors in early spring in Okayama Prefecture. The two cases were both females aged 31yearsold and 88yearsold. Autopsies revealed death from hypothermia as the cause of death. The diagnosis of death from cold was not based solely on the characteristic findings of the dead body. After confirming that there were no other accidents and diseases that may cause death, an overall evaluation should be made considering the conditions surrounding occurrence of death from cold. We describe these procedures using these two autopsy cases of death from hypothermia. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

岡山医学会 Acta Medica Okayama 0030-1558 115 1 2005 外傷後死亡した肺扁平上皮癌を有する高齢者の1部検例－高齢化時代を迎えつつある法医学の立場から－ 33 37 EN Takaki Ishikawa Masakuni Furusato Kei Yoshitome Satoru Miyaishi Hideo Ishizu In this study, we experienced a case of an elderly man with clinically undiagnosed squamous cell carcinoma of the lung, who died 8 days after a trauma. This case was autopsied because of a question over the causal association between the trauma and death. From the autopsy findings, it was judged that respiratory and metabolic abnormalities due to lung cancer were exacerbated by trauma, and that medically the cause of death should be assessed as death by disease. No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.