Study project (M.Med.) -- University of Stellenbosch, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The main purpose in doing forensic post mortems is to supply information to the judicial system. Medical personnel involved in doing post mortems seldom get feedback regarding efficiency. Numerous allegations have been made regarding the work of district surgeons in terms of forensic post mortems, often suggesting that the work is substandard. In South Africa district surgeons do post mortems mostly in the rural areas, and training centre personnel do forensic post mortems in urban areas. Training centre personnel include specialized forensic pathologists, registrars and medical officers working in the Departments of Forensic Medicine, affiliated to universities. The South African Police Service mostly manages government mortuaries. The South African forensic medico-legal system is unique, and does not correspond in with the four main systems used worldwide. Research was done by sending 200 questionnaires to a representative group from the legal fraternity of the Western Cape (including judges / magistrates, state prosecutors, private lawyers) and also the South African Police Service investigating officers. The judiciary, as the users of the information generated through forensic post mortems, are therefore in a suitable position to determine the efficacy of forensic post mortem. The questionnaire was structured to determine the general perception, as well as comments, regarding 9 different aspects involved with doing forensic post mortems. These include the thoroughness and completeness of reports, standard of academic knowledge, efficacy of verbal testimony in court, length of time in releasing the report, general attitude, efficacy of sketches and diagrams, efficacy of photography, sufficient taking of toxicology samples and sufficient utilization of special laboratory investigations. The last question was an open question to allow for general comments and anecdotes. For each aspect it was also determined whether there was a difference in efficacy noted between the two groups. The effect of this, if any, on the judicial criminal justice system was also assessed. A different questionnaire was sent out to all forensic pathologists in the Western Cape. The standard of work of the district surgeons was hereby assessed. General comment regarding academic knowledge, and findings at post mortem made by district surgeons was assessed. The pathologists were also questioned regarding the general attitude of district surgeons, and imput were asked regarding continued medical education programs. An area for general comment was also supplied. The main findings were as follows: a. The legal fraternity in the Western Cape is generally satisfied with the efficiency of forensic post mortems, except the use of laboratory investigations and also the length of time to release reports. b. The legal fraternity could determine a difference in the efficiency of post mortems done by district surgeons and training centre personnel. Training centre personnel were generally regarded as more effective. c. The difference between the two groups, due to ineffective district surgeon post mortems, had a negative effect on the criminal justice system. The following recommendations were made: a. Training centre personnel: Serious consideration should be given to appointing qualified forensic pathologists in the rural areas. Training centre personnel should also be more involved in training the district surgeons. b. District surgeons: The training, re-training and continued medical education of district surgeons in the Western Cape should be prioritized. The service conditions should also be reviewed. c. Administrative: Audit of post mortem reports. The efficiency regarding court appearances should be audited through the Department of Justice. Administrative power will be necessary to oversee the above-mentioned recommendations. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die hoofdoel met die doen van geregtelike post mortems is om inligting te verskaf aan die regsproses. Medici gemoeid met geregtelike post mortems kry baie seide terugvoer oor die effektiwiteit van werk gelewer in die hof. Daar is ook herhaaldelik suggesties gemaak dat die werk van die distriksgeneeshere met betrekking tot geregtelike post mortems soms suboptimaal is. Regsmediese post mortemdienste in Suid Afrika word verskaf deur distriksgeneeshere in die platteland, en deur personeel verbonde aan opleidingshospitale in die stede. Die opleidingssentra-personeel sluit in gespesialiseerde forensiese patoloe, kliniese assistente en mediese beamptes werksaam in 'n Departement van Geregtelike Geneeskunde verbonde aan 'n universiteit. Staats- Iykshuise word bestuur en beheer deur die Suid-Afrikaanse Polisiediens. Daar bestaan geen soortgelyke model vir die voorsiening van regsmediese dienste in die res van die wereld nie. Navorsing is gedoen deur vraelyste uit te stuur aan 200 verteenwoordigende regslui (wat insluit regters/landdroste, staatsaanklaers, privaat regslui) en aan Suid-Afrikaanse Polisiediens-ondersoekbeamptes in die Wes Kaap. Die reg, as verbruikers van regsmediese dienste is gekies om 'n opinie uit te spreek oor die doeltreffendheid van forensiese post mortems. Die vraelyste is gestruktureer om die algemene tevredenheid en opinies en kommentaar te bekom oor nege verskillende aangeleenthede rakend die forensiese post mortem, nl. deeglikheid en volledigheid van verslae, standaard van akademiese kennis, effektiwiteit van verbale getuienisaflegging in die hof, tydsverloop vir lewering van verslae, houding en gesindheid van medici, doeltreffendheid van sketse en diagram me, effektiewe gebruik van fotografie, effektiewe gebruik van toksikologiese ondersoeke, effektiewe gebruik van spesiale ondersoeke, asook 'n algemene oop vraag vir kommentaar oor probleemareas. Daar word vervolgens vir elke aangeleentheid bepaal of daar 'n verskil in effektiwiteit opgelet word tussen twee mediese subgroepe, en indien wei watter groep meer effektief funksioneer. Verder sal nagegaan word of die regsproses geaffekteer word deur enige van bogenoemde bevindinge. 'n Verskillende vraelys is uitgestuur aan aile geregtelike patoloe in die Wes-Kaap. Hiermee word die standaard van die werk van distriksgeneeshere beoordeel. Kommentaar is gevra oor akademiese kennis met betrekking tot geregtelike post mortems en oor bevindinge gemaak deur distriksgeneeshere by post mortems. Daar word ook gevra oor die algemene houding van distriksgeneeshere, asook vir voorstelle vir voortgesette onderrigsprogramme. 'n Oop vraag is gestel vir kommentaar oor probleemareas. Uit die response is die volgende gevolgtrekkings gemaak: a. Die regslui in die Wes-Kaap is oor die algemeen tevrede met die diens gelewer met betrekking tot geregtelike post mortems, met uitsondering van die effektiwiteit van laboratoriumondersoeke, en ook oor die tydsverloop tussen die doen van post mortem en die vrystel van die verslae. b. Die regslui kon 'n verskil bepaal in die graad van effektiwiteit van post mortems gedoen deur distriksgeneeshere en opleidingssentra-personeel. Opleidingssentra-personeel is deur die meerderheid van respondente identifiseer as meer effektief. c. Die verskil tussen die twee groepe, a.g.v. oneffektiewe distriksgeneesheer post mortems, het 'n negatiewe effek op die regsproses. Aanbevelings is gemaak om die sisteem te verbeter: a. Opleidingssentra-personeel: Die uitplasing van gekwalifiseerde forensiese patoloe in die platteland moet oorweeg word. Opleidingssentrapersoneel kan ook meer betrokke wees by opleiding van distriksgeneeshere. b. Distriksgeneeshere: Aandag moet gegee word aan die opleiding, heropleiding en voortgesette geneeskundige onderrig van distriksgeneeshere in die Wes-Kaap. Die werksomstandighede waaronder hulle diens lewer moet ook aangespreek word. C. Administratief: Ouditering van post mortem verslae. Ouditering van effektiwiteit van hofverskynings, in assosiasie met die Departement van Justisie. Admininistratiewe wilskrag sal ook essensieel wees by implementering van bogenoemde voorstelle.

Submitted by Luis Guilherme Macena (guilhermelg2004@gmail.com) on 2013-04-17T16:25:33Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Tese - Heloisa Novaes Machado.pdf: 4282149 bytes, checksum: f7b3e136e061301b62f54c127a47c0f7 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2013-04-17T16:25:33Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Tese - Heloisa Novaes Machado.pdf: 4282149 bytes, checksum: f7b3e136e061301b62f54c127a47c0f7 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012 / Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Fernandes Figueira. Departamento de Ensino. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Saúde da Criança e da Mulher. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil / Este estudo teve como propósito avaliar a contribuição dos achados morfológicos da necropsia perinatal de neomortos com defeitos congênitos (DC) no aconselhamento genético. Os DC são relevantes na morbimortalidade infantil e representam impacto desfavorável ao indivíduo no contexto de suas famílias e da sociedade. De um total de 196 necropsias realizadas no Departamento de Anatomia Patológica do Instituto Fernandes Figueira, FIOCRUZ-RJ, em um período de dois anos (março de 2007 a fevereiro de 2009), 143 casos (72,9%) apresentavam DC e, destes, 79 (55,2%) correspondiam a neomortos. Este grupo constituiu o material desta pesquisa. Foram revistos os prontuários médicos com o intuito de comparar os dados de ultrassonografia (USG) do 2º trimestre gestacional e os dados do campo 34 das Declarações de Nascido Vivo (DNV) com os achados morfológicos de necropsia. Foi feita uma análise estatística de concordância interobservador, entre os achados de necropsia, os dados de USG e os dados do campo 34 das DNV, sendo a necropsia considerada padrão-ouro. Os resultados obtidos mostraram que a necropsia é fundamental, acrescentando dados que podem modificar o diagnóstico final em 57,7% dos casos, confrontados com USG e em 55,3% dos casos, quando confrontados com o campo 34. Houve discordância total entre os dois parâmetros de confrontação e os achados de necropsia em 9% e 5,3%, respectivamente, para USG e campo 34. Os índices kappa foram 0,93 (USG) e 0,82(DNV), considerados excelentes na escala de concordância. Os achados morfológicos de necropsia também permitiram inserir os casos em categorias etiopatogênicas (classificação apresentada pelo Autor). Tais achados morfológicos, somados aos dados clínicos, laboratoriais e de imagem, permitiram a construção de hipóteses diagnósticas, no sentido de ampliar e refinar o aconselhamento genético. Em 52% do total de casos (22,8% correspondendo ao grupo malformação isolada; 17,8% ao grupo de disrupção e 11,3% ao grupo de displasias) este objetivo foi alcançado. Em cerca de 40% da totalidade dos casos (malformações múltiplas) uma hipótese diagnóstica foi proposta. Cerca de 8% do total de casos foram considerados indeterminados. Concluímos que os achados morfológicos da necropsia perinatal nos DC, obtidos de maneira sistematizada, com documentação fotográfica e radiológica, fornecem dados essenciais ao raciocínio clínico para a construção de hipóteses diagnósticas, influenciando o curso do aconselhamento genético. Esta seria uma medida efetiva, que possibilitaria a discussão dos casos por equipe multidisciplinar à distância, nos moldes daquelas realizadas no Instituto Fernandes Figueira, FIOCRUZ-RJ, lembrando sempre a orientação do Estudo Colaborativo Latino-Americano de Malformações Congênitas (ECLAMC): “UM CASO NÃO DOCUMENTADO É UM CASO NÃO CONSULTADO” / The aim of this study was to assess the role of the perinatal autopsy of neonates with congenital defects (CDs) in genetic counseling. Such CDs are relevant to infantile morbidity and mortality, determining familial and social disadvantages. Of a total of 196 autopsies performed at the Department of Anatomical Pathology of the Instituto Fernandes Figueira, FIOCRUZ-RJ, during a period of two years (March 2007 to February 2009), CDs were identified in 143 (72.9%), of which, 79 (55.2%) corresponded to neonatal deaths, constituting the object of this research. The medical records were reviewed aiming at comparing both second gestational trimester ultrasound (US) reports and data from birth certificates (BCs) with autopsy morphological findings. A statistical analysis of interobserver agreement involving the autopsy findings, US reports and BC data was performed, autopsy being considered gold standard. The results obtained showed that autopsy is fundamental, providing additional information that could modify the final diagnosis in 57.7% of the cases, as compared with the US, and in 55.3% of the cases, as compared with the BCs. Total discrepancy was identified between both parameters of comparison (US and BCs) and the autopsy findings in 9% and 5.3% of the cases, respectively. The kappa coefficients for US and BCs were 0.93 and 0.82, respectively, considered excellent in the agreement rating. The autopsy morphological findings have also allowed the classification of the cases into etiopathogenetic categories (classification provided by the author). Those morphological findings, along with clinical, laboratory and imaging data, allowed the construction of diagnostic hypotheses to widen and refine genetic counseling. A diagnosis was established in 52% of the cases as follows: 22.8% corresponding to the group of isolated malformation; 17.8% to the group of disruption; and 11.3% to the group of dysplasias. In approximately 40% of the cases (multiple malformations), a diagnostic hypothesis was proposed, and in nearly 8% of the cases, the diagnosis was considered undetermined. In conclusion, the morphological findings of perinatal autopsy in cases of CDs, systematically obtained with photographic and radiological documentation, provide essential information to clinical reasoning for the construction of diagnostic hypothesis, influencing the course of genetic counseling. This might be an effective measure to enable the discussion of cases by multidisciplinary teams across distances, such as those performed at the Instituto Fernandes Figueira, FIOCRUZ-RJ. It is worth noting the following guidance provided by the Latin-American Collaborative Study of Congenital Malformations (ECLAMC): “AN UNDOCUMENTED CASE IS AN UNRECOVERABLE CASE”

A qualidade do ar é um importante indicador de saúde ambiental, sendo o seu monitoramento contínuo necessário. Apesar da relevância do tema, há muitos países em que os limites de exposição para agentes biológicos ainda não foram estabelecidos ou foram definidos de forma inadequada, podendo comprometer a qualidade ambiental. Os ambientes hospitalares, assim como as salas de necropsia podem apresentar problemas de contaminação do ar por agentes microbiológicos, necessitando de monitoramento contínuo a fim de evitar a ocorrência de doenças nos trabalhadores e na população em geral. Este estudo realizou a avaliação microbiológica do ar em hospitais públicos e IMLs da região metropolitana do Rio de Janeiro em salas cirúrgicas e de necropsia. A pesquisa exploratória e descritiva baseou-se em levantamento bibliográfico e investigação de campo, através de estudos de casos. Os dados foram obtidos por meio de entrevistas e observação direta nos locais de trabalho, onde foram realizadas as avaliações microbiológicas do ar. As variações em salas cirúrgicas para bactérias e fungos foram respectivamente de 14,99 ufc/m3 88,29 ufc/m3 e de 45,93 ufc/m3 - 742,09 ufc/m3. Já nas salas de necropsia os valores para bactérias e fungos variaram respectivamente de 18,96 ufc/m3 54,9 ufc/m3 e de 144,87 ufc/m3 - 1152,01 ufc/m3. Foram identificados tanto no ambiente cirúrgico como nas salas de necropsia a presença dos seguintes fungos: Aspergillus sp., Neurospora sp., Penicillium sp., Fusarium sp., Cladosporium sp., Curvularia sp., e Trichoderma sp. Já em relação às bactérias foram identificadas as presenças de Staphilococcus sp., Streptococcus sp. e Micrococcus sp. Foram traçadas recomendações para melhoria da qualidade ambiental e do ar. Os resultados indicaram que os valores são elevados quando comparados com as recomendações das normas internacionais. Foram encontrados valores inferiores aos sugeridos pela CP n. 109 da ANVISA. A presença de microrganismos patogênicos sugere adoção de medidas de controle ambiental. O estudo apontou a necessidade urgente do estabelecimento de valores de referência para ambientes hospitalares no Brasil a fim de garantir condições seguras que não venham a comprometer a saúde dos pacientes e profissionais de saúde envolvidos. / The indoor air quality is an important environmental health indicator and yours continuous monitoring is necessary. Its depends on, among other factors, of the biological agents exposure limits fixing. Despite this topic relevance, in many countries, the biological exposure limits still dont exist or were inadequately defined. What can compromise the environmental quality. The hospital environments just as the necropsies rooms can have indoor air contamination problems caused by microbiological agents and needs to have continuous monitoring to avoid the occurrence of diseases in the workers and in the overall population. This study realized a microbiological indoor air assessment at surgical rooms of three public hospitals and autopsies rooms of two IMLs located in the city of Rio de Janeiro. The study was descriptive and exploratory based on bibliographic review and camping research though study cases. Data were obtained from interviews with the health workers and cleaning team and direct observation at the selected workplaces. The fungal and bacteria variation in surgical room and autopsy room were respectively of 14,99 88,29 ufc/m3 and 45,93 ufc/m3 742,09 ufc/m3. Were detected in the surgical rooms and necropsy rooms the fungal genera: Aspergillus sp., Neurospora sp., Penicillium sp., Fusarium sp., Cladosporium sp., Curvularia sp., e Trichoderma sp. and bacterial genera: Staphilococcus sp., Streptococcus sp. and Micrococcus sp. Were traced recommendations to improve environment and air quality. The results indicate that the limits can be considered exceed when compared with those proposed by the international organisms. Were identified some values lower than 50 ufc/m3 proposed by the CP n. 109 ANVISA. The presence of pathogenic microorganisms suggest the need of environmental control measures. That indicate the values actually used as reference in Brazil must been revised considering the environments specificities and the urge to create a specific legislation for hospital environments that guarantee security conditions and do not comes to compromise the health and well being of the patients and health professionals involved

INTRODUÇÃO: O colo dos aneurismas da aorta abdominal infrarrenal é o principal local de interação entre a parede aórtica e as próteses utilizadas no seu tratamento, pela técnica aberta ou endovascular. A dilatação do colo no acompanhamento pósoperatório, levando a falhas no tratamento, demonstra a importância de um colo confiável para um reparo eficiente em longo prazo. OBJETIVOS: Determinar as propriedades biomecânicas e histológicas do colo do aneurisma da aorta abdominal infrarrenal, comparando os resultados com as propriedades da aorta suprarrenal e da parede anterior do aneurisma. MÉTODOS: Dezesseis aneurismas da aorta abdominal infrarrenal encontrados em necrópsia foram removidos e dissecados em laboratório. A anatomia original dos aneurismas foi restabelecida com o auxílio de um balão complacente inserido na luz dos espécimes, sendo que aneurismas com um colo mais curto que 10 mm foram excluídos. Fragmentos transversais similares da parede anterior do aneurisma, do colo e da aorta suprarrenal foram obtidos com o auxílio de um dispositivo de corte apropriado. Testes de tração uniaxiais destrutivos foram realizados para a obtenção das seguintes propriedades biomecânicas: tensão, estresse, energia de deformação e deformação no momento da falência, além da medida da espessura dos fragmentos. A análise histológica destes fragmentos consistiu na quantificação das fibras colágenas, elásticas e espessura da camada média. RESULTADOS: Em doze aneurismas rotos e quatro não rotos, a análise biomecânica dos fragmentos de tecido arterial não demonstrou diferenças estatisticamente significativas entre os valores médios das propriedades biomecânicas de falência (tensão, estresse, energia de deformação e deformação), assim como para a espessura nos três segmentos estudados. O percentual de colágeno para o colo foi significativamente menor que na parede dos aneurismas (p = 0,010) e não foi significativamente diferente da aorta suprarrenal (p = 0,155). A elastina apresentou percentual significativamente maior no colo (p < 0,001) e na aorta suprarrenal (p < 0,001) quando comparados aos aneurismas. Não houve diferença na quantificação da elastina entre o colo e o segmento suprarrenal (p = 0,457). A espessura da camada média não apresentou diferença estatística relevante entre as três regiões avaliadas (p = 0,660). CONCLUSÕES: Os resultados biomecânicos sugerem que o aneurisma da aorta infrarrenal, ao invés de uma processo localizado, seja resultado de um acometimento aórtico difuso. Tanto a resistência quanto a elasticidade do segmento aneurismático apresentam semelhanças quando comparados aos segmentos aórticos não dilatados. Na análise histológica, nota-se preservação da elastina nos segmentos aórticos não dilatados, enquanto há redução na parede aneurismática; além de maior deposição de colágeno nesta região / INTRODUCTION: The neck of the infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm is the principal site of interaction between the aortic wall and the devices used in the repair of these aneurysms, by open or endovascular technique. Postoperative aneurysm neck dilation leading to aneurysm exclusion failures demonstrates the importance of a reliable neck for the long-term efficient repair. OBJECTIVE: To access the biomechanical and histological properties of the infrarenal aortic aneurysm neck, comparing the results with the properties of the suprarenal aorta and the anterior wall of the aneurysm. METHODS: Sixteen infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms found in necropsies were removed and dissected in laboratory. The original anatomy of the aneurysms was restored with the aid of a compliant balloon inserted in the specimens lumen and aneurysms with a neck shorter than 10 mm were excluded. Similar transverse fragments from the anterior aneurysm wall, aneurysm neck, and suprarenal aorta were obtained with the aid of a cutting device. Uniaxial destructive tensile tests were performed to obtain the following biomechanical properties: tension, stress, strain energy and strain at the moment of fragment failure, and the thickness of the fragments. Histological analysis was performed with the quantification of collagen and elastin, and middle layer thickness in these three fragments. RESULTS: In twelve ruptured and four unruptured aneurysms, the biomechanical analysis of the fragments showed no statiscally signicant differences between the mean values of the biomechanical properties (tension, stress, strain energy and strain), as well as the thickness of the fragments in the three groups. The percentage of collagen in the neck was significantly lower than in the aneurysm wall (p = 0,010) and was not significantly different from the suprarenal aorta (p = 0,155). Higher percentage of elastin was present in the neck (p < 0,001) and in the suprarenal aorta (p < 0,001) when compared to aneurysms. There was no difference in the quantification of elastin between the neck and the suprarenal segment (p = 0,457). The middle layer thickness showed no significant statistical difference between the three evaluated regions (p = 0,660). CONCLUSIONS: Biomechanical results suggest that the infrarenal aortic aneurysm, rather than a localized process, is a result of diffuse aortic involvement. Both the resistance and elasticity of the aneurysmal segment have similarities when compared to non-dilated aortic segments. In the histological analysis, there is preservation of elastin in non-dilated aortic segments, while there is a reduction in the aneurysmal wall; and there is greater collagen deposition in the aneurysmatic region

INTRODUÇÃO: Os pacientes com asma crônica podem compartilhar similaridades clínicas e fisiológicas com pacientes com doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica, tal como reversibilidade parcial ao broncodilatador ou pouca obstrução persistente do fluxo expiratório. Entretanto, não existem estudos comparando a patologia destas duas doenças em pacientes com idade similares e mesma gravidade da doença. MÉTODOS: Nós comparamos as dimensões das grandes e pequenas vias aéreas de 12 pacientes adultos (média±erro padrão, 32±3 anos) e 15 pacientes idosos e pré-idosos idosos (65±1 ano) não tabagista que foram a óbito por asma fatal com 14 pacientes tabagistas crônicos que foram a óbito por DPOC grave (71± 1 ano) e 19 pacientes-controle (56±1 ano). Usando a coloração de Movat e H&E, e a técnica de análise de imagens, nós quantificamos a espessura da membrana basal (MB) (valores expressos em ?m) a área de glândula submucosa nas grandes vias aéreas. Nas grandes e pequenas vias aéreas quantificamos a área de camada interna, a área de músculo liso e a área de camada externa. As áreas foram normalizadas pelo perímetro da MB (?m/?m2). RESULTADOS: os pacientes asmáticos adultos apresentaram a MB, área de músculo liso e a área da camada externa nas grandes e pequenas vias aéreas mais espessas, quando comparadas com os controles com idade similar com DPOC grave. Nos pacientes idosos e pré-idosos com asma, houve uma sobreposição na espessura da MB e na área da glândula submucosa, enquanto que nas pequenas e grandes vias aéreas a área de músculo liso foi mais espessa quando comparados com os controles com idade similar com pacientes com DPOC grave. Os pacientes com DPOC apresentaram nas pequenas e grandes vias aéreas as áreas de músculo liso menor quando comparada aos controles com idade similar. Os asmáticos adultos apresentaram a área de músculo liso maior quando comparada aos asmáticos idosos. CONCLUSÃO: Nossos dados fornecem novas informações sobre as mudanças patológicas que podem nos ajudar a entender melhor as similaridades e diferenças patológicas no pacientes adultos e idosos com asma comparados ao DPOC / Background: In some patients with chronic asthma, clinical and physiological similarities with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease may co-exist, such as partial reversibility to bronchodilators despite persistent expiratory airflow obstruction. However, pathologic analyses comparing both diseases in patients of similar age and disease severity are scarce. Methods: We compared the large and small airway dimensions in 12 younger (mean±SD, age 32 yr±3 yr) and 15 older (65 yr±1 yr) non-smoking fatal asthmatics with 14 chronic smokers with severe, fatal COPD (71 yr±1 yr) and 19 control patients (56 yr±1 yr). Using H&E, Movat\'s pentachrome staining and image analysis, we quantified large airway basement membrane (BM) thickness (?m); submucosal gland area; and large and small airway inner wall, smooth muscle and outer wall areas. Areas were normalized by BM perimeter (?m2/?m). Results: Younger adult fatal asthmatics had thicker BM, smooth muscle, and outer wall areas in both small and large airways when compared to agematched controls and fatal COPD patients. In older asthmatics, there was an overlap in BM thickness and submucosal gland area, whereas both large and small airway smooth muscle areas were thicker compared to age-matched controls and fatal COPD patients. COPD patients had thinner large and small airway smooth muscle areas compared to age-matched controls. Younger asthmatics had thicker small airway smooth muscle area compared to older asthmatics. Conclusion: Our data provide novel pathological substrate changes that may help us better understand physiological similarities and differences in younger and older patients with asthma compared to COPD.

The benefits of the computed tomography in the forensic medicine Radiological imaging methods represent one of the complementary examination methods supplementing conventional autopsy in addition to histological, toxicological, biochemical, microbiological, and serological examination in forensic medicine. The basic and commonly available radiological imaging method in forensic practice is X-ray imaging. With the development of modern radiological imaging methods (especially computed tomography and nuclear magnetic resonance), these modern methods have been gradually applied to the field of forensic medicine. The rapid development of radiological imaging methods in recent years (especially computed tomography and nuclear magnetic resonance) has caused the gradual application of these modern methods in the field of forensic medicine. Post mortem CT (pmCT) examination is now a common part of forensic medicine in the most developed world countries (Switzerland, Denmark, Australia, Japan, Germany, Italy, France and others) and since 2015 this examination has been available at two departments of forensic medicine in the Czech Republic. The primary aim of the study was to evaluate the benefits of pmCT examination in routine forensic practice in three comprehensive groups of individuals who died as a result of...

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Auf der Basis der Obduktionsprotokolle der Jahre 2000-2009 des Institutes für Pathologie des Universitätsklinikums Leipzig wurden die Häufigkeiten und Verteilungen maligner Tumoren sowie der zu Lebzeiten nicht bekannten malignen Tumoren untersucht. Bei insgesamt 4592 durchgeführten Sektionen wurden in 263 Fällen zu Lebzeiten nicht bekannte maligne Tumoren diagnostiziert. Dies entsprach 5,7% des gesamten Sektionsgutes bzw. 20,2% aller nachgewiesenen Malignome. Nach Analyse der pTNM-Klassifikation wurden 70,9% der Malignome in den Tumorkategorien pT1 und pT2 erfasst. In 24,7% der Fälle traten Lymphknotenmetastasen, in 19,4% Fernmetastasen auf. 23,2% der postmortal entdeckten Malignome waren todesursächlich. Über die Hälfte der Obduzierten mit klinisch nicht bekannten Tumoren waren 70 Jahre oder älter. Die häufigsten klinisch nicht bekannten malignen Tumoren waren die Prostatakarzinome (23,9%), die kolorektalen Karzinome (16,3%), die Nierentumoren (13,0%), die Lungenkarzinome (12,7%) sowie die Leberkarzinome (6,5%). Patienten mit synchronen Doppel- beziehungsweise Dreifachtumoren traten bei 1,8% des Sektionsgutes auf. Der Anteil nicht erkannter maligner Tumoren an den Mehrfachmalignomen betrug 41,7%. Diese Sektionsanalyse bestätigte, dass auch im 21. Jahrhundert trotz der rasanten Entwicklungen in Medizin und Technik weiterhin maligne Tumoren erst bei der Autopsie festgestellt werden.

Die klinische Obduktion erfüllt heutzutage vor allem Aufgaben in der Qualitätssicherung. Trotz eines hohen individuellen und gesundheitspolitischen Stellenwertes fällt die Zahl der tatsächlich durchgeführten Sektionen seit Jahrzehnten weltweit. Die Gründe für das Absinken sind multifaktoriell. In der vorliegenden Arbeit wird die Rolle des zuletzt behandelnden Arztes untersucht, der bei der Initialisierung des Vorganges (Arztgespräch mit den Angehörigen, Dokumentation, Anmeldung der Obduktion) eine wichtige Rolle spielt. Zu diesem Zweck wurden die von 2005 bis 2012 am Ev. Diakonissenkrankenhaus Leipzig durchgeführten 194 Obduktionen ausgewertet. Durch krankenhausweite, arzt-zentrierte Mittel der Hilfestellung, Schulung und Formalisierung im Jahr 2009 gelang es, die Autopsierate am akademischen Lehrkrankenhaus der Regelversorgung von 3,3% auf 26% zu steigern. Im Rahmen der Untersuchung wurden klinisch vermutete und autoptisch nachgewiesene Todesursachen verglichen und die Ergebnisse in Fehlerklassen eingeteilt. Im Kontrollzeitraum vor dem Maßnahmenpaket wurde eine Gesamt-Fehlerrate von 54% in den Todesursachen (davon 18,8 % prognoserelevante Fehler) festgestellt. Nach Intervention konnte ein Absinken der Gesamt-Fehlerrate auf 27,9% (davon 11,6% prognoserelevante Diskrepanzen) gemessen werden. Nach Gruppierung der autoptisch erhobenen Todesursachen wurden „einfache“ und „schwierige“ Diagnosen erarbeitet. Dabei zeigten sich Lungenembolien (45,5% Fehleinschätzung), Infektionen (13,7% Fehleinschätzung) und akut dekompensierte Herzinsuffizienzen (8,8% Fehleinschätzung) als am häufigsten klinisch verkannte todesursächliche Krankheiten. Eine Sektionsfrequenz von ca. 30% wird als ausreichende epidemiologische Datengrundlage zur Validierung der Todesursachenstatistik angesehen (Bundesärztekammer 2005). In Deutschland beträgt die Rate aktuell etwa 4%. Bemüht man sich um eine Steigerung der Obduktionsrate, ist die Rolle des zuletzt behandelnden Arztes hervorzuheben. In der vorliegenden Arbeit konnte durch einfache Mittel der Beseitigung von Unsicherheiten, Schulung und Formalisierung (SOP) eine deutliche Steigerung der Rate an Sektionen ermöglicht werden. In Konsequenz wurde ein Absinken der Diagnose-Diskrepanzrate und der Anzahl an prognoserelevanten Irrtümern (18,8% auf 11,6%) in den Todesursachen festgestellt. Ob dies allein einen didaktischen Erfolg der vermehrten Behandlungsnachschau darstellt, oder statistische Effekte (verringerter Selektionsbias) beinhaltet, muss offen bleiben. Auffällig ist die Schlüsselstellung der Intensivtherapiestation. Da hier aufgrund der Erkrankungsschwere die höchste Patientensterblichkeit im Krankenhaus vorliegt (25% der pro Jahr Versterbenden), ist eine positive Einstellung der ärztlichen Kollegen gegenüber der Obduktion von entscheidender Bedeutung. Das Maßnahmenpaket ist auf andere Einrichtungen übertragbar und ein für Ärzteschaft und Geschäftsführung lohnender Aufwand, da neben sämtlichen individuellen Vorteilen für Angehörige und Mediziner die Ergebnisse einer solchen Auswertung als globale Qualitätsindikatoren für ein Krankenhaus dienen können.

Malaria remains one of the world's major health problems, especially in developing countries. A better understanding of the pathology and pathophysiology of severe malaria is key to develop new treatments. Different approaches have been used in malaria research including the in vitro co-culture models with endothelial cells and both murine and simian animal models. However these are open to controversy due to disagreement on their representativeness of human disease. Using human post-mortem tissue in malaria research is another important approach but is practically challenging, limiting the availability of post mortem samples from malaria patients. The work in this thesis had two main themes. First I examined the role of the endothelial signalling Angiopoetin-Tie-2 receptor pathway in malaria. Ang-2 has been shown to be a significant biomarker of severe and fatal malaria. I examined the tissue specific expression of proteins from this pathway in post-mortem brain tissues from fatal malaria cases, but found no difference between cerebral malaria and non-cerebral malaria cases. Ang-2 correlated with the severity of malaria in these patients. An attempt to examine the interaction of hypoxia and the Ang-Tie-2 pathway in vitro using a co-culture model of human brain endothelial cells was unsuccessful due to contamination of the cell line. The second part of the thesis aimed to utilise molecular pathology techniques including miRNA and whole-genome microarrays. I have shown for the first time that these can be successfully applied to human post-mortem tissue in malaria. First I used archival tissues to examine the microRNA signature in the kidney of patients with malaria associated renal failure. Second I optimised a protocol to preserve post mortem tissue for molecular pathology, from an autopsy study in Mozambique. Using the subsequent total mRNA transcriptomic data and bioinformatics analysis this work has expanded our knowledge of differential gene expression and the families of genes which are dysregulated in the brain in response to malaria infection.