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Molecular pathology of natriuretic peptides in the myocardium with special regard to fatal intoxication, hypothermia, and hyperthermia

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Abstract

The present study investigated the molecular pathology of atrial and brain natriuretic peptides (ANP and BNP) in the myocardium to evaluate terminal cardiac function in routine forensic casework with particular regard to fatal drug intoxication (n = 18; sedative–hypnotics, n = 10; methamphetamine, n = 8), hypothermia (cold exposure, n = 13), and hyperthermia (heatstroke, n = 10), compared with that in acute ischemic heart disease (AIHD, n = 35) and congestive heart disease (CHD, n = 11) as controls (total n = 87; within 48 h postmortem). Quantitative analyses of myocardial ANP and BNP messenger RNA demonstrated that their expressions in bilateral atrial and ventricular walls were high in methamphetamine intoxication and hypothermia, comparable to those in AIHD and CHD, but were low in sedative–hypnotic intoxication and hyperthermia. In pericardial fluid, both ANP and BNP levels were increased in hypothermia, while CHD cases had an elevated BNP level, and ANP level showed a tendency to increase in hyperthermia; however, immunohistochemistry showed no evident differences in myocardial ANP and BNP among the causes of death. These findings suggest terminal high cardiac strain in methamphetamine intoxication, decreased cardiac strain in sedative–hypnotic intoxication and hyperthermia (heatstroke), and persistent congestion in hypothermia (cold exposure).

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported in part by a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan (grant no. 22590642).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Legal Medicine, Osaka City University Medical School, Asahi-machi 1-4-3, Abeno, Osaka, 545-8585, Japan

    Jian-Hua Chen, Tomomi Michiue, Takaki Ishikawa & Hitoshi Maeda

  2. Forensic Autopsy Section, Medico-legal Consultation and Postmortem Investigation Support Center, Asahi-machi 1-4-3, Abeno, Osaka, 545-8585, Japan

    Jian-Hua Chen, Tomomi Michiue, Takaki Ishikawa & Hitoshi Maeda

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  1. Jian-Hua Chen
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  2. Tomomi Michiue
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  3. Takaki Ishikawa
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  4. Hitoshi Maeda
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Correspondence to Tomomi Michiue.

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Chen, JH., Michiue, T., Ishikawa, T. et al. Molecular pathology of natriuretic peptides in the myocardium with special regard to fatal intoxication, hypothermia, and hyperthermia. Int J Legal Med 126, 747–756 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-012-0732-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-012-0732-4

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