**9. Conclusion**

A serial study of forensic autopsy cases suggested the involvement of neuronal apoptosis at specific sites of the brain, possibly contributing to CNS damage and dysfunction, which was characteristic of traumatic insults, including progressive or delayed brain damage due to

mechanical head injury, involving brain swelling and compression, as well as due to asphyxia, CO intoxication, fire fatality, and hyperthermia (heatstroke). Molecular pathological investigation of neuronal apoptosis and related biological responses in forensic materials can provide specific information in medical science for understanding the death process after traumatic insults. These studies will contribute not only in forensic casework but also to the clinical management of critically traumatized patients.

Immunohistochemistry of Neuronal Apoptosis in Fatal Traumas: The Contribution of Forensic Molecular Pathology in Medical Science 269

in heat sensitive and resistant cell lines. *Journal of Cellular Biochemistry,* 103(1), pp. 212-

Becker, E. B. & Bonni, A. (2004). Cell cycle regulation of neuronal apoptosis in development

Bikfalvi, A., Klein, S., Pintucci, G. & Rifkin, D. B. (1997). Biological roles of fibroblast growth

Boehm, J., Fischer, K. & Bohnert, M. (2010). Putative role of TNF-alpha, interleukin-8 and ICAM-1 as indicators of an early inflammatory reaction after burn: a morphological and immunohistochemical study of lung tissue of fire victims. *Journal of Clinical Pathology,* 

Bohnert, M., Werner, C. R. & Pollak, S. (2003). Problems associated with the diagnosis of

Bohnert, M., Anderson, J., Rothschild, M. A. & Bohm, J. (2010). Immunohistochemical expression of fibronectin in the lungs of fire victims proves intravital reaction in fatal

Bouchama, A. & Knochel, J. P. (2002). Heat stroke. *New England Journal of Medicine,* 346(25),

Bratzke, H. (2004). Research in forensic neurotraumatology. *Forensic Science International,* 

Byard, R. W., Bhatia, K. D., Reilly, P. L. & Vink, R. (2009). How rapidly does cerebral swelling follow trauma? Observations using an animal model and possible implications

Byard, R. W. (2011). Commentary on: Sauvageau A, Boghossian E. Classification of asphyxia: the need for standardization. *Journal of Forensic Sciences,* 56(1), pp. 264. Cadet, J. L. & Krasnova, I. N. (2009). Molecular bases of methamphetamine-induced

Cannon, J. G., Friedberg, J. S., Gelfand, J. A., Tompkins, R. G., Burke, J. F. & Dinarello, C. A. (1992). Circulating interleukin-1 beta and tumor necrosis factor-alpha concentrations

Castejon, O. J. & Arismendi, G. J. (2006). Nerve cell death types in the edematous human cerebral cortex. *Journal of Submicroscopic Cytology and Pathology,* 38(1), pp. 21-36. Chan, P. H. (2004). Mitochondria and neuronal death/survival signaling pathways in

Chen, J., Jin, K., Chen, M., Pei, W., Kawaguchi, K., Greenberg, D. A. & Simon, R. P. (1997). Early detection of DNA strand breaks in the brain after transient focal ischemia: implications for the role of DNA damage in apoptosis and neuronal cell death. *Journal of* 

Clark, R. S. B., Chen, M., Kochanek, P. M., Watkins, S. C., Jin, K. L., Draviam, R., Nathaniel, P. D., Pinto, R., Marion, D. W. & Graham, S. H. (2001). Detection of single- and doublestrand DNA breaks after traumatic brain injury in rats: comparison of in situ labeling techniques using DNA polymerase I, the Klenow fragment of DNA polymerase I, and

terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase. *Journal of Neurotrauma,* 18(7), pp. 675-689.

neurodegeneration. *International Review of Neurobiology,* 88, pp. 101-119.

after burn injury in humans. *Critical Care Medicine,* 20(10), pp. 1414-1419.

cerebral ischemia. *Neurochemical Research,* 29(11), pp. 1943-1949.

*Neurochemistry,* 69(1), pp. 232-245.

vitality in burned bodies. *Forensic Science International,* 135(3), pp. 197-205.

burns. *International Journal of Legal Medicine,* 124(6), pp. 583-588.

in infancy. *Legal Medicine (Tokyo),* 11 Suppl 1, pp. S128-131.

and disease. *Progress in Neurobiology,* 72(1), pp. 1-25.

factor-2. *Endocrine Reviews,* 18(1), pp. 26-45.

220.

63(11), pp. 967-971.

pp. 1978-1988.

144(2-3), pp. 157-165.
