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Yamamoto T, Emoto Y, Murase T, Umehara T, Miura A, Nishiguchi M, Ikematsu K, Nishio H. Molecular autopsy for sudden death in Japan. J Toxicol Pathol 2024; 37:1-10. [PMID: 38283375 PMCID: PMC10811381 DOI: 10.1293/tox.2023-0080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Japan has various death investigation systems; however, external examinations, postmortem computed tomography, macroscopic examinations, and microscopic examinations are performed regardless of the system used. These examinations can reveal morphological abnormalities, whereas the cause of death in cases with non-morphological abnormalities can be detected through additional examinations. Molecular autopsy and postmortem genetic analyses are important additional examinations. They are capable of detecting inherited arrhythmias or inherited metabolic diseases, which are representative non-morphological disorders that cause sudden death, especially in infants and young people. In this review, we introduce molecular autopsy reports from Japan and describe our experience with representative cases. The relationships between drug-related deaths and genetic variants are also reviewed. Based on the presented information, molecular autopsy is expected to be used as routine examinations in death investigations because they can provide information to save new lives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takuma Yamamoto
- Department of Legal Medicine, Hyogo College of Medicine, 1-1
Mukogawa-cho, Nishinomiya-shi, Hyogo 663-8501, Japan
| | - Yuko Emoto
- Department of Legal Medicine, Kansai Medical University,
2-5-1 Shinmachi, Hirakata-shi, Osaka 573-1010, Japan
| | - Takehiko Murase
- Division of Forensic Pathology and Science, Department of
Medical and Dental Sciences, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine,
Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki-shi, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan
| | - Takahiro Umehara
- Department of Forensic Medicine, School of Medicine,
University of Occupational and Environmental Health, 1-1 Iseigaoka, Yahatanishi-ku,
Kitakyushu-shi, Fukuoka 807-8555, Japan
| | - Aya Miura
- Department of Legal Medicine, Hyogo College of Medicine, 1-1
Mukogawa-cho, Nishinomiya-shi, Hyogo 663-8501, Japan
| | - Minori Nishiguchi
- Department of Legal Medicine, Hyogo College of Medicine, 1-1
Mukogawa-cho, Nishinomiya-shi, Hyogo 663-8501, Japan
| | - Kazuya Ikematsu
- Division of Forensic Pathology and Science, Department of
Medical and Dental Sciences, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine,
Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki-shi, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan
| | - Hajime Nishio
- Department of Legal Medicine, Hyogo College of Medicine, 1-1
Mukogawa-cho, Nishinomiya-shi, Hyogo 663-8501, Japan
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