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John III, king of Sweden, breathed his last in November 1592. In ordinary circumstances, the death of the king would have triggered immediate preparations for all the elaborate rituals of succession: the royal funeral and the coronation of John's successor. But conditions in Sweden in 1592 were anything but normal. John's son and heir, Sigismund, was a Catholic and the reigning king of Poland. He was far from his Swedish realm, and more than a month would pass before he received news of his father's death. Meanwhile, John's ambitious brother Karl, Duke of Södermanland, a Lutheran with Calvinist leanings and a well-developed power base in Sweden, took charge of John's body. A conflict quietly emerged between Sigismund and his uncle that would ultimately be centered on the nature of royal power, control of Sweden, and the religious orientation of the realm. At the center of the conflict between Sigismund and Karl was the dead body of the king. Karl refused to allow John to be buried until Sigismund agreed to sign documents that would, in effect, curtail his power as king, place Karl in a dominant political position in the realm, and guarantee the Lutheran identity of the Kingdom of Sweden. When John's funeral finally took place in February 1594, the ritual was manipulated in ways that compromised Sigismund's power and impacted the development of the hereditary monarchy in Sweden. The role of the king's dead body in this conflict demonstrates the potential of royal bodies, real and representational, to embody royal power and to act as channels of power and legitimacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractMediums are individuals who claim to communicate with deceased persons or non-material beings. Rigorous studies have reported that mediums can provide accurate anomalous information (i.e. information not obtained through the conventional senses or inferential reasoning). This paper reviews the evidence about these claims and explores the main conventional explanatory hypotheses: fraud, sitter’s gullibility and wishful thinking, lucky chance, medium’s mental disorder, and involuntary personification of the unconscious mind. Additionally, we examine non-conventional explanations, specifically the hypothesis of the mind beyond the brain, highlighting the types of evidence that mediumship studies provide to support the existence of a mind independent of the physical brain. Through a critical analysis of both conventional and non-conventional explanations, this paper aims to contribute to the understanding of mediumship and its potential implications for our comprehension of consciousness and the mind-brain problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nematodes associated with the carcass beetle Creophilus maxillosus were examined. The beetles were collected from the decomposed body of a dead racoon dog Nyctereutes procyonoides in Kyoto, Japan, and dissected for examination of internal parasites. The dissected beetles were kept on agar plates for isolation of phoretic species. Although no parasites were found, three species of phoretic associates, Caenorhabditis plicata, Diplogastrellus cf. gracilis and Rhabditidoides sp., were recognised, and two species were later successfully cultured as laboratory strains. Diplogastrellus cf. gracilis and Rhabditidoides sp. were compared to an authentic strain of D. gracilis (German strain, SB306) and two presumably conspecific strains (German strain RS5443 and Japanese strain NKZ346), respectively, by mating experiments and molecular sequence comparison. The comparisons revealed that D. cf. gracilis is conspecific to D. gracilis SB306, and three Rhabditidoides strains are new conspecific species. The typological and molecular characters of D. gracilis are described and compared with other populations of the species, and Rhabditidoides sp. is taxonomically described as Rhabditidoides eutrophicola n. sp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractWhile much attention is paid to what happens to dead bodies after political violence, disaster, or atrocity, less attention has been paid to body parts, despite the wide-ranging efforts, both material (often forensic) and discursive, to reconstitute or resuscitate the whole dead body. Materializing the whole body is often considered key to truth-telling mechanisms and for closure for family members of the missing and dead, thus the body part is often posited as a problem in need of a solution. We are seeing, largely due to advances in forensic technologies, an increasing belief that all body parts can be identified and distinguished from other materials, and should, therefore, be recovered and repatriated to the whole body in its death. To explore this dynamic, I make two key arguments. First, I suggest that reassembling bodies is framed as a mechanism of re-subjectification that is key to reconciliation and justice after political violence. A body part is an object, but a dead body is in most contexts still considered a subject, even dead, so putting a dead body back together is considered re-humanizing and gives the dead body back its political agency. Second, I suggest that when this cannot be done materially due to the obstacles posed by modern warfare, we often see governance techniques that seek to do so discursively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Method Results Conclusions People bereaved by suicide are at increased risk of suicide. Potential explanations include changes in the cognitive availability of suicide after suicide bereavement, but this has been under‐investigated. This study aimed to investigate how suicide bereavement influences thoughts about suicide, including methods considered.We interviewed 20 UK‐based adultswho reported having been preoccupied by the suicide of a close contact, analyzing qualitative data using reflexive thematic analysis.We identified four main themes: divergent changes in views about suicide as an option; impact of the method used on consideration of own potential method of suicide (including an aversion to the same method); experience of suicidal ideation as a means of understanding the deceased's state of mind; and thoughts related to reunion with the deceased.Our findings suggest that the trauma of exposure to a close contact's suicide can modify the cognitive availability of suicide in divergent ways, including suicide being perceived as a more or less acceptable option, and a tension between the two. These insights assist clinicians in sensitive exploration of suicide bereavement and in risk mitigation. They suggest revisions to existing models of cognitive availability and the potential for psychological interventions that modify the cognitive availability of suicide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThe integration of forensic knowledge and associated practices into a growing number of human rights and humanitarian investigations, as well as transitional justice processes has led some scholars to claim a “forensic turn.” This turn is marked by the rise of forensic practices as “necro-governmental” technologies that seek to deliver certainty to the living and to the state so that a new political order can be created, a new future ushered in (Rojas-Perez, 2017, p. 19). Yet is the forensic turn truly globalized? Focusing on the cases of Timor-Leste and Sri Lanka, this article probes how states and citizens in these post-conflict settings are attempting to manage the unsettling indeterminacies of dead and missing bodies largely without recourse to forensic expertise. These cases shed light on the novel forms of necro-governmentality and alternative modes of local knowledge production that emerge in settings where there is a relative absence of forensic expertise. They also show how the necro-governmental project of fixing the meanings and identities of the dead (forensic or otherwise) is always ongoing, never fully or finally complete. This is because the unsettling indeterminacies of missing and dead bodies allow those bodies to be drawn into intimate practices of care and mourning and more public political projects that can resist attempts to close off their meanings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a growing number of embryos collect in fertility clinics, it is imperative to evaluate the permissibility of available options for genetic parents and fertility institutions. Much of the discussion on appropriate treatment of embryos has focused on the circumstances under which it is permissible to destroy embryos for instrumental purposes, and thus has little application to the fertility context. I aim to develop a new account of the value of embryos whereby embryos have final value in virtue of their relationship to persons that could exist. I call this symbolic value. To establish this value, I first show that corpses have this same symbolic value in virtue of their relationship to prior persons, and then show that the cases of corpses and embryos are relevantly similar. Because of this value, we ought to treat embryos in particular respectful ways. It is currently common practice in the United States to simply discard extra embryos that exist as a result of in vitro fertilization. I argue it is generally impermissible to simply discard embryos because it is an act of disrespect and does not treat them in accordance with their value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obituaries represent one of the many rituals that the bereaved conduct following someone’s death. Like any ritual, these texts transform over time, and assume different forms depending on context. This study applies content and textual analysis to 3,300 obituaries, collected from six Canadian newspapers and spanning the years 1900–2021. This paper shares preliminary findings concerning transformations in the form and function of Canadian obituaries over time. Major changes in form include an immense growth in length. Relatedly, greater details shared about the deceased – including their family, occupation, and hobbies – indicates a functional shift from texts that announce death to ones which construct a life legacy. Finally, this paper attends to the importance of context in the study of obituaries, by highlighting major conventions in Canadian obituaries and comparing how they differ by region across Canada. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to underline the importance of Concha Bullosa (CB), a pathological condition frequently missed in the analysis of human remains in archeological studies. We studied three cases from the Ancient Egyptian necropolis of Dra Abu-el Naga, located on Luxor's (Ancient Thebes) West Bank of the Nile. The sample object of this study belongs to different chronologies, but all were over 2,000 years old. The analysis included both macroscopic and radiological examinations of three skulls, all of adult males, showing different degrees of involvement of the middle turbinate. One presented with extensive bilateral CB without deviation of the nasal septum. The others showed unilaterally without affecting and deviating the nasal septum. The maxillary sinuses were not affected. The embalming technique varied throughout Ancient Egyptian history, with brain extraction first practiced among elites and then spreading across all social classes. This removal of the brain, if carried out through the nose, involved the destruction of the nasal bones. That may be the reason for the paucity of the described cases in the high number of individuals examined, added to the lack of familiarity of the investigators with this entity. These three new cases add to the body of existing evidence on CB and stresses the importance of not missing its identification during paleopathological studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to present the preliminary results of the recent osteological analysis of the human remains discovered to the north of the funerary temple of King Djedkare at south Saqqara. The excavation began in spring 2018 as a part of Djedkare Project of the exploration and documentation of the pyramid complex of king Djedkare, directed by Mohamed Megahed. This paper will investigate some of the burials discovered in the so-called T.g area which is situated between the funerary temple of the king and the south side of the pyramid of the queen. The burials date back from the late Second Intermediate Period probably to the 1st millennium BCE based on the preliminary analysis of the pottery. The burials were discovered in three levels, the earlier burials in the bottom levels of the debris were in extended north-south or east-west position. Also, the upper-level burials were in extended east-west positions. The Middle level contains burials in ceramic coffins Besides the variety of burial customs and the correlation between age, sex, and grave good, The good preservation of bones surface allowed to record the pathological diseases. Many evidences recorded for activity-related skeletal changes, including degenerative disease in the spines and other joints in the older adult groups. Moreover, trauma (including fractures) was noted in any individuals, affecting the shoulders, femurs, hands and pelvis. It is likely that childhood stress observed in several individuals in the form of iron deficiency anaemia and dental developmental disorders. In some cases, evidence for spondylolysis, which might have been unilateral or bilateral, was observed. More unusual pathological conditions observed included infectious defects in the skull of a young adult female and a possible case of blunt force trauma. Several dental diseases were observed in Djedkare secondary cemetery individuals, including tooth attrition, abscesses, ante-mortem tooth loss and calculus, which related to age changes. This preliminary overview study will contribute to add new non-elite cemetery results and aim to make it accessible for researchers additionally, investigate the biological profile as sex, age, stature. Moreover, sheds light on the distribution of pathologies inside the assemblage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CT 533, one of the divine scribe spells among the Coffin Texts, is an important early example of the interaction of Thoth and Hathor. The spell's text, textual history, and theology are extensively discussed in order to expose the early form of the Myth of Distant Goddess as well as early concepts of Thoth's role in her pacification. The spell's earliest versions primarily dealt with Thoth as advocate for the deceased, in its later manifestations the spell uses Hathoric material related to the Myth of the Distant Goddess to reinforce these themes. This development is connected to the cult-center at Cusae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photogrammetry is a technique for studying and defining objects' shape, dimension, and position in a three-dimensional space using measurements obtained from two-dimensional photographs. It has gained popularity following the development of computer graphics technologies and has been applied to various branches of medicine. In this study, the authors present a method for low-cost photorealistic documentation of corpses during autopsy using single-camera photogrammetry with a mobile phone. Besides representing the body by demonstrating the injured and non-injured body parts as control, evidencing the body parts on a 3D reconstruction allows easy explanation to nonmedical experts such as lawyers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Efforts to improve the quality of marginal grafts for transplantation are essential. Machine perfusion preservation appears as a promising solution. Methods: The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) database was queried for deceased liver donor records between 2016 and 2022. The primary outcome of interest was the organ nonutilization rate. Long‐term graft and patient survival among extended criteria donors (ECDs) were also analyzed. Results: During the study period, out of 54 578 liver grafts recovered for transplant, 5085 (9.3%) were nonutilized. Multivariable analysis identified normothermic machine perfusion (NMP) preservation as the only predictor associated with a reduction in graft nonutilization (OR = 0.12; 95% CI = 0.06–0.023, p < 0.001). Further analysis of ECD grafts that were transplanted revealed comparable 1‐,2‐ and 3‐years graft survival (89%/88%/82% vs. 90%/85%/81%, p = 0.60), and patient survival (92%/91%/84% vs. 92%/88%/84%, p = 0.65) between grafts that underwent MP vs. those who did not, respectively. Conclusions: Liver nonutilization rates in the United States are at an all‐time high. Available data, most likely including cases from clinical trials, showed that NMP reduced the odds of organ nonutilization by 12% among the entire deceased donor pool and by 16% among grafts from ECD. Collective efforts and further evidence reflecting day‐to‐day clinical practice are needed to fully reach the potential of MP for liver transplant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optimizing immunologic compatibility in organ transplantation extends beyond the conventional approach of Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) antigen matching, which exhibits significant limitations. A broader comprehension of the roles of classical and non-classical HLA genes in transplantation is imperative for enhancing long-term graft survival. High-resolution molecular HLA genotyping, despite its inherent challenges, has emerged as the cornerstone for precise patient-donor compatibility assessment. Leveraging understanding of eplet biology and indirect immune activation, eplet mismatch calculators and the PIRCHE-II algorithm surpass traditional methods in predicting allograft rejection. Understanding minor histocompatibility antigens may also present an opportunity to personalize the compatibility process. While the application of molecular matching in deceased donor organ allocation presents multiple technical, logistical, and conceptual barriers, rendering it premature for mainstream use, several other areas of donor-recipient matching and posttransplant management are ready to incorporate molecular matching. Provision of molecular mismatch scores to physicians during potential organ offer evaluations could potentially amplify long-term outcomes. The implementation of molecular matching in living organ donation and kidney paired exchange programs is similarly viable. This article will explore the current understanding of immunologic matching in transplantation and the potential applications of epitope and non-epitope molecular biology and genetics in clinical transplantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThe paper deals with the effects of the regulations and restrictions on the handling of corpses and funerals among Zimbabwean migrant families who lost relatives in South Africa during the COVID-19 epidemic in the years 2020 and 2021. Interviews were conducted with members of this migrant community. The interviews revealed a range of affective and material dimensions entangled in these multiple losses, highlighting therefore experiences of truncated grief. Restrictions on funerals and burials forced immobility on the living and their dead; on bereaved communities, themselves and their corpses are forms of biopower that multiplied losses among cross-border migrant communities. The loss of autonomy of communities around death rituals and burial places constitute realms where the materiality of death is revealed. I look at both the loss of human life and the emotional losses associated with the limitations imposed on the dead body under COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the accessibility of kidney transplants and long-term outcomes in patients with severe obesity after bariatric surgery. Patients with severe obesity and end-stage renal disease face challenges in accessing kidney transplants due to technical difficulties and increased risks. Bariatric surgery offers significant weight loss and improves access to kidney transplants, leading to reduced mortality. The study aims to evaluate kidney transplant accessibility, graft survival, weight maintenance, and obesity-related complications in patients with severe obesity and end-stage renal disease post-bariatric surgery. [Extracted from the article]

The article "Mediums and magical things: statues, paintings, and masks in Asian places" by Laurel Kendall explores the role of images of gods or spirits in the religious and magical practices of mediums or shamans in Asian cultures. Kendall's work delves into how these material images are created, imbued with spiritual energies, and interact with the circulation of similar objects as souvenirs or museum artifacts. Through a comparative analysis rooted in the 'material turn' in anthropology, Kendall examines the agency and assemblage of magical objects in various Asian traditions, offering a nuanced perspective on the ontology of ensoulment shared by different cultures. [Extracted from the article]

This study aims to analyze data from patients who received kidney transplantation from deceased donors to investigate the anesthetic factors influencing early and late graft outcomes, including the incidence of slow graft function (SGF), delayed graft function (DGF), and 3-year graft outcomes. We retrospectively analyzed 202 recipients who underwent deceased donor kidney transplantation from March 2010 to December 2020. Anesthetic monitoring data during the intraoperative period was analyzed at 5-minute intervals, and basic clinical parameters were evaluated. The mean recipient age was 46.6 ± 10.3 years, and the mean donor age was 41.7 ± 12.7 years. Anesthetic time averaged 285.8 ± 70.2 min, and operation time averaged 223.1 ± 44.0 min. The incidence of SGF was 11.8%, and the incidence of DGF was 3.9%. Mean central venous pressures (CVPs) were higher in recipients with SGF or DGF (11.7 mmHg) compared to those with immediate graft function (9.7 mmHg). Higher CVP was identified as an independent risk factor for SGF or DGF (odds ratio 1.219, p = 0.006). This study suggests that intraoperative monitoring of CVP is crucial for predicting short-term graft function in deceased donor kidney transplantation and should be managed to prevent excessive fluid intake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optimizing immunologic compatibility in organ transplantation extends beyond the conventional approach of Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) antigen matching, which exhibits significant limitations. A broader comprehension of the roles of classical and non-classical HLA genes in transplantation is imperative for enhancing long-term graft survival. High-resolution molecular HLA genotyping, despite its inherent challenges, has emerged as the cornerstone for precise patient-donor compatibility assessment. Leveraging understanding of eplet biology and indirect immune activation, eplet mismatch calculators and the PIRCHE-II algorithm surpass traditional methods in predicting allograft rejection. Understanding minor histocompatibility antigens may also present an opportunity to personalize the compatibility process. While the application of molecular matching in deceased donor organ allocation presents multiple technical, logistical, and conceptual barriers, rendering it premature for mainstream use, several other areas of donor-recipient matching and posttransplant management are ready to incorporate molecular matching. Provision of molecular mismatch scores to physicians during potential organ offer evaluations could potentially amplify long-term outcomes. The implementation of molecular matching in living organ donation and kidney paired exchange programs is similarly viable. This article will explore the current understanding of immunologic matching in transplantation and the potential applications of epitope and non-epitope molecular biology and genetics in clinical transplantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compost Me: A More-Than-Humanifesto speaks to my desire to be composted, exploring what human composting is and how the process works, in addition to what human composting can teach us about being and becoming more-than-human. As part of this more-than-humanifesto, I advocate for an extended sense of self – one that mixes and mingles with other beings and bodies – to compost discourses that present humans as separate from, and superior to, the ecologies in which they are intimately a part. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research aims to : -Define resuscitation and its ruling. -Clarify the components of the brain. -Define death and its signs, according to doctors and jurists. -Determine whether the brain or heart is responsible for death. -Examine the condition of patients under resuscitation devices and their jurisprudential classification. -Explain the meaning of autopsy and corpse, the types of autopsy, the ruling of Sharia on it, and the jurisprudential conditions that must be met during an autopsy. Research Method: Inductive method. No new issue arises in this nation without having a ruling in the Book of Allah Almighty. One of the issues faced by this nation is (brain death and autopsy). The scholars of this nation have exerted efforts to extract rulings regarding this issue, and this research discusses this issue and presents the scholars' rulings on it. Some of the key findings of the researcher: The death of a patient must be confirmed if they experience what is known as (brain death) . -The decision to remove or maintain resuscitation devices on the patient should be left to the experts among doctors. -Scholars agree on the sanctity of the Muslim body, both alive and dead, and that autopsy is permissible when there is a pressing need for it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Combined liver–kidney transplantation (CLKT) has evolved as a therapeutic option for patients with concurrent end-stage liver and renal diseases. This study evaluates the perioperative and long-term outcomes of CLKT at a single center in Slovenia, highlighting the challenges and successes of simultaneous organ transplantation. We retrospectively analyzed all patients undergoing simultaneous CLKT at the University Medical Centre Ljubljana from April 2014 to June 2023. Data on demographics, cause of liver and kidney disease, operative details, postoperative complications, patient and graft survival, and follow-up were collected and analyzed. Five patients aged 27 to 60 years underwent CLKT within the study period. All transplants involved deceased donors with whole-liver grafts. Indications for CLKT were polycystic liver disease (n = 3), Caroli's disease (n = 1), and alcoholic cirrhosis (n = 1). The mean follow-up duration was 45.2 months, with a 100% survival rate. The incidence of surgical and postoperative complications was low. This pioneering series of simultaneous CLKTs in Slovenia demonstrates the feasibility and effectiveness of the procedure in smaller transplant centers. Despite challenges, including T cell-mediated kidney rejection and surgical complications, the study emphasizes the importance of comprehensive postoperative care and management in optimizing outcomes for CLKT recipients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

RNA helicases are integral in RNA metabolism, performing important roles in cellular homeostasis and stress responses. In particular, the DExD/H-box (DDX) helicase family possesses a conserved catalytic core that binds structural features rather than specific sequences in RNA targets. DDXs have critical roles in all aspects of RNA metabolism including ribosome biogenesis, translation, RNA export, and RNA stability. Importantly, functional specialization within this family arises from divergent N and C termini and is driven at least in part by gene duplications with 18 of the 42 human helicases having paralogs. In addition to their key roles in the homeostatic control of cellular RNA, these factors have critical roles in RNA virus infection. The canonical RIG-I-like receptors (RLRs) play pivotal roles in cytoplasmic sensing of viral RNA structures, inducing antiviral gene expression. Additional RNA helicases function as viral sensors or regulators, further diversifying the innate immune defense arsenal. Moreover, some of these helicases have been coopted by viruses to facilitate their replication. Altogether, DDX helicases exhibit functional specificity, playing intricate roles in RNA metabolism and host defense. This review will discuss the mechanisms by which these RNA helicases recognize diverse RNA structures in cellular and viral RNAs, and how this impacts RNA processing and innate immune responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Legal inheritance presupposes the existence of some categories of heirs expressly regulated by law, who reap from the deceased's estate in the quotas and order established by law. There is a category of legal heirs called reserved heirs, protected by imperative rules against the will of the deceased, when they try to disinherit them directly or indirectly. The will of the deceased manifested through liberalities is the essence of testamentary inheritance. Testamentary freedom represents the rule of inheritance law, the bequeathed having the opportunity to dispose of his wealth as he wishes. When the two types of inheritance coexist, and the deceased disposes by liberality in the presence of reserved heirs, in order to comply with the rules of legal inheritance and to divide the deceased's wealth efficiently and correctly, it is necessary to determine precisely the part of the inheritance on which the liberality ordered by to de cujus. The study aims to analyse the situations that may arise when the deceased, in the presence of the reservators, disposes liberally in favour of a nonreservator heir and to identify balanced solutions that do not contravene the rules of legal inheritance and satisfy the principle of testamentary freedom. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Objective: To study the histomorphological changes in postmortem needle biopsy/autopsy lung in COVID-19 Patients. Study Design: This was an observational study done at Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Medical College & Research Institute, Bengaluru, and Karnataka from March 2021 to May 2021. Methodology: A total of 30 patients who died of Covid-19 were included and all of them were diagnosed to be Covid -19 positive by RT-PCR testing. Post-mortem transthoracic needle biopsy was done to obtain lung tissue by using B-Bard biopsy gun in midaxillary approach. The biopsy samples were grossed and processed after fixing for 48hrs. The slides obtained were stained by routine hematoxylin and eosin stain, studied for morphology of the lung tissue and findings were recorded. Results: We obtained consent for post-mortem transthoracic needle biopsy/autopsy of lung in 30 deceased cases. All these cases were positive for SARS -COV2 on RT-PCR. The age of the cases was ranging from 26-72 years and median age is 53years, males (63.3%) were affected more than females (36.7%). Most deceased had comorbidities, among them diabetes mellitus (26.6%) and hypertension (26.6%) were most common. Lung biopsy samples were taken from 30 deceased patients. Histomorphological feature of diffuse alveolar damage was seen in 90% (27 out of 30) cases. Other findings noted on microscopy were chronic interstitial inflammation in 6.7% cases, pulmonary edema (3.33%), intra alveolar haemorrhage (3.33%) and viral cytopathic changes (3.33%). Conclusion: This study highlighted the pulmonary morphological changes which are most prominent in COVID-19 infections, but it was a difficult to ascertain that the findings are related to viral infection or due to associated coomorbidities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document contains abstracts and summaries of research studies related to transplantation and immunology. The studies cover a range of topics including genotyping and antibody screening for transplant patients, challenges in obtaining pure populations of cells for monitoring after stem cell transplantation, the use of biomarkers for recurrent kidney disease after transplantation, and the impact of accreditation on laboratory quality. Other studies explore the detection of antibodies in highly sensitized patients, molecular assays for detecting genetic polymorphisms, and the development of immunophenotyping panels. The document provides valuable information for library patrons conducting research in these areas. [Extracted from the article]

Severity of deceased donor kidney fibrosis impacts graft survival in deceased-donor kidney transplantation. Our aim was to identify potential miRNA biomarkers in urinary exosomes that mirror interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy (IFTA) severity. Among 109 urine samples from deceased donors, 34 displayed no IFTA in the zero-day biopsy (No IFTA group), while the remaining 75 deceased donor kidneys exhibited an IFTA score ≥ 1 (IFTA group). After analyzing previous reports and electronic databases, six miRNAs (miR-19, miR-21, miR-29c, miR-150, miR-200b, and miR-205) were selected as potential IFTA biomarker candidates. MiR-21, miR-29c, miR-150, and miR-205 levels were significantly higher, while miR-19 expression was significantly lower in the IFTA group. MiR-21 (AUC = 0.762; P < 0.001) and miR-29c (AUC = 0.795; P < 0.001) showed good predictive accuracy for IFTA. In the No IFTA group, the eGFR level at 1 week after transplantation was significantly higher compared to the IFTA group (41.34 mL/min/1.73m2 vs. 28.65 mL/min/1.73m2, P = 0.012). These findings signify the potential of urinary exosomal miRNAs as valuable biomarker candidates for evaluating the severity of IFTA in deceased donor kidneys before they undergo recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aconitum species are commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine, and they have a narrow therapy window due to the possibility of aconitine poisoning. Aconitine poisoning deaths appear infrequently in forensic practice. It is important to collect valuable body samples in time due to the rapid absorption and excretion of aconitine. However, it is unknown whether postmortem samples have value for toxicological analysis if the deceased has experienced long-term treatment before death. Herein, we present a case of a woman who died after 12 days of failed active treatment for aconitine poisoning. Aconitine was detected in the liver tissue. To our knowledge, this is the first case report describing the detection of aconitine in a decedent after long-term active treatment. The findings indicated that the aconitine concentration in liver tissue can be maintained after long-term treatment; this information may therefore serve as a reference in forensic practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 4 Maccabees' skillfully woven tale of seven brother martyrs and their mother, a rather puzzling phrase appears in the emotionally-charged scene of the mother looking upon the mutilated corpses of her seven sons. The graphic description—burned flesh, severed hands, scalped heads, corpses upon corpses—includes, in most editions of the text, a side reference to the place filled with many spectators because of the children's torments (4 Macc 15:20; NRSVue). These editions and translations reflect an ancient scribal emendation to the Greek text of Codex Sinaiticus that reads χόριον (afterbirth) as χορίδιον/χωρίδιον/χωρίον (place). What is surprising about this emendation is that it disrupts the focus of the encomium—the mother's exemplary courage despite seeing the extreme mutilation of her children—whereas the earlier reading, afterbirth, is an apt description of the corpses within the context of the scene and complements the portrayal of the mother's role throughout the book. This article considers how the erasure of afterbirth in 4 Macc 15:20 obscures the significance of the birthing metaphor in 4 Maccabees' portrayal of the mother's role, particularly as it relates to the image of her rebirthing (ἀνατίκτω) her sons into immortality (4 Macc 16:13). Far from a scribal error in need of emendation, afterbirth in 4 Macc 15:20 is a key feature of the birth imagery, which functions in concert with the masculinization of the mother to paint a portrait of her as the embodiment of both masculine and feminine ideals, the ultimate example of Torah piety, and a generative force of immortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cremation was a common behavior during the Early period in the Middle Cauca region of Colombia. Nevertheless, few bioarchaeological analyses have focused on understanding this phenomenon. Four funerary urns from the archaeological site Matecaña (Pereira, Risaralda, Colombia) were analyzed to understand the cremation mortuary practice during the Early period (1000 bc–600 ad). For this, the cremains went through an anatomical classification that led to establishing the minimal number of individuals with the landmark system, as well as reconstructing their biological profile and interpreting the macroscopic changes made by heat exposure, such as colorimetry, the degree of cremation, the presence of heat‐induced changes, and the temperature that the incineration reached. The results indicated that the funerary cycle had three processes divided into 11 steps. During the first process, an individual's biological death led to rituals and a temporary deposition. After the skeletonization of the corpse, the second process was the cremation itself. The combustion of at least 28 individuals of different ages (fetuses, infants, and adults) was intense (400°C to over 600°C) and finalized in the third process with their burial in funerary urns. This funerary behavior reflects the long‐term relationship between the living and the dead. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The determination of panel reactive antibodies (cPRA) scores plays a critical role in assessing the immunological compatibility between organ transplant recipients and potential donors. Traditional cPRA methods focus on a limited number of HLA loci using physical cytotoxicity tests. However, advancements such as the Luminex single antigen (LSA) assay, which uses mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) of individualised HLA antigens for antibody evaluation, provide a foundation for a more precise assessment. We developed cPRAdictor, a novel cPRA calculation tool using a large series of HLA‐type individuals in France with NGS. cPRAdictor was applied to a cohort of 5962 kidney transplant candidates in Paris. We analysed how extending the range of HLA specificities could affect cPRA values. Implementing cPRAdictor revealed and allowed quantification of the significant discrepancies in cPRA values that appeared when HLA loci C and DP, and antigen‐specific antibodies were taken into account. Notably, over 43% of the immunised transplant candidates showed an increase in calculated cPRA values when considering C/DP loci and antigen‐specific antibodies, negatively impacting their eligibility and prioritisation in the transplantation programme. These findings highlight the necessity of revisiting cPRA calculation methodologies to include a broader spectrum of immunological data, as more exhaustive and precise information regarding anti‐HLA antibodies in patients' sera and donor and recipient HLA typing are available prospectively. This will strongly improve both accuracy and equity at the organ allocation step, especially for highly sensitised candidates for whom organ offers are very limited in number. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inflammation causes a wide range of health disorders. In this process, the formation of inflammasome complexes plays a key role. Although inflammasomes have been extensively studied during kidney disease, their role in kidney transplantation has not been fully elucidated. In this study, we evaluate the gene and protein expression of several components of the inflammasome pathway before and at several time points after kidney transplantation in a cohort of patients of different ages and receiving an organ from older or younger donors. Our findings indicate the activation of the NLRP1 inflammasome in several immune cell population, monocytes and CD4+ and CD8+ cells mainly, in renal transplant, and its level increases gradually in patients who receive an older organ, whereas it has the opposite effect on older patients who receive a younger organ. Despite treatment with immunosuppressants, inflammation persists in some patients. These results lead to the hypothesis that the donor's age is a critical factor in post-transplant inflammasome activation and that specific NLRP1 inflammasome inhibitors should be considered to increase the success of kidney transplantation long-term.  Color images are available online. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After the death of a loved one, family will occasionally request posthumous assisted reproduction (PAR). Professional medical societies in the US and Europe oppose such requests without written consent except from the surviving partner with whom the deceased presumably shared a joint reproductive project. Here, however, we argue that joint reproductive projects are not limited to two-person romantic partners and therefore ethical policies should not be either. In other words, we argue the criterion of being in a romantic partnership with the decedent is biased and unjustly excludes certain family formations. We begin by describing the professional society guidelines to highlight how they presume a two-person romantic couple is the ideal basis for reproductive projects and families. Then, we discuss examples of alternative parental projects, noting that they are usually grounded in feminist and queer values. Finally, we respond to potential objections about violating the autonomy of the deceased and conflating reproductive and parental projects. In sum, as long as medical societies continue to uphold a policy whereby romantic partners may seek PAR in the absence of written consent, we believe that these societies must also allow for the potential of family formations that do not fit into the dominant paradigm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

All four UK nations have, in recent years, introduced "opt out" organ donation systems. Whilst these systems are largely similar, they operate independently. A key feature of each policy is a residency requirement, stipulating that opt out may only apply where the deceased had been ordinarily resident in that nation for at least 12 months. A resident of Scotland who dies in England, for example, would not fall under opt out. Public awareness is the underlying reasoning for such stipulations. A residency requirement was appropriate when Wales was the only UK nation with an opt out system, but, I suggest, the continued imposition of intra-UK borders on organ donation is unjustified now that all four nations operate the same policy. Further, it has the potential to limit organ donation. There is a need for all four systems to be amended to allow for UK-wide applicability, such that providing the deceased was ordinarily resident in the UK, they can fall under opt out in any of the four nations. I argue that such an amendment is ethically justified – continuing to satisfy the public awareness criterion – and practically straightforward. In doing so, I emphasise that my proposed amendment should extend only to the four UK nations, stopping short of the Crown Dependencies even though they also operate opt out systems for organ donation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Composite time trade-off (cTTO) often exhibits issues such as a value clustering at −1, potentially due to suboptimal valuation task design. We developed a novel time trade-off which uses the "pits" state as an anchor state and enables a unified time trade-off procedure for all health states (referred to as "pTTO"). This study aimed to test the pTTO for valuation of EQ-5D-5L health states. A total of 120 members of the general public were invited to value 3 pairs of dominant/dominated EQ-5D-5L states using both cTTO and pTTO and the "pits" state using cTTO. We compared the pTTO with cTTO in terms of feasibility (interviewer-rated task-completing difficulty), acceptability (participant-reported task experience), value distribution, logical consistency, and discriminatory ability (using the standardized response mean, an effect size measure, derived from 3 pairwise comparisons of states with dominant/dominated relationship). The pTTO demonstrated similar feasibility to cTTO but slightly lower acceptability. The pTTO values exhibited a smoother and more continuous distribution compared with cTTO values. Relative to the cTTO, the pTTO showed higher individual-level logical consistency rate for the pairs comprising severe states (stringent criterion: 53.04% vs 17.39%; less stringent criterion: 82.61% vs 78.26%). The standardized response mean value based on pTTO values were higher than those based on cTTO values for the pair comprising severe states (0.388 vs −0.140). The pTTO appeared to be feasible and acceptable to value EQ-5D-5L states. The pTTO values were less clustered, more logically consistent, and discriminative compared with the cTTO values for severe health states. • Composite time trade-off values derived in EQ-5D-5L valuation studies often exhibit data distribution issues, suggesting suboptimal valuation task design. • A novel time trade-off design that uses the "pits" and "full health" states as anchors (referred to as "pTTO") generated values with less value clustering, better logical consistency, and higher discriminatory ability compared with the composite time trade-off, particularly for very severe EQ-5D health states. • The pits time trade-off has the potential to improve the valuation of very severe health states and to contribute to more accurate evaluation of health interventions targeting individuals in very severe health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Finding a dead body in water raises an issue concerning determining the cause of death as drowning because of the complex pathophysiology of drowning. In addition, the corpse may be submersed postmortem. Objective: Evaluate the role of oxidative stress markers and NF-KB/iNOS inflammatory pathway as diagnostic biomarkers in drowning and whether they could differentiate freshwater from saltwater drowning. Methods: This study included forty-five adult male albino rats classified into five groups: control group (C), Freshwater-drowned group (FD), Freshwater postmortem submersion group (FPS), saltwater-drowned group (SD), and saltwater postmortem submersion group (SPS). After the autopsy, the rats' lungs in each group were prepared for histological, immunohistochemical (caspase 3, TNF-α, NF-kB, COX-2 & iNOS), biochemical studies; MDA, NOx, SOD, GSH, VCAM-1, COX-2; and RT-PCR for the relative quantification of NF-kB and iNOS genes expression. Results: Lung oxidative markers were significantly affected in drowned groups than in postmortem submersion groups. Inflammatory pathway markers were also significantly increased in the drowned groups, with concern that all markers were significantly affected more in saltwater than in freshwater drowned group. Conclusions: It is concluded that the tested markers can be used accurately in diagnosing drowning and differentiating it from postmortem submersion with a better understanding of the mechanism of death in drowning as both mechanisms, inflammatory and oxidative stress, were revealed and involved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduces a new learning-based approach for approximately solving the Kidney-Exchange Problem (KEP), an NP-hard problem on graphs. The KEP consists of, given a pool of kidney donors and patients waiting for kidney donations, optimally selecting a set of donations to optimize the quantity and quality of transplants performed while respecting a set of constraints about the arrangement of these donations. The proposed technique consists of two major steps: the first is a Graph Neural Network (GNN) trained without supervision; the second is a deterministic non-learned search heuristic that uses the output of the GNN to find a valid solution. To allow for comparisons, we also implemented and tested an exact solution method using integer programming, two greedy search heuristics without the machine learning module, and the GNN alone without a heuristic. We analyze and compare the methods and conclude that the learning-based two-stage approach is the best solution quality, outputting approximate solutions on average 1.1 times more valuable than the ones from the deterministic heuristic alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents an assessment of age identities through the funerary practices of the Lower Egyptian Culture (ca. 3500 BCE), with particular attention to childhood. The case study provides an opportunity to discuss how archaeologists form interpretations on age identities through reviews of mortuary data. I claim that we should evaluate the relevance of each and every burial dimension in order to create an informed opinion, rather than provide broad conclusions based on the overall similarities or differences between age groups. Specifically, the location of the tombs has been found particularly relevant for exploring age identities. I propose that these communities recognised at least three different age identities, differentiating foetuses and infants under four months, older subadults, and adults. The role of the arrangement of the grave, corpse, and material culture in negotiating age identities, personhood and grief by mourners is also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human anatomy is the science that deals with the structure of the human body. The term anatomy is derived from the Greek word “anatome”, meaning cutting up. Study of anatomy both theoretically and practically to fully understand the body. Dissection is the base of practical knowledge of human anatomy for medical students and before the dissection; there is a need for preservation of the dead body. Acharya Sushruta was the first physician and surgeon who dissected a human dead body in the ancient era. The “Jalnimajjan Padhhati” of Mritsanrakshan, a hydrobiological method of preserving dead bodies, was imparted by Acharya Sushruta, the father of surgery, in Ayurveda around 1500 years before B.C. Acharya Sushruta has used natural materials which are found anywhere easily and described the detailed structure of the human body from external to internal, seven types of skin (Twacha and Kala) etc. In the modern era, dead body preservation is done with the prepared solution of various chemicals. This process is called embalming. Acharya Charaka mentioned that knowledge of Sukshm and Sthul Sharir is very necessary for the Sharir Rachana. Acharya Sushruta is the foremost authority on the anatomical structures of the human body. He has provided comprehensive details on every body component described in Ayurvedic literature, specifically with “Sharire Sushruta Shreshta.” [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"I still don't realize that he's dead.... I cried over it. It makes me sad to know that he was buried unaccompanied on his last trip. We were all shocked." This testimony corresponds to a family whose relative was buried in an anonymous grave 6 months after his disappearance was reported to the police. It is estimated that between 1 000 and 3 000 unidentified bodies are buried in anonymous graves in France each year. Most of these decedents have passed through the medico-legal system. However the identification of these bodies, outside the context of mass disasters, remains a complex problem. Several national and international publications have highlighted the prevalent problem of unidentified burials and the consequences for families who do not know the fate of their loved ones, specifically, whether they are alive or deceased. This 6-year retrospective study (2018–2023), covering a total of 2 324 unidentified decedents admitted to the Institute of Medical-Legal Paris (IMLP), aimed to assess the impact of the identification protocol implemented in 2017 on the number of bodies that remain unidentified (n  = 164). In addition, this study aimed to establish profiles for individuals who remained unidentified with the objective of identifying the factors that hinder their identification and developing correlated methods to address these issues. The results of this study were compared with other published studies to highlight the global problem and the ongoing need for collaboration between forensic practitioners and relevant authorities. Key points Despite great advances in human identification, unidentified decedents remain a global problem. This 6-year overview study covering a total of 2 324 unidentified bodies admitted to the IMLP provided relevant information about the unidentified decedent population and assessed the impact of a protocol established in 2017 on the rate of deceased buried without identity in Paris. The need to establish a national database in France to properly document and disseminate information on missing persons and to centralize the biological profile of unidentified bodies is key, as without antemortem information or a biometric database there can be no matching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Semiotica is the property of De Gruyter and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Purpose: When an individual leaves evidence to suggest that they are dead to mislead others, they are committing "pseudocide." This study aims to examine pseudocides performed for the purpose of committing or concealing a financial crime. Design/methodology/approach: This manuscript summarizes information from both academic and nonacademic publications. To provide evidence related to the conclusions made by prior authors and identify the risk factors that are often indicative of pseudocide, this manuscript examines the characteristics of pseudocides that received media coverage. Findings: Pseudocides that receive media coverage often involve a prominent figure or a compelling story. These stories are not representative of the average pseudocide, which receives no publicity because it occurs in a less developed nation and is committed by a nonpublic figure. Common characteristics include the absence of a corpse and paperwork procured through bribery. Originality/value: One of the only academic papers focused on pseudocide, this manuscript provides readers with information related to the scope of the issue, common methodologies and factors indicative of pseudocide. This should be of interest to several parties including forensic accountants, insurers, regulators and academics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Studia Universitatis Babes-Bolyai, Philologia is the property of Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Values that accompany generic health measures are typically anchored at 1 = full health and 0 = dead. Some health states may then be considered 'worse than dead' (WTD) and assigned negative values, which causes fundamental measurement problems. In this paper, we challenge the assumption that anchoring values at 'dead = 0' is necessary for quality‐adjusted life year (QALY) estimation. We summarise the role of 'dead' in health state valuation and consider three critical questions: (i) whether the measurement properties of health state values require 'dead'; (ii) whether 'dead' needs to be valued relative to health states; and (iii) whether values for states WTD are meaningful or useful. We conclude that anchoring 0 at dead is not a requirement of health status measurement or cost‐effectiveness analysis. This results from reframing QALYs as the relevant unit of measurement and reframing values as being derived from QALYs rather than the reverse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]