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Background Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has spread worldwide. Vaccination is now recommended as one of the effective countermeasures to control the pandemic or prevent the worsening of symptoms. However, its adverse effects have been attracting attention. Here, we report an autopsy case of multiple thromboses after receiving the first dose of the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine (Comirnaty, Pfizer/BioNTech) in an elderly woman. Case presentation A 72-year-old woman with a history of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in the stomach and hyperthyroidism received the first dose of the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine and died 2 days later. The autopsy revealed multiple microthrombi in the heart, brain, liver, kidneys, and adrenal glands. The thrombi were CD61 and CD42b positive and were located in the blood vessels primarily in the pericardial aspect of the myocardium and subcapsular region of the adrenal glands; their diameters were approximately 5–40 μm. Macroscopically, a characteristic myocardial haemorrhage was observed, and the histopathology of the characteristic thrombus distribution, which differed from that of haemolytic uraemic syndrome and disseminated intravascular coagulation, suggested that the underlying pathophysiology may have been similar to that of thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA). Conclusion This is the first report on a post-mortem case of multiple thromboses after the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine. The component thrombus and characteristic distribution of the thrombi were similar to those of TMA, which differs completely from haemolytic uraemic syndrome or disseminated intravascular coagulation, after vaccination. Although rare, it is important to consider that fatal adverse reactions may occur after vaccination and that it is vital to conduct careful follow-up.

In order to devise a better forensic test for diatoms, the DNA binding ability of the diatom frustule constructing by silica, in the presence of chaotropic ions were utilized. It was proved that the diatoms were able to be captured via λDNA using silica-coated magnetic beads (Mag beads), followed by isolation and purification from the Mag beads as a solid phase by substituting the chaotropic agent with ultrapure water. Five cases of drowning, three in freshwater and two in seawater, were applied to the present method and similar results as the usual diatom test were obtained. Specimens of lung and other organs were rendered clearly visible, with elimination of foreign impurities. The present method appears applicable for detection of diatoms indirectly using PCR amplification of bound DNA or directly staining of the DNA.

Although acute cardiac tamponade is one of the major problems in clinical practice, a suitable animal model is still lacking. We tried to create acute cardiac tamponade in macaques by echo-guided catheter manipulation. A 13-year-old male macaque was anesthetized, and a long sheath was inserted into the left ventricle via the left carotid artery under the guidance of transthoracic echocardiography. The sheath was then inserted into the orifice of the left coronary artery to perforate the proximal site of the left anterior descending branch. A cardiac tamponade was successfully created. Injection of diluted contrast agent into the pericardial space via a catheter made it possible to clearly distinguish between the hemopericardium and the surrounding tissues on postmortem computed tomography. This procedure did not need an X-ray imaging system during catheterization. Our present model would help us examine the intrathoracic organs in the presence of acute cardiac tamponade.