An Introduction to Traditional Chinese Medicine

A forensic pathologist in Austin, Texas, Danielo Perez has given numerous professional presentations on a diverse range of pathology topics. After years of experience working in the forensic pathology field in Chicago and Austin, Danielo Perez has begun studying traditional Chinese medicine.

A holistic approach to medical care, traditional Chinese medicine draws on thousands of years of treatment for patients with a mind-body approach. Its roots lie in Taoist philosophy and consequently it looks at principles such as energy and balance. It has a broader perspective than western medicine, which often focuses on individual pieces of the body.

In its essence, Chinese medicine focuses on Qi, roughly translated as life force or energy. Rather than looking at bacteria or viruses as the cause of illness, this eastern approach sees mind and body wellness arising from Qi flowing smoothly in perfect balance, and illness resulting from disharmony due to an excess or insufficiency in Qi.

In order to address imbalances in Qi, Chinese medicine encompasses a diverse range of approaches, including acupuncture, tai chi, meditation, and herbs. It may also look at lifestyle choices such as diet and exercise.

Forensic Science Incorporates Many Specialties

Forensic pathologist Danielo Perez has extensive experience in performing autopsies for unnatural, unexplained, or unattended deaths in Austin, Texas, and surrounding counties. Before moving to Austin, Danielo Perez was an assistant medical examiner in Chicago. 

Forensic pathology is just one of many career paths you can choose when you study forensic science. Forensic science is grounded in the fundamental concepts of other natural sciences.

When analyzing evidence, forensic scientists draw from physics, chemistry, biology, botany and many other specialties. Forensic science is an integral part of the criminal justice system that helps prove the existence of a crime, determine the perpetrator of a crime, and make connections to the crime.

To thoroughly analyze evidence and the multiple components of a crime scene, many specialists function as a multi-disciplinary team. Some of those specialists include:

- Forensic pathologists, who study the body and perform an autopsy to determine a cause of death. They also might visit the scene of death to gather relevant information.

- Forensic toxicologists, who study the adverse effects of drugs and chemicals on the biological systems. After determining if harmful substances were present, toxicologists can conclude if those substances contributed to the death.

- Forensic odontologists, who use dental records to identify human remains.

- Forensic psychiatrists and behavioral science professionals, who help to determine if a person accused of a crime is fit to stand trial. These professionals also might offer testimony and assess the ways mental illness contributed to criminal activity. 

Other specialists who contribute to the field of forensic science include botanists, engineers, DNA analysts, anthropologists, optometrists, archeologists, entomologists, and geologists.

The January 2019 Issue of The Pathologist

A medical examiner and forensic pathologist in the greater Austin, Texas, area, Danielo Perez has worked for multiple clinical organizations, including the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office in Chicago, Illinois. To supplement his professional activities, Danielo Perez is a member of several industry associations, including the American Society of Clinical Pathologists.
 
Comprised of more than 100,000 pathologists and medical laboratory personnel, the American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP) spearheads professional certification operations through the ASCP Board of Certification. The ASCP also educates and informs pathologists through its official society partnership with the publication The Pathologist.

The January 2019 issue of The Pathologist focuses on cultural diversity in the field of pathology. Key articles in this issue include Valerie Fitzhugh’s story as a black woman in pathology, as well as Angelina Knott’s, Robin Suggs’, and Timothy Craig Allen’s solutions to human resources pipeline problems that have led to a culturally homogenous pathology workforce. The issue also includes an interview with Royal College of Pathologists diagnostic digital pathology lead, Darren Treanor.

Danielo Perez’s Work and Interests

Board-certified forensic pathologist Danielo Perez was educated at Columbia University, the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, and the State University of New York at Downstate College of Medicine. He spent time as an assistant medical examiner with the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office before going on to a career in forensic pathology, performing autopsies and working to determine the cause of a death. One of the most meaningful aspects of Danielo Perez’s work is consulting privately with families who are seeking closure for a loved one’s death.

During his residency at Stony Brook University Medical Center, Mr. Perez participated in interdepartmental conferences on pediatric, colorectal, and head and neck tumors. Over the course of his career he also has presented work on hydrogen sulfide suicides, drowning, alcoholism, and the death of literary figure Edgar Allan Poe. A paper he wrote on examining gunshot wounds was published in the American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology. He is a current member of the National Association of Medical Examiners, the American Academy of Forensic Scientists, and the American Society of Clinical Pathologists.

Mr. Perez has studied Eastern philosophy, meditation, and martial arts - including tai chi and bagua - for many years and taught classes in New York before relocating to Texas. He also enjoys calligraphy and writing, and considers Edgar Allan Poe an influence.

The Mysterious Death of Edgar Allan Poe

Danielo Perez, an Austin resident and a member of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, enjoys reading in his free time. At his home in Austin, Danielo Perez often reads the classic works of authors such as Edgar Allan Poe.

The circumstances of Edgar Allan Poe's demise remain shrouded in mystery nearly two hundred years after his death. He was found delirious in a gutter in October 1849, and he never recovered sufficient consciousness to explain how he ended up in soiled clothing on a Baltimore street.

Common theories include a beating, an illness, and a poisoning, though these have been discredited due to contrary evidence. While alcohol is often thought to have played a role, possibly as the result of a relapse into alcoholism, modern science has indicated that Poe remained sober in the years leading to his death. 

The attending physician recorded phrenitis (an inflammation of the brain) as the cause of Poe's death, which suggests that encephalitis or meningitis was involved. A more recent theory suggests, however, that Poe's death could have been the result of a brain tumor. 

When moving Poe’s decayed body three decades later, one worker reported a small mass inside Poe's skull that could have been a calcified tumor. With new theories emerging even as old ones are disproved by modern medicine, Poe's death is likely to remain one of literature's great mysteries.

Understanding the Basic Types of Asphyxiation

Based in Austin, Texas, Danielo Perez, MD, is a forensic pathologist who has examined a number of scenes involving unnatural, unexplained, and unattended deaths. Undertaking forensic autopsies, Dr. Danielo Perez focused on the underserved rural areas surrounding Austin. One of the primary pathways to death coroners deal with is asphyxia, which results when oxygen is no longer supplied to the organs or tissues. 

Smothering involves the mouth and nose being obstructed and can occur in accidental situations, such as when a baby’s head becomes caught between a pillow and a wall. Homicidal types of smothering include covering a face fully with a pillow or placing duct tape over the air passages. There are no autopsy findings specific to this means of asphyxiation, although abrasions or contusions around the mouth and face are common in adults. 

Strangulation is another major cause of asphyxiation, and involves a compression of the neck by some force other than the person’s own body weight. Typically homicidal, ligature strangulation usually leaves a horizontal mark across the neck. In addition, signs of struggle such as fingernail marks around the neck, lacerations, and abrasions may be present. Cases of hanging also involve neck compression, but the ligature mark is oblique, as at least some of the body’s weight will have been employed in tightening the ligature.

Spiritual and Moral Benefits of Martial Arts

While Austin resident Danielo Perez has considerable experience in forensic pathology, he also enjoys the practice of martial arts for its health and spiritual benefits. Before moving to Austin, Danielo Perez was an assistant martial arts instructor.

The practice of martial arts has obvious physical benefits for cardiovascular health and coordination, but the spiritual and mental benefits are just as important. Martial arts practice helps to cultivate some virtues in practitioners.

A martial arts practitioner must learn humility to succeed. Martial arts draw strengths and weaknesses into clear focus, so practitioners learn to make honest self-assessments, and, in turn, develop an understanding of how to improve as well as admit imperfection.

Many martial arts also emphasize certain values during teaching. Common core values include respect for others, harmony, and self-protection, among others. Learning to adhere to one's own values and apply them in multiple contexts can lead to success in more than just martial arts.

Finally, martial arts encourage discipline. Martial artists must think before acting, focus on their actions, and regulate them effectively. They must also repeat the same moves or stances several times to master them, which encourages a disciplined, persistent outlook that also applies to other areas of one's life.

About the NAME Foundation

An experienced professional in forensic pathology in the Austin, Texas area, Dr. Danielo Perez has also worked in other areas of the country, including work from 2011 to 2012 in the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office in Chicago, Illinois. In addition to his work in the Austin area, Dr. Danielo Perez engages with his peers and keeps up with new advances in forensic medicine through membership in the National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME).

More than two decades ago, NAME established a charitable arm to act as an advocacy arm for forensic sciences, as well as a vehicle to fund research and professional development. Since then, the NAME Foundation has offered numerous awards and scholarship opportunities to students and working professionals looking to advance their learning in the field. 

There are three main awards distributed at NAME’s annual conference each year: 

-The John Smialek Best Resident Paper and Poster award - worth $500
-The John Pless Best Student Paper and Poster award - a textbook award
-The Mary Fran Ernst Best Affiliate presentation - worth $500

These awards are underwritten solely by contributions to the foundation. As an accredited 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, all monies donated to the organization are completely tax deductible. To learn more, visit www.thename.org/name-foundation.

Tai Chi Offers a Wide Range of Health Benefits

Now working on establishing his own pathology consultancy business in Austin, Texas, Danielo Perez holds board certification in anatomic, clinical, and forensic pathology. Alongside extensive work in these fields in Austin and surrounding areas, Danielo Perez has studied tai chi since his college years.

A martial art with origins in ancient China, tai chi incorporates slow, careful movement with breathing and meditation. As a low-impact, slow-moving martial art, it is often called “moving meditation.” 

While the goal of aerobic exercise is to burn calories, tai chi focuses on physical alignment and balance. It can also help improve energy, circulation, and muscle control. Despite its slow nature, tai chi still works out the muscles of the arms, legs, back, and core. More importantly, it enhances flexibility, which supports proper muscle engagement and decreases injuries.

In conjunction with medical intervention, tai chi has been shown to treat and prevent many conditions associated with aging. Moreover, the practice can be adapted for people of all ages, sizes, and physical abilities.

Classes at the Meditation Bar in Austin, Texas

A forensic scientist based in Austin, Texas, Danielo Perez served as a medical examiner for the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office where he conducted forensic autopsies and mentored pathology fellows. With a long-time interest in Eastern philosophy and practices, Danielo Perez studies Daoism and Confucianism and meditates regularly.

For those in Austin, Texas, who wish to meditate away from home environs, the Meditation Bar is a calm space where people can quietly retreat from their daily routines to enhance their quality of life and mental health. The meditation center offers a number of classes and experiences, such as:

1. Sound. Taking a sound bath is a great way to relax and forget stressors. In a sound bath, vibration runs through the body and brings it back into alignment. 

2. Qigong. Through this class, participants use controlled breathing techniques to strengthen their mind-body connections and improve their circulation, which leads to enhanced overall health and reduced stress. 

3. Feel. Based on the neuroscience that says the body can’t think and feel at the same time, this class guides participants to focus on feeling the sensations already present in the body. Through this, thinking naturally slows as feelings of well being and peace take over. 

Learn more about these and other offerings at www.meditationbar.com.

Forensic Toxicologists Examine the Body for Toxic Substances

Hailing from Austin, Texas, Dr. Danielo Perez received his MD at SUNY Downstate Medical College in New York prior to beginning his career as a forensic pathologist. While conducting autopsies in the Austin area, Dr. Danielo Perez was responsible for death examinations, select death scene reconstructions, and toxicological analyses.

Forensic toxicology refers to the examination of a biological sample for the presence of toxic substances like alcohol, drugs, and poison. The duties of a forensic pathologist or toxicologist include evaluating the cause and manner of an individual's death and establishing the role of these toxic substances in the process of death.

Forensic toxicologists may provide expert witness testimony in court proceedings. During these instances, they are expected to explain the information they have gathered in a manner that is easily understood by the jury.

Nowadays, the field of forensic toxicology has expanded to include testing employees for substance abuse, examining animal samples for criminal investigations related to wildlife, and analyzing biological samples for the presence of date rape drugs.

Study Suggests Acupuncture Is an Effective Treatment for Chronic Pain

A longtime resident of Austin, Texas, Dr. Danielo Perez earned his medical degree from SUNY Downstate Medical College in Brooklyn, New York. After completing his degree, he moved to the Austin area to pursue a career in forensic pathology. In addition to his training in Western medicine, Dr. Danielo Perez maintains a strong interest in Eastern medicine, and he is currently taking classes in acupuncture. 

A Chinese medical tradition dating back thousands of years, acupuncture relies upon stimulating points in the body with a needle to correct energetic imbalances, thereby relieving pain and speeding healing. Though acupuncture, like much Chinese medicine, has been viewed with skepticism in the West over the past several hundred years, recent research has indicated that Chinese medicine, and especially acupuncture, can be effective for treating certain conditions.

Now, yet another study indicates that acupuncture can be effective as part of a comprehensive health care plan. In a paper published in The Journal of Pain in May 2018, a team of researchers reported on a meta-study that suggests acupuncture not only serves as an effective treatment for chronic pain, but that its effects last over time. Additionally, the paper’s authors concluded acupuncture's beneficial effects could not be attributed to the placebo effect.

The study’s findings are especially exciting considering the ongoing opioid epidemic in America. Experts suggest that using acupuncture as an alternative to pharmaceutical drugs for chronic pain conditions could help alleviate the crisis.

What to Expect During an Acupuncture Procedure

As a forensic pathologist, Danielo Perez of Austin, Texas, holds years of experience completing autopsies, providing forensic consulting, and reviewing individual cases. Austin's Danielo Perez also plans to open an integrative practice in the future. To support this goal, he is currently undergoing training to become a herbalist and acupuncturist.

An ancient practice, acupuncture utilizes needles to stimulate nerves and boost natural painkillers in the body. The treatment, which stems from traditional Chinese medicine, is often used to treat pain or stress and boost overall wellness. Today, acupuncturists typically incorporate both eastern and western influences into their practices.

Although acupuncture treatments can differ based on the person performing them, the procedure itself typically follows a common routine. During the treatment, the acupuncturist will instruct the patient to lay on a padded table, then insert approximately five to twenty small needles into strategic points on the body. Heat or electrical impulses may then be applied for further stimulation. Finally, after a ten to twenty minute waiting period, the needles will be removed.

Determining Cause of Death When Trauma is Not Present

A resident of Austin, Texas, Danielo Perez held duties as a forensic pathologist and performed autopsies at the scenes of deaths that were unnatural, unexplained, and unattended. Many of the cases Danielo Perez handled in Austin involved situations where there was no apparent trauma and the cause of death needed to be forensically deduced. 

One of the core questions of the forensic pathologist is whether the death was natural or unnatural. This is particularly difficult in situations where the deceased has a pre-existing condition or illness, such as asthma or pneumonia that could logically be linked to the death. 

Stress-related deaths are particularly difficult to pin down conclusively, as they often relate to existing health conditions such as heart disease. Different types of stress, from family emergencies to overwork, can compound and aggravate these health issues.

A comprehensive investigation in which the cause of death is unclear extends beyond postmortem exam and assessment of medical history and includes information gleaned from friends, relatives, and colleagues. In this way, such cases regularly span disciplines and require coordinated efforts between several experts.

The Attunement Process in Mastering Reiki

Based in Austin, Texas, Dr. Danielo Perez has a background in forensic pathology and has attended death scenes and testified in legal settings. Since his teen years, Austin professional Dr. Danielo Perez has had a passion for Eastern philosophy and martial arts, and he has an abiding interest in energy work, which focuses on the mind-body continuum. 

There are numerous disciplines of energy work, including reiki, chakra healing, acupuncture/acupressure, and bionenergy. A recent MindBodyGreen article presented the perspective of a reiki practitioner, who describes the practice as a traditional Japanese way of enhancing clarity and spiritual balance, while easing mental trauma. 

The “ki” in reiki refers to a nonphysical energy that is believed to flow through all living things, while “rei" is a form of higher intelligence that spans both the living and nonliving. The practice is unique in its learning system, through which a Reiki master performs an attunement process that opens heart, palm, and heart chakras. This creates a connection between teacher and student and ultimately results in a transfer of energy that one cannot lose. 

The training process in reiki is not easy or simple, as it involves three to four distinct levels of learning toward becoming a master. The first level focuses on opening the practitioner’s physical energy channels in a way that allows a connection with “universal life force energy.” The second level explores sacred symbols and associated healing frequencies, which include emotional wellbeing, power, and balance. Another emphasis is on time transcendence, which enables the healing of emotional and physical traumas that occurred at any point in life, including as a young child.

American Academy of Forensic Sciences’ Young Forensic Scientists Forum

A forensic pathologist based in Austin, Texas, Danielo Perez has experience in conducting forensic autopsies, which includes analyzing toxicological findings and evaluating radiographs and blood tests. Actively involved in his professional community, Danielo Perez of Austin is a member of organizations such as the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS). 

Dedicated to advancing the field of forensic science and its applications in the legal system, the AAFS is a professional membership organization comprising 7,000 members from 70 countries worldwide. To promote education and accuracy in the forensic sciences, the AAFS operates the Young Forensic Scientists Forum (YFSF), which invites young people to network and form relationships within the forensic science community. Through meetings and an annual conference, the YFSF offers numerous resources for emerging forensic scientists to learn more about educational requirements for a career in forensic science, as well as to educate themselves on specific branches of forensic science, among them crime scene processing, forensic entomology, forensic computer analysis, fingerprints, and DNA.

ASCPedia - An Image Library for Pathologists

An experienced forensic pathologist based in Austin, Texas, Dr. Danielo Perez previously served as an assistant medical examiner with the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office in Chicago. Over the course of his career, Dr. Danielo Perez has worked to stay up-to-date in his field through various professional memberships. The Austin resident currently maintains affiliations with several organizations, including the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP). 

Dedicated to advancing pathology and laboratory medicine around the globe, ASCP offers a variety of professional development programs and resources. In addition to online courses, live events, books, and journals, ASCP members can advance their knowledge and skills through learning resources such as ASCPedia. 

Built with the help of pathologists and laboratory professionals, the ASCPedia online reference library features thousands of high-resolution digital images converted from glass laboratory slides. The digital slide library facilitates remote collaboration, virtual training, and information sharing across all disciplines in anatomic and clinical pathology. The library is a great tool for professionals looking for specific diagnosis entry as well as students studying for an exam. 

ASCP members can peruse the library’s contents using a specific search term or a discipline category. Members can also improve ASCPedia by submitting their own digitized slide images of interesting or rare pathologies. For more information, visit www.ascp.org.

NAME Accreditation

An experienced forensic professional with a background in pathology, Dr. Danielo Perez resides in Austin, Texas. He has performed autopsies and offered expert witness testimony. In addition, Dr. Danielo Perez is a member of a number of professional organizations, including the National Association of Medical Examiners (NAME).

One of the activities of NAME has been the creation of accreditation standards that can be applied to US systems and offices that engage in the medicolegal investigation of death. The process involves peer review, and it seeks to improve the performance of systems and offices by foregrounding constructive criticism and objective evaluation. Notably, systems and offices (rather than individuals) undergo the process and ultimately receive accreditation. 

According to policies adopted in January 2017, NAME accreditation lasts for four years, after which the offices or systems concerned can pursue re-accreditation. The population that a given office serves determines its inspection and accreditation fee structure.

The OJ Simpson Trial and RFLP Analysis of DNA

Based in Austin, Texas, Dr. Danielo Perez is a forensic pathologist who has worked with a number of Central Texas counties and also undertaken privately contracted autopsies. Dr. Danielo Perez of Austin developed an interest in forensic science during his high school years, when he became interested in the OJ Simpson trial and the mechanics of how forensics informed the case.

In the high-profile early-1990s case, prosecutors employed restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), a type of DNA testing in which DNA strands are cut at specific spots and the strip lengths analyzed. The length between the target spots within the DNA strand are unique to each person. Thus, when a match is found between strand length for DNA at a crime scene and that of the suspect, it can add to evidence that leads to conviction. 

The issue with RFLP is that it does not meet “beyond-a-reasonable-doubt” standards. In addition to the remote possibility of another person having matching strands, it is necessary to obtain an RFLP sample that is intact and relatively large for it to have value in court. In the OJ Simpson case, blood was taken from a number of sources, including a car and clothes, and it involved a mixture of the victims’ and the suspect’s blood. Since the case, this technique has been supplanted by a superior polymerase chain reaction technique of analyzing and identifying DNA.