Autolytic Changes Research Articles

The artifact of cerebellar granule cell layer conglutination in veterinary medicine: a brief historical perspective and review.

Cerebellar granule cell layer conglutination is a tissue artifact associated with postmortem autolysis that causes cerebellar granule cell changes once thought to be caused by degeneration and necrosis. Granule cell layer conglutination has been reported mainly in humans and cattle and rarely in other animal species, but its frequency remains vastly unknown in veterinary medicine, mostly because this postmortem change is typically not recorded in autopsy reports. Pathology trainees should be aware of autolytic tissue changes that may mimic pathologic changes in the CNS, particularly when those changes are highly selective for a specific cell population within the cerebellar cortex. Here we provide a brief historical perspective on the evolution of cerebellar granule cell layer conglutination from "enzootic cerebellar necrosis," a presumed necrotic lesion affecting granule neurons in humans and cattle, to a tissue change associated with postmortem autolysis and increased tissue acidity in the cerebellum. We also provide an update on the animal species in which cerebellar granule cell layer conglutination has been observed during our diagnostic pathology routine.

Onset and progression of postmortem histological changes in the central nervous system of RccHan™: WIST rats.

Death initiates a cascade of physiological and biochemical alterations in organs and tissues, resulting in microscopic changes that challenge the histopathological evaluation. Moreover, the brain is particularly susceptible to artifacts owing to its unique composition and its location within the cranial vault. The aim of this study was to compile and illustrate the microscopic changes in the central nervous system (CNS) of rats subjected to delayed postmortem fixation. It also scrutinizes the influence of exsanguination and cooling methods on the initiation and progression of these alterations. Twenty-four Wistar Han outbred rats (RccHan™: WIST) were sacrificed and stored either at room temperature (18-22°C) or under refrigeration (2-4°C). Necropsies were conducted at different time points postmortem (i.e., 0.5 h, 1 h, 4 h, 8 h, 12 h, 24 h, 36 h, 48 h, 7 days and 14 days). Brain sections underwent simultaneous digital evaluation by 14 pathologists until a consensus was reached on terminology, key findings, and intensity levels. Microscopic observations varied among cell types. Glial cells were similarly affected throughout the CNS and showed pericellular halo, chromatin condensation and nuclear shrinkage. Neurons showed two types of postmortem changes as most of them showed progressive shrinkage, cytoplasmic dissolution and karyorrhexis whereas others acquired a dark-neuron-like appearance. Neuronal changes showed marked differences among neuroanatomical locations. Additional postmortem changes encompassed: granulation and microcavitation in neuropil and white matter; retraction spaces; detachment of ependyma, choroid plexus, and leptomeninges. Severity of findings after 48 h at room temperature was higher than after seven days under refrigeration and similar to or slightly lower than after 14 days under refrigeration. No clear differences were observed related to the sex or weight of the animals or their exsanguination status. This work elucidates the onset and progression of autolytic changes in the brains of Wistar Han rats, offering insights to accurately identify and enhance the histopathological evaluation.

Effects of autolysis and prolonged formalin fixation on histomorphology and immunohistochemistry of normal canine brain tissue: an experimental study.

CNS tumor diagnosis in dogs often relies on immunohistochemistry (IHC) given similar histologic features among tumors. Most CNS tissue samples encountered by diagnostic pathologists are collected during autopsy, and postmortem specimens can be susceptible to autolysis and prolonged formalin fixation, both of which have the potential to influence IHC results and interpretation. Here we evaluated the effects of experimentally controlled autolysis induced by delayed tissue fixation (sections of brain held for 2, 4, 8, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h in 0.9% NaCl at either room temperature or 37°C prior to fixation) as well as the effects of prolonged formalin fixation times (1 wk, 1 mo, 2 mo) on a panel of 8 IHC markers (CNPase, GFAP, Iba1, OLIG2, PGP9.5, MAP2, NeuN, synaptophysin) relevant to brain tumor diagnosis. Prolonged fixation of up to 2 mo had no detrimental effect on any immunomarker except NeuN, which had reduced immunolabeling intensity. Delayed fixation led to autolytic changes as expected, on a gradient of severity corresponding to increased time in saline prior to fixation. Several immunomarkers should be used with caution (CNPase, OLIG2) or avoided entirely (MAP2, NeuN) in markedly autolyzed brain and brain tumor tissues. Our results suggest that autolysis has minimal effect on most immunomarkers, but that advanced autolysis may cause a loss of specificity for GFAP, MAP2, and PGP9.5, a loss of intensity of CNPase and OLIG2, and loss of labeling with MAP2 and NeuN. Prolonged fixation affected only NeuN, with mildly decreased intensity.

Determination of postmortem interval (PMI) using histological changes in the cattle skin – A preliminary investigation

The estimation of the Postmortem interval (PMI) holds significant importance in forensic medicine, prompting continuous efforts to establish standardized methods for accuracy. Surprisingly, in the field of veterinary science, there remains a noticeable dearth of research dedicated to estimating the Postmortem interval. Addressing this research gap would undoubtedly enhance our understanding and expertise in veterinary forensics. Currently, there is no existing research on estimating the postmortem interval using histological changes in animal skin. This study involved collecting skin samples from the metatarsal region of 25 cattle carcasses at various postmortem intervals (0, 4, 8, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h) in Puducherry, India. The skin samples were processed using routine histological techniques and special staining methods, such as modified Alcian-Periodic Acid Schiff's (Alcian-PAS) staining and Masson Trichrome (MST), to further analyze the histological changes. Histological changes in the skin showed a normal appearance of the epidermis up to 4 h after death, followed by vacuolations and extensive degeneration leading to complete disintegration. In the dermis, rarefaction and collagenolysis were observed at 8 h post-death, progressing to complete fragmentation at 24 h post-death. The sebaceous glands remained normal until 24 h post-death, then showed autolytic changes resulting in complete disintegration at 48 h post-death. The sweat gland remained normal until 24 h post-death, after which degenerative changes were evident. After death, the hair follicles looked normal up to 8 h, but after that, changes like vacuoles and degeneration were observed. The study scored the skin based on these changes, finding that the dermis showed the strongest correlation with the postmortem interval (PMI), followed by the hair follicle and epidermis. Overall, histological variations in the skin are a reliable indicator for estimating the PMI in cattle carcasses.

Optical-spectroscopic analysis of colorimetric changes in meat during its storage

The colorimetric and spectral characteristics of meat and their changes during the period of storage were researched. It was shown that spectral methods of analysis can potentially be used to assess the properties of meat during its storage in order to define the degree of autolytic changes which occur in the meat along with its histological-structural and proteomic changes. The work studies the quality characteristics of meat on the base of an array of its parameters and a correlation between them. Considerable attention is paid to the determination of colorimetric and spectral characteristics of autolytic and other changes in meat during its storage. The possibility of using the method of optical spectrometry for assessing the quality of meat is considered. The data obtained by processing the absorption spectra of aqueous extracts from muscle tissue confirm the promising prospects of using this method in a comprehensive study of the raw meat materials properties. The work proves possibility of classifying raw meat according to the degree of its autolysis for further assessment of its colorimetric characteristics, the value of extinction coefficients and the relative area of peaks at the wavelength λ415, λ525, λ542, λ555, and λ582.

Pathological changes in Kidney Autops ies from North Maharashtra –A Descriptive Study

Abstract Background: Chronic Kidney disease is a major public health concern. In India, the burden of chronic Kidney disease cannot be assessed properly. In such case autopsy study becomes an indispensible part of Medicine. Aim: To explore the spectrum of changes seen in kidneys and correlating it with clinical findings. Material & Methods: A descriptive study of kidneys of Medico legal autopsies from January 2019 – December 2019 was conducted. A total of 665 Medico legal autopsies were received, in 73 cases kidneys were not received, while 23 kidneys had autolytic change. A total of 569 Kidneys were included in the study. The Gross and Microscopic features along with special stains were studied and the cause of death was noted. Results: A total of 569 kidney autopsies were assessed. On Gross 26% were congested, 13% had contracted granular kidney. On Histopathological examination, Non specific changes were seen in 53.4%, specific nephropathological lesions noted were chronic pyelonephritis (8.9%), acute tubular necrosis (5.6%), sickle cell nephropathy (4.7%), tubercular nephritis (1.2%). Conclusion: Infective etiology was the commonest cause, along with sickle cell nephropathy. It has provided the spectrum of lesions seen in this area along with correlation of cause of death. Screening for diabetes mellitus and hypertension would lead to early detection and timely management which would reduce chronic kidney diseases.

Nerve fibre morphometry with transmission electron microscopy: Application of the nucleator probe in ImageJ

Stereology and semiautomated binary image histomorphometry are two common methods used for morphometry of nerve fibres. Nucleator probe can be used for the estimation of morphometric parameters like diameter, perimeter, area and volume of a structure that is approximately either a circle or a sphere. In this study, we estimated these parameters with the help of ImageJ software on calibrated transmission electron micrographs. We procured samples of the cochlear nerve (CN) during winter months, within 6-12 hours of death, to reduce post-mortem autolytic changes. The temporal bones containing the CN were fixed by immersion in chilled paraformaldehyde. After dissecting out from the petrous part of the temporal bone, the CN were osmicated and processed for embedding in resin. From the resin blocks, silver coloured (70 nm) ultrathin sections were cut and picked on 300-mesh copper grids, stained with uranyl acetate and lead citrate and viewed under Tecnai G2-20 transmission electron microscope. The transmission electron micrographs had scale bars embedded into them by the software at the time of imaging, and the morphometric parameters of randomly selected nerve fibres were measured using the ImageJ software. The ImageJ software could become a low-cost and dependable tool for nerve fibre morphometry.•Nucleator probe is used for the estimation of morphometric parameters like diameter, perimeter, area or volume•Morphometric parameters were estimated by the ImageJ software on calibrated transmission electron micrographs•The ImageJ software could become a low-cost and dependable tool for nerve fibre morphometry

EP-408 Colonic mucosal dehiscence in a patient with ischemic colitis- A case report

Abstract Introduction Ischemic colitis (IC) is the condition that results when blood flow to the colon is reduced to a level insufficient to maintain cellular metabolic function. Case summary A 36 year old female; diabetic, hypertensive, with history of CVA and IHD, presented in ER with complaints of sudden onset, severe, colicky abdominal pain. Examination revealed a mildly tense, tender abdomen at left iliac fossa with a palpable ill-defined mass. Her TLC was 31.6/L and hemoglobin 9.3 g/dL. Serum amylase, lipase and lactate levels were normal. CECT abd/ pelvis showed thickened, edematous sigmoid and descending colon, with extensive mesenteric haze and stranding. Colonoscopy showed an illdefined, obstructing growth in rectosigmoid region at 25 cm from anal verge. There were multiple ischemic patches and underlying erythema and ulceration with bleed to touch mucosa at few sites. Scope could not be passed further. Biopsy showed active non-specific colitis with no evidence of malignancy. Patient improved on conservative management and was discharged. Patient presented in ER 2 weeks later with a long tubular structure that was expelled per-rectum. The histopathology of this structure revealed intestinal tissue with marked autolytic and ischemic changes. Patient again presented in ER with abdominal pain and vomiting with increased TLC. A diagnosis of severe ischemic colitis (ACG guidelines 2005)presenting as rectosigmoid mass was made and left hemi-colectomy was planned. Discussion This is a rare case of colonic mucosal shedding in ischemic colitis only described once in literature. Conclusion This case demonstrates the unusual way in which colonic ischemia can present.

Evaluation of histological post-mortem changes in farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) at different time intervals and storage temperatures.

The aim of this study was to evaluate histologic post‐mortem autolytic changes in farmed Atlantic salmon. The fish were either stored at room temperature (RT, 21°C), refrigerated (4°C) or frozen (−20°C), while fish necropsy was performed at 0, 1, 4, 24 and 48 h post‐storage (hps). In addition, gills were sampled at 0, 5, 10, 15, 30 and 45 min post‐storage (mps) at room temperature (RT). The haematoxylin and eosin‐stained tissue slides were evaluated and scored by using a semi‐quantitative scoring system. Our findings demonstrated gills and pyloric caeca/pancreas as the most severely autolysed organs while heart and skeletal musculature were least affected. Generally, moderate to severe autolysis appeared first at 4 hps, while severe changes were seen at 24 hps. Gills demonstrated autolytic changes as early as 10 mps and pyloric caeca/pancreas at 1 hps. Freezing did not prevent the autolysis and even contributed to freezing artefacts, which may lead to misdiagnosis. Keeping organs refrigerated slowed the autolytic progress within the first 4 hps marginally. This study recommends gills and pyloric caeca/pancreas should be sampled as early as possible, at least within 10 min post‐necropsy.

Features of post-slaughter biochemical processes in meat raw materials at llc “Ternopil meat plant”

Today, the issue of targeted use of raw materials, taking into account the nature of autolytic changes, becomes particular importance, since the proportion of animals entering for processing has significantly increased, in which, after slaughter, significant deviations from the normal development of autolytic processes are found in the tissues. All known meat-specific PSE and DFD biochemical processes that take place in muscle tissue, as well as the composition of meat prove the need for serious study for technological processing. One of the main indicators that characterize the direction of development of postmortem changes in the obtained meat raw materials, and therefore allow us to state the deviations from the norm is the value of the amount of glycogen and lactic acid in the meat of slaughter animals. It is equally important to determine the physicochemical properties of meat raw materials and the degree of boiling of collagen, which will determine the rational directions for its further processing. For research meat raw materials was used from slaughter of pigs at Ternopil Meat Processing Plant LLC obtained from 4 farms: Farm No. 1 in Nastasiv village (breeder), Farm No. 8 in Dvorichia village (breeder), Farm No. 2 in Nastasiv village (growing), Farm No. 7 Stare Misto village / Pidhaytsi village (breeder). It was found that the highest indicator of water and fat content, namely 73.1 % and 3.7 % is characterized by meat obtained from slaughter of pigs from the farm No. 7 (village Stare Misto / village Pidhaytsi (breeder)). As for the protein content, the highest values are typical for meat obtained by slaughtering pigs from the farm No. 2 (village Nastasiv (growing) – 22.9 %. The degree of boiling of collagen varies depending on the direction of maturation processes in the raw material. It was found that pigs delivered from the farm No. 7 have a greater tendency to deviate from the classical course of autolysis in the direction of obtaining raw materials with PES signs because they are characterized by the highest degree of boiling of collagen at the level of 62.6 %. Determination of the content of glycogen and lactic acid in meat during autolytic processes allows to note the rapid breakdown of glycogen and intensive accumulation of lactic acid in 1 hour after slaughter (at the level of 589 mg% and 307 mg%, respectively) and increase this process after 24 hours for meat raw materials obtained from the farm No. 7 (at the level of 223 mg% and 674 mg%, respectively). Obtained results confirm that the analysis of the content of glycogen and lactic acid at the stages of maturation can identify deviations in the quality of meat raw materials and take measures to correct them. The identified specific biochemical processes for meat occurring in muscle tissue, as well as significant differences in its properties necessitate their detection in production conditions with subsequent sorting of raw materials into groups to determine the most rational option for technological processing of such meat.

Postmortem Fetal Temperature Estimation with Magnetic Resonance Imaging: Apparent Diffusion Coefficient Measurements in the Vitreous Body and Cerebrospinal Fluid.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is increasingly used in postmortem fetal imaging. Several factors influence the quality of MRI in this setting, such as small size, autolytic and maceration changes, and temperature. Knowing the fetal temperature at the time of scanning can improve the MRI interpretation. Temperature can be calculated using diffusion-weighted imaging with measurements of the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). However, this is complicated by small ventricle size and hemorrhage and, therefore, may be unreliable in postmortem imaging. The current study evaluated the feasibility and reliability of using the ADC for temperature measurements of the vitreous body compared to that of CSF. Two lambs were scanned postmortem at five different time points over 28 hours. Furthermore, 10 stillborn fetuses were scanned once, at 4 to 62 hours after birth. The temperature was measured with a digital thermometer and calculated using the ADCs of the vitreous body (lambs and fetuses) and CSF (fetuses). There was an excellent correlation between measured and calculated temperatures in vitreous bodies of lambs (r = 0.997, P < 0.001) and fetuses (r = 0.970, P < 0.001). The correlation between measured and calculated temperatures in the CSF was poor (r = 0.522, P = 0.122). The calculation of the temperature based on the ADC of the vitreous body is feasible and reliable for postmortem fetal imaging.

Decay score: a guide to the immunoreactivity of human pancreatic islets in autopsy specimen.

The pancreas is an exo-endocrine organ that undergoes rapid autolysis soon after death, which limits its utility in academics and research. The timeline of autolytic changes of pancreatic islets and its immunoreactivity is limited in the literature. Decay score has been used to grade the autolytic changes in organs like the brain, lung and liver. However, reports are not available in the pancreas/pancreatic islets. Knowledge regarding the decay score may be used as a torchbearer for the immunoreactivity of human pancreatic islets in autopsy cases. The present study is aimed to provide an optimal cut-off time based on the decay score before which pancreatic specimens should be collected for the purpose of immunohistochemical studies (IHC) of pancreatic islets. Serial sections of 20 adult human pancreases obtained from the autopsy were subjected to haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and immunohistochemical staining. Autolytic changes of pancreatic islets were graded by using decay score in H&E sections, which was compared with the results of the immunohistochemical reactivity of pancreatic islets in IHC sections. Pancreatic islets immunoreactivity was found to be well preserved in the samples collected early within 9 hours with a decay score of less than 1.4. There was an inverse relation of decay score and immunoreactivity of pancreatic islets. The decay score of less than 1.4 has better-preserved immunoreactivity than having more than 1.4. This knowledge will help researchers working in the field of the endocrine pancreas.

Pathomorphological alterations in the kidneys in acute and chronic alcohol intoxication

The literature review presents data on pathomorphological changes in the kidneys in acute and chronic alcohol intoxication. A lack of consensus among researchers on the direct toxic damage to renal tissue by ethanol is demonstrated. Analysis of the literature showed that the issue of attributing microscopic changes detected in the kidneys to characteristic or specific signs remains controversial. Some authors identify several characteristic microscopic patterns in the kidney tissue in alcohol intoxication: thickening of glomeruli basal membranes, narrowing of glomerular capsule tubular lumen. Fatty dystrophy of the proximal tubules is most often indicative of concomitant conditions related to alcohol intoxication, such as ketoacidosis. In alcohol intoxication, some changes in the kidneys occur variably, such as dyscirculatory, dystrophic, pigmentary, necrotic, and autolytic changes. Data on the causes of their occurrence are often contradictory from different authors. The authors of this review believe that this issue can be resolved using up-to-date histochemical, immunohistochemical, and morphometric test methods.

SUDDEN CARDIAC DEATH: VULNERABILITY OF ATHEROSCLEROTIC PLAQUE IN CORONARY ARTERIES

Objective: To assess the vulnerability of atherosclerotic plaque in coronary arteries of individuals dying of ischemic heart disease.&#x0D; Study Design: Cross sectional study.&#x0D; Place and Duration of Study: Histopathology department, Combined Military Hospital Lahore, from Nov 2016 to Nov 2017.&#x0D; Methodology: A total of 43 cases were taken in the study. The Autopsy specimens from the bodies of people dying suddenly of ischemic heart disease were taken into the study. Tissues showing autolytic changes and patients dying with coronary artery disease after corrective procedure like stenting and bypass were excluded.&#x0D; Results: Out of 43 cases, 35 (81.4%) cases were positive for cluster of differentiation 68 (CD 68), 34 (79%) cases were positive for cluster of differentiation 105 (CD 105) &amp; 36 (83.6) cases were positive for nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-Kb).&#x0D; Conclusion: People who had died of ischemic heart disease have more vulnerable plaque in their coronary arteries as compared to the people who had died of non-ischemic cause. Early recognition of the un-ruptured plaque is important for the treatment strategies.

Temporal Sequence of Post-Mortem Autolysis in the Mouse Retina

In order to better differentiate ante-mortem lesions from post-mortem retinal autolysis, the temporal sequence of post-mortem changes was studied in a well-controlled mouse model. Mice were of the same strain, age and sex, and were held at a constant ambient temperature. Eyes were collected at various times up to 72h after death and immersion-fixed in either Davidson's fixative or 10% neutral buffered formalin, paraffin-embedded and sections cut and stained with haematoxylin and eosin. The most prominent, and early, autolytic change was retinal detachment, and subsequent folding, which occurred immediately after death in formalin-fixed eyes, but not until 2h post mortem with Davidson's fixative. Retinal separation was complete at 16h, or almost complete by 2h, in formalin, but in Davidson's fixative, was only partial and segmental, the latter not becoming total until much later. Retinal detachment was attended by progressively more severe disruption and dissolution of photoreceptors and, particularly in Davidson's-fixed retinas, the rod outer segment often showed marked homogenization from 30min to 4h after death. The other major early change was nuclear pyknosis in the inner nuclear layer. Ganglion cells initially had cytoplasmic swelling, followed by shrinkage and basophilia (at 4h with formalin and 16h with Davidson's), with nuclear pyknosis becoming increasingly common over time. While the three retinal neuronal layers eventually became more attenuated and depleted of cells, the thickness of these layers was augmented by severe swelling. These findings show that the post-mortem interval at which histological interpretation of retinal changes becomes potentially compromised is dependent on the duration of this interval and the fixative used.

Estimation of postmortem interval in myocardial stab wounds and firearm injuries: An immunohistochemical comparative study using C5b-9 and cardiac Troponin C

BackgroundEstimation of postmortem interval (PMI) is a critical component of forensic death investigations. C5b-9 and cardiac Troponin C (cTnC) have the potential as markers for myocardial damage and can be suitable markers for determination of PMI. The aim of current study was to estimate different postmortem intervals using C5b-9 and cTnC detected by immunohistochemical technique in stab wounds and firearm injuries of the heart. Materials and MethodsCardiac tissue samples from 70 forensic autopsy cadavers were obtained from XXXXXXX morgue, processed, for histopathological examination as well as immunohistochemical detection of C5b-9 and cTnC expression. The surface area of the positive C5b-9 and troponin C immune reactive cardiac tissue was measured morphometrically then the data were used to construct multiple regression equations for the estimation of PMI. ResultsHistopathological autolytic changes occurred in all groups and increased in intensity with the increase in the PMI in stab wound and firearm injury groups. These findings were supported by immunohistochemical morphometric analysis. Constructed equations to estimate PMI were highly accurate especially those combining both markers. ConclusionC5b-9 and cTnC can be considered reliable indicators of myocardial damage and can be used either separately or in combination for accurate estimation of PMI.

Evaluation of gross and histological changes of aorta in postmortem period: A preliminary study

After death postmortem degradation of cells occur by means of autolysis. Various tissues and body fluids like heart, liver, kidney, uterus, labial mucosa, gingival epithelium, salivary glands, skin, and its appendages and body fluids such as blood cells and cerebrospinal fluid cells were studied to know the pattern of autolytic changes. The present study was undertaken to evaluate gross and histological changes of aorta in human and to identify different morphological changes that occur at different postmortem intervals. The study consisted of 10 male cadavers and their age ranged from 20 years to 76 years (mean age 43.4 years). The results of the present study show that the aorta undergoes progressive morphological changes in the postmortem period. These changes were observed on gross examination and at cellular level by light microscopy. The limitations of present study are 1) small sample size, 2) evaluation of aorta in single environment and 3) study of male sex only. Further large studies are required to establish whether the criteria of postmortem changes in aorta can reliably be used to estimate the death interval. Keywords: Aorta, Death, Histopathology, Postmortem interval.

Emmer wheat (Triticum dicoccum (schrank.) schuebl.) in the technology of whole-wheat bread production

Worldwide interest in healthy food is promoting the production of non-traditional bakery products. Whole-wheat bread refers to such kind of products. Emmer as a crop with a valuable chemical composition is a promising source of raw materials for developing grain bakery products of increased nutritional value and giving them functional properties. The high content of proteins in emmer wheat characterized by a balanced amino acid composition, food fibers, and minerals is indicated. The possibility of using emmer wheat grain (Triticum dicoccum (Schrank.) Schuebl.) in bread making for the production of whole-wheat bread is analyzed. The chemical composition and quality indicators of emmer wheat grain of Runo variety grown in the Orel region are established. The conducted analysis of the content, wet gluten quality and autolytic activity changes (in terms of falling-number) in emmer wheat grain at steeping stage shows the necessity to develop technological methods that allow providing the production of high-quality whole-wheat bread. Methods for steeping emmer wheat grain have been developed that neutralize the deterioration of the technological properties of emmer wheat grain at the steeping stage and allow producing whole-wheat bread with high organoleptic and physicochemical characteristics.

MORPHOLOGICAL FEATURES OF THE UTERUS IN WOMEN AT DIFFERENT TIME INTERVALS OF THE POSTMORTEM PERIOD AS DIAGNOSTIC CRITERIA FOR ESTABLISHING THE POSTMORTEM INTERVAL

The aim is to identify the morphological features of the uterus layers in women at different time intervals of the postmortem period as diagnostic criteria for establishing the postmortem interval. Materials and methods: In the study we used surgical and autopsy material - uterine tissue fragments. All materials were divided into two groups. The 1st group (G 1) included surgical material from women (n=6) who underwent removal of the uterus, or uterus with the appendages due to leiomyoma, uterine prolapse. The 2nd group (G 2) included autopsy material from 42 women with known causes of death and postmortem period (from 24 to 48 hours - 6 cases, from 49 to 72 hours - 7 cases, from 73 to 96 hours - 8 cases, from 97 to 120 hours - 6 cases, from 121 to 144 hours - 8 cases, more than 144 hours - 7 cases). Histological and immunohistochemical study methods were used. Results: A comprehensive morphological study of the women uterus revealed a time-dependent increase of postmortem changes in this organ linked with the increase of postmortem period. In cases of postmortem period duration up to 144 hours, the structural elements of the uterine layers were identified. In cases where the duration of the postmortem period was more than 145 hours, microscopically the uterus was represented by eosinophilic fibrous or dusty masses, the histogenesis of which could not be determined. The processes of autolysis occurred more intensely and faster in the mucous membrane of the uterus, in comparison with the muscular and serous membranes, and in the vessels - in their inner membrane, in comparison with the middle and outer membranes. Autolytic changes in the muscular membrane of the uterus and vascular walls occurred more intensely in muscle fibers compared to connective tissue fibers. Conclusions: The histological and immunohistochemical features of the women uterus at different postmortem periods have a certain forensic medical significance and can be used for establishing the postmortem interval.

Post-mortem peripheral smear: A forensic diagnostic tool?

The current study of post-mortem peripheral smears was conducted in Department of Forensic Medicine, Osmania Medical College with the main objective of studying the seasonal variability of autolysis of cell lines in peripheral circulation. In the study sample of 73 subjects, peripheral smears were made in the morgue immediately after collecting blood by venepuncture. Smears were stained with Leishman stain (A Romanowsky stain) within 2 hours of preparation and light microscope was used to study changes. The changes in cell morphology, membrane integrity, cytoplasmic and nuclear changes were studied in detail using valuable information from previous studies and conclusions were arrived at. At the outset white blood cells are most suitable for TSD predictability among others in peripheral smear because they withstand extraneous variables like refrigeration and show a similar degree of autolytic changes across all seasons. The validity of all such studies on cell lines for TSD was discussed from medico legal perspective. The take home message is all the microscopic changes studied in present study provided no added advantage significantly apart from traditional gross changes like rigor mortis, algor mortis, post-mortem lividity. If properly used on regular basis, algor mortis can enhance the quality of our reporting in India with respect to TSD.