Postmortal Changes Research Articles

Rapid determination of postmortal changes in the protein profile of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) fillet powered by MALDI-TOF—the effect of storage temperature and time

Rapid determination of postmortal changes in the protein profile of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) fillet powered by MALDI-TOF—the effect of storage temperature and time

Cruelty toward Dogs and Cats in the Republic of Serbia during a 10-Year Period.

The aim of the study was to point out the importance of recognizing non-accidental injuries (NAI) and to highlight the importance of reporting such cases, as well as prosecuting the perpetrators, in order to detect potentially existing violence or prevent future violence in society. A total of 338 dogs and 54 cats were submitted for necropsy. Out of 338 dogs examined, 175 (51.8%) died due to non-natural cause of death, 122 from natural causes (36.1%), and 35 (10.3%) due to accidental injuries, and in 6 cases (1.8%) the cause and manner of death were undetermined due to advanced post-mortal changes. Out of 54 examined cats, 21 died due to non-natural causes (38.9%) and the same number of cats died due to natural causes. The prevalence of accidental injuries resulting in death were 20.4% (n = 11) and in 1.8% (n = 1) the manner of death remained indeterminate. The high number of animals confirmed to have died from unnatural causes in this study highlights the need for greater involvement from the police, prosecution, and society as a whole to reduce the number of violent animal deaths in the future.

On the classification and terminology of cadaveric phenomena

The classification of cadaveric phenomena (post-mortal changes) generally accepted in scientific forensic medicine is outdated, is based on uncertain and incorrect principles (time and sequence of development), but throughout the long historical period in special literature is subject to practically unchanged and additions, contains contradictory and ambiguously interpreted definitions and terms, and therefore needs to be revision and revised.
 The purpose of the review is to critically analyze and reveal the shortcomings and imperfections of the canonical classification and terminology of cadaveric phenomena, to develop a modern scientifically based classification of cadaveric phenomena, to clarify the terminology of some of them to reveal the shortcomings and imperfections of the canonical classification and terminology of cadaveric phenomena, to develop a modern scientifically based systematization of posthumous changes based on clear classification principles, to clarify and concretize the names of some of them.
 The basic domestic textbooks for higher education institutions and manuals for forensic medical experts and doctors in forensic medicine from 1950 to the present have been studied. The methods of critical analysis and formal logic were used.
 A new forensic medical classification of cadaveric changes depending on their origin (cause of occurrence) has been developed, classification groups are supplemented by previously unaccounted representatives and their terminology with latin names has been optimized. It is emphasized that between these groups there is no regularity and strict sequence in the timing of the onset of development and macroscopic manifestations.
 In the presented new classification, posthumous changes without contradictions and double interpretation are arranged strictly in accordance with the principle of systematization. The proposed improved terms and definitions of some cadaveric changes (processes) are more concrete and expedient.

Are animal models predictive for human postmortem muscle protein degradation?

A most precise determination of the postmortem interval (PMI) is a crucial aspect in forensic casework. Although there are diverse approaches available to date, the high heterogeneity of cases together with the respective postmortal changes often limit the validity and sufficiency of many methods. Recently, a novel approach for time since death estimation by the analysis of postmortal changes of muscle proteins was proposed. It is however necessary to improve the reliability and accuracy, especially by analysis of possible influencing factors on protein degradation. This is ideally investigated on standardized animal models that, however, require legitimization by a comparison of human and animal tissue, and in this specific case of protein degradation profiles. Only if protein degradation events occur in comparable fashion within different species, respective findings can sufficiently be transferred from the animal model to application in humans. Therefor samples from two frequently used animal models (mouse and pig), as well as forensic cases with representative protein profiles of highly differing PMIs were analyzed. Despite physical and physiological differences between species, western blot analysis revealed similar patterns in most of the investigated proteins. Even most degradation events occurred in comparable fashion. In some other aspects, however, human and animal profiles depicted distinct differences. The results of this experimental series clearly indicate the huge importance of comparative studies, whenever animal models are considered. Although animal models could be shown to reflect the basic principles of protein degradation processes in humans, we also gained insight in the difficulties and limitations of the applicability of the developed methodology in different mammalian species regarding protein specificity and methodic functionality.

MYOPATIE JATEČNÝCH KUŘAT

High-powered means of slaughter chickens production cause on certain individuals abnormal biochemical development of postmortal changes in their muscles. It consequently lead to interferences of sensory quality of the chicken meat. So called myopathies of the chicken breast meat occur in the low extent. It is typical variation in dark colouring of breast muscle. Veterinary supervision confiscates chickens embodying myopathy by reason of sensorical unacceptable dark muscle colour. Deepness of colour is evaluated by adspection of veterinary supervisors. It is tendency leading to find out objective parameters for evaluating this sensual chicken meat colour variation. Incidence of the chickens with myopathy has been evaluating for 3 years in big poultry slaughter, therewithal high-quality chickens and chickens with perspicuous myopathy have been taking out of slaughter-line. Electric conductivity values and pH values were measuring during 60 till 330 minutes post mortem in breast muscles. Aproximately 9 millions chicken was annually slaughtered and 13 thousands of them was confiscated out of the slaughter line by reason of myopathy. It amounts to 0.14 per cent of annually count of processed chickens. Myopatical chickens had significantly higher muscle pH values as compared with healthy ones. Healthy chicken muscles decreased on ultimative pH values aproximately past 3 hours post mortem. It means pH 6.03, and after 300 minutes decreased to pH 5.82. However, myopatical chickens values varied from pH 6.46 to pH 6.30. Concurrently measured values of electric conductivity significantly corellated with pH values. Whereto, it's predication of similarity chicken myopathies and dark, firm, dry (DFD) pork or turkey meat. Beyond unacceptable dark meat colour have disadvantage in poor post mortem acidifying of the meat and in consequence of microbial proteolyse. Significantly correlation between pH and electric conductivity values foreshadows on identification of myopatical chicken meat by means of conductivity measuring.

1.10. Postmortem interval estimation: Value of postmortem cerebral CT

Objective After death a series of changes naturally occurs in the human body. Understanding these changes and the contributing factors will lead to a better understanding of the normal process of hypostasis and decomposition, a better estimation of the postmortem interval (PMI) and thus to a better diagnosis of cause and time of death. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between the PMI and postmortal intracranial density measurements. Materials and method We retrospectively investigated 61 postmortal cerebral CT scans. We measured the density in Hounsfield units (HU) of the dorsal part of the superior sagittal sinus, vitreous humor left and right and the anterior and posterior horn of lateral ventricles left and right. Correlation between density and PMI was determined using linear regression and is reported using the Pearson׳s correlation coefficient. Results The PMI range was 3.0–45.1h. All densities showed increase over time. This was not significant for the dorsal part of the superior sagittal sinus and vitreous humor (resp. 0.19h per HU; p =0.18; HU 56.1–112.0; Pearson׳s r =0.20 and 0.51h per HU; p=0.12; HU 7.5–29.8; Pearson׳s r =0.23). However, the lateral ventricles showed significant increase of density over time (1.7h per HU; p r =0.65; HU 4.7–18.8). Conclusion The normal postmortal changes are detectable in density of the intracranial structures. This goes especially for the HU increase of liquor during the postmortem interval. This could be of great value for forensic methods to estimate the PMI and needs further prospectively investigation, which we are currently performing.

Odontometric analysis of permanent canines in gender determination

Establishing the gender of a dead person is an important procedure in forensic medicine, especially during mass disasters. Teeth are very important material as they are available even after considerable postmortal changes because they are resistant to chemical and mechanical agents. The results of this study indicate that there are significant differences between the sexes in canine dimorphism. The conducted research suggests using the linear dimensions of permanent maxillary and mandibular canines as an additional method for gender determination in forensic practice because of speed and simplicity.

Premortal data in the process of skeletal remains identification

The basic task of a forensic examiner during the exhumation of mass graves or in mass accidents is to establish identity of a person. The results obtained through these procedures depend on the level of perceptibility of post mortal changes and they are compared with premortal data obtained from family members of those missing or killed. Experience with exhumations has shown significant differences between the results obtained through exhumation and the premortal data. The aim of the study was to suggest the existance of the difference between premortal data and the results obtained by exhumation regarding the some parameters, as well as to direct premortal data colection to the specific skeletal forms. We performed comparative analysis of the results of exhumation of skeletal remains in a mass grave and the premortal data concerning the identified persons. The least number of individuals in this mass grave was calculated according to the upper parts of the right femur and it helped in calculating the smallest number of individuals in mass graves to be 48. A total of 27 persons were identified. Sex was determined by metrics and morphology of the pelvis. Personal age in the moment of death was determined by morphology features of groin symphisis and morphology of sternal edge of ribs and other parts of scelets observations. The hight was calculated as average results of length of long bones and Rollet coefficients. There was a complete match in terms of sex and age matched within an interval that could be established based on the skeletal remains. All the other parameters were different, however, which made identification significantly more difficult. The premortal data is an important element of identification process and it should be obtained by the forensic doctor and directed towards more detailed examination of the skeletal system.

Suicidal asphyxiation by propane-butane mixture inside a plastic bag: Case report

Volatiles are easily accessible and widely used in a form of liquid petroleum gas. Death as a consequence of inhalation of volatiles can be either accidental or suicidal. We present a 62-year-old men who committed suicide by placing a plastic bag over the head and inhaling propane-butane mixture from a domestic gas tank. A rubber hose was attached to the tank valve and connected with the plastic bag. The body of the deceased showed signs of advanced postmortal changes. A suicidal note was found at the scene. Propane-butane mixture, i.e. liquified petroleum gas leads to the depletion of oxygen in the air consequently causing hypoxia and anoxia, and therefore, unconsciousness and eventual death. The mechanisms of death in cases of volatile inhalation include cardiac arrhythmias, reflex cardiac vagal inhibition, and/or central nervous system depression. Similar mechanisms occur in cases of asphyxiation with a plastic bag. The reconstruction of the event in this case was based, not so much on autopsy findings (because of significant putrefaction changes), but on the police investigation and traces found at the scene.

Einheimisch oder fremd? Isotopenanalyse eines Frauenskelettes des 9. Jahrhunderts n. Chr. aus Elsau, Kanton Zürich, Schweiz

At Elsau near Winterthur (CH), a 9th century AD grave with a female skeleton was found in 2003. This grave was reopened one to six years after burial. After manipulating the partially decayed skeleton, the grave was filled with a layer of rocks and a claw of a sea eagle as well as the paw of a fox was placed on top. At least from this time onwards, the grave was situated in the annex of a church. Because of this special burial site for the 42 year old woman, who suffered from different severe illnesses, it is thought that she belonged to the upper class. The postmortal changes at the grave are exceptional and even after thorough research, no equivalent burial procedures are known from this area. To investigate the possibility if the woman migrated to the region of Elsau, the oxygen and strontium isotope composition of several teeth and one long bone of her skeleton was analysed. The results indicate a certain but restricted mobility within the northern Alpine foreland and as a result changes of the isotope composition of the food and drinking water during her childhood. Immigration from regions in which similar burial customs to those used for the woman persisted into the 9th century AD can be largely excluded based on the isotope composition of her skeletal remains. The mobility in the pre-Alpine region supports the interpretation that the woman belonged to the upper class, whose properties where widely distributed.

Real‐time Three‐dimensional Echocardiography, a New Approach to Cardiac Anatomy in Live Dogs and Cats

Macroscopic anatomy of the heart is evaluated best in living animals, because postmortal changes and the lack of the normal heart motion lead to misinterpretation. For the last 15 years functional cardiac imaging of animals has been performed by two‐dimensional ultrasonography. However, three‐dimensional echocardiography has multiple advantages over two‐dimensional ultrasonography such as an improved assessment of the endocardial structures and the possibility of precise determination of the sonographic views for measurement. For these reasons the ultrasound system SONOS 7500 of Philips has been used for examinations since December 2003. These examinations were performed in healthy adult dogs of different sizes as well as in European Short Hair cats. Using a recently developed multi‐frequent matrix array probe all regions of interest were directly on‐line volume‐rendered or represented in two exactly defined orthogonal views. Although the used matrix array probe was large, transthoracic left and right parasternal sonograms could be carried out without any problems in all small animals without sedation. For the first time the cardiac structures in dogs and cats such as the opening and closing of the left atrioventricular and aortic valves were represented within a 60 degrees (15 or 30 degrees pyramidal volume. The morphology and the function of the atrioventricular leaflets could be evaluated exactly. For representation of a larger pyramidal volume or the three‐dimensional simultaneous colour flow imaging, careful ECG gating is required. Unfortunately, the distinct respiratory arrhythmia in quiet dogs had a negative effect on the registration of four or eight heart cycles of the same length. Using biplane echocardiography the commonly represented sonographs for measurement were exactly determined. Additionally these techniques enabled the registration of new views for evaluation and measurements, which were not available from two‐dimensional ultrasonography. This study has demonstrated for the first time that real time transthoracic three‐dimensional echocardiography is feasible in dogs and cats and that it provides comprehensive visualization of the intracardiac anatomy in unique projections in living animals.

Microsatellite stability in human post-mortem tissues

Human identification and forensic criminal casework may involve DNA profiling of decomposed material. Somatic microsatellite (STR) instability may lead to false exclusions and theoretically to false inclusions, both in criminal cases and in human identification. Hence, the somatic and postmortal stability of the actual sequences is crucial to the reliability of such analyses. Somatic STR stability in human tissues has been documented in small series only and the effect of postmortal tissue decomposition on microsatellite stability remains to be elucidated. On this basis, we have systematically searched for somatic STR mutations in 26 deceased humans without signs of decomposition at autopsy and 25 autopsy cases with obvious signs of postmortal decomposition. A blood sample and six tissue samples were collected from each case. Seven STRs were chosen for study, the tetranucleotides HUMVWA31/A, HUMTH01, HUMF13A1, and HUMFES/FPS, and the hyperpolymorphic markers HUMAPOAI1, D11S554 and HUMACTBP2. Denaturing gel electrophoresis was performed on an ABD Prism™ 377 gene sequencer with Genescan 672 software (Applied Biosystems, Inc.). The bone DNA profile of each case was chosen as the standard DNA profile. All cases gave profiles from additional tissues. By intraindividual comparison of DNA profiles in the cases without signs of degradation we find that the short repetitive sequences under study are stable, that is without evidence of somatic mutations. The cases with varying degree of decomposition display postmortal microsatellite stability, we detect no somatic mutations or other possible postmortal changes that could lead to between-organ non-matches. In conclusion, PCR-based STR analyses are suitable in human identification and forensic casework dealing with different tissues, even when the substrate is heavily decomposed.

Postmortal changes of the elemental composition of autopsy specimens: Variations of caesium, cobalt and selenium in rat liver studied by instrumental neutron activation analysis

Using rat liver as an example, the implications of postmortal changes such as cell swelling, imbibition and autolysis on the elemental composition of body organs were studied. Of the three elements investigated in this part of the experiment, concentration of Co increased from about +50 per cent to +120 per cent of control in all groups retained at room temperature and the content of Co rose by about 95 per cent; Cs increased less extensively than Co in all groups at room temperature; Se values showed up to 50 per cent increase in concentration only and there was no change in content. The changes were less marked for all the three elements at −15°C.

Chemical composition of the aqueous humor of bovine eyes dependent on predetermined time upon removal

The content of several carbohydrates [glucose (alpha and beta), inositol, fructose, galactose] and aminoacids in the aqueous of bovine lenses was measured in dependence on time after globe puncture, using the method of gas liquid chromatography (carbohydrates) and ion exchange chromatography (amino acids). The contents of the investigated compounds show distinct postmortal changes. Aqueous humor which had been obtained immediately after enucleation of the bovine eyes and kept at 37 degrees C for different periods of time (1-8 h) showed for the carbohydrates investigated a decrease in fructose concentration, whereas almost all amino acid concentrations were increased, with the exception of leucine, tyrosine, and arginine, which were decreased.

Post-mortal changes of dopamine and homovanillic acid levels in rat striatum as measured by mass gragmentography

Post-mortal changes of dopamine and homovanillic acid levels in rat striatum as measured by mass gragmentography

AMINO ACIDS IN THE BRAIN--ANALYSIS OF AMINO ACIDS IN VARIOUS AREAS OF THE CEREBRAL CORTEX.

SummaryThe authors have described the actual conditions of amino acids of the brain in each area as analysed. Many suppositions can be made from these findings, but it is extremely difficult to substantiate these suppositions, especially because the subject is the human brain. It appears dangerous to draw any conclusions based on such suppositions, but some of the problems for future studies may be pointed out.1. Both glutamic acid and glutamine are contained in a considerable quantity in each area of the brain. Glutamine is found in greatest quantity in the motor and the occipital areas and it seems that glutamine plays an important role or that the inter‐reaction between glutamic acid and glutamine is very active in these areas.2. Phosphoethanolamine is contained in the greatest quantity in the frontal and the motor areas and it ssems to play an important role in the metabolism of amino acids containing phosphorus in the anterior half of the brain.3. Cystathionine is contained in a large quantity in the sensory, speech, and occipital areas, and it seems to play an important tole in the metabolism of amino acids containing sulfur.4. GABA seems to be greatly affected by postmortal changes and it is believed to be an important substance in the physiological and biochemical vital reactions of the brain.

ELECTRON MICROSCOPIC STUDIES OF MEMBRANOUS LABYRINTH

The membranous labyrinth of normal guinea pig was studied by the electron microscope, and the following several findings were reported1. Shape and internal structures of hairs. Relationship of hairs to cuticula and tectorial membr-ane.2. Smooth and rough surfaced endoplasmic reticulum, and arrangement of mitochondria within external and internal hair cells.3. Fine structures of supporting cells, reticular membrane, Hensen's cell, tectorial membrane crista spirale, basilar membrane and mesothelial cell.4. Postmortal changes of hair cells and supporting cells of the organ of corti.5. Innervation and internal structure of the peripheral fibers of acoustic nerve.6. Difference of shape and internal structures of nerve end organ at the external and internal hair cells.7. Flow of the nutritional material within the organ of corti.

The histological picture of the ectomized pituitary in cases with cancer.

Past information on the histological structure of adenohypophysis in patients suffering from carcinoma was based on section material, mostly of terminal stages of the disease. We have good reason to presume, that the cellular picture was influenced by postmortal decay as well as by cachexia. This explains contradictory statements found in literature. Postmortal changes starting very early in the pituitary permitted only examinations of the microscopical cellular picture but not of cytological details. This paper is based on material won in operations which was instantaneously fixed. The quantitative distribution of cellular types in the different districts of the adenohypophysis could not be determined as the tissue was not exstirpated in toto but only in smaller pieces. We therefore are chiefly concerned with cytological details.