微波消解-扫描电镜联用法在溺死诊断中的应用

目的探讨微波消解-扫描电镜联用法在溺死诊断中的应用价值。方法收集已知死因的尸体标本105例,其中水中尸体85例(生前溺死70例,死后抛尸入水15例),陆地自然死亡尸体20例。水中死亡案例同时收集落水处水样。分别用微波消解-扫描电镜联用法(方法 A)和硝酸破机-光镜联用法(方法 B)对上述尸体的离体肺、肝、肾、骨髓组织及水样进行硅藻定性、定量检测。结果①溺死尸体的肺、肝、肾、骨髓中及落水处水样硅藻检出率:A法分别为100%、94.3%、92.9%、82.9%、100%,硅藻检验阳性率为100%;B法分别为90%、62.9%、51.4%、28.6%、92.9%,硅藻检验阳性率为65.7%。②两种方法检出的硅藻种类与落水处水样中硅藻的种类均一致。③两种方法在死后入水尸体离体的肺中也检出少量硅藻(<3个/2g肺组织),但在死后入水尸体的其它脏器及陆地自然死亡尸体脏器中均未检出硅藻。结论微波消解-扫描电镜联用法较硝酸破机-光镜联用法对尸体离体组织脏器中的硅藻检出率高,方法灵敏,定性准确。     

498例水中尸体硅藻检验分析

准确、有效地对水中尸体进行生前或死后入水鉴定,组织器官中硅藻的定性和定量检验被认为是较好的一种实验室检验方法[1]。为进一步证明硅藻检验在水中尸体鉴定中的实用价值及其实践意义,本文作者对10年间(1994~2003)498例水中尸体硅藻检验结果进行了回顾性分析,现报道如下。1案例资料1.1一般资料统计10年间(1994~2003)法医室受理的498例水中尸体的硅藻检验案例,根据尸体检验和调查访问,明确为生前入水者124例(24.9%),死后入水者44例(8.8%);不能明确生前或死后入水者330例(66.3%)。男性尸体293例(58.8%),女性205例(41.2%);年龄最小为出生1天,…     

硅藻检验方法综述

水中尸体的调查在法医学检案中占了重要的一部分。水中尸体未必就意味着其死亡原因是溺死,也可以由其他原因引起,例如死后入水。实际上,尸体现象很难证明死亡的原因。所以,关于受害者是否为"真的"溺死的问题常常不容易解决。目前,硅藻检验被认为是溺死诊断的"金标准"。通过硅藻的定性定量分析,不仅可以对死亡原因有更直接的判断,也可以指向可能的溺死地点。本文介绍国内外硅藻检验的样本采集、检验方法、结果评价的研究进展,并对硅藻检验研究进行展望。     

溺死尸体器官硅藻检出率季节性差异

目的 研究溺水死亡者肺、肝、肾、骨髓等器官淡水硅藻检出率可能存在的季节性差异,为法医学解决水中尸体死因鉴定提供技术帮助与科学证据.方法 收集2009～2011年1、4、7、10月沈阳市浑河中溺死尸体每月(组)各5例;45只家兔分相应月份生前、死后入水组及对照组,分别于当月发现水中尸体后第2天入水,取人及兔肺、肝、肾、股骨骨髓及现场水样备检,应用酶消化法检测各组器官中硅藻数量、种属并与现场水样比对.结果 各组溺死尸体肺中均检出多量硅藻且种属与现场水样一致,春、秋及冬季溺死尸体肝、肾中仅可检出少量体积较小的小环藻等中心纲硅藻,夏季肝、肾及骨髓中均未检出硅藻;各组溺死家兔肺中均检出少量小环藻等中心纲硅藻,肝、肾及骨髓中未检出硅藻.结论 硅藻种群的季节性变化及不同种群硅藻体积的差异可能造成肝、肾等大循环器官中硅藻检出率的季节性差异;仅肺中检出硅藻,肝、肾中硅藻检验结果阴性并不能排除溺死可能.     

微波消解法检验硅藻的实验研究

按常规，水中尸体的法医学检验鉴定必须要做硅藻检验，以确定生前入水溺死或抛尸入水伪装溺死，同时可根据检出硅藻种类判断溺死水域现场。目前，仍沿用传统的有机消化法（硫酸-硝酸破击法）[1-2]。我们自1999年起，应用光纤压力自控密闭微波消解系统（微波消解法）进行了5例溺死案例的硅藻检验，获得较好效果，并与传统的有机消化法进行了比较研究。目前，尚未查见应用微波消解法系统研究人体组织内硅藻检验的实验报道。1材料与方法1.1检材分组检材为2000年8月份吉林地区某较大型水库中发现的溺死尸体。实验组：新鲜的和冷冻的肺边缘组织检…     

硅藻检验结论在判断死亡原因中的运用

水中尸体的硅藻检验结论是判断死者是否溺死的重要依据之一。微波消解-真空抽滤-扫描电镜法硅藻检验已经成为水中尸体案件的常规且相对可靠的检验方法,相关内容的公共安全行业标准已正式发布实施。该类案件的检验结论通常表达为:水样,尸体的肺脏、肝脏、肾脏、骨髓中检出某种硅藻和硅藻含量。但受死者的死亡过程、水样的提取方法和检验方法等因素影响,硅藻检验的结果会有所差异,不能简单地依据检验结果中有或没有硅藻来判断是否溺死。只有合理地分析和运用该检验结论,才能正确地判断死者的死亡原因,更好地刻画死亡过程。本文通过对不同的检验结论进行分析总结,解释结论的成因,希望能够帮助法医依据硅藻检验结论,更加准确地判断死亡原因。     

扫描电镜/能谱观察溺死和死后入水的法医学应用研究

目的探讨扫描电镜/能谱分析在溺死的法医学鉴定中的作用。方法实验选用20例已知生前入水尸体,11例已知的死后入水尸体和2例陆地死亡尸体。在每个肺叶各取3个切面,每个切面用扫描电镜取样台胶面与肺叶的切面充分接触,另在落水地点取水样一份,进行对比。扫描电镜取样台胶在切面上充分接触后封闭取材盒,真空干燥后,直接在扫描电镜下进行观察。结果20例生前入水尸体在肺组织中均检出异物颗粒,并且与对照水样中检出的异物颗粒相吻合;而死后入水的尸体和在陆地上死亡的尸体肺组织中均未检出明显的异物颗粒,3者比较P<0.0001。在肺组织支气管切面中,生前入水的20例中有15例检出异物颗粒,在边缘肺切面及中间切面中分别有13例检出异物颗粒,统计学无明显差异。结论本实验建立的肺脏内异物颗粒取材方法准确可靠实用。对综合判断案件的性质,判断溺死尸体入水地点的具有积极意义。较好地解决了实验室检验中的污染问题。腐败尸体对检测结果无影响。     

溺死及死后入水兔肺组织中硅藻分布

目的研究溺死及死后入水兔肺组织中硅藻含量、大小和种类的差异。方法将62只新西兰大白兔随机分为生前入水组(n=30)、死后入水组(n=30)和陆地死亡组(n=2),采用微波消解-扫描电镜法对各肺叶中的硅藻进行定性和定量分析。结果生前入水组各肺叶中均能检出硅藻,以小环藻、直链藻为主;死后入水组肺叶中以小环藻为主,某些肺叶中可无硅藻检出。左肺尖叶、右肺中间叶、右肺心叶的硅藻检出率在两组间差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论采用微波消解-扫描电镜法分析生前溺水与死后入水兔肺组织内硅藻含量、大小和种类的分布,为法医学硅藻检验理论提供了一定的参考。     

鉴别溺死的一个新方法——检测水中尸体肺里含叶绿素的浮游生物

<正> 水中发现的尸体均应区别生前溺死抑或抛尸入水。过去多根据内脏的硅藻检验结果辨别。由于硅藻广泛分布于自然界,甚至空气中亦有,易于造成污染。所以有些学者对用硅藻检查法鉴定溺死的可靠性已提出疑问。冈田健夫等提出,检查尸体     

肺组织硅藻定量分析在实验动物溺死诊断中的应用

目的探讨肺组织硅藻检验在法医学溺死诊断中的应用价值。方法将实验动物随机分为溺死组、死后入水组和陆地死亡组,采用微波消解-真空抽滤-扫描电镜联用的硅藻检验方法对肺组织和溺液硅藻进行定量分析,记录肺组织与溺液硅藻含量的比值(ratio of content of diatoms in lung tissue and drowning fluid,C_L/C_D)。结果溺死组实验兔的C_L/C_D值(5.82±3.50)高于死后入水组(0.47±0.35);溺死组实验猪肺叶不同部位的C_L/C_D值均高于死后入水组;在海水、咸淡水交界、河道淡水及湖泊淡水中,溺死组实验猪的C_L/C_D值均高于死后入水组(P0.05)。动物实验中,C_L/C_D值1.6的案例均来自溺死组。结论 C_L/C_D值是溺死诊断中有较好应用前景的指标。     

PCR-DHPLC法检测硅藻SSU基因在溺死鉴定中的应用

目的采用PCR-DHPLC法检测硅藻SSU基因,评估其在溺死鉴定中的应用价值。方法 60只实验兔随机分为生前溺死（水中溺毙）、死后入水（空气栓塞致死后入水）、对照组（空气栓塞致死后不做处理）;溺死人体脏器组织;取各组织检材提取硅藻DNA,PCR扩增硅藻特异的核糖体小亚基（SSU）片段,用琼脂糖凝胶电泳检测、DHPLC检测分析。结果 6份硝酸消化法检测阴性的溺死人体器官组织检材经PCR及琼脂糖凝胶电泳检出5例阳性。生前溺死组肺、肝、肾硅藻检出率分别为100%、90%、85%,死后入水组仅肺检出硅藻（15%）,对照组各组织均为阴性;生前溺死组检出率明显高于死后入水组（P〈0.05）。10份溺死人体器官组织检材采用DHPLC法检出硅藻种类明显多于微波消解-扫描电镜法（P〈0.05）。脏器检出硅藻种类与溺死点水样一致。结论采用PCR-DHPLC法检测硅藻SSU基因,有助于溺死鉴定和溺死地点的推断,具有法医学应用价值。     

Limbs found in water: investigation using anthropological analysis and the diatom test

We report the investigation, using a multi-disciplinary approach, of five cases of dismembered limbs which were recovered from Lake Ontario, Lake Erie and the Niagara River, and examined at the Office of the Chief Coroner for Ontario. In all cases, postmortem examination revealed that the limbs had been disarticulated in the postmortem period, by non-human taphonomic processes. In addition to routine gross examination, the femur and/or tibia were assessed using anthropological methods to give estimates of the sex, age, race and stature of the individual. The anthropologic data facilitated the identification of one of the cases. In all cases, nitric acid extracts of the femoral bone marrow were prepared and examined for the presence of diatoms. In all instances, diatom frustules were recovered from marrow extracts, indicating that drowning was the cause of death or at least a significant contributing factor in the cause of death. The use of the diatom test was helpful in excluding the possibility that the limbs were dismembered from individuals who had died by means other than drowning, and had been subsequently 'dumped' into water. The application of anthropological methods and the diatom test for drowning may significantly enhance the medico-legal investigation of body parts recovered from water, and we present an overview of useful techniques here. Anthropological data may facilitate identification, and the diatom test may establish a cause of death.     

The forensic medical evaluation of the results of determining diatomaceous plankton in the diagnosis of drowning

Evaluation of demonstrative value of method based on diatom plankton determination as a diagnostical sign of death due to drowning was performed. Plankton was detected in the viscera in 37% of cases (as a whole 376 bodies of people who drowned in fresh water were examined). Plankton was detected in aspiration type of drowning and its mixed variant. In spastic and reflector types of drowning plankton wasn't detected. According to author's opinion this method is an objective diagnostical test to determine the cause of death of people when their bodies are found in water.     

The development and application of a diatom-based quantitative reconstruction technique in forensic science

Diatoms are a group of unicellular algae that have been recorded and classified for over 200 years and have been used in a range of applications in forensic science. We have developed a quantitative diatom-based reconstruction technique to confirm drowning as a cause of death and localize the site of drowning in two recent, high-profile, case studies. In both case studies we collected diatom samples from the local and/or regional area to act as a control in the examination of diatom assemblages associated with lungs and clothing. In Case Study 1 the modern analog technique suggested that all lung and clothing samples have statistically significant similarities to control samples from shallow water habitats. In Case Study 2, the analog matching suggested that the majority of lung samples show a statistically significant relationship to samples from a pond, indicating that this was the drowning medium.     

检测浮游生物叶绿素相关基因诊断溺死的实验研究

目的评估浮游生物叶绿素相关基因检测用于溺死诊断的价值。方法将18只大白兔随机分为溺死组（n=10）、死后抛尸组（n=6）和对照组（n=2）,各组分别取心血及肺、肝、肾、脑组织,分离浮游生物并提取其DNA,用PCR技术检测叶绿素相关基因EG（EG1和EG2）及SK（SK1和SK2）。同时用硝酸消化法检验肺和肝组织中的硅藻。结果溺死组心血及肺、肝、肾、脑组织中EG1分别检出9、10、9、7和8例阳性,EG2分别检出8、10、7、5和7例阳性;死后抛尸组仅在心血和肺组织中各检出1例EG1阳性;对照组各组织均未检出EG1和EG2。SK1、SK2除在溺死组心血、肺和肾有少数检出外（≤2例）,在其他组未检出扩增产物。硝酸消化法从溺死组肺、肝组织中分别有9例及3例检出硅藻,死后抛尸组仅在1例肺组织中检出。结论浮游生物叶绿素相关基因EG用于溺死诊断的阳性检出率要高于硝酸消化法,在溺死诊断中具有较高的应用价值。     

硅藻定量检验和种属鉴定的实验研究

本实验用家兔18只,分为溺死组、死后(抛尸)入水组及对照组,每组各6只。采用消化—光镜法作肺、肝、肾硅藻计数(定量)及种属鉴定检验,同时作水样检验及空白对照。结果:(一)进一步证实生前硅藻可经空气源性进入肺脏并存积于大循环内脏(肝、肾)的概念;(二)提示水中尸体肺脏如有大量硅藻检出,仅此即可作为诊断溺死的可靠依据;空气源性吸入及检验过程中的污染并不影响该检验结果对鉴定溺死的判断。种属分析溺死组肺与水样的主要硅藻种属相符,而肝、肾中硅藻计数及种属分析均无诊断意义。     

Detection of diatom in formalin-fixed tissue by proteinase K digestion

The diatoms detection has been proposed to be useful in the diagnosis of drowning. Enzymatic digestion of unfixed lung tissues and other organs with proteinase K is widely employed to detect diatoms. Handling unfixed organs or blood from the bodies with some infectious diseases could prove to be dangerous. In this study, we examined the application of enzymatic digestion for diatom detection to formalin-fixed lung obtained at autopsy. Furthermore, we assessed the effect of hydrogen peroxide on the contamination of the lung specimen with foreign bodies inhaled in the course of drowning, smoking, or air pollution. Formalin-fixed lung was heated in 0.01 M Tris–HCl buffer (pH 7.5) containing sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) (tissue lysis-buffer), with or without glycine. Thereafter, the lung was subjected to enzymatic digestion with proteinase K. A part of formalin-fixed or unfixed samples digested with proteinase K were incubated with hydrogen peroxide at 80 °C for 6 h or 12 h, while the residues were processed without incubation. Formalin-fixed samples heated in tissue lysis-buffer with glycine could be digested with proteinase K; further, the number and proportion of diatoms detected in both formalin-fixed and unfixed samples were observed to be similar. The results suggest that enzymatic detection of diatoms can be applied to formalin-fixed organs by heating the samples in glycine-containing tissue lysis-buffer. As the use of formalin-fixed tissue for diatom detection can decrease risk of contamination by pathogenic organisms during the course of enzymatic digestion, the method presented in this study would be beneficial, to some extent, to individuals performing diatom analysis. Moreover, our results suggest that archival organs stored in formalin solution could be available in diatom detection over a long time-period following autopsies. Clearer image of diatoms was observed in the specimen incubated with hydrogen peroxide for 6 h, in which inhaled foreign bodies were discolored, than those not subjected to incubation. Therefore, incubation of sample digested with hydrogen peroxide in the limited time would be helpful for quantitative and qualitative diatom analysis.     

The Diagnostic Value of Quantitative Assessment of Diatom Test for Drowning: An Analysis of 128 Water‐related Death Cases using Microwave Digestion‐Vacuum Filtration‐Automated Scanning Electron Microscopy

The value of diatom test for the diagnosis of drowning remains controversial. The conventional forensic diatom test with low sensitivity is not a useful tool to provide accurate information about diatom in the tissues and organs. To improve the sensitivity of the diatom test, we developed a novel method called the Microwave Digestion‐Vacuum Filtration‐Automated Scanning Electron Microscopy (MD‐VF‐Auto SEM) method which resulted in a high recovery of diatoms. In this article, we analyzed 128 water‐related death cases. Our results showed that the MD‐VF‐Auto SEM method could achieve a much higher positive rate (0.97) in drowning cases. Large amounts of diatoms are retained, even concentrated, in the lung tissues during the intense breathing movement in drowning process. This might be useful for the diagnosis of drowning. Our research indicates that the MD‐VF‐Auto SEM method would be a valuable methodology in the study of diatom test for the forensic community.