大鼠死后皮肤傅里叶变换红外光谱变化与死亡时间的关系

目的运用傅里叶变换红外(Fourier transform infrared,FTIR)光谱技术分析大鼠死后15d内背部皮肤的光谱变化,以此推断死亡时间。方法大鼠麻醉后颈椎脱臼处死,置于温度为25℃、湿度为50%的环境中,分别于不同时间点提取其背部皮肤,收集红外光谱数据,并利用机器学习技术对数据进行分析。结果大鼠死后背部皮肤组织光谱吸收峰的峰位未发生明显改变,其强度随死亡时间延长而发生变化;偏最小二乘(partial least squares,PLS)回归构建的死亡时间推断模型决定系数(R2)为0.92,预测均方根误差为1.30 d。根据模型中的变量投影重要性(variable importance for projection,VIP)指标确定推断死亡时间的贡献波段为1760~1700cm-1、1660~1640cm-1、1580~1540cm-1和1460~1420cm-1。结论应用FTIR技术检测大鼠死后皮肤组织的光谱学改变,为死亡时间推断提供了一种新的思路。     

傅里叶变换红外光谱技术在死亡时间推断中的运用

死亡时间(postmortem interval,PMI)推断是命案现场首先要解决的重要问题之一,因此法医学者运用了大量的技术和统计学方法试图精确推断PMI.由于PMI推断受到外部、内部、死亡前和死亡后等多种因素影响,既往多种方法均存在局限性.傅里叶变换红外(Fourier transform infrared,FTIR)光谱技术已应用于蛋白质、核酸、碳水化合物的纯品物质研究上,近年来也被广泛用于研究复杂的细胞和组织.功能强大的计算机软件可以对光谱变换、平滑、基线校正、归一化等进行处理,使FTIR光谱仪对样本的定量研究成为可能,并从分析化学领域推广到生物学和临床医学研究.本文综述了FTIR光谱原理及其在生物医学中的应用,并着重阐述死后尸体组织的FTIR光谱学变化及在PMI推断中的应用价值.     

大鼠心肌傅里叶变换红外光谱变化与死亡时间的关系

目的应用傅里叶变换红外(Fourier transform infrared,FTIR)光谱技术分析大鼠死后心肌组织随死亡时间推移的化学降解过程,为死亡时间推断的研究提供新的途径与方法。方法大鼠断颈处死后置于(20±2)℃环境,在不同死亡时间点提取大鼠左心室心肌组织,并使用FTIR光谱仪测定不同化学基团的变化。结果随着死亡时间的推移,大鼠心肌组织FTIR光谱的主要吸收峰位没有明显变化,而其吸光度随着死亡时间增加呈现出增加、下降和稳定3种不同的变化方式,且不同峰的吸光度比显示了相似的时间变化趋势。结论心肌组织可以作为FTIR光谱技术分析死亡时间的适用检材。     

256例命案尸体死亡时间推断的回顾性分析

目的探讨降低死亡时间推断误差的方法。方法收集常州市和南京市2003年1月一2013年1月256例已破命案．采用传统方法进行死亡时间推断,与破案后获得的实际死亡时间进行比较,并根据死亡时间进行分组,计算死亡时间推断准确率,分析判断错误原因。结果早期尸体死亡时间（≤12h和13～24h）推断准确率分别为90％、89％,晚期尸体死亡时间（1—7d、1～2周、3～4周、1～6个月、7～12个月和1～5年）的推断准确率随时间的延长下降,分别为79％、76％、83％、79％、60％和50％。推断方法不当、水中尸体、极端温度、客观依据不足、抛尸以及变动或破坏现场是影响死亡时间推断准确率的常见因素。结论综合参考多项指标可降低死亡时间推断的误差。     

死后大鼠脾脏组织FTIR测量结果的法医学分析

目的应用傅里叶变换红外（FTIR）光谱技术分析大鼠死后脾脏组织随死亡时间增加的化学变化过程,为死亡时间推断研究提供新的途径与研究数据。方法大鼠断颈处死后,在30℃、20℃及4℃环境中,不同死亡时间点提取大鼠脾脏组织,并运用FTIR光谱仪测定不同化学基团随死亡时间的变化。结果随着死亡时间的推移,大鼠脾脏组织FTIR光谱的主要吸收峰峰位没有明显变化,而其吸收峰强度有明显差异：（1）1080cm-1和1238cm-1被指认核酸谱带吸收峰的峰强呈下降趋势;（2）1541cm-1被指认酰胺Ⅱ吸收峰的峰强呈上升变化;（3）1396cm-1被指认脂肪酸吸收峰的峰强呈上升变化;（4）指认为C-H结构振动的2852、2871、2923、2958cm-1吸收峰的峰强呈现上升趋势。结论 FTIR光谱分析技术有望成为法医死亡时间推断的有效方法。     

家兔死后心肌酰胺A带的傅里叶变换红外光谱图像分析

目的 应用傅里叶变换红外光谱成像系统研究家兔心肌酰胺A带变化与死亡时间的关系.方法 将32只家兔处死后取出心脏,20℃保存,于48h内不同时间点取样并制作切片.用傅里叶变换红外光谱成像系统绘制酰胺A带图像,分析研究死后酰胺A带阳性与阴性面积比的变化规律. 结果 48h内随死亡时间(x)的延长,酰胺A带的阳性与阴性面积比...     

Bioelectrical Impedance as a Technique for Estimating Postmortem Interval,,

Estimation of postmortem interval (PMI) is a critical component of death investigation. A cadaver can be hypothesized to be a resistor–capacitor (RC) circuit the impedance (Z) of which changes in a quantifiable manner as the cadaver decomposes. This hypothesis was tested using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) equipment to apply a current with a fixed amplitude at a single frequency to four cadavers over time and measuring two components of Z, resistance (R) and reactance (X_c). Quadratic regression analysis between Z and accumulated degree days (ADD) showed a statistically significant parabolic relationship. The parabolic relationship poses an initial challenge to the use of the method, and additional research is needed to address this issue. However, the results of the reported research support the hypothesis that Z measured using BIA has a relationship to PMI.     

The Role of Vitreous Magnesium Quantification in Estimating the Postmortem Interval

The use of magnesium as a parameter to estimate the time of death is controversial. In 32 traumatic deaths with known postmortem intervals (PMIs), small quantities of vitreous humor (VH) were sampled repetitively every 3 h until 24 h postmortem. The bodies were kept at the constant ambient temperature of 20°C (68°F). The concentrations of magnesium were in the range of 0.47–1.15 mM. A statistically significant correlation of the concentration of magnesium with the PMI was observed (r = 0.453, p < 0.01), but with small predictive value—coefficient of variation for regression was 45.5%; the average of the paired differences between the estimated and actual PMIs was 5.24 + 3.19 h. Although useful results might be expected due to the large transmembrane gradient for magnesium, the results of this study strongly disprove the usefulness of measuring magnesium in VH to estimate the time of death.     

硬脑膜厚度及生物力学参数时序性变化在死亡时间推断中的应用

目的研究人尸体硬脑膜厚度以及生物力学参数与死亡时间(postmortem interval,PMI)的关系,探讨其用于推断PMI的可行性。方法收集尸体检验的硬脑膜样本并按死后6h、12h、18h、24h、30h、36h、48h、60h、72h、84h、96h分组,统一制作成4.0cm×1.0cm的A、B两块试件。测量A试件厚度后检测极限载荷、最大力变形、抗拉强度、弹性模量、断裂力等生物力学参数,分别拟合厚度和生物力学参数值与PMI的回归方程,并通过验证组验证PMI预测值与实际值之间的差异。B试件经10%中性甲醛溶液固定后制备组织切片观察其形态学变化。结果死后6~96h,硬脑膜厚度逐渐减小,胶原纤维从排列清晰逐渐变为相互融合,细胞核数量逐渐变少;硬脑膜厚度、极限载荷、抗拉强度、弹性模量、断裂力呈时序性下降趋势,其中硬脑膜厚度、极限载荷、弹性模量、断裂力与PMI具有相关性(P<0.05)。回代检验中验证组PMI实际值和预测值之间差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论人死后6~96 h的硬脑膜厚度、极限载荷、弹性模量、断裂力呈时序性变化,利用其与PMI的关系建立的回归方程可用于PMI推断。     

大鼠死后骨骼肌FTIR光谱变化与死亡时间的关系

目的应用傅立叶变换红外光谱(FTIR)分析大鼠死后骨骼肌随死亡时间推移的化学降解过程,为死亡时间推断提供新的研究方法。方法大鼠断颈处死后置于(20±2)℃环境,不同的死亡时间点提取大鼠大腿骨骼肌组织,并运用FTIR光谱仪测定不同化学基团随死亡时间的变化。结果随着死亡时间的推移,大鼠骨骼肌组织不同吸收峰的峰强随着死亡时间增加呈现出四种不同的变化方式:增加、下降、稳定、波动,且不同峰强比显示了相似的时间变化趋势。结论FTIR光谱分析技术有望成为法医实践中推断死亡时间的新方法。     

早期死亡时间推断研究进展

死亡时间推断在判断案件的性质、划定侦查范围及锁定嫌疑人等方面至关重要,一直是法医病理学工作的重点和难点。早期死亡时间,即指死后24 h以内,由于距离案发时间更短,对其准确推断能促进案件的成功侦破,具有重要的法医学意义。近年来,国内外法医学者运用一系列新方法和新技术对早期死亡时间推断进行了大量研究。本文对体液生物化学、超生反应、代谢组学、影像学、遗传物质降解规律等方面的研究进展进行综述,以期为早期死亡时间推断的研究和应用提供新的思路。     

An Aquatic Decomposition Scoring Method to Potentially Predict the Postmortem Submersion Interval of Bodies Recovered from the North Sea

This study aimed to develop an aquatic decomposition scoring (ADS) method and investigated the predictive value of this method in estimating the postmortem submersion interval (PMSI) of bodies recovered from the North Sea. This method, consisting of an ADS item list and a pictorial reference atlas, showed a high interobserver agreement (Krippendorff's alpha ≥ 0.93) and hence proved to be valid. This scoring method was applied to data, collected from closed cases—cases in which the postmortal submersion interval (PMSI) was known—concerning bodies recovered from the North Sea from 1990 to 2013. Thirty‐eight cases met the inclusion criteria and were scored by quantifying the observed total aquatic decomposition score (TADS). Statistical analysis demonstrated that TADS accurately predicts the PMSI (p < 0.001), confirming that the decomposition process in the North Sea is strongly correlated to time.     

Application of MALDI‐TOF MS for Estimating the Postmortem Interval in Rat Muscle Samples

Estimating the postmortem interval (PMI) is very important in the forensic sciences. Although many approaches have been used for estimating the PMI, accurate PMI calculations are still difficult. In this study, four Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were sacrificed by suffocation, and muscle samples were collected by dissection at various time intervals (0, 48, 96, and 144 h) after death. All samples were probed using matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (MALDI‐TOFMS) to obtain molecular images and data for principal component analysis (PCA). The results showed that the peaks at m/z 1511, 1543, 1564, 1586 clearly decreased in intensity from 0 to 144 h postmortem and that the time groups were separated from each other on the PCA score plot. The prediction model showed high recognition capability (95.93%) and cross‐validation (83.72%). Our work suggests that MALDI‐TOF MS can be used to determine the PMI.     

Potential Use of Bacterial Community Succession in Decaying Human Bone for Estimating Postmortem Interval,,

Bacteria are taphonomic agents of human decomposition, potentially useful for estimating postmortem interval (PMI) in late‐stage decomposition. Bone samples from 12 individuals and three soil samples were analyzed to assess the effects of decomposition and advancing time on bacterial communities. Results indicated that partially skeletonized remains maintained a presence of bacteria associated with the human gut, whereas bacterial composition of dry skeletal remains maintained a community profile similar to soil communities. Variation in the UniFrac distances was significantly greater between groups than within groups (p < 0.001) for the unweighted metric and not the weighted metric. The members of the bacterial communities were more similar within than between decomposition stages. The oligotrophic environment of bone relative to soft tissue and the physical protection of organic substrates may preclude bacterial blooms during the first years of skeletonization. Therefore, community membership (unweighted) may be better for estimating PMI from skeletonized remains than community structure (weighted).     

大鼠肌肉中微生物ATP含量及其在死亡时间推断中的应用

目的 研究死后大鼠肌肉组织中微生物ATP浓度变化及其与死亡时间(postmortem interval,PMI)的关系. 方法取健康SD大鼠处死,死后不同时间取肌肉组织,用生物发光法检测微生物ATP浓度,对所得数据进行统计学处理.结果 死后肌肉组织中微生物ATP含量随时间延长而增加,于7d达到高峰,随后逐渐降低,并于10d再次略微升高.PMI在0～9d内与肌肉中微生物ATP含量变化拟合最优.以PMI为自变量的三次多项式回归方程为:y=0.020x3-0.166x2-0.666x+13.412(r2=0.989,P<0.01).结论 死后肌肉组织中微生物ATP含量变化可用于PMI推测;本检测方法所需检材量小,不受组织自身降解的影响.     

猪肋软骨和肋骨的ATR-FTIR光谱变化与死亡时间的关系

目的应用衰减全反射傅里叶变换红外(attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared,ATRFTIR)光谱技术分析长白猪死后肋软骨和肋骨组织随死亡时间推移的化学降解过程,为死后较长时间段内推断死亡时间提供可行的新途径和方法。方法猪放血处死后取肋软骨和肋骨离体置于20℃环境,后每72 h提取部分组织样本,进行ATR-FTIR光谱分析,并与对应死亡时间点进行相关性分析。结果随死亡时间的延长,肋软骨与肋骨FTIR的主要吸收峰峰位没有发生明显变化,而其部分峰强比出现了不同时序性的变化趋势,并与死亡时间存在良好的相关性,肋软骨较肋骨组织有更好的时序性。结论应用ATRFTIR光谱技术发现死后猪肋软骨和肋骨组织光谱学变化存在一定的规律性,有望成为基于光谱学推断死亡时间的一种新途径。     

Internal Morphological Analysis for Age Estimation of Blow Fly Pupae (Diptera: Calliphoridae) in Postmortem Interval Estimation*

Abstract: Larvae and pupae of blow fly species are frequently used in postmortem interval estimation, their age indicating minimum time since death. Most studies have considered age estimation of larvae, neglecting study of pupae. Relative development of external pupal features is useful, but there are also internal changes during metamorphosis that may be indicators of age, utilizing histological techniques. This study aimed to optimize preservation and histological analysis of blow fly pupae, specifically Calliphora vicina Robineau‐Desvoidy and Lucilia sericata (Meigen), and to examine internal features with potential for age estimation. Effect of hot‐water‐killing and different preservatives were examined. It was determined that blow fly pupae should be pierced through the three tagma, hot‐water‐killed, and preserved in 80% ethanol as the optimal preservation for subsequent analyses. Hematoxylin and eosin stained pupal sections revealed differences in brain and thoracic muscle development throughout the pupal stage with potential for age estimation.     

实验性大鼠弥漫性轴索损伤的傅里叶红外光谱检测

目的探讨利用傅里叶红外光谱技术诊断弥漫性轴索损伤的可行性。方法利用HE染色、银染和β-APP免疫组化染色确认大鼠弥漫性轴索损伤模型,利用傅里叶变换显微红外光谱面扫描成像技术检测弥漫性轴索损伤区域酰胺Ⅱ带的光谱分布情况,得到弥漫性轴索损伤的红外光谱数据,绘制红外光谱病理图像。结果实验组与对照组的酰胺Ⅱ带红外光谱吸收度之间存在明显差异,红外光谱病理图像中酰胺Ⅱ带的高吸收区与弥漫性轴索损伤区符合。结论傅里叶红外光谱技术可对弥漫性轴索损伤进行病理形态学诊断。     

Potential Forensic Application of Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products (RAGE) as a Novel Biomarker for Estimating Postmortem Interval

Studies which estimate the postmortem interval (PMI) based on diatoms or bacterial communities have been well‐conducted. However, predicting the PMI based on microorganisms has limited accuracy. The objective of this study was to discover specific biomarkers for estimating the PMI for drowning. The in vivo experimental model consisted of rats classified into nine groups (seven drowned groups from Day 1 to Day 7 and two control groups). Their lung tissues were analyzed for the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) mRNA expression determined by qRT‐PCR. RAGE protein levels were determined by Western blotting and immunohistochemical (IHC) staining. RAGE mRNA and protein levels gradually degraded over time. Immunostaining analysis revealed that RAGE in the Day 1 sample was significantly higher than that in the Day 6 or Day 7 samples. These results indicate that RAGE in drowned lungs could be a potential biomarker for the determination of the PMI after drowning.     

A Forensic Entomological Analysis Can Yield an Estimate of Postmortem Interval,and Not Just a Minimum Postmortem Interval: An Explanation and Illustration Using a Case

Several authors claimed that a forensic entomological analysis can never be interpreted as the postmortem interval (PMI), but that it can be interpreted as a minimum postmortem interval (PMI_min), or dead for not less than X amount of time. Because in most instances, a PMI estimate should be a range, that is, the set of values from maximum postmortem interval (PMI_max) to PMI_min, objections to PMI estimation are objections to PMI_max estimation. The arguments for this position did not address the substantial body of literature describing estimation of both PMI_max and PMI_min using insect succession analysis. This report reviews the scientific issues and presents a recent homicide investigation in which several forensic entomology experts used the absence of carrion insects on the corpse, a kind of succession analysis, to estimate PMI or PMI_max.