Free amino acid concentrations in vitreous humor and cerebrospinal fluid in relation to the cause of death and postmortem interval

We studied free amino acids in vitreous humor and cerebrospinal fluid from 58 cadavers in the course of routine medicolegal autopsies in the city of Granada. The main objective was to establish whether free amino acids contents in these fluids were related with the cause of death, postmortem interval, and severity of the classic signs of asphyxia. The amino acids (aspartic acid, glutamic acid, serine, glutamine, glycine/threonine/histidine, citruline, arginine, alanine, taurine, GABA, tirosine, valine, methionine, isoleucine, phenylalanine/tryptophan, leucine, and lysine) were quantified by high performance liquid chromatography. There were no statistically significant differences in amino acids concentrations in vitreous humor when the different causes of death were considered. Our results did not show any statistically significant relationship when asphyxial score was plotted against the vitreous content of each amino acid. A statistically significant increase with postmortem interval was observed in vitreous taurine (r = 0.3191, p = 0.01461), glutamate (r = 0.4323, p = 0.0007) and particularly in aspartate (r = 0.4508, p = 0.0003).     

玻璃体液化学成分规律性改变与死亡时间推断的研究进展

死亡时间（postmortem interval．PMI）的准确推断是法医尸体检验工作中的难题之一,PMI推断对刑事案件的侦察和审判具有重要的意义。人死亡后不同时间眼玻璃体液化学成分的规律性变化,如钾、镁、氨、尿素氮、肌酐和尿酸、次黄嘌呤、乳酸的含量逐渐升高,而钙、钠、酶类、葡萄糖、维生素C的含量逐渐降低,有助于比较准确地进行PMI推断。本文对其在法医学领域的研究进展进行综述。     

Vitreous Humor: Biochemical Constituents in Estimation of Postmortem Interval*,†

Abstract: Analysis of biochemical constituents of the vitreous humor can be useful in determining the postmortem interval as there is proportionate postmortem rise of potassium and fall in sodium concentration. We studied 120 autopsy cases to determine the utility of potassium, sodium, calcium, and chloride levels, and sodium/potassium ratio in estimating the postmortem interval. There was a linear relationship between vitreous potassium concentration and postmortem interval, whereas an inverse relationship between vitreous sodium/potassium ratio and postmortem interval was noted. Other factors like age, sex, cause of death, season of death, and refrigeration of sample did not influence the vitreous humor potassium values. Using the statistical tools, a new formula was derived to determine the postmortem interval based on the potassium concentration and a review of previous literature is presented. Hence, the findings of this study supported a central role of vitreous humor biochemistry in many postmortem forensic and pathological evaluations.     

Estimation of Time of Death With a Fourier Series Unsteady‐State Heat Transfer Model

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to return to fundamental principles of heat transfer and derive a suitable model to establish a firm basis for constructing a postmortem human cooling curve. A Fourier Series Model was successfully applied to unsteady heat transfer within a wooden cylinder in controlled laboratory conditions. Wood has similar thermal diffusivity properties as human tissue. By manipulation of the model, sensitivity analyses were performed to observe the impact of changes in values of input variables. Variables of initial temperature of the cylinder and ambient surrounding temperature were shown to be very sensitive and have the most impact upon predictive results of the model. The model was also used to demonstrate the existence of an initial temperature plateau, which is often the subject of controversy in estimating time of death. Finally, it was demonstrated how the Fourier Series Model can be applied to estimate time of death for humans.     

猪眼玻璃体液钾离子、次黄嘌呤浓度变化与PMI推断

目的 研究猪眼玻璃体液成分变化及其与死亡时间(postmortem interval,PMI)的关系.方法放血处死家猪后取带眼睑的眼球96只,随机分为24组,在避光、温度(15±2)℃、湿度(50±5)%条件下分别放置2～96h,采集玻璃体液,运用全自动生化检测仪、超高效液相色谱检测K+、Na+、Cl-及次黄嘌呤(hy...     

不同温度下兔玻璃体液K~+浓度与死亡时间的关系研究

目的探索在不同环境温度条件下,玻璃体液中钾离子浓度变化规律与死亡时间的关系。方法家兔处死后分别置于5℃、15℃、25℃和35℃温度下保存,在0~120h内每12h双眼交替微量提取玻璃体液80~100μL;应用罗氏DPPI生化分析仪检测玻璃体液中K~+的浓度;应用插值函数进行分析拟合,建立死亡时间推断方程。结果各温度组家兔玻璃体液中K~+浓度随死亡时间延长均呈上升趋势,对所得数据进行插值拟合,在5℃~35℃的温度变化区间内,K~+浓度变化与PMI关系的三元五次曲面方程:f(x,y)=-1.998e~(14)+1.345e~(12)x+5.902e~(13)y+0.005 585x~2-4.509e~(11)xy-3.876e~(12)y~2-0.000 286 8x~3+0.003 545x~2y+4.406e~(10)xy~2-1.746e~(10)y~3+2.669e~(-6)x~4-1.568e~(-5)x~3y-0.000 177 1x~2y~2-1.64e~9xy~3+6.669e~9y~4-8.672e~(-9)x~5+4.467e~(-8)x~4y+2.354e~(-7)x~3y~2+2.459e~(-6)x~2y~3+2.05e~7xy~4-1.214e~8y~5(R~2=0.995 6),其中温度为自变量x,K~+浓度值为自变量y,PMI为因变量f(x,y)。结论在5℃~35℃的环境温度区间内,家兔眼玻璃体液中K~+浓度变化与死亡时间关系符合三元五次方程分布,利用插值函数拟合的方法可将环境温度作为参数,实现在环境温度变化条件下进行死亡时间推断。     

家兔死后眼玻璃体液消光度与死亡时间关系研究

目的 为寻找一种精确推定死亡时间的方法。方法 应用 754分光光度计,在 420nm波长下,检测了 48只家兔死后不同时间的眼玻璃体液消光度,探讨其与死亡时间的关系。结果 眼玻璃体液消光度（ X）与死亡时间（ Y）呈线性正相关（ r=0.983 27, P< 0.05）,在死后 0～ 72小时,眼玻璃体液消光度与死亡时间存在回归关系（ F=116.54, P< 0.05）,直线回归方程为： Y = 453.30X＋ 0.75 [Y为死亡时间 (PMI),单位为小时; X为眼玻璃体液消光度 ]。结论眼玻璃体液消光度的测定可作为推断死后 72小时内死亡时间的参考指标之一。     

家兔眼玻璃体液21例元素含量PMI关系的研究

目的寻找一种精确推定PMI的方法。方法应用电感耦合等离子体质谱(ICP-MS),系统研究了家兔死后96h内眼玻璃体液21种元素含量与PMI的相关性。结果眼玻璃体液Co、Mo、Cd、Sb、I、Pb、Bi、Li共8种元素与PMI无关。K、Mg、Fe、P、Na、Al、Ca、Ti、Ni、Cu、Zn、Sr、Ba共13种元素含量与PMI有关。结论眼玻璃体液K、Mg、Fe、P、Na、Al、Ca、Ti、Ni、Cu、Zn、Sr、Ba共13种元素与PMI有关。为研究人尸体眼玻璃体液元素与PMI的关系奠定了选择指标的基础。     

不同环境条件下大鼠死后皮肤大体和组织学改变

目的研究观察大鼠在不同环境条件下死后不同时间其皮肤大体、组织学的改变,为推测较长的死后间隔时间建立实验动物依据。方法观察雌性SD大鼠在不同环境条件下的死后变化,并间隔一定死后时间取皮、染色和镜下观察。结果死后发生骨、软组织分离,A组约需35d,B组需13d。皮肤有形细胞成分和附属器完全分解破坏,A组约20d,B组7d。胶原纤维在A组死后40d（B组12d）仍有部分保留完整。结论环境温度差异是造成A、B两组发生死后改变时程不同的主要因素,利用皮肤大体、组织学改变可望较系统和准确的推测晚期死亡时间。     

家兔死后玻璃体液电导率变化与死亡时间的关系

目的探讨家兔死后玻璃体液电导率变化与死亡时间的相关性。方法采用电导分析法检测家兔30℃下死后48h内及20℃下死后120h内玻璃体液电导率变化。结果30℃和20℃下家兔死后玻璃体液电导率随死亡时间延长而持续升高。经统计分析得到抛物线型二项式回归方程,其相关系数分别为0.970和0.983,两式P〈0.01。结论家兔死后玻璃体液电导率升高程度可以作为推断死亡时间的参考指标。     

Utility of the Frontonasal Suture for Estimating Age at Death in Human Skeletal Remains*

Abstract: This project evaluated the utility of the frontonasal suture for estimating age at death. Utilizing human remains of known age at death with varying degrees of fusion, curated at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City and the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC, data were collected from the ectocranial surface of 522 crania; 68 of these were sagittally sectioned, allowing collection of internal data and observation of suture closure through the bone. Degree of ectocranial suture closure does not significantly predict age, even when sex and ancestry are accounted for. Suture closure progression data were converted into a Hershkovitz ratio (sum of the measurement of open portion divided by the total suture length), and regression models demonstrate that the effect of age accounts for only 13% of variation in suture closure.     

家兔急性胰腺炎死后不同时间眼玻璃体液淀粉酶变化

目的探讨急性胰腺炎死后不同时间眼玻璃体液淀粉酶变化。方法用1%牛胆酸钠诱导家兔急性胰腺炎动物模型建立,于死后不同时间和正常对照组,观察其淀粉酶变化。结果家兔急性胰腺炎死后72h眼玻璃体液淀粉酶含量(x)与死亡时间(y)存在相关关系,并导出其二项式回归方程为y=8.7420 0.7699x-0.0083x2(R2=92.62792,F=14.89734,P=0.001)。可作为推定早期损伤时间的参考指标。结论家兔急性胰腺炎死后不同时间眼玻璃体液淀粉酶改变为法医早期死亡时间推断提供了灵敏客观的实验依据。     

Algor mortis: an erroneous measurement following postmortem refrigeration

Determination of the time of death is one goal of medicolegal death investigations. Algor mortis has been used as a measure of the postmortem interval (PMI). We prospectively recorded the core temperatures of 19 adult bodies entering our morgue cooler and at 3, 6, and 9 h of refrigeration. We then compared the cooling rate with the calculated body mass index (BMI). For each individual body, the rate of cooling was fairly linear with no evidence of a plateau. There was fair to moderate correlation between the BMI and the cooling rate: cooling rate = -0.052 (BMI) + 3.52. The probability of linearity in any given case was 36%. Variables affecting this correlation included the presence and the layers of clothing and if the clothing was wet. Our data confirm that algor mortis is of very limited utility in determining the PMI in bodies that have been refrigerated.     

家兔死后眼玻璃体液锌、镍含量与 PMI关系的研究

目的寻找一种精确推定PMI的方法。方法应用电感耦合等离子体质谱（ICP－MS）,检测了家兔死后96小时内眼玻璃体液锌、镍元素含量,探讨其与PMI的相关性。结果家兔死后24h内眼玻璃体液锌、镍元素含量与PMI显著相关,可作为推定早期PMI的参考指标,其二项式回归方程分别为y=0.1404x2－1.3351x＋3.8298（R2=0.9202）、y=0.0043x2－0.0596x＋0.2665（R2=0.9103）。结论家兔眼玻璃体液中Zn、Ni元素含量变化是推定早期PMI的参考指标之一。