Estimation of the time since death

The main principle of the determination of the time since death is the calculation of a measurable date along a time-dependent curve back to the start point. Characteristics of the curve (e.g. the slope) and the start point are influenced by internal and external, antemortem and postmortem conditions. These influencing factors have to be taken into consideration quantitatively in order to improve the precision of death time estimation. It does not make any sense to study the postmortem time course of any analyte without considering influencing factors and giving statistical parameters of the variability. Comparison of different methods requires an investigation of the same postmortem interval. For practical purposes, it must be concluded that the amount of literature on estimating the time since death has a reverse correlation with its importance in practice.     

Estimation of the time since death: sudden increase of ambient temperature

This work presents a procedure for the postmortem interval estimation in the presence of a rapid increase of ambient temperature occurred during the cooling phase. The resulting disturbance produced on the cooling curve is proved to obey a two-exponential law and is removed from the actually measured body temperature. This yields a theoretical/modified body temperature, which enables the estimation of the time since death by means of the standard Nomogram method.     

Strontium90 for determination of time since death

Strontium90 (Sr90) is an artificial nuclear fission product of the atmospheric a-bomb testing between 1945 and 1979. It was spread throughout the atmosphere in the following years. Sr90 is an analogue to calcium and therefore enriched in human bones. Several studies especially in the 1960s and 1970s were undertaken to investigate the Sr90 burden and the resulting incorporated radiation in humans, but present studies are missing. In this study nine bone samples, three from 1931/32 and six from 1989 to 1994 were examined by measuring the Sr90 radiation. The samples from 1931/32 did not show any Sr90 activity. All the samples from 1989 and later showed a Sr90 activity, but the intensity was very variable. Subsequent investigations should be done to determine the cut-off year for measurable Sr90 activity. Furthermore the determination of a specific time since death depending on Sr90 activity should be possible, due to the ranging Sr90 pollution between 1950 and 1980 and different uptake in adolescents and adults.     

Strontium-90 as an indicator of time since death: a pilot investigation.

The results of a pilot investigation are presented. The study aimed to show that the presence of radioactive strontium-90 in human bone could be used as evidence of active uptake during life. In this way the time since death of the individual could be identified as occurring before or after the date when atmospheric levels of radioactive strontium were at a peak in the early 1960s. The results of this initial investigation were encouraging but further detailed analysis is required on a substantially larger sample of material spanning a more controlled time period.     

Comment on the Marshall-Hoare-Henssge model for estimating the time since death

Timewise temperature variations in objects that are undergoing unsteady heating or cooling is a commonly encountered problem in the thermal sciences. One particular area of application is the cooling of a body post-death and the use of body temperatures to estimate the time of death. Here, a new approach based on the theory of transient heat transfer is formulated to allow efficient calculation of unsteady conduction problems. The theoretically derived unsteady temperature models are compared with experimentally based correlations (the Marshall-Hoare-Henssge model). The two approaches are found to agree very well. With this new theoretically based approach, timewise temperature variation can be calculated for both large and small Biot number transient problems.     

Microscopical study on estimation of time since death in skeletal remains

For the purpose of estimating time since death in skeletal remains, postmortem changes in human compact bones were examined by microradiography and electron microscopy. The UV-fluorescence of the peripheral zone of compact bone was also examined by microscopic spectrophotometry. Microradiographic examination revealed no morphological changes in bones left in the open air for long periods, except one of 15 years since death. In bones left in the soil, vacuoles of 5-10 microns diameter, which contained a honeycomb-like structure formed by small vacuoles of 0.5-1 microns diameter, were found in the peripheral zone of the substantia compacta approximately 5 years since death, and in bones of 6 years or more, this change extended to the mid-zone. In bones left in the sea for 4-5 years, vacuoles of 5-10 microns diameter were observed in the outer peripheral zone of the substantia compacta. The relative intensity of UV-fluorescence in bones dwindled with time since death and the correlation coefficient was considerably high.     

利用嗜尸性蝇类生活史推测死亡时间

目的积累一些嗜尸性蝇类生活史的资料及群落组成的季节性变动规律。方法采用动物尸体作诱饵,分别对自然飞到诱饵上繁殖生长的8种嗜尸性蝇类的生活史及群落组成的季节性变动规律进行观察研究。结果夏季高温时段蝇类群落组成物种较为丰富,冬季低温时段蝇类种群较为单一。常见8种嗜尸性蝇类虫态经历时间在气温高时较短,气温低时较长。结论嗜尸性蝇类生活史及群落组成的季节性变动规律可为推测死亡时间提供依据。     

Precision of estimating the time since death by vitreous potassium--comparison of two different equations

The precision of death time estimation by vitreous potassium using two different formulas [1-3] is compared on an independent random sample of 100 cases. The very flat slope in Sturner's equation is the reason for a systematic overestimation of the time since death with much wider 95%-limits of confidence compared to the results using an own equation with a steeper slope of vitreous potassium.     

根据蝇类蛆长度变化系数θ推断尸体死亡时间

目的通过动物实验,探寻嗜尸蝇类蛆的生长长度与尸体死亡时间之间的关系,从而为判断尸体死亡时间提供参考依据。方法将实验用犬击毙后观察尸蝇来到犬尸上的时间、产卵时间、卵期、蛆增长到规定长度所需时间。结果证实蛆虫长度与尸体死亡时间存在正相关性,并进而推算出相关系数θ,从而推导出了一个通过蛆虫长度计算尸体死亡时间的公式。结论通过实际案例的验证,通过该公式可以计算出尸体的大致死亡时间。     

家兔死后的角膜厚度变化及其与死亡时间的关系

目的探讨家兔死后不同时间角膜厚度变化及其与死亡时间的关系。方法将25只家兔采用空气栓塞的方法处死后,用角膜超声测厚仪分别于死后即刻、2h、4h、8h、12h和24h测量角膜的厚度,所得数据进行统计学处理。结果即刻死亡家兔角膜厚度平均值为（357.10±6.41）μm,死亡24h角膜厚度平均增加（187.52±11.38）μm;4h内,眼睑开启与闭合对角膜厚度的增加无明显影响（F=3.5290,P〉0.05）,8h后随时间延长,眼睑闭合角膜厚度为（429.24±8.80）μm,明显超过眼睑开启角膜平均厚度（421.40±9.53）μm,其差异有显著性意义（F=14.4480,P〈0.05）。眼睑闭合的角膜厚度与死亡时间关系为y=8.2418x＋357.33（相关系数r1=0.8732）;眼睑开启的角膜厚度与死亡时间关系为y=7.3737x＋357.23（r2=0.8578）。结论在一定条件下,家兔死后24h内角膜厚度与死亡时间呈线性相关。     

The evolution of methods for estimating the time of death from body temperature

A chronological survey is offered of the development of concepts and techniques to use body temperature in the estimation of time since death. For a century and a half, this method has been investigated, though accuracy still cannot be claimed, especially in operational conditions.     

单体素~1H-MRS推断死亡时间的初步研究

目的检测脑内N-乙酰天门冬氨酸、胆碱复合物及磷酸肌酸和肌酸的变化规律,并探讨其与死亡时间的关系。方法选取12只白兔,利用单体素氢质子磁共振波谱测定死后0.5、1、2、4、6、8、12、16、24h脑内N-乙酰天门冬氨酸、胆碱复合物及磷酸肌酸和肌酸峰下面积;分析其在上述时间点的变化规律,建立与死亡时间相关的回归方程。结果在死后24h内N-乙酰天门冬氨酸、磷酸肌酸和肌酸峰下面积随死亡时间的延长而降低(各时间点比较P<0.05),胆碱复合物在死后24h内无明显变化(各时间点比较P>0.05)。回归方程为:Naa:y=0.7425x2-27.282x+299.984(R2=0.962);Cr:y=0.3234x2-12.007x+210.503(R2=0.986)。结论死后24h内兔脑N-乙酰天门冬氨酸、磷酸肌酸和肌酸呈现出一定的变化规律,其与死亡时间相关程度较高,可用于对一定条件下死亡时间的推断。     

室外温度与室内恒温下EC随死后经历时间的变化

目的在室外环境和室内恒温条件下测定昼夜不同时间猪后腿肌肉电导率(electrical conductivity,EC)值,分析并比较两种环境条件下,EC值随死后经历时间(time since death, TSD)变化的规律。方法取5块即刻屠宰的猪后腿肌肉,均分为两份,随机分成两组,分别置于秋季室外环境和室内18℃恒温环境中。在死后10d内分别于早晚8时(每隔12h)取样,测定其浸渍液EC值。结果两种环境条件下,EC随TSD变化的趋势在整体上是一致的,二者相关性均较好(R2室外=0.971,P室外=0.004,R2室内=0.98,P室内=0.002)。室外环境温度下,肌肉的EC值在白天增长明显,夜间增长不明显,尤其环境温度低于13℃时,出现明显的平台现象,与室内恒温条件下肌肉EC值持续上升的变化趋势有显著的差异。结论无论室外环境温度还是室内恒温下,肌肉EC与TSD的相关性均较好,但在具体分析时,应考虑到夜间低温平台期造成的时间延搁。