电击伤与电击死的法医学研究进展

电击伤和电击死是法医实践工作中常遇到的案例,尽管有许多学者从电击伤(死)后各个组织器官的形态学以及分子水平的变化进行了大量的研究,但实际检案中,法医工作者对其诊断(主要是对无电流斑的死因推断)仍没有统一的标准和直接客观的特异性指标,且对电击工具的推断、生前电击和死后电击的鉴别以及电击死后死亡时间的判断都有一定的困难,故其一直是法医学研究的热点。本文针对以上问题对电击伤(死)的法医学研究进展做一综述,为对其进一步研究提供一些思路。     

Unusual self-electrocution simulating judicial electrocution by an adolescent

Electrocution is one of the rarest modes of suicide. In this case, one school going adolescent committed suicide by electrocution using bare electric wire. This is a rare case of suicidal death by applying live wires around the wrists, simulating the act of judicial electrocution. He positioned himself on armed chair and placed the nude wire loops from a cable around both wrists and switched on the current by plugging in to nearest socket by foot. There were linear electric contact wounds completely encircling around the both wrists. In addition to these linear electric burns all around wrists, there were electrical burns over both hands. This death highlights the need of supervision and close watch on children for self-destructing activities and behavior. This case also highlights unusual method adopted by adolescent to end his life.     

Study on electrocution death by low-voltage

Seven cases of electrocution death by low voltage (<80 V) were studied. Autopsy was carried out and the death scene was investigated. The conditions for low-voltage electrocution death, the state of the victim at the time of electrocution, postmortem examination and the nature of the electricity is discussed. It was pointed out that low-voltage electrocution was related to the nature of electricity, individual characteristics and environment conditions.     

Internal current mark in a case of suicide by electrocution.

Fatalities caused by electrocution often lack specific morphologic evidence. Investigation of the death scene along with technical inspection of the electrical apparatus may help in clarifying the cause and manner of death. Cutaneous current marks may be the only sign of low voltage associated fatalities. The authors report a case of an electrician who committed suicide by electrocution using a time switch after oral ingestion of diazepam. Electrodes (coins) were fixed with adhesive tape at the height of the heart to the front and back of the left side of the chest. Autopsy revealed a blackish linear mark on the pleura parietalis of the inner side of the thoracic cavity, connecting the cutaneous current marks. Current-related and heat-related changes, such as hypercontraction bands of the intercostal muscles and coagulative changes of the perineurium of peripheral nerves, were found at histologic examination. Taking into consideration that the body had been under the influence of low-voltage current for 7 days, the morphologic alteration on the pleura parietalis was in accordance with an internal current mark, indicating the main route of current flow through the body. To the authors' knowledge, such a current-related phenomenon has not been reported to occur on an inner body surface before.     

A Pilot Study on the Diagnosis of Fatal Electrocution by the Detection of Myocardial Microhemorrhages

In electrocutions, death may be caused by alterations in the heart conduction system provoking ventricular fibrillation. This study aims to identify histological cardiac markers of high- and low-voltage electrocution. Two groups of decedents were evaluated: group A included 14 fatalities caused by high- or low-voltage electrocution and group B (control) included 14 fatalities due to other traumatic or disease causes. Myocardial sampling with microscopic examination was performed on all the hearts using the hematoxylin and eosin and Masson's trichrome stains to investigate morphological characteristics that could indicate the damage caused by high- and low-voltage electrocutions. Interstitial myocardial hemorrhagic infiltration was the only differentiating finding, which was shown only in high-voltage electrocution. This pathological finding has not been previously reported, and it may be specific to high-voltage electrocution deaths. Further studies are warranted.     

Endothelial cell membrane perforation of aorta and pulmonary artery in the electrocution victims

Some electrocution deaths occur without detectable current marks on the skin, making forensic examination to determine the true cause of death more difficult. Because arterial thrombosis was a frequent finding in victims of electrocution, we investigated injury to the endothelium of the aorta and pulmonary artery with a scanning electron microscope in five cases of death known to be caused by electrocution. We found large pores on the surface of endothelial cells of the aorta and pulmonary artery in those who died of electrocution, but no endothelial membrane perforation was found in those who died of cardiac diseases. These findings were present within 12h after death. Therefore, scanning electron microscopic evidence of endothelial perforation in the aorta and pulmonary artery could be a useful marker to identify electrocution for those victims without detectable current marks on the skin.     

Suicidal hanging on high-voltage line pylon

Hanging is one of the most frequent methods for suicides among young males. This report presents two cases of suicide by hanging on pylons carrying high-voltage power lines. The male victims suffered electrocution while committing suicide. Electrocution was the cause of death in both cases, however in one case blunt force injuries from hanging contributed to death. In these two cases hanging was the intentional method of suicide and it was followed by electrocution. The cases demonstrate that scene investigation, a detailed autopsy with histology, and amamnestic data are essential in the evaluation of suicides by hanging and that the determination of the cause of death remains a challenge in investigating such cases.     

电击后心脏损伤的实验研究

将电击器电路连接家兔左前肢和右后肢，用200v5mA交流电定时电击，制造电击死和电击伤时心脏损伤的动物模型。结果显示：电击死前ECG出现室颤波，光镜下心肌纤维广泛断裂，间质出血，小血管周围水肿．心肌灶性坏死，心房心肌坏死累及心内膜时有微小附壁血栓形成；房室结细胞核空泡变，胞浆深嗜伊红性；电镜下心肌纤维闰盘撕裂；心肌Ⅰ带消失，肌节缩短，超收缩带（Hypercontractionbands）形成，或Ⅰ带扩大，肌节拉长，Z线移位；肌原纤维溶解等。电击伤动物出现心肌散在性坏死灶内炎性浸润，灶性心内膜炎，小冠状动脉狭窄或闭塞。传导系统炎性浸润。本实验对电击死的法医学鉴定和非致死性电击伤心脏并发症的诊断提供病理学基础。     

Electrocution--autopsy study with emphasis on "electrical petechiae"

Fatalities caused by electrocution (n = 37) were re-examined on the basis of the autopsy records, the police reports and the technical expertise. Accidents including two lightning deaths caused 2/3rd and suicides 1/4th of the fatalities and there were two homicides. Carelessness or ignorance were a major reason for accidental deaths while technical defects could be verified in five cases only. Low-voltage ac and male victims predominated. Electrical burns or current marks were detected in 81% including all high voltage electrocutions. The seven victims lacking burns were electrocuted in a wet environment including six cases of suicide in the bathtub with a hair drier. Petechial haemorrhages were present in 74% of the cases and the favourite sites were the skin of the eyelids, conjunctivae, visceral pleura, and the epicard. The presence of petechiae did not depend on the voltage or the current pathway relative to the heart. It is, therefore, suggested that the petechiae are not caused by asphyxia but by a combination of venous congestion due to cardiac arrest and a sudden rise in blood pressure induced by muscle contractions. Consequently, "electrical petechiae" represent a non-specific but typical finding in electrocution irrespective of the mechanism leading to death. Unlike electrical burns, petechiae also indicate the vital origin of the events. The relevance of this typical morphological sign in the examination of possible electrocution fatalities is therefore emphasised.     

Suicide classification--clues and their use. a study of 122 cases of suicide and undetermined manner of death

In order to identify clues to forensic pathologist's classification of suicide, the forensic files of 100 consecutive cases of suicide, and 22 cases of undetermined manner of death, were analysed. Some specific causes of death, suicidal communication and other circumstantial evidence suggesting suicidal intent explained all but three classifications. Problematic cases concerned death by poisoning and by submersion, alcohol-dependent persons and subjects with positive blood alcohol concentration at autopsy. Guidelines to support the police investigation as well as the medico-legal examination can probably reduce the number of undetermined cases in cases of possible suicide.     

Electrocution: a review of 155 cases with emphasis on human factors.

A review of 155 cases of electrocution were investigated to determine the role of human factors, such as carelessness and intoxication, as contributions. The cases were retrieved by computer coding from the repository of the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, covering the period 1955-1988. The cases are predominantly of military origin. Cases were divided into low-voltage electrocution (N = 47), high-voltage electrocution (N = 79), lightning strikes (N = 16), and unclassified (N = 13). For each group, data is presented on the circumstances of the incident and the pathologic findings. Blatant carelessness, misuse or improper maintenance of equipment, and intoxication are analyzed as contributory factors.     

上海市城市轨道交通事故死亡案例分析

目的分析城市轨道交通事故死亡案例特点,为今后此类事故的法医学鉴定以及预防提供参考。方法收集上海市2005--2008年间城市轨道交通事故死亡案例18例,从案件的性质、损伤机制及特征等方面,总结此类案件的法医学特点。结果18例城市轨道交通事故死者,年龄在21～55岁。其中,自杀14例,意外4例;颅脑损伤死亡14例,创伤性休克死亡4例。损伤以撞击、摔跌伤为主,部分存在碾压伤。结论城市轨道交通事故所致损伤具有其特征性,案件性质主要为自杀,部分为偶然的意外事件,具有可防范性。     

Level of agreement between opinions of medical examiner investigators and forensic pathologist medical examiners regarding the manner of death

To evaluate the level of agreement between medical examiner investigators' opinion of the manner of death and what the manner of death was as certified by forensic pathologist medical examiners (MEs), we reviewed the case records stored in a database of all deaths reported to the office of the medical examiner in Fulton County, Georgia. Of 15,771 deaths reported to the office during a 10-year period, a difference exists in 1908 cases. In 900 natural deaths, the investigators recorded 135 accident, 10 homicide, 10 suicide, and 745 undetermined manners of death. In 755 accidental deaths, the investigators recorded 16 natural, 8 homicide, 13 suicide, and 718 undetermined manners of death. In 107 homicides, the investigators recorded 12 natural, 8 accident, 0 suicide, and 87 undetermined manners of death. In 70 suicides, the investigators recorded 9 natural, 9 accident, 3 homicide, and 49 undetermined manners of death. In 61 deaths classified as undetermined, the investigators recorded 25 natural, 13 accident, 17 homicide, and 6 suicide manners of death. In 15 deaths, the discrepancy exists due to an apparent error in the database information. This study confirms a high concordance between investigator and ME opinion regarding manner of death but also documents the need for case review and autopsies by forensic pathologists to confirm the investigators' opinion of the manner of death, determine the manner of death when the investigator selects undetermined, and on occasion, refute the investigators' opinion regarding the manner of death.     

无电流斑电击死兔骨骼肌il-6mRNA表达研究

目的探讨生前电击与死后电击的鉴别方法及电流通路的推断方法。方法15只新西兰兔，随机分为3组，每组5只，即电击死组、死后电击组、对照组。电击死组，用220V交流电的两极分别连接实验动物的左后肢与右前肢，通电致死。死后电击组，从耳缘静脉注射50ml空气致死，于死后即刻用220V交流电的两极分别连接实验动物的左后肢与右前肢通电3min。对照组直接从耳缘静脉注射50ml空气致死，不进行电击。用荧光RT—PCR技术检测骨骼肌白介素6信使核糖核酸（il-6mRNA）表达水平，所得结果进行统计学分析。结果电击死兔骨骼肌il-6mRNA水平远高于死后即刻电击者（P〈0．05）；电击死兔对称肢体中通电肢体骨骼肌il-6mRNA水平远高于非通电肢体（P〈0．05）。结论骨骼肌il-6mRNA表达变化可用于生前电击与死后电击的鉴别；机体对称部位骨骼肌il-6mRNA表达差异有助于推断电流通路。     

远离电击部位电流通路上骨骼肌的病理学研究

研究电损伤时骨骼肌中肌红蛋白(Mb)和纤维连接蛋白(Fn)的异常分布情况。采用大鼠模型和人体电击死标本,对电流通路上骨骼肌组织进行肌红蛋白、纤维连接蛋白免疫组化(LSAB)检测。结果显示:电流通路上肌细胞呈现深浅不同竹节样改变,免疫组化法见Mb脱失,Fn呈阳性,呈蟒蛇状纹理。电流通路上骨骼肌竹节样和蟒蛇纹理改变对无典型电流斑法医学鉴定有实用价值。     

Forensic medical specificity of death in atypical sexual behavior: asphyxiophilia, autoerotism

The diagnosis of death of autoerotic asphyxia has not been virtually stated by Russian forensic medical expert. All such cases were interpreted as mechanical asphyxia entailing suicide, and "accidental" or "fatal" death. The authors observed, during the recent 5 years, 10 lethal cases in different-type autoerotic practice. Strangulation asphyxia was the death cause in 7 cases. Compression asphyxia, inhaling of glue vapor and electric shock caused death, each in one case. Death of asphyxia seizes to be exceptional; it is rather a regular phenomenon in the present-day life, which needs a proper research from 2 standpoints--etiopathogenesis, and forensic medical diagnosis.     

Autoerotic deaths in the literature from 1954 to 2004: a review

Autoerotic death by hanging or ligature is a method of autoeroticism well known by forensic pathologists. In order to analyze autoerotic deaths of nonclassic hanging or ligature type, this paper reviews all published cases of autoerotic deaths from 1954 to 2004, with the exclusion of homicide cases or cases in which the autoerotic activity was not solitary. These articles were obtained through a systematic Medline database search. A total of 408 cases of such deaths has been reported in 57 articles. For each case, the following characteristics are presented here: sex, age, race, method of autoerotic activity, cause of death, and location where the body was found. Autoerotic death practioners were predominantly Caucasian males. Victims were aged from 9 to 77 years and were mainly found in various indoor locations. Most cases were asphyxia by hanging, ligature, plastic bags, chemical substances, or a mixture of these. Still, atypical methods of autoerotic activity leading to death accounted for about 10.3% of cases in the literature and are classified here into five broad categories: electrocution (3.7%), overdressing/body wrapping (1.5%), foreign body insertion (1.2%), atypical asphyxia method (2.9%), and miscellaneous (1.0%). All these atypical methods are further discussed individually.     

Computerized Image Analysis in Differentiation of Skin Lesions Caused by Electrocution, Flame Burns, and Abrasion

Abstract:  In the practice of forensic science, sometimes, it is not easy to understand whether skin lesion is due to electrocution and to differentiate the thermal burns and abrasion-type lesions, especially when electricity source cannot be revealed by death science investigation. Based on the causes of the lesions, cases were classified into three groups. Group 1 included 30 deaths from electrocution. Group 2 included 30 deaths with flame burns. Group 3 included 30 deaths from traffic accident cases, which had abrasions. In this study, epidermal nuclear area, perimeter, nuclear form factor, nuclear minimum axes, nuclear maximum axes, and minimum axes/maximum axes ratio were measured. As a result, we think that computerized image analysis beside light microscopic examination can be useful in the differentiation of the electrocution, flame burn, and abrasion type lesions.     

电击伤最佳病理取材部位的初步研究

目的探讨日常低电压电击后机体电流通路上极向化等病变规律和最佳病理取材部位。方法SD大鼠随机分为电击组和对照组,建立左前爪-右后爪路径220V电击大鼠模型,取电极接触处皮肤、四肢血管、神经和周边组织及腹腔大血管,常规HE染色病理组织学图像分析。结果电极接触处皮肤基底细胞(skinbasalcell,SBC)核明显极向化改变,长/短径比值与对照组比较差异高度显著,P<0.001;电流通路上腕和踝部血管及腹主动脉内皮、平滑肌细胞核的极向化与对照组比较,差异显著,P<0.05,其中腕和踝部病理改变最明显;周围骨骼肌细胞核的长/短径比值无明显规律性。结论在电击死中最常见的“手-足通路”,腕、踝部血管可能为病理取材的最佳部位。同时,由于腕和踝部距离手脚掌较远,直接接触热源和化学试剂等其他可能引起“极向化”改变的因素机会少,因此,腕和踝部血管及其周边组织的极向化改变更具有电损伤的特异性。     

生前电击与死后电击骨骼肌肌小节的长度变化

目的研究生前电击与死后电击的肌小节长度变化,为生前电击与死后电击的鉴别提供新的方法。方法12只兔随机分为对照I组、对照II组、电击死组和死后电击组。每组3只。对照I、II组与死后电击组兔分别从耳缘静脉注射空气30m l处死。对照I组处死后,于死后即刻取其后肢股四头肌;对照II组死后24h于相同部位取材;电击死组兔通220V交流电,通电致兔死后即刻取材;死后电击组于死后即刻通220V交流电4m in后,在相同部位取材。用透射电镜观察骨骼肌肌小节长度变化,对所得结果进行统计学分析。结果生前电击与死后电击骨骼肌肌小节均缩短,与对照组I相比,前者较后者缩短程度更甚(P=0.000);死后电击组与对照I组相比,仅轻微缩短(P=0.000),对照II组相比,缩短较为明显(P=0.000);对照II组较对照I组的肌小节显著伸长(P=0.000)。结论研究骨骼肌肌小节的长度变化有助于鉴别生前电击与死后电击。