Immunohistochemical contribution to the study of morphine metabolism in Calliphoridae larvae and implications in forensic entomotoxicology

Morphine was detected by immunohistochemistry on sections of third stage larvae of Calliphora vomitoria (Diptera, Calliphoridae) reared on minced beef meat previously treated with morphine hydrochloride. The detection was performed with an avidin-biotin-peroxidase-complex method. Positive specimens showed specific staining of the haemolymph and a more intense immunoreaction in an area located at the limit between exocuticle and endocuticle. These results constitute an evidence of morphine accumulation inside the cuticle of Diptera larvae during their development. During the pupariation, the larval cuticle is transformed into the sclerotized puparium. This study consequently points out the possibilities of analyzing empty pupariae when suitable tissues or living necrophagous insects are absent.     

Examination of variation in sternal rib end morphology relevant to age assessment

The morphology of the sternal end of the right fourth rib has been proffered as an accurate age assessor in skeletonized individuals of both sexes. This technique was tested for its applicability on left and right II, III, V-IX. Tests were performed between phase scores obtained from right and left ribs; right rib IV phase scores and scores obtained from the others in the right rib series; and between right rib IV scores and a composite score composed of the average of an individual's phase scores (omitting rib IV). Left ribs IV-IX were found not to vary significantly from their right counterparts. Although only right rib II was found to vary significantly from rib IV, use of the other ribs in the series should be undertaken with caution due to questions concerning their statistical significance. A composite score is therefore recommended for use instead.     

Microscopic characteristics of hacking trauma

The purpose of this study was to determine if it is possible to associate machetes, axes, and cleavers with the microscopic parallel striations they leave on the cut surfaces of the bone. Hacking trauma was experimentally inflicted on pig bones using machetes, axes, and cleavers. Negative impressions of both the cut surfaces of the bone and the weapon blades were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy. The results of this investigation indicate that it is possible to correlate a class of hacking weapons to trauma inflicted on bone by these weapons.     

Immunostaining by complement C9: a tool for early diagnosis of myocardial infarction and application in forensic medicine

Before the first 12 hours, diagnosis of early myocardial infarctions is always difficult for forensic pathologists. We tested complement C9 expression in 121 formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded heart samples by an immunohistochemical procedure. The heart specimens were separated into four groups: 33 cases in group 1 with typical ischemic damages histologically located, 20 cases in group 2 with death related to myocardial infarction on the basis of ischemic presentation on electrocardiogram but no obvious histological ischemic damage, 35 cases in group 3 with severe coronary disease without cause of death found at the autopsy, and 33 cases in group 4 without sign of myocardial infarction and without coronary disease. In the first group, all 33 heart samples showed a well-defined C9 expression in the necrotic areas. The second group in 17 of 20 cases showed positive areas for C9 expression. In the other three heart specimens, only few stained cells were observed whereas the painful symptoms had begun less than 1 h before death. The third group showed C9 immunopositive areas in six of 35 cases, few stained cells in 8 cases, and no C9 deposition in the 21 other cases. The last group showed no staining area. To avoid nonspecific C9 staining due to tissue autolysis, we studied C9 expression during a controlled putrefactive process in four cases included in group 1; staining was found only in infarcted myocardial areas, and was observed up to ten days. Specificity of C9 expression was evaluated to be 100% [89.4 to 100%] and sensitivity to be 85% [62.11 to 96.79%]. In conclusion, evaluation of immunohistochemical expression of C9 appears to be a highly sensitive and specific marker of early myocardial infarction, useful in forensic medicine if survival is more than 1 h after the beginning of myocyte damage.     

Mobile autopsy teams in the investigation of war crimes in Kosovo 1999.

On request of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), the Danish-Swedish forensic teams worked in Kosovo during the summer and the fall of 1999. The teams worked mainly as "mobile teams" at sites with few graves. Only two larger sites were examined. Most of the bodies were buried separately. A few "multiple burial" graves were examined, but no mass graves were encountered. The main purpose of the autopsies was to establish the cause and manner of death. Identification was of less importance, but a majority of the bodies had been identified prior to the autopsy. A total of 308 bodies, mainly males, were examined. The age varied greatly with a mean age of 47 years. The most common cause of death was gun shot wounds and the most common manner of death was homicide.     

Carbon monoxide poisoning without cherry-red livor

Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning typically causes so-called cherry-red livor of the skin and viscera. The authors report a case of CO poisoning in which cherry-red livor did not develop. The decedent was a 75-year-old white man who was found dead in his car during a cold winter. Blood CO saturation was 86%. The death was attributed to CO poisoning, and the manner of death was designated suicide. The curious absence of cherry-red livor was studied. The decedent's tissue and blood specimens were tested at different temperatures. There was no tendency for either type of specimen to develop cherry-red color at cold or warm temperatures. The antemortem response of the skin to cold possibly sequestered CO-saturated blood in the cadaver. As regards the viscera, there are other proteins to which CO can bond, and possibly these proteins contribute to the development of visceral cherry-red livor. In this case, the absence of cherry-red livor could have led to misclassification of the cause and manner of death. The medicolegal and social consequences of such misclassification can be significant, and psychiatric history, which may be useful to surviving family members, could be lost.     

Personal identification using Y-chromosomal short tandem repeats from bodily fluids mixed with semen

The male-specific, human Y-chromosomal short tandem repeats (Y-STRs) are very useful in forensic analysis. The authors report a sexual crime case in which the direct Y-STR haplotype analysis of several mixtures of various bodily fluids including semen was very effective for identifying the perpetrator of the crime. The typing of three Y-STRs (DYS19, DYS389II, and DYS390) could be detected from the mixed DNA of sperm and female cells in the victim's vagina, vaginal orifice, and anus. These haplotypes originated from one man and matched those of the suspect. Accordingly, the combination of direct extraction of DNA and Y-STR haplotype analysis is considered to be very useful for mixtures of bodily fluids, including semen or other male cells.