Increased adrenaline to noradrenaline ratio is a superior indicator of antemortem hypothermia compared with separate catecholamine concentrations

The significance of urinary catecholamines and small gastric mucosal bleedings, Wischnewsky's spots, in postmortem diagnosis of hypothermia deaths was evaluated. Autopsy cases (n=358) were divided into hypothermia, suspected hypothermia, and control groups. The catecholamine levels did not correlate with the length of the postmortem period. The adrenaline to noradrenaline ratio was most effective in detecting hypothermia (68.9% sensitivity, 78.1% specificity). The median adrenaline concentrations were significantly higher in hypothermia than in control groups. The control group containing mostly sudden cardiac deaths with no cold exposure had a noradrenaline level comparable to the hypothermia groups. The sensitivity and specificity of determining Wischnewsky's spots in hypothermia deaths were 63.9% and 88.3%, respectively. The adrenaline to noradrenaline ratio is more suitable in proving antemortem cold stress than either of these independently, and its diagnostic value is comparable to that of Wischnewsky's spots.     

Reverse engineering--rapid prototyping of the skull in forensic trauma analysis

Rapid prototyping (RP) comprises a variety of automated manufacturing techniques such as selective laser sintering (SLS), stereolithography, and three-dimensional printing (3DP), which use virtual 3D data sets to fabricate solid forms in a layer-by-layer technique. Despite a growing demand for (virtual) reconstruction models in daily forensic casework, maceration of the skull is frequently assigned to ensure haptic evidence presentation in the courtroom. Owing to the progress in the field of forensic radiology, 3D data sets of relevant cases are usually available to the forensic expert. Here, we present a first application of RP in forensic medicine using computed tomography scans for the fabrication of an SLS skull model in a case of fatal hammer impacts to the head. The report is intended to show that this method fully respects the dignity of the deceased and is consistent with medical ethics but nevertheless provides an excellent 3D impression of anatomical structures and injuries.     

利用不同温度下人肝细胞DNA降解参数推断早期PMI

目的对不同温度下人体肝细胞DNA降解状态进行多参数定量分析,得出温度相关的多元回归方程。方法选取13例已知PMI的人体离体肝脏,在死后13～34h内,分别在10℃、20℃及30℃条件下,每隔1h取材,进行细胞学涂片,Feulgen-Vans染色,选用图像分析系统检测几何参数（ID）及灰度参数（AOD）指标,对不同温度的检测指标进行多元回归分析,得出相应的回归方程。结果温度相关的肝细胞DNA降解推断死亡时间的回归方程：Y=25.789-0.656XT-41.958XAOD＋3.262XID（XT=10,20,30）。结论温度及反映DNA含量的各个参数与PMI存在较强的相关性,可以将温度作为参数引入方程用于推断PMI。     

RNA分析技术在法医学中的应用

RNA是近年来分子生物学技术领域的研究热点之一,随着分子生物学技术的发展与成熟,RNA技术逐渐在法医学领域得到应用,用来处理传统的DNA分析方法难以解决的法医学问题,如推断死亡时间（PMI）,检测伤口形成时间以及体液鉴定等。本文综述介绍目前RNA分析技术在法医学中的国际发展趋势以及目前存在的局限性,为今后该技术在法医学领域的更广泛应用奠定基础。     

小鼠死后脑RNA降解与死亡时间的相关性

目的 探讨小鼠死后不同时间和温度下脑组织β-actin mRNA、18S rRNA的降解规律与死亡时间的关系.方法 将24只健康成年C57BL/6小鼠随机分为2组,每组12只,断颈法处死后分别置于不同的环境温度中(4℃、37℃),恒定环境湿度为80%.分别于死后即刻和0.5、2、6、24、48h取小鼠脑组织进行总RNA...