家兔死后离体血液ATP含量变化与放置时间的关系

目的探讨恒温(25℃)条件下家兔死后离体血液ATP含量变化与放置时间的关系。方法健康家兔8只,空气栓塞处死后即刻取右心室血液,置于25℃恒温水浴槽中,每4h应用ATP荧光快速检测仪检测血液ATP含量,所得数据应用SPSS17.0统计学软件进行方差检验及回归分析。结果恒温(25℃)环境下,家兔死后离体血液的ATP含量,在8h内从死后即刻的2.46×10-12mol/L升至3.09×10-12mol/L,8h之后则随PMI的延长而下降,直至56h,56～72h ATP含量在0.13×10-12mol/L时趋于稳定。以Log[ATP]为因变量(y),离体放置时间为自变量(x),对死后0～56h的数据进行回归曲线分析,建立了3个推断离体时间方程,即y=-0.019x-11.359(R2=0.763)、y=0.001x2+0.016x-11.666(R2=0.962)和y=-1.281×10-5x3-0.007x-11.576(R2=0.980),其中三元回归方程的系数为0.980,曲线拟合度最好。结论家兔离体血液ATP含量变化与放置时间呈现一定的规律性,有望应用于死亡时间推断。     

组织RNA检测用于死亡时间推断的研究进展

近几年来利用RNA的降解程度来推断死亡时间已逐渐成为法医学研究热点.本文复习相关研究文献,对大鼠不同组织(脑组织、心脏组织、肝脏组织和肾组织等)中RNA在推断死亡时间的具体应用方法做出总结,归纳出不同组织中的各类RNA在推断死亡时间方面的适用范围,以及对此种方法在推断死亡时间的过程中产生的问题及可行性的解决方法.     

Massive systemic fat embolism detected by postmortem imaging and biopsy*

Postmortem computed tomography (pmCT) and pmCT angiography (pmCTA) provide a minimally invasive method to determine the cause of death. Postmortem image-guided biopsy allows for precise sampling of histological specimens. This case study describes the findings of lethal systemic fat embolism (FE) on whole-body unenhanced pmCT, pmCTA, and image-guided biopsy, with autopsy and histopathologic correlation. Unenhanced pmCT revealed a distinct fat level on top of sedimented layers of corpuscular blood particles and serum in the arterial system and pulmonary trunk. Subsequent pmCTA showed reproducible results, and image-guided biopsy confirmed fatal FE. pm CT/pmCTA combined with image-guided biopsy established the cause of death as right heart failure as a result of systemic fatal FE prior to autopsy. All imaging findings were consistent with traditional autopsy and histological specimens. This unique case demonstrates new imaging findings in massive, fatal FE and highlights that postmortem imaging, supplemented by image-guided biopsy, may detect the cause of death prior to traditional autopsy.     

The use of a 3-D laser scanner to document ephemeral evidence at crime scenes and postmortem examinations

Proper documentation of physical evidence at both crimes scenes and postmortem examination is crucial for downstream analysis, interpretation, and presentation in court. Ephemeral or transient evidence poses particular challenges to investigators, as its very nature renders it difficult or impossible to seize and maintain in its original physical state. The use of a hand-held three-dimensional (3-D) laser scanner is proposed to capture and document such evidence, both in the field and at autopsy. Advantages of the scanner over traditional means of documentation such as photography or casting include the ability to obtain measurements in all dimensions, the ability to reconstruct missing elements, and the ease with which generated images can be interpreted by the jury at trial. Potential scenarios warranting the use of the scanner are identified, and the limitations of its use are discussed.     

Infrared spectroscopic imaging for noninvasive detection of latent fingerprints

The capability of Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic imaging to provide detailed images of unprocessed latent fingerprints while also preserving important trace evidence is demonstrated. Unprocessed fingerprints were developed on various porous and nonporous substrates. Data-processing methods used to extract the latent fingerprint ridge pattern from the background material included basic infrared spectroscopic band intensities, addition and subtraction of band intensity measurements, principal components analysis (PCA) and calculation of second derivative band intensities, as well as combinations of these various techniques. Additionally, trace evidence within the fingerprints was recovered and identified.     

Determination of season at death using dental cementum increment analysis

Dental cementum anchors teeth into their sockets via the periodontal ligament. In mammals, dental cementum is laid down in alternating opaque and translucent bands representing winter (dormant) and summer (growth) seasons. Each pair of bands represents 1 year of life. Estimates of age at death based on counting pairs of bands are highly accurate. If the timing of the transition between winter and summer bands could be identified in humans, dental cementum increment analysis could be used to specify the season at death. This pilot project attempts to determine when these transitions occur and thus provide forensic anthropologists with a technique that would refine our estimates of postmortem interval. Extracted teeth were obtained from a local oral surgeon, embedded, sectioned, ground, polished, and examined under transmitted polarized light. The outermost increment was identified and measured along with other randomly chosen like bands. A transition from translucent to opaque bands was observed in teeth extracted in early October, while teeth extracted in early April exhibited nascent translucent bands. Further, significant correlations were observed between band thickness and number of days into either season, suggesting that band width increases as either season progresses. In this blind study, extracted teeth were effectively sorted into the spring/summer or fall/winter season 99% of the time.     

Enhancement of Latent Fingerprints on Fabric Using the Cyanoacrylate Fuming Method Followed by Infrared Spectral Mapping

A method has been developed for the visualization of latent fingerprints on fabrics, which is based upon cyanoacrylate (superglue) fuming followed by imaging using an infrared microscope. Results show that imaging on smooth, shiny fabrics such as polyester, silk, nylon, and acetate of different colors and patterns can give an improvement over existing enhancement methods. Results for cotton and polycotton were less successful and it is thought this may be due a combination of the presence of the carbonyl functional group in these fabrics as well as their absorbency to fingerprint sweat. The carbonyl peak (1700 cm^?1) provided the optimum spectroscopic feature to map and image a fingerprint. Comparisons between infrared mapping at a specific frequency range and principal component analysis showed that improved imaging was obtained with principal component analysis.     

新生儿成骨不全Ⅱ型的尸检和MSCT鉴定1例(英文)

本文报道了1例成骨不全(osteogenesis imperfecta,OI)Ⅱ型死胎案例。在妊娠期间胎儿即有颅骨骨折和颅脑损伤。法医尸体检验后,随即进行尸体多层螺旋CT(multi-sliced computed tomography,MSCT)扫描和三维重建。尸检结果显示了OIⅡ型的典型特征,包括颅骨变软、四肢畸形、髋关节弯曲和外展及一些异常特征如白色巩膜、髋内翻、部分骨骼和器官缺失、唇裂和两耳不对称。CT检测到的异常变化有腭裂、下颌发育异常、脊柱裂、颈肋、肋骨和椎骨融合,这些都是在常规尸检中难以检测到的。本文阐述了OI的分类、致病性基因突变、死亡原因以及OI与儿童受虐的鉴别,更强调了OI学科知识对法医病理学工作者的重要性和MSCT在法医病理学尸体检验中的价值。     

Autopsy Fingerprint Technique Using Fingerprint Powder

The collection of high‐quality fingerprints is an important component of routine forensic autopsies and represents one of the several potential methods for identifying a decedent. Fingerprint collection at autopsy frequently employs a manual method using fingerprint ink and cards, although some offices use digital‐scanning equipment. While these methodologies are adequate in most circumstances, this study introduces an alternative method using fingerprint powder and adhesive labels. The method is quick, easy to perform, and cost‐effective and provides the additional advantage of an adhesive label that easily conforms to the finger, palm, or foot which reduces smudging of prints in individuals with rigor mortis, skin slippage, or decomposition compared to more traditional autopsy fingerprint collection techniques. The prints can then be easily stored, either in hard‐copy form or scanned to make a digital record.