Application of MALDI‐TOF MS for Estimating the Postmortem Interval in Rat Muscle Samples

Estimating the postmortem interval (PMI) is very important in the forensic sciences. Although many approaches have been used for estimating the PMI, accurate PMI calculations are still difficult. In this study, four Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were sacrificed by suffocation, and muscle samples were collected by dissection at various time intervals (0, 48, 96, and 144 h) after death. All samples were probed using matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (MALDI‐TOFMS) to obtain molecular images and data for principal component analysis (PCA). The results showed that the peaks at m/z 1511, 1543, 1564, 1586 clearly decreased in intensity from 0 to 144 h postmortem and that the time groups were separated from each other on the PCA score plot. The prediction model showed high recognition capability (95.93%) and cross‐validation (83.72%). Our work suggests that MALDI‐TOF MS can be used to determine the PMI.     

Effect of History and Context on Forensic Pathologist Interpretation of Photographs of Patterned Injury of the Skin

In a previous study, a survey‐based analysis of pathologist diagnoses of patterned injury was performed. Subjects were provided with photographs of “classic” injuries and asked to diagnose the lesion in the absence of history or context. There was a relatively low diagnostic consensus among respondents. A second survey suggested that the disparate answers were not due to a strong belief in different diagnoses, but instead reflected how the respondents dealt with ambiguity. A third survey was created that asked participants to evaluate patterned injuries of the skin, but provided history and contextual information. The addition of history and contextual information increased consensus from a median of 80% to 98% on a per‐question basis. Confidence increased from a median of 56%–92%. These results demonstrate the importance of history and context in medical diagnosis of patterned injuries of the skin.     

The Reliability of Facial Recognition of Deceased Persons on Photographs

In humanitarian emergencies, such as the current deceased migrants in the Mediterranean, antemortem documentation needed for identification may be limited. The use of visual identification has been previously reported in cases of mass disasters such as Thai tsunami. This pilot study explores the ability of observers to match unfamiliar faces of living and dead persons and whether facial morphology can be used for identification. A questionnaire was given to 41 students and five professionals in the field of forensic identification with the task to choose whether a facial photograph corresponds to one of the five photographs in a lineup and to identify the most useful features used for recognition. Although the overall recognition score did not significantly differ between professionals and students, the median scores of 78.1% and 80.0%, respectively, were too low to consider this method as a reliable identification method and thus needs to be supported by other means.     

阿维菌素在急性中毒死家兔体内的再分布研究

目的考察阿维菌素在急性中毒死家兔体内的再分布。方法按最小致死量一次性灌胃250mg/kg阿维菌素,HPLC法检测家兔死后0h、24h、48h和72h中阿维菌素的含量。结果给家兔一次性灌胃250mg/kg阿维菌素的临床死亡时间为120.6±9.2min(±s,n=10);测定了阿维菌素的致死血浓度和致死组织浓度;家兔死后0h~72h心血和各主要脏器组织中阿维菌素含量存在体内再分布现象;确定肝、肾、肺为最佳组织检材。结论阿维菌素在急性中毒死家兔体内的再分布数据,对法医办理此类案件具有重要参考价值。     

高压架空输电线走廊周边楼房电磁环境研究

对城乡交界处220kV/110kV高压架空输电线走廊模式发生变化后的三种架设形式进行了测试分析。结果表明,220kV/110kV四回路杆塔形式对周边楼房室内外环境影响较大,当两者相距60m以外时,楼房室内外工频电磁场环境将有较大改善;居民楼建筑结构对工频电磁场有一定衰减作用,其中工频电场衰减较大,工频磁场衰减较小。建议适当控制高压架空输电线走廊与居民区的距离。     

Algor mortis: an erroneous measurement following postmortem refrigeration

Determination of the time of death is one goal of medicolegal death investigations. Algor mortis has been used as a measure of the postmortem interval (PMI). We prospectively recorded the core temperatures of 19 adult bodies entering our morgue cooler and at 3, 6, and 9 h of refrigeration. We then compared the cooling rate with the calculated body mass index (BMI). For each individual body, the rate of cooling was fairly linear with no evidence of a plateau. There was fair to moderate correlation between the BMI and the cooling rate: cooling rate = -0.052 (BMI) + 3.52. The probability of linearity in any given case was 36%. Variables affecting this correlation included the presence and the layers of clothing and if the clothing was wet. Our data confirm that algor mortis is of very limited utility in determining the PMI in bodies that have been refrigerated.     

Application of three spectrometric methods to total selenium determination in postmortem material in a case of acute selenium compound poisoning

Three spectrometric methods, that is, spectrofluorimetry (SF), atomic absorption spectrometry with electrothermal atomization (ET-AAS), and atomic fluorescence spectrometry with hydride generation (HG-AFS) were used for the determination of total selenium in biological samples taken from postmortem material in a case of acute selenium compound poisoning. The precision of the SF, ET-AAS, and HG-AFS methods (RSD, n=10) was found to be in the ranges of 10.0-15.0, 3.0-6.0 and 1.0-1.5%, respectively, and the detection limit was 10.0, 4.0, and 0.1 μg/L of Se, respectively. In the case of HG-AFS, the analytical procedure takes less time and is less laborious than the other methods considered. The obtained results show the usefulness of the HG-AFS method as a supplementary analytical tool to the SF and ET-AAS methods with respect to the determination of selenium as well as the possibility of using this method as a primary one in forensic toxicology practice.     

应用FTIR光谱技术推断死亡时间

目的 应用傅立叶变换红外(FTIR)光谱技术分析大鼠死后组织、人体离体组织随死亡时间推移的化学降解过程,为死亡时间推断的研究提供新的途径与方法.方法 大鼠断颈处死后置于4℃、20℃、30℃环境,在不同死亡时间点提取大鼠不同组织;收集有同样死亡时间的人尸体组织,离体取材,并运用FFIR光谱仪测定不同化学基团随死后和离体后...     

批量陈旧血样DNA的自动化检验

目的建立批量陈旧血样DNA自动化提取检验的方法。方法采用普通磁珠法和本文建立的磁珠法经TECAN Freedom EVO150—8型自动化工作站分别提取540份陈旧血样模板DNA,采用Sinofiler^TM试剂盒进行荧光标记复合扩增。结果采用普通磁珠法和本文所建DNA提取方法,在540份样本中获得全部基因座STR分型的样本分别为217份和488份,检验成功率分别为40．2％和90．3％。结论本文所建方法可显著提高大批量陈旧血样自动化检验成功率。     

4种影像学检查方法应用于肩关节损伤法医学鉴定的比较

目的 评价X线、CT、MRI及CT气-碘双对比造影4种方法在肩关节损伤法医学鉴定中的应用价值.方法通过对肩关节损伤患者行X线摄片、CT扫描、MRI成像与CT气-碘双对比造影检查,观察、分析4种方法所得的影像学资料.结果 X线摄片对骨折的诊断率为52.8%,对软组织损伤的诊断率为0%;CT对骨折的诊断率为72.0%.对软...