Re-establishment of rigor mortis: evidence for a considerably longer post-mortem time span

Crostack, C; Sehner, Susanne; Raupach, Tobias; Anders, Sven

doi:10.1007/s00414-017-1558-x

Cited by 12 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…In forensic pathology, estimating the post-mortem interval (PMI) is a real challenge. The calculation is generally performed through the comparison of various parameters, such as cadaveric rigidity, body temperature and hypostases [ 1 ]. In addition, diagnosis is supported by the analysis of the transformative phenomena of the corpse, post-mortem ocular alterations and by circumstantial data [ 2 , 3 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Systematic Review on Post-Mortem Protein Alterations: Analysis of Experimental Models and Evaluation of Potential Biomarkers of Time of Death

et al. 2022

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Estimating the post-mortem interval (PMI) is a very complex issue due to numerous variables that may affect the calculation. Several authors have investigated the quantitative and qualitative variations of protein expression on post-mortem biological samples in certain time intervals, both in animals and in humans. However, the literature data are very numerous and often inhomogeneous, with different models, tissues and proteins evaluated, such that the practical application of these methods is limited to date. The aim of this paper was to offer an organic view of the state of the art about post-mortem protein alterations for the calculation of PMI through the analysis of the various experimental models proposed. The purpose was to investigate the validity of some proteins as “molecular clocks” candidates, focusing on the evidence obtained in the early, intermediate and late post-mortem interval. This study demonstrates how the study of post-mortem protein alterations may be useful for estimating the PMI, although there are still technical limits, especially in the experimental models performed on humans. We suggest a protocol to homogenize the study of future experimental models, with a view to the next concrete application of these methods also at the crime scene.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Systematic Review on Post-Mortem Protein Alterations: Analysis of Experimental Models and Evaluation of Potential Biomarkers of Time of Death

et al. 2022

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“…The most commonly used methods to date include the measurement and comparison of body and environmental temperature [1], the examination of so called supravital reactions [2], the evaluation of the progression of rigor mortis [3] or hypostasis [4], and the analysis of necrotrophic insects and their developmental stages in course of forensic entomology [5]. Although these and other methods provide valuable information about the time since death in many cases, all of them come with certain restrictions and temporal limitations.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Does altered protein metabolism interfere with postmortem degradation analysis for PMI estimation?

et al. 2018

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An accurate estimation of the postmortem interval (PMI) is a central aspect in forensic routine. Recently, a novel approach based on the analysis of postmortem muscle protein degradation has been proposed. However, a number of questions remain to be answered until sensible application of this method to a broad variety of forensic cases is possible. To evaluate whether altered in vivo protein metabolism interferes with postmortem degradation patterns, we conducted a comparative study. We developed a standardized animal degradation model in rats, and collected additional muscle samples from animals recovering from muscle injury and from rats with developed disuse muscle atrophy after induced spinal cord injury. All samples were analyzed by SDS-PAGE and Western blot, labeling well-characterized muscle proteins. Tropomyosin was found to be stable throughout the investigated PMI and no alterations were detected in regenerating and atrophic muscles. In contrast, significant predictable postmortem changes occurred in desmin and vinculin protein band patterns. While no significant deviations from native patterns were detected in at-death samples of disuse muscle atrophy, interestingly, samples of rats recovering from muscle injury revealed additional desmin and vinculin degradation bands that did not occur in this form in any of the examined postmortem samples regardless of PMI. It remains to be investigated whether in vivo-altered metabolism influences postmortem degradation kinetics or if such muscle samples undergo postmortem degradation in a regular fashion.

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“…mechanical and electrical excitability of muscle or chemical methods ("so called" Compound method), assessment of the putrefaction stage as well as entomological methods [1][2][3]. Albeit that at least some scientific attention has been drawn to all of these criteria [4][5][6][7][8][9] the main focus of more recent research efforts has been on temperature-based methods of TSD estimation or derivatives thereof.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Detrimental effects of scene manipulations on temperature-based time since death estimation

Sauer,

Lux,

Gruber

et al. 2024

Int J Legal Med

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In forensic casework, time since death (TSD) estimations may play a crucial role to establish chains of events as well as for alibi assessment in homicide cases. Classical TSD estimation relies on reasonably stable ambient temperatures and a correct documentation of ambient and rectal temperatures. This constancy is in some cases disturbed by post-discovery alterations of the crime scene, e.g. opening a window. In order to develop a better understanding of this alteration-based detrimental impact on TSD estimation as well as to identify feasible recommendations for casework, the present pilot study examined ambient temperature effects of different window opening scenarios regarding various time intervals (5 to 360 min) in a furnished 10 m2 apartment during winter. In this context, in addition to the ambient temperature and thus the cooling rate of the room, re-approximation to initial room temperature, potential influences on a nomogram-based time since death estimation using a fictitious case, and the impact of the measurement height above the ground were investigated. Our data indicate a significant reduction of the mean temperature decrease rate after 15 min regardless of the remaining opening time and a correlation with the size of the respective opening surfaces. Re-approximation to initial room temperatures was observed with up to three times longer than the initial opening time. There was no evidence of a substantial advantage of temperature measurements above the level of the corpse (> 0.1 m). The limitations of the study and its applicability for forensic casework are critically reviewed.

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Re-establishment of rigor mortis: evidence for a considerably longer post-mortem time span

Cited by 12 publications

References 15 publications

Systematic Review on Post-Mortem Protein Alterations: Analysis of Experimental Models and Evaluation of Potential Biomarkers of Time of Death

Systematic Review on Post-Mortem Protein Alterations: Analysis of Experimental Models and Evaluation of Potential Biomarkers of Time of Death

Does altered protein metabolism interfere with postmortem degradation analysis for PMI estimation?

Detrimental effects of scene manipulations on temperature-based time since death estimation

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