Spectrometric evaluation of post-mortem optical skin changes

Sterzik, Vera; Belenkaia, Lioudmila; Liehr, Andreas W.; Bohnert, Michael

doi:10.1007/s00414-013-0855-2

Cited by 4 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…When an individual dies, cells and their structures lose integrity, and endogenous enzymes begin to break down the body tissue by autolysis 17 . Postmortem autolytic changes have been described in many organs and tissues 3 , 9 , 10 , 12 , 13 , 16 , 20 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Information is scarce concerning postmortem autolytic changes in the acini of SG, especially to distinguish these from pathological causes before death or others artifacts. According to some authors, postmortem autolysis depends on various factors and the most important is postmortem interval 9 , 10 , 16 , 17 . However, some of these postmortem autolytic changes are similar to alterations also described as apoptosis 20 and inadequate/delayed fixation 7 , 10 , 12 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Acinar autolysis and mucous extravasation in human sublingual glands: a microscopic postmortem study

et al. 2015

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Although some morphological investigations on aged human sublingual glands (HSG) found eventual phenomena identified as autolysis and mucous extravasation, the exact meaning of these findings has not been elucidated. Objective The aim of this work is to investigate whether acinar autolysis and mucous extravasation are related to the aging process in human sublingual glands. We also speculate if autolytic changes may assist forensic pathologists in determining time of death.Material and Methods 186 cadavers’ glands were allocated to age groups: I (0–30 years); II (31–60), and III (61–90). Time and mode of death were also recorded. Acinar autolysis and mucous extravasation were classified as present or absent. Ultrastructural analysis was performed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Data were compared using Mann-Whitney U, Spearman’s correlation coefficient, Kruskal-Wallis, and Dunn tests (p<0.05).Results There was correlation between age and acinar autolysis (r=0.38; p=0.0001). However, there was no correlation between autolysis and time of death. No differences were observed between genders. TEM showed mucous and serous cells presenting nuclear and membrane alterations and mucous cells were more susceptible to autolysis.Conclusion Acinar autolysis occurred in all age groups and increased with age while mucous extravasation was rarely found. Both findings are independent. Autolysis degrees in HSG could not be used to determine time of death.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Acinar autolysis and mucous extravasation in human sublingual glands: a microscopic postmortem study

et al. 2015

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“…Hence, its determination is one of the most studied points in forensic science. Most of researchers focused on estimation of time since death from early postmortem changes such as body cooling (Hubig et al, 2015), lividity (Sterzik et al, 2014), rigor mortis (Anders et al, 2013), muscle excitability (Elmas et al, 2002), and chemical changes in the fluid compartments (Yahia & El-Hakiem,2013). These changes are applicable in the early postmortem period, but their reliability and accuracy progressively decrease over time.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Estimation of Postmortem Interval from Cartilage Changes of Rabbit Auricle

Paulis

Hassan

Abd-Elgaber

2016

Ain Shams Journal of Forensic Medicine and Clinical Toxicology

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In forensic practice, estimating the time of death is one of the most important procedures but is often extremely difficult. There are many methods for estimating the time of death, which can be divided into two categories (rate methods and concurrence methods). Postmortem decompositional changes to auricular cartilage were analyzed to help establish a new methodology in determining the postmortem interval. Methods: The ears were collected from rabbits buried in simulated shallow graves for different time periods (0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 days). The auricles were examined both macroscopically and microscopically to detect changes occurring over a specified time. Results: Numerous macroscopic changes including color and texture changes and gradual degradation of cartilage were observed. LM showed gradual structural changes in the tissue over time including: cartilage matrix density and nuclear material. Conclusion: Postmortem degradation of ear cartilage may be useful for estimating a presumptive postmortem interval.

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“…Changes to the skin occur at different times after the death of the body. The general morphology of the skin after death and the changes in histology, biomechanics 1 , temperature, spectral characteristics 2 – 4 , microbes 5 – 9 , skin resistivity 10 , 11 and other factors 12 , 13 have been studied, and some progress has been made, but it has not been enough to be applied to actual situations and to be used to infer the time of death accurately.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Histological changes in human skin 32 days after death and the potential forensic significance

Wang

Michu

Dong

et al. 2020

Sci Rep

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To observe the histological changes in human skin within 32 days after death to explore its potential significance in forensic practice. The intact full-thickness skin and subcutaneous tissue from the sternum of eight corpses were placed in an environment of 4–6 °C for 4 h, 6 h, 12 h, 18 h, 24 h, 36 h, 48 h, 60 h, 72 h, 84 h, 96 h, 6 d, 8 d, 10 d, 12 d, 16 d, 20 d, 24 d, 28 d, and 32 d. Then, the whole layer of the skin was stained with haematoxylin & eosin. The histological morphology of the epidermis, dermis and appendages (sweat glands, hair follicles, and sebaceous glands) was observed under an light microscope. The epithelial nucleus condensed at 24 h after death, and cell lysis was exhausted after 20 days. The post-mortem changes in the dermis occurred later than that of the epidermis (72 h), but after epidermal changes started, the change was more rapid. At 16 d, the layers had become homogenized. The epidermis and dermis had completely separated 24 d after death. The changes in the sweat glands appeared earlier (24 h) and disappeared later (32 days); the sebaceous glands and hair follicles began to undergo degenerative changes at 96 h after death, and at approximately 20 d, only their contour remained. There were individual and structural differences in the post-mortem histological changes in the skin. At 4–6 °C ambient temperature, some structures of the human skin still exist for a long time after death, and these structures can be used to identify the source of the tissue; post-mortem histological changes in the skin occur at specific times, which can be used to help infer the time of death. A comprehensive observation of changes in the skin composition/structure is required to comprehensively analyse possible death times.

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Spectrometric evaluation of post-mortem optical skin changes

Cited by 4 publications

References 18 publications

Acinar autolysis and mucous extravasation in human sublingual glands: a microscopic postmortem study

Acinar autolysis and mucous extravasation in human sublingual glands: a microscopic postmortem study

Estimation of Postmortem Interval from Cartilage Changes of Rabbit Auricle

Histological changes in human skin 32 days after death and the potential forensic significance

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