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Trella S, Reinert C, Heinsen H, Preiß U, Monoranu CM, Zwirner J, Ondruschka B, Bohnert M, Bohnert S. The polychromatism of postmortem cerebrospinal fluid. Forensic Sci Med Pathol 2024:10.1007/s12024-024-00887-4. [PMID: 39212777 DOI: 10.1007/s12024-024-00887-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/21/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
Based on the assumption that postmortem cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is contaminated depending on the chosen sampling technique in the forensic setting resulting in bloody or at least hemolytic CSF samples, we systematically documented a total of 183 postmortem CSF samples. These samples were all assessed for their quality and color, regardless of the cause of death or the postmortem interval. The investigations were carried out through subjective assessment of color and turbidity, as well as objective measurements of the optical density (OD) of the CSF supernatants after centrifugation of each sample, with standardized photographic documentation. The observations revealed that in 28 cases the CSF was absolutely (crystal-) clear and transparent. Most of our samples showed color changes ranging from xanthrochromic to rose. Intensive staining of the supernatants was only found in a small proportion of the examined collective. We found that postmortem CSF has no uniform appearance but rather a diverse range of color spectra, and the color, as well as the OD of the CSF, correlates significantly with the postmortem interval (p < 0.001) when sampled using the proposed standard procedure.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Trella
- Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Wuerzburg, Versbacher Str. 3, 97078, Wuerzburg, Germany.
| | - C Reinert
- Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Wuerzburg, Versbacher Str. 3, 97078, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - H Heinsen
- Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Wuerzburg, Versbacher Str. 3, 97078, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - U Preiß
- Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Wuerzburg, Versbacher Str. 3, 97078, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - C M Monoranu
- Department of Neuropathology, Institute of Pathology, University of Wuerzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str. 2, 97080, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - J Zwirner
- Institute of Legal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Butenfeld 34, 22529, Hamburg, Germany
- Department of Oral Sciences, University of Otago, 310 Great King Street, Dunedin, 9016, New Zealand
| | - B Ondruschka
- Institute of Legal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Butenfeld 34, 22529, Hamburg, Germany
| | - M Bohnert
- Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Wuerzburg, Versbacher Str. 3, 97078, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - S Bohnert
- Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Wuerzburg, Versbacher Str. 3, 97078, Wuerzburg, Germany
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Gao H, Yang S, Gao J, Zhang S, Qin L, Huang M, Wu H, Tang Q. An experimental study to estimate the early postmortem interval based on the degradation of lncRNAs in rat brain tissue. Sci Rep 2024; 14:19586. [PMID: 39179611 PMCID: PMC11343772 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-70678-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2024] [Accepted: 08/20/2024] [Indexed: 08/26/2024] Open
Abstract
To study the degradation of lncRNAs in EPMI in rat brain tissue, this study provides a new direction for the estimation of EPMI. LncRNA high-throughput sequencing was performed on the brain tissues of hemorrhagic shock model rats at 0 h and 24 h, and the target lncRNAs were screened. Samples at 0, 1, 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 h after death were collected, and miRNA-9 and miRNA-125b were used as reference genes. The relative expression levels of lncRNAs at each PMI were detected by RT-qPCR, and a functional model involving lncRNAs and EPMI was established. Samples were collected at 6, 9, 15, and 21 h after death for functional model verification. The expression of several lncRNAs decreased with the prolongation of EPMI, and the mathematical model established by several lncRNA indices exhibited good fit. The verification results of the multi-index joint function model are significantly better than those of the single-index function model, and the established model is more practical. There is a linear relationship between lncRNAs and EPMI, and the multi-index function model is significantly better than the single-index function model, which is important for EPMI inference in forensic pathology practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haibo Gao
- Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Yuelu District, Changsha City, 410208, Hunan Province, China
| | - Siyu Yang
- Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Yuelu District, Changsha City, 410208, Hunan Province, China
| | - Jie Gao
- Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Yuelu District, Changsha City, 410208, Hunan Province, China
| | - Siqi Zhang
- Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Yuelu District, Changsha City, 410208, Hunan Province, China
| | - Li Qin
- Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Yuelu District, Changsha City, 410208, Hunan Province, China
| | - Meng Huang
- Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Yuelu District, Changsha City, 410208, Hunan Province, China
| | - Hua Wu
- The Second People's Hospital of Hunan Province, Furong District, Changsha City, 410007, Hunan Province, China.
| | - Qun Tang
- Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Yuelu District, Changsha City, 410208, Hunan Province, China.
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Battistini A, Capitanio D, Bailo P, Moriggi M, Tambuzzi S, Gelfi C, Piccinini A. Proteomic analysis by mass spectrometry of postmortem muscle protein degradation for PMI estimation: A pilot study. Forensic Sci Int 2023; 349:111774. [PMID: 37399773 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2023.111774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Revised: 06/24/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/05/2023]
Abstract
The determination of the postmortem interval is a topic of great forensic interest. The possibility of using new technologies has allowed the study of postmortem decay of biomolecules in the determination of PMI. Skeletal muscle proteins are promising candidates because skeletal muscle exhibits slower postmortem decay compared to other internal organs and nervous tissues, while its degradation is faster than cartilage and bone. In this pilot study, skeletal muscle tissue from pigs was degraded at two different controlled temperatures, 21 °C and 6 °C, and analysed at predefined times points: 0, 24, 48, 72, 96, and 120 h. The obtained samples were analysed by mass spectrometry proteomics approach for qualitative and quantitative evaluation of proteins and peptides. Immunoblotting validation was performed for the candidate proteins. The results obtained appeared significant and identified several proteins useful for possible postmortem interval estimation. Of these proteins, PDLIM7, TPM1, and ATP2A2 were validated by immunoblotting at a larger number of experimental points and at different temperatures. The results obtained are in agreement with those observed in similar works. In addition, the use of a mass spectrometry approach increased the number of protein species identified, providing a larger panel of proteins for PMI assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessio Battistini
- Sezione di Medicina Legale e delle Assicurazioni, Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, Via Luigi Mangiagalli, 37, 20133 Milan, Italy.
| | | | - Paolo Bailo
- Section of Legal Medicine, School of Law, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy
| | - Manuela Moriggi
- University of Milan, Via Luigi Mangiagalli 31, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Stefano Tambuzzi
- Sezione di Medicina Legale e delle Assicurazioni, Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, Via Luigi Mangiagalli, 37, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Cecilia Gelfi
- University of Milan, Via Luigi Mangiagalli 31, 20133 Milan, Italy; IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Galeazzi, Via Riccardo Galeazzi 4, 20161 Milan, Italy
| | - Andrea Piccinini
- Sezione di Medicina Legale e delle Assicurazioni, Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, Via Luigi Mangiagalli, 37, 20133 Milan, Italy
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Locci E, Stocchero M, Gottardo R, Chighine A, De-Giorgio F, Ferino G, Nioi M, Demontis R, Tagliaro F, d'Aloja E. PMI estimation through metabolomics and potassium analysis on animal vitreous humour. Int J Legal Med 2023; 137:887-895. [PMID: 36799966 PMCID: PMC10085955 DOI: 10.1007/s00414-023-02975-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The estimation of post-mortem interval (PMI) remains a major challenge in forensic science. Most of the proposed approaches lack the reliability required to meet the rigorous forensic standards. OBJECTIVES We applied 1H NMR metabolomics to estimate PMI on ovine vitreous humour comparing the results with the actual scientific gold standard, namely vitreous potassium concentrations. METHODS Vitreous humour samples were collected in a time frame ranging from 6 to 86 h after death. Experiments were performed by using 1H NMR metabolomics and ion capillary analysis. Data were submitted to multivariate statistical data analysis. RESULTS A multivariate calibration model was built to estimate PMI based on 47 vitreous humour samples. The model was validated with an independent test set of 24 samples, obtaining a prediction error on the entire range of 6.9 h for PMI < 24 h, 7.4 h for PMI between 24 and 48 h, and 10.3 h for PMI > 48 h. Time-related modifications of the 1H NMR vitreous metabolomic profile could predict PMI better than potassium up to 48 h after death, whilst a combination of the two is better than the single approach for higher PMI estimation. CONCLUSION The present study, although in a proof-of-concept animal model, shows that vitreous metabolomics can be a powerful tool to predict PMI providing a more accurate estimation compared to the widely studied approach based on vitreous potassium concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emanuela Locci
- Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, Section of Legal Medicine, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria di Monserrato, 09042, Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Matteo Stocchero
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - Rossella Gottardo
- Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, Unit of Forensic Medicine, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Alberto Chighine
- Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, Section of Legal Medicine, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria di Monserrato, 09042, Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy.
| | - Fabio De-Giorgio
- Department of Health Surveillance and Bioethics, Section of Legal Medicine, Catholic University of Rome, Rome, Italy.,Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Giulio Ferino
- Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, Section of Legal Medicine, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria di Monserrato, 09042, Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Matteo Nioi
- Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, Section of Legal Medicine, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria di Monserrato, 09042, Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Roberto Demontis
- Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, Section of Legal Medicine, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria di Monserrato, 09042, Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Franco Tagliaro
- Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, Unit of Forensic Medicine, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Ernesto d'Aloja
- Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, Section of Legal Medicine, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria di Monserrato, 09042, Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy
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Calderón-Garcidueñas L, Stommel EW, Lachmann I, Waniek K, Chao CK, González-Maciel A, García-Rojas E, Torres-Jardón R, Delgado-Chávez R, Mukherjee PS. TDP-43 CSF Concentrations Increase Exponentially with Age in Metropolitan Mexico City Young Urbanites Highly Exposed to PM 2.5 and Ultrafine Particles and Historically Showing Alzheimer and Parkinson's Hallmarks. Brain TDP-43 Pathology in MMC Residents Is Associated with High Cisternal CSF TDP-43 Concentrations. TOXICS 2022; 10:559. [PMID: 36287840 PMCID: PMC9611594 DOI: 10.3390/toxics10100559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Revised: 09/07/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Environmental exposures to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and ultrafine particle matter (UFPM) are associated with overlapping Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) hallmark protein pathologies in young Metropolitan Mexico City (MMC) urbanites. We measured CSF concentrations of TDP-43 in 194 urban residents, including 92 MMC children aged 10.2 ± 4.7 y exposed to PM2.5 levels above the USEPA annual standard and to high UFPM and 26 low pollution controls (11.5 ± 4.4 y); 43 MMC adults (42.3 ± 15.9 y) and 14 low pollution adult controls (33.1 ± 12.0 y); and 19 amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients (52.4 ± 14.1 y). TDP-43 neuropathology and cisternal CSF data from 20 subjects—15 MMC (41.1 ± 18.9 y) and 5 low pollution controls (46 ± 16.01 y)—were included. CSF TDP-43 exponentially increased with age (p < 0.0001) and it was higher for MMC residents. TDP-43 cisternal CSF levels of 572 ± 208 pg/mL in 6/15 MMC autopsy cases forecasted TDP-43 in the olfactory bulb, medulla and pons, reticular formation and motor nuclei neurons. A 16 y old with TDP-43 cisternal levels of 1030 pg/mL exhibited TDP-43 pathology and all 15 MMC autopsy cases exhibited AD and PD hallmarks. Overlapping TDP-43, AD and PD pathologies start in childhood in urbanites with high exposures to PM2.5 and UFPM. Early, sustained exposures to PM air pollution represent a high risk for developing brains and MMC UFPM emissions sources ought to be clearly identified, regulated, monitored and controlled. Prevention of deadly neurologic diseases associated with air pollution ought to be a public health priority and preventive medicine is key.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lilian Calderón-Garcidueñas
- College of Health, The University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA
- Universidad del Valle de México, Mexico City 14370, Mexico
| | - Elijah W. Stommel
- Department of Neurology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH 03755, USA
| | | | | | - Chih-Kai Chao
- College of Health, The University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA
| | | | | | - Ricardo Torres-Jardón
- Instituto de Ciencias de la Atmósfera y Cambio Climático, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
| | | | - Partha S. Mukherjee
- Interdisciplinary Statistical Research Unit, Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata 700108, India
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Xu X, Qi P, Zhang Y, Sun H, Yan Y, Sun W, Liu S. Effect of Selenium Treatment on Central Insulin Sensitivity: A Proteomic Analysis in β-Amyloid Precursor Protein/Presenilin-1 Transgenic Mice. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:931788. [PMID: 35875664 PMCID: PMC9302600 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.931788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Prior studies have demonstrated a close association between brain insulin resistance and Alzheimer’s disease (AD), while selenium supplementation was shown to improve insulin homeostasis in AD patients and to exert neuroprotective effects in a mouse model of AD. However, the mechanisms underlying the neuroprotective actions of selenium remain incompletely understood. In this study, we performed a label-free liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) quantitative proteomics approach to analyze differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex of Aβ precursor protein (APP)/presenilin-1 (PS1) mice following 2 months of treatment with sodium selenate. A total of 319 DEPs (205 upregulated and 114 downregulated proteins) were detected after selenium treatment. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that the DEPs were mainly enriched in processes affecting axon development, neuron differentiation, tau protein binding, and insulin/insulin-like growth factor type 1 (IGF1)-related pathways. These results demonstrate that a number of insulin/IGF1 signaling pathway-associated proteins are differentially expressed in ways that are consistent with reduced central insulin resistance, suggesting that selenium has therapeutic value in the treatment of neurodegenerative and metabolic diseases such as AD and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
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Affiliation(s)
- Xia Xu
- Department of Nursing, School of Nursing, Shandong Xiehe University, Jinan, China
| | - Pishui Qi
- Department of Pharmacy, Shandong Rongjun General Hospital, Jinan, China
| | - Ying Zhang
- Department of Endocrinology, Shandong Rongjun General Hospital, Jinan, China
| | - Huihuan Sun
- Department of Endocrinology, Shandong Rongjun General Hospital, Jinan, China
| | - Yong Yan
- Department of Transfusion Medicine, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
| | - Wenxiu Sun
- Department of Pharmacy, Taishan Vocational College of Nursing, Taian, China
- *Correspondence: Wenxiu Sun,
| | - Shudong Liu
- Department of Endocrinology, Shandong Rongjun General Hospital, Jinan, China
- Shudong Liu,
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Systematic Review on Post-Mortem Protein Alterations: Analysis of Experimental Models and Evaluation of Potential Biomarkers of Time of Death. Diagnostics (Basel) 2022; 12:diagnostics12061490. [PMID: 35741301 PMCID: PMC9222196 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics12061490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Revised: 06/06/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
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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Estimation of the time since death based on body cooling: a comparative study of four temperature-based methods. Int J Legal Med 2021; 135:2479-2487. [PMID: 34148133 DOI: 10.1007/s00414-021-02635-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
The estimation of the time since death is an important task in forensic medicine that mainly relies on body cooling in the early post-mortem period. The rectum has been traditionally used to determine the central core temperature after death, though the external auditory canal has been proposed as an alternative site by several authors. The objective of this study was to assess the ability of four body temperature-based methods (Henssge's rectal nomogram, Henssge's brain nomogram, and Baccino's both interval and global formulae based on ear temperature) to estimate the post-mortem interval (PMI). PMI calculations were carried out based on ear and rectal temperature measurements performed with a reference metal probe on 100 inpatient bodies with an average PMI of 4.5 ± 2.5 h. For practical purposes, ear temperature measurements were applied to Henssge's brain nomogram. All methods could be applied to 81 cases, since high body temperatures prevented the rectal nomogram method from being used in most of the remaining cases. The actual PMI was within the time interval (95% CI) provided by the rectal nomogram method in 72.8% of cases, and in 63.0% to 76.5% of cases when using ear temperature-based methods. The proportions of adequate estimates did not differ statistically between the different methods. When the methods failed to provide a reliable time interval, all except the brain nomogram tended to underestimate the PMI. Similar results were obtained in the subgroup of normothermic patients at the time of death (n = 63), confirming that the PMI calculations had not been biased by the inclusion of patients with thermoregulation disorders. Our findings are in accordance with the published literature which suggests that ear temperature-based methods are as reliable as those based on rectal temperature for estimating the early PMI and that they may be used as quick, simple, and non-invasive methods at the scene, although caution should be taken in interpreting their results given their high error rates. However, further research including field studies is recommended to confirm their practical relevance in forensic casework.
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