Evaluation of specific marker CK13 and CK10/13 combined with APM staining for the diagnosis of amniotic fluid embolism and aspiration

The Role of Protein Degradation in Estimation Postmortem Interval and Confirmation of Cause of Death in Forensic Pathology: A Literature Review

It is well known that proteins are important bio-macromolecules in human organisms, and numerous proteins are widely used in the clinical practice, whereas their application in forensic science is currently limited. This limitation is mainly attributed to the postmortem degradation of targeted proteins, which can significantly impact final conclusions. In the last decade, numerous methods have been established to detect the protein from a forensic perspective, and some of the postmortem proteins have been applied in forensic practice. To better understand the emerging issues and challenges in postmortem proteins, we have reviewed the current application of protein technologies at postmortem in forensic practice. Meanwhile, we discuss the application of proteins in identifying the cause of death, and postmortem interval (PMI). Finally, we highlight the interpretability and limitations of postmortem protein challenges. We believe that utilizing the multi-omics method can enhance the comprehensiveness of applying proteins in forensic practice.

Fetal, neonatal, and infant death in central China (Hubei): A 16-year retrospective study of forensic autopsy cases

Data based on forensic autopsy in neonates and infants in China are rare in the literature. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the characteristics of fetal, neonatal, and infant death and to determine the main cause of death among them.A retrospective analysis of fetal and infant forensic autopsies referred to the Tongji Forensic Medical Center (TFMC) in Hubei, central China, during a 16-year period between January 1999 and December 2014, was performed.In this period, there were 1111 males and 543 females; the total male-to-female ratio (MFR) was 2.05:1. There were 173 fetal and infant autopsies conducted, comprised of 43 fetal, 84 neonatal (<28 days) and 46 infant (4 weeks to 1 year) cases. The annual case number ranged from 5 in 2004 to 18 in 2014 (annual mean of 10.8). MFR was 1.75:1. About 94% of these deaths (163/173) resulted from natural causes, 6 cases (3.5%) were accidental deaths, and 4 (2.3%) resulted from homicide (4 abandoned babies). Among fetuses, the most common causes of death were placental and umbilical cord pathologies (28%, 12/43), followed by intrapartum asphyxia resulting from amniotic fluid aspiration (AFA) or meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS) (18.6%, 8/43), congenital malformation (14%, 6/43), and intrapartum infection (9.3%, 4/43). A majority of neonatal deaths (66.7%, 56/84) died within 24 hours of birth. The main causes of neonatal death were asphyxia resulting from AFA, MAS, or hyaline membrane disease, and congenital malformation. The main causes of infant (1-12 months) death were infectious diseases, including pneumonia, meningitis, and viral brainstem encephalitis.This study was the 1st retrospective analysis of autopsies of fetal, neonatal, and infant death in TFMC and central China. We delineate the common causes of early demise among cases referred for autopsy, and report a male preponderance in this population. Our data observed that placental and/or umbilical cord pathology, asphyxia due to AFA, and/or MAS, and pneumonia were the leading causes of fetal, neonatal, and infant death, respectively. And it can inform clinical practitioners about the underlying causes of some of the most distressing cases in their practices.