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Radi IA. THE PRESENCE OF FLUIDS IN THE PARANASAL SINUSES MIGHT COMPLEMENT OTHER POST-MORTEM DIAGNOSTIC METHODS TO CONFIRM OR REFUTE DROWNING AS THE CAUSE OF DEATH. J Evid Based Dent Pract 2024; 24:101966. [PMID: 38821654 DOI: 10.1016/j.jebdp.2023.101966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2024]
Abstract
ARTICLE TITLE AND BIBLIOGRAPHIC INFORMATION da Trindade RQ, Vieira MG, Vieira RB, Vicentin-Junior CA, Damascena NP, Santiago BM, Martins-Filho PR, Machado CE. The role of paranasal sinus fluid in determining drowning as the cause of death: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J forensic Leg Med. 2023;12:102591. SOURCE OF FUNDING No funding was received for this review. TYPE OF STUDY/DESIGN Systematic review (SR) with meta-analysis (MA) of data.
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Dervišević E, Katica M, Mašić E, Čamdžić N, Ajanović Z, Dervišević L, Salihbegović A, Sarajlić N. Bone and Tooth: Substrates for determining Drowning: A new diagnostic procedure in forensic medicine Practice? Leg Med (Tokyo) 2024; 66:102366. [PMID: 38039660 DOI: 10.1016/j.legalmed.2023.102366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/03/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Diatom tests are rarely used during autopsy to confirm drowning as the cause of death (COD) because of limitations of the current literature involving these techniques. Instead, experts rely on physical examination by the pathologist. Due to interpretive concerns regarding Diatom tests, they are often insufficient in establishing a diagnosis, but offer the potential to be an extremely useful diagnostic tool with further understanding. The aim of study is to optimize "Diatom Tests" for use in forensic medicine in Bosnia and Herzegovina. METHODS A randomized prospective experimental study was conducted, using albino Wistar rat models (Rattus norvegicus), at the Veterinary Facility, University of Sarajevo. Thirty-two adult albino rats, were used and distributed into groups as follows: Group A (6 deceased rats with COD other than drowning, but due to mechanical asphyxia, which were then submerged for 1 h after death); Group B (6 deceased rats with COD other than drowning, but due to mechanical asphyxia, which were then submerged for 72 h after death); Group C (6 rats that were immediately autopsied after drowning, with COD determined as drowning); Group D (6 rats that underwent a 48-hour postmortem period after drowning); Group E (COD: drowning, post-mortem 72hrs after death, remained submerged in water until PM). Live algological material was collected for the research of the systematics of algae from the Bosna river, Sarajevo, and transported to the University of Sarajevo (Department of Biology, Faculty of Science). Periphyllon, epiphyllon and epipelon were used to collect phytobenthos. The material was fixed with 4% formalin solution. Laboratory processing of diatoms was performed using the methods described by Hustedt (16). In the process of obtaining pure diatom valves, part of the material is digested with potassium permanganate (KMnO4), sulfuric acid (H2SO4), and oxalic acid (C2H2O4). In the next step, the cleaned diatom valves were mounted in Canadian balsam. A light microscope under 1000x magnification (Best Scope 2020) was used to evaluate and analyze the species. The identification of diatoms was performed using the reference of Cantonati et al (17). The nomenclature of diatom species was performed according to Guiry & Guiry's worldwide electronic internet database. RESULTS No diatoms were found in Groups A and B. However, Navicula sp. and Sellaphora sp. cf., were discovered during bone analysis of Group C where rats were immediately autopsied after drowning. Hantzschia amphioxus taxon was present in Group D, which underwent a 48-hour postmortem period after drowning and before samples were taken. In Groups C and D, where drowning was the COD, Diatoma vulgaris i Pinnularia major, Achnanthidium minutissimum i Melosira varians were present in the tooth samples. CONCLUSION Optimization of the "Diatom Test" method could potentially lead to its future use as a routine method within experimental settings. This experimental study is a starting point that guides forenscic medicine pracitioners towards the optimization of tests and sampling in cases of unexplained etiology, where preserved soft tissue structures is not available. In these cases, teeth and bones serve as accessible materials for diagnosing COD, alongside standardized nonspecific findings in the absence of organs for micro- and macroanalysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emina Dervišević
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
| | - Muhamed Katica
- Veterinary Clinical Pathology, Veterinary Faculty University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Ermin Mašić
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Nina Čamdžić
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Zurifa Ajanović
- Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Lejla Dervišević
- Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Adis Salihbegović
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Nermin Sarajlić
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
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Tsuneya S, Nakajima M, Yoshida M, Hoshioka Y, Chiba F, Inokuchi G, Torimitsu S, Iwase H. Detection of diatoms in a case of mud aspiration at a coastal area. Leg Med (Tokyo) 2024; 66:102354. [PMID: 37988879 DOI: 10.1016/j.legalmed.2023.102354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023]
Abstract
The source of diatoms detected in non-drowned bodies have been attributed to postmortem invasion, contamination during autopsy or diatom testing, or "natural load." However, sand aspiration has not been reported as a source. Herein, we report an autopsy case in which diatoms were detected in a non-drowned human who had aspirated mud. A man in his 60 s was found dead at a harbor park in Japan. His whole body was covered with sand, including his face. A situational investigation suggested that he may have entered the sea. Autopsy revealed intratracheal mud, with no obvious findings indicating drowning, suggesting that he died from mud aspiration probably due to hypothermia or non-lethal ethanol intoxication. In the diatom test, 10-100 diatoms/g were detected in bilateral lung samples, which were similar to those found in the intraoral and intratracheal mud and the sand samples from around the discovery site and not similar to those found in the seawater samples. The diatoms in the stomach content exhibited an intermediate trend between those found in the sand and seawater. Therefore, careful qualitative and quantitative analyses are required to differentiate between true drowning and false-positives in non-drowning cases to determine the cause of death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shigeki Tsuneya
- Department of Legal Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-8670, Japan; Department of Forensic Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan.
| | - Makoto Nakajima
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Maiko Yoshida
- Department of Legal Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-8670, Japan
| | - Yumi Hoshioka
- Department of Legal Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-8670, Japan
| | - Fumiko Chiba
- Department of Legal Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-8670, Japan; Department of Forensic Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Go Inokuchi
- Department of Legal Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-8670, Japan; Department of Forensic Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Suguru Torimitsu
- Department of Legal Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-8670, Japan; Department of Forensic Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Hirotaro Iwase
- Department of Legal Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-8670, Japan; Department of Forensic Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
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Wu Y, Luo L, Li Y, Sun Y, Huang X, Zhou Y, Wang Y, Wang Y, Zeng D, Yun L. A comparative assessment of time-consuming and laborious diatom analysis:Brief experimentation with suggestion of automatic identification. Forensic Sci Int 2024; 355:111939. [PMID: 38246065 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2024.111939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Revised: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/14/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
Diatom testing is considered a useful method for providing supportive evidence for the diagnosis of drowning in forensic pathology. However, various factors remain controversial for recognizing diatoms, such as being time-consuming and laborious and influencing the consistency of the results. Given the absence of precise and well-defined studies on this subject, this study aimed to determine the relationship between the ability to identify diatoms and researchers with different technical backgrounds. A total of 55 samples from 18 cases, including water, lungs, liver, and kidneys, were treated using the microwave digestion-vacuum filtration-automated scanning electron microscopy (MD-VF-Auto SEM), which was used to compare diatom analyses among three groups of well-trained forensic pathologists (FPs), trained junior employees (JEs), and new trainees (TEs). In addition to achieving similar accuracy of positive findings from drowning cases, counting efficiency was evaluated based on taxonomy records and counting time after viewing more than 5500 diatom images. In contrast to the higher counting efficiency of the JE group than that of the TE group, we observed a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) in the diatom classification between these two groups. Based on our experiments, an efficient analysis for automatically identifying and classifying diatoms is urgently required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuhang Wu
- Department of Forensic Pathology, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, People' s Republic of China
| | - Lisiteng Luo
- Department of Forensic Pathology, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, People' s Republic of China
| | - Yuyang Li
- Department of Forensic Pathology, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, People' s Republic of China
| | - Yuntao Sun
- Department of Forensic Pathology, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, People' s Republic of China
| | - Xinyu Huang
- Department of Forensic Pathology, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, People' s Republic of China
| | - Yuchi Zhou
- Criminal Investigation Department of Sichuan Provincial Public Security Bureau, NO.36, Wenmiaohoujie Street, Qingyang district, Chengdu 610015, People's Republic of China
| | - Yi Wang
- Criminal Investigation Department of Sichuan Provincial Public Security Bureau, NO.36, Wenmiaohoujie Street, Qingyang district, Chengdu 610015, People's Republic of China
| | - Yongqing Wang
- Criminal Science and Technology Division, Criminal Investigation Bureau, Chengdu Public Security Bureau, Chengdu, Sichuan 610031, People's Republic of China
| | - Debing Zeng
- Criminal Science and Technology Division, Criminal Investigation Bureau, Chengdu Public Security Bureau, Chengdu, Sichuan 610031, People's Republic of China
| | - Libing Yun
- Department of Forensic Pathology, West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, People' s Republic of China.
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da Trindade RQ, Duarte Morais Vieira MG, Vieira RB, Vicentin-Junior CA, Damascena NP, Santiago BM, Martins-Filho PR, Palhares Machado CE. The role of paranasal sinus fluid in determining drowning as the cause of death: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Forensic Leg Med 2023; 99:102591. [PMID: 37717366 DOI: 10.1016/j.jflm.2023.102591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Revised: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023]
Abstract
Drowning is a significant global cause of unintentional injury fatalities, and accurate forensic diagnosis of drowning remains a challenge due to the nonspecific nature of post-mortem findings obtained through classical autopsy methods. Our manuscript addresses this issue by focusing on the emerging use of paranasal sinus fluid as a valuable tool in determining the cause of death, specifically in distinguishing drowning from non-drowning cases. The study provided a comprehensive summary of available evidence from observational studies that compared findings in the paranasal sinuses between drowning and non-drowning victims, analyzing parameters such as the presence of fluid, fluid volume, and density. The study encompassed a total of 14 selected studies involving 1044 subjects and utilized rigorous risk of bias assessment and data synthesis techniques. The meta-analysis demonstrated a strong association between the presence of fluid in the paranasal sinuses and drowning (OR = 17.1; 95% CI 7.2 to 40.5; p < 0.001). In addition, drowning victims had a significantly greater volume of fluid (SMD = 0.8; 95% CI 0.5 to 1.2; p < 0.001) and lower fluid density (SMD = -1.4; 95% -2.5 to -0.4; p = 0.008) compared to non-drowning cases. The results support the utility of paranasal sinus fluid analysis as a valuable diagnostic method in cases where drowning is suspected but cannot be definitively confirmed through traditional approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Queiroz da Trindade
- Graduate Program in Oral Biology, Piracicaba Dental School, State University of Campinas, UNICAMP, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Raíssa Bastos Vieira
- Graduate Program in Pathology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, USP, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | | | | | - Paulo Ricardo Martins-Filho
- Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Federal University of Sergipe, Sergipe, Brazil; Investigative Pathology Laboratory, Federal University of Sergipe, Sergipe, Brazil.
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Poulain C, Mathieu O, Gouetta V, Baccino É, Peyron PA. Influence of the toxicological status on the diagnosis of fatal drowning. Int J Legal Med 2023; 137:1471-1479. [PMID: 37433906 PMCID: PMC10421782 DOI: 10.1007/s00414-023-03057-3] [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: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023]
Abstract
Drowning is the leading cause of death by accident of everyday life in people under 25 years of age. Xenobiotics are frequently involved in drowning cases but their influence on the diagnosis of fatal drowning has not been studied so far. This preliminary study aimed to assess the influence of an alcohol and/or a drug intoxication on the autopsy signs of drowning, and on the results of diatom analyses in drowning deaths. Twenty-eight autopsy cases of drowning including 19 freshwater drownings, 6 seawater drownings, and 3 brackish water drownings were prospectively included. Toxicological and diatom tests were performed in each case. The influence of alcohol and other xenobiotics on drowning signs and diatom analyses was assessed separately then in combination through a global toxicological participation score (GTPS). Diatom analyses showed positive results in lung tissue in every case. No significant association was found between the degree of intoxication and the diatom concentration in the organs, even after considering freshwater drowning cases only. The vast majority of the traditional autopsy signs of drowning were not significantly affected by the individual toxicological status either, with the exception of lung weight which tended to raise in case of intoxication, probably due to the pulmonary edema and congestion increase. Further research on larger autopsy samples is needed to confirm the results of this exploratory study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clément Poulain
- Department of Forensic Medicine, University Hospital of Montpellier, Montpellier, France.
| | - Olivier Mathieu
- Department of Medical Pharmacology and Toxicology, University Hospital of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Valérie Gouetta
- SNPS- Laboratoire de Police Scientifique de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Éric Baccino
- Department of Forensic Medicine, University Hospital of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
- Montpellier Criminal Law and Forensic Sciences research team (EDPFM, UR-UM212), Univ. Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Pierre-Antoine Peyron
- Department of Forensic Medicine, University Hospital of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
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Du Y, Xiang Q, Niu Y, Liu L, Liu J, Su Q, Li Z, Shi H, Xu Q, Wang H, Zhao J, Liu C. Diatoms pass through the gastrointestinal barrier and lead to false-positive: an animal experiment. Forensic Sci Med Pathol 2023:10.1007/s12024-023-00593-7. [PMID: 37378810 DOI: 10.1007/s12024-023-00593-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
The diatom test has been used by forensic pathologist as standard for drowning, but the occurrence of false-positive results (presence of diatoms found in the tissues of subjects who died from causes other than drowning) draws criticism regarding the specificity of the test. Diatoms within food or water can be ingested through the gastrointestinal tract. However, the mechanisms of how the diatoms reach distant organs such as the lung, liver, and kidney have not been studied. In this article, we simulated the process of diatoms entering the gastrointestinal tract using gastric lavage on experimental rabbits. Diatoms are detected in lymph from a lymphatic vessel at the root of the mesentery, portal vein blood, aortic blood, lung, liver, and kidney samples in the gavage group. Of diatoms, 76.24% were the centric diatom, 99.86% of diatoms have a maximum size of less than 50 µm, and most of diatoms concentrate in the lung. Our study provided the evidence supporting the theory that the diatoms could pass through the gastrointestinal barrier and reach the rabbits' other internal organs. The diatoms could reach internal organs through the portal vein and lymphatic vessel at the root of the mesentery. This provides us new insight into our understanding of false-positive diatom test in forensic pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yukun Du
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Forensic Multi-Omics for Precision Identification, School of Forensic Medicine, Southern Medical University, Shaitai Road South 1023-1063, Baiyun District, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Qingqing Xiang
- School of Forensic Medicine, Kunming Medical University, Chenggong District, Chunrong Road West 1168, Kunming, 650500, China
| | - Yong Niu
- Section of Forensic Sciences, Criminal Investigation Department, Ministry of Public Security, Dongcheng District, Chang' an Avenue 14, Beijing, 100741, China
| | - Lu Liu
- Faculty of Forensic Medicine, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University & Guangdong Province Translational Forensic Medicine Engineering Technology Research Center, Yuexiu District, Zhongshan 2Nd Road 74, Guangzhou, 510275, People's Republic of China
| | - Jingjian Liu
- Department of Anatomy, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, 637000, China
| | - Qin Su
- Faculty of Forensic Medicine, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University & Guangdong Province Translational Forensic Medicine Engineering Technology Research Center, Yuexiu District, Zhongshan 2Nd Road 74, Guangzhou, 510275, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhigang Li
- Guangzhou Forensic Science Institute & Key Laboratory of Forensic Pathology, Ministry of Public Security, Baiyun District, Baiyun Avenue 1708, Guangzhou, 510442, People's Republic of China
| | - He Shi
- Guangzhou Forensic Science Institute & Key Laboratory of Forensic Pathology, Ministry of Public Security, Baiyun District, Baiyun Avenue 1708, Guangzhou, 510442, People's Republic of China
| | - Quyi Xu
- Guangzhou Forensic Science Institute & Key Laboratory of Forensic Pathology, Ministry of Public Security, Baiyun District, Baiyun Avenue 1708, Guangzhou, 510442, People's Republic of China
| | - Huijun Wang
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Forensic Multi-Omics for Precision Identification, School of Forensic Medicine, Southern Medical University, Shaitai Road South 1023-1063, Baiyun District, Guangzhou, 510515, China.
| | - Jian Zhao
- Faculty of Forensic Medicine, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University & Guangdong Province Translational Forensic Medicine Engineering Technology Research Center, Yuexiu District, Zhongshan 2Nd Road 74, Guangzhou, 510275, People's Republic of China.
- Guangzhou Forensic Science Institute & Key Laboratory of Forensic Pathology, Ministry of Public Security, Baiyun District, Baiyun Avenue 1708, Guangzhou, 510442, People's Republic of China.
| | - Chao Liu
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Forensic Multi-Omics for Precision Identification, School of Forensic Medicine, Southern Medical University, Shaitai Road South 1023-1063, Baiyun District, Guangzhou, 510515, China.
- Faculty of Forensic Medicine, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University & Guangdong Province Translational Forensic Medicine Engineering Technology Research Center, Yuexiu District, Zhongshan 2Nd Road 74, Guangzhou, 510275, People's Republic of China.
- Guangzhou Forensic Science Institute & Key Laboratory of Forensic Pathology, Ministry of Public Security, Baiyun District, Baiyun Avenue 1708, Guangzhou, 510442, People's Republic of China.
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Bogusz M, Bogusz I, Żelazna-Wieczorek J. The possibilities and limitations of comparative diatomaceous analysis for confirming or excluding the site of an incident - Case studies. Forensic Sci Int 2023; 346:111644. [PMID: 36958086 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2023.111644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Revised: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Abstract
Diatoms (Bacillariophyta) are unicellular photosynthetic organisms commonly occurring in aquatic habitats on Earth. Their autecology makes them almost perfect indicators of environmental conditions and so have high potential for use in forensics. Both eurytopic and stenotopic species are important in site identification: eurytopic forms due to their abundance, and stenotopic forms due to their narrow range of tolerance to environmental conditions. Their presence can hence provide a clear insight into an ecosystem and its microhabitats. The diatoms are useful as significant indicator in diagnosing of drowning. However, to definitively link a corpse with the place where it was found and to indicate whether this was also the crime scene, it is essential that any comparative diatomaceous analyses are performed correctly. The following study presents selected cases in which a comparative diatomaceous analysis was performed. In all cases, the biological samples secured during the autopsy were compared with environmental samples collected from the site of the cadaver disclosure. Our findings show both the possibilities and limitations of using this method in forensics. These forensic investigations need close collaboration between coroners and diatomology experts. It is crucially important to reveal whether the place of corpse finding is the same as the place of drowning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marek Bogusz
- Forensic Medicine Department of Medical University of Warsaw, Warszawa, Poland; Department of Algology and Mycology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Łódź, Łódź, Poland
| | - Iwona Bogusz
- Special Training Unit, Police Training Centre in Legionowo, Legionowo, Poland; Department of Algology and Mycology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Łódź, Łódź, Poland
| | - Joanna Żelazna-Wieczorek
- Department of Algology and Mycology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Łódź, Łódź, Poland.
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Hagen D, Pittner S, Zhao J, Obermayer A, Stoiber W, Steinbacher P, Monticelli FC, Gotsmy W. Validation and optimization of the diatom L/D ratio as a diagnostic marker for drowning. Int J Legal Med 2023; 137:939-948. [PMID: 36869250 PMCID: PMC10085902 DOI: 10.1007/s00414-023-02970-x] [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: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/05/2023]
Abstract
If a dead body is discovered in water, it nearly always raises the question about the cause of death, often associated with the persistent problem to differentiate between a drowning incident and post-mortem immersion. In numerous cases, a reliable confirmation of death by drowning is often only possible by a combination of diagnoses obtained from autopsy and additional investigations. As to the latter, the use of diatoms has been suggested (and debated) since decades. Based on the consideration that diatoms are present in almost every natural waterbody and are unavoidably incorporated when water is inhaled, their presence in the lung and other tissues can provide evidence of drowning. However, the traditional diatom test methods are still subject of controversial discussion and suspected of erroneous outcome, predominantly through contamination. A promising alternative to minimize the risk of erroneous outcome seems to be disclosed by the recently suggested MD-VF-Auto SEM technique. Especially the establishment of a new diagnostic marker (L/D ratio), which represents the factorial proportion between the diatom concentration in lung tissue and the drowning medium, allows for clearer distinction of drowning and post-mortal immersion and is largely robust to contamination. However, this highly elaborated technique requires specific devices which are frequently unavailable. We therefore developed a modified method of SEM-based diatom testing to enable the use on more routinely available equipment. Process steps such as digestion, filtration, and image acquisition were thoroughly broken down, optimized, and ultimately validated in five confirmed drowning cases. Taking certain limitations into consideration, L/D ratio analysis provided promising results, even in cases of advanced decomposition. We conclude that our modified protocol indeed opens a way for a broader use of the method in forensic drowning investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominik Hagen
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, Paris-Lodron University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Stefan Pittner
- Department of Forensic Medicine and Forensic Psychiatry, Paris-Lodron University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Jian Zhao
- Guangzhou Forensic Science Institute & Key Laboratory of Forensic Pathology, Ministry of Public Security, Guangzhou, China
| | - Astrid Obermayer
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, Paris-Lodron University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Walter Stoiber
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, Paris-Lodron University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Peter Steinbacher
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, Paris-Lodron University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Fabio C Monticelli
- Department of Forensic Medicine and Forensic Psychiatry, Paris-Lodron University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Walther Gotsmy
- Department of Forensic Medicine and Forensic Psychiatry, Paris-Lodron University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria.
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10
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Effect of ethanol on the diatom test using nitric acid or sodium hypochlorite. Leg Med (Tokyo) 2023; 61:102190. [PMID: 36603490 DOI: 10.1016/j.legalmed.2022.102190] [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: 09/02/2022] [Revised: 11/27/2022] [Accepted: 12/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To study the quantitative effect of ethanol on the diatom test for water and lung samples. MATERIALS AND METHODS In experiment 1, we tested 20 water samples taken from natural water areas. In experiments 1-1 and 1-2, each sample was digested with sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) solution (Purelox) and fuming nitric acid (HNO3), respectively. In Experiments 1-3 and 1-4, each sample was added to a lung sample containing few diatoms and digested with NaClO and HNO3, respectively. In Experiment 2, eight lung samples containing diatoms were digested with NaClO. Then, each digested sample was divided into two portions; one portion was washed with ethanol before being washed with water, and the other was washed only with water. After base-2 logarithmic transformation, the counts from the methods with and without ethanol wash were compared with a paired t-test. RESULTS In experiments 1-1, 1-2, 1-3, 1-4, and 2, the geometric means of the ratios derived from the two methods (with/without ethanol) were 0.70 (95 % confidence interval [CI]: 0.65-0.77, P < 0.001), 0.83 (95 % CI: 0.73-0.93, P = 0.005), 3.00 (95 % CI: 2.31-3.91, P < 0.001), 0.91 (95 % CI: 0.79-1.04, P = 0.164), and 3.06 (95 % CI: 2.28-4.41, P < 0.001), respectively. CONCLUSION Our experiments suggest that ethanol would be useless in diatom tests of water samples or in the conventional (HNO3) digestion of lung samples. However, ethanol is essential for the NaClO digestion of lung samples and could also be useful for other alternative methods of lung samples.
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Bhardwaj N, Ahluwalia AS, Pal SK, Mandotra SK. Potential of photoautotrophic microbial organisms in deciphering forensic issues. Leg Med (Tokyo) 2023; 62:102223. [PMID: 36857944 DOI: 10.1016/j.legalmed.2023.102223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Revised: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2023]
Abstract
In forensic pathology, solving the crime mystery of death due to drowning still remains a challenging issue. The amalgamation of autopsy findings and comparative study of diatoms recovered from the victim's body organs and suspected drowning site help to decipher the cause of death due to drowning or post-mortem immersion. Since the correct interpretation of the cause of death is an important criterion to provide justice to the victim, therefore, the main objective of our study is to throw light on the application of photoautotrophic micro-algal organisms, known as Diatoms, in solving seven cases of victims whose bodies were recovered from various water bodies of Himachal Pradesh, India. The diatom test was conducted by using reverse aqua regia solution (15 ml HNO3: 5 ml HCl) on the bone marrow extracted from the organs and water samples respectively. The informative outcomes of the experimental analysis demonstrated that the diatom test acts as a beneficial adjunct to solve drowning-related crimes where the exact cause of death remains hidden even after performing an autopsy of the victims. The protocol followed by the authors can be used conveniently to recover diatoms from bone marrow as well as from water samples. Our results showed that the maximum cases were of death due to accidental drowning but for one case of suicidal drowning in extremely cold water.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nitika Bhardwaj
- Institute of Forensic Science and Criminology, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India.
| | - A S Ahluwalia
- Department of Botany, Eternal University, Baru Sahib, Himachal Pradesh, India.
| | - S K Pal
- Department of Biology and Serology, Directorate of Forensics Services, Shimla Hills, Junga Himachal Pradesh, India
| | - S K Mandotra
- Department of Botany, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India.
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Tsuneya S, Yoshida M, Hoshioka Y, Chiba F, Inokuchi G, Torimitsu S, Iwase H. Relevance of diatom testing on closed organs of a drowned cadaver who died after receiving treatment for 10 days: A case report. Leg Med (Tokyo) 2023; 60:102168. [PMID: 36308841 DOI: 10.1016/j.legalmed.2022.102168] [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: 09/02/2022] [Revised: 10/08/2022] [Accepted: 10/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
A male in his late adolescence fell into the sea and was found 50 min later with cardiopulmonary arrest. He was revived approximately 260 min after he drowned. Although he received several treatments, including venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and continuous hemodiafiltration, he was clinically diagnosed with brain death. He died 10 days after the accident. The autopsy did not reveal any unremarkable findings other than those associated with post-resuscitation changes and medical treatment. The diatom test revealed 47.9, 311.6, and 577.5 diatom particles per gram from water, left lung, and right lung samples, respectively. No diatoms were detected in a 10 g liver sample, and 1 diatom was detected in each of approximately 12 g of bilateral kidney samples, which was different from the abundant species in the lung samples. The diatom test of the closed organs could be considered false negative for confirming drowning death since diatoms can also be detected in non-drowned cadavers on dry land. This suggests that diatoms might not reach the closed organs via circulation and that the diatom test of closed organ samples might no longer be necessary to confirm drowning deaths.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shigeki Tsuneya
- Department of Legal Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-8670, Japan; Department of Forensic Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan.
| | - Maiko Yoshida
- Department of Legal Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-8670, Japan
| | - Yumi Hoshioka
- Department of Legal Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-8670, Japan
| | - Fumiko Chiba
- Department of Legal Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-8670, Japan; Department of Forensic Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Go Inokuchi
- Department of Legal Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-8670, Japan; Department of Forensic Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Suguru Torimitsu
- Department of Legal Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-8670, Japan; Department of Forensic Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Hirotaro Iwase
- Department of Legal Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-8670, Japan; Department of Forensic Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
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Sonoda A, Kakizaki E, Shinkawa N, Matsuda H, Yukawa N. Conventional diatom testing using strong acid: (II) Number and types of diatoms detected in closed organs and lungs of 80 autopsy cases using only new Kjeldahl flasks. Forensic Sci Int 2022; 341:111510. [DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2022.111510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Revised: 10/08/2022] [Accepted: 10/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
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Khurshid A, Ahmad H, Jaffry AA, Khurshid M, Ali G. A Homicide in Disguise: How the Autopsy Dug up Clues. Cureus 2022; 14:e24691. [PMID: 35663661 PMCID: PMC9162893 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.24691] [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] [Accepted: 05/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
An autopsy is performed in the occurrence of an out-of-the-ordinary manner of death where the cause of death is unclear. Through a detailed medicolegal investigation, it differentiates homicide from suicides or accidents. However, some people do not acknowledge its importance due to the conflict between science and religion. This is especially true for countries with a lack of education and awareness. The family of the deceased may be unmindful of medicolegal matters and hesitate to allow for an autopsy. In the instance that burial takes place before an autopsy was performed, the medicolegal officer requests for an exhumation. It is the act of digging up a body from its grave to be examined in more detail. Such was the case in our study. A dead body was retrieved from a water channel in the Sindh province, assumed to have accidentally drowned. The family held the funeral before an autopsy was performed. Later, suspicions arose surrounding the death, so the body was exhumed. The soft tissues were decomposed and unidentifiable. The examination suggested strangulation owing to the pivotal discovery of a fractured hyoid bone at the tip of the greater horn of the right cornu. Chemical tests came out negative for intoxication. Therefore, the cause of death was concluded to be asphyxia due to throttling, secondary to hyoid bone fracture. Currently, technology was developed to introduce advanced tests in forensic sciences to differentiate multiple causes of drowning. However, the dissatisfactory budget limits forensic experts in their work. There is little use in testing for diatoms to rule out drowning, as it has been proved to show discrepancies sometimes leading to a false-positive result. Hence, alternative methods need to be explored for a more efficient approach to find the cause of death.
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Kakizaki E, Shinkawa N, Sonoda A, Yukawa N. Conventional diatom testing using strong acid: Notable false-positive results caused by an underestimated contamination source (blind spot). Forensic Sci Int 2021; 330:111131. [PMID: 34891083 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2021.111131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2021] [Revised: 09/26/2021] [Accepted: 11/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Low rates of diatom positivity in the closed organs of drowning victims present challenges for diatom testing. High positivity rates in closed organs of non-drowning victims also raise an important issue. These contradictory findings were common in diatom testing studies undertaken during the 1960-80 s, but the reasons remained unclear. In the present study, we identified one of the most important factors associated with false-positive results in diatom testing using strong acid. One to 290 false-positive diatoms were found in reused Kjeldahl flasks that were thoroughly washed after the first diatom testing and kept free of tissue before the second testing. False-positive results occurred in 11 of 20 cases when more than approximately 10,000 diatoms were present in digested tissue or water samples. Reused flasks were found to contain many common diatoms (<30 µm), including Cocconeis, Cymbella, Diatoma, Gomphonema, Navicula, and Nitzschia, in agreement with reports of diatoms identified in closed organs. Surprisingly, such false-positive results occurred even at the sixth diatom testing using the same flasks kept free of tissues in each analysis. In contrast, no diatoms were detected in any reagent or associated with other glassware. Thus, reuse of Kjeldahl flasks can readily cause false-positive results that cannot be completely prevented by cleaning the flasks using alkali detergents, as evidenced by detection of diatoms even after six tests. We assume that diatoms causing false-positive results are partially melted by heating and fixed onto the flask's inner surface glass, as the diatom frustule consists primarily of SiO2, similar to glass. Adherent diatoms are then released from the glass by re-heating at the next diatom testing. These results also suggest that the number of diatoms remaining in a flask can increase steadily as a result of repeated reuse for analysis of lung or water samples. In contrast, in analyses using only new flasks, only one or two diatoms were found in 4 of 20 kidney, 2 of 12 liver, and 2 of 8 blood samples from 20 drowning victims. It is difficult to determine whether such diatoms are actually carried via the blood circulation, as contamination with a few diatoms can occur during autopsy procedures and diatom testing. In conclusion, only new (unused) Kjeldahl flasks should be used for diatom testing with strong acid digestion. Moreover, these data suggest that the number and frequency of diatoms present in closed organs of drowning victims may be much lower than previously thought.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eiji Kakizaki
- Division of Legal Medicine, Department of Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, 5200 Kihara, Kiyotake-cho, Miyazaki 889-1692, Japan.
| | - Norihiro Shinkawa
- Division of Legal Medicine, Department of Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, 5200 Kihara, Kiyotake-cho, Miyazaki 889-1692, Japan
| | - Ai Sonoda
- Division of Legal Medicine, Department of Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, 5200 Kihara, Kiyotake-cho, Miyazaki 889-1692, Japan
| | - Nobuhiro Yukawa
- Division of Legal Medicine, Department of Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, 5200 Kihara, Kiyotake-cho, Miyazaki 889-1692, Japan.
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Khurshid A, Shah MU, Khurshid M, Sohail A, Ali G. Diatom-Positive Cadaver: Drowning or Homicide? Cureus 2021; 13:e18312. [PMID: 34725584 PMCID: PMC8553277 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.18312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Medico-legal investigations should be performed on all unnatural (homicide, suicide, or accident), unexpected, and suspicious deaths to evaluate the possibility of homicide and ascertain the exact cause of death. However, in some scenarios, burial takes place before an autopsy can be conducted. In such cases, exhumation is performed, which involves excavating the remains of previously buried or cremated individuals for medico-legal investigations. Although the diatom test is a very useful microbiological approach in concluding death by drowning, its reliability remains controversial. Our study presents the case of a cadaver that was exhumed so that medico-legal investigations could be performed to ascertain the exact cause of death. The cadaver was recovered from water but buried before an autopsy could be performed. Upon exhumation, the greater cornu of hyoid bone was fractured with dislocation of the maxilla and mandible. The femur, sternum and clavicle were sent for diatom testing. The diatoms came out positive in the bones; however, the water sample from the gutter didn’t test positive for diatoms. Thus, due to the diatom-negative status of water, diatoms from bones can’t be compared with suspected water samples. Since diatoms in bones can arise as a result of contamination too, death cannot be concluded by drowning. Manual strangulation led to the fracture of the hyoid bone. Asphyxia due to throttling was declared the cause of death. Due to the unreliability of the diatom test in certain cases, other tests should be performed in auxiliary to the diatom test to conclude death by drowning.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mir U Shah
- Internal Medicine, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, PAK
| | - Maman Khurshid
- Forensic Medicine, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, PAK
| | - Aruba Sohail
- Internal Medicine, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, PAK
| | - Gulzar Ali
- Forensic Medicine, Civil Hospital Karachi, Karachi, PAK
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17
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Ren L, Chen YQ, Zhou QL, Liu ZZ, Li Y, Liu Q. Relationships between Diatom Abundances in Rat Organs and in Environmental Waters. Curr Med Sci 2021; 41:981-986. [PMID: 34669115 DOI: 10.1007/s11596-021-2443-x] [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: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE A diagnosis of drowning remains one of the most challenging issues in forensic science, especially for decomposed bodies. Diatom analysis is considered as an encouraging method for diagnosing drowning. In this study, we developed a drowned rat model using different diatom densities in water. METHODS A total of 120 adult Sprague-Dawley rats were used and divided into six groups, wherein experimental groups 1-5 were drowned rats (group A) and postmortem submersion rats (group B) that were submerged in water with five different Cyclotella sp. diatom densities, while the remaining group was used as a blank control. The combination of microwave digestion and vacuum filtration method was used to accomplish efficient tissue digestion and ascertain higher accuracy of diatom determinations within organs. RESULTS The abundances of diatoms in the lungs, livers, and kidneys were significantly different. The diatom abundances in the lungs, livers, and kidneys were directly proportional to the water diatom densities, and specific quantitative relationships could be approximated by separate regression equations for each organ type. However, the trends associated with the diatom increases among organs slightly differed. In addition, the diatom abundances in the lungs, livers, and kidneys were all positively correlated. Diatoms were not observed in the postmortem submersion groups nor in the blank control groups. CONCLUSION The results of this study provide valuable information for establishing a quantitative diatom framework for informing future forensic medicine efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Ren
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.,Hubei Key Laboratory of Forensic Science, Hubei University of Police, Wuhan, 430034, China
| | - Yi-Qun Chen
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Qian-Li Zhou
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Zun-Zhong Liu
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Ying Li
- Guangdong Tongji Forensic Science Institute, Foshan, 516500, China
| | - Quan Liu
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Forensic Science, Hubei University of Police, Wuhan, 430034, China.
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18
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Kihara Y, Makino Y, Nakajima M, Tsuneya S, Tanaka A, Yamaguchi R, Torimitsu S, Hayama SI, Iwase H. Experimental water injection into lungs using an animal model: Verification of the diatom concentration test to diagnose drowning. Forensic Sci Int 2021; 327:110983. [PMID: 34478896 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2021.110983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2021] [Revised: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In forensic medicine, the diatom test is used to diagnose drowning. Drowning and postmortem immersion can be distinguished by calculating the ratio of diatom concentration in the lungs and drowning water (L/W ratio). However, this claim was based on the unproven hypothesis that diatoms may be concentrated in the lungs due to respiratory movements. This study was conducted to examine whether the L/W ratio increased with experimental water injection. METHODS A total of two experiments was performed using 22 non-drowned cat carcasses found on dry land. First, for the experimental postmortem immersion, we soaked seven whole-body cat carcasses in pond water for an hour. Second, the pond water was experimentally injected one or ten times into each harvested lung from seven and eight cats, respectively. In the diatom test, two diatom species (Aulacoseira ambigua and Discostella asterocostata) that were dominantly observed in pond water as well as other diatom species were counted separately. The L/W ratios of each cat were calculated. Univariate linear regression analysis was performed to demonstrate the association among L/W ratios and the three categories of the experiments. The L/W ratios of the two experiments were compared with those of drowning or postmortem immersion cases of humans or cats. RESULTS It was revealed that the clear L/W ratio differences between the three groups (experimental postmortem immersion<0.02, 1-injection < 0.2, 10-injection > 0.9 for all diatom counting) were with statistically significant as proven by the univariate regression analyses. In actual cases of cats and humans, L/W ratios were>0.4 for drowning and<0.04 for postmortem immersion. CONCLUSION The L/W ratio increased with multiple experimental water injections into the lungs, thereby verifying the validity of the diatom concentration test to diagnose drowning. The diatom test can be used to distinguish between drowning and postmortem immersion in humans and cats by calculating the L/W ratio.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuko Kihara
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan; Laboratory of Wildlife Medicine, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, 1-7-1 Kyonan-cho, Musashino-shi, Tokyo 180-8602, Japan.
| | - Yohsuke Makino
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan; Education and Research Center of Legal Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba-shi, Chiba 260-8670, Japan.
| | - Makoto Nakajima
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan.
| | - Shigeki Tsuneya
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan; Education and Research Center of Legal Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba-shi, Chiba 260-8670, Japan.
| | - Aki Tanaka
- Laboratory of Wildlife Medicine, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, 1-7-1 Kyonan-cho, Musashino-shi, Tokyo 180-8602, Japan.
| | - Rutsuko Yamaguchi
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan; Education and Research Center of Legal Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba-shi, Chiba 260-8670, Japan.
| | - Suguru Torimitsu
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan; Education and Research Center of Legal Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba-shi, Chiba 260-8670, Japan.
| | - Shin-Ichi Hayama
- Laboratory of Wildlife Medicine, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, 1-7-1 Kyonan-cho, Musashino-shi, Tokyo 180-8602, Japan.
| | - Hirotaro Iwase
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan; Education and Research Center of Legal Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba-shi, Chiba 260-8670, Japan.
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Xiong H, Wang Q, Zhao M, Zheng Z, Zhu S, Zhu Y, Li Y, Li S, Ding S, Li H, Li J. Drowning and postmortem immersion identification using attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Microchem J 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.microc.2021.106310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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Xiao C, Xu Q, Li H, Zhu X, Yu Z, Zhao J, Li Y, Liu H, Shi H, Liu C. Development and application of a multiplex PCR system for drowning diagnosis. Electrophoresis 2021; 42:1270-1278. [PMID: 33687071 DOI: 10.1002/elps.202000265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2020] [Revised: 02/25/2021] [Accepted: 02/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
In recent years, the DNA detection of drowning-related diatoms, cyanobacteria, and aeromonas has gradually attracted interest from forensic scientists. In this study, we described the validation and application of a novel multiplex PCR system. This system integrated 12 fluorescently labelled primers designed to amplify specific genes of diatoms, cyanobacteria, and aeromonas. The specificity studies demonstrated that this multiplex PCR system could detect nine species of diatom, seven species of cyanobacteria, and five species of aeromonas, all of which were drowning-related and widely distributed in various water circumstance of southern China. The sensitivity studies indicated that the limit concentration of template DNA was 0.0125 ng. Besides, this multiplex PCR system had good performance in sizing precision and stability, but it is not suitable for degraded DNA samples. The application into forensic casework showed that all the tissue samples from ten nondrowning cases showed negative results, and the positive rates of lung, liver, kidney, and water samples from 30 drowning bodies were 100, 86.7, 90, and 100%, respectively. Combined with results of diatom tests of MD-VF-Auto SEM method, this multiplex PCR system could help rule out nondrowning bodies and provide extra evidences to support drowning diagnosis, especially for those cases with few diatoms observed. It is expected that this multiplex PCR system has great potential for forensic drowning diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Xiao
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Forensic Genetics, Guangzhou Forensic Science Institute, Guangzhou, P. R. China.,School of Forensic Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Quyi Xu
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Forensic Genetics, Guangzhou Forensic Science Institute, Guangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Huan Li
- College of Basic Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, P. R. China
| | - Xiaolin Zhu
- College of Chemical Engineering and Light Industry, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Zhonghao Yu
- School of Forensic Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Jian Zhao
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Forensic Genetics, Guangzhou Forensic Science Institute, Guangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Yue Li
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Forensic Genetics, Guangzhou Forensic Science Institute, Guangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Hong Liu
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Forensic Genetics, Guangzhou Forensic Science Institute, Guangzhou, P. R. China
| | - He Shi
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Forensic Genetics, Guangzhou Forensic Science Institute, Guangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Chao Liu
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Forensic Genetics, Guangzhou Forensic Science Institute, Guangzhou, P. R. China.,School of Forensic Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, P. R. China
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Jiang L, Xiao C, Zhao J, Jiang T, Lin J, Xu Q, Liu C, Cai W. Development of 18S rRNA gene arrays for forensic detection of diatoms. Forensic Sci Int 2020; 317:110482. [PMID: 33142211 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2020.110482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Revised: 07/27/2020] [Accepted: 08/30/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Diatom test is the most commonly used method to diagnose drowning in forensic laboratories. However, microscopic examination and identification of diatom frustules is time-consuming and requires taxonomic expertise. At present, the identification of drowning is still a challenge in forensic casework. In this study, we developed a novel diatom microarray based on the detection of specific 18S rRNA gene fragments of diatom species. The array covers 169 diatom species which were documented as commonly found in a wide range of fresh waters in China. Diatom arrays were prepared from species specific oligonucleotide probes targeting to variable regions of the 18S rRNA gene. We also developed an auxiliary sample preparation method for isolation of diatom DNA from tissues, which enabled detection of diatom species in real forensic samples as well as environmental waters. We applied the diatom arrays to analyze six drowned cases and eight environmental samples. The diatom arrays showed much better sensitivity and more consistent results than those of the conventional SEM methods. We discovered major discrepancies between results generated by the diatom arrays and the routinely used SEM based diatom tests. We verified the results of our diatom arrays by species specific PCR and Sanger sequencing and found that the currently used SEM diatom test method has a serious deficiency in sensitivity due to high loss rate of frustules in the sample preparation procedure. We anticipate that the application of diatom arrays will transform current forensic practice of diagnosing drowning deaths.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Jiang
- College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350108, China
| | - Cheng Xiao
- School of Forensic Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China; Guangzhou Forensic Science Institute, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Forensic Genetics, Guangzhou, 510030, China
| | - Jian Zhao
- Guangzhou Forensic Science Institute, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Forensic Genetics, Guangzhou, 510030, China
| | - Tao Jiang
- College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 1037, China
| | - Jun Lin
- College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350108, China
| | - Quyi Xu
- Guangzhou Forensic Science Institute, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Forensic Genetics, Guangzhou, 510030, China
| | - Chao Liu
- School of Forensic Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China; Guangzhou Forensic Science Institute, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Forensic Genetics, Guangzhou, 510030, China
| | - Weiwen Cai
- College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350108, China.
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22
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Piegari G, De Biase D, d'Aquino I, Prisco F, Fico R, Ilsami R, Pozzato N, Genovese A, Paciello O. Diagnosis of Drowning and the Value of the Diatom Test in Veterinary Forensic Pathology. Front Vet Sci 2019; 6:404. [PMID: 31799284 PMCID: PMC6868027 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2019.00404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2019] [Accepted: 10/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The detection of diatoms into the organs is considered an important “biological marker” for the diagnosis of drowning in human pathology, but it still has a high possibility for false positive results. The aims of this study were: (1) to evaluate the contribution of pathological examination in drowning cases and (2) to investigate the differences in the number and location of diatoms between animals who died in drowning and non-drowning conditions. For these purposes, 30 dead adult dogs were selected for the study and subdivided into five groups. The group A comprised six cadavers dead for drowning; the group B comprised six control animals; the groups C, D, and E comprised six animals dead for causes other than drowning and subsequently immersed in water for 24, 48, and 72 h, respectively. On each animal, a complete macroscopic and histological examination and diatom test were performed. Diatoms test and quantification were also performed on drowning mediums. Pathological findings of the animals in the group A showed pulmonary congestion, oedema, and hemorrages in the lung. However, similar injuries were also observed in control and experimentally submerged cadavers. In contrast, we observed a statistically differences between drowning animals and all experimentally submerged groups and control animals regarding diatom numbers recovered from organ tissue samples (p < 0.05). Therefore, these findings suggest that the number of diatoms may be used as a valid tool to differentiate animals who died in drowning and non-drowning conditions, even if the latter were found in an aquatic environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Piegari
- Unit of Pathology, Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Davide De Biase
- Unit of Pathology, Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Ilaria d'Aquino
- Unit of Pathology, Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Francesco Prisco
- Unit of Pathology, Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Rosario Fico
- National Center for the Forensic Veterinary Medicine, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Regioni Lazio e Toscana, Grosseto, Italy
| | - Raffaele Ilsami
- Unit of Pathology, Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Nicola Pozzato
- Verona Diagnostic Laboratory, Istituto Zooprofilattivo Sperimentale delle Venezie, Legnaro, Italy
| | - Angelo Genovese
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Orlando Paciello
- Unit of Pathology, Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
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23
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Zhao J, Zhang P, Xue Y, Kang X, Zhang S, Ma Y, Shi H, Cheng J, Liu Y, Liu C, Zhao H. Correlation analysis of diatom content in the organs and drowning mediums for the drowning death cases. AUST J FORENSIC SCI 2019. [DOI: 10.1080/00450618.2019.1682667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jian Zhao
- Faculty of Forensic Medicine, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University & Guangdong Province Translational Forensic Medicine Engineering Technology Research Center, Guangzhou, China
- Guangzhou Forensic Science Institute & Key Laboratory of Forensic Pathology, Ministry of Public Security, Guangzhou, China
| | - Pingping Zhang
- School of Forensic Medicine, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China
| | - Ye Xue
- Guangzhou Forensic Science Institute & Key Laboratory of Forensic Pathology, Ministry of Public Security, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaodong Kang
- Guangzhou Forensic Science Institute & Key Laboratory of Forensic Pathology, Ministry of Public Security, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shurui Zhang
- Guangzhou Forensic Science Institute & Key Laboratory of Forensic Pathology, Ministry of Public Security, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yanbin Ma
- Guangzhou Forensic Science Institute & Key Laboratory of Forensic Pathology, Ministry of Public Security, Guangzhou, China
| | - He Shi
- Guangzhou Forensic Science Institute & Key Laboratory of Forensic Pathology, Ministry of Public Security, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jianding Cheng
- Faculty of Forensic Medicine, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University & Guangdong Province Translational Forensic Medicine Engineering Technology Research Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yunze Liu
- School of Forensic Medicine, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China
| | - Chao Liu
- Faculty of Forensic Medicine, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University & Guangdong Province Translational Forensic Medicine Engineering Technology Research Center, Guangzhou, China
- Guangzhou Forensic Science Institute & Key Laboratory of Forensic Pathology, Ministry of Public Security, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hu Zhao
- Faculty of Forensic Medicine, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University & Guangdong Province Translational Forensic Medicine Engineering Technology Research Center, Guangzhou, China
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24
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Liu Q, Chen Y, Ren L. Forensic analysis of diatom in the spleen and heart in Sprague-Dawley rats. AUST J FORENSIC SCI 2019. [DOI: 10.1080/00450618.2018.1424240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Quan Liu
- Hubei University of Police, Wuhan, China
| | - Yiqun Chen
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Liang Ren
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
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25
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The persistent problem of drowning - A difficult diagnosis with inconclusive tests. J Forensic Leg Med 2019; 66:79-85. [PMID: 31229802 DOI: 10.1016/j.jflm.2019.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2019] [Revised: 06/07/2019] [Accepted: 06/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Although the diagnosis of drowning may appear straightforward the reality is that it is sometimes one of the most difficult in forensic pathology. To begin with, there is no universal agreement on what constitutes drowning with some definitions using the term in the absence of a lethal outcome. Next are the significant problems that arise in finding immersed bodies and in assessing the death scene. Prolonged post mortem intervals are associated with artefactual modifications of the body from putrefaction and post mortem animal predation. Both of these may create and disguise injuries. The absence of pathognomonic pathological features at autopsy and the presence of potentially life threatening underlying organic illnesses complicate determination of both the cause and manner of death. There may even be no autopsy findings to indicate that immersion had occurred. Finally, the unreliability of laboratory tests with significant overlap with control cases where death had no association with immersion presents further problems. Thus lethal drowning remains a complex event that requires the use of a wide variety of information sources, not just data gleaned from the dissection table.
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26
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Scott K, Morgan R, Cameron N, Jones V. Freshwater diatom transfer to clothing: Spatial and temporal influences on trace evidence in forensic reconstructions. Sci Justice 2019; 59:292-305. [DOI: 10.1016/j.scijus.2018.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2018] [Revised: 11/04/2018] [Accepted: 11/18/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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27
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Analysis of false-positive results of diatom test in the diagnosis of drowning—would not be an impediment. Int J Legal Med 2019; 133:1819-1824. [DOI: 10.1007/s00414-019-02021-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2018] [Accepted: 02/06/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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29
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Reijnen G, Vos P, Buster M, Reijnders U. Can pulmonary foam arise after postmortem submersion in water? An animal experimental pilot study. J Forensic Leg Med 2018; 61:40-44. [PMID: 30447643 DOI: 10.1016/j.jflm.2018.11.004] [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: 07/30/2018] [Revised: 11/03/2018] [Accepted: 11/07/2018] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
It is difficult to differentiate drowning from postmortem submersion. Pulmonary foam can be found in bodies retrieved from water. It is unknown whether foam is a result of drowning or if it also forms after postmortem submersion. We divided deceased piglets into three groups: postmortem saltwater submersion (N = 20), postmortem freshwater submersion (N = 20) and dry-land controls (N = 20). All carcasses underwent endoscopic examination within 24 h of death and the presence of external and internal pulmonary foam was scored. No external foam was detected in the postmortem freshwater or the postmortem saltwater group. Internal foam was seen in 35% of the postmortem freshwater and 40% of the postmortem saltwater group. No external or internal foam was detected in the dry land control group. The literature shows external as well as internal foam in drowned humans. Internal foam is seen in postmortem submersion in the current piglet study and antemortem submersion in the literature in humans, and can therefore not be used to support/refute the diagnosis of drowning. No external foam was present in the postmortem submersed piglets, yet has been described in drowned humans. Hence the presence of external foam in bodies recovered from water may be indicative for drowning. The presence of external foam is a potentially valuable clinical sign in distinguishing drowning from postmortem submersion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guido Reijnen
- Amsterdam Public Health Service, Rijnstate Hospital Arnhem, the Netherlands.
| | - Petra Vos
- Rijnstate Hospital Arnhem, the Netherlands.
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30
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Cihan E, Hesdorffer DC, Brandsoy M, Li L, Fowler DR, Graham JK, Donner EJ, Devinsky O, Friedman D. Dead in the water: Epilepsy-related drowning or sudden unexpected death in epilepsy? Epilepsia 2018; 59:1966-1972. [PMID: 30146719 DOI: 10.1111/epi.14546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2018] [Revised: 07/25/2018] [Accepted: 07/27/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Both drowning and sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) are diagnoses of exclusion with predominantly nonspecific autopsy findings. We hypothesized that people with epilepsy found dead in water with no clear sign of submersion could be misdiagnosed as SUDEP. METHODS All reported seizure-related deaths undergoing medicolegal investigation in three medical examiner's offices (New York City, Maryland, San Diego County) over different time periods were reviewed to identify epilepsy-related drownings and SUDEPs. Drowning cases that fulfilled inclusion criteria were divided into two groups according to the circumstances of death: definite drowning and possible drowning. The SUDEP group included two sex- and age (±2 years)-matched definite SUDEP/definite SUDEP plus cases for each drowning case. RESULTS Of 1346 deaths reviewed, we identified 36 definite (76.6%) and 11 possible drowning deaths (23.4%), most of which occurred in a bathtub (72.3%). There were drowning-related findings, including fluid within the sphenoid sinuses, foam in the airways, clear fluid in the stomach content, and lung hyperinflation in 58.3% (21/36) of the definite drowning group, 45.5% (5/11) of the possible drowning group, and 4.3% of the SUDEP group (4/92). There was no difference in the presence of pulmonary edema/congestion between the definite drowning group, possible drowning group, and SUDEP group. The definite drowning group had a higher mean combined lung weight than the SUDEP group, but there was no difference in mean lung weights between the possible drowning and SUDEP groups or between the possible drowning and definite drowning groups. SIGNIFICANCE No distinguishable autopsy finding could be found between SUDEPs and epilepsy-related drownings when there were no drowning-related signs and no clear evidence of submersion. SUDEP could be the cause of death in such possible drowning cases. As most drowning cases occurred in the bathtub, supervision and specific bathing precautions could be effective prevention strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esma Cihan
- Department of Neurology, New York University, School of Medicine, Epilepsy Center, New York, New York
| | - Dale C Hesdorffer
- Sergievsky Center and Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York
| | - Michael Brandsoy
- San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office, San Diego, California
| | - Ling Li
- Maryland Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - David R Fowler
- Maryland Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Jason K Graham
- Department of Neurology, New York University, School of Medicine, Epilepsy Center, New York, New York.,New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner, New York, New York
| | - Elizabeth J Donner
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Orrin Devinsky
- Department of Neurology, New York University, School of Medicine, Epilepsy Center, New York, New York
| | - Daniel Friedman
- Department of Neurology, New York University, School of Medicine, Epilepsy Center, New York, New York
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31
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Rubini S, Frisoni P, Russotto C, Pedriali N, Mignone W, Grattarola C, Giorda F, Pautasso A, Barbieri S, Cozzi B, Mazzariol S, Gaudio RM. The diatoms test in veterinary medicine: A pilot study on cetaceans and sea turtles. Forensic Sci Int 2018; 290:e19-e23. [PMID: 30025595 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2018.06.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2017] [Revised: 03/28/2018] [Accepted: 06/26/2018] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Fishing activities are considered one of the most relevant threats for cetaceans and sea turtles conservation since these animals are sometimes found dead entangled in fishing gears. Currently, postmortem diagnosis is based mainly on the presence of nets and lines on the body and the related marks and injuries evident at gross examination. A more detailed and objective evidence is needed to clarify doubts cases and the diatoms technique, used in forensic human medicine, could support drowning diagnosis also in this field. Diatoms' investigation was implemented to be applied in marine vertebrate on 8 striped (Stenella coeruleoalba) and 1 bottlenose (Tursiops truncatus) dolphins and 5 sea turtles (Caretta caretta) stranded along the Italian coastlines with a likely cause of death hypothized on necropsies carried out by veterinary pathologists. Diatoms were microscopically searched in the bone marrow collected from long bones implementing protocols used in human medicine and their presence was observed in 4 cetaceans and 2 sea turtles. Despite a clear relation between diatoms' presence and amount and the likely cause of death was not proved due to the poor number of samples, the higher burden of diatoms was found in 3 animals deemed to be death for the interaction with human activity. Despite more studied are necessary to identify the possible relation between the cause of death and diatoms' findings, the present study implemented this technique to be adapted to marine animals, confirming its possible application also in veterinary forensic medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silva Rubini
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia Romagna (IZSLER), Sezione di Ferrara, Via Modena 483, 44044 Cassana, FE, Italy
| | - Paolo Frisoni
- Sezione di Medicina Legale, Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche, Università degli Studi di Ferrara, Ferrara, Via Fossato di Mortara 64/B, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Chiara Russotto
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia Romagna (IZSLER), Sezione di Ferrara, Via Modena 483, 44044 Cassana, FE, Italy
| | - Natascia Pedriali
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia Romagna (IZSLER), Sezione di Ferrara, Via Modena 483, 44044 Cassana, FE, Italy
| | - Walter Mignone
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, Via Nizza 4, 18100 Imperia, Italy
| | - Carla Grattarola
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, Via Bologna 148, 10154 Torino, Italy
| | - Federica Giorda
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, Via Bologna 148, 10154 Torino, Italy
| | - Alessandra Pautasso
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d'Aosta, Via Bologna 148, 10154 Torino, Italy
| | - Stefania Barbieri
- Scuola di Specializzazione in Igiene e Medicina Preventiva, Università di Ferrara, Ferrara, Via Fossato di Mortara 64/B, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Bruno Cozzi
- Dipartimento di Biomedicina Comparata e Alimentazione, Università degli Studi di Padova, AGRIPOLIS, Viale dell'Università 16, 35020 Legnaro, PD, Italy
| | - Sandro Mazzariol
- Dipartimento di Biomedicina Comparata e Alimentazione, Università degli Studi di Padova, AGRIPOLIS, Viale dell'Università 16, 35020 Legnaro, PD, Italy.
| | - Rosa Maria Gaudio
- Sezione di Medicina Legale, Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche, Università degli Studi di Ferrara, Ferrara, Via Fossato di Mortara 64/B, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
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32
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Thakar MK, Luthra D, Khattar JS. Forensic studies of phytoplankton ecology of two water bodies of Kurukshetra area of Haryana, State in India. EGYPTIAN JOURNAL OF FORENSIC SCIENCES 2018. [DOI: 10.1186/s41935-018-0068-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
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33
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Fucci N, Campobasso CP, Mastrogiuseppe L, Puccinelli C, Marcheggiani S, Mancini L, Marino L, Pascali VL. Diatoms in drowning cases in forensic veterinary context: a preliminary study. Int J Legal Med 2017; 131:1573-1580. [DOI: 10.1007/s00414-017-1565-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2016] [Accepted: 02/16/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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34
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Bierens JJLM, Lunetta P, Tipton M, Warner DS. Physiology Of Drowning: A Review. Physiology (Bethesda) 2017; 31:147-66. [PMID: 26889019 DOI: 10.1152/physiol.00002.2015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Drowning physiology relates to two different events: immersion (upper airway above water) and submersion (upper airway under water). Immersion involves integrated cardiorespiratory responses to skin and deep body temperature, including cold shock, physical incapacitation, and hypovolemia, as precursors of collapse and submersion. The physiology of submersion includes fear of drowning, diving response, autonomic conflict, upper airway reflexes, water aspiration and swallowing, emesis, and electrolyte disorders. Submersion outcome is determined by cardiac, pulmonary, and neurological injury. Knowledge of drowning physiology is scarce. Better understanding may identify methods to improve survival, particularly related to hot-water immersion, cold shock, cold-induced physical incapacitation, and fear of drowning.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Philippe Lunetta
- Department of Pathology and Forensic Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Mike Tipton
- Department of Sport and Exercise Science, Extreme Environments Laboratory, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, United Kingdom; and
| | - David S Warner
- Departments of Anesthesiology, Neurobiology and Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina
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35
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Zhao J, Ma Y, Liu C, Wen J, Hu S, Shi H, Zhu L. A quantitative comparison analysis of diatoms in the lung tissues and the drowning medium as an indicator of drowning. J Forensic Leg Med 2016; 42:75-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jflm.2016.05.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2015] [Revised: 05/11/2016] [Accepted: 05/30/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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36
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Evaluation of two methods for the use of diatoms in drowning cases. Forensic Sci Med Pathol 2015; 11:601-5. [DOI: 10.1007/s12024-015-9708-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/21/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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37
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Kakizaki E, Yukawa N. Simple protocol for extracting diatoms from lung tissues of suspected drowning cases within 3 h: First practical application. Forensic Sci Int 2015; 251:179-85. [DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2015.03.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2014] [Revised: 12/14/2014] [Accepted: 03/24/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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38
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Traumatologie und gewaltsamer Tod. Rechtsmedizin (Berl) 2015. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-662-43500-7_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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