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Campobasso CP, De Simone M, Porzio A, Mazzini E, Carfora A, Feola A. Suicide by ligature strangulation and/or hanging inside a motor vehicle: a comprehensive review. Forensic Sci Med Pathol 2024:10.1007/s12024-024-00828-1. [PMID: 38760630 DOI: 10.1007/s12024-024-00828-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024]
Abstract
Suicide by ligature strangulation/hanging inside vehicles is uncommon, and only few cases have been reported in the literature. This study aimed to conduct a comprehensive review of reported cases of suicide by ligature strangulation/hanging inside vehicles, analyzing the features of the death scene, of the ligature and furrow, autopsy findings, and causes of death. The comprehensive review was performed following the PRISMA guidelines by using the most common scientific databases. According to inclusion criteria, a total of 20 cases of vehicle-assisted strangulation/hanging were reviewed: 13 cases were assessed as ligature strangulation resulting in 7 complete decapitations and 7 other cases as hanging. All victims were young or adult males, except for one 48-year-old female. Death was assessed as suicide in all cases, except for a possible accidental autoerotic death. In 8 cases, a history of depression or other psychiatric disorders was reported. Toxicological analysis were positive in 7 cases. Hard ligature materials (nylon, steel, plastic, hemp ropes) were used in most cases, but only 13 cases had a well-demarcated furrow. In 2 cases, no internal findings of asphyxia were found. An additional case of ligature strangulation inside a motor vehicle off is also presented, where no autopsy findings of asphyxia were observed, except for a broad pale furrow and monolateral conjunctival petechiae. This study highlights the challenges in classifying suicidal hanging and ligature strangulation in motor vehicles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlo Pietro Campobasso
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", via Luciano Armanni 5, Naples, 80138, Italy
| | - Mariavictoria De Simone
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", via Luciano Armanni 5, Naples, 80138, Italy.
| | - Antonietta Porzio
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", via Luciano Armanni 5, Naples, 80138, Italy
- Department of Mental and Physical Health and Preventive Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", via Luciano Armanni 5, Naples, 80138, Italy
| | - Edoardo Mazzini
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", via Luciano Armanni 5, Naples, 80138, Italy
| | - Anna Carfora
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", via Luciano Armanni 5, Naples, 80138, Italy
| | - Alessandro Feola
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", via Luciano Armanni 5, Naples, 80138, Italy
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Crudele GDL, Amadasi A, Franceschetti L, Cattaneo C. Pathological Findings in Hanging: Is the Traditional Knowledge Correct? Diagnostics (Basel) 2024; 14:318. [PMID: 38337834 PMCID: PMC10855091 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics14030318] [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: 12/26/2023] [Revised: 01/20/2024] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In forensic pathology, asphyxia presents a problem as frequently as it is thorny and challenging. Some knowledge in forensic pathology is still considered to be traditionally acquired and is not critically assessed with modern statistical or technical tools. In this study, we seek to examine the injuries that are considered to be typical of cases of hanging (neck lesions, haemorrhages, and pleural and epicardial petechiae). METHODS We evaluated whether there was, indeed, a statistically significant association between these injuries and deaths from hanging as compared to non-hanging deaths. We collected 399 cases (32 deaths by hanging and 367 cases of non-hangings), built contingency tables and performed chi-square tests for each variable (lesion) examined; we also analysed this association in various subgroups of the sample (according to sex, age and weight ranges). RESULTS Our results did not deviate from the expected outcome based on traditional knowledge, although they do provide a more detailed demonstration and clarification of traditional knowledge regarding this topic. CONCLUSIONS These findings provide valuable insights for future discussion, examination and deepening of knowledge that is traditionally accepted but often undersupported in the literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Graziano Domenico Luigi Crudele
- LABANOF, Laboratorio di Antropologia e Odontologia Forense, Sezione di Medicina Legale, Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche per la Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Luigi Mangiagalli 37, 20133 Milan, Italy (C.C.)
| | - Alberto Amadasi
- Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences, University Medical Centre Charité, University of Berlin, Turmstr. 21, Building N, 10559 Berlin, Germany
| | - Lorenzo Franceschetti
- LABANOF, Laboratorio di Antropologia e Odontologia Forense, Sezione di Medicina Legale, Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche per la Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Luigi Mangiagalli 37, 20133 Milan, Italy (C.C.)
| | - Cristina Cattaneo
- LABANOF, Laboratorio di Antropologia e Odontologia Forense, Sezione di Medicina Legale, Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche per la Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Luigi Mangiagalli 37, 20133 Milan, Italy (C.C.)
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Zhang S, Ishida Y, Ishigami A, Nosaka M, Kuninaka Y, Yasuda H, Kofuna A, Matsuki J, Osako M, Zhang W, Kimura A, Furukawa F, Kondo T. Forensic application of epidermal expression of HSP27 and HSP70 for the determination of wound vitality in human compressed neck skin. Sci Rep 2023; 13:6692. [PMID: 37095183 PMCID: PMC10126125 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-33799-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 04/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Estimating the age and vitality of human skin wounds is essential in forensic practice, and the use of immunohistochemical parameters in this regard remains a challenge. Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are evolutionarily conserved universal proteins that protect biological systems from various types of stress. However, its importance in forensic pathology for determining wound activation in neck compression skin remains unclear. The expression of HSP27 and HSP70 in neck skin samples was immunohistochemically examined to understand its forensic applicability in determining wound vitality. Skin samples were obtained from 45 cases of neck compression (hanging, 32 cases; strangulation, 10 cases; manual strangulation, 2 cases; other, 1 case) during forensic autopsies; intact skin from the same individual was used as a control. HSP27 expression was detected in 17.4% of keratinocytes in the intact skin samples. In the compressed region, the frequency of HSP27 expression in keratinocytes was 75.8%, which was significantly higher than that in intact skin. Similarly, HSP70 expression was 24.8% in intact skin samples and 81.9% in compressed skin samples, significantly higher in compressed skin than in intact skin samples. This increase in case compression cases may be due to the cell defence role of HSPs. From a forensic pathology perspective, the immunohistochemical examination of HSP27 and HSP70 expression in neck skin could be considered a valuable marker for diagnosing traces of antemortem compression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siying Zhang
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, 811-1 Kimiidera, Wakayama, 641-8509, Japan
| | - Yuko Ishida
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, 811-1 Kimiidera, Wakayama, 641-8509, Japan.
| | - Akiko Ishigami
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, 811-1 Kimiidera, Wakayama, 641-8509, Japan
| | - Mizuho Nosaka
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, 811-1 Kimiidera, Wakayama, 641-8509, Japan
| | - Yumi Kuninaka
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, 811-1 Kimiidera, Wakayama, 641-8509, Japan
| | - Haruki Yasuda
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, 811-1 Kimiidera, Wakayama, 641-8509, Japan
| | - Ayumi Kofuna
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, 811-1 Kimiidera, Wakayama, 641-8509, Japan
| | - Jumpei Matsuki
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, 811-1 Kimiidera, Wakayama, 641-8509, Japan
| | - Miyu Osako
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, 811-1 Kimiidera, Wakayama, 641-8509, Japan
| | - Wei Zhang
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, 811-1 Kimiidera, Wakayama, 641-8509, Japan
| | - Akihiko Kimura
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, 811-1 Kimiidera, Wakayama, 641-8509, Japan
| | - Fukumi Furukawa
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, 811-1 Kimiidera, Wakayama, 641-8509, Japan
| | - Toshikazu Kondo
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, 811-1 Kimiidera, Wakayama, 641-8509, Japan.
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Maiese A, Manetti AC, Iacoponi N, Mezzetti E, Turillazzi E, Di Paolo M, La Russa R, Frati P, Fineschi V. State-of-the-Art on Wound Vitality Evaluation: A Systematic Review. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:6881. [PMID: 35805886 PMCID: PMC9266385 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23136881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2022] [Revised: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The vitality demonstration refers to determining if an injury has been caused ante- or post-mortem, while wound age means to evaluate how long a subject has survived after the infliction of an injury. Histology alone is not enough to prove the vitality of a lesion. Recently, immunohistochemistry, biochemistry, and molecular biology have been introduced in the field of lesions vitality and age demonstration. The study was conducted according to the preferred reporting items for systematic review (PRISMA) protocol. The search terms were "wound", "lesion", "vitality", "evaluation", "immunohistochemistry", "proteins", "electrolytes", "mRNAs", and "miRNAs" in the title, abstract, and keywords. This evaluation left 137 scientific papers. This review aimed to collect all the knowledge on vital wound demonstration and provide a temporal distribution of the methods currently available, in order to determine the age of lesions, thus helping forensic pathologists in finding a way through the tangled jungle of wound vitality evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aniello Maiese
- Department of Surgical, Medical and Molecular Pathology and Critical Care Medicine, Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (A.M.); (A.C.M.); (N.I.); (E.M.); (E.T.); (M.D.P.)
| | - Alice Chiara Manetti
- Department of Surgical, Medical and Molecular Pathology and Critical Care Medicine, Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (A.M.); (A.C.M.); (N.I.); (E.M.); (E.T.); (M.D.P.)
| | - Naomi Iacoponi
- Department of Surgical, Medical and Molecular Pathology and Critical Care Medicine, Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (A.M.); (A.C.M.); (N.I.); (E.M.); (E.T.); (M.D.P.)
| | - Eleonora Mezzetti
- Department of Surgical, Medical and Molecular Pathology and Critical Care Medicine, Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (A.M.); (A.C.M.); (N.I.); (E.M.); (E.T.); (M.D.P.)
| | - Emanuela Turillazzi
- Department of Surgical, Medical and Molecular Pathology and Critical Care Medicine, Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (A.M.); (A.C.M.); (N.I.); (E.M.); (E.T.); (M.D.P.)
| | - Marco Di Paolo
- Department of Surgical, Medical and Molecular Pathology and Critical Care Medicine, Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (A.M.); (A.C.M.); (N.I.); (E.M.); (E.T.); (M.D.P.)
| | - Raffaele La Russa
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Italy;
| | - Paola Frati
- Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic and Orthopedic Sciences, Institute of Legal Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 336, 00161 Rome, Italy;
| | - Vittorio Fineschi
- Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic and Orthopedic Sciences, Institute of Legal Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 336, 00161 Rome, Italy;
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Zhang S, Ishida Y, Ishigami A, Nosaka M, Kuninaka Y, Hata S, Yamamoto H, Hashizume Y, Matsuki J, Yasuda H, Kimura A, Furukawa F, Kondo T. Forensic Application of Epidermal Ubiquitin Expression to Determination of Wound Vitality in Human Compressed Neck Skin. Front Med (Lausanne) 2022; 9:867365. [PMID: 35492347 PMCID: PMC9045732 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.867365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Ubiquitin is a member of the heat shock protein family and is rapidly induced by various types of stimuli, including ischemic and mechanical stress. However, its significance in determining wound vitality of neck compression skin in forensic pathology remains unclear. We immunohistochemically examined the expression of ubiquitin in the neck skin samples to understand its forensic applicability in determining wound vitality. Skin samples were obtained from 53 cases of neck compression (hanging, 42 cases; strangulation, 11 cases) during forensic autopsies. Intact skin from the same individual was used as the control. Ubiquitin expression was detected in 73.9% of keratinocytes in intact skin samples, but only in 21.2% of keratinocytes in the compression regions, with statistical differences between the control and compression groups. This depletion in the case of neck compression may be caused by the impaired conversion of conjugated to free ubiquitin and failure of de novo ubiquitin synthesis. From a forensic pathological perspective, immunohistochemical examination of ubiquitin expression in the skin of the neck can be regarded as a valuable marker for diagnosing traces of antemortem compression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siying Zhang
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan
| | - Yuko Ishida
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan
| | - Akiko Ishigami
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan
| | - Mizuho Nosaka
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan
| | - Yumi Kuninaka
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan
| | - Satoshi Hata
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan
| | - Hiroki Yamamoto
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan
| | - Yumiko Hashizume
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan
| | - Jumpei Matsuki
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan
| | - Haruki Yasuda
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan
| | - Akihiko Kimura
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan
| | - Fukumi Furukawa
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan
| | - Toshikazu Kondo
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan
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A Clue on the Skin: A Systematic Review on Immunohistochemical Analyses of the Ligature Mark. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19042035. [PMID: 35206225 PMCID: PMC8871640 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19042035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2022] [Revised: 02/02/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND A ligature mark is a common injury in cases of hanging or strangulation. Estimation of age and vitality of the ligature mark can be crucial for differentiating antemortem and postmortem wounds and to distinguish between simulated suicidal hanging or accidental strangulation to conceal a crime and not simulated events. The immunohistochemistry has been recommended by several Authors as a reliable tool to determine whether an injury was sustained during life or not. Unfortunately, no general agreement on the immunohistochemical markers to be used has been found among the scientific community. The aim of the study was to detect the type and function of the immunohistochemical markers useful in the assessment of the vitality and age of the ligature marks for routine diagnostics. METHODS Papers available on Pubmed, Scopus, and Web of Science were reviewed according to the PRISMA statement. RESULTS Only eight papers satisfied all the following inclusion criteria: full texts in English dealing with human ligature marks and immunohistochemistry published on impacted or indexed scientific journals. CONCLUSIONS The assessment of the vitality of a ligature mark is still a challenging topic in forensic science. Under ideal conditions and in compliance with autopsy protocols, the diagnosis of death by hanging or strangulation on fresh bodies can be better supported by autopsy findings other than a ligature mark. The validation of immunohistochemical markers on large series could be of help in doubtful cases and differential diagnoses.
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Maiese A, Del Duca F, Santoro P, Pellegrini L, De Matteis A, La Russa R, Frati P, Fineschi V. An Overview on Actual Knowledge About Immunohistochemical and Molecular Features of Vitality, Focusing on the Growing Evidence and Analysis to Distinguish Between Suicidal and Simulated Hanging. Front Med (Lausanne) 2022; 8:793539. [PMID: 35096882 PMCID: PMC8795912 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2021.793539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
In forensic practice, the pathologist is often asked to determine whether a hanging was committed as suicide or as a simulated hanging (when a dead body is suspended after death). When exterior evidence of violence is absent and the crime scene investigation fails to identify useful proof, it is nearly impossible to tell whether the dead body was suspended or not. As a result, determining whether the ligature mark was created during life or not should rely on the research and demonstration of vital reactions on the ligature mark. The main purpose of this review article is to provide a summary of current knowledge about the histological and immunohistochemical characteristics of vitality in hanging. The authors also aim to identify the most significant vitality markers on ligature marks for further scientific validation and to propose a standardized diagnostic protocol for hanging. The study was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review (PRISMA) Protocol. Relevant scientific papers were found from PubMed up to April 2021, using the following keywords: hanging AND skin AND vitality. Three main points were studied: ligature mark dehydration, immunological response to mechanical injury, and apoptosis induction as a result of the previous points. An increase in apoptosis is evident in the ligature mark (due to physical and chemical processes involved), as demonstrated by FLICE-inhibitory protein (FLIP) depletion. Immunohistochemical detection of Aquaporin 3 (AQP3) and increase in the concentration of different electrolytes rely solely on ligature mark dehydration. Also, microRNAs (MiRNAs) could become reliable forensic biomarkers for ligature mark vitality diagnosis in the near future. To ensure high reliability in court cases, forensic investigation in hanging should rely on modern and proven markers, even a mix of several markers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aniello Maiese
- Section of Legal Medicine, S. Chiara Hospital, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Fabio Del Duca
- Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic Medicine and Orthopedic Science, Faculty of Pharmacy and Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Santoro
- Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic Medicine and Orthopedic Science, Faculty of Pharmacy and Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Lavinia Pellegrini
- Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic Medicine and Orthopedic Science, Faculty of Pharmacy and Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandra De Matteis
- Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic Medicine and Orthopedic Science, Faculty of Pharmacy and Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Paola Frati
- Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic Medicine and Orthopedic Science, Faculty of Pharmacy and Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Vittorio Fineschi
- Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic Medicine and Orthopedic Science, Faculty of Pharmacy and Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
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Ros AC, Bacci S, Luna A, Legaz I. Forensic Impact of the Omics Science Involved in the Wound: A Systematic Review. Front Med (Lausanne) 2022; 8:786798. [PMID: 35071269 PMCID: PMC8770859 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2021.786798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: In forensic autopsies, examining the wounds is one of the most critical aspects to clarify the causal relationship between the cause of death and the wounds observed on the corpse. However, on many occasions, it is difficult to differentiate antemortem injuries from post-mortem injuries, mainly when they occur very close to the moment of death. At present, various studies try to find biomarkers and clarify the molecular mechanisms involved in a wound due to the high variability of conditions in which they occur, thus being one of the most challenging problems in forensic pathology. This review aimed to study the omics data to determine the main lines of investigation emerging in the diagnosis of vital injuries, time of appearance, estimation of the age and vitality of the wound, and its possible contributions to the forensic field. Methods: A systematic review of the human wound concerning forensic science was carried out by following PRISMA guidelines. Results: This study sheds light on the role of omics research during the process of wounding, identifying different cytokines and other inflammatory mediators, as well as cells involved in the specific stage of the wound healing process, show great use in estimating the age of a wound. On the other hand, the expression levels of skin enzymes, proteins, metal ions, and other biomarkers play an essential role in differentiating vital and post-mortem wounds. More recent studies have begun to analyze and quantify mRNA from different genes that encode proteins that participate in the inflammation phase of a wound and miRNAs related to various cellular processes. Conclusions: This study sheds light on the role of research in the molecular characterization of vital wounds, heralding a promising future for molecular characterization of wounds in the field of forensic pathology, opening up an important new area of research. Systematic Review Registration: URL: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/#myprospero, Identifier: CRD42021286623.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aurelia Collados Ros
- Department of Legal and Forensic Medicine, Biomedical Research Institute (IMIB), Regional Campus of International Excellence "Campus Mare Nostrum", Faculty of Medicine, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Stefano Bacci
- Department of Biology, Research Unit of Histology and Embriology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Aurelio Luna
- Department of Legal and Forensic Medicine, Biomedical Research Institute (IMIB), Regional Campus of International Excellence "Campus Mare Nostrum", Faculty of Medicine, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Isabel Legaz
- Department of Legal and Forensic Medicine, Biomedical Research Institute (IMIB), Regional Campus of International Excellence "Campus Mare Nostrum", Faculty of Medicine, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
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Manetti AC, Maiese A, Baronti A, Mezzetti E, Frati P, Fineschi V, Turillazzi E. MiRNAs as New Tools in Lesion Vitality Evaluation: A Systematic Review and Their Forensic Applications. Biomedicines 2021; 9:1731. [PMID: 34829960 PMCID: PMC8615694 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9111731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Revised: 11/12/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Wound vitality demonstration is one of the most challenging fields in forensic pathology. In recent years, researchers focused on the application of histological and immunohistochemical staining in this sphere of study. It is based on the detection of inflammation, red cell infiltration, and tissue alterations at the histological examination, all of which are supposedly present in antemortem rather than post-mortem wounds. Nevertheless, some doubts about the reliability of those markers have arisen. Furthermore, the lack of a standardized protocol and the operator dependency of this approach make the proper interpretation of its results difficult. Moreover, a differential miRNAs expression has been demonstrated in antemortem and post-mortem wounds. Herein, a systematic review concerning the current knowledge about the use of miRNAs in lesion vitality evaluation is carried out, to encourage researchers to deepen this peculiar study area. A compendium about the potential miRNAs that may be further investigated as vitality markers is also provided. The aim is to collect all available data about this topic to direct further studies on this field and highlight the future applications of miRNAs in forensic pathology. We found 20 articles and a total of 51 miRNAs that are involved in inflammation and wound healing. Further studies are certainly needed to deepen the role of miRNAs in inflammatory processes in lesioned skin and to evaluate their reliability in distinguishing between antemortem and post-mortem lesions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Chiara Manetti
- Department of Surgical, Medical and Molecular Pathology and Critical Care Medicine, Section of Legal Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (A.C.M.); (A.M.); (A.B.); (E.M.); (E.T.)
| | - Aniello Maiese
- Department of Surgical, Medical and Molecular Pathology and Critical Care Medicine, Section of Legal Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (A.C.M.); (A.M.); (A.B.); (E.M.); (E.T.)
| | - Arianna Baronti
- Department of Surgical, Medical and Molecular Pathology and Critical Care Medicine, Section of Legal Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (A.C.M.); (A.M.); (A.B.); (E.M.); (E.T.)
| | - Eleonora Mezzetti
- Department of Surgical, Medical and Molecular Pathology and Critical Care Medicine, Section of Legal Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (A.C.M.); (A.M.); (A.B.); (E.M.); (E.T.)
| | - Paola Frati
- Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic and Orthopedic Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, 00186 Rome, Italy;
| | - Vittorio Fineschi
- Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic and Orthopedic Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, 00186 Rome, Italy;
| | - Emanuela Turillazzi
- Department of Surgical, Medical and Molecular Pathology and Critical Care Medicine, Section of Legal Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (A.C.M.); (A.M.); (A.B.); (E.M.); (E.T.)
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10
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Focardi M, Bugelli V, Venturini M, Bianchi I, Defraia B, Pinchi V, Bacci S. Increased expression of iNOS by Langerhans cells in hanging marks. AUST J FORENSIC SCI 2020. [DOI: 10.1080/00450618.2020.1817556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- M. Focardi
- Department of Health Sciences, Section of Forensic Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - V. Bugelli
- Department of Health Sciences, Section of Forensic Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - M. Venturini
- Department of Biology, Research Unit of Histology and Embryology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - I. Bianchi
- Department of Health Sciences, Section of Forensic Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - B. Defraia
- Department of Health Sciences, Section of Forensic Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - V. Pinchi
- Department of Health Sciences, Section of Forensic Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - S. Bacci
- Department of Biology, Research Unit of Histology and Embryology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
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