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Tambuzzi S, Gentile G, Raud L, Andreola S, Primavera R, Zoja R. Forensic pilot application of rehydrating solutions on human cadaveric skin: what are the effects on hemorrhagic infiltrates? Int J Legal Med 2024; 138:883-893. [PMID: 38189927 DOI: 10.1007/s00414-023-03155-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
The microscopic evaluation of hemorrhagic infiltrates is crucial in forensic diagnostics, but it proves challenging in corificated and mummified cadavers. In these cases, pre-treatment with rehydrating solutions is recommended, although their effects on the hemorrhagic infiltrate are not well understood. In this pilot study, we microscopically investigated the effect of two different rehydrating solutions-Sandison's solution and fabric softener-on well-preserved human cadaveric skin samples taken from areas affected by an ecchymotic lesion, comparing them with direct fixation in formalin. Specifically, we examined the topographic distribution of the hemorrhagic infiltrate in each layer of the skin by assigning a semi-quantitative score, conducted mutual comparisons, and performed statistical analysis. Histologically, compared to direct fixation in formalin, a slight and statistically non-significant reduction in the hemorrhagic infiltrate was observed in samples pre-treated with fabric softener. On the other hand, a more pronounced and statistically significant decrease in scores was observed in samples pre-treated with Sandison's solution. This effect is likely due to the fact that Sandison's solution, due to its components, exerts an osmotic effect, partially inducing osmotic lysis of red blood cells. Overall, extensive areas of hemorrhagic infiltrates were preserved, although to a lesser extent, while smaller foci were markedly reduced, sometimes even disappearing. The findings suggest that Sandison's solution has a detrimental effect on cutaneous hemorrhagic infiltrates, emphasizing the importance of being cautious and conducting dual sampling, using both formalin and a rehydrating solution, for forensic examination of mummified or corificated skin samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Tambuzzi
- Laboratory of Forensic Histopathology and Forensic Microbiology - Section of Forensic Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, Luigi Mangiagalli, 37, Street, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Guendalina Gentile
- Laboratory of Forensic Histopathology and Forensic Microbiology - Section of Forensic Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, Luigi Mangiagalli, 37, Street, 20133, Milan, Italy.
| | - Lison Raud
- École polytechnique universitaire Polytech Angers de L'université d'Angers, Angers, France
| | - Salvatore Andreola
- Laboratory of Forensic Histopathology and Forensic Microbiology - Section of Forensic Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, Luigi Mangiagalli, 37, Street, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Riccardo Primavera
- Laboratory of Forensic Histopathology and Forensic Microbiology - Section of Forensic Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, Luigi Mangiagalli, 37, Street, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Riccardo Zoja
- Laboratory of Forensic Histopathology and Forensic Microbiology - Section of Forensic Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, Luigi Mangiagalli, 37, Street, 20133, Milan, Italy
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Tambuzzi S, Gentile G, Andreola S, Bilardo G, Collini F, Bailo P, Zoja R. Elastic fiber degradation as a possible indicator for PMI estimation on mummified and corified skin: a pilot study. Int J Legal Med 2023; 137:519-35. [PMID: 36434263 DOI: 10.1007/s00414-022-02915-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Mummified and corified bodies are particularly complex scenarios to investigate, starting from identifying the post-mortem interval (PMI), even more so in indoor environments. In these bodies, the skin has the peculiar feature to resist for a long time. Among its components, there are elastic fibers, which are characterized by intrinsic resistance to post-mortem degenerative phenomena. Starting from these considerations, we investigated microscopically the persistence, detectability, and changes of elastic fibers in the skin of mummified and corified bodies with different known PMI. The aim was to evaluate whether they could provide an additional tool to aid in PMI estimation in these cases. Therefore, we collected skin samples from mummified or corified bodies found in a domestic environment with different known PMI, as well as from corified bodies that had been exhumed after 11 years of burial. Histochemical staining specific for elastic fibers, namely, Weigert's resorcin fuchsin, showed their prolonged persistence and a progressive and different degradation between mummified and corified skin as a function of PMI. Moreover, on the whole, we observed greater preservation of elastic fibers in mummified skin than in corified one at the same PMI. Therefore, histological analysis of elastic fibers in mummified and corified skin may help to provide valuable aid in estimating PMI, especially in those particular cases where more reliable alternatives are lacking.
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