International Journal of Legal Medicine最新文献

{"title":"Quantitative investigation of diatom dispersion in lung tissue of confirmed drowning incidents.","authors":"Dominik Hagen, Astrid Obermayer, Walter Stoiber, Peter Steinbacher, Jian Zhao, Fabio C Monticelli, Stefan Pittner","doi":"10.1007/s00414-025-03441-1","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00414-025-03441-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The diagnosis of drowning represents a considerable challenge in forensic practice. Typically, it is made by excluding other potential causes of death while concurrently identifying key signs of drowning. However, in cases with a prolonged postmortem interval, these characteristic signs are often absent. To support drowning diagnoses, various supplementary methods have been introduced over time, prominently including qualitative and quantitative diatom tests. One such approach involves comparing diatom concentrations in the drowning medium (immersion water) and in the lung tissue to determine lung-to-drowning medium (L/D) ratios. L/D-ratios above 2 are thereby seen as safe indicators of drowning, as higher diatom concentrations in the lungs than in the drowning medium can only be explained by active water aspiration. Previous studies typically investigated diatom concentrations in the tip of the lung's left superior lobe, as this region is thought to generally experience the lowest physiological pressure. However, no experimental data have yet confirmed the relevance of this in drowning incidents. It is also still unclear how diatoms are distributed within the lung during aspiration and how L/D-ratios could vary if samples from other lung regions are used for L/D-ratio calculations. To address these uncertainties, we conducted a study assessing diatom concentrations across seven positions from all pulmonary lobes in 25 drowning cases. Our aim was to identify the lung regions with the lowest probability of diatom uptake, thereby maximizing the reliability of L/D-ratios as a forensic tool. Our findings show that the left superior lung lobe is indeed the site of the lowest diatom accumulation and thus optimal for L/D-ratio related drowning diagnosis. Nonetheless, due to the higher sensitivity for diatom uptake, inclusion of other lung positions may also be recommended to strengthen diagnostic accuracy, especially in cases with generally low L/D-ratios.</p>","PeriodicalId":14071,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Legal Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"1597-1607"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12170756/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143752550","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Fatal anaphylactic shock due to hymenoptera venom in a farmer suffering from indolent systemic mastocytosis. The comparative diagnostic relevance of perimortem serum tryptase levels.","authors":"Ugo Da Broi, Francesco Simonit, Maurizio Perogio, Daniela Visentini, Federico Reccardini, Rexson Tse, Jack Garland, Benjamin Ondruschka, Lorenzo Desinan","doi":"10.1007/s00414-025-03487-1","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00414-025-03487-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Hymenoptera anaphylaxis led to the death of a bee and wasp venom sensitized 41-year-old man suffering from systemic indolent mastocytosis. While at work in a vineyard, the man suffered a serious anaphylactic crisis and cardiovascular arrest; despite ongoing attempts of resuscitation, he died in hospital 12 h after being stung. Autopsy confirmed that death was due to post-anoxic brain damage, cardiovascular shock, disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) and multi-organ failure (MOF). ICU blood samples drawn before the patient's death from the distal extremity of the pulmonary catheter revealed central blood tryptase levels of 8955 ng/mL; samples drawn 6 days after death, at autopsy, confirmed anaphylaxis diagnostic central blood total tryptase levels (4977 ng/mL) and peripheral blood levels (319 ng/mL); IgE levels in ICU blood sample suggested that the farmer was a responder to venom immunoteraphy (VIT) for Apis Mellifera (IgE 0.44 kUI/L) but not for Polistes Dominulus (IgE 3.13 kUI/L) yet. The comparison of perimortem laboratory results was crucial, in association with autopsy findings and circumstantial data, in ascertaining that death was caused by a wasp venom anaphylactic reaction, with key findings being: 1) Significantly high pre-mortem (8955 ng/mL) and post-mortem (4977 ng/mL) central blood tryptase levels. 2) High post-mortem peripheral blood tryptase levels (319 ng/mL). 3) High pre-mortem central blood IgE antibodies against Polistes Dominulus.</p>","PeriodicalId":14071,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Legal Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"1903-1911"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12170766/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143763667","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Microbiota signature of the lung as the promising bioindicator for drowning diagnosis and postmortem submersion interval estimation.","authors":"Kuo Zeng, Fu-Yuan Zhang, Ming-Zhe Wu, Hao-Miao Yuan, Shu-Kui Du, Jin-Cheng Ying, Yan Zhang, Lin-Lin Wang, Rui Zhao, Da-Wei Guan","doi":"10.1007/s00414-025-03458-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00414-025-03458-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Drowning diagnosis and postmortem submersion interval (PMSI) estimation are still major challenges in forensic practice. Our recent studies provided evidence that microbiota successions in multiple organs, including intestine, liver, and brain, were valuable indicators for PMSI estimation. Meanwhile, microbiota in the lung from corpses submerged for 3 days presented obvious difference between drowning and postmortem submersion. However, gaps exist in our understanding of how long this difference lasts and how the decomposer microbial community in the lung changes with progression of decomposition. Here, we characterized the postmortem microbiota in the lung of mice submerged for 0 to 14 days, which were drowned or sacrificed by CO₂ asphyxia. Our study revealed that most samples collected before 3 days postmortem were not qualified enough for sequencing. The microbiota in the lung was largely influenced by the microbes colonized in the aquatic environment. Differences in microbiota between drowning and postmortem submersion faded over decomposition and could be used for drowning diagnosis within 10 days postmortem. Meanwhile, 22 taxa with good discriminative ability were identified to establish the classification model for discriminating drowning and postmortem submersion (AUC = 0.92, accuracy = 81.25%) by random forest algorithm. Twenty other candidates exhibiting obviously temporal changes were selected for PMSI estimation, which yield satisfactory performance (mean absolute errors ± the standard error = 0.976 ± 0.189 d). Altogether, we provide further evidence that microbiota signature of the lung is a promising bioindicator for the forensic death investigations of decomposed bodies recovered from water.</p>","PeriodicalId":14071,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Legal Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"1863-1877"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143604934","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Systematically improving the efficiency of complex kinship identification through the addition of genetic markers and reference individuals.","authors":"Shubo Wen, Man Chen, Qianqian Kong, Ao Huang, Ziwei Wang, Qiannan Xu, Xiling Liu","doi":"10.1007/s00414-025-03473-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00414-025-03473-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>There is a growing demand for complex kinship identification due to the increasing complexity of social structures. However, the system efficiency of complex kinship identification systems, particularly for identifying second-degree and higher kinship relationships, needs improvement. This study aimed to further explore the selection of introduced relatives and genetic markers for second- and third-degree kinship identification by comparing the statistical parameters, such as likelihood ratio (LR), effectiveness, and error rate, of four different detection systems (19 STRs, 39 STRs, 55 STRs, and 55 STRs + 94 SNPs) in 109 common kinship identification scenarios. The study found that increasing the number of genetic markers or introducing more reference individuals generally enhanced the system efficiency for identifying complex genetic relationships by introducing various reference individuals into three-generation family lines to identify second- and third-degree kinships. The results were validated using true pedigree samples. Ranking the system efficiencies of kinship identification systems with different combinations of reference individuals and genetic markers provided insight into reference selection priorities and the optimal number of loci required. For second-degree relatives, adding one relative to the 39 STR marker set resulted in an effectiveness of over 90% with an error rate of less than 0.0005, while adding two known relatives achieved an effectiveness of over 95% with an error rate of less than 0.0001. Certain models could completely discriminate between related and unrelated individuals when using 55 STRs. For third-degree relatives, incorporating two known relatives in the 55 STR marker set resulted in an effectiveness of over 90% with an error rate of less than 0.0001 in most scenarios. In addition, when using both 55 STRs and 94 SNPs, a total of five models used for first-cousin relationships, that incorporated two reference individuals within second-degree relatives of both subjects, could completely distinguish between related and unrelated individuals. This study not only offers theoretical insights for complex kinship identification but also provides a valuable reference that can significantly improve the practice of identifying second- and third-degree kinships.</p>","PeriodicalId":14071,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Legal Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"1537-1551"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143676880","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Bleeding pattern in the early phase after experimental rotational acceleration induced traumatic brain injury.","authors":"Daniel Andersson, Kanar Alkass, Julia Anna Mielcarz, Johan Davidsson, Henrik Druid","doi":"10.1007/s00414-025-03457-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00414-025-03457-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Lethal rotational acceleration induced injury to the brain may leave few detectable intracerebral injuries if the survival time is short. Eighty-two Sprague Dawley rats were utilized in a validated model for standardized rotational acceleration traumatic brain injury to investigate the number and area of subarachnoid and intracerebral hemorrhages. The rats were divided into groups with survival times of 0, 5, 10, 20 and 60 min with equal amounts of experimental and sham operated rats in each group. In addition, a \"postmortem\" group of rats were euthanizied 5 min before the trauma and samples collected 5 min after the trauma. From all rats, hemispheres were collected, cut and double stained with immunohistochemistry with anti-collagen IV and anti-hemoglobin. Brains from the 20- and 60-minutes groups were stained with immunohistochemistry for amyloid precursor protein beta. The 2 rats with the most and 2 rats with the least intracerebral hemorrhages from all time points were stained for fibrinogen and P-selectin. The group that sustained trauma postmortem and all sham operated rats showed either no bleedings or only a few, minimal, isolated hemorrhages. All other experimental groups showed widespread subarachnoid hemorrhages and few and small intracerebral hemorrhages. The hemorrhages were observed immediately after the rotational brain injury and did not change in number or size during the first hour. Amyloid precursor protein beta staining did not show any convincing axonal accumulation. Fibrinogen and P-selectin showed signs of hemostasis in all antemortem trauma groups. Our conclusion is that hemorrhages from rotatory traumatic brain injury develops immediately upon trauma and do not change during the first hour.</p>","PeriodicalId":14071,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Legal Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"1609-1621"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12170721/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143656710","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Postmortem morphology of honeybee stings induced fatal anaphylaxis.","authors":"Katerina Grusova, Tomas Vojtisek, Rexson Tse, Tomas Kalinka","doi":"10.1007/s00414-025-03483-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00414-025-03483-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Despite numerous case reports in the literature, high-quality postmortem images of honeybee sting are scant in postmortem literature. We report a case of a fatal anaphylactic death from honeybee stings with detailed high-quality annotated macroscopic and microscopic morphological images. A woman in her mid-60's was found dead in her garden cabin unexpectedly after mowing the lawn near her beehives in late evening hours. She passed away despite resuscitation efforts. External examination showed multiple honeybee stings on the body. A number of them had a nidus near the center in which a stinger was confirmed by subsequent histology. Postmortem examination and ancillary testing showed features of anaphylaxis.</p>","PeriodicalId":14071,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Legal Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"1657-1660"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12170788/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143772334","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"From digital to physical model: the use of 3D-printed models in wound ballistic reconstruction.","authors":"Fabiano Riva, Daan Wintermans, Stefan Schaufelbühl, Nadine Fuchs, Wim Kerkhoff","doi":"10.1007/s00414-025-03475-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00414-025-03475-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Synthetic models (also called \"surrogates\") simulating human tissues are widely used in wound ballistics. Although there are a large number of commercial models showing interesting properties, these are limited to generic shapes. The result of the interaction between the projectile and the target varies based on several parameters; therefore, using a case-specific, custom-shaped synthetic model would enhance the accuracy of the findings. For this purpose, the authors created, based on Post-Mortem Computed Tomography (PMCT) measurements, case specific 3D-printed synthetic models. The first ballistic tests were performed on simple plates printed with different materials and compared against polyurethan Synbone® products in order to select the most suited materials for synthetic head models. Further tests were realised on head models printed with PLA (polylactic acid), PETG (polyethylene terephthalate glycol-modified) and TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) polymers as well as on two head models composed of powder and resin. The bullet's behaviour, its deformation, the wound channel and other qualitative aspects were directly compared to the findings of the real case reported in Riva et al in Int J Legal Med 135:2567-2579, 2021, as well as to the \"open shape\" head model created by Riva et al in Forensic Sci Int 294:150-159, 2019. Finally, although the results of this study did not completely fulfil the requirements to simulate human bones, its concept in reproducing case specific head models with easily available 3D printing materials, is very promising.</p>","PeriodicalId":14071,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Legal Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"1879-1891"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12170794/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143742823","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Forensic age estimation using Vieth classification in adolescents of northern China based on the knee MRI.","authors":"Jianxin Guo, Xiaoqian Jia, Yannan Cheng, Geliang Wang, Huan Wang, Yuxin Guo, Haotian Meng, Yahui Wang, Teng Chen, Yucheng Guo","doi":"10.1007/s00414-025-03431-3","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00414-025-03431-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>To investigate the applicability of the Vieth classification and characteristics of ossification age in knee joint in adolescents of northern China. A retrospective study was conducted on a total of 1517 MRI images of knee joints from patients aged 10 to 20 years in the northern China. Vieth classification was used to assess the ossification age of distal femur and proximal tibia. Descriptive analysis was performed to obtain the maximum, minimum, median, and upper and lower quartiles of age at each stage, stack bar graph were used to show the age distribution at each stage. Mann-Whitney U test was utilized to analyze the differences in the stage of the proximal tibia and distal femur. Good intra-observer and inter-observer consistency (к = 0.89 and 0.88) was obtained. Regarding the distal femoral epiphysis, 100% of male participants in stage 3, 4(and 5) and 6 were over 12, 14 and 16 years old, respectively; 100% of female participants in stage 4, 5 and 6 were over 12, 14 and 16 years old. While for proximal tibial epiphysis, 100% of male participants in stage 4 and 5 were over 12 and 14 years old; 100% of female participants in stage 4 and 5 were over 12 years old. Ossification age of the proximal tibia mature earlier than distal femur (P < 0.001). Vieth classification can be used to infer the age of 12, 14 and 16 years in adolescents of northern China, providing a valuable reference for forensic age estimation.</p>","PeriodicalId":14071,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Legal Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"1681-1689"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143492101","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Forensic insights into primary pyomyositis: autopsy and post-mortem CT scan based-analysis.","authors":"Chun-Ting Chiang, Yumi Hoshioka, Yohsuke Makino, Maiko Yoshida, Ayumi Motomura, Fumiko Chiba, Suguru Torimitsu, Rutsuko Yamaguchi, Daisuke Yajima, Go Inokuchi, Shigeki Tsuneya, Hirotaro Iwase","doi":"10.1007/s00414-025-03460-y","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00414-025-03460-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>To examine the findings of pyomyositis by computed tomography (CT) imaging at autopsy to establish the correct diagnostic approach for this disease in the postmortem setting.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>A total of 6,964 autopsy cases with CT imaging from two forensic center databases were examined to identify primary pyomyositis. Basic demographics, external findings, postmortem CT findings, and autopsy results were reviewed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Ten cases of primary pyomyositis were identified. All of the deceased individuals were older than 40 years of age without definitive evidence of human immunodeficiency virus infection. Five individuals had a history of trauma, with one case of trauma occurring more than 1 year previously. Pyomyositis was mostly located in the extremities. Three individuals showed pyomyositis in more than one muscle group. Only one individual showed signs of infection before the autopsy. Three individuals had grossly identifiable erythema. Nine individuals showed positive imaging findings, such as swelling, fat stranding, decreased density, fluid collection, and gas formation, on a CT scan. One individual had no findings of pyomyositis and this was discovered incidentally.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study shows differences from previous clinical case series of pyomyositis, such as the absence of young age groups and human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome cases, and a unique case of pyomyositis that occurred more than 1 year after a traumatic incident. Grossly identifiable erythema is rare, posing a considerable diagnostic challenge. However, CT imaging is useful in detecting infection.</p>","PeriodicalId":14071,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Legal Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"1647-1656"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143585729","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Machine learning using random forest to differentiate between blow and fall situations of head trauma.","authors":"Johair Temma, Luísa Nogueira, Frederic Santos, Gerald Quatrehomme, Caroline Bernardi, Veronique Alunni","doi":"10.1007/s00414-025-03440-2","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00414-025-03440-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Blunt head trauma is a common occurrence in forensic practice. Interpreting the origin of craniocerebral injuries can be a challenging process, particularly when it comes to distinguishing between falls or inflicted blows. The objective of this study was to develop a predictive model using an innovative Random Forest (RF) classification approach to differentiate injuries caused by falls from those caused by blows. The study examined 65 cases of blunt head trauma over the age of 18 resulting from a fall or an inflicted blow. A preliminary univariate logistic regression analysis followed by RF classification was performed. The presence of a depressed fracture and the lateralisation on the left-sided of cranial vault fractures, as well as extra-axial bleeding, in particular an extra-dural haematoma, were indicative of inflicted blows. The RF classification provided a simple predictive model with an accuracy rate of 78% to identify the most relevant injury criteria for distinguishing between falls and assault situations involving blows.</p>","PeriodicalId":14071,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Legal Medicine","volume":" ","pages":"1787-1796"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143476596","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}