Legal Medicine最新文献

{"title":"Histiocytic myocarditis: A rare and complex cause of cardiogenic shock","authors":"Tommaso D’Anna ,&nbsp;Beatrice Belmonte ,&nbsp;Elisabetta Orlando ,&nbsp;Eleonora Formisano ,&nbsp;Ginevra Malta ,&nbsp;Antonina Argo ,&nbsp;Stefania Zerbo ,&nbsp;Ada Maria Florena ,&nbsp;Emiliano Maresi","doi":"10.1016/j.legalmed.2026.102795","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.legalmed.2026.102795","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Histiocytic Myocardial Inflammatory Disease (HMID) is a rare and under-recognized form of myocarditis, characterized by predominant histiocytic infiltration within the myocardial tissue. Unlike more common lymphocytic and eosinophilic forms, HMID remains diagnostically challenging, particularly in children. Here we present a pediatric case, outlining the clinical course and the difficulties encountered, and highlighting the histopathological and immunohistochemical features essential for establishing the diagnosis.</div></div><div><h3>Case description</h3><div>A 4-year-old girl accompanied by her parents, who showed up at the hospital with persistent fever, abdominal pain, and vomiting. A cardiac evaluation revealed a mild pericardial effusion with preserved systolic function. Doctors treated her with corticosteroids and broad-spectrum antibiotics, but her condition rapidly deteriorated, resulting in cardiogenic shock and death from cardiac arrest. We performed a forensic autopsy that included histopathological examination and immunohistochemical analysis of the cardiac muscle (in particular in the right ventricle). The CD68 positivity highlighted the presence of a diffuse infiltrate of hystiocites. CD3, CD4, CD8, and CD20 staining showed only scarce lymphocyte representation. The child’s history gave no hint of autoimmune or inflammatory disease, underscoring the abrupt and unexpected nature of her illness.</div></div><div><h3>Discussion</h3><div>HMID is rare but can mimic common myocarditis, complicating diagnosis. Its fulminant course requires early recognition and confirmation by histopathology and immunohistochemistry. This case shows the importance of recognizing HMID in pediatric cardiogenic shock or sudden cardiac death of unclear cause.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49913,"journal":{"name":"Legal Medicine","volume":"81 ","pages":"Article 102795"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146039214","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Suicidal death due to the toxicity of the organophosphorus pesticide ethoprophos","authors":"Amvrosios Orfanidis,&nbsp;Kleio-Evangelia Fragkouli,&nbsp;Dimitra Florou,&nbsp;Vassiliki A. Boumba","doi":"10.1016/j.legalmed.2026.102792","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.legalmed.2026.102792","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The current case report concerns the first reported fatality due to ethoprophos toxicity after intentional ingestion of the toxicant, to the best of authors’ knowledge, documented with autopsy findings and toxicological data, including the identification and quantification of ethoprophos in blood by LC-MS/MS. The deceased was a 60-year-old man, who was found dead in his vehicle by his family. Initially the death was considered as sudden, and the decedent was subjected to postmortem investigation. Upon autopsy, no external injuries were observed, nor macroscopic lesions or signs of underlying disease were noticed. Internal examination revealed cerebral and pulmonary edema and partially digested gastric contents with multiple black granules attached to his gastric mucosa. Peripheral blood, urine, and gastric contents, with the black granules, were collected for toxicology analysis. The GC–MS screening analysis of the granules revealed that their active component was ethoprophos. To determine this pesticide in blood, an analytical protocol based on LC-MS/MS analysis was developed that allowed the identification of trace amounts of ethoprophos in blood. The toxicological results indicated that ethoprophos was the only toxic substance that could have contributed to the death, and the manner of death was reported as suicide. In the present case, death was attributed to the intake of ethoprophos, and the manner of death was reported as suicide.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49913,"journal":{"name":"Legal Medicine","volume":"81 ","pages":"Article 102792"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146039215","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Modular tools for the analysis of pulmonary histological images: A pilot study on the differential thanatological diagnosis between born alive and stillbirth","authors":"Nappi Mariarita ,&nbsp;Cardinale Andrea Nicola ,&nbsp;Turco Massimiliano ,&nbsp;Cazzato Gerardo ,&nbsp;Ingravallo Giuseppe ,&nbsp;Valle Francesco ,&nbsp;Sablone Sara","doi":"10.1016/j.legalmed.2026.102797","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.legalmed.2026.102797","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The determination of autonomous life signs in neonatal bodies is crucial in forensic practice, given its numerous legal implications. Current techniques, not individually exhaustive, often focus on verifying the occurrence of autonomous respiration, despite potential artifacts from decomposition and/or resuscitation efforts. This preliminary study proposes a novel technique for more accurate differential diagnosis by using modular tools to histologically analyze neonatal lungs. Lung sections, obtained from one fetal intrauterine death, two postnatal deaths due to intrapartum asphyxia, and one neonatal death (control case), were processed using a high-resolution scanner, converting stained histological slides into digital optical microscopy images. Based on their expertise, two forensic pathologists conducted a double-blind image analysis using two different open-source software, thereby marking areas (called “grains”) corresponding to the aerated alveoli, and obtaining consistent quantitative parameters. The results, showing significant differences between the cases according to the circumstances of death, aligned with available clinical and thanatological data, thus providing a proof-of-concept. Although based on the operator’s expertise, the tested modular tool proved promising for future forensic applications in this specific field. However, it would be worthy of further research to make the results reproducible, of high predictive value in differential thanatodiagnosis, and usable in courtrooms. Moreover, a casuistry extension and an experimental estimation of all factors potentially affecting results are advisable for the full implementation of this novel method in forensic investigations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49913,"journal":{"name":"Legal Medicine","volume":"81 ","pages":"Article 102797"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146079632","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Postmortem computed tomography lung imaging findings in cases of fatal hypothermia with infusion administered for cardiopulmonary resuscitation","authors":"Akiko Takeuchi ,&nbsp;Shigeki Jin ,&nbsp;Takayuki Kiuchi ,&nbsp;Ryo Uozumi ,&nbsp;Tomoko Matoba ,&nbsp;Yuta Hara ,&nbsp;Keiko Takahashi ,&nbsp;Chihiro Misaki ,&nbsp;Aya Kikawa ,&nbsp;Ayako Eguchi ,&nbsp;Manabu Murakami ,&nbsp;Hideki Hyodoh ,&nbsp;Kotaro Matoba","doi":"10.1016/j.legalmed.2026.102781","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.legalmed.2026.102781","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>The aim of this study was to investigate and evaluate the changes in postmortem lung computed tomography (CT) imaging findings following cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) using infusion in cases of fatal hypothermia.</div></div><div><h3>Materials and Methods</h3><div>Between January 2020 and December 2024, among 65 cases of fatal hypothermia deaths subjected to postmortem CT imaging and forensic autopsy at our institution, 29 cases with a postmortem interval of less than 48 h were selected. 11 subjects who received intravenous resuscitation before death was declared comprised Group I and 18 subjects who did not receive infusion comprised Group II. In the postmortem chest CT scans of these cases, chest cavity excluding the mediastinum (CC) and aerated lung volume (ALV) were measured. Furthermore, the ratio of ALV to CC (%ALV = ALV/CC × 100) was calculated.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The ALV in Groups I and II was 1018 ± 333.4 and 2573 ± 168.0 mL, respectively, with a significant difference between the groups (p = 0.0011). The %ALV was significantly lower in Group I (34.6 % ± 8.88 %) than in Group II (81.3 % ± 1.39 %) (p &lt; 0.0001). A strong negative correlation was observed between infusion volume and %ALV in all cases, with a correlation coefficient of −0.7743 (p &lt; 0.0001).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Our findings suggest that, in cases of fatal hypothermia, the %ALV in postmortem lung CT decreases when resuscitation with a large volume of infusion is administered as part of resuscitation after cardiopulmonary arrest.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49913,"journal":{"name":"Legal Medicine","volume":"81 ","pages":"Article 102781"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145981880","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Chorioamnionitis in intrauterine fetal death: A forensic histopathological case study","authors":"Giorgia Franchetti ,&nbsp;Eva Grosso ,&nbsp;Pasquale Padalino ,&nbsp;Pietro Fabris ,&nbsp;Laura Secco ,&nbsp;Stefano Palumbi ,&nbsp;Renzo Giordano ,&nbsp;Pantaleo Greco ,&nbsp;Guido Viel","doi":"10.1016/j.legalmed.2026.102796","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.legalmed.2026.102796","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Acute chorioamnionitis is a placental inflammatory condition often implicated in adverse pregnancy outcomes, including intrauterine death. The histopathological identification of maternal and fetal inflammatory responses (MIR and FIR) is critical for diagnosis and understanding potential causal mechanisms. Chorioamnionitis frequently warrants medico-legal investigation, particularly for suspected medical malpractice.</div></div><div><h3>Material and methods</h3><div>Two forensic cases of intrauterine fetal death with histological finding of acute chorioamnionitis are presented. Each case has been investigated with a complete autopsy with histological examination of fetal organs and placenta. The investigations were conducted following the Royal College of Pathologists’ Guidelines on autopsy practice for fetal death and the European Guidelines for forensic investigations involving suspected healthcare professional liability.</div></div><div><h3>Results and Discussion</h3><div>In Case 1, histopathology revealed acute necrotizing chorioamnionitis associated with chorionic vasculitis, funisitis and fetal organ involvement (<em>stage</em> 3/<em>grade</em> 2 MIR; <em>stage</em> 2/<em>grade</em> 1 FIR), supporting a causal role in fetal death. In Case 2, only focal chorioamnionitis with minimal fetal inflammatory response (<em>stage</em> 2/<em>grade</em> 1 MIR; <em>stage</em> 1/<em>grade</em> 1 FIR) was detected. A definitive and certain causal relationship with the death cannot be established due to the absence of systemic fetal involvement. No substandard medical care was identified in either case.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>These cases underscore the importance of integrating clinical and histological data to determine the pathophysiological significance of chorioamnionitis in fetal death. The evaluation of FIR and organ involvement are critical for distinguishing between causal and incidental findings. Thorough histopathological evaluation is essential for accurate cause of death determination and medicolegal assessment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49913,"journal":{"name":"Legal Medicine","volume":"81 ","pages":"Article 102796"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146079627","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A single-center autopsy study: postmortem diagnosis of hypothermia","authors":"Veysel Osman Soğukpınar ,&nbsp;Muhsin Gürkan Gürsoy ,&nbsp;Mesut Dincer ,&nbsp;Kasım Bulut ,&nbsp;Koray Yılmaz ,&nbsp;Koray Büyükatak","doi":"10.1016/j.legalmed.2026.102798","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.legalmed.2026.102798","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Hypothermia is a critical clinical condition characterized by a drop in core body temperature below 35 °C, leading to life-threatening physiological disturbances. The absence of specific and pathognomonic findings in forensic cases complicates diagnosis and necessitates a multidisciplinary evaluation. This study aims to assess hypothermia-related forensic death cases in light of autopsy, toxicological, histopathological, and scene findings. A retrospective review was conducted on 56 cases diagnosed with hypothermia as the cause of death between 01/01/2020 and 31/12/2024. Sociodemographic data, scene investigation reports, external and internal examination findings, radiology (scopy), histopathological and toxicological analyses were evaluated. Descriptive statistics and chi-square test were used, with p &lt; 0.05 considered statistically significant. 94.6% of the cases were male, predominantly young adults. All individuals with available nationality data were foreign nationals. 89.2% were found in rural areas, and 66.1% during the spring season. Wet clothing was observed in 57.1%, and undressing in 42.9%. Scopy was performed in 10.7%. Cold burns and pink-red livor mortis were found in 71.4% and 60.7%, respectively. Gastric erosion was noted in 21.4%, and pulmonary edema in 42.9%. Toxicology revealed psychiatric drugs in 30.4%, and narcotics/volatile substances in 3.6%. Healthcare access was documented in only 5.4%. Autopsy findings alone are insufficient for diagnosing hypothermia. Integrating scene, clinical, and laboratory data enhances diagnostic accuracy. Hypothermia-related deaths should be addressed as public health issues involving medical, socioeconomic, and environmental factors. Standardization of postmortem diagnostic tools and early intervention models for risk groups are recommended.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49913,"journal":{"name":"Legal Medicine","volume":"81 ","pages":"Article 102798"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146079626","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Computed tomography and 3D visualization in forensic shooting distance estimation – A ballistic gelatine pilot study","authors":"Juho-Antti Junno ,&nbsp;Mikael Brix ,&nbsp;Eveliina Lammentausta ,&nbsp;Alina Junno ,&nbsp;Timo Liimatainen ,&nbsp;Jaakko Niinimäki ,&nbsp;Juha Kiljunen ,&nbsp;Petteri Oura","doi":"10.1016/j.legalmed.2026.102799","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.legalmed.2026.102799","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Accurate estimation of shooting distance is one of the main aspects in forensic gunshot case reconstruction. Reliable methods to estimate shooting distance are thus important for forensic practitioners. In this pilot study we test how computed tomography (CT) based evaluation of bullet cavitation could potentially be utilized to differentiate shooting distance.</div><div>To conduct our study, we utilized ballistic gelatine blocks as a soft tissue simulant. Test shooting was performed from two distances, 20 and 100 m. Four expanding monolithic bullets were used all in 0.30 caliber (Barnes TTSX, Sako Blade, Norma Ecostrike, Lapua Naturalis). The gelatine blocks were CT-scanned after the experiment. The scans were processed and segmented using an open-source 3D Slicer software to provide a 3D reconstruction of the cavitation and obtain numerical cavitation parameters (total volume and surface area of cavitation; maximum crack diameter; location of maximum cavitation).</div><div>Our results indicated that all four bullets had distinct terminal ballistic performance. This could be detected from the bullet parameters such as maximum diameter and also from the pattern of cavitation. Shooting distance had a consistent, measurable association with bullet diameter and surface area of the gelatine cavity in all four bullets. Our preliminary pilot study underscores the potential of CT in the comprehensive analysis of gelatine cavitation in terminal ballistics. Our results suggest that it would be essential to know exact bullet type when shooting distance is estimated from terminal ballistic findings.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49913,"journal":{"name":"Legal Medicine","volume":"81 ","pages":"Article 102799"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146121016","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Preliminary study of mixed traces on cigarette butts and non-self DNA transfer, persistence, prevalence and recovery in different forensic scenarios","authors":"Denise Gianfreda ,&nbsp;Beatrice Corradini ,&nbsp;Gianmarco Ferri ,&nbsp;Francesca Ferrari ,&nbsp;Ilaria Borciani ,&nbsp;Rossana Cecchi ,&nbsp;Anna Laura Santunione","doi":"10.1016/j.legalmed.2026.102803","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.legalmed.2026.102803","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Recent studies focus on the different ways in which DNA can be transferred from and individual to another or to a surface.</div><div>This work investigates how mixed DNA profiles can be generated on items commonly collected at the crime scene, specifically on cigarette butts. The aim is to determine how biological material exchanged during intimate contact (kissing or sharing a cigarette) can be secondarily transferred onto cigarettes, and how long non-self DNA persists and remains recoverable under different conditions and time intervals.</div><div>The preliminary experimental study involved one investigative couple: each volunteer smoked a cigarette at fixed intervals after kissing (from 0 to 120 min) and both partners smoked a shared cigarette.</div><div>DNA was extracted from cigarette butts immediately and after 30 days using the QIAamp DNA Investigator Kit on the QIAcube Connect. Quantification was performed with PowerQuant® System Kit and genetic profiles were obtained using PowerPlex® Fusion and Y23 Kits.</div><div>Results showed non-self DNA alleles up to 2 h after kissing, even in non-immediate extractions, partial Y-STRs profiles in female butts after 1 h: individual variability and degradation made interpretations harder. Based on preliminary findings, the study will be expanded including more partner pairs, more smoking devices and longer processing timeframes.</div><div>Our findings suggest the possibility of reconstructing transfer scenarios leading to mixed DNA traces on cigarette butts and of assessing a time window within which non-self DNA can be secondarily transferred to the cigarette, highlighting the impact of processing times and smoking device on DNA results.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49913,"journal":{"name":"Legal Medicine","volume":"81 ","pages":"Article 102803"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146120956","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Toxicological risk profiles in suicide: The forensic value of hair-based substance detection","authors":"L. Tomassini ,&nbsp;M. Lancia ,&nbsp;R. Scendoni ,&nbsp;A. Raimondi ,&nbsp;A. Gili ,&nbsp;K. Aroni ,&nbsp;C. Gambelunghe","doi":"10.1016/j.legalmed.2026.102805","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.legalmed.2026.102805","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Suicide is a major global cause of premature mortality and a critical public health concern. Chronic alcohol misuse and illicit drug use are well-established risk factors, but conventional post-mortem toxicology frequently fails to detect long-term substance exposure. Hair analysis represents a valuable forensic tool, enabling the reconstruction of pre-mortem behavioral patterns and offering insight into chronic substance use and its association with suicidal behavior.</div></div><div><h3>Materials and methods</h3><div>This retrospective study examined 74 suicide cases (59 males, 15 females) from 2023 to 2024. Hair samples were analyzed for ethyl glucuronide to assess chronic alcohol consumption and screened for psychoactive substances. Demographic data, previous suicide attempts, and methods of suicide were also considered.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Chronic excessive alcohol use was identified in 75.7% of cases, with higher prevalence in females (93.3%) and individuals aged ≥ 65 years (88.9%). Illicit drugs were detected in 25.7% of cases, mainly cocaine (23.0%) and cannabis (17.6%). Polydrug use was found in 66.2% of subjects. Psychoactive drugs were frequently present: benzodiazepines in 63.5%, antidepressants in 36.5%, and antipsychotics in 10.8%. A prior suicide attempt was reported in 23.0% of individuals, with the highest rate among adolescents and young adults (29.4%).</div></div><div><h3>Discussion and conclusion</h3><div>These findings highlight age- and sex-specific toxicological patterns and support the forensic relevance of hair analysis in detecting chronic substance use. Integrating toxicological, clinical, and demographic data enhances post-mortem risk profiling and informs suicide prevention strategies targeting high-risk, underserved populations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49913,"journal":{"name":"Legal Medicine","volume":"81 ","pages":"Article 102805"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146127294","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Forensic implications of early postmortem changes in skeletal, cardiac, and smooth muscles following acute colchicine intoxication in rats","authors":"Dina Y. Hegab ,&nbsp;Nabela I. El-Sharkawy ,&nbsp;Gihan G. Moustafa ,&nbsp;Taghred M. Saber ,&nbsp;Mohamed M.M. Metwally ,&nbsp;Yasmina M. Abd-Elhakim","doi":"10.1016/j.legalmed.2026.102780","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.legalmed.2026.102780","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Acute colchicine (CHC) poisoning can be fatal due to its narrow therapeutic index, involvement of multiple organ systems, and the lack of a specific antidote. This study investigated early postmortem biochemical, histopathological, and immunohistochemical changes in skeletal, smooth, and cardiac muscles within 24 h of death following acute CHC intoxication in rats. Sixty male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into control and CHC-intoxicated groups (n = 30 each). Controls received saline and were euthanized humanely; CHC rats received a single oral lethal dose (4.9 mg/kg b.wt) and died naturally within 8–10 h. Samples from the gastrocnemius muscle, intestine, and heart were collected at 0, 3, 6, 12, and 24 h postmortem. Tissue homogenates were analyzed for pH, CRP, Na⁺, K⁺, Ca⁺⁺, LDH, ATP, glycogen, and lactic acid. Immunohistochemistry assessed cytochrome <em>c</em> oxidase (CcO) and Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase (NKA) expression. CHC intoxication significantly altered most biochemical markers in a time-dependent manner. pH, Na⁺, ATP, and glycogen decreased, while CRP, LDH, Ca⁺⁺, K⁺, and lactic acid increased. CRP rose in the gastrocnemius and intestine but remained unchanged in the heart. CcO and NKA staining did not differ significantly between groups, though both declined with increasing postmortem interval (PMI). Several markers showed significant CHC-PMI interactions across tissues. Conclusively, acute CHC intoxication induced time-dependent biochemical changes in vital muscle tissues within 24 h PM. These findings underscore the forensic significance of understanding both toxicant-specific effects and PMI-related dynamics, enhancing the interpretation of muscle-based markers in suspected CHC poisoning cases.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49913,"journal":{"name":"Legal Medicine","volume":"81 ","pages":"Article 102780"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145981860","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}