Nails as optimal source of DNA for molecular identification of 5 decomposed bodies recovered from seawater: from Y-ancestry to personal identification.

Molecular identification of extremely compromised human remains in forensic field is usually performed from DNA typing of bones, which are a difficult sample to work with. Moreover, autosomal STR profiles do not always result in the identification of the donor due to lack of comparisons or non-hit throughout database searching. An attempt to overcome these issues is represented by fingernails as an alternative DNA source and Y-STRs typing to infer both geographical and familial ancestry of the unknown donor.

Metabolomics investigation of post-mortem human pericardial fluid.

Introduction: Due to its peculiar anatomy and physiology, the pericardial fluid is a biological matrix of particular interest in the forensic field. Despite this, the available literature has mainly focused on post-mortem biochemistry and forensic toxicology, while to the best of authors' knowledge post-mortem metabolomics has never been applied. Similarly, estimation of the time since death or post-mortem interval based on pericardial fluids has still rarely been attempted.

PMI estimation through metabolomics and potassium analysis on animal vitreous humour.

Introduction: The estimation of post-mortem interval (PMI) remains a major challenge in forensic science. Most of the proposed approaches lack the reliability required to meet the rigorous forensic standards.

Objectives: We applied H NMR metabolomics to estimate PMI on ovine vitreous humour comparing the results with the actual scientific gold standard, namely vitreous potassium concentrations.

The 'ForensOMICS' approach for postmortem interval estimation from human bone by integrating metabolomics, lipidomics, and proteomics.

The combined use of multiple omics allows to study complex interrelated biological processes in their entirety. We applied a combination of metabolomics, lipidomics and proteomics to human bones to investigate their combined potential to estimate time elapsed since death (i.e.

A Fatal Case of Metastatic Pulmonary Calcification during the Puerperium.

We present an unusual case of a fatal respiratory failure in a young woman developed two weeks after she gave birth at home. Circumstantial and clinical features of the case were strongly suggestive for a 'classical' septic origin of the respiratory symptoms. Autopsy, together with histopathological and immunohistochemical analyses allowed demonstrating a massive calcium redistribution consisting of an important osteolysis, especially from cranial bones and abnormal accumulation in lungs and other organs.

Blood Biomarkers and Metabolomic Profiling for the Early Diagnosis of Vancomycin-Associated Acute Kidney Injury: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Experimental Studies.

Background: several blood-based biomarkers have been proposed for predicting vancomycin-associated kidney injury (VIKI). However, no systematic analysis has compared their prognostic value.

Objective: this systematic review and meta-analysis was designed to investigate the role of blood biomarkers and metabolomic profiling as diagnostic and prognostic predictors in pre-clinical studies of VIKI.

The Influence of Eyelid Position and Environmental Conditions on the Corneal Changes in Early Postmortem Interval: A Prospective, Multicentric OCT Study.

In the current study, using portable optical coherence tomography, we evaluated 46 corneas of 23 individuals in a multicenter setting during the first 17 h after death. Twenty-three eyes were kept open, and twenty three were kept closed. Furthermore, the experiment was carried out for 12 samples in summer and 11 in winter.

Urinary Metabolomics From a Dose-Fractionated Polymyxin B Rat Model of Acute Kidney Injury.

Background: Polymyxin B treatment is limited by kidney injury. This study sought to identify Polymyxin B-related urinary metabolomic profile modifications for early detection of polymyxin-associated nephrotoxicity.

Methods: Samples were obtained from a previously conducted study.

Infant urinary metabolomic profile in a fatal acute methadone intoxication.

A case report suspicious for a Sudden Infant Death Syndrome is here described. Pathological findings were consistent with an acute respiratory failure while toxicological analysis revealed an elevated blood methadone concentration. Death was then ascribed to an acute methadone intoxication.

Looking for Post-Mortem Metabolomic Standardization: Waiting for Godot-The Importance of Post-Mortem Interval in Forensic Metabolomics.

A growing body of evidence suggests that the post-mortem interval exerts a strong effect on the metabolome, independently of the biological matrix or the cause of death. A sound and shared approach in standardization is mandatory.

Metabolomics improves the histopathological diagnosis of asphyxial deaths: an animal proof-of-concept model.

The diagnosis of mechanical asphyxia remains one of the most difficult issues in forensic pathology. Asphyxia ultimately results in cardiac arrest (CA) and, as there are no specific markers, the differential diagnosis of primitive CA and CA secondary to asphyxiation relies on circumstantial details and on the pathologist experience, lacking objective evidence. Histological examination is currently considered the gold standard for CA post-mortem diagnosis.

Comparative use of aqueous humour H NMR metabolomics and potassium concentration for PMI estimation in an animal model.

Estimation of the post-mortem interval (PMI) remains a matter of concern in the forensic scenario. Traditional and novel approaches are not yet able to fully address this issue, which relies on complex biological phenomena triggered by death. For this purpose, eye compartments may be chosen for experimental studies because they are more resistant to post-mortem modifications.

Forensic NMR metabolomics: one more arrow in the quiver.

Introduction: NMR metabolomics is increasingly used in forensics, due to the possibility of investigating both endogenous metabolic profiles and exogenous molecules that may help to describe metabolic patterns and their modifications associated to specific conditions of forensic interest.

Objectives: The aim of this work was to review the recent literature and depict the information provided by NMR metabolomics. Attention has been devoted to the identification of peculiar metabolic signatures and specific ante-mortem and post-mortem profiles or biomarkers related to different conditions of forensic concern, such as the identification of biological traces, the estimation of the time since death, and the exposure to drugs of abuse.

Exploring Perinatal Asphyxia by Metabolomics.

Brain damage related to perinatal asphyxia is the second cause of neuro-disability worldwide. Its incidence was estimated in 2010 as 8.5 cases per 1000 live births worldwide, with no further recent improvement even in more industrialized countries.

A H NMR metabolomic approach for the estimation of the time since death using aqueous humour: an animal model.

Introduction: The estimation of the time since death, or post-mortem interval (PMI), still remains a main conundrum in forensic science. Several approaches have been so far proposed from either a qualitative or a quantitative point of view, but they still lack reliability and robustness. Recently, metabolomics has shown to be a potential tool to investigate the time-related post-mortem metabolite modifications in animal models.