Postmortem Diagnosis of Fatal Hypothermia by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopic Analysis of Edema Fluid in Formalin-Fixed, Paraffin-Embedded Lung Tissues.

J Forensic Sci

Shanghai Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, Shanghai Forensic Service Platform, Academy of Forensic Science, Shanghai, 200063, China.

Published: May 2020

The goal of this study was to investigate whether pulmonary edema could become a specific diagnostic marker for fatal hypothermia using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy in combination with chemometrics. The spectral profile analysis indicated that hypothermia fatalities associated with pulmonary edema fluid contained more β-sheet protein conformational structures than the control causes of death, which included sudden cardiac death, brain injury, cerebrovascular disease, mechanical asphyxiation, intoxication, and drowning. Subsequently, the results of principal component analysis (PCA) further revealed that the content of β-sheet protein conformational structures in the pulmonary edema fluid was the main discriminatory marker between fatal hypothermia and the other causes of death. Ultimately, a robust postmortem diagnostic model for fatal hypothermia using a partial least-squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) algorithm was constructed. Pulmonary edema fluid spectra collected from eight new forensic autopsy cases that did not participate in the construction of the diagnostic model were predicted using the model. The results showed the causes of death of all these eight cases were correctly classified. In conclusion, this preliminary study demonstrates that FTIR spectroscopy in combination with chemometrics could be a promising approach for the postmortem diagnosis of fatal hypothermia.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.14260DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

fatal hypothermia
20
edema fluid
16
pulmonary edema
16
postmortem diagnosis
8
diagnosis fatal
8
hypothermia fourier
8
fourier transform
8
transform infrared
8
marker fatal
8
ftir spectroscopy
8

Similar Publications

Cold shock proteins CIRBP and RBM3 may indicate hypothermia death: A case report.

J Forensic Leg Med

November 2024

College of Basic Medicine and Forensic Medicine, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, 471023, Henan, China; Institute of Medical Aspects of Specific Environments, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, 471023, Henan, China; Judicial Appraisal Center of Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, 471023, Henan, China. Electronic address:

Cold-inducible RNA-binding protein (CIRBP) and RNA binding motif protein 3 (RBM3) are both members of the cold shock protein family expressed in response to low-temperature induction. However, their usefulness in the diagnosis of fatal hypothermia in forensic has not been reported. In this study, we report the case of a female who died of fatal hypothermia.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Assessment of early neonatal practices to prevent hypothermia ; A comparative study.

F1000Res

November 2024

Professor, Department of Paediatrics, Kasturba Medical College Mangalore, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Karnataka, Manipal, 576 104, India.

Background: Globally, neonatal deaths are significantly attributed to hypothermia. This is mostly because of its co-morbidity with asphyxia, premature birth and severe neonatal infections. Worldwide, neonatal hypothermia case fatality rates (CFRs) range from 8.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Earthquakes cause devastating effects, resulting in the deaths of thousands of people each year. Understanding the full range of impacts, including fatalities, and the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying these effects is crucial for mitigating the aftermath of earthquakes. Therefore, this review aims to: delineate the critical golden time periods following earthquakes and identify the most effective responses and resilience factors during these periods; accurately define the terminology for injuries sustained post-earthquake; elucidate the basic pathophysiology of CRUSH injury-induced myopathy, one of the most significant pathologies in post-earthquake patient management; explore the role of nitric oxide (NO) mechanisms in crush injuries, which are believed to be fundamental to the "smiling death phenomenon" and represent the unseen part of the iceberg; and highlight the importance of the 3 main phenomena responsible for mortality-acidosis, coagulopathy, and hypothermia-during disasters.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • - Hemorrhage is the main cause of preventable death in trauma situations, leading to military and civilian advancements in medical practices, particularly through the use of tourniquets to manage extremity bleeding and save lives.
  • - While tourniquets have significantly decreased deaths from bleeding in military settings, noncompressible hemorrhage still poses a major risk, especially before patients receive definitive medical care.
  • - The study explores using a small, disposable pressure monitor during resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) to enhance blood pressure monitoring, facilitate better resuscitation practices, and reduce the need for blood products in extreme environments.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Critically ill patients with bloodstream infections (BSIs) who experience hypothermia are at a higher risk of death, but the impact of rewarming rates on their outcomes is not well understood.
  • In a study involving 3951 ICU admissions, researchers found that 8.4% of hypothermic patients had temperatures below 34.9°C, and lower temperatures were linked to higher severity of illness and a greater need for organ support.
  • The 90-day case-fatality rate was 22.9% overall, with significantly higher rates among those with lower temperatures; faster rewarming was associated with lower mortality rates even after accounting for illness severity and comorbidities.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!