Determining the cause of death in forensic autopsies is often challenging, especially when clinical information is limited. RNA analysis has been explored for this purpose, but conventional qRT-PCR approaches are restricted to preselected targets. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) enables comprehensive transcriptome profiling and may reduce observer bias, yet its application in forensic cause-of-death investigation remains limited.
Methods
We applied RNA-seq to two forensic cases: one involving fatal insulin overdose and another involving anaphylactic shock. Gene expression profiles were compared with control cases using relative log expression normalization.
Results
In the insulin overdose case, transcripts in the insulin receptor substrate–PI3K–PDK1/2 pathway and related metabolic cascades were upregulated. In the anaphylaxis case, genes downstream of FcεRI signaling (VAV, IL-3, IL-4, GM-CSF, p38, cPLA2) and T cell receptor–associated molecules showed increased expression.
Conclusion
This proof-of-concept pilot study suggests that RNA-seq can capture molecular signatures associated with specific causes of death. These findings indicate the potential of transcriptomic profiling as a complementary tool in forensic diagnostics when conventional methods are inconclusive.
{"title":"Application of RNA sequencing to cause-of-death investigation: A pilot study","authors":"Naoki Nakao , Takahiro Harada , Kazuhiro Murata , Takafumi Nagao , Akira Namera , Masataka Nagao","doi":"10.1016/j.legalmed.2025.102772","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.legalmed.2025.102772","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Determining the cause of death in forensic autopsies is often challenging, especially when clinical information is limited. RNA analysis has been explored for this purpose, but conventional qRT-PCR approaches are restricted to preselected targets. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) enables comprehensive transcriptome profiling and may reduce observer bias, yet its application in forensic cause-of-death investigation remains limited.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We applied RNA-seq to two forensic cases: one involving fatal insulin overdose and another involving anaphylactic shock. Gene expression profiles were compared with control cases using relative log expression normalization.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>In the insulin overdose case, transcripts in the insulin receptor substrate–PI3K–PDK1/2 pathway and related metabolic cascades were upregulated. In the anaphylaxis case, genes downstream of FcεRI signaling (VAV, IL-3, IL-4, GM-CSF, p38, cPLA2) and T cell receptor–associated molecules showed increased expression.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>This proof-of-concept pilot study suggests that RNA-seq can capture molecular signatures associated with specific causes of death. These findings indicate the potential of transcriptomic profiling as a complementary tool in forensic diagnostics when conventional methods are inconclusive.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49913,"journal":{"name":"Legal Medicine","volume":"80 ","pages":"Article 102772"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-12-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145879311","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}
Pub Date : 2025-12-24DOI: 10.1016/j.legalmed.2025.102768
Shigeki Tsuneya , Go Inokuchi , Maiko Yoshida , Yohsuke Makino , Masatoshi Kojima , Suguru Torimitsu , Fumiko Chiba , Yumi Hoshioka , Yukiko Uemura , Hirotaro Iwase
In forensic pathology, identifying weapons and injury mechanisms is often necessary. Computed tomography (CT) can be used to detect intracerebral hemorrhage due to penetrating injury; however, reports on CT-based estimation of weapons and injury mechanisms are limited. In this case study, we aimed to reconstruct a case using postmortem CT (PMCT) images and an object file of the suspected knife.
A male in his 30 s died following arrival at the hospital after a fight. PMCT and autopsy revealed that an orbitocranial-penetrating injury severed the right anterior cerebral artery and inflicted lethal subarachnoid hemorrhage. Both PMCT and targeted PMCT angiography (PMCTA) depicted bone fractures and a wound in the brain as hemorrhage or contrast leakage.
Herein, the suspected knife was converted into an object file (.stl) and fitted to the PMCTA images on a workstation. The results showed that the knife image was fitted with the bone fractures and intracerebral hemorrhage to the fullest extent, although some minor discrepancies persisted.
Notably, this is the first report of CT-based precise reconstruction of transcranial penetration. Altogether, the findings highlight the importance of radiological modalities, including CT, for estimating weapon and injury mechanisms in forensic pathology.
{"title":"Postmortem computed tomography reconstructed a lethal orbitocranial-penetrating injury: A case report","authors":"Shigeki Tsuneya , Go Inokuchi , Maiko Yoshida , Yohsuke Makino , Masatoshi Kojima , Suguru Torimitsu , Fumiko Chiba , Yumi Hoshioka , Yukiko Uemura , Hirotaro Iwase","doi":"10.1016/j.legalmed.2025.102768","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.legalmed.2025.102768","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In forensic pathology, identifying weapons and injury mechanisms is often necessary. Computed tomography (CT) can be used to detect intracerebral hemorrhage due to penetrating injury; however, reports on CT-based estimation of weapons and injury mechanisms are limited. In this case study, we aimed to reconstruct a case using postmortem CT (PMCT) images and an object file of the suspected knife.</div><div>A male in his 30 s died following arrival at the hospital after a fight. PMCT and autopsy revealed that an orbitocranial-penetrating injury severed the right anterior cerebral artery and inflicted lethal subarachnoid hemorrhage. Both PMCT and targeted PMCT angiography (PMCTA) depicted bone fractures and a wound in the brain as hemorrhage or contrast leakage.</div><div>Herein, the suspected knife was converted into an object file (.stl) and fitted to the PMCTA images on a workstation. The results showed that the knife image was fitted with the bone fractures and intracerebral hemorrhage to the fullest extent, although some minor discrepancies persisted.</div><div>Notably, this is the first report of CT-based precise reconstruction of transcranial penetration. Altogether, the findings highlight the importance of radiological modalities, including CT, for estimating weapon and injury mechanisms in forensic pathology.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49913,"journal":{"name":"Legal Medicine","volume":"80 ","pages":"Article 102768"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-12-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145839188","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}
Pub Date : 2025-12-24DOI: 10.1016/j.legalmed.2025.102769
Tianpu Wu , Heng Zhang , Dongchuan Zhang , Yikai Hu , Lu Tian , Wencan Li , Fu Zhang , Bi Xiao , Jianlong Ma , Yi Shi , Yue Chen , Hanfeng Jiang , Xinbiao Liao , Kaijun Ma , Long Chen
Due to the absence of reliable signs, the authentication of death from mechanical asphyxia (DMA), commonly seen in forensic pathology, can be rather challenging especially when the criminal case is obscure. Lon protease-1 (LONP1) is an ATP-dependent serine protease located in mitochondria that participates in maintaining the integrity of the mitochondrial genome and regulating mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) replication. In this research, cerebral tissues of corpses with different causes of death were collected to compare the expression of LONP1 and the changes of mtDNA to see the authenticating value of these markers. It was found that LONP1 was up-regulated in the cerebral tissue of DMA corpses while the integrity of mtDNA was destroyed conditionally. In neuroblastoma cancer cell line SH-SY5Y, LONP1 would suppress the repair and replication of mtDNA under hypoxia and partly lead to mitochondrial damage. In general, LONP1 is responsible for longer duration of hypoxic mtDNA damage and the repression of the replication of mtDNA. LONP1 and mtDNA integrity can both serve as biomarkers for DMA.
{"title":"Hypoxia-induced LONP1 overexpression and mtDNA damage may serve as biomarkers for death from mechanical asphyxia","authors":"Tianpu Wu , Heng Zhang , Dongchuan Zhang , Yikai Hu , Lu Tian , Wencan Li , Fu Zhang , Bi Xiao , Jianlong Ma , Yi Shi , Yue Chen , Hanfeng Jiang , Xinbiao Liao , Kaijun Ma , Long Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.legalmed.2025.102769","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.legalmed.2025.102769","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Due to the absence of reliable signs, the authentication of death from mechanical asphyxia (DMA), commonly seen in forensic pathology, can be rather challenging especially when the criminal case is obscure. Lon protease-1 (LONP1) is an ATP-dependent serine protease located in mitochondria that participates in maintaining the integrity of the mitochondrial genome and regulating mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) replication. In this research, cerebral tissues of corpses with different causes of death were collected to compare the expression of LONP1 and the changes of mtDNA to see the authenticating value of these markers. It was found that LONP1 was up-regulated in the cerebral tissue of DMA corpses while the integrity of mtDNA was destroyed conditionally. In neuroblastoma cancer cell line SH-SY5Y, LONP1 would suppress the repair and replication of mtDNA under hypoxia and partly lead to mitochondrial damage. In general, LONP1 is responsible for longer duration of hypoxic mtDNA damage and the repression of the replication of mtDNA. LONP1 and mtDNA integrity can both serve as biomarkers for DMA.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49913,"journal":{"name":"Legal Medicine","volume":"80 ","pages":"Article 102769"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-12-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145839190","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}
Pub Date : 2025-12-24DOI: 10.1016/j.legalmed.2025.102771
Hasan A. Abder-Rahman , Imad M. Al-Abdallat , Lamia K. Alsenaidi , Hasan K. Alhawwari , Safaa Z. Mahfoz , Nadia N. Jendli , Nada M. Al-Masad , Abed-Alraheem Ali
Cutthroat cases are considered rare, especially suicidal cutthroat which is scarce. This case study presents a mix between planned and unplanned complex suicidal cutthroat that complicated the decision of the manner of death. A 60 year old male with a left sided hemiplegia was found dead with deep cutthroat and had incised wounds on both wrists with a bucket filled with blood next to him, the toxicology test revealed the presence of permethrin insecticide in the stomach. This paper shows the difficulty in deciding whether the case is a planned or unplanned complex suicide and some cases might mix between the two. However, both planned and unplanned complex suicide may point to homicidal act, which is why it is recommended to record these cases especially since complex suicide is rare and there are different methods used that are unfamiliar to us. The bizarre factors that raise suspicion in our case are the hemiplegia, the age, the use of pesticides, the cut of both wrists, and the fatal cut-throat. We didn’t find any reported cases of complex suicide by poisoning with pesticides or successful cutthroat.
{"title":"Mixed planned and unplanned complex suicide by cut-throat and poisoning in a hemiplegic person − case report","authors":"Hasan A. Abder-Rahman , Imad M. Al-Abdallat , Lamia K. Alsenaidi , Hasan K. Alhawwari , Safaa Z. Mahfoz , Nadia N. Jendli , Nada M. Al-Masad , Abed-Alraheem Ali","doi":"10.1016/j.legalmed.2025.102771","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.legalmed.2025.102771","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Cutthroat cases are considered rare, especially suicidal cutthroat which is scarce. This case study presents a mix between planned and unplanned complex suicidal cutthroat that complicated the decision of the manner of death. A 60 year old male with a left sided hemiplegia was found dead with deep cutthroat and had incised wounds on both wrists with a bucket filled with blood next to him, the toxicology test revealed the presence of permethrin insecticide in the stomach. This paper shows the difficulty in deciding whether the case is a planned or unplanned complex suicide and some cases might mix between the two. However, both planned and unplanned complex suicide may point to homicidal act, which is why it is recommended to record these cases especially since complex suicide is rare and there are different methods used that are unfamiliar to us. The bizarre factors that raise suspicion in our case are the hemiplegia, the age, the use of pesticides, the cut of both wrists, and the fatal cut-throat. We didn’t find any reported cases of complex suicide by poisoning with pesticides or successful cutthroat.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49913,"journal":{"name":"Legal Medicine","volume":"80 ","pages":"Article 102771"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-12-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145851491","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}
In forensic practice, when parts of an unidentified human body are found, age estimation with limited materials is required. This study investigated age-related anatomical and histological changes in testes to evaluate their applicability for forensic age estimation. Testicular samples from 228 male autopsy cases (aged 0–96 years) were analyzed. The Johnsen score, testicular weight, basement membrane thickness, number of seminiferous tubules per field, and percentage of hyalinized tubules were examined. Basement membrane thickness showed a strong positive correlation with age across all subjects (r = 0.733). In individuals under 20 years, testicular weight was positively correlated with age (r = 0.89), while the number of seminiferous tubules negatively correlated (r = − 0.90). In those aged ≥ 20 years, Johnsen score, testicular weight, and hyalinization rate showed significant age-related differences between groups. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis identified cutoff values for age discrimination: hyalinization rate of ≥ 9.0 % for ≥ 60 years (sensitivity 69.7 %, specificity 89.5 %), and testicular weight of ≤ 10.1 g for ≥ 80 years (sensitivity 85.7 %, specificity 73.3 %). Basement membrane thickness, testicular weight, and seminiferous tubule count are useful indicators for forensic age estimation under 20 years of age; on the other hand, basement membrane thickness, testicular weight, and hyalinization rate are more informative in individuals aged ≥ 20 years. These findings suggest the potential contribution of these indicators to forensic age estimation, while further studies are needed to validate their practical applicability.
{"title":"Application of anatomical and histological features of testis to age estimation","authors":"Takato Murai , Masaki Inoue , Kenichi Mukaisho , Mami Nakamura , Kazuki Takaoka , Masahito Hitosugi","doi":"10.1016/j.legalmed.2025.102767","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.legalmed.2025.102767","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In forensic practice, when parts of an unidentified human body are found, age estimation with limited materials is required. This study investigated age-related anatomical and histological changes in testes to evaluate their applicability for forensic age estimation. Testicular samples from 228 male autopsy cases (aged 0–96 years) were analyzed. The Johnsen score, testicular weight, basement membrane thickness, number of seminiferous tubules per field, and percentage of hyalinized tubules were examined. Basement membrane thickness showed a strong positive correlation with age across all subjects (r = 0.733). In individuals under 20 years, testicular weight was positively correlated with age (r = 0.89), while the number of seminiferous tubules negatively correlated (r = − 0.90). In those aged ≥ 20 years, Johnsen score, testicular weight, and hyalinization rate showed significant age-related differences between groups. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis identified cutoff values for age discrimination: hyalinization rate of ≥ 9.0 % for ≥ 60 years (sensitivity 69.7 %, specificity 89.5 %), and testicular weight of ≤ 10.1 g for ≥ 80 years (sensitivity 85.7 %, specificity 73.3 %). Basement membrane thickness, testicular weight, and seminiferous tubule count are useful indicators for forensic age estimation under 20 years of age; on the other hand, basement membrane thickness, testicular weight, and hyalinization rate are more informative in individuals aged ≥ 20 years. These findings suggest the potential contribution of these indicators to forensic age estimation, while further studies are needed to validate their practical applicability.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49913,"journal":{"name":"Legal Medicine","volume":"80 ","pages":"Article 102767"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-12-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145839192","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}
Pub Date : 2025-12-18DOI: 10.1016/j.legalmed.2025.102762
Murat Akbaba , Oğuz Özdemir , Aysun Baransel Isır
The synthetic cannabinoids dominated the market with a detrimental effect on society. Determining the stability of synthetic cannabinoids (SCs) in samples is crucial for accurate detection and quantification in drug testing. Since designer narcotics emerge rather quickly, a new generation of cannabinoid-associated compounds also appears rapidly. Thus, it is crucial to identify, detect, and determine the confidence of drug testing to provide fairer judgments. In this study, we aimed to determine optimal storage conditions to prevent degradation and preserve the samples of four new-generation SCs (MDMB-4en-PINACA, 4-Fluoro MDMB-BICA, 5F-MDMB-PICA, and 5F-MDMB-PINACA) in blood samples due to the lack of available information on the stability. Blood samples were collected from 20 healthy volunteers, treated with cannabinoids at concentrations of 10 and 50 ng/mL, and stored at temperatures of room temperature, +4°C, and −20 °C over 35 days. Our findings revealed a gradual decline in cannabinoid concentrations over time, with 5F-MDMB-PINACA exhibiting the highest degradation rate. Storage temperature significantly influenced degradation rates, with the most rapid reduction observed at room temperature and the slowest degradation at −20 °C. Our findings are a reference study providing valuable insights into the preservation of the samples for the testing of the most prevalent SCs of the present day.
{"title":"The stability of novel synthetic cannabinoids in blood samples in different storage conditions","authors":"Murat Akbaba , Oğuz Özdemir , Aysun Baransel Isır","doi":"10.1016/j.legalmed.2025.102762","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.legalmed.2025.102762","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The synthetic cannabinoids dominated the market with a detrimental effect on society. Determining the stability of synthetic cannabinoids (SCs) in samples is crucial for accurate detection and quantification in drug testing. Since designer narcotics emerge rather quickly, a new generation of cannabinoid-associated compounds also appears rapidly. Thus, it is crucial to identify, detect, and determine the confidence of drug testing to provide fairer judgments. In this study, we aimed to determine optimal storage conditions to prevent degradation and preserve the samples of four new-generation SCs (MDMB-4en-PINACA, 4-Fluoro MDMB-BICA, 5F-MDMB-PICA, and 5F-MDMB-PINACA) in blood samples due to the lack of available information on the stability. Blood samples were collected from 20 healthy volunteers, treated with cannabinoids at concentrations of 10 and 50 ng/mL, and stored at temperatures of room temperature, +4°C, and −20 °C over 35 days. Our findings revealed a gradual decline in cannabinoid concentrations over time, with 5F-MDMB-PINACA exhibiting the highest degradation rate. Storage temperature significantly influenced degradation rates, with the most rapid reduction observed at room temperature and the slowest degradation at −20 °C. Our findings are a reference study providing valuable insights into the preservation of the samples for the testing of the most prevalent SCs of the present day.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49913,"journal":{"name":"Legal Medicine","volume":"80 ","pages":"Article 102762"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-12-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145789850","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}
Pub Date : 2025-12-11DOI: 10.1016/j.legalmed.2025.102764
Rossana Cecchi , Francesco Calabrò , Jessika Camatti , Anna Laura Santunione , Michela Sperti , Eric Adriano Zizzi , Marco Agostino Deriu
The rapid integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into healthcare promises significant benefits but also raises unprecedented ethical, clinical, and legal challenges. Current medico-legal frameworks, primarily designed for human decision-making, are often inadequate to address liability issues arising from algorithmic errors or opaque “black box” models. This paper introduces a novel medico-legal methodology that combines proactive and reactive approaches to risk assessment, originally developed within European forensic medicine, and adapts it to the context of AI in healthcare. By systematically analyzing data collection, dataset validation, error identification, and causal reconstruction, the proposed framework provides a structured path for evaluating medical liability when AI systems are involved. This dual approach not only supports clinicians, developers, and policymakers in preventing harm, but also establishes a robust forensic tool for liability assessment. The methodology offers a step toward internationally applicable standards for addressing the medico-legal implications of AI in medicine.
{"title":"Artificial intelligence in healthcare: Proposal for a new medico-legal methodology in medical liability","authors":"Rossana Cecchi , Francesco Calabrò , Jessika Camatti , Anna Laura Santunione , Michela Sperti , Eric Adriano Zizzi , Marco Agostino Deriu","doi":"10.1016/j.legalmed.2025.102764","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.legalmed.2025.102764","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The rapid integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into healthcare promises significant benefits but also raises unprecedented ethical, clinical, and legal challenges. Current medico-legal frameworks, primarily designed for human decision-making, are often inadequate to address liability issues arising from algorithmic errors or opaque “black box” models. This paper introduces a novel medico-legal methodology that combines proactive and reactive approaches to risk assessment, originally developed within European forensic medicine, and adapts it to the context of AI in healthcare. By systematically analyzing data collection, dataset validation, error identification, and causal reconstruction, the proposed framework provides a structured path for evaluating medical liability when AI systems are involved. This dual approach not only supports clinicians, developers, and policymakers in preventing harm, but also establishes a robust forensic tool for liability assessment. The methodology offers a step toward internationally applicable standards for addressing the medico-legal implications of AI in medicine.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49913,"journal":{"name":"Legal Medicine","volume":"80 ","pages":"Article 102764"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-12-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145769712","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}
When ovarian tumors (OTs) reach a size of more than 10 cm in diameter, they are classified as a giant ovarian tumor (GOTs). Thanks to modern diagnostics and treatment, GOTs have become rare autopsy findings and are typically associated with cases of severe neglect. Here, we present a series of three autopsy cases involving GOTs. The first case involved a 59-year-old woman with a cystic GOT containing 48 L of fluid. The second case was a 67-year-old woman with multiple cystic and solid GOTs. The third case concerned a 57-year-old woman with a giant, primarily solid OT, accompanied by bilateral pleural effusion, suggestive of Meigs syndrome. All three women were found in a state of advanced putrefaction, which limited the ability to determine the exact cause of death. Although GOTs are rarely fatal, they can lead to death through various complex pathophysiological mechanisms. These include spontaneous haemorrhage, torsion, infection, and tumor rupture resulting in acute peritonitis – conditions that represent surgical emergencies. Additionally, increased intra-abdominal pressure can elevate the diaphragm, impairing the function of the respiratory, cardiovascular, digestive, and urinary systems. Despite the limitations posed by postmortem decomposition, this case series provides an opportunity to summarize and discuss potential mechanisms of death associated with large intra-abdominal masses such as GOTs.
{"title":"Three deaths, one diagnosis: Forensic perspectives on giant ovarian tumors","authors":"Veljko Milošević, Bojana Radnić, Tijana Petrović, Milenko Bogdanović, Tatjana Atanasijević, Irina Banjanin","doi":"10.1016/j.legalmed.2025.102765","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.legalmed.2025.102765","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>When ovarian tumors (OTs) reach a size of more than 10 cm in diameter, they are classified as a giant ovarian tumor (GOTs). Thanks to modern diagnostics and treatment, GOTs have become rare autopsy findings and are typically associated with cases of severe neglect. Here, we present a series of three autopsy cases involving GOTs. The first case involved a 59-year-old woman with a cystic GOT containing 48 L of fluid. The second case was a 67-year-old woman with multiple cystic and solid GOTs. The third case concerned a 57-year-old woman with a giant, primarily solid OT, accompanied by bilateral pleural effusion, suggestive of Meigs syndrome. All three women were found in a state of advanced putrefaction, which limited the ability to determine the exact cause of death. Although GOTs are rarely fatal, they can lead to death through various complex pathophysiological mechanisms. These include spontaneous haemorrhage, torsion, infection, and tumor rupture resulting in acute peritonitis – conditions that represent surgical emergencies. Additionally, increased intra-abdominal pressure can elevate the diaphragm, impairing the function of the respiratory, cardiovascular, digestive, and urinary systems. Despite the limitations posed by postmortem decomposition, this case series provides an opportunity to summarize and discuss potential mechanisms of death associated with large intra-abdominal masses such as GOTs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49913,"journal":{"name":"Legal Medicine","volume":"80 ","pages":"Article 102765"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-12-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145736790","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}
We provide the first direct experimental evidence that myoglobin (Mb) diffuses through vascular walls and enters the blood after death. Postmortem Mb concentration in the blood increases rapidly; however, up to this date, no one has reported the responsible mechanism. We hypothesized the direct diffusion of Mb from skeletal muscle into the blood through the vessel wall is causing this concentration change, and proved this morphologically and biochemically, through experiments using animal samples. Firstly, IHC Mb staining of the artery which was directly contacted with skeletal muscle on the adventitia, revealed that the Mb diffuses from adventitia to the intima with time. Then, Mb quantification using ELISA showed Mb exudes through vascular walls into the vessel lumen. For this experiment, a diffusion model was established by sandwiching the artery between gelatin discs with or without Mb. The Mb concentration increased in a time-dependent manner, with approximately 16 % of Mb in its source exuding into the lumen within 5 days. This rate increased significantly when vein was used instead of aorta. These findings clarify a fundamental mechanism of postmortem biochemical redistribution and may enhance the reliability of interpreting postmortem blood protein levels in forensic practice.
{"title":"Mechanism of postmortem drastic increase of blood myoglobin concentration: its permeability through vascular wall","authors":"Sella Takei , Masanobu Miura , Takehiko Murase , Hiroshi Kinoshita , Satoru Miyaishi","doi":"10.1016/j.legalmed.2025.102763","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.legalmed.2025.102763","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>We provide the first direct experimental evidence that myoglobin (Mb) diffuses through vascular walls and enters the blood after death. Postmortem Mb concentration in the blood increases rapidly; however, up to this date, no one has reported the responsible mechanism. We hypothesized the direct diffusion of Mb from skeletal muscle into the blood through the vessel wall is causing this concentration change, and proved this morphologically and biochemically, through experiments using animal samples. Firstly, IHC Mb staining of the artery which was directly contacted with skeletal muscle on the adventitia, revealed that the Mb diffuses from adventitia to the intima with time. Then, Mb quantification using ELISA showed Mb exudes through vascular walls into the vessel lumen. For this experiment, a diffusion model was established by sandwiching the artery between gelatin discs with or without Mb. The Mb concentration increased in a time-dependent manner, with approximately 16 % of Mb in its source exuding into the lumen within 5 days. This rate increased significantly when vein was used instead of aorta. These findings clarify a fundamental mechanism of postmortem biochemical redistribution and may enhance the reliability of interpreting postmortem blood protein levels in forensic practice.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49913,"journal":{"name":"Legal Medicine","volume":"80 ","pages":"Article 102763"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-12-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145839189","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}
Pub Date : 2025-12-10DOI: 10.1016/j.legalmed.2025.102766
Xing Ye , Guanghui Hong , Runting Dou , Zhimin Wang , Zijie Lin , Yu Shao , Jiajia Yang , Junyi Lin , Yiwen Shen
Postmortem diagnosis of acute myocardial ischemia (AMI), especially early myocardial ischemia (EMI; ischemic insults occurring within minutes to a few hours, <6h), remains challenging due to nonspecific morphological changes. Microtubules affinity regulated kinase 4 (MARK4) is a serine/threonine kinase involved in the regulation of microtubule dynamics through the phosphorylation of microtubule-associated proteins. Emerging research has highlighted the significant involvement of MARK4 in cardiovascular diseases. The aim of this study is to evaluate whether MARK4 can serve as a postmortem diagnostic marker for sudden cardiac death (SCD) resulting from AMI. Using a mouse AMI model, hypoxia-treated AC16 cardiomyocytes, and human autopsy material (36 SCD hearts: 18 EMI, 18 myocardial infarction (MI) and 20 noncardiac controls), MARK4 expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry and western blotting, and diagnostic performance was examined by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. MARK4 expression increased with ischemia/hypoxia in vivo and in vitro, peaking at 3 h. Human myocardial MARK4 was significantly elevated in EMI and MI versus controls, independently of age and postmortem interval. ROC analysis discriminated EMI from controls with an AUC of 0.8028 for MARK4, outperforming cardiac troponin I (cTnI; AUC = 0.7556), and combining both markers improved diagnostic accuracy. In hypoxic AC16 cells, MARK4 overexpression increased cytochrome c and phosphorylated Drp1, suggesting a role in ischemia-related mitochondrial dysfunction. These results indicate MARK4 is a promising postmortem biomarker for AMI-induced SCD.
{"title":"MARK4 as a novel biomarker of acute myocardial ischemia-induced sudden cardiac death","authors":"Xing Ye , Guanghui Hong , Runting Dou , Zhimin Wang , Zijie Lin , Yu Shao , Jiajia Yang , Junyi Lin , Yiwen Shen","doi":"10.1016/j.legalmed.2025.102766","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.legalmed.2025.102766","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Postmortem diagnosis of acute myocardial ischemia (AMI), especially early myocardial ischemia (EMI; ischemic insults occurring within minutes to a few hours, <6h), remains challenging due to nonspecific morphological changes. Microtubules affinity regulated kinase 4 (MARK4) is a serine/threonine kinase involved in the regulation of microtubule dynamics through the phosphorylation of microtubule-associated proteins. Emerging research has highlighted the significant involvement of MARK4 in cardiovascular diseases. The aim of this study is to evaluate whether MARK4 can serve as a postmortem diagnostic marker for sudden cardiac death (SCD) resulting from AMI. Using a mouse AMI model, hypoxia-treated AC16 cardiomyocytes, and human autopsy material (36 SCD hearts: 18 EMI, 18 myocardial infarction (MI) and 20 noncardiac controls), MARK4 expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry and western blotting, and diagnostic performance was examined by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. MARK4 expression increased with ischemia/hypoxia in vivo and in vitro, peaking at 3 h. Human myocardial MARK4 was significantly elevated in EMI and MI versus controls, independently of age and postmortem interval. ROC analysis discriminated EMI from controls with an AUC of 0.8028 for MARK4, outperforming cardiac troponin I (cTnI; AUC = 0.7556), and combining both markers improved diagnostic accuracy. In hypoxic AC16 cells, MARK4 overexpression increased cytochrome <em>c</em> and phosphorylated Drp1, suggesting a role in ischemia-related mitochondrial dysfunction. These results indicate MARK4 is a promising postmortem biomarker for AMI-induced SCD.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49913,"journal":{"name":"Legal Medicine","volume":"80 ","pages":"Article 102766"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-12-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145789849","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}