Blood taken immediately after fatal resuscitation attempts yields higher quality DNA for genetic studies as compared to autopsy samples.

BACKGROUND: The out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) in the young may be associated with a genetic predisposition which is relevant even for genetic counseling of relatives. The identification of genetic variants depends on the availability of intact genomic DNA. DNA from autopsy may be not available due to low autopsy frequencies or not suitable for high-throughput DNA sequencing (NGS). The emergency medical service (EMS) plays an important role to save biomaterial for subsequent molecular autopsy. It is not known whether the DNA integrity of samples collected by the EMS is better suited for NGS than autopsy specimens. MATERIAL AND METHODS: DNA integrity was analyzed by standardized protocols. Fourteen blood samples collected by the EMS and biomaterials from autopsy were compared. We collected 172 autopsy samples from different tissues and blood with postmortem intervals of 14-168 h. For comparison, DNA integrity derived from blood stored under experimental conditions was checked against autopsy blood after different time intervals. RESULTS: DNA integrity and extraction yield were higher in EMS blood compared to any autopsy tissue. DNA stability in autopsy specimens was highly variable and had unpredictable quality. In contrast, collecting blood samples by the EMS is feasible and delivered comparably the highest DNA integrity. CONCLUSIONS: Isolation yield and DNA integrity from blood samples collected by the EMS is superior in comparison to autopsy specimens. DNA from blood samples collected by the EMS on scene is stable at room temperature or even for days at 4 °C. We conclude that the EMS personnel should always save a blood sample of young fatal OHCA cases died on scene to enable subsequent genetic analysis.

Fractures and skin lesions in pediatric abusive head trauma: a forensic multi-center study.

Abusive head trauma (AHT) and its most common variant, the shaken baby syndrome (SBS), are predominantly characterized by central nervous system-associated lesions. Relatively little data are available on the value of skeletal and skin injuries for the diagnosis of SBS or AHT. Thus, the present study retrospectively investigated 72 cases of living children diagnosed with the explicit diagnosis of SBS during medico-legal examinations at three German university institutes of legal medicine. The risk of circular reasoning was reduced by the presence of 15 cases with confession by perpetrators. Accordingly, the comparison with the 57 non-confession cases yielded no significant differences. Skeletal survey by conventional projection radiography, often incomplete, was found to be performed in 78% of the cases only. Fractures were found in 32% of the cases. The skull (43%) and ribs (48%) were affected most frequently; only 8% of the cases showed classic metaphyseal lesions. In 48% of the cases, healing fractures were present. Skin lesions (hematomas and abrasions) were found in 53% of the cases with the face (76%), scalp (26%), and trunk (50%) being the major sites. In 48% of the cases, healing skin lesions were observed. Nearly 80% of the cases with fractures also showed skin lesions. The data prove that SBS is frequently accompanied by other forms of physical abuse. Therefore, skeletal survey is indispensable and should always be done completely and according to existing imaging guidelines if child abuse is suspected.

Abusive head trauma in court: a multi-center study on criminal proceedings in Germany.

The shaken baby syndrome (SBS) is a common variant of abusive head trauma (AHT) in infants and toddlers. Data on the legal outcome of such cases are still sparse. By means of a retrospective multi-center analysis, 72 cases of living children diagnosed with SBS/AHT from three German university institutes of legal medicine were identified. Forty-six of these cases with 68 accused individuals were available and could be evaluated with regard to basic data on the course of the criminal proceedings as well as the profile of the defendants (sub-divided into suspects, convicts, and confessed perpetrators). Criminal proceedings predominantly commenced with a complaint by the treating hospital (62%) and were found to be closed (without judgment) in 50% of the cases, mostly due to a "lack of sufficient suspicion." Of the 23 cases with judgment, the court decided on acquittal in 4 cases (17%). Imprisonment was the most frequent sentence (16 out of 19 cases with conviction, 84%), whereby the sentence has been suspended on probation in 63% of the cases. Suspects and perpetrators were mostly male and derived from the close family environment of the injured children. All confessed perpetrators stated an "excessive demand" as the reason for the violent shaking of the child. The results of the present study are in line with data from other studies with other legal systems. As many criminal proceedings were closed and the 4 acquittals occurred because the perpetration could not be ascribed to a specific perpetrator, improving the forensic methods for such an unequivocal assignment would be desirable.

Updating the risk profile of fatal head trauma: an autopsy study with focus on age- and sex-dependent differences.

Fatal head trauma (FHT) represents one of the most frequent causes of death diagnosed in forensic pathology. However, profound statistic autopsy data on FHT is still sparse. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the circumstances and injury patterns of FHT with particular focus on age and sex, and additionally, to describe a recent risk profile of FHT. To this end, the forensic autopsy records of each FHT case at a large German university hospital during a 10-year period (2006-2015) were analyzed retrospectively (n = 372). The male-female ratio was 2.6:1. Regarding median age, females were 12.5 years older than males. Traffic-associated FHT represents the major mechanism of death, followed by fall-associated FHT. While accident was the major manner of death and presented a similar distribution of age and sex, homicides were the only subgroup with a significantly lower ratio between males and females. Skull fractures occurred in 78.2% and intracranial hemorrhages in 80.6% of all cases. In summary and partly in contrast to clinical data on head trauma, FHT still occurs predominantly in male individuals under the age of 45 years, in the context of traffic accidents and affected by alcohol intake. Improvements in traffic security as well as continuing surveillance of the incidence of FHT by forensic autopsies are necessary to further reduce the incidence of FHT.

Imaging of bridging vein thrombosis in infants with abusive head trauma: the "Tadpole Sign".

OBJECTIVES: Abusive head trauma (AHT) in infants is usually diagnosed using a multi-disciplinary approach by investigating the circumstances and identifying morphological indicators, for example, subdural hematomas (SDHs), subdural hygromas (SDHys), retinal haemorrhages and encephalopathy. The present morphological study investigates the incidence, radiological characteristics and non-radiological co-factors of bridging vein thrombosis (BVT) in infants with AHT. METHODS: From 2002 to 2013, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) material of 628 infants aged 0-2 years were analysed retrospectively. If available, medicolegal expert opinions were additionally considered. Cases with SDHs and/or SDHys were identified and systematically evaluated as to the presence and characteristics of BVT. RESULTS: SDHs and/or SDHys were present in 29 of the 81 cases exhibiting morphological abnormalities in the initial CT. Among these, 11 cases (40%) had BVT (mean age = 5.0 months). BVT could be best depicted in the T1-weighted spin echo and T2*/susceptibility-weighted MRI. In one case, BVT could be depicted indirectly using time-of-flight MR venography. The predominant (73%) BVT shape was found to be tadpole-like ("Tadpole Sign"). CONCLUSIONS: In the absence of appropriate accidental trauma, BVT appears to be a strong indicator of AHT. Therefore, the BVT/Tadpole Sign represents compelling cause to search for other signs of AHT. KEY POINTS: • BVT is an excellent indicator of AHT in SDH/SDHy cases. • Accidental trauma must be ruled out before diagnosing AHT. • The Tadpole Sign appears to be the most characteristic shape of BVT. • BVT can be depicted using CT, MRI and MR venography. • The Tadpole Sign suggests searching for other signs of AHT.

Characterization of subdural collections in initial neuroimaging of abusive head trauma: Implications for forensic age diagnostics and clinical decision-making.

PURPOSE: Subdural collections (SDCs) represent a key finding in abusive head trauma (AHT), a serious form of child physical abuse. Common SDC entities in this context are subdural hematoma (SDH), subdural hygroma (SDHy), subdural hematohygroma (SDHHy), and chronic subdural hematoma (cSDH). The present study examines the prevalence of the different SDC entities and investigates the influence of the SDC diagnosis on the forensic age estimation of the injury. METHODS: In this retrospective multi-center study from three German university hospitals of a 10-year period, the initial neuroimaging material (CT or MRI) of 56 children (36 males, 20 females; age median 3.9 months) with medico-legally well-documented AHT was analyzed. SDCs were characterized by determining presence, location, extension, and visual appearance, by assigning to one of the five entities, and by categorizing with three different classification systems, one of which represents a novel system based on focality and Mixed Appearance Pattern and especially developed for children with AHT. The data were correlated with demographic and clinical data. By means of court files, AHT cases were also sub-divided into confession (n = 14) and non-confession cases (n = 42) and then compared. RESULTS: Most cases showed a multifocal presence of SDCs (96.4%) and the presence of a Mixed Appearance Pattern (82.1%). The most common SDC entity was the heterogeneous variant of the SDHHy (66.1%). The cSDH occurred infrequently only (3.6%). Our novel classification system illustrates that unifocal SDCs rarely occur in AHT, and that more complex SDC patterns are common. In nearly all cases (94.6%), additional signs of recently caused brain injury were present beside the SDCs. Comparison between confession and non-confession groups did not reveal any significant differences, indicating that the diagnostic criteria of AHT are robust. CONCLUSIONS: Although precise dating of SDCs based on initial neuroimaging alone remains unrealistic, the exact diagnosis of the SDC entity provide an important basis for differentiation between acute trauma and chronic post-traumatic state. Therefore, especially the confirmation or exclusion of subdural neomembranes, that define the cSDH, should be considered indispensable.

Immunohistochemical identification of prevalent right ventricular ischemia causing right heart failure in cases of pulmonary fat embolism.

Pulmonary fat embolism is a life-threatening event that may result to potentially determining right ventricular failure. Even if the pathophysiology of this phenomenon has been widely investigated, no immunohistochemical demonstration of right ventricular failure following pulmonary fat embolism has been reported till now. We performed an immunohistochemical investigation with the markers fibronectin and C5b-9 in 21 cases of polytrauma with bone fractures (study group-nine females and 12 males; mean age 64.6 years) compared to a control group of 21 forensic cases with various causes of death (nine females and 12 males; mean age 68.6 years). In each case at least one tissue slide from both cardiac ventricles (free wall of the right ventricle, anterior and/or posterior wall of the left ventricle) was available. The reactions were semi-quantitatively classified, and the two groups were compared. In the study group, the occurrence of ischemic changes at the right ventricle was significantly higher than in controls. The determining aspect, however, seems to be the prevalent ischemic lesion at the right ventricle compared to the left one. This may indicate the primary involvement of the right ventricle, thus, demonstrating a right ventricular failure.

Amniotic fluid aspiration in cases of SIDS.

The scope of this study was to evaluate the incidence and the eventual consequences of amniotic fluid aspiration (AFA) in cases of sudden infant death. Cases of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS; n = 113: 39 females, 74 males; mean age 4.6 months) were compared to a control group of 39 cases of explained death (14 females, 25 males; mean age 5.6 months). In each case, sections of the lung stained with hematoxylin and eosin and with the immunohistochemical reaction 34BE12 specific for cytokeratins were available. The microscope slides were observed at x200 magnification and semi-quantitatively classified into four categories(-, +, ++, and +++). In both groups, rests of amniotic fluid could be observed up to the fourth month of life. The comparison between the two groups did not show any significant difference. In the SIDS group, immunohistochemical reactions with the antibodies CD68, MRP8, MRP14, 27E10, 25F9, CD3, CD20Cy, and CD45R0 were available for the lungs. Twelve cases with AFA were compared to a group of SIDS cases without AFA with similar age and pathological distribution to evaluate whether the presence of amniotic remnants induced inflammatory changes in the lungs. No differences emerged. This study shows that AFA is not a rare event. Even moderate to severe AFA does not necessary cause death. A correlation between AFA and SIDS could not be shown.

Molecular autopsy and family screening in a young case of sudden cardiac death reveals an unusually severe case of FHL1 related hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

BACKGROUND: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a genetic cardiomyopathy with a prevalence of about 1:200. It is characterized by left ventricular hypertrophy, diastolic dysfunction and interstitial fibrosis; HCM might lead to sudden cardiac death (SCD) especially in the young. Due to low autopsy frequencies of sudden unexplained deaths (SUD) the true prevalence of SCD and especially of HCM among SUD remains unclear. Even in cases of proven SCD genetic testing is not a routine procedure precluding appropriate risk stratification and counseling of relatives. METHODS: Here we report a case of SCD in a 19-year-old investigated by combined forensic and molecular autopsy. RESULTS: During autopsy of the index-patient HCM was detected. As no other possible cause of death could be uncovered by forensic autopsy the event was classified as SCD. Molecular autopsy identified two (probably) pathogenic genetic variants in FHL1 and MYBPC3. The MYBPC3 variant had an incomplete penetrance. The FHL1 variant was a de novo mutation. We detected reduced FHL1 mRNA levels and no FHL1 protein in muscle samples suggesting nonsense-mediated mRNA decay and/or degradation of the truncated protein in the SCD victim revealing a plausible disease mechanism. CONCLUSION: The identification of the genetic cause of the SCD contributed to the rational counseling of the relatives and risk assessment within the family. Furthermore our study revealed evidences for the pathomechanism of FHL1 mutations.

Bizarre impalement fatalities--where is the implement?

Two fatalities due to unusual impalement injuries are reported. (1) A large branch broken off during a storm had entered a passing car and perforated the chest of the driver and the back of the seat. The chest organs were grossly lacerated. The car was subsequently stopped by another tree and this second impact removed the wood from the body. (2) A man suffered anorectal impalement by the leg of a stool turned upside down. He had introduced one stool leg into his anus for sexual stimulation and fell onto it. This resulted in a wound channel 36 cm long including perforation of the rectum, urinary bladder, mesentery, transverse mesocolon and liver. Before autopsy, the mode of death was unclear because the man had removed the stool leg himself, his wife had hidden the stool from the scene, and there were no relevant external injuries. In both cases, a reliable reconstruction required investigation of the scene and consideration of extremely unlikely circumstances or of bizarre human activities.

Suicide with two shots to the head inflicted by a captive-bolt gun.

An exceptional case of suicide with two shots to the head inflicted by a captive-bolt gun is reported here. The pathophysiology observed, and related literature, indicate that the capacity of the victim to fire a second shot depended on the depth of skull penetration by the first shot and the extent of damage to nerve structures. In this case, an ante mortem multi-detector computed tomography was possible. From discussion with the radiologist and a 3D reconstruction, the two-shot suicide scenario could be confirmed.

Retrograde venous cerebral air embolism from disconnected central venous catheter: an experimental model.

There are few reported cases of death attributed to retrograde cerebral air embolism from central venous catheter. The pathophysiological mechanism and the necessary conditions are not fully understood, also because of missing experimental data. We performed experimental simulation while working on a possible case of retrograde cerebral air embolism. A hermetic system consisting of two containers connected to each other and to an electric pump by means of rubber hoses was built. In this system, a fluid (water and blood) could continuously flow under conditions similar to those of the common jugular vein. The part of the system representing the jugular vein could be freely positioned at angles between 0 and 90°. A central venous catheter was inserted into this part. After disconnection, the behavior of the air bubbles entering the hose through the tip of the catheter was evaluated at different positions. At angles between 0 and 45°, the air bubbles followed the fluid flow. At angles >45°, the air bubbles showed the tendency to flow upstream; this phenomenon was more evident the more vertically the hose was located. We were able to demonstrate that a retrograde air embolism can be caused by a disconnected catheter and is even more likely if the neck is in a vertical position.

Investigations on an isolated skull with gunshot wounds using flat-panel CT.

The use of computed tomography (CT) scanners is rapidly becoming established in forensic medicine. Current multislice CT (MSCT) scanners attain a resolution of 0.42 mm. An isolated skull with gunshot injuries was examined with a high-resolution eXplore Locus Ultra flat-panel CT (eLU-CT) and MSCT. Structures and minute fissures in the bone interior, which were neither visible macroscopically nor with the MSCT data, could be imaged with the eLU-CT data. In addition, a tiny interior impact defect from a retained missile could be detected by eLU-CT, which clearly aided the reconstruction of the gunshots in this case.

Backspatter on the firearm and hand in experimental close-range gunshots to the head.

The deposition of backspatter on the firearm or person shooting can greatly assist the reconstruction of shooting incidents. Backspatter was investigated in experimental transverse gunshots (9-mm Luger) to the heads of calves (n = 9) from shooting distances of 0 to 10 cm. The firearms were examined with a magnifying glass; the surgical gloves and the right sleeve worn by the person shooting were examined with a stereomicroscope. On the firearms, backspatter of blood was found in five of the nine cases, and one or both gloves showed bloodspatter deposits in six and the right sleeves in four cases. Most droplets were 1 to 3 mm and circular or elongated. In addition, a fine spray of tiny blood deposits was present on the firearm and textiles in four cases. The distribution of the droplets on the firearms varied: the areas included regions shielded by prominent parts, and the droplets were predominantly located on the extensor side of the fingers and the radial aspect of the hands and sleeves. Backspatter of tiny bone fragments was recovered from the firearm and sleeve in only one case, but tissue (bone, fat, muscle, skin) was present on the ground in front of the entrance wound in seven cases. A careful investigation, including appropriate lightning and magnification, is necessary for reliable statements concerning the absence of backspatter or the extent of backspatter present.