Background Estimation of time since death/postmortem interval (PMI) forms a crucial component for all autopsy surgeons. With the subjectivity that is prevalent with conventional morphological and physical signs of death, newer-age modalities such as chemical analysis provide better precision. The easy accessibility and the resistance to putrefaction make vitreous humor the best choice for such chemical analysis. Thus, the present study's aim is to estimate the time since death in cases of unnatural death by investigating the potassium level changes in the vitreous humor. Methodology This is a facility-based cross-sectional study conducted in the mortuary under the Department of Forensic Medicine in a public tertiary healthcare teaching hospital in South India between August and September 2022. Deceased individuals fulfilling the inclusion and exclusion criteria were recruited in the study. Vitreous samples were collected from a single eye and analyzed using an autoanalyzer for potassium values. After due derivations, postmortem intervals were calculated from potassium values, then they were compared with the PMIs estimated using physical signs and those determined using official police records. Data were entered using MS Excel 20 (Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, Washington) and analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software, version 20 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY). Results Of the 100 deceased individuals included in the study, 68% were men, and the majority (24%) belonged to the age group of 53-62 years. A linear relationship is said to exist between vitreous potassium concentration and postmortem interval. No correlation was seen between the ambient temperature and the potassium levels of the vitreous humor. PMI confirmed by the potassium levels seconded the PMI given by the police records and physical signs (Rigor mortis) (Spearman's rho was statistically significant at the two-tailed level or at the 0.01 level with a kappa value of 0.88). Conclusion Potassium measurements in the vitreous humor to estimate the PMI are associated with improved accuracy and precision in determining the time since death. They are not affected by external factors, making them a reliable marker for the same.
Background The association between hypothyroidism and iron-deficiency anemia (IDA) in pregnancy is not well established. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the association between hypothyroidism and IDA during the first trimester of pregnancy. Methodology In this study, a total of 144 pregnant women were included. Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free T4 (FT4), free T3 (FT3), and ferritin were measured. Based on TSH values, pregnant women were divided into the following two groups: euthyroid (n = 74) and hypothyroid (n = 70). Results There was a significant increase in TSH levels and a significant decrease in the levels of FT4, FT3, ferritin, iron, and hemoglobin (Hb) in hypothyroid pregnant women compared to euthyroid pregnant women. The correlation and regression analysis revealed a significant negative association of TSH and a positive association of FT4 with ferritin, iron, and Hb. Conclusions These findings demonstrate the association of hypothyroidism with IDA during the first trimester of pregnancy. Further studies with thyroxine therapy in hypothyroid pregnant women and its impact on IDA will open novel therapeutic approaches in the management of IDA during pregnancy. Further, measurement of serum ferritin during pregnancy may provide valuable information in the diagnosis and management of IDA.
