Histopathological differentiation of skin lesions caused by electrocution, flame burns and abrasion

Üzün, İbrahim; Akyıldız, Elif Ülker; İnanıcı, Mehmet Akif

doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2008.03.012

Cited by 34 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…For example, it is also important to find out differences between electrical marks and similar morphological changes such as warts, callous thickening of the epidermis, thermal injury[29] and abrasion[5]. The purpose of our study is to develop a complementary tool along with traditional methods for providing a more accurate diagnosis.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Histologically, it is well-known that epidermal nuclear elongation is a typical hallmark of electrical mark and of great diagnostic value for electrocution. However, histological examination is primarily dependent upon the individual subjective judgement, and thus forensic pathologists usually incorporate other methods with routine histopathology for determination of this mark[5], such as computerized image analysis[6] and detection of metallization by scanning electron microscopy[7]. But few provide more insights into the electrical mark at the molecular level, and make an objective diagnosis.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Identification of Skin Electrical Injury Using Infrared Imaging: A Possible Complementary Tool for Histological Examination

Lin

et al. 2017

PLoS ONE

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In forensic practice, determination of electrocution as a cause of death usually depends on the conventional histological examination of electrical mark in the body skin, but the limitation of this method includes subjective bias by different forensic pathologists, especially for identifying suspicious electrical mark. The aim of our work is to introduce Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy in combination with chemometrics as a complementary tool for providing an relatively objective diagnosis. The results of principle component analysis (PCA) showed that there were significant differences of protein structural profile between electrical mark and normal skin in terms of α-helix, antiparallel β-sheet and β-sheet content. Then a partial least square (PLS) model was established based on this spectral dataset and used to discriminate electrical mark from normal skin areas in independent tissue sections as revealed by color-coded digital maps, making the visualization of electrical injury more intuitively. Our pilot study demonstrates the potential of FTIR spectroscopy as a complementary tool for diagnosis of electrical mark.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Identification of Skin Electrical Injury Using Infrared Imaging: A Possible Complementary Tool for Histological Examination

Lin

et al. 2017

PLoS ONE

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“…Microscopically, epidermal nuclear elongation in a somewhat parallel fashion (nuclear streaming) and separation in the epidermis are also regarded as meaningful manifestations of electrical injury [10]. In special circumstances, the separation of epidermal cells also can be caused by evaporating tissue fluids depending on the increase in heat, and mild nuclear elongations may also be found in abrasions [11]. Crater-like areas of melted keratin, which are called electrical marks, are found more frequently with high- than low-voltage currents [12].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Clinical and Medicolegal Analysis of Electrical Shocked Rats: Based on the Serological and Histological Methods

Liu

Wang

Zhao

et al. 2016

BioMed Research International

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This research was aimed at discovering the serological and histological changes in cardiac and hepatic tissue after electric shock. The CK-MB, ALT, and AMS indexes were tested with serological methods. Moreover, the Bcl-2, Bax, and Hsp-60 expression levels were carefully measured. An electrical injury model was established by giving rats electric shocks at 110 V with alternating electric current. Blood samples from the rats were analyzed for the biochemical indexes. The degrees of pathological changes in the heart and liver were evaluated using IHC staining for Bcl-2, Bax, and Hsp-60. The levels of CK-MB in the electrical injury group rapidly peaked at 0.5 hours after the electric shock. Additionally, the levels of Bcl-2, Bax, and Hsp-60 in the cardiac and hepatic tissues changed regularly after the electrical injury and exhibited apparent differences from the levels in the control group. CK-MB, ALT, and AMS were altered regularly after electric shock, and these results provide significant information for clinical and medicolegal practice. This research has shed light on the assessment of electrical injury without obvious electrical burns. Furthermore, the findings obtained for Bcl-2/Bax and Hsp-60 can also facilitate pathological diagnosis and the identification of antemortem and postmortem electrical injury.

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“…The frequency of myofibre break-up in cases of electrocution was maximal (90%). Their findings showed that myofibre break-up is a characteristic antemortem histopathological finding in electrocution deaths [10,11,12]. In a case report by Stanca et al, myofibre break-up has been described in a 55 year old women who died of electric current effects [13].…”

Section: Original Research Articlementioning

confidence: 96%

A study of the histopathological changes in heart in electrocution deaths

Shubha

2018

Trop J Pathol Microbiol

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Introduction:One of the biggest challenges faced by forensic pathologists is death due to electrocution. In almost half of all cases no gross pathological findings can be seen. The history surrounding the cause of death and circumstantial evidence is sometimes ambiguous and possesses great difficulty. Aim: To study the various histopathological changes in heart in electrocution. Methods and materials: In the present study, a total of 15 heart specimens in electrocution deaths and 15 normal heart specimens are considered during the study period of one year from 2015 to 2016. Case details are obtained from the records and analyzed. The histopathological findings are recorded in a proforma. Results: Myofibre break-up, separation of sarcomeres and extravasation of RBCs are found in all the 15 cases of electrocution (100%). The other findings are disarray of the myofibres (87%), hyper contracted myocyte with squaring of nuclei (73%), myocellular segmentation (33%) and myocyte vacuolization (20%). Conclusion: The histopathological changes in heart definitely provide an additional clue in the diagnosis of electrocution deaths. Most of the histopathological changes in heart are found consistently in electrocution cases compared to that of the normal hearts. Hence, their presence can be relied upon in the diagnosis of electrocution deaths and in reducing the number of negative autopsies.

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Histopathological differentiation of skin lesions caused by electrocution, flame burns and abrasion

Cited by 34 publications

References 10 publications

Identification of Skin Electrical Injury Using Infrared Imaging: A Possible Complementary Tool for Histological Examination

Identification of Skin Electrical Injury Using Infrared Imaging: A Possible Complementary Tool for Histological Examination

The Clinical and Medicolegal Analysis of Electrical Shocked Rats: Based on the Serological and Histological Methods

A study of the histopathological changes in heart in electrocution deaths

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