Forensic Impact of the Omics Science Involved in the Wound: A Systematic Review

Background: In forensic autopsies, examining the wounds is one of the most critical aspects to clarify the causal relationship between the cause of death and the wounds observed on the corpse. However, on many occasions, it is difficult to differentiate antemortem injuries from post-mortem injuries, mainly when they occur very close to the moment of death. At present, various studies try to find biomarkers and clarify the molecular mechanisms involved in a wound due to the high variability of conditions in which they occur, thus being one of the most challenging problems in forensic pathology. This review aimed to study the omics data to determine the main lines of investigation emerging in the diagnosis of vital injuries, time of appearance, estimation of the age and vitality of the wound, and its possible contributions to the forensic field.Methods: A systematic review of the human wound concerning forensic science was carried out by following PRISMA guidelines.Results: This study sheds light on the role of omics research during the process of wounding, identifying different cytokines and other inflammatory mediators, as well as cells involved in the specific stage of the wound healing process, show great use in estimating the age of a wound. On the other hand, the expression levels of skin enzymes, proteins, metal ions, and other biomarkers play an essential role in differentiating vital and post-mortem wounds. More recent studies have begun to analyze and quantify mRNA from different genes that encode proteins that participate in the inflammation phase of a wound and miRNAs related to various cellular processes.Conclusions: This study sheds light on the role of research in the molecular characterization of vital wounds, heralding a promising future for molecular characterization of wounds in the field of forensic pathology, opening up an important new area of research.Systematic Review Registration: URL: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/#myprospero, Identifier: CRD42021286623.

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Acceleration of the healing process of full-thickness wounds using hydrophilic chitosan–silica hybrid sponge in a porcine model

Journal of Biomaterials Applications ◽

10.1177/0885328217751246 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 32 (8) ◽

pp. 1011-1023 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Ji-Ung Park ◽

Seol-Ha Jeong ◽

Eun-Ho Song ◽

Juha Song ◽

Hyoun-Ee Kim ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Wound Healing ◽

Surface Characterization ◽

Porcine Model ◽

Healing Process ◽

Synergetic Effect ◽

Wound Healing Process ◽

Cutaneous Wounds ◽

Chemical Coupling

In this study, we evaluated the surface characterization of a novel chitosan–silica hybridized membrane and highlighted the substantial role of silica in the wound environment. The chemical coupling of chitosan and silica resulted in a more condensed network compared with pure chitosan, which was eventually able to stably maintain its framework, particularly in the wet state. In addition, we closely observed the wound-healing process along with the surface interaction between chitosan–silica and the wound site using large-surface-area wounds in a porcine model. Our evidence indicates that chitosan–silica exerts a synergetic effect of both materials to promote a remarkable wound-healing process. In particular, the silica in chitosan–silica accelerated wound closure including wound contraction, and re-epithelialization via enhancement of cell recruitment, epidermal maturity, neovascularization, and granulation tissue formation compared with pure chitosan and other commercial dressing materials. This advanced wound dressing material may lead to effective treatment for problematic cutaneous wounds and can be further applied for human skin regeneration.

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Molecular insights into regulation of JAK2 in myeloproliferative neoplasms

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood-2015-01-621110 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 125 (22) ◽

pp. 3388-3392 ◽

Cited By ~ 39

Author(s):

Olli Silvennoinen ◽

Stevan R. Hubbard

Keyword(s):

Molecular Characterization ◽

Human Disease ◽

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

Myeloproliferative Neoplasms ◽

Critical Role ◽

Hematologic Malignancies ◽

Janus Kinase ◽

Constitutive Activation

Abstract The critical role of Janus kinase-2 (JAK2) in regulation of myelopoiesis was established 2 decades ago, but identification of mutations in the pseudokinase domain of JAK2 in myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) and in other hematologic malignancies highlighted the role of JAK2 in human disease. These findings have revolutionized the diagnostics of MPNs and led to development of novel JAK2 therapeutics. However, the molecular mechanisms by which mutations in the pseudokinase domain lead to hyperactivation of JAK2 and clinical disease have been unclear. Here, we describe recent advances in the molecular characterization of the JAK2 pseudokinase domain and how pathogenic mutations lead to constitutive activation of JAK2.

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MiRNAs as New Tools in Lesion Vitality Evaluation: A Systematic Review and Their Forensic Applications

Biomedicines ◽

10.3390/biomedicines9111731 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (11) ◽

pp. 1731

Author(s):

Alice Chiara Manetti ◽

Aniello Maiese ◽

Arianna Baronti ◽

Eleonora Mezzetti ◽

Paola Frati ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Forensic Pathology ◽

Current Knowledge ◽

Post Mortem ◽

Standardized Protocol ◽

Inflammatory Processes ◽

Mirnas Expression ◽

Tissue Alterations ◽

Proper Interpretation

Wound vitality demonstration is one of the most challenging fields in forensic pathology. In recent years, researchers focused on the application of histological and immunohistochemical staining in this sphere of study. It is based on the detection of inflammation, red cell infiltration, and tissue alterations at the histological examination, all of which are supposedly present in antemortem rather than post-mortem wounds. Nevertheless, some doubts about the reliability of those markers have arisen. Furthermore, the lack of a standardized protocol and the operator dependency of this approach make the proper interpretation of its results difficult. Moreover, a differential miRNAs expression has been demonstrated in antemortem and post-mortem wounds. Herein, a systematic review concerning the current knowledge about the use of miRNAs in lesion vitality evaluation is carried out, to encourage researchers to deepen this peculiar study area. A compendium about the potential miRNAs that may be further investigated as vitality markers is also provided. The aim is to collect all available data about this topic to direct further studies on this field and highlight the future applications of miRNAs in forensic pathology. We found 20 articles and a total of 51 miRNAs that are involved in inflammation and wound healing. Further studies are certainly needed to deepen the role of miRNAs in inflammatory processes in lesioned skin and to evaluate their reliability in distinguishing between antemortem and post-mortem lesions.

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Role of glyoxalases in wound healing process: an in vitro study

Free Radical Biology and Medicine ◽

10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2020.12.366 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 165 ◽

pp. 39

Author(s):

Francesca Lombardi ◽

Silvano Santini ◽

Paola Palumbo ◽

Valeria Cordone ◽

Virginio Bignotti ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Wound Healing ◽

Healing Process ◽

In Vitro Study ◽

Vitro Study ◽

Wound Healing Process

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PHYSIOLOGIC AND MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION OF THE ROLE OF NITRIC OXIDE IN HEMORRHAGIC SHOCK

Shock ◽

10.1097/00024382-199703000-00001 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 7 (3) ◽

pp. 157-163 ◽

Cited By ~ 41

Author(s):

Edward Kelly ◽

Nishit S. Shah ◽

Nathan N. Morgan ◽

Simon C. Watkins ◽

Andrew B. Peitzman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Nitric Oxide ◽

Hemorrhagic Shock ◽

Molecular Characterization

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Identifying New Pathways and Targets for Wound Healing and Therapeutics from Natural Sources

Current Drug Delivery ◽

10.2174/1567201818666210111101257 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 ◽

Author(s):

Xinchi Feng ◽

Jinsong Hao

Keyword(s):

Wound Healing ◽

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

Chronic Wounds ◽

Wound Care ◽

Healing Process ◽

Unmet Need ◽

Wound Dressings ◽

Wound Healing Process ◽

Natural Sources ◽

Viable Approach

: Chronic wounds remain a significant public problem and the development of wound treatments has been a research focus for the past few decades. Despite advances in the products derived from endogenous substances involved in a wound healing process (e.g. growth factors, stem cells, and extracellular matrix), effective and safe wound therapeutics are still limited. There is an unmet need to develop new therapeutics. Various new pathways and targets have been identified and could become a molecular target in designing novel wound agents. Importantly, many existing drugs that target these newly identified pathways could be repositioned for wound therapy, which will facilitate fast translation of research findings to clinical applications. This review discusses the newly identified pathways/targets and their potential uses in the development of wound therapeutics. Some herbs and amphibian skins have been traditionally used for wound repairs and their active ingredients have been found to act in these new pathways. Hence, screening these natural products for novel wound therapeutics remains a viable approach. The outcomes of wound care using natural wound therapeutics could be improved if we can better understand their cellular and molecular mechanisms and fabricate them in appropriate formulations, such as using novel wound dressings and nano-engineered materials. Therefore, we also provide an update on the advances in the wound therapeutics from natural sources. Overall, this review offers new insights into novel wound therapeutics.

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A critical role of AREG for bleomycin-induced skin fibrosis

10.1101/2021.01.20.427509 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Mary Yinghua Zhang ◽

Shuyi Fang ◽

Hongyu Gao ◽

Xiaoli Zhang ◽

Dongsheng Gu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cell Proliferation ◽

Wound Healing ◽

Oral Mucosa ◽

Healing Process ◽

Critical Role ◽

Skin Fibrosis ◽

Wound Healing Process ◽

Organ Function ◽

Signaling Axis

ABSTRACTWe report our discovery of an important player in the development of skin fibrosis, a hallmark of scleroderma. Scleroderma is a fibrotic disease, affecting 70,000 to 150,000 Americans. Fibrosis is a pathological wound healing process that produces an excessive extracellular matrix to interfere with normal organ function. Fibrosis contributes to nearly half of human mortality. Scleroderma has heterogeneous phenotypes, unpredictable outcomes, no validated biomarkers, and no effective treatment. Thus, strategies to slow down scleroderma progression represent an urgent medical need. While a pathological wound healing process like fibrosis leaves scars and weakens organ function, oral mucosa wound healing is a scarless process. After re-analyses of gene expression datasets from oral mucosa wound healing and skin fibrosis, we discovered that several pathways constitutively activated in skin fibrosis are transiently induced during oral mucosa wound healing process, particularly the amphiregulin (Areg) gene. Areg expression is upregulated ~10 folds 24hrs after oral mucosa wound but reduced to the basal level 3 days later. During bleomycin-induced skin fibrosis, a commonly used mouse model for skin fibrosis, Areg is up-regulated throughout the fibrogenesis and is associated with elevated cell proliferation in the dermis. To demonstrate the role of Areg for skin fibrosis, we used mice with Areg knockout, and found that Areg deficiency essentially prevents bleomycin-induced skin fibrosis. We further determined that bleomycin-induced cell proliferation in the dermis was not observed in the Areg null mice. Furthermore, we found that inhibiting MEK, a downstream signaling effector of Areg, by selumetinib also effectively blocked bleomycin-based skin fibrosis model. Based on these results, we concluded that the Areg-EGFR-MEK signaling axis is critical for skin fibrosis development. Blocking this signaling axis may be effective in treating scleroderma.

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Identification of Long Noncoding RNA Associated ceRNA Networks in Rosacea

BioMed Research International ◽

10.1155/2020/9705950 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 2020 ◽

pp. 1-13

Author(s):

Lian Wang ◽

Ruifeng Lu ◽

Yujia Wang ◽

Xiaoyun Wang ◽

Dan Hao ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Noncoding Rna ◽

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

Functional Enrichment ◽

Differentially Expressed ◽

Control Group ◽

Group 13 ◽

Regulatory Processes ◽

Coexpression Networks

Rosacea is a chronic and relapsing inflammatory cutaneous disorder with highly variable prevalence worldwide that adversely affects the health of patients and their quality of life. However, the molecular characterization of each rosacea subtype is still unclear. Furthermore, little is known about the role of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in the pathogenesis or regulatory processes of this disorder. In the current study, we established lncRNA-mRNA coexpression networks for three rosacea subtypes (erythematotelangiectatic, papulopustular, and phymatous) and performed their functional enrichment analyses using Gene Onotology, KEGG, GSEA, and WGCNA. Compared to the control group, 13 differentially expressed lncRNAs and 525 differentially expressed mRNAs were identified in the three rosacea subtypes. The differentially expressed genes identified were enriched in four signaling pathways and the GO terms found were associated with leukocyte migration. In addition, we found nine differentially expressed lncRNAs in all three rosacea subtype-related networks, including NEAT1 and HOTAIR, which may play important roles in the pathology of rosacea. Our study provided novel insights into lncRNA-mRNA coexpression networks to discover the molecular mechanisms involved in rosacea development that can be used as future targets of rosacea diagnosis, prevention, and treatment.

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