Mummified Dead Body in Hanging Position: A Case Report

Mummification refers to all-natural and artificial processes that bring about the preservation of the body or its parts. Such processes include mainly the drying of the soft tissues instead of liquefying putrefaction. We are presenting here a case of a medicolegal autopsy performed at the mortuary of MGIMS, Sevagram. The body was found in the jungle in a hanging position to the branch of a tree. Body was completely mummified. Facial identification could be made out as facial features were well maintained. Investigation agency has query regarding condition of the body (mummification) and what is the time since death. After performing the autopsy, police were explained regarding the factors responsible for mummification to occur in the dead body and also given opinion regarding time since death. From the time since death police investigated the various missing complaints which were present at neighboring police stations during that period. So the relatives from one of the missing person identified the body and it was handed over to relative after completion of all legal formalities by the police officials. In this case report we have discussed; autopsy finding in mummified body and factors responsible for formation mummification of the body. Hot, dry and airy environment are well known factors contributing the mummification of body but apart from this hanging of the body along with other contributing factors mentioned earlier is responsible for mummification of the body in present case.

Dissecting the Microbial Community Structure of Internal Organs During the Early Postmortem Period in a Murine Corpse Model

Background Microorganisms inhabit and proliferate throughout the body both externally and internally, which are the primary mediators of putrefaction after death. However, limited information is available about the changes in the postmortem microbiota of extraintestinal body sites in the early decomposition stage of mammalian corpses. Results This study applied 16S rRNA barcoding to investigate microbial composition variations among different organs and the relationship between microbial communities and time since death over 1 day of decomposition. During 1 day of decomposition, Agrobacterium, Prevotella, Bacillus, and Turicibacter were regarded as time-relevant genera in internal organs at different timepoints. Pathways associated with lipid, amino acid, carbohydrate and terpenoid and polyketide metabolism were significantly enriched at 8 hours than that at 0.5 or 4 hours. The microbiome compositions and postmortem metabolic pathways differed by time since death, and more importantly, these alterations were organ specific. Conclusion The dominant microbes differed by organ, while they tended toward similarity as decomposition progressed. The observed thanatomicrobiome variation by body site provides new knowledge into decomposition ecology and forensic microbiology. Additionally, the microbes detected at 0.5 hours in internal organs may inform a new direction for organ transplantation.

How Gender Shapes the Effects of Immediate Family Members’ Deaths on Adults’ Psychological Well-Being

The deaths of family members constitute one of the most serious negative life events experienced in adulthood. The impact of these losses on psychological well-being may differ considerably by the structural relationship between the deceased and the survivors, and by the genders of both family members; however, few studies have been able to explore these variations by generation, gender, and time since death. In this paper, we use mixed-methods data to explore how depressive symptoms are affected differentially in adulthood by the deaths of mothers, fathers, and siblings, as well as by the gender of survivors. We address these questions using data collected from approximately 600 adult children nested within 250 later-life families, in which approximately 55% experienced the death of at least one parent and 15% experienced the death of a sibling in the previous decade. Preliminary multilevel regression analyses showed that deaths of siblings predicted sisters’ but not brothers’ depressive symptoms. In the case of parents, only mothers’ deaths were found to predict daughters’ depressive symptoms, whereas neither parents’ deaths predicted sons’ well-being. Further, these patterns differed little by time since death. Qualitative data revealed that women were more likely to report that both their mothers’ and siblings’ deaths had led to higher conflict within the sibling network, which previous research has shown predicts psychological well-being. Taken together, these findings demonstrate the salient role of gender in shaping well-being in the face of events of deaths of parents and siblings in adulthood.

Establishment of accurate criteria for diagnosis of the time since death in forensic medical practice

Over the course of technological development, it is recommended to use more and more new modern methods to assess the time since death. However, most of them have practical limitations or show insufficient results that could ensure the most accurate assessment of the time since death in forensic medical practice. Aim of the work. To review modern scientific articles on the problem of establishing the time since death, to identify the most promising areas of work that can potentially be used in the daily work of practitioners. Conclusions. The analysis of scientific literature shows the relevance of the search and development of new modern methods of assessment of time since death, which could provide scientific validity, specificity and objectivity of the expert opinion.

Diagnostic possibilities of accurate determination of the time since death on the concentration of electrolytes in the vitreous body of the human eye

In this paper the results of modern scientific researches are analyzed and the possibilities of the method of establishing the amount of K+ and Na+ in the vitreous body (VB) of a person for solving problems of practical forensic medicine are studied. The aim of the work. To investigate the possibilities of accurately establishing the time since death (TSD) by determining the amount of electrolytes (K+ and Na+) of human VB. Materials and methods. VB samples from 120 deaths due to cardiovascular pathology (exclusion criteria: eyeball injuries, traumatic brain injury, exogenous intoxications) were studied. The study of the test material was performed on an analyzer of electrolytes and gases ROCHE COBAS B121. The main task was to analyze and establish the dependence of the change in the amount of K+ and Na+ of the VB on the TSD. Statistical processing of the obtained results was performed using Statistica software. Results. In all cases, on average in the first 6 hours, its amount was 7,4 mmol/l, after 6-12 hours – 9,8 mmol/l, after 12-18 hours – 12,1 mmol/l, after 18-24 hours – 16,5 mmol/l, after 24-36 hours – 20,2 mmol/l, after 36-48 hours – 25,3 mmol/l. The amount of Na+ ranged from 120 to 200 mmol/l. Conclusions. It is established that the number of electrolytes of the VB of the human eye naturally changes with increasing postmortem interval, which allows to use this technique to determine the TSD. In particular, the accuracy of setting the DNS by the number of K+ – 4-6 hours between 1 and 18 hours after death. There is an increase in the range of accuracy at a later date of the TSD.

Forensic Anthropology

Physical anthropology has been making progress in the field of forensic science. Forensic anthropology is the study of identifying and establishing identity of the skeletal remains present at the crime scene. The purpose of the chapter is to throw a light on the field of forensic anthropology as it seeks data like age, sex, ethnic groups, and other characteristic features after the examination of the skeletal remains. Forensic anthropology helps in determining the manner and cause of death, and if the body is still in the decompositions stage, time since death can also be estimated. Advancement in forensic anthropology will not only help to solve the case but it will also increase the opportunity to work in this area. In this chapter, there is an explanation of some of the methods used in forensic anthropology for the analysis of identification and other purposes.

Variation in Downed Deadwood Density, Biomass, and Moisture during Decomposition in a Natural Temperate Forest

Deadwood is a resource of water, nutrients, and carbon, as well as an important driving factor of spatial pedocomplexity and hillslope processes in forested landscapes. The applicability of existing relevant studies in mountain forests in Central Europe is limited by the low number of data, absence of precise dating, and short time periods studied. Here, we aimed to assess the decomposition pathway in terms of changes and variability in the physical characteristics of deadwood (wood density, biomass, and moisture) during the decomposition process, and to describe differences in decomposition rate. The research was carried out in the Žofínský Primeval Forest, one of the oldest forest reserves in Europe. Samples were taken from sapwood of downed logs of the three main tree species: Fagus sylvatica L., Abies alba Mill., and Picea abies (L.) Karst. The time since the death of each downed log was obtained using tree censuses repeated since 1975 and dendrochronology. The maximal time since the death of a log was species-specific, and ranged from 61–76 years. The rate of change (slope) of moisture content along the time since death in a linear regression model was the highest for F. sylvatica (b = 3.94) compared to A. alba (b = 2.21) and P. abies (b = 1.93). An exponential model showing the dependence of biomass loss on time since death revealed that F. sylvatica stems with a diameter of 50–90 cm had the shortest decomposition rate—51 years—followed by P. abies (71 years) and A. alba (72 years). Our findings can be used in geochemical models of element cycles in temperate old-growth forests, the prediction of deadwood dynamics and changes in related biodiversity, and in refining management recommendations.

ESTIMATION OF TIME SINCE DEATH FROM THE CHANGES IN VITREOUS HUMOUR SODIUM (Na+) AND POTASSIUM (K+) LEVEL

Background: For investigation of crime, it is very important to determine ‘time since death’ i.e. the interval between death and the time of postmortem examination also called as ‘postmortem interval. This is very important in criminal cases as it shows the track to the investigators to reach the suspected person and to obligate the innocent ones. Methods: The present study was conducted in Forensic Medicine Department on cases died in Dr. S.N. Medical College & associated Group of Hospitals, Jodhpur in association with Department of Biochemistry. Results: The linear correlation of the vitreous sodium (Na+) ion concentration was found statistically insignificant (r=0.045) therefore the coefficient of correlation could not be derived. Conclusion: We have observed linear rise of potassium (K+) ion concentration in the vitreous humour. The linear relationship of the increase in vitreous potassium (K+) ion concentration with increasing postmortem interval is both arithmatic as well as logarithmatic (statistically significant). Keywords: Na, K, Postmortem.

A Pilot Study of Microbial Succession in Human Rib Skeletal Remains during Terrestrial Decomposition

Microbes are known to facilitate vertebrate decomposition, and they can do so in a repeatable, predictable manner. The succession of microbes in the skin and associated soil can be used to predict time since death during the first few weeks of decomposition.