• 대한의생명과학회지
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• 제24권1호
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• pp.35-42
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• 2018

Postmortem interval (PMI) is very important in the crime scene investigation. However, it is very difficult to estimate of the interval since death after a decomposition. Recently, there have been various studies on the postmortem interval since a decomposition. In particular, the total body score (TBS) and accumulated degree days (ADD) used to estimate the postmortem interval after a decomposition. This study was conducted with the aim of applying the TBS and ADD to estimate the postmortem interval in real forensic caseworks. In first murder case, TBS was 12 and ADD value was 132, respectively. An estimated time of PMI was around 23:00 on June 21, and the suspect's statement was 01:20 on June 22. Our estimated interval since death and the suspect's statement for the PMI differ by only 2 hours and 20 minutes. In second forensic case, TBS was 3 and ADD value was 55, respectively, an estimated time of PMI was around 02:26 on September 23. The suspect's statement was 10:30 on September 23. Our estimated time and the suspect's statement for the PMI differ by 8 hours. In these cases, we were able to have confirmed the feasibility of TBS and ADD on the real forensic cases. Overall, our finding suggested that the quantitative method could be used to produce PMI estimates that are accurate to within days or even hours.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제40권6호
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• pp.410-417
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• 2017

Estimation of postmortem interval (PMI) is a key issue in the field of forensic pathology. With the availability of quantitative analysis of RNA levels in postmortem tissues, several studies have assessed the postmortem degradation of constitutively expressed RNA species to estimate PMI. However, conventional RNA quantification as well as biochemical and physiological changes employed thus far have limitations related to standardization or normalization. The present study focuses on an interesting feature of the subdomains of certain RNA species, in which they are site-specifically cleaved during apoptotic cell death. We found that the D8 divergent domain of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) bearing cell death-related cleavage sites was rapidly removed during postmortem RNA degradation. In contrast to the fragile domain, the 5' terminal region of 28S rRNA was remarkably stable during the postmortem period. Importantly, the differences in the degradation rates between the two domains in mammalian 28S rRNA were highly proportional to increasing PMI with a significant linear correlation observed in mice as well as human autopsy tissues. In conclusion, we demonstrate that comparison of the degradation rates between domains of a single RNA species provides quantitative information on postmortem degradation states, which can be applied for the estimation of PMI.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• 제25권3호
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• pp.24.1-24.9
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• 2024

Importance: In veterinary forensic science, accurately determining the postmortem interval (PMI) is crucial for identifying the causes of animal deaths. Autolysis, a significant postmortem process, influences PMI estimation, but its relationship with humidity is not well understood. Objective: This study aimed to improve the accuracy of PMI estimates in veterinary forensic cases by looking into how different humidity levels affect autolysis in different organs of rats. Methods: The study involved 38 male rats, examining histopathological changes in their heart, liver, and pancreas. These organs were subjected to controlled humidity levels (20%, 55%, and 80%) at a constant 22℃. Tissue samples were collected at several intervals (0 h, 12 h, 24 h, 3 days, and 8 days) for comprehensive analysis. Results: Distinct autolytic characteristics in animal organs emerged under varying humidity conditions. The low-humidity environment rapidly activated autolysis more than the high-humidity environment. In addition, it was found that lower humidity caused nuclear pyknosis, cytoplasmic disintegration, and myofiber interruption. The liver, in particular, showed portal triad aggregation and hepatocyte individuation. The pancreas experienced cell fragmentation and an enlarged intracellular space. High humidity also caused the loss of striations in cardiac tissues, and the liver showed vacuolation. Under these conditions, the pancreas changed eosinophilic secretory granules. Conclusions and Relevance: The study successfully established a clear connection between the autolytic process in PMIs and relative humidity. These findings are significant for developing a more accurate and predictable method for PMI estimation in the field of veterinary forensic science.

• The Korean Journal of Legal Medicine
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• 제42권4호
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• pp.126-140
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• 2018

The diagnosis of cause of death (COD) or estimation of postmortem interval (PMI) is hard to perform using postmortem blood or other bodily fluids due to various biochemical changes that occur during the agonal phase or after death. To solve these problems, new paradigms and new analytical methods are needed. In this study, postmortem blood was fractionated with specific gravity 1.021, 1.029, 1.038, and 1.045, and the absorbance patterns of each sample of the 131 total cases (12 kinds of COD) were analyzed using a spectrometer. The absorbance was grouped into 9 patterns (ABS pattern 1 to 9) according to the wave length and the signal intensity. These patterns of postmortem blood were found to be distinctly different from the absorbance pattern of fresh blood. The analysis of ABS patterns is useful for the diagnosis of deaths due to acute or rapid bleeding, fire death, drowning and, in some cases, poisoning, but is not useful for the estimation of PMI.

• 과학수사학회지
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• 제11권3호
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• pp.178-185
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• 2017

사후경과시간(PMI)을 추정하기 위하여 사용되고 있는 유효적산온도(ADD)를 계산하는데 있어서 가장 중요한 요인 중 하나는 바로 사건 현장의 대기 온도를 최대한 정확하게 추정하는 것이다. 지금까지 사건 현장의 대기 온도를 추정하는 방법으로는 사건이 일어난 현장 근처의 기상청 온도를 그대로 적용하거나, 보정 온도를 고려하여 사용하거나, 주변 기상청 온도와 사건 현장 대기 온도의 선형 회귀분석을 통해 과거 일정기간 동안의 현장 대기 온도를 추정하였다. 이 때, 온도 추정 방법에 따라 온도 추정값이 달라질 수 있으며, 측정 조건이나 온도에 영향을 줄 수 있는 풍량, 풍속, 습도, 강우량 등 환경 요인에 따라서도 추정값의 정확도가 달라질 수 있다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 국내의 환경 요인 및 측정 조건들을 대상으로 보다 다양한 온도 추정 방법들에 적용하여 과거 일정기간 동안의 현장 대기온도를 추정하고, 이렇게 추정된 온도와 실제 온도와의 비교를 통하여 국내 온도 추정에 미치는 영향을 연구하고자 한다.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제18권10호
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• pp.1400-1409
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• 2008

본 연구는 집돼지 사체주위에서 채집되는 곤충의 천이패턴을 이용해서 사체의 사후경과시간을 추정하기 위한, 법의학적 증거모델을 제시하고자 수행되었다. 사체의 주변에서 총 7목28과 48종의 곤충이 채집되었는데, 계절에 따라 많이 나타나는 곤충이 변하여 3월, 5월 및 10월에는 검정파리과가, 7월에는 검정파리과와 반날개과가 같은 비율로, 9월에는 반날개과가 많이 관찰되었다. 검정파리과 곤충은 모든 실험을 통해서 사체에 가장 먼저 도착하는 곤충이며 또한, 부패초기의 지표곤충임이 밝혀졌다. 그러나 부패후기의 지표곤충은 3월을 제외한 나머지 연구기간 중에는 반날개과, 3월에는 집파리과였는데, 3월에는 낮은 온도로 인해서 사체 부패 기간이 오랫동안 지속되었으므로 사체 주위에 모여든 집파리과의 개체수도 증가한 것으로 생각되었다. 이상으로부터 사체의 사후경과시간을 유추하기 위해서는 사체의 부패 정도나 사체 주변에 나타나는 곤충 뿐 아니라, 조사 지역의 기후 조건도 고려해야 할것으로 생각되었다.