Articles tagged with Autopsies
Forensic researchers at Florida International University have developed a new technique to estimate the time of death by analyzing the genetic markers of maggots. This method, known as a molecular clock, can accurately determine the age of late-stage maggots and revolutionize death investigations worldwide.
Researchers analyzed a centuries-old Austrian mummy and found it remarkably well-preserved due to an unusual embalming technique involving wood chips, twigs, fabric, and zinc chloride. The mummy, of a local parish vicar, was identified through interdisciplinary analysis, including radiocarbon dating and stable isotope patterns.
A new study by the University of Turku found that up to one in six Parkinson's disease diagnoses are later corrected, with most changes occurring within two years. The study highlights the challenges of distinguishing Parkinson's disease from other similar disorders and emphasizes the need for improved diagnostic processes and training.
A systematic literature review found no evidence to support a link between physical exertion without rhabdomyolysis or heat injury and sudden death in individuals with sickle cell trait. The review's findings refute the attribution of sudden death to SCT, a condition affecting over 100 million people worldwide.
A comprehensive study examining over 16,000 necropsy records from 292 vertebrate species found significant differences in cancer prevalence. Cancer rates increase with body size and cellular mutation rates but decrease with longer gestation periods.
Researchers found a significant association between neighborhood deprivation and DNA methylation in brain tissue, which may be linked to immune response. The study identified one CpG site (cg26514961, PLXNC1 gene) significantly associated with neighborhood deprivation after controlling for covariates.
A study published in Environmental Research found a significant association between black carbon particles and cardiac fibrosis, a marker of heart disease. The risk is higher for hypertensive individuals, with smokers facing the highest risks among non-hypertensive individuals.
Researchers discovered Lewy body disease changes in 9% of people over 50 without a clinical diagnosis, suggesting the disease may be more common than thought. Further studies are needed to confirm the results, but early detection is crucial for effective therapies.
A Tohoku University team studied deep learning models for diagnosing drowning and found discrepancies between model results and medical experts' observations. The study highlights the need for new training methods that align AI model internals with human expertise.
A large brain autopsy study of women who experienced intimate partner violence found substantial vascular and white matter damage, but no evidence of chronic traumatic encephalopathy. The study also revealed significant medical comorbidity, including cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease.
A study by the CHAMPS network found that 82% of child deaths in low-income countries could have been prevented through targeted interventions. The research used minimally invasive autopsies to investigate causes of death and highlighted the role of infections, with an infectious agent found in 87% of cases.
Two studies investigate long-term consequences of COVID-19, identifying potential drug targets for treating chronic disease. Researchers found novel pathways in the lungs and immune system that may lead to effective treatment options, including therapies targeting immune dysfunction and mucous cell differentiation.
A case study published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease reveals that lecanemab can lead to therapy-induced Aβ phagocytosis and multifocal intracerebral hemorrhage, highlighting a potential risk of brain damage and death. The study suggests that better biomarkers are needed to assess the extent of cerebral amyloid angiopathy.
Researchers analyzed autopsies of 14 patients with advanced melanoma, finding that changes to tumor DNA can cause resistance to treatment. The study sheds light on the final stages of cancer and may lead to new treatments for patients with advanced disease.
A Brazilian study reveals that SARS-CoV-2 targets astrocytes in the brain, reducing neuron viability and causing damage. Infection was confirmed using MRI scans of mild COVID-19 patients and experiments on human nerve cells.
Researchers analyzed 140 complete autopsies of COVID-19 patients and found the most frequent profile is men aged 60-77 with acute lung injury, often accompanied by vascular disease, heart disease, and diabetes. This profile was associated with a shorter time to death.
Researchers found that non-mutated Apolipoprotein E was strongly enriched in dementia patients' brains, correlating with dementia diagnosis. Even those without the disease-driving APOE ε4 allele showed significant levels of ApoE peptides.
A study examining autopsy tissue samples from COVID-19 patients found frequent and extensive blood clots within heart vessels, but no typical endothelial cell changes. Instead, hypercoagulability of the blood caused by activated neutrophils was detected as a likely culprit.
Using next-generation sequencing, researchers identified four major regulatory pathways and specific molecular effectors behind COVID-19 symptoms. The study may pave the way for a more personalized approach to diagnosis and treatment.
The USC Stevens INI is partnering with Vanderbilt University Medical Center and the University of Miami to merge Alzheimer's disease data from over 30 datasets, producing a large-scale, standardized set of clearly defined data. This harmonization will enable large-scale machine learning analysis to better characterize the genetic basis...
Researchers developed a non-invasive optical technique using spectroscopy to identify structural changes in the brain and diagnose Alzheimer's disease. The new technology has potential as a simple, completely non-invasive method of early detection and could also assess treatment effectiveness.
This autopsy study investigated skeletal muscle and myocardial inflammation in patients with COVID-19, compared to those dying from other causes. The findings suggest distinct inflammatory patterns in the two groups, which may help explain COVID-19 severity and mortality.
A study by ISGlobal reveals that Histoplasma infections are a leading cause of death among people with HIV in the Brazilian Amazon. The research highlights the need for sensitive detection methods to combat this fungal disease.
The article examines autopsy, toxicological, and psychiatric reports of Portugal's first major forensic case. It highlights the importance of toxicological analysis and suggests potential new insights with current knowledge.
A study analyzing necropsy reports of stranded killer whales found human activity as a cause of death for orcas across every age group. The study highlights the need to address human interactions, such as vessel strikes and fishing gear entanglement, to protect these vulnerable populations.
A decade-long study of killer whale necropsies reveals widespread mortality linked to human activities, affecting all age classes. Human-caused deaths were found in healthy populations as well as endangered species, emphasizing the need for improved conservation strategies.
A recent Finnish study found that subarachnoid hemorrhage is the 12th most common cause of death in middle-aged women and exceeds deaths from car crashes or cerebral infarctions. The disease can be largely prevented through healthy lifestyles, including not smoking and preventing high blood pressure.
Researchers found that the rate of myocarditis caused by COVID-19 is between 1.4% and 7.2%, significantly lower than previously reported rates. This finding should inform clinical colleagues about interpreting blood tests and heart radiology studies.
Researchers evaluated SARS-CoV-2 presence in myocardial tissue from COVID-19 autopsy cases, finding a significant association between the two conditions. The study suggests that COVID-19 may be linked to an increased risk of cardiac complications.
A study analyzing CDC data from 2008 to 2017 found racial disparities in US autopsy rates. Autopsy rates were lower for Hispanic and black patients compared to white patients, highlighting the need for increased awareness and addressing these disparities.
African American patients who died from COVID-19 had obstructed small vessels and capillaries in the lungs due to blood clots and associated hemorrhage. Elevated D-dimers were also found, but no myocarditis was observed, contradicting early reports suggesting a significant role in death.
Autopsies reveal that meth users have increased deposits of collagen in the heart muscle, leading to irreversible damage and an enlarged heart. The study suggests that monitoring heart function is crucial for early detection and prevention of further deterioration.
A post-mortem study in a Mozambican hospital reveals that tuberculosis (TB) cases were often missed by clinicians and traditional autopsy methods. The study found that 28% of patients had the disease at the time of death, with a higher prevalence among HIV-positive adults.
A study examining firearm ownership and accessibility found that US Army soldiers who died by suicide were more likely to own firearms and store them loaded at home. The study suggests a link between firearm availability and increased risk of suicidal death among military personnel.
A considerable percentage of HIV-related deaths are due to cryptococcal infections, with C. neoformans being the most common cause. The study highlights the importance of regular CrAg screening and preemptive therapy for high-risk individuals.
A recent study found that two-thirds of adults dying prematurely from natural causes did not seek medical help in the 30 days leading up to their death. The research identified key factors contributing to premature adult deaths, including alcohol, tobacco, and lack of access to healthcare.
A study conducted in rural Uganda found that verbal autopsy interviews performed by community health workers provided more accurate data on deaths than traditional health facility-dependent surveillance methods. The results showed that many deaths were not reported due to incomplete or inaccurate patient registration at health facilities.
Researchers found that Hispanic patients with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease are less impaired on cognitive tests compared to non-Hispanic patients. The study suggests greater small blood vessel disease and increased amyloid angiopathy in Hispanic patients, highlighting the need for culturally adapted diagnostic protocols.
A study published in Radiology found that minimally invasive autopsy with CT and MRI performs as well as conventional autopsy in detecting cause of death, yielding more diagnoses. The procedure provides a permanent record of the entire body that can be revisited and reanalyzed by pathologists, radiologists, clinicians, and next-of-kin.
Researchers analyze RFK's injuries from 1968 assassination, noting similarities between then and now in gunshot wound care. They conclude that while aggressive treatment was made to save Kennedy, his severe brain injury would likely be fatal with modern techniques.
A study found that nearly half of deaths attributed to cardiac arrest were not sudden or unexpected, and a significant portion were not arrhythmic. In San Francisco, nearly 1 in 7 deaths from apparent out-of-hospital cardiac arrests were due to hidden drug overdoses.
A study found that post-mortem CT angiography outperformed conventional autopsy in detecting skeletal and vascular lesions, which can provide crucial information in post-mortem examinations. The technique showed high sensitivity and specificity, making it an excellent choice for investigating traumatic deaths.
A new analysis of video footage supports official findings that John F. Kennedy was shot by Lee Harvey Oswald from the Texas School Book Depository building. The study uses fundamental classical mechanics to analyze the forward head snap in the Zapruder film, which shows President Kennedy's reactions after being shot in the head.
Researchers found that minimally invasive autopsy (MIA) can accurately identify cause of death in newborns and children in Mozambique. MIA showed substantial agreement with complete diagnostic autopsy (CDA) for categorization of disease, with the majority of neonatal deaths due to infectious diseases.
A study found that pacemakers and other cardiac devices can determine the time and cause of death in unclear cases where autopsy fails. The devices revealed this information in 76% of cases, with changes in lead impedance and pacing threshold used to assign the time of death.
A ground-breaking study suggests that a non-invasive post-mortem technique could be used to identify the cause of death in up to 92% of adult post-mortem investigations, potentially replacing invasive autopsies. The technique, known as PMCTA, uses computed tomography and angiography to diagnose causes of death with high accuracy.
Two studies support the feasibility and validity of minimally invasive autopsies in lower-income countries. High concordance rates were observed between diagnoses from simplified minimally invasive autopsy methods and complete autopsies, with high acceptability among participants in five settings across Africa and Asia.
Researchers at TSRI and STSI used 'molecular autopsies' to detect gene mutations responsible for sudden deaths. In 40% of cases, molecular autopsies revealed a likely or plausible cause of death, often variants of genes inherited from relatives.
A study published in JAMA found that postmortem genetic testing can identify the likely genetic cause of death in cases where it was not determined. The analysis sequenced DNA from deceased individuals and their relatives, discovering mutations linked to sudden cardiac death, pulmonary embolism, and other conditions.
A study published in BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine found a higher prevalence of heart abnormalities, including left ventricular hypertrophy, among triathletes who died during the swim portion of competitions. This suggests a plausible link between immersion pulmonary edema and swimming-related deaths in endurance athletes.
A new minimally invasive tissue sampling technique will help determine the cause of death in children, facilitating ways to save lives and improve health in vulnerable areas. The CHAMPS project aims to create a network of disease surveillance sites to address child mortality rates, which claim nearly 6 million lives annually.
The article presents findings from the first reported autopsy of a patient with MERS coronavirus infection, revealing diffuse damage to lungs and identification of anti-MERS-CoV antibodies in specific cells. These results contradict previous assumptions and suggest that lung targeting is crucial for infectious control strategies.
A lack of national standards and training programs for coroners and medical examiners in Canada has significant implications for accurate cause of death determination. Creating a similar body to the UK's would improve investigation outcomes and enhance public health.
A 25-year-old former college football player experienced over 10 concussions during his 16-year career, leading to CTE pathology and cognitive issues. The player's autopsy confirmed the diagnosis, making him the first person with CTE to undergo neuropsychological testing.
Researchers found elevated concentrations of synaptic soluble amyloid-β (Aβ) oligomers in early-stage AD patients compared to controls. The study suggests that therapies targeting synaptic Aβ oligomers may be more effective than anti-amyloid therapies in preventing or delaying AD-related dementia.
Researchers developed an easy-to-use app to capture accurate global cause of death data, addressing the issue of unregistered deaths worldwide. The app was field-tested in various countries, showing promising results in making diagnoses with computer models.
Current monitoring of pacemakers and defibrillators may underestimate device problems, according to a new study. The researchers found that device concerns were identified in exactly half of the 22 sudden deaths - four pacemakers and seven defibrillators.
A survey reveals that UK hospital post mortems are disappearing, with only half of one percent carried out in 2013. This decline has significant implications for quality assurance, public health, and the teaching of medical students.
Experts say research is needed to develop strategies to protect athletes from brain injury, citing a lack of long-term studies and unclear causes. Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) has been linked to repeated blows to the head, but diagnosis requires autopsy and more research is needed to understand its development.
Research by Queensland University of Technology highlights the difficulties faced by police during death investigations, including emotional re-traumatization of bereaved families. Junior officers are often tasked with gathering evidence while comforting family members, leading to concerns about their preparation and cultural competence.