Analysis of 4 Cases of Electrocution due to Direct Current Electronic Hunter / 法医学杂志

Objective To summarize the characteristics of cases of electrocution due to direct current （DC） electronic hunter, and to provide references for forensic identification. Methods Four cases of electrocution due to DC electronic hunter were collected. Statistical analysis was carried out from the perspective of the scene and electric marks distribution, damage characteristics and histopathological changes. Results All the 4 cases of electrocution were accidental events. There were multiple electric marks, most of which were located in the lower limbs with serious damage. Some strip type electric marks were visible. Conclusion The distribution, morphological characteristics and severity of the electric marks caused by DC electronic hunter are different from those of the ordinary low-voltage alternating current damage. It is alerting that there would be actions of destroying the scene and abandoning the corpse in such cases.

Correlación macroscópica-microscópica en muertes por electrocución: Morgue Central de Lima periodo 2006-2011 / Macroscopic-microscopic correlation in deaths by electrocution: Central Morgue of Lima 2006-2011

Introducción: La electrocución es una causa de muerte de índole traumática y de alta mortalidad, que produce lesiones y signos externos que deben ser corroborados por hallazgos microscópicos. Objetivo: Correlacionar hallazgos macroscópicos con resultados histopatológicos en muertes por electrocución. Diseño: Descriptivo, transversal, correlacional, retrospectivo. Institución: Instituto Medicina Legal-MP, Instituto Patología, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Perú. Material: Informes de Necropsia Médicolegal. Intervenciones: En la Morgue Central de Lima, en el periodo 2006-2011, se hizo búsqueda y análisis de información de electrocución. Principales medidas de resultados: Medida de tendencia central, frecuencias y porcentaje. Análisis de correlación. Resultados: De 116 casos, 108 varones y 8 mujeres, la media de edad fue 31,3 años, 23 por ciento fueron electricistas, 18 por ciento trabajaban en construcción. El hecho ocurrió en el centro de trabajo 51 por ciento, con etiología suicida en dos casos. Los hallazgos macroscópicos más frecuentes fueron signos generales de asfixia, lesiones por entrada de corriente eléctrica, hemorragia miocárdica y petequias subpleurales, en 73,3 por ciento. Las alteraciones microscópicas fueron: necrosis coagulativa en piel 87 casos, edema cerebral 101 casos, hemorragia pulmonar 83 casos, infarto agudo de miocardio 87 casos, necrosis tubular aguda 72 casos. Al correlacionar los hallazgos macroscópicos y microscópicos más frecuentes, encontramos una asociación significativa (valor V de Cramer de 0,592, p<0,0001). Conclusiones: Los hallazgos macroscópicos más frecuentes (lesión de entrada, hemorragia miocárdica y petequias subpleurales) y los hallazgos microscópicos más frecuentes (necrosis coagulativa en piel, infarto agudo de miocardio y necrosis tubular aguda) relacionados a electrocución parecen estar significativamente asociados.

Introduction: Electrocution is a frequent cause of traumatic death. It produces lesions and external signs that should be corroborated by microscopic findings. Objective: To correlate macroscopic findings with histopathologic results in electrocution deaths. Design: Descriptive, cross-sectional, correlational, retrospective study. Setting: Legal Medicine Institute-MP, Pathology Institute, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Peru. Material: Medicolegal necropsy reports. Results: From 116 cases, 8 were women and 108 males, mean age was 31.3 years. Twenty three per cent were electricians and 18 per cent worked in construction. The incident occurred at labor center in 51 per cent. Suicide accounted for two cases. Frequent macroscopic findings were general signs of choking, power input injuries, myocardial hemorrhage and subpleural petechiae in 73.3 per cent. Microscopic alterations were skin coagulative necrosis in 87 cases, cerebral edema in 101, pulmonary hemorrhage in 83, acute myocardial infarction in 87, and acute tubular necrosis in 72 cases. A significant association between macroscopic and microscopic findings (0.592 V Cramer value; p <0.0001) was found. Conclusions: Most common macroscopic findings (lesion input, myocardial hemorrhage and subpleural petechiae) and most frequent microscopic findings (skin coagulative necrosis, acute myocardial infarction and acute tubular necrosis) related to electrocution seemed to be significantly associated.

Correlación macroscópica-microscópica en muertes por electrocución: Morgue Central de Lima periodo 2008-2012 / Macroscopic-microscopic correlation in deaths by electrocution: Central Morgue of Lima period 2008-2012

Electrocución es la muerte causada por paso de corriente eléctrica por el cuerpo humano provocando calentamiento y destrucción de tejidos. OBJETIVOS: Correlacionar los hallazgos macroscópicos con los resultados histopatológicos en muertes por electrocución necropsiados en la Morgue Central de Lima en el periodo 2008-2012. TIPO DE ESTUDIO: Descriptivo, retrospectivo, transversal. DISEÑO: Diseño de una sola casilla. INSTITUCION: Instituto Medicina Legal-Ministerio Público. MUESTRA DE ESTUDIO: Informes de Necropsia Médico legal que tienen como causa de muerte electrocución, ingresado a la Morgue Central de Lima durante el periodo 2008 - 2012. PRINCIPALES MEDIDAS DE RESULTADOS: Medida de tendencia central, frecuencias y porcentaje. Asimismo, se realizó un estudio correlacional. RESULTADOS: De 116 casos, 108 fueron varones y 8 mujeres, la media de edad fue 31.32 años. 23 por ciento fueron electricistas, 18 por ciento trabajaban en construcción. El hecho ocurrió en el centro de trabajo en el 51 por ciento, etiología médico legal suicida 02 casos. Hallazgos macroscópicos más frecuentes: signos generales de asfixia, lesiones por entrada de corriente eléctrica, hemorragia miocárdica y petequias subpleurales en un 73.28 por ciento. Las alteraciones microscópicas fueron: necrosis coagulativa en piel 87 casos, edema cerebral 101 casos, hemorragia pulmonar 83 casos. Infarto agudo de miocardio 87 casos, necrosis tubular aguda 72 casos. Al correlacionar los hallazgos macroscópicos y microscópicos más frecuentes encontramos asociación. Se determinó un valor V de Cramer de 0,592 (p<0.0001) que indica valor significativo de correlación. CONCLUSIONES: Al correlacionar los hallazgos macroscópicos más frecuentes (lesión de entrada, hemorragia miocárdica y petequias subpleurales) con los hallazgos microscópicos más frecuentes (necrosis coagulativa en piel, infarto agudo de miocardio y necrosis tubular aguda) se encontró asociación determinándose un valor de V de Cramer...

Pattern of injuries due to electric current.

A one year study, from October 2007 to September 2008, was under taken in an attempt to study the pattern of electrical injury, the cause of death, manner of death, and diagnosis by histopathological examination. The study was compromised of 62 cases brought with history of electrical shock. Of the total 62 cases, males were 57(91.93%) and females were 5(8.06%) the mean age is 26 .27 year. The peak age of victims are 21-30 years age group 24 cases (38.71%].In the age group of 1n 0-10 years age group victims 3. Most of cases were due to low tension and domestic circuit. The patterns of electrical injuries are noted, such as entry, exit and both entry, exit wounds, flash burns and no electrical signs. The maximum victims showed dermo-epidermal degree of electrical burns .The histopathological examination is an important aid in diagnosis of electrical injuries and recommendations about preventive safety measures to reduce the mortality.

Study on electrical current mark with environmental scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray microanalyser / 法医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To provide objective proof on diagnosis of electrical current mark in electrocution, the environmental scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray microanalyser (ESEM-EDX) were adopted to study the microscopic morphological characteristics and elemental composition of electrical current mark.@*METHODS@#Morphological characteristics of electrical current marks, the elemental composition and morphology of metal particles were studied with ESEM-EDX.@*RESULTS@#The electroporation and metal melted beads could be found in the electrical current marks and skin around them. The metal melted beads mainly composed of common metal such as iron, copper, aluminum and some uncommon metal including gold, titanium and barium.@*CONCLUSION@#ESEM-EDX can be applied in forensic diagnosis of electrocution.

Laparoscopic partial nephrectomy in rats

PURPOSE: To establish an experimental model of laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (LPN) in rats and to analyze morphological alterations in the renal parenchyma utilizing an electric cautery and harmonic scalpel. METHODS: Forty Wistar rats were used, divided in 2 experiments with 20 rats each: experiment I, LPN was performed with an electric cautery and the rats were subdivided into groups A and B; experiment II, LPN was performed with a harmonic scalpel and they were subdivided into groups C and D. The animals in groups A and C were sacrificed shortly after surgery and the remnant kidney was removed to study the following variables: necroses and degeneration. In groups B and D a laparatomy was performed for retrieval of the remnant kidney on the 14th day after surgery to analyze fibrous scarring. RESULTS: For the variables necroses and fibrous scarring, the electric cautery creates, on average, greater width than that produced by the harmonic scalpel (p=0.0002 and p=0.0068 respectively). Regarding the variable of degeneration, we found no significant difference between the two types of scalpels (p=0.1267). CONCLUSIONS: LPN in rats is an adequate and feasible experimental model. The electric cautery caused greater damage to remnant renal tissue when compared to harmonic scalpel.

OBJETIVO: Estabelecer um modelo experimental de nefrectomia parcial laparoscópica (NPL) em ratos e analisar as alterações morfológicas no parênquima renal utilizando-se bisturi elétrico e harmônico. MÉTODOS: Foram utilizados 40 ratos Wistar, distribuídos em dois experimentos com 20 ratos cada: experimento I, NPL utilizando-se de bisturi elétrico e subdividindo-se os ratos em grupos A e B; experimento II, NPL realizada com bisturi harmônico e subdividindo-se os ratos em grupos C e D. Os animais dos grupos A e C foram sacrificados após a cirurgia para a remoção do rim operado e estudo das seguintes variáveis: necrose e degeneração. Nos grupos B e D a laparotomia para a retirada do rim operado foi após o décimo quarto dia de pós-operatório para a análise da cicatriz fibrosa. RESULTADOS: O bisturi elétrico provocou uma necrose e cicatriz fibrosa mais extensas em relação ao bisturi harmônico (p=0.0002 e p=0.0068 respectivamente). Em relação a variável degeneração, não houve diferença entre os tipos de bisturis (p=0.1267). CONCLUSÕES: NPL em ratos é um modelo experimental adequado e factível. O bisturi elétrico causa danos teciduais mais intensos no rim operado quando comparado com o bisturi harmônico.

Expression of c-Fos in rats organs after electrical injury / 法医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To study the expression of c-fos in organs after rats electrified.@*METHODS@#The brain, lung, heart, liver, spleen, kidney, muscle of electrified limb, and cutis of electrified limb of all experimental rats and those organs of control groups were dissected to detect the expression of c-fos by using immunohistochemistry staining, and the staining intensity were assessed by image analysis system.@*RESULTS@#The expression of c-fos was observed in brain, heart, liver, lung, kidney and muscle in electrified directly group, the amount of expression reached peak at 2 h after electrified and decreasing at 8 h after electrified, and the expression showed faintness in electrified at the immediate after death group. The expressions of c-fos in spleen and cutis is negative in all groups. The expression of c-fos in all detected organs was negative in other rats that were electrified after death.@*CONCLUSION@#c-fos can be regard as a target in identifying electrical injury, whether it formed at antemortem or postmortem.

Ultrastructure changes of electrical injury in rats / 法医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To observe ultrastructure changes of electrical injury in rats.@*METHODS@#An experimental model of rats suffered from the low voltage were designed. Ultrastructure changes of electrical injured tissues were observed under transmission electron microscope.@*RESULTS@#(1) Plasma of epithelium was concreted in the affected areas and inner membrane system was broken. (2) Hypercontraction bands were observed in skeleton muscles. (3) There was dissolved necrosis and hypercontraction bands in the myocardium. (4) Vacuoles were found in plasma of endothelium of blood vessels on electrical current path, and myelin sheath of nerve fiber were loosed.@*CONCLUSION@#The above mentioned ultrastructure changes could be used as assistant diagnostic index of electrocution. The mechanism of the changes were discussed.

Electrotrauma: revisión bibliográfica / Electrotrauma: bibliographical overhaul

Se hace una revisión de literatura en la que se mencionan las principales lesiones producidas por trauma eléctrico, sus grupos de riesgo, su anatomía patológica, factores que inciden sobre la gravedad de la injuria eléctrica, sus principales manifestaciones clínicas, el reconocimiento y manejo que debe hacerse ante esta situación emergente.