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273776

Study of possible biomarkers and electrolytes for diagnosis of death in fresh and saltwater drowning: A continual challenge in forensic practice

Article

Last updated: 22 Jan 2023

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Abstract

The recovery of a corpse from water raises an array of questions with no adequate answer, despite all signs that drowning cases could offer. This required other ancillary investigations such as; biochemical changes in different body fluids. Objectives: This work aimed at studying biochemical and electrolyte changes to differentiate true drowning from postmortem submersion in fresh and seawater using an experimental drowning model. Methods: Five groups of 8 adult male albino rats each were used, including anesthetically mechanically euthanized rats without exposure to submersion (as a control group), Group II: postmortem-submersion (PS) in freshwater, Group III: PS in saltwater, Group IV: truly drowned death (TDD) in freshwater, Group V: TDD in saltwater. Results: Certain markers significantly increased in the TDD of the saltwater compared to that of the freshwater group, such as sodium (Na), chloride (Cl), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), creatine phosphokinase (CPK), triglycerides, total protein, albumin, strontium (Sr) and cardiac troponin (pericardial fluid and peripheral blood). The summation of Na+, K+, Cl levels, and Sr concentration significantly increased in TDD of the saltwater group compared to the other groups. On the other hand, some parameters like blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (Cr), atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), and surfactant-associated protein (ASP-A) significantly increased in the TDD of the freshwater compared to those of the saltwater group. Conclusion: Serum electrolytes and biomarkers could serve as adjunct parameters in confirming drowning and differentiating between freshwater and saltwater drowning as well.

DOI

10.21608/ejfsat.2022.109869.1230

Keywords

drowning, electrolytes, freshwater, Saltwater, Strontium, postmortem submersion

Authors

First Name

Heba

Last Name

Mostafa

MiddleName

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Affiliation

Department of Forensic Medicine & Clinical Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Egypt

Email

hebashehto@gmail.com

City

-

Orcid

-

First Name

Dalia

Last Name

Abdallah El-Shafei

MiddleName

-

Affiliation

Departments of Community, Environmental & Occupational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Egypt

Email

d_elshaf3y_mony@hotmail.com

City

-

Orcid

-

First Name

Sara

Last Name

Elshiekh Altom

MiddleName

M.

Affiliation

Associate Professor of Pathology Soba teaching hospital, Sudan

Email

drsaraelshiekh@gmail.com

City

-

Orcid

-

First Name

/Eman

Last Name

Ahmed Alaa El-Din

MiddleName

-

Affiliation

Department of Forensic Medicine and Clinical Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Asharquia, Egypt. Postal code: 44519

Email

eman_alaa77@yahoo.com

City

Zagazig

Orcid

0000-0002-1283-2694

Volume

22

Article Issue

4

Related Issue

37912

Issue Date

2022-12-01

Receive Date

2021-12-17

Publish Date

2022-12-01

Page Start

63

Page End

72

Print ISSN

1687-0875

Online ISSN

2535-1915

Link

https://ejfsat.journals.ekb.eg/article_273776.html

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https://ejfsat.journals.ekb.eg/service?article_code=273776

Order

273,776

Type

Original Article

Type Code

429

Publication Type

Journal

Publication Title

The Egyptian Journal of Forensic Sciences and Applied Toxicology

Publication Link

https://ejfsat.journals.ekb.eg/

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Article

Created At

22 Jan 2023