O uso abusivo de substâncias psicoativas cresce a cada dia em diferentes segmentos da sociedade mundialmente. Aumentos significativos no número de ocorrências de óbito com envolvimento de tais substâncias têm sido reportados nas últimas décadas. A classe dos opiáceos está figurada entre as substâncias de maior prevalência nesse contexto. Em toxicologia forense, análises toxicológicas conduzidas em amostras postmortem podem auxiliar se substâncias químicas tiveram influência no óbito. A realização dessas análises e interpretação dos resultados obtidos nesses casos é bastante complexa devido à deterioração sofrida pelos cadáveres, e também pela ocorrência de um fenômeno denominado redistribuição postmortem, responsável pela transferência de substâncias após a morte a favor de gradiente de concentração. Em geral, as substâncias são transferidas de órgãos como fígado, coração, pulmões, e trato gastrointestinal, para locais de menor concentração, afetando principalmente o sangue da região central e órgãos adjacentes. O humor vítreo, apesar de considerado um espécime não-convencional, pode ser bastante útil, principalmente em casos onde não há amostras sanguíneas disponíveis para coleta. Esse espécime se apresenta como uma matriz menos propensa à decomposição bacteriana, além de ser menos afetado pela redistribuição postmortem por sua localização mais afastada dos sítios centrais. Desta forma, um método para quantificação de opiáceos (morfina livre e total, codeína e 6-acetilmorfina) em sangue (cardíaco e periférico) e em humor vítreo humanos coletados postmortem foi desenvolvido e validado. O método mostrou ser preciso, eficiente e sensível, com limite de quantificação de 10 ng/ml. Amostras de 7 casos postmortem com envolvimento de opiáceos foram analisadas com o intuito de verificar correlação nas concentrações entre os sítios, e possível ocorrência do fenômeno de redistribuição. / The abuse of psychoactive substances grows every day worldwide in different segments of the society. Significant increases in the number of drug-related deaths have been reported in recent decades. The class of opiates is one of the most prevalent substances in this context. In forensic toxicology, toxicological analyses are performed in postmortem samples to evaluate whether chemical substances were involved in the death. The completion of this analysis and interpretation of results are very complex due to the deterioration suffered by the corpses, and also by the occurrence of the phenomenon called postmortem redistribution, responsible for the transfer of substances along a concentration gradient after death. In general, the transference of the substances occurred from organs such as liver, heart, lungs and gastrointestinal tract to sites of low concentrations, mainly affecting the blood from central sites and adjacent organs. By this reason, the collection of blood from two different sites of the body for comparison is highly recommendable. Despite being considered a non-conventional specimen, vitreous humor can be quite useful, especially in cases where no blood samples are available for collection. This specimen is usually less prone to bacterial decomposition, and it\'s also less affected by postmortem redistribution due to its location further away from central sites. Thus, a method to quantify opiates (free and total morphine, codeine and 6- monoacetylmorphine) in postmortem blood (cardiac and peripheral) and in vitreous humor samples was developed and validated. The method showed good accuracy, efficiency and sensibility, with limit of quantification of the 10 ng/ml. Seven samples of postmortem cases with opiates involvement were analyzed to verify the correlation in the concentrations of the sites, and possible occurrence of the redistribution phenomenon.

O Laboratório de Toxicologia Forense/CEMEL/FMRP/USP analisou 400 amostras de sangue de vítimas fatais, de causa violenta, para a determinação de alcoolemia. Em relação às causa jurídicas de morte, as amostras foram provenientes de vítimas de acidentes, homicídios, suicídios e de outras causas externas. Os acidentes de trânsito foram estudados com maior ênfase devido à importância e impacto sócio-econômico que essas mortes representam em todo o mundo. A existência de legislação no nosso País sobre o consumo de etanol e a condução de veículos automotores, que estabelece o limite máximo permitido de 0,6 g de álcool por litro no sangue para a condução de veículos, torna obrigatório os exames toxicológicos em vítimas nessas condições. O estudo teve como objetivos conhecer a relação entre a concentração de álcool no sangue e as mortes de causa violentas considerando os parâmetros sexo e faixa etária, com a finalidade de prover dados científicos às autoridades legais brasileiras, que contribuam para melhorar o controle e a legislação sobre o consumo de bebidas alcoólicas na sociedade, e evidenciar a necessidade do exame de alcoolemia em outros tipos de causas de morte violenta como homicídios e suicídios. Para a investigação da alcoolemia, foram coletadas amostras de sangue em artérias periféricas ou central, durante o exame necroscópico. Estas foram acondicionadas em frascos apropriados, identificadas e imediatamente armazenadas sob refrigeração até o momento das análises. As análises de etanol foram realizadas pela técnica de cromatografia em fase gasosa com detector de ionização por chama (GC-FID) utilizado amostrador automático para a introdução da amostras na fase vapor (Headspace). Foram preparadas concentrações de 0,5; 1,0; 3,0; 5,0 g/L de etanol para a construção da curva analítica para quantificação e determinação dos tempos de retenção, limites de detecção e quantificação da técnica. A identificação positiva de etanol foi feita pela comparação dos tempos de retenção do pico eluído na amostra com o pico do padrão do etanol. A quantificação foi realizada através do método de padronização interna utilizando isobutanol como padrão interno. Quanto aos resultados, as amostras mais analisadas para alcoolemia, entre as mortes violentas foram, respectivamente, os acidentes, principalmente os de trânsito, seguidos dos homicídios, suicídios e outros tipos de morte violenta. A média de idade dos indivíduos envolvidos nessas ocorrências foi de 36,3 anos, havendo predominância das amostras do sexo masculino, sendo que mais que 50% das vítimas apresentaram alcoolemia positiva, com valores acima do permitido por lei. Concluímos que, na amostra de referência, o álcool está altamente correlacionado com as mortes de causas violentas; que é imprescindível a solicitação e realização do exame de alcoolemia em todas as mortes de causa externa, independentemente do motivo, gênero e faixa etária. Ainda podemos concluir que existe a necessidade da investigação de outras drogas lícitas e ilícitas, com especial atenção em vítimas fatais que não apresentaram resultados de alcoolemia positivos. Tais resultados toxicológicos poderão ser úteis para melhor interpretação dos casos e elucidação das mortes, podendo contribuir para o estabelecimento de medidas legais, preventivas e punitivas. / In the Laboratory of Forensic Toxicology/CEMEL/FMRP/USP 400, blood samples from victims of violent deaths were analyzed for alcohol levels. With regard to juridical causes of deaths, the samples were obtained from victims of accidents, homicides, suicides and other external causes. Traffic accidents were studied with more emphasis due to their importance and social-economic impact worldwide. The existence of legislation in our country on ethanol consumption and driving automobiles, which establishes maximum allowed levels of 0.6 g of alcohol per liter of blood for operating a vehicle, makes it mandatory to conduct toxicological tests in victims under these conditions. This study aimed to clarify the relationship between alcohol levels and causes of violent deaths, considering the parameters of gender, age range and alcohol concentration to provide scientific data for Brazilian legal authorities to improve the control and the legislation on consumption of alcohol beverages in the society and indicate the need of the alcoholic level determination in other causes of violent deaths such as homicides and suicides. For alcohol level determination, blood samples were collected from peripheral or central arteries, during necroscopic examination. The samples were placed in appropriate tubes, identified and immediately stored under refrigeration until analysis. Ethanol analyses were performed by using the technique of gas chromatography with detection by flame ionization (GC-FID) using automatic sampler for introducing the samples in the vapor phase (Headspace). Concentrations of 0.5, 1.0, 3.0, 5.0 g/L were prepared for the construction of an analytical curve to determine the retention times, and limits of detection and quantification of the technique. Positive identification of ethanol was done by comparing retention times of eluted peak from the sample and standard peak of ethanol. Quantification was done by the method of internal standardizing using isobutanol as internal standard. The results revealed that violent deaths that mostly present positive results for ethanol were respectively accidents, mainly traffic ones, followed by homicides, suicides and other causes of violent deaths. The age mean of involved individuals in these occurrences was 36.3 years, the majority were males of which 50% presented positive blood alcohol results with values above legal limit. We concluded that the alcohol, besides being an important factor in the development of diseases, it is also highly linked to violent deaths. It is necessary to request and performed alcohol investigation in deaths of any cause, despite the reason, gender and age range. We can also suggest there is a need of investigation of other licit and illicit drugs with special attention to victims that were not positive for alcohol. These toxicological results may be useful for a better interpretation and elucidation of deaths, contributing for the application of legal preventives and punitive attitudes.

O Laboratório de Toxicologia Forense/CEMEL/FMRP/USP analisou 400 amostras de sangue de vítimas fatais, de causa violenta, para a determinação de alcoolemia. Em relação às causa jurídicas de morte, as amostras foram provenientes de vítimas de acidentes, homicídios, suicídios e de outras causas externas. Os acidentes de trânsito foram estudados com maior ênfase devido à importância e impacto sócio-econômico que essas mortes representam em todo o mundo. A existência de legislação no nosso País sobre o consumo de etanol e a condução de veículos automotores, que estabelece o limite máximo permitido de 0,6 g de álcool por litro no sangue para a condução de veículos, torna obrigatório os exames toxicológicos em vítimas nessas condições. O estudo teve como objetivos conhecer a relação entre a concentração de álcool no sangue e as mortes de causa violentas considerando os parâmetros sexo e faixa etária, com a finalidade de prover dados científicos às autoridades legais brasileiras, que contribuam para melhorar o controle e a legislação sobre o consumo de bebidas alcoólicas na sociedade, e evidenciar a necessidade do exame de alcoolemia em outros tipos de causas de morte violenta como homicídios e suicídios. Para a investigação da alcoolemia, foram coletadas amostras de sangue em artérias periféricas ou central, durante o exame necroscópico. Estas foram acondicionadas em frascos apropriados, identificadas e imediatamente armazenadas sob refrigeração até o momento das análises. As análises de etanol foram realizadas pela técnica de cromatografia em fase gasosa com detector de ionização por chama (GC-FID) utilizado amostrador automático para a introdução da amostras na fase vapor (Headspace). Foram preparadas concentrações de 0,5; 1,0; 3,0; 5,0 g/L de etanol para a construção da curva analítica para quantificação e determinação dos tempos de retenção, limites de detecção e quantificação da técnica. A identificação positiva de etanol foi feita pela comparação dos tempos de retenção do pico eluído na amostra com o pico do padrão do etanol. A quantificação foi realizada através do método de padronização interna utilizando isobutanol como padrão interno. Quanto aos resultados, as amostras mais analisadas para alcoolemia, entre as mortes violentas foram, respectivamente, os acidentes, principalmente os de trânsito, seguidos dos homicídios, suicídios e outros tipos de morte violenta. A média de idade dos indivíduos envolvidos nessas ocorrências foi de 36,3 anos, havendo predominância das amostras do sexo masculino, sendo que mais que 50% das vítimas apresentaram alcoolemia positiva, com valores acima do permitido por lei. Concluímos que, na amostra de referência, o álcool está altamente correlacionado com as mortes de causas violentas; que é imprescindível a solicitação e realização do exame de alcoolemia em todas as mortes de causa externa, independentemente do motivo, gênero e faixa etária. Ainda podemos concluir que existe a necessidade da investigação de outras drogas lícitas e ilícitas, com especial atenção em vítimas fatais que não apresentaram resultados de alcoolemia positivos. Tais resultados toxicológicos poderão ser úteis para melhor interpretação dos casos e elucidação das mortes, podendo contribuir para o estabelecimento de medidas legais, preventivas e punitivas. / In the Laboratory of Forensic Toxicology/CEMEL/FMRP/USP 400, blood samples from victims of violent deaths were analyzed for alcohol levels. With regard to juridical causes of deaths, the samples were obtained from victims of accidents, homicides, suicides and other external causes. Traffic accidents were studied with more emphasis due to their importance and social-economic impact worldwide. The existence of legislation in our country on ethanol consumption and driving automobiles, which establishes maximum allowed levels of 0.6 g of alcohol per liter of blood for operating a vehicle, makes it mandatory to conduct toxicological tests in victims under these conditions. This study aimed to clarify the relationship between alcohol levels and causes of violent deaths, considering the parameters of gender, age range and alcohol concentration to provide scientific data for Brazilian legal authorities to improve the control and the legislation on consumption of alcohol beverages in the society and indicate the need of the alcoholic level determination in other causes of violent deaths such as homicides and suicides. For alcohol level determination, blood samples were collected from peripheral or central arteries, during necroscopic examination. The samples were placed in appropriate tubes, identified and immediately stored under refrigeration until analysis. Ethanol analyses were performed by using the technique of gas chromatography with detection by flame ionization (GC-FID) using automatic sampler for introducing the samples in the vapor phase (Headspace). Concentrations of 0.5, 1.0, 3.0, 5.0 g/L were prepared for the construction of an analytical curve to determine the retention times, and limits of detection and quantification of the technique. Positive identification of ethanol was done by comparing retention times of eluted peak from the sample and standard peak of ethanol. Quantification was done by the method of internal standardizing using isobutanol as internal standard. The results revealed that violent deaths that mostly present positive results for ethanol were respectively accidents, mainly traffic ones, followed by homicides, suicides and other causes of violent deaths. The age mean of involved individuals in these occurrences was 36.3 years, the majority were males of which 50% presented positive blood alcohol results with values above legal limit. We concluded that the alcohol, besides being an important factor in the development of diseases, it is also highly linked to violent deaths. It is necessary to request and performed alcohol investigation in deaths of any cause, despite the reason, gender and age range. We can also suggest there is a need of investigation of other licit and illicit drugs with special attention to victims that were not positive for alcohol. These toxicological results may be useful for a better interpretation and elucidation of deaths, contributing for the application of legal preventives and punitive attitudes.

Introduction : La détermination du délai postmortem dans les cas de découvertes de restes squelettisés est un élément clé de l’enquête judiciaire. Pour autant, face à la découverte de restes osseux, peu de méthodes sont applicables pour une estimation précise de ce délai. Cette étude taphonomique souhaitait s’inscrire dans une temporalité rejoignant les impératifs judiciaires appliqués en médecine légale. Ainsi, l’hypothèse principale de ce travail était constituée par une dégradation organique précoce de l’os en période postmortem, notamment sous la forme d’une dégradation collagénique. Celle ci a donc fait l’objet d’une évaluation prospective.Matériels et Méthodes : 6 dons de corps humains, sans pathologie osseuse connue ont été inclus et pour chaque sujet, le choix des os étudiés s’est orienté vers les côtes. Ces os ont été inclus dans un environnement de diagénèse et étudiés sur 2 ans. Une analyse macroscopique de perte de poids de l’os a été réalisée, et complétée par deux méthodes : l’une moléculaire (microspectrométrie Raman) et l’autre morphologique (histologie).Résultats : Ce travail, a permis de mettre en évidence certaines caractéristiques de l’altération temporelle des différentes phases osseuses via : une dessiccation mise en évidence par une perte de poids osseuse ; une diagénèse des fractions organiques et minérales. Ainsi, l’étude des paramètres physico-chimiques en microspectrométrie Raman a montré une tendance temporelle à la diminution des rapports phase minérale/phase organique ; la diminution de la carbonatation minérale ; l’augmentation de la cristallinité. L’analyse statistique multivariée des spectres Raman a permis : de distinguer des groupes temporels en les discriminant via leurs contributions organiques ; de construire l’ébauche d’un modèle statistique d’utilisation pratique. L’étude microscopique des prélèvements a montré l’absence de toute attaque microbienne en période postmortem précoce, mais un mécanisme d’altération organique collagénique de type hydrolyse chimique.Discussion : Notre travail, a permis d’identifier 3 paramètres fondamentaux du vieillissement osseux qui doivent être connus du praticien qualifié en anthropologie médico-légale, et cela même sur une période d’étude de 2 ans « courte » à l’échelle de l’anthropologie :- L’environnement influence fortement la diagénèse osseuse et doit être aussi bien étudié que l’os en lui même. En effet, l’étude de la perte de poids de l’os, a montré une altération de composition osseuse très précoce avec phénomène de dessiccation osseuse, comparable à la déshydratation globale du corps en période postmortem ;- La diagénèse osseuse est un phénomène global dans lequel les différentes altérations de phases minérales et organiques sont interdépendantes et peuvent être appréciées par la microspectrométrie Raman, qui outre son apport dans l’analyse de la dégradation chimique de l’os, permet par les outils statistiques qui y sont associés, d’identifier des classes temporelles de diagénèse. Ces classes, qui devront faire l’objet d’études supplémentaires, pourraient à terme être une aide pratique et servir de référence dans la datation précise d’un os ;- L’altération organique de l’os peut s’opérer selon des modes de dégradations chimiques ou bactériens en fonction de l’environnement et du délai postmortem. L’histologie peut permettre de faire ce distinguo. Sur ce délai d’étude, la dégradation collagénique de type chimique par hydrolyse est prédominante.Conclusion : Ces paramètres forment une unité structurelle indissociable qui est connue de longue date en anthropologie archéologique, et qui est parfaitement transposable en pratique médico-légale si des méthodologies adaptées sont développées. Les voies de recherche sur cette thématique ont un rôle essentiel à jouer pour que la médecine légale puisse répondre aux légitimes demandes exprimées par les victimes et leurs ayants-droits auprès de la justice. / Introduction: Determining the postmortem interval in cases of skeletonized remains is a key element of the judicial investigation. However, few methods are applicable for an accurate estimate of this period. This taphonomic study wanted to be performed in a temporality joining the legal requirements applied in forensics. Thus, the main hypothesis of this study was an early organic postmortem bone degradation, particularly a collagen degradation. The latter has been studied prospectively.Materials and Methods: 6 human bodies without known bone disease were included, and for each subject, the ribs were chosen. The bones were included in a diagenetic environment and studied over 2 years. Macroscopic analysis of bone weight loss was performed, and completed by two methods: one molecular (Raman microspectrometry) and the other morphological (histology).Results: This work has highlighted certain features of the temporary bone alteration on its different phases via: a desiccation highlighted by bone mass loss; a diagenesis of organic and mineral phases. Thus, the study of physicochemical parameters by Raman microspectrometry revealed a temporary trend of declining mineral / organic ratios; decreasing carbonation; increasing crystallinity. Multivariate analysis of Raman spectra allowed: to distinguish temporal groups by discriminating via their organic contributions; to design a statistical model of practical use. The microscopic study of the samples revealed no microbial attack in the early postmortem period, but an alteration of collagen by chemical hydrolysis.Discussion: Our study identified three basic parameters of bone diagenesis that must be known to the forensic anthropologist, even over a period of 2 years which is \\\"short\\\" on the scale of anthropology:- The environment strongly influences bone diagenesis and should be studied as well as the bone itself. Indeed, the study of weight loss of the bone, revealed a phenomenon of bone drying, similar to the overall dehydration of the body in the postmortem period;- Bone diagenesis is a global phenomenon in which the various alterations of inorganic and organic phases are interdependent and can be evaluated by Raman microspectrometry. Also its contribution in the analysis of the chemical degradation of the bone, Raman spectroscopy and statistical tools associated with it, allows the identification of diagenesis classes. These classes will require additional studies, eventually to be a practical support in dating a bone;- The organic alteration of the bone may be due to chemical or bacterial degradation, according to the environment and the postmortem period. Histology can make this distinction. On this period of study, the collagen degradation by chemical hydrolysis is predominant.Conclusion: These parameters form a structural unit, which is well known in archaeological anthropology, and is absolutely transposable in forensic practice if appropriate methodologies are developed. Research on this topic has an essential role as forensics can respond to legitimate requests from victims and their relatives towards justice.

Postmortem interval (PMI) estimation is a necessary but often difficult task that must completed during a death investigation. The level of difficulty rises as time since death increases, especially with the case of skeletonized remains (long PMI). While challenging, a reliable PMI estimate may be of great importance for investigative direction and cost-savings (e.g. suspect identification, tailoring missing persons searches, non-forensic remains exclusion). Long PMI can be estimated by assessing changes in the organic content of bone (i.e. collagen), which degrades and is lost as the PMI lengthens. Visible-near infrared (VNIR) spectroscopy is one method that can be used for analyzing organic constituents, including proteins, in solid specimens. A 2013 preliminary investigation using a limited number of human cortical bone samples suggested that VNIR spectroscopy could provide a fast, reliable technique for assessing PMI in human skeletal remains. Clear separation was noted between "forensic" and "archaeological" specimen spectra within the near-infrared (NIR) bands. The goal of this research was to develop reliable multivariate classification models that could assign skeletal remains to appropriate PMI classes (e.g. "forensic" and "non-forensic"), based on NIR spectra collected from human cortical bone. Working with a large set of cortical samples (n=341), absorbance spectra were collected with an ASD/PANalytical LabSpec® 4 full range spectrometer. Sample spectra were then randomly assigned to training and test sets, where training set spectra were used to build internally cross-validated models in Camo Unscrambler® X 10.4; external validations of the models were then performed on test set spectra. Selected model algorithms included soft independent modeling of class analogy (SIMCA), linear discriminant analysis on principal components (LDA-PCA), and partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLSDA); an application of support vector machines on principal components (SVM-PCA) was attempted as well. Multivariate classification models were built using both raw and transformed spectra (standard normal variate, Savitzky-Golay) that were collected from the longitudinally cut cortical surfaces (Set A models) and the superficial cortical surface following light grinding (Set B models). SIMCA models were consistently the poorest performers, as were many of the SVM-PCA models; LDA-PCA models were generally the best performers for these data. Transformed-spectra model classification accuracies were generally the same or lower than corresponding raw spectral models. Set A models out-performed Set B counterparts in most cases; Set B models often yielded lower classification accuracy for older forensic and non-forensic spectra. A limited number of Set B transformed-spectra models out-performed the raw model counterparts, suggesting that these transformations may be removing scattering-related noise, leading to improvements in model accuracy. This study suggests that NIR spectroscopy may represent a reliable technique for assessing the PMI of unknown human skeletal remains. Future work will require identifying new sources of remains with established extended PMI values. Broadening the number of spectra collected from older forensic samples would allow for the determination of how many narrower potential PMI classes can be discriminated within the forensic time-frame.

Determining the postmortem interval (PMI) remains one of the most important but challenging factors to establish in a suspicious death investigation. Unfortunately, as time passes current methods lose accuracy and only allow investigators to approximate how long ago death occurred. Bodies interred in clandestine graves prove particularly challenging due to an abundance of variables that need to be taken into consideration. Due to the problems associated with determining the PMI of buried remains this study will utilise macroscopic, microscopic, molecular, chemical and microbiological analyses to systematically document the decompositional changes to human hair and porcine cartilage and bone in a burial environment. The aim was to correlate decompositional changes with time and develop new methods for estimating the PMI of remains found in this context. Whole trotters (from which the cartilage was harvested) exhibited decompositional changes including darkening of the dermis, skin slippage, liquefaction of soft tissues and complete skeletonisation. The decompositional changes to cartilage included a loss of cartilage covering articular facets, changes in colour and texture, formation of orthorhombic crystals, a change in surface pH and colonisation by bacteria. The bacteria found on the cartilage surface were in close proximity to the crystals and when cultured on a B-41 medium were found to precipitate crystals of the same morphology and chemical composition to those found on the cartilage surface. Three species of bacteria (Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, Acinetobacter iwoffii and Grimontia hollisae) were identified based on gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) of their fatty acids and one species (Comamonas sp.) was identified by DNA analysis. Formation of crystals on goat and cow cartilage proved that this was not a porcine specific phenomenon. Human hair exhibited a gradual degradation over time but this was dependent on the characteristics of the burial environment. Decompositional changes included colonisation by fungi, erosions to the cortical surface and formation of tunnels and breaks to the hair shaft. Two fungal species (Aspergillus fumigatus and Penicillium sp.) were identified based on DNA analysis of fungal ribosomal (rDNA) internally transcribed spacer (ITS) regions. The Penicillium sp. was linked with fungal tunnelling of hair. Bone exhibited little modification over time but changes were observed. These included a change in colour of the cortical surface, a change in colour and gradual loss of bone marrow and erosions, cracking and flaking of the cortical bone. Fungi were found to colonise both the bone marrow and bone surface. Whole piglets were buried to document the time period taken to reach skeletonisation. This data was used as a correction factor and combined with the bone results to give an overall time period for the decomposition changes observed. The results of this study suggest that the decompositional changes to cartilage could be used to determine the postmortem interval of buried remains. However, the degradation of hair and bone was too variable to be of use in this context.

Master of Science / Department of Animal Sciences and Industry / Terry Houser / A total of 45 top sirloin butts (IMPS 184) were procured from three commercial beef processing facilities to determine the effects of post-mortem aging time and blade tenderization on the quality of beef gluteus medius (GM) steaks. Top sirloin butts were randomly assigned to five post-mortem aging periods (5, 19, 33, 47, and 61 days). One-half of each beef GM was randomly assigned to either a blade tenderized treatment or a non-blade tenderized treatment that was not blade tenderized. Steaks were then evaluated for thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), metmyoglobin reducing activity (MRA), oxygen consumption rate (OCR), visual color panel, instrumental color, Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF), Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) enumeration, pH, and sensory properties. Aging × blade tenderization interactions (P < 0.05) were found for display color panel, discoloration panel, WBSF, overall tenderness, myofibrillar tenderness, bloody/serumy, metallic, overall sweet, and bitter (P < 0.05). As steaks were aged longer and blade tenderized they became more discolored during display and more tender. In addition, there were aging × display time interactions (P < 0.05) observed for L*, a*, b*, display color panel, and discoloration panel. As steaks were aged longer, they had increased L*, a*, b*, and hue angle values and display color panel scores when initially put into a retail case, but L*, a* and b* decreased and discoloration scores increased as display time increased. Furthermore, there were blade tenderization × display time interactions (P < 0.05) found for display and discoloration panels. Blade tenderized steaks discolored faster in retail display than non-blade tenderized steaks. With increased aging time, there was an increase (P < 0.05) in TBARS, OCR, initial color panel, LAB enumeration, and warmed-over flavor, as well as a decrease in MRA. Also, as aging increased there was a decrease (P < 0.05) in MRA, initial color panel scores, and WBSF values. Blade tenderization significantly increased (P < 0.05) initial color panel scores, rancid flavor, and spoiled flavor. Increasing the aging time of the GM, produced steaks with decreased color stability, altered the flavor profile, and increased tenderness. Blade tenderization significantly increased tenderness, increased discoloration in a retail case, and produced more undesirable flavors.

Em casos de investigação criminal, a determinação do tempo de morte pode inocentar ou culpar algum suspeito. Atualmente, os estudos publicados relacionados ao advento da autópsia virtual não consideram a possibilidade da utilização dos exames complementares de imagem como auxílio à estimativa do intervalo postmortem, sendo esta uma das principais motivações para a realização do presente estudo, já que a tomografia computadorizada é excelente método de medida de densidade. Diante desse cenário, o objetivo do trabalho foi aprimorar a estimativa do intervalo postmortem por meio da avaliação tomográfica das hipóstases viscerais torácicas. Foi realizado estudo prospectivo observacional com dados obtidos de 23 corpos de pacientes de ambos os sexos que foram encaminhados ao Serviço de Verificação de Óbitos da Capital São Paulo. Foram obtidos cortes tomográficos do segmento torácico de modo sequencial utilizando-se o tomógrafo SOMATOM® Emotion syngo CT 2012E, com intervalo de uma hora entre os exames, a fim de permitir a análise das modificações de densidade das hipóstases ao longo do tempo. Na janela de mediastino, foram selecionados os átrios direito e esquerdo para obtenção das medidas de densidade tecidual média. Foi possível concluir que a maioria das hipóstases pulmonares se estabiliza entre 8 e 12 horas e as hipóstases intracardíacas em torno de 12 horas. Além disso, o modelo estatístico de Mitscherlich pode ser utilizado para descrever o comportamento da hipóstase em função do intervalo de morte decorrido / In cases of criminal investigation, the determination of the time of death can acquit or condemn a suspect. Currently, the published studies related to the raising of the postmortem CT do not consider the possibility of using the complementary image exams as support to the estimate of the postmortem interval, being that one of the main motivations to the execution of the present study, once the multislice computed tomography is an excellent method of measure of density. In this scenery, the goal of this study was to improve the precision of the determination of the time of death through the tomographic evaluation of the visceral thoracic hypostasis. A prospective study was performed with data obtained from 23 bodies of patients, which were forward to the autopsy center of the city of São Paulo. Tomographic images of thorax were obtained sequentially, by using SOMATOM® Emotion syngo CT 2012E, with intervals of one hour each one between the exams, in order to allow the analysis of the modifications of the density of the hypostasis over time. In the mediastinum window, the right and left atrium were selected in order to obtain the measures of the average organ density. It was possible to conclude that the majority of the pulmonary hypostasis would stabilize between 8 and 12 hours and the intracardiac hypostasis around 12 hours. Furthermore, the statistical model of Mitscherlich can be used to describe the behavior of the images according to the postmortem interval

Em casos de investigação criminal, a determinação do tempo de morte pode inocentar ou culpar algum suspeito. Atualmente, os estudos publicados relacionados ao advento da autópsia virtual não consideram a possibilidade da utilização dos exames complementares de imagem como auxílio à estimativa do intervalo postmortem, sendo esta uma das principais motivações para a realização do presente estudo, já que a tomografia computadorizada é excelente método de medida de densidade. Diante desse cenário, o objetivo do trabalho foi aprimorar a estimativa do intervalo postmortem por meio da avaliação tomográfica das hipóstases viscerais torácicas. Foi realizado estudo prospectivo observacional com dados obtidos de 23 corpos de pacientes de ambos os sexos que foram encaminhados ao Serviço de Verificação de Óbitos da Capital São Paulo. Foram obtidos cortes tomográficos do segmento torácico de modo sequencial utilizando-se o tomógrafo SOMATOM® Emotion syngo CT 2012E, com intervalo de uma hora entre os exames, a fim de permitir a análise das modificações de densidade das hipóstases ao longo do tempo. Na janela de mediastino, foram selecionados os átrios direito e esquerdo para obtenção das medidas de densidade tecidual média. Foi possível concluir que a maioria das hipóstases pulmonares se estabiliza entre 8 e 12 horas e as hipóstases intracardíacas em torno de 12 horas. Além disso, o modelo estatístico de Mitscherlich pode ser utilizado para descrever o comportamento da hipóstase em função do intervalo de morte decorrido / In cases of criminal investigation, the determination of the time of death can acquit or condemn a suspect. Currently, the published studies related to the raising of the postmortem CT do not consider the possibility of using the complementary image exams as support to the estimate of the postmortem interval, being that one of the main motivations to the execution of the present study, once the multislice computed tomography is an excellent method of measure of density. In this scenery, the goal of this study was to improve the precision of the determination of the time of death through the tomographic evaluation of the visceral thoracic hypostasis. A prospective study was performed with data obtained from 23 bodies of patients, which were forward to the autopsy center of the city of São Paulo. Tomographic images of thorax were obtained sequentially, by using SOMATOM® Emotion syngo CT 2012E, with intervals of one hour each one between the exams, in order to allow the analysis of the modifications of the density of the hypostasis over time. In the mediastinum window, the right and left atrium were selected in order to obtain the measures of the average organ density. It was possible to conclude that the majority of the pulmonary hypostasis would stabilize between 8 and 12 hours and the intracardiac hypostasis around 12 hours. Furthermore, the statistical model of Mitscherlich can be used to describe the behavior of the images according to the postmortem interval

Submitted by Jorge Silva (jorgelmsilva@ufrrj.br) on 2018-04-27T17:35:24Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2014 - Thiago Blanc Celino.pdf: 6972677 bytes, checksum: 143eeb47588b45b8bb4ab7a3bf4e4d31 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-04-27T17:35:25Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2014 - Thiago Blanc Celino.pdf: 6972677 bytes, checksum: 143eeb47588b45b8bb4ab7a3bf4e4d31 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-03-27 / CAPES / This work was performed in human cadavers and animal carcasses, with the aim to describe the injuries and assess the evolution of these artifacts during development of the decomposition process. The cadavers were examined at the scene and at the morgue. Two types of substrates were found: found accidentally and intentionally exposed to the activity of ants. Data collection for the bodies lasted a year, in Rio de Janeiro and Amazonas. Data collection for carcasses was held in July, followed by two years in an army barracks, in Rio de Janeiro. The specimens were collected with tweezers and transported to the laboratory immersed in 70% ethanol. We used three domestic pig - Sus scrofa, dead at the scene by shooting projectile firearm and exposed areas with nests inside a modified Shannon trap, a distance of 50 meters from each other. Four pitfalls were arranged around the traps. Photographs were made and only one or two specimens that caused artifacts were collected, relating them with injuries. The specimens were conducted for Myrmecology Laboratory of the Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro for identification. During the research , we analyzed eight cases of human cadavers, in which were collected : a) Myrmicinae subfamily , tribe Solenopsidini possibly genus Solenopsis spp b ) Camponotus sp.1 c ) Camponotus sp.2 d ) Camponotus rufipes ; e) Pheidole sp. 1 f ) Ectatomma sp.1 g ) Cephalotes atratus h) Crematogaster sp.1 i) small ants unidentified. However , only the first taxon was found associated with the corpses of the IML. Associated with animal carcasses were found : a) Solenopsis sp.1 b ) Pheidole sp.1 c ) Brachymyrmex sp.1 d ) Wasmannia sp.1 e) Ectatomma lugens . The latter being associated with animal carcass found accidentally. Among the collected species, Ectatomma sp.1 Brachymyrmex sp.1 and Wasmannia sp.1 causing artifacts were not observed. The lesions encountered can be described as serpentine punctuated by presenting color ranging from yellow to dark brown. They had removing skin surface such as scratches, in some cases, removal of the evolved to underlying tissues. In some cases, the detachment of the epidermis formed a clump of skin similar to those observed in cadavers in more advanced stage of decomposition. The jaws of the ants produce lesions in the superficial vessels causing bleeding postmortem. We also observed similar chemical injuries to injuries intra vitam produced by burning acid and / or smoking. Lesions caused by Solenopsis sp. was possible to trace the tracks of foraging evidenced by formic acid , as well as the accumulation of dirt, indicating the attempt of ants close these post-mortem lesions. It was found that ants can lead to skeletonization of small carcasses. The domestic pig carcasses showed artifacts similar to those found in bodies, at least until they reach the beginning of the initial stage of deterioration, when the activity of the flies hampered his observation. / Este trabalho foi realizado em cad?veres humanos e em carca?as animais, com o objetivo de descrever as les?es e avaliar a evolu??o desses artefatos durante o desenvolvimento do processo de decomposi??o. Os cad?veres humanos foram examinados na cena do crime e no necrot?rio. Dois tipos de carca?as foram avaliadas: encontradas acidentalmente e intencionalmente expostas ? atividade de formigas. A coleta de dados relativa aos corpos durou um ano, no Rio de Janeiro e no Amazonas e a relativa ?s carca?as foi realizada em julho, por dois anos seguidos, no Rio de Janeiro. Os esp?cimes foram coletados com pin?as e transportados ao laborat?rio fixados em etanol 70%. Foram utilizados tr?s porcos dom?sticos - Sus scrofa, mortos no local, atrav?s de disparo de proj?til de arma de fogo e expostos em ?reas com formigueiros dentro de uma armadilha tipo Shannon modificada, a dist?ncia de 50 metros uma das outras. Quatro armadilhas de solo foram dispostas entorno das armadilha Shannon. Fotografias foram confeccionadas e apenas um ou dois exemplares que causaram os artefatos foram coletados, relacionando-os com as les?es. Os exemplares foram conduzidos para o Laborat?rio de Mirmecologia da Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro para identifica??o taxon?mica. Durante a pesquisa, foram analisados oito casos de cad?veres humanos, nos quais foram observados: a) Subfam?lia Myrmicinae, Tribo Solenopsidini, g?nero Solenopsis spp; b) Camponotus sp.1; c) Camponotus sp.2; d) Camponotus rufipes; e) Pheidole sp. 1; f) Ectatomma sp.1; g) Cephalotes atratus; h) Crematogaster sp.1; i) formigas pequenas n?o identificadas. Por?m, apenas o primeiro t?xon foi encontrado associado aos cad?veres do IML. Associados ?s carca?as animais foram encontrados: a) Solenopsis sp.1; b) Pheidole sp.1; c) Brachymyrmex sp.1; d) Wasmannia sp.1; e) Ectatomma lugens; sendo esta ?ltima associada ? carca?a animal encontrada acidentalmente. Dentre todas as esp?cies coletadas, Ectatomma sp.1, Brachymyrmex sp.1 e Wasmannia sp.1 n?o foram observadas causando artefatos. As les?es encontradas podem ser descritas como serpentiformes, pontuadas, apresentando colora??o que variava do amarelo at? o marrom escuro. Elas apresentavam remo??o de pele superficial como arranh?es que, em alguns casos, evolu?ram at? a remo??o dos tecidos subjacentes. Em alguns casos, o destacamento da epiderme formou um amontoado de pele similar ?queles observados em cad?veres em est?gio de decomposi??o mais avan?ados. As mand?bulas das formigas produziram les?es nos vasos superficiais causando sangramento p?s-morte. Tamb?m foram observadas les?es qu?micas similares a les?es intra vitam produzidas por queimadura de ?cido e/ou cigarro. Nas les?es provocadas por Solenopsis sp. foi poss?vel tra?ar as trilhas de forrageamento evidenciadas pelo ?cido f?rmico, bem como pelo ac?mulo de sujeira, indicando a tentativa das formigas fecharem estas les?es p?s-morte. Foi verificado que as formigas podem levar a esqueletiza??o de carca?as de pequeno porte. As carca?as de porco dom?stico apresentaram artefatos similares ?queles encontrados em corpos humanos, pelo menos at? alcan?arem o in?cio do est?gio de deteriora??o inicial, quando a atividade dos d?pteros dificultou sua observa??o.