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Pro-inflammatory mediators hold important functions in human body in response to infection, trauma and vascular disease. However, their action is down regulated by the release of anti-inflammatory cytokines, thus restoring a balance which reflects the immune status of a given individual. Recent studies have stressed out the importance of circulating levels of cytokines for forensic purposes even if there is a lack of studies regarding the role of post-mortem mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue. In this respect, Peyer’s patches (PP), represent one of the most important immunological site of the body and the major component of the gut -associated lymphoid tissue. The aim of this study was to evaluate post-mortem PP immune response in 40 serial autopsy cases of people who died from natural and traumatic death. The study examined spontaneous release of the following cytokines by fresh isolated PP cells: interleukin (IL)-12, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, IL-10, IL-6, IL-1β, and IL-8. Results will show that higher levels of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, and IL-8 are statistically correlated with the traumatic death group. From a forensic point of view these data demonstrate that fundamental lymphoid organs, such as PP, may have a potential in diagnosing the cause of death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traumatic brain injury is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among children suspected of child abuse. Penetrating cranio-facial injuries are generally rare in the pediatric age group and are caused by both accidental and inflicted mechanisms. We report an unusual case of a 2-year-old female who was admitted to a pediatric emergency room with an industrial stainless steel coat hanger impaled in her skull. Pertinent clinical forensic medicine examination, coupled with home inspection and interviews by the local law enforcement, revealed a horrible episode of domestic violence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Determination of time since death is one of the most difficult and crucial issue in forensic medicine. Apart from body cooling, which is commonly used in the early postmortem interval (PMI), supravital reactions are the most interesting postmortem changes for time of death estimation. Nasal ciliary motility has been occasionally observed in postmortem period although no studies have focused on this phenomenon for forensic purposes. We aimed to evaluate the diagnostic usefulness of ciliary motility as a potential tool in estimating the time of death. Specimens of ciliated epithelium from 100 consecutive cadavers were obtained by scraping the nasal mucosa at three different postmortem intervals. The samples were then smeared on a slide, and an in vitro evaluation of ciliary movement was analyzed by phase-contrast microscopy. A postmortem nasal ciliary motility was observed, and a statistically significant relationship between decreasing ciliary movements and increasing postmortem interval was detected even in presence of putrefactive changes of nasal ultrastructure integrity. Some peculiar causes of death seem to influence ciliary motility in the early PMI, while no significant correlations with sex or age were observed. According to the results of this study, postmortem evaluation of nasal ciliary motility may be a bona fide and a feasible option for estimating the time of death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]