Identification of crystals forming on porcine articular cartilage: a new method for the estimation of the postmortem interval
Rogers, Christopher J, ten Broek, C M A, Hodson, B, Whitehead, M P, Schmerer, W M and Suoon, R (2014) Identification of crystals forming on porcine articular cartilage: a new method for the estimation of the postmortem interval. Journal of Forensic Sciences, 59 (6). pp. 1575-1582. ISSN 1556-4029
|
PDF
id157_Rogers_Identification_of_crystals_forming_on_porcine_articular_cartilage.pdf Download (290kB) | Preview |
Abstract
Articular cartilage was examined to determine its decomposition sequence and its potential for assessing the postmortem interval. Scanning electron microscopy of articular cartilage from buried porcine trotters showed the presence of microcrystals on the synovial surface. These orthorhombic pyramidal or “coffin”-shaped crystals, appeared at 3 weeks (22 days) after interment and disappeared after 6 weeks. The disappearance of these crystals was linked to decompositional changes to the integrity of the synovial joint. The formation and disappearance of these crystals was associated with a pH change at the cartilage surface. Scanning electron microscopy–energy-dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX) analysis showed that the five main elements contained within these crystals were carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, magnesium, and phosphorous. Such elemental analysis suggested the crystals may be struvite (MgNH4PO46(H2O)). Bacteria cultured from the cartilage synovial surface produced struvite crystals when grown in suitable media and were identified by DNA analysis to be Comamonas sp.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Additional Information: | This article is published by Wiley. The full text of this article is not available in this Repository and is available at: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1556-4029.12567/abstract |
| Keywords: | forensic science, postmortem interval, Comamonas sp., struvite, cartilage, decomposition |
| Divisions: | Applied Science, Computing and Engineering |
| Depositing User: | Mr Stewart Milne |
| Date Deposited: | 11 Mar 2015 15:13 |
| Last Modified: | 19 Dec 2017 15:22 |
| URI: | https://wrexham.repository.guildhe.ac.uk/id/eprint/8271 |
Actions (login required)
 |
Edit Item |