Screening criteria of mRNA indicators for wound age estimation

Wound age estimation is a crucial and challenging problem in forensic pathology.Although mRNA is the most commonly used indicator for wound age estimation,screening criteria are lacking.In the present study,the feasibility of screening criteria using mRNA to determine injury time based on the adenylate-uridylate-rich element(ARE)structure and gene ontology(GO)categories were evaluated.A total of 78 Sprague-Dawley male rats were contused and sampled at 4,8,12,16,20,24,28,32,36,40,44,and 48 h after inflicting injury.The candidate mRNAs were classified based on with or without ARE structure and GO category function.The mRNA expression levels were detected using qRT-PCR.In addition,the standard deviation(STD),mean deviation(MD),relative average deviation(d%),and coefficient of variation(CV)were calculated based on mRNA expression levels.The CV score(CVs)and the CV of CV(CV’CV)were calculated to measure heterogeneity.Finally,based on classic principles,the accuracy of combination of candidate mRNAs was assessed using discriminant analysis to construct a multivariate model for inferring wound age.The results of homogeneity evaluation of each group based on CVs were consistent with the MD,STD,d%,and CV results,indicating the credibility of the evaluation results based on CVs.The candidate mRNAs without ARE structure and classified as cellular component(CC)GO category(ARE-CC)had the highest CVs,showing the mRNAs with these characteristics are the most homogenous mRNAs and best suited for wound age estimation.The highest accuracy was 91.0%when the mRNAs without ARE structure were used to infer the wound age based on the discrimination model.The accuracy of mRNAs classified into CC or multiple function(MF)GO category was higher than mRNAs in the biological process(BP)category.In all subgroups,the accuracy of the composite identification model of mRNA composition without ARE structure and classified as CC was higher than other subgroups.The mRNAs without ARE structure and belonging to the CC GO category were more homogenous,showed higher accuracy for estimating wound age,and were appropriate for rat skeletal muscle wound age estimation.

Time Course of Histomorphologic Features during Chronic Burn Wound Healing

In forensic pathology, it is always indispensable to determine burn wound vitality or age to accurately assess the relationship between death and any burn wounds. Subsequently, the determination of wound age is a definitive and still cutting-edge subject in forensic pathology. Therefore, deep second-degree burn injuries were induced in a group of mice. At 7, 12, 17, 21 and 28 days post-burn, burn wound specimens were histomorphologically differentiated and compared with normal intact skin using H&E stain. The study revealed that the burn wound during healing process was usually incorporated of infiltration of inflammatory cells, granulation tissue formation and epithelialization within 7 - 12 days post-burn. Then, the surface of burn wound was partially ulcerated in association with epidermal necrosis, dermal disorganization and degeneration of the sebaceous gland 17 - 21 days post-burn. Finally, the regenerated skin retained the structure of normal skin at 28th day post-burn. Our study demonstrated that the histopathological changes of burn wounds involved deep dermis, and the pathological changes occurred at distinctive time phases were almost different in comparing to regular intact skin. Such age estimation of burn wounds is important when a cadaver or a burnt body has many burns of diverse times, especially in criminal cases.