title: Identification of crystals forming on porcine articular cartilage: a new method for the estimation of the postmortem interval.
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 (MgNH4 PO4 6(H2 O)). 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Glyndŵr University, Wrexham, LL11 2ER, U.K.
authors.forename: Christopher J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Rogers
authors.forename: Clara M A
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Ten Broek
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hodson
authors.forename: Michael P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Whitehead
authors.forename: Wera M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Schmerer
authors.forename: Raul
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sutton
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002244:Carbon / Q000032:analysis; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D020585:Comamonas / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003460:Crystallization; D003470:Culture Media; D049429:Forensic Pathology; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008274:Magnesium / Q000032:analysis; D017616:Magnesium Compounds; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D023421:Models, Animal; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000032:analysis; D010100:Oxygen / Q000032:analysis; D010710:Phosphates; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000032:analysis; D011180:Postmortem Changes; D013052:Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission; D000069877:Struvite; D013552:Swine; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D017616:Magnesium Compounds; D010710:Phosphates; D010758:Phosphorus; D002244:Carbon; D000069877:Struvite; D008274:Magnesium; D009584:Nitrogen; D010100:Oxygen
keywords: Comamonas sp.; cartilage; decomposition; forensic science; postmortem interval; struvite