title: Application of the microwave digestion-vacuum filtration-automated scanning electron microscopy method for diatom detection in the diagnosis of drowning.
abstract: The cause of death for the decomposed corpses recovered from water is still a difficult issue in current forensic practice. In this article, we present two cases of bodies recovered from water with no positive findings to indicate the cause of their death. We apply both conventional acid digestion method as well as the microwave digestion-vacuum filtration-automated scanning electron microscopy method (MD-VF-Auto SEM) for diatom detection in different organs of both bodies. Our results indicate that MD-VF-Auto SEM method provide more accurate information and match further police investigation. This novel method would be a useful technique in assessing cause of death for body found in water.
authors.affiliation: Guangzhou Forensic Science Institute & Key Laboratory of Forensic Pathology, Ministry of Public Security, No.30, Cangbian Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Southern Medical University, Tonghe, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Yuzhong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Zhuhai Forensic Science Institute, China.
authors.forename: Guipeng
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Guangzhou Forensic Science Institute & Key Laboratory of Forensic Pathology, Ministry of Public Security, No.30, Cangbian Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Yanbing
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Guangzhou Forensic Science Institute & Key Laboratory of Forensic Pathology, Ministry of Public Security, No.30, Cangbian Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: He
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: Guangzhou Forensic Science Institute & Key Laboratory of Forensic Pathology, Ministry of Public Security, No.30, Cangbian Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Jinfeng
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.affiliation: Guangzhou Forensic Science Institute & Key Laboratory of Forensic Pathology, Ministry of Public Security, No.30, Cangbian Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Xiangyang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Guangzhou Forensic Science Institute & Key Laboratory of Forensic Pathology, Ministry of Public Security, No.30, Cangbian Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Sunlin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Guangzhou Forensic Science Institute & Key Laboratory of Forensic Pathology, Ministry of Public Security, No.30, Cangbian Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Fei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Guangzhou Forensic Science Institute & Key Laboratory of Forensic Pathology, Ministry of Public Security, No.30, Cangbian Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, China. Electronic address: 768594951@qq.com.
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000737:chemistry; D017377:Diatoms / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004332:Drowning / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005374:Filtration / Q000379:methods; D049429:Forensic Pathology / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000737:chemistry; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008872:Microwaves; D011180:Postmortem Changes; D014618:Vacuum
keywords: Diatom test; Drowning; Forensic pathology; Microwave digestion-vacuum filtration-automated scanning electron microscopy method