A practical review of adipocere: Key findings, case studies and operational considerations from crime scene to autopsy
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RE vIE W ADipoSE tiSSuE: A mAStEr iN toXiCology
conventional wisdom in the pathogenesis of obesity and related cardiometabolic, malignant and neurodegenerative diseases focuses mainly on genetic predisposition and lifestyle (high caloric foods, sedentary lifestyle, smoking). The human genome project's big promise was that it could improve our understanding of the pathogenesis and therapy of diseases. however, the genes have been found to account for only about 10% of diseases, and the remaining causes appear to be from environmental exposures, hence the exposure science emerges. note that molecular epidemiology and toxicology may be essential partners of exposure science. Indeed, Homo sapiens recens is exposed to an overwhelming number of chemical contaminants circulating every day in the air, water, food, and general environment. The body is a well-equipped entity with capabilities to excrete water-soluble pollutants, but not as well-equipped to excrete some of the lipid-soluble xenobiotics. In the late 1990's, according to the European Environmental agency more than 100 000 chemical compounds were registered in the European catalogue of commercialized chemical substances. here we present data that adipose tissue may be an important participant in the environmental molecular toxicology. The discovery of adipocyte-secreted leptin in 1994 was a paradigm shift event in the study of adipose tissue. It was applauded by scientific community and thus triggered a new direction in the evaluation of endocrine function of adipose tissue, that is, adipoendocrinology. This is why the today's adipose tissue is viewed not merely as a lipid storage, but also as a dynamic secretory – endocrine and paracrine – organ, synthesizing, storing, and releasing a dazzling number of signaling proteins collectively termed adipokines. numerous evidence demonstrates that the exposure to persistent organic pollutants (pOp) may contribute to the pathogenesis of obesity and its related diseases. noteworthy, these pollutants accumulate mainly in the adipose tissue. and xenobiotic-metabolizing cytochromes p450 (cyp) are expressed in adipose tissue, where cyp1a1 and cyp1b1 can bioactivate carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and xenoestrogens. altogether, the present review highlights an adipocentric approach in molecular toxicology. It is conceptualized as adipotoxicology, that is, the study of accumulation, metabolism, and release of xenobiotics in adipose tissue in health and disease. In effect, the adipose tissue may be a new bridge between environment and health-let us call it a master in toxicology. Institute of neurobiology, bulgarian academy of sciences, sofia, bulgaria and laboratory of cell biology, medical university, varna, bulgaria
Toxicological Function of Adipose Tissue: Focus on Persistent Organic Pollutants
Environmental Health Perspectives, 2012
The information in this document has been reviewed by the NIEHS and approved for publication. Approval does not signify that the contents necessarily reflect the views of the agency, nor does the mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation for use. C.E. is employed by BioSimulation Consulting Inc., Newark, DE. The authors declare they have no actual or potential competing financial interests.
A Preliminary Investigation of the Stages of Adipocere Formation
Journal of Forensic Sciences, 2004
Adipocere is a postmortem decomposition product which forms from a body's adipose tissue. This study aimed to chemically demonstrate the process of conversion from adipose tissue to adipocere. Samples of adipocere were collected from pig cadavers that were allowed to decompose for varying intervals. Samples of soil were collected from beneath the cadavers and analyzed to determine the leaching effect of adipocere. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) was used to quantify the fatty acid composition of pig adipocere. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used as a confirmatory test and to identify other components such as triglycerides and calcium salts of fatty acids. The study demonstrates the process of adipocere formation and the stages of formation through which the process passes using chemical techniques.
Adipose tissue: a master in toxicology
Adipobiology, 2012
Conventional wisdom in the pathogenesis of obesity and related cardiometabolic, malignant and neurodegenerative diseases focuses mainly on genetic predisposition and lifestyle (high caloric foods, sedentary lifestyle, smoking). The human genome project's big promise was that it could improve our understanding of the pathogenesis and therapy of diseases. However, the genes have been found to account for only about 10% of diseases, and the remaining causes appear to be from environmental exposures, hence the exposure science emerges. Note that molecular epidemiology and toxicology may be essential partners of exposure science. indeed, Homo sapiens recens is exposed to an overwhelming number of chemical contaminants circulating every day in the air, water, food, and general environment. The body is a well-equipped entity with capabilities to excrete watersoluble pollutants, but not as well-equipped to excrete some of the lipid-soluble xenobiotics. in the late 1990's, according to the european environmental Agency more than 100 000 chemical compounds were registered in the european Catalogue of Commercialized Chemical Substances. Here we present data that adipose tissue may be an important participant in the environmental molecular toxicology. The discovery of adipocyte-secreted leptin in 1994 was a paradigm shift event in the study of adipose tissue. it was applauded by scientific community and thus triggered a new direction in the evaluation of endocrine function of adipose tissue, that is, adipoendocrinology. This is why the today's adipose tissue is viewed not merely as a lipid storage, but also as a dynamic secretory -endocrine and paracrine -organ, synthesizing, storing, and releasing a dazzling number of signaling proteins collectively termed adipokines. Numerous evidence demonstrates that the exposure to persistent organic pollutants (POP) may contribute to the pathogenesis of obesity and its related diseases. Noteworthy, these pollutants accumulate mainly in the adipose tissue. And xenobiotic-metabolizing cytochromes p450 (CYP) are expressed in adipose tissue, where CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 can bioactivate carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and xenoestrogens. Altogether, the present review highlights an adipocentric approach in molecular toxicology. it is conceptualized as adipotoxicology, that is, the study of accumulation, metabolism, and release of xenobiotics in adipose tissue in health and disease. in effect, the adipose tissue may be a new bridge between environment and health -let us call it a master in toxicology.
Injection Adipolysis: Mechanisms, Agents, and Future Directions
The Journal of clinical and aesthetic dermatology, 2016
Noninvasive procedures targeting the elimination of unwanted adipose tissues have recently been developed. injection adipolysis is the term for the injection of cytotoxic substances into these tissues, with the intent of cosmetic improvement by volume reduction. initial attempts in the field utilized intravenous preparations of sodium deoxycholate and soy-derived phosphatidylcholine, approved for the intravenous treatment of fat emboli and dyslipidemias in countries outside the United States. it was initially purported that the active ingredient in these injections was phosphatidylcholine. Subsequent research discovered that injections of sodium deoxycholate alone were capable of inducing cellular lysis in vitro. These compounds also demonstrated an affinity for adipose tissue, sparing the overlying dermis and epidermis. The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved a formulation of sodium deoxycholate 10mg/mL for subcutaneous injection with the indication o...
The American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology, 2005
A body was found in a local river almost completely converted into adipocere. The corpse was identified as a 78-year-old male who was missed for 13 months. It was assumed that he committed suicide by drowning. The postmortem imaging findings utilizing multislice computed tomography (MSCT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in this virtopsy case are presented with special focus on the radiologic appearance of adipocere. The loss of signal in MRI and hyperdensities in MSCT up to 1000 Hounsfield units, as well as the increased assessment of the intracranial structures compared with traditional autopsy, are presented.
Adipose tissue as a medium for epidemiologic exposure assessment.
Environmental Health Perspectives, 1995
In the United States, adipose tissue is rarely used as a medium for assessment of prior exposures in epidemiologic studies. Adipose tissue aspirations are in general less invasive and carry less risk than phlebotomy. Tissue samples can be analyzed for a wide number of epidemiologically important exposures. Beyond reflecting long-term energy balance, this tissue offers a relatively stable depot of triglyceride and fat-soluble substances, such as fat-soluble vitamins, and pesticides. As a tissue it represents the greatest reservoir of carotenoids in the body. Halogenated hydrocarbons may be measured in concentrations of hundreds-fold greater than those in blood of the same individuals. The composition of adipose tissue also reflects the long-term dietary intakes of a number of essential fatty acids. The turnover times of all of these substances in adipose tissue remain under-researched. Sampling and storage of adipose tissue, homogeneity of sampling sites, turnover times, and the effects of diet, age, gender, race, hormones, and disease on adipose tissue composition are discussed in this review of current knowledge about adipose tissue stability. Experience in the use of adipose tissue sampling in epidemiologic studies in various countries has shown that it is simple to conduct, requires little training, carries little risk, and does not result in excessive participant refusal. -Environ Health Perspect 103(Suppl 3): 99-106 (1995)
Decomp of buried corpses formation of adipocere
The unrestrained decomposition of a corpse involves the consecutive processes of autolysis, putrefaction and decay. Ideally, decomposition is completed within the regular resting time (15-25 years) and leads to the entire skeletalisation of the corpse. Adipocere, a greyish fatty substance formed during decomposition, is regarded as a spontaneous inhibition of post-mortem changes; it makes the corpse almost entirely resistant to decomposition and makes it impossible to use the same graves again. This creates problems for local governments with regard to the generally growing demand for burial ground.
Characterization of Adipocere Formation in Animal Species
Journal of Forensic Sciences, 2005
Adipocere is a soft white substance formed postmortem from fatty tissue in a decomposing body. In this preliminary study the formation of adipocere in soil was investigated for a number of animal species. Adipocere was formed from the fatty tissue of pig, cattle, sheep and rabbit. It was found that adipocere did not form from the fatty tissue of chicken or kangaroo in the time frame investigated. The issues being considered are relevant to the forensic examination of remains whose origin is otherwise uncertain or which are, in some way, related to human remains. Infrared spectroscopy and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry were used to characterise the composition of adipocere formed in the various species after different burial durations. Adipocere was observed to form at different rates among the species, but there was no distinct evidence of the fundamental composition varying between species.
Bosnian journal of basic medical sciences, 2018
The Tomašica grave-site near Prijedor in the north of Bosnia is reported to be the largest primary mass grave discovered thus far relating to the 1992-95 war. A total of 275 complete bodies and 125 body parts were exhumed from it in 2013. Post mortem examinations of the victims showed that nearly all had died from gunshot injuries but an additional striking feature was the degree of preservation of many of the bodies, even 21 years on, with skin, soft tissues and internal organs still present in abundance and gross structures clearly identifiable. Histology was performed on 68 samples of soft tissue from a total 13 bodies, on both skin and internal organs, and the degree of preservation was assessed in terms of the ability to recognize microscopic structure. Further comparison was made with samples taken a month or so later (56 tissue samples from 9 bodies, all but one different from the first group), after the bodies had been covered in salt as a means of general preservation. Gene...