Application of Protease-Hydrogen Peroxide Digestion Method in Forensic Diatom Examination

doi:10.12116/j.issn.1004-5619.2024.440116

Abstract

Abstract:

Objective To propose a novel forensic diatom examination method, namely the protease-hydrogen peroxide （PHP） digestion method, and to explore its potential application in forensic practice. Methods The PHP digestion method was applied to process lung tissues and compared with the traditional nitric acid digestion method in terms of diatom quantity, recovery rate, proportion of diatom fragments, and recovery efficiency of different diatom genera. Results The PHP digestion method showed higher diatom quantity, recovery rate, and proportion of diatom fragments compared to the traditional nitric acid digestion method with statistical significance. The average diatom recovery rate was as high as 93.95%. In the lung tissues digested with nitric acid, there were 65 Achnanthes, 36 Nitzschia Ⅰ, 22 Nitzschia Ⅱ, 20 Diploneis and 8 Cymbella, showing significantly lower recovery rates compared to water samples which had 154 Achnanthes, 44 Nitzschia Ⅰ, 45 Nitzschia Ⅱ, 33 Diploneis and 23 Cymbella. However, with the PHP digestion method, only Nitzschia Ⅱ showed a lower recovery rate compared to water samples （P<0.05）. At the same time, the diatom recovery stability of the PHP digestion method was higher than that of the nitric acid digestion method. Conclusion The PHP digestion method is superior to the traditional nitric acid digestion method in the lung tissue diatom extraction efficiency. Additionally, it holds significant advantages in safety, environmental protection, and other aspects. It is expected to be applied in forensic drowning identification.

Key words: forensic pathology, death from drowning, diatom examination, protease-hydrogen peroxide digestion method

CLC Number:

Wen-qing GUO, Min CHEN, Ao MA, Ping HUANG, Ji ZHANG. Application of Protease-Hydrogen Peroxide Digestion Method in Forensic Diatom Examination[J]. Journal of Forensic Medicine, 2024, 40(4): 317-323.

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Figures/Tables 5

References 29

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样本	硅藻数量/个	硅藻回收率/%	硅藻碎片占比/%
水样	380.00±21.08	100.00	0
A组	357.00±12.39	93.95±2.30^1）	0.53±0.05^1）
B组	216.00±8.86^1）	56.84±4.88^1）	2.10±0.50^1）
C组	0	0	0
D组	0	0	0

样本	硅藻数量/个	硅藻回收率/%	硅藻碎片占比/%
水样	380.00±21.08	100.00	0
A组	357.00±12.39	93.95±2.30^1）	0.53±0.05^1）
B组	216.00±8.86^1）	56.84±4.88^1）	2.10±0.50^1）
C组	0	0	0
D组	0	0	0

硅藻科属	水样/个	A组		B组
硅藻科属	水样/个	数量/个	回收率/%	数量/个	回收率/%
曲壳藻属	154.00±10.10	141.00±2.10	91.83±5.41	65.00±13.50^1）	42.13±5.51
菱形藻属Ⅰ	44.00±2.49	40.00±2.16	91.80±0.81	36.00±8.50	81.29±12.74
菱形藻属Ⅱ	45.00±3.74	36.00±0.94^1）	80.07±4.92	22.00±12.00	48.89±12.77
双壁藻属	33.00±3.68	30.00±3.30	90.82±2.16	20.00±3.50^1）	59.69±2.98
桥弯藻属	23.00±3.56	19.00±1.25	81.17±8.01	8.00±3.00^1）	34.78±7.74

硅藻科属	水样/个	A组		B组
硅藻科属	水样/个	数量/个	回收率/%	数量/个	回收率/%
曲壳藻属	154.00±10.10	141.00±2.10	91.83±5.41	65.00±13.50^1）	42.13±5.51
菱形藻属Ⅰ	44.00±2.49	40.00±2.16	91.80±0.81	36.00±8.50	81.29±12.74
菱形藻属Ⅱ	45.00±3.74	36.00±0.94^1）	80.07±4.92	22.00±12.00	48.89±12.77
双壁藻属	33.00±3.68	30.00±3.30	90.82±2.16	20.00±3.50^1）	59.69±2.98
桥弯藻属	23.00±3.56	19.00±1.25	81.17±8.01	8.00±3.00^1）	34.78±7.74

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