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Predictive accuracy of histopathological profile and immunohistochemical markers for the aging of abrasion: an autopsy-based study

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Abstract

Wound age estimation is a crucial medicolegal task for forensic pathologists. The main objective of the current study was to evaluate the ability of the histopathological profile and immunohistochemical markers (CD14 and IL-8) to predict the age of abrasion and, furthermore, identify the relationship between the histopathological profile and immunohistochemical markers in abrasion aging. The study involved postmortem cases (n = 246) of abrasion injuries in which the injury infliction time was known. The test skin samples were taken from the abrasion site, and an adjacent area of uninjured skin was sampled for control. Hematoxylin and eosin stain was applied to tissue sections for the histopathological analysis. The semi-quantitative evaluation was made for expressing immunohistochemical markers CD14 and IL-8 on the infiltrating inflammatory cells. The study showed that the age of abrasion was significantly higher (p < 0.05) among the cases with positive staining than those with negative staining for both CD14 and IL-8. Additionally, the study found a significant association between the age of the abrasion and the IHC staining for IL-8. However, no significant association was seen between the age of abrasion and the CD-14 IHC staining. The odds ratio (95% confidence interval) for more than 72 h of the age of abrasion was compared to 0 to 72 h of the age of abrasion. The odds ratios were 39.00 (4.177–364.13) for the predominant mononuclear cell infiltration and 84.50 (9.287–768.814) for cases with the appearance of fibroblast, granulation tissue, and collagen deposition when compared to an unremarkable change on histopathological examination. Positive staining of immunohistochemical markers CD14 and IL-8 for the age of abrasion of more than 72 h showed a sensitivity of 40% and 80.95%, respectively, and specificity of 71.6% and 52.5%, respectively. The quantification of the histopathological changes of predominant mononuclear cell infiltration and the appearance of fibroblast, granulation tissue formation, and collagen deposition showed a significant correlation for the age of abrasion of more than 72 h. The immunohistochemical analysis revealed IL-8 as a more accurate marker than CD14 in identifying abrasions older than 72 h.

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Acknowledgements

The authors want to thank the Departments of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, Pathology, Anatomy, and Biostatistics of JIPMER, Puducherry, for all the help during the study.

Funding

This work was supported by the JIPMER Intramural Research Grant (Grant No: JIP/Res/Intramural/sub com/2020–21, Sl No.25 MD/MS Proposal).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Research, Puducherry, India, 605006

    Vinod Ashok Chaudhari & Siddhartha Das

  2. Department of Pathology, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Research, Puducherry, India, 605006

    Debasis Gochhait

  3. Department of Anatomy, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Research, Puducherry, India, 605006

    Yogesh Ashok Sontakke

  4. Department of Biostatistics, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Research, Puducherry, India, 605006

    K. T. Harichandrakumar

  5. Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Andaman & Nicobar Institute of Medical Sciences (ANIIMS), Port Blair, 744104, India

    Arpan Kumar Pan

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Correspondence to Vinod Ashok Chaudhari.

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The ethical approval for the study was obtained from the Institute Ethics Committee (Observational studies), JIPMER, Puducherry (IEC No-JIP/IEC/2020/074).

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Pan, A.K., Chaudhari, V.A., Das, S. et al. Predictive accuracy of histopathological profile and immunohistochemical markers for the aging of abrasion: an autopsy-based study. Forensic Sci Med Pathol 20, 136–148 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12024-023-00611-8

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