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<article xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xmlns:ali="http://www.niso.org/schemas/ali/1.0/" article-type="research-article" dtd-version="1.2" xml:lang="en"><front><journal-meta><journal-id journal-id-type="publisher-id">Russian Journal of Forensic Medicine</journal-id><journal-title-group><journal-title xml:lang="en">Russian Journal of Forensic Medicine</journal-title><trans-title-group xml:lang="ru"><trans-title>Судебная медицина</trans-title></trans-title-group></journal-title-group><issn publication-format="print">2411-8729</issn><issn publication-format="electronic">2409-4161</issn><publisher><publisher-name xml:lang="en">Eco-Vector</publisher-name></publisher></journal-meta><article-meta><article-id pub-id-type="publisher-id">16288</article-id><article-id pub-id-type="doi">10.17816/fm16288</article-id><article-id pub-id-type="edn">EQLHGO</article-id><article-categories><subj-group subj-group-type="toc-heading" xml:lang="en"><subject>Original study articles</subject></subj-group><subj-group subj-group-type="toc-heading" xml:lang="ru"><subject>Оригинальные исследования</subject></subj-group><subj-group subj-group-type="toc-heading" xml:lang="zh"><subject>原创研究</subject></subj-group><subj-group subj-group-type="article-type"><subject>Research Article</subject></subj-group></article-categories><title-group><article-title xml:lang="en">Biochemical and histopathological indicators of postmortem interval estimation in freshwater drowning: an integrative forensic approach (an experimental study)</article-title><trans-title-group xml:lang="ru"><trans-title>Биохимические и гистопатологические маркёры давности наступления смерти при утоплении в пресной воде: комплексный судебно-медицинский анализ (экспериментальное исследование)</trans-title></trans-title-group><trans-title-group xml:lang="zh"><trans-title>淡水溺死中死亡时间推断的生化与组织病理学标志物： 综合法医学分析 (实验研究)</trans-title></trans-title-group></title-group><contrib-group><contrib contrib-type="author"><contrib-id contrib-id-type="orcid">https://orcid.org/0009-0002-8926-1233</contrib-id><name><surname>Aflanie</surname><given-names>Iwan</given-names></name><address><country country="ID">Indonesia</country></address><email>iwanaflanie73@gmail.com</email><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff1"/></contrib><contrib contrib-type="author"><contrib-id contrib-id-type="orcid">https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1921-3172</contrib-id><name-alternatives><name xml:lang="en"><surname>Nurikhwan</surname><given-names>Pandji W.</given-names></name><name xml:lang="ru"><surname>Nurikhwan</surname><given-names>Pandji Winata</given-names></name><name xml:lang="zh"><surname>Nurikhwan</surname><given-names>Pandji W.</given-names></name></name-alternatives><address><country country="ID">Indonesia</country></address><email>pandji.winata@ulm.ac.id</email><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff1"/></contrib><contrib contrib-type="author"><contrib-id contrib-id-type="orcid">https://orcid.org/0009-0007-9448-5991</contrib-id><name-alternatives><name xml:lang="en"><surname>Habibah</surname><given-names>Adelia U.</given-names></name><name xml:lang="ru"><surname>Habibah</surname><given-names>Adelia Umi</given-names></name><name xml:lang="zh"><surname>Habibah</surname><given-names>Adelia U.</given-names></name></name-alternatives><address><country country="ID">Indonesia</country></address><email>adeliahabibah977@gmail.com</email><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff1"/></contrib><contrib contrib-type="author"><contrib-id contrib-id-type="orcid">https://orcid.org/0009-0005-0018-9223</contrib-id><name-alternatives><name xml:lang="en"><surname>Rahmadina</surname><given-names>Naila A.</given-names></name><name xml:lang="ru"><surname>Rahmadina</surname><given-names>Naila Amirah</given-names></name><name xml:lang="zh"><surname>Rahmadina</surname><given-names>Naila A.</given-names></name></name-alternatives><address><country country="ID">Indonesia</country></address><email>nailamrhr@gmail.com</email><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff1"/></contrib><contrib contrib-type="author"><contrib-id contrib-id-type="orcid">https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8487-6792</contrib-id><name-alternatives><name xml:lang="en"><surname>Oktaviyanti</surname><given-names>Ika K.</given-names></name><name xml:lang="ru"><surname>Oktaviyanti</surname><given-names>Ika Kustiyah</given-names></name><name xml:lang="zh"><surname>Oktaviyanti</surname><given-names>Ika K.</given-names></name></name-alternatives><address><country country="ID">Indonesia</country></address><email>ikoktaviyanti@ulm.ac.id</email><xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff1"/></contrib></contrib-group><aff id="aff1"><institution>Lambung Mangkurat University</institution></aff><pub-date date-type="pub" iso-8601-date="2025-11-24" publication-format="electronic"><day>24</day><month>11</month><year>2025</year></pub-date><volume>11</volume><issue>3</issue><issue-title xml:lang="en"/><issue-title xml:lang="ru"/><issue-title xml:lang="zh"/><fpage>223</fpage><lpage>235</lpage><history><date date-type="received" iso-8601-date="2025-04-11"><day>11</day><month>04</month><year>2025</year></date><date date-type="accepted" iso-8601-date="2025-09-22"><day>22</day><month>09</month><year>2025</year></date></history><permissions><copyright-statement xml:lang="en">Copyright ©; 2025, Eco-Vector</copyright-statement><copyright-statement xml:lang="ru">Copyright ©; 2025, Эко-Вектор</copyright-statement><copyright-statement xml:lang="zh">Copyright ©; 2025, Eco-Vector</copyright-statement><copyright-year>2025</copyright-year><copyright-holder xml:lang="en">Eco-Vector</copyright-holder><copyright-holder xml:lang="ru">Эко-Вектор</copyright-holder><copyright-holder xml:lang="zh">Eco-Vector</copyright-holder><ali:free_to_read xmlns:ali="http://www.niso.org/schemas/ali/1.0/" start_date="2027-11-24"/><license><ali:license_ref xmlns:ali="http://www.niso.org/schemas/ali/1.0/">https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/</ali:license_ref></license></permissions><self-uri xlink:href="https://for-medex.ru/jour/article/view/16288">https://for-medex.ru/jour/article/view/16288</self-uri><abstract xml:lang="en"><p><bold>BACKGROUND<italic>: </italic></bold>Accurate estimation of post-mortem intervals in drowning cases remains challenging in forensic investigations due to limited reliable biochemical and histopathological markers, particularly in freshwater environments.</p> <p><bold>AIM<italic>: </italic></bold>To evaluate the biochemical (blood glucose, muscle glycogen, and lactate dehydrogenase activity) and histopathological (lung tissue damage) indicators for estimating postmortem interval in freshwater drowning as part of an integrative forensic approach.</p> <p><bold>METHODS<italic>: </italic></bold>This study is an experimental, randomized controlled study. Thirty male Sprague–Dawley rats (average weight 200–250 g) were divided into five groups: one control group and four drowning groups observed at intervals of 30, 60, 90, and 120 min post-mortem. This study evaluates metabolic parameters, including blood glucose, muscle glycogen, lactate dehydrogenase enzyme activity, and lung histopathology.</p> <p><bold>RESULTS<italic>: </italic></bold>Biochemical analysis revealed a significant progressive decline in glucose (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.01) and glycogen levels (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.001) and a substantial increase in lactate dehydrogenase enzyme activity (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.001) over time. Regression analyses showed strong predictive relationships (R²: glucose = 0.88, glycogen = 0.98, lactate dehydrogenase = 0.75). Effect sizes (Cohen’s <italic>d</italic>) were very large for all biochemical parameters (glucose = 5.19, glycogen = 10.12, lactate dehydrogenase = 17.73). Histopathological examination revealed a clear, time-dependent progression of lung tissue damage, from mild interalveolar septum thickening to severe edema, hemorrhage, and inflammation, correlating with biochemical changes.</p> <p><bold>CONCLUSION<italic>: </italic></bold>These integrated biochemical and histopathological findings provide forensic investigators with reliable and objective biomarkers to more precisely estimate post-mortem intervals in freshwater drowning cases. Clinically, the identified markers could inform assessment and management of near-drowning patients, guiding therapeutic interventions aimed at mitigating lung injury and metabolic disorders.</p></abstract><trans-abstract xml:lang="ru"><p><bold>Обоснование. </bold>Точная оценка давности наступления смерти при утоплении остаётся сложной задачей в практике судебно-медицинской экспертизы в связи с ограниченным количеством надёжных биохимических и гистопатологических маркёров, особенно в случаях утопления в пресной воде.</p> <p><bold>Цель исследования. </bold>Оценка применимости биохимических и гистопатологических маркёров — концентрации глюкозы, содержания гликогена, активности лактатдегидрогеназы, а также степени повреждения лёгочной ткани — в практике судебно-медицинской экспертизы для определения давности наступления смерти при утоплении в пресной воде.</p> <p><bold>Методы. </bold>Проведено экспериментальное рандомизированное контролируемое исследование. Тридцать самцов крыс линии Спрег–Доули (средняя масса тела: 200–250 г) разделили на пять групп: контрольную и четыре группы утопления с оценкой через 30, 60, 90 и 120 мин после наступления смерти соответственно. В данном исследовании оценивали показатели метаболизма, включая концентрацию глюкозы в крови, содержание гликогена в мышцах, активность лактатдегидрогеназы, а также гистопатологические изменения в лёгочной ткани.</p> <p><bold>Результаты. </bold>Биохимический анализ продемонстрировал статистически значимое прогрессирующее снижение концентрации глюкозы (<italic>p</italic> &lt;0,01) и содержания гликогена (<italic>p</italic> &lt;0,001), а также повышение активности лактатдегидрогеназы (<italic>p</italic> &lt;0,001) с течением времени. Результаты регрессионного анализа свидетельствовали о сильных прогностических связях рассматриваемых маркёров (R<sup>2</sup>: 0,88, 0,98 и 0,75 для концентрации глюкозы, содержания гликогена и активности лактатдегидрогеназы соответственно). Для всех биохимических маркёров отмечен очень большой размер эффекта (<italic>d</italic> Коэна): 5,19, 10,12 и 17,73 для концентрации глюкозы, содержания гликогена и активности лактатдегидрогеназы соответственно. Результаты гистопатологического исследования продемонстрировали выраженное прогрессирующее повреждение лёгочной ткани во времени: от незначительного утолщения межальвеолярных перегородок до отёка тяжёлой степени, кровоизлияния и воспаления. Наблюдаемое прогрессирование коррелировало с изменениями биохимических маркёров.</p> <p><bold>Заключение. </bold>Комплексная оценка биохимических и гистопатологических показателей позволяет получить надёжные и объективные биомаркёры для более точного определения давности наступления смерти при утоплении в пресной воде в практике судебно-медицинской экспертизы. В клинической практике выявленные маркёры могут быть полезны при обследовании и оказании медицинской помощи при утоплении, а также при выборе стратегий лечения для снижения риска повреждения лёгких и метаболических нарушений.</p></trans-abstract><trans-abstract xml:lang="zh"><p>论证：在法医鉴定实践中，由于可靠的生化和组织病理学标志物数量有限，尤其是在淡水溺死情况下，准确评估死亡时间仍是一项复杂的任务。</p> <p>目的：评估血糖浓度、肌糖原含量、乳酸脱氢酶活性以及肺组织损伤程度等生化和组织病理学标志物在法医学鉴定实践中用于推断淡水溺死死亡时间的适用性。</p> <p>方法：开展实验性随机对照研究。将30只雄性Sprague–Dawley大鼠（平均体重200–250 g）分为5组：1个对照组和4个溺死组，分别在死亡后30、60、90 和120 min进行取材。本研究评估了代谢指标，包括血糖浓度、肌糖原含量和乳酸脱氢酶活性，并对肺组织的组织病理学变化进行了分析。</p> <p>结果：生化分析显示，葡萄糖浓度随时间呈统计学显著的逐渐下降（p&lt;0.01），糖原含量显著下降（p&lt;0.001），而乳酸脱氢酶活性随时间显著升高（p&lt;0.001）。回归分析显示，这些标志物具有很强的预测关联性（R<sup>2</sup>：0.88、0.98、0.75，分别对应于葡萄糖浓度、糖原含量和乳酸脱氢酶活性）。所有生化标志物的效应量（Cohen’s d）均极大：5.19、10.12和17.73，分别对应于葡萄糖浓度、糖原含量和乳酸脱氢酶活性。组织病理学分析显示，肺组织损伤随时间呈进行性加重：从轻度肺泡隔增厚发展至重度水肿、出血和炎症。其进程与生化标志物的变化相一致。</p> <p>结论：生化指标与组织病理学改变的综合评价能够为淡水溺死死亡时间推断提供可靠且客观的生物标志物，在法医学鉴定实践中具有重要意义。在临床实践中，这些标志物亦可用于溺水患者的评估与医疗救治，以及制定降低肺损伤与代谢紊乱风险的治疗策略。</p></trans-abstract><kwd-group xml:lang="en"><kwd>drowning</kwd><kwd>postmortem changes</kwd><kwd>biomarkers</kwd><kwd>histopathology</kwd><kwd>forensic pathology</kwd></kwd-group><kwd-group xml:lang="ru"><kwd>утопление</kwd><kwd>посмертные изменения</kwd><kwd>биомаркёры</kwd><kwd>гистопатология</kwd><kwd>судебно-медицинская экспертиза</kwd></kwd-group><kwd-group xml:lang="zh"><kwd>溺死</kwd><kwd>死后变化</kwd><kwd>生物标志物</kwd><kwd>组织病理学</kwd><kwd>法医鉴定</kwd></kwd-group><funding-group><funding-statement xml:lang="en">This study is supported by Universitas Lambung Mangkurat DIPA Funding Allocation No SP-DIPA — 023.17.2.677518/2024 through the "Program Penelitian Penugasan Skema Penelitian Berbasis Kompetensi Pembiayaan Negara Bukan Pajak" on 2024 with the ID number 1331/UN8/PG/2024.</funding-statement><funding-statement xml:lang="ru">Исследование выполнено при поддержке гранта Университета Ламбунг Мангкурат № SP-DIPA—023.17.2.677518/2024 в рамках программы «Program Penelitian Penugasan Skema Penelitian Berbasis Kompetensi Pembiayaan Negara Bukan Pajak» на 2024 год с идентификационным номером 1331/UN8/PG/2024.</funding-statement><funding-statement xml:lang="zh">This study is supported by Universitas Lambung Mangkurat DIPA Funding Allocation No SP-DIPA — 023.17.2.677518/2024 through the "Program Penelitian Penugasan Skema Penelitian Berbasis Kompetensi Pembiayaan Negara Bukan Pajak" on 2024 with the ID number 1331/UN8/PG/2024.</funding-statement></funding-group></article-meta></front><body></body><back><ref-list><ref id="B1"><label>1.</label><mixed-citation>Aziz A, Irpan M, Shaddiq S, et al. 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