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Distribution of inorganic elements in human autopsy tissue
1Institute of Forensic Medicine, Medical University, Debrecen, Hungary. gsomogyi@jaguar.dote.hu
Insights
This study investigated inorganic element concentrations in heart tissues to understand unexplained cardiac dysfunction. Findings reveal specific ion level variations in the sinus node, AV node, septum, and left ventricle, offering insights into cardiac health and forensic pathology.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Medicine
- Cardiology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Unexplained deaths pose challenges in forensic medicine.
- Cardiac dysfunction of unknown origin may involve physiological insufficiency undetectable by standard methods.
- Alterations in inorganic elements within the heart's conduction system are a potential factor.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the concentration of inorganic elements in specialized cardiac tissues.
- To investigate potential links between ion levels and unexplained cardiac dysfunction.
- To provide baseline data on inorganic element distribution in the sinus node, atrioventricular node, septum, and left ventricle anterior wall.
Main Methods:
- Tissue samples from 24 cases were analyzed.
- Microwave technology was used for tissue digestion.
- Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP-AES) measured ion concentrations (Na, Mg, K, Ca, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, P, S).
Main Results:
- Significant variations in ion concentrations were observed across different heart regions (sinus node, septum, AV node, left ventricle anterior wall).
- Specific average ion concentrations (in µg/g) were reported for each element in each region.
- Data provides a detailed elemental profile for key cardiac tissues.
Conclusions:
- The study establishes reference ranges for inorganic elements in critical heart tissues.
- These findings can aid in the forensic investigation of deaths with undetermined cardiac causes.
- Further research may elucidate the role of these elemental changes in cardiac dysfunction.
Abstract:
In the practice of forensic medicine, we find many of cases of death where the actual cause is not determinable with autopsy, histological or toxicological examinations. In these cases of death, we can consider cardiac dysfunction of unknown origin, in the background of which such a physiologic cardiac insufficiency occurs that cannot be detected with the previously mentioned methods. The dysfunction is possibly associated with a significant change in certain inorganic elements, primarily in the conduction system of the heart. In the absence of published data, our goal was to determine the concentration of inorganic elements in the specialized rhythm determining muscle cell groups in the heart: sinus node (SN), atrioventricular node (AV), septum (SE), left ventricle anterior wall (LVAW). With microwave technology we destroyed the muscle tissue and measured the concentration of ions (Na, Mg, K, Ca, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, P, S) using Inductive Completed Plasma Atom Emission Spectrometry (ICP-AES) equipment. Of the 24 cases examined, the average ion concentrations in microgram/g were the following; Sinus: Na 2602 +/- 493, Mg 120 +/- 24, K 1787 +/- 347, Ca 244 +/- 41, Mn 0.129 +/- 0.011, Fe 58 +/- 12, Cu 2.171 +/- 0.46, Zn 10.4 +/- 2.027, P 1147 +/- 227, S 2301 +/- 245; Septum: Na 1452 +/- 315, Mg 243 +/- 56, K 3269 +/- 689, Ca 105 +/- 26, Mn 0.17 +/- 0.05, Fe 74 +/- 16, Cu 3.557 +/- 0.952, Zn 25.75 +/- 8.4, P 2764 +/- 494, S 3001 +/- 523; Av: Na 2614 +/- 517, Mg 242 +/- 40.2, K 2010 +/- 395, Ca 271 +/- 27.3, Mn 0.13 +/- 0.029, Fe 54 +/- 12, Cu 2.369 +/- 0.297, Zn 15 +/- 3.2, P 1625 +/- 291, S 2535 +/- 346; Lvaw: Na 1340 +/- 201, Mg 250 +/- 37, K 3659 +/- 532, Ca 88 +/- 22, Mn 0.175 +/- 0.05, Fe 76 +/- 19, Cu 3.62 +/- 0.58, Zn 27.13 +/- 3.1, P 3025 +/- 441, S 3140 +/- 440.