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Multicystic encephalopathy is a rare neurological finding characterized by the appearance of multiple cystic or cavitary lesions as the result of repetitive episodes of hypoxic-ischemic injury in neonates and infants. We present a rare case of multicystic encephalopathy in a 3-month-old male, born at 34 weeks with Tetralogy of Fallot and multiple comorbidities. Gross examination of the brain during the autopsy revealed multiple irregular cystic lesions and distortion of the brain parenchyma. This case report highlights the uniqueness of multicystic encephalopathy and offers an extensive review of the existing literature, including etiology, clinical presentation, and histopathologic findings.

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BACKGROUND: Suicide is the third leading cause of death among youth aged 15 to 29 years old globally. Guyana has the highest rate of youth suicide in the world, yet only limited research exists. AIM: The aim of this study is to identify key features of the suicide pathway for Guyanese children and youth and to distinguish meaningful subgroups. METHOD: The psychological autopsy (PA) method was used to generate life charts for 15 Guyanese children and youth (10-29 years) who died by suicide. Nineteen close contacts of these individuals were interviewed about the life events of the decedent between 6 months and 5 years after their death. Semi-structured interviews lasting 30 to 150 min took place between November 2021 and January 2022. The interview data were converted into life charts and these were reviewed to uncover meaningful subgroups of suicide pathways. RESULTS: Three groups with distinct suicide pathways were identified: hard life (46%), mental illness (20%) and interpersonal stress (20%). There were also two male youths for whom the suicidal antecedents and pathways were unclear. Interpersonal stress, alcohol, exposure to suicide and family history of suicide were common factors identified across groups. CONCLUSIONS: The findings emphasise the role of both acute and protracted interpersonal stress for child and youth suicide in Guyana. The structure and dynamics of Indo-Guyanese families are discussed. Interventions recommended include enhancing child and youth community engagement, improving mental health and suicide literacy, alcohol restriction, increasing access to support services, and reducing stigma.

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Background: The association of moderate and severe dementia with low body mass index (BMI) is well described, but weight decline seems to also occur in individuals with preclinical neuropathologies. Considering that up to one-fifth of individuals with normal cognition meet the criteria for a dementia-related neuropathological diagnosis, autopsy studies are key to detecting preclinical neurodegenerative and cerebrovascular diseases that could be underlying weight changes. Objective: We investigated the association between dementia-related brain lesions and BMI and evaluated whether the cognitive function was a mediator of this association. Methods: In 1,170 participants, sociodemographic data, clinical history, and cognitive post-mortem evaluation were assessed with an informant. Neuropathological evaluation was performed in all cases. Linear regression models were used to investigate the association between neuropathological lesions (exposure variable) and BMI (outcome) adjusted for demographic, clinical, and cognitive variables in the whole sample, and in only those with normal cognition. Corrections for multiple comparisons were performed. In addition, a mediation analysis was performed to investigate the direct and indirect effects of cognitive abilities on the association between neuropathology and BMI. Results: Individuals with lower BMI had a higher burden of neuropathological lesions and poorer cognitive abilities. Only neurofibrillary tangles (NFT) and neuropathological comorbidity were associated with low BMI, while other neurodegenerative and cerebrovascular lesions were not. NFT were indirectly associated with BMI through cognitive abilities, and also directly, even in participants with normal cognition. Conclusions: Neurofibrillary tangles were directly associated with low BMI even in individuals with preclinical Alzheimer's disease.

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The effectiveness of the autopsy as an educational tool in forensic medicine courses has been widely acknowledged, and medical students were expected to attend regularly. Nevertheless, the use of autopsies for teaching has dramatically declined in recent years and worldwide despite their high-value benefits. This study aims to understand the importance and relevance of attending autopsies during forensic teaching sessions and identify any challenges that may impede attendance. A self-administered online questionnaire that assesses the knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to autopsies attendance was distributed to fourth-year medical students at the National Defence University of Malaysia and Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia. A total of 99 respondents were involved in this study. Our findings indicate that most respondents (over 85%) demonstrated good knowledge of forensic medicine. Pearson's statistical test revealed a significant correlation between the knowledge and students' attitudes toward autopsy. This study demonstrates the need to strategically integrate autopsy attendance into medical curricula to encourage constructive attitudes and practices among medical students. Students gain the most benefits from frequently attending autopsies. Passionate educators can conduct preparatory sessions to set expectations and address concerns, encourage students to process their experiences, and reinforce learning outcomes in the mortuary setting. Mandatory autopsy teaching should be integrated into the curriculum to ensure medical students have the necessary skills and knowledge to become competent doctors.

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Splenic rupture in cattle is scarcely described in the literature. The aim of this work was to report the occurrence of splenic rupture in cattle in southern Brazil as well as to describe the causes of the condition. Between 2013 and 2022, 24 of the 1769 bovine necropsies performed in southern Brazil were due to splenic rupture, accounting for 1.36% of the diagnoses. Animals died due to hemoperitoneum caused by a rupture in the splenic capsule, typically associated with marked splenomegaly and a large hematoma between the capsule and the parenchyma. Clinical signs were described in a subset of cases (11 of 24 cases, 46%) and included apathy, abdominal pain, mucosal pallor, tachycardia, and respiratory distress. However, the majority (13 of 24 cases, 54%) presented as sudden death. The underlying cause of splenic rupture was established as follows: 16 cases (67%) secondary to babesiosis, 4 cases (17%) due to lymphoma, 1 case (4%) due to a thrombus, 1 case (4%) due to external trauma, 1 case due to a ruptured nodular lymphoid hyperplasia (4%), and 1 case of undetermined cause (4%). Hypovolemic shock caused by splenic rupture is an important cause of death of dairy cattle, and babesiosis and bovine leukemia virus-associated lymphoma are among the most common etiologic diagnoses (84% of cases). The description of the causes of this condition is important to clarify the pathogenesis and occurrence of splenic rupture in dairy cattle.

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INTRODUCTION: Human rabies (HR) is a lethal zoonotic disease caused by lyssaviruses with increase in the number of cases post-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. METHODOLOGY: We report a case of human rabies in a patient from a rural area of Ceará, northeastern Brazil in 2023, who was bitten by a white-tufted-ear marmoset (Callithrix jacchus jacchus). The patient was co-infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) and was diagnosed by minimally invasive autopsy (MIA). RESULTS: MIA offers many advantages related to biosafety, and speed of sample acquisition; and markedly reduces disfigurement of the body compared with complete autopsy. It is a great alternative in COVID-19 patients. CONCLUSIONS: New methods such as MIA are a promising tool for diagnosis, and have the potential to improve family cooperation and support rabies surveillance.

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Hydatidosis or echinococcosis is an endemic parasitic disease caused by the ingestion of eggs of echinococcal species worldwide. In India, the annual incidence varies from 1 to 200 per one 100,000 hab., with the highest prevalence reported in the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. The dog is the definitive host, while humans, sheep, and cattle are intermediate hosts. The disease usually involves the liver and lungs, with the kidney and other organs rare involvement. Cardiac hydatidosis is still further rare, seen in 0.2% to 2% of the patients who remain asymptomatic until the development of its complications. Sudden deaths in cardiac echinococcosis are mostly attributed to cardiac arrhythmias, coronary artery diseases, valvular diseases, cardiomyopathies, pericarditis, and cardiac tamponade. We, herein, report a rare case of cardiac hydatid cyst incidentally found during the autopsy of a 26-year-old male who died due to electrical injuries. A single greyish-white cystic mass measuring 1.5cm X 1.2cm was detected on the left anterior ventricular wall 4 cm above the apex and was confirmed microscopically as a hydatid cyst. The cause of death was attributed to external injury.

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Sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) is a rare neurodegenerative spongiform encephalopathy that causes neuronal derangement secondary to prion protein. Its initial diagnosis is often complex and challenging due to non-specific clinical presentation, lack of awareness, and low clinical suspicion. This disease is invariably fatal, and most patients die within 12 months of presentation. Definite diagnosis of prion disease requires neuropathological analysis, usually done at autopsy. Here, we present the autopsy findings of a 57-year-old male patient, illustrating the complexity of diagnosing this disease early in the clinical course and the need for a broad differential diagnosis at the onset.

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Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by the highly pathogenic severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), primarily impacts the respiratory tract and can lead to severe outcomes such as acute respiratory distress syndrome, multiple organ failure, and death. Despite extensive studies on the pathogenicity of SARS-CoV-2, its impact on the hepatobiliary system remains unclear. While liver injury is commonly indicated by reduced albumin and elevated bilirubin and transaminase levels, the exact source of this damage is not fully understood. Proposed mechanisms for injury include direct cytotoxicity, collateral damage from inflammation, drug-induced liver injury, and ischemia/hypoxia. However, evidence often relies on blood tests with liver enzyme abnormalities. In this comprehensive review, we focused solely on the different histopathological manifestations of liver injury in COVID-19 patients, drawing from liver biopsies, complete autopsies, and in vitro liver analyses. We present evidence of the direct impact of SARS-CoV-2 on the liver, substantiated by in vitro observations of viral entry mechanisms and the actual presence of viral particles in liver samples resulting in a variety of cellular changes, including mitochondrial swelling, endoplasmic reticulum dilatation, and hepatocyte apoptosis. Additionally, we describe the diverse liver pathology observed during COVID-19 infection, encompassing necrosis, steatosis, cholestasis, and lobular inflammation. We also discuss the emergence of long-term complications, notably COVID-19-related secondary sclerosing cholangitis. Recognizing the histopathological liver changes occurring during COVID-19 infection is pivotal for improving patient recovery and guiding decision-making.

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BACKGROUND: Depression can be associated with increased mortality and morbidity, but no studies have investigated the specific causes of death based on autopsy reports. Autopsy studies can yield valuable and detailed information on pathological ailments or underreported conditions. This study aimed to compare autopsy-confirmed causes of death (CoD) between individuals diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD) and matched controls. We also analyzed subgroups within our MDD sample, including late-life depression and recurrent depression. We further investigated whether machine learning (ML) algorithms could distinguish MDD and each subgroup from controls based on their CoD. METHODS: We conducted a comprehensive analysis of CoD in individuals who died from nontraumatic causes. The diagnosis of lifetime MDD was ascertained based on the DSM-5 criteria using information from a structured interview with a knowledgeable informant. Eleven established ML algorithms were used to differentiate MDD individuals from controls by simultaneously analyzing different disease category groups to account for multiple tests. The McNemar test was further used to compare paired nominal data. RESULTS: The initial dataset included records of 1,102 individuals, among whom 232 (21.1%) had a lifetime diagnosis of MDD. Each MDD individual was strictly paired with a control non-psychiatric counterpart. In the MDD group, the most common CoD were circulatory (67.2%), respiratory (13.4%), digestive (6.0%), and cancer (5.6%). Despite employing a range of ML models, we could not find distinctive CoD patterns that could reliably distinguish individuals with MDD from individuals in the control group (average accuracy: 50.6%; accuracy range: 39-59%). These findings were consistent even when considering factors within the MDD group, such as late-life or recurrent MDD. When comparing groups with paired nominal tests, no differences were found for circulatory (p=0.450), respiratory (p=0.790), digestive (p=1.000), or cancer (p=0.855) CoD. CONCLUSIONS: Our analysis revealed that autopsy-confirmed CoD exhibited remarkable similarity between individuals with depression and their matched controls, underscoring the existing heterogeneity in the literature. Future research should prioritize more severe manifestations of depression and larger sample sizes, particularly in the context of CoD related to cancer.

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Fundamento: la aterosclerosis es una enfermedad de origen multifactorial que se agrava a consecuencia de un medio ambiente adverso y de estilos de vida no saludables. Las evidencias confirman su inicio desde las etapas más tempranas de la vida. Objetivo: describir la presencia de lesiones ateroscleróticas tempranas en las aortas de fetos y neonatos fallecidos hijos de madres hipertensas. Método: se realizó un estudio descriptivo de tipo transversal que incluyó a los fetos mayores de 22 semanas y neonatos fallecidos hijos de madres hipertensas, a quienes se les realizó autopsia en el departamento de anatomía patológica, del Hospital Universitario Ginecobstétrico Eusebio Hernández Pérez, en el período comprendido entre enero del 2021 hasta diciembre 2022, con un total de 18. Se recogieron los siguientes datos en las historias clínicas: sexo del fallecido, edad gestacional en el momento del parto, peso postparto, edad materna y antecedentes de hipertensión arterial (crónica o gestacional). Se analizaron las 18 aortas (torácicas y abdominales) de los fallecidos seleccionados. Resultados: del total de fallecidos estudiados el 70,6 % presentó lesiones ateroscleróticas tempranas, caracterizadas por engrosamiento de la íntima a modo de cojinete, presencia de linfocitos en la íntima o en la pared arterial cercana a ella y/o macrófagos. En algunos casos se observó una de estas variantes histológicas y en otros la combinación de dos o tres. Conclusiones: las lesiones ateroscleróticas tempranas están presentes en las aortas de la mayoría de los fetos y neonatos estudiados, con predominio en las que presentaban hipertensión gestacional.

Foundation: atherosclerosis is a disease of multifactorial origin that is aggravated as a result of an adverse environment and unhealthy lifestyles. Evidence confirms its onset from the earliest stages of life. Objective: to describe the presence of early atherosclerotic lesions in the aortas of deceased fetuses and neonates born to hypertensive mothers. Method: a descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out that included fetuses older than 22 weeks and deceased neonates born to hypertensive mothers, who underwent autopsy in the pathological anatomy department of the Eusebio Hernández Pérez Gynecobstetric University Hospital, in the period between January 2021 and December 2022, with a total of 18. The following data were collected in the medical records: sex of the deceased, gestational age at the time of delivery, postpartum weight, maternal age, and history of arterial hypertension (chronic or gestational). The 18 aortas (thoracic and abdominal) of the selected deceased were analyzed. Results: of the total number of deceased studied, 70.6 % presented early atherosclerotic lesions, characterized by thickening of the intima as a cushion, presence of lymphocytes in the intima or in the arterial wall close to it and/or macrophages. In some cases, one of these histological variants was observed and in others a combination of two or three. Conclusions: early atherosclerotic lesions are present in the aortas of the majority of the fetuses and neonates studied, with a predominance in those with gestational hypertension.

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Rape followed by murder against children and adolescents is one of the most serious existing crimes. The autopsies of victims of violent crimes can provide fundamental findings for the investigative process and the pursuit of justice. This research conducts a descriptive analysis of the most important findings from the autopsies of 27 cases of children and adolescents who died in Chile between 1998 and 2021 as a result of rape followed by homicide (n = 27), as well as from the judiciary rulings of these cases to gather information related to the perpetrators. It was found that the victims of this crime are mostly girls with an average age of 10, while the perpetrators are primarily single men aged 29 on average, most of whom have not finished high school. A significant relationship was found between the location of the crime and the cause of death and signs of sexual contact, the marital status of the perpetrator and the cause of death, the age of the perpetrator and signs of sexual contact, and the relationship between victim and perpetrator and signs of sexual contact.

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Trisomy 13, known as Patau syndrome, is a common aneuploidy with a well-known clinical phenotype. This case report describes a trisomy 13 patient with unusual autopsy findings, including features resembling the Beckwith-Wiedemann Spectrum. Due to abnormalities of gestational ultrasounds, a prenatal karyotype of amniotic fluid cells was performed, which resulted in 47, XY+13. Autopsy microscopy studies identified leptomeningeal glioneuronal heterotopia, which was not described as belonging to Patau syndrome. Other atypical findings were diffuse hyperplasia of pancreatic islets of Langerhans and adrenals enlargement with marked adrenocortical cytomegaly, characteristically seen in the Beckwith-Wiedemann Spectrum. Molecular genetic tests were not performed for the Beckwith-Wiedemann Spectrum. Still, due to the rarity of both disorders, this report may support the evidence that trisomy 13 can affect tissue organization and lead to unusual histopathologic features resembling classic overgrowth disorders.

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Pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (PAVMs) are abnormal vascular connections between pulmonary arteries and veins, often associated with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT). Most PAVMs are asymptomatic, but life-threatening complications like pulmonary hemorrhage, brain abscesses, and paradoxical emboli can emerge, so prompt diagnosis and treatment are crucial. We report a case of sudden pediatric death in a two-year-old female with no past medical history. Initial vomiting and fast deterioration resulted in a sudden cardiac arrest. The postmortem examination found histological evidence of consistent, extensive lung damage. The absence of the characteristic symptoms made for some challenges when it came to diagnosis, showing precisely that in early life, you could well have many difficulties in catching PAVMs. This case highlights the need to take PAVMs into account as a potential cause of sudden death, particularly when there are no conspicuous symptoms. Awareness among forensic pathologists and consideration of genetic analysis for HHT in such cases is crucial for accurate diagnosis and management.

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Fatty acid oxidation defects are a heterogeneous group of disorders related to the mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation pathway. Carnitine acylcarnitine translocase (CACT) is an enzyme responsible for the unidirectional transport of acylcarnitine across the inner mitochondrial membrane. This enzyme plays a crucial role in the oxidation of fatty acids. The autopsy pathology of the CACT deficiency is described in only a few cases. We describe the autopsy pathology of a child with CACT deficiency dominantly in the form of microvesicular steatosis of the hepatocytes, renal proximal tubular epithelia, cardiac myocytes, and rhabdomyocytes. The diagnosis was further confirmed on whole exome sequencing with compound heterozygous variants in the exon 1 (c.82G>T, p.Gly28Cys; likely pathogenic) and exon 5 (c.535G>A, p.Asp179Asn; uncertain significance) of the SLC25A20 gene. This case elucidates the histopathology of the liver and the detailed autopsy of a case of CACT deficiency from India.

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This study presents a novel conservative technique to increase oral opening and overcome rigor mortis during medicolegal autopsy (MLA). The method proposes a myotomy of the temporalis and masseter muscles, taking advantage of the incisions of the cranial opening procedures, to achieve a significant oral opening (≥ 30 mm) in fresh cadavers with established rigor mortis without altering facial aesthetics. The study was performed on 48 individuals aged between 18 and 66 years (20 males and 28 females) who were autopsied at the Instituto Nacional de Patología Forense Dr. Sergio Sarita Valdez (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic). The proposed technique not only allowed the oral access to all autopsied cadavers but also complied with current ethical standards for preserving facial aesthetics, taking into account the concerns of family members by allowing respectful viewing of the cadaver. This advancement not only contributes to the efficiency of oral autopsies but also influences public perception of forensic procedures and highlights the importance of ethical and aesthetic considerations in the context of MLAs. The proposed technique represents a significant step towards more respectful and ethical forensic practices, and offers practical advantages for a more complete and accurate assessment during MLA.

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Resumen Introducción: La anemia de células falciformes se define como la hemoglobinopatía estructural autosómica recesiva más prevalente en todo el mundo, puede presentar fenómenos vasooclusivos y la anemia hemolítica que son los responsables de las principales complicaciones de esta enfermedad, una de estas es el síndrome torácico agudo, siendo una causa importante de morbilidad y mortalidad en estos pacientes. Objetivo: correlacionar los hallazgos de la autopsia médico legal, con las generalidades de la fisiopatología de la anemia de células falciformes actualizadas y disponibles. Materiales y métodos: Se realizó el análisis del protocolo de la autopsia médico legal efectuada, y revisión bibliográfica en un caso de una femenina de 37 años que en apariencia padecía de "dolor por nervio ciático", quien falleció en su casa de habitación, tras presentar un dolor intenso localizado en la espalda y disnea. Tras la autopsia médico legal se estableció como causa de muerte el síndrome torácico agudo por drepanocitosis. Conclusiones: La anemia de células falciformes se debe tener presente al momento de la valoración médico legal como una posible causa de muerte, para ello es necesario conocer la fisiopatología de esta enfermedad, y poder identificar dichas afectaciones al momento de realizar la autopsia médico legal, para esto es necesario contar con todas las herramientas posibles para poder realizar un diagnóstico certero.

Abstract Objective: To correlate the findings of the medical legal autopsy carried out with the updated and available generalities of the pathophysiology of sickle cell anemia. Materials and methods: The analysis of the protocol of the medical-legal autopsy carried out, and a bibliographic review, were carried out. A 37-year-old female who apparently suffered from "sciatic nerve pain," who died in her home after experiencing intense pain located in her back and dyspnea. After the medical-legal autopsy, acute chest syndrome due to sickle cell disease was established as the cause of death. Conclusions: Sickle cell anemia must be kept in mind at the time of the medical-legal evaluation as a possible cause of death, for this it is necessary to know the pathophysiology of this disease, and to be able to identify these effects when performing the Medical- Legal Autopsy, for this It is necessary to have all the possible tools to be able to make an accurate diagnosis.

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Resumen En Costa Rica, el Reglamento de la Autopsia Hospitalaria y Médico Legal establece que la autopsia médico legal es obligatoria para toda muerte súbita. La patología cardíaca es responsable aproximadamente del 80 % de las muertes súbitas que requieren una autopsia forense; el prolapso de la válvula mitral (degeneración mixomatosa de la válvula mitral) es una de las formas más comunes de valvulopatía cardíaca, es relativamente común (2%-3% de la población general), y a menudo se considera benigno, la tasa anual de muerte cardíaca súbita (MSC) en individuos con MVP (0,2%-0,4% /año) es aproximadamente el doble que el observado en la población general (0,1%-0,2% año).

Abstract In Costa Rica, the Hospital and Legal Autopsy Regulations establish that a legal medical autopsy is mandatory for all sudden deaths. Cardiac pathology is responsible for approximately 80% of sudden deaths requiring a forensic autopsy; Mitral valve prolapse (myxomatous mitral valve degeneration) is one of the most common forms of heart valve disease, is relatively common (2%-3% of the general population), and is often considered benign, the annual rate of Sudden cardiac death (SCD) in individuals with MVP (0.2%-0.4%/year) is approximately twice that observed in the general population (0.1%-0.2%/year).