Article
Pathology
Max G. Mentink, Frans C. H. Bakers, Casper Mihl, Max J. Lahaye, Roger J. M. W. Rennenberg, Bart G. H. Latten, Bela Kubat, Paul A. M. Hofman
Summary: The implementation of postmortem CT and postmortem sampling increased the postmortem examination rate without adversely affecting the traditional autopsy rate, demonstrating the feasibility of a multidisciplinary postmortem examination in daily practice.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PATHOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Camilla Sandrini, Simona Boito, Claudio M. Lombardi, Sophie Lombardi
Summary: Micro-computed tomography (CT) is an effective non-invasive alternative for evaluating human fetal cardiac anatomy, especially in cases of early termination of pregnancy. It shows high diagnostic accuracy and allows for multiple off-time evaluations, making it a valuable tool for educational and research purposes in the fields of biology and bioengineering.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2021)
Review
Veterinary Sciences
Hanna Mila, Chloe Guerard, Isabelle Raymond-Letron
Summary: This article discusses the importance of postmortem examination in diagnosing neonatal mortality in puppies, outlining key steps like autopsy, histopathology, bacteriology, and molecular identification of pathogens. It also emphasizes the significance of sampling, sample conservation, and result interpretation for final diagnosis, along with examples of common syndromes and infectious agents found in canine newborns during postmortem analysis.
ANIMAL HEALTH RESEARCH REVIEWS
(2021)
Article
Pathology
Fredrik Tamsen, Irina Alafuzoff
Summary: The objective of this study was to assess who is merited an autopsy in Sweden. Data from the Swedish cause of death (COD) registry over a period of 20 years was analyzed to identify the variables associated with the performance of a clinical or forensic autopsy (CA/FA). The study found that being male, born in the Nordic region, dying in a private residence, and unnatural death were most strongly associated with the performance of CA/FA. Conversely, being female, dying from dementia, dying at a nursing home, being born outside of Europe, or living in a small city or rural area seldom led to the performance of CA/FA.
Article
Medicine, Legal
S. Plenzig, F. Holz, M. Kettner, M. A. Verhoff, C. G. Birngruber
Summary: In Frankfurt, the necessity of changing the manner of death based on autopsy findings highlights the need to increase the autopsy rate. Even with forensic experts performing the first postmortem external examinations, special case constellations pose challenges for medical examiners.
Article
Pathology
Robert Pell, S. Kim Suvarna, Nigel Cooper, Guy Rutty, Anna Green, Michael Osborn, Peter Johnson, Alison Hayward, Justine Durno, Theodore Estrin-Serlui, Marion Mafham, Ian S. D. Roberts
Summary: This UK multicentre study examined the disruption of healthcare services and excess mortality during the COVID-19 lockdown using coroners' autopsy reports. The study found that while a small number of deaths were directly attributed to COVID-19, delays in accessing medical care and the lockdown were potential factors contributing to death, particularly in cases of suicide and drug/alcohol-related deaths.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PATHOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Pathology
Max Guillaume Mentink, Bart G. H. Latten, Frans C. H. Bakers, Casper Mihl, Faysal Benali, Patty J. Nelemans, Roger J. M. W. Rennenberg, Richard P. Koopmans, Dennis C. J. J. Bergmans, Bela Kubat, Paul A. M. Hofman
Summary: This study found that agreement with autopsy-determined cause of death was significantly higher when using postmortem CT or postmortem CT combined with postmortem sampling compared to clinical assessment alone. Additionally, cases with conventional autopsy had higher prevalence of circulatory system involvement and perfusion disorders, but lower prevalence of pulmonary system involvement.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PATHOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Matthew A. Nestander, Kathryn Berryman, Robert Brady, James Aden, Gayle Haischer-Rollo
Summary: This study aimed to describe the patterns of postmortem investigations for perinatal deaths and compare the degree of investigation between stillbirths and early neonatal deaths. The findings indicate that stillbirths are more likely to undergo autopsies and genetic testing compared to neonatal deaths, highlighting the need for improved investigation methods for neonatal deaths.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PERINATOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Pathology
Linda M. Ernst, Alexa Freedman, Erica Price, Andrew Franklin
Summary: The tapering of the ductus arteriosus in stillborn fetuses is associated with fetal vascular blood flow obstruction and more prevalent in cases with umbilical cord accident/FVM-related cause of death.
PEDIATRIC AND DEVELOPMENTAL PATHOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Sunil Jaiman, Roberto Romero, Francesca Gotsch, Swarnalata Gowrishankar, Kashif Mohiuddin, Dahiana M. Gallo, Eunjung Jung, Manaphat Suksai, Evita Fernandez
Summary: Infection is a major cause of fetal death, with overwhelming bacterial invasion found in multiple fetal organs. Autopsy plays a valuable role in determining the cause of death.
JOURNAL OF MATERNAL-FETAL & NEONATAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Pathology
Bartholomeus G. H. Latten, Bela Kubat, Piet A. van den Brandt, Axel zur Hausen, Leo J. Schouten
Summary: The autopsy rate is declining while major discrepancies exist between autopsies and clinical diagnoses. This study aims to investigate the relationship between the cause of death, a history of cancer, and the autopsy rate. The findings of this study are important in understanding the impact of cancer on autopsies and can help counteract the decline in the medical autopsy.
Article
Medicine, Legal
George-Calin Oprinca, Lilioara-Alexandra Muja
Summary: This paper presents three autopsy cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection, with lungs as the central organ of invasion and pathogenesis. The spleen exhibited white pulp atrophy. Pathological features included viral cytopathic effect, hyaline membrane formation, and microthrombi within small blood vessels.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LEGAL MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Sang-Seob Lee, Harin Cheong
Summary: This study aimed to determine the characteristics of catecholamine distribution in postmortem specimens with various factors and evaluate the relationships between postmortem catecholamine levels, agony time, and cause of death. The study found that there were no significant differences in catecholamine levels according to sex, age, or manner of death, but significant increases were observed after cardiopulmonary resuscitation and epinephrine injection. The assessment of postmortem catecholamine levels could be used as a supportive tool in determining agonal status and differentiating the cause of death.
JOURNAL OF KOREAN MEDICAL SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Henry N. Njuguna, Sherif R. Zaki, Drucilla J. Roberts, Emily A. Rogena, Edwin Walong, Corinne L. Fligner, M. Kelly Keating, Andrew K. Gachii, Elizabeth Maleche-Obimbo, Grace Irimu, John Mathaiya, Noelle Orata, Rosemarie Lopokoiyit, Jackson Michuki, Gideon O. Emukule, Clayton O. Onyango, Stella Gikunju, Collins Owuor, Peter K. Muturi, Milka Bunei, Maria Gloria Carvalho, Barry Fields, Joshua A. Mott, Marc-Alain Widdowson, Sandra S. Chaves
Summary: The research revealed that in Kenya, acute respiratory infections remain the leading cause of death in children under 5 years old, with pneumonia being the main cause of death in cases associated with infectious disease processes. Despite established vaccination programs, some deaths were still preventable through vaccines.
PEDIATRIC INFECTIOUS DISEASE JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Oncology
Justus Domschikowski, Karoline Koch, Claudia Schmalz
Summary: Accurate attribution of death in oncologic patients can be difficult, with many deaths being attributed to underlying cancer when potentially curable causes may be present. Autopsy results showed that a significant proportion of patients did not die solely due to their advanced cancers, highlighting the importance of considering competing causes of death in palliative cancer care.
FRONTIERS IN ONCOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Developmental Biology
Linda M. Ernst, Crystal Bockoven, Alexa Freedman, Vivien Wang, Matthew Pellerite, Todd N. Wylie, Kristine M. Wylie
Summary: Viruses, particularly herpesviruses, were more frequently detected in cases compared with controls. Antiviral pathways were upregulated in cases. VUE may have multiple inflammatory gene expression profiles.
Article
Pathology
Alexa A. Freedman, Lauren S. Keenan-Devlin, Ann Borders, Gregory E. Miller, Linda M. Ernst
Summary: This study analyzed placental pathology reports from a single hospital between 2009 and 2018, finding associations between multiple overlapping lesions and adverse birth outcomes. Results indicate that maternal vascular malperfusion (MVM) and MVM combined with chronic inflammation (CI) and/or fetal vascular malperfusion (FVM) are associated with preterm birth and small for gestational age infant.
PEDIATRIC AND DEVELOPMENTAL PATHOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Linda M. Ernst, Leena B. Mithal, Karen Mestan, Vivien Wang, Kathy A. Mangold, Alexa Freedman, Sanchita Das
Summary: The study found differential miRNA expression in umbilical cord blood and tissue of EOS patients, with little overlap between the two specimen types. The most overexpressed miR in EOS patient plasma was miR-211-5p, and in EOS cord tissue was miR-223-5p. Comparing the ratios of over and under-expressed miRs provided a potentially sensitive and specific diagnostic test for EOS, with good discrimination indicated by ROC curves.
Article
Immunology
Alexa A. Freedman, Britney P. Smart, Lauren S. Keenan-Devlin, Janedelie Romero, Andrew Franklin, Ann Borders, Linda M. Ernst, Gregory E. Miller
Summary: The study aimed to investigate temporal changes in placental gene expression by longitudinally sampling placentas over a 24-hour period. Results indicated that for some mRNA transcripts, expression changes as time to sample collection increases.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF REPRODUCTIVE IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Developmental Biology
Alexa A. Freedman, Gregory E. Miller, Linda M. Ernst
Summary: The study found that individuals with chronic villitis in their first pregnancy are over two times more likely to develop chronic villitis in their second pregnancy. Recurrent chronic villitis is not associated with increased prevalence of small for gestational age infant. Among those with recurrent chronic villitis, high-grade chronic inflammation and fetal vascular malperfusion were more common in the second pregnancy.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Alexa A. Freedman, Gregory E. Miller, Lauren S. Keenan-Devlin, Britney P. Smart, Janedelie Romero, Ann Borders, Linda M. Ernst
Summary: Exposure to acute stressors during pregnancy, particularly in the first trimester, is associated with increased risk of preterm birth. While first trimester exposure did not show increased odds of placental pathology, stress may contribute to preterm birth risk through chronic placental inflammation.
MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Alexa A. Freedman, Britney P. Smart, Lauren S. Keenan-Devlin, Ann Borders, Linda M. Ernst, Gregory E. Miller
Summary: The study shows that individuals living in areas with higher eviction rates are more likely to experience adverse pregnancy outcomes, especially for those with low neighborhood and individual socioeconomic status who are likely to be renters and affected by local eviction policies.
JOURNAL OF EPIDEMIOLOGY AND COMMUNITY HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Abhineet M. Sharma, Robert Birkett, Erika T. Lin, Linda M. Ernst, William A. Grobman, Suchitra Swaminathan, Hiam Abdala-Valencia, Alexander Misharin, Elizabeth T. Bartom, Karen K. Mestan
Summary: Placental lesions are associated with unique changes in gene expression in fetal monocytes and monocyte subsets. Fetal monocytes exposed to acute placental inflammation upregulate biological processes related to monocyte activation, monocyte chemotaxis, and platelet function, while monocytes exposed to maternal vascular malperfusion lesions downregulate these processes. Intermediate monocytes might be a source of mitogens implicated in different outcomes related to prematurity.
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Sunitha C. Suresh, Alexa A. Freedman, Emmet Hirsch, Linda M. Ernst
Summary: This study analyzed the placental pathology histologic types in preterm births and found that high-grade chronic placental inflammation was associated with recurrent preterm birth. Low-grade maternal vascular malperfusion was associated with recurrent preterm birth only in early preterm births.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Obstetrics & Gynecology
Raymond W. Redline, Drucilla J. Roberts, Mana M. Parast, Linda M. Ernst, Terry K. Morgan, Michael F. Greene, Cynthia Gyamfi-Bannerman, Judette M. Louis, Emin Maltepe, Karen K. Mestan, Roberto Romero, Joanne Stone
Summary: The importance of a fully functioning placenta for a good pregnancy outcome is unquestioned. Placental pathology has advanced the science and practice of obstetrics and neonatal-perinatal medicine. However, obstacles in incorporating placental findings into clinical studies and practice have existed. Nonetheless, the potential use of placental pathology for phenotypic classification, understanding adverse pregnancy outcomes, and developing treatment and prevention has never been greater. This review reexamines the role of placental pathology, explains current concepts and terminology, emphasizes the usefulness of specific diagnoses, and suggests future improvements.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Pathology
Linda M. Ernst, Alexa Freedman, Erica Price, Andrew Franklin
Summary: The tapering of the ductus arteriosus in stillborn fetuses is associated with fetal vascular blood flow obstruction and more prevalent in cases with umbilical cord accident/FVM-related cause of death.
PEDIATRIC AND DEVELOPMENTAL PATHOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Pathology
Kiran Manjee, Erica Price, Linda M. Ernst
Summary: This study compares the autopsy findings of second trimester and third trimester stillbirths and finds that the most common cause of death is pathologic placental conditions, particularly those associated with umbilical cord obstruction. The study emphasizes the importance of placenta examination in determining the cause of death in both second and third trimester fetuses.
PEDIATRIC AND DEVELOPMENTAL PATHOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Pathology
Alexa A. A. Freedman, Erica Price, Andrew Franklin, Linda M. Ernst
Summary: Placental maternal vascular malperfusion (MVM) is associated with fetal growth restriction (FGR). In autopsied stillbirths, it was found that stillbirths caused by MVM had relatively less impact on heart weight compared to body weight. Therefore, the effect of MVM on fetal cardiac structure is minimal and further research is needed in this area.
PEDIATRIC AND DEVELOPMENTAL PATHOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Pathology
Michael K. Fritsch, Nina Gotteiner, Jamaal A. Rehman, Erica Price, Linda M. Ernst
Summary: This research identified that anomalies in the cardiac conduction system and thinning or discontinuity of the annulus fibrosus may lead to fetal atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia, resulting in refractory dysrhythmia.
PEDIATRIC AND DEVELOPMENTAL PATHOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Pathology
Ansa Mehreen, Sunitha Suresh, Alexa A. Freedman, Linda M. Ernst
Summary: This study compared the histopathology and CD15 expression in large for gestational age (LGA) placentas with appropriate for gestational age (AGA) placentas. The results showed that LGA placentas had increased expression of CD15 in villous capillary endothelium and a higher prevalence of fetal vascular malperfusion, delayed villous maturation, and villous chorangiosis. Therefore, LGA placentas have high-risk features compared to AGA placentas.
PEDIATRIC AND DEVELOPMENTAL PATHOLOGY
(2023)
