Electrical injury is a severe multisystem trauma that is characterized by high clinical risk and mortality. For forensic practitioners, the diagnosis of electrocution death depends primarily on typical electric marks, scene investigations, and medical case information, which essentially constitute an exclusionary diagnostic procedure. Establishing a reliable diagnostic method for electrocution death, particularly in cases without visible electric marks, remains an urgent challenge in routine forensic practice. We retrospectively analyzed forensic electrocution death cases to screen novel molecular biomarkers for the diagnosis of mark-absent electrocution death. Focusing on electric shock-induced malignant arrhythmia and cutaneous metal deposition, we detected the expression of oxidative stress-sensitive genes in myocardial tissue and Cu & sup2;(+)-dependent cuproptosis-related genes in palmar skin. The Cu & sup2;(+) concentration in palmar skin, combined with the expression levels of skin genes (e.g., FDX1 and CXCL6) and myocardial genes (e.g., GCLM and PRDX4), may serve as potential biomarkers for the auxiliary diagnosis of mark-absent electrocution death. The combined detection of skin and myocardial samples provides a valuable auxiliary diagnostic strategy for challenging forensic cases.
[1]Sun Yat sen Univ, Zhongshan Sch Med, Fac Forens Med, Guangzhou 510080, Guangdong, Peoples R China.
[2]Sun Yat Sen Univ, Guangdong Prov Translat Forens Med Engn Technol Re, Guangzhou 510080, Guangdong, Peoples R China.
[3]China Med Univ, Shengjing Hosp, Dept Anesthesiol, Shenyang 110004, Liaoning, Peoples R China.
[4]Shandong Second Med Univ, Affiliated Hosp, Ctr Judicial Appraisal, Weifang 261031, Shandong, Peoples R China.
[5]Shandong Second Med Univ, Dept Forens Med, Weifang 261042, Shandong, Peoples R China.
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