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C Henssge

Publications and source records attributed to C Henssge.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Rectal temperature time of death nomogram: dependence of corrective factors on the body weight under stronger thermic insulation conditions.

Ninety-eight test coolings were made under various cooling conditions (moving air, two types of both clothing and covering) on dummies of real masses of 1, 3.3, 9.9, 24.5 and 33.4 kg, respectively, which cool under standard conditions (unclothed, uncovered, still air) like human bodies of 14, 33, 41, 83 and 104 kg, respectively. The results provide evidence of a non-linear dependence of corrective factors of body weight upon the body weight. The dynamics of the dependence increases with the thickness of thermic insulation. Transferred to the use of the nomogram method on bodies, cooling conditions requiring corrective factors between 0.75 (moving air) and 1.3 (rather thin clothing/covering), known from experience on bodies of an average weight, can be used as in the past, independent of the body weight. According to experience the dependence of corrective factors on the body weight must be taken into account in bodies of a very high or low body weight. For that purpose both a simplified table and a formula for computing is given.

Bedding and Linens↗
PubMed1992

[Rectal temperature-time of death nomogram: dependence of corrective factors of body weight in significant thermal insulating conditions].

98 test coolings were made under various cooling conditions (moving air, two types of both clothing and covering) on dummies of real masses of 1, 3.3, 9.9, 24.5 and 33.4 kg resp. which cool under standard conditions (unclothed, uncovered, still air) like human bodies of 14, 33, 41, 83 and 104 kg resp. The results provide evidence on a nonlinear dependence of corrective factors of body weight upon the body weight. The dynamics of the dependence increases with the thickness of thermic isolation. Transferred to the use of the nomogram method on bodies, cooling conditions requiring corrective factors known by experience between 0.75 (moving air) and 1.3 (rather thin clothing/covering) can be used as in the past independent on the body weight. Only in higher corrective factors for thicker clothing/covering according to experience the dependence of corrective factors on the body weight must be taken into account in bodies of a very high or low body weight. Beside a simplified table a formula for computing is also given for that purpose.

Body Temperature Regulation↗
PubMed1990

[Use of rectal temperature-time of death nomograms at the scene of death].

The application of the rectal temperature time of death nomogram at the scene of death by 11 authors from 6 lego-medical institutes resulted in a standard deviation of the differences between nomographic and real death time of +/- 1.3 h in 46 cases (group I) with met requirements and clearly defined points of contact, nevertheless, including 9 cases with a more progressive cooling (0.5 greater than Q greater than or equal to 0.2). In cases with a real death time of more than 4h (N = 26) the standard deviation was +/- 1.0 hours corresponding to permissible variation of 95% of +/- 2.0 hours. Consequently, the permissible variation of 95% was much smaller than that suggested by the nomogram. The nomographic death time interval did not agree with the real one in 5 cases out of additional 30 cases with recognizably unsure points of contact (group II).

Body Temperature Regulation↗
PubMed1990

[Postmortem behavior of the rheobase].

Own investigations on the postmortem rise of muscular threshold were conducted on 20 bodies with exactly known time of death. Muscular contraction was objectified using a sensitive force transducer. The muscle was excitated using rectangular impulses of 1 second duration of a current intensity which produces a force of muscular contraction of 2.5 mN. These excitations were continued over the postmortem interval until a current intensity of 80 mN doesn't cause a contraction of 2.5 mN any more. Investigations were mainly performed at the thenar muscles. There is a linear relationship between ln of muscular threshold (current intensity) and the time since death (r = 0.965). For any case the linear regression line between ln of muscular threshold and time since death was calculated. With mean values for slope and intercept the time of death was calculated for each measured threshold. Extrapolation of the time since death with mean values also for the slope reveals a much more precise estimation of the time since death than an extrapolation with an individual slope as proposed by Joachim and Feldmann (1980). The method was proved on a random sample of 8 practical cases. The real time since death was always within the 95%-limits of confidence of the extrapolated time since death.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Electrical excitability of skeletal muscle postmortem in casework.

UNLABELLED: The paper gives a review of the development of methods of postmortem electrical excitability of skeletal muscle for determining the time since death. For practical application in casework, the following method can be proposed: position of electrodes in the orbicularis oculi muscle, stimulation by rectangular impulses of 10 ms duration, 30 mA in a repetition rate of 50/s. The muscular reaction on excitation is graded in 6 degrees according to the spread of movement and the intensity of contraction. To each degree a time information is corresponding (95%-limits of confidence). These 95%-limits of confidence were proved to be valid for cases of sudden natural or traumatic deaths. EXCLUSIONS: deaths after chronic lingering disease (shorter times), fatal hypothermia, haematomas, emphysemas of the eyelid (longer times). The practical application in casework together with the temperature method (Henssge 1988, 1) is described. Applying both methods the death time estimation in the early postmortem interval may be much more precise and accurate than using one method alone.

Electric Stimulation↗
PubMed1990

[Practical value of post-mortem electrical excitability in determining time of death].

In 35 cases (about 200 single excitations) electrical excitibility of mimic muscles was reexamined according to the method developed by Klein and Klein (1978) with subjective grading of muscular reaction according to the intensity and spread of movement. Instead of "rectangular-like impulses" of some ms duration in a repetition of 30 to 70/sec and 50 V constant-current rectangular impulse of 1 sec duration and 30 mA were used. Nevertheless the determination of the time since death is valid within the calculated 95%--limits of confidence. The 95%--limits of confidence are not valid for cases of fatal hypothermia: here are longer (and shorter) times possible for the special degree. In our opinion examination of electrical excitibility belongs to the minimal standard of methods to be used for determining the time since death in the early postmortem interval. This is discussed in 17 cases where the dates for the special degree of electrical excitability could narrow down the time period since death given by the nomogromn method.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

[Calcium concentration in vitreous humor--a means for determining time of death?].

Several authors are in agreement that there is no relationship between calcium concentration in vitreous humor and time since death. Nowak and Balabanova (1989) however established such a relationship on a random sample of 19 cases suffering from heart disease (coronary occlusion) and quote Coe (1969, 1972) who "described also a correlation between PMI and calcium" which is completely wrong. The results of Nowak and Balabanova are compared to own results (n = 270, 69 deaths due to coronary artery disease), results of Sturner et al. (1972) and Schmidt (1988). In conclusion there is a statistically significant correlation between calcium concentration in vitreous humor and PMI (r = 0,356) but the range of scatter of the individual calcium values over the PMI is so great that it becomes clear that vitreous calcium is no aid in estimating the time since death.

Calcium↗
PubMed1990

[Postmortem increase in the galvanic threshold].

The investigations of Joachim and Feldmann (1980) on the postmortem rise of muscular threshold were examined on a random sample of 20 bodies with known time of death. Muscular reaction on excitation was objectified using a sensitive force transducer pricked into the muscle (mostly thenar). The muscle was excitated (each half on hour) using rectangular impulses of 1 sec. duration with a current intensity which causes a muscular contraction of 2.5 mN until a current intensity of 80 mA doesn't reach this force any more. Ln of muscular threshold and time since death show a strong linear relationship (r = 0.965). Time since death was extrapolated with mean values for slope and intercept (calculated from the random sample) for all measured values of muscular threshold. Extrapolation from a single value with mean values also for the slope reveals a much more precise estimation of the time since death than extrapolation with an individual slope (according to Joachim) which requires repeated measurements of muscular threshold in an interval of 30 minutes. The procedure was examined at a random sample of 8 cases. The real time since death war always within the 95% limits of confidence of the calculated time since death.

Electric Stimulation↗
PubMed1990

[Iatrogenic cardiac tamponade in lung embolism].

A 65 year old man with diffuse pleural mesothelioma suffering from acute dyspnoea and chest pain underwent pericardiocentesis to withdraw pericardial effusion. After some mispunctures blood was withdrawn. Exitus in tabula. At autopsy cardiac tamponade with two cuts of the right ventricle. Pulmonary thrombembolism of the right lung. Advanced diffuse pleural mesothelioma with infiltration of lung, mediastinum, pericard, cuirrassing of left pulmonary artery and descendent aorta thoracica. The connection between iatrogenic cardiac tamponade and death couldn't be established without any doubt in the presence of a concurring cause of death (massive pulmonary thrombembolism).

Aged↗
PubMed1989

References for determining the time of death by potassium in vitreous humor.

The different statements concerning the slope and intercept of the regression line and the 95% limits of confidence are the reason that potassium in vitreous humor is not used (at least in Germany) as an aid in estimating the time of death. The relationship between the concentration of potassium and the time of death is mainly influenced by antemortem electrolyte imbalances caused by disease and/or duration of terminal episode. The influence of terminal episode is best identified by its duration (Adelson et al., J. Forensic Sci., 8 (1963) 503-514). In order to have a method suitable for every case and to be as precise as possible we looked therefore for parameters in vitreous humor which were stable postmortem and indicating antemortem electrolyte imbalance. Urea is such a parameter, being stable postmortem (Coe, Am. J. Clin. Pathol, 51 (1969) 741-750) and useful as a marker of antemortem electrolyte imbalance. Our investigations on potassium in vitreous humor, including sudden and hospital deaths after chronic lingering disease, revealed 95% limits of confidence of +/- 34 h up to 120 h postmortem. Reviewing only cases with urea less than 100 mg/dl the 95% limits of confidence could be reduced to +/- 22 h. Considering the duration of terminal episode (less than 6 h) the precision was +/- 20 h. In this way our modified procedure is suitable for every case with the resulting precision of estimation being determined only by the duration of the terminal episode and urea concentration.

Death↗
PubMed1989

[Ambulatory electronic data processing using the hand-held computer (HP 71B)].

Hand-held computer are very useful devices for medico-legal tasks outside the institutes. They can be advantageously used at a scene of death for the estimation of the time since death instead of the temperature nomograms and the integrated chart as well as for the controlled reconstructive test cooling (dummy). They facilitate the calculation of the BAC at the court also.

Body Temperature Regulation↗
PubMed1989

[Objective assessment and quantification of postmortem muscle contraction to electrical stimulation].

UNLABELLED: The muscular contraction on electrical stimulation (rectangular impulses of 1 s duration, 2 to 80 mA current intensity) was objectified using a sensitive force transducer. RESULTS: The shape of the muscular contraction (time course) is changing over the postmortem interval with two peaks (opening and closing contraction according to Pflüger's law) in the early postmortem interval and only one peak in the later postmortem interval. The relaxation period of muscular contraction is increasing over the postmortem interval. The maximum force developed during muscular contraction on definite current intensity is decreasing over the postmortem interval. Increase of the relaxation period a decrease of the maximum force in response to a definite current intensity are criteria allowing a determination of the time since death on an objective basis.

Electric Stimulation↗
PubMed1989

[Findings in chronic use and acute overdose of Leponex].

Two fatal cases are represented in which the intake of the tricyclic neuroleptic drug with the active ingredient clozapine was involved. The chemical toxiological results are showed and in connection with the results of the autopsies and the case history discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Death time estimation in case work. II. Integration of different methods.

The mean value of the time of death is not reliable because of the great variability of the time-dependent criteria of dead bodies. However, it is possible to narrow down a reliable time period for a stated death by means of the lower and upper limits of error of different criteria. The external data of lividity, rigor, mechanical and electrical excitability of facial muscles and the chemical excitability of the iris have all been gathered from literature, chronologically arranged and clearly presented. After rectal temperature measurement and a corresponding nomogram reading, it is simple to choose other suitable criteria and to integrate them with the aid of a chart thus producing a rational and practical procedure for use at a scene of crime.

Facial Muscles↗
PubMed1988

Death time estimation in case work. I. The rectal temperature time of death nomogram.

A rectal temperature time of death nomogram was developed on the basis of physical considerations, the two-exponential term of Marshall and Hoare (J. Forensic Sci., 7 (1962) 56-81), further studies of literature and our own experimental body coolings. The Nomogram Method is based on a single measurement of the rectal temperature. The result is obtained immediately at a scene of crime without any mental arithmetic. Support in the practical application of the method and data for the accuracy of estimated death time are given. Special problems and its limitations are discussed. The Nomogram Method is compared with other temperature methods of estimating the time since death.

Algorithms↗