Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40189649›Full record

SynthesisInternational journal of legal medicine2025

Immunohistochemical insights into hyperthermia-related deaths: a systematic review.

Luca Tomassini, Giulia Ricchezze, Cristiana Gambelunghe, Massimo Lancia, Virginia Goracci, Francesco De Micco, Piergiorgio Fedeli, Mariano Cingolani, Roberto Scendoni

Abstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in International journal of legal medicine, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Luca TomassiniInternational School of Advanced Studies, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy.
Giulia RicchezzeDepartment of Law, Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Macerata, Macerata, Italy. g.ricchezze1@unimc.it.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0003-4884-9919
Cristiana GambelungheForensic Medicine, Forensic Science and Sports Medicine Section, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy. cristiana.gambelunghe@unipg.it.
Massimo LanciaForensic Medicine, Forensic Science and Sports Medicine Section, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
Virginia GoracciForensic Medicine, Forensic Science and Sports Medicine Section, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
Francesco De MiccoResearch Unit of Bioethics and Humanities, Department of Medicine and Surgery, Università Campus Bio-Medico Di Roma, Rome, Italy.
Piergiorgio FedeliSchool of Law, Legal Medicine, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy.
Mariano CingolaniDepartment of Law, Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Macerata, Macerata, Italy.
Roberto ScendoniDepartment of Law, Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Macerata, Macerata, Italy.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The diagnosis of hyperthermia-related death presents a significant challenge in the field of forensic medicine due to the lack of pathognomonic signs and the complexity of the variables involved. This systematic review analyzes research on the role of immunohistochemistry (IHC) in postmortem diagnosis of hyperthermia, considering studies related to environmental hyperthermia, fire-related fatalities, and substance-induced hyperthermia. A total of 36 studies were included, selected according to PRISMA guidelines and critically evaluated using JBI tools. The results highlighted significant methodological heterogeneity, with differences in the tissues studied, the immunohistochemical markers used, and the analytical techniques employed. Some markers showed diagnostic potential in cases of fire exposure, but in deaths due to environmental or substance-induced hyperthermia, the markers examined were neither specific nor reliable. Common methodological weaknesses included small sample sizes, biases, and insufficient statistical analysis, which influenced the interpretation of the results. Considering these issues, IHC cannot be considered a valid diagnostic technique for hyperthermia-related deaths. Future studies with greater methodological rigor, validation of specific markers, and standardization of procedures are necessary.

Indexed as

FeverHyperthermiaImmunohistochemistryBiomarkersFiresForensic PathologyHumansBiomarkers“Fire fatalities“Forensic medicine“Hyperthermia-related deaths“Immunohistochemistry (IHC)“Substance-induced hyperthermia

Identifiers

PMID40189649

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.