Determining the manner of death in victims in drug-induced psychosis: a case of an atypical head stab wound
AbstractThis case report presents a rare case of an atypical head stab wound suffered by a drug addict and inflicted with a screwdriver during drug-induced psychosis. It describes the diagnostic and treatment procedures in the hospital and the findings of the subsequent autopsy. It also analyzes the review of the interpretation of the CT scans made upon admission and the subsequent treatment by an independent medical review panel, which revealed signs of medical mismanagement. Therefore, it also discusses the legal consequences that the case may have involved for the attending physicians in addition to the consequences for...
Source: Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology - March 27, 2024 Category: Forensic Medicine Source Type: research

Assessment of pheniramine in alternative biological matrices by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry
In this study, pheniramine was quantified in both conventional and alternative specimens of twenty chronic drug abusers, aged 16 –50 years, who were positive for pheniramine in comprehensive toxicological screening for drugs by gas chromatography with mass spectral detection in positive electron impact mode. Pheniramine was extracted from biological specimens using solid phase extraction and liquid chromatography tandem ma ss spectrometry was employed for quantification. Chromatographic separation was carried out on a Poroshell120EC-18 (2.1 mm × 50 mm × 2.7 µm) column using water-acetonitrile in formic acid (0...
Source: Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology - March 26, 2024 Category: Forensic Medicine Source Type: research

Effects of antibiotics ceftriaxone and levofloxacin on the growth of Protophormia terraenovae (Diptera: Calliphoridae)
In this study the effects of different concentrations of antibiotics levofloxacin and ceftriaxone on maggot development, weight, length, and mortality were examined. The maggot length and weight were significantly increased by therapeutical doses of levofloxacin and ceftriaxone. The maggot development time was significantly decreased in every levofloxacin treatment compared to the control. The time to start pupation was significantly increased in the control compared to the antibiotic treatments. Levofloxacin significantly increased the survivability of the maggots. Every levofloxacin treatment significantly improved the r...
Source: Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology - March 26, 2024 Category: Forensic Medicine Source Type: research

Commentary on: Management of unidentified and unclaimed bodies: a comparison of model from four countries in the Asia Pacific Region
(Source: Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology)
Source: Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology - March 26, 2024 Category: Forensic Medicine Source Type: research

The micro CT evaluation of crown and root pulp volume versus dentin thickness in teeth in postmortem interval (PMI)
AbstractDetermining the postmortem interval (PMI) is one of the main study subjects of forensic sciences. The main purpose of this prospective in vitro study that was the Micro-CT evaluation of teeth crown and root pulp volume versus dentin thickness in terms of PMI determination. The study involved 60 female Wistar rats, with weights ranging from 270 to 320  g. These rats were grouped into six different post-mortem period categories. Following the animals’ sacrifice, they were subjected to a natural putrefaction period, with a control group, in the grounds of a sheltered garden. Hemi-mandible samples were then extracte...
Source: Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology - March 21, 2024 Category: Forensic Medicine Source Type: research

Corpse or not? Two peculiar cases of misidentification
SummaryIrrespective of whether they are intended for collectors or for the fetish market, dolls are being produced to look more and more realistic with such a degree of life-like detail that they can be mistaken for a real person. This paper reports two cases of misidentification due to this increasing similarity: In the first case, a sex doll was mistaken for a corpse; in the second case, a corpse was mistaken for a doll. While in the latter case, only medical laypersons were at the discovery site, in the first case, an emergency doctor had issued a medical certificate of death for the purported corpse. The medicolegal ex...
Source: Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology - March 15, 2024 Category: Forensic Medicine Source Type: research

Sustainable and economical alternatives to fragment capture materials in explosive and ballistic trials
AbstractStrawboard has been utilised as a fragmentation capture material since the 1960s, mainly employed to capture fragments from explosives and explosive devices from arena trials of munitions. As this material has historically been calibrated to a known standard, it has a proven record of allowing research establishments to ascertain the velocity of a fragment based on the depth of penetration of the strawboard. During the time of calibration, strawboard was used as a common building material which was both widely available and relatively affordable; however, due to the recent economic crisis and geopolitical supply is...
Source: Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology - March 12, 2024 Category: Forensic Medicine Source Type: research

Comparative analysis of post-mortem drug concentrations in cerebrospinal fluid and blood
This study aimed to compare the concentration of various xenobiotics in both cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood. We examined 175 autopsy cases covering a wide range of ages, causes of death, and drug ingestion histories, with cerebrospinal fluid and blood samples available for toxicological testing. Analytes studied included opioids, benzodiazepines, antidepressants, antipsychotics, and illicit substances such as cannabinoids, stimulants and new psychoactive substances, including synthetic cathinones and synthetic cannabinoids. We found that concentrations in CSF were generally lower than in blood. A significant correlati...
Source: Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology - March 12, 2024 Category: Forensic Medicine Source Type: research

Dental color measurement to estimate age in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis
AbstractAge estimation is a major challenge in anthropology and forensic odontology laboratories, as well as in judicial settings, as one of the tools used in human identification. The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of age estimation methods based on the accurate measurement of tooth color changes. A systematic review was carried out following the recommendations of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses and in compliance with Cochrane criteria recommendations (PROSPERO registration number CRD 42022343371). An electronic search was performed in the following databases: Pubm...
Source: Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology - March 8, 2024 Category: Forensic Medicine Source Type: research

Acute necrotizing duodenitis in diabetic ketoacidosis
We report a case of isolated AND with an unusual morphology not previously reported. A man in his 60s was found dead at home who died from pneumonia complicated by DKA. The gastroin testinal tract showed isolated patchy and discrete AND in which macroscopically resembled WLs, but microscopy resembled ANE with florid necrosis and acute inflammation. This case, together with the literature, documented AND can be macroscopically diffuse or discrete resembling ANE or WLs respective ly but microscopically resemble ANE. Furthermore, the potential of these lesions being found in isolation in DKA raises the possibility of both gen...
Source: Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology - March 6, 2024 Category: Forensic Medicine Source Type: research

A preliminary study of carrion insects in Greece and their attraction to three animal baits: a forensic entomology perspective
This study reinforced the feasibility of using animal tissues as attractants to a wide diversity of medical, parasitological and forensically important taxa. Overall, beef liver attracted the most insects with Diptera preferring beef liver and Coleoptera preferring chicken stomach. Furthermore, this study revealed that baits of one animal tissue did not attract all species but in combination a much better understanding of this biodiversity was achieved. Finally, from a forensic entomology perspective this study highlights the lack of understanding of the value of entomological data related to case work in Greece. (Source: ...
Source: Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology - March 2, 2024 Category: Forensic Medicine Source Type: research

Advancement and the existing landscape of forensic medicine in Africa: A comparison with developed countries
This article explores the development and challenges of forensic medicine in Africa, comparing it to developed countries. It addresses limited resources, funding, and a shortage of trained professionals. The growth of forensic investigation capabilities and the challenges of funding and technology access are discussed. Training and education have improved, but disparities remain. Partnerships with developed countries and international organizations are crucial to bridge the gap. A comprehensive legal framework is important, but disparities exist among African countries. Harmonizing forensic laws would enhance cooperation. ...
Source: Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology - February 28, 2024 Category: Forensic Medicine Source Type: research

Suicidal wrist bites
AbstractWrist injuries are not uncommon in forensic routine and are usually found in the context of suicides or as a result of psychiatric illnesses, e.g., borderline disorders. Sharp objects (knives, broken glass, etc.) are usually used. In the case reported here, a paranoid-schizophrenic man not only injured himself with razor blades on both wrists, but he also inflicted extensive wrist bite injuries using his dental prosthesis. In addition to the severance of flexor tendons, venous vessels and the left radial artery were torn with subsequent blood loss. At the time of death, there was also acute exposure to methadone an...
Source: Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology - February 28, 2024 Category: Forensic Medicine Source Type: research

The death of Rasputin —A forensic evaluation
AbstractGrigori Yefimovich Rasputin, a confidant of Tsar Nicholas and his wife, was murdered by Prince Yussupov and his co-conspirators in the cellar of the prince ’s Moika Palace in St Petersburg, Russia, on the evening of December 30th, 1916 (December 17th in the Russian calendar). The narrative of his death is largely based on Prince Yussupov’s published memoirs and has Rasputin being poisoned with cyanide, shot, bludgeoned, and finally drowned. A revie w of the available forensic material, however, shows a photograph with a contact gunshot wound to Rasputin’s forehead. This would indicate that he was dead prior t...
Source: Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology - February 22, 2024 Category: Forensic Medicine Source Type: research

A comparison between the enzymatic oxidation method and headspace gas chromatography with a flame ionization detector in the determination of postmortem blood ethanol
This study uses headspace gas chromatography with a flame ionization detector (HS-GC/FID) to assess the interference of lactate and LDH levels on BAC in 110 autopsied blood samples determined by the enzymatic oxidation method. The results showed that lactate and LDH levels in postmortem blood were higher than in normal blood. There was a weak correlation between the lactate levels and BAC difference (r = 0.23,p <  0.05) and a strong correlation between LDH levels and BAC difference (r = 0.67,p <  0.001). The differentiation of BAC between the enzymatic oxidation method and HS-GC/FID was significant (p...
Source: Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology - February 20, 2024 Category: Forensic Medicine Source Type: research