Chained nuclei and python pattern in skeletal muscle cells as histological markers for electrical injury
Electrical injury is caused by direct contact with any source of electricity, including the household use of an electric power source. Contact with electric sources often results in electric burn marks on the skin and severe damage to various organs located along the flow-line of the electric current. An electric current passing through the organs that are critical to sustaining life, such as the heart or central nervous system, often causes electrocution [1]. When an electric current passes through living organs, damage to the organs results from both the electric current itself and the joule heat caused by the high elect...
Source: Legal Medicine - November 2, 2017 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Hiroki Tanaka, Katsuhiro Okuda, Seiji Ohtani, Masaru Asari, Kie Horioka, Shotaro Isozaki, Akira Hayakawa, Katsuhiro Ogawa, Shiono Hiroshi, Keiko Shimizu Source Type: research
Editorial Board
(Source: Legal Medicine)
Source: Legal Medicine - November 1, 2017 Category: Forensic Medicine Source Type: research
Death by self-mutilation after oral cannabis consumption
Major self-mutilation (amputation, castration, self-inflicted eye injuries) is frequently associated with psychiatric disorders and/or substance abuse. A 35-year-old man presented with behavioral disturbances of sudden onset after oral cannabis consumption and major self-mutilation (attempted amputation of the right arm, self-enucleation of both eyes and impalement) which resulted in death. During the enquiry, four fragments of a substance resembling cannabis resin were seized at the victim ’s home. (Source: Legal Medicine)
Source: Legal Medicine - November 1, 2017 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Clemence Delteil, Caroline Sastre, Marie-Dominique Piercecchi, Catherine Faget-Agius, Marc Deveaux, Pascal Kintz, Marc-Antoine Devooght, George Leonetti, Christophe Bartoli, Anne-Laure P élissier-Alicot Source Type: research
Estimating normal lung weight measurement using postmortem CT in forensic cases
Postmortem CT imaging has been used for non-distractive examination of cadavers, and it has been thought of as a complementary technique in autopsy [1,2]. In addition, postmortem CT has advantages to detect the cause of death in the investigation of specific lesions, and when the ante-mortem CT image is available to compare, it offers the advantage of being able to compare in the same image modality, which facilitates objective evaluation [3,4]. When the patient has been transferred in an emergency, but not survived, postmortem CT imaging can record the intra-body state as objective findings, and it may bring a wake of fin...
Source: Legal Medicine - October 31, 2017 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Kotaro Matoba, Hideki Hyodoh, Manabu Murakami, Atsuko Saito, Tomoko Matoba, Lisa Ishida, Emi Fujita, Mayumi Yamase, Shigeki Jin Source Type: research
Establishment of an alternative efficiently genotyping strategy for human ABO gene
ABO genotyping is frequently used in clinical examinations [1] and forensic investigations [2]. The most commonly used typing methods are serological methods, which are based on hemagglutination reactions against specific antisera. In most circumstances, serological methods are reliable and efficient for routine examinations, but they have several shortcomings, such as antigen activity competition, individual secretion state and microbial contamination [3]. In recent years, researchers have turned their attentions to molecular typing methods; these are based on using the information of DNA polymorphisms and mutations among...
Source: Legal Medicine - October 31, 2017 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Enzhu Jiang, Peifu Yu, Siyi Zhang, Chunmei Li, Mei Ding, Baojie Wang, Hao Pang Source Type: research
A capillary electrophoresis method for identifying forensically relevant body fluids using miRNAs
Body fluid identification (BFID) can be of importance during the course of an investigation and in the courtroom. Determining the origin of a stain may provide probative information about the events that took place during the commission of a crime. Current methods for BFID such as chemical tests, microscopy, enzymatic activity, and immunological tests do not offer the level of specificity or sensitivity required by the forensic field, and results from these methods are often subject to doubt [1 –5]. (Source: Legal Medicine)
Source: Legal Medicine - October 30, 2017 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Carrie Mayes, Sarah Seashols-Williams, Sheree Hughes-Stamm Source Type: research
Tri-allelic patterns of STRs and partially homologous non-sister chromatid crossover observed in a parentage test
In the parentage test using STR typing, detection of tri-allelic pattern in a locus suggests the copy number variations (CNVs) or trisomy. However, it is difficult to identify whether the pattern was caused by CNVs or trisomy. Trisomy is caused by Robertsonian translocation, reciprocal translocation, inverted duplication of chromosome, recombinant duplication of chromosome resulted by ring chromosome or parental inverted, and partial duplications [1]. CNVs are caused by structural rearrangements of the genome including translocations, duplications, inversion, and deletions [2]. (Source: Legal Medicine)
Source: Legal Medicine - October 28, 2017 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Huiyong Jiao, He Ren, Yaran Yang, Bin Ni, Haiyan Zhou, Wei Chen, Yunwang Cao, Chuguang Chen, Yanmei Huang, Jiangwei Yan Tags: Case Report Source Type: research
Null alleles and sequence variations at primer binding sites of STR loci within multiplex typing systems
Short tandem repeat (STR) analysis serves as a dominant means in individual identification and paternity testing, thus a variety of multiplex typing systems have been developed [1 –8]. Efforts have been made to obtain ideal primers, which optimize the assay to promote both specificity and efficiency of PCR amplification. However, rare variants at primer binding sites inevitably occur among populations [9], which might lead to unexpected mismatch in PCR amplification. Varian ts from single base modifications at certain regions of primer binding sites potentially affect annealing and/or elongation of primers, which can res...
Source: Legal Medicine - October 28, 2017 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Yining Yao, Qinrui Yang, Chengchen Shao, Baonian Liu, Yuxiang Zhou, Hongmei Xu, Yueqin Zhou, Qiqun Tang, Jianhui Xie Tags: Short Communication Source Type: research
Touch DNA sampling with SceneSafe Fast ™ minitapes
Tape-lifting has become more and more popular in recent years for the collection of minute amounts of touch DNA, especially from items of clothing. A couple of published studies already describe the sampling potential of tape-lifting in the forensic context [1 –6]. However, to our knowledge, only two recent studies provide systematic comparisons of different direct extraction methods for sticky tapes [7,8]. Given the more complicated chemical nature and the less convenient size of adhesive minitapes compared to swab heads, extraction protocols for minit apes need to be thoroughly checked for efficiency by validation stud...
Source: Legal Medicine - October 25, 2017 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Britta Stoop, Priscille Merciani Defaux, Silvia Utz, Martin Zieger Tags: Short Communication Source Type: research
Touch DNA sampling with SceneSafe FastTM minitapes
Tape-lifting has become more and more popular in recent years for the collection of minute amounts of touch DNA, especially from items of clothing. A couple of published studies already describe the sampling potential of tape-lifting in the forensic context [1 –6]. However, to our knowledge, only two recent studies provide systematic comparisons of different direct extraction methods for sticky tapes [7,8]. Given the more complicated chemical nature and the less convenient size of adhesive minitapes compared to swab heads, extraction protocols for minit apes need to be thoroughly checked for efficiency by validation stud...
Source: Legal Medicine - October 25, 2017 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Britta Stoop, Priscille Merciani Defaux, Silvia Utz, Martin Zieger Source Type: research
Planned and unplanned complex suicides: casuistry of the Institute of Legal Medicine of Parma (Italy)
Suicide is considered as one of the major dynamics of death worldwide each year, and forensic pathologists are called to determine if a third person is involved. (Source: Legal Medicine)
Source: Legal Medicine - October 13, 2017 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Antonio Banchini, Maria Laura Schirripa, Luca Anzillotti, Rossana Cecchi Source Type: research
A Healed Incomplete Rupture of a Small Artery Jutting to the Lateral Ventricle: A Possible Cause of Primary Intraventricular Hemorrhage
Primary intraventricular hemorrhage (PIVH) is a rare type of non-traumatic intracerebral hemorrhage confined to the ventricles, without any substantial parenchymal or subarachnoid bleeding. The origins of PIVH include arteriovenous malformation, aneurysm in the choroid plexus, brain tumor, and Moyamoya disease, although in many PIVH patients (25-48 %) the cause remains unknown [1]. With the recent increase in the use of postmortem imaging, forensic pathologists may encounter PIVH cases. In cases with a traumatic event, PIVH must be differentiated from a traumatic hemorrhage. (Source: Legal Medicine)
Source: Legal Medicine - October 11, 2017 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Aya Takada, Kazuyuki Saito, Yoshie Hayashizaki, Naotaka Nozawa, Izumi Funakoshi, Shinjiro Mori Source Type: research
Accuracy, precision and inter-rater reliability of micro-CT analysis of false starts on bones. A preliminary validation study.
Micro computed tomography (micro-CT) has being increasingly applied in many fields of forensic medicine. Besides the evaluation of the firing range in gunshot fatalities [1,2], the assessment of human age [3] and the estimation of the post-mortem interval [4], micro-CT has been shown to be an interesting and useful technique for the assessment of bone toolmarks [5,6] and, more recently, for the qualitative assessment of false starts (FS) produced on human bones using hand-saws [7]. (Source: Legal Medicine)
Source: Legal Medicine - October 6, 2017 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Guido Pelletti, Giovanni Cecchetto, Alessia Viero, Paolo Fais, Michael Weber, Diego Miotto, Massimo Montisci, Guido Viel, Chiara Giraudo Source Type: research
Postmortem distribution of chlorpyrifos-methyl, fenitrothion, and their metabolites in body fluids and organ tissues of an intoxication case
Organophosphate chlorpyrifos-methyl (CPFM) and fenitrothion (MEP) are insecticides that are used worldwide (Fig. 1) [1]. CPFM is sometimes used in Japan, while MEP is one of the most frequently used organophosphate agents in Japan. The composition of CPFM varies (5% particles, 25 or 40% petroleum emulsion, 2% powder, or 0.4 or 20% oily agent), as does that of MEP (3% particles; 15, 50, 70, or 80% petroleum emulsion; 2 or 3% powder; 0.7, 10 or 40% oily agent; 40% aqueous solution) [2]. (Source: Legal Medicine)
Source: Legal Medicine - October 5, 2017 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Tatsunori Takayasu, Hiroki Yamamoto, Yuko Ishida, Mizuho Nosaka, Mariko Kawaguchi, Yumi Kuninaka, Akihiko Kimura, Toshikazu Kondo Source Type: research
