Traffic accident or dumping? – Striking results of a traffic accident reconstruction
More and more modern motor vehicles are equipped with several safety-features for drivers and passengers like seat belts, airbags, crush zones, etc. [1]. It ’s clearly evident that by the use of such safety-systems fewer drivers and passengers have been killed in accidents. However, there are still fatal traffic accidents with approx. 1.25 million victims in the whole world per year [2]. In Germany in 2014, 28.500 people had a collision in a car, or w ere hit by one, and about 3000 people died [3]. (Source: Legal Medicine)
Source: Legal Medicine - December 6, 2016 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Eric Nerger, Ronny Bayer, Tobias G ärtner, Jan Dreßler, Benjamin Ondruschka Source Type: research
Non-ionic iodinated contrast media related immediate reactions: A mechanism study of 27 patients
Non-ionic iodinated contrast media (ICM) are the most widely used drugs in the radiological field to enhance X-ray procedures. They are highly concentrated solutions containing iodinated benzene derivative [1] and are classified as high-osmolality and low-osmolality; the latter can be further subdivided as ionic or non-ionic [2]. ICM can induce hypersensitivity reactions, which are the most common adverse effects of ICM administration [3]. There are 2 types of ICM-related hypersensitivity [4]: immediate reactions that occur within 1 h after contrast media administration and delayed reactions that typically occur between 1 ...
Source: Legal Medicine - November 27, 2016 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Liqin Zhai, Xiangjie Guo, Haoyue Zhang, Qianqian Jin, Qiang Zeng, Xiaoxian Tang, Cairong Gao Source Type: research
Rapid and highly sensitive analysis of benzodiazepines and tandospirone in human plasma by automated on-line column-switching UFLC-MS/MS
Benzodiazepines and benzodiazepine-like substances (e.g., zopiclone), and tandospirone are among the most widely prescribed drugs used as anxiolytics, sedative hypnotics, anticonvulsants, and muscle relaxants. Many patients develop a dependence on these drugs, which are often involved in intoxications. Apart from their therapeutic applications, benzodiazepines represent the most frequently encountered drugs in connection with various crimes [1,2]. These drugs are also frequently encountered in emergency toxicology screening, drug abuse testing, and forensic medical examinations [3 –5]. (Source: Legal Medicine)
Source: Legal Medicine - November 25, 2016 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Xiao-Pen Lee, Yukiko Shouji, Takeshi Kumazawa, Chika Hasegawa, Masaya Fujishiro, Junichi Sato, Iwao Hasegawa, Keizo Sato Source Type: research
Autosomal SNPs study of a population sample from Southern Portugal and from a sample of immigrants from Guinea-Bissau residing in Portugal
In recent years, autosomal single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been comprehensively investigated in forensic research due to their usefulness in certain circumstances in complementing short tandem repeats (STRs) analysis, or even for use on their own when analysis of STRs fails. However, as with STRs, in order to properly use SNP markers in forensic casuistic we need to understand the population and forensic parameters in question. As a result of Portugal ’s colonial history during the time of empire, and the subsequent process of decolonization, some African individuals migrated to Portugal, giving rise to large...
Source: Legal Medicine - November 22, 2016 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Paulo Dario, Ana Rita Oliveira, Teresa Ribeiro, Maria Jo ão Porto, Deodália Dias, Francisco Corte Real Tags: Announcement of Population Data Source Type: research
Primed neutrophil infiltrations into multiple organs in child physical abuse cases: a preliminary study
Studies have suggested that ‘primed’ polymorphonuclear neutrophils may contribute to multiple organ injury in cases of extensive trauma and following traumatic or hemorrhagic shock. These cells produce inflammatory mediators, such as neutrophil elastase (NE), leukotrienes, cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, reactive oxygen species (R OS), and proinflammatory cytokines [1–11]. Multiple injuries of different ages are usually observed over the whole body in cases of physical abuse [12,13]. Recently, we reported that the physical abuse of the elderly induces massive primed neutrophil infiltration into the lungs and liver. (Source: Legal Medicine)
Source: Legal Medicine - November 7, 2016 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Takahito Hayashi, Takuma Nakamae, Eri Higo, Kazuya Ikematsu, Mamoru Ogata Source Type: research
Fatal acute intoxication of accidentally ingested nifedipine in an infant – A case report
Dihydropyridine demonstrates greater selectivity for the calcium channels of vascular cells than for those of cardiac cells. Inhibiting calcium entry or release by blocking calcium channel suppresses the increase of the cytoplasmic calcium ion concentration, and causes relaxation of vascular smooth muscles and vasodilation [1]. Nifedipine is one dihydropyridine calcium channel blocking agent that is widely used as a first treatment of hypertension and angina pectoris [2 –4] because it rapidly and effectively decreases blood pressure compared with other drugs [5]. (Source: Legal Medicine)
Source: Legal Medicine - November 4, 2016 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Hiroki Yamamoto, Tatsunori Takayasu, Mizuho Nosaka, Akihiko Kimura, Yuko Ishida, Takashi Kawaguchi, Mie Fukami, Misato Okada, Toshikazu Kondo Tags: Case Report Source Type: research
Loss of heterozygosity detected at three short tandem repeat locus commonly used for human DNA identification in a case of paternity testing
DNA profiling of short tandem repeat (STR) is widely used in forensic sciences, including paternity testing and kinship analysis[1]. An individual inherits one copy of an STR from each parent, which may or may not have similar repeat sizes[2]. The number of repeats in STR markers can be highly variable among individuals, but stablely inherited from parents to children and follows simple Mendelian inheritance, which make these STRs effective for human identification purposes. However, genomic variations in the regions of STR loci can result in allelic mismatch in the questioned child, may complicate the forensic inference i...
Source: Legal Medicine - November 4, 2016 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Shiyuan Zhou, Haili Wang, Qing K Wang, Pengyun Wang, Fengyu Wang, Chengqi Xu Source Type: research
Fatal acute intoxication of accidentally ingested nifedipine in an infant - A case report
Dihydropyridine demonstrates greater selectivity for the calcium channels of vascular cells than for those of cardiac cells. Inhibiting calcium entry or release by blocking calcium channel suppresses the increase of the cytoplasmic calcium ion concentration, and causes relaxation of vascular smooth muscles and vasodilation [1]. Nifedipine is one dihydropyridine calcium channel blocking agent that is widely used as a first treatment of hypertension and angina pectoris [2 –4] because it rapidly and effectively decreases blood pressure compared with other drugs [5]. (Source: Legal Medicine)
Source: Legal Medicine - November 4, 2016 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Hiroki Yamamoto, Tatsunori Takayasu, Mizuho Nosaka, Akihiko Kimura, Yuko Ishida, Takashi Kawaguchi, Mie Fukami, Misato Okada, Toshikazu Kondo Tags: Case Report Source Type: research
Forensic Medical Evaluation of Deaths Resulting From Inhalation of Cigarette Lighter Refill Fuel in Turkey
The abuse of volatile substances is a social problem in many countries. Volatile substances that can be abused include aliphatic, aromatic (glue, gasoline, dyes, adhesives, lacquers, paint removers), and halogenated hydrocarbons (spray paints, nail polish removers, typewriter correction fluids, propellants). There are various methods of abuse. These include direct inhaling from the container (sniffing), inhaling through the nose or mouth from an impregnated rag (huffing), or inhaling from a plastic bag filled with the volatile [1]. (Source: Legal Medicine)
Source: Legal Medicine - October 24, 2016 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Erdin ç Özdemir, Hüseyin Eş, Muhammet Demir, İbrahim Üzün Source Type: research
Experimental Evaluation Of Freezing Preparation For The Macroscopic Inspection In Putrefied Brain
One of the recent topics of interest in forensic medicine is postmortem CT imaging [1 –3], because of its usefulness in detecting intra-cadaver condition before or without invasive investigation. For example, intra-cadaver gas distribution [4,5] and intra-visceral hypostasis [6] have been reported, which have been previously reported as difficult to detect during autopsy investigat ion [6,7]. (Source: Legal Medicine)
Source: Legal Medicine - October 24, 2016 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Hideki Hyodoh, Kotaro Matoba, Manabu Murakami, Tomoko Matoba, Atsuko Saito, Fei Feng, Shigeki Jin Source Type: research
An autopsy case of prolonged asphyxial death caused by the impacted denture in the esophagus
A foreign body impacted in the esophagus is not rare incident; it can occur among adults as well as children. In adults, while meat or bone is a common object in esophageal impaction, dental prostheses also account for a significant proportion of incidents. Dental prostheses accounted for 11.5% of the laryngotracheal or esophageal impacted foreign bodies in 200 patients [1]. Although an impacted denture that can lead to serious complications is considered a medical emergency [2], due to the difficulty of diagnosis, the diagnosis of it can be delayed [1,3] or sometimes not be provided [4], increasing morbidity and mortality...
Source: Legal Medicine - October 19, 2016 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Kazuhisa Funayama, Junko Fujihara, Haruo Takeshita, Hisakazu Takatsuka Tags: Case Report Source Type: research
MEPROCS framework for craniofacial superimposition: validation study
Craniofacial superimposition (CFS) involves the process of overlaying a skull with a number of ante-mortem images of an individual and the analysis of their morphological correspondence. The lack of unified working protocols and the absence of commonly accepted standards, led to contradictory consensus regarding its reliability. One of the more important aims of ‘New Methodologies and Protocols of Forensic Identification by Craniofacial Superimposition (MEPROCS)’ project was to propose a common framework for CFS, what can be considered the first international standard in the field. (Source: Legal Medicine)
Source: Legal Medicine - October 19, 2016 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: O. Ib áñez, R. Vicente, D. Navega, B.R. Campomanes-Álvarez, C. Cattaneo, R. Jankauskas, M.I. Huete, F. Navarro, R. Hardiman, E. Ruiz, K. Imaizumi, F. Cavalli, E. Veselovskaya, D. Humpire, J. Cardoso, F. Collini, D. Mazzarelli, D. Gibelli, S. Damas Source Type: research
Is the diagnosis of anaphylaxis reliable in forensics? The role of β-tryptase and its correct interpretation
Dear Editor (Source: Legal Medicine)
Source: Legal Medicine - October 13, 2016 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Francesco Paolo Busard ò, Enrico Marinelli, Simona Zaami Source Type: research
Ascorbic acid and vitamin C-containing beverages delay the leucomalachite green reaction to detect latent bloodstains
Latent bloodstains detection is an important step in crime scene investigation. For this reason, new methods are constantly being developed to improve bloodstains detection sensitivity and selectivity. Presumptive blood tests are usually based on one of two classes of methods, crystal tests and catalytic tests. First, crystal tests involve the heme group of hemoglobin, called porphyrins. Upon addition of the reagents such as an alkaline solution of pyridine to blood stains, the formation of hemoglobin-derivative crystals such as hematin, hemin, and hemochromogen is observed through the microscope. (Source: Legal Medicine)
Source: Legal Medicine - October 12, 2016 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Haeyong Lee, Myung Jin Park, Seol Hee Sun, Dong-Ho Choi, Yang-Han Lee, Ki-Won Park, Byung Won Chun Source Type: research
Sex estimation of the tibia in modern Turkish: a Computed Tomography study
Morphometric and morphological analyses of skeletal remains are very important to determine sex when fingerprints and DNA cannot be obtained. Previous anthropological studies have reported that the most accurate sex estimation methods are based on the pelvis and the cranium [1 –3]. Despite the advantages of these two skeletal regions for sex estimation, they are not always available in all forensic and archeological investigations. Only one part of skeleton or parts of bones may be resources for researchers as a result of the type and severity of trauma before or after death, geographic factors, and secondary factors ass...
Source: Legal Medicine - October 12, 2016 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Oguzhan Ekizoglu, Ali Er, Mustafa Bozdag, Mustafa Akcaoglu, Ismail Ozgur Can, Julieta G. Garc ía-Donas, Elena F. Kranioti Source Type: research
