An autopsy case of nearly complete ossification of the stylohyoid chain: Eagle syndrome in forensic aspect
The styloid process is a thin and sharp bony structure, protruding downward and forward from the underside of the temporal bone (mean length 2.5 cm) [1,2]. It comprises a base or proximal part ensheathed by the tympanic plate and shaft or distal part with muscle and ligament attachment. When the length of the styloid process exceeds 3 cm it is considered to be “elongated” [3]. (Source: Legal Medicine)
Source: Legal Medicine - February 15, 2018 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Hideaki Kato, Sanae Kanno, Jun Ohtaki, Yoshimi Nakamura, Katsumasa Kobayashi, Yasuhiro Aoki Tags: Case Report Source Type: research
An autopsy case of nearly complete ossification of the stylohyoid chain: Eagle syndrome in forensic aspect
The styloid process is a thin and sharp bony structure, protruding downward and forward from the underside of the temporal bone (mean length 2.5 cm) [1,2]. It comprises a base or proximal part ensheathed by the tympanic plate and shaft or distal part with muscle and ligament attachment. When the length of the styloid process exceeds 3 cm it is considered to be “elongated” [3] (Source: Legal Medicine)
Source: Legal Medicine - February 15, 2018 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Hideaki Kato, Sanae Kanno, Jun Ohtaki, Yoshimi Nakamura, Katsumasa Kobayashi, Yasuhiro Aoki Source Type: research
A simple method for calculating the likelihood ratio in a kinship test using X-chromosomal markers incorporating linkage, linkage disequilibrium, and mutation
X-chromosomal short tandem repeats (X-STR) are thought to be useful for personal identification and kinship tests because of their unique inheritance pattern [1]. However, the linkage and linkage disequilibrium (LD) between the loci must be taken into account to analyze multiple markers on the same chromosome [2]. This problem has caused some difficulties for probabilistic evaluation of the results of X-STR typings in forensic analysis. Despite of these difficulties, some precedent studies [3 –5] introduced analytical methods based on linkage analysis using the Lander-Green algorithm [6] and the LD model described by Kur...
Source: Legal Medicine - February 12, 2018 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Mamiko Fukuta, Mohammed Hassan Gaballah, Hideaki Kato, Yasuhiro Aoki Source Type: research
A simple method for calculating the likelihood ratio in a kinship test using X-chromosomal markers incorporating linkage, linkage disequilibrium, and mutation
(Source: Legal Medicine)
Source: Legal Medicine - February 12, 2018 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Mamiko Fukuta, Mohammed Hassan Gaballah, Hideaki Kato, Yasuhiro Aoki Source Type: research
Determining the number of contributors to DNA mixtures in the low-template regime: Exploring the impacts of sampling and detection effects
In forensic DNA analysis, a profile obtained from an item of evidence is compared to profiles obtained from persons of interest. The likelihood ratio approach is currently the accepted method by which to explicate the weight associated with this comparison. It is the ratio of probabilities of observing the data in an evidence profile under two mutually exclusive hypotheses. Recently there has been emphasis placed on developing tools and probabilistic algorithms that evaluate the data and compute the LR using a continuous probabilistic approach [1 –5]. (Source: Legal Medicine)
Source: Legal Medicine - February 7, 2018 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Sarah Norsworthy, Desmond S. Lun, Catherine M. Grgicak Source Type: research
Determining the number of contributors to high-order mixtures in the low-template regime: Exploring the impacts of sampling and detection effects
In forensic DNA analysis, a profile obtained from an item of evidence is compared to profiles obtained from persons of interest. The likelihood ratio approach is currently the accepted method by which to explicate the weight associated with this comparison. It is the ratio of probabilities of observing the data in an evidence profile under two mutually exclusive hypotheses. Recently there has been emphasis placed on developing tools and probabilistic algorithms that evaluate the data and compute the LR using a continuous probabilistic approach [1 –5]. (Source: Legal Medicine)
Source: Legal Medicine - February 7, 2018 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Sarah Norsworthy, Desmond S. Lun, Catherine M. Grgicak Source Type: research
Accuracy of the Demirjian and Willems methods of age estimation in a Black Southern African population
The accuracy of methods used in the assessment of growth and developmental age is very important in biological anthropology and health research. Accuracy is also critical for forensic purposes, especially with the increasing global incidences of mass deaths and disasters [1,2]. Estimation of age with certainty is necessary where birth records are unreliable or lost, where people seek asylum, where specific aging is needed to prevent cheating in age-graded sports competitions, or where individuals seek favorable outcomes in civil or criminal cases [3 –8]. (Source: Legal Medicine)
Source: Legal Medicine - February 3, 2018 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Temitope A. Esan, Lynne A. Schepartz Source Type: research
Retained surgical sponge: Medicolegal aspects
There is ample literature on the risk of retained sponges, instruments, and miscellaneous small items in patients after surgery. The majority of retained surgical items (RSI) are surgical sponges [1 –4] inadvertently left behind in the abdominal cavity [5–7]. Such intraoperative mistakes occur most often during emergency procedures, unplanned changes in operative procedures during surgery, and in patients with high body-mass index [8–10]. The time to discovery of retained surgical sponges varies considerably: they may be detected at control examination during the early postoperative period [7] or weeks to years after...
Source: Legal Medicine - February 3, 2018 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Patrizia Gualniera, Serena Scurria Tags: Case Report Source Type: research
Accuracy of the Demirjian and Willems methods of age estimation in a Black Southern African population
The accuracy of methods used in the assessment of growth and developmental age is very important in biological anthropology and health research. Accuracy is also critical for forensic purposes, especially with the increasing global incidences of mass deaths and disasters [1 –2]. Estimation of age with certainty is necessary where birth records are unreliable or lost, where people seek asylum, where specific aging is needed to prevent cheating in age-graded sports competitions, or where individuals seek favorable outcomes in civil or criminal cases [3,4–8]. (Source: Legal Medicine)
Source: Legal Medicine - February 3, 2018 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Temitope A. Esan, Lynne A. Schepartz Source Type: research
A validation study of DNA methylation-based age prediction using semen in forensic casework samples
In forensic science, age prediction has attracted great attention because accurate estimation of the age of a victim, suspect, or unknown individual can provide important clues for investigators to narrow searches and solves crimes [1 –4]. Traditionally, age prediction in forensic science has been performed mainly by examining the morphology of human bones and teeth, but this method is confined to cases where the skeletal remains are present and often requires experienced experts [5,6]. For this reason, many researchers have fo cused on age estimation using fragmentary remains, such as various tissues and bodily fluids f...
Source: Legal Medicine - February 1, 2018 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Jee Won Lee, Chong Min Choung, Ju Yeon Jung, Hwan Young Lee, Si-Keun Lim Source Type: research
High-throughput determination of valproate in human samples by modified QuEChERS extraction and GC-MS/MS
Valproate is widely prescribed despite the emergence of newly developed medications for epilepsy [1 –4], but it is used in misuse or suicide cases [5–7]. Rapid determinations for valproate in human samples are required for quick diagnosis and effective treatment of intoxication cases. Only small amounts of samples could be available in some forensic cases; its sensitive identification and quan tification methods are thus needed, although therapeutic and toxic concentrations of valproate are quite high in human samples. (Source: Legal Medicine)
Source: Legal Medicine - January 16, 2018 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Shun Mizuno, Xiao-Pen Lee, Masaya Fujishiro, Takaaki Matsuyama, Miho Yamada, Yuki Sakamoto, Maiko Kusano, Kei Zaitsu, Chika Hasegawa, Iwao Hasegawa, Takeshi Kumazawa, Akira Ishii, Keizo Sato Source Type: research
Gas embolism as a potential cause of death by helium poisoning – Postmortem computed tomography changes in two cases of suicidal helium inhalation
Helium-induced death has been described as rapid and painless, among others in the publication based on filmed cases of assisted suicide by oxygen deprivation using helium [1]. Hence the observed dramatic rise in helium inhalation suicides worldwide [2 –7]. Helium inhalation has been also more and more widely advocated as a means of assisted suicide in terminal patients [1,2,8,9]. The reported mechanism of death in the case of helium inhalation is rapid asphyxiation due to oxygen deprivation. The lack of dyspnea before death has been associated with the fact that people who inhale helium can freely exhale carbon dioxide,...
Source: Legal Medicine - January 9, 2018 Category: Forensic Medicine Authors: Aleksandra Borowska-Solonynko, Agnieszka D ąbkowska Tags: Case Report Source Type: research
