Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology最新文献

{"title":"Experimental effects of paracetamol overdose on the development of forensic insects.","authors":"Nathania Esther Munsami, Samson Mukaratirwa, Danisile Tembe","doi":"10.1007/s12024-025-01168-4","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12024-025-01168-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In forensic entomology, postmortem interval (PMI) estimation relies on the age, development, and succession patterns of insects on decomposing remains; however, the presence of drugs in the body can disrupt insect development and compromise the accuracy of these estimates. Paracetamol, a commonly used over-the-counter drug in Southern Africa, is often implicated in both intentional and accidental overdose cases. This study investigates the effects of paracetamol on insect development using spiked pig carcasses as experimental models to simulate human overdose. Three pigs received paracetamol at ascending doses 75 mg/kg (toxic), 150 mg/kg (lethal), and 300 mg/kg (double lethal), and the fourth pig served as an untreated control. The experimental carcasses were placed in separate metal cages in a natural outdoor environment during the autumn season, and insect samples were collected daily over a 32-day period. Observations and morphological measurements of the length, width, and weight were recorded for selected dipteran and coleopteran species of forensic value. Results showed that Chrysomya putoria and Chrysomya megacephala exhibited an increased larval length, width, and weight at double lethal doses. Lucilia sericata showed significant reductions in weight at all paracetamol doses (p = 0.012, 0.001 and 0.001) in comparison to the control, while Chrysomya albiceps and Thanatophilus micans were not affected by the drug. Furthermore, results showed that the mortality rates of newly emerged Ch. putoria, Ch. megacephala, Ch. albiceps and L. sericata were higher in paracetamol-treated groups compared to those observed from the control group, with the rates of 22.2% at the toxic dose, 35.0% at the lethal dose, 45.0% at the double lethal dose, and 11.1% in the control group. Morphological abnormalities were observed in newly emerged adults of Ch. putoria and L. sericata that showed progressive wing deformities at the toxic and lethal doses and discoloration at the double lethal dose. Ch. albiceps exhibited no observable deformities across all doses. These findings show that paracetamol disrupts critical developmental processes in certain species in a dose-dependent manner, highlighting the need to study its effects on other forensically important insects. Moreover, these findings contribute towards enhancing PMI precision and advancing forensic entomotoxicology in the region by generating local baseline data for KwaZulu Natal province, South Africa.</p>","PeriodicalId":12449,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology","volume":" ","pages":"178-189"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13132916/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146141690","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Enterococcus endocarditis in an infant with congenital renal duplex anomaly: A case report.","authors":"Eteesha Rao, Srinivas Annavarapu","doi":"10.1007/s12024-026-01209-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12024-026-01209-6","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":12449,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology","volume":" ","pages":"337-340"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13132955/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147622451","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Clinicopathological features of fatal mushroom poisoning: a 10-year retrospective autopsy-based study.","authors":"Mehmet Dogan, Omer Faruk Simseker, Ferah Karayel, Ibrahim Uzun","doi":"10.1007/s12024-025-01050-3","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12024-025-01050-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Mushroom poisoning is a persistent public health concern with significant mortality, particularly in regions where wild mushroom foraging is a cultural practice. This study aimed to characterize the clinicopathological features of fatal mushroom poisonings through a 10-year retrospective autopsy-based review from Türkiye.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We reviewed 32 fatal cases of mushroom poisoning investigated by the Council of Forensic Medicine between 2013 and 2022. Cases were analyzed for demographic patterns, seasonal and geographic distribution, clinical presentation, autopsy findings, and histopathological features. Data were extracted from forensic reports, toxicology, and histology records, and evaluated statistically.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Victims ranged from 2 to 82 years, with a bimodal age distribution affecting children and elderly adults. The majority (81%) occurred in rural areas and during autumn (53%). Most patients presented with gastrointestinal symptoms; 47% required mechanical ventilation and 19% were evaluated for liver transplantation. Histologically, 53% showed hepatic necrosis, with massive or submassive patterns observed in 34% of cases, consistent with amatoxin-induced injury. Acute tubular necrosis was present in 25%, and disseminated intravascular coagulation was noted in 19%. Autolysis occasionally limited interpretation, characteristic features of amatoxin toxicity were consistently documented.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study provides one of the most comprehensive autopsy-based analyses of fatal mushroom poisonings in Türkiye. The findings highlight the importance of early recognition, preventive interventions targeting high-risk populations and seasons, and the critical role of forensic investigation in establishing cause of death. Multidisciplinary strategies integrating clinical, forensic, and toxicological data are essential to reducing mushroom-related mortality.</p>","PeriodicalId":12449,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology","volume":" ","pages":"95-105"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144706934","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluation of the relationship between subcutaneous adipose tissue thickness and cardiovascular diseases.","authors":"Merve Nur Ozgen, Sefa Sonmez, Berna Dogan, Sadik Bugrahan Simsek, Ahmet Depreli, Zubeyir Turan, Huseyin Ugur Bakan, Hilal Irmak Sapmaz","doi":"10.1007/s12024-025-01052-1","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12024-025-01052-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study used anthropometric and morphometric measurements in autopsy cases to investigate the relationship between abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue thickness (ASATT) and cardiovascular diseases (CVD). The main starting point of the study was that obesity, especially morbid obesity, is an important risk factor for CVD. Our study was conducted at Tokat Forensic Medicine Institute on 65 cases in the CVD group and 65 cases in the control group, aged between 18 and 90 years. Anthropometric measurements were performed on the cases. Cardiac parameters and ASATT were measured with a digital caliper, while heart weight was weighed with a precision digital scale. The relationship between ASATT and coronary artery stenosis was analyzed in the CVD group. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed to distinguish the CVD risk for both groups. Body mass index (BMI) and ASATT values ​​were higher in the CVD group than in the control group (p < 0.001). In addition, the neck-to-waist ratio was lower in the CVD group than in the control group (p = 0.001), while the waist-to-hip ratio was higher. Cardiac parameters were also higher in the CVD group than in the control group (p < 0.001). There was a correlation between ASATT and the degree of stenosis of the coronary arteries in the CVD group (p = 0.002). ROC analysis showed that ASATT was the strongest CVD risk predictor (AUC = 0.974). The increase in ASATT value is directly proportional to the severity of atherosclerosis and coronary artery stenosis. ASATT value can be used to evaluate CVD risk.</p>","PeriodicalId":12449,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology","volume":" ","pages":"137-148"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144768600","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The impact of freezing temperatures on soft tissue and microbial decomposition using human and porcine remains: a pilot study.","authors":"Stephanie Grace Baker, Charles Oliver Morton, Hayley Green","doi":"10.1007/s12024-025-01130-4","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12024-025-01130-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Environmental factors such as temperature, vertebrate and invertebrate activity and microbial succession patterns are important variables driving the decomposition process. However, the effects of low temperatures, specifically freezing on how a body decomposes are less understood. This pilot project aimed to determine the taphonomic effects of freezing on morphological changes during decomposition and the microbiome in an Australian context. Two human donors (one frozen, one non-frozen) and two frozen and two non-frozen Sus scrofa (pig) carcasses (n = 4) were allowed to decompose on the surface of woodlands for 12-weeks during summer 2017. Visual morphological changes were recorded, and microbial swabs were collected at regular intervals and analysed via real-time PCR to assess differences in bacterial community structure. Results indicated clear differences in decomposition patterns between frozen and non-frozen remains. Frozen remains were slow to enter 'early' decomposition but first to skeletonise. Microbial results suggest that patterns in community structure between bacteria may indicate if a body has been frozen at or around the time of death. This research suggests that quantifying the microbiome present during the fresh and early stages of decomposition and noting observations of an outside-in decomposition pattern may be a useful tool in identifying if remains have experienced extreme cold temperatures at the time of death. This knowledge could improve approaches to PMI estimation, particularly if the remains have experienced a freeze-thaw event after death.</p>","PeriodicalId":12449,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology","volume":" ","pages":"82-94"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145458046","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Maternal death from ruptured rudimentary horn pregnancy: a rare case report.","authors":"Abnet A Mamo, Ferid A Abubeker","doi":"10.1007/s12024-025-01134-0","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12024-025-01134-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Pregnancy in a rudimentary horn is rare but can lead to severe complications, including life-threatening complication like rupture of the rudimentary horn. Herein, we report a case of maternal death due to massive hemorrhage from a ruptured non-communicating rudimentary horn pregnancy. A 26-year-old female died at home after experiencing severe abdominal cramps three hours prior to her death. She contemplated seeking medical attention at the beginning of her cramps but decided to wait as her pain initially subsided. Tragically, her condition worsened suddenly, and she collapsed before accessing medical care. The autopsy revealed approximately 4,000 ml of blood in the abdominal cavity, with significant clots lining the mesenteric surface of the colon. A dead fetus, measuring 18 cm in crown-to-heel (CHL), attached to the placenta, was discovered in the left paracolic gutter. Based on the CHL measurement, the fetal gestational age was estimated to be around 4 months. There was a ruptured rudimentary uterine horn connected to a centrally located unicornuate uterus by a non-communicating fibrous band. The unicornuate uterus had a normal mucosal surface and was continuous with the cervix and vagina. This case highlights the tragic consequences of delayed presentation during acute medical conditions of pregnancy, and underscores the importance of patient education regarding symptom recognition and seeking care. It also emphasizes the importance of considering ruptured rudimentary horn pregnancy as a potential cause of maternal mortality especially in cases of sudden and unexplained deaths in women of reproductive age group, even when pregnancy is not immediately apparent. Thorough forensic evaluations and reporting are crucial in maternal deaths to identify such rare but fatal conditions.</p>","PeriodicalId":12449,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology","volume":" ","pages":"295-299"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145892185","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Characteristics, mechanisms, and medicolegal perspectives of fatal cardiothoracic injuries in a tertiary care center.","authors":"Asmaa Fady Sharif, Nadia Ezzat Helal, Mai Mohammed Mahran, Heba Ibrahim Lashin","doi":"10.1007/s12024-025-01047-y","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12024-025-01047-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study aims to investigate the medicolegal aspects of cardiothoracic trauma, including injury patterns, mechanism of infliction, survival time, predictors, and mechanism of mortality. A prospective cohort study included 229 cardiothoracic traumatized patients admitted to the Emergency Departments, who were categorized into patients with fatal or nonfatal injuries. Males constituted more than seven times the females with a 22.3% mortality rate. Intentional, self-inflicted injuries, road traffic accidents (RTAs), and falls from height (FFH) were significantly associated with a higher mortality There was a significant association between mortality and the presence of abrasions, large subcutaneous hematomas, and myocardial, pericardial, and cardiac chamber injuries. Additionally, diaphragmatic injuries, hemothorax, hemopericardium, head injuries (except extradural hemorrhage), and liver injuries were significantly more prevalent in fatal cases (p < 0.05). The injury severity score was significantly higher in fatal than nonfatal injuries (75 versus 29). Hemorrhage and respiratory failure constituted the primary mechanisms of death in 81.8% of trauma induced by sharp weapons and 52.6% of victims involved in RTAs, respectively. Mechanism of death in FFH varied between hemorrhagic shock (55.3%), cerebral injury (35.3%), respiratory failure (17.6%), and spinal cord injury (11.8%). A proposed mortality predictive model including diaphragmatic injury, hemopericardium, self-inflicted injuries, clavicular fractures, hemothorax, subdural and subarachnoid hemorrhage, and facial injuries explained 75.1% of variances in the probability of mortality. This study provides physicians with more knowledge about the predictors of mortality in cardiothoracic traumatized patients, helping to identify high-risk patients, prevent trauma-related deaths, and solve any related medicolegal issues.</p>","PeriodicalId":12449,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology","volume":" ","pages":"149-166"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144658822","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Experimental wound ballistic study to understand biomechanical differences in gunshot wounds from various bullets and firearms: implications for clinical care and forensic analysis.","authors":"Joseph LeSueur, Jared Koser, Troy Chadwick, David J Milia, Frank A Pintar, Stephen Hargarten","doi":"10.1007/s12024-025-01132-2","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12024-025-01132-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Previous wound ballistics studies have examined the bullet's behavior while perforating gelatin. However, there has been limited attention to analyzing effects of bullet mass and energy transfer relating to magnitude and depth of the injurious temporary cavity with its clinical implications. Twenty-one bullets were fired into validated 20% synthetic ballistic gelatin with pressure transducers and high-speed videography. Bullet velocities, energy transfer, and maximum temporary cavities were calculated. Generalized linear models were developed to assess significant effects of bullet size, mass, and impact velocity for magnitude and depth of maximum pressure and temporary cavity diameter. A porcine femur was embedded in gelatin to demonstrate fracturing potential of the temporary cavity from an AR-15 5.56 NATO projectile. Maximum temporary cavity diameter and energy transferred expressed an exponential relationship (R² = 0.91). Bullet caliber (p = 0.039), bullet mass (p = 0.008), and impact velocity (p < 0.001) were significant predictors of maximum temporary cavity diameter. Bullet mass significantly influenced the depth of the maximum temporary cavity (p = 0.006), which expressed a moderate linear relationship (R² = 0.55). Substantially greater maximum pressure was observed in 30 - 06 caliber rounds from bolt action rifles and one fragmented AR-15 5.56 NATO projectile. The temporary cavity from an AR-15 5.56 NATO projectile was 17.1 cm in diameter and resulted in a complete middle diaphyseal wedge fracture of the femur with a bullet path 8.1 cm from the bone. Knowledge of relative magnitudes and locations of maximum temporary cavities may aid emergency physicians and trauma surgeons in identifying potential damage from gunshot wounds.</p>","PeriodicalId":12449,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology","volume":" ","pages":"277-288"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145488419","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Response to Leković and Nikolić.","authors":"Alberto Amadasi, Lorenzo Franceschetti, Larissa Amadasi, Lars Oesterhelweg","doi":"10.1007/s12024-025-01008-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12024-025-01008-5","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":12449,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology","volume":" ","pages":"449-450"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13132947/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143967447","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Commentary on Hoffmann E, Malolepszy L, Hochscheid C, Dettmeyer R, Fritzenwanker M. Stillbirth with a false-positive lung float test result - an unusual case report.","authors":"Burkhard Madea, Elke Doberentz","doi":"10.1007/s12024-026-01203-y","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s12024-026-01203-y","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":12449,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2026-02-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147316652","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}