Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology最新文献

{"title":"Suicide by ligature strangulation and/or hanging inside a motor vehicle: a comprehensive review.","authors":"Carlo Pietro Campobasso, Mariavictoria De Simone, Antonietta Porzio, Edoardo Mazzini, Anna Carfora, Alessandro Feola","doi":"10.1007/s12024-024-00828-1","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12024-024-00828-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Suicide by ligature strangulation/hanging inside vehicles is uncommon, and only few cases have been reported in the literature. This study aimed to conduct a comprehensive review of reported cases of suicide by ligature strangulation/hanging inside vehicles, analyzing the features of the death scene, of the ligature and furrow, autopsy findings, and causes of death. The comprehensive review was performed following the PRISMA guidelines by using the most common scientific databases. According to inclusion criteria, a total of 20 cases of vehicle-assisted strangulation/hanging were reviewed: 13 cases were assessed as ligature strangulation resulting in 7 complete decapitations and 7 other cases as hanging. All victims were young or adult males, except for one 48-year-old female. Death was assessed as suicide in all cases, except for a possible accidental autoerotic death. In 8 cases, a history of depression or other psychiatric disorders was reported. Toxicological analysis were positive in 7 cases. Hard ligature materials (nylon, steel, plastic, hemp ropes) were used in most cases, but only 13 cases had a well-demarcated furrow. In 2 cases, no internal findings of asphyxia were found. An additional case of ligature strangulation inside a motor vehicle off is also presented, where no autopsy findings of asphyxia were observed, except for a broad pale furrow and monolateral conjunctival petechiae. This study highlights the challenges in classifying suicidal hanging and ligature strangulation in motor vehicles.</p>","PeriodicalId":12449,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology","volume":" ","pages":"443-457"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11953212/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140956263","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":"A case of a lidocaine intoxication of a 12 week old boy due to a circumcision in a domestic setting - clinical, toxicological and forensic aspects.","authors":"Noelle Dyballa, Julian Alexander Härtel, Julian Prangenberg, Hilke Andresen-Streichert","doi":"10.1007/s12024-024-00859-8","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12024-024-00859-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Lidocaine is a local anaesthetic commonly used during circumcision for dorsal penile nerve block (DPNB). We describe a case of a 12-week-old infant who presented generalized seizures due to local anesthetic systemic toxicity after Lidocaine administration for circumcision in a non-hospital setting. Serum concentrations of Lidocaine (16.4 mg/L) and its main active metabolite monoethylglycinexylidide (MEGX, 1.36 mg/L) were determined by HPLC-DAD, in a sample collected shortly after administration, which were higher than in comparable cases reported in literature. The reason for the overdose was assumed to be accidental systemic application. Due to suspicion of an improperly performed circumcision and bodily harm, police was involved and a clinical forensic examination was carried out. Here, we present analytical, clinical and forensic aspects of this case.</p>","PeriodicalId":12449,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology","volume":" ","pages":"352-357"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141859502","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":"Air embolism during unsuccessful transcatheter closure of secundum atrial septal defect in a patient with an undetected left-sided inferior vena cava.","authors":"Silvia Farkašová Iannaccone, Alžbeta Ginelliová, Janka Vecanová, Daniel Farkaš","doi":"10.1007/s12024-024-00902-8","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12024-024-00902-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>A 46-year-old man with a history of secundum atrial septal defect and interstitial lung disease was admitted to the hospital for a planned transcatheter closure of the atrial septal defect. Following multiple failed attempts to place a right femoral vein catheter, the procedure was aborted. Another attempt was made to the left femoral vein, but that attempt was complicated by an unfamiliar resistance. Even though resistance was met during insertion, the catheter was further inserted until a position in the inferior vena cava above the liver was obtained at fluoroscopy. Simultaneously, the patient became unresponsive. The procedure was immediately aborted and the atrial septal defect closure was not completed. Air embolism to the heart and brain was detected using echocardiography and computed tomography. The patient died 15 days after the procedure. Death was attributed to severe cerebral edema due to air embolism. The autopsy revealed a left-sided inferior vena cava. This case report demonstrates that unexpected congenital vascular anomalies complicating a routine transcatheter closure of the atrial septal defect can result in a fatal outcome.</p>","PeriodicalId":12449,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology","volume":" ","pages":"345-351"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142461998","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 role of pathologists in increasing knowledge of safe sleep practices for infants.","authors":"Roger W Byard","doi":"10.1007/s12024-023-00764-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12024-023-00764-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Recent studies have evaluated parental knowledge of safe sleeping practices for their infants by using follow-up questionnaires at postnatal obstetric clinic visits. While many parents increase their knowledge of the key features of safe sleeping during antenatal visits, a significant number subsequently fail to adhere to guidelines. An additional way to assess parental understanding of safe and unsafe sleeping practices may be to incorporate information from pathological evaluations of infants who do not survive. Specifically, information from careful investigations of death scenes and meticulous autopsy examinations may be a useful way to complement clinical surveys so that the chances of assisting parents in future with their understanding of safe infant sleep practices will be maximised.</p>","PeriodicalId":12449,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology","volume":" ","pages":"458-459"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138829146","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":"A case of suicide secondary to diethylene glycol intentional ingestion.","authors":"Stanley de Almeida Araújo, Isabela Stefanon, David Campos Wanderley, Rodrigo Zamprogna, Rafaele Zampier, Ana Cristina Simões-E-Silva","doi":"10.1007/s12024-024-00832-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12024-024-00832-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>We aimed to describe a case of acute kidney injury (AKI) with an uncommon case. We described a previously health 24 years old male that presented acute kidney injury associated with neurological and respiratory symptoms. He was initially admitted at the hospital with nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, and reduced urine output. The patient's condition got worse approximately in one week. Laboratory tests revealed high levels of nitrogenous waste, hyponatremia, metabolic acidosis with an increased anion gap, and the presence of proteinuria and hematuria. The patient experienced paresthesia, seizures, respiratory alterations, and altered consciousness. The initial diagnostic hypothesis of rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis was not confirmed. A deeper investigation of the case exposed that it could have occurred an intentional exogenous poisoning with diethylene glycol (DEG). Renal biopsy unveil findings suggestive of poison-induced nephrotoxicity, which corroborated the suspicion. Despite therapeutic efforts, the patient died due to pulmonary complications. This case report shows the need to consider DEG poisoning as a etiology of AKI, especially in patients with neurological symptoms. Laboratory and histopathological analysis were crucial for the diagnosis.</p>","PeriodicalId":12449,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology","volume":" ","pages":"290-294"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141075985","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":"Digital matching of palatal rugae patterns for forensic identification in edentulous denture wearers.","authors":"Javier A Rojas-Torres, Sandra López-Lázaro, Joan Viciano, Gabriel M Fonseca","doi":"10.1007/s12024-024-00852-1","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12024-024-00852-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Identifying edentulous victims in forensic contexts poses a significant challenge. It has been reported that having a denture to reproduce and compare Palatal Rugae (PR) patterns is crucial for identifying edentulous individuals, yet there are no validated protocols for conducting this procedure. In this study, a new method was developed and validated for plaster molding of the internal surface of upper dentures, along with a protocol involving focus-stacked photographs and reference scales. Thirty-eight edentulous subjects participated in the study, obtaining plaster models of the patients (PM), and their dentures (AM) were standardized. The AM/PM model was highlighted and photographed with ten shots in different z-focuses for each model, using standard lighting and aligning the position of the PR perpendicular to the photographic axis using tubular spirit levels and modeling clay. The images were processed using the stacking technique and analyzed by three observers through the proposed protocol using Adobe® Photoshop®. The results were analyzed based on the intra-observer and inter-observer agreement levels, with a 95% confidence interval. This study demonstrated high-precision intra-observer and inter-observer agreement (k = 1) in the matching of Palatal Rugae (PR) and maxillary morphology obtained from participants and their dentures. The protocol is simple, cost-effective, and precise. It enables standardization of the technique for obtaining plaster models, and the exposure of PR and photographic protocol minimizes the presence of artifacts in the images, thereby reducing the likelihood of errors and promoting the reproducibility of both the recording technique and the comparison of the PR.</p>","PeriodicalId":12449,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology","volume":" ","pages":"157-164"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141442437","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":"Death and injuries caused by cattle: A forensic overview.","authors":"Roger W Byard","doi":"10.1007/s12024-024-00786-8","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12024-024-00786-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Lethal episodes arising from interactions with cattle may be the result of a response of the animals to simple handling and herding, or from reactions to deliberate provocation or goading intended to incite aggressive behavior for public entertainment purposes. Deaths may be considered to be unprovoked and unanticipated, or provoked and predictable. Cattle cause significant numbers of deaths globally and are considered the most dangerous large animal in Britain. Behavior may be unpredictable even in apparently docile domesticated animals, and attacks may be by a single animal or a herd and result in injuries from kicking, head/butting/charging, stomping, goring, and crushing. Craniofacial injuries may involve fractures of the spine or skull with cerebral contusions and lacerations associated with subarachnoid, subdural, and extradural hemorrhages. Chest injuries are also characterized by fractures which may be multiple with flail chest, hemo- and pneumothoraces, and organ disruption. Injuries to the abdomen and perineum include intestinal perforations, splenic rupture, perineal and vaginal tears, urethral lacerations and avulsions, and bladder and rectal perforations. Significant vascular injuries include complete and partial transections and lacerations. Males living in rural areas are most at risk of a fatal encounter.</p>","PeriodicalId":12449,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology","volume":" ","pages":"401-405"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11953160/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139575541","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":"Age-related patterns in mandibular third molar eruption: presenting new forensic age assessment reference data from a Chinese population.","authors":"Maximilian Timme, Jan Viktorov, Laurin Steffens, Adam Streeter, André Karch, Yu-Cheng Guo, Andreas Schmeling","doi":"10.1007/s12024-024-00820-9","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12024-024-00820-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Valid reference data are essential for reliable forensic age assessment procedures in the living, a fact that extends to the trait of mandibular third molar eruption in dental panoramic radiographs (PAN). The objective of this study was to acquire valid reference data for a northern Chinese population. The study was guided by the criteria for reference studies in age assessment.To this end, a study population from China comprising 917 panoramic radiographs obtained from 430 females and 487 males aged between 15.00 and 25.99 years was analysed. Of the 917 PANs, a total of 1230 mandibular third molars were evaluated.The PANs, retrospectively evaluated, were performed for medical indication during the period from 2016 to 2021. The assessment of mandibular third molars was conducted using the staging scale presented by Olze et al. in 2012. Two independent examiners, trained in assessing PANs for forensic age estimation, evaluated the images. In instances where the two examiners diverged in their assessments these were subsequently deliberated, and a consensus stage was assigned.The mean age increased with higher stages for both teeth and both sexes. The minimum age recorded for stage D, indicating complete tooth eruption, was 15.6 years in females and 16.1 years in males. Consequently, the completion of mandibular third molar eruption was observed in both sexes well before reaching the age of 18. In light of our results, it is evident that relying solely on the assessment of mandibular third molar eruption may not be sufficient for accurately determining the age of majority. Contrary to previous literature, this finding of a completed eruption of the mandibular third molars in northern Chinese individuals is only suitable for detecting the completion of the 16th year of life in males according to our results. However, as the results are inconsistent compared to other studies in the literature, the trait should not be used as the only decisive marker to prove this age threshold in males from northern China.</p>","PeriodicalId":12449,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology","volume":" ","pages":"173-182"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11953140/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140897987","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":"Modeling of inflicted head injury by shaking trauma in children: what can we learn? : Update to parts I&II: A systematic review of animal, mathematical and physical models.","authors":"Kim Hutchinson, Jan Peter van Zandwijk, Marloes E M Vester, Ajay Seth, Rob A C Bilo, Rick R van Rijn, Arjo J Loeve","doi":"10.1007/s12024-023-00765-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12024-023-00765-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Inflicted shaking trauma can cause injury in infants, but exact injury mechanisms remain unclear. Controversy exists, particularly in courts, whether additional causes such as impact are required to produce injuries found in cases of (suspected) shaking. Publication rates of studies on animal and biomechanical models of inflicted head injury by shaking trauma (IHI-ST) in infants continue rising. Dissention on the topic, combined with its legal relevance, makes maintaining an up-to-date, clear and accessible overview of the current knowledge-base on IHI-ST essential. The current work reviews recent (2017-2023) studies using models of IHI-ST, serving as an update to two previously published reviews. A systematic review was conducted in Scopus and PubMed for articles using animal, physical and mathematical models for IHI-ST. Using the PRISMA methodology, two researchers independently screened the publications. Two, five, and ten publications were included on animal, physical, and mathematical models of IHI-ST, respectively. Both animal model studies used rodents. It is unknown to what degree these can accurately represent IHI-ST. Physical models were used mostly to investigate gross head-kinematics during shaking. Most mathematical models were used to study local effects on the eye and the head's internal structures. All injury thresholds and material properties used were based on scaled adult or animal data. Shaking motions used as inputs for animal, physical and mathematical models were mostly greatly simplified. Future research should focus on using more accurate shaking inputs for models, and on developing or and validating accurate injury thresholds applicable for shaking.</p>","PeriodicalId":12449,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology","volume":" ","pages":"366-381"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139485506","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":"Forensic investigation of complex and complicated suicides in Attica, Greece: a 12-year retrospective study.","authors":"Maria Alexandri, Maria Tsellou, Anthi Kapsali, Panagiotis Ferentinos, Athina Tatsioni, Artemis Dona, Ioannis Papoutsis, Flora Bacopoulou, Stavroula A Papadodima","doi":"10.1007/s12024-024-00842-3","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12024-024-00842-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence and characteristics (victims' profiles, circumstances surrounding the incidents, and methods employed) of complex and complicated suicides over a 12-year period in the broader area of Athens, Greece. A retrospective analysis of 5,568 autopsy cases performed at the Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens from January 1, 2011, to December 31, 2022, was carried out. Out of a total sample of 5,568 autopsies, 360 suicide cases were identified, among which 14 (3.9%) were classified as complex suicides, and one case (0.3%) was identified as complicated suicide. Among the victims, 78.6% were males. The age range of the victims varied between 25 and 82 years old. The most prevalent method of complex suicide was the use of sharp objects followed by jumping from a height (42.8%). The next most common combination of methods was poisoning (21.4%) along with hanging. Prior suicidal attempts and suicide note were mentioned in 16.7% and 8.3% of the cases respectively. Overall, a total of 9 different methods were used in the above 14 cases. Only half (50.0%) of the victims had an established psychiatric diagnosis. In determining the cause of death in cases of a complex or complicated suicides, it is of utmost importance for the forensic pathologist to gather and analyze all available information provided by the police, the victim's relatives along with a thorough investigation of the scene, a detailed autopsy and a toxicological analysis.</p>","PeriodicalId":12449,"journal":{"name":"Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology","volume":" ","pages":"90-97"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141283415","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}