International Journal of Legal Medicine最新文献

{"title":"Correlation of pulmonary fat embolism with trauma and resuscitation in children.","authors":"Rosa Maria Martinez, Wolf Schweitzer, Michael Josef Thali, Akos Dobay, Stephan Andreas Bolliger","doi":"10.1007/s00414-025-03516-z","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-025-03516-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>This study aims to investigate the correlation between pulmonary fat embolism (PFE), blunt force trauma and the effects of resuscitation in pediatric fatalities.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Data for this study covered deaths of 57 children aged 0 to 10 years, which underwent full autopsy at the Zurich Institute of Forensic Medicine from 2019 to 2023. Variables collected included anamnestic information on the presence of trauma (accidental, non-accidental), fracture and fatty tissue crushing extent, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) - with and without intraosseous catheter - and the grade of pulmonary fat embolism (PFE) according to Falzi et al. RESULTS: The study analyzed 57 pediatric autopsy cases and found that PFE occurred more frequently in cases with both trauma and resuscitation, particularly when intraosseous catheters were used. Fat tissue crushing extent and fracture extent correlated with PFE development, while CPR alone did not. Notably, PFE could arise without fractures, likely due to fatty tissue crushing, and the highest PFE grades were observed in trauma cases with extensive fat crushing.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>PFE can arise without fractures, likely from fatty tissue crushing alone. CPR with intraosseous catheters, correlated with moderate PFE (Falzi grade 2), but CPR alone did not strongly predict PFE in children.</p>","PeriodicalId":14071,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Legal Medicine","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144127424","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"An X-ray bone age assessment method for hands and wrists of adolescents in Western China based on feature fusion deep learning models.","authors":"Ya-Hui Wang, Hui-Ming Zhou, Lei Wan, Yu-Cheng Guo, Yuan-Zhe Li, Tai-Ang Liu, Jian-Xin Guo, Dan-Yang Li, Teng Chen","doi":"10.1007/s00414-025-03497-z","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-025-03497-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The epiphyses of the hand and wrist serve as crucial indicators for assessing skeletal maturity in adolescents. This study aimed to develop a deep learning (DL) model for bone age (BA) assessment using hand and wrist X-ray images, addressing the challenge of classifying BA in adolescents. The results of this DL-based classification were then compared and analyzed with those obtained from manual assessment. A retrospective analysis was conducted on 688 hand and wrist X-ray images of adolescents aged 11.00-23.99 years from western China, which were randomly divided into training set, validation set and test set. The BA assessment results were initially analyzed and compared using four DL network models: InceptionV3, InceptionV3 + SE + Sex, InceptionV3 + Bilinear and InceptionV3 + Bilinear. + SE + Sex, to identify the DL model with the best classification performance. Subsequently, the results of the top-performing model were compared with those of manual classification. The study findings revealed that the InceptionV3 + Bilinear + SE + Sex model exhibited the best performance, achieving classification accuracies of 96.15% and 90.48% for the training and test set, respectively. Furthermore, based on the InceptionV3 + Bilinear + SE + Sex model, classification accuracies were calculated for four age groups (< 14.0 years, 14.0 years ≤ age < 16.0 years, 16.0 years ≤ age < 18.0 years, ≥ 18.0 years), with notable accuracies of 100% for the age groups 16.0 years ≤ age < 18.0 years and ≥ 18.0 years. The BA classification, utilizing the feature fusion DL network model, holds significant reference value for determining the age of criminal responsibility of adolescents, particularly at the critical legal age boundaries of 14.0, 16.0, and 18.0 years.</p>","PeriodicalId":14071,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Legal Medicine","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144119436","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Detection of sequence-tagged sites to reveal mechanisms of multi-step mutations at multi-copy Y-STRs in father-son pairs.","authors":"Longnian Zhang, Guangxin Jing, Ze Liu, Haiduo Wu, Dahua Liu, Shaobo Yu, Fu Ren, Fei Guo","doi":"10.1007/s00414-025-03506-1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-025-03506-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The case report demonstrates that co-examining various forensic markers with different technologies can strengthen the connection between father-son pairs with multi-step mutations observed at multi-copy Y-chromosomal short tandem repeats (Y-STRs). We detect 33 autosomal STRs and 94 identity-informative single nucleotide polymorphisms (iSNPs) using capillary electrophoresis (CE) and/or next-generation sequencing (NGS) to confirm the relationship within pedigrees. Meanwhile, this study reveals that the mechanisms behind the mutations observed in these cases involve STR slippage (identified using NGS or Sanger sequencing methods) and/or chromosomal structure rearrangement (identified using sequence-tagged site analyses). Such rearrangement can result in one or more step mutations. Loci within the same rearrangement region will also be linked and 'mutate' simultaneously. The chromosomal structure rearrangement rate observed in this study is calculated as 0.0012 (95% confidence interval: 0.0002-0.0034) in Northern Han Chinese.</p>","PeriodicalId":14071,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Legal Medicine","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144119639","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Determination of normal post-mortem computed tomography (PMCT) parameters for the temporomandibular joint.","authors":"Megane Beaugeois, Chris O'Donnell, Lyndal Bugeja, Richard Huggins, Joanna Glengarry","doi":"10.1007/s00414-025-03512-3","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-025-03512-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Post-mortem radiology, particularly post-mortem computed tomography (PMCT), has become an important tool in forensic death investigation, offering valuable insights into the cause and manner of death. However, the interpretation of post-mortem findings requires understanding the normal anatomical changes that occur after death, as artifacts can mimic pathology, complicating diagnosis. The objective of this study was to define the normal configuration of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) in the post-mortem setting, using a newly developed measurement method, the TMJ PAT (perpendicular assessment tool), to assess the relationship between the mandibular condyle and the articular eminence on PMCT scans. A retrospective analysis was conducted on 100 non-decomposed, non-traumatic adult deaths. The TMJ configuration was assessed bilaterally using PMCT scans, and the condylar position was measured in relation to the articular eminence. Results indicated that in 99% of cases the apex of the condyle was positioned at or posterior to the eminence. The study established that a positive TMJ PAT measurement, indicating an anteriorly displaced condyle, is abnormal and suggests a potential pathology, such as temporomandibular joint dislocation (TMJD). Interrater reliability of the method was strong, demonstrating its potential utility in forensic pathology practice. This method can be applied by those with limited expertise in forensic radiology, making it valuable for use in diverse settings, including resource-poor environments. The study's findings enhance the understanding of post-mortem TMJ anatomy and provide a reliable tool for distinguishing normal from abnormal TMJ configurations, crucial for accurate analysis in the death investigation setting. Future research should explore the application of this method in cases involving trauma and hanging, to further investigate phenomena such as Suspension-Associated Dislocation of the TMJ (SAD TMJ).</p>","PeriodicalId":14071,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Legal Medicine","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144119641","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Ötzi the Iceman: forensic 3D reconstructions of a 5300-year-ago murder case.","authors":"Chiara Villa, Sara Larsen, Albert Zink, Niels Lynnerup","doi":"10.1007/s00414-025-03510-5","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-025-03510-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The cause of death of Ötzi the Iceman has been the subject of extensive investigation. A deep wound on his left shoulder and an arrowhead lodged between his rib cage and left scapula have been central to determining his final moments. While initial CT analyses concluded that exsanguination due to a lacerated left subclavian artery was the cause of death, recent research has suggested that the injury might not have been immediately fatal. This study re-analyzed the 2013 CT scans using a forensic approach to assess the shoulder injury in greater detail, by creating 3D models of the affected anatomical structures and calculating relevant tissue volumes. Additionally, forensic animation techniques were applied to reconstruct Ötzi's likely posture at the moment of impact. A previously unidentified hematoma with an approximate volume of 110 mL was observed, suggesting that death from blood loss alone may not have been immediate, although external hemorrhage cannot be excluded. Furthermore, forensic animation demonstrated that a straight trajectory of the arrow aligns with both the scapular lesion and arterial laceration, providing new insights into the injury mechanism. These results underscore the value of 3D segmentation and modeling in forensic pathology, offering enhanced reconstructions of traumatic events in both contemporary and archaeological contexts.</p>","PeriodicalId":14071,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Legal Medicine","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144110644","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Literature reviews: typology and forensic applications.","authors":"Ademir Franco, Wahaj Anees, Débora Moreira, Cauane Blumenberg, Marcelo Napimoga, Luiz Renato Paranhos","doi":"10.1007/s00414-025-03514-1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-025-03514-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Secondary research models, such as literature reviews, are designed to summarize existing primary data. Literature reviews serve distinct purposes depending on their methodology and scope. In forensic science, they have been widely used to recover historical information, facilitate bibliometric investigations, compile and compare analytical techniques, promote best practices, and support decision-making. This study presented a comprehensive description of common literature review types, namely (1) narrative, (2) integrative, (3) scoping, (4) systematic (with or without meta-analysis), (5) bibliometric, and (6) umbrella reviews, highlighting their specific characteristics and applications in forensic science. Forensic experts, students, instructors, and research authors and readers must be familiar with the typology and appropriate use of literature reviews to effectively select the most suitable approach for their studies and professional practice. In this context, the goal of academic research, as pursued in the present work, is to strengthen forensic knowledge, enhance theoretical rigor, and ultimately improve practices in the field through education in scientific research methodology.</p>","PeriodicalId":14071,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Legal Medicine","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144110627","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Rearing maggots of the blow fly Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius, 1794) on tissues of rabbits treated with morphine hydrochloride caused shifts in their developmental time, with implications for postmortem interval estimation.","authors":"Abeer M Salem, El-Sayed H Shaurub, Yahya Al Naggar, Mustafa Soliman, Amr Mohamed, Eman E Zaher","doi":"10.1007/s00414-025-03509-y","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-025-03509-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Previous research has shown that the effects of different drugs on the growth rate of blow flies vary by species, which can influence the determination of the minimum post-mortem interval (PMImin​). In this study, we assessed how morphine affects the development, growth, and survival rate of Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius, 1794), a forensically important blow fly species, and whether these effects are dose dependent. We also measured morphine concentrations in insect samples (3rd -instar larvae and puparial cases) and in various post-mortem tissues of rabbits (cardiac blood, skeletal muscle, and liver). Rabbits were administered two lethal doses of morphine hydrochloride (5 and 10 mg/kg), then sacrificed, and tissue samples were collected for toxicological analysis. At a controlled temperature of 37 °C, newly hatched larvae (1-2 h old) were placed on the rabbit carcasses and randomly sampled at 12 h regular interval (12-132 h) to determine larval development time, puparial development time, larval mortality, larval length, and larval weight. Changes in these insect parameters led to an underestimation of PMImin by up to 15.92 h if the presence of morphine was not considered. Moreover, morphine concentrations in all insect samples (180 and 223 ng/g in the 3rd instar larvae; 40 and 45 ng/g in the puparial cases after treatment with 5 and 10 mg/kg of morphine hydrochloride, respectively) and rabbit tissues (1129 and 2564 ng/g in the cardiac blood; 1777 and 2823 ng/g in the liver; 825 and 1070 ng/g in the skeletal muscles after treatment with 5 and 10 mg/kg of morphine hydrochloride, respectively) were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography system equipped with a binary pump and UV detector. Morphine can affect the development of different life cycle stages of Ch. megacephala, highlighting the importance of accounting for its presence when determining PMImin ​ in such conditions. The data obtained could aid in criminal investigations. Although a concentration-dependent effect has been discussed, the use of whole animal carcasses may lead to uneven distribution of the drug, and concentrations in the areas from which larvae are feeding may differ significantly due to ante-mortem processes in the body.</p>","PeriodicalId":14071,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Legal Medicine","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144110646","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Dating long bone fractures of infants under one year of age.","authors":"Amandine Capelli, Luisa Nogueira, Frédéric Santos, Béatrice Leloutre, Marco Albertario, Caroline Bernardi, Véronique Alunni","doi":"10.1007/s00414-025-03518-x","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-025-03518-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Infants under one year of age frequently suffer from inflicted fractures. Dating the trauma is vitally important to identify the perpetrator and ensure the protection of the child. While several studies have investigated the radiological dating of fractures in children, few have focused specifically on those occurring during the first year of life. Although maltreatment is particularly common in the first few months of life, dating these fractures remains challenging, as bone healing capacity is age-dependent and may differ from that observed in older children. In addition, the radiological nomenclature found in the literature is heterogeneous and often imprecise.The aim of this study was to apply clearly defined radiographic criteria to establish an analytical methodology that facilitates the dating of long bone fractures in infants under one year of age. A total of 99 infants under one year old with long bone fractures of known date were included, representing 290 radiograph sets. Four dating groups were defined based on literature data, with the aim of developing predictive models based on well-defined radiographic features, in order to construct a simplified dating decision tree.Our findings suggest that the absence of periosteal apposition and bone remodeling is consistent with a fracture less than one week old. On the other hand, the presence of periosteal apposition suggests a fracture that is probably one to eight weeks old, and more than one month old when accompanied by signs of remodeling. Finally, isolated signs of remodeling are suggestive of a fracture of more than two months.</p>","PeriodicalId":14071,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Legal Medicine","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144110624","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessing the accuracy of the third molar eruption as an indicator of adulthood: findings from a black South African sample using the Gambier method.","authors":"Nikolaos Angelakopoulos, Shatakshi Sharma, Sudheer Babu Balla, Galina Zolotenkova, Stefano De Luca","doi":"10.1007/s00414-025-03505-2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-025-03505-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Age estimation is a critical aspect of forensic practice, often requiring straightforward, accurate, and precise dental methods employed by experts in various contexts where their expertise is needed. The third molar eruption analysis presents a practical approach. This study evaluates the Gambier et al. scoring system for assessing legal adulthood (18 years) through third molar observations in black South African subadults.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>A retrospective analysis was conducted on 877 orthopantomograms (357 males and 520 females) of individuals aged 14 to 24 years.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The mean chronological age increased with the progression of stages (1 to 3) and phases (A to D) of the third molar eruption for both sexes. Our study revealed a strong association between advanced eruption phases and the likelihood of being 18 years or older. For instance, phase D (complete emergence in the occlusal plane) showed a high likelihood of individuals being 18 years or older, with 76% of males (32 out of 42) and 80.5% of females (66 out of 82) in this phase aged above 18.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This technique, due to its ease of use, can provide useful preliminary information regarding the probable age of alleged minor asylum seekers. However, the results indicate that, in line with the minimum age principle, this method should be applied cautiously when determining adulthood, as the minimum age for both stage 3 of eruption and phase D is clearly below 18 years. Therefore, it should always be used alongside other validated methods recommended by international protocols and good practice guidelines to ensure reliability across different populations.</p>","PeriodicalId":14071,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Legal Medicine","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144093823","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Cranial sutures as an age indicator: verification of the method using postmortem CT acquisition material.","authors":"Marta Barszcz, Elżbieta Badach, Krzysztof Jerzy Woźniak","doi":"10.1007/s00414-025-03504-3","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-025-03504-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Age estimation at the time of death is an integral part of forensic examination whenever unidentified human remains are discovered. In the case of adult remains the methods of age estimation are based mostly on the extent of age-related degenerative changes. The most controversial method makes use of cranial suture assessment. The purpose of this study was to verify whether assessment of cranial suture closure may be considered a useful and reliable method in forensic estimation of age at death. Postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) acquisitions of 114 male skulls were evaluated. Multiplanar reconstruction (MPR) to visualize the progress of suture closure in cross-sections was used. The inner and outer surfaces of each skull were visualized with the volume rendering technique (VRT). The coronal, sagittal, and lambdoid sutures were assessed with a suture closure scale introduced by Broca. Cranial suture assessment has been generally used for estimating age ranges, such as \"younger/older\", \"under about 30 years of age\", \"over 50 years of age\". Moreover, lambdoid suture closure is unrelated to age, except for its ectocranial part L3 on the left side. These observations indicate no major importance of this age estimation method in forensic anthropology.</p>","PeriodicalId":14071,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Legal Medicine","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144010048","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}