Journal of forensic and legal medicine最新文献

{"title":"Postmortem tissue alterations induced by corrosive substances – a scoping review","authors":"Larisa Adela Udriştioiu ,&nbsp;Mihai Andrei ,&nbsp;Filip Perde ,&nbsp;George Cristian Curcă","doi":"10.1016/j.jflm.2024.102794","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jflm.2024.102794","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>The method of dissolving a body to conceal crimes, a practice dating back to ancient times, has recently captured the interest of scientists and the film industry. Real-life cases inspired by media portrayals underscore the importance of understanding this process, which aims to prevent identification or locate the body. Historical and contemporary examples highlight the use of substances like caustic potash and various acids. Although scientific studies on this topic are limited, this scoping review explores the use of corrosive substances for concealing crimes by dissolving remains and aims to provide an overview of the current global extension of this phenomenon, addressing a gap in scholarly literature.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A systematic literature search was performed according to PRISMA-ScR guidelines. The search strategy included PubMed, Google Scholar, gray literature, and general Google searches for cases in international media. Articles were eligible if they discussed the effects of corrosive substances on tissue with the intent to alter or destroy, excluding those focused on living individuals or for non-forensic purposes. Results were categorized into academic and gray literature, further divided by species studied.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A total of 280 results were found in PubMed and 966 in Google Scholar. No reviews were found. Additional searches led to 79 records, with 37 excluded due to duplication or updates. Ultimately, 83 studies were included in the review, documenting key elements such as study purpose, sample details, substances used, and findings. The effects of various corrosive agents were revealed, including alkaline substances such as lime, potassium hydroxide, and sodium hydroxide, as well as acids like hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, nitric acid, and aqua regia.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Diagnosing tissue alterations caused by corrosive substances requires a multidisciplinary approach and detailed analysis. Final outcomes depend on concentration, exposure time and conditions. Techniques like microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDX/EDS), micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) provide critical detailed results. Recreating the crime through experiments may be necessary for investigations, shedding light on the methods employed by perpetrators, reflecting the complexity of these out-of-the-ordinary cases. Further studies are crucial for interpreting these effects.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16098,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic and legal medicine","volume":"109 ","pages":"Article 102794"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142792911","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":"Background characteristics and neuropathological findings of medico-legal autopsy cases with chronic alcohol use and acute head injury","authors":"Jenni Kokki ,&nbsp;Petteri Oura","doi":"10.1016/j.jflm.2024.102796","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jflm.2024.102796","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Chronic alcohol use is often associated with traumatic brain injury (TBI). This study aimed to compare background characteristics, injury circumstances, primary head injuries, and secondary brain injuries among TBI cases with and without a documented history of chronic alcohol use. The sample comprised neuropathologically examined medico-legal autopsy cases with acute head injuries from Helsinki, Finland, over the years 2016–2022. Data on chronic excessive alcohol use were collected from medical records and police files; other background and circumstantial data were collected from medical records, police files, and cause-of-death investigation documents; and data on primary head injuries and secondary brain injuries were collected from autopsy and neuropathology reports. The dataset comprised 47 cases, of whom 19 had a history of chronic alcohol use (40.4%). Assault was the most common circumstance of injury among chronic alcohol users (47.4%) while falls prevailed among control cases (32.1%); unknown circumstances were common among both groups. There were no statistically significant differences in the prevalence of primary head injuries or postinjury survival between the groups. As for secondary brain injuries, hypoxic-ischaemic neuronal injury was significantly more common among chronic alcohol users in the frontal cortex (84.2% vs. 28.6%), parietal cortex (84.2% vs. 32.1%), hippocampus (63.2% vs. 25.0%), and lenticular nucleus (73.7% vs. 21.4%). Our findings suggest that chronic alcohol users may not necessarily have more diverse or complex primary injuries, but they may have more extensive secondary injuries. Further research should aim to explore the potential aetiology of hypoxic-ischaemic neuronal injury among chronic alcohol users.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16098,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic and legal medicine","volume":"109 ","pages":"Article 102796"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142796627","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":"Something to see here: ACT Police referrals for impaired driving due to medical conditions","authors":"Vanita Parekh ,&nbsp;Janine McMinn ,&nbsp;Anna Brkic ,&nbsp;Corey Heldon ,&nbsp;Ash Laidler","doi":"10.1016/j.jflm.2024.102797","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jflm.2024.102797","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Medical conditions may cause driving impairment and preventable motor vehicle collisions. Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Police detect potentially medically impaired drivers as part of their duties. ACT Police and medical fitness to drive reviewers sought to determine the accuracy of police suspicion of medically impaired drivers for quality assurance and legislative purposes.</div></div><div><h3>Method</h3><div>This is a retrospective study of 110 drivers who were referred to the Fitness to Drive Medical Clinic (FTDMC) by ACT Police between July 1, 2017 and June 30, 2023 to determine whether changes to driver licences were needed.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Reasons for ACT Police referral were physical, cognitive, mental health and non-acute substance use conditions. All drivers referred to the FTDMC by ACT Police had their licence conditions modified by cancellation, suspension, the imposition of conditions or a requirement to undertake an on-road assessment by an occupational therapist trained to assess drivers.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>This study demonstrates that ACT Police detection of medically impaired drivers, police triage and referral to the FTDMC is effective. We believe that ACT Police referrals to the FTDMC should result in immediate suspension of a driver's licence prior to review by a medical practitioner experienced in fitness to drive assessments. The ACT Police process must include review by the Sergeant of the Major Collision Team and be supported by appropriate legislation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16098,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic and legal medicine","volume":"109 ","pages":"Article 102797"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142808906","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 Cry for dignity: Verbal, physical, and emotional abuse experienced by postpartum women in Nigerian healthcare","authors":"Adetunmise Oluseyi Olajide ,&nbsp;Chizoma Ndikom ,&nbsp;Eunice Oluwakemi Ogunmodede ,&nbsp;Oyeronke Olubunmi Bello ,&nbsp;Titilope Abisola Awotunde ,&nbsp;Esther Oluwatoyin Famutimi ,&nbsp;Ganiyat Odunola Adeniran ,&nbsp;Dosunmu Taiwo ,&nbsp;Rahmat Oyekale ,&nbsp;Deborah Tolulope Esan","doi":"10.1016/j.jflm.2025.102802","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jflm.2025.102802","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>This study explores and describes the lived experiences of postpartum women of Obstetric Violence (OV) in selected secondary health facilities in Oyo State, Nigeria.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>The study utilized a qualitative research design. A purposive sampling technique was used to recruit thirty participants for the study. A Focus Group Discussion interview guide was used as an instrument of data collection. Thematic analysis was used in analyzing the data using Collaizi's seven stages of data analysis.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The analyzed data on the OV experienced by postpartum women during pregnancy and childbirth generated five themes, which include verbal abuse, abandonment of care, physical abuse, non-dignified care, and non-consented care.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Addressing OV requires targeted policies promoting respectful care, healthcare provider training on ethical practices and informed consent, and improved healthcare infrastructure. Empowering women and establishing accountability systems are critical for fostering a dignified and safe maternal healthcare environment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16098,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic and legal medicine","volume":"109 ","pages":"Article 102802"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143019064","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":"Corrigendum to “Emerging global trends and development in forensic toxicology: A review” [J Forensic Legal Med 103 (2024) 1–9 102675]","authors":"Saurabh Shukla ,&nbsp;Sakshum Khanna ,&nbsp;Tahir ul Gani Mir ,&nbsp;Jyoti Dalal ,&nbsp;Deeksha Sankhyan ,&nbsp;Kushagra Khanna","doi":"10.1016/j.jflm.2024.102798","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jflm.2024.102798","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":16098,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic and legal medicine","volume":"109 ","pages":"Article 102798"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143427654","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":"Enhancing foundational validity of forensic findings in nonlethal medico-legal strangulation examinations","authors":"Reanna Panagides ,&nbsp;Karen Kafadar ,&nbsp;Kathryn Laughon","doi":"10.1016/j.jflm.2025.102800","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jflm.2025.102800","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Nonlethal strangulation occurs when the brain is deprived of oxygen because of external compression leading to the occlusion of the neck's blood vessels and/or airway. The current state of strangulation science confines expert testimony to merely describing injuries attributed to strangulation ‘<em>based on the expert's experience and training</em>.’ Expert testimony that can quantify the likelihood that observed injuries are attributable to strangulation would strengthen the scientific validity of such testimony.</div></div><div><h3>Purpose</h3><div>This study aims to identify those documented features, or clusters of features, that are associated with cases where strangulation is reported versus cases where strangulation is not reported. <em>Methods</em>: This study is a retrospective analysis of medical record data from patients seeking forensic examinations for strangulation and/or sexual assault who presented to the emergency department of an academic medical center from January 2018 to June 2022.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Among the 170 cases, 77 were documented as strangulation-absent and 93 were documented as strangulation-present. A simple classification algorithm was developed to identify these cases where strangulation was present. Prominent features of this algorithm included: presence of petechiae, observed number of injuries around the mouth, face, head and neck, and total number of injuries. This algorithm has a false positive rate of 5 % and a false negative rate of 32 %.</div></div><div><h3>Discussion</h3><div>To our knowledge, this is the first medico-legal research study to produce an algorithm to assist with classifying cases of strangulation given specific forensic examination characteristics. The study demonstrates the value of data collection in medico-legal research for developing an algorithm that enables forensic examiners to use data-driven methods to verify victims’ reports of strangulation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16098,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic and legal medicine","volume":"109 ","pages":"Article 102800"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143019067","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":"Adolescent and children suicides in Turkey: Analysis of data from the Turkish Statistical Institute (2002–2022)","authors":"Ufuk Akın ,&nbsp;Naime Meriç Konar","doi":"10.1016/j.jflm.2025.102809","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jflm.2025.102809","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Suicides in children and adolescents have different characteristics from other age groups because of their unique physical and psychosocial dynamics. Having more information on childhood and adolescent suicides and knowing their characteristics will lead to the development of prevention strategies. This study aimed to evaluate demographic characteristics, suicide methods, and causes of suicides in individuals aged &lt;19 years using 2002 and 2022 data from the Turkish Statistical Institute. Of 1746 suicide cases, 813 (46.6 %) were recorded in male teens and 933 (53.4 %) in female teens aged &lt;15 years. Of 7698 suicide cases, 4041 (52.5 %) were reported in male teens and 3657 (47.5 %) in female teens aged 15–19 years. Family incompatibility was the most common cause of suicides in children and adolescents. The most common suicide method was hanging. Population data show a decreasing trend, particularly in developed and developing countries, among children and adolescents. Therefore, suicide is an important problem in children and adolescents, who constitute a critical dynamic population for the socioeconomic future of societies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16098,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic and legal medicine","volume":"109 ","pages":"Article 102809"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143019065","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 importance of outliers in forensic practice","authors":"Roger W. Byard ,&nbsp;Melissa Humphries","doi":"10.1016/j.jflm.2025.102810","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jflm.2025.102810","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Forensic pathologists and practitioners are well aware of the number of unique or unusual cases that are not infrequently seen in a busy medicolegal practice. Unfortunately the importance of isolated cases is sometimes dismissed by those who feel that such outliers merely skew datasets and provide nothing useful in terms of analyses. Applying a statistical approach to forensic observations does, however, run the risk of losing quite valuable information that assists in understanding mechanisms and outcomes of disease and injury. Data derived from randomised controlled trials and observational studies should not be mutually exclusive as a single outlier may give much clearer understanding of possible pathophysiological mechanisms than a group of more mainstream cases. Clearly both have their uses in contributing to the literature and in helping to evaluate and analyse cases.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16098,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic and legal medicine","volume":"109 ","pages":"Article 102810"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143127807","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":"Ethyl alcohol consumption characteristics of deceased individuals in Lithuania","authors":"Augustinas Stasiunas ,&nbsp;Sigitas Chmieliauskas ,&nbsp;Jurgita Stasiuniene ,&nbsp;Sigitas Laima ,&nbsp;Diana Vasiljevaite ,&nbsp;Rokas Simakauskas ,&nbsp;Dmitrij Fomin ,&nbsp;Ineta Dvarvytyte","doi":"10.1016/j.jflm.2024.102785","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jflm.2024.102785","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The number of alcohol-related deaths in Lithuania has fallen by almost one-third in the last decade; however, the number of deaths has been on the rise since 2019. Data on the postmortem investigation of victims between 2018 and 2022 were obtained from the Lithuanian State Forensic Medicine Service database. This study analyzed data from 1200 autopsies. The deceased victims were categorized based on their cause of death and blood alcohol concentration (sober, legally intoxicated, mild, medium, or heavy). The causes of death were diseases (54.17 %, n = 650), suicides (12.08 %, n = 145), homicides (2.5 %, n = 30), and accidents (31.25 %, n = 375). Toxicological tests for alcohol were performed in all cases. Alcohol levels in the blood and urine were measured using gas chromatography. A significant correlation was observed between blood alcohol concentration and age (r = −0.13, p = 0.007). A statistically significant difference was observed in the proportions of men and women who were intoxicated. Among the causes of death, the group of individuals who died because of accidents exhibited the highest average blood alcohol concentration. Alcohol intoxication is undoubtedly a contributing factor to fatalities resulting from accidents and homicides. These findings assist in determining the intoxication level of victims and in assessing any potential links that may contribute to or predispose victims to lethal outcomes in cases of disease, suicide, homicide, or accident.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16098,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic and legal medicine","volume":"108 ","pages":"Article 102785"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142586206","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":"Systematic forensic identification of a homicide by brodifacoum poisoning: A case report","authors":"Zhonghao Yu ,&nbsp;Yuhao Yuan ,&nbsp;Qing Shi ,&nbsp;Hang Gao ,&nbsp;Erjuan Zhao ,&nbsp;Jinghong Ma ,&nbsp;Yiwu Zhou","doi":"10.1016/j.jflm.2024.102784","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jflm.2024.102784","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Brodifacoum, a long-acting anticoagulant rodenticide, exerts inhibitory effects on blood coagulation factor synthesis, leading to abnormal clotting function and potential fatality. Poisoning of accidental exposure to brodifacoum is not rare, but death from brodifacoum poisoning can be largely avoided with timely and long-term effective treatments, consequently, forensic data on fatalities due to brodifacoum poisoning may be limited. This paper presents a case of brodifacoum-induced homicide, detailing the medial records and pathological changes observed in multiple organs. Furthermore, t liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was employed to measure the concentrations of brodifacoum in blood, hydropericardium, and urine 40 days post-poisoning (1 day post-mortem), yielding values of 0.097 μg/mL, 0.089 μg/mL, and 0.007 μg/mL respectively. The aim of this article is to contribute towards forensic identification of fatalities resulting from brodifacoum poisoning while also serving as a reference for clinical diagnosis in similar cases.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16098,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic and legal medicine","volume":"108 ","pages":"Article 102784"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142635178","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}