Journal of forensic and legal medicine最新文献

{"title":"FFLM 2026 Flyer","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/S1752-928X(26)00034-X","DOIUrl":"10.1016/S1752-928X(26)00034-X","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":16098,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic and legal medicine","volume":"118 ","pages":"Article 103102"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147397241","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":"Psychoactive substances in a general forensic autopsy population: prevalence and associations with cause and manner of death","authors":"Florent Ferrer , Damien Richard , Nicolas Authier , Nicolas Kerckhove , Bruno Pereira , Vincent Lopez , Frédéric Abriat , Baptiste Boyer , Célian Bertin","doi":"10.1016/j.jflm.2026.103079","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jflm.2026.103079","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":16098,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic and legal medicine","volume":"118 ","pages":"Article 103079"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145928454","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":"Is lateral cephalometric analysis useful to sex estimation in forensic science? A cross-sectional study","authors":"Anastasia Mitsea ,&nbsp;Ioanna Pouliezou ,&nbsp;Nikolaos Christoloukas ,&nbsp;Iosif Sifakakis","doi":"10.1016/j.jflm.2026.103077","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jflm.2026.103077","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>The objective of this study was to investigate whether linear, angular, and area measurements derived from lateral cephalometric radiographs can serve as an additional method for determining sex in a sample of Greek population.</div></div><div><h3>Materials and methods</h3><div>The study sample comprised digital lateral cephalometric radiographs from 150 Greek individuals aged 18–65 years, who sought orthodontic treatment at the School of Dentistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece. Patient records were screened based on eligibility criteria for inclusion in the study. The sample was categorized by sex and age, with age intervals of 5 years. An equal number of lateral cephalometric radiographs for males and females were distributed within each age group. Twelve cephalometric points visible on lateral cephalometric radiographs were digitally traced using ViewBox software, including glabella, nasion, orbitale, sella, basion, porion, anterior nasal spine, posterior nasal spine, anterior, superior, posterior and inferior points of sinus. The present cross-sectional study used a binary logistic regression (BLR) model.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Sex was predicted with an overall accuracy of 74.7 %. A value lower than 0.41 identified a male participant, and a value higher than 0.41 a female participant. The estimated sensitivity and specificity are 85.3 % and 64.0 %, respectively, indicating that the model has satisfactory adjustment. The area under the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve (area under the curve - AUC) was 0.80, indicating good discriminative ability.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Cephalometric analysis using radiographs for sex estimation could be useful as a complementary method to conventional sex estimation approaches and may serve as a reliable sex predictor in the Greek population, particularly when alternative techniques cannot be used to estimate sex.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16098,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic and legal medicine","volume":"118 ","pages":"Article 103077"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145928456","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 the letter to editor Re: “A systematic review about the evolving role of artificial intelligence in various fields of forensic medicine.”","authors":"Uzma Zaheen,&nbsp;Maida Mariam,&nbsp;Allah Rakha,&nbsp;Anam Munawar","doi":"10.1016/j.jflm.2026.103083","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jflm.2026.103083","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":16098,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic and legal medicine","volume":"118 ","pages":"Article 103083"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146114820","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":"Sexually transmitted infections of sexual crime suspects","authors":"Aaro Mäkelä","doi":"10.1016/j.jflm.2026.103081","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jflm.2026.103081","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><div>This study investigates the prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among individuals suspected of rape in the Helsinki metropolitan area, focusing on the immediate aftermath of the alleged incidents.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A retrospective observational analysis was conducted using data from 472 forensic examinations performed at the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) between 2020 and 2024. Biological samples were tested for chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV. The mean interval between the alleged incident and sample collection was calculated to assess the temporal relationship.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Of the 456 individuals tested, 108 (23.68 %) exhibited STI-related findings, with 54 (11.84 %) deemed probably contagious. Prevalence rates were 6.92 % for chlamydia, 1.11 % for gonorrhea, 2.64 % for contagious hepatitis B, and 2.57 % for active hepatitis C. HIV was detected in 1.10 % of individuals, with none deemed contagious. Fewer than 5 syphilis cases were deemed to be contagious. The mean interval between the alleged incident and sample collection was 1.04 days.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>This study provides an examination of STI prevalence among suspects of rape, offering insights into transmission risks immediately following alleged incidents. The findings underscore the importance of routine STI screening in forensic examinations and highlight the potential for such data to inform public health interventions and forensic practices.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16098,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic and legal medicine","volume":"118 ","pages":"Article 103081"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145978547","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":"Prevalence of frontal sinus agenesis in maxillofacial imaging and its forensic relevance – systematic review and meta-analysis","authors":"Rhonan Ferreira Silva ,&nbsp;Maria Eduarda Ramos Stefanel ,&nbsp;Fernanda Thomaz de Aquino Macedo ,&nbsp;Ana Bheatriz Souza Oliveira ,&nbsp;Thaís Karmen Silva Santos ,&nbsp;Solon Diego Mendes ,&nbsp;Wahaj Anees ,&nbsp;Rizky Merdietio Boedi ,&nbsp;Ademir Franco","doi":"10.1016/j.jflm.2026.103095","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jflm.2026.103095","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>the present study aimed to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis on the prevalence of frontal sinus agenesis.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA statement, with a preliminary protocol based on PRISMA-P registered in Open Science Framework and Zenodo. Searches were performed in PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, LILACS, SciELO, Open Access Theses and Dissertations and OpenGrey, complemented by additional screening through backward snowballing. Only observational studies reporting prevalence data on frontal sinus agenesis in maxillofacial imaging were selected.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>From 3614 records, 48 studies met eligibility criteria, and 47 were included in the quantitative synthesis. The pooled sample comprised 19,453 radiographic examinations spanning 22 countries. Bilateral frontal sinus agenesis showed a prevalence rate of 3,5% (n = 670 observations), while unilateral agenesis rate was 2,7% for the right side and 2,4% for the left side. Subgroup analyses revealed no significant differences based on sex, side, or imaging modality (2D vs. 3D).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The synthesis of eligible studies showed that frontal sinus agenesis is a rare anatomical feature that can be recognized effectively using either 2D (posteroanterior or anteroposterior radiographic projections) or 3D (multislice or cone beam computed tomography) imaging. This consistency across modalities supports its practical value for clinical and diagnostic practice, and for human identification in the forensic routine.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16098,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic and legal medicine","volume":"118 ","pages":"Article 103095"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146170096","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 review of the advances in insect evidence analysis for estimating postmortem interval and detecting drug toxicity","authors":"Ebrahim Abbasi","doi":"10.1016/j.jflm.2025.103059","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jflm.2025.103059","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Forensic entomology plays a pivotal role in criminal investigations, particularly in postmortem interval (PMI) estimation, entomotoxicology, and molecular forensic applications. However, its reliability is influenced by environmental variability, toxicological factors, and the need for standardized forensic methodologies.</div></div><div><h3>Materials and methods</h3><div>This review systematically analyzes PMI estimation techniques, entomotoxicological applications, and molecular forensic advancements, drawing on case studies and recent scientific literature. Special emphasis is placed on toxicant-induced insect developmental alterations, forensic molecular techniques, and the legal admissibility of entomological evidence.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Findings indicate that necrophagous insects follow predictable succession patterns, yet environmental fluctuations and toxicological exposures can alter their developmental timelines. PMI estimation and entomotoxicology are two critical domains within forensic entomology, but their relationship is not always clearly defined. PMI estimation focuses on determining the time since death by examining insect succession patterns and developmental stages. Entomotoxicology, on the other hand, examines the impact of toxic substances on insect development, offering insights into drug or poison exposure in the deceased. While these domains are distinct, they intersect in cases where toxicants affect insect physiology, potentially altering development rates and influencing PMI estimates. Forensic entomologists must consider both the environmental and toxicological context of insect colonization when estimating PMI. Understanding how drugs or poisons accumulate in insects can refine PMI estimations by providing additional evidence regarding the conditions under which insect development occurs.</div></div><div><h3>Discussion</h3><div>Despite forensic entomology's increasing applicability, challenges persist regarding PMI estimation accuracy, entomotoxicological variability, and judicial acceptance of entomological evidence. Integrating machine learning models, multi-omic forensic analyses, and cross-disciplinary collaborations is crucial for advancing forensic entomology's scientific and legal credibility. Furthermore, this review clarifies critical distinctions between postmortem interval (PMI), minimum PMI (minPMI), time of colonization (TOC), and period of insect activity (PIA), enhancing interpretive accuracy in forensic entomology.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16098,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic and legal medicine","volume":"118 ","pages":"Article 103059"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145882952","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":"JFLM special issue: Proceedings of the 7th Annual Caribbean Medicolegal and Forensic Symposium; Bridgetown, Barbados, November 16–18, 2023","authors":"Michael D. Freeman,&nbsp;Alfredo Walker","doi":"10.1016/j.jflm.2026.103080","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jflm.2026.103080","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":16098,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic and legal medicine","volume":"118 ","pages":"Article 103080"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147313680","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 review of blunt impact injuries to the human head caused by non-lethal kinetic projectiles","authors":"Jiakai Wu ,&nbsp;Song Wang ,&nbsp;Zhaohui Zhang ,&nbsp;Bin Chen ,&nbsp;Jiaming Song","doi":"10.1016/j.jflm.2026.103074","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jflm.2026.103074","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In practical applications, blunt ballistic injuries caused by non-lethal kinetic projectiles striking the head may result in severe bodily harm or even death. To elucidate the injury mechanisms of non-lethal kinetic projectile impacts on the head and develop scientifically sound criteria for assessing head injuries, this paper reviews the literature concerning injury types, mechanisms, and criteria related to kinetic projectile blunt impacts to the human head. It enumerates head injury types, analyses mechanisms of cranial bone injury and intracranial injury, subsequently, it summarises acceleration criteria, peak force criteria, bluntness criteria, and viscosity criteria for kinetic projectile blunt impacts to the head. It also examines the evaluation basis and advantages/disadvantages of these four injury criteria. By dissecting the shortcomings of existing research, this study proposes recommendations for future investigations. It aims to provide insights for subsequent research into head injury mechanisms and injury criteria, as well as offer guidance for the design improvements and performance optimisation of non-lethal kinetic projectiles.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16098,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic and legal medicine","volume":"118 ","pages":"Article 103074"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145919312","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":"Mass spectrometry–based proteomic approaches for postmortem interval estimation: A systematic review","authors":"Rakshita Gautam ,&nbsp;Akansha Das ,&nbsp;Sachil Kumar ,&nbsp;Wahid Ali","doi":"10.1016/j.jflm.2026.103096","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jflm.2026.103096","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background and objective</h3><div>Accurate postmortem interval (PMI) estimation remains a major challenge in forensic science due to the influence of biological, environmental, and circumstantial factors on traditional methods. Mass spectrometry–based proteomics has emerged as a promising approach by enabling the analysis of time-dependent postmortem protein degradation. This systematic review (2020-2025) aims to synthesize recent advances in MS-based proteomic techniques for PMI estimation, identify reproducible protein biomarkers, and evaluate their forensic applicability.</div></div><div><h3>Methodology</h3><div>A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and ScienceDirect for studies published between January 2020 and August 2025, following PRISMA guidelines. Search terms included “postmortem interval,” “time since death,” “protein degradation,” “forensic proteomics,” and “mass spectrometry.” Original research studies using human or animal tissues and MS-based proteomic methods for PMI estimation were included. Reviews, non-English publications, and duplicates were excluded. Study selection and data extraction were performed independently by two reviewers.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Twenty-one studies met the inclusion criteria: ten on human samples, ten on animal models, and one on combined datasets. Skeletal muscle was the most frequently analyzed tissue, followed by bone, liver, heart, and gingiva. Several proteins, including tropomyosin, GAPDH, desmin, tubulin, and eEF1A2, demonstrated reproducible, time-dependent degradation patterns. Analytical approaches such as GC-MS, LC-MS/MS, and MALDI-MS enabled sensitive detection of postmortem proteomic changes. However, substantial variability was observed across studies in tissue selection, postmortem conditions, and analytical protocols, highlighting the need for standardization.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Mass spectrometry–based proteomics offers a sensitive and objective approach for PMI estimation and identifies several candidate protein biomarkers with potential forensic utility. Broader application requires standardized protocols, larger validation studies in human samples, and the development of multi-protein marker panels. With further refinement, proteomic profiling could serve as a robust complement to conventional PMI estimation methods in routine forensic practice.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16098,"journal":{"name":"Journal of forensic and legal medicine","volume":"118 ","pages":"Article 103096"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146170097","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}