Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology最新文献

This study aims to evaluate the accuracy of existing dental age estimation models, including the Lamendin, Prince & Ubelaker, Fialho, and modified Fialho methods, within a Portuguese population. Dental techniques, particularly those involving root transparency and periodontosis, are examined due to their relevance in forensic age estimation. A sample of 166 single-rooted teeth from individuals aged 30 to 86 was analyzed. Measurements included root transparency, periodontosis, and tooth and root length. Statistical methods were applied to assess the reliability and accuracy of each model in estimating age, considering the potential influence of environmental and lifestyle factors on dental aging. Root transparency emerged as a robust age indicator, consistently correlating with chronological age. In contrast, periodontosis introduced variability due to external influences, reducing its reliability. The modified Fialho model, which focuses solely on root transparency, showed the highest accuracy, suggesting that eliminating periodontosis from the estimation process may enhance reliability in populations where environmental factors heavily affect dental aging. The findings underscore the importance of population-specific adjustments in dental age estimation models. By refining methods like the modified Fialho model, forensic investigations can achieve more accurate results, particularly in populations where external factors influence periodontosis.

Purpose: In analyzing decomposing human remains in cases of unattended death, observing insect succession patterns to aid in estimating the post-mortem interval (PMI) based on carrion insects is one of the tasks of the forensic entomologist. The purpose of this study is to provide baseline data in order to improve PMI estimates using carrion insects. The lingering armed conflict in Nigeria creates a situation where unidentified human remains overwhelm law enforcement agencies. A common challenge is the lack of affordable, easy-to-use, and locally derived methods. This study aims to describe the succession patterns of arthropods, including insects, in pig carcasses in the wet and dry seasons in southern Nigeria as a baseline to aid in PMI estimation. Arthropods were observed and collected (all life cycle stages) in a total of 20 freshly-killed pigs (10 pigs for each season) which were deployed to study sites within 3 h of humane killing and at various times during the two seasons over 14 months. The time of appearance, activity, and disappearance of the arthropods were noted and related to the stages of decomposition to create succession patterns. Three classes, six orders, and 16 families of arthropods were collected. Musca domestica was the first to arrive, followed by Chrysomya marginalis, visiting within 10 min after placement. An ant species (Family Formicidae) had the widest presence through decomposition stages. There was an increase in the absolute number and species richness of arthropods in the wet season. Some arthropods, like the black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens), were exclusively present in the wet season. The observed succession patterns can be used as a reference for forensic scientists to aid in PMI assessment in Nigeria. Arthropods found exclusively in a season could be used to establish the season of death.

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) in young people is a tragic event and a worldwide public health issue. SCD is the most common cause of death in young athletes and is related to acquired/congenital cardiac disorders, such as cardiomyopathies, congenital coronary anomalies and ion channelopathies. We report the case of a 14-year-old male non professional athlete who was apparently healthy but suddenly died during a football game. His clinical history was negative for any significant medical illness. At autopsy, a congenital anomalous origin of both the right and left coronary arteries from a single aortic ostium above the aortic cusp was observed with a concomitant hypertophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) The toxicological analysis was negative for common drugs of abuse. The death was attributed to SCD due to hyperkinetic ventricular arrhythmia secondary to myocardial ischemia in a subject with an anomalous origin of both coronary arteries and underlying hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. This report highlights a rare congenital anomalous origin of the coronary arteries associated with a high risk of SCD, particularly in young athletes.

Sudden unexpected death due to haematologic disease in children is unusual. A 3-year-old girl had been ill for several weeks, but her parents did not consult a doctor. Her complaints included a cough, fever, vomiting and fatigue. On the day of her death, the girl fell from the toilet and was unresponsive. In hospital, severe dyspnoea and a haemoglobin value of only 1.7 mg/dl were diagnosed, as well as hypothermia and haemorrhaging from mouth and nose. Despite intensive medical care and cardiopulmonary resuscitation, the girl died. Main autopsy findings were severe anaemia and the underlying disease, B-cell acute lymphocytic leukaemia (B-ALL). In particular, liver, spleen, lymph nodes, kidneys and bone marrow showed marked infiltration of atypical mononuclear cells replacing haematopoiesis. Intra-alveolar exudation, consistent with the early phase of acute pneumonia, was identified as cause of death. Toxicological investigations revealed positive findings of morphine (53.3 ng/ml), as well as amphetamine and THC in femoral blood, respectively, in hair samples. This paper discusses the medicolegal implications of the case (omitted duty of care by the parents).

Purpose: The lack of specific autopsy findings for carbon dioxide (CO₂) intoxication hinders the determination of cause of death based on autopsy findings alone. In addition, when death occurs in a space is filled with CO₂ or other gases, the cause of death must be distinguished between intoxication and asphyxia due to oxygen deficiency, which also has no specific autopsy findings. In this study, we aimed to identify diagnostic markers of mRNA expression in the brainstem that indicate cause of death in cases of suspected CO₂ intoxication.

Methods: Mouse models of CO₂ intoxication (composition of ambient gases at 70% CO₂, 20% O₂, and 10% N₂) and asphyxia due to oxygen deficiency (5% O₂, 95% N₂) were used to identify mRNA markers specific to intoxication or asphyxia.

Results: Using RNA-Sequence analysis, we identified 7 candidate genes for qRT-PCR analysis: Acid-sensing ion channel 4 (Asic4), Early growth response protein 1 (Egr1), Neurogranin (Nrgn), Opioid receptor delta 1 (Oprd1), Semaphorin 3f (Sema3f), Transthyretin (Ttr), and Tryptophan hydroxylase 2 (Tph2). We observed a significant increase of Nrgn mRNA expression in the brainstem of CO₂ intoxication and a significant increase of Ttr mRNA expression in the brainstem of asphyxia due to oxygen deficiency.

Conclusion: Assays for the expression of Nrgn and Ttr in the human brainstem may assist in the diagnosis/differential diagnosis of CO₂ intoxication and asphyxia due to oxygen deficiency, respectively.

Alcoholic ketoacidosis (AKA) is an underreported and underrecognized complication of chronic alcohol use disorder, which may present as a sudden death with few diagnostic clues. The most frequent history is that the affected individual stops eating and uses alcohol as one's primary source of nutritional intake, with the subsequent development of nausea, vomiting, and general malaise. Chronic alcoholics may also stop drinking days or weeks before death, precipitating a terminal ketoacidotic state, of which beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) is the principal ketoacid. The postmortem toxicology and chemistry findings may be low to absent (undetectable) blood and vitreous ethanol concentrations, elevated blood and vitreous acetone, and elevated BHB levels. We present a case series of 19 deaths of AKA at the Franklin County, Ohio Forensic Science Center that is characterized by an essentially bimodal distribution due to the introduction of an algorithm designed to facilitate the detection of ketoacids, and specifically, BHB, by two principal measures: (1) substantially lowering the detection threshold of acetone; and (2) prompting reflex testing for BHB when that threshold has been achieved. The result of this change in laboratory protocol has been a noticeably enhanced ability to make the diagnosis of AKA and to offer a feasible mechanism by which chronic alcoholics die suddenly, over the purely morphologic but mechanistically vacuous designation of "fatty liver".

Biological profiling is a crucial tool in forensic science, allowing for evaluating biological information from bones found at crime scenes. This method includes assessments of sex, age, stature, and ancestry. Sex assessment is the first step in biological profiling, as it influences other assessments. Age estimation is a particularly challenging aspect. Combining sex and age assessment may improve accuracy in age estimation. Researchers often use the pelvis and skull bones for these assessments due to their prevalence at crime scenes and their higher accuracy in evaluation. However, the talus, a foot bone with robust density, resilience, and resistance to damage, is another bone frequently encountered at crime scenes and may be a valuable subject for study. Medical imaging technology, particularly micro-CT imaging, supports sex and age assessment. Micro-CT images can significantly enhance the accuracy of assessments. The high resolution of these images presents an exciting opportunity for exploration in conjunction with artificial intelligence (AI), which has revolutionized forensic science workflows. AI can potentially improve the efficiency and accuracy of sex and age assessment from bones. This article compiles research on past sex and age assessments and evaluations of the talus, including the application of micro-CT images to support these assessments. The aim is to provide a comprehensive knowledge base for studying sex and age assessment from the talus using micro-CT images in conjunction with AI.

Pediatric mortality from external causes has been a worldwide concern in the last decades. In particular, the prevalence of accidental deaths is a key concern, especially traffic accidents. This is retrospective study based on autopsy reports of violent deaths in individuals younger than 18 years from 2014 to 2023 in Portugal, aimed at providing valuable insight in order to help formulate preventive strategies. There were 554 pediatric deaths due to exogenous causes, with a predominance of males (68,95%). Adolescents were the most prevalent age group. The leading cause of death was land transport injury (38,27%). Asphyxia-related deaths were predominant in younger age groups. Accidental deaths accounted for 76,71% of all cases. Preventable injury-related causes continue to be a major contributor to child mortality. The inconsistent mortality rates from various mechanisms emphasize the necessity for targeted and effective preventive measures. Above all, land transport accidents seem to be an issue in need of prompt intervention.

This commentary reconsiders the debate on the reliability of the serological tests used to determine the ABO blood group found in ancient human biological tissues and Christian relics, particularly in response to the recent critique by Kelly Kearse. It is known that the results of investigations on the Passion relics and some Eucharistic miracles converge on the rarest AB group. The issue of the suboptimal specificity of these tests, due to possible bacterial and fungal contamination, is also acknowledged. However, despite these limitations, the great value demonstrated by these techniques in the reconstruction of the history of the origin of mankind and human migrations should not be ignored, especially given that DNA testing was not yet available in the 1970s and 80s. This article cautions against rejecting an important wealth of knowledge obtained by authoritative researchers, who applied rigorous scientific standards to their studies. Control group tissue samples were also extensively used in the analyses of Christian relics, and despite the limitations of serological tests, the identification of the same blood group in these studies was so widespread that it cannot be underestimated. The inclusion of Eucharistic miracles in peer-reviewed literature marks a significant step in bridging faith and science, encouraging a more open and multidisciplinary inquiry into these fascinating relics.