This case report describes the death of a 73-year-old man who suffered a fatal myocardial infarction following pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) for the treatment of atrial fibrillation. Post-mortem examination and imaging revealed the presence of an atrioesophageal fistula (AEF) leading to gas embolism at various sites of the heart including the right coronary artery. Atrioesophageal fistulas are rare complications of pulmonary vein isolation with high mortality rates.
Scientific and technological developments experienced by forensic sciences have increased the possibility of human identification. Forensic anthropology has developed worldwide and has made significant progress in Brazil in the last 10 years. This context has allowed forensic medicine institutes to use new techniques to resolve cold cases of human identification. This work aimed to report the methodology, development, and partial results of the LAFOL Identifies Operation, carried out at the Forensic Anthropology and Forensic Dentistry Laboratory (LAFOL) of the Medico-Legal Institute of Porto Velho. We carried out a multidisciplinary expert approach on human skeletal remains archived over the last 20 years to identify these individuals using current scientific methods. Eighty-one cold cases of skeletonized and/or mummified human skeletal remains were reanalyzed; they were archived in the LAFOL Laboratory collection as unidentified. Anthropological analyses showed that the collection is predominantly composed of adult individuals (86.4%), between 21 and 39 years old (55.6%), and males (62.9%). In the human skeletal remains identified, forensic anthropology played a key role in the case screening process. We expected that the results presented in this work will inspire other Medico-Legal Institutes in Brazil and worldwide to establish task forces for the reanalysis of cold cases in their institutes, promoting new forensic dentistry and anthropological comparisons and collecting biological samples to feed the database of genetic profiles of missing persons.
We report a rare case of fatal exsanguination by a scythe. A 71-year-old man slipped while jumping over a stream and impaled himself on a 70 cm long curved steel blade of the scythe. The external examination of the body disclosed a stab wound in the left upper part of the trunk. Internally, impaling injuries involving the left thoracic walls, left lung parenchyma, and pulmonary vasculature were disclosed. Toxicology results indicated preceding alcohol use. This paper also traces and consolidates symbolic, artistic, and historical connotations of the scythe and highlights the intersection of art and science that defines the field of forensic pathology. Although exploring the relationship between the arts and pathology is not novel, intriguing links between the arts and forensic practice can broadly enhance observation and analytical skills, and help forensic professionals become more thoughtful and contextual.
We report two cases of falls from a very high altitude with no fatal injuries. Two men were found dead directly under a high bridge. Surveillance video footage indicated that they had fell approximately 120 m from the bridge to the ground. On the fall site, there was snow on the ground, and the men were completely buried in the snow. An autopsy performed at 2 days after their bodies were found, showed a small subdural hematoma in one patient and a minor pulmonary laceration in the other. However, no fatal injuries were observed. Their deaths were caused by hypothermia based directly on the difference in the coloration of the left and right cardiac blood, the bright red to reddish brown lungs, and the Wischnewski spots. The reason why no fatal injuries occurred despite falling from height was considered to be the fall onto the snow.
The unusual body deposition site described comprised three elements of concealment: i) a covert stream-based ravine some 60 m from the suspect’s home; ii) partial grave dug into the ravine bank and iii) final concealment using concrete slabs. Disaggregation and sieving of concrete samples from the site, suspect residence(s) and control samples was carried out. These allowed informative exclusion of all but one control sample and provided a range of possible comparisons that may reflect the sequence of concrete slab selection, transport and use in covering the victim. The textures/colours of disaggregated, dried sediment size fractions also proved useful in conveying principles of exclusion to the court and jury at a subsequent murder trial. This work flows from basic (visual) observation of dry, cut blocks, through regular laboratory procedures of thin section work to disaggregation and size separation of aggregate-cement fractions. Graphical presentation of each analysis provided effective communication of geological science during the trial at court, concluding with a verdict of guilty by aggravated murder.
The utilisation of X-chromosome short tandem repeats (X-STRs) for DNA profiling has been demonstrated to be particularly useful in resolving distant familial relations and deficiency paternity testing. The implementation of X-STRs within a medico-legal context requires baseline frequency data for the general population to allow for appropriate statistical interpretations of results. This study aimed to generate the first X-STR data for the South African population using an optimised and internally validated Qiagen Investigator Argus X-12 QS workflow. Biological samples from 1016 South African individuals (593 males and 423 females) with either African, European, Indian/Asian or mixed ancestry were processed. Herein, allele and haplotype frequencies, as well as forensic and population parameters for the four major South African population groups are reported. Locus DXS10135 was the most informative across all four population groups. Similarly, linkage group 1 had the highest haplotype diversity. An MDS plot revealed that the population groups in South Africa cluster with other global populations of similar ancestry, rather than each other. Additionally, 75 off-ladder alleles were identified, of which 37 were novel. X-STR analyses for civil inheritance disputes and the identification of unknown individuals are now possible given these data.
As humanity advances into a space-faring species, the risk of injury by multiple means and intentions will follow. Expanding understanding of how forensic science adapts to extraterrestrial environments is a novel and inevitable expansion into the next forensic frontier. This study considers the unique challenges of bloodstain pattern analysis in microgravity environments. Specifically, observation in novel experimentation aboard a parabolic flight research airplane which yielded fluid dynamic behaviors in a microgravity environment that provides practical understanding of Earth-based and off-world bloodstain applications.
In this study, population data were generated from South Africans using the Investigator® 24plex GO! Kit (QIAGEN, Hilden, Germany). Participants represented the four major population groups in South Africa, with self-reported ancestral origin being African (n = 208), European (n = 213), Indian/Asian (n = 103) or Admixed (n = 209). Allele frequency data and forensic parameters were calculated for each population group using Arlequin (v.3.5.2.2) and FORSTAT (v1.0). TPOX had the lowest discrimination capacity for all population groups, except for the African population group where THO1 was the least informative. SE33 had the highest discrimination capacity for all population groups (>0.98), with 38 different alleles observed in the Admixed population group. Samples exhibiting novel alleles or anomalies underwent massively parallel sequencing using the ForenSeq™ DNA Signature Prep kit, which confirmed the following results: one null Y allele at Amelogenin, ten instances of TPOX tri-allelism and four novel micro-variant alleles. An additional four novel alleles in SE33 were observed but remain unconfirmed, due to SE33 not being included in the ForenSeq™ DNA Signature Prep kit. Moreover, nine individuals had an allele 8 or 9 at D1S1656, where the peaks for these alleles occur before the D1S1656 marker range on the electropherogram and showed as a peak within the DYS391 marker. Although this observation was rare overall (1.2%), these nine individuals were from three of the four population groups, which motivates for the adjustment of the Investigator® 24plex PCR chemistry to avoid allelic overlap of D1S1656 with DYS391. Overall, these findings highlight the diverse genetic makeup of the South Africa population and accentuate the importance of local population studies.
The consequences of domestic violence can be very serious for both individuals and society as a whole. Domestic violence, being one of the widespread instruments of dependence, requires study by forensic-investigative, forensic-medical and public organizations. The prospectivity of studying the forensic-medical aspects of this problem by analyzing the conditions, patterns of distribution of various forms of violence subsequently develops into a more objective approach to solving questions about the mechanisms and features of the formation of injuries, depending on the indicated situations.
to assess the national prevalence of domestic violence against women in Kazakhstan, to identify demographic, socio-economic and medical-social predictors that determine the prevalence of violence against women in modern conditions.
A qualitative-quantitative study was conducted in 14 regions of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the period from 2019 to 2022. The analysis was carried out based on the results of forensic medical reports and the results of a survey of 14,342 women who applied to the regional branches of the Center for Forensic Examinations of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The study used an adapted version of the questionnaire of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe about violence against women based on the methodology of the WHO Cross-Country Study on women's health and domestic violence against women. Applied statistical analysis methods were used to analyze the obtained results.
There has been an increase in cases of domestic violence over the past two years, especially in 2022. The main victims of domestic violence in the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan are women (more than 77.9%), children - 17.52%, elderly people - 3.5% and men - less than 1.1%. The number of cases of domestic violence against women in different regions of the Republic of Kazakhstan differs significantly (p < 0.05) and is more apparent in large cities. The most vulnerable category are women aged 40 to 49 (41.46%) and 30 to 39 (37.80%). Women in the Republic of Kazakhstan
The human microbiome comprises trillions of microbial cells, primarily bacteria, found in places such as the gut, oral cavity, and skin. The human microbiome holds significant potential in forensic investigations, with important applications in post-mortem analysis, geographical identifications, sexual assault cases, and personal identification. The human microbiome displays significant variations, which can be utilized to distinguish individuals based on their distinctive microbial signatures, thus facilitating identification. Microbiome composition varies geographically and can be explored for identification of individuals’ origin or location. In addition, changes observed in microbial composition during different stages of decomposition can provide valuable insight into the time and location of death which can assist in forensic investigations. However, the use of microbiomes in forensic investigation is still developing and under-utilized, especially in the developing world. This article reviewed emerging microbiome analyses, their strengths, limitations, and potential for future research in forensic investigations. In particular five microbiomic forensic applications were looked at; postmortem analysis, geographical identification, sexual assault cases, bite marks and personal identification. Despite challenges and limitations associated with storage sensitivity, limited samples, and lack of standardization, the use of microbiomes in forensic investigation is quite promising. However, future research should focus on more extensive and standardized studies to overcome these challenges and fully harness the potential of the human microbiome in forensic investigations, enabling its practical application in various forensic scenarios.
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