The diatom test is one of the methods used to diagnose drowning in forensic autopsies. Metagenomic diatom analysis may reveal where a drowning occurred. We evaluated whether metagenomic diatom analysis could be used to infer waters, watersheds, and geographic locations using 166 water samples from 64 locations (freshwater: 55; seawater: 9). Principal component analysis (PCA) in all samples revealed no specific clusters for waters or watersheds. In one river, the three samples at the same site generally tended to be in close clusters, but there were some cases where the three sites were far from each other. The precise geographic location could thus not be reliably identified. However, PCA of data from dams, lakes, and retention basins revealed sites with independent clusters, suggesting unique diatom compositions. Diatoms of seawater were not detected in freshwater. The high number of Actinoptychus, Chaetoceros, and Skeletonema detected in seawater samples suggested that they are useful for seawater identification. This method required only 2 mL of water; it suggests that this method can be applied to actual samples. In summary, it was difficult to infer the geographic location and waters or watersheds, but the freshwater/seawater distinction could be easily made, and depending on the application, it may be useful in forensic science practice.
{"title":"The utility of drowning site inference through metagenomic diatom analysis","authors":"Hiroaki Nakanishi , Aya Takada , Katsumi Yoneyama , Saki Kodama , Kentaro Sakai , Kazuyuki Saito","doi":"10.1016/j.legalmed.2024.102548","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.legalmed.2024.102548","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The diatom test is one of the methods used to diagnose drowning in forensic autopsies. Metagenomic diatom analysis may reveal where a drowning occurred. We evaluated whether metagenomic diatom analysis could be used to infer waters, watersheds, and geographic locations using 166 water samples from 64 locations (freshwater: 55; seawater: 9). Principal component analysis (PCA) in all samples revealed no specific clusters for waters or watersheds. In one river, the three samples at the same site generally tended to be in close clusters, but there were some cases where the three sites were far from each other. The precise geographic location could thus not be reliably identified. However, PCA of data from dams, lakes, and retention basins revealed sites with independent clusters, suggesting unique diatom compositions. Diatoms of seawater were not detected in freshwater. The high number of <em>Actinoptychus</em>, <em>Chaetoceros</em>, and <em>Skeletonema</em> detected in seawater samples suggested that they are useful for seawater identification. This method required only 2 mL of water; it suggests that this method can be applied to actual samples. In summary, it was difficult to infer the geographic location and waters or watersheds, but the freshwater/seawater distinction could be easily made, and depending on the application, it may be useful in forensic science practice.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49913,"journal":{"name":"Legal Medicine","volume":"71 ","pages":"Article 102548"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142640092","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}
Pub Date : 2024-11-01DOI: 10.1016/j.legalmed.2024.102532
Xiaoxin Hu , Jinjie Liu , Tingyu Xu , Kaiyue Qin , Yunpeng Feng , Zhenjun Jia , Xingchun Zhao
Third-generation sequencing technologies, exemplified by single-molecule real-time sequencing and nanopore sequencing, provide a constellation of advantages, including long read lengths, high throughput, real-time sequencing capabilities, and remarkable portability. These cutting-edge methodologies have provided new tools for genomic analysis in forensic medicine. To gain a comprehensive understanding of the current applications and cutting-edge trends of third-generation sequencing technologies in forensic medicine, this study retrieved relevant literature from the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) database and the Web of Science (WOS) database. Using bibliometric software CiteSpace 6.1.R6, the study visualized publication volume, countries, and keywords related to the application of third-generation sequencing technologies in forensic medicine from 2014 to 2023. The review then summarized the foundational principles, characteristics, and promising prospects of third-generation sequencing technologies in forensic medicine. Notably, it highlights their remarkable contributions in forensic individual identification, body fluid identification, forensic epigenetic analysis, microbial analysis and forensic species identification.
{"title":"Research progress and application of the third-generation sequencing technologies in forensic medicine","authors":"Xiaoxin Hu , Jinjie Liu , Tingyu Xu , Kaiyue Qin , Yunpeng Feng , Zhenjun Jia , Xingchun Zhao","doi":"10.1016/j.legalmed.2024.102532","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.legalmed.2024.102532","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Third-generation sequencing technologies, exemplified by single-molecule real-time sequencing and nanopore sequencing, provide a constellation of advantages, including long read lengths, high throughput, real-time sequencing capabilities, and remarkable portability. These cutting-edge methodologies have provided new tools for genomic analysis in forensic medicine. To gain a comprehensive understanding of the current applications and cutting-edge trends of third-generation sequencing technologies in forensic medicine, this study retrieved relevant literature from the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) database and the Web of Science (WOS) database. Using bibliometric software CiteSpace 6.1.R6, the study visualized publication volume, countries, and keywords related to the application of third-generation sequencing technologies in forensic medicine from 2014 to 2023. The review then summarized the foundational principles, characteristics, and promising prospects of third-generation sequencing technologies in forensic medicine. Notably, it highlights their remarkable contributions in forensic individual identification, body fluid identification, forensic epigenetic analysis, microbial analysis and forensic species identification.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49913,"journal":{"name":"Legal Medicine","volume":"71 ","pages":"Article 102532"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142586609","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}
Pub Date : 2024-11-01DOI: 10.1016/j.legalmed.2024.102547
Alberto Amadasi, Larissa Amadasi
Wakeboarding is a sport associated with various types of injuries, primarily affecting the upper and lower limbs. In this case, a 44-year-old man fell from a ramp while wakeboarding and barely managed to reach the shore before dying shortly afterward. An autopsy revealed a complete rupture of the thoracic aorta along with a fracture of the fourth thoracic vertebra. It is likely that several mechanisms contributed to these injuries, either individually or in combination: concussive, rotational, and tensile forces. Additionally, it is plausible that the rupture occurred in two stages, with an initial partial injury worsening during subsequent movements or attempts at rescue and resuscitation. This is the first reported case of death resulting from a ruptured aorta due to wakeboarding, highlighting a potential consequence of this sport.
{"title":"Complete aortic rupture following wakeboarding accident","authors":"Alberto Amadasi, Larissa Amadasi","doi":"10.1016/j.legalmed.2024.102547","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.legalmed.2024.102547","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Wakeboarding is a sport associated with various types of injuries, primarily affecting the upper and lower limbs. In this case, a 44-year-old man fell from a ramp while wakeboarding and barely managed to reach the shore before dying shortly afterward. An autopsy revealed a complete rupture of the thoracic aorta along with a fracture of the fourth thoracic vertebra. It is likely that several mechanisms contributed to these injuries, either individually or in combination: concussive, rotational, and tensile forces. Additionally, it is plausible that the rupture occurred in two stages, with an initial partial injury worsening during subsequent movements or attempts at rescue and resuscitation. This is the first reported case of death resulting from a ruptured aorta due to wakeboarding, highlighting a potential consequence of this sport.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49913,"journal":{"name":"Legal Medicine","volume":"71 ","pages":"Article 102547"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142564031","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}
Age estimation has extensive medicolegal implications in civil and criminal identification. Despite the surge in adopting radiological investigations to assess developmental bony changes, the shoulder joint is understudied. A cross-sectional study was conducted, enrolling 283 shoulder radiographs of Egyptians, investigating the reliability of two previously established scores as predictors of chronological age using the epiphyseal maturation of proximal humerus and acromion process. Epiphyseal union of proximal humerus commenced at age of 16.1–17 and completed around 21, while complete acromial union was observed around the age of 20.8. Females significantly preceded males and showed lower mean total Scores A and B at different maturation stages. There was a significant strong positive correlation between the chronological age and the epiphyseal maturation of humerus, acromion and total shoulder scores with correlation coefficients between 0.84 and 0.9. The receiver operating characteristic curves showed significant discriminating power of the total shoulder Scores A and B as predictors of the ages of 14 and 16, with area under curves above 0.9, minimal accuracy of 96.5 % and p values of 0.001. Six proposed models were established where the model “age = 0.318 + (0.388) total shoulder Score A + (2.842) total shoulder Score B + 1.931 (sex)” showed the best significant prediction power of radiographic evaluation of epiphyseal maturation in the proximal humerus and acromion in estimating the ages between 8 and around 20 years (R2 of 0.812). Applying this model to assess the chronological age, especially if the results from the hand and teeth are inconclusive, is promising.
年龄估计在民事和刑事鉴定中具有广泛的医学法律意义。尽管采用放射学检查来评估骨骼发育变化的趋势日益明显，但对肩关节的研究却不足。这项横断面研究收集了 283 张埃及人的肩部 X 光片，利用肱骨近端和肩峰突的骨骺成熟情况，对之前确定的两个预测年龄的分数的可靠性进行了调查。肱骨近端骺端结合始于 16.1-17 岁，完成于 21 岁左右，而肩峰完全结合则是在 20.8 岁左右。女性明显早于男性，且在不同成熟阶段的平均总分 A 和 B 都较低。计时年龄与肱骨、肩峰的骨骺成熟度和肩关节总分之间存在明显的正相关，相关系数在 0.84 和 0.9 之间。接受者操作特征曲线显示，肩关节总评分 A 和 B 对 14 岁和 16 岁的预测具有显著的鉴别力，曲线下面积大于 0.9，最小准确率为 96.5 %，P 值为 0.001。我们建立了六个拟议模型，其中 "年龄 = 0.318 + (0.388) 肩部总分 A + (2.842) 肩部总分 B + 1.931（性别）"模型显示，肱骨近端和肩峰骺端骨骺成熟度的影像学评估对估计 8 岁至 20 岁左右的年龄具有最佳的显著预测能力（R2 为 0.812）。应用该模型评估法定年龄，尤其是在手部和牙齿的评估结果不确定的情况下，是很有前景的。
{"title":"Evaluation of two scoring systems assessing the epiphyseal union at shoulder joint as predictors of chronological age among a sample of Egyptians","authors":"Asmaa F. Sharif , Hadeel Eid , Mahmoud Abdelaziz Abdelnaby Ghalab , Asmaa Ali Ahmed Elfeky , Mohamed Moharram Badawy , Nagwa Mahmoud Habib , Reham Hassan El-Farouny , Heba A.A. Mabrouk","doi":"10.1016/j.legalmed.2024.102546","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.legalmed.2024.102546","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Age estimation has extensive medicolegal implications in civil and criminal identification. Despite the surge in adopting radiological investigations to assess developmental bony changes, the shoulder joint is understudied. A cross-sectional study was conducted, enrolling 283 shoulder radiographs of Egyptians, investigating the reliability of two previously established scores as predictors of chronological age using the epiphyseal maturation of proximal humerus and acromion process. Epiphyseal union of proximal humerus commenced at age of 16.1–17 and completed around 21, while complete acromial union was observed around the age of 20.8. Females significantly preceded males and showed lower mean total Scores A and B at different maturation stages. There was a significant strong positive correlation between the chronological age and the epiphyseal maturation of humerus, acromion and total shoulder scores with correlation coefficients between 0.84 and 0.9. The receiver operating characteristic curves showed significant discriminating power of the total shoulder Scores A and B as predictors of the ages of 14 and 16, with area under curves above 0.9, minimal accuracy of 96.5 % and p values of 0.001. Six proposed models were established where the model <em>“age = 0.318 + (0.388) total shoulder Score A + (2.842) total shoulder Score B + 1.931 (sex)”</em> showed the best significant prediction power of radiographic evaluation of epiphyseal maturation in the proximal humerus and acromion in estimating the ages between 8 and around 20 years (R<sup>2</sup> of 0.812). Applying this model to assess the chronological age, especially if the results from the hand and teeth are inconclusive, is promising.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49913,"journal":{"name":"Legal Medicine","volume":"71 ","pages":"Article 102546"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142579098","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}
Necrophagous insects, including flies and beetles, play pivotal roles in decomposition, ecology, and forensics. Their diversity and activities vary across environments, necessitating comprehensive studies for understanding and management. The aim of the study is to investigate insect infestation on animal carcasses, human cadavers, and myiasis patients to enhance ecological, forensic, and medical entomological understanding, aiding in ecosystem management, forensic investigations, and disease control.
Various species of flies and beetles were found associated with animal carcasses, human cadavers, and myiasis patients, as indicated by the comprehensive study. On animal carcasses, notable fly species included Chrysomya rufifacies (Macquart, 1842), Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius, 1794), Lucilia cuprina (Wiedemann, 1830), and Sarcophaga sp., while beetles such as Dermestes maculatus (De Geer, 1774), Necrobia rufipes (Fabricius, 1781), Saprinus quadrigatattus (Fabricius, 1798), Saprinus splendens (Paykull, 1811), Saprinus optabilis (Marseul, 1855), Saprinus chalcites (Iliger, 1807), and Omorgus sp. (Erichson, 1847) were also observed. Similarly, human cadavers exhibited a presence of flies like Chrysomya albiceps (Wiedemann, 1819), Chrysomya rufifacies (Macquart, 1842), Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius, 1794), and Sarcophaga dux (Thomson, 1869). In cases of myiasis patients, flies including Chrysomya megacephala, Cochliomyia hominivorax (Coquerel, 1858), and Chrysomya bezziana (Villeneuve, 1914) were identified.
These findings underscore the diverse range of insect species involved in carcass decomposition, forensic investigations, and medical entomology, illustrating their crucial roles in ecological processes, forensic assessments, and disease management.
{"title":"Forensic and ecological significance of necrophagous insects: Insights from animal carcasses, human cadavers, and myiasis patients","authors":"Swaima Sharif , Chetan Pratap Singh , Bushra Athar , Mohd Kaleem Khan , Ayesha Qamar","doi":"10.1016/j.legalmed.2024.102544","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.legalmed.2024.102544","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Necrophagous insects, including flies and beetles, play pivotal roles in decomposition, ecology, and forensics. Their diversity and activities vary across environments, necessitating comprehensive studies for understanding and management. The aim of the study is to investigate insect infestation on animal carcasses, human cadavers, and myiasis patients to enhance ecological, forensic, and medical entomological understanding, aiding in ecosystem management, forensic investigations, and disease control.</div><div>Various species of flies and beetles were found associated with animal carcasses, human cadavers, and myiasis patients, as indicated by the comprehensive study. On animal carcasses, notable fly species included <em>Chrysomya rufifacies</em> (Macquart, 1842), <em>Chrysomya megacephala</em> (Fabricius, 1794), <em>Lucilia cuprina</em> (Wiedemann, 1830), and <em>Sarcophaga</em> sp., while beetles such as <em>Dermestes maculatus</em> (De Geer, 1774), <em>Necrobia rufipes</em> (Fabricius, 1781), <em>Saprinus quadrigatattus</em> (Fabricius, 1798), <em>Saprinus splendens</em> (Paykull, 1811), <em>Saprinus optabilis</em> (Marseul, 1855), <em>Saprinus chalcites</em> (Iliger, 1807), and <em>Omorgus</em> sp. (Erichson, 1847) were also observed. Similarly, human cadavers exhibited a presence of flies like <em>Chrysomya albiceps</em> (Wiedemann, 1819), <em>Chrysomya rufifacies</em> (Macquart, 1842), <em>Chrysomya megacephala</em> (Fabricius, 1794), and <em>Sarcophaga dux</em> (Thomson, 1869). In cases of myiasis patients, flies including <em>Chrysomya megacephala</em>, <em>Cochliomyia hominivorax</em> (Coquerel, 1858), and <em>Chrysomya bezziana</em> (Villeneuve, 1914) were identified.</div><div>These findings underscore the diverse range of insect species involved in carcass decomposition, forensic investigations, and medical entomology, illustrating their crucial roles in ecological processes, forensic assessments, and disease management.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49913,"journal":{"name":"Legal Medicine","volume":"71 ","pages":"Article 102544"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2024-10-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142537489","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}
Pub Date : 2024-10-20DOI: 10.1016/j.legalmed.2024.102542
Casella Claudia, Capasso Emanuele, Marisei Mariagrazia, Di Donna Gaetano, Di Lorenzo Pierpaolo, Niola Massimo
The evolution of medicine and technologies applied to medical knowledge has made it possible to extend patients’ life expectancy by changing the prognosis of certain pathologies and often transforming their outcome. This has made it possible not only to keep a patient alive after acute events (e.g. cerebrovascular accidents, critical conditions linked to major traumas or road accidents) but also to ’chronicise’ certain pathologies. These reflections are within the grasp of health professionals, legal scholars, politicians and ordinary citizens. This study aims to explore health professionals knowledge on terms pertaining to “end of life”, that are often used improperly and interchangeably. It also offers an overview of the degree of knowledge and attitudes of health professionals and students of Medicine and Surgery and of the classes of the health professions, through a cognitive survey carried out by means of a digitalized survey on a Google platform administered by e-mail through the Order of Surgeons and Dentists of Salerno, Naples and Caserta, the Professional Order of Nurses of Naples and the student associations. The results point to the need for end-of-life organic legislation and for the implementation of training and continuing education programmes. It is desirable for the widest possible sample to take part in the survey in order to obtain more meaningful statistical information.
{"title":"Exploring health professionals’ knowledge of end of life in Italy","authors":"Casella Claudia, Capasso Emanuele, Marisei Mariagrazia, Di Donna Gaetano, Di Lorenzo Pierpaolo, Niola Massimo","doi":"10.1016/j.legalmed.2024.102542","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.legalmed.2024.102542","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The evolution of medicine and technologies applied to medical knowledge has made it possible to extend patients’ life expectancy by changing the prognosis of certain pathologies and often transforming their outcome. This has made it possible not only to keep a patient alive after acute events (e.g. cerebrovascular accidents, critical conditions linked to major traumas or road accidents) but also to ’chronicise’ certain pathologies. These reflections are within the grasp of health professionals, legal scholars, politicians and ordinary citizens. This study aims to explore health professionals knowledge on terms pertaining to “end of life”, that are often used improperly and interchangeably. It also offers an overview of the degree of knowledge and attitudes of health professionals and students of Medicine and Surgery and of the classes of the health professions, through a cognitive survey carried out by means of a digitalized survey on a Google platform administered by e-mail through the Order of Surgeons and Dentists of Salerno, Naples and Caserta, the Professional Order of Nurses of Naples and the student associations. The results point to the need for end-of-life organic legislation and for the implementation of training and continuing education programmes. It is desirable for the widest possible sample to take part in the survey in order to obtain more meaningful statistical information.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49913,"journal":{"name":"Legal Medicine","volume":"71 ","pages":"Article 102542"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2024-10-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142511970","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}
Pub Date : 2024-10-20DOI: 10.1016/j.legalmed.2024.102543
Hisham Zein-Elabdin , Maha Abd Al Hamied Ghanem
This article presents two cases of fatal injuries from rifled weapons with unconventional shapes of inlets and exits mismatched with the distance of firing. According to forensic literature, in long-distance ranges, we expected to see rounded entry wounds smaller than bullet size, circular in shape without associates with limited damage in the tissues. In the first case, there were large wounds which did not match a distance of more than 2 m, while in the second case, the distance was more than 30 m with large wounds 21 × 10 cm and massive damage to bones and lungs. In the first case, a 25-year-old male, he had multiple wounds in the front of the chest, the first one over the sternum end measuring 9 × 7 cm rounded in shape with fracture of the ribs, sternum and lung laceration. The second wound was 3 × 5 cm in the lateral aspect – mid axillary line and it was superficial due to tangential passage of the missile. In the left thigh, two inlets, each approximately 5 × 7 cm, were seen, the first one over the left iliac bone rounded and the second inlet was in the midshaft of the femur. The exit was below the left gluteus, rounded in shape 5 × 7 cm. The second case a 19-year-old male, he showed single oval wound in the middle third of the back, and it measured 21 × 10 cm. The missile passed tangentially and led to broken ribs and the vertebral column with a lung laceration.
{"title":"Unusual pattern of firearm injury to trunk and limbs: Two case reports and review","authors":"Hisham Zein-Elabdin , Maha Abd Al Hamied Ghanem","doi":"10.1016/j.legalmed.2024.102543","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.legalmed.2024.102543","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This article presents two cases of fatal injuries from rifled weapons with unconventional shapes of inlets and exits mismatched with the distance of firing. According to forensic literature, in long-distance ranges, we expected to see rounded entry wounds smaller than bullet size, circular in shape without associates with limited damage in the tissues. In the first case, there were large wounds which did not match a distance of more than 2 m, while in the second case, the distance was more than 30 m with large wounds 21 × 10 cm and massive damage to bones and lungs. In the first case, a 25-year-old male, he had multiple wounds in the front of the chest, the first one over the sternum end measuring 9 × 7 cm rounded in shape with fracture of the ribs, sternum and lung laceration. The second wound was 3 × 5 cm in the lateral aspect – mid axillary line and it was superficial due to tangential passage of the missile. In the left thigh, two inlets, each approximately 5 × 7 cm, were seen, the first one over the left iliac bone rounded and the second inlet was in the midshaft of the femur. The exit was below the left gluteus, rounded in shape 5 × 7 cm. The second case a 19-year-old male, he showed single oval wound in the middle third of the back, and it measured 21 × 10 cm. The missile passed tangentially and led to broken ribs and the vertebral column with a lung laceration.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49913,"journal":{"name":"Legal Medicine","volume":"71 ","pages":"Article 102543"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2024-10-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142537490","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}
Forensic entomology, the study of insects and arthropods in criminal investigations, is crucial for estimating postmortem intervals, determining changes in corpse positioning, and identifying causes of death. This study analyzes global research trends in forensic entomology using data from the Scopus database spanning 1970 to 2024, with data visualized through VOSviewer. A total of 2,261 articles were identified, with an average productivity of 42 papers per year. The leading countries in forensic entomology research are the United States (n = 444), Brazil (n = 266), China (n = 198), the United Kingdom (n = 194), and Germany (n = 156). Current hot topics in the field include pupae, feeding behavior, beetles, and genetics. These findings underscore the ongoing interest and advancements in forensic entomology, highlighting its significance and diverse applications in criminal investigations.
{"title":"Research trends on forensic entomology for five decades worldwide","authors":"Idha Arfianti Wiraagni , Melodia Rezadhini , Jajar Setiawan , Fajar Sofyantoro , Dwi Sendi Priyono , Nur Indah Septriani , Dyah Aryani Perwitasari","doi":"10.1016/j.legalmed.2024.102539","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.legalmed.2024.102539","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Forensic entomology, the study of insects and arthropods in criminal investigations, is crucial for estimating postmortem intervals, determining changes in corpse positioning, and identifying causes of death. This study analyzes global research trends in forensic entomology using data from the Scopus database spanning 1970 to 2024, with data visualized through VOSviewer. A total of 2,261 articles were identified, with an average productivity of 42 papers per year. The leading countries in forensic entomology research are the United States (n = 444), Brazil (n = 266), China (n = 198), the United Kingdom (n = 194), and Germany (n = 156). Current hot topics in the field include pupae, feeding behavior, beetles, and genetics. These findings underscore the ongoing interest and advancements in forensic entomology, highlighting its significance and diverse applications in criminal investigations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49913,"journal":{"name":"Legal Medicine","volume":"71 ","pages":"Article 102539"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2024-10-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142479191","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}
Pub Date : 2024-10-13DOI: 10.1016/j.legalmed.2024.102541
Yinghui Wang, Jiangfeng Wang, Chengtao Kang, Gengwang Hu, Yi Guo, Yu Wang
In forensic entomology, the time-related growth and development of carrion insects allows for the estimation of the minimum postmortem interval (PMImin). Piophila megastigmata (Diptera: Piophilidae) is of great significance in estimating PMImin in the late stage of corpse decay. In this paper, the development of P. megastigmata was investigated under the seven constant temperatures of 16–34 °C. The total development time at each temperature was 970.38, 824.50, 593.13, 498.25, 392.00, 385.63 and 405.87 h, respectively. The isomorphen diagram shows the trend of development during different developmental stages at different temperatures. By using a revised linear regression model, the estimated lower lethal developmental thresholds (TL) and thermal summation constant (K) were found to be 10.57 °C and 6936.78 degree hours, respectively. According to a nonlinear model, the TL, upper lethal developmental thresholds (TH), and intrinsic optimum temperature (TΦ) were determined to be 7.53, 34.68, and20.43 °C, respectively. Also, logistic function and an isomegalen diagram were constructed according to the continuous changes in larval body length, and illustrates the time required to develop to a certain length at different temperatures. The obtained results offer crucial fundamental developmental information regarding P. megastigmata, which can be applied in PMImin estimation.
{"title":"Development of Piophila megastigmata (Diptera: Piophilida) at seven constant temperatures","authors":"Yinghui Wang, Jiangfeng Wang, Chengtao Kang, Gengwang Hu, Yi Guo, Yu Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.legalmed.2024.102541","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.legalmed.2024.102541","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In forensic entomology, the time-related growth and development of carrion insects allows for the estimation of the minimum postmortem interval (PMI<sub>min</sub>). <em>Piophila megastigmata</em> (Diptera: Piophilidae) is of great significance in estimating PMI<sub>min</sub> in the late stage of corpse decay. In this paper, the development of <em>P. megastigmata</em> was investigated under the seven constant temperatures of 16–34 °C. The total development time at each temperature was 970.38, 824.50, 593.13, 498.25, 392.00, 385.63 and 405.87 h, respectively. The isomorphen diagram shows the trend of development during different developmental stages at different temperatures. By using a revised linear regression model, the estimated lower lethal developmental thresholds (T<sub>L</sub>) and thermal summation constant (K) were found to be 10.57 °C and 6936.78 degree hours, respectively. According to a nonlinear model, the T<sub>L</sub>, upper lethal developmental thresholds (T<sub>H</sub>), and intrinsic optimum temperature (T<sub>Φ</sub>) were determined to be 7.53, 34.68, and20.43 °C, respectively. Also, logistic function and an isomegalen diagram were constructed according to the continuous changes in larval body length, and illustrates the time required to develop to a certain length at different temperatures. The obtained results offer crucial fundamental developmental information regarding <em>P. megastigmata</em>, which can be applied in PMI<sub>min</sub> estimation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49913,"journal":{"name":"Legal Medicine","volume":"71 ","pages":"Article 102541"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2024-10-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142446080","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}
Pub Date : 2024-10-13DOI: 10.1016/j.legalmed.2024.102538
Cindy Maki Sato , Victor Jacometti , Dimitrius Leonardo Pitol , Karina Fittipaldi Bombonato-Prado , Ricardo Henrique Alves da Silva , João Paulo Mardegan Issa
Postmortem interval (PMI) estimates the time since death. Teeth are perennial elements capable of remaining intact in taphonomic environmental circumstances. The objective was to evaluate the feasibility of estimating the minimum postmortem interval (PMImin) through histological analyses of dental tissues exposed to burial and drowning conditions, simulating common scenarios in forensic practice. A total of n = 99 teeth were analyzed and divided into four groups: control (T0), one month (T1), three months (T2), and six months (T3). The control sample comprised 10 teeth, while T1, T2 e T3 were divided into three different subgroups: controlled environment, buried, and drowned. For each subgroup, ten samples were used. Following exposure to taphonomic conditions, the specimens were processed, and histological sections were obtained. The two-way ANOVA test and the Tukey’s post-hoc test were employed for the quantitative analysis of dentin collagen fibrils, revealing statistically significant differences (α = 5 %). This allowed for the estimation of the PMImin at three months by observing pixel counts exceeding 13e+05 in drowned teeth and greater than 8e+05 in buried teeth. Qualitative analysis revealed that the PMImin of drowned teeth was estimated at one month due to the absence of the periodontal ligament (PDL) and at six months due to the absence of predentin and partial degradation of the cementum. For buried teeth, the three-month PMImin was indicated by the absence of PDL and partial cementum degradation. The absence of pulp and remnants of predentin characterized the six-month PMImin. Qualitative and quantitative histological characteristics and parameters are potential to estimate PMImin in forensic scenarios spanning up to six months.
{"title":"Challenges of the minimum postmortem interval (PMImin) estimation in forensic scenarios: Is dental histology an alternative?","authors":"Cindy Maki Sato , Victor Jacometti , Dimitrius Leonardo Pitol , Karina Fittipaldi Bombonato-Prado , Ricardo Henrique Alves da Silva , João Paulo Mardegan Issa","doi":"10.1016/j.legalmed.2024.102538","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.legalmed.2024.102538","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Postmortem interval (PMI) estimates the time since death. Teeth are perennial elements capable of remaining intact in taphonomic environmental circumstances. The objective was to evaluate the feasibility of estimating the minimum postmortem interval (PMI<sub>min</sub>) through histological analyses of dental tissues exposed to burial and drowning conditions, simulating common scenarios in forensic practice. A total of n = 99 teeth were analyzed and divided into four groups: control (T0), one month (T1), three months (T2), and six months (T3). The control sample comprised 10 teeth, while T1, T2 e T3 were divided into three different subgroups: controlled environment, buried, and drowned. For each subgroup, ten samples were used. Following exposure to taphonomic conditions, the specimens were processed, and histological sections were obtained. The two-way ANOVA test and the Tukey’s post-hoc test were employed for the quantitative analysis of dentin collagen fibrils, revealing statistically significant differences (α = 5 %). This allowed for the estimation of the PMI<sub>min</sub> at three months by observing pixel counts exceeding 13e+05 in drowned teeth and greater than 8e+05 in buried teeth. Qualitative analysis revealed that the PMI<sub>min</sub> of drowned teeth was estimated at one month due to the absence of the periodontal ligament (PDL) and at six months due to the absence of predentin and partial degradation of the cementum. For buried teeth, the three-month PMI<sub>min</sub> was indicated by the absence of PDL and partial cementum degradation. The absence of pulp and remnants of predentin characterized the six-month PMI<sub>min</sub>. Qualitative and quantitative histological characteristics and parameters are potential to estimate PMI<sub>min</sub> in forensic scenarios spanning up to six months.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49913,"journal":{"name":"Legal Medicine","volume":"71 ","pages":"Article 102538"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2024-10-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142479190","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}
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