The wounding potential of assault rifles: analysis of the dimensions of entrance and exit wounds and comparison with conventional handguns. A multicentric study
AbstractThe appearance of a  gunshot wound (GSW) is greatly influenced by the velocity of the projectile, where high-velocity projectiles (HVPs) are defined as ballistic agents reaching a muzzle velocity of >  600 m/s fired from assault rifles. The aim of the study is to present and explain the differences in the dimensions of entrance and exit wounds between the most used handguns and assault rifles and to propose a predictor of HVP, i.e., the ratio of exit and entrance wounds (EX/ENR). The surface ar ea of entrance and exit GSWs and the EX/ENR were calculated. 66 perforating GSWs produced by NATO FMJ 7.62 ×...
Source: Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology - December 26, 2023 Category: Forensic Medicine Source Type: research

Stepping towards pollen DNA metabarcoding: A breakthrough in forensic sciences
AbstractThis review is engaged in determining the capability of plant pollen as a significant source of evidence for the linkage between suspects and crime location in forensic sciences. Research and review articles were collected from Google Scholar, the Web of Science, and PubMed. Articles were searched using specific keywords such as “Forensic Palynology,” “Pollen metabarcoding,” “Plant forensics,” and “Pollen” AND “criminal investigation.” Boolean logic was also utilized to narrow the articles to be included in this review article. Through the literature and exploratory research, it has been observe...
Source: Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology - December 26, 2023 Category: Forensic Medicine Source Type: research

Accidental fatal poisoning in a child due to ingestion of Nerium oleander leaf
AbstractNerium oleander is an ornamental plant that belongs to the family Apocynaceae. It contains a cardiac glycoside named oleandrin, which is present in all parts of the oleander plant. Suicidal and medication-related deaths due toNerium oleander poisoning are not uncommon. However, accidental deaths due to oleander leaf ingestion are most commonly encountered. We are reporting a case of an accidental ingestion ofNerium oleander leaf in a child by mistaking it for a guava leaf. The child presented to the casualty with vomiting, poor sensorium, hypotension, and shock. The child developed hyperkalemia, acute kidney injury...
Source: Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology - December 22, 2023 Category: Forensic Medicine Source Type: research

The role of pathologists in increasing knowledge of safe sleep practices for infants
AbstractRecent studies have evaluated parental knowledge of safe sleeping practices for their infants by using follow-up questionnaires at postnatal obstetric clinic visits. While many parents increase their knowledge of the key features of safe sleeping during antenatal visits, a significant number subsequently fail to adhere to guidelines. An additional way to assess parental understanding of safe and unsafe sleeping practices may be to incorporate information from pathological evaluations of infants who do not survive. Specifically, information from careful investigations of death scenes and meticulous autopsy examinati...
Source: Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology - December 22, 2023 Category: Forensic Medicine Source Type: research

Accidental fatal poisoning in a child due to ingestion of Nerium oleander leaf
AbstractNerium oleander is an ornamental plant that belongs to the family Apocynaceae. It contains a cardiac glycoside named oleandrin, which is present in all parts of the oleander plant. Suicidal and medication-related deaths due toNerium oleander poisoning are not uncommon. However, accidental deaths due to oleander leaf ingestion are most commonly encountered. We are reporting a case of an accidental ingestion ofNerium oleander leaf in a child by mistaking it for a guava leaf. The child presented to the casualty with vomiting, poor sensorium, hypotension, and shock. The child developed hyperkalemia, acute kidney injury...
Source: Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology - December 22, 2023 Category: Forensic Medicine Source Type: research

The role of pathologists in increasing knowledge of safe sleep practices for infants
AbstractRecent studies have evaluated parental knowledge of safe sleeping practices for their infants by using follow-up questionnaires at postnatal obstetric clinic visits. While many parents increase their knowledge of the key features of safe sleeping during antenatal visits, a significant number subsequently fail to adhere to guidelines. An additional way to assess parental understanding of safe and unsafe sleeping practices may be to incorporate information from pathological evaluations of infants who do not survive. Specifically, information from careful investigations of death scenes and meticulous autopsy examinati...
Source: Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology - December 22, 2023 Category: Forensic Medicine Source Type: research

Late-onset non-obstructive mesenteric ischemia (NOMI) resulting from delayed absorption of overdosed antihypertensive drugs: An autopsy case report
AbstractNon-obstructive mesenteric ischemia (NOMI) is caused by reduced blood flow to the intestines without physical occlusion in the mesenteric artery. Previous reports show that drug overdose occasionally induces late-onset NOMI; however, in most cases, the reason for the delayed onset is unclear. Here, we present an autopsy case of late-onset NOMI that was induced by a drug overdose. An 80-year-old man was admitted to the intensive care unit because of severe hypotension after an overdose of antihypertensive drugs. He received vasopressor therapy and continuous hemodiafiltration dialysis; however, gastrointestinal deco...
Source: Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology - December 19, 2023 Category: Forensic Medicine Source Type: research

Vehicle-assisted ligature decapitation – an unusual case report
AbstractSuicide by vehicle-assisted strangulation resulting in decapitation is a rare occurrence, characterized by a high kinetic energy mechanism that produces a clean-cut appearance in the decapitation area. Often resembling an incisive wound, this particular finding can mislead local authorities into investigating the case as a homicide. This case report describes an adult male who accelerated his vehicle after tying a nylon rope around his neck and securing it to a metallic structure on the wall. Furthermore, we conducted a brief review of cases published within the last ten years, summarizing the most prevalent findin...
Source: Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology - December 19, 2023 Category: Forensic Medicine Source Type: research

Late-onset non-obstructive mesenteric ischemia (NOMI) resulting from delayed absorption of overdosed antihypertensive drugs: An autopsy case report
AbstractNon-obstructive mesenteric ischemia (NOMI) is caused by reduced blood flow to the intestines without physical occlusion in the mesenteric artery. Previous reports show that drug overdose occasionally induces late-onset NOMI; however, in most cases, the reason for the delayed onset is unclear. Here, we present an autopsy case of late-onset NOMI that was induced by a drug overdose. An 80-year-old man was admitted to the intensive care unit because of severe hypotension after an overdose of antihypertensive drugs. He received vasopressor therapy and continuous hemodiafiltration dialysis; however, gastrointestinal deco...
Source: Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology - December 19, 2023 Category: Forensic Medicine Source Type: research

Vehicle-assisted ligature decapitation – an unusual case report
AbstractSuicide by vehicle-assisted strangulation resulting in decapitation is a rare occurrence, characterized by a high kinetic energy mechanism that produces a clean-cut appearance in the decapitation area. Often resembling an incisive wound, this particular finding can mislead local authorities into investigating the case as a homicide. This case report describes an adult male who accelerated his vehicle after tying a nylon rope around his neck and securing it to a metallic structure on the wall. Furthermore, we conducted a brief review of cases published within the last ten years, summarizing the most prevalent findin...
Source: Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology - December 19, 2023 Category: Forensic Medicine Source Type: research

A serial analysis of hydrogen sulfide poisoning: three group accidents
In this report, we describe three incidents in which 10 people died, and we present the results of the analyses performed in different incidents, including paper pulp pit, sewer, and sewage well. We provide the macroscopic and morphological findings of ten vic tims, which include conjunctival hemorrhage, corneal erosion, pulmonary edema, and pulmonary hemorrhage. Additionally, we observed large amounts of waste paper pulp or black sludge in the upper and lower respiratory tracts or upper and lower gastrointestinal tracts of six victims. Furthermore, we co nducted a toxicological examination of the victims' blood sulfide us...
Source: Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology - December 18, 2023 Category: Forensic Medicine Source Type: research

Cat and dog scavenging at indoor forensic scenes: strategies for documentation and detection
AbstractVertebrate scavenging on human remains is occasionally observed at indoor forensic scenes, especially when pets have access to the body and their deceased owners were socially distanced. Pets feeding on corpses have implications for the forensic investigation, e.g. for trauma analysis and the assessment of the cause of death, the estimation of the postmortem interval (PMI), or the recovery of the complete set of remains. Documentation of potential scavenging in forensic practice is tenuous and needs to be improved in order to be able to use the information for future casework. Investigators need to be aware of the ...
Source: Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology - December 16, 2023 Category: Forensic Medicine Source Type: research

The last jump: epidemiology of suicides at the Tour Eiffel (Paris) between 1950 and 1989
AbstractThe Eiffel Tower (Paris, France) has been attracting many candidates for suicide over the years. The aim of this study was to determine the patterns of people who committed suicide by jumping. Permission to access the unpublished records of the Paris Police Prefecture made it possible to compile press articles related to suicides from April 1950 to March 1989. 155 articles corresponding to 79 cases were kept for analysis. There were significantly more males (66%), as compared with an expected theoretical distribution of 1/2 for each sex (p = 0.002). Median age was 38.0 years old. Suicide peak was reached durin...
Source: Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology - December 12, 2023 Category: Forensic Medicine Source Type: research