Forensic science international
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Sudden deaths are common findings in Rivers state of Nigeria. The victims of such deaths are subjects, of coroners' autopsies, and the records there from constitute important sources of epidemiological data. ⋯ Homicides were by far the commonest findings of medico legal autopsies, followed by accidental and natural deaths respectively while suicides were the least in Rivers state of Nigeria. Firearms were the, most frequently used weapons for homicides and road traffic accidents remain the major causes of accidental deaths while cardiovascular system pathologies account for the highest proportion of sudden natural deaths and suicides are committed by hanging. Males within the productive age, brackets of 20-49 years are more affected by sudden deaths of all manners.
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In cases of severe decomposition or skeletonization of a corpse after cerebral gun shot injury it is difficult to exactly reconstruct the bullet path in the brain. However, in case of murder or homicide this might become necessary to answer forensic questions such as the ability to move or other actions of the victim. ⋯ The findings suggest that this method can successfully be applied to adequately reconstruct bullet paths in cases of completely skeletonized skulls, but should carefully be used in cases of incomplete skulls.
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The value of post-mortem CT in neonaticide in case of severe decomposition: description of 12 cases.
In cases of neonaticide with delayed finding of the body, interpretation of autopsy results can be difficult because of decomposition. Postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) has become an increasingly popular tool in the (pediatric) forensic field. We performed a retrospective study to compare the outcome of PMCT with autopsy results in suspected neonaticide, in neonates found more than one week after their demise. We compared the performance of both methods on (1) determining gestational age, (2) differentiating between live birth and still birth and (3) determining cause of death. ⋯ PMCT is a better tool for estimating gestational age in case of suspected neonaticide with late postmortem changes compared to autopsy and should therefore be a standard part of the work-up. Signs of live birth and cause of death could not be determined with neither of the methods, an adjusted post mortem examination including limited autopsy for these cases might be developed.
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Although electrolyte analysis of pleural effusion at autopsy is useful for the diagnosis of water aspiration (i.e., drowning), the method of comparing each level of sodium (Na(+)), potassium (K(+)), and chloride (Cl(-)) ions does not clearly differentiate between freshwater drowning, seawater drowning, and non-drowning. Therefore, here we introduce the summation of Na(+), K(+), and Cl(-) levels, that is SUM(Na+K+Cl), as a modified diagnostic indicator. In 21 autopsy cases of freshwater drowning, 32 cases of seawater drowning, and 43 non-drowning controls (with pleural effusion), mean SUM(Na+K+Cl) differed significantly between the groups (188.8±33.2, 403.5±107.9, and 239.3±21.7 mEq/L, respectively). ⋯ For an additional 15 bathtub deaths, mean SUM(Na+K+Cl) was 198.8±40.0 mEq/L, and in 14 of these cases (93%) the relationship between cause of death and SUM(Na+K+Cl) could be explained using this method. Forensic pathologists should not depend exclusively on chemical findings and should consider also typical pathological indicators of drowning. This new method may be useful as a supplementary diagnostic tool when used alongside consideration of the pathological findings.
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New designer drugs such as K2, Spice, and "bath salts" present a formidable challenge for law enforcement and public health officials. The following report summarizes a three-year study of 1320 law enforcement cases involving over 3000 products described as vegetable material, powders, capsules, tablets, blotter paper, or drug paraphernalia. All items were seized in Arkansas from January 2010 through December 2012 and submitted to the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory for analysis. ⋯ The designer stimulants methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV), 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylcathinone (methylone), and α-methylamino-valerophenone (pentedrone) were commonly detected in tablets, capsules, and powders. Hallucinogenic drugs were rarely detected, but generally found on blotter paper products. Emerging designer drug products remain a significant problem and continued surveillance is needed to protect public health.