Forensic science international
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This paper presents some of the more commonly encountered non-metric traits and minor anatomical variants in the adult human skeleton that can mimic or be mistaken for trauma. Distinguishing non-metric traits is contingent upon both a knowledge of potential non-metric traits as well as the normal developmental timing, location, and anatomy of maturational markers in the human skeleton. Distinguishing non-metric traits from trauma in dry bone is an essential component in establishing an accurate and thorough forensic analysis of human remains, especially as it deals with antemortem and perimortem trauma, and postmortem damage.
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This chapter employs the fracture assessment triad, a systematic analytical approach, as a vehicle to explore the components used to interpret gunshot trauma to the cranium. First, a list of pertinent observations associated with gunshot trauma to the cranium is presented with a brief description of each. These features include entrance and exit wound defect morphology, keyhole defect, gutter defect, radiating fractures, concentric fractures, bone plugs, and associated foreign material, debris and residue. ⋯ The greater amount of kinetic energy conveyed, the larger the temporary cavity and the greater the potential for destruction. When interpreting gunshot trauma, precision is enhanced by the analyst's familiarity with firearms and ammunition, facilitating determination of firearm type (rifle/handgun or shotgun), bullet direction, range, sequence of fire, and potentially, speculations as to bullet velocity, mass and design. Neither caliber nor gauge can be determined from the entrance defect size, but elimination of certain calibers or gauges may be possible.
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Case Reports
Toxicological investigations in a fatal and non-fatal accident due to hydrogen sulphide (H2S) poisoning.
Hydrogen sulphide (H2S) is one of the most toxic natural gas and represents a not rare cause of fatal events in workplaces. We report here a serious accidental poisoning by hydrogen sulphide inhalation involving six sailors. ⋯ Given that blood and/or urine H2S detection does not allow to discriminate if it is related to inhalation or to putrefactive processes, the determination of thiosulphate, H2S main metabolite, is decisive. The succession of fatal events reported here can be rebuilt by toxicological data interpretation: the subject 1 died after a longer interval of time as demonstrated by the highest blood and urine thiosulfate concentrations; the subject 2 died after a short interval of time as showed by a lower blood and urine thiosulfate concentrations than subject 1; the subject 3 died almost immediately after H2S inhalation since he showed the lowest blood thiosulfate concentration, and no trace of sulphide and thiosulfate was found in the urine.
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U-47,700 is a synthetic opioid that emerged on the novel psychoactive substance market a few years ago. After incorporating the substance into the urine UPLC-TOF-MS screening used in post-mortem toxicology, the drug was detected in 10 autopsy cases within routine case work. In all cases, the cause of death was accidental poisoning by U-47,700 alone or in combination with other psychoactive substances. ⋯ The toxic lifespan of U-47,700 thus lasted for approximately 2 years in Finland. Forensic and clinical laboratories need to rapidly adjust their screening procedures in order to adapt to the continuously expanding field of novel psychoactive substances. Retrospective data-analysis is a practical tool for monitoring the emergence of new substances onto the market.
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In 2017, 47,600 overdose deaths were reported to be associated with the abuse of opioids, including prescription painkillers (e.g. oxycodone), opiates (e.g. heroin), or synthetic opioids (e.g. fentanyl) within the United States. The recent spike in the presence of synthetic opioids in lots of heroin distributed on the street present specific and significant challenges to law enforcement. Synthetic opioids are extremely toxic substances, which can easily be inhaled. ⋯ In this study, we addressed this technology gap by evaluating newly developed lateral flow immunoassays (LFIs) designed for the detection of fentanyl and its derivatives. These LFIs were evaluated for effectiveness in different biofluid matrices, following an in vivo exposure, cross-reactivity with fentanyl analogs, and in case samples. This study demonstrates that LFIs have the potential to be used by law enforcement for the detection of synthetic opioids.