Forensic science international
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Differentiation between external contamination and incorporation of drugs or their metabolites from inside the body via blood, sweat or sebum is a general issue in hair analysis and of high concern when interpreting analytical results. In hair analysis for cannabinoids the most common target is Delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), sometimes cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabinol (CBN) are determined additionally. After repeated external contamination by cannabis smoke these analytes are known to be found in hair even after performing multiple washing steps. ⋯ Elevated temperatures during the analytical procedure, particularly under alkaline conditions, can lead to decarboxylation of THCA A and accordingly increase THC concentrations in hair. Additionally, it has to be kept in mind that in hair samples tested positive for THCA A at least a part of the 'non-artefact' THC probably derives from external contamination as well, because in condensate of cannabis smoke both THC and THCA A are present in relevant amounts. External contamination by side stream smoke could therefore explain the great differences in THC and THC-COOH hair concentrations commonly found in cannabis users.
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This is a report of a case in which, for the first time, direct lightning strike had caused burn injuries associated with internal soft-tissue bruising and visceral injury subjacent to lac jewellery on the chest. The burn injury depicted a symmetrical pattern, which was almost 5 times larger than the size of the jewellery. Surprisingly, there was bruising of soft tissue beneath the burn, associated with extravasation of blood in anterior mediastinum, contusion of anterior border of lungs, contusion to heart and rent by burn to the blouse of the victim over the front and back, all in one line, showing very unusual injury of lightning strike.
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Postmortem diagnosis of neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) is difficult to perform, because the clinical symptoms just before death are not usually available. Malignant hyperthermia (MH) is a catastrophic, life-threatening hypermetabolic syndrome triggered by certain anesthetics. Ryanodine receptor type 1 (RYR1) gene mutations are known to be involved in susceptibility to MH. ⋯ The other mutation was novel, and was not found in the same control alleles. The results of this study provide the first successful identification of RYR1 mutations in psychiatric patients suspected at autopsy of having died of NMS. However, the association between RYR1 gene mutations and cause of death in psychiatric patients suspected of dying of NMS remains unclear.
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Blank firing weapons are designed only for discharging blank ammunition cartridges. Because they are cost-effective, are easily accessible and can be modified to live firearms plus their unclear legal situation in Turkish Law makes them very popular in Turkey. 2004 through 2008, a total of 1115 modified blank weapons were seized in Turkey. Blank firing weapons are easily modified by owners, making them suitable for discharging live firearm ammunition or modified blank ammunitions. ⋯ And the penetration depth of skin simulant and 100% cotton police shirt coated model was 5.870 cm for lead projectile; 8.440 cm for steel projectile. According to penetration results, national and international legislations and production standards should be re-evaluated in order to prevent the modification of blank weapons and ammunitions. There are three methods for preventing modification of blank weapons: completely closed barrel structure; intersected restrain pieces application; eccentric barrel structure.
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In recent years, skeletal age determination has become increasingly important in criminal investigations for determining the age of living individuals. To increase diagnostic accuracy, a physical examination, an X-ray examination of the left hand, as well as a dental examination including the determination of the dental status and an X-ray of the dentition should always be performed. ⋯ A statistical analysis of the results of dental and skeletal age estimations was performed as well as an analysis between the reported and assessed ages. The results showed a significant difference between reported age and assessed biological age (p<0.001); however, no statistical difference was shown between skeletal and assessed dental age (p=0.431).