Forensic science international
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We analysed deaths certified as due to poisoning in England & Wales, 1968-2000, in children aged <10 years by age, sex, circumstances of death, intent, and agents involved. The number of deaths fell from 165 (20.6 per million children) in 1968 to 30 (4.6 per million) in 2000, a decrease of approximately 80%. The age-specific death rates were similar in boys and girls. ⋯ Overall, 10% of these deaths were either certified as homicides or open verdicts. However, homicide or open verdict was recorded in half of the 47 fatal opiate poisonings. Opioids have now superseded antidepressants as the commonest agents encountered in fatal poisoning with drugs in children.
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The authors have reviewed medico-legal opinions relating to 3690 autopsy cases of homicides. Forensic analysis of all these cases showed a gradual increase in the number of homicides, especially those resulting from beating or using fire-arms. A great number of homicides with incised or stab wounds was also observed.
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Ecstasy is a psychostimulative drug (ab)used mostly by teenagers and young adults in discotheques and on the "rave" parties. Older adults ecstasy abusing cases are very rare. ⋯ Because of the increasing popularity of MDMA, it is important for all emergency physicians to be well educated in prompt recognition of MDMA intoxication symptoms. It is important that emergency physician carefully examines the death scene.
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The aim of this study is to analyze the fatalities due to suicide in the period of 1991-2000. The autopsy reports of 719 suicide cases during that period of the Department of Forensic Medicine, University of Szeged were reviewed retrospectively. The victim's age, sex, way of commitment, place of death, the presence of alcohol and drug influence and survival time were recorded. ⋯ The most frequent way of committal was hanging (46%). The results revealed that 38.8% of the 474 victims whose blood and/or urine alcohol concentration measurement were carried out consumed alcohol prior to the act. The presence of licit drugs in 12% of not drug-related cases were experienced.
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Reconstruction of brain injuries is a basic task of forensic neuropathology. For better understanding of the wound ballistics of gunshot injuries to the brain caused by low-velocity firearms (E(o) < 550 J), we reviewed the respective contributions of: (1) biomechanical reconstruction by postmortem imaging techniques, (2) biometry of the extent of very early microscopic tissue destruction, and (3) microscopic studies on the type and extent of early microscopic reactions around the permanent missile track. ⋯ (1) Imaging procedures provided valuable information on entrance and exit wounds, the missile track and secondary changes. (2) Biometry revealed a destruction zone of ca. 3.6 cm around the permanent track corresponding to the "temporary cavity". (3) Microscopic studies of reactive changes demonstrated axonal injury at sites remote from the permanent cavity that could explain the very early respiratory arrest following low-velocity gunshot injury.