Forensic science international
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In this report we describe a first suicide case in Serbia related to ingestion of Taxus baccata leaves. A 30-year old woman was found dead, and the green plant material in a plastic bag was found near her bed. ⋯ Using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), 3,5-dimethoxyphenol (3,5-DMP) as toxicological evidence for the ingestion of yew leaves, was detected in biological samples. As the autopsy showed unspecific findings, and also the routine toxicological examination, based upon 3,5-DMP identification, the cause of death was determined to be suicide, caused by yew poisoning.
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Observational Study
Male sexual assaults in the Paris, France area: An observational study over 8 years.
Male sexual assaults were long ignored, possibly because of the myth acceptance that a man can only be the perpetrator of sexual assaults. It is increasingly admitted that all males can be victims of rape. We described the characteristics of a series of male adolescent and adult victims of sexual assault who had a forensic medical examination. ⋯ Male victims of sexual assault experienced high level of psychological trauma and felt more ashamed than women, which suggests that sexual assaults should be considered as severe among men as among women.
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Trajectory deflections of pistol bullets from four different firearms, fired through soft tissue simulants under two different incidence and exit angles were studied. The data from this study can be used in reconstructions of shooting incidents where human soft tissues (not bones) were perforated with pistol bullets and assumptions must be made about bullet deflection in order to correctly reconstruct trajectories. ⋯ With channel lengths of 15, 20 and 25cm, there was a clear increase in deflection and/or a more erratic deflection behaviour with most shots. The data also suggest an influence of the angle of incidence and/or exit on both the direction and the magnitude of the deflection.
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Serum mast cell tryptase is used to support the diagnosis of anaphylaxis. The recommended clinical cut-off for total tryptase (<11.4μg/L) appears unsuitable in the post mortem setting due to largely unknown processes which result in significantly elevated levels in these samples. Consequently there is no widely accepted tryptase cut-off level for diagnosing an anaphylactic death. ⋯ Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis identified an optimal cut-off of 53.8μg/L, with sensitivity of 89%, and specificity of 93%, for total post mortem tryptase in femoral blood to diagnosis anaphylaxis. No other factors showed any statistical significant contribution to post mortem tryptase elevation. Femoral total post mortem tryptase level of 53.8μg/L and above is a useful ancillary test in diagnosing an anaphylactic death.
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Comparative Study
Differences in combinations and concentrations of drugs of abuse in fatal intoxication and driving under the influence cases.
In toxicology, international classification systems focus on single intoxicants as the cause of death. It is, however, well known that very few drug related deaths are caused by a single substance and that information concerning the drug concentrations as well as the combinations of drugs are essential in order to ascertain the cause of death. The aim of the study was to assess whether those prone to fatal intoxications differ significantly from chronic drug users - in terms of demographics and drug exposure patterns. ⋯ The total load of drugs influence the degree of intoxication and the total concentration level must be considered, including the total number of substances. Our findings imply that international statistics regarding an opioid being the main intoxicant should have a shift in focus towards combinations of drugs (especially opioids and benzodiazepines) as a major risk factor for fatal drug overdoses.