Forensic science, medicine, and pathology
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Forensic Sci Med Pathol · Mar 2014
Cardiothoracic ratio in postmortem computed tomography: reliability and threshold for the diagnosis of cardiomegaly.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the reliability of the cardiothoracic ratio (CTR) in postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) and to assess a CTR threshold for the diagnosis of cardiomegaly based on the weight of the heart at autopsy. PMCT data of 170 deceased human adults were retrospectively evaluated by two blinded radiologists. The CTR was measured on axial computed tomography images and the actual cardiac weight was weighed at autopsy. ⋯ Changing the CTR threshold to 0.57 resulted in a minimum specificity of 95 % for all three definitions of cardiomegaly. With a CTR threshold of 0.57, cardiomegaly can be identified with a very high specificity. This may be useful if PMCT is used by forensic pathologists as a screening tool for medico-legal autopsies.
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Forensic Sci Med Pathol · Mar 2014
Case ReportsA suspected case of coronary periarteritis due to IgG4-related disease as a cause of ischemic heart disease.
IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a systemic inflammatory disease characterized by marked infiltration of IgG4-positive (+) plasma cells into affected organs, but the concept of this disease has only recently been established. Coronary vasculitis is a rare disease that can cause sudden death, and it has recently been reported that IgG4-RD may be associated with vasculitis, including periarteritis and coronary disease. ⋯ The etiology and pathophysiology of IgG4-RD and IgG4-related periarteritis are still unclear, and further investigation of these conditions and their association with coronary lesions is needed. Careful consideration should be given to the possible presence of IgG4-RD when forensic pathologists encounter cases of sudden death accompanied by coronary periarteritis.
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Forensic Sci Med Pathol · Mar 2014
Multicenter StudyTrends in less-lethal use of force techniques by police services within England and Wales: 2007-2011.
The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of, and any changes in, usage patterns of the less-lethal forms of Use of Force (UoF) modalities--incapacitant spray, impact rounds, and Taser(R)--between 2007 and 2011 by English and Welsh police services. Additional information regarding the deployment and discharge of firearms was also sought. Two thousand Freedom of Information Act applications were made to 50 police services in England and Wales and related jurisdictions requesting the provision of: (a) the total number of deployments of incapacitant sprays, Taser(R), impact (baton) rounds, and armed response units (ARU); (b) the numbers and types of any resulting medical complications; and (c) the details of any local policies requiring assessment by a healthcare professional following a deployment. ⋯ Data collection and release are variable and inconsistent throughout English and Welsh police services and thus caution is needed in determining trends of UoF techniques. Deaths or injuries inflicted using UoF techniques result in much public scrutiny and the low level of data recorded in these cases is of concern. Common systems for recording use and adverse outcomes of UoF techniques are needed to inform the public and others who have concerns about such techniques.