Forensic science, medicine, and pathology
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Forensic Sci Med Pathol · Jan 2008
Case ReportsFatal bupropion overdose with post mortem blood concentrations.
We report five cases of fatal bupropion overdose with post mortem bupropion concentrations ranging from 3.1 to >20 mg/L. Four patients had ingested a sustained-release formulation of bupropion and had evidence of pill "bodies" in their stomach with significantly elevated blood bupropion concentrations. The pills found in these patients may represent the residual matrix/shell with significant portions of the actual bupropion released and absorbed by the patients.
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Forensic Sci Med Pathol · Jan 2008
Postmortem serum nitrogen compounds and C-reactive protein levels with special regard to investigation of fatal hyperthermia.
The present study analyzed serum levels of urea nitrogen (UN), creatinine (Cr), and C-reactive protein (CRP), which are very stable during the early postmortem period, for investigation of the cause of death with special regard to hyperthermia (heat stroke) in serial medico-legal autopsy cases (n = 429), excluding fatal injury, intoxication, and fire fatality. In this series, mechanical asphyxiation, drowning, and sudden cardiac death cases (n = 56, n = 43, and n = 212, respectively) usually showed low levels within postmortem reference ranges for these serum markers, although UN and CRP levels were mildly elevated in cases of sudden cardiac death and cerebrovascular stroke. ⋯ However, hyperthermia cases showed an isolated elevation in the serum Cr level, suggesting an influence of systemic skeletal muscle damage. These serum markers may be practically useful for postmortem investigation of death due to hyperthermia (heat stroke), for which specific pathological and toxicological evidence may not be available.
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Forensic Sci Med Pathol · Jan 2008
Historical ArticleUniversity Institute of Legal Medicine in Berlin celebrates its 175th anniversary.
The University Institute of Legal Medicine of the University Hospital Charité in Berlin is the oldest faculty in Germany. On February 11, 1833 it was founded as a "Praktische Unterrichtsanstalt für Staatsarzneikunde (Practice-oriented School of Public Health and Medicine)" at the Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität (founded in 1810) and in 1886 it received its own building in Berlin-Mitte. ⋯ Regardless of the accepted scientific achievements, the institute fell victim to the Berlin policy of austerity after 2003 leading to staff reduction and the closure of the historical location. Since the new appointment to the chair in 2007 and the junction of the subject in Berlin-Moabit there is now the chance for a new impetus of forensic medicine in the German capital.
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This study reviews firearm-related deaths (homicidal, suicidal and accidental) from 1994 to 2003 in the Western Sidney area, Australia, serviced by the Westmead Department of Forensic Medicine, in order to document the features of the cases and to assess the effect of the introduction of the NSW Firearms Act in 1996. There were 211 fatalities involving firearms (1.8% of all of the Coroner's cases for the period); firearm deaths were classified as homicide (75), suicide (134) or accidental (2). There was a clear peak of homicide deaths by firearm in the 20-29 age group, whereas the suicide peak was broad, spanning the ages 20-69 years. ⋯ Entry wounds in suicides mostly involved the head, with the chest being the commonest entry site in homicides. The only statistically significant trend was for an increase in the number of firearm-related suicides in males, comparing the number of deaths pre- and post-firearm law introduction. The study includes reports of two suicides by unusual weapons: a home-made pipe gun and a spear gun.
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Forensic Sci Med Pathol · Dec 2006
Identification and differential diagnosis of perimortem blunt force trauma in tubular long bones.
The identification of perimortem injuries from human remains is crucial in the forensic evaluation of skeletal trauma. The purpose of this article is to review the criteria currently used by forensic experts for the identification and differential diagnosis of perimortem blunt force trauma in long bones. The mechanism of injury and the associated fracture pattern in long bones is discussed because it is fundamental in the forensic interpretation. ⋯ Perimortem injuries may be distinguished from postmortem damage by examining certain attributes such as fracture angle and fracture margins. Additionally, the most commonly encountered taphonomic factors leading to postmorterm damage are described in order to alert the workers of the existence of such pitfalls that may perplex the forensic interpretation of skeletal trauma. Although the distinction of bone damage that occurred long after death from perimortem trauma is relatively easy, the differentiation of fractures inflicted shortly before death or soon after death may be difficult or even impossible.