Journal of forensic and legal medicine
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In recent years, synthetic cannabinoids have been frequently observed in seized materials all over the world. This new generation of designer drugs, mixed with herbal substances, is also known as "Herbal Highs" or "Legal Highs". There are many articles about the history, type and pharmaco-chemical properties of synthetic cannabinoids in the literature; however the number of articles about the frequency of their detection is limited. ⋯ The number and diversity of synthetic cannabinoid compounds have increased dramatically in the drug market in recent years. New, different, potent derivatives appear on the market almost every day and this presents important problems that need to be solved by scientists and judicial authorities working to prevent their harm. These problems include the limited knowledge about their frequency, the lack of analytical data and reference standards for analysis of these new derivates, the lack of information on their toxic effects, and information about the metabolism and metabolites for toxicological analysis in human subjects.
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This study aims to determine the frequency of injuries and fatalities associated with terrorist bomb explosions in the city of Karachi from 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2011. Moreover, this study is aimed to determine age and sex vulnerability among the victims of blast explosion. ⋯ Fatalities and casualties due to explosions are increasing each year. The pattern of injuries indicates open-air bombing in Karachi. Males of the age group 15-45 years are the main victims. The forensic speciality needs to understand their role of correct certification, helpful to law enforcement agencies.
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Unnatural deaths in women of reproductive age (range 12-49 years) have a serious psychological and social impact on the family and community. Deaths among women of reproductive age reported as medico-legal cases were investigated to see the trend in terms of cause and manner of death. The study group consisted of a series of 328 consecutive forensic autopsies on women in the reproductive age group, performed between 2009 and 2011 at the Government Wenlock District Hospital, Mangalore, India by qualified specialist forensic medicine experts. ⋯ Two-thirds of the homicidal deaths were due to assault caused by blunt-force trauma, ligature strangulation and sharp-force trauma. One-third of the homicidal victims died due to burns. With a clear understanding of the cause and manner of death, it may be possible to predict, and hopefully prevent, future cases of unnatural deaths in women of reproductive age who form a very important group of society.
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Aluminium (Al) is the third most prevalent element, representing approximately 8% of total mineral components in the earth's crust (1). Chronic exposure to Al is mainly encountered at particular work places, for example, in foundries or in the Al powder industry, as an occupational exposure. In case of occupational Al exposure, inhalation is the main route of uptake. ⋯ Studies regarding the Al powder industry showed that long-term inhalative exposure to Al can induce pulmonary fibrosis (2). Although there is only one report about ventricular tachycardia as a cardiac manifestation in occupationally exposed persons (3), in this report, we presented a case that had Mobitz type I second-degree atrioventricular block and nonsustained ventricular tachycardia. To our knowledge, this is the first report in chronic poisoning.
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Immediate trauma fatality is not amenable to trauma care and primary prevention is the key. The published profiles of deaths due to trauma differ in different regions. Injury mortality rates are higher in developing countries where injury data capture systems are unreliable for prevention purposes. ⋯ Injury was a significant cause of mortality among adults of working age in this urban African setting. Intentional injuries predominate in causation of immediate but not late deaths. Local prevention programs should incorporate mortuary data to unravel further aspects of trauma and address violence as a key determinant of prehospital mortality.