摘要:

Between 1993 and 1995, 14 suicidal terrorist bombings took place in Israel; 86 victims perished in these attacks, which were carried out by militant Palestinian organizations that oppose peace treaties between the state of Israel and the Palestinian people. The modus operandi of the perpetrators was detonating, in a public area, an explosive device carried on or in close proximity to the terrorist's body. We reviewed the postmortem examinations and identification procedures performed by the medical and law enforcement personnel involved in mass disaster management. The types of injuries sustained by the victims and perpetrators include body disruption, explosive injuries, flying missile injuries, and blast injuries. Blunt trauma directly produced by the explosion and flying missile injuries account for 80.1% of the wounds. The number of fatalities was more closely related to the type of the attack rather than to the amount and type of explosives used. Swift identification of all victims and perpetrators was obtained through collaboration between the different professional teams involved: forensic scientists, law enforcement agencies, and secret service investigators. Based on the analysis of the data obtained from the necroscopic examinations, we observed that most of the wounds sustained fall within the realm of blunt force injuries; emergency medical facilities that might be faced with similar situations should prepare accordingly. Collaboration between the various forensic and law enforcement teams results in swift resolution of disaster management. Prompt identification of the perpetrators allows the authorities to apprehend any accomplices and to prevent similar attacks.

ISSN:0195-7910    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1998

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

Approximately 42 years ago, the Berg acid phosphatase (AP) test(1)was accepted in most rape treatment centers nationally as the standard to determine whether sexual intercourse or related actions in any form had occurred. More specifically, the test was designed to determine the presence of a certain enzyme. In October 1969, I published an article making the test simpler(2)and reviewing the history of various tests for the detection of AP, an enzyme found in great abundance in seminal fluid. Both AP-impregnated material and refrigerated reagents had been saved along with a quantity of seminal fluid used in the original tests. The objectives of this study were to determine whether 25-year-old seminal fluid in any form can still be identified by the AP test and whether 25-year-old chemicals have remained stable and are still usable.

ISSN:0195-7910    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1998

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

A 32-year old man, apparently asymptomatic, was found dead in his apartment. Autopsy revealed a large necrotic mediastinal mass with liver and occipital brain metastases, the latter having produced acute intraparenchymal and intraventricular hemorrhage with cerebellar tonsillar herniation. Histologically, the mediastinal mass and metastases were consistent with immature extragonadal teratoma, with malignant transformation of the intestinal-type epithelium. Undiagnosed neoplasms as causes of sudden death are quite rare and usually reported in older age groups; however, in one study of autopsies in a 25-to 46-year-old age group, a significant 3.2% was reported. Germ cell tumors of the mediastinum are the most common extragonadal primary site, accounting for ∼50%-70% of extragonadal germ cell tumors (EGCTs) and primarily affecting 20- to 35-year-old men. EGCTs are usually symptomatic at the time of diagnosis, although a large proportion may be asymptomatic. This case represents one the few reported cases of sudden death as a result of mediastinal EGCT; it also demonstrates the natural course of this disease and underscores the importance of medicolegal autopsies in cases of sudden death.

ISSN:0195-7910    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1998

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

In a previous study, increased weight of the adrenal glands was found in a small group of persons who committed violent suicides. This finding was confirmed in our study, which comprised a group of 42 suicide cases and 37 control cases. Further analysis with special consideration toward a "relative adrenal weight" (weight/body surface) revealed that a relative combined adrenal weight >6 g/m2may be a morphologic sign of a depressive disorder prior to death if no other disease with a known effect on the adrenals is present. These results are consistent with clinical computed tomographic findings of enlarged adrenals in depressed patients. In all suicide cases the police records were reviewed and a postmortem psychiatric diagnosis conducted to investigate whether a correlation between adrenal weight and the "severity" of depression or type of psychiatric disorder exists. In thirteen cases, psychiatric treatment prior to death was known, and a postmortem severity score of depressive disease was formed. No influence of this score or the postmortem diagnosis on the adrenal weight, however, could be detected. Also, the increase in weight of adrenal glands could not be explained by a suspected or proven preceding drug therapy or use. The effect on the pituitary-adrenal-axis by depressive disorders and changes in serotonin metabolism have been investigated repeatedly; mainly reported are increased levels of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) in the depressive interval, which may lead to a growth of the adrenal glands.

ISSN:0195-7910    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1998

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

Age was estimated from pink teeth using racemization of dentinal aspartic acid. Materials for identification were two lower second premolars. The body was determined to be that of a 40-year-old man; however, the age of the decedent had been estimated to be 29 and 30 years by the conventional method and 30 years from findings in the oral cavity. To clarify the cause of this difference, the powdered teeth were further washed in 0.01 mol/L hydrochloric acid. The racemization ratio (D/L ratio) of ordinary white teeth from persons of known age was slightly lower than that before washing, whereas that of the teeth used for identification was higher than before washing. The calculated age of the decedent using the racemization ratio of his teeth was between 36 and 37 years. These results suggest that age estimated from pink teeth is probably underestimated, but a more accurate age estimate can be obtained after adequate washing.

ISSN:0195-7910    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1998

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

Accelerants in the blood of 73 cadavers found in wreckage after fire were analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) and a combination of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to decide whether accelerants containing petroleum components had been used and whether the cadavers had been exposed to fire before or after death. In 16 of 26 cases in which accelerants were used to start a fire before death, accelerants were detected in the blood. In 7 cases in which accelerants were used to start a fire, the victims were determined to have been exposed to the vapor of accelerants after death because no accelerants were detected in the blood, no soot was found in the airways, and carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) concentrations were not higher than those found in smokers. In 9 of 34 cases in which accelerants were suspected to have been used to start a fire before death, accelerants were detected in the blood. When soot is not detectable by the unaided eye in the airways of a victim found in debris of a fire in which the use of accelerants is suspected, or the COHb concentration in the blood is no higher than in a smoker, analysis of accelerants in the blood seems to be helpful in determining the cause of death and whether inflammable were used.

ISSN:0195-7910    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1998

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

Certain methods of homicide used by the Italian Mafia are intended to have an admonitory significance. One such method is the so-called "incaprettamento." This study analyzes 18 cases of homicidal ligature strangulation in which the body was found in this typical position. The circumstances of the crime and the macroscopic and microscopic evidence were evaluated to determine whether or not the ligatures on the wrists and ankles were placed antemortem or postmortem.

ISSN:0195-7910    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1998

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

Natural disease processes can predispose individuals to develop external body lesions that mimic traumatic injury. This can be particularly problematic in pediatric cases in which clinicians are alerted to the problems of child abuse. Streptococcal toxic shock syndrome is a systemic infectious illness that can manifest itself with erythematous and necrotizing skin lesions. We report a fatal case of streptococcal toxic shock syndrome in a 4-year-old girl who presented with skin lesions that were initially thought to be traumatic in origin. A report of possible child abuse was filed with the state. Based on the morphologic findings and bacteriologic culture results at autopsy, these lesions and the cause of death in this case were instead determined to result from streptococcal toxic shock syndrome.

ISSN:0195-7910    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1998

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

The case is presented of a 34-year-old man, an insulin-dependent diabetic, who was found decomposed in his apartment. The victim had been recently discharged from a mental hospital and was to be monitored by the community's mental health personnel. While the autopsy revealed little in the way of disease, toxicological studies yielded a blood acetone level of 0.070 g/dl and a urine acetone level of 0.086 g/dl. The medical examiner ruled the cause of death diabetic ketoacidosis. To support this conclusion in the absence of a vitreous humor glucose concentration, 18 well-documented cases of diabetic ketoacidosis were reviewed, and acetone concentrations were compared with the acetone concentrations found in the presented case.

ISSN:0195-7910    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1998

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

Accidental, suicidal, and homicidal injuries have been caused by arrows fired from crossbows. To our knowledge, a case of suicide using a full-size compound bow to fire a projectile has not been reported in the English literature. Described is a case of a 17-year-old man who shot himself in the chest with a broadhead hunting arrow fired from a compound bow. Examination of the foot-wear suggests that the decedent drew the bowstring with his left foot while holding the bow in his hands. The mechanism of injury is discussed. When dealing with a longbow-related fatality, examination of the weaponry used and reenactment of the fatal methodology are critical in determining whether self-inflicted injury is a probability.

ISSN:0195-7910    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1998

数据来源: OVID