Forensic Reports Research Articles

Evaluation of the Procedure and Content of Forensic Reports Issued for Judicial Cases in Emergency Departments

Objective: This study aims to assess the procedural aspects and content quality of forensic reports prepared for cases deemed judicial in the emergency department of Bursa Yüksek İhtisas Education and Research Hospital. Material and Methods: The study reviewed a total of 3,211 patients who presented to the emergency department between December 1, 2014, and February 28, 2015, and were classified as forensic cases. Of these, 2,029 patients were included in the analysis, while 1,182 were excluded. Data collection was followed by statistical analysis performed using SPSS version 22.0. Descriptive statistics were expressed as frequencies and percentages, and variance distribution was assessed with the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. Concordance analysis was conducted using the Kappa test. Results: Of the 3,211 cases reviewed, 1,182 were excluded for the following reasons: 138 cases (11.67%) involved forensic chases, 827 cases (69.96%) were related to blow-coercion examinations, 30 cases (2.53%) were alcohol examinations, 46 cases (3.89%) had unreadable reports, 88 cases (7.44%) were improperly documented, and 52 cases (4.48%) were missing from the forensic case archive. Among the 2,029 cases included in the analysis, 113 cases involved life-threatening conditions. However, in 13 of these cases (0.6%), errors were identified in recognizing life-threatening conditions as defined by the Yeni Türk Ceza Kanunu Çerçevesinde Düzenlenecek Adli Raporlar İçin Kılavuz (Guide for Forensic Reports to Be Prepared Within the Framework of the New Turkish Penal Code). Among the 1,916 cases (94.4%) without life-threatening conditions, 82 cases (4.0%) demonstrated inconsistencies according to the same guideline. Conclusion: This study underscores significant errors in the identification and documentation of life-threatening conditions in forensic reports, with a notable 0.6% error rate among such cases and 4.0% inconsistencies in non-life-threatening cases. These findings reveal gaps in compliance with the Yeni Türk Ceza Kanunu Çerçevesinde Düzenlenecek Adli Raporlar İçin Kılavuz, highlighting the need for stricter adherence to established guidelines. To enhance the accuracy and reliability of forensic reports, targeted training programs, regular audits, and the implementation of standardized reporting procedures are recommended. Addressing these issues is crucial to improving the quality of forensic evaluations and fostering trust in judicial processes.

Analysis of Report Findings in the Examination of Handwriting: A Vantage Perspective of a Forensic Scientist

This article explores and analyses the forensic handwriting and signatures examination findings with a view to determine its validity, reliability and the conformance to the legal requirements as outlined by the Criminal Procedure Act (Act 51 of 1977) of South Africa, hereafter referred to as the CPA. The forensic examination of handwriting and signatures is the mandate of the Questioned Documents Section (QDS) of the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL), Division: Detectives and Forensic Services of the South African Police Services (SAPS). The CPA stipulates the requirements with which an affidavit or certificate (also referred to as forensic report) is required to comply with in terms of the law. As a legal entity, the QDS, which is responsible for the examination of handwriting and signatures, is obliged to abide by the requirements of the law in order for the reports produced by the examiners to meet and pass the legal scrutiny in a court. Handwriting and signatures examination findings play a crucial role in the administration of justice during the court proceedings, and other forums such as the departmental trials, commission of enquiries, and disciplinary hearings. It is for this reason that its validity, reliability, and conformance to the law should be beyond any shadow of doubt. In this research article, the relevant documentary sources are perused, and analysed to provide context into the research topic and assist in answering the research questions. These documentary sources include the CPA, Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) on examination of handwriting and signatures (QDS0028P of 2024), published research articles, and books written by revered authorities in the field of forensic science and law. Methodological approach: This research article makes use of the qualitative research strategy to collect data that is used to highlight the current state of affairs in the forensic examination of handwriting and signatures by the QDS in South Africa. Practical experiences and data obtained from the actual forensic reports, SOPs, and relevant policies are used to provide the factual state of affairs and to highlight the strengths and the weaknesses in the current state of affairs. This research study is relevant because it deals with the current phenomenon that is in play as part of the Criminal Justice System (CJS) in South Africa. The examination of handwriting and signatures has a direct impact in the administration of justice as judges and magistrates often consider forensic reports pertaining to the examination of handwriting and signatures in their court judgement. It is based on this backdrop that this research study is important and relevant to assist in uplifting the standard of forensic reports, and to ensure that compliance to the legal requirements is not compromised. In addition, this study highlights arears that need to be improved and provides relevant and practical recommendations aimed at addressing the identified deficiencies. In addition, this research article will provide a framework for the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL), in particular the QDS, to draw council from the research findings and recommendations to best align the forensic reports. Furthermore, FSL may utilise this article as the basis for further engagement on the subject, and to ensure that compliance to the legal requirements is not compromised. The judiciary, the academics, and the public in general (both local and international) will have insight of the forensic report and its validity, reliability, and conformance to the law in South Africa.

Blue toe syndrome - systemic cholesterol crystal embolism secondary to cardiovascular procedures: a forensic autopsy report of two cases.

Blue toe syndrome, also referred to as cholesterol crystal embolism is characterized by the distal embolization of cholesterol crystals originating from ruptured atherosclerotic plaques. This condition commonly arises in the context of cardiovascular procedures. Emboli from the thoracoabdominal aorta primarily affect the downstream extremities and intra-abdominal viscera, often resulting in fatal atheroembolic renal failure. Owing to its insidious and delayed onset, antemortem diagnosis of cholesterol crystal embolism is often underrecognized. Two cases of blue toe syndrome secondary to cardiovascular procedures are presented. In Case 1, the patient died 35 days after coronary angioplasty, whereas in Case 2, the patient developed toe necrosis 95 days after endovascular aortic repair, leading to progressive renal failure over the following five years. A comprehensive forensic autopsy included external examination, skin biopsy, histopathological examination of major organs, and serum biochemical evaluation of renal function parameters. Two cases of blue toe syndrome secondary to cardiovascular procedures are presented. In Case 1, the patient died 35 days after coronary angioplasty, whereas in Case 2, the patient developed toe necrosis 95 days after endovascular aortic repair, leading to progressive renal failure over the following five years. A comprehensive forensic autopsy included external examination, skin biopsy, histopathological examination of major organs, and serum biochemical evaluation of renal function parameters. This report underscores the importance of including systemic cholesterol crystal embolism in the differential diagnosis of blue toe syndrome, particularly in patients with a history of cardiovascular procedures. Fingertips serve as reliable indicators of impaired blood perfusion. To assess blue toe syndrome accurately, we highlight the value of focusing on the toe tips where cholesterol crystal embolism can be consistently detected.

Collaborative Forensic Autopsy Documentation and Supervised Report Generation Using a Hybrid Mixed-Reality Environment and Generative AI.

Forensic investigation is a complex procedure involving experts working together to establish cause of death and report findings to legal authorities. While new technologies are being developed to provide better post-mortem imaging capabilities-including mixed-reality (MR) tools to support 3D visualisation of such data-these tools do not integrate seamlessly into their existing collaborative workflow and report authoring process, requiring extra steps, e.g. to extract imagery from the MR tool and combine with physical autopsy findings for inclusion in the report. Therefore, in this work we design and evaluate a new forensic autopsy report generation workflow and present a novel documentation system using hybrid mixed-reality approaches to integrate visualisation, voice and hand interaction, as well as collaboration and procedure recording. Our preliminary findings indicate that this approach has the potential to improve data management, aid reviewability, and thus, achieve more robust standards. Further, it potentially streamlines report generation and minimise dependency on external tools and assistance, reducing autopsy time and related costs. This system also offers significant potential for education. A free copy of this paper and all supplemental materials are available at https://osf.io/ygfzx.

Forensic medical assessment of amusement park injuries

Objective: Amusement park injuries can cause significant harm, especially in children and adolescents. This study aims to evaluate the cases of amusement park injuries presented to the Forensic Medicine Department in Eskişehir/Turkey over a 10-year period, to publish the characteristics of the injuries and demographic data with the literature. Method: Cases of amusement park injuries presented to the Forensic Medicine Department of Eskişehir Osmangazi University Faculty of Medicine(Turkey) between 2014-2023 were retrospectively evaluated. Age, gender, injury patterns, and the content of forensic reports of the cases were assessed. Results: Over the 10-year period, 12 cases of amusement park injuries were reported to our department. Eight cases were male and four were female, with the youngest case being 13 and the oldest 23 years old. Nine cases involved falls and dragging, two involved falls and being trapped under objects, and one involved being crushed. Six cases sustained injuries that could be managed with simple medical intervention, six required more extensive medical care, and one was life-threatening. Conclusion: Amusement park injuries are forensic cases. There is confusion regarding responsibility and legislation. Legal regulations and more effective inspections are needed for the legal process in injury cases. It is essential for physicians in emergency departments to recognize that amusement park injuries are forensic cases and report them accordingly. Keywords: Amusement Park, Injury, Forensic Medicine

Orbital injuries: aspects of forensic medical examination in assessing the severity of harm caused to human health

Background: Forensic examination plays a key role in establishing the severity of injuries, especially of orbital trauma, which can lead to serious consequences, including vision loss. Examination of forensic reports associated with orbital trauma provides valuable information about the nature of the injuries, their prevalence, and factors influencing the severity of the injury. Aim: Analysis of the possibilities of an interdisciplinary approach based on the presence of a full ophthalmological status and computed tomography data of the skull in conducting a forensic medical examination of living persons and in the final qualification of the degree of harm to health in orbital injuries. Materials and methods: An analysis of 37 completed forensic medical examinations of living persons with orbital injuries who were treated in multidisciplinary hospitals in Moscow was carried out. The forensic medical examination was carried out in the Bureau of Forensic Medical Examination of the Moscow Health Department. In 23 cases, the ophthalmological status was assessed at periods from 1 week to 6 months after the injury. In all cases (n = 37; 100%), computed tomography of the facial and cerebral skull was performed. The age of the victims at the time of injury ranged from 12 to 82 years (average 39.7 ± 9.2 years). There were 29 adults among the victims (78.3%), 8 children (21.6%). In terms of gender distribution, there was a significant male predominance — 27 men (73%) versus 10 women (27%). Results: According to the results of the analysis of forensic medical reports, polytrauma with the simultaneous presence of several severe injuries to various organs and systems, combined with orbital trauma, was recorded in 12 victims (32.4%). A combination of traumatic brain injury and orbital injury without involvement of other organs and systems was detected in 9 victims (24.3%), isolated orbital trauma — in 13 people (35.1%), isolated injury of two orbits simultaneously — in 3 victims (8.1%). From the conclusions of forensic experts, it follows that in 89% of cases, the bone walls of the orbits, formed by the frontal, ethmoid and sphenoid bones, as well as the upper jaw, were damaged, which could subsequently lead to damage to the globe, optic nerve and other orbital structures. Damage to the soft tissue of the orbits with globe contusion was noted in 11% of cases. In 3 cases (n = 3; 8.1%), moderate harm to health was determined based on significant persistent loss of general ability to work. In 14 cases (n = 14; 37.8%), it was not possible to focus on the acuteness of the injured globe before the traumatic episode, due to the fact that the victims had no documented visits to an ophthalmologist before the injury. Conclusions: To objectively assess of the orbital trauma and determine the degree of harm to human health, it is necessary to have a full ophthalmological status, including such clinical and instrumental criteria as visual acuteness, presence or absence of ophthalmoplegia and globe dystopia, as well as computed tomography data of the skull, which must be presented in the primary medical documentation.

Forensic Medical Evaluation of Non-Fatal Traumatic Head Bone Fractures

Head bone fractures are encountered in forensic medicine practice due to their origin. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the demographic data, injury characteristics, clinical findings accompanying bone fractures and forensic reports of cases with skull fractures and to share them with the literature. In this study, cases with non-fatal traumatic skull fractures that did not result in death admitted to our department during the 10-year period between 01.01.2014 and 31.12.2023 were included in the study. Hospital documents and investigation documents of the cases were retrospectively analyzed. It was determined that 75.6% of the cases were male and the mean age was 37±9.6 years. It was determined that 56.2% of the skull fractures occurred as a result of traffic accidents, the most common fracture was the frontal bone (n=206, 53.4%) and 54.1% of the cases were linear fractures. In our study, it was determined that skull fractures were most common in males, in the young adult age group, most commonly due to traffic accidents, and in the form of linear fractures in the frontal bone. The findings were consistent with the literature. When preparing a forensic report on skull fractures, the location of the fracture, the type of fracture and the number of fractures are important in terms of determining the life threat and the effect of the fracture on life functions.

EHR Documentation and Referrals for Intimate Partner Violence and Sexual Assault.

Hospital settings provide a unique opportunity to screen for interpersonal violence (IPV) and sexual assault (SA) yet often lack health IT solutions for generating reliable and valid medico-legal documentation via forensic reports. The objective of the project was to evaluate a pilot, technology "tool" for documenting cases of IPV and SA that could support forensic nurse examiners and related stakeholders in generating high quality documentation and coordinating victim support services. The tool was a digital health intervention implemented for use among forensic nurse examiners, law enforcement, victim support organizations, and more within four counties of California. We conducted a mixed-methods pilot study that captured data around the adoption, use, and impact of having access to the newly implemented tool. The tool successfully went live in all four pilot counties at different time points with different proportions of use by county and form type: exams, referrals, addenda, risk assessments, and other. Participants were motivated to use the tool out of a perceived need for data handling functionalities that went beyond traditional manual (paper) means. Key functionalities included body mapping, data quality controls within validated forms, attaching addenda to already existing case reports, and the means to distribute data to external recipients. Further study and development are needed on functions to incorporate into body maps and forms, and understanding the information needs of law enforcement and victim support organizations. Our evaluation demonstrated the feasibility and acceptability of a health IT tool to support forensic nurse documentation of IPV and SA, and direct information to multiple legal and support-related stakeholders. Areas of future development include integrating IPV and SA-related data standards for digitized forms, enhancements to the body mapping feature, and understanding the needs of those who receive digital data from forensic nurse examiners within the tool.

DRAMES and DTA databases: Complementary tools to monitor drug-related deaths in France

The DRAMES (décès en relation avec l'abus de médicaments et de substances) registry is a French database of drug-related deaths (medications or illicit drugs) among drug users. The DTA (décès toxiques par antalgiques) registry is a French database of analgesic-related deaths among people without a history of drug abuse. Both registries are based on the collection of data on deaths for which forensic toxicology experts have performed analyses. In the present study, we included drug- and analgesic-related deaths occurring from January 2013 to December 2022 in France. Subject demographic characteristics and medical history, forensic autopsy findings and toxicology reports were evaluated. Among drug users (DRAMES registry), opioids used alone or in combination were the main contributor to drug-related deaths in France, as they are in most countries. However, licit methadone was the leading cause of opioid-related deaths (ahead of heroin) during the study period. The main trend was the dramatic increase in cocaine-related mortality. Among medical users of analgesics (DTA registry), tramadol was the leading cause of deaths throughout this period. A large-scale naloxone distribution program is urgently needed in France to prevent opioid overdoses, including among licit methadone users. However, our data do not support the hypothesis of an opioid crisis in France, although close monitoring is still required, particularly for oxycodone.

The relevancy-focused report: An alternative model format for forensic psychological reports.

The relevancy-focused report: An alternative model format for forensic psychological reports.

Forensic Pathological Identification Report of Early Death after Orthotopic Heart Transplantation: A Case Study

This report aims to determine the cause of death from a forensic pathological perspective in a case of early death after heart transplantation. Using methods such as external examination, autopsy, and histopathological examination, we analyze the multiple factors leading to death in this case, particularly focusing on the heart donor aspects. Heart donors must meet strict criteria regarding structural abnormalities, age, low body weight, cold ischemia time, donor infection, and poisoning, and heart function. However, this case suggests the need for further refinement of these standards. Preoperative pathological diagnosis of the donor heart is necessary to determine any primary diseases, establish pathological diagnostic standards, evaluate heart survival indices, and ensure the quality of life for recipients, thereby avoiding deaths caused by primary diseases of the donor heart.

Distinguishing injury patterns in fatal falls from heights versus pedestrian impacts: an autopsy study for differential diagnosis in ambiguous cases.

This study investigated the injury patterns associated with fatal falls from heights compared to individuals struck by cars, aiming to enhance the differential diagnosis in ambiguous cases, where it is unclear whether the body fell from nearby building or was left on the street following a road traffic incident. A retrospective review of comprehensive forensic reports from the Institute of Legal Medicine of the University of Rome "Tor Vergata" between 2012 and 2023 was conducted. The analysis included 232 cases, gathering data on internal organ injuries, skeletal fractures, external skin injuries, as well as pleural, peritoneal, and pericardial effusions. Bilateral lung injuries were significantly more common in falls from height (33.3%) compared to pedestrians (13.6%, p < 0.001). Liver injuries also occurred more frequently in fall victims (49.6%) than in pedestrians (28.2%, p < 0.001). Skull fractures were more frequent in falls from height (68.2%) versus individuals struck by cars (55.3%, p = 0.044), while unilateral leg fractures were more common in pedestrians (28.2%) compared to fall victims (16.3%, p = 0.029). External injuries, notably to the head and legs, were more frequent in pedestrians. The "Total Injured Skin Area" analysis revealed a significant discriminative power with an optimal cut-off of 84.2cm², suggesting that injuries exceeding this threshold may be indicative of a pedestrian road fatality.

Questionnaire survey for the International Journal of Legal Medicine on the occassion of the 26th triennal meeting of the International Academy of Legal Medicine.

A questionnaire was prepared in advance of the 26th triennial conference of the International Academy of Legal Medicine (IALM) and sent to 474 email addresses included in the IALM mailing list. The questionnaire addressed three current challenges faced by the International Journal of Legal Medicine (IJLM): the publication of guidelines and validation studies in the field of legal medicine, the publication ethics of case reports, and the recruitment of new reviewers for the IJLM. The response rate was 20%. The survey results highlight the need for international guidelines in various areas of legal medicine. Some desired guidelines already exist. To provide visibility and knowledge of the existing national guidelines, the IJLM has launched a Topical Collection on Quality Assurance in Legal Medicine. This collection aims to inform readers about country-specific characteristics of legal medicine structures and the existing national guidelines.Around 80% of the participants stated that there are legal or ethical requirements for the publication of forensic case reports or case series. Various options for obtaining consent for publication are discussed. Eighty-six of the 97 participants indicated their willingness to review manuscripts for the IJLM. It is emphasized that the contributions of reviewers should be duly recognized and valued.

Prioritizing privacy and presentation of supportable hypothesis testing in forensic genetic genealogy investigations.

Investigative leads are not generated by traditional forensic DNA testing, if the source of the forensic evidence or a 1stdegree relative of unidentified human remains is not in the DNA database. In such cases, forensic genetic genealogy (FGG) can provide valuable leads. However, FGG generated genetic data contain private and sensitive information. Therefore, it is essential to deploy approaches that minimize unnecessary disclosure of these data to mitigate potential risks to individual privacy. We recommend protective practices that need not impact effective reporting of relationship identifications. Examples include performing one-to-one comparisons of DNA profiles of third-party samples and evidence samples offline with an "air gap" to the internet and shielding the specific shared single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) states and locations by binning adjacent SNPs in forensic reports. Such approaches reduce risk of unwanted access to or reverse engineering of third-party individuals'genetic data and can give these donors greater confidence to support use of their DNA profiles in FGG investigation.

Violence and bullying at school: 10-year data from the Forensic Medicine Department of a University Hospital in Türkiye.

Violence at school is broadly defined as a range of acts including physical, psychological, and sexual violence, as well as bullying. These can occur at school, in the school environment, on the way to school, or in any school-related environment. Considering the school environment as the place where a child spends most of their daily life, its impact on the child's life cannot be underestimated. This study aims to contribute to the literature by sharing characteristics of school violence and bullying cases with forensic reports prepared in our department, and by presenting solution suggestions for detecting and preventing these issues. Between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2022, a total of 14,330 forensic reports issued by the Dokuz Eylül University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Forensic Medicine, were analyzed. It was found that 125 cases involved school violence. Five cases involving non-students were excluded, leaving 120 student cases for inclusion in the study. Sociodemographic data, type of violence, incident location, educational stage, injury origin, and psychiatric assessment results were assessed. Statistical analysis of the data was performed using the SPSS 29.0 package. Of the 120 cases analyzed, 90 (75%) were male, and 30 (25%) were female. The cases were most frequently subjected to violence at the secondary education stage (n=73, 60.8%) and, secondarily, at the primary education stage (n=36, 30%). When the type of violence was analyzed, it was found that physical violence was the most common (n=96, 80%), followed by sexual violence (n=21, 17.5%). Among these, 91.1% (n=82) of males and 43.3% (n=13) of females were exposed to physical and sexual violence, respectively. A statistically significant relationship was found between the type of violence and gender (p<0.001). Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was the most common diagnosis among those who underwent psychiatric assessments after experiencing violence (n=15, 45.5%). To effectively combat violence and bullying, we believe that strategies based on analyzing the causes of bullying in schools across different cultures, planning and implementing appropriate interventions tailored to the problem area, and preventing recurrence by disseminating the results will yield more effective outcomes.

Forensic medical evaluation of penetrating abdominal injuries.

This study aims to discuss the characteristics, origins, degree of injury, results, reporting, and forensic medical aspects of penetrating abdominal injuries. In this study, 28,619 cases who applied to the emergency department of Kutahya Health Sciences University Evliya Celebi Training and Research Hospital between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2020 were reviewed. The forensic reports and medical documents of 85 cases with penetrating abdominal injuries were evaluated retrospectively, with the approval of the ethics committee. Among the patients included in the study, 87.1% were male and 12.9% were female. The mean age was found to be 31±13 years. When the origins of the cases were analyzed, 87.1% were found to have developed as a result of intentional injury. The incidents predominantly occurred between 20: 00 and 04: 00 hours. As a result of the examinations performed at the hospital after the incident, alcohol was detected in 36.5% of the cases, while 30.6% of the individuals did not consume alcohol. It was observed that 32.9% of the cases were not tested for alcohol. The most common injuries identified were sharp injuries, accounting for 69.4% of cases, and firearm injuries, comprising 27.1%. Organ damage was noted in 68.2% of the cases, with the small intestine being the most frequently damaged organ. The average number of wounds present was 3.6. Intra-abdominal hemorrhage was detected in 61.2% of the cases, and intra-abdominal artery injuries were found in 8.2%. The mortality rate for penetrating abdominal injuries was 8.2%. In forensic traumatology, penetrating abdominal injuries commonly lead to life-threatening conditions and loss of organ function, which represent the most severe category in trauma severity assessment. Penetrating abdominal injuries most often result from violent incidents, as observed in our study and in the literature.

EXPERT-EPIDEMIOLOGICAL FEATURES OF NON-LETHAL MOTORCYCLE-RELATED TRAUMA

The forensic examination of victims of motorcycle trauma is a current issue in forensic practice. However, the forensic characteristics of contemporary nonfatal motorcycle injuries have not been adequately investigated. Aim of the work. To investigate the epidemiology of nonfatal motorcycle injuries and to determine the forensic characteristics of injuries typical of victims of motorcycle traffic accidents. Materials and methods. The study material consisted of 40 forensic medical reports on individuals affected by motorcycle injuries, performed at the Ternopil Regional Forensic Medical Bureau between 2016 and 2023. The data extraction was performed in a formalised card for each case, containing details about the injured person, circumstances, location and conditions of the injury. The types of injuries, their location and distribution by body part (head, trunk, limbs) were meticulously recorded. The data obtained were processed using variational statistical methods. Results. Research shows that the majority of nonfatal injuries to motorcyclists occur on the roads during the summer and early autumn, with peaks in June and September, typically as a result of collisions with other vehicles (usually cars). The victims are predominantly male (35 (87.5%)), young (19 (47.5%)) and mature (13 (32.5%)). Of these, 31 (77.5%) were motorcyclists, 6 (15.0%) were passengers and only 3 (7.5%) were pedestrians (p≤0.01). Different lower limb injuries were identified in 35 victims (87.5%, p≤0.01), upper limb injuries in 22 (55%) of the injured and head injuries in 20 (50%). Combined injuries involving two or more different anatomical parts of the body (head, torso and limbs) were found in 35 (87.5%) victims. Head injuries presented as abrasions, bruises or contusions, mainly to the face, often to several facial areas at the same time, typically accompanied by concussion or cerebral contusion. All victims with torso trauma were diagnosed with various soft tissue injuries, of which 18 (90%) were located on the anterior surface of the chest, in the pelvic or abdominal area (often in combination), with spinal injuries occurring in only 2 (10%) victims. Upper limb trauma was associated with various soft tissue injuries, as well as fractures and ligamentous damage in more than half of the victims with upper limb injuries. Victims with lower limb trauma had both superficial soft tissue injuries (abrasions, bruises, haematomas, contusions) and deeper injuries (lacerations or crush injuries), together with open or closed fractures of the femur, tibia and fibula, or multiple fractures. Isolated injuries involving only the trunk or upper extremities, or only the head and trunk, or only the trunk and lower extremities in nonfatal motorcycle trauma were found only in isolated cases. Conclusions. Non-fatal motorcycle trauma usually occurs on the road, in warm weather conditions, as a result of the motorcycle colliding with another vehicle. The majority of victims are motorcyclists, young and middle-aged males. Characteristic features of non-lethal motorcycle trauma are: a significant number of superficial soft tissue injuries and their predominance over fractures or internal organ injuries; the combination of head, trunk and limb injuries with a predominance of lower limb injuries; the predominant location of injuries on the frontal surface of the victims' bodies.

Relevance of forensic science and credibility of forensic report

Relevance of forensic science and credibility of forensic report

Neutrophilic Myocarditis: Insights from a Forensic Centre's Retrospective Study.

Neutrophilic myocarditis often stems from bacterial or fungal infections, and it is typically detectable through blood cultures or analyses of the primary infection site. However, research specifically addressing the morphological features of acute myocarditis in complex sepsis cases is scarce, with existing studies primarily dating back to the pre-antibiotic era. This study constitutes a retrospective and descriptive analysis encompassing 22 forensic cases. We collected data from forensic reports emphasising clinical details, disease history, gross observations, and histopathological findings. The results show that using positive-air-pressure ventilation could be related to cardiac inflammation (45.45%, 10/22). Despite large-spectrum antibiotic therapy, the blood samples were positive for Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA strain), Klebsiella pneumoniae (ESBL strain), Acinetobacter baumannii, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Colonies developed in the myocardium of 36% of the patients (8/22), where 4 of them had septic emboli. Fungal myocarditis accompanied bacterial infections (2/8) and were unsuspected clinically. Background changes, such as interstitial fibrosis and arteriosclerosis, were associated with a greater degree of inflammation and septic embolism. Neutrophilic myocarditis in patients with emerging sepsis is linked to fatal virulent infections, where bacteria and/or fungi contaminate and impair the myocardium syncytium. Prolonged hospitalisation and positive-air-pressure ventilation may be a risk factor for this condition and needs further research.

HOFE: an interactive forensic entomological database.

The significance of entomological evidence in inferring the time, location and cause of death has been demonstrated both theoretically and practically. With the advancement of sequencing technologies, reports have emerged on necrophagous insects' nuclear genomes, transcriptomes, proteomes and mitochondrial genomes. However, within the field of forensic entomology, there is currently no available database that can integrate, store and share the resources of necrophagous insects. The absence of a database poses an inconvenience to the application of entomological evidence in judicial practice and hampers the development of the forensic entomology discipline. Given this, we have developed the Home Of Forensic Entomology database, encompassing 10 core functional modules: Home, Browse, Mitochondria, Proteome, JBrowse, Search, BLAST, Tools, Case base and Maps. Notably, the 'Tools' module enables multiple sequence alignment analysis (Muscle), homologous protein prediction (Genewise), primer design (Primer), large-scale genomic analysis (Lastz), Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analysis, as well as expression profiling (PCA Analysis, Hcluster and Correlation Heatmap). In addition, the present database also works as an interactive platform for researchers by sharing forensic entomological case reports and uploading data and material. This database provides potential visitors with a comprehensive function for multi-omics data analysis, offers substantial references to researchers and criminal scene investigators and facilitates the utilization of entomological evidence in court. Database URL: http://ihofe.com/.