Forensic Medicine Research Research Articles

Ethics of Scientific Research in Forensic Medicine

Ethics of Scientific Research in Forensic Medicine

Research in forensic medicine under the view of biosafety.

In recent years, biotechnology is gradually getting popular and is playing a significant role in human productivity and life. The consequent biosafety problems are becoming increasingly prominent. Based on the connotation and extension of biosafety, this article sorts out the biosafety contents involved in traditional and modern forensic medicine research and analyzes the risks and challenges facing forensic medicine research from the perspective of biosafety. Based on the protection of legal medical experts, the establishment of working standards, and the promotion and support of research in forensic medicine on biosafety field and other aspects, this article discusses the prospectives of forensic medicine research from a biosafety point of view, and provides the insights and references for a smooth implementation of forensic medicine practice in the future.

Estimation of postmortem interval by postmortem myocardial computed tomography value

Background: The estimation of postmortem interval (PMI) is one of the most important topics in forensic medicine research. We speculate that with an increased PMI, the computed tomography (CT) values of different tissues may show regular changes. Purpose: To use postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) to measure the myocardial CT value (unit: Hounsfield Unit, HU) of the heart to explore its pattern in postmortem change, and to discuss whether it can serve as a new parameter for PMI estimation. Methods: A total of 10 healthy adult New Zealand rabbits were selected and then put into a 20°C incubator after being sacrificed. Within 0–156 h after death, CT scans were performed every 12 h to detect changes in the myocardial CT value of the heart over time. Regression analysis was used to determine the relationship between the myocardial CT value of the heart and PMI. At the same time, HE and Masson were used to stain the cardiac tissue sections detected by PMCT at 0h, 48h and 156h, respectively. Results: During 0–156 h, the overall myocardial CT value showed a trend of first rising and then decreasing with the increase of PMI. The fitting regression equation was y = −2873.193 + 143.866x − 1.728x2 (x: myocardial CT value, unit: Hu; y: PMI, unit: h, R2 = 0.466, P

USING MODERN 3D-TECHNOLOGIES IN MEDICINE AND FORENSIC PRACTICE (LITERATURE REVIEW)

The article highlights examples of the use of modern 3D technologies in the world of forensic medicine and medicine in general, aimed at increasing the level of visualization and detailing of bodily injuries, in turn, significantly improves the visibility and quality of the examinations.Aim of the work. Studying the possibilities of using 3D technologies in the world and domestic forensic industry and medicine in general, the search for promising areas for the introduction of 3D techniques in the practice of forensic experts inUkraine.In article special attention is focused on the noticeably growing interest of domestic scientists in the study and implementation of 3D reconstruction and 3D modeling techniques in the domestic medical industry and forensic science in particular. The advantages and promising directions of such research in forensic medicine and institutions of higher medical education inUkraineare highlighted.

Study cases of harm to the patient's health by a doctor in criminal proceedings at the Department of Forensic Medicine Research Methods

The criminal prosecution of medical workers for harm to the health of patients is currently one of the actively developed areas of work of the Investigative Committee. Investigators have a very vague idea about the peculiarities of the objects of evidence in this category of cases, which leads to an abundance of issues in the ruling, the resolution of which often does not allow achieving the goal of the investigation. This leads the issuance of new decisions and producing of many additional and repeated examinations. The passive position of the experts does not improve the situation either. The methodology for investigating cases of harm to the patient's health by a doctor during the production of forensic medical examinations in criminal proceedings requires an expert to actively participate in establishing the circumstances to be proved. This methodology is proposed at the training cycle of the Department of Forensic Medicine of the Military Medical Academy named after V.I. C.M. Kirov. The article provides a previously unpublished generalized scheme of the algorithm that can be used in the production of forensic medical examinations in this category of cases.

Research Ethics in Forensic Medicine-The Indian Scenario-Problems and Suggestions

Forensic Medicine deals with the application of forensic medical knowledge to the law and justice system. This knowledge, in turn, is dependent on information. Moreover, as in all data, it has to be accurate, reliable, reproducible and valid. The only means of ensuring this is research and experimentation. The administration of justice, therefore, depends on sound science. Unfortunately, research and experimentation in the realm of forensic medicine and toxicology are beset with problems. These problems range from areas as diverse as setting objectives for a study to correctly interpreting their results. However, the starting point is problems with research ethics. The Forensic research participant pool and resources are mainly the following: surviving victims of battery, sexual offences, accidents and others.; as well as fatalities due to any reason in medico-legal cases. When it comes to surviving victims, the guidelines though not established in India can be considered as on par with those involving at-risk and vulnerable populations in other studies, i.e. special care and consideration needs to be employed with dealing with these participants. However, the primary source of data for research will most likely always remain the cadaver in Forensic Medicine. However, real and valid concerns have arisen involving cadavers that if not addressed right now, threaten to derail progress made in inculcating a spirit of research in Forensic Medicine in India. Issues ranging from consent, toxicology research, and protocols to be followed in incidental findings, non-lethal pathologies need to be dealt with. This paper hopes to address and bring to light some of those problems and suggest ways to move ahead with the very least a roadmap.

Legal and legislative study of biological objects be withdrawn from human corpse for scientific research in forensic medicine

Based on the analysis of changes in the new edition of the Criminal Procedural Code of Ukraine (2012) in combination with other applicable regulations, applicable to the forensics and legal status of the person who died, reasonable legal and legislative capabilities withdrawal (registration) parts of the body, organs and tissues, blood or other biological materials for scientific research in forensic medicine.

Apply of dermatogliphic method during identification of a Person (literature review)

The article analyzes the recent publications on the issue of applying dermatoglyphics method of research as one of the methods that are used for identification of person. Importance of dermatoglific method of research in forensic medicine and criminology is dispalayed. Connection of forensic dermatoglyphics with other medical and non-medical sciences is presented.

Evaluation of age estimation in forensic medicine by examination of medial clavicular ossification from thin-slice computed tomography images.

Forensic age estimation, a recent topic of research in forensic medicine, is of primary importance to criminal and civil law. Previous studies indicate that the observation of medial clavicular ossification allows for age discrimination along the completed 18th and 21st years of life. Experts recommend that the Schmeling and Kellinghaus methods be used together. In this study, we used these staging methods to retrospectively analyze 725 case studies (385 males, 340 females) of thin-slice computed tomography (CT) images, ranging from 0.6 to 1mm in thickness, from individuals aged 10 to 35years. Stage 1 was found at 18years of age maximum for males, whereas it was found at 17years of age for females. Stage 2a was found at 18years of age maximum for both genders. Stage 3c was initially observed at 18years for both genders. Stage 4 was initially found at 21years for males and 20years for females. Stage 5 was initially observed at 25years for both genders. Of note, stage 3c was found close to 19years of age for both genders (18.92years for male, 18.99years for female), and it may be employed to differentiate along the age majority cutoff. The data obtained from our study were consistent with previous studies. We believe that such a comprehensive database will greatly contribute to future studies focusing on medial clavicular ossification based on thin-slice CT. Moreover, we also recommend that if medial clavicular ossification based on CT is to be examined for forensic age estimation, both methods should be employed together.

Skull Identification via Correlation Measure Between Skull and Face Shape

Skull identification is an important subject for research in forensic medicine. Current research can be divided into two categories: 1) craniofacial superimposition and 2) craniofacial reconstruction. Both categories rely essentially on the accurate extraction and representation of the intrinsic relationship between the skull and face in terms of the morphology, which still remain unsolved. They have high uncertainty and a low identification capability. This paper proposes a novel skull identification method that matches an unknown skull with enrolled 3D faces, in which the mapping between the skull and face is obtained using canonical correlation analysis. Unlike existing techniques, this method needs no accurate relationship between the skull and face, and measures only the correlation between them. In order to measure the correlation more reliably and improve the identification capability of the correlation analysis model, a region fusion strategy is adopted. Experimental results validate the proposed method, and show that the region-based method can significantly boost the matching accuracy. The correct identification rate reaches 94% when using a CT data set. This paper can provide a theory support for research on craniofacial superimposition and craniofacial reconstruction.

Case reports in forensic toxicology

Case reports in forensic toxicology

Pokkuri Death Syndrome; sudden cardiac death cases without coronary atherosclerosis in South Asian young males

Sudden death is one of the major concerns in forensic medicine. Especially when the deceased is a young subject without significant history, the case will be of major interest to the authorities. Sudden unexplained cardiac death has been known as "Pokkuri Death Syndrome" (PDS) in Japan, "Lai Tai" in Thailand, "Bangungut" in the Philippines, "Dream Disease" in Hawaii, and "Sudden Unexpected Nocturnal Death Syndrome" among South Asian immigrants in the USA. However, the clinical and pathological features of these sudden death cases, especially the characteristics of no coronary atherosclerosis, are surprisingly similar and mainly occur among Southeast Asian young males during sleep in the midnight. In this manuscript, we have reviewed the pathological characteristics and the possible mechanism of death in PDS cases, which were associated with significantly elevated remnant lipoproteins in plasma as revealed from our studies during the past 15 years in Japan. Although elevated plasma remnant lipoproteins have been known to be strongly atherogenic, coronary atherosclerosis was not observed in PDS cases. PDS cases were shown to be an interesting cardiovascular disease death discovered in forensic medicine research, which may suggest the difference between the occurrence of cardiovascular events and the severity of coronary atherosclerosis as separate factors. These observations in PDS cases suggest the possibility that the intervention could be more targeted to suppress the cardiovascular events rather than to slow down the progression of atherosclerosis, which is now most extensively targeted for the therapy of cardiovascular disease in Western countries.

PATHOMORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTIC OF THE VASCULAR COMPONENT OF COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS AT THE CRANIOCEREBERAL TRAUMA

The craniocereberal trauma is one of the major aspects of research in forensic medicine that is caused by the big frequency, difficulties of diagnostics and weight of her current, is frequent with a lethal outcome. The craniocereberal trauma causes the general adaptable reaction shown in a complex pathophisiological, biochemical and morphological changes not only in a zone of direct mechanical damage, but also in nervous, endocrin, cardiovascular and other systems. The data of own researches of communication systems are submitted.

Tasks of research in forensic medicine – different study types in clinical research and forensic medicine

In the last years the research output of forensic medicine has sometimes been regarded as insufficient and as of poor quality, especially when parameters as impact factors and external funding were taken into account. However, forensic medicine has different tasks compared to clinical medicine. The main difference between basic subjects, clinical and forensic medicine is not a lack of scientific efficiency in forensic medicine but is a result of the questions asked, the available methods and specific aims. In contrast to natural-scientific research, forensic science has furthermore important intersections with arts and socio-scientific disciplines. Etiologic and pathogenetic research is of only limited relevance in forensic medicine. Thus, forensic medicine is excluded from these research fields, which are mainly supported by external funding. In forensic medicine research mainly means applied research regarding findings, the probative value and reconstruction as well as examination at different points of intersection between medicine and law. Clinical types of research such as controlled randomised, prospective cross-sectional, cohort or case–control studies can only rarely be applied in forensic medicine due to the area specific research fields (e.g. thantatology, violent death, vitality, traffic medicine, analytical toxicology, hemogenetics and stain analysis). The types of studies which are successfully established in forensic medicine are comparison of methods, sensitivity studies, validation of methods, kinetic examinations etc. Tasks of research in forensic medicine and study types, which may be applied will be addressed.

Meta-analyses in research in forensic medicine: Alcohol, drugs, diseases and traffic safety

The meta-analytic approach is one of the most informative methods to structure and combine findings of different studies. Hence, even in forensic sciences meta-analyses were used to arrange knowledge. At most this technique was applied to summarize results of experimental and epidemiological studies on alcohol, illegal drugs, medicines, diseases and driving or skills related to driving. The article demonstrates the method used and the results obtained.

Training and research in forensic medicine: present situation and future challenges for medical schools in Chile

Lawyers need some medical knowledge and physicians must know about forensics. To explore training and research programs in forensic medicine in Chilean universities. Deans of all Medicine Faculties in Chile were contacted by e-mail and invited to answer a questionnaire containing 21 questions. A survey of Chilean publications on forensic medicine was performed in Medline, Lilacs and SciELO databases. Fourteen deans answered the questionnaire. In all the responding faculties, forensic medicine is an obligatory course, generally during the fifth year and mostly combining theory with practice. In seven faculties, forensic medicine concepts are included in other courses. Forensics is taught in only two of 10 dental schools, two of 17 nursing schools, one of nine midwives schools and one of nine medical technology schools. It is not taught in phonoaudiology, kinesiology and nutrition schools. There are 74 physicians that teach the specialty but only 10 are certified by the National Board of Medical Specialty Certification (CONACEM). Treatment of most topics on forensics is insufficient. Thanatology is the strongest topic and forensic dentistry is the weakest. There are 52 publications in the area, mostly on "medical law". Forensic medicine is taught in medical schools mostly as thanatology. The knowledge of forensics among medical students is limited and must be improved.

Research in Forensic Medicine and Pathology

Research in Forensic Medicine and Pathology