Forensic-medical assessment of diaphysis fractures in childhood

The authors established that special structure of bones in childhood have a significant influence on the fractures of long tubular bones. The formation of unusual fractures shows it. Under condition of low speed of bending in the area of fracture many microfissures are formed, which leads to structural failure of intraosseous microcirculation and osteocytes.     

Forensic-medical assessment of terroristic chemical attacks

By potential damage, chemical terroristic attacks are much more dangerous than terroristic bombing. To fight chemical terrorism it is necessary to create the system of medical-environmental defense of the population. In line with emergency medicine, forensic medical service is a very important element of the antiterroristic defense. The activity of forensic-medical experts in the field of terroristic chemical attack is analysed.     

Forensic-medical assessment of the damage to sex organs unrelated to sexual crimes

The analysis was made of forensic medical examinations for assault (427 cases) and commission examinations made in the department of complex expert examinations for decision on the relation between pregnancy interruption and injury (46 cases). A documented posttraumatic stress reaction to assault damage to health is determined with consideration of duration of psychic rehabilitation. The author presents cases from her practice of direct and indirect damage to sexual organs observed in different situations and their effect on pregnancy interruption.     

The boundary ranges of the free flight of particles of gunpowder and metals in shots from a hand firearm

On the basis of equations of external ballistics and probability theory the largest possible distances of free (independent) flight of gunshot powder and metal particles having different forms and sizes were calculated. Experimental control of the calculated data for different types of battle and sports hand fire-arms was carried out. The correspondence of the calculated data to maximal free (independent) particle flight in blank shots was stated. In experiments with cartridges equipped with bullets the distances of free particle flight were significantly lesser (by 53-65%) which may be connected with effect of gunshot projectile on the process of particle distribution. Reversed adapted formulas and calculation variants are presented.     

Forensic-medical assessment of pathomorphological changes in the myocardium in blunt chest trauma with an isolated heart contusion

A total of 37 autopsy cases were divided into two groups. Group 1 consisted of 17 victims who had died of closed blunt trauma of the chest with isolated heart contusion made by fists, feet in shoes. Group 2 (control) consisted of 20 cases of sudden death of ischemic heart disease because of atherosclerotic cardiosclerosis. Fragments of the heart containing endocardium were studied on the microscope JEIL-SM200 (Japan). Endocardium pathomorphology was represented by relief changes of the endocardium, structural arrangement of separate groups of muscular fibers above the endocardium surface, hemorrhages and blood clots, endotheliocyte desquamation, prelacerations, lacerations and destruction of the endocardium.     

Shot range estimation based on pellet distribution in shots with a pump-action shotgun

In the present study, shots from different ranges were fired using a non-choked pump-action shotgun (Hugsan) of calibre 12 with a bore length of 52cm and pellets of various sizes. The aim of the study is range estimation from the distribution of pellets.Using pellets of 2, 3.5, 5 and 8mm size, 5 shots were fired from: 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25ms. The maximum distance between the pellets in vertical and horizontal direction was measured. Statistical evaluation of the data revealed a highly significant correlation for each pellet type; the constant values a and b were calculated to be used in the linear regression equation y=a+bx.As a conclusion, the linear regression equation as well as table data may allow range determination within acceptable ranges of error for the same barrel length and diameter for the same cartridge type. Under identical conditions they may also provide information for pellets of comparable size.     

Forensic-medical aspects in assessment of damage to health as the result of chest and low back spinal traumas

By the law of the Russian Federation, forensic medical examination is obligatory to assess damage to health in chest and low back spinal traumas. In persons who survived spinal trauma the assessment of its severity is regulated by the rules of assessment of the severity of bodily damage and harm to health. Difficulties arising in this assessment are outlined. Damage to health is proposed to be evaluated not only by clinical data on the condition of the patients but also by macro- and microscopic results of forensic-medical examination of the dead body, by the presence and severity of edema of the spinal cord tissue.     

Forensic-medical examination of the effect of current synthetic detergents on the exhibits

A test for trace quantities of synthetic detergents on fabric is described in detail. Feasibility of detergents identification in the spots on the exhibits with thin-layer chromatography on silufol is shown and cases of such identification in biological material are given for illustration. Adequacy of the results is confirmed. Such investigation in forensic-medical practice will raise informative value of expert certification in cases when standard biological methods are unable to provide necessary precision.     

Forensic-medical evaluation of the histologic structure of the hymen

Variants of microscopic structure of the hymen are described and its histological classification based on the stromal component structure is offered. Hypotheses on the hymen histogenesis under different conditions are formulated. Histological analysis and histological classification of the hymen are needed for objective solution of questions arising during expert evaluation of virginity and its violation, probability or improbability of coitus without defloration.     

Forensic-medical obstetric-gynecological examinations in cases on professional delinquency of medical personnel

We studied the trend in the number of forensic-medical examinations in trials against obstetricians and gynecologists conducted in Primorsky Region in 1997-2005. Most typical defects in obstetric-gynecological care are characterized. These cases are analysed in terms of forensic-medical practice. Detection and forensic-medical analysis of the above defects contribute to optimization of the diagnosis and treatment both in obstetric-gynecological practice and in wide medical practice.     

Forensic-medical aspects of dermatoglyphics of the hands and feet

Issues on possibility of using capillary patterns of hands and feet in medicolegal examination of unidentified dead bodies and unknown persons, in cases of disputed paternity and maternity and child substitution are considered. Up-to-date theories on inheritance of dermatoglyphics features, their racial, sexual, age and occupational variability as well as interrelationship with some genetic diseases are analysed. Ways of researches in the field of dermatoglyphics of hands and feet for expert practice are outlined.     

Forensic-medical diagnostic implication of morphine levels in the blood and urine

Toxicological characteristics are presented for 198 cases of acute parenteral poisoning with morphine and heroin. The range of their metabolites concentration in the blood and urine encountered in practice are analysed. Principal causes of death due to opiate poisoning in inpatients are shown. Opiates toxicity was assessed by the method of logit-regression and dose-effect curves for analysis of probability of death depending on opiate metabolite concentration in blood and urine. Relations between probability of death and detection of morphine in biological media of the victims are considered. Morphine concentrations in the blood and urine undoubtedly indicating morphine poisoning are determined.     

Forensic-medical evaluation of medical care errors in obstetric-gynecological practice

The authors show the necessity of elaboration and practical application of normative documents (standards) and forensic-medical criterions of assessment of defects in obstetric-gynecological medical aid. The examples of the above assessment are given in the article.     

Evaluation of injuries features inflicted by shots from gas guns by emission spectral analysis

The authors describe a methodological approach to emission spectral analysis of material evidences aimed at evaluating the regularities of deposition of the shot metals at the site of injuries inflicted by gas guns. Injuries inflicted by gunshots with chemical cartridges and with shot cartridges, with and without obstructions, from different distances have been examined. The detected regularities may be useful in forensic medical expert evaluations by means of emission spectral analysis in cases with gas gunshots.     

X射线荧光光谱元素分析鉴别猎枪弹丸

目的研究元素分析对不同品牌猎枪弹丸的鉴别能力。方法应用X射线荧光光谱仪对30个弹丸样品进行Pb、Sb元素的半定量分析,并用T检验法对测试数据进行分析。结果同品牌猎枪弹丸的Pb、Sb元素含量无显著性差异,不同品牌弹丸的Pb、Sb元素含量有显著性差异。结论利用X射线荧光光谱仪对弹丸Pb、Sb元素的分析可对猎枪弹的品牌进行鉴别。     

Forensic-medical significance of the characteristics of gunshot perforating fractures of the skull bones

The study was made of gunshot perforating fractures of calvarial bones in cases of lethal perforating head wounds in long distance shots from a 9-mm Makarov gun. Morphological characteristics of inlet and outlet perforating fractures and bone fragments were found to differ. Gunshot fractures in calvarial bones inflicted by bullets from a 9-mm Makarov gun were studied in experiments with different kinetic energy. In low kinetic energy, bullets make oval holes on the outer table of the skull and round holes on the inner table with radial prominences on the walls of bullet channels, large bone fragments; in moderate kinetic energy--make round holes in the outer table and oval on the inner table with skew prominences on the walls of the outlet part of the channels, large and middle-sized flat bone fragments; in high kinetic energy injuries on both tables were round, prominences were cross, bone fragments were flat, small and middle-sized.