A checklist of arthropods associated with rat carrion in a montane locality of northern Venezuela

This is the first report of arthropods associated with carrion in Venezuela, using laboratory bred rats (Rattus norvegicus). Rat carcasses were exposed to colonization by arthropods in neighboring montane savanna and cloud forest habitats in the state of Miranda. The taxonomic composition of the arthropods varied between both ecosystems. Scarabaeidae, Silphidae, Micropezidae, Phoridae, Vespidae and one species of ant, were collected only in the cloud forest. Dermestes maculatus, Chrysomya albiceps, Termitidae and most species of ants, were found only in the savanna. Fourteen species were considered to be of primary forensic importance: D. maculatus, Oxelytrum discicolle, Calliphora sp., Cochliomyia macellaria, Compsomyiops sp., C. albiceps, Phaenicia cuprina, P. sericata, P. eximia, Fannia sp., Puliciphora sp., Megaselia scalaris, Ravina sp. and Sarcophaga sp.     

STR遗传多态性调查中样本量和采样方式选择初探

目的对STR基因座进行遗传学调查时样本量大小和采样方式进行考察分析。方法用DNA Typer~(TM)19试剂盒对血卡样本进行直扩,ABI3730型遗传分析仪电泳检测,Genemapper ID v3.2软件进行等位基因分型,根据公式计算群体遗传学参数。计算样本量在50、100、150、200、250、300、350、400、450、500十个水平上遗传多态性水平,并评估与总体的差异。计算常见的四种采样方法(整群采样、随机采样、系统采样、分层采样)所抽取样本遗传多态性水平,并评估抽样误差。结果 18个STR基因座在河北地区16 058份随机样本共检出317种等位基因,基因频率分布在3.114e-5~0.515。18个STR基因座在河北群体水平上PM为6.04e-14,TDP为0.999 999 999 999 94,CEP为0.999 999 987 514 828。PM值、CEP值在样本量大于200后中值基本稳定。四种抽样方法的抽样误差大小是:整群抽样≥单纯随机抽样≥系统抽样≥分层抽样。结论 DNATyper~(TM)19试剂盒的18个STR基因座在河北地区具有较高的遗传多态性水平。在小范围内进行人群频率调查时,可随机选择200份样本代表当地遗传多态性水平。在相对较大范围或遗传背景复杂的区域,可采用分层抽样的方法降低抽样误差。     

北京周边水域冬季常见硅藻的初步调查

目的初步探索建立北京地区硅藻数据库的方法。方法在北京地区5个自然主要水系和7个局部水域,选取17处采水点,在12月～3月份提取水样,通过形态特征辨识硅藻的属、种,根据镜下单位面积数量统计出不同属、种的硅藻在北京地区的地域分布特点。结果北京地区5个主要自然水系,硅藻种类检出12种,但属类只有3种;局部水域的硅藻种类检出有11种,属类多达7种,其它大多数水域每一处只有1种硅藻。结论目前硅藻的检验仍不失为一种行之有效的区别溺死与死后入水尸体的方法。     

成都市嗜尸昆虫种类季节变化研究

目的 研究成都市嗜尸昆虫种类及其与季节变化的关系。方法 经过两年重复试验,观察3～11月兔尸上嗜尸昆虫种类变化。结果 发现3～11月兔尸上出现的嗜尸昆虫种类主要有舍蝇、丝光绿蝇、大头金蝇、赭尾麻蝇、巨阿尾丽蝇。其中,巨阿尾丽蝇见于3、4月,舍蝇出现于4月中旬至10月初,而大头金蝇、丝光绿蝇、赭尾麻蝇则自3月至10月中下旬均可见到,10月底以后则见不到任何嗜尸苍蝇。幼虫的出现晚于成虫1～4天不等,与季节及环境有关。结论 通过舍蝇、丝光绿蝇、大头金蝇、赭尾麻绳、巨阿尾丽蝇的生命周期的研究,有望为成都市法医学实践中死亡时间的推断提供依据。     

根据食尸性蝇类推断死亡时间的研究进展

法医昆虫学是应用昆虫学知识解决法医实践中所遇到的相关问题的一门科学。食尸性蝇类在尸体的腐败分解中发挥着重要的作用,运用食尸性蝇类的特点可以更准确进行死亡时间推断,为侦查破案提供线索。本文对依据食尸性蝇类推断死亡时间的方法进行综述,以期为后续的研究与实践应用参考和借鉴。     

Initial study of arthropods succession and pig carrion decomposition in two freshwater ecosystems in the Colombian Andes

Entomological succession and trophic roles of arthropods associated with different stages of carcass decomposition were studied to estimate the post-mortem submersion interval in two freshwater ecosystems in the Colombian Andes, at an altitude of 2614 m. Pig carcasses were employed as models placed 68 m apart, one in a stream (lotic) and another in an artificial lake (lentic). Decomposition time to skeletal remains was 74 days in the lake and 80 days in the stream. Six phases of decomposition were established: submerged fresh, early floating, floating decay, bloated deterioration, floating remains and sunken remains. A total of 18,832 organisms associated with the carcasses were collected: 11,487 in the lake (four orders, 19 families and 33 species) and 7345 in the stream (eight orders, 15 families and 25 species). Organisms were classified in the following ecological categories: shredders, collectors, predators, necrophagous, sarcosaprophagous and opportunists. Physical and chemical properties of the habitats, such as water temperature, CO(2) and conductivity, varied according to rainfall. In the lake, shredders (Coleoptera: Tropisternus sp. and Berosus sp.) and collectors (Diptera: Chironomus sp.) were found to be associated with submerged phases. Predators (Odonata) were only present during the first phases. Coleoptera (Dytiscidae) were found during floating decay and bloated deterioration stages. In the stream, shredders (Hyalella sp.) and collectors (Simulium sp.) were found during all stages, whereas the predator Oxelytrum discicolle was found exclusively during the floating stages, during which body temperature increased in a fashion similar to active decay in terrestrial environments.     

A preliminary investigation on the distribution of cannabinoids in man

An LC/MS/MS procedure to determine THC along with its major metabolites 11-OH-THC, THC-COOH and its glucuronide as well as the cannabinoids CBD and CBN was applied to 5 post mortem cases to study their distribution into some less commonly studied matrices. Analytes were determined in fluids and tissue homogenates following protein precipitation and liquid-liquid extraction. Gall bladder fluid exhibited maximum concentrations of all analytes except THC, which was detectable in high concentrations in muscle tissue along with CBD. THC was also present in lung specimens, whereas its concentration in liver samples was low or not detectable at all. Liver und kidney specimens contained appreciable amounts of THC-COOglu. Findings from bile support extensive enterohepatic recirculation of the glucuronide. Muscle tissue seems an interesting specimen to detect multiple cannabis use, and brain may serve as an alternative specimen for blood; nevertheless, the present findings should be substantiated by further investigations.     

A survey of the psycho-social aspects of murderers in Iran

The psycho-social aspects of 72 murderers (one female, 71 males) were studied. The murderers came from the Khoozestan and the Lorestan provinces of Iran. One of them had been transferred from the north of Iran (probably on exile).The murderers were mostly from lower social classes and crowded homes. The majority of them had worked as unskilled labourers or farmers. A great number of them regretted their action but a few were proud of what they had done. They believed that they had saved the chastity of their family which is very important in Islam.None of them were epileptic nor had any history of it. Four claimed to be nervous. Eight were alcoholics and three were addicted to drugs. One of them was suspected of having manic-depressive psychosis and only one had paranoid schizophrenia. The female and four of the males were psychopaths.     

A method of retrospective determination of the onset of the development of insects on the corpse

Calculation method of retrospective determination of insect development onset in a cadaver is based on temperature parameters which regulate insect growth. Method contributes to reliable scientific estimation of postmortem interval on the basis of entomologic studies performed.     

A preliminary investigation of the stages of adipocere formation

Adipocere is a postmortem decomposition product which forms from a body's adipose tissue. This study aimed to chemically demonstrate the process of conversion from adipose tissue to adipocere. Samples of adipocere were collected from pig cadavers that were allowed to decompose for varying intervals. Samples of soil were collected from beneath the cadavers and analyzed to determine the leaching effect of adipocere. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) was used to quantify the fatty acid composition of pig adipocere. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used as a confirmatory test and to identify other components such as triglycerides and calcium salts of fatty acids. The study demonstrates the process of adipocere formation and the stages of formation through which the process passes using chemical techniques.     

尸源性昆虫的法医学研究进展

尸源性昆虫学是应用昆虫学知识解决有关法律问题的法医学分支学科,对死亡时间的推断。特别是腐败尸体的死后间隔时间的推断等方面具有无可比拟的优越性。本文根据国内外近期法医昆虫学方面的研究进展,阐述了尸源性昆虫的研究历史、种类和侵蚀过程,并总结了尸源性昆虫形态学及分子生物学的种属鉴定方法。及近几年来在推断死亡时间方面的具体应用。就尸源性昆虫在法医学领域内的应用及进展进行综述。     

A case of Cotard's syndrome associated with self-starvation

Cotard's syndrome is a psychotic condition often associated with nihilistic delusions. This syndrome can be associated with destructive behaviors directed at the self and/or others. In this report we highlight the psychiatric-legal issues involving a case of Cotard's syndrome associated with self-starvation.     

A preliminary immunohistochemical study of fibronectin in viral myocarditis

For postmortem diagnosis of viral myocarditis, 12 specimens of heart in autopsy were studied immunohistochemically with anti-fibronectin(FN) antibody. Among 5 cases with definite or suspected myocarditis, intensive FN-positive could be found in all monocytes, macrophages and some neutrophils and there were 3 cases with FN-positive cardiomyocytes. While in 3 violent death cases with leucocytes infiltration in the interstitial tissue of myocardia, no FN-positive cardiomocytes were observed, which was the same as that of 4 case without cardiac pathological changes. Moreover, there were rarely FN-positive leucocytes in the 7 cases without viral myocarditis. The results suggest that the immunohistochemical observation of FN in myocardia might be of value for detecting slight degeneration of cardiomyocytes and determining the inflammatory leucocyte infiltration in myocarditis.     

A consultant's survey of the patients in a maximum security hospital

The patients at a state maximum security forensic facility were interviewed by a psychiatrist and their files reviewed. Only 43 of the 203 patients were judged to be suitable for the facility. Nearly 60% of the pretrial defendants were judged to be capable of proceeding to trial. Of the patients, 18% were judged to be malingering or avoiding trial or prison. The implications of these findings are discussed.