Color change in dental tissue as a sign of thermal damage

The appearance of hard human tissue after thermal damage permits certain conclusions to be drawn with regard to fire parameters. In addition to morphological destruction, the change in color of dental tissues like enamel, dentine, and cement is also important. We studied teeth extracted from 330 human males and females under well-defined time and temperature conditions. Using the DIN and RAL color indexes, the color phenomenon was evaluated on the basis of the amount of glowing obtained when the teeth were heated. It is easiest to determine the color change in cement, as no calculus or hindering plaques are on the root surface. In addition to this, destruction of the tooth root takes place only during extreme combustion conditions. Determining the dentine color is more difficult and is possible only after the enamel splits. Also, the different dentine thicknesses hinders the observation of color. When the enamel was tested, it was found that the differences in color caused by high temperatures are unimportant. Moreover, the enamel burst into small particles. The effect we observed regarding the anthracite lustre using low temperatures was typical, and the best results were obtained in dental roots with eight color scales. All three dental hard tissues have in common that the variations in color appear regularly and successively according to ascending temperature or duration of time: natural dental color, black, brown, blue, grey, white, and pink. In these processes, the temperature and combustion time are inversely proportional to the velocity of color change. The literature is discussed that deals with temperature- and time-dependent color phenomena of dental hard tissues destroyed as a result of thermal damage.     

Simon's bleedings as a vital sign of hanging--a literature review

The intervertebral haemorrhages described by Simon in 1968 as a vital sign of hanging have been verified and endorsed by other authors. They occur in 40-50 % of hanging cases, most frequently in the lumbar spine, in younger age groups, and in cases of free suspension. The haemorrhages are not unique to hanging, but may occur in particular as a result of other traumatic elongation or overextension of the spinal column (e. g. in the course of traffic accidents). In cases of decomposition of the body, "false positive" findings are relatively common. As external findings scarcely provide any reliable vital signs of hanging, there is still a high demand for autopsies. In addition to Simon's bleedings, internal findings which are diagnostically conclusive also include microscopic examinations of the lungs and the neck musculature. More recent findings such as haemorrhages in the back and auxiliary respiratory muscles as well as the intestinal wall, if confirmed, could supplement Simon's bleedings. Frei's fibre sample and evidence of histamine in the ligature mark should not be neglected. Finally, it must be emphasized that the forensic assessment of hanging cases should always be based on a criminological and forensic evaluation of all the circumstances of the offence as well as on post-mortem findings.     

Cathepsin activity in the myocardium and skeletal muscles as a sign of the time of death

Determination of postmortem interval according to the time course of cathepsins activity within 5 days since death was carried out using myocardium and skeletal muscles of white breedless rats and cadavers of people who died of craniocerebral trauma. Natural time course of changes in cathepsins activity was determined which makes it possible to use these values as one of criteria in determination of postmortem interval.     

"Crow's feet wrinkles" as a sign of preserved consciousness]

We report on 3 deaths after the influence of high voltage current, fire and traumatic injury respectively. In all cases we found radial bands beside the eyes--so called "crow's feet". They are a sign of vital reaction in the cases of traumatic and thermic injury, possibly also in high-voltage burns due to sparking. In general, the "crow's feet" show that the person was conscious at the moment of the event.     

Blood aspiration as a vital sign detected by postmortem computed tomography imaging

Blood aspiration is a significant forensic finding. In this study, we examined the value of postmortem computed tomography (CT) imaging in evaluating findings of blood aspiration. We selected 37 cases with autopsy evidence of blood in the lungs and/or in the airways previously submitted to total-body CT scanning. The CT-images were retrospectively analyzed. In one case with pulmonary blood aspiration, biopsy specimens were obtained under CT guide for histological examination. In six cases, CT detected pulmonary abnormalities suggestive of blood aspiration, not mentioned in the autopsy reports. CT reconstructions provided additional data about the distribution and extent of aspiration. In one needle-biopsied case, the pulmonary specimens showed blood in the alveoli. We suggest the use of CT imaging as a tool complementary to traditional techniques in cases of blood aspiration to avoid misdiagnosis, to guide the investigation of lung tissue, and to allow for more evidence-based inferences on the cause of death.     

Pigmentation of articular surfaces of bones as an identification factor: a unique case report

One of the classic problems of forensic pathology, the identification of a skeletal remains, involves techniques and expertise that span a number of disciplines. This forensic endeavor offers a more challenging and creative exercise because identification with medical and legal certainty often requires thinking beyond routine workups. Identification workups are creative in developing features that are unique as presented by an individual decedent. In this case report, a rare pathologic condition, ochronosis, has helped in the accurate identification of an individual from a systematic skeletal remains examination.     

The selective spatial filtration of roentgenograms in the forensic medical expertise of stab-cutting wounds]

Investigation of 14 roentgenograms of skin preparations with cut-stab wounds, treated by spatial filtration method in medium and high spatial frequency modes was performed using material of 13 specific cases. This resulted in detection of disturbances of skin pattern left at the area of former skin cone in 7 cases while in 2 cases indistinct heel traces were seen. Changes in skin pattern were not recorded on roentgenograms of skin preparation of 12 experimental cut-stab wounds obtained on cadaveric skin.     

Classification of falling from a height

A classification of falling from a height is suggested; it involves different factors and conditions influencing the infliction of injuries: presence or absence of a preliminary acceleration and of possible obstacles in the body flight route; landing surface properties and a height of falling etc. A study and analysis of published data and author's independent observations provided a basis for the classification.     

Mandibular ramus height as an indicator of human infant age

There were two goals to be achieved from the analysis of 53 skeletonized infants from the Southwest Collection at the National Museum of Natural History. The first objective was to determine whether this infant sample could be aged based on a mandibular measurement. The second was to determine which dimension of the mandible, if any, most accurately predicts infant age within a six-month range. Seven osteometric measurements were applied to each mandible. Statistical analysis determined that the individuals in the Smithsonian's Southwest Collection that were under two-years-old could be accurately aged to within six months. Out of these seven measurements the most accurate age-at-death estimates were generated based on the maximum height of the mandibular ramus. This finding can potentially aid investigators in determining the age-at-death of infants.     

Fatty degeneration of myocardial cells as a sign of death due to hypothermia versus degenerative deposition of lipofuscin

Lipid-deposits in internal organs, e.g. nephrons, are discussed as reliable marker to determine hypothermia as cause of death. While investigations concerning lipid vacuoles in the epithelium of the renal tubules are already published, there is no systematic information available about hypothermia and lipid deposits in cardiomyocytes. Therefore, this retrospective study presents the first results of lipid-stainings of myocardial samples taken by autopsies in hypothermia-cases in comparison to samples from a control group. It was the aim of the study to clarify the conceivable causal relationship between death due to hypothermia and lipid-deposits apart from lipofuscin and fatty degeneration, respectively, in cardiomyocytes.     

Histological diagnosis of myocardial sarcoidosis in a fatal fall from a height

The major issues of medico-legal relevance in fatal falls from a height are the manner of death and the reconstruction of the event. We present a peculiar case of a fatal fall from a height of about 9 m, involving a 27-year-old woman. At the death scene investigation, no suicide notes, housebreaking marks, or signs of fight were found, thus weakening both the suicide and homicide hypotheses. Combining circumstantial, autopsy and toxicology data, the kinematic analysis of the jump/fall, and the histological evidence of a myocardial sarcoidosis involving the left ventricle, we hypothesized that the young woman might have accidentally fallen from the window because of a sudden loss of consciousness related to cardiac disease undiagnosed during life. We believe that our brief report is a good example of the powerful additional information that histological investigations can offer for reconstructing the dynamics of the event in falls from a height and other traumatic fatalities.     

Is the aeration of the lungs a reliable sign of live birth?

One of the most important medico-legal questions is whether an infant was born alive or not. The aerated lungs do not mean in every case that the newborn had taken a breath. Under various conditions the aerated lungs may turn into unaerated ones and, on the other hand, a stillborn's lungs may seem aerated. The critical evaluation of the histological and macroscopical examinations may aid in solving the question.