The use of odontograms and panoramic roentgenography in personal identification]

Study of dental root surfaces prompted the authors to add to the routine odontogram 28 more maxillary surfaces and 22 mandibular surfaces, this making a total of 210 diagnostic signs. Employment of amplified panoramic roentgenography permitted the authors to detect specific features of the dental cavity, root canals, periodontal fissure structure, the presence of caries and its complications, inflammatory and systemic involvement, injury to the jaws and teeth. Visual examination of dental status and application of panoramic roentgenography will help improve forensic medical personal identification.     

A pathological study of sudden coronary death in China: report of 89 autopsy cases.

This paper reports the results of a forensic pathological study of 89 autopsy cases of Sudden Coronary Death (SCD). Of 89 cases, 63 (52 male, 11 female) were narrowed by 76-100% in cross-sectional area (XSA) of the coronary artery (CA) and 26 (22 male, 4 female), by 51-75%. Atherosclerotic plaques in the CA were serious and extensive, especially in the left anterior descending and often involved several branches of CA at the same time. Recent thrombosis was found in 18 cases, haemorrhage in plaques in 17 cases. Only 2 cases had visible acute myocardial infarction. Inflammatory cell infiltration was found in coronary plaques in 36 cases. Myocardial fibrosis or small scar formation was detected in 51 cases. It is suggested that although the incidence of coronary heart disease (CHD) is low in China, SCD is the commonest mode of Sudden Unexpected Death. The majority of SCD (52%) were middle aged males (30-49 years old). Most of the cases died suddenly during sleep without any clear precipitating factors. The characteristics of occurrence and pathological changes in the CA and myocardium and the pathological diagnosis of SCD are also analysed and discussed.     

Prevalence and distribution of premarital aggression among couples applying for a marriage license

This study used a modified version of the Conflict Tactics Scale to examine the prevalence of premarital aggression in a community sample of husbands and wives. The sample consisted of 625 couples participating in a longitudinal study of marital functioning and alcohol use. Consistent with past studies, the overall prevalence rate of husband-to-wife premarital aggression was 35%. Sociodemographic variables were associated with premarital aggression, with differences emerging primarily with regard to moderate aggression rather than mild aggression. Further, factors such as race, education, social class, cohabitation, and presence of children were independently associated with premarital aggression. This study is one of the first to examine premarital aggression in a large, heterogeneous sample of young husbands and wives at the same stage of relationship development. Future analyses will examine the prevalence, frequency, and continuity of husband and wife aggression over the first year of marriage.     

A psychiatric study of persons charged with arson.

A total of 29 court-referred individuals charged with arson were psychiatrically studied. From this pre-trial cohort from a large heterogeneous urban population base, a higher rate of psychosis was found than in other recent studies. However, consistent with these studies was the rarity of the diagnosis of pyromania. An important finding of this study was the substantial number of fires set by individuals who are homeless mentally disordered or substance abusing, or both.