Development and application of hydrogel oligonucleotide microchips for forensic-medical personal identification as illustrated by ABO locus

The article describes the method defining 5 alleles of ABO blood group typing system by molecular hybridization in hydrogel oligonucleotide microchip. The testing points were SNP variants in positions 261 and 297of exon 6 and in positions 646 and 657 of exon 7. Therefore, 5 ABO blood groups can be easily revealed: A, B, 0(1), 0(1v), 0(2). The method was tested on 10 DNA samples isolated from blood and saliva of unrelated individuals. The results were confirmed by sequencing of the identified allelic fragments. Estimation sensitivity was 25 pg of total DNA input. This technique is cost-effective and easy for use and, therefore, promising for forensic-medical personal identification.     

Diagnosis of acute intoxication with ethyl alcohol in expert practice

Significant chemical and biochemical signs of acute alcoholic intoxication are considered tanatologically. A complex approach to diagnosis of acute poisoning with ethyl alcohol is proposed.     

Current trends in the dynamics of violent and nonviolent deaths and the problems in recording them

The number of forensic autopsies in cases with violent and spontaneous deaths increases from 1984 to 1996 by 11.1 and 25.8%, respectively. The rate of increase in the incidence of violent deaths outstripped 1.6 times the total mortality values. This resulted in an essential increase in the work loading of experts, with an increase in the number of complex expert evaluations. The system of registration of violent deaths is imperfect: it does not provide accurate data on the number of murders and suicides, which are overrated at regional statistical departments in comparison with the records of legal organs, while the values recorded at statistical departments are notably underrated in comparison with forensic medical records. The authors offer amendments and revisions for the current form of medical certificate of death and the order of its filling, granting, and storage.     

Morphologic changes in spinal cord of patients with spinal injuries who died in hospital

Morphologic changes in the spine have been investigated in patients with spinal injuries who died in hospital. The incidence of injuries has been evaluated as 9.3% of mechanical injuries. Purposeful search for possible injuries increased the rate of detection of injuries of the spine and the cord. Spinal cord can be impaired without involving the osseous formations and spinal ligaments. Edema of the cord tissue develops during the early period of injury and prevents the detection of injuries, persisting for a long time after the injury. Edemas are detected even in subjects who died at the site of accident.     

Establishing the personal identity of the victims in aviation catastrophes

Algorithm of organization measures and expert investigations is proposed, based on experience gained in expert studies during liquidation of aircraft catastrophes. It permits effective classification, differentiation, and identification of victims and is based on traditional and high technological methods of investigation.     

Investigation of osteoporotic changes of the long tubular leg bones for identification of human biological age

The authors propose to introduce into expert practice a number of methods estimating age-related osteoporosis by such quantitative characteristics as coefficient of optical transmission, optic density, porosity. The data confirm nonlinear dependence of age dynamics of osteoporotic changes which can be more effectively described by equations of polynomial regression.     

Healthcare Can Change from Within: Sustained Improvement in the Healthcare Response to Intimate Partner Violence

There is a great need to demonstrate sustained improvement in healthcare-based inquiry, intervention, and prevention provided to patients exposed to intimate partner violence (IPV). We evaluated implementation of the Healthcare Can Change from Within model (HCCW) in three primary care clinics and an emergency department within a large healthcare system, using two other primary care clinics for a usual-care comparison on selected variables. Outcome measures included individual-level variables (staff knowledge and attitudes) and system characteristics (clinic policies, procedures, patient education materials, and IPV documentation in patient records). Doctors and nurses reported increased self-efficacy, understanding of referral resources, and understanding of legal issues; IPV knowledge was unchanged. Intervention clinics implemented new policies and procedures, increased patient education, and increased documentation of IPV screening, an improvement which was sustained at 2-year follow-up. Results suggest HCCW is a promising practice for improving the healthcare response to IPV.