An unusual blunt force trauma pattern and mechanism to the cranial vault: Investigation of an atypical infant homicide

This case report presents an unusual fracture pattern in the cranium of a four-month-old infant indicative of child abuse. Upon postmortem examination, the infant presented with numerous bilateral linear cranial fractures running perpendicular to the sagittal suture with depressed and curvilinear fractures apparent on the supra-auricular surfaces of the cranium. Histological evidence indicates multiple traumatic events to the cranium. In addition, the stair-step pattern of a parietal fracture may represent multiple contiguous fractures from repeated loading of the head at different times with variation of the focal points of compressive force. Additionally, the left humerus, left radius, and left ulna have healing metaphyseal fractures, and the left ulna also has an antemortem diaphyseal fracture which resulted in the distal metaphysis being rotated 45 degrees medially. Integration of autopsy, anthropological, and neuropathological reports for this case suggest multiple inflicted injury episodes with a repeated atypical mechanism(s) to the cranial vault of the infant. During investigative interviews, the caretaker admitted to squeezing the infant's head and neck on multiple occasions to quiet the child. This reported abusive mechanism is consistent with the pattern of symmetric cranial fractures and soft tissue injuries indicating asphyxiation. This case report provides forensic investigators with a potential trauma mechanism to explore in cases when a similar pattern of cranial trauma is observed and highlights the need for greater research on fracture propagation and fracture healing in the infant cranium.     

Denial of pregnancy and neonaticide: A historical overview and case report

While denial of pregnancy and neonaticide are rare, they are potentially associated and share some risk factors. Neonaticide has been proposed as the extreme outcome of a denial of pregnancy. However, the process leading to such a possible outcome is not yet fully understood. The primary goal of this essay is to examine the various definitions and ambiguities surrounding the denial of pregnancy. The case of a young woman with a history of two denied pregnancies with diverse characteristics and outcomes, the latest of which resulted in neonaticide, is then reported and examined. A forensic psychiatric evaluation was also performed to reconstruct the woman's mental state at the time of the crime. The forensic pathological analysis of the newborn, abandoned near the sea while still alive, is described. The victim's body showed signs of shaken baby syndrome. We contend that differing levels of awareness during a denial of pregnancy might not be predictive of the potential delivery outcome in terms of threat to the newborn's survival, according to the forensic pathological and psychopathological data of the current case. Early identification of women affected by denial of pregnancy who pose a danger of committing infanticide is hampered by both intrinsic traits (dissimulation, unawareness, low propensity to seek assistance) and environmental factors (isolation, low socioeconomic level, poor education.). A previous history of denial of pregnancy should activate health and support services to reduce the potential risks for the mother and the child.     

Postmortem genetic testing in sudden unexplained death: A public health laboratory experience

Sudden unexplained death in the young poses a diagnostically challenging situation for practicing autopsy pathologists, especially in the absence of anatomic and toxicological findings. Postmortem genetic testing may identify pathogenic variants in the deceased of such cases, including those associated with arrhythmogenic channelopathies and cardiomyopathies. The Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene (WSLH) is a state-run public health laboratory which performs postmortem genetic testing at no cost to Wisconsin medical examiners and coroners. The current study examines sequencing data from 18 deceased patients (ages 2 months to 49 years, 5 females) submitted to WSLH, from 2016 to 2021. Panel-based analysis was performed on 10 cases, and whole exome sequencing was performed on the most recent 8 cases. Genetic variants were identified in 14 of 18 decedents (77.8%), including 7 with pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants (38.9%). Whole exome sequencing was more likely to yield a positive result, more variants per decedent, and a larger number of variants of uncertain significance. While panel-based testing may offer definitive pathogenic variants in some cases, less frequent variants may be excluded. Whole exome testing may identify rare variants missed by panels, but increased yield of variants of uncertain significance may be difficult to interpret. Postmortem genetic testing in young decedents of sudden unexplained death can provide invaluable information to autopsy pathologists to establish accurate cause and manner of death and to decedent's relatives to allow appropriate management. A public health laboratory model may be a financially advisable alternative to commercial laboratories for medical examiner's/coroner's offices.     

脱贫攻坚精神的丰富内涵——基于习近平重要论述的分析

在脱贫攻坚伟大斗争中,中国共产党带领全国人民不仅取得了物质上的累累硕果,也取得了精神上的累累硕果,锻造形成了上下同心、尽锐出战、精准务实、开拓创新、攻坚克难、不负人民的脱贫攻坚精神。脱贫攻坚精神,是中国共产党性质宗旨、中国人民意志品质、中华民族精神的生动写照,是爱国主义、集体主义、社会主义思想的集中体现,是中国精神、中国价值、中国力量的充分彰显,赓续传承了伟大民族精神和时代精神。在全面建设社会主义现代化国家新征程上,我们要深入研究并大力弘扬脱贫攻坚伟大斗争中锻造形成的脱贫攻坚精神。     

根据肘关节判别中国人性别的研究

目的 建立一种既不破坏原始物证又能快速判定性别的方法。方法 在Ｘ线观片灯下，对１７－１８岁１９０例男、女性肘关节正位Ｘ线片、用直尺进行６项指标的测量；并应用逐步回归分析方法建立下肘关节性别的函数式。结果 统计学计算，所测量的６项指标均具有显著的性别差异，所建立的函数式可用于判定性别。结论 应用肘关节正位Ｘ线片判定性别，是一种准确，简单，快速，便于掌握，易于推广且不破坏原始物证的方法，本方法经检验适     

《刑事诉讼法》再修改的展望与期待

1996年修改后的《刑事诉讼法》施行至今已逾十余年。期间,我国《宪法》先后历经两次重要修正,一些与刑事诉讼密切相关的国际公约相继获得签署或者批准,实现科学发展、构建和谐社会、贯彻以人为本已成为当今时代的主题,深化司法体制和工作机制改革、建设公正高效权威的社会主义司法制度正在有序推进并取得重要进展。在此背景之下,     

Pathway to terrorist behaviors: The role of childhood experiences,personality traits,and ideological motivations in a sample of Iraqi prisoners

Radicalization to terrorism is a multifaceted process with no single theory or approach to explain it. Although research has focused on understanding the process, there is still a dearth of studies that examine an empirically driven pathway to terrorism behavior. This study examines a cross-sectional sample of incarcerated men convicted of terrorism in Iraq (N = 160). A questionnaire-guided interview included adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), conduct disorder (CD), antisocial personality disorder (ASPD), religious and political ideology, views about causes of terrorism, and the severity of terrorist acts. Path analysis was employed to examine the relationships between these factors and to identify the model with the best fit. After adjusting for age, employment, and location, results indicated that ACEs positively impacted CD, ASPD, religious guidance, and terrorism attitudes. ASPD positively affected political commitment and terrorism attitudes, but inversely affected current religious commitment. Political commitment inversely influenced terrorism attitudes. Religious commitment positively influenced the prioritization of religion in life, which subsequently impacted terrorism attitudes and behavior severity. Additionally, attitudes toward terrorism directly affected the severity of terrorism behavior. All paths in the final model were statistically significant at p < 0.05. Although these findings may be limited in generalizability due to the unique sample, results support the complex and interdependent nature of childhood and adult experiences on the development of both terrorism attitudes and the severity of terrorism behavior.     

大鼠不同程度脑挫伤后caspase-3表达的研究

目的阐明不同程度及不同时间脑挫伤后caspase-3表达的变化。方法应用免疫组织化学染色、Westernblot和RT-PCR方法对48例实验性脑挫伤大鼠的脑组织进行了检验,同时以3例非脑挫伤和3例假手术的脑组织做对照。结果伤后1hcaspase-3即有表达,24～48h达高峰,挫伤后14dcaspase-3仍维持较高水平。阳性细胞多集中于挫伤区及周围带皮质和脑实质内海马区,不同程度脑挫伤各组之间阳性细胞面积和灰度存在差异;损伤组caspase-3酶原裂解增加,不同程度脑挫伤各组之间存在一定的差异;损伤组cas鄄pase-3表达量明显高于对照组;不同程度脑挫伤组之间于各个时间段caspase-3mRNA表达未见差异。结论Caspase-3表达增加,可辅助诊断1h～14d的脑挫伤,caspase-3阳性细胞面积和灰度的变化及酶原裂解程度与脑挫伤程度有关。     

Could NF-kappaB and caspase-3 be markers for estimation of post-interval of human traumatic brain injury?

BACKGROUND: Previous studies in a rat model showed expressions of caspase-3 (p20) and NF-kappaB (p65) in different time after TBI. We test the activation changes of caspase-3 and NF-kappaB of human specimen after traumatic brain injury (TBI) in this study to see whether they could be markers to estimate post-intervals of TBI for forensic practice. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Caspase-3 (p20) and NF-kappaB (p65) immunohistochemical staining were performed on 39 TBI specimens (dead from TBI) and eight controls (dead from none TBI reasons) grouped 0, 12, 24, 48, 72, 168, 264 and 480 h. Positive cells were counted and image analysis techniques were used to determine the morphological changes in each group. RESULTS: Immunohistochemical analysis showed a marked induction of caspase-3 (p20) in every injured group compared with normal controls; each positive group has it's morphological character with variant positive cell count. NF-kappaB (p65) did not showed markedly change compared with normal controls until 168 h after TBI and almost all nerve cells were stained by NF-kappaB (p65) in 264 and 480 h groups. CONCLUSION: NF-kappaB (p65) could contribute to estimate delayed death cases after TBI for forensic applications. Caspase-3 (p20) estimating post-TBI intervals are dubious but could suggest TBI exists.