Detection of semen in stains on material evidences by quantitative immunofluorescence test

Russian and foreign methods used in forensic medicine for detection of the semen in stains on material evidences are compared. The potentialities of quantitative immunofluorescence test for detection of the semen in stains on material evidences, developed at Bureau for Forensic Medical Expert Evaluations of the Leningrad region, are described. Unlike other methods used in Russia, this method detects the semen in stains in the absence of spermatozoa and in stains with very low amount of the semen. Our modification allows objective recording of the results with computer processing. The method is cheaper than its foreign analogs and its sensitivity is similar to them.     

Forensic medical evaluation of professional working capacity in victims, who needs additional care

The philosophy of evaluating the need of a victim in extra care is discussed. The method for evaluating the need in transport vehicles for the victim is described in detail. Legislative documents which help solve such problems are cited, including those used by committees of forensic medical evaluations.     

Isolation of nitrobenzene from biological material

Toluene is recommended as an agent for extraction of nitrobenzene from biological material. Optimal conditions for nitrobenzene isolation from cadaveric human liver are defined and the results of isolation are quantitatively evaluated.     

Asphyxial death during prone restraint revisited: a report of 21 cases

Determining the cause of death when a restrained person suddenly dies is a problem for death investigators. Twenty-one cases of death during prone restraint are reported as examples of the common elements and range of variation in these apparently asphyxial events. A reasonable diagnosis of restraint asphyxia can usually be made after ruling out other causes and collecting supportive participant and witness statements in a timely fashion. Common elements in this syndrome include prone restraint with pressure on the upper torso; handcuffing, leg restraint, or hogtying; acute psychosis and agitation, often stimulant drug induced; physical exertion and struggle; and obesity. Establishing a temporal association between the restraint and the sudden loss of consciousness/death is critical to making a correct determination of cause of death.     

Pulmonary arterial fibromuscular dysplasia: a rare cause of fulminant lung hemorrhage

Arterial fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) represents a collection of noninflammatory and nonatherosclerotic vascular diseases with a poorly understood etiology. Classically occurring in renal and cerebral arteries, this entity has also been reported in coronary, carotid, and other medium and small arteries. One case occurring in the pulmonary vasculature has been reported. Fatal hemothorax and lung hemorrhage have multiple causes, including other vascular malformations and connective tissue disorders; however, cases of pulmonary FMD are exceedingly rare. We report what appears to be the second such association, occurring in a 69-year-old man. The patient presented with a 3-week history of increasing dyspnea, fatigue, and productive cough; 3 days of increasing back and chest pain; and syncope. Chest radiograph showed a "white-out" of the left lung. The patient died shortly after admission from a fulminant respiratory disease of undetermined etiology. At autopsy he was found to have a massive left hemothorax resulting from an unsuspected pulmonary arterial fibromuscular dysplasia.