Patterns of Trauma Induced by Motorboat and Ferry Propellers as Illustrated by Three Known Cases from Rhode Island*

Abstract: Understanding patterns of trauma is important to determining cause and manner of death. A thorough evaluation of taphonomy, trauma, and bone fracture mechanisms is necessary to reconstruct the circumstances of the death. This study examines the skeletal trauma caused by boat propeller strikes in terms of wound characteristics and location based on three cases from Rhode Island. These case studies review the traumatic characteristics caused by propeller injuries and highlight the anatomic regions most likely to sustain skeletal trauma. With this information, investigators may be able to identify propeller trauma even in severely decomposed remains. The discussion of boat propeller trauma also raises issues regarding how forensic anthropologists and forensic pathologists classify trauma (specifically blunt force vs. sharp) and highlights semantic issues arising in trauma classification. The study also discusses why these propeller cases should be classified as blunt trauma rather than sharp or chop/hack trauma. Ultimately, the authors urge consistency and communication between pathologist and forensic anthropologists performing trauma analyses.     

大鼠脑外伤后脑组织MMP-9的表达与损伤时间相关性

目的观察大鼠脑外伤后脑组织MMP-9的表达规律,探讨其在损伤时间推断中的应用价值。方法健康SD大鼠75只,随机分为损伤组、假损伤组和正常对照组。损伤组采用自由落体方法建立脑损伤模型;致脑损伤后分10个时间点,采用HE染色观察损伤区的变化,采用免疫组化方法检测各时间点阳性细胞的种类和比值,并与假损伤组和对照组进行统计分析比较。结果免疫组化染色显示损伤组伤后1h可见中性粒细胞阳性着色,6h后可见神经细胞阳性染色并逐渐增强,伤后5d阳性细胞数达到峰值,而后开始减弱,14d基本消失。假损伤组和正常对照组未见阳性表达。将实验组中2h～7d阳性细胞比值与其它各时间点相比,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);实验组各时间点与假损伤组和对照组相比,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。统计分析结果见表1。结论损伤后MMP-9阳性表达的规律性,有望成为脑损伤时间判定的参考指标。     

侵入性创伤的微分析——死亡方式的多学科综合分析法

通过概述荷兰法庭科学研究所内法医病理学、法医人类学、工具痕迹学及微量物证学多学科联合进行致伤物推断及致伤物认定的方法。不同领域的法庭科学专家对于案件的检验结果可以相互印证,综合分析各专业检验结果后,得出案件的鉴定结论,并为法庭提供最有效的证据。多学科交叉检验的方法得出的结论,显示出极高的法庭证据价值,更为重要的是能够为致伤物推断和认定提供刑事侦查方向。     

肺动脉血栓栓塞猝死23例法医病理学分析

目的分析肺动脉血栓栓塞(pulmonary thromboembolism,PTE)猝死的法医病理学特点,探讨血栓的演变过程及外伤等邻近事件与PTE猝死的因果关系判定方法。方法对四川华西法医学鉴定中心1998—2008年23例PTE猝死案件进行回顾分析。结果PTE猝死合并外伤、手术、制动等危险因素,其中外伤12例,手术21例;院内发生22例,以伤后住院时间1～2周及术后1周多见。PTE中17例为反复性栓子栓塞,余为一次性栓塞。栓子来源于下肢深静脉系统16例,左侧多见。结论明确栓子的来源、外伤及外科手术等邻近事件对于确定PTE猝死是至关重要的。     

人体器官移植中生命权法律保护的探讨

生命权是一切权利之根本,属于基本人权之范畴。作为挽救病人生命的重要方式,人体器官移植应恪守尊重生命权的原则。因此,对人体器官捐献、摘取和器官捐献者生命状态的判定应遵循严格程序,器官摘取和移植中的相关法律责任要明确规定。我国人体器官移植方面的法律法规,也要根据上述要求,加以完善。     

颅脑外伤致运动和感觉障碍的评残时机

目的研究颅脑外伤致运动、感觉障碍相对合理准确的最佳鉴定时机。方法分别收集108例交通事故颅脑外伤患者伤后不同时间段（3、6、9、12、15、18月）的病史、影像学及电生理检查资料,并对患者家属进行随访调查,进行法医学检验,据此做出诊断并进行伤残等级评定;同时分别应用脑卒中残损评价表（Stroke Impairment Assessment Set,SIAS）、日常生活能力量表（Activity of Daily Living Scale,ADL）和Fugl-Meyer评定表（Fugl-Meyer assessment,FMA）对患者进行测验。结果SIAS、ADL、FMA对不同等级伤残及不同时间段区分良好,整体样本显示患者SIAS、ADL、FMA平均值9月至18月变化无差别,轻度伤残SIAS、ADL、FMA平均值6月至18月变化无差别,中度伤残SIAS、ADL、FMA平均值9月至18月变化无差别,重度伤残SIAS、ADL、FMA平均值12月至18月变化无差别。结论颅脑外伤所致运动、感觉障碍评残时机应在医疗终结以后,轻度伤残（7～10级）最佳评残时机为颅脑外伤后6个月,中度伤残（4～6级）评残时机以颅脑外伤后9个月为宜,重度伤残（1～3级）评残时机不应短于伤后12个月,视具体情况可以适当延后评残。     

Noise Trauma Induced by a Mousetrap—Sound Pressure Level Measurement of Vole Captive Bolt Devices

Abstract: While ballistic parameters of vole captive bolt devices have been reported, there is no investigation on their hazardous potential to cause noise trauma. The aim of this experimental study was to measure the sound pressure levels of vole captive bolt devices. Two different shooting devices were examined with a modular precision sound level meter on an outdoor firing range. Measurements were taken in a semi‐circular configuration with measuring points 0° in front of the muzzle, 90° at right angle of the muzzle, and 180° behind the shooting device. Distances between muzzle and microphone were 0.5, 1, 2, 10, and 20 m. Sound pressure levels exceeded 130 dB(C) at any measuring point within the 20‐m area. Highest measurements (more than 172 dB[C]) were taken in the 0° direction at the 0.5‐m distance for both shooting devices proving the hazardous potential of these gadgets to cause noise trauma.     

Skeletal Indicators of Shark Feeding on Human Remains: Evidence from Florida Forensic Anthropology Cases

This research examines a series of six Florida forensic anthropology cases that exhibit taphonomic evidence of marine deposition and shark‐feeding activities. In each case, we analyzed patterns of trauma/damage on the skeletal remains (e.g., sharp‐force bone gouges and punctures) and possible mechanisms by which they were inflicted during shark predation/scavenging. In some cases, shark teeth were embedded in the remains; in the absence of this evidence, we measured interdental distance from defects in the bone to estimate shark body length, as well as to draw inferences about the potential species responsible. We discuss similarities and differences among the cases and make comparisons to literature documenting diagnostic shark‐inflicted damage to human remains from nearby regions. We find that the majority of cases potentially involve bull or tiger sharks scavenging the remains of previously deceased, adult male individuals. This scavenging results in a distinctive taphonomic signature including incised gouges in cortical bone.     

Flail Chest Following Failed Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation

Following the death of a woman with blunt force chest trauma, the question was asked how common was the finding at autopsy of a flail chest in decedents after failed cardiopulmonary resuscitation. It was suggested in court that this was an uncommon occurrence. To address this issue, autopsy cases in adults (>18 years) with rib fractures attributable to cardiopulmonary resuscitation were taken from the files of Forensic Science SA over a 7‐year period from 2008 to 2014. Flail chest injuries were defined as those arising from fractures at two sites in at least three consecutive ribs. From 236 cases with rib fractures attributed to resuscitation, a total of 43 flail chest injuries were found in 35 cases (14.8%). The majority occurred in the 60‐79‐year‐old age group. These data suggest that flail chest injuries are a more common sequelae of cardiopulmonary resuscitation than has been previously appreciated in autopsy cases, particularly in the elderly.