Forensic Radiology Pitfalls: CT Imaging in Gunshot Wounds of the Head

Computed tomography (CT) imaging is increasingly used in emergency departments and trauma services and is being offered as a supplemental tool with autopsy in coroner's and medical examiner's offices throughout the United States. The availability of CT images in lieu of traditional X‐rays for medicolegal autopsies may lead to misinterpretation of images for forensic pathologists who are not familiar with these types of images. Forensic pathologists must become familiar with CT imaging, the basis of CT image formation and how to interpret CT images appropriately. We highlight potential pitfalls of CT image interpretation through two cases of fatal gunshot wounds of the head. Antemortem CT imaging available at the time of autopsy led to discrepancy between the initial image findings and the autopsy due to inexperienced manipulation of the images. With appropriate understanding of CT image interpretation and manipulation, forensic personnel should be able to avoid most sources of misinterpretation.     

Latent Fingermark Development on Thermal Paper using 1,2‐Indanedione/Zinc and Polyvinylpyrrolidone,

Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) has been used in combination with 1,2‐indanedione (1,2‐IND) and ZnCl₂ (Zn) to develop latent fingermarks. The results show that the optimal ratio of 1,2‐IND/Zn:PVP is 1.0:0.4 (the concentration of PVP is 8%) for developing fingermark. The developed formulation was tested on the surfaces of 12 kinds of thermal papers. The variation in the fingermark development efficiency was observed within the same and among different kinds of thermal papers. The fingermark development efficiency was mostly better on the thermally sensitive surface compared to the thermally nonsensitive surface. However, similar or even better development was observed from a few thermally nonsensitive surfaces. The present method has shown better efficiency compared to the three other proposed methods on the thermally sensitive surface. In contrast, the present method was proven not the best for the thermally nonsensitive surface.     

5F-UR-144的热不稳定性研究

目的利用气相色谱-质谱法(GC-MS)、液相色谱-四级杆-飞行时间质谱(LC-Q-TOF/MS)和核磁共振光谱法(NMR)研究合成大麻素5F-UR-144遇热分解的具体变化情况。方法对照品用无水乙醇定容稀释后,经GC-MS和LC-Q-TOF/MS检测得到对应的色谱图和质谱图;对照品分别于常温和280℃密封加热后用无水乙醇定容稀释,经LC-Q-TOF/MS和NMR检测得到对应的质谱图、¹H和¹³C核磁共振波谱;对照品分别于常温逐步提升至300℃密封加热后用无水乙醇定容稀释,经LC-Q-TOF/MS检测得到对应的色谱图。结果5F-UR-144在高温下会开环产生新的物质;5F-UR-144从130℃开始分解,随着温度升高分解程度提升,240℃时分解率达到98%;随着温度继续升高,超过260℃,分解产物会碳化。结论基于5F-UR-144的热不稳定性,在检测时应考虑若通过烫食方式吸食5F-UR-144,其进入人体的成分会发生变化;气相色谱或气相色谱-质谱法不适合定量检测5F-UR-144。     

Forensic Imaging‐Guided Recovery of Nuclear DNA from the Spinal Cord*,†

Abstract: Our objective is to document the recovery of DNA from the spinal cord or surrounding dura mater in 11 cases of severely burned human remains. Radiographs established that portions of charred tissue contained spine segments. Multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) revealed that each spine specimen contained an intact spinal cord remnant. A full DNA profile was obtained from seven specimens using spinal cord dura mater in six specimens and spinal cord medulla in one specimen. A partial profile was obtained from four specimens (spinal cord dura mater, 2; spinal cord medulla, 2). Bone and muscle surrounding the spinal cord appear to insulate nucleic acid containing tissue from critical thermal degradation. The spinal cord, which is easily identified by MDCT examination of remains and easily recovered at the postmortem examination, can be a source of DNA with extraction yields comparable with other tissue sources. Specimens of dura mater are preferable as processing time is faster than bone.     

An Overview of 3D Printing in Forensic Science: The Tangible Third-Dimension

There has been a rapid development and utilization of three-dimensional (3D) printing technologies in engineering, health care, and dentistry. Like many technologies in overlapping disciplines, these techniques have proved to be useful and hence incorporated into the forensic sciences. Therefore, this paper describes how the potential of using 3D printing is being recognized within the various sub-disciplines of forensic science and suggests areas for future applications. For instance, the application can create a permanent record of an object or scene that can be used as demonstrative evidence, preserving the integrity of the actual object or scene. Likewise, 3D printing can help with the visualization of evidential spatial relationships within a scene and increase the understanding of complex terminology within a courtroom. However, while the application of 3D printing to forensic science is beneficial, currently there is limited research demonstrated in the literature and a lack of reporting skewing the visibility of the applications. Therefore, this article highlights the need to create good practice for 3D printing across the forensic science process, the need to develop accurate and admissible 3D printed models while exploring the techniques, accuracy and bias within the courtroom, and calls for the alignment of future research and agendas perhaps in the form of a specialist working group.     

Differentiation of Antemortem and Postmortem Appendicular Fractures Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging Signal Intensity Changes in Bone and Soft Tissues,

Intraosseous T1-weighted (T1W) and short-tau inversion recovery (STIR) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) signal intensity changes—so-called bone marrow edema—may be able to differentiate antemortem and postmortem fractures in human forensic imaging. The primary objective of this study was to investigate this hypothesis using an animal model. Three juvenile Landrace pigs were anesthetized and underwent MRI of both tibiae and both radii using a 1.5 T magnet. T1W, T2-weighted (T2W), STIR, and T2* sequences were included. Antemortem fractures were induced in both tibiae and postmortem fractures in both radii, and MRI was repeated. Two board-certified radiologists blinded to fracture group jointly evaluated the images for intraosseous and soft tissue signal intensity changes. Sensitivity (Se) and specificity (Sp) in identifying antemortem fractures were calculated based on intraosseous, soft tissue, and combined intraosseous and soft tissue signal intensity changes. Intraosseous and soft tissue signal intensity changes, when present, were hyperintense in all sequences. Intraosseous hyperintensity in T1W and T2W sequences yielded Sp of 100% for antemortem fractures. Regardless of sequence, soft tissue hyperintensity was comparatively more sensitive than intraosseous hyperintensity. Sensitivity for each sequence could be maximized by assessment of soft tissue and intraosseous hyperintense signals together; for the T1W sequence, such assessment optimized diagnostic utility yielding a Se of 100% and Sp of 83%. In summary, MRI—particularly the T1W sequence—can differentiate antemortem and postmortem fractures and may be a useful adjunct to the forensic analyses of fractures.     

Self-immolation Suicide in Greece: A Forensic Psychiatric Autopsy Study between 2011 and 2019

Self-immolation is a rare suicide method in the developed countries of the western world (0.06–1%); however, it has relatively higher prevalence rates in the developing countries of Asia and Africa (6–57%). The present study aims to examine self-immolation suicides within the Greek mainland (Attiki, Thrace, and Peloponnese) over a period of 9 years (2011–2019) in order to investigate the phenomenon in the Greek population forensically, identify the characteristics and motivations of suicide victims, explore its associations to socio-cultural or psychiatric factors, and describe a fatal case of suicide by self-immolation that was partially recorded on camera. The medical files (autopsy reports) of cases performed at the Departments of Forensic Medicine of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Democritus University of Thrace, and the Forensic Service of Messinia—Peloponnese were retrospectively examined yielding 19 cases of suicides by self-immolation. A 3.7% prevalence of suicide by self-immolation among suicide fatalities within the Greek population was estimated. A distinctive feature of the Greek population regarding self-immolation was disclosed that it is being practiced predominantly by the elderly (mean age 2–3.5 decades higher than other countries). The phenomenon correlated strongly with poorly controlled mental disorders (mostly affective and adjustment disorders). Unlike other countries, there was no significant association with domestic or sexual violence, social or political protest, or religious issues. Therefore, the suicide victims preferred secluded or private outdoor locations (not public). Findings deriving from the examined variables localize Greek population culturally between the Western European and Asian African countries, but with its own idiosyncrasies.     

红外光谱结合化学计量学快速鉴别不同环境发汗丹参

目的 采用红外光谱法测定空旷阴凉、空旷光照及室内环境下堆积发汗丹参中水提物及醇提物特征,快速鉴别其质量.方法 采用傅里叶红外光谱技术结合化学计量学建立主成分分析-马氏距离(principal component analysis-Mahalanobis distance,PCA-MD)判别模型鉴别分析不同环境下发汗丹参...     

磁敏感加权成像在出血性弥散性轴索损伤鉴定中的应用

目的探讨磁敏感加权成像(susceptibility weighted imaging,SWI)在出血性弥散性轴索损伤(diffuse axonal injury,DAI)法医学鉴定中的应用价值。方法对20例DAI的法医学鉴定资料进行回顾性分析,对其T1WI、T2WI、扩散加权成像(diffusion weighted imaging,DWI)、液体衰减反转恢复(fluid attenuated inversion recovery,FLAIR)、磁敏感加权成像(susceptibility weighted imaging,SWI)序列影像资料进行统计分析。结果 DAI出血灶多位于脑组织表浅区,SWI对出血性DAI的检出率最高,与其他序列成像之间的差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论 SWI在DAI法医学鉴定中具有重要的意义。     

Differentiation between inks of the same brand by infrared luminescence photography of their thin-layer chromatograms

A case is reported involving a U.S. Treasury check with an altered amount payable. The ink in the alteration and the ink in the endorsement signature were compared with ink from three Skilcraft ball pens all having Skilcraft black ink ball pen refills. Infrared luminescence photography of their thin-layer chromatograms revealed differences between the inks in the three pens.