One of the tasks of the forensic specialist is to attempt to determine the interval between fatal injuries and death, and to assess whether the victim could be physically active before death and, if so, to what extent. T...One of the tasks of the forensic specialist is to attempt to determine the interval between fatal injuries and death, and to assess whether the victim could be physically active before death and, if so, to what extent. There is ongoing research aimed at the application of additional tests (histological, immunohistochemical and others) to answer these questions. Unfortunately, currently used methods have numerous limitations and require further improvements. Moreover, they are not commonly employed in medicolegal practice in Poland. The greatest difficulty in assessing the time of survival and activity occurs when the period is relatively short (seconds-minutes-hours). Therefore, in practice, injury examination is often the only tool to assess the interval between fatal injuries and death, and the possibility of physical activity during that time. The aim of the paper is review the literature on this topic with a focus on biological methods and attempt to find a correlation between the nature of injuries and survival time, and between the nature of injuries and the capability to be physically active. An analysis of available cases has shown that unfortunately, on account of numerous limitations, the approach with the exception of specific situations, allows determining at most an approximate time interval during which the victim could be alive and active.
Incorrect declaration of death is not a frequent situation in medico-legal reports, and such cases are usually of great interest. In this study the authors present a case of improper declaration of death by a physician,...Incorrect declaration of death is not a frequent situation in medico-legal reports, and such cases are usually of great interest. In this study the authors present a case of improper declaration of death by a physician, despite the absence of early definitive signs of death and without a full medical examination. However, the investigation of the case was dropped, and the conduct of the physician was not assessed by experts.
Suicide behind the steering wheel of a car is a relatively rare discovery, particularly if the cause of death is hanging. Therefore, such events give rise to suspicions that third parties were involved. This paper presen...Suicide behind the steering wheel of a car is a relatively rare discovery, particularly if the cause of death is hanging. Therefore, such events give rise to suspicions that third parties were involved. This paper presents a case of hanging on the threshold of a car door, although what was taken into consideration during the investigation was suicide, death as a result of a road accident, accidental hanging on the seat belt, and even homicide. The cause of death was determined thanks to a very thorough autopsy which also involved the dissection of extremities and was complemented by additional examinations including toxicological tests. In addition to the medicolegal opinion the Prosecutor's Office took into consideration the opinions of other experts, including experts on the reconstruction of road accidents, and questioned witnesses from the closest social environment of the deceased, as well as strangers. The presented study underlines the significance of conducting a thorough autopsy and the necessity of corroboration of autopsy results with other investigation findings.
AIM OF THE STUDY: Forensic botany demands tools to verify the value of plant-origin evidence brought into the process of criminal investigation. Molecular biology provides techniques for comparing material from the crime...AIM OF THE STUDY: Forensic botany demands tools to verify the value of plant-origin evidence brought into the process of criminal investigation. Molecular biology provides techniques for comparing material from the crime scene with other biological material of evidence. In this paper, we propose a set of seven markers based on Short Tandem Repeats (STRs) loci for DNA profiling of Quercus spp. STR markers of the highest observed heterozygosity were selected, according to available literature. Oaks were chosen due to their wide dissemination in the northern hemisphere. They served as an object of study to develop a method for obtaining comparable genetic profiles of plant evidence material. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In the study, we verified the specificity of primers towards selected species of oaks. Twenty-three species, including most of those previously studied, were investigated for the presence of selected loci. After DNA extraction, STR sequences were amplified using multiplex PCR, and amplification products were then analysed with capillary electrophoresis. The frequency of genotypes was tested with the χ test. RESULTS: Out of 23 investigated species of oak, full genetic profiles were obtained for 13 species. CONCLUSIONS: An incomplete genetic profile may result from DNA degradation or lower homology in primer binding sites. Full profiles were successfully obtained for most of the species tested; however, deficient profiles were yielded in species for which a full profile was expected. This may be due to the loss in DNA quality caused by ageing processes of plant material and inappropriate storage conditions or method of preservation.
Some emerging technologies are used as strategies for the analyses of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that have attracted much interest in recent years, applied to various scientific areas. They have been extensiv...Some emerging technologies are used as strategies for the analyses of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that have attracted much interest in recent years, applied to various scientific areas. They have been extensively used as markers to identify genes that underlie complex diseases and also to realize the potential of pharmacogenomics in relation to different drug responses. Additionally, SNPs have been shown to be very useful in forensic genetics resolving all kinds of legal problems, namely crime cases, disaster victim identification and paternity and kinship investigation testing. The low mutation rate of SNPs, makes these markers very suitable for relationship testing. In the great majority of the cases, analyses with the widely used sets of STR markers provide powerful statistical evidence but some of them remain with ambiguous results. Those include cases with complex pedigrees or cases with some problems, like mutations, that are inherent to the use of STRs. At this time several forensic laboratories are using SNPs especially to complement the study of STRs in some of their casework cases. This paper intends to analyze some of our casework examples and to providea data update on the joint use of STRs and autosomal SNPs in the evaluation and kinship calculation, one of the strategies currently used for this purpose, namely reviewing and comparing results published by various working groups.
The purpose of this paper was to draw attention to particularly important aspects of pronouncing forensic psychiatric judgment regarding the accused or convicted individuals' competency to stand trial. The level of a per...The purpose of this paper was to draw attention to particularly important aspects of pronouncing forensic psychiatric judgment regarding the accused or convicted individuals' competency to stand trial. The level of a person's mental capacity should be established using a structured psychiatric interview concerning a variety of aspects of a trial. Emphasis should be placed on evaluating the defendant's consciousness of the charges, knowledge of the potential punishment, ability to make significant decisions and be engaged in defense, knowledge about the role that particular people present in the courtroom play, understanding of the meaning of the evidence gathered in the case, the risk of aggression. The analysis should take into account the specificity of the mental disorder, the influence of proceedings on the course of disorder, as well as the presence of reactive disorders. Using testing tools by the expert can facilitate the process of evaluation to a certain degree. Forensic psychiatric evaluations can give rise to difficulties for the experts, what with the changing legal regulations and their interpretations. It would be justified to develop the standards of evaluation in this kind of cases, which would on the one hand apply to experts but which would also be respected by the judicial organ.
Biological materials used in toxicological analyses in forensic medicine traditionally include blood, urine and vitreous humour. Forensic use of the vitreous body is mostly due to the need to assess the endogenous concen...Biological materials used in toxicological analyses in forensic medicine traditionally include blood, urine and vitreous humour. Forensic use of the vitreous body is mostly due to the need to assess the endogenous concentration of ethyl alcohol in the process of human body decomposition. The vitreous body is an underestimated biological material, even though its biochemical properties and anatomical location make it suitable for specific forensic toxicology tests as a reliable material for the preparation of forensic expert opinions. Based on the available literature the paper gathers information on the biochemical structure of the vitreous body, ways to secure the material after collection and its use in postmortem diagnostics. Specific applications of the vitreous humour for biochemical and toxicological tests are discussed, with a focus on its advantages and limitations in forensic medical assessment which are attributable to its biochemical properties, anatomical location and limited scientific studies on the distribution of xenobiotics in the vitreous body.
AIM OF THE STUDY:: Aim of the study was to analyse of 2075 evidences containing new psychoactive substances (NPS). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The prepared samples were identified employing an analytical procedure where the an...AIM OF THE STUDY:: Aim of the study was to analyse of 2075 evidences containing new psychoactive substances (NPS). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The prepared samples were identified employing an analytical procedure where the analytes were investigated by gas chromatography-electron impact mass spectrometry (GC-EI-MS) using a created library of mass spectra. RESULTS: The analysis revealed the following substances in the investigated products: piperazine derivatives (including BZP, MPMP, TFMPP), cathinone derivatives (including: pentedrone, 3-MMC, butylone, 4-MEC), pyrovalerone derivatives (MDPV, naphyrone, α-PVP, α-PVT), synthetic cannabinoids (such as AM-2201, UR-144, XLR-11, JWH073, JWH081, PB-22, AB-CHMINACA). Research conducted in 2010-2015 made it possible to track changes in the composition of investigated preparations. CONCLUSIONS: The following relationships has been shown: number of components decreased and in the end of 2015 dominated preparations with single component; introduction of amendments Act on Preventing Drug Addictionn affect the elimination from the market of one compounds and replacing them by their derivatives; since 2011 on the market of 'legal highs' we did not observe occurrence of compounds of piperazine group.
AIM OF THE STUDY:: Methods based on the positive linear relationship existing between stature and long bones are most commonly used to estimate living stature in forensic anthropology. The length of the sternum and its p...AIM OF THE STUDY:: Methods based on the positive linear relationship existing between stature and long bones are most commonly used to estimate living stature in forensic anthropology. The length of the sternum and its parts has been advanced as a plausible alternative to estimate stature when such long bones are missing or damaged. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This meta-analysis aims to quantify evidence on the correlation between the sternum/sternal parts length and stature. Nine studies were included with 1118 sternal bones. RESULTS: Analyses showed that the length of the meso-sternum (manubrium + body) yielded the best correlation with stature; 53.5% and 55.42% for men and women, respectively. The second best variable is the total sternal length with correlations of 44.3% and 55% for men and women, respectively. Subgroup analysis of autopsy studies demonstrated even a higher correlation of 58.2% for the meso-sternal length. Manubrium and body lengths showed the least correlation values. Except for the body length, females exhibit a better correlation than man between all other sternal lengths and stature. CONCLUSIONS: While the meso-sternal length is found to be the most correlated variable with stature, all sternal lengths are to be considered with caution when estimating stature. The relatively low values of the weighted correlation results should raise the question of reliability and limit the use of sternal length when long bones are available. Future research using larger samples from different populations and taking into account the fusion status of the sternum are needed.
Violence against children has been until now recognised as physical aggression escalating from corporal punishment, hard physical labour to homicide. Nowadays child abuse is considered as maltreatment occurring in four d...Violence against children has been until now recognised as physical aggression escalating from corporal punishment, hard physical labour to homicide. Nowadays child abuse is considered as maltreatment occurring in four different aspects: physical abuse, psychological abuse, sexual abuse and neglect. Child abuse is difficult to disclose, as it is concealed both by the perpetrators and the victims. The child is afraid and at the same time, almost always ashamed of looking for help. The victim frequently feels guilty, considers the violence as a norm, but in many cases is not able to speek precisely and very often has problems in contacting the required person. The objective of this study is to analyse the phenomenon of child abuse on the basis of Department of Forensic Medicine records. The victims were characterized in terms of their age, sex, place of residence and the type and location of injuries. The kind of abuse and perpetrators were also determined by researchers.
Molecular Techniques Unit at the Department of Forensic Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University has been operating since December 2003. Soon it will be 15 years since its establishment. This anniversary become an inspiratio...Molecular Techniques Unit at the Department of Forensic Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University has been operating since December 2003. Soon it will be 15 years since its establishment. This anniversary become an inspiration to write down the story of this institution whose origins illustrate the immense changes that have taken place in forensic genetics. The aim of our work was also to consolidate the professional achievements of Professor Tadeusz Dobosz, chief of the Unit, one of the pioneers of introducing DNA testing technology into Polish forensic medicine. The most important achievements of the Unit include participation in two EU research projects, the development of a non-destructive method of extraction of genetic material, research in field of gene therapy and certification of the Laboratory of the Molecular Techniques Unit by the Polish Accreditation Center (PCA) confirming compliance with the requirements of the PN-EN ISO/IEC 17025:2005 standard.
We report a unique and rare case of child neglect and exploitation and similar case was not found. An infant, born with an imperforate anus, underwent surgery for a temporary colostomy on the day of birth. Surgery for re...We report a unique and rare case of child neglect and exploitation and similar case was not found. An infant, born with an imperforate anus, underwent surgery for a temporary colostomy on the day of birth. Surgery for reversal of colostomy with reconstruction was planned at one month of age. However, the guardian did not ensure that the child attended for this procedure. Subsequently, at the age of 12 years, the child was presented to the emergency unit with an irreducible prolapsed colostomy and a life threatening acute abdomen. Emergency laparotomy and colostomy reversal were performed with anal reconstruction. The child had features of gross neglect and abuse in the form of deprivation of essential surgical care, vaccination, and education. He was used for the purpose of begging for the financial benefit of his guardian and others. This is a case of neglect and exploitation of a child with imperforate anus and it emphasizes the failures of the health system to manage and follow-up children with congenital defects born to families with a poor socio-economic background.
Identification of semen residues has relevant consequences, especially for what concerns the ascertainment of possible sexual assault. Forensic scientists usually focus on the vaginal swab for semen detection despite the...Identification of semen residues has relevant consequences, especially for what concerns the ascertainment of possible sexual assault. Forensic scientists usually focus on the vaginal swab for semen detection despite the importance of semen deposition on the skin. Postmortem identification of spermatozoa on putrefied human skin is still under investigation. Sperm Hy-Liter™ is an antibody technique, used to identify human spermatozoa heads in forensic stains. This approach has the potential to eliminate spermatozoa visualization problems in a traditional method. Therefore, the present study aimed to compare between the traditional method (light microscope and staining via hematoxylin/eosin) and a fluorescence-based method (by using fluorescent microscope and staining via Sperm Hy-Liter™) for postmortem identification of spermatozoa on human skin at different time intervals. A piece of human skin was divided into three strips; the first was a negative control while semen was spread on the second and third skin strips. The first (control) and second groups were stained by hematoxylin/eosin for light microscopic examinations. The third group was stained by Sperm Hy-Liter™ then examined under fluorescent microscope. The results revealed that the spermatozoa identifiability was up to 110 days based on Sperm Hy-Liter™ and fluorescent microscope, while it was up to 12 days via using hematoxylin/eosin and light microscope. Further studies are recommended in order to verify not only the accuracy of the used method on skin of dead victims but also to evaluate persistence of spermatozoa on different body sites and fabrics.
The topic of this paper relates to the study of cases involving the use of new psychoactive substances (NPS) from the classes of synthetic cannabinoids and cathinones, analyzed from multiple viewpoints including clinical...The topic of this paper relates to the study of cases involving the use of new psychoactive substances (NPS) from the classes of synthetic cannabinoids and cathinones, analyzed from multiple viewpoints including clinical and medico-legal perspectives. The paper investigates three fatal cases in which UR-144 and UR-144 with pentedrone identified in the bodies of victims during post-mortem examinations were responsible for the tragic consequences and proved to be the indirect cause of death. The victims were men aged 16, 22 and 40 years who used drugs, for example they smoked marijuana or its substitutes in the form of synthetic cannabinoids. In addition, all of them had behavioural problems. On account of emotional imbalance attributable probably to the presence of UR-144 (in one case) and a mixture of UR-144 and pentedrone (in the other two cases), two men committed suicide by jumping from a height and hanging, and one man had fatal accidental poisoning with pentedrone which was used to enhance the effect of previously used UR-144. The presence of UR-144 and pentedrone in the post-mortem material was analyzed by liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS-MS). The results of toxicological tests were analyzed with a focus on possible tragic side effects caused by the presence of UR-144 and UR-144 with pentedrone in the body.
Aim of the study: Deaths of in-vehicle victims (drivers and passengers) of road accidents represent a significant group of issues addressed by forensic medicine. Expressing opinions in this regard involves first of all t...Aim of the study: Deaths of in-vehicle victims (drivers and passengers) of road accidents represent a significant group of issues addressed by forensic medicine. Expressing opinions in this regard involves first of all the determination of the cause of death and the forensic pathologist's participation in the process of road accident reconstruction through defining the mechanism of bodily harm. The scope of the opinion as well as its accuracy and degree of detail largely depend on the scope of forensic autopsy. In this context, techniques that broaden the capabilities of standard autopsy are of particular importance. This paper compares the results of post mortem computed tomography (PMCT) of road accident victims (drivers and passengers) against the results of standard examination in order to determine the scope to which PMCT significantly enhances autopsy capabilities. Material and methods: The analysis covers 118 in-vehicle victims (drivers and passengers) examined from 2012 to 2014. In each case, post-mortem examination was preceded by PMCT examination using Somatom Emotion 16 (Siemens AG, Germany). Results: The results are presented in a tabular form. Conclusions: In most road accident victims (drivers and passengers), post mortem computed tomography significantly increases the results' degree of detail, particularly with regard to injuries of bones and gas collections.
AIM OF THE STUDY: Analysis of frequency and structure of paternity exclusions in the material collected by the Department of Forensic Medicine, Medical University of Bialystok in 2008-2017. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The pape...AIM OF THE STUDY: Analysis of frequency and structure of paternity exclusions in the material collected by the Department of Forensic Medicine, Medical University of Bialystok in 2008-2017. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The paper is based on paternity test reports involving alleged father-child-mother trios. In a total of reviewed 958 cases, 187 exclusions were identified. The analysis was carried out on the basis of the results of DNA tests. DNA extraction was performed using QIAamp DNA Mini Kit (Qiagen) and DNA quantitation using Quantifiler Human DNA Quantification Kit and 7500 Real-Time PCR System (Applied Biosystems). AmpFLSTR Identifiler PCR Amplification Kit and a PCR System 9700 thermal cycler (Applied Biosystems) were used for DNA amplification. RESULTS: Over the analyzed period, the number of paternity tests was nearly halved, whereas the percentage of exclusions in individual years varied significantly (33.9-13.3%), with the average of 26.3%. The highest efficiency of exclusions was observed for D18S51 (0.7166) and FGA (0.7059), and the least effective system was TPOX (0.3048). CONCLUSIONS: The applied set of markers has been demonstrated to be an efficient tool in genetic paternity tests in the context of the recommended rules of exclusion.
AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of this study was to develop and validate a method for the determination of the synthetic cannabinoid AB-CHMINACA in blood, followed by its verification in forensic toxicological practice. MATER...AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of this study was to develop and validate a method for the determination of the synthetic cannabinoid AB-CHMINACA in blood, followed by its verification in forensic toxicological practice. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The case of a 41-year-old man admitted to hospital because of scheduled cardiac surgery was discussed. The man died after 12 hours of hospitalization. Based on collected evidence, AB-CHMINACA poisoning was suspected. The identification and determination of AB-CHMINACA in the man's blood was performed by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry using electrospray ionization (HPLC-ESI-MS-MS), after prior solid phase extraction. RESULTS: The concentration of AB-CHMINACA determined in the man's blood sample was 0.5 ng/ml. CONCLUSIONS: In the interpretation of the case, it was concluded that AB-CHMINACA had no direct effect on the patient's death, the cause of which was ascertained as chronic heart failure secondary to aortic valve disease, decompensated by pneumonia. However, an indirect impact of side effects resulting from the use of synthetic cannabinoids cannot be ruled out. They might have exacerbated the man's disease process leading to sudden cardiac arrest caused by asystole.
INTRODUCTION: The term "overkilling" is not clearly defined in medico-legal literature; it is used freely in reference to homicides with extremely numerous injuries. AIM OF THE STUDY: The authors' objective was to find r...INTRODUCTION: The term "overkilling" is not clearly defined in medico-legal literature; it is used freely in reference to homicides with extremely numerous injuries. AIM OF THE STUDY: The authors' objective was to find relationships between the extent and nature of injuries, the impact of the victims' sex and blood alcohol content. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The authors analyzed 160 cases of homicides from 2004-2011 examined in the Department of Forensic Medicine of the Jagiellonian University Medical College in Krakow, committed with a sharp or blunt instrument. RESULTS: The authors found differences in the location of wounds on the body, depending on the type of tool used, the differences in the number of wounds in relation to the victim's sex and disproportion of the number of fatal injuries in relation to the total number of injuries increasing with the total number of injuries. Alcohol in the victims' blood was found as frequently in cases with defensive injuries, as in other cases. CONCLUSIONS: Most of the homicide victims are men, but in cases involving particularly numerous wounds the proportion of male and female victims becomes more balanced. In the case of a very high number of wounds, the share of lethal injuries remains small. The presence of alcohol in the blood has no effect on defense attempts of homicide victims.
Although mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) testing has been used in forensic genetics only since the mid-1990s, forensic DNA laboratories have been recently increasing the range of mtDNA sequencing, employing new analytical appr...Although mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) testing has been used in forensic genetics only since the mid-1990s, forensic DNA laboratories have been recently increasing the range of mtDNA sequencing, employing new analytical approaches and methods of data analysis. Therefore, it seems fitting to gather and systematize existing recommendations in the field of mtDNA analysis for forensic purposes, and formulate a set of interpretative guidelines which are especially relevant in view of recent developments in the forensic casework. The starting point is the recommendations of the International Society for Forensic Genetics (ISFG) which, in the opinion of the Polish Speaking Working Group of the ISFG (ISFG- PL), should be followed by all Polish laboratories conducting forensic testing.
AIM OF THE STUDY: The paper presents the principles which govern evaluation of poaching crimes with the use of firearms during preparation of court opinions based on secured forensic traces. In many cases, secured eviden...AIM OF THE STUDY: The paper presents the principles which govern evaluation of poaching crimes with the use of firearms during preparation of court opinions based on secured forensic traces. In many cases, secured evidence does not allow for post-mortem examination; it becomes necessary to use other methods of assessing the evidence. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Such assessments are based on photographic documentation of the scene, as well as secured fragments of tissue, and sometimes also bullets or their parts. In many cases, the secured evidence allows for the use of simple research methods or experiments that make it possible to determine the facts. RESULTS: Such comprehensive analyses lead to precise determination of both the species of animals and the cause of their death and should be used in forensic and veterinary opinions.