The wounding potential of assault rifles: analysis of the dimensions of entrance and exit wounds and comparison with conventional handguns. A multicentric study.

The appearance of a gunshot wound (GSW) is greatly influenced by the velocity of the projectile, where high-velocity projectiles (HVPs) are defined as ballistic agents reaching a muzzle velocity of > 600 m/s fired from assault rifles. The aim of the study is to present and explain the differences in the dimensions of entrance and exit wounds between the most used handguns and assault rifles and to propose a predictor of HVP, i.e., the ratio of exit and entrance wounds (EX/ENR). The surface area of entrance and exit GSWs and the EX/ENR were calculated. 66 perforating GSWs produced by NATO FMJ 7.62 × 52 mm and 5.56 × 42 mm fired from assault rifles were assigned to the HVP, while 64 lesions produced by conventional projectiles fired from revolvers and semi-automatic pistols were assigned to the low-velocity projectile (LVP) group. The dimensions of the exit wounds of the HVP group were significantly higher when compared to the LVP group (95% CI 0.9886-2.423, p < 0.05). The HVP group showed significantly higher values for the EX/ENR when compared to the LVP group (95% CI 2.617-7.173, p < 0.05). The evaluation of the EX/ENR can be considered an adequate tool to assess the type of weapon involved and to roughly estimate the associated wounding mechanisms, which can guide both the physician in the management and treatment of the patients affected by GSW, and the forensic pathologist in crime investigation.

An atypical death from Rapunzel syndrome: a case report.

Trichotillomania is a psychiatric disorder characterized by recurring urges to pulling out hairs, eyelashes, or down in other parts of the body. Trichophagia, which is the urge to ingesting the pulled-out hairs, can cause Rapunzel syndrome, an unusual disorder where gastric trichobezoars can be found in the small intestine. Trichobezoars, amorphous masses composed of undigested food formed by hairs, can obstruct the gastrointestinal tract up to simulating symptoms typical of bowel obstruction. Rapunzel syndrome, named after Grimm's tale, may cause death, especially in the pediatric population, being it seldom over the age of 6; moreover, developing countries and environmental and familiar issues are listed as uncertain risk factors. The present case report deals with the death of a 4-year-old female occurred after lunch and following a series of vomit events; while no traumatic or pathological findings were revealed at the external examination, the autopsy revealed three large trichobezoars localized in the stomach and the small intestine. Despite death was due to gastrointestinal obstruction for multiple trichobezoars and collateral bronchoaspiration of dietary material, histological findings were totally non-specific, meaning that it is sometimes difficult to conclude that death is related to the primary pathological condition.

Evidence of D-shaped wounds in the intrasomatic bullet path: two case reports.

The final appearance of gunshot wounds is influenced by both the projectile's behavior from the muzzle to the terminal target and by the intrinsic characteristics of the anatomical compartments where the lesion(s) occur. The D-shaped morphology is an uncommon yet well-known finding in the forensic literature and has been described when the surface of impact with the skin is represented by the bullet's lateral projection. Two cases where D-shaped gunshot wounds were observed are hereby presented: in both cases, interaction with multiple intermediate targets (case 1) and a human intermediate target (case 2) had been documented and confirmed by the forensic examination. Despite the different dynamics of production, this peculiar morphology was described throughout most of the intrasomatic bullet path in both the victims. The discovery of D-shaped gunshot wounds can guide the forensic pathologist in the ballistic reconstruction of the event by supporting the hypothesis of an interaction with an intermediate target that has led to deviation from the initial trajectory and destabilization of the bullet associated with loss of kinetic energy.

6-Monoacetylmorphine-antibody distribution in tissues from heroin-related death cases: An experimental study to investigate the distributive response.

Heroin, a semisynthetic opioid drug synthesized from morphine, is the 3,6-diacetyl ester of morphine (diacetylmorphine). The post-mortem diagnosis of heroin-related death could be an issue and usually rely on a combination of investigations, including the autopsy, histological and toxicological analysis. We conducted the present study to evaluate the correlation between the heroin concentration in biological fluids (peripheral blood, bile and urine) and the post-mortem anti-6-MAM antibody expression in various tissues (brain, heart, lung, liver and kidney) using immunohistochemical staining. A quantitative analysis of the immunohistochemical reaction was carried out. 45 cases of heroin-related death investigated at the Forensic Pathology Institutes of the University of Rome, Foggia and Pisa were included. The control group was composed of 15 cases of death due to other causes, without brain lesions and negative toxicological analysis for drugs. We found a positive immunohistochemical reaction in different organs and it was related to the timing of heroin metabolization. No reaction was found in the control group. Our findings show that immunohistochemistry can be a valuable tool for the post-mortem diagnosis of acute heroin abuse. A better understanding of the timing of heroin's metabolism can be useful in the forensic field and for future therapeutic applications.

"Rust stain": a rare mark in firearm suicide-a case report and review of the literature.

Rust stains are marks left by firearms in case of prolonged contact with the cutaneous surfaces. These peculiar signs along with other well-documented findings can guide the medical examiner in the determination of the manner of death, especially in case of firearm suicide. This paper presents the case of a 33-year-old male soldier who committed suicide by using a short-barreled weapon, whose trigger remained in contact with the first finger of his right hand, leading to the formation of a rust stain that perfectly reproduced its design. The forensic examination of the scene, the external cadaveric inspection, and the autopsy are described. For the evaluation of the histological findings typical of rust spots, the authors decided to replicate the phenomenon in an experimental setting using porcine skin. In order to provide an exhaustive overview on the formation and the features of rust stains, a review of the forensic literature concerning this rare mark was performed.

Systematic Review of Drug Packaging Methods in Body Packing and Pushing: A Need for a New Classification.

A systematic review of the literature regarding drug packaging methods in body packing and materials used is presented, with the aim (a) to summarize data regarding the packaging methods adopted by drug trafficking organizations, (b) to support forensic pathologists and police forces to classify and describe drug packages, (c) to propose a new classification for drug packaging techniques, and (d) to better clarify the impact of packaging methods on radiological detectability.Packaging methods have been described in 2981 cases, permitting us to summarize the different materials used and to propose a new classification for packaging method based on the materials used. Information concerning the affiliation of body packers and pushers with major (or not) drug trafficking organizations and techniques used to reduce the radiological detectability of the concealed drugs have also been collected.Besides the packaging methods described over the years, our study suggests a standardized approach for the description of drug packages based on the use of different materials and packaging procedures, which provide a possible insight to the type of drug trafficking organization involved.

Time since death in a case of simultaneous demise due to a single gunshot: an issue concerning the use of Henssge's nomogram.

We report a case of a double homicide in which the victims, a man and his daughter, were simultaneously killed by a single gunshot. The temperature-based nomogram method for estimation of the time since death was used to ascertain the reliability of the method in a case of simultaneous demise, where the exact time of death was obtained from the analysis of security cameras.In the case presented, the victims differed for a great number of parameters (e.g., atmospheric conditions, thermal insulation of lower trunk, and, above all, body weight), except for the time of death, that was simultaneous. The correct application of the method permitted us to conclude that the estimated time since death was fully consistent with the circumstantial data obtained by the analysis of security cameras.No previous papers reporting the use of the nomogram method in a case of ascertained simultaneously death exists in literature; issues concerning the use of the nomogram method have been presented as well.

Ventricular androgenic-anabolic steroid-related remodeling: an immunohistochemical study.

BACKGROUND: Several fatal cases of bodybuilders, following a myocardial infarction after long exposure to androgenic-anabolic steroids (AAS), are reported. In recent years, evidence has emerged of cases of heart failure related to AAS consumption, with no signs of coronary or aorta atherosclerosis. This study aims to further investigate the pathogenesis of the ventricular AAS-related remodeling performing immunohistochemistry (IHC). METHOD: In order to examine innate immunity activity and myocytes and endothelial cell apoptosis, IHC analyses were performed on heart tissue of two cases of bodybuilders who died after years of supratherapeutic use of metelonone and nandrolone and where no atherosclerosis or thrombosis were found, using the following antibodies: anti-CD68, anti-iNOS, anti-CD163, anti-CD 15, anti-CD8, anti-CD4, anti-HIF1 α, and in situ TUNEL staining. RESULTS: Results confirm the experimental findings of recent research that, in the absence of other pathological factors, if intensive training is combined with AAS abuse, myocytes and endothelial cells undergo apoptotic alterations. The absence of inflammatory reactions and the presence of an increased number of M2 macrophages in the areas of fibrotic remodeling confirm that the fibrotic changes in the heart are apoptosis-related and not necrosis-related. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, the study indicates that, in very young subjects with chronic hypoxia-related alterations of the heart, signs of a heart failure in the other organs and a history of AAS abuse, death can be ascribed to progressive heart failure due to the direct apoptotic cardiac and endothelial changes produced by AAS.

Systematic review of the toxicological and radiological features of body packing.

Body packing is the term used for the intracorporeal concealment of illicit drugs, mainly cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and cannabinoids. These drugs are produced in the form of packages and are swallowed or placed in various anatomical cavities and body orifices. Basing on these two ways of transportation a distinction between body stuffers and body pushers can be made, with the former described as drug users or street dealers who usually carry small amounts of drugs and the latter as professional drug couriers who carry greater amounts of drugs. A review of the literature regarding body packing is presented, with the aim to highlight the toxicological and radiological features related to this illegal practice. Raising awareness about the encountered mean body levels of the drugs and the typical imaging signs of the incorporated packages could be useful for clinicians and forensic pathologists to (a) identify possible unrecognized cases of body packing and (b) prevent the serious health consequences and deaths frequently occurring after the packages' leakage or rupture or the packages' mass obstructing the gastrointestinal lumen.

Intrauterine fetal decapitation after a high-speed car crash.

Motor vehicle collisions are an important cause of blunt abdominal trauma in pregnant woman. Among the possible outcomes of blunt abdominal trauma, placental abruption, direct fetal trauma, and rupture of the gravid uterus are described. An interesting case of complete fetal decapitation with uterine rupture due to a high-velocity motor vehicle collision is described. The external examination of the fetus showed a disconnection between the cervical vertebrae C3 and C4. The autopsy examination showed hematic infiltration of the epicranic soft tissues, an overlap of the parietal bones, and a subarachnoid hemorrhage in the posterior part of interparietal area. Histological analysis was carried out showing a lack of epithelium and hemorrhages in the subcutaneous tissue, a hematic infiltration between the muscular fibers of the neck and between the collagen and deep muscular fibers of the tracheal wall. Specimens collected from the placenta and from the uterus showed a hematic infiltration with hypotrophy of the placental villi, fibrosis of the mesenchymal villi with ischemic phenomena of the membrane. The convergence of circumstantial data, autopsy results, and histological data led us to conclude that the neck lesion was vital and the cause of death was attributed to the motor vehicle collision.

The Introduction of a New Diagnostic Tool in Forensic Pathology: LiDAR Sensor for 3D Autopsy Documentation.

Autopsy is a complex and unrepeatable procedure. It is essential to have the possibility of reviewing the autoptic findings, especially when it is done for medico-legal purposes. Traditional photography is not always adequate to record forensic practice since two-dimensional images could lead to distortion and misinterpretation. Three-dimensional (3D) reconstructions of autoptic findings could be a new way to document the autopsy. Besides, nowadays, smartphones and tablets equipped with a LiDAR sensor make it extremely easy to elaborate a 3D model directly in the autopsy room. Herein, a quality and trustworthiness evaluation of 3D models obtained during ten autopsies is made comparing 3D models and conventional autopsy photographic records. Three-dimensional models were realistic and accurate and allowed precise measurements. The review of the autoptic report was facilitated by the 3D model. Conclusions: The LiDAR sensor and 3D models have been demonstrated to be a valid tool to introduce some kind of reproducibility into the autoptic practice.

Rust stains' response to environmental stresses: An experimental study on porcine skin.

Rust stains are rare marks typically caused by prolonged contact between skin and the iron components of the firearm. This study was aimed at showing how cutaneous iron deposits respond to physical and chemical changes that usually affect the integrity of biological tissues. Four samples of porcine skin were placed in contact with an iron plate. They were exposed to different stress conditions: carbonization, water immersion, sunlight exposure and burial. All the skin sections were stained with Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) and Perls Prussian Blue (PPB). The response to the different treatments was consistent among the skin sections, as none of the rust stains were significantly altered by the applied stresses. All the samples showed focal iron deposition in the examined sections, which appeared as blue-colored spots in a rose-to-red background. Rust mark formation is an "all or nothing" phenomenon leading to the appearance of a sign that is relatively fixed and cannot be easily modified by the most common environmental conditions. This feature suggests the permanence of rust stains both from a macroscopic and a microscopic point of view, using Perls Prussian Blue staining after the exposure of the skin samples to various environmental stresses within precise time intervals.

What about cerebral venous sinus thrombosis? A series of three autopsy cases.

Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) is an uncommon cerebrovascular disorder that gained massive media attention in 2021, when an association between COVID-19 and its vaccines was found in several reported cases, raising the suspicion of a causative relation that is still debated. Three cases of CVST unrelated to COVID-19 are reported in this article to highlight the difficulty in the early recognition and management of this condition, as it occurs in a variety of diseases with different clinical and pathological manifestations. When the diagnosis cannot be achieved in the clinical setting, the role of the pathologist becomes essential in the determination of the cause of death and in the identification of the etiology of CVST. During the autopsy, coordination between the physician and the forensic pathologist is crucial to correlate the clinical presentation with the pathological picture.

Cause of Death in Charred Bodies: Reflections and Operational Insights Based on a Large Cases Study.

Our study aims to demonstrate the experience of analyzing fully or partially charred corpses to offer a proper implementation protocol for determining the cause of death. In this study, we present a total of 103 cases obtained from the University of Rome La Sapienza and the University of Pisa archives. All cases were classified based on the extent and severity of burns using a visual method. We divided all cases into two groups. The first group included grade I-II burns (21 cases) without the need for identification. The second group (82 cases) included injuries worse than grade burns II, so all cases were analyzed using an analytical method. For each case, we have documented which of the following analyses have been used and the corresponding findings: inspection, autopsy examination, imaging examination, genetic and toxicological examinations, and histological examination. The results describe the main diagnostic findings and show that only the application of all the above systematic analyses can provide greater accuracy and reliability in describing the causes of death or solving problems, such as identification. In conclusion, we propose an available protocol that defines the main steps of a complete diagnostic pathway that pathologists should follow daily in studying charred bodies.

Stillbirth and fetal capillary infection by SARS-CoV-2.

We presented the case of stillbirth in a paucisymptomatic mother affected by SARS-CoV-2. At gross examination, the placenta showed a diffuse marble appearance and a focal hemorrhagic area. Multiple areas of hemorrhagic or ischemic necrosis with central and peripheral villous infarctions and thrombosis of several maternal and fetal vessels with luminal fibrin and platelet deposition were observed. All lesions seemed to be synchronous. Virus particles were identified within the cytoplasm of endothelial cells using electron microscopy, whereas SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected in the placental tissue using real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Here, fetal vascular malperfusion was associated with infection; in fact, electron microscopy images showed that marked SARS-CoV-2 endotheliotropism involved the intravillous fetal capillaries. Furthermore, we confirmed that syncytiotrophoblast is the major target cell type for SARS-CoV-2 infection of the placenta. In conclusion, the possible consequences of the action of the placentotropic SARS-CoV-2 included the occurrence of vertical transmission, as reported in the literature, and/or stillbirth: the latter possibility may be triggered by a hampered maternal and/or fetal perfusion of the placenta. The diffuse thrombosis and subsequent ischemia of fetal capillaries induced by COVID-19 cannot be predicted by standard clinical surveillance.

A systematic review of caffeine-related suicides and an analysis of the controversial role of caffeine consumption in suicidal risk.

Caffeine is the most widely consumed psychoactive compound worldwide. Its mechanisms of action are dose-dependent and when caffeine overdosing occurs, neurologic, cardiovascular and renal systems are mainly affected. Serious toxicities such as seizure and cardiac arrhythmias, seen with caffeine plasma concentrations of 15 mg/L or higher, have caused poisoning or, rarely, death. Caffeine concentrations of 80-100 mg/L are considered lethal. The aim of this systematic review is to summarize data regarding suicides by caffeine administration and analyze the controversial role of caffeine assumption and suicidal risk. We followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) indications in the identification and selection of studies and reviewed a series of fatal cases due intentional intoxication by caffeine. A total of 36 cases have been identified. Our results suggests caffeine seems to be negatively correlated with suicide. Even if some observations suggested that the consumption of caffeine may have beneficial effects against depression, and as a consequence against suicide risk, more in-depth studies are required. Data obtained from our study could support both clinicians and forensic pathologists in identifying possible unrecognized cases.

Are carboxyhaemoglobin levels and distance of the corpse from the site of explosion linked? Results from the retrospective analysis of a terroristic attack.

We present a retrospective analysis of a terrorist attack with incendiary grenades. We tried to analyse the correlation between carboxyhaemoglobin levels and distance of the corpse from the explosion site to check whether there is a direct relationship between them. In most fatal cases caused by grenade explosions reported in literature, death results from disruptive injuries or following multiorgan complications of the trauma, but here the terrorists used incendiary grenades causing serious burns to the victims with flames at the site of explosion. As a result, the external injuries were not fatal for most victims, especially those further from the explosion site where the flames and carbon monoxide from the fire played a significant role in causing death. The convergence of circumstantial data, autopsy results, and toxicological data led us to conclude that a direct link between the carboxyhaemoglobin level and distance from the site of explosion could not be made. Understanding the limitation of the value of linking such data is important both for police and forensic pathologists as this can reduce potential errors in reconstructing the dynamics of the event.