Impact of Obstetrics and Gynecology Clerkship Order on NBME Exam Scores After a Curriculum Change.

OBJECTIVE: Our Institution instituted curriculum reform in 2013. We sought to examine the impact of rotation order on the end of clerkship National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) Obstetrics and Gynecology (Ob/Gyn) Subject Exam scores after curriculum restructuring. DESIGN: This is a retrospective analysis of Ob/Gyn NBME scores over 2 years after curriculum reform. At our university, a 15-week block is divided into 5-week intervals of General Surgery, Ob/Gyn, and surgical subspecialties, in any order. During the 16 weeks, students take the NBME Subject Examinations for Ob/Gyn and Surgery. We defined rotation groups by proximity to the shelf exam. Group 1 completed Ob/Gyn first, furthest away from the exam, Group 2 completed Ob/Gyn second, and Group 3 completed Ob/Gyn last, closest to the test. We compared average shelf exam scores between Groups. SETTING: Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences during the clerkship year. PARTICIPANTS: Medical students at the Uniformed Services University. RESULTS: We obtained data from 331 students (118 students in Group 1, 106 in Group 2, and 107 in Group 3). Scores ranged from 55 to 99 (mean 72.5, SD 7.3). Mean (SD) NBME score was 71.9 (6.9) in Group 1, 73.2 (7.2) in Group 2, and 72.6 (7.7) in Group 3 (p = 0.415). CONCLUSION: Rotation order does not affect NBME Ob/Gyn Subject exam scores in a fifteen-week integrated clerkship block.

Valor añadido de las interconsultas con otras especialidades médicas en el peritaje médico legal / The added value of interconsultations with other medical specialties in forensic expertise

Resumen La pericia médico legal es compleja y su resultado debe estar fundamentado considerando el análisis de varios elementos de juicio, como: la historia médico legal, el examen físico, el análisis de los expedientes médicos, estudios de laboratorio e imágenes radiológicas y en algunos casos, inclusive una interconsulta realizada a otros especialistas. El perito médico forense utiliza la interconsulta a especialistas para solventar la brecha que existe entre el conocimiento profesional y específico que posee una especialidad y una interrogante médico legal, por lo que difiere en gran manera en el objetivo, formulación y resultado de una interconsulta médica hospitalaria. Por esta razón, esta reflexión pretende contextualizar la importancia del recurso de interconsulta médica dentro del análisis pericial forense, que es un tema poco conocido en la medicina asistencial, y justificar la relevancia de la educación médica continua para los médicos especialistas que realizan las interconsultas y para quienes las solicitan.

Abstract The medical-legal report is complex and its result must be based on the análisis of various elements of judgment, such as: the legal medical history, the physical examination, the analysis of the medical records, laboratory and radiological images and in some cases, even an interconsultation with other specialists. The forensic medical expert uses the interconsultation with specialists to solve the gap that exists between the professional and specific knowledge that a specialty has and a legal medical question, for which it differs greatly in the objective, formulation and result of a hospital medical interconsultation. For this reason, this reflection aims to contextualize the importance of the resource of medical interconsultation within the forensic expert analysis, which is a little-known topic in healthcare medicine, and to justify the relevance of continuing medical education for medical specialists who perform interconsultations and for those who request them.

Investigación medicolegal de la muerte súbita en Honduras. Análisis crítico de las autopsias realizadas en el período 2015-2019 / Medicolegal investigation of sudden death in Honduras. Critical analysis of autopsies carried out in the period 2015-2019

Justificación: La muerte súbita constituye un problema de salud pública a nivel global. Su presentación súbita e inesperada tiene implicaciones médico-legales por lo que su abordaje diagnóstico en el ámbito forense es de gran importancia.Objetivo: Analizar la muerte súbita y su abordaje diagnóstico en la Dirección de Medicina Forense de Honduras. Metodología: Estudio descriptivo, retrospectivo de autopsias por muerte súbita en población de 10 a 55 años, realizadas en la sede de Tegucigalpa durante un período de cinco años (2015-2019). Los cálculos estadísticos fueron realizados con el programa R. Resultados: Se analizaron 165 casos de muerte súbita, 56% fueron de origen no cardiovascular y 44% de origen cardiovascular, 67% varones, con una media de edad de 39 años, DS+/-9,75. Las causas más frecuentes de muerte súbita no cardiovascular fueron digestivas (36%), respiratorias (34%), eventos cerebrovasculares hemorrágicos (14%) y muerte súbita en epilepsia (9%). Entre las muertes súbitas cardiovasculares las causas más frecuentes fueron la enfermedad coronaria aterosclerótica (67%), miocarditis (12%) y la muerte arrítmica con corazón estructuralmente normal (10%). Desde el punto de vista toxicológico destaca en ambas la asociación con el consumo de etanol (19%). Conclusiones: La muerte súbita de origen no cardiovascular fue la más frecuente, resultado condicionado por las limitantes del estudio. El abordaje actual de los casos de muerte súbita presenta importantes limitaciones por lo que se recomienda fortalecerlo implementando mejoras en la investigación medicolegal de la escena de la muerte, de los antecedentes familiares y el uso adecuado de los estudios complementarios toxicológicos e histopatológicos...(AU)

The Perils of Cosmetic Surgery Tourism: Evolving Knowledge, Awareness, and Challenges.

Concern has been expressed for some years about the risks of complications and the need for revision procedures after cosmetic surgery tourism. Such tourism is large and growing. Recent literature and coroners' inquests have provided a new evidence base for evaluating the extent of the dangers posed by a variety of overseas cosmetic surgery procedures. This article reviews such literature and identifies reason for considerable concern about cosmetic surgery tourism as well as about the deficits in regulatory and legal liability that might otherwise inhibit substandard practice. Provision of carefully drafted information about risk issues which patients can factor into their decision-making before embarking on overseas trips for the purpose of cosmetic surgery is a constructive initiative deserving of further attention by relevant Colleges, professional association and health advocacy groups.

An Analysis of Traumatic and Non-Traumatic Hemopericardium Using Autopsy Data From a County Medical Examiner.

The volume of hemopericardium requiring hemodynamic changes in the trauma patient is not well understood. We performed a study using autopsy data from trauma patients who died with hemopericardium (>20 mL). Of 1848 traumatic deaths, 54 had hemopericardium at autopsy. The median pericardial blood in this group was 150 mL, which is more than the previously assumed volume to be lethal in trauma patients. Therefore, it may be appropriate to redefine the estimated volume required to cause lethal hemopericardium in trauma patients.

Reducing occupational exposure to SARS-CoV-2: A survey of changes in caseload and controls among medical examiner and coroners' offices in Pennsylvania during 2020.

Like their counterparts in healthcare, workers in medical examiner and coroners' offices are considered essential workers. The frequency and urgency of their work during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic have only become of greater importance. Because of the increased mortality in the general population due to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, it is reasonable to assume that the workload and risk of occupational exposure to SARS-CoV-2 have increased for these workers who are required by state law to investigate deaths known or suspected to be due to a contagious disease that constitutes a public hazard. Studies investigating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on these workers and their operations have been limited. The objective of this study was to conduct an assessment of routine medical examiner and coroners' office duties (e.g., infectious disease testing and decedent transport) by surveying the 67 county medical examiner and coroners' offices in Pennsylvania to characterize how the rise in infectious disease cases from COVID-19 influenced workload and resource needs. Quantitative results demonstrated an increase in workload and use of personal protective equipment (PPE) while engineering control usage remained the same. Qualitative results revealed various challenges experienced by the offices during the pandemic including limitations in access to PPE, insufficient storage space for increased numbers of decedents, personnel shortage/burnout, and limited or no engagement at the state level for emergency response planning and implementation. These data are valuable to inform the need for additional guidance or supplies and may be used to optimize resource planning and implementation (e.g., personnel, facilities, and supplies) for both routine and surge demand scenarios.

Las pistolas Taser®. Algunas consideraciones médico-legales / The TASER® guns. Some medical-legal considerations

Las pistolas TASER® fueron introducidos en nuestra sociedad de forma progresiva, con confusión e ignorancia sobre el uso particular de los mismos para intentar inmovilizar o reducir un sujeto en diferentes lugares y circunstancias; Por tanto, han generado un amplio debate social debido a las polémicas de su uso por parte de las fuerzas de seguridad. En este trabajo se describe una actualización de los mecanismos de acción, una descripción detallada de la lesiología que se presenta y los efectos no deseados que pueden derivarse de su uso en diferentes partes del cuerpo, en virtud de las discusiones sobre su inocuidad en la Salud

Taser® guns were introduced in our society progressively, with confusion and ignorance about the particular use of them to try to immobilize or reduce a subject in different places and circumstances. Therefore, they have generated a wide social debate due to the controversies of their use by the security forces. In this work, an update on the mechanisms of action is described, a detailed description of the lesiology that occurs and the unwanted effects that may derive from its use in different parts of the body, by virtue of the discussions about its harmlessness in the Health

El peritaje forense en los casos de violación en Honduras previo a la independencia / Forensic expertise in rape cases in Honduras before the independence

Justificación: la bibliografía sobre delitos sexuales en el periodo de dominación hispánica en América (1492-1821) es escasa, existiendo importantes vacíos historiográficos que dificultan la reconstrucción de un panorama general del proceso penal conducido en esa época, por lo que, investigar el peritaje conducido en los casos de violación es un primer paso para rastrear la evolución del tratamiento de esos casos en las instituciones judiciales. Objetivo: describir cómo se ejecutaba el peritaje forense en los casos de violación sucedidos en la Honduras previo a su independencia política de España. Metodología: se adoptó un enfoque cualitativo con un diseño exploratorio, utilizándose fuentes primarias que fueron seleccionadas mediante muestreo no probabilístico. Resultados: se logró identificar dos casos en los cuales se hizo recurso de peritos para confirmar una violación. En ambos las expertas tenían el oficio de partera, brindando declaraciones que reflejan una falta de preparación profesional y un conocimiento basado en la experiencia. Las declaraciones fueron transcritas conservándose la ortografía de la época y comentadas para ubicarlas en su contexto. Conclusión: en la Honduras de los años previos a la independencia se realizaba un peritaje forense en casos de violación basado en la experiencia laboral de los peritos y no en información científica o preparación académica, esto condujo a que los juicios de los expertos se vieran afectados por sus sesgos culturales...(AU)

Aspectos médico legales de heridas cortantes en cuello / Medico-legal aspects of stab wounds to the neck. Case report

Introducción: Las lesiones por trauma del cuello pueden ser abiertas o cerradas y a su vez se clasifican en superficiales y profundas. La decisión quirúrgica depende de la determinación del compromiso de órganos vitales. Objetivo: Determinar la importancia del conocimiento de estructuras anatómicas que conforman el cuello para establecer la trayectoria de la herida.Presentación del caso: Se reporta el caso de un paciente masculino de 27 años, quien recibe herida cortante en el cuello. El paciente exhibía una herida extensa de tipo superficial en la zona II del cuello, cuya gravedad corresponde al grado 1, por tanto, se suturó la herida, luego se envió al paciente a su domicilio y control posterior para retiro de puntos. Los aspectos médicos legales en el presente caso van encaminados a brindar información relevante respecto al compromiso o no de algún órgano vital o grandes vasos, dicha información facilita al señor fiscal para el establecimiento del tipo penal. Discusión: Es importante la presentación del caso ya que nos permite establecer el tratamiento médico que debe recibir el paciente en caso de heridas de cuello y su importancia médico legal para el establecimiento de un delito.Conclusiones: El conocimiento de las estructuras anatómicas que conforman el cuello determinan el trayecto de la herida y permite un tratamiento correcto en el manejo médico legal.

Introduction: Neck trauma injuries can be open or closed and in turn are classified as superficial and deep. The surgical decision depends on the determination of the commitment of vital organs. Objective: Determine the importance of anatomical knowledge of the neck to establish the trajectory of the wound.Case Presentation: The case of a 27-year-old patient is reported, who is attacked with a knife to the neck. The patient exhi-bited an extensive cutting wound of a superficial type in zone II of the neck, the severity of which corresponds to grade 1, therefore, the wound was sutured, then the patient was sent home and subsequent monitoring for removal of stitches. The medico-legal aspects in this case are aimed at providing relevant information regarding the commitment or not of a vital organ or large vessels, such information facilitates the prosecutor for the establishment of the criminal type. Discussion: The presentation of the case is important since it allows us to establish what medical treatment the patient should receive in case of neck injuries and the medical-legal importance of it for the establishment of a crime.Conclusions: The anatomical knowledge of the neck determines the trajectory of the wound and allows to stablish an appropriate treatment in legal medical management.

Relationship between opiates and asthma in the determination of death.

Several studies have shown an association between asthma and opiate abuse. This retrospective study aims to analyse the demographic, toxicological, and seasonal differences in asthmatic and non-asthmatic subjects who died of opiates. In addition, the relationship between toxicological levels of opiates and histologic grade of lung inflammation is examined. Deaths from 2013 to 2018 involving opiates as the primary cause of death in Cook County, Illinois (USA) were reviewed. Twenty-six cases of opiate deaths of individuals with a history of asthma and lung histology slides available were identified. In comparison, 40 cases of deaths due to opiates only were analysed. A check-list system for the evaluation of the grade of microscopic inflammation in asthma was developed. We found statistically significant differences between the asthmatics and the non-asthmatics regarding demography (age and race) and toxicology (6-MAM presence). In particular, the "opiate and asthma group" was mainly composed of African-American subjects, in contrast with the "opiate group", consisting mostly of Caucasian. The mean age was significantly higher in the "opiate and asthma group" compared with the "opiate group". A greater presence of 6-MAM was detected in the "opiate group" compared with the "opiate and asthma group". While we expected to find that low opiate levels would lead to deaths in asthmatics and, in particular, that lower opiate concentrations would cause deaths in subjects with higher grades of histologic inflammation, our study suggests that the quantity of drug and the level of inflammation are not statistically significant in the determination of death. We, therefore, recommend histologic examination of the lungs to evaluate for asthma, particularly in suspected low-level opiate-related deaths, to help further clarify any relationship between asthma and opiate use.

Forensics in HIV Transmission Crimes / Medicina forense en delitos de transmisión del VIH

Abstract Forensic microbiology is a scientific area that has emerged with the need to investigate biocrimes, as in the case of intentional transmission of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). The present exploratory work aimed to demonstrate how biomedical technology, such as phylogenetics and quantification of viral load and CD4+ T lymphocytes, can be used to produce technical evidence that brings more certainty in determining the authorship and materiality of these criminal behaviors.

Resumen La microbiología forense es un área científica que ha surgido con la necesidad de investigar los delitos biológicos, como en el caso de la transmisión intencional del virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana (VIH). Este trabajo exploratorio tuvo como objetivo demostrar cómo la tecnología biomédica, como la filogenética y la cuantificación de la carga viral y los linfocitos T CD4+, puede usarse para producir evidencia técnica que brinde más certeza para determinar la autoría y la materialidad de estas conductas criminales.

Evaluating the Potential for Unintentional Occupational Exposure to Fentanyl and Fentanyl Analogues Among Medicolegal Death Investigators and Autopsy Technicians.

Recent increases in deaths in the United States from synthetic opioids such as fentanyl and fentanyl analogues (fentanyls) have raised concerns about possible occupational exposures to these potent agents. Medicolegal death investigators and autopsy suite staff might perform job tasks involving exposure to fentanyls. The potential for exposure to fentanyls among medicolegal death investigators and autopsy technicians at a state medical examiner's office was evaluated through review of caseload characteristics, injury and illness logs, and procedures and policies and discussions with management and employee representatives. The evaluation showed that this medical examiner's office had low potential for work-related exposure to fentanyls; its standard operating procedures and personal protective equipment requirements should reduce the potential for occupational exposure. Medicolegal death investigation agencies can develop and implement guidance to control exposures and provide workforce education and training to reduce the potential for work-related exposure to fentanyls.

Los peritos médicos, psiquiatras y psicólogos, y el nuevo Código Procesal Penal Federal. Su participación en el sistema penal acusatorio / Medical experts, psychiatrists and psychologists, and the new Federal Criminal Procedure Code. Their participation in criminal trials in adversarial system

En junio de 2019 comenzó a aplicarse el nuevo Código Procesal Penal Federal, que adopta como sistema de enjuiciamiento el modelo acusatorio. Este modelo implementa la oralidad, la inmediatez, la contradicción y la publicidad como guías de los procesos judiciales. En este sistema el rol de los peritos juega un papel fundamental para el que deben estar preparados. (AU)

In June 2019, the new Federal Criminal Procedure Code began to be used, which adopts the adversarial model as a system of prosecution. This model implements orality, immediacy, contradiction and publicity as guides to judicial processes. In this system the role of the experts plays a fundamental role for which they must be prepared. (AU)

El valor del informe pericial caligráfico emitido por un laboratorio acreditado / The value of the caligraphic expert report issued by an accredited laboratory

La mejora constante en el desarrollo y funcionamiento de los laboratorios es una máxima que deben tener todos presentes. En este sentido, al menos en la última década, los laboratorios forenses van implementando en su sistema de gestión las innovaciones que incorpora cualquier otro tipo de empresas u organizaciones como serían los aspectos relativos al personal, a través de normas sobre seguridad e higiene en el trabajo, cuestiones medioambientales dada la preocupación creciente en la sociedad sobre el deterioro medioambiental que se está acrecentando de forma alarmante y que se manifiesta de diversa constante dentro de lo que conocemos como "cambio climático", y por último, la implementación de un sistema de gestión de la calidad, con el fin de exteriorizar un imagen altamente positiva y obtener de esta forma ventajas competitivas sobre otro tipo de empresas que operan en el mismo ramo o sector. Este último aspecto resulta especialmente significativo para los ensayos que, sobre distintas ramas científicas, son realizados por los laboratorios forenses, ya que contribuye a fortalecer todo el proceso secuencial analítico seguido y consecuentemente las conclusiones alcanzadas en los análisis realizados...(AU)

Biomecánica de las lesiones en hombro: Revisión bibliográfica crítica desde la perspectiva médico legal laboral / Biomechanics of shoulder injuries: Critical bibliographic review from the medical-legal-occupational perspective

Resumen La base fundamental de la valoración médico legal de un individuo es establecer la relación de causalidad entre la historia narrada por el mismo y los hallazgos documentados. La biomecánica del trauma es una herramienta que permite dilucidar dicha concordancia, ya que su estudio involucra los mecanismos de trauma implicados en la génesis de las distintas lesiones. Este artículo consiste en una revisión bibliográfica y crítica de la literatura actual en materia de etiopatogenia de las lesiones en hombro por su alta incidencia laboral y capacidad de generar secuelas.

Abstract The basis of the forensic evaluation of an individual is to establish the relationship of causality between the story that has been told by the patient and the documented findings. The study of injury biomechanics is a tool that helps to clarify said concordance, since it involves the trauma mechanisms that are implied in the genesis of the different lesions. This article consists of a bibliographical revision and critique of the current literature about the etiopathogenesis of the shoulder lesions, since they are frequent in the work place and can generate sequels.

The Role of Patient-reported Outcome Measures in Post-operative Death Investigations.

Coronial investigations of post-operative deaths can play an important role in improving the quality and safety of patient care. Correctly identifying reportable deaths in the post-operative period and reporting them to the coroner is a key responsibility of medical practitioners but may be challenging, particularly when determination of unexpectedness is problematic. Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) have a potential role to play in assisting clinicians with better identification of these reportable deaths. Moreover, the inclusion of PROMs within coronial investigations can assist in identifying systemic failures and result in recommendations on public health and safety. In particular, PROMs could be effective in addressing the overuse of surgery which remains a major public health concern. While the role of PROMs in clinical practice has undergone extensive research, their potential use in death investigations has been overlooked. As medicine continues to transition towards a patient-centred model of care, the use of frameworks such as PROMs will become increasingly important and may also provide benefit to the process of medicolegal death investigations.