Effectiveness of aerial wildlife crossings: Do wildlife use rope bridges more than hazardous structures to cross roads? / Eficacia de los pasos aéreos sobre carretera: ¿Cruza la fauna más por puentes de cuerda que por otras estructuras peligrosas?

Abstract Introduction: Although wildlife crossing structures have proven successful at reducing wildlife-vehicle collisions and linking fragmented habitat, their ability to prevent electrocutions of arboreal wildlife has not been closely examined. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of aerial rope bridges in restoring habitat connectivity for arboreal species in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica, while preventing electrocutions by determining 1) what species are using the rope bridges and 2) whether wildlife prefer to use rope bridges instead of other hazardous structures that cross the roads (such as telephone cables, which are often in close proximity to electric wires). Methods: From January to May 2016, nine rope bridges along the highly-trafficked main road that extends from Quepos to Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica, were monitored using camera traps, and ten rope bridges were observed directly along a paved side road off the main road. Results: A total of 11 species were seen using the bridges, and 1 540 crossings were witnessed via camera traps and observations (1 234 via camera traps, 306 during observations). Results from a paired t-test showed no significant difference in the average number of individuals crossing the road via rope bridges versus telephone cables (t(8) = 1.027, P = 0.334). Conclusions: Rope bridges are used by a variety of arboreal wildlife species with a high degree of frequency; however, due to the equally high usage of telephone cables by arboreal wildlife, they are insufficient to prevent wildlife electrocutions on their own. Rope bridges should be installed in tandem with other methods to prevent electrocutions, such as insulating electric wires, to facilitate the safe passage of wildlife over roads.

Resumen Introducción: Aunque los pasos de fauna han demostrado ser exitosos para reducir las colisiones entre vehículos y vida silvestre y vincular el hábitat fragmentado, su capacidad para prevenir electrocuciones de la vida silvestre arbórea no se ha examinado a fondo. Objetivo: Evaluar la efectividad de los puentes aéreos de cuerdas para restaurar la conectividad del hábitat de las especies arbóreas en Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica y al mismo tiempo prevenir las electrocuciones al determinar 1) qué especies están usando los puentes de cuerda y 2) si la vida silvestre prefiere usar puentes de cuerda en lugar de otras estructuras peligrosas que cruzan las carreteras (como cables telefónicos, que frecuentemente están muy cerca de cables eléctricos). Métodos: De enero a mayo de 2016, se monitorearon nueve puentes de cuerda a lo largo de la carretera principal altamente transitada que se extiende desde Quepos a Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica, utilizando cámaras trampa y la observación directa en diez puentes de cuerda a lo largo de una carretera pavimentada más pequeña fuera de la carretera principal. Resultados: Se observaron un total de 11 especies utilizando los puentes y se presenciaron 1 540 cruces mediante cámaras trampa y observaciones (1 234 mediante cámaras trampa, 306 durante las observaciones). Los resultados de una prueba t pareada no mostraron diferencias significativas en el número promedio de individuos que cruzan la carretera a través de puentes de cuerda versus cables telefónicos, t (8) = 1.027, P = 0.334. Conclusiones: Los puentes de cuerdas son utilizados por una variedad de especies de vida silvestre arbóreas con un alto grado de frecuencia; sin embargo, debido al uso igualmente elevado de cables telefónicos por parte de la vida silvestre arbórea, se considera que son insuficientes para prevenir las electrocuciones de la vida silvestre por sí solas. Los puentes de cuerda deben instalarse junto con otros métodos para evitar electrocuciones, como cables eléctricos aislados, para facilitar el paso seguro de la vida silvestre por las carreteras.

Paro cardiorrespiratorio por electrocución tratado con éxito extrahospitalariamente / Cardiorespiratory Arrest Caused by Electrocution Successfully Treated in an Extra-Hospital Situation / Parada cardiorrespiratória por eletrocussão tratada com sucesso de maneira extra-hospitalar

Resumen Introducción: son pocos los datos documentados sobre los resultados de la reanimación cardiopulmonar en el paro cardiorrespiratorio extrahospitalario por causa de electrocución. El paro cardiorrespiratorio se produce cuando una descarga eléctrica interrumpe de forma abrupta la actividad eléctrica normal del corazón, lo que genera una electrocución y una alteración en los movimientos cardiacos y, por consiguiente, bombeo anormal de sangre y oxígeno a los tejidos. Ello constituye una emergencia clínica que puede ocasionar nefastas consecuencias de no tomarse medidas enérgicas e inmediatas. Presentación del caso: hombre con paro cardiorrespiratorio producido por electrocución y manejado en un ámbito extra-hospitalario, quien respondió con éxito a las maniobras aplicadas. Personal técnico y de salud iniciaron precozmente la reanimación cardiopulmonar y luego fue reforzada por personal médico, que aplicó desflbrilación en dos ocasiones con desflbrilador externo automático (DEA). Con ello se logró recuperar los signos vitales del paciente y trasladarlo a un centro asistencial para continuar su manejo intrahospitalario. Conclusión: la realización de una reanimación precoz y la desfibrilación de pacientes electrocutados, así como las medidas encaminadas a la protección del cerebro, son la norma prioritaria en la asistencia pre-hospitalaria de estos pacientes, quienes son potencialmente recuperables. Por tal razón, es importante que la comunidad, en general, esté preparada y que el personal de salud se reentrene en soporte vital básico, que incluye el manejo del DEA para dar oportunidad de sobrevivir a personas que sufran un paro cardiorrespiratorio extrahospitalario.

Abstract Introduction: There are few the documented data about the cardiopulmonary resuscitation results in the cardiorespiratory arrest extra-hospital due to the electrocution. The cardiorespiratory arrest occurs when the heart's normal electrical activity is abruptly interrupted by electric shocks generated by electrocution, causing the disturbance in the cardiac movements and, consequently, abnormal pumping of blood and oxygen to the tissues. The cardiorespiratory arrest due to electrocution is one clinic emergency that can cause disastrous consequences, if energetic measures are not taken immediately. Case presentation: A man with cardiorespiratory arrest produced by electrocution and managed in an extra-hospital area, who responded successfully to the maneuvers applied. The cardiopulmonary resus-citation maneuvers were precociously started by the health technical staff; next, reinforced by medical it, applying the defibrillation on two occasions, with external automatic defibrillator (AED), recovering the patient's vital signs and allowing his transfer to a healthcare center to continue in-hospital management. Conclusion: The performing of early resuscitation and defibrillation of electrocuted patients, as well as the measures aimed at protecting the brain, are the priority rules in the pre-hospital scene of these patients, who are potentially recoverable. For this reason, it is important that the community, in general, be ready, and the health staff gets trained in basic vital support that includes the management of AED to give the opportunity of surviving to people that suffer a cardiorespiratory arrest.

Resumo Introdução: são poucos os dados documentados sobre os resultados da reanimação cardiopulmonar na parada cardiorrespiratória extra-hospitalar por causa de eletrocussão. A parada cardiorrespiratória se produz quando a atividade elétrica normal do coração é interrompida abruptamente pela descarga elétrica que gera a eletrocussão causando alterado nos movimentos cardíacos e por conseguinte bombeamento anormal de sangue e oxigeno aos tecidos. A parada cardiorrespiratória causada por eletrocussão é uma emergência clínica que pode ocasionar nefastas consequências, de não tomar medidas enérgicas e imediatas. Apresentação do caso: homem com parada cardiorrespiratória, produzida por eletrocussão e manejado em um âmbito extra-hospitalar, quem respondeu com sucesso ás manobras aplicadas. A rearrumação cardiopulmonar foi iniciada precocemente por pessoal técnico de saúde, posteriormente reforjadas por pessoal médico, aplicando a desfibrilação em duas ocasiões, com desfibrilador automático externo (DEA), recuperando os signos vitais do paciente e permitindo seu traslado e um centro assistencial para continuar manejo intra-hospitalar. Conclusão: a realizado de uma rearrumação precoce e desfibrilação de pacientes eletrocutados, assim como as medidas encaminhadas á proteção do cérebro, são a norma prioritária na assistência pré-hospitalar destes pacientes, os quais são potencialmente recuperáveis; por esta razão é importante que a comunidade, em geral, esteja preparada e que o pessoal de saúde se retreine em suporte vital básico que inclua o manejo do DEA para dar oportunidade de sobrevida a pessoas que sofram uma parada cardiorrespiratória extra-hospitalar.

Review of Suicidal Electrocution in South Korea from 2008 Year to 2018 Year / 대한법의학회지

The authors investigated the cases of electrocution suicides in South Korea from 2008 to 2018. Out of 151,419 suicides during this 11-year period, suicide by electrocution was extremely rare. Only nine victims were recorded in eight cases, with one case involving a married couple. The majority of the victims were men (89%), and only one case involved a woman (11%). The mean age of the victims was 55 years, and ranged from 38 to 74 years. In all cases, the suicides occurred in the home, and low-voltage electricity was used. Two of the nine victims (22%) had an occupation related with electrical knowledge. Mental illness, such as depression and schizophrenia, was found in two cases (22%). An autopsy was not performed in all cases.

A Study Of Demographic Data In Electrocution Deaths In Kamrup, Assam

Electrical injuries are responsible for considerable morbidity and mortality in our country especially in our regions. The present study has been carried out to study the incidence of electrocution deaths in Kamrup, Assam and study the demographic data of the victims.Cases were collected from autopsy cases in Department of Forensic Medicine, GMCH. Total number of cases was 36.Most of the cases were male. The most commonly involved age group was 31–40 followed by 21–30 years. Most of the cases occurred in the summer season and caused by high tension wires. The morbidity and mortality can be reduced by educating the people and the use of protective measures must be made compulsory to the workers especially employees of electric department.

A study on the application of the bran-new method of sampling and forensic for the identification of electrocution: 23 cases analysis / 中国法医学杂志

Objective To confirm the optimal tissue sampling location of current injury combined with the histopathological observation in specific parts of electrocution based on previous animal experiments. Methods Twenty-three human cases from the autopsy through the hand-to-foot circuit pathway were analyzed. Additional ten autopsy patients who died from traffic accidents and sudden cardiac attacks were used as the control group. All cases were extracted the soft tissues from the upper anterior wrist and medial malleolus to further observe and analysis the L/S axis ratio of the nuclei of the skeletal muscle cells (SkMCs) and artery smooth muscle cells (ASMCs). Results The age of the 23 eligible electrical deaths ranged from 19 to 59 years, including 19 cases were male and 4 cases were female. 3 cases were high-voltage 20 cases were low voltage. The occurrence rate of electric marks averaged 31.18% in all cases. The incidence of the classical arborizing pattern of fine branching was 36.4%, appearing on the pleura in 5 cases (22.7%). The nuclei of the SkMCs and ASMCs nuclei in the anterior wrist and medial malleolus within the electrical current pathway were obviously stretched, narrowed, and coalesced, presenting a nuclear polarization and arranging as line-like and moniliform patterns. The L/S axis ratio of those nuclei in the anterior wrist and medial malleolus were markedly increased as compared with the control group (p < 0.001). Through the ROC curve analysis, the critical diagnostic values of the L/S axis ratio of those nuclei were respectively 4.84 and 3.81. Conclusion These findings suggest that the soft tissues of the anterior wrist and/or the medial malleolus, as the narrowest parts of the limbs, could be used as the sites for tissue sampling and considered as necessary locations for histopathological examinations to determine the electrocution in medicolegal identification.

Expression of fibronectin protein levels in sinoatrial node tissues of hearts following electrocution / 局解手术学杂志

Objective To study the protein levels of fibronectin (Fn) in the sinoatrial node tissues of hearts caused by electric shock death ,and to provide a new theoretical basis for the diagnosis of electric shock death and the identification of death time.MethodsUsing immunohistochemical technique(S-P method) to detect protein levels of 15 cases of human sinoatrial node following electrocution(human experimental group),15 cases of human sinoatrial node with severe traumatic cerebral injury(human control group),35 cases of rabbit sinoatrial node following electrocution(rabbit experimental group ,divided into7 groups according to different sampling time: 0 h ,1 h ,3 h ,6 h ,12 h,24 h.48 h),and 35 cases of rabbit sinoatrial node with broken neck executed(rabbit control group ,divided int0 7 groups according to different sampling time :0 h,1 h.3 h,6 h.12 h.24 h,48 h).ResultsFn positive expression rate in human experimental group was 100% while it was 6.67% in the human control group,and the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.01 ).The Fn expression can be seen after electric shock immediately in the rabbit experimental group,and there was statistical difference compared with the rabbit control group (P < 0.05).Distribution of Fn expression became more and more widely after 3 hours t0 12 hours in the rabbit experimental group ,and there was significant difference compared with the rabbit control group(P < 0.01).The Fn expression began to decrease 24 hours after electrocution,ancl it still had statistical significance 48 hours after electrocution compared with the rabbit control group (P < 0.05).Conclusion Electric shocks significantly enhanced the expression of Fn protein levels in the sinoatrial node tissues , and optical density of Fn positive expression has a regularity change along with the extended time of death.These results could provide a theoretical reference basis for forensic diagnosis of electrocution and identification of death time.

Correlación macroscópica-microscópica en muertes por electrocución: Morgue Central de Lima periodo 2006-2011 / Macroscopic-microscopic correlation in deaths by electrocution: Central Morgue of Lima 2006-2011

Introducción: La electrocución es una causa de muerte de índole traumática y de alta mortalidad, que produce lesiones y signos externos que deben ser corroborados por hallazgos microscópicos. Objetivo: Correlacionar hallazgos macroscópicos con resultados histopatológicos en muertes por electrocución. Diseño: Descriptivo, transversal, correlacional, retrospectivo. Institución: Instituto Medicina Legal-MP, Instituto Patología, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Perú. Material: Informes de Necropsia Médicolegal. Intervenciones: En la Morgue Central de Lima, en el periodo 2006-2011, se hizo búsqueda y análisis de información de electrocución. Principales medidas de resultados: Medida de tendencia central, frecuencias y porcentaje. Análisis de correlación. Resultados: De 116 casos, 108 varones y 8 mujeres, la media de edad fue 31,3 años, 23 por ciento fueron electricistas, 18 por ciento trabajaban en construcción. El hecho ocurrió en el centro de trabajo 51 por ciento, con etiología suicida en dos casos. Los hallazgos macroscópicos más frecuentes fueron signos generales de asfixia, lesiones por entrada de corriente eléctrica, hemorragia miocárdica y petequias subpleurales, en 73,3 por ciento. Las alteraciones microscópicas fueron: necrosis coagulativa en piel 87 casos, edema cerebral 101 casos, hemorragia pulmonar 83 casos, infarto agudo de miocardio 87 casos, necrosis tubular aguda 72 casos. Al correlacionar los hallazgos macroscópicos y microscópicos más frecuentes, encontramos una asociación significativa (valor V de Cramer de 0,592, p<0,0001). Conclusiones: Los hallazgos macroscópicos más frecuentes (lesión de entrada, hemorragia miocárdica y petequias subpleurales) y los hallazgos microscópicos más frecuentes (necrosis coagulativa en piel, infarto agudo de miocardio y necrosis tubular aguda) relacionados a electrocución parecen estar significativamente asociados.

Introduction: Electrocution is a frequent cause of traumatic death. It produces lesions and external signs that should be corroborated by microscopic findings. Objective: To correlate macroscopic findings with histopathologic results in electrocution deaths. Design: Descriptive, cross-sectional, correlational, retrospective study. Setting: Legal Medicine Institute-MP, Pathology Institute, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Peru. Material: Medicolegal necropsy reports. Results: From 116 cases, 8 were women and 108 males, mean age was 31.3 years. Twenty three per cent were electricians and 18 per cent worked in construction. The incident occurred at labor center in 51 per cent. Suicide accounted for two cases. Frequent macroscopic findings were general signs of choking, power input injuries, myocardial hemorrhage and subpleural petechiae in 73.3 per cent. Microscopic alterations were skin coagulative necrosis in 87 cases, cerebral edema in 101, pulmonary hemorrhage in 83, acute myocardial infarction in 87, and acute tubular necrosis in 72 cases. A significant association between macroscopic and microscopic findings (0.592 V Cramer value; p <0.0001) was found. Conclusions: Most common macroscopic findings (lesion input, myocardial hemorrhage and subpleural petechiae) and most frequent microscopic findings (skin coagulative necrosis, acute myocardial infarction and acute tubular necrosis) related to electrocution seemed to be significantly associated.

Electrocution method to conceal homicide A rare case report.

Killing of a human being is one of the most serious or major crimes. Assailants are very keen to conceal crime by different methods, so there may be wrong interpretation by inexperienced autopsy surgeons and hence it may lead to injustice. So it is important that our keen observation and opinion should be conclusive for the administration of justice. In this paper we are presenting a rare case which was brought by police as a case of electrocution. After meticulous autopsy and crime scene visit, the case turned to be of homicidal manner. The cause of death was manual strangulation with head injury and electrical injuries were post-mortem in nature. The deceased was under the influence of alcohol. The necessary investigations like histo-pathological examination also ruled out ante-mortem nature of electric injury. The present paper highlights the importance of meticulous autopsy and crime scene visit for determination of cause and manner of death.

Pattern of injuries due to electric current.

A one year study, from October 2007 to September 2008, was under taken in an attempt to study the pattern of electrical injury, the cause of death, manner of death, and diagnosis by histopathological examination. The study was compromised of 62 cases brought with history of electrical shock. Of the total 62 cases, males were 57(91.93%) and females were 5(8.06%) the mean age is 26 .27 year. The peak age of victims are 21-30 years age group 24 cases (38.71%].In the age group of 1n 0-10 years age group victims 3. Most of cases were due to low tension and domestic circuit. The patterns of electrical injuries are noted, such as entry, exit and both entry, exit wounds, flash burns and no electrical signs. The maximum victims showed dermo-epidermal degree of electrical burns .The histopathological examination is an important aid in diagnosis of electrical injuries and recommendations about preventive safety measures to reduce the mortality.

Profile of deaths due to electrocution: A retrospective study.

We carried out a retrospective analysis of deaths due to electrocution from the medico-legal deaths reported to our institution. Majority of the victims were males belonging to the age group of 11-50 years. Almost all deaths were accidental and most of them were concentrated in the period of monsoon implicating the important role of wetness in causing these deaths. In contrast to the studies done in the West, bathtubs, heaters or hair dryers were not involved in any of the deaths. The mortality rate due to electrocution was significantly higher at 4.4 per one lakhs (100000) population in the present study as against the figures of 0.94 and 0.14 from Bulgaria and Canada respectively. Most of the deaths were either instantaneous or immediate and most of the deaths were preventable by electrocution. It signifies that people living at home did not have elementary knowledge of risks of electrocution; therefore awareness about use of good quality electric appliances and cables is the need of the hour.

Never be a roman, while you are in Rome, be a roman, while you are in Rome, (a fallacy and some times fatal also).

The unlucky deceased was a American who checked in to a star hotel in Hyderabad along with his colleagues on a company assignment. When his colleagues called him, at 11-30 am for a shopping spree, he has told them that he has back-ache and wants to take rest in his room. At about 2-30 pm again, when they contacted him on phone, no response came, at about 5-00 pm again as there was no response, with a master key the door was opened and the dead body of the deceased found on the carpet besides a long sofa with a metal beeding in a prone position with right hand under the chest and the left upper limb parallel to the body, with a disconnected cable of laptop nearer to his head which was still in switched on position. A dimmer light with a long pedestal was found beside the body with bulb towards head and base towards the feet. There was a plug point at floor level near the head of the deceased, with a insitu adapter, as the pin of the laptop cannot be inserted, directly in to it. The adaptor was loosely hanging in the socket of the plug.

Fatal gastro-duodenal perforation following electrocution: A case report.

A 45 yrs old male was accidentally electrocuted, while cooking on a locally made heater in his home. He was immediately brought to the hospital in unconscious state by the family members. After first aid he was referred to a tertiary care hospital, where he was admitted about two hrs after the incident. On admission he was unconscious, abdomen was distended, with fluid in peritoneal cavity. There was tachycardia and hypotension. Bowel sounds were absent. Electrocution burn marks were present over the right hand. Arterial blood analysis showed severe metabolic acidosis. He was immediately shifted to the ICU. His condition continued to be critical with persistent metabolic acidosis despite repeated sodium bicarbonate infusion. An exploratory laprotomy was planned to rule out abdominal visceral injuries. However the patient expired six hrs after admission to the hospital before being taken to the operation theatre. Autopsy examination showed perforated anterior wall of stomach antrum and first part of duodenum.

Electrocution: A six-year study of electrical fatalities.

A six-year study, from January 2001 to December 2006, was undertaken in an attempt to study the pattern of electrical injuries, the cause of death, manner of death and the importance of histopathological examination. The study was comprised of 86 cases brought with history of electrocution, consisting of 69 men and 17 women. Their age ranged from [3] year to [65] year. We had found 97.67% cases of accidental death and 2.32% cases of homicides. Accidental death was more common in age group 21 to 30 years. Of all cases, 45.34% cases were of electric contact, 31.39% cases were of contact and heat and 9.30% cases were of flash burns. In [6] cases no electric mark could be identified. With reference to occupation, 20.93% of deaths occurred in labor class. Considering the histopathological changes, nuclear streaming, dermo-epidermal separation and coagulative necrosis were amongst the commonest lesions.

A Case of Natural Death Misinterpreted as Electrocution / 대한법의학회지

When the circumstance of a death seems to be related with electric shock, most of the forensic pathologists tend to diagnose the cause of death as electrocution if they see the electric mark(s) with the notincompatible histology, and find no other definite causes of death at autopsy. But admittedly forensic pathologists know that the so-called electric mark(s) and its histology is not pathognomonic to diagnose electrocution, so the diagnosis should be confirmed by the appropriate investigation of the death scene and the electric devices. We present a case of a man who had a likely current mark that could be diagnosed as natural by ruling out the possibility of electrocution with the examination of the electric lamp which had been under the dead body at the scene. This case gives us the importance of appropriate probe about scene evidences supplied by forensic science in diagnosing and ruling out the electrocution.

Experimental studies on fibronectin expression in myocardium taken from rats died of electrocution / 中国法医学杂志

Objective To establish an immunohistochemical method for postmortem diagnosis of electrocution. Method 12 rats were divided into two groups,experimental and control. In the experimental group,6 rats were killed by electricity,and in the control group,6 rats were killed by breaking the rats' neck. Myocardium sections were then made and were stained by SABC immunohistochemical method as well as HE.Results The expression of the fibronectins in the experimental rats' myocardia were significantly increased as compared with those in the control rats (P

A study on the ultrastructural changes of the heart, brain, lung and skin in the electrocuted rats / 中国法医学杂志

Objective To detect the morphological evidence of identifying death from electrical injury, the ultrastructural changes of the heart, brain,lung and skin in the electrocuted rats were observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Methods 12 rats were divided into the experimental and control groups. In the experimental group,6 rats were killed by electrocution, and in the control group, 6 rats were killed by decapitation. Samples from the heart, brain, lungs, and skin were fixed with valeric aldehyde and post-fixed with osmic acid. After being stained, the ultrathin sections were observed by TEM. Results Evident cell apoptosis was detected in all the tissues examined, and erythrocytes appeared swelling, which stuffed the lumen of the capillary vessels. Conclusion The ultrastructural changes of the cells of the heart, brains, lungs, and skins including the vascular endothelial cells may be used as the indicators for identifying death from electrical injury.

Pathological study of the skeletal muscle in electrocution / 中国法医学杂志

Demonstration of the abnormal distribution of Mb and Fn in electric injuries of skeletal muscles. The electrocution model of rats was established, and the human autopsy samples of electrocution were collected. Immunohistochemical study of myoglobin(Mb) and fibronectin(Fn) were performed on the skeletal muscles in the electric current pathways. The results showed that the muscle fibers showed the bamboo-like appearance and depletion of the Mb as well as the positive reaction of Fn which was called the python-pattern. This experiment proved that the bamboo-like appearance and python-pattern change of the skeletal muscle fibers have the practical value in the medicolegal diagnosis of electrocution without typical current mark.