RESUMEN
The authors tested the Soluene-350 method to detect diatoms in three cases of sea water drowning. The negative results obtained in all three cases prompted us to re-test the method on samples of fresh water and sea water microalgae. The experiment showed that the siliceous frustule of sea water diatoms is solubilized by Soluene-350 while that of fresh water diatoms is resistant to the treatment. The method, which is effective in cases of drowning in fresh water, should therefore be used with caution in sea water drowning.
Asunto(s)
Diatomeas/aislamiento & purificación , Ahogamiento/diagnóstico , Compuestos de Amonio Cuaternario , Agua de Mar , Diatomeas/efectos de los fármacos , Medicina Legal/métodos , Agua Dulce , Humanos , Compuestos de Amonio Cuaternario/farmacologíaRESUMEN
The authors analyze the case of an Albanian refugee who was killed by the propellers of the outboard engine of a rubber dinghy while illegally attempting to reach Italy. The finding of multiple parallel, deep clear-cut injuries is uncommon, but highly characteristic of the object producing the lesions. These are typical and cannot be mistaken with those produced by sharp objects or shark bites. The description of the injuries is vital for establishing the position of the victim with regard to the propeller that struck him.
Asunto(s)
Navíos , Heridas Penetrantes/patología , Adulto , Brazo/patología , Autopsia , Causas de Muerte , Medicina Legal/métodos , Humanos , MasculinoRESUMEN
The authors describe an unusual case of suicide that required particular attention to establish whether the victim was murdered, was preparing a terrorist attack or had committed suicide. Examination of the corpse and the crime scene, as well as testimonies, led the authors to determine the real cause of death, namely, an unusual method of suicide.
Asunto(s)
Explosiones , Suicidio , Adulto , Medicina Legal , Homicidio , HumanosRESUMEN
We present a case of death caused by voluntary ingestion of non-organic foreign bodies observed at the Institute of Legal Medicine of the University of Trieste. The victim was a young schizophrenic patient whose death, at first giving rise to suspicions of murder by another psychiatric patient, was found to be caused by an uncommon chronic permanence of foreign bodies at different locations of the digestive tract which suddenly evolved into a series of simultaneous lethal complications as yet never described. The case also raised the issue of possible responsibilities of the subject's healthcare providers.
Asunto(s)
Enfermedades de la Aorta/etiología , Cuerpos Extraños/psicología , Fístula Intestinal/etiología , Obstrucción Intestinal/etiología , Esquizofrenia/complicaciones , Adulto , Enfermedades de la Aorta/patología , Enfermedades de la Aorta/psicología , Resultado Fatal , Cuerpos Extraños/complicaciones , Humanos , Fístula Intestinal/patología , Fístula Intestinal/psicología , Obstrucción Intestinal/patología , Obstrucción Intestinal/psicología , MasculinoAsunto(s)
Dermatoglifia del ADN , Genética de Población , Alelos , Humanos , Italia , Reacción en Cadena de la PolimerasaAsunto(s)
Dermatoglifia del ADN , Genética de Población , Alelos , Humanos , Italia , Polimorfismo GenéticoRESUMEN
This paper proposes the use of radiographic magnification to detect the effects of neck traumas. This technique, both fast and economical, has proved to be particularly useful in all those cases where post mortem examinations failed to detect valid evidence of lesions of the hyoid-larynx complex. This is the case with corpses in an advanced stage of putrefaction where death occurred as a result of pressure or when a soft object is placed between the victim's neck and the assailant's hands. The radiological study was performed "on site" on four cases of medicolegal interest and its potential was confirmed.
Asunto(s)
Autopsia/métodos , Hueso Hioides/lesiones , Laringe/lesiones , Traumatismos del Cuello/diagnóstico por imagen , Magnificación Radiográfica , Adulto , Femenino , Humanos , Hueso Hioides/diagnóstico por imagen , Laringe/diagnóstico por imagen , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Traumatismos del Cuello/patologíaRESUMEN
The study of the biologic processes involved in determining the postmortem interval also can be useful for determining the time of death. In this instance, we investigated the time of death in a case of homicide-suicide using circumstantial findings and thanatochronological and flow cytometric data. The flow cytometric data confirmed the time of death as calculated from the police investigations. This method has proven more reliable than thanatochronological techniques and can be used to supplement these observations. This case indicates that the use of flow cytometry "on the spot" is useful and reliable; however, more evidence is needed to support this new, although to date very sound, method of investigation.
Asunto(s)
Muerte , Citometría de Flujo/métodos , Homicidio , Suicidio , Adulto , ADN/química , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana EdadRESUMEN
The time of death can be established by determining the length of the postmortem interval. Many methods have been proposed to achieve this goal. Flow cytometric evaluation of DNA degradation seems to be reliable for the first 72 hours after death. Our study evaluated the correspondence of the corruption process between in vitro and corpse tissues. We chose spleen tissue to perform our investigation because it is rich in nucleated cells. Results showed a precise correspondence between the two kinds of samples in the time period between 24 and 36 hours. The period from 36 to 72 hours is characterized by a much looser correspondence than that found in the first period. After the first 72 hours, DNA denaturation is massive and does not allow useful cytofluorimetric readings. The spleen does not seem to be the most suitable organ for this type of investigation because it tends to colliquate very rapidly. We therefore are evaluating other organs to identify a more suitable tissue source for the investigation of longer postmortem period using flow cytometry.
Asunto(s)
ADN/metabolismo , Citometría de Flujo/métodos , Cambios Post Mortem , Bazo/patología , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Femenino , Medicina Legal/métodos , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Reproducibilidad de los Resultados , Bazo/metabolismo , Factores de TiempoRESUMEN
The authors describe four cases of suicide by hara-kiri. This very painful form of suicide consists of self-inflicting a wound in the abdomen using a sharp instrument. It was first reported in 988 A.D. in the East but has now become rare in both the East and West. These four cases occurred over a 40-year period in the Trieste and Bari medicolegal area. In two of our cases the victims were afflicted with mental illness, whereas the other two suffered from depression. In cases of death by hara-kiri, it is important to establish a differential diagnosis between suicide and homicide; the presence of trial wounds (inflicted by the victim as a form of practice to overcome any hesitation before stabbing the abdomen with the cutting weapon) can prove very helpful.