Contribution of Anatomy in Forensic Age Evaluation: A Systematic Review.

The field of forensic anthropology is characterised by its ongoing development and growth. Forensic anatomy is a burgeoning discipline that focuses on the analysis and identification of both preserved and unpreserved human body parts, both in deceased individuals and the living. This subject plays a crucial role in establishing the four key factors of forensic anthropology, namely sex, age, race, and height. The objective of this research endeavour was to evaluate the significance of anatomical information in the process of forensic age estimation. The researchers established the inclusion criteria in accordance with the globally recognised Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome (PICOS) framework, as advised by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) recommendations. The research included many methodologies in order to ascertain the age. Upon conducting a comprehensive review of the existing literature pertaining to anatomical knowledge in the field of forensic age estimate, we have identified many notable applications. These include the utilisation of various anatomical features such as the dental pulp chamber, fingerprints, acetabulum, sternal end of the fourth rib, as well as hand and wrist bones for the purpose of age estimation. It is important for anatomists and other forensic scientists to engage in collaborative efforts to facilitate the exchange of ideas and ensure thorough investigations. This cooperation is particularly crucial in areas where anatomical sciences play a significant role in forensic science and investigation. Nevertheless, in order to mitigate the potential for estimating error, it is still advisable to use a multi-factorial evaluation approach that involves examining many body areas.

An SBQ-R assessment of the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of young adults in North India.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: During the COVID-19 pandemic in India, an increase in the number of suicides was observed in India. Therefore, the present study aims to explore various factors affecting the mental health of an individual and their consequences. Moreover, it has been attempted to assess the suicidal risk in the population of North India by using the Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised (SBQ-R). METHODOLOGY: The young adults from the North Indian population belonging to the age group of 18 to 35 years (24.93±4.42 years) have been incorporated into the study. A total of 190 responses (102 males and 88 females) were recorded through online mode. The present questionnaire has incorporated the Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised (SBQ-R) and some of the parameters taken from the psychology today online survey. RESULTS: The demographic characteristics of the respondents were described by using frequencies and percentages, means, and standard deviations. Cronbach's alpha, Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO), and the Bartlett sphericity were calculated. The mean SBQ-R score was recorded to be 4.62±1.5. Further, during the factor analysis with the principal component method, seven factors have explained the 70.797% of the cumulative variance with an eigenvalue of 1. CONCLUSIONS: The SBQ-R assessment revealed a minimal risk of suicidal behavior but the frequency distribution of the parameters taken for the psychological assessment has highlighted that anxiousness or worriedness has a significant impact on the mental health of the population at risk. Therefore, it is recommended that some precautionary measures, such as online mental health services, should be taken by the health ministry to keep the population healthy.

A literature review on dental autopsy - an invaluable investigative technique in forensics.

Forensic odontology is a specialty of dental sciences that deals with dental evidence in the interest of the justice system. The science of autopsy has been developing from the ancient times even before the popularization of general medicine. The objective of a medico-legal autopsy is to identify significant clues for an ongoing forensic investigation. However, in certain circumstances, it is difficult to conduct an oral examination owing to the anatomic location of the oral cavity. The onset of rigor mortis after death poses further complications. Thus, skillful and sequential dissections of the oral and para-oral structures are required to expose the dentition. Dental autopsy includes incisions and resection of the jaw for the detailed examination of the oral cavity. The procedure involves various modes of examination, including visual and radiographic, which help in human identification in forensic investigation. The present paper provides an overview of the various methods of dental autopsy.

LIVE FM (lecture improvised with video elements in forensic medicine): does a video worth a thousand pictures? A comparative study in medical education.

Forensic education should be fully conversant with a scientific theory of how students learn. By and large, the traditional model of education is widely accepted. 'Difficult-to-learn' areas in forensic medicine are the challenges to students as well as teachers. An innovative modality 'lectures improvised with video elements' was used by authors in the undergraduate medical education program of Forensic Medicine in order to facilitate active learning. Evaluation of this approach has established a positive impact on student's spatial ability, reasoning ability, and memory skills. Intrinsic cognitive load on working memory was reduced to a certain extent. With compare to the static pictures, video usage significantly helps to comprehend the difficult content of the learning. Students found the experience interesting and very ardent to use it again.

Inexplicable COVID-19! Would pathological autopsy be the panacea?

SARS-CoV-2 has swamped the entire world, unfolding into a COVID-19 pandemic. Efforts are on to develop an understanding of the various aspects related to SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19. A pathological autopsy can play a vital role in understanding the pathophysiology of the disease, which may be vital in evolving effective management strategies. Despite its significance in the present circumstances, only a limited number of pathological autopsies are being conducted worldwide. The paper stresses on the need for taking up pathological autopsies globally and discusses its present status and the way forward, along with international perspectives and recommendations for consideration of pathological autopsy.

Mental health of forensic odontologists in Covid-19: An Indian perspective.

Forensic autopsies provided guidance and clarification on the transmission of and the safety of working with Covid-19. However, the outbreak induced not just a socio-economic crisis, but a fast-paced psychological distress worldwide. Various psychological and mental health problems, including stress, anxiety, depression, frustration and uncertainty, have gradually emerged. This article brings attention to the mental health of forensic odontologists during the pandemic.

Perils of human remains examination in COVID-19 times.

The novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2 has surged globally bringing the whole world virtually to a standstill. Due to its highly contagious nature, various guidelines, protocols and preventive strategies have been devised for the safety of healthcare workers during management of the living as well as the dead. However, guidelines and precautions to be followed during the examination of the human skeletal remains are largely lacking. The present communication intends to address the issue of safe handling of human remains during medicolegal investigations in the COVID-19 pandemic times.

A literature review on dental autopsy - an invaluable investigative technique in forensics

Forensic odontology is a specialty of dental sciences that deals with dental evidence in the interest of the justice system. The science of autopsy has been developing from the ancient times even before the popularization of general medicine. The objective of a medico-legal autopsy is to identify significant clues for an ongoing forensic investigation. However, in certain circumstances, it is difficult to conduct an oral examination owing to the anatomic location of the oral cavity. The onset of rigor mortis after death poses further complications. Thus, skillful and sequential dissections of the oral and para-oral structures are required to expose the dentition. Dental autopsy includes incisions and resection of the jaw for the detailed examination of the oral cavity. The procedure involves various modes of examination, including visual and radiographic, which help in human identification in forensic investigation. The present paper provides an overview of the various methods of dental autopsy.

A roadmap to the safe practice of forensic medicine in the COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced forensic practitioners to consider how we perform our normal duties, especially when those duties involve humans. The potential for contracting the virus from working in close contact with living sufferers is high, and we have yet to fully determine the risk of infection from the deceased. In an attempt to support the community, the Journal of Forensic & Legal Medicine has drawn together three articles which underline the importance of continued forensic medical practice during the pandemic and highlight some factors to consider in a Roadmap towards safe practice. Our Roadmap has intentionally taken an international perspective and supports other work we have published in the Journal on our collective response to the COVID-19 crisis.

COVID-19 instigates resurgence of 'needless autopsies' issue in India.

COVID-19 has swamped the entire world and turned into a pandemic. Its high contagiousness compelled authorities to categorize all autopsies as 'high risk' considering the risk of exposure to the healthcare workers. In India, the Criminal Procedure Code authorizes investigating police officer to hold an inquest into suspicious deaths. The present article draw attention towards the 'needless autopsies' in times of COVID-19 and emphasizes on causes and recommendations.

Effective approaches to three-dimensional digital reconstruction of fragmented human skeletal remains using laser surface scanning.

The preservation and reconstruction of anthropological and archaeological remains has been given considerable attention in recent years, particularly within the fields of forensic science and palaeoanthropology. However, few studies have tapped the potential of using 3D technology to reconstruct, remodel and recontour remains and artefacts for the purpose of human identification. The aim of this study was to use 3D technology for the reconstruction and remodelling of fragmented and missing elements of skeletal remains. This project presents the application of three dimensional (3D) modalities to two different simulated forensic case scenarios where an attempt was made to remodel the missing element of the human cranium and reconstruction of fragmented replicated human mandible was performed. The accuracy of the reconstructed model was affirmed based on the anatomical features and digital analysis and methods for use in forensic practice are recommended.

Epidemio-toxicological profile of poisoning cases - A five years retrospective study.

Poisoning is recognized as a major factor for deaths in majority of low-income and middle-income countries. Although it is considered as a global burden, the nature of poisoning may vary in different areas across the world. The Charutar region in the state of Gujarat in western India has a unique topography and cultivation practises which sets it apart from the rest of the state. Due to the dearth of studies pertaining to the access of the population at this area to different types of poisons and pattern of poisoning, we planned this study to find magnitude, morbidity and mortality of poisoning with a specific consideration of gender, age and poison in contrast to the usual adopted cumulative approach. In a retrospective study, 1092 cases were identified as poisoning cases. The study revealed a higher vulnerability to poisoning in males, married individuals, during the third decade of life, from rural areas, due to accidental causes, during day time events and during the monsoon seasons. The gender specific approach clarified additional comparative data. More deaths were reported from suicidal poisoning than accidental ones. 49 specific poisons were found in the study, among which accidental snake bite poisoning, insecticidal substances and aluminium phosphide were prevalent. Aluminium phosphide and quinalphos were responsible for the highest fatalities (in terms of number of persons died). Gender predominance was observed for specific poisons. Age wise distribution of specific poisons was derived. Treatment duration and survival period for specific poisons were calculated.

Student's perception about innovative teaching learning practices in Forensic Medicine.

BACKGROUND: Since decades, Forensic Medicine is mainly taught by didactic methods but in last couple of years some other teachinglearning and assessment methods are also introduced at some places which also lacks uniformity. Feedback from learners is most fundamental aspect to assess effectiveness of applied methods, but is not implemented in practice at most medical schools in India. Unfortunately, medical students are deprived of this practical empowerment and thus may not be efficient enough to contribute potentially to the justice system during their professional life. In order to improve their efficiency in the field, we introduced few innovative teaching-learning methods and documented their perceptions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This pilot study was carried out with students who had completed their second professional year (5th semester) of medical curriculum. Students were exposed to few innovative teaching-learning and assessment approaches in addition to conventional methods during their Forensic Medicine term. These approaches were interactivity in large group lecturing, small group activities, student led objective tutorial, court visit in real scenario, practical records book, surprise tests, structured theory question papers, model answers, objective structured practical examinations and structured oral viva. Their perceptions were documented later through structured questionnaire. RESULTS: Students reported all methods as 'interesting' except 'surprise tests'. Court visits were rated highest for generating interest (98%). Clarity of concept was experienced through all methods (range of 71-95%). Interactive large group lectures reported highest (by 95%students) for clarifying concepts, although this is not a typical characteristic of large group teaching. Enhanced learning experience was reported in 75-92.5% for different methods. Student Led Objective Tutorials seemed to facilitate enhance learning most (92.5%). CONCLUSION: Innovations in teaching-learning are need of hour especially in subject like Forensic Medicine which has direct implications to add into administration of justice in the court of law. This pilot study has given us ideas for making teaching-learning and assessment more student centric considering emerging societal needs.

Kerosene-a toddler's sin: A five years study at tertiary care hospital in western India.

Acute kerosene poisoning is a preventable health problem in children perceived mainly in developing countries. It influences socioeconomic and cultural status of country due to its contribution in morbidity and mortality. As kerosene is widely used as household energy source in India at rural areas as well as urban, it accounts for significant number of poisoning cases mainly accidental in manner. As there are only handful studies from India on kerosene poisoning in children, we planned this study to evaluate incidence of kerosene poisoning in Western Indian population and its clinico-epidemiotoxicological profile. In this retrospective cross-sectional study, we collected data of all the cases of kerosene poisoning diagnosed during five years from 2009 to 2013 at Shri Krishna hospital situated at Karamsad, Gujarat state of Western India. We observed among total 42 cases, all victims were under 3 years of age. Evening in summer months, rural areas, storage of kerosene in household containers, inadequate parental supervision and door-to-hospitalization period emerged as most serious associated factors. Fever, cough, vomiting, tachypnoea and leucocytosis were commonest manifestations while pneumonia was the most common complication. Signs of central nervous system involvement, leucocytosis and vomiting were significantly correlated with pneumonia. Deaths occurred due to pneumonia. Early diagnosis and treatment of pneumonia may reduce mortality and recommendations are made to reduce the incidence of kerosene poisoning.