Exhumation of Wistar rats experimentally exposed to the carbamate pesticides aldicarb and carbofuran: A pathological and toxicological study.

Exhumation is required for the investigation of suspicions deaths when a body is buried and is usually performed under court order. Exhumation of animals is not a routine practice in forensic pathology. In this study, 30 male 70-day-old Wistar rats were experimentally exposed to the carbamate pesticides aldicarb and carbofuran. Toxicological, macroscopic and microscopic examinations were performed. Groups of 3 animals (2 exposed and 1 control) were evaluated at 24h, 3days, 5days, 7days and 10days post-mortem. In histopathological examination, the brain, liver, lungs and kidneys were assessed, and for toxicological analysis, the gastric contents, liver, vitreous humor, skeletal muscle and larvae (when available) were collected. The pesticides were detected by HPLC and quantified in the analyzed matrices, and a possible delay in tissue putrefaction due to the pesticides was observed. This study has revealed that it is possible to exhume animals for investigations of possible poisoning by carbamates and has demonstrated that the exhumation of an animal in a suspected case of poisoning should not be ruled out. The increasing demand for investigations of suspicious animal deaths, e.g., in cases of poisoning, will likely lead to an increase in the use of this type of procedure in veterinary pathology.

Trastorno facticio aplicado a otro: doble caso con un resultado de muerte / Factitious disorder imposed on another: double case with a result of death

Presentamos el caso fatal de un lactante intoxicado con tramadol, detectado en hueso después de 28 meses de intervalo posmortem, tras estudio ordenado por la fiscalía por síntomas similares en un hermano superviviente. Las intoxicaciones se produjeron durante su hospitalización por un síndrome convulsivo idiopático y refractario a tratamiento, en el contexto de un trastorno facticio aplicado a otro. Se analiza el modo de presentación del caso, la importancia del equipo de salud en la detección precoz y el enfoque médico-legal para el diagnóstico final (AU)

We present the fatal case of an infant intoxicated with Tramadol detected in bone after an interval of twenty-eight months post mortem, after study ordered by the prosecutor for similar symptoms in a surviving brother. Intoxications occurred during their hospitalization for an idiopathic, convulsive and refractory syndrome to treatment, in the context of a Factitious Disorder imposed on another. We analyze mode of presentation for the case, the importance of health team in early detection and forensic approach for final diagnosis (AU)

Recovery of Missing Persons in Cyprus: Heavy Equipment Methods and Techniques for Complex Well Excavations.

This technical note presents the methods and techniques developed by the Bi-communal Forensic Team (BCFT) of the Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus (CMP) used to excavate and exhume the remains of missing persons, many of whom were buried in deep wells at sites across the island of Cyprus during the conflict period of the 1960s and 1970s. A total of 493 Turkish Cypriots and 1508 Greek Cypriots were officially reported missing by the two communities as a result of the conflict. Since the team's formation, in 2005, the BCFT has excavated 114 wells, resulting in the recovery of 195 missing individuals from 35 of these well excavations. The standard excavation approach used by the BCFT, especially for deep well recovery, consists of "ramp," "pocket," and "pool" components. These excavation features enable CMP archaeologists to excavate deep wells safely and efficiently while simultaneously permitting time for thorough documentation and unimpeded recovery of human remains. The team uses three variants of this approach to cope with the variety of geological, physical, and hydrological contexts faced in Cyprus' wells, including hard and soft landforms, the presence or absence of water, and limitations imposed by surrounding infrastructure. The "terracing", "double-ramp", and "single-ramp" variations are detailed with respect to the environmental contexts which prescribe their use. The BCFT's general procedures for human remains recovery and standard well safety protocols conclude the article.

Exhumaciones de los restos humanos no reclamados como modelo tafonómico / Exhumation of unclaimed human remains as taphonomic model

Introducción: El hallazgo de restos esqueléticos o en avanzado estado de descomposición implica la resolución de cuestiones fundamentales como su procedencia, el intervalo posmortal y la determinación de los efectos tafonómicos observados. Este trabajo presenta un proyecto innovador en el campo de la tafonomía forense en España que utiliza restos cementeriales como modelo de estudio. Material y métodos: Se analizan restos humanos no reclamados del cementerio de Terrassa. El proyecto considera las variables del contexto, el estado de descomposición, la patología ósea y los artefactos tafonómicos. Resultados: Se analizaron 169 cuerpos de ambos sexos y de distintos grupos etarios. Se observaron fenómenos tafonómicos y de conservación relacionados con situaciones ante mortem (perfil biológico, patología, tratamientos, fracturas, etc.) y post mortem (tratamiento forense, tanatopráctico y/o tanatoestético, y otros artefactos tafonómicos). Conclusiones: Este estudio, de carácter preliminar, muestra los beneficios de los modelos cementeriales en el ámbito de la antropología física y forense (AU)

Introduction: The recovery of human skeletal remains or remains in high stage of decay implies important questions to be answered, such as the origin of those remains, the post mortem interval, and the taphonomic effects that are observed. This study presents a pioneer project about human forensic taphonomy in Spain. Material and methods: Unclaimed human remains from cemetery of Terrassa (Barcelona) were analysed. Context of remains, decomposition stage, bone pathology and taphonomic artefacts are the variables that are taken into consideration during this project. Results: One hundred sixty-nine corpses, including both genders and different ages, were analysed. Taphonomic phenomena and conservation pattern related with ante mortem (biological profile, pathology, treatment, fractures, etc.) and post mortem (forensic treatment, thanatopraxy and/or mortuary aesthetics, and other taphonomic artefacts) situation were observed. Conclusions: This preliminary study shows the benefits of the use of cemetery models in the field of physical and forensic anthropology (AU)

Decontamination and management of human remains following incidents of hazardous chemical release.

OBJECTIVE: To provide specific guidance and resources for systematic and orderly decontamination of human remains resulting from a chemical terrorist attack or accidental chemical release. DESIGN: A detailed review and health-based decision criteria protocol is summarized. Protocol basis and logic are derived from analyses of compound-specific toxicological data and chemical/physical characteristics. SETTING: Guidance is suitable for civilian or military settings where human remains potentially contaminated with hazardous chemicals may be present, such as sites of transportation accidents, terrorist operations, or medical examiner processing points. PATIENTS AND PARTICIPANTS: Guidance is developed from data-characterizing controlled experiments with laboratory animals, fabrics, and materiel. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Logic and specific procedures for decontamination and management of remains, protection of mortuary affairs personnel, and decision criteria to determine when remains are sufficiently decontaminated are presented. RESULTS: Established procedures as well as existing materiel and available equipment for decontamination and verification provide reasonable means to mitigate chemical hazards from chemically exposed remains. Unique scenarios such as those involving supralethal concentrations of certain liquid chemical warfare agents may prove difficult to decontaminate but can be resolved in a timely manner by application of the characterized systematic approaches. Decision criteria and protocols to "clear" decontaminated remains for transport and processing are also provided. CONCLUSIONS: Once appropriate decontamination and verification have been accomplished, normal procedures for management of remains and release can be followed.

Keeping the pieces together: comparison of mass grave excavation methodology.

Mass graves are a complex and confusing mix of bodies, body parts, soils, artifacts, and other feature evidence. Forensic investigations of these complex crime scenes should attempt to maximize the collection of evidence, which includes the mortal remains, in their best possible condition as they were deposited within the graves. Two standard methods of mass grave excavation were examined with the aim of identifying the better approach. Two experienced teams using different methodologies excavated two separate but very comparable mass graves located in the same area. Single disarticulated skeletal elements not associated with a body at the time of removal from the grave were categorized and their counts analyzed to evaluate the efficiency of the differing excavation methodologies. The methodologies used were the 'pedestal' method, which focuses on the body mass, and the 'stratigraphic' method, in which the grave feature and contents are conjointly excavated. The first grave (Grave A), excavated using the 'pedestal' method, was observed to have a disproportionately larger amount of unassociated bones than did the second (Grave B), which used the 'stratigraphic' method. Chi-square (chi2) goodness-of-fit and contingency tests were performed on the total numbers of recorded elements and different categorical groups of bones, based on size and shape, in each grave. Results demonstrate that significantly greater numbers of unassociated elements resulted from the excavation of Grave A using the pedestal method, both in total number of disarticulated bones as well as within 'large' and 'medium' categories. Conversely 'small' skeletal elements were recovered at a higher rate in Grave B. The lower 'large' and 'medium' bone production rates from Grave B indicate that the stratigraphic method better maintained the provenience and articulation of remains than did Grave A, while the higher 'small' bone recovery rate may point to better recovery techniques of Grave B's excavation team.

Adaptation of archaeological techniques in forensic mass grave exhumation: the experience of 'Chemmani' excavation in northern Sri Lanka.

There have been several mass grave excavations in Sri Lanka during the period of 1995 to 1998. Excavation of mass graves in the Chemmani area of northern peninsula of the country took place in September 1999, after about 5 years of the incident. Six graves with 1 to 6 bodies in each were identified and excavated in accordance with archaeological methods modified to suit the requirements of forensic exhumations. The experience gathered from excavation of those sites revealed the importance of archaeological methods in mass grave exhumations. For the first time in our forensic history, services of archaeologists and soil experts were used in the Chemmani exhumation. Their knowledge was found useful in locating the pit, pedestalling, and collection of human remains without causing any damage and artefacts, and in recording of the data.