New forensic anthropological approachment for the age determination of human fetal skeletons on the base of morphometry of vertebral column.

The anthropometrical study was carried out on 107 human fetal/newborn skeletons (54 male, 43 female, and 9 of unknown sex). The age of the individuals ranged from 4 to 10 lunar months. Each fetal or newborn vertebral region (cervical, thoracal and lumbar) has its own distinguishing features that are easily identifiable even in fragmentary bones. With our large sample size and extension of the age range studied, we are able to determine the fetal age with a considerable degree of accuracy from measurements defined in the vertebral ossification centers using regression equations. A simple rapid method for the identification and classification of fetal vertebral column bones has been contributed. The identification and classifications were carried out using discriminant functions. Knowledge of changes in vertebral column bones during fetal development is important in applied contexts of forensic and anthropology researches.

Estimation of fetal age from dimensions of atlas and axis ossification centers.

The atlas and axis ossification centers of 106 human fetal and neonate skeletons were measured. The skeletons belong to the collection in the Department of Forensic Medicine of the Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical University, Szeged, Hungary. The age of the skeletons ranged from 4 to 10 lunar months. Nine linear measurements on the atlas, seven on the axis neural arches ossification centers and three on each one of the axis centra ossification centers were taken. We did simple and multiple linear regression analysis to estimate the age of fetuses. The results show that it is possible to use regression equations to estimate the fetal body length and age from atlas and axis ossification centers measurements during the whole period of development studied. The study of size and shape of the ossification centers using factorial analysis (principal component analysis) shows that the shape of the dens of the axis might be useful to estimate fetal viability.

Juvenile delinquency and drug dependence in Hungary.

It is regretable that the delinquency has increased in Hungary over the past 15 years. This fact occurred because criminality increased to a greater extent than average, and this means a steady supply of adult criminals. According to the surveys of the forensic psychiatrical records carried out over the 4 years between 1987-1990 in archival material of our Department, the criminological factors which occurred most frequently in juvenile delinquency among the 14-18-year-old age group are immature personality, endangered family background and inadequate school attendance. Thirty percent of criminal acts could be connected with alcoholism, 65% with theft, and 22% with aggressive delinquency. An important role in the increasing juvenile delinquency must be attributed to the crisis of the previous regime, including the faulty endeavours in child and youth protection and the inefficient school system. The decrease in living standards and the employment of women in work contributed to the loosening of family relations and the dereliction of children's education. The proportion of institutional young people among the perpetrators is high. Another factor with regard to the disadvantageous situation is the migration of young people to the towns from villages. Without the necessary conditions and with the poor company of friends, this presents an intensified criminological danger. Prevention is obviously of outstanding importance. The improvement of the economic situation, stability of families, substantial changes in school reform, the fight against alcoholism and the modern judicial regulation can be the means to achieve this goal.

A multivariate method for classifying third to seventh cervical newborn vertebrae using bone measurements.

This research provides a method to classify human newborn (9 to 10 lm) third to seventh cervical ossification centers. Nine linear measurements on the cervical neural arch were defined from 35 human neonates. Four discriminant functions were performed using the stepwise method. The model classifies 82.8% of grouped cases and 77.9% of cross-validated cases correctly. The model is useful in cases with isolated or commingled remains during anthropological or forensic investigations.

Calculation of percent shrinkage in human fetal diaphyseal lengths from fresh bone to carbonized and calcined bone using Petersohn and Köhler's data.

Calculation of age from fetal and newborn remains may be problematic, and when these remains are altered by maceration, decomposition or burning, age may be more difficult to discern. When soft tissue indicators are transformed, then two techniques exist for accurate age determination; dental development, which may prove difficult given the degree of tissue alteration; and appearance, size and fusion of ossification centers, including diaphyseal length, which may yield inaccurate ages if shrinkage is not accounted for. This study is undertaken to facilitate age calculation by systematically re-evaluating diaphyseal shrinkage and determine shrinkage rates from wet to carbonized states and wet to calcined states using Petersohn and Köhler's data, originally published in German and then published in Fazekas and Kósa (1978:362-369). Average shrinkage, standard deviation, minimum and maximum values are calculated for each diaphysis and then for all diaphyses between 4-10 lunar months (LM) and for newborns. Associated values for carbonized diaphyses are: 4 LM--32.50% +/- 12.12%; 5 LM--14.04% +/- 4.44%; 6 LM--6.78% +/- 1.06%; 7 LM--4.18% +/- 0.31%; 8 LM--3.47% +/- 0.42%; 9 LM--3.05% +/- 0.18%; 10 LM--2.46% +/- 0.67%; and in newborns 2.16% +/- 0.29%. Similar values for calcined diaphyses are: 4 LM--40.11% +/- 17.51%; 5 LM--18.29% +/- 4.42%; 6 LM--9.84% +/- 1.27%; 7 LM--9.82% +/- 0.51%; 8 LM--9.42% +/- 0.72%; 9 LM--9.45% +/- 0.33%; 10 LM--8.94% +/- 0.37%; and in newborns 8.96% +/- 0.49%. These findings suggest that percent shrinkage due to carbonization and calcination is greatest in the earliest age groups, decreasing substantially with advancing age. The rates of shrinkage, however, vary by the burning process utilized and age group studied. These general findings are similar to those of Petersohn and Köhler, yet specific values for percent shrinkage vary greatly from values cited in this analysis. These data provide a means to assess the degree of shrinkage that occurs for each diaphysis for each given age group.

Electron probe microanalysis of human teeth for the determination of individual age.

The calcium and phosphorus weight concentrations as well as the calcium/phosphorus weight ratio were determined by electron probe microanalysis both peritubularly and intertubularly in the dentine of 25 adults of varying age and sex, originating from our autopsy material. The studies were performed with a TESLA BS-300 scanning electron microscope coupled with an EDAX-149-10 X-ray detector and a BMG-38100 X-ray analyser with an accelerating potential of 15 kV, a sample current of 100 pA and a measurement time of 20 s. Peritubularly the Ca/P weight ratio of the hypermineralized part of the dentine decreases with age and is in close correlation with it (r = -0.9052) and this tendency is significant even at the level of 95% (P less than 0.05). The equation of the regression line is: Y = 37.17 x +139.37 where x is the age and y is the Ca/P weight ratio. The weight concentration of phosphorus is in an even closer correlation with age (r = 0.9712) and this correlation is also significant (P less than 0.01). The equation of the regression line is the following: y = 625.0 x -42.06 The close correlation of both the Ca/P weight ratio of the teeth and of the phosphorus weight concentration with the age allows individual age determination to be performed in the course of forensic medical and palaeoanthropological studies.

[Sudden death after "home electrotherapy"]. / Plötzlicher Tod nach "häuslicher Elektrobehandlung".

The authors report a case of homicide by misadventure caused with electricity; a 68 years old man (who was bed-ridden because of hemiplegia following apoplexy) was "treated" with electricity by his son and son-in-law. The electricity was produced by the continuous operation of a moped and as in ECG examinations the electrodes were attached to his extremities. Following the second treatment his death was due to cerebral haemorrhage and partial aspiration of gastric content. The causal relation between the electric treatment and the death could be established. In connection with this case the authors discuss the aspects of medical expertise and emphasize the importance of complex expert examination that must be made in such cases.