Forensic tools for the diagnosis of death due to electrocution: a comprehensive and multidisciplinary study

In the daily practice of the forensic pathologist, electrocution may represent a difficult diagnosis. The study was performed on the autopsies carried out in Berlin, Germany, over a 12-year period. A total of 54 cases were found. Each case was studied with the analysis of the autopsy protocol as well as the documentation provided by the police. When present, post-mortem CT analysis and the results of toxicology and histology examinations have been also considered. The results of the study showed the importance of a team approach, in which all the steps are crucial and must be taken with the utmost discipline and caution. The analysis of the scene is fundamental and allows many elements of investigation to be obtained regarding the type of electricity (low / high), type of event and points of possible contact between the victim and the current flow. The autopsy is the following crucial step and strictly required. Every particular element of the external examination must be adequately described and documented, with particular attention given not only to marks on the skin, but also to other elements that can provide indications, such as the presence of petechiae, the internal examination of the cadaver for evidence of underlying natural diseases, such as cardiovascular conditions. All further investigations are also fundamental: post-mortem CT for recognition and characterization of lesions and pathological alterations, toxicological tests to evaluate possible causes or contributing causes of death as well as the abilities of the subject at the moment of contact with electricity. The extensive study carried out as part of this research represents a valuable element of analysis and constructiveness for forensic pathology

The importance of the postmortem interval for the diagnosis of Waterhouse–Friderichsen syndrome by Neisseria meningitidis in a series of forensic cases

The effective value of microbiological post-mortem examinations stands as fundamental in forensic cases involving microbiology. We ran these analyses on five victims, who suddenly died after showing persistent fever. The examinations were conducted between 48 hours and 10 days after death, and adrenal gland apoplexy was detected in all the cases. Microbiological examinations identified Neisseria meningitidis, which was accountable for Waterhouse–Friderichsen syndrome. Diplococci were isolated from three cadavers that underwent forensic dissection between 2 and 3 days after death. The remaining two cadavers showed polymicrobial contamination, and a polymerase chain reaction technique was necessary to identify the pathogen. We assumed that the microbial overlap could lead to diagnostic mistakes and conceal the identification of the lethal pathogen. Therefore, we suggest using molecular techniques for a postmortem interval (PMI) longer than 72 hours. Classical microbiological examination should be performed for PMI within 72 hours

The importance of the postmortem interval for the diagnosis of Waterhouse-Friderichsen syndrome by Neisseria meningitidis in a series of forensic cases

The effective value of microbiological post-mortem examinations stands as fundamental in forensic cases involving microbiology. We ran these analyses on five victims, who suddenly died after showing persistent fever. The examinations were conducted between 48 hours and 10 days after death, and adrenal gland apoplexy was detected in all the cases. Microbiological examinations identified Neisseria meningitidis, which was accountable for Waterhouse-Friderichsen syndrome. Diplococci were isolated from three cadavers that underwent forensic dissection between 2 and 3 days after death. The remaining two cadavers showed polymicrobial contamination, and a polymerase chain reaction technique was necessary to identify the pathogen. We assumed that the microbial overlap could lead to diagnostic mistakes and conceal the identification of the lethal pathogen. Therefore, we suggest using molecular techniques for a postmortem interval (PMI) longer than 72 hours. Classical microbiological examination should be performed for PMI within 72 hours

Art as therapy

Using art as a healing medium dates back to ancient times: most ancient cultures, in particular, used the seemingly magical power of music to affect health and behaviour. Nowadays, art therapy is a recognised profession, employed in many clinical and other settings and training courses are run by colleges and universities: a second level degree program of "Theory and Practice of Art Therapy", for instance, is offered by the Brera Fine Arts Academy of Milan, one of the most important art education institutions in Italy. Numerous doctors and nurses witnesses the effect art-based interventions have in reducing adverse physiological and psychological outcomes, but at a time when there is growing pressure to show evidence of good practice there is a legitimate quest for sound research supporting its use in clinical practice. Focus of this presentation will be a review of the relevant literature and the presentation of the state of the debate between the community of art-therapists and the sceptical world outside the discipline

Intimate partner violence: a glimpse from Italy's largest Domestic Violence Center

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Domestic violence is defined by the U.N. as the kind of violence perpetrated by intimate partners through physical, psychological and economic abuse. Milano's SVSeD center for domestic and sexually abused victims was founded in 1996. At the beginning the main task was to assist the sexually abused victims in the province of Milan; a decade later it opened also to domestic violence victims. The present study describes the data retrieved in 20 years (over 10,000 victims), showing the general change in trends, and focusing on the years 2012-2014. MATERIALS AND METHODS Raw data on each victim was analysed including all the variables relevant to the comprehension of the phenomenon, such as the sociological, psychological and medico legal aspects of the offense. RESULTS Evaluation of the data shows a clear trend towards a constant rise in the requests for support for both types of violence with an increase of 409% from 1996 to 2015 related to sexual violence and a 124% increase in domestic violence between 2008 and 2015; an increase in the spontaneous access of males has also been noticed, though these represent a minority of the victims. The most frequently victimized age group is between 31 - 40 years, firmly standing between 33% and 37% of cases; the age group of perpetrators is superimposable. There is an equal distribution between national and foreign victims, the latter mainly coming from south America, north Africa and the Filippines (with abusers frequently of the same nationality). In over 30% of cases domestic abuse involves serious physical violence, whereas the overlap between sexual and domestic violence seems very weak, ranging from 0,6% to 1,6%. Other interesting trends detected are related to children witnessing domestic violence, which have slowly increased up to 16%. CONCLUSIONS In summary, the information retrieved during this initial analysis leads to an improved understanding of the phenomenon, and reinforces our idea that the final purpose of the study on the development of prevention policies may be achieved. We shall further analyze the relationship between different variables such as the most victimized nationalities and the revictimization trend

A Comparison Between Digital Radiography, Computed Tomography, and Magnetic Resonance in the Detection of Gunshot Residues in Burnt Tissues and Bone

The radiological search for GSR is crucial in burnt material although it has been rarely tested. In this study, thirty-one bovine ribs were shot at near-contact range and burnt to calcination in an oven simulating a real combustion. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) were performed before and after carbonization and compared with former analyses with DR (digital radiography); thus comparing the assistance, the radiological methods can provide in the search for GSR in fresh and burnt bone. DR demonstrated the greatest ability in the detection of metallic residues, CT showed lower abilities, while MR showed a high sensitivity only in soft tissues. Thus, DR can be considered as the most sensitive method in the detection of GSR in charred bones, whereas CT and MR demonstrated much less reliability. Nonetheless, the MR ameliorates the analysis of gunshot wounds in other types of remains with large quantities of soft tissues