A field study to evaluate PMI estimation methods for advanced decomposition stages

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Best practice in forensic entomology-standards and guidelines

Abstract Forensic entomology, the use of insects and other arthropods in forensic investigations, is becoming increasingly more important in such investigations. To ensure its optimal use by a diverse group of professionals including pathologists, entomologists and police officers, a common frame of guidelines and standards is essential. Therefore, the European Association for Forensic Entomology has developed a protocol document for best practice in forensic entomology, which includes an overview of equipment used for collection of entomological evidence and a detailed description of the methods applied. Together with the definitions of key terms and a short introduction to the most important methods for the estimation of the minimum postmortem interval, the present paper aims to encourage a high level of competency in the field of forensic entomology

A database of the coseismic effects following the 30 October 2016 Norcia earthquake in Central Italy

We provide a database of the coseismic geological surface effects following the Mw 6.5 Norcia earthquake that hit central Italy on 30 October 2016. This was one of the strongest seismic events to occur in Europe in the past thirty years, causing complex surface ruptures over an area of >400 km 2. The database originated from the collaboration of several European teams (Open EMERGEO Working Group; about 130 researchers) coordinated by the Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia. The observations were collected by performing detailed field surveys in the epicentral region in order to describe the geometry and kinematics of surface faulting, and subsequently of landslides and other secondary coseismic effects. The resulting database consists of homogeneous georeferenced records identifying 7323 observation points, each of which contains 18 numeric and string fields of relevant information. This database will impact future earthquake studies focused on modelling of the seismic processes in active extensional settings, updating probabilistic estimates of slip distribution, and assessing the hazard of surface faulting

Association of kidney disease measures with risk of renal function worsening in patients with type 1 diabetes

Background: Albuminuria has been classically considered a marker of kidney damage progression in diabetic patients and it is routinely assessed to monitor kidney function. However, the role of a mild GFR reduction on the development of stage 653 CKD has been less explored in type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) patients. Aim of the present study was to evaluate the prognostic role of kidney disease measures, namely albuminuria and reduced GFR, on the development of stage 653 CKD in a large cohort of patients affected by T1DM. Methods: A total of 4284 patients affected by T1DM followed-up at 76 diabetes centers participating to the Italian Association of Clinical Diabetologists (Associazione Medici Diabetologi, AMD) initiative constitutes the study population. Urinary albumin excretion (ACR) and estimated GFR (eGFR) were retrieved and analyzed. The incidence of stage 653 CKD (eGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2) or eGFR reduction > 30% from baseline was evaluated. Results: The mean estimated GFR was 98 \ub1 17 mL/min/1.73m2 and the proportion of patients with albuminuria was 15.3% (n = 654) at baseline. About 8% (n = 337) of patients developed one of the two renal endpoints during the 4-year follow-up period. Age, albuminuria (micro or macro) and baseline eGFR < 90 ml/min/m2 were independent risk factors for stage 653 CKD and renal function worsening. When compared to patients with eGFR > 90 ml/min/1.73m2 and normoalbuminuria, those with albuminuria at baseline had a 1.69 greater risk of reaching stage 3 CKD, while patients with mild eGFR reduction (i.e. eGFR between 90 and 60 mL/min/1.73 m2) show a 3.81 greater risk that rose to 8.24 for those patients with albuminuria and mild eGFR reduction at baseline. Conclusions: Albuminuria and eGFR reduction represent independent risk factors for incident stage 653 CKD in T1DM patients. The simultaneous occurrence of reduced eGFR and albuminuria have a synergistic effect on renal function worsening

A case of Megaselia scalaris (Loew) (Dipt., Phoridae) breeding in a human corpse

the first Italian case of Megaselia scalaris (Loew) breeding in a human corpse is reported from an exhumed body in Southern Italy. Based on predilection of some Phoridae for older carrion and their delayed arrival at a corpse, the scuttle flies are usually relegated to a secondary forensic role. However, they may occur even in the early stages of decay as the only insect evidence especially in bodies that have somehow been at least partially sheltered from colonization by larger flies through burial

Alcohol and drug use in drug-related deaths in Campania (Italy): a snapshot study over the years 2008-2018

The aim of the study is the evaluation of incidence of mortality, directly or indirectly linked to drug abuse in one of the most populated Italian region (Campania). Trends on psychotropic substances intake and prevalence of drug-related deaths (DRDs) are assessed over an eleven-year observation period from 2008 to 2018. Data from toxicological investigations applied, for forensic purpose, on post-mortem blood sampled from 640 suspected DRDs (267 in the years 2008– 2012 and 373 in the years 2013 – 2018) has been revised. A Systematic Toxicology Analysis (STA) by validated GC/MS or LC-MS/MS methods for licit drugs (benzodiazepines, antidepressants/antipsychotics, hypnotics) and illicit drugs (amphetamine and analogous, cocaine, opiate, methadone, barbiturate, buprenorphine, cannabis and new psychoactive substances) was applied. A conventional methodology (GC/HS-FID) was used to test the blood alcohol concentration (BAC). Toxicological results were positive in 403 cases out of 640 autopsies totally performed: 202 DRDs out of 267 deaths were identified during the years 2008-12 and 201 DRDs out of 373 during the 2013-2018 period. Among the 403 DRDs, more than 90% of cases were males aged between 41-50 years. A remarkable increase in the number of alcohol related deaths (42 cases) was observed in the years from 2013 to 2018 compared with the previous one. Most of these cases showed a BAC in the range 1.5 – 4 g/L, compared to the only 3 cases occurred in 2008-2012 years. During the eleven-year observation period, the poly-drug use has been recognized as responsible for 258 deaths (64%) out of 403 cases in total. The association of cocaine and morphine was predominant in the years 2008-2012 while in the years 2013-2018 pharmaceuticals (benzodiazepines, antidepressants etc.), alcohol and illicit drugs (cocaine and morphine), alone or in combination, were the substances mainly detected. Methadone was detected more frequently in associations with other drugs (mainly pharmaceuticals) or ethyl alcohol but it was also found alone in 3 DRDs only. Surprisingly in few DRDs cannabis metabolites were found neither a single fatal poisoning by amphetamines and new psychoactive substances (NPS) was recorded. During the eleven-year observation period, an increase in DRDs involving ethyl alcohol intake has been observed. A relevant variability in the prevalence among the licit/illicit drug use has been also found, mainly represented by the poly-drug intake respect to the abuse of a single drug. Data collected demonstrate that it is crucial a continuous updating about the territorial trends of the drug abuse in order to develop a Community Data Bank, for planning strategies of prevention