Post-autopsy computed tomography. Pros and cons in a firearm death

none5noMany studies have focused on the importance of post-mortem computed tomography (PMCT) prior to or in substitution of standard forensic autopsies in case of firearm death. However, due to the fact that PMCT is not routinely performed in all countries, in cases of death abroad it can happen that a CT scan is performed only after a first autopsy. A case of post-mortem re-examination, including the external examination and a post-autopsy computed tomography (PACT), of a gunshot victim of homicide in a foreign country is presented, and the pros and cons of imaging in post-autopsy setting are discussed. PACT could be a tool for carrying out more complete investigations and for obtaining information on bone injuries and foreign bodies trapped within peripheral soft tissues that can be re-analyzed after the arrival of the first autopsy report. Given that the value of information derived may be strongly influenced by the previously performed autopsy, in order to process the definitive considerations it is necessary to compare and interpret the data obtained through PACT with the results of the first autopsy, and to continue the international cooperation effort and the application of international guidelines in order to share information at the repatriation of the corpse.mixedVisentin, Sindi*; Pelletti, Guido; Dengo, Caterina; De Matteis, Maria; Montisci, MassimoVisentin, Sindi*; Pelletti, Guido; Dengo, Caterina; De Matteis, Maria; Montisci, Massim

Outcomes of patients with continuous flow left ventricular assist device undergoing emergency endovascular treatment for atraumatic bleeding

INTRODUCTION: Severe spontaneous bleeding is a significant complication in patients with continuous flow left ventricular assist devices; there is little evidence on endovascular treatment to support its use.MATERIALS AND METHODS: We observed seven patients (five men, two women, age 43-67years) with continuous flow left ventricular assist devices on antiaggregant/coagulant therapy, admitted to our hospital for uncorrectable symptomatic anemia; CT-angiography and diagnostic angiography confirmed the presence of atraumatic arterious bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract (six patients), from the intercostal artery and from the bronchial tree (one patient).RESULTS: All patients where successfully treated via an endovascular approach with superselective embolization of the involved arterial branches with coils and particles.CONCLUSION: Spontaneous atraumatic bleeding is a frequent complication in patients with continuous flow left ventricular assist devices; endovascular treatment represents a promising alternative to the surgical approach as it is less invasive, easily repeatable and associated to a reduced procedural risk

Size- and Temperature-Dependent Lattice Anisotropy and Structural Distortion in CsPbBr₃ Quantum Dots by Reciprocal Space X-ray Total Scattering Analysis

Lead halide perovskite nanocrystals (NCs) have emerged as next-generation semiconductors capable of unifying superior photoemission properties, facile and inexpensive preparation, compositional and structural versatility. Among them, CsPbBr₃ is a model system in theoretical and experimental studies owing to its intrinsic chemical stability. Nonetheless, knowledge of the precise magnitude and the size- and temperature-dependent lattice and structural distortions is lacking, and the static/dynamic nature of disorder in NCs remains an open question. Herein, robust reciprocal space X-ray total scattering analysis is applied and accurate lattice distortions, Pb-Br bond distances, and Pb-Br-Pb angles versus NCs size are extracted. The lattice anisotropy increases upon expansion on downsizing while, upon contraction on cooling, the lattice distortion behaves differently at intermediate (9 nm) and ultrasmall (5 nm) sizes and from the bulk. Bond distances (stretched by ≈1%) do not show any size dependence, whereas equatorial and axial angles denote more symmetric octahedral arrangements in the smallest sizes, where they differ by ≈2° compared to ≈8° in the bulk. Anomalously high atomic displacement parameters of axial bromine ions persisting down to cryogenic temperatures suggest statically disordered octahedral tilts. These results provide insights having important implications on size-dependent emission properties and the exciton fine structure.ISSN:2688-406

Size‐ and Temperature‐Dependent Lattice Anisotropy and Structural Distortion in CsPbBr3 Quantum Dots by Reciprocal Space X‐ray Total Scattering Analysis

Lead halide perovskite nanocrystals (NCs) have emerged as next‐generation semiconductors capable of unifying superior photoemission properties, facile and inexpensive preparation, compositional and structural versatility. Among them, CsPbBr3 is a model system in theoretical and experimental studies owing to its intrinsic chemical stability. Nonetheless, knowledge of the precise magnitude and the size‐ and temperature‐dependent lattice and structural distortions is lacking, and the static/dynamic nature of disorder in NCs remains an open question. Herein, robust reciprocal space X‐ray total scattering analysis is applied and accurate lattice distortions, PbBr bond distances, and PbBrPb angles versus NCs size are extracted. The lattice anisotropy increases upon expansion on downsizing while, upon contraction on cooling, the lattice distortion behaves differently at intermediate (9 nm) and ultrasmall (5 nm) sizes and from the bulk. Bond distances (stretched by ≈1%) do not show any size dependence, whereas equatorial and axial angles denote more symmetric octahedral arrangements in the smallest sizes, where they differ by ≈2° compared to ≈8° in the bulk. Anomalously high atomic displacement parameters of axial bromine ions persisting down to cryogenic temperatures suggest statically disordered octahedral tilts. These results provide insights having important implications on size‐dependent emission properties and the exciton fine structure