28 research outputs found
Body-kun/body-chan style model figures for artists in forensic visualization applications
Posture and body position are often in the focus of forensic medicine. Visualization for the purposes of documentation,
teaching, scientific presentation or expert opinion in court is often desired. Plenty of possible tools to support visualization
are available. However, there is a significant gap between quick drawings and more complex techniques. Body-chan (female)
and body-kun (male) artistâs model figurines (genericized trademark) may provide a useful means to fill this gap. These
models, about 12â15 cm in height, are multi-articulated humanoids of realistic proportions, intended to serve as models for
manga (japanese comic) drawing. Plenty of different models are available in different quality which usually are equipped
with interchangeable hand and feet attachments, a frame for âlevitatingâ positions as well as assorted objects to scale. These
inexpensive models may be positioned quickly and intuitively. Photodocumentation from various angles can be performed
using a mobile phone camera. Images may be further improved applying digital image manipulation software. Taken
together, the process is quick and intuitive and the level of achievable complexity is sufficient for many forensic applications
Relative blood loss in forensic medicine-do we need a change in doctrine?
In forensic medicine, blood loss is encountered frequently, either as a cause of death or as a contributing factor. Here, risk to
life and lethality assessment is based on the concept of relative blood loss (absolute loss out of total volume). In emergency
medicine, the Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) classification also refers to relative blood loss. We tested the
validity of relative blood loss benchmarks with reference to lethality. Depending on the quality of the total blood volume
(TBV) estimation formula, relative blood loss rates should be reflected in the case cohort as significantly higher absolute
blood loss in heavier individuals since all TBV estimation formulas positively correlate body weight with TBV. Method:
80 autopsy cases with sudden, quantifiable, exclusively internal blood loss were retrospectively analyzed and a total of 8
different formulas for TBV estimation were applied. Results: No statistical correlation between body weight and absolute
blood loss was found for any of the tested TBV estimation algorithms. All cases showed a wide spread of both absolute
and relative blood loss. Discussion: The principle of relative blood loss is of very limited use in casework. It opens the
forensic expert opinion to unnecessary criticism and possible negative legal implications. Conclusion: We challenge the use
of relative blood loss benchmarks in textbooks and practical casework and advocate for its elimination from the ATLSâs
grading system. If necessary, we recommend the use of BMI-adjusted algorithms for TBV estimation
Application of the "bubbling" procedure to dead body portraits in forensic identification
Purpose
A procedure is needed for bodies with disfiguring injuries to the face and the use of their portrait for visual identification.
Method
We present the application of a simple image processing procedure, otherwise known as âbubbling,â which is based on the concept of âperceptual filling-in,â to images for visual identification in the forensic context. The method is straight forward and can be performed using readily available software and hardware..
Results
The method is demonstrated and examples are shown. The visual recognition of known persons using âbubbledâ images was successfully tested.
Conclusion
The âbubblingâ procedure for visual identification enhancement is quick and straightforward and may be attempted before escalating to more involved identification methods and procedures
"Scalping" in the context of criminal dismemberment and mutilation-a case report and review of the literature
We report on a case of criminal dismemberment and attempted scalping of a homicide victim with a âMohawkâ haircut.
Case fndings are presented. A review of the literature was performed for scalping in its historical and cultural context and
particularly in criminal dismemberment and mutilation: Historically, scalping was prevalent in many ancient cultures around
the world, where scalps were taken as trophies or âproof of killâ, much like shrunken heads, trophy skulls, and other artefacts.
Scalping was particularly widespread in Northern America in the context of tribal warfare, both before and after colonization.
The iconic âMohawkâ haircut is closely linked with scalping, as it was meant to taunt the enemy. In the modern forensic
context, scalping constitutes a form of criminal mutilation. However, cases of criminal dismemberment and mutilation are
rare in forensic casework. Our literature review revealed a low number of scalping in criminal dismemberment and mutilation cases. The documentation was overall poor. Positioning scalping within the classifcation of criminal mutilation and
dismemberment was difcult. In literature, even though case numbers were small, the majority of âtextbook scalpingâ cases
were German. The presented case, to our best knowledge, is the frst modern-day photo-documented case of (attempted)
scalping, even more so of a person wearing a âMohawkâ
Retrograde dye perfusion of the proximal aorta - A postmortem technical study
Introduction: Multiple cardiovascular conditions can lead to unexpected fatality, which is defined as sudden
cardiac death. One of these potentially underlying conditions is aortic regurgitation, which can be caused by
discrete changes of the geometry of the proximal aorta. To analyze aortic valve competency and furthermore to
elucidate underlying pathological alterations of the coronary arteries and the vasa vasorum a perfusion method to
simulate a diastolic state was designed.
Material and methods: A postmortem approach with retrograde perfusion of the ascending aorta with methylene
blue was applied to three bodies. The procedure comprised cannulation of the brachiocephalic trunk, clamping of
the aortic arch between brachiocephalic trunk and left carotid artery, infusion of 250 ml of methylene blue, and
optical clearing of the superficial tissue layers after perfusion. Organs were examined directly following perfusion
and after optical clearing.
Results: Assessment and visualization of aortic valve competency and the vasa vasorum were possible in all three
instances. Visualization of the coronary perfusion was impaired by postmortem thrombus formation. Optical
clearing did not provide additional information.
Discussion: The method presented here is a time- and cost-efficient way of visualizing aortic valve competency and
the vasa vasorum. The visualization of the vasa vasorum highlights the potential of this method in basic research
on diseases of the great arteries and coronaries. However, for a time-efficient functional analysis of the coronaries,
other methods must be applied
Forensic, legal, and clinical aspects of deaths associated with implanted cardiac devices
As the population ages, the prevalence of heart failure and individuals wearing an
implanted cardiac device is increasing. The combination of different underlying
pathophysiologies and (the combination of) implanted cardiac devices can
become a challenge with regard to the determination of cause and manner of
death in such individuals. Additionally, heart disease is frequently associated with
mental disease, ranging from anxiety and depression to suicidality and suicide
(attempts). At the same time, the correct diagnosis of cause and manner of death
is the basis for quality assurance, further therapeutic advances, legal safety, and
suicide prevention. By that, an interdisciplinary field between legal medicine,
clinicians, and law enforcement opens up. In this field, the different participants
can simultaneously benefit from and need each other. For example, legal medicine
experts need investigatory results and clinical expertise for the interpretation of
readout data of implanted cardiac devices in order to correctly determine the
cause of death. A correctly determined cause of death can assist law enforcement
and help clinicians to further improve various therapeutic approaches based on
correct mortality data collection. In addition, it is the basis for identification of
suicides of device carriers, allowing psychological and psychiatric experts to
better understand the burden of mental disease in this particular cohort. Against
this interdisciplinary background, this manuscript summarizes information about
psychiatric comorbidities and suicidality while being on a device. Thereby, basic
information on complications and malfunctions of implanted cardiac devices,
device-associated deaths with particular emphasis on device manipulation is
displayed as basic information needed for correct determination of the cause
of death. Also, legal and ethical issues in this field are outlined. The final result is
a proposal of an interdisciplinary assessment workflow for a conjoint approach
to improve the diagnosis of deaths associated with implanted cardiac devices. It
will allow for a differentiation between an individual who died with or due to the
device
Forensic, legal, and clinical aspects of deaths associated with implanted cardiac devices
As the population ages, the prevalence of heart failure and individuals wearing an implanted cardiac device is increasing. The combination of different underlying pathophysiologies and (the combination of) implanted cardiac devices can become a challenge with regard to the determination of cause and manner of death in such individuals. Additionally, heart disease is frequently associated with mental disease, ranging from anxiety and depression to suicidality and suicide (attempts). At the same time, the correct diagnosis of cause and manner of death is the basis for quality assurance, further therapeutic advances, legal safety, and suicide prevention. By that, an interdisciplinary field between legal medicine, clinicians, and law enforcement opens up. In this field, the different participants can simultaneously benefit from and need each other. For example, legal medicine experts need investigatory results and clinical expertise for the interpretation of readout data of implanted cardiac devices in order to correctly determine the cause of death. A correctly determined cause of death can assist law enforcement and help clinicians to further improve various therapeutic approaches based on correct mortality data collection. In addition, it is the basis for identification of suicides of device carriers, allowing psychological and psychiatric experts to better understand the burden of mental disease in this particular cohort. Against this interdisciplinary background, this manuscript summarizes information about psychiatric comorbidities and suicidality while being on a device. Thereby, basic information on complications and malfunctions of implanted cardiac devices, device-associated deaths with particular emphasis on device manipulation is displayed as basic information needed for correct determination of the cause of death. Also, legal and ethical issues in this field are outlined. The final result is a proposal of an interdisciplinary assessment workflow for a conjoint approach to improve the diagnosis of deaths associated with implanted cardiac devices. It will allow for a differentiation between an individual who died with or due to the device
Assessment of renal glomerulosclerosis and thickness of the carotid intima-media complex as a means of age estimation in Western European bodies
Introduction!#!The estimation of age-at-death of unidentified cadavers is a central aspect of the identification process. With increasing age, the incidence of glomerulosclerosis and the thickness of the carotid wall have been observed to also increase. This correlation has been demonstrated in various international histological studies. The aim of our study was to assess whether these correlations also apply to a Western European population.!##!Methodology!#!In this retrospective observational study, kidney and common carotid artery samples from 216 cases autopsied at the Institute of Legal Medicine at the Justus-Liebig University in Giessen, Germany, were examined. Only cases with available tissue samples from both body sides were included. Exclusion criteria were poor sample quality and an age younger than 21Â years. After histological processing, the tissue samples were assessed and digitally evaluated. Regression and classification analyses were used to investigate the correlation between age-at-death and intima-media thickness and age-at-death and the incidence of renal glomerular sclerosis.!##!Results!#!Of the 216 autopsy cases, 183 were included for evaluation. Analysis of the carotid artery segments showed a strong correlation (Pearson correlation coefficient râ=â0.887) between the intima-media-complex thickness and chronological age. Classification of the glomerulosclerotic incidence showed a correlation of 37.7-43.1% with the predicted age group.!##!Discussion!#!Both the intima-media thickness and the proportion of sclerotic glomeruli can be used to estimate age in Western European cadavers. On the basis of these results, both methods are suited to supplement other already established methods for age-at-death estimation in the identification of an unknown cadaver
The face of war: Trauma analysis of a mass grave from the Battle of LĂŒtzen (1632)
<div><p>Contemporary accounts of battles are often incomplete or even erroneous because they reflect theâoften biasedâviewpoints of the authors. Battlefield archaeology faces the task of compiling an historical analysis of a battle and of gathering all the available facts. Besides cultural historical evidence and artefacts, the human remains of those who have fallen in battle also provide invaluable information. In studying mass graves from a military context, the injury types and patterns are significant. They allow us to reconstruct the circumstances surrounding the soldiersâ deaths and provide information on the hostilities that occurred on the battlefield. One such mass grave was discovered in 2011 at LĂŒtzen, Saxony-Anhalt (Germany). Based on its geographical location and on the results obtained from archaeological examinations carried out in the area, the grave could be dated to the Thirty Years War (1618â1648). Further archaeological research confirmed that the dead had been soldiers from the Battle of LĂŒtzen (1632). The mass grave was block-lifted and then comprehensively examined at the State Museum of Prehistory in Halle (Saale). As well as osteological examinations to determine age, sex, height, state of health, i.e. diseases or injuries, imaging methods were also employed and histological and isotopic analyses carried out. The focus of this study was on the injuries sustained by the soldiers both prior to and during the battle. The results revealed that the 47 deceased had been between the ages of 15 and 50 when they died. Numerous healed injuries showed that the men had often been involved in violent encounters. Approximately three in every four soldiers had injuries that could have been fatal. Wounds inflicted by handguns, particularly to the skull, were predominant. The integrative analysis of the archaeological and anthropological data allowed us to conclude that the majority had been killed during a cavalry attack.</p></div
<i>In situ</i> documentation of a retained projectile.
<p>(A) Individual 22 was struck above the right forehead (entry wound). (B) The projectile crossed the cranial cavity and led to a crush fracture to the right petrous bone region and mastoid process. (C) Upon exposing the fracture area, the lead ball (from a carbine or musket) became visible (arrow). In addition, the right oral cavity contained an unfired bullet (A, arrow) (photos: N. Nicklisch).</p