Physiology and Anatomy of Hair in Drug Abusing Cases

To interpret the results of hair analysis tests accurately and to understand the appropriate role of hair analysis in drug abuse testing and solve instances of poisoning, drug and substance abuse, a basic knowledge of the biology of hair is essential. In case of poising by heavy metals, the hair retains traces of poison for a considerable period. Chemical examination of hair in such cases will reveal the presence of poison in the living as well as exhumed whose biology is only partially understood. Hair grows from small organs (follicles-a skin organ which produce hair) located within the complex microenvironment of the skin which has multiple layers of tissue, three glands whose secretions bathe hair, and multiple vascular systems which are capable of transferring drugs to hair at many levels along the path of the hair shaft. The advantages and disadvantages of using pubic, scalp and beard hair as specimens for hair analysis are also considered. A more precise understanding of the mechanisms involved in the incorporation of drugs into hair is critical for forensic scientist in order to interpret the results of hair analysis properly

Trends in rates and methods of suicide in India

AbstractSuicide has been around for as long as human society, ranking among the top 13 causes of death in all ages worldwide and continues to challenge our collective wisdom. The present study is a retrospective study evaluating suicide cases in Lucknow, capital of Uttar Pradesh and one of the largest cities in India, between Jan 2008 and Oct 2012. There were 5204 cases with 2946 male (56.61%) and 2258 female (43.38%) victims, between ages 20 and 60years; suicide rates ranged from 21.55 to 24.23 per 100,000 population. The method of suicide was different between male and female victims, as male victims tried to use more violent methods than females. The present study showed that suicide rates have increased since 1994, indicating a grave problem that needs to be solved

Forensic Analysis and Interpretation of Tool Marks

The forensic analysis and interpretation of tool marks raise for consideration key methods and advances in the field of tool marks in forensic science. This chapter shows how tool mark analysis can be utilized in the course of criminal investigations. The focus of the chapter is on bringing together as much scientific knowledge in the area as possible in an accessible manner. It covers all aspects of tool mark evidence from the crime scene to the courtroom. This chapter provides information about tool marks in an effort to assist tool mark examiners as well as people practicing forensic science, crime scene examiners, crime investigating officers and members of the legal profession. It includes information about the analysis of tool marks at the crime scene and in the laboratory, the interpretation and assessment of challenges for examination and interpretation and also the way in which tool mark evidence can be presented in a courtroom

1,2-Indanedione (IND) Reagent for The Detection of Latent Fingermarks: A Review

1,2-Indanedione (IND) is a chemical which is commonly used to detect latent fingermarks on dry, porous surfaces such as paper, cardboard etc. It interacts with amino acids of latent fingermarks and develops sharp, permanent, pink (also known as Joullie pink) colored fingerprints which are fluorescent in nature. It is an efficient and non-destructive approach to develop latent fingermarks. Standardized testing and validation of IND composition is suggested to improve the efficiency of this reagent to develop latent fingermarks on a wide range of surfaces of forensic importance

Estimation of postmortem interval using the data of insulin level in the cadaver׳s blood

An assessment of levels of Insulin in cadaveric fluids, to estimate the postmortem interval (PMI) was carried out.To profile postmortem changes of Insulin, it was extracted at different intervals i.e. (0, 3, 6, 12, 24 h), from the heart of 22 human cadavers. The cases included were the subjects of accidental deaths without any prior history of disease and their exact time of death was known. Immunoanalyzer Cobas e-411 instrument was used to detect the relationship between the amount of Insulin and PMI.Level of Insulin was measured in cardiac blood. Statically, significant correlations between levels of Insulin and PMI were studied and correlation coefficients were calculated. SPSS (version 12.0) was used for statistical analysis.Insulin levels in cadaver blood are correlated significantly with PMI with a p value of <0.001. When insulin level increases by 1 unit the duration decreases by 0.93 units. The least square regression line is: [Duration(Y)=22.71−0.93 Insulin level (X)] Keywords: Blood, Insulin, Post-mortem interval, Cadaver

Audit of burn deaths among older adults in North India – An autopsy-based study

Objective: Burn injury among older adults above 60 years of age will result in notable morbidity and mortality despite the many advances in treatment. The motive of this study was to record and assess the causes and magnitude of the fatal burns in older adults. Methods: This study was carried out on older adults who were autopsied at Forensic Medicine & Toxicology Department of King George’s Medical University, India. From a total of 26,880 medico legal deaths reported over a period of 6 years 2008–2013, 2695 (10.02%) deaths were due to burns. Among which 77 were older adults who forms the material of this study. The results were presented in Mean ± SD and percentages and analyzed with SPSS 16.0. Results: In all burn deaths among older adults, 41.6% of the victims were male and 58.4% were female with male: female ratio 1:1.4. Most common manner of deaths among elderly was accident (42.9%) followed by homicide (35.1%) and suicide (22%). Women in all three groups were more to the risk of burn deaths. Causative agents for the accidental deaths were fire in all cases while in suicidal and homicidal deaths the causative agents were sprinkling /pouring of kerosene. 54.7% of the suicidal victim’s had burns >70% TBSA (total body surface area). Conclusion: Results of this study shows that incidence of burn mortality was significantly higher among females. Most common manner of deaths among elderly is accident. Women in all three groups are more to the risk of burn deaths. Majority of burn victims were between the ages of 60–69 years. The percentage of TBSA was found to be significantly higher among suicidal subjects. Results of this study provide the necessary information to implement programs for health education relating to prevention of burns

Arsenic Exposure through Dietary Intake and Associated Health Hazards in the Middle East

Dietary arsenic (As) contamination is a major public health issue. In the Middle East, the food supply relies primarily on the import of food commodities. Among different age groups the main source of As exposure is grains and grain-based food products, particularly rice and rice-based dietary products. Rice and rice products are a rich source of core macronutrients and act as a chief energy source across the world. The rate of rice consumption ranges from 250 to 650 g per day per person in South East Asian countries. The source of carbohydrates through rice is one of the leading causes of human As exposure. The Gulf population consumes primarily rice and ready-to-eat cereals as a large proportion of their meals. Exposure to arsenic leads to an increased risk of non-communicable diseases such as dysbiosis, obesity, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, chronic heart disease, cancer, and maternal and fetal complications. The impact of arsenic-containing food items and their exposure on health outcomes are different among different age groups. In the Middle East countries, neurological deficit disorder (NDD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) cases are alarming issues. Arsenic exposure might be a causative factor that should be assessed by screening the population and regulatory bodies rechecking the limits of As among all age groups. Our goals for this review are to outline the source and distribution of arsenic in various foods and water and summarize the health complications linked with arsenic toxicity along with identified modifiers that add heterogeneity in biological responses and suggest improvements for multi-disciplinary interventions to minimize the global influence of arsenic. The development and validation of diverse analytical techniques to evaluate the toxic levels of different As contaminants in our food products is the need of the hour. Furthermore, standard parameters and guidelines for As-containing foods should be developed and implemented

Single-dose acute toxicity of THJ-2201 designer Cannabis drug: LD50 and hematological and histological changes in mice

Abstract Background This study aimed to assess the single-dose toxicity of THJ-2201 by hematological and histopathological evaluation of liver and kidney specimens in Swiss albino mice. The experimental protocol included oral treatment of mice with different doses (5, 50, 300, 2000 mg/kg body weight of THJ-2201) for 24 h. At the end of the treatment, blood samples had been drawn, and renal and hepatic tissues have been excised from the experimental mice groups for hematological and histological examinations. Results Results showed that dose-dependent treatment with THJ-2201 leads to mild tremor clinical signs with low doses and photophobia (sensitivity to light) and even cessation of breathing as a potential cause of death with high doses in treated mice. Conclusion The LD50 value of THJ-2201 was 822.20 mg/kg, which is considered as a chemical compound of low toxicity. Histological studies confirmed that liver and kidney toxicities have been manifested in the findings of congestion, necrosis, inflammation, and bleeding within the liver and to lesser extent in the kidneys