Deodorant Spray-Induced Cold Burns: A Case of Child Abuse.

Munchausen syndrome by proxy is extremely difficult to diagnose. A case is presented of a 17-month-old girl who repeatedly sustained cold burns caused by a spray deodorant and inflicted by her mother. A comprehensive medical investigation, including blood assessments, skin biopsies and imaging were inconclusive.

Sex estimation from patellar measurements in a contemporary Italian population: a machine learning approach.

Biological sex estimation in forensic anthropology is a crucial topic, and the patella has shown promise in this regard due to its sexual dimorphism. This study uses 12 machine learning models for sex estimation based on three patellar measurements (maximum height, breadth, and thickness). Data was collected from 180 skeletons of a contemporary Italian population (83 males and 97 females) as well as from an independent sample of 21 forensic cases (13 males and 8 females).

The response of the forensic anthropology scientific community to migrant deaths: Where are we at and where do we stand?

Migrant deaths have persistently intensified in the last 30 years, followed by inconsistent engagement of official policies to tackle the lack of identifications. Forensic anthropologists have been increasingly involved in the recovery, analysis and identification of human remains associated with migrants, and are therefore the most well-versed practitioners in raising awareness of policy makers about this plight. This review describes the current state-of-the-art of the forensic anthropological practice and research on unidentified migrants.

Unveiling the female experience through adult mortality and survivorship in Milan over the last 2000 years.

This study challenges historical paradigms using a large-scale integrated bioarchaeological approach, focusing on the female experience over the last 2,000 years in Milan, Italy. Specifically, 492 skeletons from the osteological collection of Milan were used to elucidate female survivorship and mortality by integrating bioarchaeological and paleopathological data, paleoepidemiological analyses, and historical contextualization. Findings revealed changes in female longevity, with a notable increase from Roman to contemporary eras, albeit plateauing in the Middle Ages/modern period.

Clinical forensic medicine in emergency departments: a pilot study of a forensic training and evaluation of its effectiveness in an Italian hospital.

Because emergency departments are often the first point of contact for victims of violence, it is critical to provide the appropriate treatment in compliance with all necessary medicolegal precautions. For this reason, a randomized controlled trial was conducted at the Policlinico Hospital of Milan (Italy) in which an intervention group (12 physicians) received a 6-h course on clinical forensic medicine and their performance in medicolegal procedures in claimed cases of violence was compared with that of a control group (13 physicians) by means of a 16-item assessment scale over the 3 months before and the 3 months after the course. Overall, 195 medical records were included in the statistical analysis.

Post-mortem to ante-mortem facial image comparison for deceased migrant identification.

The identification of deceased migrants is a global challenge that is exacerbated by migration distance, post-mortem conditions, access to ante-mortem data for comparison, inconsistent international procedures and lack of communication between arrival and origin countries. Due to low technology requirements, fast speed analysis and ease of transferring digital data, facial image comparison is particularly beneficial in those contexts, especially in challenging scenarios when this may be the only initial ante-mortem data available to identify the deceased. The Facial Identification Scientific Working Group (FISWG) professional guidelines for facial image comparison were developed for living facial appearance, and, therefore, a tailored protocol for the application of post-mortem to ante-mortem facial image comparison was proposed and evaluated in this research.

Autopsy doesn't always tell all: The importance of exhuming skeletal remains of cemetery unidentified decedents.

The process of personal identification differs according to the state of preservation of the corpse, becoming more complicated when dealing with remains altered by taphonomic variables. Since 2015, the staff of the Laboratory of Forensic Anthropology and Odontology (LABANOF) of the University of Milan has been engaged in recovering the skeletons of 36 unknown people from the cemeteries of the city of Milan, to redraw their biological profiles and give them back the possibility of being identified. Of the 36 starting skeletons, 7 have been identified and therefore are not the object of this study, 25 individuals were previously subjected to an autopsy examination and 4 skeletons were studied for the first time in the present work.

Towards an integrative approach to the biological profile.

One of the most important tasks in forensic anthropology is the construction of the biological profile, classically defined as a set of four basic biological descriptors: biological sex, age-at-death, ancestry, and stature. Yet, our empirical and technological abilities in reconstructing the life experiences and health from skeletal remains far exceed these four parameters and forensic anthropology could benefit from further descriptors in the search for an identity. In this paper, we propose the inclusion of two other investigations to forensic anthropology practice to implement the already known biological profile: the interpretation of bone disease and lesions, and forensic toxicology on unconventional biological matrices.

Investigating gunshot wounds in charred bone with XRF spectroscopy: a technical note.

The analysis of traces of injuries can be difficult in cases of charred human remains since the alteration and fragmentation are high. The aim of this study is to explore the use of X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) technique as a screening tool for detecting and analyzing gunshot residues (GSR) on cremated and highly fragmented materials, as it is a technique that allows for fast qualitative investigations without altering the sample or requiring sample preparation. The study was carried out on two steps: firstly, on completed skeletonized bones to verify if GSR survive to burning; secondly, we considered a more realistic situation, in which soft tissues were present before the shooting.

An exclusionary screening method based on 3D morphometric features to sort commingled atlases and axes.

In forensic commingled contexts, when the disarticulation occurs uniquely at the atlantoaxial joint, the correct match of atlas and axis may lead to the desirable assembly of the entire body. Notwithstanding the importance of this joint in such scenarios, no study has so far explored three-dimensional (3D) methodologies to match these two adjoining bones. In the present study, we investigated the potential of re-associating atlas and axis through 3D-3D superimposition by testing their articular surfaces congruency in terms of point-to-point distance (Root Mean Square, RMS).

Forensic Microbiology: When, Where and How.

Forensic microbiology is a relatively new discipline, born in part thanks to the development of advanced methodologies for the detection, identification and characterization of microorganisms, and also in relation to the growing impact of infectious diseases of iatrogenic origin. Indeed, the increased application of medical practices, such as transplants, which require immunosuppressive treatments, and the growing demand for prosthetic installations, associated with an increasing threat of antimicrobial resistance, have led to a rise in the number of infections of iatrogenic origin, which entails important medico-legal issues. On the other hand, the possibility of detecting minimal amounts of microorganisms, even in the form of residual traces (e.

Lateralization of the Inferior Alveolar Nerve in the Rehabilitation of Mandibular Atrophy: Case Report.

The lateralization of the inferior alveolar nerve, or LIAN procedure, may be a surgical consideration for implant-prosthetic rehabilitation in the edentulous mandibular posterior region. This technique can be advantageous in that it does not require a donor site and allows for the immediate placement of an implant, potentially leading to reduced morbidity, healing time, and costs. Although such risks as altered sensory nerve function and weakening of the mandibular body are associated with the LIAN procedure, it is a viable alternative to various regenerative techniques to rehabilitate a patient with an implant-supported fixed prosthesis.

Pathological Findings in Hanging: Is the Traditional Knowledge Correct?

Background: In forensic pathology, asphyxia presents a problem as frequently as it is thorny and challenging. Some knowledge in forensic pathology is still considered to be traditionally acquired and is not critically assessed with modern statistical or technical tools. In this study, we seek to examine the injuries that are considered to be typical of cases of hanging (neck lesions, haemorrhages, and pleural and epicardial petechiae).

Age assessment in unaccompanied minors: assessing uniformity of protocols across Europe.

Age assessment of migrants is crucial, particularly for unaccompanied foreign minors, a population facing legal, social, and humanitarian challenges. Despite existing guidelines, there is no unified protocol in Europe for age assessment.The Forensic Anthropology Society of Europe (FASE) conducted a comprehensive questionnaire to understand age estimation practices in Europe.

Why identification matters: an explorative study on six cases of family reunification.

The escalating phenomenon of migration, accompanied by a disturbing surge in associated tragedies, has persistently violated internationally protected human rights. Absence of physical evidence, namely the presence of adequately identified corpses, may impede the full enjoyment of human rights and-in some cases-the course of justice as it obstructs the initiation of legal proceedings against individuals implicated in causing such catastrophes. It also presents administrative obstacles, as death certificates are indispensable in legitimizing statuses like orphanhood and widowhood.

Transcending time: the forensic anthropological case study of three unidentified transgender women in Italy in the early 1990s.

In forensic anthropology, the estimation of skeletal sex results in a dichotomous outcome: male or female. This poses challenges when dealing with transgender individuals. Italy has the highest rate per capita of transgender murders, making their identification a compelling issue.

Are autopsies on minors a taboo?: The experience of Milan in a 19-year retrospective study.

Forensic autopsy is an important tool for the proper management of non-natural deaths in minors. However, it seems that autopsy in minors is a practice which may not be performed routinely. In this framework, we conducted a study analyzing autopsies of minors (under 18 years of age in Italy) performed at the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Milan in the period 2001-2019.