Emerging Detection of Hexahydrocannabinol in Driver Saliva: Preliminary Data.

Introduction: Hexahydrocannabinol or HHC has recently appeared on the Internet and in cannabidiol (CBD) stores in various forms. Although the abuse and dependence potential of HHC consumption has not yet been established, HHC has been reported by consumers to have effects similar to delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and has been classified as narcotics in France since June 12, 2023.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of all cases of oral fluid samples collected from drivers by traffic police officers and sent to our laboratory to confirm the presence of illicit substances between June 12, 2023 and December 31, 2023.

Outside-in hair contamination by blood containing opiates and opioids.

Hair analysis for drugs has become extensively used for forensic investigation in recent years. To best interpret hair drug content in post-mortem conditions, the extent of external contamination by biological fluids, such as blood, must be taken into account to avoid false positive results. The present study evaluated opiates and opioids incorporation into hair from blood containing different concentrations of morphine (MOR), 6-mono-acetyl morphine (6-AM), codeine (COD), dihydrocodeine (DHC), tramadol (TRA), oxycodone (OXY), methadone (MET), 2-ethylidene-1,5-dimethyl-3,3- diphenyl pyrrolidine (EDDP), buprenorphine (BUP) and norbuprenorphine (NBUP).

Study of Root Transparency in Different Postmortem Intervals Using Scanning Electron Microscopy.

In the fields of forensics, the identification of human remains is a recurrent problem. The estimated age at death is one of the copious criteria to be evaluated. In adult teeth, the height of the root dentin transparency is used to estimate age.

Prevalence of abnormalities seen on orthopantomograms performed for forensic age estimation in unaccompanied minor asylum seekers.

Objectives: Evaluate the prevalence of radiological anomalies on orthopantomograms (OPT) performed as part of forensic age estimation in unaccompanied minors.

Methods: This is a retrospective study conducted on 208 OPT examinations requested by a magistrate. These OPTs were interpreted independently by two readers to establish the number of missing teeth (MT), presence of dental fillings (DF), and dental anomalies (DA).

Procalcitonin is associated with sudden unexpected death in infancy due to infection.

Infection is an important cause of death during infancy worldwide and is a frequent etiology of sudden unexpected death in infancy (SUDI). Procalcitonin (PCT) is a useful marker to diagnose infection in patients, and several studies report the stability of PCT after death. The added value of a biological marker, such as the PCT level in the blood, remains controversial in investigating SUDI.

Lethal head ballistic trauma with a «nonlethal» projectile: A case report and review of the literature.

Forensic investigations of cranioencephalic ballistic trauma involve several aspects, including the study of terminal ballistics. This includes the analysis of projectiles and the damage they cause. Although some projectiles are considered "non-lethal", serious injuries and deaths secondary to the use of this type of ammunition have been reported.

Skin injuries in forensic histopathology: a descriptive study.

Histopathology is commonly used in forensic medicine. Only few studies are available in the literature about the correlation between skin wounds histopathology and survival time or other medicolegal data. The aim of this study was to illustrate the usefulness of histopathological analysis of skin wounds in forensic daily practice and to evaluate its correlation with the clinical and police investigation data.

Homicidal sharp force cases: An 11-year autopsy-based study.

Sharp force injuries represent a major constituent of physical assaults and homicidal fatalities, especially in countries with strict firearm legislations. In forensic investigations, the examination of homicidal sharp force cases remains a challenge for both determining the cause and manner of a death. The aim of this study is to analyze the patterns of homicidal sharp force cases in Northern Tunisia.

Multiorgan and Vascular Tropism of SARS-CoV-2.

Although the respiratory tract is the main target of SARS-CoV-2, other tissues and organs are permissive to the infection. In this report, we investigated this wide-spectrum tropism by studying the SARS-CoV-2 genetic intra-host variability in multiple tissues. The virological and histological investigation of multiple specimens from a post-mortem COVID-19 patient was performed.

Unusual bullet embolism in the brachial artery: Case report and literature review.

Chest cardio-vascular trauma by a gunshot bullet is less common than head trauma in forensic medicine practice, but still an extremely mortal injury. In front of no exit wound, ballistic trajectory could appear unexplained. We present the case of a 43-year-old man who sustained a gunshot wound in his chest.

Traumatic rectovaginal fistula after sexual intercourse following a non-consensual anal penetration: a case report and a review of the literature.

Rectovaginal fistulas are rare genital lesions, often due to obstetric causes. More rarely they are a consequence of sexual intercourse. We present the case of a 36-year-old woman who presented to a gynecological emergency department with pelvic pain and feces coming from the vagina.

Age estimation based on the acetabulum using global illumination rendering with computed tomography.

Introduction: The acetabulum has been reported as a reliable age estimation marker. However, analyzing its morphological changes can be challenging using computed tomography (CT) imaging. Newly introduced global illumination rendering (GIR) applied to CT can improve the visualization of the fine details and thus the method's performance.

Determination of the age of bruises using a bilirubinometer.

The dating of bruises can be of crucial interest in clinical forensic medicine, but the macroscopic or photographic evaluation of a bruise has not been regarded as reliable. Several methods have thus been regularly evaluated for this purpose, with reflectance spectrometry yielding promising results. The objective of this study is to evaluate the value of a bilirubinometer as a tool for dating bruises on living victims.

Is bone analysis with μCT useful for short postmortem interval estimation?

The evaluation of the postmortem interval (PMI) is an important consideration in forensic medicine. The time between death and the discovery thereof is extremely important, not only in terms of the legal process, but also for the course of the investigation. At the time of the discovery of human bones, the evaluation of the PMI is extremely difficult.

Iron and vitamin A deficiency in long-term African refugees.

Five cross-sectional surveys were conducted in African refugee camps to assess the level of iron deficiency anemia and vitamin A deficiency in populations dependent on long-term international food aid and humanitarian assistance. The prevalence of anemia in children [hemoglobin (Hb) <110 g/L] was high, with >60% affected in 3 of 5 camps. Iron deficiency [serum transferrin receptor (sTfR) >8.