An experimental evaluation of electrical skin conductivity changes in postmortem interval and its assessment for time of death estimation.

In forensic medicine, estimation of the time of death (ToD) is one of the most important and challenging medico-legal problems. Despite the partial accomplishments in ToD estimations to date, the error margin of ToD estimation is still too large. In this study, electrical conductivity changes were experimentally investigated in the postmortem interval in human cases.

Head Trauma-Related Deaths Among Preschool Children in Istanbul, Turkey.

Objective: Head trauma takes place among the leading causes of mortality in children. This study aimed to determine the risk factors of head trauma-related deaths among children younger than 5 years in Istanbul, Turkey.

Material And Methods: This study was conducted using the records of the Morgue Department of the Council of Forensic Medicine in Istanbul.

Still an unknown topic: child abuse and "shaken baby syndrome".

Background: Shaken baby syndrome (SBS) is a severe form of physical child abuse, and can even cause death. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether or not the primary healthcare workers had received any education regarding child abuse and neglect, whether they could diagnose the cases, whether they had sufficient knowledge about SBS as a part of child abuse, and whether they were in need of education on the topic.

Methods: Health workers in the primary healthcare centers in the province of Kayseri were enrolled.

A life-threatening presentation of child physical abuse: jejunal perforation.

Intra-abdominal injuries from impacts are the second most common cause of death in battered children. However, it may be difficult to distinguish between accidental abdominal injury and abuse, especially in the absence of other clinical findings. Published reports are also limited about the diagnosis of abuse in children with intra-abdominal injury.

Establishment of interdisciplinary child protection teams in Turkey 2002-2006: identifying the strongest link can make a difference!

Objectives: The University of Iowa Child Protection Program collaborated with Turkish professionals to develop a training program on child abuse and neglect during 2002-2006 with the goals of increasing professional awareness and number of multidisciplinary teams (MDT), regional collaborations, and assessed cases. This paper summarizes the 5-year outcome.

Methods: A team of instructors evaluated needs and held training activities in Turkey annually, and provided consultation when needed.

Fatal abusive head trauma cases: consequence of medical staff missing milder forms of physical abuse.

Objectives: Missed diagnosis of child abuse may lead to chronic abuse with potential for death. This paper reports 3 such cases.

Methods: This is a retrospective chart review of 38 cases diagnosed as abusive head trauma between January 1, 2004 and December 31, 2006 at a university hospital.

Third-molar development in relation to chronologic age in Turkish children and young adults.

Objective: To assess estimation of chronologic age based on the stages of third-molar development following the eight stages (A-H) method of Demirjian et al and to compare third-molar development by sex and age with results of previous studies.

Materials And Methods: The final sample consisted of 900 orthopantomograms from young Turkish subjects of known chronologic age (range, 8-25 years; mean age, 15.18 +/- 4.

Calcium carbide poisoning via food in childhood.

The fast ripening of fruits means they may contain various harmful properties. A commonly used agent in the ripening process is calcium carbide, a material most commonly used for welding purposes. Calcium carbide treatment of food is extremely hazardous because it contains traces of arsenic and phosphorous.