Histopathological Findings in a Fatal Case of Paraquat Poisoning.

Fatal paraquat ingestion presents many interesting pathological findings for the forensic pathologist. The majority of prior research regarding paraquat poisoning has focused on the lung and liver, this article is further directed to and presents some of the histopathological findings present in the brain. Typical macroscopic and histopathological findings of paraquat poisoning were identified in the liver and lungs.

Histopatholological Findings in a Fatal Case of Rinkhals Envenomation: A New Forensic Pathology Finding?

Although cobra envenomation continues to pose a threat to life and therefore constitutes a major cause of death in Africa, India, and Sri Lanka, the forensic pathology reports are not always histologically well documented or illustrated. The reports in the literature, although providing graphic evidence of the macroscopic appearances of the bite and its ensuing tissue necrosis, should the victim survive, often do not illustrate the histopathological findings to a sufficient degree. We present an unusual case of fatal envenomation by a rinkhals (Hemachatus haemachatus) in which the victim had been bitten a second time after a previous rinkhals' bite.

Comparative study of the relevance of musculoskeletal disorders between the Spanish and the European working population.

Background: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are diseases of high prevalence. The extent to which our work is causing or aggravating them is still questioned because their causes are heterogeneous and usually combined in the same person, and can be attributed to any of them.

Objective: The objective of this paper is to compare Spain with the rest of Europe concerning MSDs.

QuikClot masquerading as Glaser shot: a new forensic pathology artifact?

Although in the forensic sphere, Glaser ammunition or handgun shot cartridges represent one of the most significant advances in firearms ballistics in the past 100 years, the mineral-based zeolite hemostatic agent QuikClot represents a no less significant development in the surgical and clinical context of the trauma-induced management of battlefield wounding and hemorrhage. Because of the essential structural configuration of both Glaser ammunition and QuikClot, consisting as they do of metallic beads on the one hand and mineral-based spherules on the other, the possibility exists that a medicolegal autopsy on a victim of gunshot wounding and on whom surgery has been performed with introduction of QuikClot in an effort to stem bleeding, the spherules of QuikClot might be misinterpreted as the pellets of handgun shot cartridges.We present a case of fatal wounding by a 9-mm handgun in which the discovery of QuikClot in the peritoneal cavity at autopsy initially raised the possibility of wounding by Glaser ammunition.

Forensic toxicology in urban South Africa.

Background: An analysis has been made of the pattern of deaths due to poisoning in South Africa over the period 1991-1996.

Methods: The database held by the Forensic Science Service Laboratory, covering the period 1991-1996 was analyzed.

Results: Agricultural chemicals are a major cause of mortality.

Findings in fatal cases of poisoning attributed to traditional remedies in South Africa.

An analysis of the Johannesburg forensic database over the years 1991-1995 revealed 206 cases in which a traditional remedy was either stated to be the cause of death or was found to be present in a case of poisoning with an unknown substance. The range of toxins detected was wide, with herbal materials being found in 43% of cases, and pharmaceutical or agri-chemicals in 20% and 33% respectively. Since there are as yet no standard methods for the detection of many herbal remedies or their metabolites, careful analysis, using methods such as HPLC/MS, are mandatory for the correct identification of the true cause in cases of poisoning ascribed to traditional remedies.

The control of bovine virus diarrhoea virus in Shetland.

A scheme to control and eradicate bovine virus diarrhoea (BVD) was initiated in 1994 in the Shetland Islands by local veterinary surgeons and funded by the Shetland Islands Council and Shetland Enterprise Company. Over a 3-year period every bovine animal on the islands was blood-sampled (heparinised) and laboratory tested using MAb-based ELISAs for BVD virus antibody and antigen detection for evidence of disease. A number of BVD virus positive animals (40) were found and culled.

Renal adenocarcinoma with tumour thrombi in the inferior vena cava and right atrium in a pedestrian motor vehicle accident fatality: case report and medicolegal implications.

Dramatic and unexpected natural disease processes may occasionally be encountered in the course of routine forensic pathology practice. The pathophysiological consequences of these processes may carry profound medicolegal implications which may have a bearing on the liability and culpability of the various parties involved. A pedestrian-vehicular incident involving a 53-year-old woman in whom a renal adenocarcinoma with tumour extension to the inferior vena cava and right atrium was discovered at autopsy is reported.

Anaesthetic-associated mortality and anaesthetic contributory death: the South African medicolegal approach.

The medicolegal approach to cases of anaesthetic-associated mortality and anaesthetic contributory death (ACD) occurring in Johannesburg, South Africa is presented. The approach adopted has been found to be reasonably workable in practice and places heavy emphasis on the surgical and anaesthetic-related reasons for perioperative deaths and, in particular, on their multifactorial aetiology. It is recognised that in view of the multifactorial nature of the anaesthetic environment certain errors in clinical anaesthetic management are neither precisely quantifiable nor assessable.

Renal weights in the southern African black population.

Renal weights of 430 adult black subjects coming to medicolegal autopsy at the Diepkloof State Mortuary, a large urban area southwest of Johannesburg, South Africa, were analyzed. The subjects were from 10 southern African black ethnic groups-Zulu, Sotho, Tswana, Xhosa, Shangaan, Swazi, Venda, Ndebele, Kalanga, and Malawi. The aims of the study were: 1) to ascertain the anatomical "norm" as it pertains to renal weights in this diverse population group; 2) to formulate standard reference tables that might be of use to the practicing pathologist in the southern African arena; 3) to provide a range of values that take into account the variables of age, sex, race, body weight, and body height; and 4) to provide a standard of comparison with anthropological and anatomical studies conducted on North American black, North American Caucasian, Indian subcontinent, Burmese, and Jamaican population groups.

Traumatic rupture of the cervical carotid arteries: an autopsy and histopathological study of 200 cases.

Over the 19-month period November 7th, 1984 to June 11th, 1986, 200 consecutive autopsies were conducted on victims of motor vehicle accidents. In each case, both common carotid arteries and their respective internal and external branches up to 2 cm beyond the bifurcation were examined for evidence of contusion, partial tearing or rupture. All lacerations or disruptions were excised together with a segment of surrounding arterial tissue, and processed, sectioned and examined by conventional light microscopy for the presence and extent of arterial tears.

Death from electrical arc flash burns. A report of 2 cases.

Two cases of fatal accidental electrocution involving high-tension cables are reported in which autopsy revealed the presence of flash burns and, more significantly, multiple circumscribed and cavitated lesions associated with arcing. Attention is drawn to the danger of 'near-contact' with high-tension cables. The autopsy findings of severe internal injuries, which may be associated with the blast of the electrical discharge or occur secondary to a fall are discussed.

Stomal sepsis and fatal haemorrhage following tracheostomy.

A case of stomal sepsis and fatal haemorrhage following an emergency tracheostomy in a 28-year-old woman is presented. It is proposed that major haemorrhage can occur in the absence of a large vessel lesion as a result of local sepsis and inflammation. Infection in this setting can be predicted to be polymicrobial in origin and attention is therefore drawn to the need for early prophylactic antimicrobial therapy as well as the need for meticulous care of the stomal site.

Tracheal rupture--an anaesthetic mishap? A case report.

We present the case of a 21-year-old primigravida who died after an uneventful caesarean section. We believe that this death was due to pre-eclamptic toxaemia rather than related to the finding of a tracheal tear at autopsy.

Autopsy assessment of liver lacerations. A study of 62 cases.

The results of 127 consecutive autopsies on victims of motor vehicle, train and tractor accidents were analysed to determine the incidence, extent and severity of liver injury as well as to formulate a method of grading such injuries relevant to forensic autopsy practice. All liver lacerations noted were assigned an injury-assessment index. The features which emerge from the study are as follows: (i) almost 50% of the the victims had liver lacerations; (ii) in almost 75% of these, multiple lacerations were present; and (iii) in over 33% of those with liver lacerations severe liver injury in the form of lobal transection was present.

Traumatic rupture of the thoracic aorta. An autopsy and histopathological study.

Over the 9-month period 1 March - 30 November 1983, 118 consecutive autopsies were conducted on victims of motor vehicle and train accidents. The thoracic aorta was examined for evidence of contusion, partial tearing or rupture, particular attention being paid to the known usual sites of rupture. All lacerations or disruptions were excised together with a segment of surrounding aortic tissue, and processed, sectioned and examined by conventional light microscopy for the presence and extent of aortic tears.

Pulmonary embolism due to hepatic tissue--a forensic vital sign? A case report.

A case of pulmonary embolism due to hepatic tissue occurring after trauma is presented. This finding may be of forensic value in indicating the antemortem nature of an injury by constituting evidence of an intra vitam phenomenon.

Early acute fatal carbon monoxide poisoning--assessment of the survival period.

While the postmortem appearances and laboratory diagnosis of carbon monoxide poisoning are well recognized, the problem of determining the length of survival and hence the possible time of death still exists. The haematoxylin-basic fuchsin-picric acid stain for the detection of early myocardial ischaemia was applied in an attempt to assess the length of survival in early acute fatal carbon monoxide poisoning. Although the value of this stain in elucidating early ischaemia was confirmed, its application to this specific problem in forensic medicine appears limited.

The value of autopsy bacteriology. A case report and review of techniques.

A case of fatal post-traumatic purulent meningitis is described. While no antemortem aetiological diagnosis was available, bacteriology yielded a pure and profuse culture of Streptococcus pneumoniae. The problem of postmortem microbial contamination is discussed and recommendations for appropriate autopsy techniques are presented.