Head Trauma and Alcohol: A Lethal Combination.

There has been much recent attention regarding "concussions" and the role they may play in death. As most medical professionals are aware, concussions exist on a spectrum ranging from minimal or no loss of consciousness with no residual sequelae to diffuse axonal injury and sudden death. The location on the spectrum depends not only on the nature of the impact or blow but also on the state of the individual impacted.

Normal Organ Weights in Women: Part I-The Heart.

Cardiac enlargement is a well-known independent risk factor for sudden cardiac death, though the definition of what constitutes cardiac enlargement is not universally established. A previous study was undertaken to establish a normal range for male hearts to address this issue; the present study was designed to address the issue and to determine normal cardiac weights in adult human females. A prospective study was undertaken of healthy females dying from sudden, traumatic deaths aged 18 to 35 years.

Normal Organ Weights in Women: Part II-The Brain, Lungs, Liver, Spleen, and Kidneys.

Organomegaly can be a sign of disease and pathology, although standard tables defining organomegaly have yet to be established and universally accepted. This study was designed to address the issue and to determine a normal weight for the major organs in adult human females. A prospective study was undertaken of healthy females who had sudden, traumatic deaths at age 18 to 35 years.

Handgun wounds: a review of range and location as pertaining to manner of death.

Citizens of the United States own more firearms than those in any other country, and the majority of the firearms owned are handguns. Given such prevalence, surprisingly few studies have been published describing the characteristics of deaths due to handguns. To address this gap, nonaccidental handgun deaths examined at the Bexar County Medical Examiner's Office between 2000 and 2010 were reviewed.

Normal organ weights in men: part II-the brain, lungs, liver, spleen, and kidneys.

Organomegaly can be a sign of disease and pathologic abnormality, although standard tables defining organomegaly have yet to be established and universally accepted. This study was designed to address the issue and to determine a normal weight for the major organs in adult human males. A prospective study of healthy men aged 18 to 35 years who died of sudden, traumatic deaths was undertaken.

Normal organ weights in men: part I-the heart.

It has been shown that cardiac enlargement, whether hypertrophic or dilated, is an independent risk factor for sudden cardiac death, although the definition of what constitutes cardiac enlargement is not universally established. This study was designed to address this issue and to determine normal cardiac weights in adult men. A prospective study was undertaken of healthy men dying from sudden traumatic deaths aged 18 to 35 years.

The sensitivity of computed tomography (CT) scans in detecting trauma: are CT scans reliable enough for courtroom testimony?

Background: Rapid and accurate recognition of traumatic injuries is extremely important in emergency room and surgical settings. Emergency departments depend on computed tomography (CT) scans to provide rapid, accurate injury assessment. We conducted an analysis of all traumatic deaths autopsied at the Bexar County Medical Examiner's Office in which perimortem medical imaging (CT scan) was performed to assess the reliability of the CT scan in detecting trauma with sufficient accuracy for courtroom testimony.