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Albano GD, Scalzo G, Malta G, Puntarello M, Alongi A, Piscionieri D, Lo Re GF, Salerno S, Zerbo S, Argo A. Useful Evidence by Post-Mortem CT and Stereomicroscopy in Bone Injury: A Case Series from Forensic Practice. Healthcare (Basel) 2023; 11:healthcare11040540. [PMID: 36833074 PMCID: PMC9956299 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare11040540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2022] [Revised: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
The investigation of bone injuries is an essential topic in forensics. We sometimes have to deal with charred or dismembered human remains that have lost soft tissue, making it difficult to diagnose the mechanisms of injury that led to death. Our contribution aims to share with the scientific community how we approached two cases of very different bone injuries and the techniques used to differentiate relevant pathology findings of bone fragments. Two cases are analyzed from the case history of the forensic medicine institute of Palermo. PMCT made it possible to differentiate heat bone lesions from traumatic lesions. The stereomicroscope was superior to PMCT in being able to better characterize and evaluate shear injuries, allowing a more accurate measurement of acute lesions. Injury to bone remains can be appropriately investigated with rapid techniques such as PMCT and stereomicroscopy. The presented methodology shows the importance of a multidisciplinary approach when dealing with bone injuries in forensics that could find further applications in other circumstances to answer forensic questions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Davide Albano
- Section of Legal Medicine, Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Palermo, I-90129 Palermo, Italy
- Correspondence:
| | - Giovanni Scalzo
- Section of Legal Medicine, Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Palermo, I-90129 Palermo, Italy
| | - Ginevra Malta
- Section of Legal Medicine, Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Palermo, I-90129 Palermo, Italy
| | - Maria Puntarello
- Section of Legal Medicine, Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Palermo, I-90129 Palermo, Italy
| | - Alberto Alongi
- Section of Legal Medicine, Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Palermo, I-90129 Palermo, Italy
| | - Donatella Piscionieri
- Section of Legal Medicine, Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Palermo, I-90129 Palermo, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Francesco Lo Re
- Radiology Unit, Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics, University of Palermo, Via del Vespro 129, I-90127 Palermo, Italy
| | - Sergio Salerno
- Radiology Unit, Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics, University of Palermo, Via del Vespro 129, I-90127 Palermo, Italy
| | - Stefania Zerbo
- Section of Legal Medicine, Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Palermo, I-90129 Palermo, Italy
| | - Antonina Argo
- Section of Legal Medicine, Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Palermo, I-90129 Palermo, Italy
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Mole CG, Heyns M. Animal Models in Forensic Science Research: Justified Use or Ethical Exploitation? Sci Eng Ethics 2019; 25:1095-1110. [PMID: 29717465 DOI: 10.1007/s11948-018-0053-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2017] [Accepted: 03/23/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
A moral dilemma exists in biomedical research relating to the use of animal or human tissue when conducting scientific research. In human ethics, researchers need to justify why the use of humans is necessary should suitable models exist. Conversely, in animal ethics, a researcher must justify why research cannot be carried out on suitable alternatives. In the case of medical procedures or therapeutics testing, the use of animal models is often justified. However, in forensic research, the justification may be less evident, particularly when research involves the infliction of trauma on living animals. To determine how the forensic science community is dealing with this dilemma, a review of literature within major forensic science journals was conducted. The frequency and trends of the use of animals in forensic science research was investigated for the period 1 January 2012-31 December 2016. The review revealed 204 original articles utilizing 5050 animals in various forms as analogues for human tissue. The most common specimens utilized were various species of rats (35.3%), pigs (29.3%), mice (17.7%), and rabbits (8.2%) although different specimens were favored in different study themes. The majority of studies (58%) were conducted on post-mortem specimens. It is, however, evident that more needs to be done to uphold the basic ethical principles of reduction, refinement and replacement in the use of animals for research purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Calvin Gerald Mole
- Division of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, P.O. Box 13914, Mowbray, 7705, South Africa.
| | - Marise Heyns
- Division of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, P.O. Box 13914, Mowbray, 7705, South Africa
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Spies AJ, Bidmos MA, Brits D. Using tibial fragments to reconstruct the total skeletal height of black South Africans. Forensic Sci Int 2019; 298:424.e1-9. [PMID: 30979541 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2019.03.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2019] [Revised: 03/19/2019] [Accepted: 03/22/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Stature is an important component of the biological profile of unknown skeletal remains and regression equations for estimating stature have been derived for a number of bones. However, bones are rarely recovered intact in both forensic and archaeological cases, and regression formulae for fragmentary remains have therefore been developed. These equations are, however, both sex- and population-specific, and while formulae exist for many populations, those using fragmentary tibiae do not exist for black South Africans. The aim of this study was therefore to establish regression equations for estimating total skeletal height (TSH), and thereby stature, from tibial fragments in a black South African population. A sample of 99 male and 99 female black South African skeletons were obtained from the Raymond A. Dart Collection of Human Skeletons and the TSH of each skeleton was calculated using the anatomical method. Eleven additional measurements representing tibial fragments were taken on each tibia, and both uni- and multivariate equations were established for estimating TSH from these fragments. All tibial variables were significantly, positively correlated with TSH, and equation correlations ranged between 0.41 and 0.91. The range of standard errors of estimate for the derived sex-specific (3.43-5.06 cm) and sex-pooled (3.44-5.94 cm) multivariate equations were slightly larger than those reported for intact tibiae in black (2.78-3.06 cm) and white (2.59-3.16 cm) South Africans. All uni- and multivariate-equations estimated TSH with moderate to high accuracy, which indicates that in the absence of intact tibiae, the equations presented in this study can be used to give accurate estimates of TSH, and thereby stature, for black South Africans.
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Zana M, Magli F, Mazzucchi A, Castoldi E, Gibelli D, Caccia G, Cornacchia F, Gaudio DA, Mattia M, Cattaneo C. Effects of Cremation on Fetal Bones. J Forensic Sci 2017; 62:1140-1144. [PMID: 28120333 DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.13414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2016] [Revised: 10/20/2016] [Accepted: 11/29/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The charring process is a weak point of anthropological analysis as it changes bone morphology and reduces information obtainable, specially in fetuses. This experiment aims at verifying the conservation of fetal bones after cremation. A total of 3138 fetuses of unknown sex and age were used, deriving from legal and therapeutic abortions from different hospitals of Milan. Cremations took place in modern crematoria. Nine cremation events were analyzed, each ranging from 57 to 915 simultaneously cremated fetuses. During the cremations, 4356 skeletal remains were recovered, 3756 of which (86.2%) were morphologically distinguishable. All types of fetal skeletal elements were found, with the exception of some cranial bones. Only 3.4% of individuals could be detected after the cremation process, because of the prevalence of abortions under 12 lunar weeks. All fire alterations were observed and the results were statistically analyzed. This pilot study confirmed the possibility of preservation of fetal skeletal elements after cremation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michela Zana
- LABANOF, Laboratorio di Antropologia e Odontologia Forense, Sezione di Medicina Legale, Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche per la Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Luigi Mangiagalli 37, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesca Magli
- LABANOF, Laboratorio di Antropologia e Odontologia Forense, Sezione di Medicina Legale, Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche per la Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Luigi Mangiagalli 37, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Alessandra Mazzucchi
- LABANOF, Laboratorio di Antropologia e Odontologia Forense, Sezione di Medicina Legale, Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche per la Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Luigi Mangiagalli 37, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Elisa Castoldi
- LABANOF, Laboratorio di Antropologia e Odontologia Forense, Sezione di Medicina Legale, Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche per la Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Luigi Mangiagalli 37, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Daniele Gibelli
- LABANOF, Laboratorio di Antropologia e Odontologia Forense, Sezione di Medicina Legale, Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche per la Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Luigi Mangiagalli 37, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Giulia Caccia
- LABANOF, Laboratorio di Antropologia e Odontologia Forense, Sezione di Medicina Legale, Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche per la Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Luigi Mangiagalli 37, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesca Cornacchia
- LABANOF, Laboratorio di Antropologia e Odontologia Forense, Sezione di Medicina Legale, Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche per la Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Luigi Mangiagalli 37, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Daniel A Gaudio
- LABANOF, Laboratorio di Antropologia e Odontologia Forense, Sezione di Medicina Legale, Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche per la Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Luigi Mangiagalli 37, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Mirko Mattia
- LABANOF, Laboratorio di Antropologia e Odontologia Forense, Sezione di Medicina Legale, Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche per la Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Luigi Mangiagalli 37, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Cristina Cattaneo
- LABANOF, Laboratorio di Antropologia e Odontologia Forense, Sezione di Medicina Legale, Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche per la Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Luigi Mangiagalli 37, 20133, Milan, Italy
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