ABSTRACT
Background: The rate of using firearm in criminal acts, even in countries with strict legal controls on these weapons is increasing
The most common methods of homicides and suicides are using firearm in United States
In this study we aimed to evaluate the epidemiology of gunshot bodies referred to Forensic Medicine
Methods: Information about firearm-related injuries in autopsy hall of Forensic Medicine center in Tehran during 2011-2012 were evaluated from patients' documents. Necessary information including age, sex, education, employment, drug and alcohol addiction, as well as information related to shot such as suicide or homicidal, shoot number [incoming bullets], shot location, type of firearm, organ damage, shot distance and loca-tion of the incident were extracted and analyzed using SPSS version 16
Results: In this cross sectional study, 38 deaths were identified. These were overwhelmingly males [100%] with mean age of 32.4 [SD= 6.57]
The typical entrance wound sites in suicides were the head [42.2%] and chest [24.3%] and abdomen [5.4%] and limb [2.7%] and others [48.6%]. place a bullet in the head, 16 [42.2 %], chest 9 [24.3%], the abdomen, 2 cases [5.4%], an organ [2.7%] and hit a different place (9 cases 24.3 percent]
Brain damaged in 18 cases [84.6%] and lung 5 [13.5%] and 12 [32.4%] and several organs were damaged
The typical entrance wound sites in suicides were the head [42.2%] and chest [24.3%] and abdomen [5.4%] and limb [2.7%] and others [48.6%]
This total included 33% attempted or completed suicides, and 47.5% assaults/homicides The scene of disaster were the 12 patients [50%] outdoors, 8 [33.3%] at home and in 4 cases [16.7%] at work
Conclusion: Based on results of this study, age of victims is higher than previously observed patterns, such as gender of victims, location of shots, type of weapon used is different with international reports due to differences in availability of Iranian weapons and cultural differences
The results of this study can be a base for other investigations's changes in trends of total firearm death rates, mass fatal shooting incidents, rates of firearm homicide, suicide and unintentional firearm deaths, and of total homicides and suicides
ABSTRACT
Damages caused by scald burns are common and can cause severe complications and death. The purpose of this study was to define risk groups and then methods of prevention and treatment is designed to fit. Data for this retrospective study of hospitalized patients in Shahid Motahari Hospital in Tehran from 2007-2011 were compiled. Data including age, sex, cause of burn, and degree of burn and ultimate fate of the victims were collected from scald burns. Burns caused by boiling water and hot food [Scald], in two age groups: 12 and under 12 years [children] and more than 12 years [adults] were compared in terms of statistics. A total of 1150 patients consisting of males [57.9%] and females [42.1%] were studied. The most common age was 1 year old and 50% of patients were under 3 years of age. 87.9% burned with boiling water and 12.1% had experienced burns with hot food. Incentive to burn was 0.3% cross burning and 99.7% incident. A maximum number of burns in children 12 years and younger males [42.1%] and a minimum number in men over 12 years [15.7%] were observed. Mean percentage of burns was 11% in over 12 years group and 30.9% in 12 and under 12 years group. The average hospital stay was 11.4 days and the mortality rate was 4.8%. The final status of the patients was as fallows: full recovery 904 cases [78.6%], partial recovery 134 [11.7%], clearance with personal consent 41 [3.6%], death 55 [4.8%] and 16 cases [3.1%] were among other reasons. In general it can be said, scald burns incidence in individuals aged 12 and younger were more than the older ones and the mean of burns was lower in individuals with over 12 years old. There was a sexual preference for males under 12 years. Mortality rate in the two groups has not any statistically significant difference. There was no statistically significant association between sex and mortality rate. Some of our findings are depending on cultural, social and economic conditions, so generalized this findings to other geographical areas should be done with caution