Pattern of injuries in police torture victims at Faisalabad

To examine the different type of injuries after police torture. Torture study. Office of District Standing Medical Board, in DHQ Hospital Faisalabad. From 1.1.2009 to 31.12.2009. A study of 300 victims of alleged police torture examined by the District Standing Medical Board [DSMB] Faisalabad. Most of the victims at the time of examination were showing visible evidence of Physical trauma. Victims were males. Examination was conducted on the directions of judicial magistrates and District and Session Judge Faisalabad. A wide range of different types of injuries was observed on various parts of the body. Blunt trauma was most frequent. Psychological element of torture was also seen in some victims

Firearm wounds; study of morphology caused by rifled weapon

To study the different changes occurring at cellular level in firearm injuries from near to distant shots. A prospective Study. Khyber Teaching Hospital Peshawar and B.V Hospital Bahawalpur. Bodies presenting for autopsy within 12 hours after firearm injury were included. Wounds expressing maximum details were selected for study. Tissue samples were taken from wounds and preserved in 10% formalin. Sections were taken and slides were stained with Harris Haemotoxylin. Olympus P-6 was used for photography and Nikon [FE-2 body] for gross and microscopic photography. The morphology at cellular level was variable according to the distance of fire. Marked distortion and streaming of nuclei was more pronounced and evident in close contact wounds. However changes were less pronounced with the increasing distance. Section of exit lesion reveled splitting between dermis and epithelium. Further in this study rifle fire fatalities were maximum [53.33%] and distant shot fatalities were predominant [73.33%.]. Microscopy can also be used as an additional tool to differentiate between entry and exit wounds and for estimating range of fire

Organophosphorus compound poisoning; epidemiology and management [atropinization vs pralidoxime] a descriptive analysis, in allied hospital Faisalabad

1] To have an overview of epidemiological factors. 2] To determine the outcome of victims. Mil-III Allied Hospital Faisalabad, from June 2007 to Dec 2008, 484 consecutive patients who were admitted, from June 2007 to December 2008, in Medical unit III with history of having organophosphorus poisoning were analyzed for the epidemiological factors, time to arrive in the hospital, conscious level, mode of poisoning [homicidal, suicidal or accidental] treatment given and outcome. The results of the study showed that age 14-30 years is the major group involved in poisoning 87.9% as compared to ages 31-45years [10.5%] and age more then 45 years [12%], also age group 14-30 years is having more suicidal tendencies as well as accidental poisoning and these tendencies decrease with increasing age [p=0.000]. Male victims are more as compared to female victims [52.9% vs. 46.7%] in the study group. Suicidal tendencies as well as homicidal poisoning is more in female [n= 127 and 44, respectively] while accidental poisoning is more in male population [n=106], [p=0.001]. Urban population is more at risk of poisoning in all three, homicidal, suicidal and accidental, as compared to the rural population [p=0.018]. Importantly study showed that outcome of the poisoning from organophosphorus is directly proportional to the interval between poisoning and presentation in emergency ward [p= 0.000], conscious level of the victim [p=0.000] and does not depend upon the mode of management [oxime or atropine] [p=0.026]. Younger urban population have increased tendency of poisoning with a dominance of female population. Rapidity of treatment, time to arrival to hospital and conscious level at presentation are the factors deciding outcome of a given patient rather than the mode of treatment [oximes and atropine both are equally effective]

Epidemiology of suicide in Faisalabad

Suicide is one of the ten leading causes of death in the world, accounting for more than 400,000 deaths annually. The incidence and pattern of suicide vary from country to country. Cultural, religious and social values play some role in this regard. Very few studies about the epidemiology of suicide have been conducted in Pakistan. We conducted this study on the patterns of suicide in autopsies conducted at Faisalabad from 1998 to 2001, to know the incidence of suicide, which subgroups of the population were most vulnerable to such deaths and the methods being used. Materials and The study includes 95 cases of suicidal deaths of both sexes belonging to different age groups autopsied at the Department of Forensic Medicine, Punjab Medical College, Faisalabad. Cases were selected on the basis of information from the scene of crime, police inquest, autopsy findings and interview with the acquaintances of the victim. Findings were tabulated and analyzed. The study revealed that suicide rate was 1.12/100,000, with male preponderance. The peak incidence was in 20'29 years in males and 10'19 years in females. Hanging was the most common method. A seasonal surge in spring was noted. Suicide in Faisalabad is much lower compared to western countries. Suicides occur at a younger age in Faisalabad compared to western countries