Application of Chrysomya rufifacies (Diptera, Calliphoridae) to Postmortem Interval Estimation in Southwest China: A Case Report / 法医学杂志

Insect samples found on human corpses can provide the information important to estimating the minimum postmortem interval (PMImin). A female cadaver, found in a deserted factory in Chongqing of China, was confirmed as a homicide case after the forensic investigation and autopsy. Determining the time of death was difficult due to the inconsistent degree of decomposition in different parts of the decedent. The insect specimens found on the cadaver were identified to be Chrysomya rufifacies (C. rufifacies, Macquart) by morphology and mitochondrial DNA sequence analysis. The PMImin was estimated to be 452 h, based on the developmental rate of C. rufifacies. The PMImin was estimated suc-cessfully to be almost precise, which provided an important entomological evidence for case investiga-tion and suspect prosecution. In so doing, this highlights the usefulness of entomological evidence of specific species in the geographic area for PMI accurate estimation, especially in the case of advanceddecomposed corpses.

Investigation of the Necrophagous Flies in Beijing / 法医学杂志

OBJECTIVES@#To explore the number of necrophagous flies and seasonal distribution of common necrophagous flies at present in Beijing.@*METHODS@#The specimens of necrophagous flies were collected by the methods of animal carcass, trapping and feeding. And the specimens were observed and counted after the classification and preservation.@*RESULTS@#The necrophagous flies in Beijing belonged to 4 families, 9 subfamilies, 21 genera and 46 species, and 12 species of them were the first records in Beijing. The necrophagous flies had the characteristics of regional and seasonal distribution.@*CONCLUSIONS@#The data of seasonal distribution of necrophagous flies and common necrophagous flies in Beijing can provide reference for related research.

Morphological characteristics of hyoid bone and its gender difference / 法医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To understand and analyze the morphological characteristics of hyoid bone and its gender difference in order to find out its forensic significance.@*METHODS@#The hyoid bones of 68 adult corpses were dissected from redundant soft tissues after heating. The connection status of body of hyoid, greater cornu and lesser cornu, the morphological characteristics of hyoid bone and the degree of ossification were observed by visual inspection. The height of hyoid bone and the arched height of hyoid bone were measured and compared the differences between male and female in order to deduce the analytic equation for gender estimation by hyoid bone.@*RESULTS@#Five connection conditions of hyoid bone were identified by the morphological characteristics, including complete ossification in both sides, no ossification in both sides, partial ossification in both sides, complete ossification in one side (partial ossification in the other side), and complete ossification in one side (no ossification in the other side). The values of the arched height of hyoid bone (x1) and the height of hyoid bone (x2) in male were both higher than that in female (P < 0.01). The analytic equation for gender estimation (y) was y = 0.438 x1 + 1.042x2-12.979. The discriminant value was -0.272 5 and the resolution was 88.2%.@*CONCLUSION@#According to the gender characteristics of hyoid bone, the data of hyoid bone can provide helps for forensic practices.

Estimation time of death by necrophagous flies life cycle / 法医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To study the nature of necrophagous flies, their developmental cycle and seasonal variation.@*METHODS@#Animal corpse was used to be baiting. Eight kinds of necrophagous flies on their developmental cycle and the pattern of seasonal variation were analyzed.@*RESULTS@#The community of necrophagous flies at high temperature in summer were more abundant than at low temperature in winter. Eight necrophagous flies through longer time at high temperature during every state than at low temperature.@*CONCLUSION@#The life cycle and seasonal variation pattern of necrophagous flies could be used to estimate the time of death in practical cases.

Determining postmortem interval by accumulated temperature method / 法医学杂志

The experience of bug's growing and accumulated temperatures were important ways for determination of postmortem interval in forensic science. Here we used reverse accumulated temperature methods to estimate postmortem interval and made accordant result with their true time.