[Epidemiology of gunshot bodies referred for forensic medicine in Tehran]

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

study of prevalence of faked psychotic symptoms in malingerers referred to Tehran Center of Forensic Psychiatry in 1389

As in many authorities, psychotic problems appear to be commuting. Claim of psychiatric disorder has become an important basis for offenders to defend themselves. Aim of this study was to investigate faking symptoms in forensic psychiatry evaluation of malingerers in Tehran. in a cross-sectional survey, in 1389, perpetrators with a judicial order were assessed by two psychiatrists, using American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual 4th Edition [DSM-IV] standards for mental disorders at the Tehran center for forensic psychiatry. Forty one cases identified as malingerers and were evaluating in another specific conversation. Collected data analyzed with statistical methods and p<0.05 used for significance. In this study, behavioral symptoms [75.6%], Mood and affect symptoms [65.9%], cognitive function symptoms [56.1%], thought process symptoms [46.3%], perceptual disorder symptoms [34.1%] and thought content symptoms [19.5%] were observed respectively. Only thought process symptoms were significantly increased based on the educational level [p=0.045]. There was no statistically significant difference among other groups. In general, simulating the symptoms of mental illness is more likely to be observed in low socioeconomic estates and many will attempt to mimic simple symptoms of behavioral as well as mood and affect disorders. Probably, intelligence and reasoning ability of defendants has a close relation to expressed symptoms that should be considered during psychiatric interview

Incidence of hepatitis B and HIV virus at cadaver of IV drug abusers in Tehran

Injection drug use has been the most growing route of drug abuse in Iran in the past decade and it has been responsible for the transmission of HIV virus in more than two third of cases. The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of HIV and hepatitis B in a group of IDU cadavers and to compare the results to a group of cadavers of the normal population. In a case-control study the blood samples of the cadavers of 400 randomly chosen IDUS and 400 other cadavers as control group were checked for HBS antigen and Anti HIV antibody in the forensic medicine center of Tehran. The prevalence of HIV and HBV infection was compared in two groups according to their demographic characteristics. The number of HIV and HBV positive cadavers was significantly higher in the IDU group than the controls [6.25% vs 0.5%, P<0.001, 27.5% vs 3%, P<0.001]. The risk of getting infected by HIV virus was 13.27 times greater in the IDU group and the risk of HBV infection was 12.26 times greater in this group as compared to the control group. The age distribution of IDU cadavers indicated that the percentage of IDU cadavers in the reproductive [21-40 years old] age was 80%. The greater prevalence of the HIV and HBV infection especially in the reproductive age of IDUS indicates a greater concern to the authorities for more attention to prevention and harm reduction programs

Prevalence and distribution study of sella turcica tumors in 20 years and more old cadavers dissected in the Legal Medicine Center of Tehran in 1383-1384

The tumors of sella turcica are among the common causes of pituitary enlargement. In selected autopsy series up to 25% of pituitaries have a small incidental micro adenoma. No comprehensive study concerning the prevalence of these tumors has been conducted in Iran previously. In this article the prevalence and distribution of sella turcica tumors in 20 years and more old cadavers dissected in the legal medicine center of Tehran in 1383-1384 have been studied. In this cross-sectional and descriptive observational study, 186 pituitary glands from cadavers dissected during the second half of1383 and throughout 1384 were studied with a view to presence of tumor, type of tumor and size of adenomas and in relation to the age and sex of cadavers. The overall prevalence of pituitary tumors was 10.2% [19 of 186 glands] among which was 4.3% adenoma [8 cases], 4.3% craniopharyngioma [8 cases], and 1.6% meningioma [3 cases]. Maximum prevalence of pituitary tumors [6 cases] was in 3rd decade and then in 8th decade afterwards [5 cases]. The prevalence of pituitary tumor was 11.26% [8 Cases] of 71 cadavers in females and 9.56% [11 Cases] of 115 codavers in males. Among 8 observed tumors in females 5 were craniopharngioma, and 3 adenoma.Among 11 observed tumors in males 5 were adenoma, 3 meningioma, and 3 craniopharyngioma. Among 8 observed adenoma, 7 were microadenoma [diameter less than 10mm] and 1 was macro adenoma [diameter more than I Omm]. In this study, no statistically significant relationship was observed between sex of the cadavers and the prevalence and type of tumors. The overall prevalence of adenoma and craniopharyngioma was equal .The relationship between tumor prevalence and age was statistically significant .Microadenoma was significantly more prevalent than macroadenoma