Scenario of hooch tragedy in Gujarat state.

Currently, the Hooch Tragedy occurred in July 2009 at Ahmedabad, Gujarat, resulting in the death of 136 people from consumption of bootlegged liquor. This was the highest death toll in Gujarat from consuming moonshine since 1989 when 132 people had died in a matter of days in Vadodara. The number of patients admitted in the four hospitals of Ahmedabad-Civil Hospital, V.S. Hospital, LG Hospital and Shardaben Hospital had risen to 276 with nearly 100 needing observation either in ICUs or surgical wards. Embarrassed by the scale of the tragedy in a state where consumption and sale of liquor is officially banned, police swept through Gujarat in search of those, illegally selling home-made liquor. Gujarat is the country's only state where sale and consumption of liquor is banned in deference to Mahatma Gandhi, a Gujarati who was passionately opposed to liquor. This has led to a proliferation of illegal liquor dens, whose home-made brew is mostly consumed by those from low income families who can't afford high priced drinks available outside the state.

Radiological study of fusion of iliac crest by digital method.

Forensic medicine experts have to evaluate age in different medico legal situations. The study of epiphyseal union of bones is considered a reasonable scientific and accepted method for estimation of age by the courts of law all over the world. Most of the data generated till now was based on the routine X-ray methods and not using digital X-Ray method. The present study was carried out on 150 persons of age group between 17-21 years by using digital X-ray method in the Department of Forensic medicine and Toxicology at Govt. Medical College & New Civil Hospital, Surat.The present study possibly may generate the data giving shorter age intervals of fusion of centers of iliac crest (as compared to the standard text books or on the other end, may even positively reconfirm the evidential value of current data by using modern technique of digital X-ray. This study will also study the effect of nutritional status, socio-economic condition, type of work, height, weight of the person on fusion of iliac crest.

Original research paper radiological study of disappearance of tri-radiate cartilage in pelvic-bone in Gujarati population.

For medico-legal purposes evidence of age is very essential in various types of cases such as Identification, Consent, Rape, Attainment of Majority, and Eligibility for Employment, etc. Various work done on the study of age determination by the study of appearance of ossification centers and epiphyseal union of different bones in India as well as abroad indicate a reasonable variation. Majority of them conclude that, the ossification and epiphyseal union of a bone vary in different part of the world. To the best of our knowledge very little work has been done on the study of disappearance of tri-radiate cartilage out of various bony parts useful for age estimation. The present study comprising of 50 subjects ( male=35; female=15),was carried out during the period January 2000 to July 2001 at the Forensic Medicine department and Department of radiology, B.J. Medical College, Ahmedabad.

Age estimation from third molar development a radiological study.

The present Study is based on orthopantographic evaluation of the development of the third molar (n=84 persons with known age between 15 to 25 years and known sex male-49, female-35) based on eight stages(A-H ) method of Demirjian et al. Data was feed in computer and analyzed using Statistical package SPSS. Regression analysis was performed to obtain formulas dental age calculation with chronological age. No Statistically significant difference was revealed in third molar development between males &female in all eight stages of development(p>0.05).No Statistically significant difference was revealed in third molar development between left &right side in all eight stages of development where both third molars were scorable (p>0.05). Statistical analysis showed a strong positive correlation between various stages of third molar development and chronological age (r > 0.60, p value<0.05). Regression formulas for whole sample based on the third molar teeth present were estimated and new equations derived: Age in years =13.70+1.50(Developmental stage of Mx Right third molar) Age in years = 14.82 + 1.25 (Developmental stage of Mn Right third molar)

The profile of age in cases of victims of sexual offence.

Sexual assault on female subjects is a global health & human right issue. The problem has legal as well health related bearing. Female victims, often young girls are the worst sufferers of crime like rape, kidnapping and trafficking etc... To prove this type of crime, age estimation is most important. The ages of relevance to criminal liability ranges between 14 and 18 years in most countries. In the present study 141 cases were studied for age estimation in cases of victims of sexual assault cases at Dept. of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, Govt. Medical College, Surat. In accordance with the updated recommendations for age estimation, a physical examination with determination of anthropometric measures, inspection of signs of sexual maturation, dental examination and X- ray examination were carried out. Surprisingly we found that appearance and fusion of ossification centers and 3rd molar eruption were occurred in few cases at earlier age as contrary to that mentioned in standard literatures.