Original research paper a study of efficacy of lip prints as an identification tool among the people of Karnataka in India.

This is a study of cheiloscopy done on the subjects from south Karnataka districts in India. Lip prints from 100 male and 100 female subjects were studied to determine the predominant lip print type and to look for any correlation between lip print types and blood groups. Tsuchihashi‟s classification of type I (complete vertical grooves), type I‟ (incomplete vertical grooves), type II (forking grooves), type III (intersecting grooves), type IV (reticular grooves) and type V (indeterminate grooves) was used. Only the middle 10 mm of the lower lip was studied as this is the area most often found at a crime scene. The prints were obtained using lipstick and cellophane tape. It was observed that type IV (reticular) was predominant in the subjects chosen for the study and that there was no correlation between blood groups and lip print types.

Bamboo shoot – Is it edible or poisonous.

Bamboo is just another grass with an endless list of uses. Bamboo shoot contains a cyanogenic glycoside ‘amygdalin’ composed of glucose, benzaldehyde and cyanide. We present a case of a 14 year old female patient with history of consumption of bamboo shoot extract (juice) who was brought in an unconscious state and admitted to the Department of Medicine in our hospital. She was treated symptomatically with supportive therapy after conducting relevant laboratory investigations. The patient recovered consciousness after 2 days and was discharged after 10 days of admission.

A case of suicidal rat poisoning masquerading as homicide.

This is a case report of bromadiolone poisoning, which was mistaken initially as a case of assault and homicide by the relatives and police. Bromadiolone acts by inhibiting vitamin K synthesis and produces multiple areas of bleeding that can bear a superficial resemblance to contusions. The history however, later revealed that the deceased had consumed a rat poison whose main constituent was bromadiolone. The clinical diagnosis of disseminated intravascular coagulation was supported by the his-topathology findings, and the toxicological analysis confirmed the presence of bromadiolone. The antidote to this compound is vitamin K1 and in severe cases, whole blood or plasma also should be used. Once the patient has stabilized, and in less severe cases, vitamin K1 can be given orally.