Development of Lung Compression Degree Measurement Software of Pneumothorax and Its Application in Forensic Medicine / 法医学杂志

OBJECTIVES@#To develop a measurement software of lung compression degree to calculate the lung compression ratio in pneumothorax patients accurately and quickly, and then provide an objective assessment of damage degree in forensic clinical identification.@*METHODS@#A volume calculation software was established according to the working principle of the CT instrument. CT data of 15 pneumothorax patients were selected as research objects. The lung compression ratio of pneumothorax patient was calculated by the lung compression volume calculation software of the CT instrument. Meanwhile, the lung compression ratio was also calculated by the developed volume calculation software. The lung compression ratio and operation time calculated by the two methods were analyzed statistically. Scatter plot graphs were draw based on related data, and the developed volume calculation software was verified.@*RESULTS@#The difference between the lung compression ratios calculated by the two methods was not statistically significant, but showed a linear correlation （P<0.05）. The operation time of the developed volume calculation software was obviously shorter.@*CONCLUSIONS@#The volume calculation software developed in this study can calculate the lung compression degree of pneumothorax more conveniently and rapidly with easy accessibility, which shows an application value in the forensic practice.

Common Postmortem Computed Tomography Findings Following Atraumatic Death: Differentiation between Normal Postmortem Changes and Pathologic Lesions

Computed tomography (CT) is widely used in postmortem investigations as an adjunct to the traditional autopsy in forensic medicine. To date, several studies have described postmortem CT findings as being caused by normal postmortem changes. However, on interpretation, postmortem CT findings that are seemingly due to normal postmortem changes initially, may not have been mere postmortem artifacts. In this pictorial essay, we describe the common postmortem CT findings in cases of atraumatic in-hospital death and describe the diagnostic pitfalls of normal postmortem changes that can mimic real pathologic lesions.

Toxicology unit in department of forensic medicine emphasis from a study from North East India.

In suspected poisoning cases the final opinion as to the cause of death is generally kept pending till receipt of the chemical analysis report from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL). Cases of suspected poisoning deaths from Kamrup district coming to the GMCH morgue were studied from 1st August 2008 to 31st August 2009 with aim of analyzing the time consumed at various levels. A total of 2592 autopsies were performed during study period and in 160 cases viscera were preserved. Viscera Report of 60 is awaited as on 1st November 2009. 31 cases gave positive results for poison and 69 cases gave negative report. In 21.9% of cases police took more than a month to take the samples to SFSL and in more than 47.5% cases SFSL took >2 months to convey report. In nearly all cases the final opinion as to the cause of death was given the same day on which the report was received. So, establishment of Toxicological Laboratories in Dept of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology can minimize this delay.

Medicina legal / Legal mediine

Contiene: La medicina legal; deontologia medica; etica medica; responsabilidad profesional, ejercicio de la medicina; traumatologia medicolegal; homicidio -suicidio; lesiones; formas de lelsiones; medicina legal del trabajo; riesgos y accidentes de trabajo; peritaje medico en materia laboral; tanatologia medicolegal; la muerte; autopsia medico legal; criminalistica; identificacion policial, dactiloscopia;identificacion medico legal; sexologia forence; desviaciones del institnto sexual; delitos de caracter sexual; medicina legal del matrimonio embarazo y nacimiento; aborto, infanticidio; asfixiologia; psicopatologia forence; los disturbios transitorios de la conciencia; capacidad vital