Crime related use of benzodiazepine in district Peshawar

The number of reported crime in which the victims were first rendered unconscious, lacking awareness of his or her surrounding and later the planned crime ensued. Blood and urine samples were collected and tested for sedative hypnotics at the toxicology lab. The specimens, all of them were tested positive from benzodiazepine. Cross Sectional study. This study was conducted at Toxicology Laboratory, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Khyber Medical College, Peshawar from 01.01.2010 to 31.12.2010. The study was conducted on 77 samples of urine and blood obtained from the victims who were brought over by police to the tertiary care hospitals in district Peshawar. The procedure to find out the exact subtype was with the help of High Performance Liquid Chromatography [HPLC] in the Toxicology Laboratory. The chemical analysis revealed that all the samples obtained from the victims carried Clonazepam a subtype of Benzodiazepine. Easy availability of benzodiazepine and other narcotic analgesics across the country renders these technically dangerous medicines into the hands of criminals resulting in heinous and monstrous consequencesry renders these technically dangerous medicines into the hands of criminals resulting in heinous and monstrous consequences

Gastroenteritis exhumed

Nature of presenting symptoms and even signs of disease can lead to a diagnosis that seems routine but is in fact erroneous because a sufficient index of suspicion is not generated in the mind of the physician dealing with the case. A young girl of about 16 years was brought to the Casualty Department, DHQ Hospital Bannu on 12 Sep 2004 with complains of severe vomiting and diarrhoea; the casualty medical officer diagnosed her as a case of acute gastroenteritis

Morbidity and mortality of firearm injury in Peshawar region

Firearm injuries cause significant morbidity and mortality among its victims. The present study, carried out at a major tertiary care hospital of Peshawar, Pakistan was aimed at highlighting the extent and severity of firearm-related morbidity and resultant mortality despite expert medical care. All victims of firearm injury brought to the Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar Emergency Department and thereafter admitted to hospital wards during the period mid-2006 to mid-2007 were included in the study prospectively regardless of age, gender or socio-economic status. Data relevant to the background of firearm use, type of firearm used, types and extents of injuries, clinical condition of the patients and final outcome were collected on performas and entered into SPSS 15.0 for analysis. Seventy-four cases of firearm injury were recorded during the study period, with a predominant male to female ratio [9.6:1]. Most victims [79.7%] were in the age group of 15-35 years. Although there were more cases from Peshawar [28.4%], there was no major referral pattern noted. High velocity weapons were used in 95.9% of cases and homicide was the main motive for injury [60.8%]. Injuries were sustained most frequently in the abdomen and pelvis [44.6%] and 67.6% of victims sustained internal injuries. There were only 5 [6.8%] deaths from firearm injuries. It is concluded, the young males of the population must be targeted for lifestyle adjustments such as training to refrain from anger or disputes [usually over petty things] and to prevent the easy access of firearms as a weapon to settle disputes

Essential guidelines for forensic dentistry

Teeth can be used as a weapon of attack or defence. Dentistry has much to offer to law enforcement agencies in the uncovering and solution of crime. The permanent teeth develop throughout the first two decades of life, and physiologic variations, pathologies, and effects of dental therapy may be recorded in the hard tissues of the remaining dentition throughout life and beyond. It is the role of the dentist to help extract this information and use it in the identification of the unknown body. Human teeth and dental restorations have proven to remain stable during a long time as well as in extreme situations such as fire. Therefore, dentist can play an important part in the identification of severe mutilated bodies of unknown persons. The teeth may also be used as weapon and, under certain circumstances, may leave information as to the identity of the biter. Analysis of bite marks is the second major responsibility of the forensic dentist. The general practitioner has a major role to play in providing the accurate dental records on which much of forensic activity is based

Frequency of negative autopsy and their demographic evaluation at Khyber medical college, Peshawar

This study was planned to see the frequency of negative autopsy against the total autopsies performed during the period. This descriptive study was conducted at the Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Khyber Medical College, Peshawar and was based upon autopsy data of 10 years with effect from January 1997 to December 2006. In this study fresh or minimally decomposed bodies with no external or internal injury were included. In cases where gross examinations, microscopic examination, toxicological analysis failed to detect the cause of death were labeled as negative autopsies. In a total of 7082 autopsies, 103 [1.45%] autopsies were found to be negative. Out of these negative autopsies, 89 [86.40%] were males and 14 [13.60%] were females. The age of deceased ranged from 6-75 years with mean age of 43.81 +/- 16.95 years. Majority i.e. 17 [16.5%] were in the age range of 31-35 years, followed by 15 [14.5%] in the age range of 51-55 years. Ten [9.7%] were in the age range of 46-50 years and 21-25 years each. Among these negative autopsies, 66 [64.1%] were from urban and 37 [35.9%] were from rural areas of district Peshawar. Majority of negative autopsies were of young male persons from urban areas. Negative autopsies need further studies to look for possible reasons like inadequate training of doctors performing the autopsy or limited resources like availability of histopathalogical or analytical services etc

Spectrum of forensic toxicological analysis at Khyber Medical College Peshawar

To see the common types of poisonings reported to the forensic toxicology laboratory at Peshawar, NWFP, Pakistan. The study was conducted at the Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Khyber Medical College Peshawar where records of toxicological analyses for the year 2004 were obtained. A total of 152 toxilogical analyses were done in a year. Of the total 68 samples were from autopsy cases and 84 from suspected cases of alcohol intoxication. Poisons of various types were detected in 32/68 [47.%] autopsies, while alcohol was detected in 56/84 [66.6%] cases of intoxication. All cases were males and sedative/narcotic drug abuse was the most common cause of death by poisoning [68.7% of fatal poisonings]. Majority of alcohol intoxication cases [92.86%] were referred from hospitals of Peshawar rather than police stations. Poisoning and alcohol abuse constitute a significant health hazard and cause for public concern. Informed interventions are recommended to address the problem