ABSTRACT
Background Estimation of time since death/postmortem interval (PMI) forms a crucial component for all autopsy surgeons. With the subjectivity that is prevalent with conventional morphological and physical signs of death, newer-age modalities such as chemical analysis provide better precision. The easy accessibility and the resistance to putrefaction make vitreous humor the best choice for such chemical analysis. Thus, the present study's aim is to estimate the time since death in cases of unnatural death by investigating the potassium level changes in the vitreous humor. Methodology This is a facility-based cross-sectional study conducted in the mortuary under the Department of Forensic Medicine in a public tertiary healthcare teaching hospital in South India between August and September 2022. Deceased individuals fulfilling the inclusion and exclusion criteria were recruited in the study. Vitreous samples were collected from a single eye and analyzed using an autoanalyzer for potassium values. After due derivations, postmortem intervals were calculated from potassium values, then they were compared with the PMIs estimated using physical signs and those determined using official police records. Data were entered using MS Excel 20 (Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, Washington) and analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software, version 20 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY). Results Of the 100 deceased individuals included in the study, 68% were men, and the majority (24%) belonged to the age group of 53-62 years. A linear relationship is said to exist between vitreous potassium concentration and postmortem interval. No correlation was seen between the ambient temperature and the potassium levels of the vitreous humor. PMI confirmed by the potassium levels seconded the PMI given by the police records and physical signs (Rigor mortis) (Spearman's rho was statistically significant at the two-tailed level or at the 0.01 level with a kappa value of 0.88). Conclusion Potassium measurements in the vitreous humor to estimate the PMI are associated with improved accuracy and precision in determining the time since death. They are not affected by external factors, making them a reliable marker for the same.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To study the prevalence and spectrum of self-reported childhood sexual abuse (CSA) in a sample of medical students from a medical college in Southern India. METHODS: A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to consenting students of a medical college located at Puducherry. Those students who could not be contacted despite three attempts were excluded. RESULTS: Of total 452 students, 148 (32.7%) students reported experiencing one or other form of CSA. Prevalence of CSA was almost equal in both the sexes. Most instances of CSA occurred either at own house (33.8%) or at a neighbor's house (22.9%). Majority (60.1%) did not inform anyone; due to fear of negative consequences (43.2%) and feelings of guilt (30.4%) most commonly. CONCLUSIONS: Approximately one third of medical students reported an incident of sexual abuse at least once in his/her life. Both girls and boys are equally likely to face CSA.
