Sex estimation using the femur of Austrians born in the 19th to the middle of the 20th century.

Sex estimation of human bones or bone fragments is crucial for the identification process of unknown bodies. Regional differences and secular changes lead to ever changing osteometric standards for different populations. This study provides femoral dimensions of Austrians born between 1822 and 1949 and evaluates the discriminating power of sex estimation functions developed by discriminant analyses. Depending on the state of preservation up to 127 femora of adult individuals (72 females and 55 males) were measured. The following means and standard variations were obtained: Maximum length (male: 449.7 ± 16.7 mm, female: 413.9 ± 16.3 mm), head circumference (148.5 ± 7.8 vs. 133.8 ± 6.4 mm), vertical (46.9 ± 2.4 vs. 41.9 ± 2.1 mm), transverse (46.3 ± 2.4 vs. 41.5 ± 2.0 mm), and maximum head diameter (47.0 ± 2.3 vs. 42.0 ± 2.1 mm), as well as sagittal (28.3 ± 2.2 vs. 26.2 ± 1.8 mm), transverse (27.9 ± 2.5 vs. 26.1 ± 2.0 mm), and maximum midshaft diameter (29.2 ± 2.1 vs. 27.3 ± 1.6 mm) and finally condylar width (79.6 ± 4.6 vs. 71.9 ± 3.8 mm). The (cross-validated) discriminant analysis for single measurements showed that the best classification is obtained using femur head dimensions, with correct sexing rates between 84.8 % for the circumference and 87.8 % for the maximum diameter. The maximum length achieved a similarly high rate of correct classification with 86.5 %, whereas the rate for the condylar width (80.6 %) was somewhat lower. The potential of midshaft dimensions for sex estimation was substantially weaker (62.3 to 70.8 %). With regard to a multivariate analysis, a stepwise selection procedure favoured a combination of maximum length and vertical head diameter with 90.1 % being correctly classified. A combination of maximum length, maximum head diameter and maximum midshaft diameter resulted in an even higher rate of 91.5 %. These Austrian standards may provide additional possibilities for sexing unknown bodies and skeletal remains born in the 19(th) to the middle of the 20(th) century.

Does the prior application of the field kit bullet hole testing kit 3 on a suspected bullet hole bias the analysis of atomic absorption spectrophotometry?

Forensic ballistics is the study of bullet trajectory and consists of determining gunshot residue (GSR) to identify bullet holes. Among several highly sensitive methods, atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS) is employed to analyze GSR in the laboratory. However, it is sometimes necessary to identify bullet holes immediately at a crime scene. The purpose of this examination was to determine whether the use of the field test Bullet Hole Testing Kit 3 (BTK3) on a suspected bullet hole would influence the outcome of AAS-analysis: Three commonly encountered firearms (Glock17, Tokarev, and Colt) were fired at skin, wood, and cloth. AAS-analysis was performed with and without previous BTK3 application. The results clearly indicate that there is no significant interaction on the grounds of BTK3 use (BTK3 vs. no-BTK3 [kit_nokit] [Pb: p = 0.1309; Sb: p = 0.9111], material*kit_nokit [Pb: p = 0.5960; Sb: p = 0.9930], distance*kit_nokit [Pb: p = 0.4014; Sb: p = 0.9184], and firearm type*kit_nokit [Pb: p = 0.9662; Sb: p = 0.9885]); hence, applying this field kit does not falsify later AAS outcomes.

Micromorphological changes in cardiac tissue of drug-related deaths with emphasis on chronic illicit opioid abuse.

AIMS: The main intention of this retrospective study was to investigate whether chronic illicit drug abuse, especially the intravenous use of opioids (heroin), could potentially trigger the development of myocardial fibrosis in drug addicts. DESIGN: A retrospective case-control study was performed using myocardial tissue samples from both drug-related deaths (DRD) with verifiable opioid abuse and non-drug-related deaths in the same age group. SETTING: Department of Forensic Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Austria (1993-94). PARTICIPANTS: Myocardial specimens were retrieved from 76 deceased intravenous opioid users and compared to those of 23 deceased non-drug users. MEASUREMENTS: Drug quantification was carried out using the enzyme-multiplied immunoassay technique (EMIT), followed by [gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), MAT 112(®) ], and analysed using the Integrator 3390A by Hewlett Packard(®) and LABCOM.1 computer (MSS-G.G.). The amount of fibrous connective tissue (FCT) in the myocardium was determined by using the morphometric software LUCIA Net version 1.16.2(©) , Laboratory Imaging, with NIS Elements 3.0(®) . FINDINGS: Drug analysis revealed that 67.11% were polydrug users and the same proportion was classified as heroin addicts (6-monoacetylmorphine, 6-MAM)-32.89% were users of pure heroin. In 76.32% of DRD cases, codeine was detected. Only 2.63% consumed cocaine. The mean morphine concentrations were 389.03 ng/g in the cerebellum and 275.52 ng/g in the medulla oblongata, respectively. Morphometric analysis exhibited a strong correlation between DRD and myocardial fibrosis. The mean proportion of FCT content in the drug group was 7.6 ± 2.9% (females: 6.30 ± 2.19%; males: 7.91 ± 3.01%) in contrast to 5.2 ± 1.7% (females: 4.45 ± 1.23%; males: 5.50 ± 1.78%) in the control group, indicating a significant difference (P = 0.0012), and a significant difference in the amount of FCT between females and males (P = 0.0383). There was no significant interaction of age and FCT (P = 0.8472). CONCLUSIONS: There is a long-term risk of cardiac dysfunction following chronic illicit drug abuse with opioids as a principal component. Regular cardiological examination of patients receiving substitution treatment with morphine is strongly recommended.

Paste-like inorganic bone matrix: preclinical testing of a prototype preparation in the porcine calvaria.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the osteoconductive properties and the volume stability of an injectable paste-like inorganic bone matrix (PBM) in porcine calvaria defects. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We created six circumferential defects in the calvaria of 12 adult iberico pigs. The defects were filled with either PBM, Bio-Oss((R)) of different particle size, carrier alone, or left empty. PBM was composed of Bio-Oss((R)) with a particle size ranging from 250 to 500 mum and a hydrogel-carrier of carboxymethylcellulose and collagen. After 6 and 12 weeks of healing, the animals were sacrificed and undecalcified ground sections were prepared and subjected to histologic and histomorphometric analysis. To quantify the osteoconductive properties of PBM, bone volume per tissue volume (BV/TV) in the defect area was determined. To determine the volume stability, bone substitute volume per tissue volume (BSV/TV) was measured. RESULTS: After 6 weeks, PBM particles in the center of the defect were surrounded by fibrous connective tissue, which was later replaced by bone. BV/TV in the PBM group increased from 29.7+/-12.7% (minimum 12.2%, maximum 43.7%) after 6 weeks to 43.9+/-14.9% (minimum 27.8%, maximum 63.9%) after 12 weeks (Mann-Whitney test; P=0.6). According to the Friedman test, BV/TV in groups containing Bio-Oss((R)) of different particle sizes, the carrier and the empty defects was similar to the results obtained with PBM (6 weeks P=0.8; 12 weeks P=0.22). BSV/TV in the PBM group was stable over time, with 10.1+/-9% (minimum 3.3%, maximum 27.6%) and 16.5+/-12.9% (minimum 1%, maximum 32.7%), after 6 and 12 weeks, respectively (P=0.72). BSV/TV in the PBM group was comparable to the results obtained with the Bio-Oss((R)) particles of different sizes (Friedman test; 6 weeks P=0.0503; 12 weeks P=0.56). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this preclinical study showed that the PBM is osteoconductive and maintains the augmented volume, similar to commercial Bio-Oss((R)). These data suggest that the osteoconductive properties of Bio-Oss((R)) are maintained at the smaller particle size and in the presence of the carrier.