The "microwave oven" practice in Brazil.

This article presents a forensic case of an unusual illegal cremation of a person using a process colloquially known as the "microwave oven" practice in Brazil. The microwave process involves two actions: placing the victim in a tire stack and then setting the structure on fire using flammable substances to accelerate the progression. A similar practice, identified as "necklacing", has also been reported in other countries such as South Africa. This report presents a case of microwave oven cremation of a body found in a rural area of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The forensic work helped determine the biological profile and identity of the victim using radiological comparisons. Although the microwave oven cremation practice is rare, it can impose challenges for investigators. Therefore, fully understanding this practice can be helpful to the academic and forensic communities.

Epidemiological and toxicological profile of homicide victims in a legal medicine unit in Brazil.

OBJECTIVES: The use of illicit drugs is considered a risk factor for victimization by lethal violence and is frequently found in necropsies of homicide victims. This study aimed to evaluate the profile of these victims. METHODS AND MATERIAL: A cross-sectional retrospective study was performed on homicide victims in 2014 with a sample composed of all homicide cases in 2014 for which toxicology had been performed in an Official Forensic Laboratory (Minas Gerais- Brazil). RESULTS: 1382 homicide victims composed the sample. The group with a positive toxicology test (N = 943) presented higher proportions of men (p = 0.003), black/brown skin (p < 0.001), firearm history (p = 0.007) and a lower mean age (p < 0.001). In 72.2% of the positive tests, cocaine and benzoylecgonine were found; in 67.7%, THC and/or its metabolite was found; and in 43.1%, both illicit drugs were found. CONCLUSIONS: The role of illicit drugs in early death goes far beyond intoxication as they are directly associated with age, skin color and gender. Young black/mixed men have an increased risk of homicide. Our findings point to the importance of investing in social actions, public safety and efforts to reduce drug use in this at-risk population.

Gastric emptying of solids and semi-solids in morbidly obese and non-obese subjects: an assessment using the 13C-octanoic acid and 13C-acetic acid breath tests.

BACKGROUND: It has been suggested that obesity is associated with an altered rate of gastric emptying. The objective of the present study was to determine whether the rates of solid and semi-solid gastric emptying differ between morbidly obese patients and lean subjects. METHODS: The Gastric-emptying time (GET) of solid and semi-solid meals were compared between lean healthy subjects and morbidly obese patients enrolled in two previously published studies. GET of solid and semi-solid meals was measured using the 13C-octanoic acid breath test and 13C-acetic acid breath test, respectively, in 24 lean and 14 morbidly obese individuals of both sexes. Student t-test was used to compare the mean data between the lean and morbidly obese groups. The influence of sex, gender, BMI and morbid obesity on the GET of solid meals was verified by linear regression analysis. RESULTS: Mean t(1/2) values of solid GET (+/- standard deviation) were 203.6 +/- 76.0 min and 143.5 +/- 19.1 min for lean and obese subjects, respectively (P = 0.0010). Mean t(lag) values of solid GET were 127.3 +/- 42.7 min and 98.4 +/- 13.0 min for lean and obese subjects, respectively (P = -0.0044). No significant difference in semi-solid GET was observed between the lean and morbidly obese groups. CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrated a significantly enhanced gastric emptying of the solid meal test in morbidly obese patients when compared to lean subjects. This finding is compatible with the hypothesis that rapid gastric emptying in morbidly obese subjects increases caloric intake due to a more rapid loss of satiety.