[Erratum to: Histopathological findings following SARS-CoV-2 infection with and without treatment-Report of three autopsies]. / Erratum zu: Histopathologische Befunde bei therapierter und nichttherapierter SARS-CoV-2-Infektion ­ Bericht über 3 Autopsien.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1007/s00194-020-00408-x.].

[Histopathological findings following SARS-CoV-2 infection with and without treatment-Report of three autopsies]. / Histopathologische Befunde bei therapierter und nichttherapierter SARS-CoV-2-Infektion ­ Bericht über 3 Autopsien.

According to the current state of knowledge, several internal organs are usually involved in cases of SARS-CoV­2 infections with a fatal course. Pathological changes are primarily found in lung tissues but there are also reports concerning direct or indirect (histo)pathological changes due to SARS-CoV­2 infections in samples from the kidneys, liver and myocardium. Comparing three fatal cases associated with SARS-CoV­2 infections in men using conventional histological staining, there were partly identical findings that enabled interpretations with respect to the chronology and pathophysiology of the disease. Of the men two were invasively ventilated in the intensive care unit and one man died after 8 days in domestic quarantine without treatment. A wide spectrum of findings potentially associated with SARS-CoV­2 must be taken into account.

Crossbow homicides.

A total of eight cases of homicide by crossbow are reported, including six intentional, assault-like killings and one hired killer. The bolts showed a high penetration capacity despite the rather low kinetic energy (<100 J): a field-tip traversed one upper arm and the thorax (36 cm) and two broadheads caused perforating injuries of the thorax (25-26 cm). This was due to the high sectional density and the split-like penetration mechanism. Wound morphology was especially important if the perpetrator had extracted the bolt, which occurred in half of the cases. The shape of the entrance wound depended on the type of arrowhead: broadheads produced star-shaped to triangular wounds, field-tips caused circular, oval or slit-like injuries. Foreign material from the arrowhead was found inside two injuries. In assaults, the crossbow was used to hunt the victim down from a short distance which does not require practice but still has the advantage of a distance weapon. However, immediate incapacitation occurred rarely so that additional violence was frequently applied. The noiseless character of the weapon explains why many victims were taken by surprise and why the corpses initially remained unnoticed. Crossbows can therefore be considered ideal weapons for man hunting and some were bought for the very purpose of the killing.

An unusual airplane crash--deadly life saver. Unintentional activation of an automated reserve opening device causing airplane accident.

A Pilatus PC 6 "Turbo-Porter" crashed after having dropped skydivers. The interdisciplinary investigation of the crash revealed that the automated reserve opening device "Student-CYPRES" which the passenger wore on his parachute system had been set off during the landing approach. The parachute pulled the passenger out of the airplane. Subsequently the parachute got caught at the horizontal tail, and its wearer was instantly killed by internal decapitation. The airplane crashed because of its damaged horizontal tail, and the pilot lost his life.

Paternity-testing on paraffin-embedded abortion tissue: preparation of fetal cells may be indispensable.

In a case of sexual abuse, a paternity test was performed on paraffin embedded abortion material. STR typing was successful only after isolating fetal tissue from the abortion-material and separately extracting DNA from the excised fetal cells. Examination with five STRs led to a paternity index of 332, confirming the abuse that had resulted in pregnancy.

[Fatal child neglect in West Germany 1 January 1985 to 2 October 1990. Results of a multicenter study]. / Tödliche Kindesvernachlässigung in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland im Zeitraum 1.1.1985 bis 2.10.1990. Ergebnisse einer multizentrischen Studie.

UNLABELLED: Up to now reliable data were available on cases of lethal child neglect in the area of the Federal Republic of Germany prior to reunification (the former West Germany). In a multicenter study we therefore examined the police and court records for such cases occurring in the period from 1 January 1985 to 2 October 1990 in nearly the entire area of Federal Republic of Germany. RESULTS: The study center received information on 19 cases of lethal child neglect. Extrapolated to all institutes of legal medicine, this corresponds to 20 cases and thus 3.5 cases a year in the whole of West Germany in the period studied. There is to be added a dark-field which cannot be limited more precisely. However, the cases of fatal child neglect might have occurred much more seldom than fatal child abuse caused by use of physical violence. Slightly more than half the victims were younger than 1 year, the oldest one was 7 10/12 years old. Most frequently the children died of starvation and thirst. Mostly the mothers/nursing mothers killed the child alone or together with the victim's father/stepfather. In the majority of the cases there was not a close affection between parents and child. Nearly 30% female/male perpetrators suffered from chronic alcohol abuse. Only 15 (= 56%) of 27 female/male perpetrators were sentenced to imprisonment (period between 7 months on probation and 10 years). Mitigation circumstances existed for nearly half the persons sentenced to imprisonment. It is true that child neglect is a rarer crime, but the experts of legal medicine always have to indicate errors made during the external inspection of the corpse (among others failures to see indications of neglect).

[Fatal child abuse (caused by physical violence) in Germany during 1 January 1985 to 2 October 1990. Results of a multicenter study]. / Tödliche Kindesmisshandlung (durch physische Gewalteinwirkung) in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland im Zeitraum 1.1.1985 bis 2.10.1990. Ergebnisse einer multizentrischen Studie.

UNLABELLED: No reliable data are available on cases of lethal child abuse (by active force) in the area of Federal Republic of Germany prior to reunification (the former West Germany). In a multicenter study we therefore examined the police and court records for such cases occurring in the period 1 January 1985 to 2 October 1990 in nearly the entire area of Federal Republic of Germany. RESULTS: The study center received information on 58 cases of lethal child abuse. Extrapolated to all institutes of legal medicine, this corresponds to 62 cases in all of West Germany in the period studied. An approximately equal number of unreported cases should be added to this figure. Including unreported cases, at least 20 cases of lethal child abuse occurred per year; thus only one in every two cases ever came to light. Almost two thirds of the victims were younger than one year old. At autopsy 59% exhibited signs of repeated abuse at autopsy. By far the most common cause of death was direct impact from a blunt object, usually to the head. Mostly, the male person to whom the victim relates most closely (father, stepfather, partner of the mother) has killed the child. Twenty-one of the 74 persons charged saw the charges against them dropped or were acquitted due to lack of evidence; 51 received sentences ranging from one year probation to life. In the remaining two cases the outcome of the trial was unknown. Signs of abuse were readily apparent at autopsy in almost all cases. The high number of unreported cases underscores the need to educate medical students and practicing physicians to be on the look-out for signs of abuse and argues for an increase in the rate of autopsy.

[Suicidal excess--presentation of an unusual case]. / Suizidexzess--Darstellung eines ungewöhnlichen Falles.

The authors report the case of a suicide pact of two men (22 and 24 years old), which exhibits extraordinary circumstances concerning the personal profile and the suicide procedures. Both had a psychiatric history and were found dead near their severely damaged car, with gaggs in their mouth and a rope tightened around the neck and fixed to the car. Extra gas cans had also been placed in the car. Autopsy confirmed death due to severe trauma and rope strangulation. Toxicological analysis of the blood revealed codeine, dihydrocodeine, paracetamol in high, doxepine in lethal concentrations. According to police investigations, which has been confirmed by medical examination, both men had made arrangements for their suicide selecting a range of methods to kill themselves.

[Viewing the criminal site in unusual cadaver evidence: concealment, identification, determining time of death and reconstruction]. / Tatortbesichtigung bei aussergewöhnlichen Leichenfunden: Bergung, Identifizierung, Todeszeitbestimmung und Rekonstruktion.

The three cases presented here (Place of finding: bath tub.: [a] 19 year old, female, stabbed to death, detection six months pm, nearly airtight room--silicon rubber; [b] 56 year old, male, drowning, detection 1.5 months pm. [c] Place of finding: slope, 49 year old, female, polytrauma, detection 3 months pm) are characterized by incomplete mummification, skeletization and colliquation of soft-tissue. According to our experience medicolegal examiner's presence is necessary on the scene in order to secure in-situ-findings, to recover the human remains and to arrange a proper transport. The autopsy should be performed in the institute's autopsy-room because of access to better equipment e.g. light, air condition, x-ray, instruments. Under these conditions a high quality of forensic examination, improved training of students and police-officers and the dignity of the deceased can be maintained.

[Correlation between an occupational accident and death 55 years later. Evidence despite 2 1/2 months burial--a contribution to the value of insurance medicine autopsy also after exhumation]. / Zusammenhang zwischen Arbeitsunfall und Todeseintritt 55 Jahre später. Nachweis trotz 2 1/2 Monaten Erdgrab--Ein Beitrag zur Aussagekraft versicherungsmedizinischer Obduktionen auch nach Exhumierung.

Analysis of 24 autopsy cases ordered by insurances and performed at the Institute of Legal Medicine, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz (FRG), in the years from 1985 to 1991 revealed that even if there was a long period of time between accident and death (average: 20.3 years; maximum: 55 years) and in cases of exhumation necropsy was a useful tool in checking the relative's claim to insurance premium. Nevertheless post mortem examination should be performed as soon as possible to ensure evident pathomorphological findings and to avoid unjustified waiting periods with economical problems (e. g. case report: 78 years old widow couldn't pay electricity and call charge; she had a right to a pension due to an accident of her husband 55 years before, proved by exhumation 2 1/2 months after death.

[Extremely varied rectal temperatures in 10 fatalities after a house fire--a contribution to the significance of body weight in cadaver cooling]. / Extrem differierende Rektaltemperaturen bei zehn Todesfällen nach Wohnungsbrand--ein Beitrag zur Bedeutung des Körpergewichts bei der Leichenabkühlung.

Eight children at the age of one to eleven years, their mother and uncle were victims of fire that had broken out in their flat. They all died of combined carbon monoxide cyanide poisoning. The rectal temperature of the bodies taken nearly eight hours later ranged from 16 degrees C to 29 degrees C. Using the rectal temperature time of death nomogram (Henssge 1982) with reference to corrective factors of the body weight (Henssge and Madea 1988) to find out when they died, the results corresponded with the enquiries made by the police except for three cases. The rectal temperature of the apparently intact bodies of the three youngest children whose weight ranged from 9 to 14 kilograms was comparatively high. The reason for this may be that reduction in diameter and in weight of the body causes a heating up in a smaller amount of time. This is why one has to be careful to use the nomogram with fire victims especially with those of low weight.

[Site of discovery in the bath tub. Evaluation of a fatality after four years using postmortem roentgen diagnosis]. / Zur Problematik des Auffindeortes Badewanne. Klärung eines Todesfalles nach vier Jahren unter Einsatz postmortaller Röntgendiagnostik.

On the one hand the following case demonstrates the problems of finding a dead body in the bathroom and on the other hand the importance of postmortem x-ray examinations. The corpse of an 65-year-old woman was discovered in her bath tub. At the body's feet there was a hair dryer. Investigations concerning murder were negative, circumstances appeared to be unsuspicious. That was why a postmortem examination was not performed. -4 years later murder had to be considered. After manual strangling the deceased and the hair dryer were layed into the bath tub. The corpse was exhumed and taken to a forensic autopsy. It was found that the hyoid bone and the superior horn of the thyroid cartilage were both fractured on the right. Damages caused by the preparation itself were excluded by using serial roentgenographs. These observations in combination with histological findings and the results of further investigations convincingly supported the suspicion of strangling by hand.