Indian Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology

Background: Drowning is a significant cause of mortality worldwide, necessitating comprehensive investigations. This prospective autopsy study aimed to analyze drowning fatalities comprehensively, focusing on demographic, circumstantial, and forensic aspects. Methods: Conducted at GMC Purnea Bihar from Jan to Dec 2023, the study included 100 drowning cases. Approval was obtained from the Institutional Ethics Committee. Data were systematically collected and analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: Among 100 cases, males predominated (88%), with individuals aged 11-20 years most affected (46%). Accidental drownings were common (43%), followed by suicidal cases (19%) and undetermined incidents (37%). Postmortem findings included froth from the mouth, washer woman’s hands and feet, and internal petechial hemorrhages. Most incidents occurred in lakes and rivers (92%), with heightened risk during the rainy season. Ethanol positivity was noted in 43% of cases, and males exhibited higher lung weights than females. Conclusion: The study provides insights into drowning incidents, highlighting demographic disparities and seasonal variations. Enhanced preventive measures and awareness campaigns are crucial to mitigate drowning-related fatalities. Addressing identified risk factors is essential for community safety.

Introduction: The death of an individual in custody garners attention from lawmakers and the administration, and if such a death is sudden, it is often associated with media attention. Methodology: This original study conducted at the Medical College of West Bengal from 2020 to 2023 scrutinizes the causes of death in the custody of correctional homes during this period, obtains the frequency of sudden deaths, which is natural, and recommends ways to reduce it in the future. All custodial deaths coming to autopsy during this study period were considered. After thorough scrutiny of all received documents, a complete autopsy was conducted; including toxicological analysis and histopathology examination, and the cause of death was opined. Results: During the study period, 118 cases of custodial deaths were autopsied in our centre, of which 49 subjects were inmates of the correctional home. There were 28 sudden deaths, of which the manner was natural in 14 cases. In these cases, primary pulmonary causes were seen in five cases; primary cardiac causes were seen in four cases; combined pulmonary and cardiac causes were seen in two cases; and others, including malignancy and gastro-intestinal causes, were seen in three cases. Among the 21 deaths that received hospital care, combined cardiac and pulmonary causes were the most common, followed by primary pulmonary causes. The frequency of sudden deaths among inmates is around 28.5%, which is about 10% in the general population. Conclusion: Poor medical facilities in correctional homes lead not only to the failure of disease diagnosis in the early stages but also to the failure of documentation. As a result, the patient reaches the hospital in critical condition, and death gets labelled as sudden due to the inability to make a diagnosis in a short period of time. A mere commitment to the adoption of Nelson Mandela rules cannot make a change; rather, a specialty medicine subject like custody medicine should be considered to have a positive impact on the health of inmates.

Aim: This investigation was carried out to examine the diagnostic utility and value of bone marrow aspirate and biopsy in different hematological illnesses, as well as the part that both procedures play an important role in obtaining an accurate diagnosis when carried out in tandem. Methods and Material: In order to link the results of bone marrow aspiration and biopsy in diverse hematological disorders, the pathology department at BGS GIMS undertook the current prospective investigation. Bone marrow evaluation using both marrow biopsy and bone marrow aspirate was performed on 106 participants in this study. Cases without or with insufficient bone marrow aspirate for an opinion were not included in the analysis. Results: The age range of 31 to 40 years old was the most frequently observed, with a male majority. The most frequent finding was nutritional anemia, among those with nutritional anaemia, the most frequent finding was megaloblastic maturation (33.9%), micronormoblastic maturation (13.2%), and megaloblastic and micronormoblastic maturation (15.2%). Acute leukemia was 1.8% and chronic leukemia was 2.8%. Twelve cases (11.32%) of plasma cell dyscrasia were found in our study. Aplastic anemia, prostatic adenocarcinoma carcinoma metastasis, immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), hematolymphoid malignancy, and myelofibrosis were among the other cases. \ Conclusion: Both the bone marrow biopsy and aspiration are complementary procedures that aid in the identification of a range of haematological disorders. When combined with a clinical examination and auxiliary tests, bone marrow examination is a valuable diagnostic tool for the diagnosis of a variety of haematological illnesses.

Background: Road traffic accidents (RTAs) are a major global health concern, causing significant morbidity and mortality. Head injuries, particularly fatal ones, are a critical outcome of RTAs, necessitating detailed analysis to inform preventive strategies and improve trauma care protocols. Objective: This study aims to analyse fatal head injuries resulting from RTAs, focusing on demographic characteristics, types of injuries, causes of death, and circumstances of these incidents. Material and Methods: A retrospective study was conducted at the Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, GMCH Purnea, Bihar, covering the period from January 2023 to December 2023. The study included confirmed cases of fatal head injuries from RTAs with complete records. Data were analyzed using SPSS software, employing descriptive statistics, cross-tabulation, and chi-square tests to identify significant associations. Results: Out of 247 cases, 85.4% were males and 14.6% were females. The 21-30 years age group was most affected (36.4%), followed by 41-50 years (18.2%) and 11-20 years (15.8%). Motorcyclists were the most common victims (46.6%), followed by pedestrians (14.2%). Most fatalities occurred at the accident scene (68.43%). The majority of skull fractures were comminuted (38.85%), with fissure + depressed fractures being significant (29.14%). The anterior cranial fossa (ACF) was the most commonly affected skull region (57.09%). Intracerebral haemorrhage (34.85%) and extradural haemorrhage (21.66%) were the most prevalent types of intracranial haemorrhage. Contusions (25.71%) and lacerations (37.14%) were common internal brain injuries. Conclusion: Fatal head injuries from RTAs predominantly affect young adult males, with motorcyclists being particularly vulnerable. Immediate fatalities at the scene highlight the need for prompt emergency response. The findings emphasize the importance of targeted road safety measures, public awareness campaigns, and improved trauma care systems to reduce the incidence of fatal head injuries in RTAs.

Background: Anthropometric studies of bones play a crucial role in establishing identification, especially in fragmented skeletal remains. Mastoid process is acone shaped bony protuberance extending from mastoid region of temporal bone of the skull. It is usually undamaged, because of its unique and secured position. The present study is aimed at evaluating the usefulness of the mastoid length in gender identification. Material and Methods: 54 dried, and unharmed skulls of identified sex were employed in the study. Out of which 28 were male, 26 were female. The mastoid process length was measured on either side by using a Vernier calliper from Frankfurt’s plane. Results: In male skulls, the mean mastoid length was 29.5 ± 3.65 mm, while in female skulls, it was 24.6 ± 3.55 mm. A statistical analysis indicated that the mastoid length for determining sex has a highly significant p value of less than 0.0001. Conclusion: The mean mastoid length is significantly less in females than in males. Therefore, it can be considered as a sexual dimorphic feature and is useful in determining sex from fragmented skull.

Context: Unicellular algae called diatoms are typically found in aquatic environments and are frequently used in forensic science as a method to pinpoint the exact moment and place of drowning deaths. The creation of a diatom species database for Bangalore city that may be utilized in forensic investigations is presented in this paper. Light microscopy was used to examine the diatom population in a total of five water samples from diverse aquatic habitats in Bangalore. A database was made utilizing the information used to identify and classify the different diatom species based on their morphology. A list of the diatom species discovered in each water sample may be found in the database. Analyzing the diatom population in five test samples taken from recognisable places in Bangalore served to confirm the database. The findings demonstrate that the database is accurate and trustworthy for classifying diatom species in Bangalore’s aquatic settings. Forensic investigators can utilize the diatom species database created in this study to pinpoint the place and timing of drowning fatalities in Bangalore city. Forensic investigators can pinpoint the site of a drowning and offer crucial evidence in court by comparing the diatom species identified in a drowning victim’s lungs and other tissues with the diatom species in the database. The database may also be utilized in Bangalore city for ecological research and evaluations of the water quality. Aims: To examine the diatom population in a total of five water samples from diverse aquatic habitats in Bangalore. Settings and Design: Study Location: Bangalore city, India, Sample Collection: Five water samples obtained from diverse aquatic habitats. Methodology: Light microscopy used to examine and classify diatom species based on morphology. Database Development: Compilation of identified diatom species to create a comprehensive database. Validation: Analysis of diatom populations in test samples confirms accuracy and reliability of the database for forensic and ecological applications. Material and Methods: Light microscopy was used to examine the diatom population in a total of five water samples from diverse aquatic habitats in Bangalore. A database was made utilizing the information used to identify and classify the different diatom species based on their morphology. Results: A list of the diatom species discovered in each water sample may be found in the database. Analyzing the diatom population in five test samples taken from recognisable places in Bangalore served to confirm the database. Conclusion: The findings demonstrate that the database is accurate and trustworthy for classifying diatom species in Bangalore’s aquatic settings.

Background: Fingerprint analysis is one of the most robust biometric feature in terms of personal identification is concerned. But with the progression of science through research and development, fingerprint science is no longer considered as a potential biometric tool only. It has various other insights to it and our this study will reflect the same. Diabetes being of the most prevalent clinical condition among human population, has been considered as sample for the study. The latent dermatoghyphic analysis of diabetic individuals will depict significant results as compared to the normal individual and hence will be able to provide as a valuable disease marker. Method: Thin Layer Chromatographic technique has been used for this study and it was conducted at the Presidency University, Kolkata. 12 diabetic individual samples along with non-diabetic, positive (In 3 different dilutions) and negative control samples were run. The samples were prepared in a specific technique and the results were also taken after a specific heat treatment of the TLC plates. Rf values were measured for all the samples. Result: In case of positive control samples there were significant brownish-rust spots which were also consistent in diabetic individuals. On the other hand in case of negative control and non-diabetic individuals the spots were not visible on the plate. Conclusion: Latent dermatoglyphic prints (finger-print) of diabetic population were taken for our major subject sample and compared with non-diabetic individual using Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) to indicate the presence of glucose in the body. This study reveals the presence of the target molecule “glucose” in diabetic individuals which was not visible in case of non-diabetic individual. The detection of diabetes is possible through latent dermatoglyphic analysis even when the sweat residues are present in challenging amount and that too through a prick-free method. Hence, our study can provide a significant diagnostic tool for diabetic individuals.

Background: Sudden death in an apparently healthy individual usually arises suspicion among the public. In such cases, autopsies help to ascertain the exact cause of death and thereby assist the investigating officer in disposing the case. Objectives: To determine the incidence, sex and age wise distribution, causes of death in sudden natural deaths reported in the study centre, and to correlate the postmortem and histopathology findings in these cases. Methodology: Sudden natural death cases autopsied over 10 years from January 2012 to December 2022 were studied retrospectively. Results: About 93 cases of suddennatural death cases were autopsied during the study period. The age of the study sample was ranged from 15-80 years with 86% male prevalence. In majority of the cases, the cause of death was due to cardiovascular diseases (76.3%), followed by cerebrovasculardiseases (8.6%), gastrointestinal diseases (8.6%), respiratory diseases (4.28%) and genitourinary diseases (2.14%). The autopsy and histopathology findingshelped to ascertain the causes of death. Conclusion:Autopsy in sudden death cases helps to ascertain the cause of death and thereby help to resolve the suspicious cases.

Background: 10-25% of bronchopulmonary sequestration comprises extralobar sequestration (ELS). ELS are usually found between the left lower lobe and diaphragm and rarely infra-diaphragmatically. Case Description: 25 years old young female with 24 weeks of gestation was diagnosed with left supra adrenal mass in fetal anomaly scan. On fetal autopsy, the supra adrenal mass showed lung parenchyma with multiple cystic spaces which are lined by columnar to cuboidal cells. Bronchi and bronchioles were dilated. Skeletal muscle and cartilage were absent. Both grossly and microscopically, lungs and other organs were normal. Diagnosed as extralobar intraabdominal bronchopulmonary sequestration with cystic adenomatoid malformation suggestive of hybrid lesion. Hybrid lesion is a combination of bronchopulmonary sequestration (BPS) and congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation (CCAM). Clinical Relevance: Diagnosis of hybrid lesion during pregnancy is important for prenatal counselling, fetal intervention and birth planning.

An abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a pathologic condition characterized by the progressive dilatation of the abdominal aorta, which can lead to rupture. Risk factors for AAA include hypertension, coronary artery disease, tobacco use, male sex, family history, age over 65, and peripheral artery disease. AAA rupture is a catastrophic emergency with high mortality rates if not promptly treated. Mortality estimates for ruptured AAAs range from 75% to 90%. AAAs are commonly found in men aged 65-85 years and are usually asymptomatic until rupture occurs. The prevalence of AAA has been increasing, especially in older individuals, smokers, and those with hypertension. Surgical repair is recommended for large or symptomatic AAAs, while surveillance is appropriate for smaller aneurysms. AAA is a major public health issue and is considered a “silent killer”. The history of AAA management dates to the 19th century, with attempts at surgical intervention.