Forensic Pathology

This study sought to determine
if colorimetry or reflectance spectrophotometry could be employed to objectively estimate the age of bruises. Based on a previously
described method, reflectance spectrophotometric scans were obtained from bruises using a Cary 100 Bio spectrophotometer fitted
with a fibre-optic reflectance probe. Measurements were taken from the bruise and a control area. Software was used to calculate
the first derivative at 490 and 480 nm; the proportion of oxygenated hemoglobin was calculated using an isobestic point method
and a software application converted the scan data into colorimetry data. In addition, data on factors that might be associated
with the determination of the age of a bruise: subject age, subject sex, degree of trauma, bruise size, skin color...

Abstract  Species identification techniques commonly utilized in Australian Forensic Science laboratories are gel immunodifussion antigen
antibody reactions and hair comparison analysis. Both of these techniques have significant limitations and should be considered
indicative opinion based tests. The Barcode of Life Initiative aims to sequence a section of DNA (~648 base pairs) for the
Cytochrome Oxidase I mitochondrial gene (COI) in all living species on Earth, with the data generated being uploaded to the
Barcode of Life Database (BOLD) which can then be used for species identification. The COI gene therefore offers forensics
scientists an opportunity to use the marker to analyze unknown samples and compare sequences generated in BOLD. Once sequences
from enough species a...

Content Type Journal ArticleCategory CommentaryDOI 10.1007/s12024-010-9170-0Authors
Laurel A. Neme, 93 Butternut Lane Shelburne VT 05482 USA

Journal Forensic Science, Medicine, and PathologyOnline ISSN 1556-2891Print ISSN 1547-769X (Source: Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology)

Abstract  Here we present methods for distinguishing tail hairs of African elephants (Loxodonta africana), Asian elephants (Elephas maximus), and giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis) from forensic contexts. Such hairs are commonly used to manufacture jewelry artifacts that are often sold illegally in the
international wildlife trade. Tail hairs from these three species are easily confused macroscopically, and morphological methods
for distinguishing African and Asian tail hairs have not been published. We used cross section analysis and light microscopy
to analyze the tail hair morphology of 18 individual African elephants, 18 Asian elephants, and 40 giraffes. We found that
cross-sectional shape, pigment placement, and pigment density are useful morphological features for distin...

Abstract  Species identification has become a tool in the investigation of acts of alleged wildlife crimes. This review details the
steps required in DNA testing in wildlife crime investigations and highlights recent developments where not only can individual
species be identified within a mixture of species but multiple species can be identified simultaneously. â€�?What species is this?’ is a question asked frequently in wildlife crime investigations. Depending on the material being examined, DNA analysis
may offer the best opportunity to answer this question. Species testing requires the comparison of the DNA type from the unknown
sample to DNA types on a database. The areas of DNA tested are on the mitochondria and include predominantly the cytochrome
b gene and the cyto...

Content Type Journal ArticleCategory CommentaryDOI 10.1007/s12024-010-9167-8Authors
Linzi Wilson-Wilde, ANZPAA National Institute of Forensic Science Melbourne Australia

Journal Forensic Science, Medicine, and PathologyOnline ISSN 1556-2891Print ISSN 1547-769X (Source: Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology)

This study is the first to look at the cardiovascular, respiratory,
and metabolic effects of this device on human subjects. This was a prospective, observational study of human subjects involved
in a training course. Subjects were exposed for 30 s on the anterior thorax. Vital signs, ECG, troponin I, pH, lactate, and
creatine kinase (CK) were measured before and immediately after the exposure. Troponin I, pH, lactate, and CK were measured
again 24 h after the exposure. Continuous spirometry was used to evaluate the respiratory effects. Echocardiography was also
performed before, during, and immediately after the exposure to determine heart rate and rhythm. Eleven subjects completed
the study. There were no clinically important electrocardiogram changes and no positive tropo...

Abstract  Juvenile seals are sometimes encountered in waters around South Australia with injuries and/or diseases that require veterinary
treatment. Two cases are reported where apparently stable animals died soon after being rescued due to quite disparate conditions.
In Case 1 a juvenile male New Zealand fur seal (Arctocephalus forsteri) was found unexpectedly dead in its enclosure. A necropsy examination revealed an emaciated juvenile male with no injuries.
The intestine was filled throughout its length with melena stool that was due to heavy infestation of the stomach with roundworms
with adjacent gastritis. Death was due to shock from upper gastrointestinal blood loss secondary to parasitosis. In Case 2
a second juvenile male New Zealand fur seal (Arctocephalus forsteri)...

Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Images in ForensicsDOI 10.1007/s12024-010-9159-8Authors
Ella Carapetis, The University of Adelaide Discipline of Pathology Adelaide SA AustraliaAaron J. Machado, The University of Adelaide Discipline of Pathology Adelaide SA AustraliaRoger W. Byard, The University of Adelaide Discipline of Pathology Adelaide SA Australia

Journal Forensic Science, Medicine, and PathologyOnline ISSN 1556-2891Print ISSN 1547-769X (Source: Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology)

We present
a case of postmortem recovery of a bullet from the intestines of a gunshot victim who died 18 days after being shot in the
trunk by three low velocity bullets. A missile had moved within the colon during hospitalization and postmortem handling of
the body and was recovered from the sigmoid colon. This case demonstrates an extremely rare type of bullet “embolism” and
emphasizes the usefulness of CT scanning in the location of projectiles.

Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Case ReportDOI 10.1007/s12024-010-9163-zAuthors
Alon Krispin, Tel Aviv University The National Center of Forensic Medicine, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Affiliated to the Sackler Faculty of Medicine 67 Ben-Zvi Road POB 49015 61490 Tel Aviv IsraelKonstantin Zaitsev, Tel Aviv University The...