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To test the relevance of bony fusion of distal femoral and proximal tibial epiphysis by means of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), a cross-sectional study was performed to determine the reliability of 16th and 18th years of life. Methodology: We scanned 140 Indian (Bengali) subjects in the age bracket of 3 and 35 using 1.5 T MR-scanner utilising T1 turbo spin-echo sequence representing true bone anatomy, in the Indian Bengali population. Minimum, maximum, mean and standard deviation were defined. Bony fusion took place before the 18th year of life. Intra- and interobserver agreements were determined by calculating the kappa coefficients. Bony fusion of distal femoral and proximal tibial epiphyses in 1.5 Tesla MRI is useful only to a certain extent in determining age 16 to 17 years of life in both sexes, but completion of 18th year of life cannot be solely determined by MRI from bony fusion of knee.

Post-mortem investigations of skeletal remains as well as radiographs from living individuals provide useful information for the discrimination of sex. Our study aimed to find out a mathematical model to differentiate gender based on greater degree of accuracy than the anthropological measures taken from the sternum obtained from cadaver dissection. The study was performed on 108 adults who were brought for examination of chest due to various medical reasons. Their age ranged between 18 and 80 years. The cases were selected randomly after considering the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Sternal measurements were taken by studying CT (Computed Tomography) scans. Of these cases, 73 were males and 35 were females. The discriminant function equation (Df) = 0.071 Manubrial Length +0.075 Manubrio-Sternal Length +0.036 Width at S1 +0.037 Width at S3 -11.367 (Constant). Overall 80.6% of the sample was correctly classified into their group. This study revealed that measurements from CT scan of sternum can be used to differentiate between sex of individuals which adds to a great advantage in forensic anthropology.

Diagnosis of sudden cardiac death (SCD) is challenging for medical professionals. For this reason, to make diagnosis easier for forensic pathologists, there is a pressing need for the use of biomarkers. This article highlights biomarkers that can be used in the postmortem diagnosis of SCD. Cardiac troponins, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and creatine kinase-MB have proven to be very useful for this purpose. Lactate dehydrogenase, myoglobin and tumor necrosis factor α, although useful, are not efficient enough to be included in the list of biomarkers for the diagnosis of SCD. Previous studies have shown both positive and negative results for natriuretic peptides as a biomarker, and further studies are required to confirm its use as a biomarker for diagnosis of SCD in autopsy cases. In living subjects, a multi-marker strategy is useful in predicting risk of cardiovascular deaths. It is suggested that for the diagnosis of SCD, a multi-marker strategy may be more efficient. However, more studies are required to confirm this.

Diagnosis of Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is challenging for forensic experts. In the current scenario, genetic analysis is rapidly gaining interest in forensic science. Previous studies are not only limited to using protein markers. In this regard, analysis of mRNA is also a key feature. Analysing mRNA offers insight into the diseases and mechanisms leading to death. It can also be used for forensic diagnostic purposes. This review article takes the help of this methodology to discuss about those mRNA species that can aid in the process of sudden cardiac death (SCD) diagnosis. These are mRNA encoding Heat Shock Protein (HSP), mRNA encoding Hemoglobin A1/2 & B, mRNA encoding Pyruvate Dehydrogenase (PDK4), mRNAs encoding Connexin 43 (Cx43) & Zonula occludens-1 (ZO1), mRNA encoding TNNI3, MYL3, TGFB1, MMP9, VEGFA and mRNA expressing Brain Natriuretic Peptide (BNP).Owing to the difficulty of diagnosing SCD, molecular markers are often developed that can aid in the process. Nowadays, mRNA is showing promising usefulness to supplement the process. Keywords: Sudden Cardiac Death, forensic, gene expression

Introduction:Drowning is the 3rd leading cause of unintentional injury deaths.As drowning is a preventable cause of mortality, our aims for the benefit of society at large is to minimize the events as far as possible. Objective:A clear knowledge about factors which play a major role behind such incidences is important.It has equal forensic importance as determination of cause and manner of death require thorough investigation. Methodology: We conducted one-year study of demographic variables and the histopathological changes in relation to lung and splenic tissues in cases of drowning deaths, in the hot and humid climatic region of Eastern India.Results: The demographic findings were presented in graphs and charts. However, none of the commonly known autopsy findings (histopathological) are found to be individually confirmatory of drowning. Conclusion:Several factors inclusive of autopsy findings, biochemical examination, radiological and molecular technique,are needed to be taken together as complementary methods to conclude drowning as the cause of death when bodies are recovered from water.

Background Death due to poisonous snakebite is a formidable health hazard. It is a matter of concern especially in agrarian countries. Clinically snakebite envenomation are neurotoxic and vasculotoxic. Krait (Bungarus faciatus) Venom is essentially neurotoxic.Nephrotoxicity in krait bite is an important issue that has been less studied and reported. Case presentation In the present series, we report three cases of deaths in consecutive bites by a single banded krait.Significant renal involvement was found at autopsy. The kidneys showed interstitial haemorrhage and inflammatory cell infiltration. The renal changes were similar in all the three cases bitten by the same snake. Conclusions From the findings of autopsy and histology of the present case series we can conclude that nephrotoxicity is an important effect of krait bite. Though less reported and researched kidney changes in krait bite is a significant issue in treatment as well as autopsy diagnosis. . We can also infer that the immunogenicity of the snake venoms can be different from our expectation.

Radiological methods have been used to assess the ossification stages of bones to estimate age and sex, but studies using the growth stages of organs such as the liver for identification purposes have not yet been performed. Liver weight increases with age, reaching a maximum between 41 and 50 years in men and between 51 and 60 years in women. Thereafter, above the age of 50 years, the liver weight decreases again, and the differences in liver weight between men and women are lost. For this reason, we have conducted this study in a population aged between 10 and 40 years. In this study, we attempted to find correlations between liver dimensions (from magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] images) and age and sex in an eastern Indian (Bengali) population. MRI images showing the liver were acquired from people aged between 10 and 40 years visiting the MRI Centre of Calcutta National Medical College. Liver MRI was acquired from 104 people. Chi-square tests showed a significant correlation between age and the mid hepatic point anteroposterior (MHP AP) dimension. However, there was no such significant correlation between age and maximum craniocaudal (Max CC) dimension or between age and maximum transverse dimension. The following discriminant function equation was derived (Df) = 0.04 MHP AP + 0.006 Max CC + 0.031 Max transverse −11.873 (Constant). Using this formula, 60.6% of the original grouped cases from the Eastern Indian Bengali population would be correctly classified. From the forensic point of view, the dimensions of the liver may be of the value of corroborating age and sex in doubtful cases in living individuals, aged between 10 and 40 years.

Objectives: The objective of this study is to establish the study of radiographs of the iliac crest epiphysis as a possible criterion for forensic age estimation, using Kreitner and Kellingaus main stages and substages method. Methodology: We scanned 157 participants, comprising 92 males and 65 females in the age bracket of 10 and 25, using X-ray in the Indian Bengali population. Results: Minimum, maximum, mean, and standard deviation were defined. Ossification appeared within the age bracket of 14–17 years, and complete bony fusion took place at the 20th year of life. Intra- and inter-observer agreements were determined by calculating the kappa coefficients. Conclusion: This study can be used for forensic age diagnosis, but its accuracy is limited when the medicolegally significant age of 18 years has to be determined.

The recovery of different constituents of ammunitions in a dead body is of vital importance for investigation of firearm fatalities. The projectile that enters the body depends on the type of firearm used. The wound of entry and the wound of exit and the track are useful guides for reconstructing the incident of firearm injury. Most often, at autopsy, these projectiles are recovered from the body and preserved as materials of evidential values. This is further complicated when changes due to decomposition obscure and modify the appearances of the wounds of the entry and exists. In our country, especially with advent of readily available improvised firearms, the classical assembly of arms and weapons are not found. Handmade or improvised firearms produce injuries that are often unique and special. Here, we report a rare case of finding one revolver bullet, one country-made rifled bullet, and one shotgun felt wad along with multiple metallic pellets, all in a single decomposed body.

Delusion of pregnancy can be described as a false and fixed belief of being pregnant despite factual evidence to the contrary. An unmarried 32 year old woman was brought for medical examination to the department of Forensic Medicine at Burdwan Medical College by the police with the allegations that the accused had physical relationship with her with a promise for marriage which had led to the current pregnancy. After clinical examination and preliminary test of urine for pregnancy, conducted at the Gynae & Obs department, which came negative, the patient was sent for USG examination to the Radiology Department for confirmation of pregnancy. The USG report did not reveal any pregnancy. The patient was referred back to the department of Forensic Medicine for medico-legal examination, the next day. On the day of the second examination, it was found that an old healed tear was present in the hymen. These findings and the review of the literature show us that in some cases where the underlying cause for development of such psychiatric disorder is known, it can help to formulate the management of such sexual assault victims in a more humane manner and better clinical outcome of the aforesaid victims can be expected by treating the underlying factors.

Stature reconstruction is important as it provides a forensic anthropological estimate of the height of a person in the living state-playing a vital role in identification of individual. The present study was conducted in the department of Forensic and State Medicine Burdwan Medical College. The aim was to derive population specific regression equation for adult Bengali population of Burdwan district.100 healthy volunteers (53 male and 47 females) were studied after taking consent. The value of R obtained in case where all variables were used to predict stature was 0.6 and R square was 0.36. The standard error of estimate was 8.64. The regression formula derived Stature= 69.269 + 0.54×footlength1+0.83 footlength2-3.826 footlength3+7.07 footlength4-0.971 footlength5+ 1.651 DL. These equations maybe used to predict stature in cases when whole length of leg or long bones are not available for investigation (e.g. in mutilated body parts in mass disasters).