Indian Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology

Organophosphorous compounds produce significant morbidity and mortality in India. The present study is an attempt to study the cases of poisoning admitted in a District hospital in Western Maharashtra to evaluate socio-demographic variables of these cases & to study the morbidity and mortality in different poisoning cases. Organophosphorous poisoning cases were predominant, amounting to 491 cases (32.97%). Maximum cases (59.16%) were in 18 - 35 years age group, male predominance can be seen as 60.98% cases were male & most of the patients (53.99%) were farmers. Time interval of presentation of most number of cases was more than 4 hrs because of the lack of emergency service and inefficient paramedical service needed for patient transport. In present study 50.94% of cases were hospitalized for 8 - 12 days, 78.04 % cases survived while 277 (18.60%) patients expired because of fatal complications. It is essential to establish strict policies against the sale and availability of insecticides and pesticides which are freely available in the market. Accidental poisoning can be prevented by use of personal protective equipment. There should be easy availability of loans, crop insurance schemes and appropriate market value for agricultural products to prevent suicidal tendency in farmers.

Key words: Poisoning, Socio-demographic variables, Rural area.

Age assessment is one of the important parameters for establishing the identity of a person. Among the numerous methods developed over the years for estimation of age are, changes in the sternal end of ribs, analysis of cranial suture closure (ecto & endocranial closure), changes in the symphysis pubis, secondary changes in the vertebrae, appearance/fusion of various ossification centers and evaluation of various stages of development/eruption of permanent teeth. Evaluation of various stages of eruption of permanent teeth can be done radiologically and morphologicaly, and both give valuable data for assessment of age of an individual.The present study was conducted in the age group of 15-24 years in 252 subjects, in the Department of Periodontics, Rural Dental College, Loni from 4th May 2009 to 10th May2010.Orthopantomograms of all the subjects were taken and the various stages of eruption of teeth which were evaluated by using Demirijian classification. The data generated was analyzed using SPSS software. Results: Total 252 cases selected for study out of which 147 were males and 105 were females. Orthopantomograms of all the subjects were taken and the various stages of eruption of teeth which were evaluated by using Demirijian classification.The data generated was analyzed using SPSS software and had a significant correlation with assessment of age.

Key words: Third molar, Eruption., Age.

Background: Physical Anthropology provides scientific method and technique for taking various measurements in different geographic regions and races. The femur itself is a complex anatomic unit so anthropometric study was devised on the same. Aims & Objectives: The study was aimed at determining measurements for obtaining Platymeric index, Robusticity index and Foraminal index for both right and left femur. Material & Methods: In the present study 106 (58 right and 48 left) intact adult femora were obtained from the bone bank of Anatomy Department of MGIMS, Sevagram. For this purpose a sliding caliper and osteometric board were used. Results: The Physiological Length of left femur came out to be 42.95 ± 1.67 cms and 42.69 ± 1.94 for right femur. Similarly Robusticity index was 14.44 ± 1.23 and 13.11 ± 0.93 for left and right femur respectively. The platymeric index for left and right femur came out to be 87.63 ± 7.34 and 86.49 ± 6.77 respectively. Whereas Foraminal index was between 33- 62% for left femur and between 31-61% for right femur when calculated from proximal end. Similarly number of nutrient foramina ranges from increasing frequency of single, double and triple foramina for left femur and in the increasing frequency of single, double and triple foramina per bone in right femur. Conclusion: Comparison of various indices in right and left femora has shown statistically insignificant but left one has shown higher values as compare to their right counterparts. The findings observed are of immense utility for medico legal experts. The details of data obtained with relevant review of literature will be discussed.

Keywords: Physical anthropology, Femur, Platymeric index, Robusticity index, Foraminal index, bilateral variation.

Aims & Objective: In this study an attempt is made to find out correlation and to derive a regression formula between head length ( glabella to inion ) and total body height in Maharashtra region. Material & Method: The study is conducted on 406 medical and paramedical students from Maharashtra region. The age was in range of 17 to 22 years. The length of head is measured between the two fixed points i. e. between Glabella and Inion. To measure this length the spreading Vernier caliper was used. These measurements were done between fixed times to avoid the diurnal variation. The results obtained were analyzed and attempt was made to derive the formula between head length and total height of an individual. Result: The result from this study showed definite correlation between head length and height of an individual, in spite of racial and ethnical variation. Conclusion: The data from present work will be definitely useful not only for anatomist but also for anthropologist and also in forensic medicine and sciences.

Key Words: Regression formula, head length, total height, anthropologist.

Background: Dentition occurs in a well defined manner starting from age 6 months to 2 years with appearance of temporary teeth followed by appearance of permanent set of teeth from 5 to 25 years. Hence the assessment of chronology of appearance of various teeth is useful in age estimation. Age 12-14 years is of immense significance from forensic point of view. Materials & methods: The present study was under taken in the department of Periodontics, Rural Dental College, Loni, from 10th Jun 2009 to 3rd May 2010. The dentition was examined using Mouth Mirror, Probe and Torch. The individual data was filled in a predesigned proforma. Charting was done as per the Federation Dentaile Internationale system (F.D.I). Socioeconomic and dietary factors were also analyzed and their influence if any resulting in variation in the eruption of second molar was studied. Results: A total of 250 students studying in class 8th to 10th, of schools located in Loni and neighboring area of Pravara Nagar were assessed in the study, of which 142 were male and 108 were female. A correlation was found between the clinical eruption of 2nd molar and age.

Key words : Clinical eruption, Second Molar, Age estimation.

The study had carried out to know the various epidemiological, medico legal aspects of vehicular accidents in Bidar district population, making an attempt to establish various causative factors, pattern and distribution of injuries and thereby to plan preventive measures against it. Material & Method: All the cases of road traffic accident brought to the department for medico legal postmortem examination during the period from 1st January 2008 to 31st December 2009 were the subjects of the study. Information regarding date, time and place of incident age and related information was gathered from detailed history taken from the relatives of deceased and from the Police inquest.Total 860 postmortem had been conducted, out of which 120 cases of road traffic accidents. The maximum victims were male ( Male : female ratio 9:1 ) and were in age group of 30-44years. Among the presence of injuries abrasion were present in maximum number of victims 102 (85%) followed by the Palpable fractures in 82 (68.33%) victims. Maximum had injuries over head region i.e. 81(67.50%). The maximum number of deaths occurred during in winter season and were pedestrians.

Key words: Road traffic injuries, head injury, vehicular accident and pedestrians.