Indian Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology

Background: Establishment of sex has considerable forensic implication. Earlier studies have shown that differences exist between male and female index and ring finger ratios. Aim: The purpose of present study is to evaluate sexual dimorphism of index and ring finger in western part of the Indian population. Material and Method: The study was carried out on a cross sectional sample of 195 adult students out of which 100 of the respondents were males and the remaining 95 were females. Data on age, sex, height and weight were collected through structured paper questionnaire as primary data collection and the anthropometric measurements as secondary data collection. Result: The result of present study shows that the mean age of male population is 21.52 years while the mean age of female population is 20.08 years. Statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) between index and ring finger ratios in male and female are observed. Conclusion: The present study suggests that the ratio of less than 0.97 suggests male sex while a ratio of 0.97 or more suggests female sex. The findings of present study can be utilized to establish sex especially in circumstances where body was mutilated or only remains were brought or in cases of mass disaster.

Keywords: Identification; Sex difference; Index finger, Ring finger, Anthropometry. 

Objectives: To evaluate the biomechanical effects of rapid maxillary expansion (RME) on the craniofacial complex as applied to three-dimensional model of an adult human skull using the finite element method. Materials & Methods: A 3-dimensional FEM of the craniofacial complex was developed from sequential computed tomography scan images by using the MIMICS software (version 8.0, Materialise, Leuven, Belgium)and ANSYS software (version 8.0). Known transversal (X) displacement with magnitudes of 1 mm, 3 mm and5 mm were applied on the maxillary canine and first molar crown. The displacement and von-Mises stresses in different planes were studied on different nodes located at various structures of the craniofacial complex. Results: Transverse orthopedic forces not only produced an expansive force at the intermaxillary suture but also high forces on various structures of the craniofacial complex, particularly at the base of the sphenoid bone and frontal process of the zygomatic bone. Lateral bending of the free ends of the pterygoid plates were noted, with increased resistance demonstrated in superior parts attached to the cranial base. Conclusion: RME must be used judiciously in adults because of its far – reaching effects involving heavy stresses being noted at the sphenoid bone, zygomatic bone, nasal bone and their adjacent sutures. 

Keywords: Adult; Biomechanical effect; Craniofacial complex; Finite element method; Rapid maxillary expansion.

Abstract: This study is a prospective examination of total 303 (201 males, 102 females) autopsy cases ranging from one day to 90 years during the period from 1st July 2009 to 31st June 2011 in the Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology of a Medical Institute of central India. Measurements are taken of organs (in gram unit) of Brain, Heart, Lungs, Liver, Spleen, Kidneys, and body weight taken (in kilogram unit) of the dead bodies. All fire related death, cases of decomposition and those who showed any macroscopic evidence of disease on gross autopsy are excluded. In this study, weight of the organs at all age groups is lower when compared with Western and North Indian population because they are hefty and taller than the central Indian population. Weight of organs in females is less than males at all ages except lungs at age group 61- 70 years (654.3 in female & 539.9 in males), liver at age group 21-30 years (1289.4 in females &1268.3 in males) & spleen at age group 21-30 (118.3 in male & 122.9 in females) and 41-50 years (112.3 in male & 128.7 in females). In this study the weight of all internal organs has been seen categorically increased in the age group of 61-70 years but shows a decline immediately after 70 years of age due to catabolic activity and old debilitating changes at this age. 

Keywords: Vital organ weights; Prostate weight; Medico legal autopsy. 

Sex identification from skeletal remain has great medicolegal and anthropological significance.A number of studies are available in this regard. The studies being population specific and in general are of not universal help. Present study is an attempt to establish multivariate analysis of ulna for the determination of sex. Materials & Methods used as 193 adult human ulnae, 133 male and 60 female from the Bone Bank of Govt.Medical College Aurangabad, were used for the present study. Four different Parameters of ulnae were studied for making two groups and multivariate analysis of ulnae done for sex determination. SPSS (Sum of products and Sum of Squares) is used for applying multivariate linear discriminant analysis and a discriminant functional score is obtained. Any ulna falling on the male side of the sectioning point will be categorized as male ulna while that falling on female side of sectioning point will be categorized as female ulna. This enhances the accuracy of opinion.Conclusion of study is Multivariate analysis of long bones including ulnae are of immense help in determination of sex of deceased person specially in cases where skeletal remains available are very less. 

Keywords: Forensic anthropology; Sexual dimorphism; Multivariate analysis; SPSS; Sectioning point; Skeletal collection.

Besides determination of race, sex, age of the unknown individual, estimation of stature enhances the reliability of identification process. It is easier to get those data when the whole body or entire skeleton is available to the forensic anthropologist. However, in cases of deliberate mutilation and disposal in parts, interference by wild animals, bomb blast by terrorist attack, recovery of the whole body or complete skeleton may not be possible. In those cases, the forensic anthropologists have to give his opinion on the available supplied material. Although approximate stature of the individual can be estimated from most of the long bones using either multiplication factors or regression formulae, only few have taken attempt to correlate stature with length of clavicle. 

Keywords: Stature; Long bones; Clavicle; Estimation; Correlation.

The owing to the decomposition of dead bodies, the identification, cause of death and time since death of a dead body becomes very difficult or may even impossible.[1-3] So in order to outcome this problem, present study was conducted in the Department of Forensic Medicine at P.D.U. Medical College, RAJKOT (Gujarat) from 1st September 2009 to 15th May 2011 on dead bodies brought to the mortuary of this institution. During that period out of total 4034 dead bodies, 100 dead bodies showing the signs of decomposition were received for the present study which accounts 2.47% deaths. Identity was established in 71% cases while 29% cases remained unidentified. In majority of cases (68%) cause of death was unnatural while in 6% cases cause of death was natural. No cause of death could be detected in 26% cases. In 52% cases, time since death was1--3 days followed by 29% cases in which time since death was 3-7 days. 

Keywords: Decomposition; Identification; Cause of death; Time since death. 

Background and objective: Endoscopy and histopathological examination plays an important role in the treatment of gastrointestinal lesions. The present study was done to evaluate and correlate the endoscopic and histopathological diagnosis of the neoplastic and non-neoplastic upper gastrointestinal lesions. Materials and methods: One hundred endoscopic biopsies were studied both retrospectively and prospectively. Biopsies were retrieved using flexible fibre-optic endoscope and also video endoscope. They were transferred to a bottle containing 10% neutral formalin, processed and stained routinely with haematoxylin and eosin. Special stains such as Mucicarmine and Giemsa were done as and when required. Results: Out of 100 endoscopic biopsies, 34% were from esophagus, 48% from gastric, 15% from gastroesophageal junction and 3% from duodenum. The correlation of endoscopic and histopathological diagnosis of upper gastrointestinal lesions was 73.12%. The sensitivity of these upper gastrointestinal lesions was 76.67%, specificity 94.28%, positive predictive value 85.19% and negative predictive value was 90.41%. Conclusion: Endoscopic examination and biopsy is a convenient procedure for accurate objective assessment of patients with upper gastrointestinal symptoms. Endoscopy is incomplete without biopsy and histopathology is the gold standard for the diagnosis of endoscopically detected lesions. 

Keywords: Endoscopic biopsy; Histopathology; Upper gastrointestinal lesions; Esophageal biopsy; Gastric biopsy; Duodenal biopsy.