Indian Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology

context: A medicolegal case is any medical case with legal implications. These medico-legal cases differ among regions based on socio-economic status, cultural diversities, capability of law enforcing agencies and the prevailing standards of health care services available in the community. aim: This study was aimed to know the pattern and magnitude of medico legal cases. material & methods: It is a record based analytical cross sectional study in which all the MLC cases registered in MLC record book of Chalmeda Anand Rao Institute of Medical Sciences, Karimnagar between January to June 2017 were included. Cases found non medico-legal were excluded. Variables considered were gender, age, time of arrival. Findings were expressed in numbers and percentages. results: Total cases were 464, of which 355 (76.50%) were males and 109 (23.50%) were females. Maximum cases were from the age group of 21-40 years i.e., 206 (44.39%). Most of the medico-legal cases registered were due to Road Traffic Accidents (53.67%) followed by machinery (factory) injuries (20.25%), poisoning (8.84%), fall from height (6.26%), assault (4.52%), thermal injuries (4.52%), injuries by animals (0.86%), self-inflicted injuries (0.64%), injuries due to violent asphyxia (0.22%), railway injuries (0.22%). conclusions: Most of the victims were males, young adults. Most common cases reported as medico legal cases were road traffic accidents followed by machinery injuries and poisoning cases, etc.

context: Palatal rugae plays very important role in identification of individual. It is important dental evidence as it remains unchanged during lifetime. Palatal rugae are roof of hard palate on anterior portion. Studies have been done that no two palates are alike in their layout. Many factors, such as chemical treatments, heat, or disease do not effect on outline and shape of pattern. aims: To study of inheritance of palatal rugae pattern among two generation 60 dental casts were selected of father, mother and off springs. They are examined for any similarity and dissimilarity in palatal rugae pattern. Examination of rugae pattern was done according to Thomas and kotze classification. conclusion: No significant difference was seen in rugae pattern from father to offspring and mother to offspring. This study shows the percentage of inheritance on the basis of total number of rugae pattern in among from father to offspring is 30% and from mother to offspring is 25% and dissimilarities from father to offspring is 70% and mother to offspring is 75%. Palatal rugae are unique to every individual. Palatal rugae can be used as an ancillary tool in identification of individual in forensic science.

context: The practice of culture is to protect people and preserve life. No culture allowed becoming a danger to human beings, sacrificing young lives year after year. The community keeps turning a blind eye to one death after the other because of tradition and culture. objective: The main objective of the study was to describe the deaths that occurred between 2004 and 2014 due to traditional circumcisions. method: This is a record review descriptive study. The data were collected from the Forensic Pathology Laboratory of Hospital Complex from 2004 to 2014. results: A hundred and fifty-five cases of circumcision related deaths were reported over a period of 11 years (2004-14) in the region of South Africa. The causes of death included septicaemia (66-42.6%), blunt trauma (6-3.9%), dehydration (4-2.6%), renal failure (3-1.9%), hypothermia (2-1.2%), and pulmonary thrombo-embolism (2-1.2%). conclusions: Death due to circumcision is unethical and unacceptable conduct due to unacceptable cultural practices. This practice must be banned. A strong political message needs to be sent to the community as well as to the practitioners of circumcision.

context: It has been estimated that are about 168 million lab confirmed COVID 19 cases worldwide as of 28th may, 2021. Due to the high prevalence of this disease, it is of utmost importance to study its effect on the vulnerable population of pregnant women. aim: Aim of the study are 1: the histopathological changes in placenta of COVID19 mothers. 2: To correlate the histopathological changes with the fetal outcome in COVID 19 positive mothers. materials & method: Twenty five placentas of Covid 19 positive mothers were received in formalin with proper clinical history including age of the mother, gestational age, mode of delivery, complications during pregnancy and during labor, baby weight and APGAR score of the baby. The specimen were allowed to fix in neutral buffered formalin for a period of 48 hrs. The placentas were then grossly and histopathologically examined. results: Out of 25 placentas, some showed features of maternal vascular malperfusion (MVM), particularly villous infarct, villous agglutination and intervillous and perivillous fibrin deposits. Some showed fetal vascular malperfusion features like avascular villi, stem vessel obliteration were also present in a few of the cases. Out of the 25 pregnancies, 21 babies were delivered live with normal birth weight. There were 4 spontaneous abortions ranging from 14 - 22 weeks. conclusion: As the placenta acts as a bridge between the mother and the developing baby, any insult to the placenta in the form of maternal or fetal vascular malperfusion may result in an adverse perinatal outcome.

ABSTRACT
context: The practice of culture is to protect people and preserve life. No culture allowed becoming a danger to human beings, sacrificing young lives year after year. The community keeps turning a blind eye to one death after the other because of tradition and culture. Objective: The main objective of the study was to describe the deaths that occurred between 2004 and 20014 due to traditional circumcisions. method: This is a record review descriptive study. The data were collected from the Forensic Pathology Laboratory of Hospital Complex from 2004 to 2014. results: A hundred and fifty-five cases of circumcision-related deaths were reported over a period of 11 years (2004-14) in the region of South Africa. The causes of death included septicaemia (66-42.6%), blunt trauma (6-3.9%), dehydration (4-2.6%), renal failure (3-1.9%), hypothermia (2-1.2%), and pulmonary thrombo-embolism (2-1.2%). conclusions: Death due to circumcision is unethical and unacceptable conduct due to unacceptable cultural practices. This practice must be banned. A strong political message needs to be sent to the community as well as to the practitioners of circumcision.

ABSTRACT context: Profiling of drowning is essential for understanding its full burden which is vital to resourcing and directing prevention efforts as drowning is still aone of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality. aim: The aim of this study is to analyse the factors associated with drowning cases recoded in a tertiary care centre located along sea shore and river bank in one year. settings and design: A retrospective content based analysis of drowning cases recorded in one year from January 1st 2019 to 31stDecember 2019 in a tertiary care centre located along sea shore and river bank and the results were tabulated. results: Of the 36 cases, 26 cases were males and 10 were females accounting for 76.3% and 27.7% respectively with 88.88% (32 cases) accidental drowning and 36.11% (13 cases) in the age group of 30-45 years. conclusions: Our study concludes that the middle-aged rural males form the majority of drowning in large water bodies highlighting the absence of safety measures and awareness of swimming skills contributing to the causal factors of drowning.

ABSTRACT context: Determination of sex in a mutilated or fragmented body eases the dilemma of a Forensic expert to a certain extent. Apart from other long bones, clavicle is one of the bones which is less explored but has drawn considerable interest in this field, particularly in relation to sexual dimorphism. aim: The purpose of this research was to evaluate the sexual dimorphism of clavicle, based on Robustness Index in dry bone sample. materials and methods: The study was conducted in the mortuary of the Department of Forensic Medicine, Gandhi Medical College, on 100 cases (50 males and 50 females) in which medico-legal postmortem examination was done. Clavicle bone of the deceased in 25 to 60 year age group were collected during autopsy, dried and then examined for the study. Measured Robustness Index is the ratio of Maximum length of clavicle and Mid clavicular circumference. Prior approval of the Institutional Ethics Committee was taken. results: Robustness Index was found to be larger in males compared to females in dry clavicle. By discriminant function analysis, sex can be estimated with an accuracy of about 81%. However, these values were found to be more accurate in males with accuracy of 82% for males and 80% for females. conclusions: Determination of sex by means of Robustness Index of clavicle can be considered a reliable indicator in dried state of the bone and the accuracy rate was high for males than females

ABSTRACT context: Evaluation of cardiac autopsy specimens is crucial for identifying concealed cardiovascular pathology and providing insights into the pathogenesis and progression of disease. Hence, this study was undertaken to evaluate the histopathological features of cardiac lesions in autopsy specimens. method: The was a prospective cross-sectional study conducted on cardiac specimens from routine autopsies over a period of three and half years, between January 2018 and June 2021, at M.S. Ramaiah Medical College and Hospitals, Bengaluru. The hearts were evaluated grossly and microscopically to identify the various histopathological changes. results: A total of 250 cases, with mean age of 39±15 years and male-female ratio of 4.4:1, were evaluated. In 207 (82.8%) cases 299 morphological lesions were identified, comprised of coronary atherosclerosis (52.4%), myocardial infarction (26%), aortic atherosclerosis (21.2%), cardiac hypertrophy (12%), valvular disease (2%), aortic dissection (2%), cardiac tamponade (1.6%), pericarditis (1.2%), myocarditis (0.8%) and cardiomyopathy (0.4%). conclusion: Cardiac lesions were detected in 82.8% in autopsies. The most frequent finding is coronary atherosclerosis with triple vessel involvement being the commonest. Severe luminal occlusion, calcification and thrombosis are most frequent in Left anterior descending coronary artery. The next most common lesion is Myocardial Infarction, the most significant pathogenetic mechanism of which is coronary atherosclerosis. There is a strong association between coronary and ascending aorta atherosclerosis. Thus, many preventable and concealed lesions are discovered at cardiac autopsies and this data is important for assessing disease trends and introducing new interventions and therapeutic management regimes

ABSTRACT
context: It has been estimated that are about 168 million lab confirmed COVID 19 cases worldwide as of 28th may, 2021. Due to the high prevalence of this disease, it is of utmost importance to study its effect on the vulnerable population of pregnant women. aim: Aim of the study are 1) the histopathological changes in placenta of COVID19 mothers. 2) To correlate the histopathological changes with the fetal outcome in COVID 19 positive mothers. materials & method: Twenty five placentas of Covid 19 positive mothers were received in formalin with proper clinical history including age of the mother, gestational age, mode of delivery, complications during pregnancy and during labor, baby weight and APGAR score of the baby. The specimen were allowed to fix in neutral buffered formalin for a period of 48 hrs. The placentas were then grossly and histopathologically examined. results: Out of 25 placentas, some showed features of maternal vascular malperfusion (MVM), particularly villous infarct, villous agglutination and intervillous and perivillous fibrin deposits. Some showed fetal vascular malperfusion features like avascular villi, stem vessel obliteration were also present in a few of the cases. Out of the 25 pregnancies, 21 babies were delivered live with normal birth weight. There were 4 spontaneous abortions ranging from 14 - 22 weeks. conclusion: As the placenta acts as a bridge between the mother and the developing baby, any insult to the placenta in the form of maternal or fetal vascular malperfusion may result in an adverse perinatal outcome

ABSTRACT
introduction: Spleen is an important lymphoid organ of human body in the upper left part of the abdomen. Spleen performs various functions as it produces immune response against blood-borne antigens and acts as the graveyard of defective and aged erythrocytes. It exhibits sexual dimorphism. The present study is conducted to evaluate sexual dimorphism in morphometry of spleen (spleen weight, length, width, thickness and surface area) in the Haryana region. Region-wise assessment of spleen size gives a broad perspective of spleen sizes and also helps in understanding the ranges in morphometry of spleen with respect to gender. The study proves helpful in context of providing spleen size for spleen transplantation. materials and methods: After taking permission from Institute Ethics Committee, 30 male and 30 female adult human spleens in the age group of 16-70 years belonging to the Haryana region of North India were included in the study. The study was conducted in the Anatomy department along with collaboration from the Forensic department at Pt. B.D. Sharma PGIMS, Rohtak. The data thus obtained was recorded and analysed using suitable software. results: Statistical significance in dimorphism of splenic weight, length and splenic total surface area in males and females. The results of the present study would be useful for anthropologists, and forensic medicine experts to identify a spleen.