Update in Forensic Sciences

A special issue of Medicina (ISSN 1648-9144).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2021) | Viewed by 36153

Special Issue Editor

Department of Medical, Surgical and Advanced Technologies "G.F. Ingrassia", University of Catania, Catania, Italy
Interests: criminalistics; forensic autopsy; forensic evidence; forensic law; forensic biology; forensic histopathology; forensic thanatology; forensic toxicology; medico-legal toxicology; forensic genetics; forensic radiology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Challenges and problems in forensic sciences are as old as human interaction and as new as the information age. While advances in medical technology are accelerating and changing the way of forensic pathologist practice, logistical, technical, political, and emotional challenges have been improving and will continue to be with us.

Forensic pathologists determine the cause and manner of death using the external postmortem examination, or autopsy. The autopsy entails a careful dissection of the body to search for injury patterns, disease, or poisoning that may point out the dynamics of death.

The autopsy remains the essential technique to approach a crime investigation, even if the forensic pathologist’s activity is undoubtedly supported by different specialists, such as forensic toxicologists, anthropologists, geneticists, entomologists, etc. Moreover, forensic pathologists also work closely with criminal investigators to get a complete picture of the circumstances surrounding the death. In this way, the forensic world can be considered a multidisciplinary context, where the pathologist plays a pivotal role.

Given the importance of the topic, the journal Medicina is launching a Special Issue entitled “Update in Forensic Sciences” with the aim of gathering accurate and up-to-date scientific information on all aspects of this theme. Particularly, this Special Issue aims to get an overview of recent technological advances in all fields of the forensic sciences, both new technology and new applications of existing technology, illustrating with examples of how these innovations impact the practice and the role of forensic pathologists about death investigation. At the same time, this Special Issue aims to analyze the unsolved questions in every field of forensic pathology. The ultimate purpose of this Special Issue is to obtain review articles that provide a comprehensive overview of the recent advances in all areas of forensic pathology. 

We are pleased to invite you and your co-workers to submit your original research articles and/or case report or case series about the topic, providing a relative literature revision up to date. We also encourage the submission of original manuscripts. Finally, we would also like to invite you to submit review articles aimed at providing a comprehensive overview of the recent advances in our understanding of all discussed aspects of the forensic sciences.

Prof. Cristoforo Pomara
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Medicina is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • forensic autopsy
  • forensic evidence
  • forensic law
  • forensic biology
  • forensic histopathology
  • forensic thanatology
  • forensic toxicology
  • medico-legal toxicology
  • forensic genetics
  • forensic radiology

Published Papers (9 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review, Other

9 pages, 324 KiB  
Article
Particularities of Offenders Imprisoned for Domestic Violence from Social and Psychiatric Medical–Legal Perspectives
by Oana-Maria Isailă, Sorin Hostiuc, Mihai Teodor and George-Cristian Curcă
Medicina 2021, 57(11), 1187; https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina57111187 - 01 Nov 2021
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1423
Abstract
Background and Objectives: It is known that there may be an interconditionality between social status, personality disorders, and aggressive behavior. This study aimed to analyze the social and psychiatric diagnosis characteristics in subjects imprisoned for domestic violence acts compared to other types of [...] Read more.
Background and Objectives: It is known that there may be an interconditionality between social status, personality disorders, and aggressive behavior. This study aimed to analyze the social and psychiatric diagnosis characteristics in subjects imprisoned for domestic violence acts compared to other types of aggressive behaviors. Materials and Methods: We performed a retrospective study using psychiatric medical–legal reports at the National Institute of Legal Medicine “Mina Minovici” Bucharest from 2016 to 2020. Results: We included 234 cases in our analysis, from which 132 (56%) were domestic violence offenders (DVO), and 102 (44%) were violence offenders imprisoned for other aggressions (OVO). Overall, DVOs were older than OVOs (43.0 +/− 14.7 vs. 36.1 +/− 16.6 years-old). In both study groups, most subjects were men, but the DVO group had more women than the OVO group: 23 cases (17%) and 3 cases (3%), respectively. In 14 cases (11%), previous criminal records were found from the DVO and 31 (30%) from the OVO group. Significantly fewer DVO were chronic psychoactive substance users: 83 (63%) in the DVO group versus 78 (86%) in the OVO group. Significantly more DVO had suicidal tendencies 26 (20%) compared to OVO 9 (9%). DVO subjects had significantly less often unsocialized conduct disorder or antisocial personality disorder compared to the OVO group. Conclusions: We found that DVO, compared to the OVO, were more numerous, older, less abusive, with a less frequent history of psychoactive substance abuse and addictions, and were less frequently indifferent to the committed acts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Update in Forensic Sciences)
9 pages, 673 KiB  
Article
A Five-Year Survey for Plastic Surgery Malpractice Claims in Rome, Italy
by Alessandro Feola, Chiara Minotti, Daniela Marchetti, Marco Caricato, Gabriella Teresa Capolupo, Luigi Tonino Marsella and Giuseppe La Monaca
Medicina 2021, 57(6), 571; https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina57060571 - 03 Jun 2021
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2019
Abstract
(1) Introduction: Medical malpractice claims against both health institutions and physicians are a crucial topic in Italy, as well as in other countries, particularly regarding civil proceedings. Our study reports an analysis of all of the malpractice judgments concerning plastic surgery decided in [...] Read more.
(1) Introduction: Medical malpractice claims against both health institutions and physicians are a crucial topic in Italy, as well as in other countries, particularly regarding civil proceedings. Our study reports an analysis of all of the malpractice judgments concerning plastic surgery decided in the Civil Court of Rome between 2012 and 2016. (2) Methods: the database of the Observatory Project on Medical Responsibility (ORMe) was analyzed, which collects all of the judgments of the Civil Court of Rome, that is, the first instance district court. Therefore, neither the jurisprudence of the second level court nor that of the Supreme Court was taken into account. (3) Results: 144 judgments concerning plastic surgery were delivered in the five-year period of 2012–2016 (corresponding to 10.6% of total professional liability verdicts of the Civil Court of Rome in the same period). In 101/144 cases (70.14%), the claim was accepted. A total of €4,727,579.00 was paid in compensation for plastic surgery malpractice claims, with a range from a minimum amount of €1555.96 to a maximum amount of €1,425,155.00 and an average compensation of €46,807.71 per claim that was significantly lower compared to other surgical disciplines. (4) Conclusions: Our data confirm that the analyzed branch has a high litigation rate, with a prevalence of convictions for cosmetic procedures over reconstructive ones, both for malpractice and for violation of the informed consent. Plastic surgery is also confirmed among those branches in which the professionals are more frequently sued compared to health institutions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Update in Forensic Sciences)
Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 4466 KiB  
Article
Comparison of the Allelic Alterations between InDel and STR Markers in Tumoral Tissues Used for Forensic Purposes
by Pamela Tozzo, Arianna Delicati, Anna Chiara Frigo and Luciana Caenazzo
Medicina 2021, 57(3), 226; https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina57030226 - 02 Mar 2021
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1941
Abstract
Background and objectives: Over the last two decades, human DNA identification and kinship tests have been conducted mainly through the analysis of short tandem repeats (STRs). However, other types of markers, such as insertion/deletion polymorphisms (InDels), may be required when DNA is [...] Read more.
Background and objectives: Over the last two decades, human DNA identification and kinship tests have been conducted mainly through the analysis of short tandem repeats (STRs). However, other types of markers, such as insertion/deletion polymorphisms (InDels), may be required when DNA is highly degraded. In forensic genetics, tumor samples may sometimes be used in some cases of human DNA identification and in paternity tests. Nevertheless, tumor genomic instability related to forensic DNA markers should be considered in forensic analyses since it can compromise genotype attribution. Therefore, it is useful to know what impact tumor transformation may have on the forensic interpretation of the results obtained from the analysis of these polymorphisms. Materials and Methods: The aim of this study was to investigate the genomic instability of InDels and STRs through the analysis of 55 markers in healthy tissue and tumor samples (hepatic, gastric, breast, and colorectal cancer) in 66 patients. The evaluation of genomic instability was performed comparing InDel and STR genotypes of tumor samples with those of their healthy counterparts. Results: With regard to STRs, colorectal cancer was found to be the tumor type affected by the highest number of mutations, whereas in the case of InDels the amount of genetic mutations turned out to be independent of the tumor type. However, the phenomena of genomic instability, such as loss of heterozygosity (LOH) and microsatellite instability (MSI), seem to affect InDels more than STRs hampering genotype attribution. Conclusion: We suggest that the use of STRs rather than InDels could be more suitable in forensic genotyping analyses given that InDels seem to be more affected than STRs by mutation events capable of compromising genotype attribution. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Update in Forensic Sciences)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research, Other

22 pages, 2459 KiB  
Review
Autopsy Tool in Unknown Diseases: The Experience with Coronaviruses (SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2)
by Francesco Sessa, Monica Salerno and Cristoforo Pomara
Medicina 2021, 57(4), 309; https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina57040309 - 25 Mar 2021
Cited by 21 | Viewed by 3984
Abstract
In the last two decades, three unknown pathogens have caused outbreaks, generating severe global health concerns. In 2003, after nucleic acid genotyping, a new virus was named severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV). After nine years, another coronavirus emerged in the middle east [...] Read more.
In the last two decades, three unknown pathogens have caused outbreaks, generating severe global health concerns. In 2003, after nucleic acid genotyping, a new virus was named severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV). After nine years, another coronavirus emerged in the middle east and was named MERS-CoV (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome—Coronavirus). Finally, in December 2019, a new unknown coronavirus was isolated from a cluster of patients and was named SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19, coronavirus disease 2019). This review aims to propose a complete overview of autopsy in the three coronaviruses over the past two decades, showing its pivotal role in the management of unknown diseases. A total of 116 studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria: 14 studies were collected concerning SARS-CoV (87 autopsy reports, from Asian and American countries), 2 studies for MERS-CoV (2 autopsy reports, from Middle-East Asian countries), and 100 studies on SARS-CoV-2 (930 autopsy reports). Analyzing the data obtained on COVID-19, based on the country criterion, a large number of post-mortem investigation were performed in European countries (580 reports), followed by American countries (251 reports). It is interesting to note that no data were found from the Oceanic countries, maybe because of the minor involvement of the outbreak. In all cases, autopsy provided much information about each unknown coronavirus. Despite advanced technologies in the diagnostic fields, to date, autopsy remains the gold standard method to understand the biological features and the pathogenesis of unknown infections, especially when awareness of a pathogen is restricted and the impact on the healthcare system is substantial. The knowledge gained through this technique may positively influence therapeutic strategies, ultimately reducing mortality. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Update in Forensic Sciences)
Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 410 KiB  
Review
Traumatic Epidural and Subdural Hematoma: Epidemiology, Outcome, and Dating
by Mariarosaria Aromatario, Alessandra Torsello, Stefano D’Errico, Giuseppe Bertozzi, Francesco Sessa, Luigi Cipolloni and Benedetta Baldari
Medicina 2021, 57(2), 125; https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina57020125 - 01 Feb 2021
Cited by 31 | Viewed by 7497
Abstract
Epidural hematomas (EDHs) and subdural hematomas (SDHs), or so-called extra-axial bleedings, are common clinical entities after a traumatic brain injury (TBI). A forensic pathologist often analyzes cases of traumatic EDHs or SDHs due to road accidents, suicides, homicides, assaults, domestic or on-the-job accidents, [...] Read more.
Epidural hematomas (EDHs) and subdural hematomas (SDHs), or so-called extra-axial bleedings, are common clinical entities after a traumatic brain injury (TBI). A forensic pathologist often analyzes cases of traumatic EDHs or SDHs due to road accidents, suicides, homicides, assaults, domestic or on-the-job accidents, and even in a medical responsibility scenario. The aim of this review is to give an overview of the published data in the medical literature, useful to forensic pathologists. We mainly focused on the data from the last 15 years, and considered the most updated protocols and diagnostic-therapeutic tools. This study reviews the epidemiology, outcome, and dating of extra-axial hematomas in the adult population; studies on the controversial interdural hematoma are also included. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Update in Forensic Sciences)
10 pages, 1185 KiB  
Review
The Social Brain and Emotional Contagion: COVID-19 Effects
by Anna Valenzano, Alessia Scarinci, Vincenzo Monda, Francesco Sessa, Antonietta Messina, Marcellino Monda, Francesco Precenzano, Maria Pina Mollica, Marco Carotenuto, Giovanni Messina and Giuseppe Cibelli
Medicina 2020, 56(12), 640; https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina56120640 - 25 Nov 2020
Cited by 27 | Viewed by 10079
Abstract
Background and objectives: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a highly contagious infectious disease, responsible for a global pandemic that began in January 2020. Human/COVID-19 interactions cause different outcomes ranging from minor health consequences to death. Since social interaction is the default mode by [...] Read more.
Background and objectives: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a highly contagious infectious disease, responsible for a global pandemic that began in January 2020. Human/COVID-19 interactions cause different outcomes ranging from minor health consequences to death. Since social interaction is the default mode by which individuals communicate with their surroundings, different modes of contagion can play a role in determining the long-term consequences for mental health and emotional well-being. We examined some basic aspects of human social interaction, emphasizing some particular features of the emotional contagion. Moreover, we analyzed the main report that described brain damage related to the COVID-19 infection. Indeed, the goal of this review is to suggest a possible explanation for the relationships among emotionally impaired people, brain damage, and COVID-19 infection. Results: COVID-19 can cause several significant neurological disorders and the pandemic has been linked to a rise in people reporting mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety. Neurocognitive symptoms associated with COVID-19 include delirium, both acute and chronic attention and memory impairment related to hippocampal and cortical damage, as well as learning deficits in both adults and children. Conclusions: Although our knowledge on the biology and long-term clinical outcomes of the COVID-19 infection is largely limited, approaching the pandemic based on lessons learnt from previous outbreaks of infectious diseases and the biology of other coronaviruses will provide a suitable pathway for developing public mental health strategies, which could be positively translated into therapeutic approaches, attempting to improve stress coping responses, thus contributing to alleviate the burden driven by the pandemic. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Update in Forensic Sciences)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Other

Jump to: Research, Review

8 pages, 2684 KiB  
Case Report
Necrotizing Fasciitis of the Thigh as Unusual Colonoscopic Polypectomy Complication: Review of the Literature with Case Presentation
by Sara Sablone, Elpiniki Lagouvardou, Gerardo Cazzato, Francesco Carravetta, Roberto Maselli, Francesco Merlanti, Davide Fiore Bavaro, Antonio De Donno, Francesco Introna and Onofrio Caputi Iambrenghi
Medicina 2022, 58(1), 131; https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina58010131 - 15 Jan 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2995
Abstract
Necrotizing fasciitis (NF) is an infection characterized by necrosis of the superficial muscle fascia and surrounding soft tissues. It usually occurs following skin breaches from penetrating traumas or high-degree burns. Less frequently, it could be related to major abdominal surgery. However, no cases [...] Read more.
Necrotizing fasciitis (NF) is an infection characterized by necrosis of the superficial muscle fascia and surrounding soft tissues. It usually occurs following skin breaches from penetrating traumas or high-degree burns. Less frequently, it could be related to major abdominal surgery. However, no cases of thigh NF after minor abdominal procedures have ever been reported. A previously healthy 59-year-old male patient underwent a colonoscopic polypectomy. After the procedure, the patient developed an increasing right groin pain. The CT scan showed a gas collection in the right retroperitoneum space and in the right thigh soft tissues. Thus, a right colon perforation was hypothesized, and the patient was moved to the nearest surgery department and underwent a right hemicolectomy procedure. During surgery, the right thigh was also incised and drained, with gas and pus leakage. Nevertheless, the right lower limb continued to swell, and signs of systemic infection appeared. Afterward, clinical conditions continued to worsen despite the drainage of the thigh and antibiotic therapy, and the patient died of septic shock after just two days. This case shows that, although rare, lower limb NF should be considered among the causes of early post-operative local painful symptoms. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Update in Forensic Sciences)
Show Figures

Figure 1

10 pages, 10069 KiB  
Case Report
Death Related to a Congenital Vascular Anomaly of Pulmonary Hamartoma Type: Malpractice or Tragic Fatality?
by Maricla Marrone, Laura Marrone, Gerardo Cazzato, Stefania Lonero Baldassarra, Giuseppe Ingravallo and Alessandra Stellacci
Medicina 2021, 57(11), 1231; https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina57111231 - 11 Nov 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2358
Abstract
In forensic pathology, apparently straightforward cases can often hide rarities that, if not correctly interpreted, can alter the results of the entire investigation, leading to misinterpretations. This occurs when the investigation is conducted to assess medical malpractice. An unexpected death, with no known [...] Read more.
In forensic pathology, apparently straightforward cases can often hide rarities that, if not correctly interpreted, can alter the results of the entire investigation, leading to misinterpretations. This occurs when the investigation is conducted to assess medical malpractice. An unexpected death, with no known apparent cause, is often linked to an underlying disease process of unclear etiological origin whose nature can, unfortunately, be properly investigated only post-mortem. This presentation shows a case study, in which it was possible to reconduct the death of a patient to a natural pathology and not to medical treatment. Here, the authors illustrate a case with a hamartoma developed in chronic inflammatory conditions (bronchiectasis) that was difficult to differentiate from lung cancer due to the inability to perform specific instrumental examinations. The hamartoma, usually benign and identifiable by standard instrumental investigations, in this case, led to the patient’s death precisely during the execution of a bronchoscopy. However, in the absence of a certain cause of death, public opinion unanimously attributes a patient’s disease to medical error. Indeed, a routine practice such as bronchoscopy should not cause death and consequently, the doctor must have made a mistake. Fortunately, the autopsy not only demonstrated the origin of the bleeding but also unveiled the reason for this, as rare congenital lung disease. Fate, one might say. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Update in Forensic Sciences)
Show Figures

Figure 1

10 pages, 2939 KiB  
Case Report
Multidisciplinary Approach to Suspected Sudden Death Caused by Arteriovenous Malformation Rupture: A Case Report
by Federico Giuseppe Patanè, Massimiliano Esposito, Andrea Giovanni Musumeci, Monica Palermo, Marco Torrisi, Monica Salerno and Angelo Montana
Medicina 2021, 57(7), 644; https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina57070644 - 23 Jun 2021
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2028
Abstract
Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are rare congenital conditions with a prevalence of less than 1% and are mostly asymptomatic. However, these malformations can suddenly cause intense pain or bleeding, leading to life-threatening medical problems. This report presents a case of an unexpected death in [...] Read more.
Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are rare congenital conditions with a prevalence of less than 1% and are mostly asymptomatic. However, these malformations can suddenly cause intense pain or bleeding, leading to life-threatening medical problems. This report presents a case of an unexpected death in a 37-year-old previously healthy woman due to an intra-cerebellum arteriovenous malformation rupture identified during autopsy. While infective processes where preliminarily excluded, a Post Mortem Computed Tomography (PMCT) identified a tetra ventricular hemorrhage and intra-cerebellum hemorrhage. Toxicological examination was negative for most substances of abuse. During autopsy an intense hemorrhagic infiltrate in the subarachnoid space was observed. After formalin fixation of the brain the cerebellum showed hemorrhagic infarction on fourth ventricle sides, as well as several small reddish infarctions across the entire cerebellum parenchyma. Histological examination of the brain and cerebellum showed a suffusion of erythrocytes in the sub-arachnoid region. Evidence of an arterio-venous malformation, with several intertwine vessels of variable diameter, surrounded by hemorrhagic evidence. The autopsy played a crucial role in identifying the location and the possibly affected vessel, as well as defining the cause of death. It is necessary to have a greater number of autopsies to make an epidemiological contribution. Furthermore, it is crucial to create a multicenter data network with other authors from other departments to improve information about epidemiological, clinical, diagnostic and therapeutic data. Most brain AVMs as cause of death are often undiscovered. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Update in Forensic Sciences)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop