Vol 8, No 4 (2022)

AIMS: The main aim of this study was to determine, compare and differentiate the morphologically related changes of the mandible in dentate males and females among different age groups on digital panoramic images and to assess their authenticity in age estimations to provide evidence in forensics.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Digital panoramic images were made of 620 subjects, belonging to into four groups of ages ranging between 12–18 years, 19–40 years, 41–60 years, and older than 60 years. Measurements such as gonial angle, condylar length, ramus length, cortical bone thickness, and ramal notch width were measured and evaluated. The data obtained was then subjected to descriptive statistical analysis followed by a Paired t-test and a Two-way ANOVA test to arrive at the results.

RESULTS: On measuring an angular and four linear measurements a statistically significant differences were found among all the age groups with p <0.05 and also increased on aging except for the gonial angle. Among all the parameters, the gonial angle, ramus length, and ramal notch width depicted a statistically significant difference between the right and left sides and with p <0.05.

CONCLUSION: Age estimation with linear and angular measurements of the mandible was possible among the study population. It is found that all parameters except gonial angle are reliable for age determination. It was found that as age increased, the mean value of all the parameters increased and showed a significant difference between all age groups except the gonial angle. Hence, this study positively recommends the use of all parameters except gonial angle for the purpose of age estimation in the field of forensics.

BACKGROUND: The development of methods for identifying a person based on bone remains, which are adapted for diagnosing the population of Azerbaijan, is a priority in view of the incompleteness of solving this problem. In this situation, a new way to quickly determine the sex by teeth appears to be in demand because it should increase the efficiency of the work of forensic doctors.

AIM: To develop a modern technique for diagnosing a person’s sex using odontometric signs.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Teeth sizes were studied at the craniological collection of Azerbaijanis. On the seven teeth of the upper and seven teeth of the lower jaw, three parameters were measured (while symmetrical teeth were considered a single array). Each of the 14 anatomical teeth was represented by 80 male and 80 female teeth. A digital caliper (Mutitouyo; accuracy 10 microns) was used for odontometric procedures. Odontometry results were analyzed by statistical methods using receiver operating characteristics curve analysis. Mathematical modeling was conducted using the MATLAB statistical software package.

RESULTS: With the help of the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis, the data obtained in the course of odontometry were studied. Six odontometric signs were related to sex. The most sex-related parameters were the buccolingual diameter of the upper canine, heights of the crowns of the second lower molar, lower incisors, lower canine, and upper central incisor. Using mathematical modeling, six logistic regression equations have been implemented, which help determining the sex of an individual by the size of his teeth possible. The predictive potential of the equations was also assessed using the ROC analysis.

CONCLUSION: Based on odontometric indicators and ROC analysis, diagnostic equations for determining the sex of a person by the teeth size were obtained. The equations have not yet been verified on independent samples; therefore, they cannot yet be unconditionally recommended for practice. Nevertheless, the authors count on the high legitimacy of their models because they used a fairly powerful mathematical apparatus.

BACKGROUND: Determining the incidence of acute and lethal poisoning with clobazam remains an urgent task of analytical toxicology. The medicinal substance clobazam belongs to the group of benzodiazepines, which is included in the list of psychoactive substances whose turnover is limited because of its high toxicity profile in overdose and abuse.

AIM: To propose a simple, reliable, and sensitive technique for the identification of clobazam and its metabolite in the urine by the modern high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-QqQ-MS/MS).

MATERIALS AND METHODS: We have described a simple and sensitive HPLC-QqQ-MS/MS method for the qualitative determination of clobazam in the urine.

RESULTS: The retention time in the selected chromatography conditions for clobazam was 5.17 min, and its metabolite (norclobazam) in urine was 4.56 min. The base peaks for clobazam and norclobazam were 259 m/z and 245 m/z, respectively.

CONCLUSION: For the first time, this study provides a validated method of chemical-toxicological examination for poisoning with clobazam by HPLC-MS/MS, tested both on a model mixture and real biological matrix of the patient’s urine after taking clobazam. This technique can be a confirmatory research method in addition to the clinical picture in forensic medical examination.

Injuries caused by pointed or bladed objects cover the biggest part of all injuries caused by sharp objects.

The last decades of scientific studies in forensic medicine have dedicated to forensic medicolegal traumatology due to a steady growth in the number of forensic examinations connected with mechanical injuries. Data about the morphology, mechanism, and biomechanical causation of cutting and stabbing damages have been studied and summarized. Some morphological features of cutting and stabbing damages of osseous tissue appeared according to material cutting theory. Forensic identification of pointed or bladed articles was examined according to features of injuries on human tissues and clothes.

Nowadays, scientific literature shows that a knife’s spine is considered the traumatic part of a blade. In the identification and examination of the pointed or bladed trace-forming objects, “a spine zone” is used. There has been an overview on the influence on the trace-formation process of knife edges. However, the morphology of pointed or bladed injuries of the bones according to the thickness of a blade has not been examined comprehensively.

To improve forensic research of injuries of flat bones (os planum) caused by pointed or bladed articles based on a complex of morphological features, experimental studies using cadaveric materials are needed.

Currently, modern research methods such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging have been introduced into the medical and diagnostic practice of large hospitals. These research methods are used almost everywhere for the diagnosis of various injuries, and their results, together with the medical documents of the victims, law enforcement officials, and courts provide state forensic medical expert institutions for the production of forensic medical examinations. The study of computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging results allows solving expert questions in examinations and studies of living persons.

The article presents a case from expert practice demonstrating the possibility of establishing the morphology and localization of stab-cut injuries, number of traumatic effects, and direction of wound channels using the results of in vivo computed tomography and three-dimensional modeling. In the described expert case, initially, in the submitted medical documents, data were contradictory about the number, localization and mechanism of formation of wounds. To eliminate existing contradictions, the scars on the victim’s body and results of a computed tomography upon admission were examined. For a more complete visualization of external injuries, a three-dimensional model of the victim’s body was recreated from computed tomography data. The results of computed tomography and three-dimensional modeling made it possible to clearly recreate the picture of the victim’s injuries and answer questions about the mechanism and conditions of their infliction.

The described case demonstrates the possibilities of expert research and new methodological approaches to solving forensic problems, which is currently quite relevant, since virtopsia has been actively developing in forensic medicine in recent years. The proposed research techniques applied to a corpse with stab wounds will make it possible to more accurately visualize the direction and shape of the wound canal.

Brief report on the II Scientific and practical conference of the Interregional Thanatoradiological Society “Radiological diagnostics for pathological anatomy and forensic medicine: from lifetime to postmortem,” which took place on October 7–8, 2022, in Moscow on by the Avtsyn Research Institute of Human Morphology of Petrovsky National Research Center of Surgery.