Journal of Forensic Research

We often encounter many decomposed cases in the forensic science fields. Damage to organs by bacteria
complicates our diagnosis, examination and study. The central nerve system is one of the most hardly decomposed organs. The cerebellar granule cell layer (GCL) is useful for some investigation.
We histologically evaluated cerebellar GCL of decomposed and fresh cases using Photoshop™ application. No statistical difference was found between two groups. In addition, we grouped by agonal situation and histologically evaluated cerebellar GCL. We could only show the statistical difference between carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning and house fire because of shortage number of some groups, but the comparison of the box plots suggested some relations between GCL and agonal situation.
We suggest conservation of histological findings of cerebellar GCL regardless of postmortem interval and usability for detecting agonal situation.

This article reviews the forensic aspects of Diatoms analysis and acid digestion method for diatoms extraction. A body recovered from the water does not necessarily imply that death was due to drowning. If the person is still alive when entering the water, diatoms will enter the lungs if the person inhales water and drowns. The diatoms are then carried to distant parts of the body such as the brain, kidneys, lungs and bone marrow by circulation. If the person is dead when entering the water, then there is no circulation and the transport of diatom cells to various organs is prevented because of a lack of circulation and diatoms cannot enter the body. When a body is recovered from water, there is usually a suspicion whether it was a case of ante-mortem or post-mortem drowning i.e. whether the body was drowned before or after death. In these medico legal cases, presence of diatoms in the body tissues is very useful evidence. In drowning related death cases, a correlation between the diatoms extracted from bone marrow and liver/lungs) samples and the samples obtained from drowning medium have to be established for the successful determination of drowning site in Forensic laboratories. Diatom analysis should be considered positive when number of diatoms is above a minimal established limit; 20 diatoms/ 100 μl of pellet obtained from 10 gm of lung samples and 50 diatoms from other organs and further matching of diatoms from bone marrow and drowning site can strengthen this supportive evidence and a positive conclusion can be drawn whether person was living or not when drowned. Detection of diatoms in the bone marrow is a proof that the individual was alive when entered the water.

The aim of this study was report of a case of a head injury in a mule (Eqqus ferus caballus) by pathological study. Were studied a mule of 3 months old, with history of a head injury, collapse, shock and sudden death. Was to examined by necropsy and samples of tissue were recollected. Necropsy revealed a traumatic in head with brain injury obliquely with an open fracture of the frontal bone, about 15 cm long, 1.5 cm wide, exposure of brain tissue and significant bleeding. Severe hydrocephalus acquired approximately 15 cubic centimeters.Submeningeal hematoma on the ventral side of the frontal bone, as well as a hematoma in the left hemisphere. The histopathology of brain evidence severed edema and hemorrhage submeningeal and marked coagulation necrosis acute encephalomalacia and leukoencephalomalacia. Increased Virchow-Robbins space. Evidence is not suppurative meningitis with presence of lymphocytic diffuse. In conclusion were reported a case of trauma of head injury in a mule underlying a viral meningitis by pathological study on a mule

Detection and quantification of hemoglobin in skeletal or dried remains could potentially have versatile utilization with the forensic field. However, the majority of studies within this area focus on the identification of hemoglobin and its derivatives rather than determining the relative amount of protein present. This research focuses on the use of leuco crystal violet with Ultraviolet/Visible spectroscopy and applying cyclic voltammetry for the determination and quantification of hemoglobin in a tooth and femur sample. Using leuco crystal violet, possible interferences were also investigated, and it was determined that ferrous iron samples appeared to actually mask the overall reaction, while glycine had no obvious effect. Albumin showed no apparent interference, while myoglobin produced a very faint green color that absorbed at a different wavelength, so this species produced minimal interference. Extractions of hemoglobin from a femur bone using 0.5 M hydrochloric acid and from a tooth using 6.0 M urea all yielded the violet product when reacted with leuco crystal violet. Using the measured absorbance of each positive extraction, the corresponding amount of hemoglobin in each sample was determined. Hemoglobin standards and extraction samples from the tooth and femur bone were also analyzed by the electrochemical method, cyclic voltammetry. Hemoglobin levels in the tooth and femur were found to be in the micromolar range in both the spectroscopic and electrochemical analysis, and these levels are consistent with a decrease in hemoglobin concentration postextraction and post-mortem

Fingerprints are widely used as the most reliable means of individual identification in forensic science. However, postmortem changes of the skin always make it difficult to obtain fingerprints. To restore fingerprints of mummified cadavers, various reagents have been used. In recent years, commercially available embalming agents for cadaver restoration and preservation have been evaluated, but they have not been sufficiently compared. In this study, we successfully restored fingerprints from a highly dried, almost mummified, unidentified cadaver. Five methods were attempted to restore fingerprints: three used previously reported reagents and two used commercially available embalming solutions at room temperature. The fingers were observed grossly after immersion for 1, 2, 3, 5, and 7 days. When all the specimens were well restored, fingerprints were taken by the inked impression method and by an indirect method using silicone rubber. The results indicated that Na2CO3, and Sofner® were more effective to restore clear fingerprints. The other solutions failed to produce optimal tissue softening and swelling, and the dermal ridges were ill-defined. The conventional Na2CO3 and the newly tested Sofner® were useful in that they restored better fingerprints in a shorter duration. Na2CO3 has to be prepared before use, whereas Sofner® can be used by simply diluting with water