Search

Lightning strikes may be a cause of death for farmers, sailors, and those engaged in outdoor sports. Death occurs due to damage to the cardiovascular and central nervous systems. In the autopsies performed in cases of lightning strikes, the information about the location of the incident, sociodemographic data, regions of burns and injuries on the body, histopathological findings, and cause of death are examined. In this study, a retrospective evaluation was made of 7 cases for which an autopsy was performed because of lightning strike in the city of Van in eastern Turkey. The deaths were seen to have occurred most often in spring, in the month of May. The 7 cases comprised 85.7% males and 14.3% females with a mean age of 28 years, and all were injured while shepherding. In 2 cases there was a witness, and in 6 cases, there were found to be burns and tears in the clothing. Singeing and flattening of the body hair was seen most often in the chest region. In addition to the findings of lightning strike, there were accompanying findings of blunt trauma (grazes, ecchymosis, lacerations) in 4 cases. There were first and second-degree burns in all the cases, with a mean 11.6% burned surface area. Histopathologically, focal subarachnoidal fresh bleeding was seen in 2 cases, subpleural and intra-alveolar fresh bleeding in the lungs in 2 cases, and interlobular rupture in the lungs in 2 cases. It must not be forgotten that lightning strikes are an uncommon natural catastrophe but have a high mortality rate. Together with the non-specific autopsy findings, examination of the scene of the incident and witness statements will be able to support the determination of the cause of death. [Med-Science 2023; 12(4.000): 1274-7]

This study aimed to examine the effects of the assault on mental health with the time since the event of sexual assault, the characteristics of the perpetrator and the victim, and psychiatric diagnoses. A retrospective examination was made of the records of 105 cases of sexual assault of all age groups, who were referred for forensic psychiatric examination by the forensic authorities between 1 January 2012 and 30 December 2017 to the Inonu University Medical Faculty Health Committee for the Determination of Sexual Abuse/Assault Crimes. In the examination, the characteristics of the abuse, the type of sexual assault and effects on mental health, psychiatric diagnoses of the victim after the event, and psychiatric diagnoses made after examination by the committee were evaluated retrospectively. The 105 cases examined comprised 83 (79%) females and 22 (21%) males with a mean age of 14.3±7.4 years, and 22 (21%) cases aged ≥18 years. The types of sexual assault were non-penetrative assault in 56 (53.3%) cases and penetrative assault in 49 (46.7%). Mental health impairment at a level that impaired functionality was determined in 52 (49.5%) cases and at a level that did not impair functionality in 53 (50.5%) cases. It seems to be inevitable that mental health is affected following sexual assault. Moreover, a mental disorder at a level that will impair the functionality of the victim may emerge with the passage of time since the sexual assault and the degree of this impairment may only be revealed with examinations made after a certain time. [Med-Science 2021; 10(3.000): 789-93]

The aim of this study was to examine the frequency, origin, histopathology, and risk factors of PE, the vascular characteristics causing obstruction and the direct or indirect effect on mortality. A retrospective examination was made of autopsies conducted between 2013 and 2016 in the Malatya Forensic Medicine Group Directorate. Cases determined with PE were evaluated in respect of age, gender, event origin, risk factors, history of hospitalization, size of the vessels obstructed by the thromboembolism and histopathological examination. Pulmonary embolism is a frequently seen complication during hospitalization and is one of the leading causes of preventable hospital deaths. When advanced diagnostic methods are used, deep vein thrombosis is determined in 79% of PE patients. The annual incidence in Turkey is approximately 15/10,000 cases, which is comparable to rates in western populations. Although PE is seen more at advanced ages, attention must be paid to young cases with trauma-related injuries. Histopathological examination is of the greatest importance as the mortality rate associated with large vessel obstruction is high and obstructions in small vessels alone also contribute to mortality. [Med-Science 2020; 9(3.000): 569-72]

Child abuse is a significant public health problem nowadays. The case is here presented of an unemployed stepfather, with significant risk factors for child abuse, who caused physical abuse to a child with hot water as a result of incorrect toilet training. In this case, the mother tried to hide the event and as a result of the history taken from the child and findings of lesions in the physical examination, it was learned that these had been made by the stepfather because of urine incontinence. In similar situations to this case, healthcare personnel establishing close communication with the child must pay attention in respect of child abuse, and must inform the authorities in all suspicious cases. [Med-Science 2019; 8(4.000): 1033-5]

Purpose: Methanol, is a clear, colourless, highly toxic substance obtained from the destructive distillation of wood. During the COVID-19 pandemic, chronic alcohol users consumed alternatives such as cologne and cheap alcohol, the toxicology analyses showed that there was an increase in methanol poisoning due to the use of cheaper methanol instead of ethanol in alcoholic liquids. The aim of this study was to evaluate autopsy cases in the Şanlıurfa Forensic Medicine Branch Directorate that were recorded as cause of death from methanol poisoning. Materials and Methods: 15 cases whose cause of death was determined to be methyl alcohol intoxication were examined at Şanlıurfa Forensic Medicine Branch Directorate between 1 January 2016 and 1 November 2022. Sociodemographic data of the cases, crime scene information, clinical findings and hospitalization data, distribution of events according to years, type of beverage consumed toxicological and pathological data were evaluated. Results: All of the cases were male. The mean age was calculated as 52.1. The drinks consumed were determined to be cologne in 8 cases, fake raki, whisky and vodka in 4, and the type of drink could not be determined in 3 cases. Conclusion: It should not be forgotten that in times of increased alcohol consumption, methanol can be mixed with liquids in place of ethanol, and programs should be implemented to inform the public about intoxications. The necessary precautions against methanol intoxication should be taken by increasing control at the production and sales stages of alcoholic drinks and antiseptics containing alcohol, such as cologne.