Bülent Eren

The aim of our study was to demonstrate the histopathological changes in the dental pulp of rats drowned in water. In our study, 48 rats (eight rats per group) were used. Death of the rats in the control group was induced with high-dose anesthesia. The remaining groups, except for the control group, were placed in containers filled with water after dissociative anesthesia. Rats that died due to drowning were dissected after 0, 6, 12, 18, and 24 h. In all groups, samples taken from both lung tissues were stained with H&E and analyzed for findings supporting drowning. After decalcification, molar tooth samples of the rats were stained with H&E and examined under a light microscope. Pulpal stromal edema, cytoplasmic enlargement, vascular enlargement, perivascular edema, and separation of the odontoblast cell group from the dentin layer were evaluated using four grades. Chi-Square test was used for comparison between groups. P was set than 0.05. In our study, statistically significant differences were found between the control group and Group 2 (PM 0th hour) for some of the evaluated parameters. Statistically significant parameters were observed between Group 2 and some groups maintained in water at different time intervals. It is seen that the changes in the dental pulp are promising to support the diagnosis of drowning. It is thought that this will be useful to support other studies to be conducted in the future.

Objectives: Determination of the postmortem interval (PMI) remains a critical challenge in forensic science. Intervertebral discs, due to their structural resilience, hold promise as a reliable tissue for PMI estimation; however, studies focusing on their forensic applicability remain limited. This study aimed to evaluate progressive histopathological changes in intervertebral discs at specific postmortem intervals and assess their forensic applicability. Materials and Methods: A total of 48 rats were divided into six groups: control (0 h), 7-day, 15-day, 30-day, 60-day, and 90-day postmortem intervals. Intervertebral disc samples were stained with hematoxylin–eosin and trichrome, and histopathological parameters such as homogenization, eosinophilia, dissociation, nuclear alterations (pyknosis and karyolysis), and collagen fragmentation were analyzed. Results: Statistically significant changes were observed across postmortem intervals (p < 0.001). Homogenization progressed from mild changes at 7 days to prominent levels by 90 days. Eosinophilia and dissociation between the epithelium and connective tissue also increased significantly over time (p < 0.001). Collagen fragmentation, initially minimal, became severe at the 90-day interval. The observed changes demonstrated a clear, time-dependent progression strongly correlating with the PMI. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that histopathological changes in intervertebral discs follow a consistent and time-dependent pattern, making them a potential forensic marker for PMI estimation. This has important implications for forensic science, as it offers an alternative tissue type that is less susceptible to early decomposition compared to soft tissues. These results suggest that the intervertebral disc is a promising tissue for PMI estimation, offering a complementary approach to existing forensic methods.

3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), substance known as "Ecstasy" among the people and used due to entertainment, euphoric and energy booster effect, is one of the famous synthetic stimulants. 22-year-old man was found as unconscious in the early morning. According to the expressions of his family and friends, it was learned that he drank alcohol until late in the previous evening and took ecstasy besides this before he died. It was reported that he was taken to intensive care unit with temperature of 41oC and death occurred 12 hours later. At autopsy in external examination, petechial and purpuric hemorrhages in purple and red color were detected on body. In internal examination, petechial hemorrhages on the surface of the heart and lungs, subendocardial hemorrhage in the heart, hemorrhage on the mucosal surface of the stomach were seen. In the toxicological analyses of the blood, Paracetamol (4870 ng/ml), MDMA (847 ng/ml), MDA (94,2 ng/ml), Lidocaine (23 ng/ml), Pantoprazole (10,5 ng/ml), Midazolam (1,83 ng/ml) were detected. The death occurred due to coagulopathy related MDMA intoxication. Here, we present a case of autopsy, clinical findings and histopathologic findings, laboratory results in medicolegal literature.

Background. Primary tumors of the heart are rarely detected at autopsy, especially angiosarcomas which are primary malignant one. Objective. We presented autopsy case of cardic angiosarcoma with morphologic findings. Methods. We described adult man died in emergency service of the hospital. Results. Reported case was 33 year-old-man who was died in emergency service of hospital where he was taken when he was ill after leaving home. According the prosecution documents, and the expressions of family, it was reported that he had a heart disease; his symptoms repeated 3 day ago before he died, he thought to attend the Cardiology Clinic due to his symptoms. At autopsy on macroscopic internal examination, mass with rough surface in the right atrium, hematoma at the posterior of the right atrium, blood in the pericardia, nodular lesions in hemorrhagic appearance in the sections of lung, liver and spleen were detected. In histopathologic examination; in the heart angiosarcioma as primary malign heart tumor and metastatic masses in the liver, spleen and lung were detected. Conclusions. We aimed to discuss cardiac angiosarcoma case with autopsy and histopathologic findings in the aspect of medico legal literature.

The newborn skin can be separated from adult's skin in several ways. In dermatologic examination it can be easily observed that it is thinner, less hairy and has less sweat and sebaceous gland secretions. These differentiations present especially in preterm newborns. Their skin is exposed to mechanical trauma, bacteria and weather, heat alterations. At birth, newborn skin is protected by the coverage of vernix caseosa, which has lubricating and antibacterial features and its pH ranges from 6.7 to 7.4. Beneath the vernix caseosa the skin has a pH of 5.5-6.0. In newborn dermatologic examination it is very important to distinguish transient benign dermatoses and severe diseases, make early diagnosis and treat congenital skin disorders. Although the benign cases are common in this life period, clinical presentations can be much more exaggerated, dramatic and cause a great deal of anxiety to parents. Therefore, as a doctor, knowing the dermatological, pathological and non-pathological common skin rashes guides the family in the right direction, offers advice to reduce uncertainty and time for the treatment of severe conditions and builds a confidential doctor-patient relationship. In this review, our aim is to provide a general overview to common skin rashes in newborn period.

Presented case was a 36-year-old deceased man with a sequel of poliomyelitis who was reportedly found death at home. On external examination at autopsy, deformity of the lower extremity secondary to polimyelitis, and an obliquely coursing scar tissue 5 cm in length at the same level with the costal arch on the right axillary line were seen. On internal examination at autopsy, diaphragmatic eventration caused by bilateral elevation of the diaphragm towards thoracic cavity was detected. On the left side, stomach, spleen, and small intestines, and on the right side liver were pushed into the thoracic cavity. Cause of death was reported as heart failure of the patient with bilateral diaphragmatic eventration. We aimed to discuss rarely encountered diaphragmatic eventration in autopsy practice from a perspective of forensic medicine.

69-year-old male was found dead at the roadside in October month, death was declared suspicious by local prosecutor and autopsy was mandated. At autopsy, a large number of dark brown colored, ovalshaped lesions ranging from 1-15 mm under the mucosa defined as Wischnewsky spots, when stomach was dissected were observed. For the formation mechanism of Wischnewsky spots, there has no definite conclusions; more studies are needed on a case series.

Because of the way of life Greek philosopher Diogenes lived, in the medical literature some older individuals characterized with collection of symptoms and the psychopathology associated with the lack of concern about a person's living conditions were called as Diogenes Syndrome. In this study we presented a case in terms of Diogenes Syndrome. We aimed to discuss by using the recent medical literature. Our case was a 62 year old male living alone and there were a variety of diseases he had. Diogenes Syndrome was previously identified in 30 elderly patients for the first time in 1975. As well as the typical clinical features of Diogenes Syndrome were defined, for being of potential forensic value, case characteristics belonging to the crime scene, and also probable changes that may be encountered at autopsy were discussed.

Myocardial bridging is a congenital coronary pathology described as a segment of coronary artery which courses through the myocardial wall beneath the muscle bridge. Although the myocardial bridging prognosis is benign, have been also reported sudden death in medical literature. ¬A 30-year-old married woman was found dead at her home. After local prosecutors' investigation the death was declared as suspicious and forensic autopsy was obliged. The left anterior descending coronary artery was detected embedded deeply in the myocardium 2 cm from its coronary ostial origin. There were no other pathology to explain death. We analyzed sudden death case occurred because of myocardial bridging and the pathophysiological mechanisms in the light of medico-legal literature.