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Research Articles (Forensic Medicine): Recent submissions

  • The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on suicide trends in Pretoria, South Africa 
    Robinson, Kay-Leigh; Pretorius, Candice; Blumenthal, Ryan; Meyer, Pieter Willem Adriaan (Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, 2024-09)
    Suicide is one of the worldwide leading causes of unnatural death. Pretoria is a capital city of South Africa and is the fourth most populated city in South Africa. Between 16 and 22 suicide cases are recorded daily in ...
  • A 15-year review of lightning deaths in Germany-with a focus on pathognomonic findings 
    Bingert, Rebecca; Bremer, Larissa; Buettner, Andreas; Nigbur, Stefan; Blumenthal, Ryan; Zack, Fred (Springer, 2024-07)
    Lethal accidents caused by lightning are divided into observed and unobserved events. Pathognomonic or characteristic findings are often overlooked during external postmortem examination. Classical mistakes may be made ...
  • Full-metal jacket mild steel core ammunition : a case report 
    Blumenthal, Ryan; Rossouw, Servaas Hofmeyr (Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins, 2023-12)
    The deceased was a 26-year-old man who was killed in a multiple shooting incident while sitting alone in his car. This individual was shot by multiple individuals, with different types of ammunition, from different ...
  • The added value of molecular-based diagnostics in the African forensic medical setting 
    Van Deventer, B.S.; Makhoba, Aubrey Musa; Du Toit-Prinsloo, L.; Van Niekerk, Chantal (Clinics Cardive Publishing, 2022-09)
    Sudden unexpected infant death (SUDI) is reported to be an extraordinarily high burden in sub-Saharan Africa, with the incidence rate in South Africa among the highest in the world. It is common for the cause of many ...
  • An atypical asphyxial death : a case study 
    Blumenthal, Ryan; Ferraris, Stefanie Claudia (Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, 2023-09)
    An atypical asphyxial death is presented. The deceased was found wrapped like a mummy with multiple layers of plastic and adhesive tape, lying face down on the floor of his home. The death scene was in the lounge area of ...
  • Practical tips to using formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue archives for molecular diagnostics in a South African setting 
    Van Deventer, Barbara Stroh; Du Toit-Prinsloo, L.; Van Niekerk, Chantal (AOSIS, 2022-06-23)
    BACKGROUND : Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue archives in hospitals, biobanks, and others offer a vast collection of extensive, readily available specimens for molecular testing. Unfortunately, the use of ...
  • The “hypopigmented” bitemark : a clinical and histologic appraisal 
    Robinson, Liam; Bunn, Belinda Kathleen; Blumenthal, Ryan; Bernitz, Herman (Springer, 2023-01)
    So-called “hypopigmented” bitemark patterns, commonly seen but not limited to dark skinned individuals, can be of value in forensic investigations. The process of aging bitemarks observed on skin is controversial and without ...
  • Glass penetrating skull injury mimicking projectile injury 
    Blumenthal, Ryan (Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins, 2022-06)
    A 29-year-old man was involved in a motor vehicle accident as a driver in May 2021. According to the available history, his car overturned and hit a wall. Death was due to head injury. Diffuse brain injury was present. A ...
  • Postmortem genetic testing in young individuals : what clinical medical practitioners need to know 
    Van Deventer, Barbara Stroh; Du Toit-Prinsloo, Lorraine; Van Niekerk, Chantal (Health and Medical Publishing Group, 2022-12)
    The death of a young person is most often a tragic occurrence, more so when this death was unexpected. Forensic pathologists are mandated to investigate such deaths, and there has been a strong move internationally towards ...
  • Cardiovascular deaths : what do the genes say? 
    Van Deventer, Barbara Stroh; Du Toit-Prinsloo, Lorraine; Van Niekerk, Chantal (Health and Medical Publishing Group, 2022-12)
    Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are ever-increasing, and as such are considered to be one of the most concerning public health burdens worldwide. They remain the leading cause of death across the world (~17.7 million deaths ...
  • Discrepancies between clinical diagnoses and autopsy findings : a comparative study conducted in South Africa 
    Joubert, Doret M.; Rossouw, Servaas Hofmeyr; Solomon, C.; Meyer, Pieter Willem Adriaan (Health and Medical Publishing Group, 2022-11)
    BACKGROUND. The anatomical pathology autopsy serves several purposes, notably as a quality management tool for evaluation of accuracy in clinical diagnosis. Despite its value, for various reasons there has been an ...
  • Traumatic diaphragmatic injuries at medicolegal autopsy : a 1-year prospective study 
    Van Wyk, Charmaine; Hlaise, Keven Khazamula; Blumenthal, Ryan (Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins, 2022-12)
    INTRODUCTION : Traumatic diaphragmatic injuries (TDIs) are relatively rare. The forensic literature pertaining to TDIs consists mainly of case studies, suggesting little attention to these injuries during autopsies and ...
  • Pulmonary aspiration of brain matter in a motor vehicle fatality : a case study 
    Weyers, Carmen Zenda; Makhoba, Musa Aubrey; Blumenthal, Ryan (Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins, 2023-03)
    We present the case of an adult man who was involved in a motor vehicle accident as a driver. Histological examination of the lung tissue showed the presence of brain tissue within the lumens of the bronchi and bronchioles. ...
  • Lightning metallization injury 
    Blumenthal, Ryan; Nixon, Kenneth J.; Gomes, Chandima; Hunt, Hugh Gp (Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins, 2022-12)
    We report the case of an unusual lightning-related phenomenon. A 41-year-old male construction worker sustained a direct lightning strike, at approximately 16:00 SAST, in mid-November 2021. Scene examination showed a ...
  • Double death electrocution in the bathtub 
    Blumenthal, Ryan; Mabotja, Seduma Suzan; Soul, Bathabile (Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins, 2022)
    We report the case of a 25‐year‐old woman and her 3‐year‐old son who were found dead in the bathtub because of electrocution. The case happened in August, which is winter, in South Africa. An electrical urn used to heat ...
  • An evaluation of the differences in paediatric skeletal trauma between fatal simple short falls and physical abuse blunt impact loads : an international multicentre pilot study 
    Rowbotham, Samantha K.; Blumenthal, Ryan; Delabarde, Tania; Legrand, Laurence; Van der Walt, Elizabeth; Sutherland, Tom; Lockhat, Zarina I.; Arthurs, Owen J. (Elsevier, 2021-06)
    In cases where a deceased child exhibits trauma as a result of a physical abuse blunt impact load, a parent/caregiver may provide a simple short fall (SSF) as the justification for that trauma. The skeletal fractures remain ...
  • Transdermal fentanyl death pact 
    Blumenthal, Ryan; Roth, Lisa Barbara (Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins, 2022-06)
    We report the case of a double suicide in an elderly couple, which occurred during COVID-19 lockdown. According to the son, this was a premeditated death pact, which was carefully planned. The parents had stockpiled fentanyl ...
  • Death investigation and forensic medicine in South Africa : historical perspectives, status quo, and quo vadis? 
    Saayman, Gert (Sage, 2020-12)
    South Africa is burdened by both an exceptionally high crude death rate and a very high non-natural death rate. Efficient death investigation may greatly aid in identifying and addressing public health issues, while also ...
  • A fatal case of Rickettsiosis from South Africa 
    Blumenthal, Ryan; Hoosen, Anwar Ahmed; Skosana, Lebogang Busisiwe; Weyer, Jacqueline (Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins, 2021-09)
    We present a case of fatal Rickettsiosis from South Africa.
  • An illustrated forensic pathology case : bilateral putaminal hemorrhages after methanol ingestion 
    Blumenthal, Ryan; Roth, Lisa Barbara (Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins, 2021-09)
    We report the case of a 45-year old African male, who presented to the Emergency Department with severe metabolic lactic acidosis and confusion secondary to ingestion of methylated spirits. Methylated spirits is a common ...