Journal of Forensic Medicine

Introduction: Snake envenomation is a common medical emergency and the epidemiological features vary from region to region. A descriptive crossectional study was conducted at Govt Medical college Kozhikode to review the clinical profile of snake envenomation in Malabar region, Northern Kerala. This tertiary care centre caters to all 6 districts of Kerala including Kozhikode, Kannur, Malappuram, Kasargod, Palakkad and Wayanad.

Objectives: 1.To study the clinical profile of poisonous snake bites.

Methods: Sampling procedure: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study of all patients admitted with snake envenomation at Snake Bite unit, Govt Medical College, Kozhikode. Study period was from July 2017-June 2018. Patients are included if they had a definite history of poisonous snake bite and developed features of envenomation and are evaluated based on a proforma with detailed history and clinical examination. Data are collected regarding age, sex, occupation, time of bite, symptoms, investigations, mode of treatment given and complications. Sample size is 110.

Study Analysis: Data are analysed using computer software, Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 18. Data are expressed in its frequency and percentage. To elucidate the associations and comparisons between different parameters, qualitative variables are analysed using Chi-square test and quantitative variables by t-test. The Institutional Ethics Committee of Govt. Medical College, Kozhikode approved the research project. Written informed consent is obtained from all patients who had participated in this study in their vernacular language.

One hundred and two cases of Poisonous snake bite, admitted at Govt Medical College Kozhikode over a period from July 2017 to June 2018 constituted the material for the study. Detailed history with special reference to the type of snake, circumstances leading to the bite and clinical consequences are studied and final outcome is noted. Hemotoxic symptoms present in 40(39.2%) victims, neurotoxic features present in 32(31.3%) victims, both hemotoxic and neurotoxic features are present in 12(11.7%) victims.

Conclusion: Poisonous snake bite is a life threatening emergency in our region. Morbidity and mortality due to this can be reduced by early administration of antisnake venom and management of complications. So prompt referral of victims with poisonous snake bite to centres where facilities in managing snake bite is crucial in preventing mortality.

Sudden death due to foreign body obstruction of upper airways often termed Cafe Coronary has received considerable attention in the last two decades. However, there are no previous reports of Electrocardiographic records of the Victims or survivors of the condition. Death due to accidental choking is observed in all age group but extremes of age are more vulnerable. It is usually due to a foreign body, but it can be caused by the products of the disease (or violence) or by anatomical changes due to disease. People experience choking by accidental slipping of food bolus in their respiratory tract in their daily lives. Most of the people recover from it but a few experience obstruction of the respiratory tract that cannot be cleared and may prove fatal. Accidental choking is the commonest manner of choking. In the present case report a case of death due to choking which was brought in the department of forensic medicine for post-mortem examination.

Objectives: To improve quality of suicide prevention by means of analysis of suicide notes. Suicide notes or death notes are the last and final words before bidding final goodbye and an important piece of personal evidence in the last stages of life of suicide. Suicide note is one of the most important sources to understand suicide, which may be beneficial in suicide prevention.

Methods: A descriptive study of a total of 10 suicide notes of those individuals who committed suicide and brought for autopsy at the mortuary of Lady Hardinge Medical College.

Results: All suicide notes were handwritten and varied from one page to maximum of 4 pages and majority were in Hindi. The most common age group was 21-30 years, 54% were female. Only 20% of the notes had specific addresses. The main theme was grief and forgiveness in majority of suicide notes and financial crisis the main reason.

Conclusion: Majority of suicide note contained guilt which is strong indicator of possible depression in deceased. Creating awareness about suicide is the need of the hour and this study would be beneficial for developing suicide prevention strategies.

First responders are crucial in helping people who are experiencing suicide thoughts and directing their care. Examine current care pathways and models of care that may be employed for individuals who have come to the notice of first responders and are experiencing a suicide crisis.

In addition to conducting a scoping study of the academic and grey literature published between 2009 and 2019, experts, service providers, and people with lived experience were consulted.

Search results showed 703 studies. One personal letter and 23 publications from the grey literature and peer reviews were deemed appropriate for inclusion. 22 programmes were covered by six models, which were found. No papers that specifically addressed care pathways could be found. The utilisation of hospitals and police detentions were decreased when co-responder and safe haven models were used. Models of aftercare have been linked to greater wellbeing and a lessening of symptoms. Service users gave excellent reviews to the co-responder, safe haven, and aftercare models. Studies measuring the effect on longer-term suicidality are lacking.

A lack of comparability due to the variability of studies and their designs caused by the inclusion criteria's broadness. Few research used measurement techniques that were standardised, which made it harder to draw reliable findings.

Many innovative projects have the potential to help those in need who come in contact with first responders.

In Switzerland, burglaries rank as the top mass crime according to forensic DNA analysis. In the Swiss DNA database, almost one-third of the DNA trace profiles are connected to burglaries. However, it is unknown if the DNA sampled during the collection of prospective DNA traces within a person's home during a burglary came from the culprit or from a resident of that home. Crime scene investigators typically do not gather reference samples from all the homeowners due to the high frequency of burglaries for administrative and financial reasons. As a result, it must be considered that there is a significant likelihood that a DNA profile from someone who was allowed to be at the crime scene will ultimately be transmitted to a DNA database for comparison. As far as we know, no research has been done to determine the proportion of these non-perpetrator profiles that end up in DNA databases. We gathered reference samples from locals who had recently experienced house invasions to help answer this question. We are able to demonstrate that the bulk of the DNA samples gathered during burglary investigations belong to the inhabitants by contrasting the profiles created from these reference samples with the profiles created from trace DNA. We further demonstrate that trace DNA collection in the vicinity of the break and entry area, in particular window and door glasses, is most promising for sampling perpetrator instead of inhabitant DNA, despite the small number of cases included in the study, likely due to a crime decline caused by the pandemic.