Abstracts / Forensic Science International 169S (2007) S2–S21S12

apparent in April and November, while in June and August no

death of that cause was registered.

Keywords: Sudden death; Causes; Statistics

DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2007.04.182

PAT-TP-20Natural mortality among people who came to live inLeningrad Region

O.V. Burkov, Yu.A. Molin

Forensic Medicine Bureau of Leningrad Region,

Saint-Petersburg, Russia

To study fatal cases when adults died of diseases outside in-

patient departments within the area of the Leningrad Region,

we have selected three choice districts (Podporozhye, Vyborg,

and Tikhvin) with diverse social structures. We have also

studied natural mortality of those who had arrived for various

reasons from different areas, cities and towns, according to the

data of forensic and pathological examinations of dead bodies.

Of the total 1040 cases examined (in 2002), the given category

numbered 117 dead people: 38.5% women and 61.5% men with

their age ranging from 31 to 91 years old.

In the first place, there were cardiovascular diseases among

the causes of death—83%, and chronic heart ischemia

predominated in most cases (70 cases). A smaller number –

13 cases – had suffered from different forms of the acute cardiac

ischemia. In the second place, there were fatal cases of

malignant neoplasms differing in locations—7.6%. In the third

place, there were registered 4.3% (4 cases) of those who had

died of respiratory diseases—four persons died of pneumonia.

The distribution of the examined cases according to months

and age groups registered a great death rate increase during the

summer months, especially in June, and its decrease during the

winter period; fatal cases were minimal in November. Most

people in the age of 30–50 years old died in July–September,

while those who were 60—in July.

Most of the people advanced in years who died in those

districts had come from Saint-Petersburg for the summer and

autumn periods to their summer cottages—the so-called

‘‘dachniks’’. Besides, the older age groups included people

who had suffered from chronic diseases and had been brought

from some regional town. A younger age group consisted of

active migrants who had come in search of work to earn their

living, people on business trips, as well as alcohol addicts who

had lost their living quarters in Saint-Petersburg and other cities.

Keywords: Sudden death; Causes; Seasonal character

DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2007.04.183

PAT-TP-21Homicide with post mortem dismemberment of the victim

S. Zerbo *, G. Bono, A. Argo, V. Triolo, C. Sortino, S. Cinque,

A. Bonifacio, E. Maresi, P. Procaccianti

Department of legal Medicine – University of Palermo,

Palermo, Italy

The authors report about the dismembering of a 50-years old

man recovered in the store of his house.

Cases of dismemberment of cadavers are rare and the

victims of dismemberment is usually victim of homicide. The

dismemberment should be classified in the ‘‘defensive

dismemberment’’ and ‘‘aggressive dismemberment’’. As

reported in literature, in the most cases the perpetrators of

dismemberment are predominantly motivated by the need of

removing the bodies from the place of homicide or render

identification of the victim impossible. In our experience the

victim was found prone on the floor. A puddle of blood was on

the floor under his head and chest. The dismembered body parts

were found in oven of his kitchen (the oven was turn off). Near

the body were found many blood-stained things: a knife, a pick,

a gas-pipe with safety valve and a wood tablet.

At autopsy, the external examination showed multiple and

several fractures and lacerated and contused wounds on the left

side of face; vault fractures associated to lacerated and contused

area. Lacerated and contused wound on right shoulder, on

thoracic, dorsal and lumbar regions were observed. A recent

amputation of left upper limb on proximal humeral epiphysis

and recent amputation of left lower limb on proximal femoral

epiphysis were showed. It was also observed previous

amputation of right lower limb on proximal femoral epiphysis.

The autoptical examination confirmed vault fractures and

revealed below subarachnoid haemorrhages (SAH) in left

cerebral hemisphere. Nothing else was found in the other

organs. The histological exam of the cutaneous sample drawed

near the cutting sections did not show signs of vital reaction.

Toxicological exam performed on sample or urine and blood

was negative. The cause of death was attributed to cranium-

encephalic injuries due to blunt trauma.

Keywords: Forensic pathology; Homicide; Dismemberment;

Post mortem injuries

DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2007.04.184

PAT-TP-22An inusual catastrofic intra-abdominal hemorrhage causedby spontaneus segmental arterial mediolysis dissection

A. Bonifacio *, A. Maresi, N. Albano, A. Argo, G. Scuderi, P.

Fleres, G. Bono, S. Zerbo, R. Liotta, P. Procaccianti

Department of Legal Medicine – University of Palermo,

Palermo, Italy

This contribute reports a patient with acute intra-abdominal

hemorrhage secondary to a rare vascular disease, segmental

arterial mediolysis (SMA). This report describes the rare

Abstracts / Forensic Science Intern

complication of SMA rupture, which often result to be fatal.

Segmental mediolytic arteriopathy is an uncommon nonather-

osclerotic and nonvasculitic arteriopathy. This disease is

characterized by lytic degeneration of the arterial media,

intramural dissection and thrombosed or ruptured aneurysm.

The segmental mediolytic arteriopathy mainly involves the

intra-abdominal arterial system, resulting in intra-abdominal

and retroperitoneal hemorrhage. The pathogenesis of this

condition is unclear. This patient was a 38-year-old female who

was admitted to the hospital with severe and increasing deep

abdominal pain. She died the first day after admission for

sudden loss of consciousness secondary to haemorrhagic shock.

At autopsy, the affected vessels included the splenic and left

renal arteries and the abdominal aorta. Histopathologically, the

arteries showed segmental lytic degeneration and disappear-

ance of medial smooth muscle cells, medial dissection and

formation of pseudo-aneurysms, the wall of which consisted of

a thin membrane of the adventitia. Histologic examination of

abdominal aorta showed also cystic medial necrosis.

Keywords: Forensic pathology; Sudden death; Segmental

mediolytic arteriopathy

DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2007.04.185

PAT-TP-23

The identification of diatoms in the fluid from os clinoideuscavity in drowning cases

D. Malakiene, L. Gogelis

Mykolas Romeris University, Institute of Forensic Medicine,

Vilnius, Lithuania

A number of tests have been developed over the years to

determine whether a person drowned. One of them involves the

identification of diatoms in the tissue of drowning victims. The

diatoms are microscopic unicellular algae, which reach the lung

with inhalation of liquid, and if effective cardio-circulatory

activity exists, penetrate the pulmonary filter and disseminate to

closed organs through the blood stream.

However, in a case of ‘‘dry drowning’’ when a laryngeal

spasm occur, the water possibly containing diatoms may not be

inhaled and enter the blood stream.

In a drowning case there is no barrier for the water to enter

the cavity of os clinoideus. According to our data the

investigation of the fluid from os clinoideus cavity for diatoms

is sufficiently informative.

We present the results of the investigation of diatoms found

in the fluid from os clinoideus cavity.

This test in many cases allows a forensic pathologist to form

well-grounded opinion concerning the type of drowning and

cause of death.

Keywords: Diatom; Clinoideus cavity

DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2007.04.186

PAT-TP-24

Snowmobile fatalities in Sweden, 1999–2006

J. Eriksson-Strand *, M. Ostrom, A. Eriksson

Section of Forensic Medicine, Department of Community

Medicine and Rehabilitation, Umea University, Umea, Sweden

During seven snowmobile seasons (1999/2000 through

2005/2006) 85 snowmobile fatalities were autopsied at the

Departments of Forensic Medicine in Sweden. On average,

there were 12.1 fatalities per season, evenly spread over the

study period. Most fatalities occurred in February (21%), on

weekends and holidays (68%), between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m.

(40%), and during darkness (62%). Driving into water (59%)

was the most common event, followed by accidents in forest

terrain (22%) and on roads (14%). The median age of the

victims was 41 years and the great majority were men (92%).

Blunt injuries was the most common cause of death (51%)

followed by drowning (35%). A majority of the drivers (67%)

tested positive for alcohol, with a mean blood alcohol

concentration of 1.7 g/l. Most alcohol positive victims were

found during weekends and holidays and during night time. In

the 50–59-year age group 89% tested positive for alcohol.

In at least 60% of the crashes, alcohol was judged to

contribute to the accident and/or to the fatal outcome. In

addition, speeding contributed to the event in 53% cases. Most

fatalities occurred during leisure time (n = 82) and 9 out of 10

during short rides. Only occasionally the environment was

unknown to the driver. In 40% of the cases, a flotation

snowmobile suit would have been of benefit to the victim, a

helmet in 28%, a cellular phone in 12%, and extra clothing and

food in 2%.

Keywords: Snowmobiles; Accidents; Fatalities; Prevention

DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2007.04.187

PAT-TP-25

Hypothalamo-pituitary haemorrhages in hypothermia

A post-mortem study

Verdicchio Mario 1,*, Rosen Thord 2, Orndal Charlotte 3

1 National Board of Forensic Medicine, Department of

Forensic Medicine, Gothenburg, Sweden; 2 Endocrine Section,

Internal Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothen-

burg, Sweden; 3 Department of Clinical Pathology, Sahlgrens-

ka University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden

Background: Death by hypothermia is often an uncertain

diagnosis, based on circumstances and supported by few, non-

specific findings at the autopsy. However, in several cases the

diagnosis is made just by exclusion. Our previous, occasional

finding of haemorrhage within the hypothalamo-pituitary

structures in a death case by hypothermia, raised questions

ational 169S (2007) S2–S21 S13