scholarly journals Parachute Deaths in Southern Arizona

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 649-656
Author(s):  
Rose Cronin ◽  
David C. Winston
Keyword(s):  
Retrospective Study ◽  
Coronary Artery ◽  
Military Training ◽  
Medical Examiner ◽  
Manner Of Death ◽  
Blunt Force ◽  
Coronary Artery Atherosclerosis ◽  
Pima County ◽  
Scene Investigation

Introduction Parachuting is said to be a relatively safe activity. We sought to undertake a study to assess parachute-related deaths in our jurisdiction. Methods A retrospective study of parachute-related deaths in Southern Arizona was conducted by searching the Pima County Office of the Medical Examiner database between 2001 and 2016. This search revealed 24 deaths. Results The decedents ranged from 19 to 61 years of age, with a median age of 36 years. Twenty-two of the decedents were male. The racial breakdown was 22 white, one Asian, and one not recorded. The manner of death in all cases was classified as an accident. All deaths were due to multiple blunt force injuries and only one case was found to have no injuries to the head or neck. The most common circumstances were failure of chute deployment (seven), mid-air collisions (three), and becoming entangled with other parachutists (three). Six deaths occurred during military training. Four of the nonmilitary decedents were described as “experienced” parachutists and one case involved a tandem jump team with a survivor. Natural disease was found in four cases with three having moderate coronary artery atherosclerosis. Toxicology was performed in 21 of the deaths with three positive for cannabinoids, one positive for 7-aminoclonazepam, and one positive for 3, 4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA). Discussion Parachuting is a relatively safe activity, with very few deaths. Investigation of these deaths should include a complete autopsy with toxicology as well as a thorough scene investigation and evaluation of the jumper's equipment.

scholarly journals Medical Examiner Review of the Characteristics of Fire-Related Homicides

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 87-93
Author(s):  
Kyle S. Conway ◽  
Carl J. Schmidt ◽  
Theodore T. Brown
Keyword(s):  
Cause Of Death ◽  
Retrospective Studies ◽  
Medical Examiner ◽  
Manner Of Death ◽  
Wayne County ◽  
Autopsy Findings ◽  
Cohb Level ◽  
Scene Investigation ◽  
Medical Examiners ◽  
Ancillary Studies

While fire-related deaths are regularly encountered by medical examiners, fire-related homicides are relatively uncommon. Although some large retrospective studies of fire-related deaths have been performed, few large studies have specifically reviewed fire-related homicides. Autopsy, scene investigation, and ancillary studies were reviewed for 38 fire-related homicides evaluated at the Wayne County Medical Examiner’s Office in Detroit, Michigan. The largest proportion of cases were inhalation-related deaths in dwelling fires (n = 21, 55%), followed by deaths from thermal injury after immolation (n = 8, 21%) and traumatic death with contemporaneous or subsequent immolation (n = 8, 21%). There was one case of postmortem immolation. Although carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) levels played a significant role in evaluation of these cases, no single factor was diagnostic of a particular cause or manner of death. Fire-related homicides present unique diagnostic challenges because multiple insults frequently contribute to the cause death. Death at the scene and COHb level above 10% are the most useful factors in establishing smoke and soot inhalation as the cause of death. Some autopsy findings are helpful in establishing or ruling out smoke and soot inhalation as contributing to or sole cause of death, but an evaluation of the entire circumstances and autopsy findings is necessary.

scholarly journals Environmental Deaths in Southern Arizona

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 50-63 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin M. Lougee ◽  
Gregory L. Hess ◽  
David C. Winston
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Retrospective Study ◽  
Sonoran Desert ◽  
The United States ◽  
Medical Examiner ◽  
Electronic Database ◽  
Pima County ◽  
Mexico Border ◽  
Border Crossers

Introduction The Pima County Office of the Medical Examiner (PCOME) maintains medicolegal jurisdiction over Southern Arizona, which includes the Sonoran Desert and the Arizona/Mexico border. Given the unique climate and biodiversity of the Sonoran Desert coupled with the Mexican border, environmental-related deaths are represented in proportions different from other jurisdictions in the United States. Methods A retrospective study of deaths falling into one of five categories (hyperthermia, hypothermia, undetermined with skeletal and/or mummified modifiers, venom-related, and lightning) certified by the PCOME between January 1, 2010 and December 1, 2017 was conducted by searching the PCOME electronic database. Results and Discussion Of the 16 649 cases certified by the office during that time, 639 were categorized into one of the above five categories. Hyperthermia cases were the most common, followed by undetermined, hypothermia, venom-related, and lightning. A unique population of individuals referred to as undocumented border crossers (UBCs) is discussed and accounted for 470 of the 639 deaths.

A Continued Humanitarian Crisis at the Border: Undocumented Border Crosser Deaths Recorded by the Pima County Office of the Medical Examiner, 1990-2012

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel E. Martinez ◽  
Robin Reineke ◽  
Raquel Rubio-Goldsmith ◽  
Bruce E. Anderson ◽  
Gregory L. Hess ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Medical Examiner ◽  
Humanitarian Crisis ◽  
Pima County

scholarly journals “Rust stain”: a rare mark in firearm suicide—a case report and review of the literature

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luca Tomassini ◽  
Daniele Paolini ◽  
Anna Maria Manta ◽  
Edoardo Bottoni ◽  
Costantino Ciallella
Keyword(s):  
Case Report ◽  
Medical Examiner ◽  
Experimental Setting ◽  
Review Of The Literature ◽  
Histological Findings ◽  
Porcine Skin ◽  
Manner Of Death ◽  
Prolonged Contact ◽  
Firearm Suicide

AbstractRust stains are marks left by firearms in case of prolonged contact with the cutaneous surfaces. These peculiar signs along with other well-documented findings can guide the medical examiner in the determination of the manner of death, especially in case of firearm suicide. This paper presents the case of a 33-year-old male soldier who committed suicide by using a short-barreled weapon, whose trigger remained in contact with the first finger of his right hand, leading to the formation of a rust stain that perfectly reproduced its design. The forensic examination of the scene, the external cadaveric inspection, and the autopsy are described. For the evaluation of the histological findings typical of rust spots, the authors decided to replicate the phenomenon in an experimental setting using porcine skin. In order to provide an exhaustive overview on the formation and the features of rust stains, a review of the forensic literature concerning this rare mark was performed.

Role of smoking on body fat distribution and coronary artery disease

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Sabet ◽  
S Elkaffas ◽  
S.W.G Bakhoum ◽  
H Kandil
Keyword(s):  
Computed Tomography ◽  
Coronary Artery Disease ◽  
Adipose Tissue ◽  
Coronary Artery ◽  
Body Fat ◽  
Fat Distribution ◽  
Relative Distribution ◽  
Coronary Artery Atherosclerosis ◽  
Total Fat ◽  
Artery Disease

Abstract Introduction Smoking and obesity are recognized as important modifiable risk factors for coronary artery disease (CAD). However, the general perception that smoking protects against obesity is a common reason for starting, and/or not quitting smoking. Purpose To detect the quantity, quality and relative distribution of subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) estimated by abdominal computed tomography in smokers versus non- smokers. Methods The abdominal muscular wall was traced manually to calculate SAT and VAT areas (cm2) (outside and inside abdominal muscular wall respectively) as well as SAT density [Hounsfield units (HU)] at L4-L5 in 409 consecutive patients referred for evaluation of chest pain by multi-slice computed tomography coronary angiography (MSCT-CA). Results 26% of the studied patients (n=107) were current smokers, while the remaining 74% (n=302) never smoked. Coronary artery atherosclerosis was more prevalent in smokers compared to non-smokers (64.5% vs 55.0%; p=0.09). Smokers had statistically significantly lower body mass index (BMI) (31.2±4.3 vs. 32.5±4.7 kg/m2; p=0.015), hip circumference (HC) (98.6±22.5 vs. 103.9±20.9 cm; p=0.031), total fat area (441.62±166.34 vs. 517.95±169.51cm2; p<0.001), and SAT area (313.07±125.54 vs. 390.93±143.28 cm2; p<0.001) as compared to non-smokers. However, smokers had statistically significantly greater waist-to-hip ratio (0.98±0.08 vs. 0.96±0.08; p=0.010), VAT/SAT area ratio (0.41±0.23 vs. 0.35±0.20; p=0.013), and denser SAT depot (−98.91±7.71 vs. −102.08±6.44 HU; p<0.001). Conclusion Smoking contributes to CAD and to the pathogenic redistribution of body fat towards VAT, through limiting SAT potential to expand. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None

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